2025 So Far!
Dear Friends and Co-laborers,
Thirty years ago, Catherine Maresca began the Center for Children and Theology with a bold mission: to honor and study the spiritual wisdom of children, to support their formation, and to advocate for their rightful place in the development of theology. Many of you have supported her work for decades and made the way for a diverse community spanning continents, denominations, and theological differences to be woven together. This community continues to enrich the faith lives of thousands of children and adults.
Fifteen years ago, I found a home in this community. I was drawn by Catherine’s willingness to listen to my questions with respect, thoughtfulness, and joy. I know there are thousands of others like you and me, for whom Catherine’s welcome was encouraging and strengthening.
For many years, Catherine received no income, and donations paid the few staff members. All that changed several years ago. With our expanded community of parents, neurodiverse families, catechists, pastors, and priests, and infant and adolescent faith formation locations, we were faced with the need for more staff positions.A generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. made much of the past two years’ growth and work possible. And now, Catherine has transitioned into being the Director Emeritus with full confidence that her vision for the Center is alive and well. As the grant funding concludes, our challenge is to sustain her legacy of transformative work.
There are several ways to partner with Catherine’s vision:
- Be a founding contributor to the Catherine Maresca Scholarship Fund, ensuring formation is accessible to all who are called catechists.
- Sponsor Weaving Our Gifts to honor Catherine’s decades of work and the community she nurtured. Goal – $5,000
- Sustaining Partner donations cover essential staff salaries, technological needs, and supports programs running smoothly. May we suggest $30 monthly?
We believe the Kindom of God is rising—quietly, powerfully—through the faithful work of many hands. Thank you for lending yours.
May God bless and keep you. Yours, with hopeful joy,
Anita
2025 So Far – where God has us right now.
Find out more about how things are going and what we know is going to happen in the future for 2025. Meet our new Advisory Board members, share the joy in our expanding newsletter and social media responses, and read about God’s unplanned moments.