People from throughout the Diocese once again showed their generous spirit and commitment to supporting faith-based higher education through their participation in an annual collection to benefit The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

During the weekend of Sept. 10, parishes across the Diocese participated in the annual national collection for CUA, which was founded as the national university of the United States by U.S. Bishops and chartered by Pope Leo XIII in 1887.

And this year’s collection yielded a generous contribution of $111,240 for the prestigious university located in the nation’s capitol.

In a letter sent to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., CUA president John Garvey expressed the gratitude of the university community for the support of parishioners throughout the Diocese of Trenton.

“This university belongs not just to those who work and study here, but also to you and your parishioners,” wrote Garvey. “I invite you to visit us next time you are in town to see, hear, and experience the impact your financial support has on our University.”

Garvey also included a handwritten message to Bishop O’Connell – who served as CUA’s 14th president for 12 years from 1998 until 2010, when he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Trenton Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI. Garvey thanked the Bishop for his continued support for CUA, and noted that several students from the Diocese are in his class this semester.

According to the letter, some 177 of CUA’s students hail from the four counties of the Diocese.