Partners in Charity passes $2M

By Raymond L. Delisle
Director, Office of Communications

“The willingness of our donors to help diocesan agencies and ministries serve our brothers and sisters is truly astounding,” Bishop McManus said when he learned that the 2021 Partners in Charity appeal surpassed $2.2 million before the fourth Sunday of Lent.
It is a considerable accomplishment, given the pandemic and how that has made it difficult for some people to make a gift at this time.
“But what is equally impressive is that, in a normal year, we would only begin our in-pew solicitations on the third and fourth Sundays of Lent,” said Michael P. Gillespie, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, which runs the appeal.
As with everything in life right now, welcome to the new normal.
Mr. Gillespie shared some statistics about the 2021 annual appeal with a theme of “Be the Face of Christ.” As of March 17, there have been 5,810 gifts and pledges, averaging nearly $400, for a total of $2,259,836. The appeal is at 45% of its $5 million goal. Seven parishes and one mission have already surpassed their goal.
Father Juan G. Herrera of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster is in his first year as a pastor.  So, this is the first time he has had to run a parish appeal. His approach was to interject some humor into his request.
“After making a deal with my community – they promised to reach our goal, then they fulfilled that promise. Thanks to their generosity, I did not have to call the bishop and say ‘Sorry, we did not make the goal,’ but proudly I can say: ‘They promised, they made it.’
“As my first year as pastor, I saw that the pandemic did not stop people’s generosity,” Father Herrera said.
Father William C. Konicki, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hopedale, noted that his parish has always been supportive of the annual appeal. He shares with parishioners his own experience of directing the Haitian Apostolate for many years, noting that the appeal offers real assistance to many people who are vulnerable in society.
In past years the majority of gifts would come from an “in-pew solicitation” made at Mass. But, many of the parishes this year, much like last year, are not seeing some parishioners in person because of the risks posed by the pandemic.
“We had to be more creative with the request,” noted Mr. Gillespie.
Many more people are viewing the Partners in Charity video online, thanks to parishes putting it on their websites and including it in the weekly Flocknote and other emails sent to parishioners’ homes.
“We need to overcome the physical distancing with tools that support our virtual community,” added Mr. Gillespie.
Of course, there is still a long way to go to reach $5 million, which provides critical funding for more than two dozen programs involved in education, charity and ministry.
“Sixty parishes are just beginning the process” of soliciting for Partners in Charity, said Mr. Gillespie. “The enthusiasm at the parish level, along with the comments donors have sent along, are all pointing to reaching our goal, God willing.”
“All I ask is that those who gave in the past, or considered it in recent years, reflect on our theme before this Lent is over,” Bishop McManus said. “We can ‘Be the face of Christ’ to others in need. What better way to offer hope when people need it most?”