SOAR Support Our Aging Religious

SOAR (Save Our Aging Religious) is one of the five National Projects of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. The Annual New York benefit for SOAR takes place each year in October. This year the dinner was at the very elegant Men’s Club in New York City. The Catholic Daughters were well represented. In addition to many Court members, all of the National Officers including, Joanne Tomassi, Anne Nelson, Shirley Seyfried, Letty Calvetti and Helene Shepard were present. Past National Regents: Rayola McLaughlin, Grace DiCairano, Libby Ramirez, M Joan McKenna have served on the New York Committee along with Helene Shepard, Mary Wohlscheid and Peggy O’Brien, National Executive Director were also in attendance.

The honorees were Father Benedict Groeschel and Sister Frances Raferty. Father Benedict is from the Friars of the Renewal and was awarded the Father Victor Yanatelli S.J. Award. Sister Frances is from the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Sister was awarded the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.

National Regent Joanne Tomassi presented Sister Patricia Lunsman with a check of $10,000.00 to be added to the previous check of $7,000.00 presented at the National Convention in July. The donations to SOAR help to award grants to religious communities who apply for them for special projects that will enhance the lives of their aging religious.

It is so important for us as Catholic Daughters to continue the support of our aging religious through SOAR. A number of communities are facing tremendous financial challenges as their members continue to age and there are fewer and fewer younger, active members. We must also pray for those religious who taught a number of us and touched our lives in a real way. Many of us are who we are today because of the nurturing and education we received from these dedicated religious.

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