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Annual Benefit

Annual Benefit

(Looking for St. Romero Day Prayer Service? click here)

Annual Benefit ~ April 26, 2025

Congratulations to the winners of this year's on-line auction (April 24-29), click here and be delighted

Honoring the 45th Anniversary of the Martyrs of 1980

St. Romero Vive! Leading the Salvadoran offertory procession was a picture of the first martyr of 1980, Archbishop St. Romero. Courtesy Diocese of Cleveland

Celebrating mass ~ Fr. Andy Turner (seminary rector, our landlord), Deacon Mark Janezic, (brother of our Board member Chris and frequent guest at COAR), Fr. Jeff Barnish (his sister Susan is our Programs Director!), Fr. Bob Sanson (Board member emeritus and friend of COAR founder, Fr. Ken Myers). Courtesy Diocese of Cleveland

Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland ~ Martyr of 1980, Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU, celebrated by her Ursuline Sisters, eight of whom also served in El Salvador and have been vital to COAR's success. Courtesy Diocese of Cleveland

Feasting and celebrating ~ It was a sell-out of friends of the COAR children, the food and fun were just a bonus! - photo Kate Pifer

Our fabulous raffle . . . Featuring eggs from Front9Farm - the most popular item! - photo Kate Pifer

Front9Farm

Mission, COAR, and Bishop ~ Celebrating: Fr. Steve Vellenga, Director of the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team, Mary Stevenson, COAR Executive Director, Bishop of Cleveland Edward Malesic. Courtesy Diocese of Cleveland

Bishop Malesic accepts for St. Romero ~ Reflects on St. Romero's presence in his ministry, the unexpected power and of the Cleveland Mission in El Salvador, and the joy and healing he has seen at COAR - photo Kate Pifer

Sr. Rose Elizabeth Terrell accepts for Sr. Dorothy ~ Sr. Rose Elizabeth served in El Salvador 2004-2014. All the Ursulines who have served in El Salvador have served like Sr. Dorothy: with joy, with hope, and knowing that their work will live on, especially in the children. - photo Kate Pifer

Rita, Mary Fran (left) and Meg (down front) accept for Jean ~ Jean Donovan's friends and family took up four tables! They shared hilarious stories of "St. Jean the Playful" (true: they joked they'd have to call her that one day), and Meg shared the family pattern: play hard, pray hard, serve hard. - photo Kate Pifer

They were killed because of how they lived ~ Protecting refugees, as shown in Jean's diary. Also in the diary? Serving with joy and courage.

Serving with joy

1980 and disinformation ~ A 2nd martyrdom for those who knew and loved them was the disinformation. But time has vindicated them, click for more

Click Here

Darrell Holland - tireless for the truth ~ Darrell Holland was religion editor for Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper in 1980. He covered the story relentlessly for years. Darrell died last year but his family was there to help us honor the timelessness of honor, and truth.

All that matters - the kids are safe ~ Now, as in 1980, the truth from El Salvador is complicated. The innocent suffer. There is disinformation. But the kids at COAR are safe - thanks to you and the living legacy of our martyrs.

The Diocese of Cleveland website also has great coverage, (click here)

An EXCELLENT 15-minute video from PBS about the 1980 deaths of our Churchwomen, Sr. Dorothy and Jean (click here)

$137,000 will keep the COAR kids safe - thanks!

Thank you Benefactors:

Darrell Holland, in memorium
David and Mary Beth Bogner
Stan & Nancy (in memorium) Bednarczyk
Chuck and Debbie Richter
Peter and Marilyn Tsivitse
Terry and Marty Tusim
Rebecca Vellenga
Musca Family
Mike and Peg Cachat
Bill and Judy Head
Daphne Held
Jim Hennessey

Underwriters:

Joseph and Mary Kay Guerra
Mike and Veronica Leahy
Joe Raguso
Dawna and Quentin Meng
Karen Sanson, in memorium

Patrons

Heffley and Marinello Families
Laura Griesmer
Fr Bob Sanson
Mike Tobbe
Marsha Walker
Raymond and Marian Wernet
Jerry Westermeyer
Allison and Andy Woss
Mike and Katie Head
Bill and Joanne Spellacy
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Carl Anthony Coppola, in memorium
Center for Pastoral Leadership
Robert and Andrea Danch
Casey (in memorium) and Ed Diegel
Mike and Erin Gall
John and Susan Howland
Charles Fazio and Associates

Sponsors

Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland
Martin and Jean Myers Family
Ron & Linda Myers
Betty Myers, in memorium
Joe and Arline Nosse
Melanie and Tom Reda
Brian and Linda Schmidt
Maureen and Jim Stewart
Mary Jane Breen
Fr. John Brenkle
Rev. Joseph Kraker

Diocese of Cleveland Hispanic Ministry Office
Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ
Pastor & Mrs. Donald and Patsy Seiple
Bruce and Laura Delaney
Maryanne Westhoven Family
Mary Curran and Jonathan Emery
Jean Marie and Daniel Hanlon
Margaret and Clayton Heydorn
Brian and Anne Hurtuk
Erik and Marie Shamberger
Mary Ellen O’Mara

Raffle prize donors:

Ascension Press – Chris Janezic – Cleveland Browns – Cleveland Cavaliers – Cleveland Monsters – Daisy Cakes – Daphne Held – Dynamic Catholic – IRTF/Equal Exchage Fair Trade – Meglio Salon & Spa – Melanie Reda – Phyllis Bambeck – Snow Trails – Sock Religious – Terry Tusim – Tiny Saints – VCS Salon & Spa

Vendors and door-prize donors:
Front 9 farms (fresh produce, meat, eggs & honey) * Santa Rosa Stiches * Revy Fair Trade * Your company here?

There is no COAR without you! Thanks!

Donation notes:

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