Catholics from the diocese of Trenton have joined with their spiritual brethren nationwide to provide valuable financial support to the students attending The Catholic University of America, Washington. Monies collected during all Masses the first weekend of September, 2012, have been added to contributions from almost all 180 dioceses in the United States to total $5.2 million in aid to those clergy, religious and lay undergraduate and graduate students seeking a Catholic education.

In a letter from CUA president John H. Garvey dated Feb. 22, the university head thanked Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the Trenton diocese’s generous contribution of $121,675 towards last year’s National Special Collection tally. “[It] will be used to help support the students from your diocese who are receiving financial aid,” Garvey explained. “In combination with institutional funds and various other scholarship awards, the National Collection enabled the University to provide financial aid to 60 percent of our undergraduate and graduate students.”

A report issued by CUA covering the 2011-2012 academic year shows 210 students from the four counties of the Trenton Diocese attend the school; 84 percent of them, or 177, receive financial aid for their room and board and general tuition needs. The collective total of $2,473,710 in student support averages nearly $14,000 per student.

The Catholic University of America is the only U.S. university with pontifical faculties; students from all 50 states and almost 100 countries are enrolled in its 12 schools. The founding bishops of the Washington institution made the commitment to offer scholarships to worthy students at its foundation in 1887.  CUA provides a Catholic education to clergy, religious and lay men and women in both undergraduate and doctoral academic programs.