February 27, 2013 - Cardinal Launches the 2013 Catholic Appeal*
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Terrence C. Donilon
Email: [email protected]
Work: 617-746-5775Cardinal Launches the 2013 Catholic Appeal
“There is a Good Samaritan in Each One of Us”
Braintree, MA – Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley has announced the launch of the 2013 Catholic Appeal this weekend, March 2 and 3, in parishes across the Archdiocese of Boston.
In his homily to the Catholic faithful during this third week of Lent, Cardinal Seán states, “The Appeal is about helping others, helping the 7,000 adults participating in the wonderful program, Why Catholic?, helping Sr. Marian Batho and the 2,000 religious brothers and sisters whom she serves in her role as Director of the Delegate for Religious, and the more than 113,000 young people growing in their faith through religious education classes throughout our Archdiocese. These and so many other valuable programs and services geared toward meeting material and spiritual needs of our people are what the Appeal makes possible.”
This year’s theme There is a Good Samaritan in Each One of Us invites Catholics across the Archdiocese to respond to the needs of the pastoral, educational, and charitable ministries of the Church in the Boston. Kathleen Driscoll, Secretary for Institutional Advancement, said, “During this holy season of Lent, we join with Catholics worldwide to deepen our faith and make Christ’s presence known in our daily lives. The 2013 Catholic Appeal offers a timely invitation to help support the 50 ministries of our Archdiocese that enrich parish life, strengthen families, inspire and educate future generations, and help advance our Church leadership here in our Archdiocese.”
Cardinal Seán adds, “This year’s annual Archdiocesan Appeal calls us all to be Good Samaritans by generously living out the great commandment of love of God and love of neighbor. In this Year of Faith, we are called upon more than ever, to put our faith into action and help those in our community who are in need and who count on us for support.”
Remarking on the vitality of the Church in Greater Boston, Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley, Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, said, “I am privileged to oversee the work of those in the central ministries of our Archdiocese who serve thousands through our Church’s varied grace-filled services and programs. None of this work would be possible without great generosity. We are blessed to have more than 40,000 donors whose commitment enables us to embrace the Good Samaritan in each one of us and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Bishop Deeley will be celebrating Mass during the 2013 Catholic Appeal launch weekend in the following parishes: Saturday, March 2, 4:30pm Mass, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish at St. Ann’s Church, 208 Samoset Avenue, Hull, MA; Sunday, March 3, 10am Mass at St. Rita Parish, 158 Mammoth Road, Lowell, MA.
All are encouraged to visit the Appeal’s website at www.BostonCatholicAppeal.org to learn more about the important programs and ministries supported by the Catholic Appeal. The Catholic Appeal is the primary philanthropic funding effort supporting the work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston. Through the Appeal, Catholics help sustain the vital ministries serving our 288 parishes in 144 cities and towns, 121 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and thousands of Catholics of all ages in many life circumstances. These ministries are made possible by the generosity of parishioners who want to ensure that they remain strong.
The Archdiocese reports it raised $14.2 million in the 2012 Catholic Appeal, 101% of the 2012 goal.
About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Diocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of 1.8 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 288 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 42,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of 200,000 individuals through its pastoral and social service outreach. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholic.org.