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2016 Bishop’s Appeal sets $4.2 million goal to help needy
By linda m. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Words from Bishop George V. Murry, a balloon release and cupcake celebration Tuesday launched the 20th year of the annual Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church on the theme “Changing Lives ... One Family at a Time.”
Bishop Murry spoke briefly in St. Columba Cathedral Hall, 144 W. Wood St., emphasizing the work of Catholic Charities that “reaches out to the poor and needy.” He noted programs offered through Catholic Charities “touch so many lives.”
The bishop then turned the podium over to the Rev. John-Michael Lavelle, director of the Bishop’s Appeal, who announced the 2016 goal of $4.2 million, the highest amount of the appeal to date. Last year’s goal was $4 million.
“The hallmark of the Church and the Church of Youngstown is its service to the poor,” Father Lavelle said. The appeal depends on the generosity of members of the 88 parishes in the diocese and “other people of good will,” he said.
The first Bishop’s Appeal in 1997 set a goal of $2 million, with the lion’s share going to the work of Catholic Charities and a portion to help parishes in their ministries. The appeal continues to benefit Catholic Charities agencies that also receive grant money. Funds also support parish and diocesan ministries that reach out in communities. Since it began, the Bishop’s Appeal has received $64 million to aid the poor and those in need. Before the appeal, there was a diocesewide collection for charity.
The funds from the Bishop’s Appeal benefit the work of Catholic Charities in the six-county diocese of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull counties. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 46,000 people with food, clothing, housing, rental and utility assistance, professional case-management services and other programs to meet local needs. Catholic Charities serves all qualifying people, no matter what their faith.
“The greatest need is with basic necessities of food and utilities and with children and seniors,” Father Lavelle said. He added that “food insecurity” remains a “day-to-day” issue for many Valley residents. “Needs continue to increase.”
Father Lavelle said some senior citizens face daily “real-life decisions” on whether to buy medicine and food or pay utilities. “For some people, it’s a luxury to have those things,” he said.
He asked those at the appeal launch to think of what food they have in their refrigerators and shelves, what clothes and coats they have in closets and if they think twice about turning up the thermostat. “For some people, they live in the cold, don’t have enough to eat and don’t have a coat,” Father Lavelle said. “These people are living lives so different from ours ... but we must be in solidarity with them. We must realize how blessed we are and in turn be a blessing to them.”
He said Catholic Charities works in collaboration with other agencies “to pull together and help the needy through a network of good-will people.”
After the presentations, the group walked out to the steps of St. Columba Cathedral and released the balloons in a brisk wind. Cupcakes – iced in gold, purple, red and green, in addition to white – reflected colors in the diocese and Catholic Charities logos and liturgical seasons. The cupcakes were arranged to form in the diocese logo in front of the podium. Guests were invited to share in the cupcakes.