CCF 30th anniversary event to celebrate ‘faith-filled gifts’

By Rebecca Omastiak

The Catholic Spirit

Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota’s 30th anniversary event this year “is as much a celebration of our larger Catholic community, without whom CCF wouldn’t be here,” CCF President Anne Cullen Miller said. The April 27 Come to the Table event starts with a 6 p.m. reception followed by a 7 p.m. dinner and program at the Hilton Minneapolis in downtown Minneapolis.

Bishop Robert Barron — bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and termed “the Bishop of Catholic Social Media” by the Wall Street Journal — is the keynote speaker. Featured guest is Father Mike Schmitz, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Cullen Miller will also speak at the event. Kelly Wahlquist — director of The St. Paul Seminary’s Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute in St. Paul and founder of WINE, Women in the New Evangelization — will emcee the event.

“We’re blessed in Minnesota to have such talented, faithful individuals ministering to the world from our own backyard,” Cullen Miller said. “Kelly Wahlquist, Father Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron and Archbishop Hebda all steward their gifts beautifully. We’re grateful to them for taking the time to join CCF to celebrate our Catholic community.”

Founded in 1992, the foundation now stewards more than 1,200 charitable funds totaling over $530 million and grants roughly $18 million annually. As a community foundation, CCF supports financially the spiritual, educational and social needs of the Catholic community. Since it was founded, CCF has granted more than $225 million to parishes, Catholic schools and other charities.

And the “faith-filled gifts” CCF stewards “make a meaningful impact on our Catholic community every day,” Cullen Miller said. “CCF has relationships with so many donors, parishes, Catholic schools, and other organizations serving our Catholic community. From our vantage point, we have the privilege of seeing the many ways our community works to grow and sustain the Church,” she said.