September 28, 2012 -Archdiocese Of Boston Raises $1.2 Million For Clergy Funds*

More Than 1,300 Turn Out For Annual Priest Dinner

Braintree, MA –(September 28, 2012)…..The Archdiocese of Boston announced today that $1.2 million was raised from the 4th Annual Celebration of the Priesthood dinner held Wednesday night at the Seaport World Trade Center. Over 1,300 guests were in attendance.  Don Rodman was the keynote speaker.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley said of the event, “We are grateful for the prayerful support of those who attended the dinner and to all who contributed to this event.  In particular, I want to express my appreciation to co-chairs Ann Carter and Neal Finnegan for their outstanding efforts, which made the evening such a success.  We are blessed by these efforts and those of Joe D’Arrigo and his team, who continue to strengthen the Clergy Funds, which are essential to the care and well being of our priests.”

John Kaneb, chair of the Clergy Funds Trustees, said, “I am pleased by the tremendous outpouring of support for the annual Celebration of the Priesthood Dinner.  Our goal has been to help restore the Clergy Funds to sound health and we are well on our way.  The Cardinal has brought in an extraordinary group of people who are sharing their vast expertise with us and we are enormously grateful for their dedication.  It is a privilege to assist the Church in this endeavor in support of our priests and in recognition of their lifetime of ministry.”

In a joint statement, event co-chairs Neal Finnegan and Ann Carter, said, “It was an honor to serve the Archdiocese and our priests during this wonderful celebration.  In particular we want to extend our gratitude to the dinner committee who went above and beyond what was asked and made this evening so successful.  We are especially grateful to our very generous and caring benefactors.  Your continued support of the Clergy Funds makes it possible for the Church to care for our priests.”

Joseph D’Arrigo, Executive Director of the fund, noted, “On an operating basis, we will realize a surplus this year for the Clergy Funds after running deficits in excess of $10 million annually for many years.  That is a remarkable turn-around during one of the most difficult and challenging economic periods in our nation’s history.  This is a testament to the priests and the people of the Archdiocese and all of our benefactors who are committed to supporting care of our priests.”

The Clergy Funds were established in the early 1970s. These funds provide for the healthcare and retirement needs of Senior Priests, healthcare costs of active priests, and the Senior Priest retirement home, Regina Cleri. Currently there are nearly 700 priests in the Archdiocese.  More than 250 are senior or retired priests.  At Regina Cleri there are 53 residents, senior priests. Mr. D’Arrigo noted, “There is almost 2,800 years of priestly service currently living at Regina Cleri from men who have served 50, 60 and 70 years. And they continue to serve, helping out at parishes and going to Massachusetts General Hospital to anoint the sick. Of the nearly 700 priests in our care, approximately 200 senior priests live in rectories throughout the diocese, on their own, in nursing homes and assisted living. These are the men that built this Archdiocese.”

To view a video shown at the dinner please click here:  http://youtu.be/JCn4RGwuULM.

Next year’s dinner will be on September 26, 2013.  C. Michael Daley and Janet Daley were announced as the co-chairs of the 2013 dinner.  For more information or to offer a contribution please visit http://www.clergyfunds.org. 

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.