March 20, 2016

We are drawing close to the end of our 2016 Bishop’s Annual Appeal, and you can check our progress in the chart below. Last Sunday was “BAA Sunday,” in which pastors call in to the bishop to report each parish’s progress. We are doing well here at St. Francis, with still a ways to go to meet our goal. In the coming weeks we’ll have opportunities to  fill out a pledge card for those who have not yet done that. Below are some words from Trevor Thompson, Director of Pastoral Ministries, on how St. Francis is connected with the Diocese of Raleigh. Again, if you have already pledged, we thank you. If not, please consider making a pledge to this year’s BAA.

“One of the ministries of Catholic Charities supported through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is Oak City Outreach Center in downtown Raleigh. OCOC is a place of hospitality for homeless men and women where they can gather on the weekends to receive warm meals and fellowship. Often serving as many as 200 people a meal, this is the only place in Raleigh where one could find a free warm meal during the weekend. Catholic Charities has been a leader in emergency food aid in Wake County through Catholic Parish Outreach Food Pantry, which provides a week’s worth of groceries to an average of 11,000 per month. Catholic Charities also has been serving people experiencing homelessness since 2005 through the Support Circle Program for Homeless Families. With these important ministries and a number of others, including Oak City Outreach Center, Catholic Charities provides services to over 50,000 individuals in Wake County.

Many of our parishioners have served food at OCOC, packed grocery bags at CPO, and accompanied homeless families with the Support Circle Program. All of this is possible because of your generous support of our Bishop’s Annual Appeal.

Thank you!”