Twenty-seven parishes reach or exceed goal

The annual Partners in Charity Appeal has reached 82 percent of the goal of $5 million, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development.
The Appeal has raised $4,101,763 in gifts and pledges so far, he said, with $898,763 to go to reach the goal.
Twenty-seven of the 103 diocesan parishes have reached or exceeded their goals, he said.
They are:
Christ the King, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/St. Ann and St. John, all of Worcester; St. Denis and St.  Anne, Ashburnham; St. Mary of the Hills, Boylston; St. Joseph, Charlton; St. John, Guardian of Our Lady,  Clinton; St. Denis, Douglas, St. Anthony of Padua, Dudley; St. Joseph, Gardner; Holy Family of Nazareth and Holy Trinity Evangelization Center, both of Leominster, and St. Boniface, Lunenburg.
Also, St. Augustine, Millville; St. Rose of Lima, and St. Bernadette, both of Northborough; St. Columba, Paxton; Prince of Peace, Princeton; St. Matthew, Southborough; St. Richard of Chichester, Sterling; St. Mark, Sutton; St. Gabriel the Archangel, Upton; St. Paul/St. Stanislaus, Warren; Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Louis, both of Webster, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, West Brookfield.
There have been 15,484 donors so far, of whom 931 are new donors. The new donors have given a  total of $119,209. There still are 5,029 donors who gave last year who have not yet made gifts or pledges, Mr. Gillespie said.
One hundred St. Paul Society members, who pledge at least $5,000, have given a total of $635,400. There are 20 new members of the Society this year. On-line gifts by 368 donors have totaled $152,255.
One-hundred-thirty-four diocesan priests have given a total of  $194,075.
The annual Partners in Charity Appeal  helps to support charitable, educational and ministerial organizations.