News/Events

CELEBRATING THE JUBILEE YEAR OF ST. PAUL

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them.” Romans 12:6

The Progress Appeal is the Bishop’s Annual Appeal to support the ministries of the Diocese of El Paso. Funds raised through the Progress Appeal represent nearly 40% of all operating funds available to diocesan ministries. Progress funds are used to support the pastoral, spiritual, educational and human service programs that benefit thousands of individuals throughout the 10 counties of our diocese. The diocese also advances the work of every parish with direct financial assistance such as grants and support services. Without the Progress Appeal, this vital work of the Church would not be possible.

Parishioners throughout the Diocese are invited each year to participate in the Progress Appeal. The goal for the 2009 Progress Appeal is $2,100,000. In 2009, more than ever, Progress will need the support of every Catholic family in the Diocese of El Paso to reach this goal.

Look for your invitation to give from Bishop Armando Ochoa and your pastor in the coming weeks. Start now to prayerfully consider your gift to this important campaign.

To learn more about the Progress Appeal – including a list of Frequently Asked Questions - log-on to www.elpasodiocesefoundation.org. We also invite you to call the Foundation Office at (915) 872-8412 or email us at jyoung@elpasodiocese.org with any question you may have about the Appeal or the ministries it supports.

To make your pledge for the 2009 Progress Campaign now, log-on to www.elpasodiocesefoundation.org or call the Foundation.

MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY YOUR PROGRESS GIFT

Seminarian Recruitment and Formation

Major Seminarians Office

St. Charles Seminary

Vocations Ministry

Education, Formation and Worship

Office of Education

Office of Worship

Permanent Diaconate Ministry

Religious Formation Ministry

Tepeyac Institute

Outreach, Advocacy and Evangelization

Catholic Campus Ministry

Catholic Counseling Services

Communications Office

Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services

Family Life Ministry

Peace and Justice Ministry

Tigua Native American Ministry

West Texas Ministry

Youth Ministry

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1/9/2009. Foundation Announces 2009 Board Officers and Directors

The Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is pleased to announce its new slate of officers and directors for the 2009 calendar year.

2009 Foundation Board of Directors

Russ Vandenberg, Chairman

Mike Miles, Chairman-Elect

Leroy Baeza, Vice-Chairman

Carolyn Mora, Treasurer

Rose Gailey, Secretary

Most Reverend Armando X. Ochoa, D.D.

Sandra Almanzan

Elsa Colmenero-Bustamante

Cristina Castanares

Linda Daw Hudson

Dr. Jose Manuel De La Rosa

Calvin Kessler

Cecilia Levine

Joseph Maresca

Shaw Skinner

Monsignor Francis Smith

Fr. John Stowe, OFM Conv-Ex-Officio

John Witherspoon

The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization founded in 2001 to support the work of the Diocese of El Paso. The Foundation manages the Catholic Legacy Fund, Progress Annual Appeal, and Grants Development Office.  The overarching goal of the Foundation is to promote stewardship as a way of life.

For more information, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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1/8/2009. St. Charles Seminary Receives $100,000 Challenge Grant from Scanlan Foundation to Grow Seminarian Education Endowment Fund

The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is pleased to announce that the Scanlan Foundation has approved a $100,000 matching grant to help St. Charles Seminary grow its Seminarian Education Endowment Fund in the Foundation’s Catholic Legacy Fund.

The news of the matching grant comes a great time in light of the Diocese’s recent success in recruiting 11 new local and foreign seminarians to serve the Diocese of El Paso.  They will join the 10 existing seminarians at St. Charles Seminary this year.  Recruiting and training future priests for our Church is one of the top priorities of the Diocese.

St. Charles Seminary was founded in 1961 by Bishop Sidney M. Metzger to provide spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral formation for young men wishing to become priests.  As college level and post-college level students are called by the Lord to serve, the residential seminary offers the formation and mentoring necessary to prepare them for service to our Church.  More than 30 diocesan priests have received formation at St. Charles Seminary.

Located in Houston, Texas, the Scanlan Foundation provides support for Catholic religious, educational and charitable institutions located within the state of Texas.  The Diocese of El Paso has been a grateful beneficiary of the Scanlan Foundation’s generosity for programs and operating support.  This is the Diocese’s first matching grant from the Scanlan Foundation for endowment funds to support St Charles Seminary.

For more information about the matching grant, or to make a donation, contact the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso at 872-8412.

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1/6/2009. Foundation Welcomes Fund for La Purisima – Socorro Mission Cemetery

The Foundation is pleased to welcome the La Purisima-Socorro Mission Cemetery Fund to its family of endowments in the Catholic Legacy Fund. La Purisima Parish is presently completing a survey of the remaining portion of the cemetery and will soon make available the remaining plots for purchase. The parish envisions the cemetery as a place of beauty, repose and tranquility with improvements planned in the future for landscaping, benches and a statuary center piece. The endowment fund will ensure a long-term source of funding to support the maintenance and upkeep of this historic cemetery.

The fund for the cemetery will join a second fund for La Purisima Parish set up to support the Historic Restoration of the Mission.

Contributions to the Cemetery and Historic Restoration Funds are accepted at any time including commemorative gifts and gifts in lieu of flowers. To make a donation, or for more information, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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12/31/2008. 2008 Progress Appeal Has Record Year: Thank you Diocese of El Paso!

The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who made the Progress 2008 Annual Appeal a great success. Thanks to the generosity of more than 13,300 families, the Progress Appeal received a record-setting $2,226,000 in pledges, exceeding the $2,000,000 goal for the year. The Foundation distributed $1.1 million to diocesan ministries and expects to distribute an additional $189,000 to parishes for parish share and 25 th Anniversary Incentive Prizes.

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12/1/2008. El Buen Pastor Featured by Catholic Extension Society

El Buen Pastor Mission in Sparks is the featured church on this year’s Christmas Wish List of the Catholic Church Extension Society. With more than 100 children in formation classes and nearly 400 registered families, Catholic Extension is asking for donations to help the mission purchase several items including a Spanish missal, crucifixes, a nativity set, a baptismal font and table linens.

The Catholic Church Extension Society, located in Chicago, raises funds to sustain and extend the Catholic faith in poor and remote mission areas of the United States where diocesan resources are insufficient. To make a contribution to the Catholic Church Extension Society, visit their website at www.catholic-extension.org. To support El Buen Pastor or any parish in the Diocese of El Paso this Christmas season, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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11/4/2008. Endowing our Ministries: Tepeyac Institute Establishes Permanent Endowment Fund

The Foundation is pleased to welcome Tepeyac Institute into its family of Catholic Legacy endowment funds.

Under Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas’ leadership, Tepeyac Institute was established in 1988 to provide religious and spiritual formation programs for parishioners in the Diocese. Courses are offered for people serving in catechetical, liturgical, evangelization, and social outreach ministry.  Tepeyac collaborates with other diocesan ministries to foster and develop specialized training for Church ministry.  In addition, through Tepeyac, Loyola University New Orleans offers a three-year, fully accredited graduate education and certificate program.  Tepeyac also offers a three-year master’s level Theology Certificate Program in conjunction with the Diocesan Diaconate Program. 

Now celebrating its 20 th anniversary, Tepeyac’s endowment fund will provide a diversified source of income to support the annual and long-term needs of the ministry. To make a donation to the Tepeyac Institute Endowment Fund, or to the parish, school or ministry of your choice, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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11/1/2008. Foundation to Host ‘Thanksgiving Missions”: A Spiritual Reflection on Gratitude

Lenten Missions held in parishes throughout the Diocese have been extraordinary opportunities to strengthen our relationship with God. The Diocese will host the first “Thanksgiving Missions” this November to give us another opportunity to get closer to God through an evening of prayer and reflection on gratitude.

The 2-hour missions will include bible readings and spiritual reflections centered around this time of Thanksgiving. Sign up today for anyone of seven bilingual missions to be held throughout the Diocese. Or for more information, contact the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso at 872-8412.

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11/1/2008. November is Stewardship Month: Giving Gratitude for the Gifts God has Given Us

In 1992, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops issued a pastoral letter on stewardship entitled: “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.” The document is as relative today as it was 16 years ago calling us all to live as good Christian stewards. A good steward is someone with four essential qualities:

• Grateful for the gifts that God has given
• Responsible and accountable for the gifts that God has given
• Generous and sharing God’s gifts out of a sense of love and justice
• One who makes a return to the Lord with increase

The Bishops’ Pastoral further describes stewardship as 1) The Call, 2) Jesus’ Way, 3) Living as a Steward, 4) Stewards of the Church, and 5) The Christian Steward.

The Call – we all have received a personal call from Jesus to live as stewards. God has a purpose for each one of us. We are called to evangelize and to share in the work of the Church. This call from Jesus is urgent. Following Jesus’ call is the work of a lifetime.

Jesus’ Way – Jesus was the supreme teacher of Christian stewardship. Jesus clearly taught his followers that they were expected to serve one another and those in need. When our life is over, God will require us to account for how we used the gifts that He entrusted to us.

Living as a Steward – God wishes us to be His collaborators in the work of creation, redemption and sanctification. We are to cultivate and care for the earth. We are to have a great reverence for life. We are to be good stewards of our time, making time in our lives for prayer, scripture study, Eucharistic Adoration and Mass.

Stewards of the Church – As followers of Christ, we are also responsible for the health and well-being of the Body of Christ. We have a responsibility to use our gifts and our resources to serve our community of faith. The bishops reminded pastors and parishioners alike that all are responsible for making their parishes vital communities of faith, worship and service. We also have a responsibility to look beyond our parish boundaries to the needs of the greater Church.

The Christian Steward – Life of a Christian steward can be challenging and difficult in many ways. Yet good stewards recognize that they must share with others all that has been given to them. The Christian steward is generous out of love as well as out of duty. Not only do we have Jesus as our perfect example of stewardship, but we can also turn to the Blessed Mother for help and inspiration. She truly understood what it meant to be divinely assigned a role of service to God and to the Church.

Many of us know Stewardship as giving gifts of “Time, Talent and Treasure”. Here are a few examples of each.

Stewardship of Time – Chronos and Kairos

The disciple who accepts the lifestyle of a steward realizes the importance of time. Each week a steward is given 10,080 minutes. In these minutes there are various tasks that have to be completed. They range from the essentials of sleeping, eating, and working to the ones that carry with them a degree of choice, e.g. time with family, in recreation, and time in God’s presence or doing God’s work.

A steward’s lifestyle is built on the basis of time spent in God’s presence and doing God’s work. Time is divided into two different categories: chronos and kairos. Chronos is time doing ordinary or necessary things, but kairos is time spent that makes a difference. For a steward, kairos starts with prayer. It is in this special time that a steward recognizes how his life is a gift from God. It is here that a grateful lifestyle begins. It is from this time that those parts of life that have a degree of choice to them find their proper priority. Spending quality time with family and doing the portion of God’s work that each steward is uniquely called to do become easy choices when the proper amount of kairos time is spent. Unless a steward is willing to spend kairos time, knowing the blessings in his life and assigning the proper amount of time to express gratitude for them by being in God’s presence and doing God’s work is not possible. Of the 10,080 minutes a steward has each week, the first portion is always kairos time.

Stewardship of Talent – A Lifelong Process of Self Discovery

Stewards are engaged in a lifestyle that starts with the basic belief that they are able to do what they can because they are using abilities that are given to them by God. Stewards live a life of discovery in which they discover not just what their talents are but how they can best be used. Stewards understand these talents are given for a purpose and their increase is an expectation of the giver. Stewards can articulate each God-given talent and how it can be used to build the community of faith that they entered in Baptism. Stewards never stop asking, “What else can I do?” This is a lifelong process of discovery that never ends until their life in this part of God’s kingdom stops.

Stewardship of Treasure – Grateful Giving

We all work hard to provide for our families and lifestyles. We probably don’t ask ourselves enough, what is the purpose for the money earned? If we value living life as a Christian steward, we must analyze not only how we spend our time and talent but also how we allocate our treasure.

According to John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, The Poor Have Faces: Loving Your Neighbor in the 21st Century, we spend $44 billion in our country on soft drinks, $29 billion on diets, $19.5 billion on lottery tickets and $12 billion on candy. These staggering numbers force us to think about what we spend on a yearly basis ourselves, including what we give back to God to support the work of the Church in our community.

Are we giving the Church our first fruits? Are we making sacrificial gifts? Are we giving gratefully? Stewardship is a lifelong journey and conversion of faith that includes improving our relationship with money. If we realize that all that we have is a Gift from God, it is a lot easier to give it away.

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10/9/2008. Foundation Dinner Creates “Winning Legacy” for Catholic Church

The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso hosted its second annual fundraising dinner entitled “Creating a Winning Legacy: Tailgate & Gala” on Wednesday, October 8, at the El Paso Convention Center. 

Over 600 people attended the annual event, which raised nearly $140,000 for the Foundation, parishes, ministries and schools of the Diocese. 

Former Notre Dame and Chicago Bear Football player Chris Zorich was the keynote speaker, sharing his story about making it against considerable odds at Notre Dame as a student-athlete, playing professional football for the Chicago Bears, and ultimately graduating from Notre Dame Law School.  It was knowing how his mother dedicated her life to Chris that he was inspired to create a winning legacy for his family by establishing the Christopher Zorich Foundation. 

El Paso families can leave a legacy for the Catholic Church in our community with gifts to the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso.

For more information, contact the Foundation at 872.8412.

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9/15/2008. Notre Dame and Chicago Bear All-Start to Headline Catholic Foundation Dinner

The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is pleased to present: Creating a Winning Legacy: Tailgate & Gala, the Catholic Foundation’s second annual fundraising event on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at 6:00 pm, at the El Paso Convention Center. The event will celebrate stewardship as a way of life and feature Christopher Zorich, former Notre Dame and Chicago Bear stand out, as the evening’s keynote speaker. The event will also feature the second annual live auction to benefit the parishes, schools and ministries of the Diocese.

Keynote Speaker

Born and raised on Chicago's impoverished southside, an only child of biracial descent (African American and Croatian), Chris was raised by his mother, Zora, a single parent surviving on $250/month from public aid. In 1987 Chris graduated from Chicago Vocational High School and received a football scholarship from legendary coach Lou Holtz and the University of Notre Dame. Elected captain of the Fighting Irish football team his senior year, this All-American and College Hall of Fame recipient won numerous collegiate awards. Following his 1991 graduation from Notre Dame with a bachelor of arts in American Studies, Chris was drafted by Hall of Fame Coach Mike Ditka and the Chicago Bears football team. Chris retired from the NFL to finish his law degree at Notre Dame Law School in order to further his ability to help those in need. He is presently Chairman of The Christopher Zorich Foundation.

Foundation Mission & History

The Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2001 to support the growing needs of our Catholic community. The Foundation manages the Catholic Legacy Fund, Progress Annual Appeal and Grants Development Office to support the annual and long-term needs of the diocesan parishes, ministries and schools. The overarching goal of the Foundation is to promote stewardship as a way of life.

Since 2001, the Foundation has raised more than $1.5 million in endowment funds for diocesan ministries, parishes, and schools. In 2007, the Foundation distributed $1.2 million in Progress Campaign funds to diocesan ministries and parishes. An additional $980,000 was raised by the grants department for ministries, parishes, and schools. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from El Paso and West Texas.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, established in 1914, includes 10 counties in far West Texas and covers 26,686 square miles. The Catholic population served by the Diocese is 656,035 (of 811,739). The Diocese is made up of 55 parishes, 22 missions, and 21 ministries. The ministries serve the unique multicultural, multilingual needs of the Diocese. The Diocese has a staff of 85 employees and an annual operating budget of $3.7 million.

For Reservations & More Information

Reserve your tickets for the inaugural event today! Tickets to the dinner are $100/person and $1,000/table of ten. For reservations or more information, contact the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso at tel: 915.872.8412 or email: tyellen@elpasodiocese.org.

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8/28/2008. Dorothy Perryman Establishes Legacy for Our Lady of Peace in Alpine

Dorothy and her late husband, Jack Perryman, moved to Alpine in 1944 lured by the opportunity to open a wholesale/retail gas business. It wasn’t long before both were recruited into teaching. Jack taught P.E. at Sul Ross State University. He was also known for playing and coaching for two #1 college football programs. As a senior defensive end for Texas Christian University, Jack was part of the number one team in the nation. As a coach for Sul Ross, he led his 1949 football team to the Aztec Bowl in Mexico City and Tangerine Bowl in Florida. “Because we had no children, we decided to help the Catholic Church, the local Baptist Church and Sul Ross State University by setting up an endowment fund for each.”

Dorothy Perryman established an endowment fund for Our Lady of Peace thirty years ago to ensure the financial future of the parish she loves. “I had good Catholic parents who saw that I received all my sacraments,” Mrs. Perryman recalled. “I love my Church.” She has been giving to the fund for Our Lady of Peace ever since. The fund, valued at $113,000, was transferred into the Catholic Legacy Fund, the permanent arm of the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso this year. Mrs. Perryman has also made provisions to remember the parish in her will. “I want the fund to last in perpetuity,” she said.

Foundation Board Member and Alpine resident Shaw Skinner said, “We are pleased to have a fund named in Mrs. Perryman’s honor and designated for our local parish.” He added, “Mrs. Perryman’s gift shows us what can happen when one adds regularly to an endowment fund over time.” Earnings from the Perryman fund will be distributed to Our Lady of Peace on an annual basis to support the parish, its ministries and programs.

The only daughter of six children, Dorothy graduated from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) with a degree in Homemaking. She taught Home Economics, English, History and P.E. at the high school level for thirty years. She even coached girls basketball for a while winning a district championship in only her third year of coaching.

After retiring from teaching, the Perryman’s enjoyed traveling in their RV. Dorothy enjoys knowing that the financial future of her parish, in the town she loves, is secure. Fr. Mike Alcuino, pastor for Our Lady of Peace, affirmed that “we are blessed to have an endowment fund for Our Lady of Peace. I hope that Mrs. Perryman’s example will lead to other endowment gifts and ensure that our parish is self-sustaining in the future.”

The Foundation is pleased to welcome the Dorothy O. Perryman Endowment Fund for Our Lady of Peace Parish. To make a gift to the Our Lady of Peace Endowment Fund or for information about how to establish a fund, contact the Foundation at 915-872-8412.

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7/7/2008. Edward M. Donovan Leaves Legacy for Cathedral High School

Some gifts come from unexpected places. That’s true of the legacy gift that Edward Donovan recently gave to Cathedral High School. Originally from Boston, Ed retired with his wife, Ina, to El Paso after a life-long career in the Secret Service. They had chosen El Paso because his cousin, Peggy Davis, had retired here with her husband.

Edward was not a Cathedral student, alumni, teacher, volunteer or parent. But when Ed was updating his will, Peggy suggested that he leave something to Cathedral High School. “Ed loved living in El Paso and education was important to him.” Peggy had been very impressed by the dedication of her good friend and now-retired Cathedral High School religion teacher Harry Kelleher. “Harry played a big part in Cathedral receiving this gift. Harry and his wife, Becky, gave so much to the school.” Harry’s dedication ultimately led to Ed bequeathing his home to Cathedral to help deserving students receive a first-class education.

The Foundation is proud to honor Ed’s legacy and announce the establishment of the Edward M. Donovan Scholarship Fund for Cathedral High School.

With this and other major gifts, endowment funds for Cathedral High School now exceed $275,000. The funds are invested by the Foundation for growth. Cathedral receives a distribution from interest earned on the funds to support scholarships on an annual basis.

For information about how to establish a fund for Cathedral High School or to leave a gift for a Catholic school, parish or ministry in your will, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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7/2008. Our Lady of the Valley School Establishes Fund in Memory of Sr. Cecilia Vasquez, OSF
Our Lady of the Valley School (OLV) has established a new endowment fund in the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso to honor the memory of Sister Cecilia Vasquez, OSF, who past away after a twelve year battle with cancer. Over the last five years, Sister Cecilia lovingly worked at OLV School as a nurse, counselor, art teacher and coordinator helping children in need.

Sister Caroline Vasquez, OSF, Principal of OLV School, recently remarked that “Sister Cecilia’s example and love helped our students, parents and staff realize that God’s love is ever present. Even though she is interred in St. Louis, her heart and love will always be with the many students at Our Lady of the Valley School now and for years to come.” Sister Cecilia was the loving daughter of the late Jose and Paula Vasquez. She is also survived by seven brothers and three sisters, including Sister Caroline, her faithful companion.

The Sister Cecilia Vasquez, OSF, Endowment Fund will help support scholarships for students at Our Lady of the Valley School. For information about making a donation in honor of Sister Cecilia, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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7/2008. Most Holy Trinity Parish Establishes Legacy Fund for School in Memory of Bishop Metzger, Father O’Mahony and Celia Baeza

Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1968 on the belief that education is one of the most important ways the Catholic Church fulfills its commitment to build community and support the dignity of the person. Most Holy Trinity School exists to facilitate this commitment by providing an educational setting where faith becomes a living, active, conscious pledge to perfection through the light of instruction.

Now, 40 years later, Most Holy Trinity Parish is ensuring the sustainability of the school for another four decades with the creation of the Most Holy Trinity School Endowment Fund. Most Holy Trinity Parish has provided an initial gift of $10,000 to seed the fund in memory of the school’s founders – Bishop Sydney Metzger, Father Tom O’Mahony and Principal Celia Baeza.

Sister Elizabeth Ann Swartz, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, says that “the Office of Education in conjunction with the Foundation has strongly encouraged our schools to establish endowment funds to support student financial aid and operating budgets. As the cost of providing a Catholic education continues to rise, and can no longer keep pace with parish subsidies, endowment funds help schools ensure their future. Of course, we want to be sure that all children who want to attend Catholic school have the opportunity to do so regardless of income.”

Located in Northeast El Paso, Most Holy Trinity School is one of 12 schools in the Diocese of El Paso serving 90 children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade with a terrific faculty and strong parent and volunteer involvement.

To make a gift to the Most Holy Trinity School Endowment Fund or for information about how to establish a fund for a Cathedral school, contact the Foundation at 872-8412.

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4/1/2008. Trusting in the Future: Dale and Anne Condon Endowment Fund for Cathedral High School

When Anne Condon thought about making a gift to Cathedral High School, she knew that she wanted to create something that would last. “My aunt wanted to set up an endowment for Cathedral High School because it is more than a one-time gift; it’s a permanent gift that supports Cathedral today and in the future,” says Carolyn Condon Niland, Trustee for the Dale and Anne Condon Charitable Trust.

Anne Condon established a Trust for Cathedral High School to honor the legacy of her late husband Dale and brother-in-law, Marshall Condon. The Trust has made quarterly gifts to the Dale and Anne Condon Endowment Fund for Cathedral High School in the Foundation’s Catholic Legacy Fund since 2000. Now valued at more than $90,000, earnings from the fund support scholarships for Cathedral High School students on an annual basis.

Sam Govea, Principal of Cathedral High School, welcomes the gift. “We are committed to building an endowment for Cathedral. The income we earn from the Condon Fund helps us reach our goals of instilling Catholic values, providing the highest quality education and ensuring opportunities for all students.”

The Condons were committed to Catholic education because of their upbringing. Moving to El Paso as young children in 1920, brothers Dale and Marshall attended St. Patrick Cathedral Elementary School and Cathedral High School, schools known for the high standards they set for their students.

Dale and Marshall were used to the hard work and discipline required by Cathedral. Growing up in the flavors and bottling business started by their two aunts in South El Paso, the boys went from running delivery routes on weekends to managing the operation, which became Pepsi Cola Bottling of El Paso, the first Pepsi franchise in Texas. Working through the Depression, Dale and Marshall gained a great appreciation for how to manage in the hardest of times. With this experience and their solid Catholic education, the boys created a successful business in the El Paso community.

Dale and Marshall were long-time supporters of Cathedral High School supporting capital campaigns and annual fund drives. Establishing the Dale and Anne Condon Charitable Trust was another way for Anne Condon was able to honor the legacy of Dale and Marshall and support the school that played an important part in their lives.

The Foundation is grateful to the Condon family for this legacy and for the support that they will provide to Cathedral High School for years to come.

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12/22/2007. Filipino-American Fund Supports Priest Retirement, St. Charles Seminary

In December 2007, a dedicated group of Filipino-Americans were involved in organizing the fifth-annual “Simbang Gabi”. Literally translated at “Evening Mass”, the traditional Filipino Simbang Gabi is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as four in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Over the last four years, proceeds from the event have gone to support priest retirement. In 2007, the organizers decided to do something different: place the proceeds from the event and donations from individuals, including a generous matching donation from an anonymous donor, into the newly created “Filipino-American Endowment Fund”.

Part of the Foundation’s Catholic Legacy Fund, the Filipino-American Endowment Fund establishes a legacy to the Filipino heritage in our diocese and ensures gifts to priest retirement and other entities in perpetuity. The Diocese Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Simbang Gabi Committee and the founding donors to the Filipino-American Endowment Fund, for their commitment and generosity.

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12/14/2007. LQVQ Fund Supports Scholarships for Cathedral High School

Ten years ago, when Cathedral High School alumni Danny Gutierrez lay passing to eternal life surrounded by six of his 1958 classmates, he whispered to them “cuiden a los que van quedando (take care of those who are left)”. A driving force promoting Cathedral events for alumni to support, Danny inspired the formation of a brotherhood of Cathedral alumni named Cathedral Alumni and Associates Los Que Van Quedando (LQVQ).  This brotherhood started with the class of 1958 and emerged into a non-profit, tax exempt corporation involved in charitable, educational, religious and fund raising activities. 

LQVQ sponsors benefit activities such as The Irish Open golf tournament, the annual Tamalada and the LQVQ/Lightbourn Family Spring Raffle.  Proceeds from these events support financial aid scholarships and special needs of Cathedral High.  In 2007, LQVQ donated over $25,000 in scholarships.

In December 2007, LQVQ took their fund raising efforts one step farther by creating the LQVQ Fund in the Foundation’s Catholic Legacy Fund for scholarships for Cathedral High School. With an initial gift of $25,000, LQVQ’s goal is to raise $1,000,000 for this permanent endowment. Earnings from the LQVQ Fund will be distributed every year specifically for scholarships for needy CHS students.

T o make a donation to the LQVQ Fund or Filipino-American Endowment Fund, contact the Diocese Foundation at (915) 872-8412.

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10/16/2007. Honoring a Loved One:
Yvonne Richardson Fund for St. Charles Seminary

During the Foundation’s inaugural dinner in October 2007, Bishop Armando Ochoa issued a challenge to the 650 guests in attendance. Inspired by Coach Nolan Richardon’s motivational speech, Bishop took out his check book and contributed $1,000 to establish the Yvonne Richardson Fund for St. Charles Seminary in memory of Coach Richardson’s daughter. He challenged nine others in the audience to match his gift. To the Bishop’s delight, twenty people responded to his challenge, giving $1,000 each. The Foundation is pleased to welcome the Yvonne Richardson Fund for St. Charles Seminary.

Father John Telles, Director of St. Charles Seminary and Seminarian Formation, was touched by the outpouring of support. St. Charles Seminary presently has four minor seminarians. Father Telles would like to see as many as 20 seminarians in training at any one time. Endowment funds for St. Charles Seminary are critical to the future education of our seminarians and growth and sustainability of our local Church.

To make a gift to the Yvonne Richardson Fund or to establish a fund for St. Charles Seminary, contact the Foundation office at 872-8412.