Good news for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Nashville has signed a lease to open an office at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in south Nashville on Nolensville Road.

This move will provide an additional $25,000 in annual rental income to help with loan payments that will have to be made to cover a $400,000 debt left on the property and buildings. About $1.1 million was raised to pay the debt by the June 30 deadline.

The Catholic Charities' lease was signed with Father Joseph Patrick Breen and St. Edward Catholic Church, which is ultimately responsible for Our Lady's debt.

Catholic Charities executive director William Sinclair said in an e-mail to CC chairman of the board Gregg Ramos: "We are excited and we are moving forward as of today with plans to paint, carpet, install phones and computers, and office equipment. The truly exciting aspect is that we will be located on the campus in a couple weeks rendering great services to the Hispanic community."

This development truly is a blessing at a very difficult time for Hispanics in Nashville with the English Only referendum petition and the ongoing 287g deportation program. Our Lady truly is making miracles happen in what continues to be Nashville best "good news" story of the past 12 months.

Father Breen was slated this week to sign a loan document with the diocese to cover Our Lady's remaining debt. St. Edward's will ultimately be responsbile for the church's debt and survival. Monthly loan payments will still place a significant burden to pay on Our Lady's working poor congregation. It also has to pay for church operations and community services.

So donations from those who believe in the good news of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and its mission for Nashville's most vulnerable can still make a big difference. Go to http://www.stedward.org/ to read more about this ongoing miracle and possibly donate. Click on the box entitled "Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church" on the left side of the web page.

In other news aimed at making Nashville a more welcoming city, Catholic Charities received a proposed lease after much delay for the space for the Tennessee Office for Refugees on White Bridge Road, Sinclair said.

So from the evil of 287g and the English Only petition, good can still survive and even prosper. Please help to expand on this good news with your donation to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.