Families are one focus of annual Bishop's Appeal

For the 46th year, Catholics have the opportunity to support the ministry of the Family Life Office and other diocesan departments that help parishes by contributing to the Bishop's Appeal, which runs through June 18.

The theme of this year's campaign is "Let us Build the City of God: Continuing the Work of Christ in our Time;" last year's Appeal raised more than $6.6 million.

Celebration

Last year, 410 couples participated, and "that truly is a way of gathering and supporting this commitment that's very important in our Church, culture and society," said Sister Kay Ryan, CSJ, Family Life Office director.

Spanish Liturgy of the Word for children in Hispanic ministry is another way in which the Family Life Office reaches out to families, along with parish training for marriage preparation, bereavement and respect life ministries, and workshops on step-parenting, Sister Kay said.

Her staff also has initiated and developed Project Rachel, a post-abortion counseling and healing process that trains pastors, parish life directors, deacons and professional counselors to assist women and their families in their grieving.

None of these ministries to families would be possible if it weren't for the generosity of Catholics who support the annual Bishop's Appeal, said Sister Kay.

Services

* providing more than 60,000 hours of professional counseling to more than 11,000 people for individual, family, marital and peer counseling, along with family mediation and addictive services counseling;

* opening the Little Flower Intergenerational Child Care Center at Teresian House in Albany, and providing daycare services for more than 500 children from working families, half of whom are from low-income households;

* helping more than 1,200 pregnant women and girls with parenting education, pregnancy counseling, adoption services and support to complete their education; and

* sheltering and caring for victims of domestic violence in five counties, and providing intensive family preservation services, home-based care or family support services for more than 1,200 families with children at risk of abuse or neglect.

Helping out

"We are called to serve God's people and build up the City of God by sharing our gifts," he said. "Programs and services provided by our Diocese change lives positively and save souls. The call to serve God through ministry is developed and nurtured. Adults and children are given the opportunity to learn about our Faith by participating more fully in parish communities. The Good News is brought to people who do not know Jesus or face a troubled time in their life.

"Thousands of people are helped every day. This is why our gift to Our Bishop's Appeal is so important."

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