January 7, 2010, WORCESTER, MA – The Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester has announced that this year’s Annual Partners in Charity Appeal will be chaired by the Burke Family, including parents Richard and Mary Beth and their nine children, Catherine, Elizabeth, Patrick, Thomas, Michael, Theresa, Richard, Robert, and Bridget. The office also announced that the patron saint for this year’s appeal will be St. John Vianney and the goal will be $4.8 million, as it has been for the last two years. In each of those years, the goal was surpassed.

            In commenting on the announcement, Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, said “The Burkes are a wonderful family and have been associated with important charitable, liturgical, social, and Pro-Life endeavors in their parish, St. Paul Cathedral and in the community of Worcester.”

            The Bishop also noted that this is the second time he has asked an entire family to chair the campaign. Since the early 1960’s, the annual diocesan appeal has been chaired by individuals or couples. “With our special initiatives to strengthen family life, as well as to promote sacramental marriages throughout the Diocese of Worcester, we made a change last year when we invited an entire family to chair the campaign. I think the Burke family’s willingness to step forward and lead us is symbolic of all our efforts. I am very grateful for their goodness in taking on this responsibility.”

            In responding to the invitation, Richard said, “We were honored to be asked by the bishop to assist with the 2010 Partners in Charity Appeal. We feel privileged to be part of the Church’s effort to help those in need in the Diocese of Worcester.”

            Monsignor Thomas Sullivan, director of development, acknowledged the continuing economic challenges nationwide. He added that “some are surprised by the fact, however, that church-related charitable donations have increased and that’s because committed disciples of Christ recognize this as a time to help others. I hope and pray that our patron in this ‘Year of the Priest,’ St. John Vianney, will guide us in our efforts again.

            The annual appeal provides critical funding for 29 agencies and ministries which serve tens of thousands of people in Worcester County, including through charitable agencies like Catholic Charities and Pernet Family Health Services. It provides care for retired priests, as well as tuition, room and board for seminarians studying for the priesthood. Education, including Catholic Schools and catechist preparation to share the faith in parish religious education programs, is also a key beneficiary area of the appeal. According to Msgr. Sullivan, “all of the costs of sustaining these most basic efforts are on the rise. Thus, just to stay even with all that is expected of us our parishes must continue to exceed their goals. Our Diocese just wouldn’t be able to function without this annual appeal and without the generosity of our parishioners.”

Richard Burke is the Division President of Senior Care Services for the Fallon Community Health Plan. He is a 1976 graduate of St. Bernard High School in Fitchburg and a 1980 graduate of Assumption College. He received a Master's degree from Boston College in 1982 and later an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

            Mary Beth Burke grew up in Florida. She is a 1984 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, majoring in Political Science. She received a Master's degree in Political Science from Boston College. She has been an Instructor in Political Science at Assumption College. Under Bishop Reilly she served as a special liaison between the Diocese of Worcester and the Massachusetts Catholic Conference on Pro-Life matters.

                     The family has been supporters of Visitation House and other pro-life activities.

 

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