Donors give from the heart to Legacy of Hope

By Susan Bailey
CFP Correpondent
And Jose DeJesus
Special to The CFP

Begun in the spring of 2018, Legacy of Hope has so far raised $17.3 million toward the $32 million goal, according to the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development. Behind the many donations are the people who believe in the future of the Worcester Diocese, and the need to continue building upon its rich heritage of faith and service to the community.
    One of those is Shirley DeLuca, an 81-year-old woman from St. Roch Parish in Oxford. Ms. DeLuca drives a bus for a living. She did not hesitate to give generously to the campaign despite living on a fixed income.
“I did what I could, it’s a good cause,” she said. “It’s a good thing for the church, for things that have to be done.”
Each parish receives 40 percent of what it collects for the campaign, whether or not its goal is reached. If a parish exceeds it goal they receive 60 percent.
Ms. DeLuca mentioned the need for a handicapped bathroom and for the furnace to be fixed at St. Rochs.
“I hope they get done,” she said.
Each parish is a group of people linked together through their common history; the Legacy of Hope campaign’s purpose is to provide for the future of these parishes, which make up the Diocese of Worcester.
In Leominster, St. Leo’s represents family and community to Paul Crowley and Marie Crowley Simms, siblings who grew up on Harrison Street in Leominster.
“St. Leo’s is my home church, and it’s been our family’s parish since my grandfather, Daniel Crowley, helped start it,” says Ms. Simms. “It’s important to me to keep the legacy going of our family belonging to St. Leo’s.”
Mr. Crowley, a eucharistic minister, says St. Leo’s has seen them through hard times. “My father died when I was 2, so my mother brought the five of us up with the help of Monsignor Kennedy and the church.”
Steve Mullaney is a lector, eucharistic minister and member of the St. Leo’s Finance Committee. He is a fifth-generation church member whose family ties date back to the 1890s.
“St. Leo’s is my rock,” said Mr. Mullaney. “I look at the sacrifices that my great-great grandparents made living in a tiny apartment, but putting so much of their money to help build this church, build the school, build the convent. It says to me that it’s all about sacrifice, and they were thinking ahead to future generations and I need to do the same.”
He attended St. Leo’s School, which made a big impression on him. “That was the foundation of my faith and my education and it propelled me to where I am today in life.”
Kevin and Michelle White are longtime parishioners of St. Leo’s. Michelle is a lector and Kevin leads weekly parish collection efforts. The Whites, who were married at St. Leo’s in 1990 by Father John E. Doran, have three children, Kyle, Ben and Addie.
“It’s a part of my life,” said Mrs. White. “All my childhood memories are here. I went to St. Leo’s School K through 8, and I always feel at home here. I can’t imagine not coming here. It’s as simple as that.”
Mr. White added, “It’s all about community and family. We got married here, and all of our children were baptized and confirmed here.”
Dick and Mary Ellen Hurley have been parishioners at St. Leo’s since 1978.
“St. Leo’s is the spiritual home for our family, our grandchildren, our daughter. … “It’s a wonderful community to be a part of,” Mrs. Hurley said.
Mr. Hurley grew up attending Sacred Heart Parish in west Fitchburg, while Mrs. Hurley attended St. Bernard’s Church. Both churches are now closed.
“We need to sustain this church and obviously this Legacy of Hope campaign is a way to pay it forward,” said Mr. Hurley, a member of the Legacy of Hope committee. “It’s our responsibility to carry on what’s been given to us, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

– Jose DeJesus is a vice president for Guidance in Giving Inc., campaign consultants for the Legacy of Hope campaign.  
Photo: St. Leo Church in Leominster