September 16, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This year’s Catholic Schools Appeal will take place in all our parishes during the Lord’s Day Masses on the weekend of September 24th -25th.
Because the seven thousand students attending today’s Catholic schools come from parishes throughout the entire Diocese of Worcester, I call upon every parish in our diocesan family to be open and generous towards supporting the critical work of building tomorrow’s Church. Indeed, in these difficult economic times, the Catholic Schools Appeal needs your help now more than ever before. The simple maintenance of Catholic schools is an extremely costly endeavor. Added to that expense is the new technology which is now an important and necessary ingredient of Catholic schools.
While all good schools pursue academic excellence, the mission of our Catholic schools is to cultivate a special Christ-filled atmosphere animated by Gospel values. Young people are encouraged to become the new creatures they were made to be through baptism. All the knowledge that students acquire about the world, life, and humanity is illumined by the light of our Catholic faith. Through a variety of community service programs designed to aid the poor and people in need, Catholic schools help their students put their faith into action.
Your generosity supports the work of our dedicated teachers and staff, as well as assisting hard-pressed parents. Indeed, if every family could afford the tuition, there would still be insufficient revenue to meet expenses. As costs increase, needy families turn to the Diocese for financial assistance. There is, of course, a spiritual return for your gift. Thousands of students in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese --from pre-schools to high schools --begin each day asking God to pour down His blessings upon their benefactors. Surely God hears them, and you are remembered in those daily prayers.
Your investment in Catholic education helps us to keep our promise with tomorrow. With that in mind, I earnestly pray that God will bless you abundantly for your gift to our Catholic schools as we work together to build tomorrow’s Church.
With every prayerful best wish, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, D.D., S.T. D.
Bishop of Worcester