Dear Fraternal Brothers and Sisters,

I am pleased to provide you with an update on the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Educational Foundation (SJBEF) 2024 results.

I first want to thank all those that have made donations to the Foundation through the years. Your continued support is greatly appreciated not only by the Trustees but especially by all of the New England members, seminarians and Catholic schools that benefit from the SJBEF scholarships and grants. All of which are made possible in part through your donations and through Catholic Financial Life (CFL) chapter match funds.

Our Member Scholarships remained at the increased level of $1,000 each and the number of applications remained the same as in 2023. Our Seminarian Scholarships also remained at last year’s increased level of $900, with even greater participation. We celebrated the 70th Annual Pilgrimage at La Salette on September 8, and it was a huge success. The Foundation also continues to present two $800 scholarships to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette.

In 2023 we introduced a new Grant/Scholarship Program for Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools in New England. This program was well received and continued in 2024. We have again received nominations from 75% of the New England chapters. The Trustees voted to increase the grants to $600 each this year. These grants are a way for the Foundation to continue to strengthen educational opportunities for our youth.

I would like to thank you again for your continued support of the SJBEF. I would also like to thank all the SJBEF Trustees and CFL Home Office for supporting the Foundation.

Wishing all the very best.
Bruce Laverriere
SJBEF Chair

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Educational Foundation
P.O. Box 275 | Woonsocket, RI 02895
SJBEF.org

2024 AWARD HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Pinsonnault

This year the Trustees were able to continue funding initiatives made last year. These awards include the following:

College Scholarships

For the second year in a row 32 scholarships were awarded to students. Recipients were from each New England state except for Connecticut, with 19 being from Massachusetts, seven from Maine, three from Rhode Island, two from New Hampshire and one from Vermont. Resources allowed the awards to be $1,000. The trustees congratulate the recipients and wish them another successful year.

Massachusetts: Madeleine Brodeur, Noelle Champigny, Alexander Cormier, Brenna Dushinsky, Maeve Dujardin, Cecilia Eluszkiewicz, Joseph Eluszkiewicz, Victoria Eluszkiewicz, Brooke Forget, Ella Gesner, Connor Grew, Monique Grew, Jack Hebert, Nicole Ledwidge, Laren O’Donald, Rachel Perry, Jason Pinsonnault, Caroline Puccini, Sophia Puccini

Maine: Alexander Bryant, Lucy Frenette, Miles Frenette, Makenzie Parent, Zoe Petit, Emmanjuelle Richie, Lauren Theriault

New Hampshire: Audrey Pilotte, Tyler Young

Rhode Island: Ellie Buttaro, Julia Raymond, Carl Schneider

Vermont: Nicole Dirmaier

Seminarian Scholarships

Seminarians from ten New England Dioceses were awarded scholarships. Each Diocese was offered $900 to be distributed to either one or two seminarians. The Providence Diocese has an additional award of $1,000 which is made in honor of Bishop Louis Gelineau. In addition, two scholarships were allocated to the LaSalette Order for those studying for the LaSalette Priesthood and Brotherhood.

Grants

For the second year, resources were available to continue awarding grants to a Catholic elementary, middle or high school as recommended by local chapters. A total of 17 Grants in the amount of $600 each were issued, with presentations to be made by chapter leaders.

French Awards

As the Foundation has had generous contributions made by members to assist in the studies of the French language, two scholarships will be awarded again this year. These presentations will be made to students studying French at Providence College.