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Happening ... in the Local Church
 The
raffle of this 1965 Corvette Stingray will benefit an endowment fund to
serve the financial needs of diocesan seminarians. (Photo provided) |
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| An anonymous donor has given this 1965 Corvette Stingray to the Office of Vocations to help support seminarians of the Local Church. Knights of Columbus councils of the diocese are sponsoring a raffle of the classic sports car. Tickets will be sold for $10 each. The winning ticket will be drawn on Aug. 28. (Photos provided) | |
By Caroline B. Mooney
The
Catholic Moment
You might wonder what a classic sports car has to do with funding seminarians of the Local Church.
In 2009, an anonymous donor discerned that he should give his prized 1965 Corvette Stingray to the Office of Vocations. He contacted Father Brian Doerr, diocesan vocations director.
“It was a remarkable call,” Father Doerr said. “A man wanted to donate this car to the seminarians, but he didn’t specify what to do with it. He thought we could sell it or have a raffle.
“After the call, I considered who would have the wherewithal to pull this off,” he said. “I thought of the Knights of Columbus, and it was a remarkable choice. The councils have really come together and been enthused about the project. It has been incredible. It is a direct reflection of the love and support they have for the seminarians and the Church.”
The 30 Knights of Columbus councils of the diocese are sponsoring the raffle of the gleaming “Milano Maroon” Corvette. Tickets will be sold for $10 each.
Father Doerr noted that the ticket price will allow most people to buy a chance “at this great gift, have some fun and support the seminarians at the same time.”
Raffle proceeds will be placed in a newly established “Knights of Columbus Seminarian Endowment Fund” to serve the financial needs of diocesan seminarians.
Each year, the vocations director will receive a check from the endowment to pay for extra expenses including extra books, conferences, emergency travel, car repairs or even clothing for a seminarian who might be destitute. The Local Church has 30 seminarians studying for the priesthood.
The fund-raiser was organized by Knights of Columbus Council #11044, which serves St. Maria Goretti Church, Westfield, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Carmel.
“The idea for an endowment came about when we were trying to figure out how to preserve money and have an annual income for our seminarians,” said Bob Giczewski, chairman of the raffle committee. “Of course, anyone who doesn’t want to buy a ticket can make a tax-deductible donation to the endowment.”
K of C members have information packets, bulletin inserts, posters, and tickets for every parish of the Local Church. Ads will run in The Catholic Moment and on Catholic Radio 89.1 FM. Tickets will be sold until Aug. 15 and envelopes for donations will be available wherever tickets are sold.
Those wanting to make a donation or request tickets also may do so at the Web site www.priestforever.org.
The Corvette will be hauled on a trailer for display at several locations this summer.
When not on display, Giczewski said it “stays under God’s protection at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We’ve been getting good feedback. I think the raffle will be highly successful.”
The winning ticket will be drawn at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel’s parish picnic on Aug. 28.
The Knights hope to sell at least 10,000 tickets. If any are left, they will be sold that day.
“We are very fortunate and grateful to have this generous donor,” said David Pauley, raffle marketing and promotion chair. “All the proceeds, less our expenses, which are few, will go into the endowment.
“The endowment will provide financial support to the seminarians for unexpected expenses such as transportation and medical bills,” he said.
“Hopefully,” Father Doerr said, “a lot of people will get to see the car over the summer, purchase a ticket and have some fun.”