February 24, 2016 - Living Our Faith Together: The Joy of Mercy

2016 Catholic Appeal Set to Launch 

www.bostoncatholicappeal.org  

Braintree, MA (February 24, 2016) -- The 2016 Catholic Appeal will be announced in parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston this weekend (February 27 & 28). Commitment weekend takes place the following weekend (March 5 & 6). The Catholic Appeal helps to support our parishes, schools, and ministries.

In his annual message Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley said, “Pope Francis in calling for this Jubilee of Mercy reminds us: we constantly need to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it.” The Cardinal added, “We perform the works of mercy both as individuals and as a community of faith. During the season of Lent, we call upon our Catholic people to make sacrifices for the annual Appeal, which is the financial support for the works of mercy and evangelization that the Church carries on in Christ’s name as His disciples. May this holy season of Lent allow us to experience the joy and liberation that God’s mercy brings, and may we learn to be instruments of mercy and messengers of God’s love and compassion in our weary world.”

Kathleen Driscoll, Secretary for Institutional Advancement, said, “Because of the wonderful generosity of our Catholic faithful we are able to maintain our commitment to support parish life, our ministries, and educational programs that are essential in the life of the Church.” Ms. Driscoll noted that Appeal contributions in our parishes have grown by 23% over the last three years while the number of donors has increased by 24%.

Cardinal and Vicar General to Launch the Catholic Appeal in parishes 

Cardinal Seán will launch the Appeal in the following parishes:

• Saturday, March 5 – Immaculate Conception, Marlborough 4:30 p.m. Mass 
• Sunday, March 6 – St. Paul, Hingham 9 a.m. Mass 
• Sunday, March 6 – St. Thomas Aquinas, Bridgewater 12 noon Mass 

Most Rev. Peter J. Uglietto, S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia will launch the Appeal on Sunday, March 6 at St. Mary of the Annunciation, Melrose during the  11:30 a.m. Mass.

Bishop Uglietto said, “As stewards of the Church entrusted to us by Christ, we have a great opportunity to support the good works of mercy happening all across the Archdiocese. We are most excited at the steady progress being made with the implementation of Disciples in Mission, the pastoral plan for the Archdiocese.  In this effort we are setting a solid course of mission and ministry for the future.”

The Catholic Appeal supports ministry and programs in 289 parishes and 116 schools.