Dear COR Parishioners,
As announced in Bishop Wack’s letter in last week’s bulletin, the weekend of July 24-25 has been designated as a “Diocesan Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Annual Burse Club Membership Sunday.” Following is a little additional information about the Burse Club, in addition to a “thank you” from the seminarians it supports. You will enjoy seeing some of our future priests as they express their gratitude in this video:
https://youtu.be/jwzLzCq_IYw
What is a Burse?
According
catholicculture.org, a burse "is the name for an endowment or foundation fund especially for scholarships for candidates for the priesthood (Etym. Latin bursa, purse or pouch).”
When did the Burse Club Start?
In 1953, when we were part of the Mobile Diocese, women from Sacred Heart Parish in Pensacola formed the Burse Club. They collected money for future priests’ education by going door-to-door asking for a dollar from their neighbors. When the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was formed, the bishop asked the Council of Catholic Women to oversee continuation of the Burse Club.
How much have we collected?
In 1981, the annual Burse Club collection was $31,000. Future collections totaled:
- 1998 - $100,000
- 2017 - $206,860
- 2021 - $311,047
Over the club’s lifetime, we have donated nearly $6,000,000 to educate our future diocesan priests!
On behalf of the Council of Catholic Women, thank you for your continued generosity to the critical mission of the Burse Club. For more information, please pick up a brochure in the Narthex or contact any of the CCW members listed below.
Patti Wolfrom
President
West Central Deanery CCW
Pat Willoz
COR CCW Treasurer