Bishop Recognizes Volunteers for Service to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal

 

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus acknowledged the service of long-time volunteers recently at four regional dinners held throughout the diocese to kick off the 2010 Bishop’s Annual Appeal.

Bishop Campbell shared his goals for this year’s Annual Appeal with workers at regional dinners held this year at St. Francis de Sales in Newark on Mar. 3, St. Mary in Delaware on Mar. 8, St. Mary in Chillicothe on Mar. 10, and Immaculate Conception in Columbus on Mar. 24.

Recognized by Columbus Bishop Frederick F. Campbell were:

30-Year Service Award recipients: Lawrence Smeltzer of St. Mary in Mattingly Settlement. 20-Year Service Award recipients: Rosemary Capretta of St. Cecilia in Columbus; Patrick Gordon of Christ the King in Columbus; Sandy Tate of St. Agatha in Columbus; and Rick Trippier, Sr. of St. Mary in Delaware. 10-Year Service Award recipients: Antonietta Alvarez of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Grove City; Dolores Bennison of St. Brendan in Hilliard; Chester Dillon of St. Aloysius in Columbus; Marilyn Eberhart of Sts. Simon and Jude in West Jefferson; Charles Hanf of Christ the King in Columbus; Diana Lahm of St. Peter in Millersburg; Sheila Lutz of Holy Family in Columbus; Gerald Martin of St. Mary in Portsmouth; Judith Miller of St. Pius X in Reynoldsburg; Robert Peterson of Sts. Peter and Paul in Wellston; Harold Prisco of St. Mark in Lancaster; Mary Quaranto of St. John the Baptist in Columbus, Yanet Santana of Parroquia Santa Cruz in Columbus; Cheryl Seabright of St. Peter in Millersburg; Ellen Smith of St. Matthew in Gahanna; Roger and Jacqueline Starkey of St. Joan of Arc in Powell; Charles VanKirk of St. Peter and Paul in Wellston; Charles White of St. Nicholas in Zanesville; Ann Whiteman of St. Andrew in Columbus; Rebecca Wickham of St. Bernadette in Lancaster and Jim McCormick of St. Margaret of Cortona in Columbus.

Diocesan Executive Director of Development and Planning, Rick H. Jeric, explained that the roles of the volunteers in each parish are crucial to the success of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal from year to year.

“Our parishes work diligently and tirelessly as a team to increase participation in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, from the pastors to the volunteers, and from the donors to the beneficiaries. More parishes meet and exceed their goals each year because they recognize the great needs in the Diocese, while understanding what it means to be an active part of the Church in the Diocese of Columbus” Jeric said.

Bishop Campbell also expressed his gratitude to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal leadership team. This year a new Clergy Chair, Monsignor A. Anthony Frecker, pastor of Pope John XXIII Parish in Canal Winchester, was welcomed into his first year of service. Monsignor will be acting as Clergy Chair for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Appeal years.

Returning for their second year of service as the Bishop’s Annual Appeal General Chairpersons are Steve and Rose Pasternack of St. Patrick Parish in Columbus along with Miter Society Chairpersons, Dr. Michael Sullivan and Dr. Rebecca Stilson of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Granville. The Pasternacks and Drs. Sullivan and Stilson addressed the workers about the importance of participation and the impact that the funds raised by the Appeal can make.

Jeric expressed his gratitude to each of the pastors of the host parishes.

“We are very grateful to the pastors and their staff who hosted this year’s dinners. On behalf of Bishop Campbell, I would like to thank Father Bob Penhallurick of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Newark; Father James Black of St. Mary Parish in Delaware; Father Lawrence Hummer, of St. Mary Parish in Chillicothe; Monsignor Stephan Moloney, of Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbus. Their hospitality and participation ensured the success of each event,” praised Jeric.

Jeric explained that the regional dinners play an important role in helping to build support among volunteers for the start of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal each year. The 2010 Bishop’s Annual Appeal officially commences during the weekend Masses on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2.

With a $5.7 million goal this year, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal will seek to build on the success of previous years by increasing the participation among diocesan families. Funds raised through the Annual Appeal are directed to diocesan ministries serving the faithful in each of the 23 counties that comprise the Diocese of Columbus.

Jeric explained that the 2009 Bishop’s Annual Appeal was more successful than was expected. He noted that the diocese received pledges totaling more than $6.2 million, of which $5.8 million has been received. This far surpassed the goal of $5.6 million.

“We are also very pleased that over $900,000 was returned to 69 parishes that surpassed their goals. This success would not be possible without the dedication and effort of the pastors and the volunteers, and the generosity of the faithful throughout the diocese. We are very grateful to everyone,” said Jeric.

Additional information about the 2010 Bishop’s Annual Appeal is available from the Office of Development and Planning for the Diocese of Columbus at 614.241.2550, toll-free at 877.241.2550, by e-mail at Devmailbox@colsdioc.org, or by visiting the diocesan website www.colsdioc.org.