Catholic Foundation Legacy Society members and donors were honored at a recent gathering of donors, board members, staff, and friends of the Foundation. The evening began with a prayer service led by Bishop Lawrence Persico, Lisa Louis, executive director, Ken Kane, board chair, and board members Mike Lewis and Mike Vereb.
Ken then welcomed the guests to begin a short program. He recalled the previous Sunday’s scripture, Philemon 9-10, 12-17 , and related it to the donors gathered there. “Just as Paul was selfless in letting Onesimus go, so are you, generous donors, in freely giving your treasure. The good you do through the Foundation is not unnoticed.”
Lisa shared some “new news” from the Foundation since the last donor gathering. In particular, she introduced the new giving option available to donors, a non-endowed fund. She also highlighted the Foundation’s recent impact at the 2025 Emmaus Convocation for clergy. Unrestricted grants from several endowments funded most of the hotel expenses so clergy could attend without having to worry about that additional cost. A poster of thanks from the Emmaus committee was displayed in the ballroom.
Lisa also welcomed our newest Legacy Society members:
- Anonymous (5)
- Carla and Jack Bell
- Phil Eberl
- Kathy and Charles Frame
- Dan Hamilton
- Lisa and Mike Lewis
- Joanne and Sam Malene
- Frances Petruzzi
Catholic Foundation Legacy Society members are those who have committed to providing for the future of our shared Catholic community with an estate gift or by establishing an endowment fund. These faithful gifts from the heart will provide financial support to the Catholic ministries they love for generations. View full list of members.
To close the program, Lisa invited Bishop Persico to participate in an informal question and answer session. She asked him to share his thoughts about his time as Bishop of Erie, the processes of an episcopal transition following a bishop’s retirement, and the impact of the Catholic Foundation over the past 10 years. As a Legacy Society member himself, Bishop Persico shared his inspiration to establish a donor designated endowment in the Foundation and thanked the donors for their continued generosity.
Photos by Tim Rohrbach. Click a photo to expand and scroll through all.
Mike Lewis, board member, reads at the prayer service.
Lisa Louis, executive director, leads responsorial psalm at the prayer service.
Prayer service worship aid
Ken Kane, board chair, reads at prayer service.
Bishop Persico offers prayer at prayer service.
Mike Vereb, board member, leads intercessions at prayer service.
Bishop Persico offers prayer at prayer service.
Jim Toohey and Katy McGovern
Mark Louis and Fr. Chris Singer
Edward and Mary Halter
Marilyn Sharp and Mike Lewis, board member
Bishop Persico and Dave Murphy
Bishop Persico
Tom Loftus, Mark Rose, and Valerie Rose
Judge Daniel Brabender, Norm Stark, and Donna Geiger
Fr. Chris Singer, Deacon Edward Horneman, and Diane Horneman
Ken Kane, board chair, and Mark Louis
Lisa LaRocca, Gregory LaRocca, and Lisa Lewis
Fr. Tom Fialkowski and Donna Geiger
Lisa LaRocca, Lisa Louis, executive director, Gregory LaRocca, and Lisa Lewis
Lisa Louis, executive director, Mike Lewis, board member, and Lisa Lewis
Mike Lewis, board member, and Lisa Lewis
Lisa Lewis, executive director, and Ken Kane, board chair
Edith Benson, Fr. Chris Singer, Edward Halter, and Mary Halter
Mark Rose, Valerie Rose, and Vince Assetta, board secretary
Ken Kane, board chair, greets and thanks the guests.
Lisa Louis, executive director, shows impact from Foundation grants in 2025.
Bishop Persico and Lisa Louis, executive director, have a Q&A session.
Bishop Persico and Lisa Louis, executive director, have a Q&A session.
Norm Stark, Dale DeMarco, and Donna Geiger
Vince Assetta, board secretary, Deacon Edward Horneman, and Diane Horneman
Mike Vereb and Marie Vereb, board members
Marilyn Sharp, Dan Schaaf, and Dawn Schaaf
Joe Kloecker and Fr. Tom Fialkowski
Bishop Persico and Lisa Louis, executive director, have a Q&A session.
Bishop Persico shares his thoughts about his episcopacy, future plans after retirement, and how the selection of a new bishop occurs.
Mike Lewis, board member
Joe Kloecker and Dr. Jeff McGovern
Tom Loftus, Judge Daniel Brabender, and Bishop Persico
This year;s gift: What Christians Believe by Bishop Robert Barron
Mary Halter, Edward Halter, and Dr. Jeff McGovern
Gregory LaRocca, Lisa LaRocca, Dan Schaaf, and Dawn Schaaf
Mark Rose, Valerie Rose, Mike Vereb, board member, and Marie Vereb, board member
Ken Kane, board chair, Fr. Nick Rouch, and Vince Assetta, board secretary
Jonathan Nolan
A thank you from clergy to the Foundation for the grant for Emmaus