News From CCF-LA | May 26, 2020
A Message from Msgr. Jack Stoeger, Director of the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests

Amidst this global crisis, we have an opportunity to slow down , to stop , to be more contemplative, move into “ being ” and not always “doing,” and to go “inside,” literally and figuratively. This “ retreat, ” though involuntary, gives us an opportunity to look at our lives, “ reset ” ourselves and our priorities, and weed out what is essential from what is not. It is a time to hear God say to each of us: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Let’s treasure anew the significant people in our lives and experience God in them and in the awesome beauty of nature around us. We often complain about what we don’t have and aren’t grateful for what we do have—we take so much for granted!

We are called to be people of the Word . This is the perfect time to open our Bibles and savor God’s revealed Word whether in your favorite chair or out in your garden. It is a time to be more like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him, than like Martha, worried and anxious about many things (Luke 10:38–42). 

Compassion in the Time of COVID-19

While we look for options and new ways to strengthen our faith through remote connections with our Church, let us not forget that our faith can be practiced every day in how we communicate through our social media options, how we keep in touch with our family and loved ones, and how we answer the many appeals that come through the mail and over the Internet to help the most unfortunate among us.

In the early 1990s I was on the Confirmation team at our parish and had the segment on social justice. Working with 13-year-olds on this subject was difficult, and I left them each year with just one take-away: Social-justice teachings of the Church really come down to the examples that Jesus gave us about being compassionate. If you learn to be a compassionate person, you will have the secret to a successful life.

As our commerce and churches begin to open up, we are called to be people of compassion more than ever—to remember what so many have endured during this pandemic and be understanding and generous of heart. 

Years later, at a local grocery store, I bumped into one of the students in my Confirmation class who had just completed college. He wanted to let me know that he never forgot the lesson on compassion and how much it influenced his choices. Wow, that made all of the time commitment and preparation for those Confirmation classes really worth it!

From Kathy Anderson, President and Executive Director
From the Desk of the CFO
Since early April, we’ve experienced a slow upward trend in the markets, which maintain a “wait and see” attitude on how quickly, broadly, and safely economies can reopen amid the COVID-19 concerns. Our funds have closely paralleled this cautiously hopeful trend toward recovery. The April YTD saw the Balanced Pool return improved to -3.35 percent from the -7.72 percent at the end of March. Likewise, the Intermediate Fund YTD return improved to -7.7 percent by the end of April compared to March’s -14.69 percent. We continue to be vigilant as we maintain our commitment to a well-strategized, long-term position. As always, our client team is available to respond to any questions or requests.
Moments From the Front Lines
We are proud to count many front-line organizations among our clients and grantees. Click on the picture above to see just a few of the organizations and the immense impact they have in fighting COVID-19 across the country.
Voices of CCF-LA | The Latest From Our Blog
Faced with a challenging situation, Catholic schools are finding inventive ways for honor their Class of 2020. If you would like your local Catholic school featured in our blog, email information to Maggie Smet at [email protected].

The work of the ADLA Office of Restorative Justice continues, ministering to those in custody, their families in the community, and the survivors of crime. The Partnership for Re Entry Program (PREP) is more in demand than ever and functioning as in-cell programs despite the pandemic.

CCF-LA grants support Los Angeles communities during pandemic

In these exceptional times of need, there is a beacon of hope in the Greater Los Angeles landscape.
Since the beginning of 2020 — while many other foundations and nonprofits have struggled in the midst of the coronavirus — the  Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles  has granted out $6.5 million in support of education, ministries, and social services.
The Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles is committed to the prudent management of charitable investments to support the schools, parishes and ministries that help our neighborhoods thrive in faith. To join our mission to teach and sustain Catholic philanthropy, please contact our Client Development team at (213) 426-1187 or via email.
Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles CatholicCF-LA.org | (213) 426-1180