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Bishop’s Appeal sets goal of $4 million
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Murry
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngs-town announced a goal of $4 million for the 2015 annual Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church.
The bishop explained during a news conference Monday that because of the generosity of contributors in 2014, the goal of $3.8 million was surpassed by $200,000.
He referred to a comment by Pope Francis that the church is the “field hospital, caring for the wounded.” Its mission includes “the wounded” who are “hungry, thirsty, homeless, infirm, forgotten and abandoned.” Catholic Charities addresses the physical needs of people such as shelter, food and clothing and much more.
The Bishop’s Appeal will be announced in parishes this weekend. Commitment weekend will be Feb. 14 and 15 when parishioners sign pledge cards with the amount of their donations. The bishop said the funds are given in increments or a lump sum; donations are accepted in various forms of payment. “We want to make it as easy as possible,” the bishop said.
The appeal will continue through the Lenten season, which begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and runs through Easter, April 5. “Lent is a time of reflection and almsgiving,” Bishop Murry said, noting donors are urged to ponder the papal directive of caring for the poor.
The Bishop’s Appeal will conclude on Pentecost Sunday, May 24.
In 2014, more than 45,000 people were helped through Catholic Charities. Services included emergency assistance with utilities, prescriptions, food and holidays; housing counseling; homeless services, including outreach, rental assistance and housing placement; family support services, including grief and bereavement counseling; an anti-bullying program in local schools; meditation services; senior support with in-home social-work counseling, independent living services and supportive services; and adoption services. There also is a senior center in East Liverpool that offers home-delivered meals, utility and rent assistance and food; Christina House, a domestic violence shelter; and First Step Pregnancy and Family Support with infant supplies, case management and connection to other resources.
The bishop cited “cuts in food assistance” as one of the reasons that Catholic Charities saw an increase of aid from 8,696 people to 13,970 from 2013 to 2014.
Nancy Voitus, executive director of Catholic Charities Regional Agency, said, “housing is the number one issue” that people face.
For information about the Bishop’s Appeal, contact Pat Palombo, diocesan director of development and stewardship, at 330-744-8451. Visit www.doygiving.org.