Thank you notes

Every summer after SOAR! awards grants, we receive stacks of thank you notes in the mail from grateful religious communities. Here are just a few.  

“It is a great source of comfort and consolation to know that we are able to appeal to you for help. As our population ages, the needs are increasing…There was great rejoicing when Mother Abbess announced to the community that we had been approved for a grant and a great, deeply felt gratitude.” 

Mother Angele Arbib, OSB
Abbey of Regina Laudis
Bethlehem, Connecticut  

 “What a glorious surprise befell me when your letter was delivered. We are so incredibly grateful to you for this grant. In the days of dwindling income and aging religious, we certainly count ourselves luck to have been selected as a recipient for this grant cycle. What a gift SOAR! is to our community!” 

Connie Gualano
Sisters of the Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods
Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana 

“As our sisters have spent their working lives advocating for the care, dignity and worth of all people, we feel it is our turn to show them the same care and respect in their retirement tears. Your grant will make this possible.” 

Sister Carol Rigalli, OSF
School Sisters of St. Francis
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“We are blessed to have mass at our retirement home 2 times a week. All SOAR! donors and staff have been in our mass intentions. I ask God and Our Lady of Guadalupe to continue blessing you and your team in your work with SOAR!. Thank you for being a blessing to us.” 

Sister Ana Gabriela Castro, MGSpS
Guadalupan Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
Los Angeles, California 

“Thank you again for this grant award and for SOAR!’s long time support of our efforts to provide a sense of self-worth and dignity for our elderly priests and brothers by allowing them to continue to live at Immaculate Conception Monastery and to continue being important parts of their community.” 

Rev. Robert Joerger, C.P.
Congregation of the Passion, St. Paul of the Cross Province 
Rye Brook, New York

Just a few of the “thank you”s we receive each summer!