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

Appeal has received $5,125,528 as of
 August 31, 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

• Partners in Charity helps Catholic Charities meet people’s emergency needs, in a first step to helping them become self-sufficient, the agency’s head told donors.
              A teenager told them the Appeal helps her – and she helped with it.
              Timothy McMahon, executive director of Catholic Charities, and Caitlin Moughan, who turns 14 on Sept. 16, were speaking at the annual Society Appreciation Dinner for Partners supporters. It was held Sept. 14 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston.
              The event gave Bishop McManus an opportunity to thank those who help with the Appeal, some of whom received awards for their years of service.
              Mr. McMahon said Catholic Charities uses the money it receives from Partners in Charity for emergency services, such as food and clothing. When people come in for such services, Catholic Charities will use software it is purchasing to discover what prohibits these people from being self sufficient, he said. The agency will then seek to meet those needs or refer the people to places that can meet their needs. Data that Catholic Charities collects about its successes with people could enable the agency to get additional grants, he said.
               “Partners in Charity is important because of all the people it helps,” said Caitlin, who hails from St. George Parish in Worcester. “It helped my uncle when he was younger and went to Nazareth School for Boys. It helps our retired priests, like Father Charlie Dumphy, who is really funny and was a great priest at our church. It helps with religious education, which I am in right now, so you are helping me!”
              Caitlin said her father, James Moughan, was Partners chairperson at their parish this year, and she helped him. Their pastor, Father Edward D. Niccolls, even called her “Madame Chairperson.” She said she likes to volunteer, and thinks she gets that from her parents. Her mother, Beth Moughan, volunteers at church, and has “done a lot with my schools.” Her father serves at church and work, and volunteered with the Bishop’s Fund when he was her age. She and her sister, Alyssa, volunteer at church and school. Caitlin thanked listeners for giving their time, talent and treasure to Partners and said she plans to continue volunteering for the Appeal.
   
              Bishop McManus said he’s been touched by diocesan Catholics’ generosity, noting that they raised $150,000 for their sister Diocese of Les Cayes, Haiti, after Hurricane Matthew devastated it last year. He talked about seeing “desperately poor” people there pack a church for a two-and-one-half-hour Mass, despite the lack of fans.
              The bishop said Haiti was just one of the ways local people have been generous. He also mentioned the collection taken at parishes recently for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. 
              Michael P. Gillespie, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, who coordinates the Partners Appeal, noted that $10,000 of the money collected was a gift for Hurricane Harvey victims. Listeners applauded.    
              People recognized for their service to Partners were:  Elizabeth Sabaj, St. Joseph Basilica, Webster; Barbara Avery, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Webster; Dan and Diane Cetin, St. Joseph Parish, Charlton; Helen Fitzgerald, St. Peter Parish, Worcester; Eugene McCarthy, St. Peter Parish, Worcester; Una Rice, St. Mary Parish, Uxbridge; Vicky Zarella, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fitchburg; Dr. Mary Lou Anderson, Partners advisory board chairwoman, from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Worcester.
               Those not present at the dinner are to be given their awards by their pastors, Mr. Gillespie said. He also acknowledged Partners advisory board members present.
              “Our Dinner was conceived 14 years ago for two reasons,” he said. “The first is that Bishop McManus, and those of us associated with his ministry…want to say thank you…for all you do to help the people of the Diocese through your giving of self and the giving of your resources.”
              Second, “In the context of this evening of appreciation, it’s great to have an opportunity to briefly reflect on some key aspect of our faith, some important developments in the life of the Church – because it’s the Church which draws us together in this room tonight and it's our faith which has molded our generosity.” He said Partners’ work “is truly about bringing Jesus Christ to others through personal gifts of charity and love.” 
               Mr. Gillespie gave the following reports about this year’s Appeal. The grand total was $5,125,528. Sixty St. Paul Society members contributed a total of $310,925 and 48 Holy family Society members contributed a total of $630,424. The priests’ society, named for St. John Vianney, saw 142 priests donating, 91 of them giving $1,000 or more, for a total of $218,660.

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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.