September 7, 2010 // Local

Car raffle to assist World Youth Day scholarship funds

Todays Catholic

FORT WAYNE — In an effort to raise scholarship funds for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain, the diocesan offices of Youth Minstry, Campus and Young Adult Ministry and Catholic School are spearheading a raffle in which a car will be given away.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades will host a group of young people who will join him on a pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain, in August of 2011 to celebrate World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI and an estimated 2 million other Catholic youth.

The diocesan group of pilgrims is comprised of teens, young adults, seminarians and young priests and religious. The young people represent 30 parishes.

“I have met many of these enthusiastic teens and young adults, and look forward to this holy time with them,” Bishop Rhoades wrote in a letter to priests. “I am sure their faith will bless the diocese greatly.”

Bishop Rhoades added, “The cost for such a pilgrimage is great, and for many young pilgrims, a challenge. They have been faithful in personal and parish fundraising. Many pilgrims, however, may be in need of additional assistance. To provide financial aid for World Youth Day, the diocese will hold a raffle. A local car dealership has generously donated a new vehicle for this raffle.”

The raffle winner will have their choice of a 2010 Dodge Caravan or a 2011 Hyundai Sonata donated by Glenbrook Dodge Hyundai in Fort Wayne, and the taxes will be paid on the vehicle.

Tickets sell for $50 each. The goal is to sell 3,000 tickets, which would create $150,000 in funds for pilgrims who need assistance.
Bishop Rhoades has invited parishes to participate in this diocesan-wide effort, “as the entire dicoese will experience the blessing and fruit of our young people’s participation in World Youth Day. World Youth Day is also instrumental for fostering vocations. Some of our own young priests credit this celebration with planting and nurturing the seeds of their vocations.”

Parishes have received raffle information packages from the diocese. All tickets must be reported and returned by Nov. 1. Bishop Rhoades will draw the winning ticket on Monday, Nov. 22.

The diocesan offices are requesting that pilgrims apply for financial aid through their parishes. Pastors are requested to evaluate and articulate the need of the pilgrims. A committee will distribute the funds and notify parishes and pilgrims of financial awards by Dec. 1.
The raffle license number from the Indiana Gaming Commission is 121966.