"The Lord's vineyard in the Paterson Diocese is flourishing," said Bishop Serratelli in the appeal's brochure, to be distributed at Masses Sept. 17-18. "We are blessed with inner-city, rural and suburban parishes that have rich cultures and traditions, gifts and talents. At the center of each faith community, and what binds us together as believers in the Risen Lord, is the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is our anchor and our salvation. "With your support of the Bishop's Appeal, you help tend the Lord's vineyard by funding the education and formation of our seminarians, providing a home for our retired diocesan priests, strengthening many of our elementary schools and giving direct assistance to the people in great need through our Catholic Charities network." At this weekend's Masses, each parish's lay appeal chairperson will speak about the appeal and the many ways it benefits the charitable works of diocesan social outreaches and ministries. They will also be telling their fellow parishioners how the appeal directly benefits their own parish. Fifty percent of all funds pledged over the parish's appeal goal are returned to the parish for its own needs. From the 2004 appeal, 89 parishes received $250,000 in rebates. Parishioners have a variety of ways to make a pledge to the appeal. They can send in a one-time check for their pledge amount or pledge an amount and make payments over several months. They can also go online to the diocesan Web site, www.patersondiocese.org, and click on the Bishop's Annual Appeal for information about how to make an online pledge with a credit card or how to donate stocks to the appeal. Tim Potter, diocesan development director, said that the diocese has distributed a 15-minute video to all the parishes, which can be shown at parish meetings and gatherings. In it, the bishop emphasizes that appeal funds help the diocese answer Christ's call to care for "the least among us" and to build up his Church. The video details the appeal's support of elementary schools, seminarians, retired diocesan priests and diocesan social outreaches. It is also available for viewing on the diocesan Web site, where it can be accessed by clicking on the Bishop's Annual Appeal. The goal for this year's appeal is $2.425 million. Last year's appeal went over goal and raised a record $2.711 million. "Your gift will bear fruit that will satisfy both the people we help and the Lord who looks to you to serve him by serving others," Bishop Serratelli noted.
