Partners reaches $3M toward goal

The annual Partners in Charity Appeal has reached $3,015,000 in gifts and pledges, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development.
That is slightly more than 60 percent of the goal of $5 million, leaving $1,985,000 to go.
“We hope to complete the 2014 Appeal as early as July,” Mr. Gillespie said. “To do this we will need the continued support of every parish.”
The majority of the 103 parishes in the diocese have reached 60 percent  or more of their goals, he said. Four parishes  already have surpassed their goals.
So far, there have been 10,403 donors to the Appeal. Included in that number are 650 new donors who have given or pledged a total of $83,998. There are 9,327 people who pledged previously who have yet to do so this year, he said.
So far, 106 diocesan priests have given a total of $169,885, an average  $1,603 per gift. Six seminarians also have contributed to the Appeal, Mr. Gillespie said.
The St. Paul Society, whose members pledge at least $5,000, has raised $541,400 so far from 81 members, including 14 new members. Twenty-nine people who contributed through the Society last year have yet to make a gift this year.
Mr. Gillespie thanked the people of the parishes who are working on the Appeal “for your hard work in reaching out to past donors and to new donors. Each year, sadly, we lose thousands of supporting donors for a variety or reasons. Thus it is important that parishes continue in inviting new donors to partner with us each year.”
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.