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ANNUAL APPEAL

Collection supports Catholic University

On the weekend of September 26-27, the Albany Diocese will take up the collection for the Catholic University of America.

CUA, which is located in Washington, DC, is "unique as the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. Bishops and chartered by the Vatican," Bishop Howard J. Hubbard said in a pulpit letter read at parishes in the Diocese. 

"As such," he continued, "it has a special responsibility to educate future leaders for our Church and for our nation."

CUA has nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students, plus those in its doctoral programs. The university offers undergraduate degrees in 12 schools, including canon (Church) law, philosophy and theology, and is home to 21 research facilities. Many U.S. priests earned their degrees at CUA.

The annual collection is used for scholarships to assist financially deserving students at Catholic University. "The financial sacrifices required of Catholic parents today to provide a truly Catholic college education are enormous," noted Bishop Hubbard. "All of the funds received through the collection help defray these costs in the form of financial aid. 

"Your contributions directly benefit students from all over the United States, including our own Diocese, by funding scholarships for those who would not otherwise be able to attend."

Recent projects at CUA included talks by graduate students researching the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, additions to the university's digital archives and research by one of its labs into developing environmentally-friendly cement. Among students enrolled for the fall semester are 28 seminarians in formation for the priesthood.

Said Bishop Hubbard: "Grounded in the philosophy of the rich Catholic intellectual tradition, students who attend Catholic colleges and universities are well prepared for success in life and ready to make a difference in today's world."

(09/24/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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