Bishop George J. Lucas recently received a letter thanking him for a diocesan contribution of $10,292 to the 2008 Pastoral Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa.

Bishop John Ricard, SSJ, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote, “Because of your personal support and the generosity of the faithful in your diocese, we have had the ability to begin to respond significantly to the needs of the Church in Africa these past two years.”

Bishop Ricard said in 2008, the solidarity fund was used to make grants for 87 projects for almost $1.8 million. He said the grants included assistance for a broad range of pastoral activities including pastoral care, formation of seminarians and clergy, Catholic education, youth ministry, catechesis and social communications.

“May the Lord continue to bless you, your ministry and the Catholic faithful of your diocese,” he wrote. “May our Blessed Mother Mary, the Star of Evangelization, continue to draw us together under the mantle of her maternal love.”