Annual Catholic Appeal - 2019

“A Tsunami of Good”— Our Annual Catholic Appeal

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

Recently, I had a rather long conversation with a friend about the tough times we are experiencing in the Church. These have been highlighted in the media, especially in the past few days as our Holy Father meets with Bishops from around the world to work toward the justice, reform, and healing that we so badly need. My friend reminded me of an important fact: “The Church does a ‘tsunami of good’ throughout the world that no organization or group can come close to matching.” This statement is a good introduction to our Annual Catholic Appeal.
 
This diocesan appeal gives us the opportunity to be a part of that “tsunami of good!” You should have received, or will soon receive, a letter from our Bishop along with information about the good our diocese does and seeks to continue through your generosity in the appeal. It supports so many ministries that we care about so much:

• Providing care for the sick and elderly
• Feeding, clothing and assisting the poor
• Promoting respect for life at every stage
• Educating and forming our children in the faith
• Providing programs to support marriage and family
• Caring for our Senior Priests
• Preparing lay leaders, deacons and priests
• Working to evangelize and strengthen our parishes

As you may know, every parish is assigned a goal or target. For the past few years, ours has been $110,000. It sounds rather formidable but I believe that our parish is large enough and generous enough to not only reach the goal, but surpass it. In doing so, we stand to benefit. By reaching the goal $16,500 will be returned to the parish for our own needs. This amount increases when we surpass the goal.
 
It is important to know that one hundred percent of the gift you make goes directly to support the ministries I’ve described.
 
Most parishioners received information by mail, but our parish office also has pledge/gift cards to participate. Your gift can also be made online by visiting the diocesan website.
 
Generosity is a great characteristic of our parish. I hope you will prayerfully consider a generous gift to the appeal. I make a gift every year and I will be increasing it this year. Fr. Joseph is also giving. You can be sure that I did not forget to place a call to Fr. Jean who is down at Catholic University to remind him about his gift!
 
Thanks to all who have supported the appeal in the past. I encourage all those who have not to prayerfully consider a gift so that this “tsunami of good” will be even greater!

Please make checks payable to Annual Catholic Appeal, not to Our Lady of Sorrows – St Anthony. Thank you!

 

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Please Contribute

As members of our diocesan family, we are called upon to love and serve all of our brothers and sisters – both within our Catholic community and beyond. Your contribution to the Annual Catholic Appeal allows our diocese to continue to serve as a resource to the parishes and other organizations in their efforts to provide service, evangelization and outreach to people throughout Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The theme of this year’s Appeal is: “Never reach out your hand unless you are willing to extend an arm.” (Pope St. Paul VI)

Please make checks payable to Annual Catholic Appeal, not to Our Lady of Sorrows – St Anthony. Thank you!

If you have not already pledged, please prayerfully consider doing so. Participating is simple. You can drop your gift or pledge in the regular collection and the parish will forward it to the Appeal Office. Please mark your envelope: "Annual Catholic Appeal."

A gift by check or money order may be made payable to When making out a check, be sure to make it payable to Annual Catholic Appeal, not to Our Lady of Sorrows - St. Anthony.

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The Annual Catholic Appeal in Action

Your gift to the Catholic Appeal goes directly to the support of important ministries and its outreach to the needy in our Diocese of Trenton:

• Formation of seminarians, priests, deacons, deacon candidates
• Formation of parish catechists and lay leaders
• Catholic School support/Tuition Assistance
• Emergency assistance to the poor and vulnerable
• Parish counseling services
• Home Nursing Program
• Development of programs for families, youth
• Local parish needs

Pastoral Care

Rooted in the Gospel invitation to share in the healing mission of Jesus Christ, we advance the compassionate and competent spiritual, pastoral and sacramental care of God's suffering people by resourcing the clergy, pastoral ministers, healthcare professionals and caregivers who serve them. Those who offer pastoral care communicate God's love and compassion 'person-to-person' by offering spiritual and sacramental support, including the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick offered by a priest. We connect with healthcare institutions, medical professionals, chaplains and clergy by providing extensive consultation and resouces for the holistic health and well-being of Catholic patients.

Ministry of Catechesis, Lay Formation, and Evangelization

Each parish and Catholic school is unique and offers religious education in ways that meet the needs of over 50,000 students in the local community. Some program structures are very traditional; others are innovative. Even as adults we seek to learn more about our faith and deepen our relationship with God. Some adults want to know more, some adults want to grow in their prayer life. About 300 adults are brought to full initiation with the Church in our diocese each year. Many opportunities for the enrichment of faith are found in events and activities in parishes throughout the diocese, such as Bible Study, parish missions, lecture series, and online learning. The Ministry of Catechesis, Lay Formation, and Evangelization helps with adult faith enrichment by providing support for parish leaders and access to resources. Your gift, in essence, builds up our Catholic faith.

Ministries to Families, Youth, and Young Adults

These ministries strive to promote a Catholic understanding of life through faith formation at every stage of human living. They support you and your family, recognizing that your family is "holy, not because it is perfect, but because God's grace is at work in it, helping it to set out anew every day on the way to love."

Your gift promotes individuals and family life, so please be as generous as your means allow when making your pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Department of Multicultural Ministry

The Department of Multicultural Ministry will bring attention to the most pressing needs and concerns of the various cultural communities, and will assist parishes and diocesan offices as they address the needs that are identified. The council will have representatives from the Black Catholic, Filipino, Haitian, Hispanic and Portugese, Korean, Polish, and Eastern European communities.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Trenton provides care to more than 100,000 people each year and touches the lives of 1 in every 19 residents of Central New Jersey. A behavioral health care and social service agency, Catholic Charities offers 58 programs at 35 service sites and 72 residential sites in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. The mission of Catholic Charities is rooted in the Gospel Mandate to alleviate human suffering and seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and families by serving people in need, especially the poor and oppressed. Catholic Charities offers a network of accredited programs that provide quality, cost-effective services in the four counties of the diocese.

Diocesan Ministry of Vocations

The Diocesan Ministry of Vocations provides discernment opportunities, encouragement, support, education and resources for those responding to God's call to the ministerial priesthood.

We are committed to fostering an environment where vocations to the priesthood are valued and nurtured within the domestic church of the family and the local parish community.

Catholic Education Administration

Nurturing Family Life

Through the development of ministries that support individuals and families in the many stages and circumstances of life, the Diocese partners with its parishes in building an understanding of God's grace at work in every human life. These efforts address marriage preparation and enrichment, family life and parenting, maturing adults, pastoral care, jail and prison ministry, bereavement, separated and divorced, and respect life ministry.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an international Catholic organization of more than 750,000 lay men and women who seek to help the suffering in a spirit of justice and charity through person-to-person involvement. Founded in France in 1833, with St. Vincent de Paul as its patron, in the United States today there are more than 59,000 members in 4,300 conferences.

Vincentians seek, through prayer, meditation on Scripture and the teachings of the Church, to bear witness to the love of Christ through their daily lives and in their relationships with those in need.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society and its work have been encouraged by the Bishops of Trenton to provide a special means for lay-people to participate in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy through a time-tested organization with national and international support.

Your gift continues the mission of St. Vincent de Paul right here in central New Jersey.

Ministry of Clergy Personnel

This ministry assists the Bishop in the assignment of priests and deacons in the diocese, handles all personnel matters pertaining to active and retired priests, and works with priests from outside the diocese who seek to minister in the diocese. The Ministry of Clergy Personnel keeps priests and deacons informed of events in the diocese specifically for its clergy, assists in the continuing education of clergy, the annual convocation of priests, and in working throughout the diocese. 

Your gift supports the Bishop, priests, and deacons in serving all parishioners in the Diocese of Trenton.

Mount Carmel Guild

The Mount Carmel Guild has been helping Mercer County community members in their times of need since 1920, regardless of race or religion. Our services are offered free to those who need them.

The Guild's Home Health Nursing provides in-home nursing services to seniors whose Medicare insurance has been exhausted and have no alternative means of care. Our nursing care allows patients to stay in the comfort of their own homes, in familiar surroundings. Service can include: pre-filling insulin syringes for the sight impaired, pre-pouring medications weekly, monitoring vital signs, blood sugars, and cardiopulmonary status, administering injections, and assisting with pacemakers. Patient referrals are always welcome.

Each day, our Emergency Assistance Program staff members assess the needs of Mercer County families and distribute bags of groceries based on nutritional requirements. We assist approximately 700 heads of households each month. Our Comprehensive Nutritional Care program provides high-protein food packages, vitamin supplements and nutritional counseling to those who are HIV+. We also provide help for emergency prescriptions.

Your gift gives them a place to turn too in their need.