PROVIDENCE — In his October 2025 Apostolic Exhortation “Dilexi Te,” to all Christians on showing love for the poor, Pope Leo XIV says, “Christian love is prophetic: it works miracles and knows no limits.”
Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., chose that quote about the power of Christian love to begin a January 5 letter to the faithful announcing the launch of the 2026 Catholic Charity Appeal, his first campaign as shepherd of the Diocese of Providence.
In his letter, the bishop called for his flock to unite as one family of faith to support the Appeal, which provides crucial support for more than 35 outreach programs and ministries that provide social, educational and spiritual support and evangelization to thousands of Rhode Islanders each year. Among those, the Appeal also supports seminarians studying for the priesthood and those in formation to become permanent deacons, along with the Office of Life and Family Ministry in its outreach efforts to mothers and families.
The bishop noted that the theme for this year’s Appeal, “One Faith, One Hope,” beautifully captures who we are and how we are called to live.
“One Faith speaks to the heart of what it means to be Catholic,” Bishop Lewandowski wrote in his letter. “Rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, our faith is not only personal, but communal, as we journey together. Our unity in faith allows us to stand together in worship, serve our neighbor in charity, and proclaim the Gospel with one voice.”
“One Hope” anchors us in God’s promise. Hope in Christ means we don’t despair, even in the face of suffering, injustice or loss. It assures us that God’s love triumphs over darkness. And through hope, we’re inspired to be compassionate, to care for the poor and to forgive as we have been forgiven. In difficult times, hope keeps us moving forward,” he said.
Through its mission, the Catholic Charity Appeal gives the flock the opportunity to put its shared faith into action.
“Every time we feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, or welcome the stranger, our faith is made visible and our hope is realized,” the bishop said, noting so much good is accomplished through the generosity of the faithful.
He said that a single gift to the Appeal can help form future priests, educate children and youth, serve our neighbors in need, and support many important programs within the diocese.
The success of last year’s Appeal, which raised $7.9 million in pledges and one-time gifts from more than 17,000 donors, is the reason the 2026 goal was set at $7.7 million.
The 2026 Appeal also includes an important update at the parish level. Parish Catholic Charity Appeal goals, which have remained unchanged since 2021, when they were reduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have now been increased by 5% for the 2026 Appeal.
“This modest adjustment will help us offset losses from parish mergers and, more importantly, address the growing needs in our community, ensuring that our local Church can continue to serve those who rely on us for food, shelter, heating assistance, and ongoing spiritual and educational support,” said Melissa Behm, who in December took the helm as diocesan director of development and the Catholic Charity Appeal, after having worked alongside former Director Timothy McCaig as the assistant director since 2023.
“Over the past year, the needs of those we serve have increased significantly,” Behm said. More individuals and families are facing instability, uncertainty, and hardship—many for the first time in their lives.
A gift to the Catholic Charity Appeal has a direct and immediate impact, offering food assistance, safe shelter and heating assistance, just to name a few.
Behm told Rhode Island Catholic that presentations extolling the virtues of supporting the campaign will take place at Masses across the diocese in January, February and March and continue into the spring. The Appeal will conclude on June 30.
“Under the banner of “One Faith, One Hope,” we invite every Catholic, every parish, and every friend of the Church in Rhode Island to join us in this mission,” she said. “Your prayer, your advocacy, and your financial support make a difference—one person, one family, one parish at a time. Together, we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate our young people and support our future priests.”
Behm said that part of her job is to illustrate what the diocesan ministries accomplish and share that good news.
Her office created a series of videos that highlight the great work being done in education and in programs, featuring Bishop McVinney Regional School, diocesan Prison Ministry and the Keep the Heat on Program, now in its 21st year of service.
There is also a special video message from Bishop Lewandowski as he leads the Appeal for the Diocese of Providence for the first time since his arrival. He recorded a special message in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and those can be viewed on YouTube — Diocese of Providence.
Behm noted her gratitude for McCaig’s leadership. McCaig was promoted last month to serve as executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island.
“Tim has done an amazing job building a strong foundation for the Catholic Charity Appeal over the last five years, forming important relationships with supporters and great working relationships with our parishes and pastors,” Behm said of McCaig.
“I look forward to continuing Tim's great work this year as we strive to raise critical funds for all those in need throughout Rhode Island, a need we know is greater than ever before.”
The Office of Development and Catholic Charity Appeal has established the following online link for donors to contribute to the 2026 Catholic Charity Appeal: www.givecentral.org/2026CCA.
