“Building Communities of Faith,” the 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal video has been released throughout the diocese. This year’s video focuses on Catholic schools, charities and other programs that help to build faith communities. It features poignant personal testimony by those who benefit from the appeal in ways that helped them through personal crisis while also deepening their faith.
The video includes an interview with last year’s co-chairperson Cece Donoghue, who personally visited many of the programs and services funded by the diocese and offers a compelling reason to give. Fr. Reginald Norman, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton and co-chair of the Pastors Advisory Committee (PAC) also appears in the video.
In his introduction, Bishop Frank Caggiano, says that this year’s Appeal is “an opportunity for us to recall the basic mission which Christ has given us…to feed the hungry, help the homeless, reach out to those who are suffering and to make concrete God’s presence wherever we go.”
The bishop also notes as the diocese moves forward with Synod 2014, the Annual Catholic Appeal gives the Church the resources “to reach out to those who are alienated and no longer worship with us.”
The nine-minute video, available online and as a DVD, was taped last Fall in various settings throughout the diocese and include interesting aerial footage shot from drones. It was produced by John Heaney of MediaStream in Albany, New York, and organized by William McLean, Chief Development Officer and Pamela Rittman, Director of the Annual Catholic Appeal.
The video has also been previewed at recent donor receptions held throughout the diocese and will be shown at the Mass and reception for parish leaders and pastors this Saturday 11 at St. Matthew Parish in Norwalk. It will also be widely played in parishes on the weekend of February 21-22 during the formal launch of this year’s campaign.
More than 25,000 people contributed to last year’s appeal, which funds all of the major programs and services of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Pam Rittman said The Annual Catholic Appeal (formerly Annual Bishop’s Appeal) has been renamed to reflect the work of Synod 2014, particularly its theme of “building communities of faith” throughout the Diocese.
“As Cece Donoghue says in her interview, when people give to the Appeal, they are giving to build up the Catholic communities in our diocese. When we provide services such as nutrition, counseling, education and formation, the focus is on building up our parish and larger communities.”
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