Showing where faith is put in action

By William T. Clew

Before the start of the latest Partners in Charity campaign, the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development is giving an accounting of last year’s appeal.
A report listing each charitable, educational and ministerial organization that is receiving funds this year from the 2013 Partners in Charity campaign, and the amounts they are receiving, has been published by the development office.
Copies of the accountability report, titled Our Faith in Action 2013, will be sent to every person who donated in 2013, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development.
Recipients getting the largest amount of funding from  last year’s appeal include $857,110 for Catholic schools, $639,945 for vocations, $550,000 for the priests’ retirement fund, $355,458 for the diocesan Development office, $350,000 for a grant to Catholic Charities, $310,712 to the diocesan Religious Education office, $215,370 to the Communications Office, $150,000 to St. Paul Cathedral, $116,030 to the Hispanic Ministry, $114,300 to the diocesan Cemetery System, $100,000 to special projects and smaller amounts to several other organizations. Pledges amounting to about  $250,000 were deemed uncollectible.
The 2013 Partners in Charity Appeal raised $4,868,683, or 97 percent of the $5 million goal. That was $33,526 more than had been raised in the drive the previous year.
“As we approach the 2014 Partners in Charity Appeal, I would like to thank all of you who made a sacrificial gift to the 2013 Appeal,” said Bishop McManus, in a letter to the people of the diocese included in the report.
He said that with the gifts from 17,825 families and individuals the diocese was “able to meet the financial needs of our ministries. These ministries serve thousands of families in Worcester County through outreach, formation, evangelization and worship.”
He said society continues to be faced with a difficult and demanding economy, “yet, it is in such challenging times that we are presented with the opportunity to respond to Pope Francis’ call ‘to be protectors of one another’ by serving each other, especially those who are less fortunate than ourselves, with love. Your generosity in the appeal has been and continues to be a compassionate sign of your own desire to face the needs of so many and the ‘Serve with Love.’”
The bishop said he hopes that people will support the 2014 Partners on Charity appeal.
The 2014 Partners in Charity appeal will begin March 5, Ash Wednesday. Mr. Gillespie said more material will be made available for insertion into parish bulletins after the fund drive begins.
Those charitable, educational and ministerial organizations aided by Partners in Charity are:
Charity: Catholic Charities, Clergy Retirement, Retired Priests Health Ministry, Haitian Apostolate, McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, Pernet Family Health Services, Seminarian Health Insurance, St. John’s Cemetery System, Diocesan Stewardship and Development;    Education: Catholic Campus Ministry, Catholic Schools Office, Office of Religious Education, Ongoing Priestly Formation, Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Seminarian Education, Grants-in-Aid for Catholic School Students, Central Catholic Schools Subsidy, Advanced Studies for Clergy and Laity, Communications Office;
Ministry: African Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Office of Marriage and Family, Minister to Priests, Office of the Diaconate, Respect Life Office, Cathedral of St. Paul, Vocations, Office for Divine Worship, Wells Street House.