March 1, 2012 - Cardinal Launches the 2012 Catholic Appeal*

“The Good Samaritan Is You”

www.BostonCatholicAppeal.org

Braintree, MA – Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley has announced the launch of the 2012 Catholic Appeal, The Good Samaritan Is You. The Catholic Appeal launches this weekend, March 3rd and 4th in parishes across the Archdiocese of Boston. 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 and ways to give.

Cardinal Seán will launch the 2012 Catholic Appeal at Holy Family Parish, 9 Sparhawk St, Amesbury, MA on Saturday, March 3rd during the 4pm Mass. On Sunday, March 4th the Cardinal will celebrate the 11am Mass at Sacred Heart, 340 Centre St, Middleborough, MA.

This year’s theme The Good Samaritan Is You 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, “Just as the traveler from Samaria was moved to help a stranger in need, those who offer their philanthropic support join with the Church in her mission and service to enrich parish life, strengthen family bonds, inspire the next generation to live out their Catholic faith, and help advance the priorities and leadership of Archdiocese on local, national, and global levels.”

In his homily to the faithful of the Archdiocese during this second week of Lent, Cardinal Seán states, “It is during this Lenten season that I come to remind all of the Catholics of the Archdiocese that our mission of evangelization, our works of mercy, and our service to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the formation of priests, deacons and lay leaders, our outreach in campus ministry, the youth, our apostolate to immigrants, and the countless services and activities of the faith community depend upon your participation, your generosity, and spirit of sacrifice.”

He adds, “I know that it is your faith that allows you to make this sacrifice as did the Good Samaritan who stopped to care for someone he didn’t even know. Let us continue to work together to carry on the mission joyfully and generously so that the Gospel will be known and loved. Each of us must do our part.”

Remarking on the vibrancy of the Church in greater Boston, Rev. Monsignor Robert P. Deeley, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, said “We are blessed by the philanthropic support of more than 40,000 donors who generously give of their resources out of a desire to serve Christ’s family and a commitment to our Catholic mission. It is remarkable to witness how these Good Samaritans’ gifts are transformed into the ministries and programs that so many parishes, schools, families, and other individuals from all walks of life, count on.”

Msgr. Deeley will be celebrating Mass during the 2012 Catholic Appeal launch weekend in the following parishes: Saturday, March 3rd, 4pm Mass at St. Eulalia Parish, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester, MA; Sunday, March 4th, 9am Mass at St. Brigid Parish, 1979 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA and on Sunday during the 11am Mass at Sacred Heart, 47 Sixth Street, Cambridge, MA.

The Catholic Appeal is the primary philanthropic funding effort to fund the work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston. Through the Appeal, Catholics help support the vital programs and services offered through the 50 central ministries of the Archdiocese. These ministries serve our 288 parishes in 144 cities and towns, 122 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and thousands of Catholics of all ages in many life circumstances. The Appeal is funded solely through the generosity and commitment of parishioners who believe in these ministries and want to ensure that they remain strong.

The Archdiocese reports it raised $13.7 million in the 2011 Catholic Appeal, $1.0 million more than the 2010 Appeal.

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 nearly 2 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.