Partners reaches 90% with 37 parishes over

The annual Partners in Charity Appeal needs $525,763 more in gifts and pledges to reach its goal of $5 million, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development.
The fund drive has raised $4,474,237 so far, or 90 percent of the goal, he said. There have been 16,414 donors, of whom 974 are new donors this year. They have given a total of $122,114. So far, 4,019 donors who gave to last year’s Appeal have yet to give this year. If they matched their gifts from last year the Appeal would receive $758,694, putting it over goal, he said.
The 106 members of the St. Paul Society, who pledge at least $5,000 have given a total  of $717,473. There are 21 new members this year. Eleven who were members last year have yet to make a gift, Mr. Gillespie said.
Gifts from 136 diocesan priests total $198,575, for an average  of $1,460. On-line gifts from 390 donors total $159,540.
Thirty-seven of the 102 parishes in the diocese have reached or surpassed their goals, Mr. Gillespie said. They are:
St. Denis and St. Anne, Ashburnham; Our Lady Immaculate, Athol; St. Francis of Assisi, South Barre; 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, Fitchburg; St. Aloysius-St. Jude, Leicester; Holy Family of Nazareth, Holy Trinity Evangelization Center and Our Lady of the Lake, all of Leominster; Good Shepherd, Linwood, 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. Anne-St. Patrick, Sturbridge;  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.
Also, St. Paul Cathedral, Christ the King, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel- St. Ann, Our Lady of Vilna, St. Andrew the Apostle, St. John and St. Peter, all of Worcester.
The annual Partners in Charity Appeal  helps to support charitable, educational and ministerial organizations in the diocese.