Partners needs $1.5M to reach final goal

The annual Partners in Charity Appeal is $1,451,658 away from reaching its goal of $5 million, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development.
Gifts and pledges totaling $3,548,342, or 71 percent of the goal, have been received as of Wednesday. He said he hopes to complete the Appeal as early as July.
“To do this, we will need the continued support of every parish,” he said. “What is amazing is that we continue to see growth in all giving categories. Each year, unfortunately, we lose thousands of supporting donors for a variety of reasons. Thus it is important that we as a diocese collectively reach out and invite new donors to partner with us.”
So far, 12,923 people have made gifts or pledges, including 792 new donors this year who have given a total of $99,839.
Some 119 priests of the diocese have contributed a total of $183,130. Seven seminarians also have made gifts or pledges.
The St. Paul Society, whose members pledge at least $5,000, have contributed $590,400. There are 90 members of the Society this year, of whom 16 are new members.
Fourteen of the 103 diocesan parishes have surpassed their goals, Mr. Gillespie said. The majority of parishes have reached 70 percent of their goals or more.
The annual Partners in Charity Appeal  helps to support charitable, educational and ministerial organizations in the diocese. They include:
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 Development, Stewardship
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.