DANBURY—More than 80 parishioners from the greater Danbury area attended the recent Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) reception at Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury. Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, hosted this Appeal event for the second year in a row.
The reception featured a brief reflection by Bishop Caggiano on the importance of the ACA, and the premier of the 2017 “Sharing God’s Gift, Transforming Lives” ACA video. He urged all to join in the work of serving the most needy in Fairfield County.
The Bishop discussed many of the Catholic Charities services in the Danbury area that are supported by the ACA, including mental health and homeless outreach, which serves the poorest of the poor in downtown Danbury.
Fr. Michael Jones, Vicar for Development, commented on his first encounter of Pope John Paul in Boston as a college student and the impact of the event and how it led to his entering the seminary eight years later.
Fr. Jones said his first assignment as a priest was at St. Mary Parish in Danbury and said he is very fond of the area. He commented that Fr. Al Audette, a retired colonel in the Air Force who was assigned at St. Marguerite Bourgouys, kept up his pilot license and would take priests on short flights from Danbury airport.
Anne LeClercq, Vicariate 5 chairperson, talked about the value of the Appeal and how it much it means much to so many of the poor, vulnerable and elderly in Fairfield County..
In the question and answer session following the Bishop’s remarks, people inquired about the percentage of younger people donating, and how the funds were allocated. The Bishop said the money raised goes where it is needed throughout the Diocese, which works together as “one family in faith” to serve those in need.
Parishes forming Vicariate 5 include: Bethel: St. Mary Parish; Brookfield: St. Joseph Parish, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish; Danbury: St. Joseph Parish, St. Peter Parish, Sacred Heart, St. Gregory the Great Parish; Newtown: St. Rose of Lima Parish; Ridgefield: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish; and New Fairfield: St. Edward the Confessor Parish.
This year’s ACA goal is $11 million. For more info or to give online, please visit us, or call (203) 416-1470.
