May 2013 - Diocese of Bridgeport

May 20133Local NewsParishes key to the success of the AppealBRIDGEPORT—With theAnnual Bishop’s Appeal movinginto high gear, a number of parisheshave reached or exceededtheir goals.“Four parishes have gonebeyond their goals, while atotal of 19% of our parishes areapproaching 90% of goal,” saysPam Rittman, director of theAppeal. “Parishes are really keyto the success of the AnnualAppeal and we’re grateful forthe leadership of our pastorsand priests.”The Appeal is now approachingthe $7 million mark, withthe support of over 17,000 giftsas parishes work to reach theirgoals.St. Bridget of Ireland Parishin Stamford, led by Fr. EdwardMcAuley, is the first parish toreach goal. At press time, itsparishioners have donated over$70,000 representing 117% ofgoal.St. Anthony of Padua Parishin Fairfield, St. Margaret’s Shrinein Bridgeport and AssumptionParish in Westport have alsoexceeded goal.“We’re well aware that theseare difficult times for manyfamilies, but the people of thediocese always rise to the occasion.God love them, they’revery generous people and alwaysready to respond to needs,” saysFr. Thomas Thorne, pastor ofAssumption Parish in Westportand assistant chair of the PriestAdvisory Committee (PAC) ledby Msgr. Tom Driscoll of Easton.Fr. Thorne says most parishionersare aware of the litanyof good things supported by theBishop’s Appeal because the servicestouch the lives of so manyfamilies in Fairfield County.“I think the Appeal alsoreminds us that the local Churchis the sum of our parishes. TheAppeal offers a larger perspectiveand the opportunity to see the bigpicture,” says Fr. Thorne, notingthat diocesan seminarians spoketo his parish this year as part ofthe Appeal.“It’s good that our parishionershear from people who arerecipients of their generosity,because their gifts make it possiblefor seminarians to continuewith their formation and studies,”he says.Fr. McAuley, who took overleadership of St. Bridget Parishlast year, says that speakers fromCatholic Charities were welcomedby his parishioners.His strategy was to hit allthe bases by distributing material,inviting speakers, listing inbulletins and making personalappeals from the pulpit. But mostimportantly, he went out of hisway to let people know that hewas pleased by whatever gift theycould afford.Many of his 700 parishionersare retired and living on fixedincomes, but they reached out tohelp others.“I think it’s important for thepastor to let people know thathe’s aware that many are strugglingwith financial limitations.Everyone is in a different positionfinancially. I simply ask them todiscern their level of sacrificialgift because their generosity reallymakes the difference.”Among those who choose todesignate a gift, the most populardesignations in dollar amountsraised in order are: CatholicCharities at 11%; BridgeportAcademies at 6.5%, (plus otherschools, 11% all together); andpriest and seminarian related supportat 4.6%.Likewise, Bishop Leaders(those who donate $1,000 ormore) represent 5% of the totalnumber of gifts and 39% of theoverall amount raised.“There’s plenty of room forparticipation at every level,” saysRittman. “We hope that peoplewill join us and make the Appeala success.”Among the highlights of servicesare the 1.3 million meals tothe poor and homeless, 36,000children who participate in religiouseducation programs, 3,500prisoners who receive spiritualcounseling, 11,000 students indiocesan elementary and highschools, 22,000 patients receivingpastoral care in health facilities,and 600 couples who attendedweekend retreats as they preparefor marriage.Checks may be made payableto the Annual Bishop’s Appeal,and a credit card gift may bepayable online or by pledge card.All gifts will be acknowledgedby the diocese and are tax deductibleto the fullest extentof the law.(For more information go towww.2013ABA.com, or to make yourgift early, please pledge by emailing:2013ABA@diobpt.org.)nParishioners work to share Gospel loveDARIEN—Volunteers fromthe Men’s Group at St. John’sParish in Darien, joined by membersof the parish Youth Group,donated a beautiful May day torefurbish and repaint a home inNorwalk.Their work was part ofHomeFront, a community-basedvolunteer project that providesfree repairs to low-income homeowners,enabling them to remainin their homes with an improvedquality of life.The St. John’s team was ledby house captain Doug McKay,who was responsible for coordinatingthe project and overseeingthe work of the volunteers. “Thisis the ninth year that St. John hasparticipated in HomeFront. Wepower-washed and wire brushedthe exterior of the house andreplaced rotted trim along theroofline. Then we repainted theexterior and window trim as wellas staining the deck out back,”McKay says. “The parishionersat St. John are grateful that theycan work together to give back tofolks that are less fortunate thanthey are.”The teens took charge ofrenovating the grounds, removingleaves and yard debris from thehomeowner’s backyard.“This was terrific,” says St.John’s parishioner AnthonyMorro. “It’s great that there is anorganization such as HomeFrontthat can combine professionalswith volunteers so they can worktogether to provide this type ofservice to those in need. I’m soglad that we can come out anddo something that benefits peoplethat might not otherwise be ableto afford it.”HomeFront currently servesFairfield, Hartford and NewHaven Counties in Connecticutand Westchester County in NewYork. This year HomeFront iscelebrating 25 years of service tolocal communities.The St. John’s volunteerswere joined by additional volunteersfrom Fox Hill Builders ofDarien, who replaced the trimalong the roofline as well asproviding a dump truck to haulaway branches, yard debris anda tree that was cut down duringthe project.The homeowners, Garvis andSilva Merdinoglu are an elderlyArmenian couple. They haveowned the house for over 21years, having immigrated to theUnited States nearly 32 years ago.“We have so much to be thankfulfor. These people are wonderful,”Silvia Merdinoglu said.For Fr. Frank Gomez, parochialvicar at St. John’s, this washis fourth time on a HomeFrontproject since coming to St. Johnfour years ago. “I think this issuch a great opportunity to helpout others in a practical way,” Fr.Gomez said during a break frompainting. “Jesus tells us in theGospel that we have to love oneanother, and this is a perfect wayto show that we actually careabout our neighbors.”The St. John’s project wasone of 80 houses that wererepaired or refurbished thisyear in the Connecticut/NewYork area, 20 of which weredamaged during SuperstormSandy. The team from St.John’s joined some 2,600other volunteers from 74 faithcommunities, corporations,civic and non-profit groups.A total of five parishesfrom Diocese of Bridgeportparticipated in HomeFrontprojects this year. In additionto St. John, other parishesincluded Our Lady ofFatima, Wilton; St. Edwardthe Confessor, New Fairfield;St. Francis of Assisi, Weston;and St. Maurice, Stamford.(For more information,call HomeFront Project:800.887.4673 or visittheir website: www.HomeFrontprogram.org.) n