Catholic Foundation's 40th annual Cornerstone Gala honors Jean Fedigan & Sr. Jose Women's Center

By Carissa Krautscheid

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson hosted its 40th annual Cornerstone Gala at the Westin La Paloma Resort with over 650 Catholics in attendance.

Inspired by the theme, There’s No Place Like Home, patrons enjoyed musical performances by the local De Grazia Band and bid on diverse and dynamic auction items from across the Southwest and beyond. The live and silent auctions raised over $41,000. All proceeds raised at the Gala go to the Foundation’s Cornerstone Fund which provides emergency resources to organizations in times of unforeseen need.

Attendees traveled from across the Diocese to attend this signature event. By doing so, many parishes and schools showed reciprocal support to the Foundation which has supported them so much throughout the years. Earlier this year, the Catholic Foundation distributed nearly $1 million in grants to 64 local organizations. 

This year’s Gala was a jovial celebration of unity, generosity, and faith. Several exciting moments made the 40th annual Cornerstone Gala particularly memorable. A papal honor, the Pro Pontifice et Ecclesia Award ("For the Pope and Church") was bestowed on Ernie Nedder, for his remarkable lifetime of service to the Catholic Church. Bishop Edward Weisenburger explained that this honor is the lay-equivalent to being named a “monsignor” for priests.

Bishop Weisenburger also recognized the impact and legacy of Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas by naming the newly constructed Diocesan Pastoral Center in his honor. The downtown diocesan offices and event space will hence be named the Bishop Kicanas Pastoral Center.

 

Finally, the 2022 recipient of the Catholic Foundation’s Cornerstone Award was Jean Fedigan, founder and director of Sister Jose Women’s Center. Jean was the catalyst for establishing services for women experiencing homelessness in Tucson and has since served countless women with unfailing patience and generous love. More about Jean and her inspiring work can be found here.

“There is no greater honor,” shared Jean, “than to be recognized for doing the work of Christ. All we do, all the time is God’s work.”

Also in attendance at the Cornerstone Gala was Father Jack Wall, director of the Catholic Extension, a national organization that “works in solidarity with people in America’s poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities.”
 

The Catholic Extension leadership was present for a very special reason: to name this year’s national recipient of their prestigious Lumen Christi Award. For the first time ever, the national recipient comes from the Diocese of Tucson: Jean Fedigan.

As the Lumen Christi Award recipient, Jean’s ministry received $25,000 from the Catholic Extension. In addition, the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson received a matching $25,000, which will establish an endowment for Sister Jose Women’s Center to support her life-changing ministry for decades to come.



The Catholic Foundation Gala inspired generosity from other donors. Gala title sponsor and founding director of the Foundation, Pat Raskob, is matching every dollar up to $5,000 to add to this new endowment. Czarina Lopez is donating $250,000 to Sister Jose Women’s Center. As witnessed at the Cornerstone Gala, the Catholic community in the Diocese of Tucson is interwoven and interdependent on one another. 

“For as in one body, we have many parts and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them” (Romans 12: 4-6).

Looking around the ballroom, any attendee at the Cornerstone Gala may have seen countless familiar faces; the Catholic community in our Diocese is close-knit and active in the Church. From parishioners and clergy, to parish staff, Catholic school teachers, and two Bishops, Catholics of all origins and ministries were gathered as one body in Christ and sent forth to continue the generous and life-changing mission of the Church.