The annual Partners in Charity Appeal needs $648,794 to reach its $5 million goal, according to Michael P. Gillespie, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development. So far, the Appeal has received $4,351,204 in gifts and pledges, or 87 percent of the goal, he said. The fund drive has received $100,648 more than it last year at this time. Also, 32 parishes have reached or exceeded their goals, compared to 23 last year at the same time. There have been 1,395 new donors this year, Mr. Gillespie said. They have made gifts and pledges totaling $151,384.
Parishes that have gone over the top are: Christ the King, Worcester 135% O/L of Lourdes, Worcester 101% O/L of Vilna, Worcester 102% St. Andrew the Apostle, Worcester 109% St. Peter of Worcester, Worcester 105% St. Joseph, Barre 103% St. Joseph, Charlton 122% St. Anthony, Dudley 100% St. John, E. Brookfield 104% St. Anne/St. Patrick, Fiskdale 102% St. Francis of Assis, Fitchburg 103% St. Joseph, Fitchburg 104% St. Aloysius, Gilbertville 100% Immaculate Conception, Lancaster 107% St. Aloysius/St. Jude, Leicester 110% Holy Family of Nazareth, Leominster 104% Holy Trinity Evang. Ctr. Leominster 257% St. Cecilia, Leominster 100% St. Augustine, Millville 159% St. Rose of Lima, Northborough 108% St. Peter, Northbridge 103% St. Columba, Paxton 100% Prince of Peace, Princeton 105% St. Patrick, Rutland 112% St. Thomas-a-Becket, South Barre 101% St. Matthew, Southboro 116% St. Richard, Sterling 113% St. Mark, Sutton 114% St. Paul, Warren 105% St. Louis, Webster 101% O/L Sacred Heart, W. Brookfield 106% St. Augustine. Wheelwright 114%