Two sisters who are parishioners of St. Ann Church on St. Croix graduated together from the University of the Virgin Islands with honors on May 15.
Annieva McFarlane graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Mathematics. She had the highest grade point average in her class. She was a senior senator of the Student Government Association and the secretary of the 3-D (Determined, Diversified and Dignified) Class of 2007. Annieva plans to pursue a career as a teacher in the Virgin Islands while aiming for the Master Degree in Administration.
Weena McFarlane graduated Magna Laude with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She was a student trustee on the UVI Board of Trustees and a Veteran Peer Counselor. She plans to begin her career and pursue graduate school locally.
Pictured above are the graduates with their parents; left to right they are Francis, Weena, Annieva and Ruth McFarlane.
The public phase of the Bishop’s Appeal 2007, which began on the
first Sunday of Lent, February 25, concluded on Pentecost Sunday, May
27. As of May 21, the appeal had approached 78 percent of its goal of
$435,000, with 1001 donors contributing $342,193 to assist diocesan
anti-poverty, education and evangelization efforts. Four of the eight
parishes had already surpassed their anticipated goals.
Since the end of the public campaign, posters were removed and the
number of brochures will diminish in the churches, schools and
agencies. The next phase of the appeal involves the collection of
promised funds and private solicitations. Donations continue to be
encouraged, however. Those who have made long-term pledges are
particularly reminded that the appeal is counting on the fulfillment
of those promises.
Parishes, schools and diocesan agencies may now resume regular
fundraising activities, which were discontinued during the appeal
period.
The following totals were as of May 21.
Parish
- # of Donors -Total
St. Croix
Holy Cross Church/Sacred Heart Chapel
88 $48,015
St. Ann
Church
196 $31,882
St. Joseph
Church
130 $17,732
St. Patrick
Church
76 $21,695
St. John
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Church
59 $15,207
St. Thomas
Holy Family
Church
114
$40,613
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
77 $26,510
St. Anne
Chapel
58 $13,409
Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral
196 $62,505
Bishop George
Murry/Chancery
12 $55,625
Michael Akin, Executive Director of the
Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands (CCVI), and other diocesan
directors of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) affiliates lobbied
representatives of the United States Congress in Washington, D.C. on
April 26-28. They asked the congressional representatives to consider
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good, CCUSA’s policy
paper which proposes ways to cut poverty in half in the United States
and the Virgin Islands by the year 2020. They were joined on April 26
by two people who received aid from their local Catholic Charities
affiliates.
Mr. Akin met with Monique Clendenin in Delegate Donna
Christensen’s office to discuss the CCUSA poverty
initiative.