SAN ANTONIO • Archbishop José H. Gomez presided over a prayer service that marked the establishment of the newly formed Catholic Community Foundation on Sept. 21. The ceremony, held at San Fernando Cathedral, included the signing of the foundation’s charter and the first public introduction and blessing of its Board of Trustees. Serving as the foundation’s inaugural board chairman is Ed Benninger, vice chancellor of administration for the archdiocese and retired president of Valero Energy Co.
    The Catholic Community Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, formed in order to provide the people of the archdiocese a safe and professionally managed foundation through which they can provide financial support for services and programs sponsored or supported by the archdiocese and otherwise to assist in serving the general needs of the clergy, parish, religious and laity of the Catholic Church in south Texas. Those investing their funds in the foundation will have the option to select which of the church’s ministries and needs will benefit from the proceeds of their generosity. The business affairs and the operations of the foundation will be managed by the board.

    In his Thursday evening homily, Archbishop Gomez called the occasion a day of great joy for all in the archdiocese. “The foundation will continue to improve stewardship of assets of the people of the archdiocese, to make good use of the material gifts God gave us,” he said.

    The archbishop noted that the signing of the decrees and the blessing of the foundation trustees was taking place on the feast day of St. Matthew, and added in a humorous tone, “If anybody in the Gospels knew about money, it was St. Matthew.”

    Archbishop Gomez continued, “It is important to reflect, to have Jesus in us, especially where we are in the 21st century. It is challenging for us in our time. It is important for us to have missionary zeal to preach the Gospel to our time.”

    The San Antonio prelate explained that the Catholic Community Foundation would invite people to participate in a better way in society. “Be good stewards of the gifts we have,” said the archbishop. “We must influence the building up of the world, making it more fraternal, just and reconciling.”
    He concluded, “The Catholic Community Foundation is another manifestation of God’s love for us and our love for others.”

    Barbara Spinner, Catholic Community Foundation president, said, “The foundation will provide responsible and effective stewardship of the generosity of the people of the archdiocese. We are confident that once people see the quality of leadership and management of the foundation they will see the importance of this institution to ensure their philanthropy reflects their faith.”

    Spinner brings 16 years experience in nonprofit development activities to the operation of the foundation. She is currently serving as director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the archdiocese, and previously worked in development for Providence High School, the San Fernando City Centre Foundation and Assumption Seminary.

    There was a reception following the prayer service to celebrate the inauguration of the foundation and the public introduction of the Board of Trustees at the San Fernando Cathedral Centre. Trustees include Benninger, Charlie Amato, Estela Avery, Charlie Cheever, Rosemary Elizalde, Chris Fashek, Harry Flavin, Margaret Klesse, Deacon Robert Kusenberger, Philip Pfeiffer and Vivian Vance. Ex-officio members of the board include Archbishop Gomez, Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, Msgr. Lawrence J. Stuebben, vicar general; and Father Martin Leopold, moderator of the curia