I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I will be gone this Sunday evening through Tuesday for a camping trip with eight of my siblings (a rare feat to get that many of us together at one shot) and a whole lot of nieces and nephews. It will be a lot of fun and gloriously chaotic-a nice great trip to wrap up summer plans.
Many thanks again for everyone who helped with the parish picnic- hosted at St. Mary on the Lake on August 2 nd . It was a great time and praise God He helped with the weather.
The Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Diocesan Capital Campaign comes to Sacred Heart and St. Mary on the Lake in mid-August. Let’s break down the campaign priorities:
ON MISSION
Thirty-five percent of S3 funds ($24.5 million) will start an endowment to attract more faith filled and quality teachers for our schools. Due to our lower pay, Catholic schools tend to see higher turnover than public schools. The Diocese of Lansing replaces nearly 10% of its Catholic school teachers every year as they leave us to earn more money elsewhere. S3 funds will increase the starting base salary and the average teacher pay and offer signing and retention bonuses so the good teachers stick with us.
AFFORDABLE
Thirty percent of S3 funds ($21 million) will be set aside for tuition assistance for families, doubling the diocesan grant for grades K-8 and hopefully tripling what is given in grades 9-12. Of these funds, $2 million is specifically set aside as grants for families new to Catholic schools to lessen their “sticker shock” when faced with tuition bills for the first time.
ACCESSIBLE
Fifteen percent of S3 funds ($10.5 million) will provide new learning centers in our schools for those with special needs, and to provide $2 million of direct financial assistance to each of the diocese’s four Catholic high schools. Twenty percent of S3 funds will stay in the parishes to meet their local needs. In Sacred Heart’s case, 20% of what we raise will be put toward replacing the school windows. At St. Mary on the Lake we are still hammering out where we will put our 20%, but I envision a combination of support for the faith formation program, scholarships for retreats, and food pantry support.
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 to 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. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
God Bless,
Fr. Todd
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