The CARF Foundation's Campaign Put a Face to Your Donation It is aimed at all benefactors and committed individuals who are willing to contribute financially to the formation of priests and seminarians around the world.
Hundreds of candidates from underprivileged dioceses need our help. The goal is to ensure that their seminarians and priests can receive a first-rate education, which would be very difficult to obtain in their own country.
María Dolores Cuadrado y Carlos Arbesu They are two donors to the CARF Foundation who are contributing to this campaign. Here is their story.
María Dolores Cuadrado (1938) is 88 years old, has 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and her husband is in Heaven.
«I'll tell you how I started working with the CARF Foundation. From a very young age, my father taught me how important it was for the Church that there were holy priests and that a priest is very important for the church.
In Valladolid, we had a scholarship for a seminarian whom my father knew and treated. When my father passed away and I just got married, my husband Mariano continued to help the seminarians. And when Mariano went to Heaven, I wanted to get more involved in that collaboration to continue helping the priests.
I learned about the CARF Foundation on a trip to Rome and Pamplona, and there I saw on site the seminaries and the work this foundation did to train priests.
The slogan I heard Alejandro Cantero, then director of the CARF Foundation, which was seeking funds to move the project forward, filled my heart with strength to work: "Without priests, there is no Eucharist, and without the Eucharist, there is no Church," María Dolores tells us.
"Thank you for helping the seminarians"
I was excited to experience that, with my little grain of sand, I could help a seminarian become a priest with a scholarship. Since 2008 I have had the joy of having an annual scholarship.
As there have been many years, there have been several priests whom I have been able to help. Félix Amani Luboya from Tanzania. I am currently working with a priest from Japan, D. Akira Kirishima.
On one of the trips to Rome organized by the CARF Foundation, I met a Bishop of Uganda thanking us for helping his seminarians in their formation and to spread the seed of the Gospel in their country. These are countries that have few economic means and thanks to the help of many collaborators, they can count on a very good formation for their seminarians.
Akira Kirishima, a priest from Japan, is studying at Canonic Law in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. His education has helped him face the challenges of being a Catholic in a non-Christian society.
Getting to know different cultures in Rome has helped him engage with diverse ways of thinking. He has learned to see cultural diversity as a strength that enables him to offer his community a better liturgy, proclaiming the Gospel in a way that is best suited to his community in Japan. María Dolores Cuadrado provides financial support for his education.
«During the COVID-19 pandemic we are currently experiencing, these priests have brought comfort to many people. In my city, Valladolid, quite a few friends and acquaintances have passed away during the lockdown.". The families' grief at not being able to accompany him and not being able to celebrate a funeral was lessened with These priests, from Pamplona, celebrated by offering them personally for the person who had died. Everyone I gave that chance was so grateful!
In my house, my children and grandchildren collaborate and are happy that I have this illusion. On Christmas Eve I usually give them envelopes with some money as a gift. One of my grandchildren left me on my bedside table (and still does) the same envelope that I had given him with a few words: "For grandmother's curillas".
»From my own experience, I would encourage you to help these seminarians and to seek help for them. Give whatever you can. God will multiply it, but prayer for them knows no bounds," concludes María Dolores.
One of my grandsons left me on my bedside table the same envelope I had given him on Christmas Eve with a few words: "For grandma's curillas".
María Dolores Cuadrado For more than twelve years, it has been supporting the education of seminarians and priests through an annual scholarship. It organizes events in Valladolid to raise awareness about the seminarians it supports, such as Mr. Herman Joseph Kalungi from Uganda.
The world’s most needy dioceses require a full scholarship for their candidates. In many cases, the diocese covers part of this cost, so a smaller amount is required, which is always indicated next to the candidate’s application. More than 800 bishops from all five continents request financial aid for their candidates through these scholarships.
Carlos Arbesu He first learned about the CARF Foundation more than 20 years ago through a newsletter that was mailed to his home and some advertisements in Christian-oriented magazines to which his parents subscribed.
«From the very beginning, I felt that helping the formation of priests »It was the best and most immediate way I had to support the Church and, at the same time, the development of the world. Its universal inspiration convinced me from the very beginning," he explains.
Like benefactorusually receives news of the priest or seminarian who receives a scholarship and learns his storyBut deep down we are very happy to help, even if we don't know who the specific recipient of the aid is. Knowing him, in fact, helps us to pray more, but it does not determine our financial support," Carlos told CARF.
Encourage others to invest in the formation of priests..
. "From personal experience, I know that without priests and sacraments we would not have the courage to behave as children of God. I am also aware that, with this help, a human development of society is possible in any part of the world and that makes me very proud to be able to continue helping.
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carf@fundacioncarf.orgLandline: +34 914 029 082Mobile: +34 638 078 51145 Conde de Peñalver Street.
