V8s for Vocations, Gallup, New Mexico, is an innovative charitable project kickstarted by a Catholic priest, Rev. Matthew Keller. Fr. Keller is the rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup, NM, where he restores classic muscle cars in the garage behind the church. Each year, V8s for Vocations raffles restored cars in order to provide scholarships for individuals who wish to serve the poorest diocese in America. V8s for Vocations has successfully raffled off two cars since 2014: Chevrolet Chevelle in 2015, and Pontiac Firebird the following year. Next up is ’78 Pontiac Trans Am: the “Bandit.”
The Vocations Office provides assistance to men who are in the priestly formation program and works to foster priestly vocations in the Diocese.
In 2014, the Vocations director, Fr. Matthew Keller, had the idea to combine his love of classic cars with his mission to support seminarians. Almost immediately, a friend noticed a Chevelle Super Sport in need of restoration.
And so, the V8s for Vocations program was born.
