VOL. 48, NO.20 • Friday, May 21, 2004
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Early returns indicate many new Appeal donors
ATTENDING ST. VINCENT'S Home inaugural Kaleidoscope Awards ceremony were: Seated: Deb Ganem, recipient; and standing, from left: Rita Capotosto, the home's assistant executive director; Tracy Kettle, recipient; Mercy Sister Rosemary Laliberte, mission coordinator; Louise Richmond, assistant executive director; and recipients Ron Gagnon, Kathryn Lagasse and Meghan Robitaille
. SVH honors supporters FALL RIVER - St. Vincent's Home presented its first Kaleidoscope Awards to five dedicated community supporters during re-
cent ceremonies. Honored for extending themselves in special ways as volunTum to page six - Award
FALL RIVER - As the Catholic Charities Appeal began its third week there were indications in headquarters that people were considering how much "more" they could do to assist those in need. This was evident not only in the returns, which appear to be strong at this earlyjuncture, but also from a number of pastors who reported that they were receiving gifts from a number of new contributors and from some who were "renewing" their habit of donating to this springtime Appeal. One pastor reported that 52 percent of the donations/pledges he had received so far were increases over what those same people had given last year. He was also receiving a number of donations from parishioners who were giving to the Appeal for the first time. Two other pastors who had stopped by Appeal headquarters to make their returns, echoed this same sentiment. They felt there had been a substantial number of contributors increasing their donations and that there were a number of new contributors as well, a phenomenon the Appeal had experienced last year as well.
Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, director of Catholic Charities, on hearing the observations of these veteran pastors, reiterated his frequently heard comments regarding the two main components to a successful Appeal; namely, to encourage those contributing to consider increasing their offering and to increase the number of donors. He has frequently been known to say, "An increase in the number of parishioners sharing what they have with those who have so much less, is really the only way to lessen the mental, emotional, and physical suffering of those in need." Realizing full well that the Appeal has a long way to go and that there is much to be done, the staff at Catholic Charities Appeal headquarters is always encouraged by such enthusiastic reports from those working in the parishes of the diocese. It is with this as a backdrop that the Appeal moves into its fourth week. Contributions to the Catholic Charities Appeal may be made either through a one-time donation or through a pledge, which is payable monthly, quarterly, or semiTum to page 10 - Appeal
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