The Diocese of Palm Beach, which extends up Florida’s Atlantic Coast from the Archdiocese of Miami, is home to the Cathedral of Saint Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, the seat of Bishop Gerald Barbarito. Four years ago, Bishop Barbarito appointed Father Gavin Badway to become the rector of the cathedral. Fr. Badway was quick to see the needs of the aging cathedral, and his priority was to take care of the physical campus.
In addition to the good he has done for the cathedral itself, Fr. Badway has worked equally hard for the people in his flock. Here, in this land of golf courses and sunbathers, Fr. Badway has exceeded all expectations by helping his parish tend to the needs of the poor around the world.
Fr. Badway’s relationship with Cross Catholic Outreach began when he served as pastor in Boca Raton. He helped raise funds for an Advent campaign and organize food-packing and Box of Joy® events at Ascension Catholic Church. He brought these activities to the Cathedral of Saint Ignatius Loyola too.
“I’ve seen firsthand the transformation of hearts that happens when Catholics gather to perform Corporal Works of Mercy,” he says. “This is our work in this world — to conform our hearts to Jesus Christ — and food-packing events with Cross Catholic Outreach provide a tangible way for that change in heart to happen alongside the sacraments and faith formation.”
The cathedral parish and Fr. Badway extended their care of the world’s poor even further this past Lent when he decided to promote Cross Catholic Outreach’s Lenten Campaign Wells of Salvation with the parish. Just before Lent began, learning more about the wonderful work going on in Kenya. They were so moved by the work being done to bless the rural poor that they pledged to raise $90,000 in the parish in order to fund the installation of a freshwater well for families who have been using an unsafe water source. They hoped to fulfill this pledge by the end of 2024.
Much to their surprise, the parish responded with incredible generosity. In fact, they raised double that amount — $180,000, enabling two wells to be drilled in Malawi and Zambia! “I am humbled by the flame of charity I’ve seen grow in the hearts of my parishioners,” says Fr. Badway. “It is a testament to the powerful work Cross Catholic Outreach is accomplishing,” he adds.
Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach.
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
