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Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Fiorenza unite for ‘Shepherd’s Cup
Charity Golf Classic’
Cardinal DiNardo,
Archbishop Fiorenza unite for ‘Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic’
Knights of Columbus sponsor tourney benefiting Catholic education,
seminary
By JONAH DYCUS
Herald Staff Writer
HOUSTON – Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and
Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza are combining forces – and
their charitable, respective tournaments – to co-host the Shepherd’s
Cup Charity Golf Classic at The Clubs of Kingwood, Sept. 29.
The archdiocesan Knights of Columbus are
presenting the consolidated event with Sean Patrick and Kari O’Brian
Tracey serving as the Shepherds’ Cup title sponsors.
Proceeds from the four-person handicap
scramble will support Catholic education, faith formation and St.
Mary’s Seminary.
“By combining our golf tournaments, there
will be a much greater response so we can make even more significant
contributions to the Catholic schools system, faith formation at
parishes and St. Mary’s Seminary,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. “I look
forward to being able to visit with many of the golfers, to
encourage them to shoot a good game or to console them on having 10
strokes on a hole.”
All kidding aside, Shepherd’s Cup organizers
are excited about the opportunity to host a fun tournament
benefiting a great cause. “We just want everyone to know that these
causes are of the utmost importance to Cardinal DiNardo and
Archbishop Fiorenza, and to the beneficiaries of this tournament,”
said Jim Collins, the Shepherd’s Cup chairman and a member of the
Knights of Columbus Council #4204 in Sugar Land. “It will be great
to see people participate as sponsors, players or just through
regular donations. It will be a day of fun, because that is what we
are there for – to have a great time and support our Catholic
faith.”
He added, “There has been a lot of energy and
enthusiasm behind this tournament to get it moving forward, and it
is going to be a blessing for this archdiocese from this first year
and for years to come.”
“This is going to be a great event,” said
Danny Grant, underwriting co-chairman. “Not only is it going to be
fun, but with the cardinal and bishop out there, it will be a great
charitable event with the money going directly back into our
Catholic community.”
Jerry Jones, underwriting co-chairman and a
member of the Knights of Columbus Council #803, is a firm believer
in the expression: “A bad day on the golf course is always better
than a good day in the office.”
“Any time you can combine fun and camaraderie
that is going to benefit worthy causes, that’s always a good reason
to get involved,” he said. “Bottom line is, anytime you get out and
swing the wrenches, it’s fun. And when you consider there will be a
dinner that evening, all of the camaraderie – in a small way, you
can exhibit charity and show your Catholic faith while going out
there and having a good time.”
Jones said his friends and fellow Knights
anticipate the big gathering. “We are all excited about working and
trying to accomplish our goals and answering the call of Cardinal
DiNardo and Archbishop Fiorenza.”
The tournament goals of the archbishop and
cardinal are ones shared by anyone interested in assisting Catholic
education, according to Collins. “The education of our youth and the
Catholic faith is very important to us. The first principle of (the
Knights of Columbus) order is charity. That is our primary concern,”
Collins said. “When we merged these tournaments together, we knew we
wanted to support Catholic education, faith formation and St. Mary’s
Seminary. Those three are going to be one focal point for us in
helping us raise the funds, to support them.”
Supporting Catholic education is one of the
things the Knights of Columbus do best, Jones said. “There is
nothing more important than education, being able to have the monies
available for adult formation, deacons and schools – all forms of
education,” Jones explained. “Most councils have a scholarship
program to help Catholic students move forward in their education.
With the seminary, the Knights of Columbus have always adopted
seminarians or helped them fund their education.”
Helping the seminary is a particular honor
for Grant, who fondly remembers his first opportunity to meet
several of the current seminarians and work with St. Mary’s rector,
Father Brendan Cahill. “What a great bunch of guys who are going to
be going back into our community as priests,” Grant said. “Father
Cahill just does a great job out there, and what a wonderful
facility the seminary is. A lot of people don’t know about the
wonderful work they do out there. It is the future of the Church.”
Father Cahill said he is touched by all of
the support the seminary will receive through the Shepherd’s Cup
Charity Golf Classic.
“It means very much for me and the
seminarians that people are so willing and open to do different
things to help the seminarians out,” he commented. “In the last five
years, we have seen a steady increase in seminarians, and that has
been a real blessing for us. It is real fortunate that events like
this can help us to provide the best education possible for them.”
The funds from the tourney will be
well-utilized. “It will help out with a lot of things – facilities,
different projects we can do, living expenses for seminarians,”
Father Cahill said. “With having more seminarians, the basic living
expenses are more. So this will help us out in a lot of ways.”
The seminarians will have an active role in
the tournament in Kingwood, as players and volunteers. “We let them
off of school that day,” Father Cahill laughed. “You will have the
opportunity to meet the seminarians if they participate. I know a
lot of people wonder what they are like today, so at the Shepherd’s
Cup, you will get to see them. They will work the tournament, drive
some of the carts and contribute with the registration. It is our
way of showing our appreciation for those putting on the
tournament.”
Naturally, there will also be plenty of local
priests hitting the links to show off their duffer skills. “You can
sponsor seminarians and priests to play,” Father Cahill noted. “Lots
of priests are golfers, so this will be a great opportunity for them
as well. Like seminarians, priests are just regular people who have
a particular call to serve the Church. But like a lot of folks, many
of them love their golf!”
That said, the Charity Golf Classic will
offer something for golfers of all skill levels and goals. “The
tournament itself will be a lot of fun, but I do have to say it will
be competitive at the top,” Father Cahill said. “I can imagine the
top 10 teams will feature some really good golfers. But there is
still room for hackers and people who want to play golf just to get
out.”
For now, Father Cahill – along with St.
Mary’s seminarians – will anticipate their tee time with the
generous supporters from around the archdiocese. “We are fortunate
and blessed, and we continue to ask people to keep praying for an
increase in vocations for priesthood and religious life,” he said.
“We just want to give thanks and praise for everyone’s efforts to
help vocations and the seminarians.”
Shepherd’s Cup will feature a lunch, range
balls, shared cart, dinner and awards. A putting contest is
scheduled for the morning.
The first, second and third place teams will
earn awards. Gifts will also be offered to the longest drive,
closest to the pin and hole-in-one. In addition, door prizes will be
distributed. The tournament is open to all golfers.
For more information about the Shepherd’s Cup
Charity Golf Classic, contact Jim Collins at (281) 491-7018 or call
the archdiocesan Office of Development at (713) 652-4461.
Register for the Shepherd's Cup Charity Golf Classic
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