CHICOPEE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - The Diocese of Springfield kicked off their 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal campaign at Lorraine’s Kitchen in Chicopee on Tuesday.

The campaign was first launched in 1959 and supports over 40 community-based agencies to meet the needs of all of western Massachusetts. It’s helped Lorraine’s buy food to help fill their pantry. “Our goal is $3 million and the purpose of the money is to do just what we’re doing here: to help food insecurity, to help kids in education, to help all different types of programs here. We all don’t have the capacity to solve all the problems, but if we come together and we come together as a community, then we can. So, the generosity of the people in western Mass., particularly the Catholic community, helps programs like this in Chicopee where food insecurity across the area, especially in these tough times, is a very real problem,” said William Byrne, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield.

This year’s theme is ‘Love Your Neighbor as Yourself’ and the focus is to be in solidarity and to show more generosity to one another during this time of division. “Lent is a season of giving something up, but also is prayer, trying to make sure that we double down on our prayer, and the third element of Lent is taking care, it’s almsgiving, taking care of those who have need, and it’s all in preparation for the celebration of easter. So, the 40 days of Lent is a time to be purposeful in our spiritual life and to make sure it’s not just giving something up, but maybe giving something to somebody else,” Byrne explained.

You can CLICK HERE to learn more or to contribute to the Annual Catholic Appeal.

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