Sister Karen Bland, OSB (left) is pictured at the Catholic Outreach Annual Board Members Dinner sponsored by US Bank on January 25, 2018.
For the past 30 years Sister Karen Bland, OSB, has spearheaded the Grand Valley Catholic Outreach organization located in Grand Junction, CO. "In 1988, the Grand Valley's four Catholic parishes - St. Joseph, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sacred Heart, and St. Ann - entered into a collaborative agreement and formally established the agency as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable non-profit organization. Today, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach is “catholic” in its truest sense. “Catholic” means universal and those who volunteer, those who donate, and those who receive the fruits of gifts. Our mission is to proclaim the dignity and worth of each person, respond to human needs, and strive to show the compassion of Christ. We provide our facilities and services on a non-discriminatory basis with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, handicap, religious beliefs, familial status, or national origin." (Grand Valley Catholic Outreach Facebook page)
The following events are scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Grand Valley Catholic Outreach:
January-Catholic Outreach Board Members Dinner (January 25th) Sponsored by USBank
February- Update brochures in collaboration with students from the local college.
March-Bless the Day Center as renovations to expand begin. The Day Center is a place where those who are homeless can do laundry, take showers, get mental and physical medical attention, and have a cup of coffee.
April- Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner for more than 500 volunteers.
June-Host a sponsored barbecue for 62 residents in the apartments who were formerly chronically homeless.
July - Annual Report for Catholic Outreach will be published and the current board members will sponsor a dinner of appreciation for the Catholic Outreach staff.
August - Remodeled Day Center will be blessed by pastors from many denominations throughout the valley.
August - September: A video of the various ministries that Grand Valley Catholic Outreach serve will be made in collaboration with communication students from Colorado Mesa University.
October 13th - 23rd Annual Empty Bowls event will be held where potters donate bowls, and restaurants donate soup, local bakeries and stores donate cookies and beverages, and Enstroms donates the candy.
What a wonderful year of gratitude marking 30 years of ministry to the Grand Junction, CO valley community!