Leroy & Rose Baeza will be honored as the recipients of the Dei Gratia Award during the 10th Annual Foundation of Faith Dinner: Grace Before Meals on Thursday, September 22, 2016. The Dei Gratia Award, Latin for “By the Grace of God”, recognizes an individual, couple, or organization for their servant leadership, outstanding contribution to the Diocese of El Paso and our Catholic community, and their dedication to being good stewards of God’s grace.
Leroy is a founding board member of the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso, established in 2001. He and his wife Rose, married for 56 years, served God faithfully while raising two sons and one daughter, and building a successful family business. One of the most accomplished Hispanic businesses in the area, the family took a small “Mom and Pop” grocery store in Fort Davis established by Leroy’s father, Dolores ‘Lolo’ Baeza in the late 1960’s, and built an area-wide company with supermarkets in Alpine, Presidio, and Fort Davis.
To thank their customers in West Texas and as good stewards of their Catholic faith, Leroy and Rose established endowment funds for the permanent care of churches in Fort Davis, Presidio, Alpine, and Marfa. “The people in these communities were very good to me and my family,” Leroy said, “and we wanted to leave a legacy of faith for them”.
The 10th Annual Foundation of Faith Dinner: Grace Before Meals is set for Thursday, September 22, 2016 at the El Paso Convention Center from 6-9pm, with a cocktail hour beginning at 5pm. The evening includes a cocktail reception with entertainment, dinner, Dei Gratia Award presentation, live auction, and our keynote speaker, the dynamic Father Leo Patalinghug. Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10.
The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso will also host a VIP reception. Sponsorships of $2,500 and up provide you with invitations to attend an exclusive dinner and cooking class with Fr. Leo at a private home on Wednesday, September 21 at 6pm. On Thursday, September 22 at 8:15 a.m., Fr. Leo will be present at a public youth mass at St. Raphael Parish.
For more information please contact Sofia Larkin Appleby at slappleby@elpasodiocese.org or call 915.872.8412.