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Charity and Development Appeal 2008
CDA funds keep struggling parishes afloat
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
May 1, 2008
Catholics expect to find their parish open when they arrive for Mass each week.
Parish leaders at St. Martin de Porres in south Phoenix have worried about it for years.
Weekly collections aren’t enough to keep the parish running, but thanks to the support of the diocesan Charity and Development Appeal, the parish survives.
“CDA has kept this place going. Without the CDA, the church wouldn’t be here,” said Sr. Dorothy Deger, SNDdeN, parish life coordinator for St. Martin de Porres.
The parish received $20,000 from the CDA last year to support daily operations and critical ministries, including religious education. St. Martin de Porres was one of 13 parishes and missions that received more than $160,000 from the CDA in 2007.
It’s also one of several diocesan parishes without a full-time pastor.
Fr. David Sanfilippo is what is called a canonical pastor of the parish. For several years now he has split his time among St. Martin de Porres, St. Catherine of Siena, where he is a full-time pastor, and the Diocesan Pastoral Center, where he serves as vicar general of the diocese and executive director of ethnic ministries.
He regularly celebrates Mass and works closely with Sr. Dorothy on administrative matters. But due to logistics, they often ask other priests to support the parish by offering a Sunday liturgy.
“I have seen many of our diocesan priests as well as visiting priests from across the globe offer Mass and support at St. Martin de Porres until a more permanent pastor is available,” Fr. Sanfilippo said.
One weekend last month, Sr. Dorothy found the parish without a priest to preside over the Sunday liturgy. She learned a Nigerian bishop was in town for medical treatment and he accepted the invitation to offer the Masses.
That was the same weekend the parish’s retired deacon was unavailable and six families sought the sacrament of baptism for their young children. Fr. Alfredo Valdez Molina, parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena, conferred the sacrament of baptism.
“We keep everything going with volunteers. They’ve taken ownership,” Sr. Dorothy said. “Sometimes I’m in awe of the people here because they’re so kind and they’re so generous.”
She said the parish recently held a yard clean up and nearly 70 people came to pick up and rake.
The parish also relies on volunteers to set up and lead its seven religious education classes for 200 Spanish students and a separate set of classes for English students.
Although the classes are well attended, “We don’t have the sacramental presence that I would like,” Sr. Dorothy said.
She constantly has to refer parishioners seeking reconciliation to St. Catherine of Siena, five miles away.
Retired deacon Jose Olivarez baptizes children monthly, can give witness to marriage, officiate at funerals and help with administrative needs, but he can’t offer Mass.
“I’ve seen CDA keep us afloat so many times,” said Deacon Olivarez, who has been at the parish since 1980.
He said parishioners have learned to cope without a pastor, but parish needs continue to increase. He sees standing room only during one of the two Sunday Masses.
That’s because the area is growing, Sr. Dorothy said. She has seen the number of families in the parish double in two years.
St. Martin de Porres began renting a trailer six months ago for the baptism office and religious education classes. But Sr. Dorothy said it’s not enough.
“What we really need is another building,” Sr. Dorothy said. The community also needs additional parking spaces. She added that the parish has room to grow, just not the resources.
Katie McLaughlin, the diocesan director of stewardship, said, “Sr. Dorothy and her many lay volunteers make a great effort as a parish family, but need our diocesan family support as well. The CDA is one way we can all help them as part of our ‘One Family in Christ.’”
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