With each week, pledges to the capital campaign increase – reaching more than $21.8 million July 1. Because of this, the diocese is looking forward to its plan to fund the endowments that are a part of the Together for God’s Good Work campaign – one of them being the Infirm Priests’ Fund.
Historically an annual collection provided about $55,000 for the Infirm Priests’ Fund to support infirm diocesan priests. But, after funding the medical costs of several priests during severe illnesses, the Infirm Priests’ Fund went bankrupt. Other diocesan funds were utilized to take care of the needs of the infirm priests.
The $4 million endowment will help stabilize the fund and provide income for assistance for the foreseeable future. This endowment and the others will be funded by the gifts of the Catholic faithful in Southeast Texas to the capital campaign.
In addition to stabilizing the Infirm Priests’ Fund, two projects funded by the capital campaign are currently under way. Ground was broken in August 2009 for the new Catholic Pastoral Center and a ground blessing celebrated in May for the new chapel at the Catholic Student Center at Lamar University. Both visible signs of the commitment the Catholic community in the Beaumont Diocese has toward establishing a firm foundation for the future of the Catholic Church in Southeast Texas.
Other endowments to be established through the capital campaign are for parish youth ministry, parish religious education, Catholic school scholarships and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. The campaign is also designed to assist with future development at Holy Family Retreat Center. Four million dollars of the $25 million campaign goal is earmarked for parish projects with $2 million designated for the 2010 Bishop’s Faith Appeal to help fund operational costs for diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities.
