The Catholic Foundation Grants
“Blessed are you who are poor, who are hungry, who are weeping, who are hated and excluded and insulted . . . For the kingdom of God with all its joy and satisfaction and peace will be yours."
Sermon on the Mount
As a community of faith, of action, and of hope, the Catholic Church plays a vital role in serving the least of our people. The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe supports the mission and ministries of the Catholic Church by providing grants to fund the good works that bring life to the gospel teachings.
Each spring, The Catholic Foundation solicits grant proposals for projects and programs that address social, economic, educational and spiritual needs throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The Catholic Foundation’s Grant Committee reviews and evaluates grant proposals according to established guidelines and submits recommendations for funding to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Grants typically range in size from $2,000 to $7,000. Since 1995 when the Foundation awarded its first grants, The Catholic Foundation has given over $8.5 million in grants.
Let us share with you a few stories and letters about how The Catholic Foundation’s grants have helped communities meet the gospel imperative to “love one another as I have loved you” . . .
Santa Clara Parish, Wagon Mound
Located in Mora County, New Mexico, one of the poorest counties in the United States, the renovation of Santa Clara Parish Hall is truly Spirit made manifest. The parish hall serves not only as a gathering and teaching space for the parish, but a town meeting hall and civic center as well. The Catholic Foundation provided approximately 99% of the project funding and the people in the community donated their time and resources.
The project began in April 2008 not as a project that the community just “wished” to do but as a project that the community had to do! Replacing the old, rusty, corrugated roof that was falling off; removing the dangerous, peeling stucco from the façade of the building; installing hand rails on the crumbling concrete steps and bringing the electrical wiring and bathrooms up to safety codes were all very important repairs that needed to be made to ensure the safety of parishioners using the building. But perhaps more importantly, renovations to the parish hall were a demonstration of the power of Catholic faith, of the miracles that do occur when a community works together and believes in the power of prayer.
According to Robert Mondragón, Pastoral Council President and Wagon Mound Fire Chief, individuals and companies showed up when needed–often without being asked or even having prior knowledge of the project–and gave generously from their hearts, donating time and materials. Miracles in the making and a community blessed by the spirit of Catholic faith, love and hope.
Pastoral Counseling Center, Santa Fe
We would like to say thank you for the $5,000 for our Subsidized Services Program granted during this 2009 awards process! We most appreciate your ongoing generosity and support of the work that we do. As you know, it is a challenge in today’s world to manage limited resources in order to meet unlimited demands. Your financial support of clients without health insurance or financial resources is most helpful. The Board, staff and clients of the Center express our deepest thanks!
David Dennedy-Frank, Ph.D., Executive Director
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Albuquerque
I thank God that you and your staff are there to help us do our service to the poor. Our program here at St. Francis Xavier began in 2003 to serve lunches to the homeless. It began small, but we no longer say we serve the homeless, we serve the needy, and families arrive in cars with all their children. We now average about 250 lunches a day; we have gone as high as 370 lunches a day.
We depend on grants and gifts from organizations like The Catholic Foundation and United Way to keep the program going. We very much appreciate you considering our bag lunch program worthy of receiving funds to keep the program serving the needy, not just of our neighborhood, but from the Albuquerque area. May God continue to bless all you do.
Sister Bernice Garcia, OP, Parish Life Coordinator
Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, Albuquerque
On behalf of everyone at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH), we would like to thank The Catholic Foundation for providing this extremely generous grant in support of our mission: bringing us that much closer to realizing our vision to “live in a world that is just and without homelessness”. Your contribution helps AHCH continue to provide support to Tierra del Sol, a residential recovery program that serves up to 18 residents at one time, including single women and women with children, for a 6-9 month stay. This critical program is designed to improve the participants’ engagement in services and build their capacity for more healthy and independent living.
Jennifer Metzler, Executive Director
Immaculate Conception Church, Albuquerque
We are very delighted to accept a 2009 grant from The Catholic Foundation. This money will greatly help with food expenses for our homeless meal program on Sundays. We really try to live out the Gospel message of “feeding the hungry and clothing the naked” through the nutritious meal that we provide, but such a meal does have many costs and this money from the Foundation will help us tremendously. Thank you again for your willingness to support this very special outreach to the poorest of the poor in the city of Albuquerque through Immaculate Conception Church.
Fr. Rafael Garcia, S.J, Pastor
Michael Shawver, Director of Social Ministry
Estancia Valley Catholic Parish, Moriarty
Torrance County, New Mexico, has been hit hard by the current recession with the closing of several area businesses. As is the case in many locations in the country, families are being driven to desperation. The St. Vincent de Paul Society at the Estancia Valley Catholic Parish provides much needed services and support to local families. While the majority of the St. Vincent de Paul funds are donated by local parishioners, they are rarely sufficient to meet the growing need. “It is just barely enough to prevent a zero balance in the check book. By the grace of God, when it seems we have to stop, monies come in to keep us going….barely. The approval of funding – a grant from The Catholic Foundation – could not have come at a better time. The words “thank you” do not seem strong enough to convey our deep appreciation.
Janet Fedor, Board President
Rev. William E. Young, Jr., Pastor