Partners in Charity 2017 Surpasses
$5 million Goal for Second Consecutive Year

Appeal has received $5,034,216 as of
 August 16 2017, WORCESTER, MA –

“Our generous donors showed us that having raised $5 million last year was exceptional but not an exception,” said Michael Gillespie, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development. His office announced today that, as of the report on Tuesday, August 15, it has received 17,036 gifts and pledges totaling $5, 034,216, thereby exceeding the $5 million goal two weeks before the end of the fiscal year.

The campaign officially launched at the beginning of Lent following a kickoff at St. Vincent Hospital Atrium. Gifts are still being accepted until August 31 for those donors who are still interested in supporting this year’s appeal.

            “On behalf of the many thousands of people who are impacted by the agencies and ministries supported by Partners in Charity, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who responded to this year’s appeal,” commented Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester. “Thanks to the generosity of the people of the Diocese of Worcester, and the leadership of our priests and parish chairpeople, we will be able to respond to those in need, inspired by the example of St. Teresa of Kolkota, the patron saint for this year’s appeal.”

            As of this week, 54 of the 96 parishes and 3 missions have met or exceeded their goal for this year and many more are close to goal. “It has been a very positive campaign,” noted Mr. Gillespie, “Pastors, parish administrators and lay parish leaders have been very supportive and the result was another exceptional response from parishioners who want to support our diocesan wide efforts in charity, education and ministry.”

            Along with Development Office staff, members of this year’s Partners in Charity advisory board include Dr. Mary Lou Anderson, dean emerita, Assumption College; Rev. James J. Caldarella, Minister to Priests; Mrs. Diane Cetin, Partners coordinator, St. Joseph Parish, Charlton; Mrs. Judy Curini, Catholic Free Press; Rev. Juan Escudero, associate pastor, St. Mary, Shrewsbury; Msgr. Robert K. Johnson, rector, Cathedral of St. Paul, Worcester; Deacon Steven Kohut, deacon at Our Lady of Czestochowa, Worcester; Mr. Kevin Kieler, parishioner, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Westborough; Rev. Jonathan J. Slavinskas, pastor, Our Lady of Providence, Worcester; and Rev. Mateus Souza, Associate pastor, St. Mary of the Assumption, Milford.

            Mr. Gillespie stressed that once again the appeal benefitted from an increased role for the leadership giving among the various societies which range from annual commitments of $300 to $7,500 or more. “The growing commitment from donors who have joined societies and have increased their support is helping us to support ministries that reflect our mission as Catholics,” he added. All of the society honor rolls are publicly acknowledged after the appeal has concluded in a published appeal report. The 2016 report is available online at partners-charity.net.
    
This year’s campaign theme “Faith in Action is Love,” is taken from the words of St. Teresa of Kolkota, who was canonized last fall by Pope Francis. Reflecting on that theme, Bishop McManus had one more message to those who supported the appeal. “I thank God for the generous support of our parishioners who are helping us bring God’s love to those in need in Central Massachusetts.”

            The goal has been $5 million since the 2011 campaign, which raised $4,724,352. During the 2012 appeal it raised $4,835,997. In 2013 the appeal ended with $4,868,683. In 2014, the campaign raised $4,823,028 and announced the receipt of a bequest for $1.6 million. In 2015 it raised $4,881,859. In 2016 it surpassed its goal finishing at $5,044,850.           

Prayer Intentions and GIFTS

We are privileged to pray for those requesting prayers and want you to know that Bishop McManus prays for all our donors and for those requesting prayers. We are happy to pray for your daily needs and to petition God's blessings for you and your intentions. Those who may not be able to give a gift to Partners in Charity are still most welcome to give us your prayer intentions. We pray for everyone.

Below are thousands of prayer intention from the 2017 Partners in Charity Appeal. God Bless You!

CLICK HERE for 2017 Partners in Charity Appeal Brochure

CLICK HERE for 2016 Annual Report

The Catholic Free Press

When Worecster Diocesean volunteers recently visited Sainte-Anne’s School in Chardonnieres, they had the pleasure of giving the preschool students coloring pages and crayons. 
While coloring is a daily occurrence in a preschool in the United States, it is a special event in Haiti.  As they enjoyed their time with the preschool students, they were struck by a little girl named Neyla who sat in the front row and was coloring her paper meticulously. 
After she finished, they collectively praised Neyla for her beautiful coloring.  Neyla’s teacher explained to them the difficult time Neyla is going through.  Neyla is a four-year-old child, who lives on the other side of the mountains that can be seen in the far distance. 

She leaves her home every morning at 3:00 a.m. with her brothers and sisters and walks four hours to get to school by 7:00 a.m. She also walks home each day after school to get home by 6:00 p.m.  During the rainy season, going back and forth to school is a treacherous walk. 

She has to cross three rivers to get to school.  When the river is high, she sometimes has to wait for hours until the river is low enough for her to cross.   
 
Neyla Allien is the last child of a family of ten children. She was born on January 26, 2009.  She is actually in Pre-KII at Sainte-Anne School, directed by the Sisters of Sainte-Anne. The Allien family is living in Massaulas which is a Mission Chapel attached to Sainte-Anne parish in Chardonnieres in the Diocese of Les Cayes.  Mr. Gerard Allien is the Director of the Mission and he is a farmer.  Mrs. Juliette Allien is completely illiterate.  The Alliens are well known as a model of a Catholic Christian family, with deep faith in the locality of Massaulas.  The family relies on the crops of their garden to feed the children.  As a custom in the Diocese, the Mission director has no salary which is completely a volunteer position.  If the Mission has a parochial school attached to it, then the Mission director may have a salary of $15.00 US per month.  Unfortunately, St. Joseph chapel of Massaulas has no parochial school. 
 
Every morning from Monday to Saturday, Mrs. Juliette gathers the crops she gets from her garden and goes to an open market in the locality to sell her goods.  On her luckiest day, she can bring 100 gourdes home, which is the equivalent of $2.50 US.  With this money, she may buy some ingredients to prepare the family supper at 8:00 p.m. 
 
The children leave home so early that they never have breakfast before starting their walk of four hours to get to school.  Because Neyla is only four years old, she usually faints in the classroom before the school serves the hot lunch around 12:00 p.m. Sometimes she starts crying in the classroom and complaining of severe headache and stomached.  In this situation, the teacher may buy her some salty cookies to ease her pain. 
 
Neyla is a wonderful example of the importance of school in the lives of all the Haitian children.  Children like Neyla face inconceivable hardships in Haiti, and despite that, they come to school each day, happy and eager to learn. Partners in Charity of the Diocese of Worcester subsidize the Haitian Apostolate Ministry that allows us to bring hope to a child’s life.
 

 Thank you for supporting Partners In Charity and helping those in Haiti! 
 

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One very effective tool for evangelizing about Catholic Marriage, is the faithful witness of couples who live it.  Each year we hold a special Wedding Anniversary Mass honoring couples celebrating 25^th, 50^th, and other significant anniversaries.  In a world where we can easily be discouraged by the numerous broken relationships out there, we can look to the fidelity of those married many years as a model and inspiration that we can have the true love and happiness our hearts long for when Christ is the center of our lives.

                   visit  http://worcesterdiocese.org/respect-life

The Partners in Charity Appeal funds the
OFFICE OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.