This is an exciting time for St. Charles Seminary! There are 19 men in priestly formation, an increase from last year. They are good men from different backgrounds and walks of life with one common goal: to serve God and his people in the Diocese of El Paso. We are grateful that they have all heard the call to a life in the priesthood rooted in intimate prayer and servant leadership.

The Seminarian Formation Program —St. Charles Seminary—receives funding from a wide variety of sources including Catholic Extension, the Committee on the Home Missions, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, a Second Collection, other grants, a Diocesan Trust Subsidy, the Serra Club, the Knights of Columbus, many generous individuals, and the Foundation Seminarian Education Endowment Fund, but we need additional help in meeting these costs.

We’ve Been Challenged!

Recognizing our need in El Paso for seminarians, Catholic Extension awarded the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso a 2015 Seminarian Endowment Challenge Initiative Grant which matches $1 for every $3 donated up to $150,000 for the Seminarian Education Endowment Fund. To qualify for the match, gifts must be at least $1,000. Raising the much-needed funds as well as building the endowment fund to a healthy $5 million, will allow us to focus on promotion, recruitment, and enrichment of our priestly vocation program; most importantly, on the development and maturation of our men in formation. The fund value is currently $1.3 million.

ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT in the future of the diocese by helping support the men who will bring the sacraments, priestly presence and spiritual guidance to you, your children, and grandchildren?

First and foremost, we ask for your continued prayers for our men in formation and for more men to hear the call to serve as priests in the Diocese of El Paso. We’re humbled by the sacrifices you have made for these men and for consistently offering prayers for our priests.

We invite you to help in meeting the challenge grant by making a generous donation to the Seminarian Education Endowment Fund managed by the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso.