The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso was established in 2001 to support the growing needs of our Catholic community.
2001
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from El Paso and West Texas. Founding board members include Bishop Armando X. Ochoa, Rev. Richard A. Matty†, Sister Helen Santamaria, SL, Rudolph “Rudy” Miles, Calvin Kessler, and Carolyn Mora.
2003
Each year, the Foundation holds a different Stewardship event. Past events have included Stewardship Days, the Mass Attendance Count, Steward of the Year Contest, Stewardship Workshops and Stewardship Classes held through Tepeyac’s Summer Institute.
2007
The purpose of the annual Foundation of Faith Dinner is to bring a renowned speaker to El Paso, to bring people from all areas of our community together, to raise gifts for endowment and non-endowment needs for diocesan charities, ministries, parishes and schools, and to disseminate the Stewardship message of “Pray, Serve, Give.”
2009
A gift of 2.6 million dollars from Michael M. and Clara Miles in 2009 to establish Catholic school scholarships for students in high school laid the groundwork for what is known today as the Foundation’s Scholarship Program.
2013
The Catholic Legacy Fund is the Foundation’s permanent endowment fund program that exists to support the annual and long-term needs of the churches, schools and ministries of the Diocese of El Paso. Our goal is to build the Catholic Legacy Fund to $25 million.
2015
The Progress Annual Appeal is the Bishop’s Appeal to nurture the spiritual growth of our Catholic community by raising funds for the annual support of 17 diocesan ministries.
2017
The St. Patrick Cathedral Historic Preservation Fund was established to provide for the future care of the Cathedral. Donations to this fund are a great gift to our community and will ensure that all families within our diocese are able to enjoy the beauty and sanctity of our Cathedral Church now and for years to come.
2018
The Seminarian Education Endowment Fund ensures that continuous resources are available for the recruitment and education of college and theology-level seminarians who are the future spiritual leaders of the Diocese. Our short-term goal is to grow the fund to $5 million to generate a $200,000 annual distribution for seminarian education.
2020
The Catholic Legacy Fund, the Foundation's Endowment Program, has a total fund value of $18 million and is on it's way to $20 million in 2020. When you establish an endowed fund, you create a permanent legacy of support that will make a lasting impact on our Catholic community.
2021
In 2001, 122 seed donors contributed $177,000 to create a Catholic Foundation. The Catholic Legacy Fund reached $19.7 million on its way very soon to $20 million. The Catholic Foundation now manages 101 separate endowed funds and will distribute $748,336 from endowed funds in 2021.