The Diocese of Allentown's 2010 Bishop's Annual Appeal will be featured in the diocese's 104 parishes this week. This is the 23rd annual appeal, which replaced four separate diocese-wide collections.

At many of the parishes, people who serve recipients of the BAA funding or recipients themselves will speak at Mass. Parishes may also show a diocesan-produced video that highlights the recipients of funds donated to the BAA by the faithful of the diocese. The video opens with a visit to the Ecumenical Soup Kitchen in Allentown by the Most Rev. John O. Barres, Bishop of Allentown. The appeal video is available for viewing at the appeal website:

www.adbaa.org.The theme of this year's appeal is "Feed My Sheep." Proceeds from the appeal go to Health and Human Services, Catholic Life and Evangelization, Education and Formation of Seminarians.Regional kickoff receptions hosted by Bishop Barres have already been held in each of the five counties in the diocese. In each county, a local couple has been appointed county chairpersons. Earlier this week, a mailing on the appeal was sent to homes throughout the diocese.The appeal will run through Memorial Day weekend. In 2009, almost 26,000 people contributed more than $3.6-million to the appeal.