What does it take to make 7.5 million meals? That’s how many meals were served to hungry people in the Greater Philadelphia area by the various agencies funded through the Catholic Charities Appeal last year. You may not notice them, but these hungry people are in every county, town, parish and neighborhood. The Catholic Charities Appeal is the largest fundraising initiative in the archdiocese and, as you can well imagine, this assistance is particularly important at this time as we all face the effects of ongoing inflation. The needy are particularly affected as they struggle to feed their families, care for their aging parents and grandparents and educate their children with special needs in a Catholic environment. Your contribution helps to fund over 100 Catholic Social Services and Nutritional Development organizations and programs. The Catholic Charities Appeal supports agencies in the five counties of the archdiocese, from adoption services to community food programs to senior adult services to schools and homes for people who are visually or hearing impaired or developmentally disabled.
Last year, 650,000 men, women and children received assistance from these services. Almost 2 million meals were served through 50 food cupboards and more than 5,800 senior citizens were served in Senior Centers and parish programs throughout the archdiocese. Hundreds of children in our archdiocesan-run schools of special education receive tuition assistance and support. Almost 4,000 women and men received pregnancy and parenting support and over 8,400 parents received baby care items. And 130 retired priests, including our own Msgr. Carroll and Msgr. Jagodzinski, count on support from the Catholic Charities Appeal.
Your annual commitment to this important work assures that the Catholic Charities Appeal can continue to provide much-needed assistance for men, women and children throughout the archdiocese. As followers of Christ, we are called to be our Lord’s heart and hands in loving care for those in the greatest need and, in their name, I thank you!
Like all households in our parish and, indeed, throughout the archdiocese, you will soon receive a packet with a letter from Archbishop Nelson Pérez inviting you to participate in the annual Catholic Charities Appeal with a sacrificial gift. The theme for this year’s appeal is “Giving Hope to All,” and the goal is $10 million. Aware of God’s love for you, we are asking you to embrace those with special needs. You are crucial to the success of this campaign. Prayers and contributions of any size will further the Appeal’s goal to instill full faith, firm hope and fervent charity within our community. Once again, our parish goal this year is $152,390.00. As you have done over the past dozen years, last year, you and your fellow parishioners exceeded our parish goal, contributing $162,620, so I am confident that we will once again reach and, indeed, exceed our goal.
Your Catholic Charities Appeal mailing included a return envelope. Please use it to send your most generous donation or, make your donation online, go to catholiccharitiesappeal.org. And, be assured that your generosity will be used wisely; 95 cents of every dollar you give goes directly to care for those in need!