The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) supports the more than 25 ministries and programs that attend to the spiritual, emotional, physical, and educational needs of our friends and neighbors. While we all can agree that there is no greater act than loving our brothers and sisters as Christ loves us, how many of us have made a sacrifice in our own lives to provide monetary support to the Annual Catholic Appeal?
As I write this article, the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal, “One Faith, One Family,” remains just over $500,000 shy of reaching its goal. We are very thankful for all of our wonderful donors who have dug down deep and made a sacrificial gift. Unfortunately, only 13 percent of our parishioners have done so, leaving a large number of people yet to make their gift. We are asking everyone who is reading this today to consider giving up one coffee and bagel a week for the rest of the year and donating the monetary savings to the ACA now. Clearly, if everyone were to do this, we would happily surpass our goal.
To give you further incentive to make your gift now, please consider the thoughtful notes that I have received from the directors of some of our ministries that receive support from the ACA.
Maryellen Shuckerow, MHSA, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Middletown, wrote, “St Vincent de Paul Middletown, Inc. could not continue to provide our safety net of services to our region without the continued support of the Annual Catholic Appeal. In a world where our ministry and mission is needed more than ever, we are enormously grateful to Bishop Cote and the diocese for 43 years of support.”
Andrea Hoisl, director of the Office of Faith Events, shared, “We are very grateful for the support we receive from the ACA, which allows to offer programs like marriage preparation, care-giver spirituality, catechetical leader enrichment/retreats, family bingo, adult faith formation workshops and so many others. We are forever indebted to the people in the diocese who support the ACA.”
Jillian Corbin, executive director, of St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich, commented, “The funding that St. Vincent de Paul Place Norwich receives from the ACA allows us to provide a safety net of services to many people who are facing a multitude of hardships in the post-pandemic era. With this support, we are able to foster a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other. Thank you to the people who donate to the ACA to make this all possible.”
Jack Babbit, COO, of Catholic Charities, remarked, “We at Catholic Charities are thankful to all those who support the ACA. Without the ongoing support of the ACA, the mission of the agency could not continue. The funding helps alleviate the pains of poverty, food insecurity, and housing and financial instability. Our sisters and brothers still have difficulty affording basic necessities like food, fuel, utilities, and housing.”
Please prayerfully consider the life-affirming impact that all our ACA-supported ministries and programs have on so many in our communities and how easily we can commit to forgoing one breakfast treat and coffee in order to do our share.
By Mary Ellen Mahoney