Charity
hasn’t lost its appeal
Catholic
Charities kicks off 50th annual fund drive
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday is May 4.
For a half-century and counting, the archdiocesan Catholic Charities
Appeal has been “the single most important annual fundraising
effort in the entire Archdiocese,” Cardinal Justin Rigali said
at the Appeal’s 2008 kickoff on Monday, April 28.
The event began in prayer, with a 6 p.m. Liturgy of the Word celebrated
by Cardinal Rigali at St. John the Evangelist Church in Center City.
A dinner followed nearby, in the Crystal Tea Room at the Wanamaker Building.
“Back in 1958, Cardinal John O’Hara saw the need to raise
funds to help the many great works of our Archdiocese,” Cardinal
Rigali said in his homily at the prayer service. “He named this
great annual effort the ‘Catholic Charities Appeal.’ …
He reached out to all the local people of our faithful Church and raised
more than $2.1 million dollars.”
This year’s goal is $10 million.
“Today, our Appeal enables us to assist 137,000 needy men, women
and children, and families, who live within the five-county region of
our Archdiocese,” the Cardinal said.
“We are called as Christians to give to the poor and needy, and
that is exactly who and what our Appeal benefits,” he said. Later,
at the dinner, the Cardinal noted: “We’ve heard the cries.
We’ve heard the needs of so many of our brothers and sisters.”
Allen Davis, 68, of St. Barbara Parish in Philadelphia, said he delights
in helping the cause. “Each year I look forward to the Catholic
Charities Appeal — to go out and spread the word to my fellow
parishioners,” he said at the dinner. “The Catholic Church
has done so much for me. If I can do a little bit to help someone else,
I’ll be happy.”
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden is the Appeal’s general chairman.
“It’s wonderful to see so many of my helpers here in this
room tonight,” he said at the dinner.
The Appeal is the one time of year when “we ask the Church of
Philadelphia to step forward and to look to help those among us who
need our help for a variety of reasons. It can be because … materially
they are poor, but it can also be because, perhaps, the Lord has given
them a cross to carry as they go through life,” Bishop McFadden
said.
Deacon John K. Hunter, executive director of the archdiocesan Office
for Development, which administers the annual Appeal, said in remarks
at the dinner, “We are extremely optimistic and enthusiastic about
this year’s Appeal.”
He told the crowd: “The purpose of this dinner is to thank you,
in advance, for your support. I ask you to keep the Appeal in your prayers
… and encourage your parishioners to work toward achieving their
parish goals.”
Cardinal Rigali’s recent birthday — April 19 — was
acknowledged at the dinner. Bishop McFadden and the other priests in
attendance honored the Cardinal by singing, “Domine Salvum Fac,”
a Philadelphia tradition in which priests salute one of their own and
wish him God’s blessing.
Afterward, all the others in attendance sang “Happy Birthday”
to the Cardinal.
“It’s very heartening to see the participation and enthusiasm
tonight,” said Clair Raubenstine. He and his wife, Jeanne, are
co-chairs of the Appeal’s Special Gifts Committee.
“I thought it was a wonderful kickoff,” Jeanne Raubenstine
added. “We had a great representation, not only of the Special
Gifts committee people, but of all the parish committee people and lay
coordinators.” The Raubenstines are members of Our Lady of Good
Counsel Parish in Southhampton, and Jeanne works as a volunteer in the
Appeal’s development office.
“We’re hoping that everything will bring to fruition a very
profitable Catholic Charities Appeal for this year as we are rebuilding
from past years,” she said.
Beth Stieritz, 42, director of development at St. Luke the Evangelist
Parish and School in Glenside, attended the kickoff with her husband,
Kurt, 43. “I’m really impressed that … 95 cents of
every dollar raised goes directly toward caring for those in need,”
she said.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468
or cchicoin@adphila.org.