Each year, the members of our diocesan family come together to support the Annual Catholic Appeal as best they can, by donating their hard-earned money throughout the year.

With the close of 2019, we are happy to report that we have received a total of $2,522,300.25 in gifts and pledges. While we are $288,699.75 shy of our total, we are extremely grateful to those who recognize the invaluable services that our ACA supported ministries provide to all of us in the diocese.

Whether it be to help to pay the tuition of our seminarians, to fund catechetical programs for our youth, marriage preparation classes for our newly engaged, food for the poor and counseling for the conflicted, the list can go on and on and surely impacts all of us, in one way or another. While we thank you our generous donors, those who have been helped by your kindness thank you as well!

A young single mom, who has been very ill and missed a lot of work, thanks St. Vincent de Paul, Middletown for its Community Assistance Program which helped to keep her electricity on and heating oil in her tank. A new seminarian personally thanks each ACA donor for supporting him as he follows his calling to become a priest.

A teenage student in Haiti expresses deep appreciation to the ACA for allowing him to stay in school and thereby become a help to his family. Joe and Pat, two attendees of programs put on by Spiritual Renewal Services state that Unbound Prayer Ministry put the joy back in their lives and released the heaviness that they had carried for so long.

A father whose family received much needed clothing thanks Catholic Charities for coming through for them at a very difficult time in his life. In addition to touching the lives of thousands, the ministries of the ACA were also blessed this year to welcome two new leaders.

Susan Wallace took over the helm at Outreach to Haiti and Maryellen Shuckerow assumed the leadership position at St. Vincent de Paul, Middletown. Both Susan and Maryellen bring great enthusiasm, passion and acumen to their ministries and we are so grateful!

In our diocesan schools, 2019 brought the addition of a new principal, Ian Holland, at St. Mary – St. Joseph School in Willimantic. A former teacher, Ian eagerly brings his experience and insight to both the teachers and students of SMSJ School.

We thank all of our ministry directors and staff for their everstrengthening commitment to the mission of the Diocese of Norwich and their support of the ACA as well. We pray that our ministries will continue to receive the vital help of our parishioners in 2020 as they continue to tackle the expanding needs of our friends and neighbors. We thank you for walking with us Hand in Hand with All God’s Children.

— Mary Ellen Mahoey