For the third consecutive year the annual Partners in Charity appeal has gone over the top.
The fund drive has received $5,018,233 so far, exceeding its $5 million goal three weeks before the end of the drive, according to Michael P. Gillespie, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development. Partners in Charity will continue to accept gifts and pledges for this year’s drive through Aug. 31, the end of the fiscal year.
The Partners in Charity goal was raised to $5 million in 2011 and for the next four years the drive fell a bit short, raising more that $4.8 million each year.
But in 2016 the appeal surpassed its goal, finishing at $5,044,850. Last year it went over the top again with $5,125,528 in gifts and pledges.
Mr. Gillespie said that, as of this week, 48 of the 96 parishes and four missions have reached or exceeded their goals and many more are close to goal. A total of 16,209 gifts and pledges have been counted.
“Pastors, parish administrators and lay parish leaders have been very supportive and the result was another exceptional response from parishioners who want to partner with us in our diocesan-wide efforts in charity, education and ministry,” he said. “It is humbling to witness the continuing generosity of our donors.”
“I thank God that we will be able to continue to serve tens of thousands of people who are impacted by the agencies and ministries supported by Partners in Charity,” Bishop McManus said. “Thanks to the continuing generosity of the people of the Diocese of Worcester, and the leadership of our priests and parish chairpeople, we will respond to our mission as people of faith, inspired by the example of Dorothy Day, the patroness for this year’s appeal.”
This year’s appeal theme “Faith in Action: Loving God by serving others,” is taken from the words of Dorothy Day, Servant of God. Reflecting on that theme, Bishop McManus had one more message to those who supported the appeal. “Thank you for giving witness to how you love God by loving those in need.”
Along with Development Office staff, members of this year’s Partners in Charity advisory board include Mary Lou Anderson, dean emerita, Assumption College; Father James J. Caldarella, retired Minister to Priests; Diane Cetin, Partners coordinator, St. Joseph Parish, Charlton; Judy Curini, The Catholic Free Press; Father Juan Escudero, administrator, St. Denis Parish, Douglas; Deacon Stephen Kohut, deacon at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Worcester; Kevin Kieler, parishioner, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Westborough; and Father Jonathan J. Slavinskas, pastor, Our Lady of Providence Parish, Worcester.
The 28 agencies and ministries which receive funding from the appeal are: Clergy Retirement, Retired Priests Health Ministry, Catholic Charities, Haitian Apostolate, McAuley Nazareth Home, Pernet Family Health Services, Seminarian Health Insurance, St. John’s Diocesan Cemetery System, Diocesan Development and Stewardship, Catholic Campus Ministry, Catholic Schools Department, Office of Religious Education, Ongoing Priestly Formation, New Evangelization Worcester for Youth and Young Adults, Catholic School Grants-in-Aid, Seminarian Education, Central Catholic Schools Subsidy, Advanced Studies for Clergy and Laity, Communications Office, 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 and Office for Divine Worship.
Those wishing more information on the appeal, including a list of the results by parish, may visit www.partners-charity.net.