FALL RIVER—The 81st Catholic Appeal, “Journeying Together in Faith and Love,” has closed with the annual campaign raising $4.3 million to support the work of the Church across the Diocese of Fall River. In the midst of an extremely challenging economic environment, donor support remained strong, as more than 16,000 individual donors made gifts and pledges to sustain the Appeal’s longstanding mission of serving those in greatest need.

The successful conclusion to this year’s Appeal is a reflection of how well the faithful of the Diocese responded to its theme of walking down a common road together, and how they connected the tenets of Pope Francis’ worldwide synod to the good works made possible through collective support for the annual Appeal.

“I am grateful to everyone who helped continue the rich tradition of service we have in our Diocese through their support of the Catholic Appeal,” said Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.  “Each donor has embodied the words of Pope Francis who said, ‘Participation is a requirement of the faith we received in baptism.’ I am blessed to serve so many thousands who share a loving commitment to one another and to all humanity.”

On a parish level, 31 of the 72 parishes in the diocese – 43% of all parishes – surpassed their 2021 fundraising total. Among those parishes was St. John of God in Somerset, which surpassed its 2021 fundraising total by 10%. “Saint Peter reminds us, ‘As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace’ (1 Peter 4:10),” said Fr. Jason Brilhante, Pastor of St. John of God. “Thank you to the parishioners of Saint John of God Parish for sharing their treasure so generously with the Annual Catholic Appeal to support services for our brothers and sisters in Christ!”

“With the help of so many of our pastors, parishioners, retired clergy, and friends, we can continue to support those living with disabilities, bring comfort to the hospitalized and homebound, feed the hungry, promote our Brazilian and Hispanic ministries, assist our lay leaders, support marriages, champion life, and so much more,” said Miriam Finn Sherman, Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. “The Catholic Foundation teamed with all our parishes to help tens of thousands of people of all ages and in every corner of our Diocese. It is inspiring to witness the faithful generously answering the call!”

Here are the individual parish totals, listed by deanery:

ATTLEBORO DEANERY 
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk$129,118.65
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Seekonk$85,712.22
St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro$64,901.00
St. Mary’s, Mansfield$139,685.47
St. Mary’s, Norton$70,525.00
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Attleboro$30,783.00
Transfiguration of the Lord, North Attleboro$107,825.00
 CAPE COD DEANERY 
Christ the King, Mashpee$123,548.87
Corpus Christi, East Sandwich$85,925.00
Good Shepherd, Martha’s Vineyard$34,760.00
Holy Redeemer, Chatham$51,360.00
Holy Trinity, West Harwich$54,792.00
Our Lady of the Assumption, Osterville$75,645.00
Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster$115,320.00
Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet$22,607.00
Our Lady of Victory, Centerville$89,026.00
St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis$27,079.00
St. Joan of Arc, Orleans$90,082.00
St. John the Evangelist, Pocasset$54,022.00
St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family, Falmouth$245,620.00
St. Margaret of Scotland, Buzzards Bay$24,000.00
St. Mary’s – Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket$120,225.00
St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown$16,100.00
St. Pius the Tenth, South Yarmouth$136,150.68
FALL RIVER DEANERY
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River$23,301.00
Espirito Santo, Fall River$34,658.00
Good Shepherd, Fall River$16,668.00
Holy Name, Fall River$54,695.00
Holy Trinity, Fall River$34,425.00
Our Lady of Grace, Westport$17,979.00
Santo Christo, Fall River$33,494.00
St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River$15,397.00
St. Bernard’s, Assonet$25,019.00
St. Dominic’s, Swansea$25,715.00
St. Francis of Assisi, Swansea$26,680.00
St. George’s, Westport$17,200.00
St. John of God, Somerset$32,095.00
St. John the Baptist, Westport$31,189.00
St. Joseph’s, Fall River$13,160.00
St. Louis de France, Swansea$38,733.00
St. Michael’s, Fall River$21,311.00
St. Patrick’s, Somerset$24,122.00
St. Stanislaus, Fall River$12,025.00
St. Thomas More, Somerset$29,015.00
NEW BEDFORD DEANERY
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Bedford$21,486.00
Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford$9,117.00
Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James, New Bedford$14,198.00
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, New Bedford$45,567.00
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Bedford$61,855.27
St. Anthony’s, Mattapoisett$53,494.81
St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford$28,932.00
St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford$4,215.00
St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet$48,880.00
St. Gabriel the Archangel, New Bedford$89,377.01
St. John Neumann, East Freetown$72,525.00
St. Joseph’s, Fairhaven$29,655.00
St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth$72,987.00
St. Lawrence Martyr, New Bedford$10,536.00
St. Mary’s, Fairhaven$20,593.61
St. Mary’s, South Dartmouth$110,210.00
St. Patrick’s, Wareham$31,963.00
St. Rita’s, Marion$11,280.00
TAUNTON DEANERY
Annunciation of the Lord, Taunton$12,301.00
Holy Cross, South Easton$35,539.79
Holy Family, East Taunton$27,136.00
Immaculate Conception, North Easton$28,387.00
St. Andrew the Apostle, Taunton$62,971.00
St. Ann’s, Raynham$88,037.70
St. Anthony’s, Taunton$31,411.00
St. Jude the Apostle, Taunton$25,376.00
St. Mary’s, Taunton$7,770.00
St. Nicholas of Myra, North Dighton$48,525.00

TOP 10 PARISHES IN DOLLARS RAISED

  1. Joseph Guardian of the Holy Family, Falmouth: $245,620.00
  2. Mary’s, Mansfield: $139,685.47
  3. Pius the Tenth, South Yarmouth: $136,150.68
  4. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk: $129,118.65
  5. Christ the King, Mashpee: $123,548.87
  6. Mary’s – Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket: $120,225.00
  7. Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster: $115,320.00
  8. Mary’s, South Dartmouth: $110,210.00
  9. Transfiguration of the Lord, North Attleborough: $107,825.00
  10. Joan of Arc, Orleans: $90,082.00

TOP TEN % FUNDRAISING INCREASES FROM 2021 – 2022

  1. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth: 22.9%
  2. Joan of Arc, Orleans: 19.2%
  3. Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster: 19.1%
  4. Mary’s – Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket: 18.5%
  5. John the Evangelist, Attleboro: 16.8%
  6. Joseph’s, Fairhaven: 15.4%
  7. Mary’s, Norton: 15.1%
  8. Joseph Guardian of the Holy Family, Falmouth: 14.4%
  9. Santo Christo, Fall River: 13.8%
  10. Andrew the Apostle, Taunton: 13.1%

In addition to the individual parish totals, nearly $700,000 in gifts to the 2022 Catholic Appeal were collected from friends and supporters consisting of individuals, corporations, and organizations unaffiliated with a specific parish.

The need for support of the many agencies, ministries, and programs of the Diocese of Fall River, and the demand for them, remains strong. The Catholic Foundation encourages the faithful to show their support of our brothers and sisters in need throughout the year. Donations can be made online at any time at givefrdiocese.org or mailed to the Catholic Appeal office at 450 Highland Ave., Fall River, MA 02720. They may also continue to be dropped off at any parish in the Diocese.

The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Bishop of Fall River