About The Saint Isidore Fund

Named after the patron saint of farmers and rural life, the mission of The Saint Isidore Fund is to serve rural, impoverished communities by focusing on Christ’s beatitudes. In the past, our summer missionaries worked in the communities of Jay, Livermore Falls, and Farmington, Maine, alongside our friend and partner in this work, Father Paul Dumais from the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

In the past we focused on sending missionaries (some to work during the summer and one to work full-time) in service to Fr. Paul.  Focusing on the ministry of presence, SIC missionaries made over 150 “parish visits” to the homes of parishioners of St. Rose of Lima and St. Joseph and also assisted in many other ways to serve the parish needs.   It is our belief (especially in today’s world) that to be present to others is a way to connect with those in the community and in the parish family in a unique and personal way.

Service commitment becomes financial assistance for The St. Isidore Fund:

What began as in-person service and missionary activity has developed into a consistent financial commitment to assisting Fr. Paul Dumais and his important work in the communities of rural Maine. Based on grant applications, SIF will evaluate each year’s financial assistance to emphasize the most urgent needs of the parish and community.

Other projects we are involved in:

Closer to home, The Catholic Company has had a long-term relationship with The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) who have a monastery in Monroe, North Carolina, only about 45 minutes from our offices in Charlotte. The Saint Isidore Fund is a part of our ongoing contribution of resources and missionary help to the MOP and to other organizations in rural North Carolina that need spiritual and material assistance.

Every purchase of Catholic Coffee supports the work of The Saint Isidore Fund.

For more information about The St. Isidore Fund, or to inquire about an application, please email Whitney Hetzel at [email protected].