The Catholic Foundation of the South Plains has established an endowment fund in the name of Bishop Placido Rodriguez restricted for the benefit of Seminarian Education for seminarians for the Diocese of Lubbock.
As required by Canon Law, Most Reverend Plácido Rodríguez, CMF, submitted his letter of resignation as Bishop of Lubbock to Pope Francis on his 75th birthday, October 11, 2015.
When Bishop Rodríguez made the people of the diocese aware of his retirement, the response from board members of The Catholic Foundation was immediate. They formally established an endowment fund in the name of our bishop, who desires that it provide funds for the education of seminarians studying to become priests in the Diocese of Lubbock.
The Path to Reaching Our Goal
The Catholic Foundation uses earnings from its invested assets to provide generous grants to the Diocese of Lubbock, its parishes, schools, ministries and Catholic organizations – more than $1 million since the foundation was created in 1987.
Bishop Rodríguez had desired to see the assets of the foundation grow to $5 million, so the establishment of this fund in his honor moves The Catholic Foundation closer to that goal.
The lay and clergy board members of The Catholic Foundation established a goal of $500,000 for the Bishop Plácido Rodríguez, CMF, Seminarian Education Fund and hope to be able to announce that the goal has been reached during events celebrating our bishop’s tenure as shepherd of the Church of Lubbock in 2017.
To achieve this goal, we are asking generous stewards to make new, three year pledges to the fund. These may be paid on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis. Gifts to the endowment are restricted for seminarian education, are tax deductible and will be acknowledged on the foundation website, in South Plains Catholic, and in the various printed materials used at the bishop’s retirement celebrations.
A $50,000 Challenge from Catholic Church Extension Society
To kick start the first year of the campaign, Catholic Church Extension Society issued a $50,000 challenge grant to The Catholic Foundation and thanks to our generous donors we exceeding this goal. The Catholic Church Extension Society made a full $50,000 donation to the Bishop Placido Rodriguez Seminarian Education Fund that began earning interest in 2016.
Your Participation is Vital
To achieve our $500,000 goal, we still must have broad based support from the many who would like to honor and memorialize Bishop Emeritus and support the vital need to educate those men who discern calls to the priesthood.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY
Please send your pledge or donations to the Catholic Foundation at
P O Box 64845 Lubbock TX 79464
(806) 777-2089
www.catholicfoundationlubbock.org
t[email protected]
ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
2015-2017
Bishop Plácido Rodríguez, CMF
Servant to the Diocese of Lubbock
June 1, 1994 to November 21, 2016
Prayer for Our Seminarians
AND FOR MORE VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Lord Jesus, we ask your blessing on those preparing for the priesthood
in the Diocese of Lubbock. We pray they will grow in faith, hope and love.
May their hearts overflow with your compassion, understanding, and generosity,
and may their desire to follow you inspire others to answer the call to ministry.
Give them perseverance and be their constant companion as they prepare
to serve you and your people with faithfulness.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, fill the hearts of our seminarians
with the fire of your love. Make them holy as you are holy.
Amen.