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Fund Our Future Sacred Hearts Priests - Harlingen Texas

grreeting the crowd
On Saturday, January 20, 2024, a fundraiser dinner was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall in Harlingen, Texas. The event was hosted by the Parish Events Committee of Queen of Peace Catholic Community in Harligen. The Events Committee chaired by Dora Garcia generously took care of all of the logistics and planning and ticket and raffle sales.

All 250 tickets to the event were sold, and despite temperatures in the mid 40's (F) and rain, most of the ticket holders turned out for the event. Participants were greeted by the beautifully decorated hall of Immacualte Heart of Mary Parish. Prior to dinner, Fr. Bob Charlton, pastor of both parishes, greeted everyone and introduced those seated at the head table, and blessed the food. Then a delicous dinner was served. Mr. Carlos Canas provided music during the dinner.

After dinner, the US Provincial, Fr. Lane Akiona, ss.cc. thanked everyone for being there and said a few word about the Province and the formation program. Fr. Ed Popish, ss.cc. followed with a short PowerPoint presentation on the history of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts and how it arrived in the Rio Grande Valley. Then Br. Gaberieli Saunivalu, ss.cc., pastoral assistant and Queen of Peace spoke about his life and call to vocation.

The evening talks finished with Fr. Ed, explaining the "Support a Seminarian' brochures that were on each table, and the Fund Our Future envelopes. Participants were invited to take them home, reflect on what they were able to give and return them via mail. The evening closed with a drawing of raffle tickets, winners took home gift cards in various amounts. Lastly door prizes were awarded by drawing from the event tickets.

Planning and scheduling the event began in answer to a long standing invitation from Fr. Bob Charlton, ss.cc., Pastor of Queen of Peace. The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts - U.S. Province Development Director, Fr. Ed Popish, ss.cc. met with the Queen of Peace Parish Events Committee in June 2023. The opportunity was occasioned by the in-person Provincial Council meetings at Queen of Peace in the week prior to the ordination of Fr. Lui Voreqe, ss.cc. to the priesthood.

View photos of the event:

2024 Texas Fund our Future


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