Marquette Catholic Schools, Bellevue, Receives CFAD Grant for "Our Lives of Mercy"

Marquette Catholic Schools recently received a St. Katharine Drexel Grant from The Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque (CFAD) for its Our Lives of Mercy community outreach program. As part of the strategic plan for the school’s campus ministry department, the program cultivates connection between students from Marquette and the homebound parishioners of the four supporting parishes.
 
Our Lives of Mercy serves the elderly, widowed and homebound of the community. “While it is important to serve those in need by helping with tasks, this program focuses on building relationships with the two generations and fosters a greater sense of communion and understanding of the holistic person,” said Jacob Till, director of campus ministry. Till has specific plans on sharing meals and stories.

CFAD’s St. Katharine Drexel Grant helps Catholic organizations in the Archdiocese of Dubuque with new projects that provide a Work of Mercy needed in their area and/or new evangelization efforts to bring people closer to Christ and His Church. “It is our hope that through this grant we can expand our students’ vision of service that can go beyond washing windows, raking leaves and completing tasks,” said Till. He added that he hopes that the students can see that part of being an active Christian steward is to show love to others. “We hope that our students can understand that showing compassion to another person can be done just by spending time with someone and letting them know that they are seen, known and loved.”

“We’re so pleased to be a behind-the-scenes partner, helping Marquette,” said Michele Brock, CFAD executive director. “Jesus instructs us to visit those who need company and welcome those we don’t know. What a beautiful way for students to be His hands and feet.”

CFAD offers charitable planning, investing and grantmaking services. As a public, nonprofit Catholic community foundation, it is separate from, yet collaborative with, the Archdiocese Pastoral Center. CFAD holds donor advised funds and endowments for donors and many Catholic parishes, schools, cemeteries, social services and other Catholic organizations. CFAD works with donors who want their Catholic values perpetuated in a legacy gift and helps them structure that in the best way for them, their family and the organizations they want to benefit. CFAD invests these legacy gifts in Catholic responsible choices, and through donor agreements, grants these gifts as donors intend. Visit OurCFAD.org for more information or call 563-552-0176.