Theresa Purzycki has a long history with the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal.
“My father, when the appeal first started, was one of the volunteers, and they used to go house to house, knocking on doors for people to donate,” said Purzycki, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden.
Decades later, Purzycki would follow in her father’s footsteps, first working for 18 years in the Diocese’s Office of Development, and after retirement, continuing to share her time and talents as a volunteer.
Purzycki was among the nearly 130 volunteers, clergy and diocesan staff who gathered June 15 for an appreciation dinner at Tomasello Winery, Hammonton.
“The greatest strength of our annual appeal is found in the dependable pastors, parish staff and volunteers who work each year to ensure the campaign is a success,” said Andrew Goos, associate director of the diocesan Office of Development. “We have a wonderfully faithful donor base, and the work of these volunteers ensures that donors’ gifts quickly reach us at the appeal office and any donor concerns are addressed.”
Formerly known as House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal, the annual initiative funds local ministries across the Diocese of Camden. The campaign is managed by the diocesan Office of Development and is carried out by pastors and volunteer teams in parishes throughout South Jersey.
“It’s very gratifying to be able to address the parish [needs] as a whole,” said Jim Alexis of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cape May Court House. Alexis and his hard-working committee of seven others reach out to parishioners and visitors alike to solicit gifts. In 2022, they reached their goal, raising $96,700.
Patricia and Louis Orth of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Galloway, became volunteers after a conversation with their pastor, Father Gerard C. Marable, in which it was mentioned that Patricia Orth was an operations manager for a stock brokerage firm before retiring. A few days later, Father Marable called the couple, asking if they would help the parish with the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal.
“How do you say no to your priest?” she said with a laugh.
Louis Orth cited many benefits, especially the connections volunteers can make. “We enjoy an active fellowship in the Church. The more active you are in the various ministries, the more friends you make.”
For more information about the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, visit camdendiocese.org/sjcma.
Leslie Visco, events coordinator for the Office of Development, contributed to this article.
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