Page 44 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

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Donor Profile

Supporters in Omaha

drawn to Catholic
Extension’s mission
early in life

Keeping God at the center

om Kerins’ affin-
ity for Catholic
Extension is deeply
ingrained. He was
raised in Ogden,
TUtah, in the heart of
Mormon country. As the grandson
of four Irish-Catholic immigrants
and the son of two devoutly Cath-
olic parents, he was one of few
Catholics in the Diocese of Salt
Lake City.
“I grew up in missionary terri-
tory in a very non-Catholic area,” And helping people stay con- regularly and the thank you notes
he said. “When you’re in the nected to their faith is why the she received describing the fasci-
minority, it intensifies your faith. Kerins support Catholic Extension. nating, far-off ministries she was
We stuck together and looked out “We want to reach people who supporting. He was impressed.
for each other.” cannot help themselves. So many After attending the University
Tom’s upbringing instilled Catholics in the United States do of California at Davis, Tom moved
empathy for Catholics who are liv- not have the basic elements of to Omaha with the Air Force and
ing in small clusters in rural areas, Church. They have a hunger for met his future wife, Joanne. They
far from the comforts of the estab- Christ, but they don’t have access married in 1991. With the Air
lished Church and ready access to to the sacraments. So much of our Force, Tom studied economics and
the sacraments. Catholic Exten- faith comes through the sacra- became a professor in Colorado
sion has long-supported the Dio- ments. We are extending an arm Springs. A few years later, they
cese of Salt Lake City, which of the Church to bring these to returned to Omaha where Tom has
encompasses the entire state of them.” been a financial adviser for
Utah, to support isolated Catho- Tom’s mother was an enthusi- 26 years.
lics there. astic suporter of Catholic Exten- Joanne, who is from Iowa, is
sion. He remembers her talking the middle child of eight and also
about the home missions, the raised Catholic. While she and her
Extension magazine that arrived siblings faithfully attended CCD
classes — she particularly liked the