They say charity begins at home but, in hard times, charity flowers in Fall River.
Despite high unemployment in Fall River, Catholic Charities Appeal officials were able to announce that the 2009 Catholic Charities Appeal raised $4,280,141.52. The total is the third highest in the history of the appeal, only $26,000 below the record amount raised two years ago and just $16,000 short of last year’s final tally.
Holy Name Parish raised an astonishing total of $86,458, an increase of $4,268 over the 2008 total. Saint Michael Parish, in the city’s North End, saw its total increase by $4,330 to $25,002.
But, with money tight, why the generosity?
“The bishop and our pastors tried to present this as a way for people to answer the call of their faith,” said John Kearns of the Diocese’s office of communications.
Kearns said hard economic times influenced money raising for the appeal, but not in the way people [...]

Original post by Marc Munroe Dion