By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan asked for a special effort and generosity from the people of the archdiocese this year and he got it.

Earlier in the year a capital funds drive for $7.2 million was most successful and last Sunday, April 1, his annual Charities Drive was reporting 78 percent of the total goal.

The goal of this year’s one day cash Charities Drive was $750,000. Each year the archbishop uses these funds to finance charitable projects and missions in the archdiocese. Last year on the day following the Drive 82 percent of the goal was reported from the parishes.

The lesser figure this year was by no means a letdown to the archbishop and his staff. Father Peter Ludden, chancellor of the archdiocese, was most optimistic at the results. “This year the challenge was undoubtedly a greater one,” said Father Ludden, “because the drive came on the heels of the recently completed and highly successful capital funds drive. However, the early figures for the annual drive clearly indicate the continued generosity of our people.”

The total amount reported on the morning following the Charities Drive was $587,000. This figure represented 95 percent of the parishes reporting.

“During the coming week,” said Joe Estafen, finance director of the archdiocese, “reports will continue to come in. If the usual pattern is repeated we will achieve our goal of $750,000 within a very short time.”

Pastors in the archdiocese had the same confidence. Father Paul Reynolds, pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Lilburn, expressed great gratitude for the generosity of the people. Monsignor Donald Kiernan, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, said it was somewhat difficult this year, but the people “obviously saw the need and responded with their usual enthusiasm."

For the past 16 years the Charities Drive has been a successful financial project. Every apostolate in the North Georgia area has benefited from the drive. As budgets are formed every summer for the fiscal year, this parish project for funds is vital to the life of many charitable undertakings.

There was real gratitude and appreciation in the church of North Georgia on Charities Drive evening.