Please Note: In observance of Christmas and New Year, Chancery offices will be closed from December 23rd, 2011 to January 2nd, 2012. If you would like to give a special end-of-year donation, links in the left column can be used for online donations through the end of the year. If you need to speak with Foundation staff, please call 407-246-7185 or email giftmanager@orlandodiocese.org before December 23rd. Thank you! Catholic Foundation board member and wife honored with Christian Stewardship Award Eric Holm, one of the newest members of the Board of Directors for The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, and his wife, Diane, received the 2011 Christian Stewardship Award on October 23rd at an annual conference held by the International Catholic Stewardship Council. The award recognizes individuals for their unique and extraordinary witness to Christian stewardship as a way of life.
"They recognize that God has blessed them immeasurably, and they give back to God by sharing their blessings," said Lois Locey, Pastoral Associate for Administration and Stewardship at St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, where Eric and Diane are faithful parishioners ... Read more online Excitement follows announcement of new St. Vincent de Paul Church At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood, news quickly spread that the Sumter County parish had received approval to move forward with the construction of a long-awaited new church.
"I’m so glad I could be there for three of our ten weekend Masses," said parish Business Manager Lee Valente, who was part of a team that shared the welcome news during Mass. "It was just terrific. Everybody clapped and cheered!" When St. Vincent de Paul began the Alive in Christ campaign in 2008 to raise funds for a new church building, the parish had already been struggling for many years with a lack of space. "Our current church contains pews that seat only 200, so we have to set up 250 chairs every weekend," said Valente. "And we desperately need meeting space." Fr. Peter Sagorski, Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, and other parish leaders met with an architect who will now begin the process of designing the new church. Bishop John Noonan thanks 1,300 at annual Mass of Thanksgiving 
On November 5th, nearly 1,300 people who contributed to Alive in Christ or made a gift to Our Catholic Appeal over the past year attended the annual Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. The event marked the first time Bishop John Noonan celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Diocese of Orlando, as well as the first time speakers gave witness to the remarkable work being accomplished by both efforts.
"I am eternally grateful for your generosity and commitment to our Alive in Christ capital campaign and Our Catholic Appeal," Bishop Noonan said during his homily. "Without your generosity, commitment and love, the Word, the light and the commitment of Jesus Christ would not be preached" ... Read more online
To read more about what's happening at the Diocese of Orlando, the Catholic Foundation and The Florida Catholic, links are provided in the left column. | 
