BRIDGEPORT—Response to the emergency needs outlined in this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal has been strong, personal and encouraging, says Pamela Rittman, director of the ACA for the diocese.
The appeal, which was suspended in March as the pandemic closed down the state, was re-launched in a April 20 letter to the faithful from the Bishop Frank J. Caggiano urging people to give.
“I come to you in this emergency to ask for your help to ensure that the Annual Catholic Appeal, which has provided basic human services of food, shelter, education and counseling to many in the past can be maintained and, to the extent possible, be expanded to the many others who are facing real hardship for the first time in their lives,” the bishop said in his letter.
Rittman said that people throughout the diocese have heeded the bishop’s urgent call for help. The re-started campaign is nearing the halfway mark toward its $9 million goal to fund the major ministries of the diocese.
“We’re off to a very good start but we have a lot more work to do to reach our goal, and for this appeal to be a success, we need everyone to give whatever is possible. The bishop has spoken many times in the past about how we are one diocesan family. That is truer than ever as so many are struggling and concerned about the future,” she said.
Rittman said she’s very encouraged by a few trends in this year’s Appeal, including an increase in first-time givers and the growing number of people who are making a second gift to the Appeal as they become more aware of the needs and the overall diocesan response. “As we open the mail and read the many kind notes that accompany gifts, we are personally touched,” says Rittman. “Donors thank the bishop and diocesan staff for their service. I talk to donors who are empathetic about what we are all going through they tell me they want to support their parish and pastor and they continue to give.”
“These are unusual times,” said Rittman, “and now more than ever the ACA is responding to the emergency needs of people throughout the diocese. A strong response this Spring is crucial in our ability to provide resources to diocesan ministries in a time of crisis.”
Rittman said the response to the ACA has also been lifted by significant support from our leadership donors who want to ensure that diocesan ministries are available when most needed by the people of Fairfield County.
Rittman said the pandemic very quickly taxed diocesan and parish resources as more people needed help and services had to be re-designed to reach out to them.
Catholic Charities nutrition programs and soup kitchens reported a tripling of demand for meals in some locations and a surge in the number of families coming forward for groceries provided by its food pantries. The demand for counseling has increased due to anxiety and stress. Likewise, diocesan schools had to make a quick pivot to distance learning for more than 7,000 students in Catholic schools, and ministries such as the Leadership Institute made the transition to online marriage prep, faith formation and other training.
She said the diocese has been able to quickly respond to distance learning due to the support of a very generous donor who invested in new technology that provided the platform to implement. And past support from all donors to the Appeal’s programs and ministries now serves people in crisis.
To support the request for emergency help the diocese has released its second 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) video, “New Faces of Need.” The video offers a brief glimpse into three lives struggling with the pandemic; a man experiencing homelessness who relies on the New Covenant Center for food and to help rebuild his life; a mother who visits the food pantry to help feed her family and students from The Catholic Academy of Stamford who miss their classmates but are appreciative of the online learning provided by the school.
In the first video the bishop praises the heroic response of all frontline workers during the crisis and he noted that many people who never had to ask for help in the past have come forward to seek food and other assistance.
Rittman hopes the video series, filmed and donated by Brian Russell of Fairfield, demonstrates the impact of the coronavirus on every aspect of the diocese from sacramental preparation and ongoing catechesis to schools, charities and other ministries. The videos can be viewed at www.bridgeportdiocese.org.
“As the human toll from this terrible pandemic continues to increase in our midst, I am aware of the great suffering that a growing number of our neighbors are experiencing. Your generosity allows us to continue the mission of the Church and provide for these “new faces of need” in our midst,” said Bishop Caggiano in announcing the video.
(Please join those who have already given by using the envelope in this issue. You can also make a gift online at www.2020ACABridgeport.com or text the word APPEAL to 475.241.7849. All donations of whatever amount will help us to help those in need.)
By Brian D. Wallace
