2007 Catholic Ministries Appeal Kick-Off
Brings Over 100 Parishioners Together

The 2007 Catholic Ministries Appeal kick-off took place at St. James Parish in Setauket on January 18, 2007. The reception, the first of many planned for Long Island, was attended by over 100 parishioners from several different parishes, and emphasized the many wonderful programs and services made possible by your support of the Appeal.

A highlight of the reception was the introduction of a video presentation detailing all the different programs and services that the Appeal supports.  Actress and member of our church family, Susan Lucci, donated her time and narrated the 10-minute video, which will be mailed to each of our parishes so they can be shown at Mass or at local parish receptions.

The video touched on the many ways that the Catholic Ministries Appeal serves over 500,000 people from across Long Island.  100 percent of every dollar raised by the Catholic Ministries Appeal is used to support people in our Long Island community. 

Bishop William T. Murphy address parishioners at St. James Parish in Setauket.

Catholic Charities receives 22 percent of the funds raised by the Appeal and provides services to the poor, isolated, vulnerable, and disadvantaged on Long Island; reaching over 70,000 people in our community. 

With support from the Appeal, Catholic Charities can continue to provide the best services to people with mental health care, chemical dependency treatment, maternity services, food, immigrant services, HIV/AIDS services, health insurance enrollment, senior services, housing, services for people with physical or developmental disabilities, or a combination of these. 

20 percent of the funds go to educational programs for the over 25,800 students enrolled in our 53 elementary schools and 3 Diocesan high schools.  Pastoral Outreach receives another 20 percent and is directed to the Office of Hospital Ministries where more that 300, 000 people are served in our local hospitals each year, as well as the Office of Worship, the Respect Life Office and Prison Ministry.  Pastoral outreach funds also help support the Office of New Evangelization, whose ministries are designed to welcome, support and evangelize people from many different backgrounds to our faith, as well as provide assistance to our mission in the Dominican Republic that serves the health needs of over 45,000 people each year.

Our Formation programs receive 18 percent of the Catholic Ministries Appeal.  In 2006, over 117,000 students from local public schools participated in our religious education programs and our Office of Faith Formation trains the 17,000 catechists, who work directly with these youngsters. This office also provides direct support to parish teams who assist parents who are preparing to have their children baptized, or to young couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.  Within our seminary, there are currently 42 men in formation to become priests

The Catholic Ministries Appeal is also able to return 20 percent of the funds raised back to our parishes to be used for their outreach programs, special programs for youngsters or to help maintain the physical structure.   Last year within our 133 parishes, we celebrated more than 19,000 Baptisms, over 19,000 children received their First Communion, over 18,000 youngsters were confirmed, and our parish priests performed more than 4500 marriages.

For more information about the Catholic Ministries Appeal, or any of the information detailed above, please call 516-379-5210 ext. 2

Photograph courtesy of Gregory A. Shemitz