October 14, 2010, Worcester, MA -- Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, will distribute 39 local grants totaling $19,100 on Monday, October 18 at 2 p.m. as part of the Annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The awards will be made at a ceremony at St. Peter Parish Center, 929 Main Street, Worcester. One quarter of the annual collection taken in November in Catholic parishes is used for local efforts. The remainder is forwarded to the national office for larger scale efforts around the country. This year's collection will be taken up in all parishes on November 20 and 21.

 

            “In Christian charity, we must assist our brothers and sisters in need to move out of poverty,” according to Bishop McManus. “Locally and nationally this campaign supplements other sources of funding for many community efforts. The campaign also raises awareness in our parishes to the enormous needs right in our neighborhoods and how we can respond by putting our faith into action.”

 

            The awards ceremony also provides an opportunity to thank those in attendance for their ongoing efforts to help stem the causes of poverty in our local communities. Reducing the causes of poverty has been the goal of the Annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development for more than 37 years.

 

Grants will be awarded to the following:

$1,000 grants: St. Peter Parish-St Andrew Mission: “ESL Program"; St. Luke the Evangelist, Westborough: “ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) Outreach Program"; Office of Religious Education: “SPRED (Special Religious Development"; "Girls with DREAMS at Assumption Center"; St. John, Worcester: “St. John's Free Meal."

 

$500 grants will be awarded to: St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Milford: "HEAL(Health Education and Advocacy for Latinos"; Catholic Social Justice Sub-Committee: “Faith and Social Networking: Tools to Regain Employment"; Catholic Social Justice Sub-Committee: “Parish Renewal"; Holy Spirit, Gardner: “HOPE for Kids"; Sisters of Saint Anne: “Marie Anne Center Teen Leadership"; Sisters of Saint Anne: “Marie Anne Center ESL Program"; St. Peter-St. Andrew. Worcester: “Youth Mentoring Program"; St. Paul Cathedral: “Visitation House, Inc."; Notre Dame Healthcare: “Computer Training for ESOL Students"; Father Brooks, College of the Holy Cross: “Dismas House"; Sisters of Mercy: “Sisters of Mercy Emergency Assistance Program"; Our Lady of Providence: “Lincoln Street Saints Basketball"; Rev. Henry A. Donoghue: “Hope for Housing."

 

$400 grants will go to the following: Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.: “Youth Program"; Nazareth Home for Boys: “Nazareth Reuniting Child/Family Project."

 

$300 grants will go to Catholic Charities North County: "Outreach to Immigrants/Creating Community Resources"; Mary Queen of the Rosary Parish: "Family Wellness Program"; Our Lady Immaculate Church of Athol: "Building Broad Based Agreement on Public Policies that Benefit the Poor"; St. Joseph, Fitchburg: “St. Joseph's Program"; St Mary Health Ministry, Shrewsbury: “St. Mary Bereavement Support and Consolation"; St. Joseph, Fitchburg: “Sacred Heart Child Care Center"; Cathedral of Saint Paul: “Saint Paul's Outreach"; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Winchendon: “St. Vincent de Paul Society Food+Utility Help"; Sacred Heart, Hopedale: “Stephen’s Ministry"; St. Vincent de Paul Conference: “Help to the Chronically Needy"; St.Joseph, Fitchburg: “Domestic Violence Awareness Day"; St. Joseph and Holy Spirit, Gardner: “Emergency Assistance Program"; Catholic Charities: "To your Good Health"; St. James, So. Grafton: “Saint James Outreach"; Catholic Charities-Blackstone Valley: “Special Diet Gift Cards"; St. Joseph, Fitchburg: Society of St. Vincent DePaul"; Catholic Charities: “Essential Inedibles"; St. Joseph: "St. Joseph Youth and Nursing Home Ministry"; Sacred Heart Parish Webster/St.Vincent de Paul Society: “Emergency Assistance."

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