Come on Board!

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

The Barnabas Board of Directors is looking for new members. Would you like to do more for the poor?

Barnabas Almsgiving Fund is a small 501(c)(3) charitable organization that aims to meet people’s basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education. Each year we receive and distribute about $100,000 in alms. Our local project advocates provide details about individuals and their needs so that donors can be directly acquainted with recipients. New projects can be initiated by anyone who knows of a need and is interested in gathering donors to cover that need.

  • Since its beginning, Barnabas has assisted a network of poor families in Kerala, India (see Current Projects). We currently provide tuition for about 45 Catholic grade-school students and 25 university students, besides meeting medical and housing needs of individuals and families in India.
  • For the past two years, we have helped two seminaries in Ghana obtain textbooks, computer equipment, and lots of FOOD for the 200+ students from several African nations. (See A New Project! Seminarians in Ghana)
  • And Barnabas has helped some needy families right in Washtenaw County.

At present we need about a half-dozen individuals to fill a variety of roles. The time commitment is at most two hours per week, including emails and quarterly Zoom meetings. Barnabas especially needs people with marketing, administrative, accounting, writing, website, and record-keeping skills. If you are interested and would like to learn more, please contact info@barnabasalms.org soon.

Also, if you think of anyone you think would be a good fit for Barnabas, please let them know about us. Thanks for considering our invitation!

Education Funds for India

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

Thank you to all who responded to our recent appeal for education funds for the young people in India. Your generosity enables us to send $25,825 for tuition.

However, the needs of the students exceed this amount by about $17,000. Thus this request. Perhaps some of you have not yet gotten around to sending a donation in these lazy days of summer. Others of us can perhaps dig a little deeper to help families enter a new school year free of financial concerns and filled with joy and gratitude.

Please pray for the Lord’s blessing on these young people, that they may grow in knowledge and virtue. And if you can help, please click on Donate and follow the instructions, specifying “India Education Needs” as the recipient.

Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:8

Barnabas Board Update

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

We want to express our deep gratitude for the service of our brothers John Urbanic and Don Mierendorf, who recently left the Barnabas Board. Both will be greatly missed.

John Urbanic

John, despite his busy professional and personal schedule, has been serving as our financial officer since March of 2017. He has been diligent in keeping our books, sending money wires, and taking care of all our financial and tax matters. We greatly appreciate his professionalism and years of service.

Don Meirendorf

Don has been associated with the Barnabas Almsgiving Fund since 2017, when he was our first finance manager. Later he took on an advisory role, bringing tremendous experience and common sense to the Barnabas Board. We’ve appreciated his support, ideas, and recommendations throughout the years.

We take this opportunity to thank all former Board members for their contributions of time and talent. You have together contributed greatly to this mission.

Updates from Ghana and from Washtenaw County!

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

Fr. Saaka reports that the most urgent need at the seminary is food. Rising costs due to inflation make it difficult to feed the 200+ young men studying there.  Father asks for $2,068.80 to cover thirty (50-kg.) bags of rice at $68.96 each.

The seminary also needs an all-in-one desktop computer, costing $1,289.65. And $1,186.70 will cover two projectors at $593.35 each.

Can you help build the Church in Africa? Please click Donate and choose “Ghana Seminarian  Support” from the funds list.

Here in Washtenaw County, a large family hopes for our help in replacing two boilers in their home. The mother suffers from partial paralysis due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome. A registered nurse, she had to quit her management position at a local hospital, and her husband took on two jobs to provide for the family.

Many people have already pitched in to help this family, but they still need $12,000 to cover the two boilers. If you can help, please click Donate and select the fund “Needs in Southeast Michigan.” Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ. He who “counts the stars and calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4) sees their need and can use us to supply!

Let Us Give Thanks!

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

Recent donations to St. Victor’s Major Seminary in Ghana totaled $3,040. Fr. Daniel Saaka reports the purchase of 50 breviaries for seminarians as well as some basic supplies.

We are very grateful for all your donations! A generous gift of $20,000 to our India Education Fund completes our 2024 support of $53,736.25, making it possible for Barnabas to cover all the education expenses of the students we are trying to help!

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2)

Image of renovation in India

Work is progressing on two home renovations in India. Now we hope to provide $7,000 to cover a house loan for a family and $4,000 for the rebuilding of another family’s home.

And for the 235 seminarians in Ghana, we would like to provide:

  • generous amounts of rice, $1,607
  • 2 desktop computers, $2,100
  • a Giant Canon photocopier, $2,428

Can you help? Please Donate and select the project to which you want to give.

A recurring gift is especially helpful. Recently someone had to cancel his $300 monthly donation to India families because of financial difficulties. We would love to replace this amount. Can you take over some or all of this commitment? Or give even more?

Please pray for all those who are in need. God loves us and them!!

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,
    and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

A New Project! Seminarians in Ghana

~ barnabasalms ~ 1 Comment
Seminarians in Ghana

St. Victor’s Major Seminary, founded by the White Fathers, serves 235 seminarians from several dioceses in Ghana. Several other seminarians are from Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, and Rwanda. Some students hail from various religious congregations.

Fr. Daniel Saaka
Fr. Daniel Saaka, vice rector and theology chair at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, recently visited Michigan.

Archbishop Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and chairman of the seminary board, recently sent Fr. Daniel Saaka to the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, to appeal at various parishes for financial support for the seminary and for clergy education in the northern part of Ghana. This is the poorest area in Ghana and also a primary evangelization area.

Some current needs for which Fr. Daniel seeks support:

  • Each seminarian needs books: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican II documents, the Book of Rites, the Code of Canon Law, and a breviary. The seminary library also needs books and Internet access.
  • The seminary needs money for regular operations, including adequate food. Meat, eggs, and milk are available for dinner only twice per week. Some seminarians have health issues due to the demands of their studies coupled with an inadequate diet.
  • Fr. Daniel and his bishop would like to send two seminarians and two priests to Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, to broaden their learning experience and so contribute to the evangelization of Ghana.
  • The roof of St. Victor’s Seminary leaks. In the seminary chapel (constructed in 1966), louvers, louver blades, and electrical wiring need to be replaced, costing about $7,000.

Please pray for these seminarians and for all those serving in their formation. And if you can donate toward their formation, please click on Donate and select “Ghana Seminary and Clergy Education” from the funds list.

Or, send a check with “Ghana Seminary and Clergy Education” in the memo line to

Barnabas Almsgiving Fund
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
PO Box 415
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

And please note the special instructions for using donor-advised funds for your donation.

God bless you!

Thanks from Fr. Chen

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment
Father John (Yongli) Chen

Fr. John (Yongli) Chen completed his studies and defended his thesis this past spring. Dr. L. Gregory Bloomquist, his thesis mentor, not only praised his work but expressed “great joy because of what God has done in Christ to fully conform His child Yongli Chen into Father John.”

Dear Barnabas Almsgiving Fund and donors,

It is a grace-filled time for me to thank all of you, with the joy of Christ’s resurrection, at the completion of my doctoral studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Your generosity and unwavering support and prayers have carried me through these years of study since 2016, and for this I always will be grateful. More importantly, your graciousness has helped me fully participate in God’s grace in the person of Christ, especially his suffering, death, and resurrection. Specifically, my study on the divine grace in Christ reflects how my faith has matured in that grace.

By your generous giving, you have lifted up a Catholic priest from the Christian families in China, who are currently suffering for Christ’s name. You have witnessed to Christ’s gracious giving of himself by supporting Christian brothers and sisters around the world in their times of need. You have spoken through your joyful faith, your loving care, and your generosity in the spirit of St. Barnabas, a “son of encouragement.”

I give thanks to our gracious God the Father, in his divine gift of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and with his blessings from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

A Servant of the Word of God, Yongli Chen

April 22, 2023

Aid to Turkey

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment
partially destroyed church in Turkey

Barnabas has the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters suffering from the recent earthquake in Turkey. John Kazanjian, who has led several mission trips to the country, is a friend of many board members. His associate in Turkey, Fr. Drtad, can receive Barnabas funds and channel them to those in need.

John shared information from Fr. Drtad about the devastation:

Some cities and villages are entirely leveled. In many areas there’s little food, water, heat, or shelter … and not enough equipment to rescue those who are trapped. [The Church] is scrambling to mobilize assistance for the churches and families they are in contact with.…
The Greek and Armenian churches in Iskenderun have been badly damaged..… Only one wall of the cathedral building [pictured above] remains standing, four hospitals collapsed, and the port is still burning.

Please pray for the citizens of Turkey and for others affected by the quakes. And if you can give, please click on Donate and select the fund “Turkey Earthquake Relief.”

Or you can send a check with “Turkey Earthquake Relief” in the memo line to

Barnabas Almsgiving Fund
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
PO Box 415
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

We are grateful for the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters affected by this tragedy. Please join us in our effort.

Merry Christmas!

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth;
we have beheld his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father.

–John 1:14

Thank you, Father, for giving us your Son. Your love stirs us to give to others—our families, our friends, and the poor.

Sr. Anne sent some thoughts on Christmas giving all year long:

In the times a hand reaches with heart
to help another in need,
that is Christmas!
In the times people realize their part in
loving each other,
that is Christmas!
When people spend their time
and energy for others,
that is Christmas!
Whenever we get your support
and love for making others happy,
that is Christmas!
We are happy knowing you, and we thank you for all the help you send throughout the year.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and New Year!

Sr. Anne

Tax Information Update

~ barnabasalms ~ Leave a comment

In January 2021, we posted “Charitable Giving and the New Tax Act” by estate planning attorney Dennis Mitzel. Please note that while the age for required minimum distributions has increased to age 72,
the law allowing direct tax-free charitable gifts from IRAs remains age 70 ½. Also, the standard deductions for 2022 have increased to $12,950 for singles, $25,900 for married filing jointly,
and $19,400 for heads of households.

The advice given in Dennis’s post is otherwise the same, so we would like to refer you to that as you plan your giving.