Walking by Faith
Walking by Faith “for we walk by faith, not by sight… Therefore, we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home or away.” 2 Corinthians 5:7,9 The start of a new school year challenges us to face the unknown, especially when we are in an unfamiliar school or classroom. In these times, our faith assures us that everything will work out despite the unknowns. Whether in one of our Catholic schools or a public school, administrators, teachers and students can all rely on their faith to create a fertile and comfortable environment for learning. Our Catholic faith instructs us that when we walk by faith, we are not walking alone, we have the Holy Spirit with us. The gifts…
WPGC Grant Applicants
Members of The Catholic Foundation and the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle (WPGC) visited Samaritan Village, Harbor House, Central Florida Diaper Bank and The Pregnancy Center of Sanford. These nonprofits, serving women in our diocese, are finalists for WPGC grants which are intended to help ministries serve and strengthen families in our community. The WPGC will hold a Pitch Party for these finalists in September and grant awards will be announced in October.
Bishop Parkes Celebrates Anniversary
Bishop Stephen Parkes from The Diocese of Savannah celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood at Most Precious Blood Parish in Oviedo. Bishop Parkes was the founding pastor of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Oviedo and is the founding spiritual director of The Catholic Foundation board of directors. He was the pastor of Annunciation Catholic Church when he received the call in 2020 to serve as bishop for the Diocese of Savannah. To honor his call to the episcopacy, The Catholic Foundation established the Bishop Stephen D. Parkes Endowment for Catholic Campus Ministry where he served for many years. This endowment supports campus ministries across our diocese and specifically on the UCF campus, Eucharistic-centered retreats and…
Industry Spotlight: Concord Advisory Group
Our strategic partners at Concord Advisory Group compare the S&P 500 to salaries in professional sports in their June 2023 Market Highlights. Click the image below for the full report!
The Knights of Columbus Council 6125 Are Helping To Support Our Retired Priests
The Rockledge Knights of Columbus Council 6125 Grand Knight Tony Spadafora announced donations totaling $17,833 at their annual awards dinner on June 22, 2023. The Catholic Foundation was honored to accept a gift for the Council’s support of Emmaus, the new independent living community for retired priests at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center. Additional recipients of the Council’s charity included St. John the Evangelist, Divine Mercy and St. Mary’s Church and School, as well as organizations serving individuals with disabilities, behavioral health issues and those precariously housed or facing financial instability in Brevard County. Thank you Knights of Columbus, we’re humbled by your continuous support to our Diocese.
Welcome New Planned Giving Advisory Council Members
Please help us welcome Colleen Duris and Josh Black, our newest members of The Catholic Foundation’s Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC). Colleen is a Parishioner of Blessed Trinity-Ocala, and the first member of the council to represent the Northern Deanery of the diocese. Josh is a parishioner at St. Margaret Mary, and is the first ever insurance professional to serve on the PGAC. The PGAC is a group of charitable gift and estate planning professionals dedicated to the mission and vision of The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (CFOCF). The CFOCF and the PGAC members provide educational and networking opportunities to support Central Florida professionals, incorporating distinct services that will help clients realize their goals, and connect them to resources…
Let Freedom Ring!
Dignitatis Humanae is the declaration on religious freedom from the Second Vatican Council in 1965. It outlines the church’s advocacy for protections of religious liberty: …in order that relationships of peace and harmony be established and maintained within the whole of mankind, it is necessary that religious freedom be everywhere provided with an effective constitutional guarantee and that respect be shown for the high duty and right of man freely to lead his religious life in society. During the American Revolution, Catholics comprised only about 1% (25,000) of the total population in the colonies. They supported the Revolution and independence from Britain in hopes it would offer them greater religious liberty. After the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were…
Catholic Foundation Hosts Consortium of Catholic Foundations
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida proudly hosted the Consortium of Catholic Foundations CEO Symposium. In early May, leaders of Catholic foundations across the US met at San Pedro Spiritual Retreat Center in Winter Park. The event provided opportunities to network and share best practices for Catholic Philanthropy and managing Catholic Foundations. This year’s theme was “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Us.” The annual symposium is an event for foundation CEOs and Executive Directors to gather in a peer-learning environment, featuring national speakers and experienced colleagues sharing trends, business models and successful strategies to grow relationships and philanthropy for our Church in the U.S. Along with collaborative information sessions, those in attendance participated in daily mass and fellowship…
Decision Factors for Your Charitable Giving
If you have a desire to be more strategic with your charity, there are six steps you can take. Being strategic about our giving helps us to ensure that we are being prudent with the resources and blessings that God has provided us. 1) Reflect on your own individual experiences and values God has a wonderfully and uniquely defined plan for each of us. As a result, we have different influences and influencers that define our values and the desires in our hearts. What are the causes you have supported in your life today and are there any causes you care about which you want to support? By reviewing where you have shared your treasures you will see a pattern…
Finding the Extra in Ordinary
Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. Scripture reads: The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps (Proverbs 16:9). After the Easter season each year we return to Ordinary Time. But this time is meant to be far from ordinary. Ordinary comes from the same root as ordered, as in numbered and counted. Some of us might find tedium in that routine, but the intention is to lead us to an ordered place – the ultimate return of Christ. Our Gospel readings during this time of year are filled with the stories of Christ’s everyday ministry rather than major events in His earthly life. It is in this ordinary time that we’re…