PROVIDENCE — The nine parishes comprising Block 5 — the final group — have completed their pledge drive for the Grateful for God’s Providence capital campaign.
The campaign was launched in the Diocese of Providence in January 2018 and initially set to run for two years with a goal of $50 million to support the church’s mission in Rhode Island and maintain the viability of parish and diocesan funds.
The nine parishes (St. Mary, Carolina; St. Joseph, Woonsocket; St. Pius V, Providence; SS. John and James-St. Mary, West Warwick; St. Joseph, West Warwick; Mary Mother of Mankind, North Providence; St. Elizabeth, Bristol; St. Timothy Warwick; and St. Anthony, Pawtucket), collectively raised $1,680,472 in pledges, bringing the overall campaign total to $54,080,327 as of December 13. More than $40 million has been collected so far from the 17,252 donors who pledged gifts.
St. Mary Parish, Carolina, surpassed its goal, raising $306,826 from 98 donors, with an average gift of $3,131.
“Unlike Blocks 1-4, the pastors of Block 5 had quite a different landscape to navigate following the pandemic,” said Director of Stewardship and Development Tim McCaig.
“Despite all of the challenges, they hosted receptions and shared the message at Mass, and the faithful responded generously, raising over $1.6 million. We are so grateful to our pastors for their leadership and to the donors that supported the campaign.”
Of the campaign’s $50 million goal, $20 million is remaining in local parishes to meet needs determined by parish leadership, with 40 percent of funds collected up to the goal returning to the parish and 60 percent of funds collected above the goal returning to the parish.
Of the remaining campaign donations, $8 million will be used to support an endowment for seminarian education; $8 million to support retired priests; $5 million to support an endowment for Catholic school tuition assistance; $5 million to support an endowment for the Catholic Charity Appeal and $4 million to support renovations of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.
