We are writing today to enlist your help in our on-going seminary formation experience. During the summer months, seminarians in the Diocese of Cleveland are free to work and continue their formation in a variety of ways. Three of us have contacted COAR about the possibility of volunteering to work there for a brief time this summer and were gratefully accepted. COAR is an orphanage in El Salvador founded by Fr. Ken Myers during their civil war. It is named the Community of Oscar Arnulfo Romero in honor of the martyred archbishop.

Our main goal is to be of genuine service to the children, staff, and other volunteers at COAR as we broaden our own experience of ministry and global awareness. What's involved? A program such as this is rather inexpensive considering the numerous benefits it provides (please see attached Statement of Benefits (click)). The major cost components of the trip include transportation, room & board, language school tuition, and a stipend for other expenses (please see attached Statement of Costs (click)).

We will travel first to Guatemala to attend Spanish language school for approximately three weeks prior to our arrival at COAR. Our work at COAR will then continue for up to one month.

Through the St. Mary Seminary's Global Awareness Program, we have already secured funding for the flight to Central America, tuition, room & board and stipend for our time in Guatemala.

We are seeking your assistance in raising the remaining funds needed for this summer's experience. If you believe you can help us in our goal to compliment our seminary formation by expanding our solidarity with the orphans of El Salvador, there are two ways you can respond:

You may send a check directly to COAR at: COAR Peace Mission, 4395 Rocky River Drive , Cleveland , OH 44135. Please designate your gift to this project in the check memo. Additional funds received beyond our goal will be reserved by COAR for similar experiences for seminarians in the future.

You may send a check to the St. Mary Seminary Global Awareness Immersion Fund: Attention Fr. Tifft, St. Mary Seminary, 28700 Euclid Avenue , Wickliffe , OH 44092. Money donated to the Global Awareness Immersion Fund will be used first for our mission trip with COAR and contributions beyond our current needs will be made available to seminarians in the future who apply to the Global Awareness fund for similar types of mission experiences.

All donations are tax deductible. Upon our return from COAR, Patrick, Mike & I will provide a newsletter of our experience to all who respond. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Chris Trenta at 330-612-4239.

Thank you for considering this worthy cause.

Truly yours,

Mike Denk / Christopher Trenta / Patrick Anderson
IV Theology / II Theology / I Theology