With these words, Bishop Boyea encapsulates the mission behind the Diocese of Lansing’s Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Campaign. At its heart, this campaign aims to strengthen Catholic education across the diocese, ensuring that children and young people are formed in faith and intellect. 

The campaign focuses on four main priorities, each designed to meet the needs of our schools, students, and families. It ensures that Catholic education remains On-Mission, Affordable, and Accessible for all families. It also invests in Local Initiatives to support parish-specific needs.

What do the campaign priorities mean?

• On-Mission: Attract, form, train, and retain excellent, faithful teachers and administrators.
• Affordable: Substantially grow financial assistance available to current and new school families.
• Accessible: Improve assistance for children with special needs, while also providing funds to enhance services through the four regional diocesan high schools.
• Local Initiatives: Invest in parish schools, religious education/faith formation, parish-sponsored homeschool initiatives, or other urgent, local needs.

Bishop Boyea emphasized that this campaign builds on the strong foundations within our Catholic communities. “We have to keep building,” he said, urging us to move forward with intentionality and purpose.

The Local Initiatives goal embodies this spirit by returning a portion of the funds raised to individual parishes so they may invest in their local parish school, religious education/faith formation, parish-sponsored homeschool initiatives, or other urgent, local needs as identified by pastors and parish leadership. 

All parishes have been given an aspirational goal — also referred to as a parish target — they are encouraged to reach, by making a good-faith effort. Each parish will receive 20 percent of the funds collected from its parishioners to invest in local projects. Once a parish reaches its fundraising target, it will keep 100 percent of the excess funds collected, allowing for even greater local impact.

Parishes plan to use their Local Initiatives funding for various projects. Some are building, some are enhancing, some are starting new programs, but all are investing in the future and in the mission of the Church. This campaign goal is about strengthening the Catholic faith at the grass-roots level, ensuring parishes have the resources to nurture the spiritual growth of families, children and the community.

Father Todd Koenigsknecht, pastor at Sacred Heart in Hudson and St. Mary on the Lake in Manitou Beach, says the campaign can help build a strong Christian foundation in society. “The blessings really bounce down the line,” he comments.

This campaign is a chance for all of us to do our part for future generations — to give thanks for what has been given to us by giving to the next generation. Father Gary Koenigsknecht, pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Howell, noted that past generations gave so much. “It’s a blessing for us to do that now” for those to come.

By supporting Local Initiatives, we are building a stronger, more vibrant Catholic Church — one that will continue to be a beacon of hope for years to come.

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Howell

Father Gary Koenigsknecht views the campaign as a way to address long-standing needs that will enhance the parish both spiritually and physically. For over a decade, St. Joseph parishioners have asked for improvements, and with the campaign’s support, these dreams can become a reality.

The parish is focusing on several renovations to improve the worship experience and support its ministries, including:

• Repairing and polishing the church floors.
• Installing new choir risers and relocating the music ministry.
• Upgrading the sound system to ensure clear audio throughout the church.
• Replacing the 1961 pews with more comfortable seating.
• Completing preventative maintenance on the parking lot and planning for replacement. 

“We have well-loved buildings that we want to care for in the years to come,” Father Gary says, reflecting the parish’s commitment to intentional stewardship.

Sacred Heart Church and School, Hudson

As Sacred Heart approaches its centennial in 2029, the rural parish is focusing on revitalizing its school, which serves pre-K through grade 6 students. One primary need is replacing the school’s aging windows, installed in the early 1980s.

The windows are no longer energy-efficient and have become difficult to maintain. By replacing them, the school will improve the learning environment, increase energy efficiency and enhance the building’s appearance. 

Father Todd emphasizes that the school has “great bones,” but the windows need attention. The parish hopes to raise enough funds to cover a significant portion of the project.

For Sacred Heart, Local Initiatives funding honors the legacy of past generations while offering a meaningful gift to future students. “Now is our opportunity to give a great gift to two or more generations,” Father Todd says.

St. Mary on the Lake Catholic Church, Manitou Beach

Local Initiatives funding at St. Mary on the Lake will support two key areas: faith formation and community outreach. 

Father Todd is committed to ensuring financial barriers do not prevent young people from participating in religious education and spiritual retreats. The parish plans to allocate funds for scholarships that will enable children and young adults to attend faith formation programs and retreats, helping them deepen their relationship with Christ.

In addition, the parish plans to expand its food pantry, which has become essential in the community, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry needs more storage space, including dedicated areas for freezers and refrigerators. Expanding the pantry’s facilities will allow St. Mary’s to better serve the growing number of families in need and strengthen its local presence.

By investing in faith formation and outreach, St. Mary’s is living out its mission to serve the community and deepen the spiritual life of its parishioners.