 | Diocesan Lenten Appeal shows almsgiving in action
By Cheryl Collins Valyo, Special to The Catholic Accent
LIGONIER — Total gifts and pledges to the 2008 Diocesan Lenten Appeal surpassed the $2 million level well before Easter as 27 parishes have exceeded diocesan targets as of March 17, according to Mike Lucotch, director of development.
“Our staff is truly grateful for the quick response and generosity of all who have contributed to this year’s Diocesan Lenten Appeal with monetary gifts or the gifts of time, talent and, most importantly, prayer,” Lucotch said. “The deep faith of clergy and laity across our diocese is reflected in the outstanding response we see year after year.”
 | | Holy Trinity Parish, Ligonier, is one of the success stories this year. The parish has raised more than $67,000, well in excess of its diocesan target.
Funds that remain in the parish will be used to initiate upgrades to the school cafeteria, kitchen and adjacent restrooms, which are also used for parish functions. |
Both parish and Holy Trinity School families are rallying together to accomplish the parish goals, according to Msgr. William G. Charnoki, pastor.
“It’s so exciting that the parish is doing this,” said Barbara Sabo, school principal. “I don’t know how many parishes would do this for their school. It shows how much they truly support the mission. It’s just wonderful.”
School families are working extra hard to advance the appeal as well, Sabo said.
“Our school families are already very generous and very involved. For example, we recently completed a work weekend in which parent volunteers came in to do cleaning, painting and other necessary chores that needed to be done, so the school doesn’t have to assume those expenses,” she said.
“We just had that big work weekend, yet the parents are still sending their Lenten appeal envelopes in as well, because they know that this is an important goal,” Sabo said.
According to Annie Williams, parish and school business manager, “This is a parish that has always taken care of its school.”
The parish built a new church that was dedicated in 2005. The parish has renovated the former worship space with a new school library and space for religious education and meetings. Capital campaign funds covered the bulk of those expenses.
The updates to the school cafeteria and restrooms are the final phase of the plan, Williams said.
“Our capital campaign funds have generally been expended, so the parish decided to use funds that remained in the parish through the Lenten appeal to do this for both the school and the parish,” she said.
Although continuing to raise funds after the completion of many large projects can be a challenge, “we’ve been blessed with very generous parish and school families,” Msgr. Charnoki said.
“They want to continue to help the church and its mission, which includes both the parish and the school, he added. “It’s a group effort.” |