The St. Scholastica Charity Fund: Great Faith And Discipleship In The Time Of COVID-19

This spring, the global pandemic that began changing the way Americans live — and worship — was an unprecedented event. While St. Scholastica, like all Catholic churches across the world, had to adapt to new ways of serving God’s people, one thing remained the same — the strong faith and active discipleship of our parish family.

“St. Scholastica has always been a generous parish in helping out the Erie community with things like the food bank, the Knights of Columbus cleaning up the highways, helping out at maternity homes as well as helping those in need,” says Fr. Rob Wedow. “However, during the COVID times, more people were becoming in need and people were coming to me asking for assistance.”

One of the people in need who first approached Fr. Rob was an elderly, cancer-stricken woman whose siblings had forced her out of her mother’s home, leaving her with nowhere to live. Also, the woman’s car had broken down, and the repairs were cost-prohibitive. On her request, Fr. Rob put a plea out to parishioners — and from there, the St. Scholastica Charity Fund was born.

Parish Business Manager Kristin Stegmueller set up the new fund through the Archdiocese of Denver, and Fr. Rob asked a group of parishioners to help manage the various requests for assistance that were coming into the parish. The community of St. Scholastica quickly embraced this new ministry, sharing their treasure with open hearts and hands.

“The incredible generosity of God was poured out upon our parish for the benefit of those who are truly in need,” Fr. Rob says. “Parishioners showed the generosity of God by donating a car and around $12,000. And not just for the one woman — there was also a gentleman who was away from home when his car broke down, a family that was getting kicked out of their home, a father who had lost a job, and people who needed temporary lodging for a day or gas assistance.”

Chris Kauza, one of the parishioners helping Fr. Rob with the Charity Fund, is now the St. Scholastica liaison for Catholic Charities. Between our parish resources and the many services available through the diocesan Catholic Charities, countless people in the Erie community have been helped.

“The Charity Fund is one of the greatest examples of the Holy Spirit I’ve seen working in my life,” Chris says. “Father and I will get a request and say we can probably make something work, and then a couple hours later, something better than we’ve ever imagined shows up, and we are just laughing and smiling and saying, ‘Thanks be to God!’ It’s the Holy Spirit working through this.”

While the generous donation of treasure is always helpful and very appreciated, parishioners may also support the Charity Fund through prayer. By making a gift of our time, talent, or treasure to this worthy cause, we are given a precious opportunity to live out the Gospel call to serve the most vulnerable among us. What Good News, indeed!

“Many people have been helped through the generosity of the parishioners of St. Scholastica,” Fr. Rob says. “As Christ gave of His life to set us free, so, too, the parishioners of St. Scholastica follow their teacher, and as disciples, give of their lives for the sake of others. This true charity has been seen greatly during these COVID times. This is what disciples do!”