By Anthony Richards
The holiday season is a time for looking both inward and outward, as Catholics tend to dive into a deeper reflection of who they are and what they are doing with the blessings they have.
Taking a look at one’s soul often leads to looking at the world around them and trying to find ways where they can give back and truly make an impact on someone’s life.
Since 2015, #iGiveCatholic has been an initiative that helps Catholics pinpoint where the needs in the community are and how they can help, as part of the larger Giving Tuesday campaign, which will be Dec. 2 this year.
Patty DiSandro, executive director of the Catholic Foundation with the Diocese of St. Augustine
“The Catholic Foundation is honored to sponsor our diocese’s participation in #iGiveCatholic for the fifth year,” said Patty DiSandro, Catholic Foundation executive director with the Diocese of St. Augustine. “It has been so inspiring to see Catholics all across our diocese come together on Giving Tuesday to support our parishes, Catholic schools, and ministries.”
This year, there are 63 total ministries registered to participate with the local Catholic Foundation as part of the #iGiveCatholic campaign, including 21 schools, 23 parishes, and 20 other charitable organizations.
The projects that people can choose from to help consist of a range, including the Diocese of St. Augustine’s Office of Christian Formation, which has a goal of $3,000 to help with resources and training for a formation conference where the office is partnering with the National Catholic Partnership on Disability to discuss topics such as pertaining to adaptive classroom ideas and how parishes can continue to welcome and accommodate children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Vocations Office with diocese has a goal of $10,000 to help the continued support of growing the number of seminarians in the diocese.
Any monetary donations will go towards helping seminarians along their path to priesthood, including providing transportation for discerners to attend seminary “Come and See” weekends and allowing four seminarians to attend the SEEK26 Conference in January 2026.
“Catholics in North Florida are truly generous, and through their support, #iGiveCatholic has grown each year, providing needed funding for many Christ-centered projects and initiatives,” DiSandro said.
Another great example of a Christ-centered project is the Suzuki Violin and Cello Programs at Epiphany Catholic School in Lake City.
The school believes that music is more than just art, but a means by which God shapes hearts to serve.
They are searching for $50,000 to help continue the expansion of the program by providing quality instruments and music supplies for each student who is searching for a deeper relationship with God through music.
This year, the birthplace of evangelization for the area and the United States is also in need of assistance, as the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine is looking to restore the outdoor alter behind the church on the 27-acre sacred grounds.
They are hoping to reach a $60,000 goal, which will also help in the installation of a new sound system that will allow for the site to host more outdoor Masses for large gatherings and events.
Some schools, parishes or organizations may not have specific projects they wish to achieve with the money donated, but as nonprofits they consistently rely on the generosity of their community to make sure they can continue their mission of making an impact by spreading God’s word either through education or aid, such as that provided by the regional Catholic Charities offices in Jacksonville, Lake City, Gainesville and St. Augustine.
Although Giving Tuesday is Dec. 2, the period for advanced giving is already underway and donations are being accepted. To find an organization and donate, go to www.igivecatholic.org/community/staugustine, and remember that although the #iGiveCatholic campaign takes centerstage a couple of weeks in November and into December, donations are also appreciated through each of the organizations at any point throughout the year as well, because the call to help others never stops.
