Fishermen's Fund Reaches $1 Million!
MOSAIC, Winter 2009

In the three years since the initiative quietly cast its first net, the catch of The Fishermen's Fund has been plentiful. Over $1 million in cash and pledges has been raised from hundreds of charitable contributions, while dozens have joined the active ranks of volunteers, and thousands have heard the Fund's message through media communication and word-of-mouth.

The Fishermen's Fund was established and is supported entirely by the laity of the Archdiocese of Detroit. It exists to ensure that no vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood, diaconate or lay ministry is hindered due to the difficulty of funding their education at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

From the moment it was launched in 2005, the message and mission of The Fishermen's Fund has been received with enthusiasm throughout the archdiocese, as testified by the benchmark donation amount. To date, grants from the Fund have helped thirty-five seminarians and thirty-six lay students to pursue their vocations to serve.

Says Kathleen McCann, Sacred Heart Board of Trustee member and one of the founders of The Fishermen's Fund, "The stark reality is that we currently have a critical shortage of priests and a terrific need of properly educated deacons and lay ministers to assist them in our parishes. A complimentary reality is that we can easily do more about it, through prayer and through action, such as removing the economic hurdles that often unnecessarily cloud the clear discernment of a vocation."

During the past Christmas season, The Fishermen's Fund launched its second Annual Appeal to continue to replenish the pool of tuition funding to needy seminarians, diaconate candidates and lay ministry students. Those who feel moved to support vocations through the Fund are encouraged to call 313-883-8779. Volunteers are needed to spread the message among the parishes-another great way to get involved.