While preparations are underway for Fat Tuesday celebrations in New Orleans, the Diocese of Gallup prepares for its own annual tradition: the Bishop’s Mardi Gras.
Held each year on the weekend before Ash Wednesday and sponsored by the local organization Catholic Peoples Foundation, the Bishop’s Mardi Gras aims to provide a night of food, music, and dance while functioning as a yearly fundraiser. For the 2014 event, the Foundation plans to use the proceeds to support Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese.
At a time when many Catholic schools in the Diocese of Gallup strive to keep costs low for the many low-income students who attend, the fundraiser could provide a welcome relief. According to data recently released by the Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese, over half of all students rely on tuition assistance, but the income received from tuition by the schools only covers 37 percent of the students’ per pupil cost.
The Bishop’s Mardi Gras will also feature a silent auction, with the profit from the auction adding to the total amount raised over the night’s events.
Herb Mosher is the head of the Catholic Peoples Foundation and, along with the CPF Board, has re-focused the priorities of the organization for 2014.
“First, the Foundation will support Catholic education within the Diocese of Gallup by increasing scholarship funds, improving facilities and expanding religious education,” he said. “Secondly, CPF supports the education of seminarians who will become priests for the Diocese, and in addition continues to seek funds for the repair of historic churches within the Diocese.”
According to the mission statement provided by Mosher, the goal of the Foundation is “to receive, raise and administer funds in order to assist the religious, charitable and educational works of the Diocese of Gallup.” Noting that the Foundation is a non-profit organization, the mission statement concludes by stating that “the Foundation benefits some of the poorest people in the nation while also providing important tax savings for donors.”
To reserve a table, purchase tickets, or find out more information about the 2014 Bishop’s Mardi Gras, contact Amanda Galvez at 505-726-8295, or email [email protected]