Stewardship for Saints & Scholars
- Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Spotlight: Campaign update and what’s next for parishes
- Months of preparation, an exciting response ahead of the first wave of parish appeals
- Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Spotlight: Campaign update and what’s next for parishes
- Months of preparation, an exciting response ahead of the first wave of parish appeals
In last month’s issue, campaign volunteers shared their personal stories of the value and impact of Catholic education in their lives, and the lives of their children. They’ve made a remarkable commitment of time, talent, and treasure and are among the early and generous donors in the $70 million campaign. The entirety of the campaign is designed to benefit schools, educators, students, families, and parishes across the Diocese of Lansing.
In last month’s issue, campaign volunteers shared their personal stories of the value and impact of Catholic education in their lives, and the lives of their children. They’ve made a remarkable commitment of time, talent, and treasure and are among the early and generous donors in the $70 million campaign. The entirety of the campaign is designed to benefit schools, educators, students, families, and parishes across the Diocese of Lansing.
Now, a few months into active fundraising and during the silent phase of the campaign, Bishop Boyea has hosted four dinners for potential supporters in Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Jackson, with more to come in the Flint area. Guests eagerly endorsed his prayerful resolve to “better help families raise happy and holy young people who are capable of bringing the love and truth of Jesus Christ to society in a way that is intellectually coherent, culturally credible, and socially compassionate.”
As work continues during the silent phase, early activity begins for Wave-One parishes, who will officially kick off the campaign later this year. All parishes will participate in the campaign over the next 18 months, and all parishioners will hear the campaign message and be invited to pray, volunteer, and give sacrificially.
Diocesan and campaign leaders are grateful to see interest and enthusiasm building in these parishes.
Wave-one Parishes
- St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing
- St. Gerard, Lansing
- St. Peter, Eaton Rapids
- St. Joseph, St. Johns
- SS. James, Cornelius & Cyprian, Mason
- St. Joseph, Howell
- St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton
- St. Patrick, Brighton
- St. Matthew, Flint
- St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing
- Holy Family, Grand Blanc
- St. Mark, Grand Blanc
- Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson
- St. Catherine Laboure, Concord
- Sacred Heart, Hudson
- St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach
- St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn
*List current as of May 2024
How you can help
With the public kickoff of the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign a few months away, how can you help now?
- Start praying for the success of the campaign — that’s a witness to the stewardship of your time that is crucially important!
- Consider serving as a volunteer when the campaign comes to your parish. There will be orientation and training sessions that will explain the campaign and volunteer roles. Stay tuned!
Join us in praying the Campaign Prayer
Lord, everything we have is a gift from You.
You call us to receive your gifts with thanks,
to develop these gifts fully,
and to share them generously.
Through the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign
help every young person in the Diocese of Lansing
see Your truth, beauty, and goodness;
help families to raise their children in the faith;
and help parishes make a truly Catholic education
available to all.
May the work of this campaign bear abundant fruit
in the saints and scholars you are raising up for the future.
We ask these blessings through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Campaign Goal: $70 million
- The diocese is covering all campaign expenses. That means 100% of all gifts and pledges will directly support the campaign priorities.
- Parishes, schools, and families are the sole beneficiaries of this campaign. No campaign funds will be used to support diocesan offices or programs.
Campaign priorities
On Mission: Attract, form, train, and retain excellent and faithful teachers and administrators at parish elementary and diocesan high schools. This effort will include signing and retention bonuses for teachers, as well as training programs and formation grants for them.
Listen to a Catholic high school president describe his school's faith mission: youtu.be/GbYVbj8eqsw
Affordable: Substantially grow financial assistance available to current and new families. The Witness to Hope campaign helped the diocese establish an endowment fund for financial aid. The Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign will elevate that assistance as the cost to educate each student continues to rise sharply.
Hear what it means to a Catholic parent to have an affordable education for her family: youtu.be/_Gk_YYjEWVs
Accessible: Assist students with special needs. Enhance services at our four regional high schools.
Hear a family’s story of their child’s ability to receive a Catholic education regardless of special needs: youtu.be/lffUzpGHN9g
Local Initiatives: Intended to bolster parishes, schools, homeschool programs, religious education, and faith formation or other urgent, local needs. Twenty percent of each dollar given toward a parish’s target amount will go back to the parish. Once a parish reaches its target in payments, 100% of anything additional raised will go to the parish.
Hear how one parish’s efforts complement families’ commitment to passing on the faith at home: youtu.be/4Ka-Q4V3PR8
Why now?
In the words of Bishop Boyea: “I want to make sure that we are preparing the next generation, and I’m really conscious that it’s going to be the younger people who are going to have to carry on our faith. We need the resources to make sure that can happen, or to at least have the possibility of it happening.”
He continues: “The odds are much better, much better, for those who pursue a Catholic education to persist in their faith, to persevere in their faith. That’s what I really want to do — to prepare that next generation.”
