Date:      June 30, 2009

           The annual Missionary Projects of the Diocese of Ogdensburg (MPDO) Appeal for 2009 will be taken up in the Catholic parishes of the Adirondack, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton/Herkimer Deaneries on the weekend of July 25th -26th.

            The Missionary Projects of the Diocese of Ogdensburg (MPDO) will be used for three purposes:
1) to provide continued financial support to our former mission parish in Mollendo, Peru;
2) to support the U.S. Bishop’s annual appeal for Latin America; and
3) to help any other missionary projects throughout the world that the Diocese of Ogdensburg might deem appropriate as part of its evangelization effort.

            Monies from the collection are given as collaborative grants for pilot projects and pastoral programs in Mollendo, Peru; Nicaragua; and Latin America.  Most commonly, the funds are used to educate priests, religious, and lay pastoral leaders; to assist missionaries in pastoral work to train catechists and youth ministers; and to strengthen the Church’s work with the poor.

           The Diocesan Administrator, Reverend Terry R. LaValley, has written a letter to all the parishes in the Adirondack, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton/Herkimer Deaneries asking the faithful to be generous to this years’ appeal for the Missionary Projects of the Diocese of Ogdensburg (MPDO). 

The Diocesan Mission Office under the direction of Sister Mary Ellen Brett, SSJ, welcomes donations to this appeal from the general public throughout the year.