Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi, pastor of St. Bernard Parish receives a check for $20,057 from Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for development. Father Vincenzo Cardilicchia, then pastor of All Saints Parish and Amy Lazarus, ACA Field Rep. receive a check for $5,000 from ACA director John L. Heyer II. Father Dwayne D. Davis, pastor, Kieran Udeze, parochial vicar, and the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish ACA Team receive a check for $32,523 from Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello and ACA director John L. Heyer II. Father Astor Rodriguez, C.M., pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, Amy Lazarus, ACA Field Rep., and young parishioners receive a check for $5,301 from John L. Heyer II. Father Grzegorz Stasiak, parochial vicar, Rick Lugo, ACA field rep., Msgr. John A. McGuirl, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Ms. Dian Malm, administrative assistant, and Deacon Dean Dobbins receive a check for $21,619 from Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for development. St. Clare Parish received a check for $959. From left to right: Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello, Father Anthony Rosado, Father Andrew Struzzieri, pastor, and Joyce Romain-Barber, ACA Field Rep. Back row: Ramone Golding, Dianne Sealy-Soon, Deborah Wright and Lorraine
Preddie. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish received a check for $6,059. From left to right: Rick Lugo, ACA Field Rep., Father James Gilmour, C.Ss.R., pastor, Judy Afre, ACA parish coordinator, and Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello.
American Martyrs Parish received a check for $47,867. From left to right: Msgr. Gigantiello, Carl Reyes, Father Frank L. Schwarz, pastor, Margaret Reyes, Joyce Romain-Barber, ACA Field Rep. and John L. Heyer II.
Gifts made to the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) provide support to tens of thousands of people in Brooklyn and Queens through vital programs, ministries, and services administered by the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Last year, more than $10 million was raised from the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens to assist Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and the Diocese with maintaining Catholic Charities, Catholic Migration Office, Faith Formation programs, care for retired priests, vocation training for the priesthood and diaconate, scholarships to Catholic schools, and chaplaincies in non-Catholic colleges and universities, hospitals, nursing homes, and other diocesan institutions.
All money raised that exceeds each parish’s goal is returned to the parish for special projects. Last year, $1,236,423.77 went back to individual parishes to assist with their particular needs.
$2.1 million was spent on training men for the priesthood and diaconate. $2 million was assigned to faith formation. $600,000 helped to support retired priests living at the Bishop Mugavero Residence for Infirm Clergy in Douglaston.
Since 2004, 98 men were ordained to the priesthood for Brooklyn and Queens, thanks to the support of the ACA. An additional 46 men are currently in formation and hope to become priests. At the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, 49 rooms are dedicated to senior priests, providing a dignified community experience for priests needing assisted living.
Another $700,000 supported the programs of the Catholic Migration Office and $1.1 million went to Catholic Charities, Brooklyn and Queens. More than a half million dollars enabled young people to attend Catholic schools.
The ACA also supports the School of Evangelization, within the Office of Faith Formation, provides the instruction and opportunity for the Diocese of Brooklyn to provide our lay leaders with the necessary tools to call others to Christ through the Church.
Almost 50,000 people in the diocese made a pledge to the ACA, with the average gift being $235.145 of the 186 parishes in Brooklyn and Queens exceeded their goals. “If it were not for the commitment of parishioners throughout the Diocese to the Annual Catholic Appeal each year, the responsibility to provide the basic services and ministries of the Diocese of Brooklyn would be impossible,” wrote Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio in his column in The Tablet earlier this year.
“I want to assure you that we stand committed to full transparency and respect for your wishes regarding the ministries you intend your donation to support. Your gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal cannot be used for the settlement of sexual abuse victim claims or for anything other than the intended purposes outlined in Appeal materials. An independent audit by Grassi & Company will be available at the end of the calendar year.”