To the Editor:
My name is Guillermo Treviño and I have been a seminarian for the Diocese of Davenport for four years. I want to thank you for your continued support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA).
There are 11 seminarians studying to be priests for our diocese and the cost for the education of a seminarian is $32,000 a year. Your contribution to the ADA pays for my tuition, room, board, books, health insurance and a monthly stipend. Here at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City, before we called Father Rudy “Father” he also benefited from ADA funds. Your support helped him get through the seminary. When he retires, hopefully not for 50 more years, your funds will help take care of him as well. At the Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, we started a vocation awareness group where Father Thom Hennen, the diocese’s vocations director, comes to help young men explore the idea of priesthood. Six men attended the first two meetings.
I am grateful to be at St. Patrick’s for my pastoral year and getting some real-life parish experience. Because of your generosity, we can train another generation of priests.
ADA funds also help pay for hospital chaplains at the University of Iowa, assist immigrants, deacon candidates, Catholic education, faith formation, youth ministries, liturgy, marriage tribunal and much more. Your funds help the bishop travel all over the diocese for confirmations. Your support also helps pay for diocesan offices.
I hear talks all the time on how your money can make a difference. In this case, I know it does because without your support I would not be here as a seminarian. I want to thank you for all the support you’ve given me and I ask for your continued support for me and the annual appeal.
Guillermo Treviño
St. Patrick Parish, Iowa City
