Extension magazine - Spring 2024

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Extension | Spring 2024 47
From the mail
Community is grateful for the
gift of the sacraments
Young woman uses her education at
Fordham University to advance ministry
Catholic Extension Society funds the
salary of Father Joel Perez to serve
Santa Monica in Texas.
Dear Catholic Extension Society
donors,
Through our Young Adult Leadership Initiative, Catholic
Extension Society provides master’s degree scholarships
and paid internships to enable young adults to
become effective leaders in the Church.
Dear Catholic Extension Society,
While this is a small community, it is
nevertheless a hard-working community
of people full of faith that have set
down roots. These parishioners tend to
not take things for granted and appreciate
the value of hard work. The people
of this parish work together towards
a common goal. To them, knowing that
they can count on the support of their
priest [Father Joel Perez] means the
world to them. The priest and parishioners
want to continue to receive the
sacraments, have weekly worship service,
and receive adult faith formation.
› Gloria E. Vázquez | Development
Project Coordinator
Diocese of Laredo, Texas
Thriving church revives a once “sleepy” Louisiana town
Catholic Extension Society is supporting the operational expenses as
well as religious education program costs of this mission church we
helped build.
Dear Catholic Extension Society,
Yesterday I had the pleasure of celebrating Mass at St. Charles Borromeo
Parish, a rural farming parish here in the Diocese of Lake Charles.
The parish was celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the pastor and
parishioners had requested my presence. In the brochure enclosed with
this letter, there was a brief history of the parish. Since special mention
was made of the gift of Catholic Extension Society to the building of the
original church, which is still in use, I thought I would forward this to you.
Catholic Extension Society has made a substantial contribution to the
life of the Church in this area, and I wish to assure you of our gratitude.
St. Charles Borromeo has only expanded and grown over the last few
decades. The pastor, Father Jom Joseph of the Heralds of the Good
News, informs me that the elementary religious education instruction
classes have more than doubled and now number approximately
80 children. This growth points to another factor which is the general
increase in population. The parish has moved from a “sleepy” farming
community to an area of growth for the Church, and Catholic Extension
Society helped make it possible.
› Bishop Glen John Provost
Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Through the program, I’ve been able to deepen my faith
and gain more knowledge, specifically about the ministry
I do at work, both internally and externally. I am also
more aware of different aspects of ministry but also in
leadership. Throughout the year, it’s been exciting to be
able to associate and apply what I am learning during
the process of working on a project or event or being
able to use it after my course is over, but also when
having conversations with parishioners, coworkers,
family, and friends. Allowing the Holy Spirit to act has
allowed me to be inspired but also to think creatively
and be able to continue to see the beauty of the Church,
not just in the small picture but also the overall picture.
› Valeria Flores | Young Adult Leadership Initiative
scholarship recipient
Diocese of Yakima, Washington
College campus ministry helps students
return to the Church
Catholic Extension Society supports the University of
Montana faith community, serving hundreds of young
adults per year.
Dear Catholic Extension Society donors,
When the new year came, I decided to attend church for
the first time since high school. I went to church the first
Sunday of the new year, and I had this giant pit in my
stomach, like the pit in your stomach you get before a
speech or a football game. It was because I felt as if I did
not belong in the church, so why even go? But as soon
as the father gave his homily, I knew God was talking
to me. There was a phrase in the homily that sent chills
throughout my body. It went, “Don’t wait to be perfect
to come to God but rather come to God to become perfect.”
It has been just about a year since that day, and I
have grown more in my faith and identity this year than
I did in the rest of my life combined. I am now an active
member of the Griz Catholic organization and run a
Bible study through them.
› Matthew Simkins | Student, University of Montana
Diocese of Helena, Montana
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