• Helping Each Other

Monsignor Henry V. Petter pioneered the creation of the first Dallas parish based, Office of Peace and Social Justice, in 1999. Due to that effort, thousands of families in need have received life-sustaining support within Collin County, Texas.

In 2008, the Community of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton created the Monsignor Henry V. Petter Endowment Fund with the Catholic Foundation to support Monsignor’s work in the areas of outreach and social justice. In addition to the works of charity, Monsignor has played an important role in bringing about changes to structures of injustice in the local community.

One significant Social Justice initiative was in the way in which county health care benefits are distributed so that more families in need may gain access to basic health care. Under Monsignor’s guidance, the people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano led and participated in partnerships with churches, community leaders, and public officials to ensure appropriate poverty limits were set for those seeking basic healthcare within Collin County.

In honor of Monsignor Petter’s passion for running, and as one vehicle of fundraising for the endowment, the first annual Seton Soles 5K walk/run commenced in 2008 with over 1200 participants and volunteers. RunOn commented that this initial event was the largest “first” run they helped organize in DFW.

In the first two years, over $100,000 has been raised to establish the endowment, which will help make certain that the important work of social justice, continues for years to come.