This past Monday was filled with celebration at the Bishop Kicanas Pastoral Center as the Catholic Foundation presented checks to 34 parishes, 20 schools, and 10 social service programs. For the second time in 44 years the Foundation eclipsed more than $1 million in grants, with a total disbursement of $1,091,494.
For parishes the projects range from maintenance updates to equipment and furniture purchases. In Coolidge at Saint James Parish, the pastor, Father Alex Tigga said the money will go toward the purchase of a new shed, “Our old shed is eroding and getting rotten. Waters and insects enter into the walls, and it smells very badly. We need to have a good classroom.” Our Lady of Fatima parish on Tucson’s west side will use its award to continue with replacing antiquated pews and chairs. The parish has seen exponential growth of younger families in recent years. Last year the parish received money and was able to send youth on a retreat at the Triangle Y camp in the town of Oracle. When it comes to social service, Catholic Community Services is receiving $10,000 for its prison ministry program. Nearly $13,000 was awarded to the Office of Youth Ministry to help offset the costs of attendance for the National Catholic Youth Conference.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas, apostolic administrator for the diocese, spoke with attendees Monday and said he was grateful for the foundation and its impact to our Catholic community. Elizabeth Bollinger, the Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation, said, “We are immensely grateful to everyone who donated to our Annual Catholic Appeal. Each donation, no matter the size, makes a huge difference in our community. Our prayer is that people will see the value of their generosity every time they attend Mass or witness one of our ministries in action.”
This year’s awards are listed below:
Parishes:
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi
Immaculate Conception, Ajo
Immaculate Conception, Yuma
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Infant Jesus of Prague
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady Queen of All Saints
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Clifton
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Nogales
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Tucson
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Willcox
Santa Cruz
St Bartholomew
St Charles Apache Mission
St Christopher
St Elizabeth Ann Seton
St Francis de Sales
St Francis of Assisi, Elfrida
St Francis of Assisi, Yuma
St Helen of the Cross, Eloy
St Helen, Oracle
St James the Apostle
St John the Evangelist
St Joseph, Hayden
St Jude Thaddeus, San Luis
St Kateri Tekakwitha
St Luke, Douglas
St Mark the Evangelist
St Odilia
St Pius X
St Rita in the Desert
St Thomas More Newman Center
Schools:
All Saints Catholic School
Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Heart Academy
Loretto Catholic School
Lourdes Catholic School
Sacred Heart of Jesus School, Nogales
Salpointe Catholic High School
San Miguel High School
San Xavier Mission School
Santa Cruz School
St Ambrose Catholic School
St Anthony of Padua School
St Augustine Catholic High School
St Charles Apache Mission School
St Cyril of Alexandria School
St Elizabeth Ann Seton School
St Francis of Assisi School, Yuma
St John the Evangelist School
Sts Peter & Paul Catholic School
Yuma Catholic High School
Social Services & DOT Departments:
Catholic Community Services (CCS) Community Outreach for the Deaf
CCS Daybreak Adult Health Care
CCS Pio Decimo Food Pantry
CCS Kolbe Prison Ministry
Reachout Women's Center
Sacred Heart Convent Shelter, Tucson
Diocese of Tucson Fiscal Department
Diocese of Tucson Office of Youth Ministry
Diocese of Tucson Dept of Catholic Schools
Our Lady of Fatima Teen Retreat, sponsored by the Gallegos Endowment
St Joseph Catholic Healthcare Fund:
Healthcare Scholarship: Selena Hopkins-Morand
Healthcare Scholarship: Vanessa Breda
Banner Health Foundation Child Life Services
Banner Burn Program
Carondelet Health Network
El Rio Health Center Foundation
Hospice of Yuma
The Hansen House, Yuma
TMC Foundation’s TC-3 Program (partnership with Tucson Fire Department)