Ten years since established by Cardinal William H. Keeler in 1992, the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal has raised over $30 million dollars, providing crucial support for programs including:
- Educating children and youth
- Helping the poor and those in need
- Strengthening the Church – through evangelization, liturgical programs and social ministries
- Supporting the work of the Holy Father.
Several characteristics set this year’s appeal apart from those that came before:
- Parish-to-parish partnerships are flourishing. Begun last year, 42 parish pairs are working this year to make “Beyond the Boundaries” regional concepts a reality. These partnerships hold great potential for urban community revitalization. [https://www.archbalt.org/cla/ParishPartnerships.htm]
- More than 1,000 lay Advocates, volunteers in parishes, have committed to explaining the appeal to their Catholic neighbors. [https://www.archbalt.org/cla/advocates.htm]
- Unprecedented accountability information with campaign video clips have been posted on the archdiocesan website at [https://www.archbalt.org/cla/]. There, readers can find information about programs with wide scope that receive help through the appeal and also about plans for meeting needs in individual regions or parishes.
- The $5.5 million goal for this year’s campaign is highest yet for the appeal.
Media interested in speaking with archdiocesan and/or local contacts about the appeal may contact Ray Kempisty or Matt Lane at 410-547-5379.