Parishioners Generous in Appeals for Assistance

            Responding to financial appeals issued as so-called “second collections” at weekend Masses in 2004 by the Diocese of Brooklyn and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, church-goers in 216 parishes contributed $3,065,248 for causes ranging from aid to survivors of hurricanes and flooding in the Caribbean and the southeastern U.S. to support of aging religious Sisters and Brothers and of the Holy Father’s charitable works around the world.

            When natural disasters struck in the form of massive flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in May and deadly hurricanes in the South and in the Caribbean in September, parishioners contributed $193,039 and $166,184 respectively, according to a report released by the diocesan Accounting Office.

            Catholic Relief Services administered the funds for the flooded areas. In the sections affected by the hurricanes, CRS and Catholic Charities USA shared the funds and used them to assist people in those regions.

            Bishop DiMarzio had asked pastors and administrators to request assistance from their parishioners for these unanticipated events.

            Collections traditionally scheduled throughout the year also yielded generous results.

            Support for four diocesan projects and ministries produced $1,322,403 in contributions: the Retirement Fund for Senior Priests at Easter (April 10-11) $372,334; the Retirement Fund for Religious (June 5-6) $347,856; Catholic education (Sept. 25-26)  $143,881, and Catholic Charities at Christmas, $458,332.

            Nine appeals by the USCCB resulted in contributions amounting to $1,383,622: the Church in Latin America and the Church in Central and Eastern Europe (Jan. 24-25) $149,325; Black and Native American Missions (Feb. 28-29) $164,808; Catholic Relief Services (March 20-21) $170,258, and the Holy Land (April 9) $193,361.

            Also, Catholic Home Missions Appeal (April 24-25) $160,601; Catholic Communication Campaign (May 15-16) $135,556; Peter’s Pence for the Holy Father (June 26-27) $166,273; The Catholic University of America (Sept. 4-5) $118,053, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (Nov. 20-21) $125,387.

            Bishop DiMarzio expressed gratitude for the willingness of parishioners in Brooklyn and Queens to support projects that benefit worthwhile and needed programs and for the collective humanitarian response to tragic events.