Philanthropy News

Washington, DC – – The sixth and seventh books in an eight part series on the spirituality of Catholic women, have been published by St. Anthony Messenger Press. The books, part of the Called to Holiness Poject, are entitled: Finding My Voice, by Beth M. Knobbe, a campus minister at Northwestern University,. and Creating New Life, Nurturing Families, by Sidney Callahan a Distinguished Scholar at the Hastings Center in Garrison New York, and mother of six children, and five grandchildren. Both are part of an innovative publishing project that grew out of one of FADICA’s conferences exploring ways to encourage womens’ participation in spiritual direction and Catholic theological reflection. Individual members of the FADICA organization joined forces with Fairfield University to underwrite the manuscript development stages of the project, conceived and edited by scholar and popular writer, Dr. Elizabeth A. Dryer. St. Anthony Messenger Press moved the project through the publication and marketing stages in order to reach a very wide audience. The series began to be published in the fall of 2008. Early books included Making Sense of God, by Dr. Dryer, Grieving With Grace, by Delores R. Leckey, Living A Spirituality of Action, by Joan Mueller, Awakening to Prayer, by Clare Wagner, and Embracing Latina Spirituality, by Michelle A. Gonzalez. The project represents a rare collaborative partnership among religiously interested philanthropists, Catholic higher education, and Catholic publishing. An eighth book in the series, Weaving Faith and Experience: A Woman’s Perspective on the Middle Years, by Patricia Cooney Hathaway, is scheduled for publication next Spring. Additional information on the series can be found at

Washington, DC — Private foundations with Catholic interests are changing as the first decade of the twenty first century closes. This, according to trustees and grantees whose viewpoints comprise newly published proceedings, entitled: Reinventing Catholic Philanthropy, released today by FADICA, Inc. The book, available through FADICA exclusively, gives the public an inside view of the changing practices and perspectives of donors amidst an historic downturn in the nation’s economy, newer outcome driven demands within philanthropy in general, and a greater shared desire to combine philanthropic resources to meet today’s needs within Catholicism. “… as never before (grantseeking) organizations will be favored where leadership, planning and accountability are outstanding, achievement is evident, and a spirit of collaboration is foremost,” says Francis J. Butler, FADICA’s president,  in an introduction to the new publication. The proceedings are based on an invitation only conference sponsored in late January of this year. Foundations then asked  the advice of a number of prominent Catholic leaders across the country about the most effective grantmaking strategies. St. Thomas University President, Rev. Dennis Dease, stressed the importance of Catholic philanthropy’s international focus.  “Developing bridges between our society and other countries, especially those of Africa,” Father Dease said, “is one area where Catholic foundations can be of special importance.” Catholic Charities USA President, Rev. Larry Snyder, affirms the trend within foundations to be more socially entrepreneurial, and risk taking, and to take a chance on new concepts in partnering with Catholic charities in a new social venture climate. Foundation trustees themselves express their opinions as well in the new book, sharing candidly what counts the most

Catholic Philanthropies Bring Post-Katrina Aid to New Orleans Nuns WASHINGTON — Catholic philanthropies have delivered a big shot in the arm to eight New Orleans congregations of women religious still suffering from the massive devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In the fall of 2006 FADICA – Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities – alerted its member foundations to the urgent needs those congregations still faced a year after Katrina. Since then member foundations have come up with more than $4.4 million in grants to help pay the costs of cleaning and rebuilding the sisters’ schools, convents and other facilities that were destroyed or severely damaged by Katrina. Combined requests from the religious orders total $6.3 million. Some requests cover only a fraction of the recovery costs. “They had much more in damage than they could pay for,” said Dr. Francis J. Butler, FADICA president. While U.S. Catholics had contributed nearly two hundred million dollars to humanitarian relief and church recovery in two national collections following Katrina, almost none of that went to the women religious in New Orleans, who suffered major losses from the hurricane. The first emergency national collection through Catholic Charities USA was unable to assist church institutions in restoring lost facilities and infrastructure because it was designated as humanitarian relief. The second – established by the country’s bishops specifically for the institutional rebuilding the New Orleans Archdiocese and Diocese of Biloxi, Miss., went almost entirely to the critical needs to rebuild the parish, school and other facilities of those dioceses, with

Washington, DC — When Pope Benedict XVI greets the churches of Washington, DC, and New York during his visit April 15-20, he is expected to praise and thank millions of American Catholics who generously participate in the work of the church worldwide through their yearly contributions of material support and service. Each year Americans contribute $295 billion dollars to charity. Of that amount, some $96.8 billion is contributed to religion with Catholics contributing about one quarter of that yearly sum, or a little over $22 billion dollars in charity. The 19,000 local Catholic parishes in the U.S. alone contribute about $6 billion yearly to local church support and some national and international church related causes including humanitarian relief and peacemaking. Catholic institutions in the U.S. including 556 hospitals, 236 colleges and universities, 1,350 high schools, 6,500 grade schools, and 3,000 social service agencies comprise a $100 billion yearly economy. “The Catholic rank and file, play an enormously important role in financing the church’s work here in America and throughout the world”, said Francis J. Butler, FADICA’s President. “No other country comes close in per capita member giving to the worldwide mission of the church,” he added. “Philanthropy in the U.S. is uniquely organized. In no other country will you see the extent or habit of private giving as it exists in the U.S. nor will you see religious giving on the scale that is represented in America society”, said Dr. Butler. “Increasingly Catholic social mobility, in large part made possible through a unique system of religious schools