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Archives 2014 Bishop’s Fund Appeal set to begin
Open Our Hearts

Sept. 10, 2014

By Valerie Mathews
Diocesan Bishop’s Fund Director

Three days before Thanksgiving, as Patrick and Abby were preparing to welcome their children home for the holiday, they were faced with an emergency situation; they completely lost their home to fire. 

In reflecting upon this devastating event in their lives, Abby shared, “in the past several months, we have truly found the definition of kindness and the meaning of gratitude.  Our pastor showed up the next day (after the fire) with a gift from the Bishop’s Fund and prayers from Bishop LaValley.  It meant so much to us to know that our parish and our diocese were there for us both spiritually and financially.  It helped us to regroup and start getting back on track. 

“This kindness, this blessing has strengthened our spirit and helped us heal and for this we will always be grateful,” she said.

From its roots beginning in 1959 with Bishop James Navagh, the annual Bishop’s Fund Appeal has a long history of supporting essential ministries and reaching out to those in need in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. 

Last year, because of the generous support of more than 10,500 households, the Bishop’s Fund Appeal exceeded its goal by more than $20,000.  This generosity will help and give hope to people like Patrick and Abby. 

Again this coming year, it is our hope to reach a goal of $1,275,000 with any additional funds to further supplement the Bishop’s Good Samaritan Fund.

This past spring, Bishop LaValley announced the newly established diocesan priorities focusing on Creating a Culture of Vocations, Strengthening Faith Formation in Family Life and Building Parishes with Living Stones. 

Bishop LaValley recently said, “our continuing generous support of the annual Bishop’s Fund Appeal will be critical in providing the ministries and programs that will help us address the newly established diocesan priorities.  With your generous participation in this annual appeal, our journey of faith will be:
Christ-led

• As people of the North Country answer their vocational call to become priests, deacons, consecrated women and men, commissioned lay ministers and active, faith-filled parishioners.
Christ-fed

• Through faith formation and religious education in our schools and parishes,

• Nourished and united by the Word and Eucharist, and

• Energized to reach out to others seeking God and fellowship.
Hope-filled

• As our youth and young people begin to take active leadership roles in their parishes and 

• As we reach out to families who are facing emergency situations such as house fires, flooding, exorbitant home heating costs and high medical expenses.”

The Bishop’s Fund Appeal will begin in all parishes across the Diocese the weekend of September 13-14.  
Donations can be mailed to:  The Bishop’s Fund Appeal, PO Box 150, Ogdensburg, New York 13669 or made online at www.rcdony.org/development.

To learn more about the Appeal and to view the 2014 Bishop’s Fund Video, please visit our website at www.rcdony.org/development.

school

Among the critical ministries supported by the Bishop’s Fund Appeal  is Catholic education.  Catholic school across the diocese receive support through matching gifts to Catholic schools and the Tuition Assistance Program. Above Augustinian Academy in Carthage welcomes the old and new faces to the 2014-15 school year.  Pictured in front of the school's theme for the year are, from left, Katie LaGrange, Gretchen and Brigid Duffy, Logan Sadler, St. Joseph  Sister Suanne Johnson and Holli Campeau.  New additions are Brigid and her mother Gretchen and Sister Suanne. Art teacher Anne McCarty created the artwork.

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