The Role of the "Virtual Engagement Officer"
The Diocese of Bridgeport is the first in the world to pilot an autonomous AI fundraiser, named Maria. This "Virtual Engagement Officer" is designed to address a massive "unmet need." While a human fundraiser can effectively manage about 150 relationships, the Diocese serves over 370,000 Catholics.
"Technology, when used wisely, becomes a tool of evangelization. Today, our mission field includes the digital world and artificial intelligence. We are piloting an AI Virtual Engagement Officer, Maria, to help us discern how technology may support deeper connection and accompaniment. Maria will help us learn how digital tools can deepen our listening and foster more personal responses, while always keeping human relationships at the heart of the Church’s mission."
Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano Bishop of Bridgeport
Key features of the program include:
Capacity Building: Maria allows the Diocese to communicate one-on-one with thousands of individuals who otherwise might never receive a personal touch.
Transparency: Donors are explicitly told they are interacting with an AI. This honesty has resulted in a remarkably low opt-out rate of just 0.1%.
Personal Connection: Surprisingly, the most engaged demographic is donors aged 50–72. Many use the platform to share long-term stories of faith and support, often responding warmly to birthday greetings and event invites.
The Human-AI Partnership: "Graduation"
A central theme of the discussion is that AI is additive, not a replacement for clergy or staff. The goal is "graduation"—identifying when a donor’s engagement reaches a level that requires a human connection.
If a donor expresses interest in a major gift, a bequest, or a specific ministry (like the Guilds), the AI flags the interaction for a human staff member to take over.
This ensures that resources are used efficiently while maintaining the "mind and heart" of the Church’s mission.
Ethical Guardrails and the "Church Context"
Bishop Caggiano and Deacon Tulle emphasize that using AI in a religious context presents unique challenges. Unlike a hospital or university, Church donors often ask deep, personal, or theological questions—ranging from grief and requests for Mass to inquiries about Church policy.
The Diocese is committed to:
Strict Training: Ensuring the AI is trained on a specific "corpus" of approved information to prevent biased or "crazy" responses.
Human Oversight: Maintaining a "human-in-the-loop" system where complex ethical or spiritual matters are always diverted to a person.
Mission-First Approach: Using the "AI dividend" (the time and money saved) to reinvest in the mission of bringing people closer to Christ.
As pioneers in this space, the Diocese of Bridgeport is setting a precedent for how ancient faith can leverage modern technology to cut through the noise of the digital age and foster genuine community engagement.
Source: https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/ and the video above
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