Dear Parishioners,
I would like to thank you all for being here today for this annual pastoral address. Just as bike tires slowly go flat and we have to periodically air them up, so too we must regularly renew our commitment to stewardship. This annual moment provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the great gift that God has given us in this parish, a parish that stands as a beacon of stewardship, not just within our diocese, but across the United States.
The challenge of stewardship is that it requires ongoing renewal, year after year, like airing up a flat tire. Additionally, stewardship must adapt to the challenges of the moment. Many of you will recall the struggles we faced last year. In the face of those challenges, there was considerable pressure on me, our faculty, and our staff to sustain the financial health of this parish: this great gift God has entrusted to us.
In response to these challenges, last summer, I thought it would be beneficial to ask the parish two important questions, which I referred to as the “pastoral survey.”
The two questions I posed the parish survey were these:
1. Prior to COVID we averaged 3,300 souls going to Mass each weekend, after COVID we average 2,900 souls going each weekend… how do we encourage increased participation at Sunday Mass?
2. Last year we were unable to give raises to our employees due to tithing not keeping pace with inflation… how can we encourage sacrificial giving to provide just wages?
The two primary purposes of this survey were, first, to gather feedback and ideas that I might not have thought of myself. As we know, it’s easy to become fixed in our ways, but I wanted to hear fresh perspectives, to break out of the mold. Ideas sometimes become hard and stale over time, and I wanted to invite all of you to offer your thoughts and suggestions.
Then my second primary purpose was to encourage conversation among you. I firmly believe that the most effective way to increase stewardship is through the informal discussions we have with one another, whether it’s in the parking lot after Mass, or in the course of our daily lives. Stewardship is not just about financial giving; it’s about being involved in our community, supporting one another, and sharing our time and talents.
As a parish, we are blessed with many ministries, and among them, our school stands out. We have families here who support Catholic education, some through the school, others through PSR, homeschooling, or classical institutions. But regardless of our family situations, we all gather here because we share a deep commitment to our Catholic faith. The foundation of all that we do is our worship of God. Sunday Mass is our primary act of stewardship; everything else flows from this act of worship.
Through the survey, I asked for fresh ideas, even those that challenged my own thinking. Some of the suggestions that came forward were a bit unsettling for me because I have a strong attachment to traditional ideas of stewardship. Nevertheless, I will bring them forward for us to discuss. I want you to engage in dialogue, to think about the good ideas as well the less practical ones you will hear.
Let me share some good news: One week after I sent the pastoral letter last year, we received a bequest of $87,000 (last week featured a misprint of $887,000). A bequest is a gift given to the parish after someone has passed away. This this gift, at that amount, allowed us to provide 3% raises to our faculty and staff. 3% raises for us were $86,500! What an act of God’s Providence! This moment was a sign of God’s faithfulness to us, but it also serves as a reminder that we cannot rely on such providence every year. We must work diligently to ensure that our ordinary gifts of time, talent, and treasure are sufficient to meet our ongoing needs.
Let me share with you some of the results from the survey. Four members of our parish leadership—who are incredibly talented—took the responses from over 250 parishioners and processed the data through an AI system. I want to be clear that the results presented today are not just my opinions. This is data gathered through an unbiased process, and I’m grateful for the team who worked to analyze it.
Three key themes emerged from the survey responses:
1. Personal Outreach and Re-engaging Parishioners: The most important theme was the desire for more personal contact and direct communication. Many suggested that we need to reach out personally to parishioners who have stopped attending Mass or have become less involved in parish activities. Relationships matter. Many of you mentioned that the most effective way to encourage stewardship is through meaningful conversations and personal connections.
2. Financial Sustainability: Another significant theme concerned the sustainability of our parish finances. There were questions about whether the traditional model of stewardship still works and how we can make stewardship relevant for the current circumstances. We must continue to trust in God’s Providence, but we also need to look for ways to ensure the financial health of our parish in the long run.
3. Holistic Stewardship: The third theme was a desire to foster a broader understanding of stewardship. Stewardship is not just about money—it’s about giving of our time, our talents, and our treasure. It’s about being a community of faith, together.
As many of you are aware, we are facing real challenges right now. Inflation, rising costs, and pressures to meet our financial obligations are just a few of the issues we are navigating. But I firmly believe that if we continue to act boldly and with faith, we can meet these challenges.
Some of the actions suggested by parishioners include:
•Targeted outreach programs with personal contact and follow-up.
•Promoting faith-based giving and ensuring that we trust God to meet our needs.
•Increasing financial transparency through quarterly reports and more open communication.
•Looking for additional fundraising opportunities, such as community-based events and outreach to alumni.
•Developing a more comprehensive approach to holistic stewardship, ensuring that every parishioner is engaged in the life of the parish in some way.
I want to be transparent with you all. There are times when our financial situation becomes tight. For example, this October, we brought in about $100,000 less than we needed to meet our monthly expenses. That’s a significant gap, and it’s a reminder that we must all be engaged in stewardship—both in our financial giving and in our service to the parish.
To give you a sense of how our finances are structured, about 72% of our budget goes directly to support our school and another 10% goes to the Diocese. This leaves 14% for the rest of parish operations.
Some of the practical suggestions for improving our financial sustainability include:
•Offering personalized contribution statements and impact reports.
•Providing more detailed financial reports in the bulletin.
•Conducting personal outreach to re-engage parishioners.
•Reviewing parish operations and ensuring that we are using our resources efficiently.
I want to emphasize that stewardship is not just about money. It’s about our entire way of life as a community of faith. It’s about serving one another, living our faith, and giving of ourselves—whether it’s through volunteering, participating in parish activities, or supporting the mission of the Church financially.
PARISHIONER QUESTIONNAIRE
[Questions asked by parishioners and answered by Father Jarrod Lies in the open forum portion of the address]
Last year we discussed that the 7:00 pm Saturday Mass be canceled. Is that still a possibility?
Regarding the 7 PM Saturday Mass, we previously had discussions about whether we should continue this additional Mass. After evaluating our capacity and available resources, we determined that we can maintain the 7 PM Mass as long as we have three priests on staff. However, if we are ever reduced to two priests, this will be revisited, as the burden would likely be too great for the priests.
It has been suggested that, to save money, we may have to limit the number of students we sponsor at Bishop Carroll. Is that still a possibility?
There was also an ongoing conversation about the number of children we are sending to Bishop Carroll. Currently, we have 239 students attending Bishop Carroll, which costs the parish about $1 million. Although the idea of reducing the number of students has been discussed in theory, it has never been considered a practical solution. Nevertheless, if the parish’s financial situation becomes untenable, we may have to reevaluate our ability to continue funding such a large number of students. For now, we are meeting our financial obligations, though not necessarily achieving our full budget goals.
Last year, it was discussed that we may have to go to two classrooms per grade. Is that still a possibility?
Currently, we have three classrooms per grade, which is unique in the diocese. While some have questioned why St. Francis is the only school with this setup, we have no current plans to reduce it to two classrooms per grade. However, if the numbers were to change or if we were unable to meet our budget, this decision may be reconsidered.
How much does it cost to educate one student at St. Francis School?
$4,950. If we went to tuition, as someone suggested in the survey, that would significantly impact the ability of families to send kids to Catholic Education.
Father Jarrod Lies, Pastor
STU MEETHER’S PRESENTATION
DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP AND PARISH LIFE
At the heart of all these discussions is our shared commitment to the stewardship way of life. As a parish, we must always actively recruit new families, but our primary focus must be on forming the faith of those already in the St. Francis community. Our school is not just a place to educate children; it is an integral part of our parish family. It is crucial that families who wish to send their children to our school are also active participants in the life of the parish—attending Mass, tithing, and engaging in the ministries of the church. We value discipleship above all else, and it is important that our school families are first and foremost parish families.
Now, I would like to briefly touch on some logistical matters, particularly regarding the stewardship forms you will receive. We have made some changes to these forms this year to be more efficient and cost-effective. You will notice that the forms are printed in grayscale, rather than color. The reason for this is that we have separated the forms for school families and parish families to reduce waste. Previously, we printed thousands of extra sheets for families who did not need them, which resulted in significant cost. By printing only the necessary forms, we are saving over $5,000, which is an important step in making our resources go further.
We also discussed the three pillars of stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. As Father McGread emphasized in his homilies, our primary goal is to worship the Lord with our time. This means regular Mass attendance, prayer, and other devotions such as the rosary and novenas. It also means giving of our talents—whether through volunteering for ministries, maintaining the parish grounds, or contributing in other ways. The generosity of our parishioners in these areas is what enables the parish to function smoothly and remain vibrant. We are deeply grateful for everyone’s contributions.
On the topic of treasure, we recognize that this is a sensitive issue, but it is a necessary one. The Bible speaks frequently about giving and tithing, and our parish relies on the financial support of its members to continue its work. It’s not so much about the amount we give, but about the spirit in which we give it. We are called to share from the abundance that God has given us, whether that be in the form of time, talent, or treasure. It’s this generosity that helps sustain not only the operations of the parish but also the education of our children.
Looking at our budget, I want to share with you that 62% of the operational costs of our church are supported by families who do not have children in school. The remaining 38% comes from families with children attending St. Francis or Bishop Carroll. This means that the support we receive from families with children in school is critical to maintaining the financial health of the parish. However, it is also important to note that sending a child to Bishop Carroll costs the parish $4,100 per student, a significant expense that we need to carefully consider in future budgeting discussions.
As we continue to grow as a parish and a school, it’s important to remember the balance between community and parish support. We are a parish-based school, and while we are happy to welcome new families, we also need to ensure that everyone who benefits from the school is also actively engaged in the life of the parish.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for living the stewardship way of life. Your time, talent, and treasure make a huge difference. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t already committed to it, and for that, I thank you. If I’m not coming across as thankful enough, please know that I truly appreciate each one of you for your contributions. Thank you for all that you do.
THE STEWARDSHIP IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL
I’d like to take a moment to share my perspective on a few issues, based on my review of the survey results.
First, some thoughts on fundraising. I want to emphasize that stewardship reflects the blessings we’ve received from God. It’s not a judgment—it’s simply about recognizing what we have and giving back out of gratitude. Fundraising, on the other hand, often involves a judgment, like asking, “Is this effort worth supporting, and do I want to spend my money on it?” To illustrate this, let me give you a perspective on how we give. When we decide whether to support a cause, we are often weighing the worth of that cause. But true stewardship isn’t about evaluating worth – it’s about giving out of the blessings we’ve already received. On the other hand, if we choose to support a specific fundraiser, we may ask, “Is this worth my money?” or “What do I get in return?” Conversely, stewardship calls us to give first, without seeking something in return. It’s natural to want to fund what we believe in, but I urge you to think about this: when we give through fundraising, we often hold back until we’re sure it’s worthy. On the other hand, stewardship involves giving freely, without judgment, because we recognize that we’ve been blessed.
I know fundraising events, like our Fun Night, have been a wonderful tradition for years, and I’m not criticizing these events in any way. They do great things for our community, and I’m grateful for all the efforts put into them. But, I also want us to reflect on how we approach giving. Are we giving generously from our first fruits, or are we simply waiting until we think something is worthy of our contribution? We’ve all been blessed in many ways. Stewardship is about giving back in gratitude for those blessings. Fundraising, however, often revolves around a need or a judgment about the worthiness of a cause. I encourage you to think about this distinction and how it applies to your own lives.
I also want to share some insights on our tuition costs and the likely impact of a tuition-based system. Such a move would fundamentally change the very nature of Catholic education in our community. Currently, St. Francis offers a truly affordable education compared to other Catholic schools. For example, St. Joseph Catholic School in Kansas City charges $4,450 in tuition, while Catholic high schools in the Dallas area can charge anywhere from $9,000 to $15,000 per year. Here at St. Francis, if we charged tuition, we would expect it would be around $4,950.
Tuition, as opposed to stewardship, would result in fewer families being able to afford Catholic education. The beauty of our current system is that it provides access to Catholic education for all children, regardless of their financial situation. However, this model only works long-term if we continue to support it through stewardship, ensuring that parents today are willing to give back, just as those before us did.
As Father mentioned, stewardship protects the socioeconomic diversity in our school. This is such a gift! A tuition-based model would cause that to be lost. We currently have a wonderful range of families with varying financial backgrounds, and it is this diversity that enriches the life of our parish and school. If we were to shift away from stewardship and into a more exclusive tuition-based system, many families may no longer be able to afford Catholic education for their children, and we would lose that richness.
I want to share an example of a recent situation I encountered of a mother who wanted to enroll her fourth grader in St. Francis for the sake of convenience. Her older child was attending Bishop Carroll and it was simply convenient for her younger one to come to SFA. While I understand the desire for convenience, this is not a justifiable reason for us to support a transfer into our grade school. Educating that child would cost the parish thousands of dollars, and we must evaluate whether that is a fair use of our resources, especially when the family has not yet fully embraced the stewardship way of life.
I want to be clear—I’m not making a judgment about anyone personally, but rather asking for all of us to reflect on the responsibilities we have as members of this community. The stewardship model works because it involves the commitment of all members, not just those with children in school. Our ability to support Catholic education is a direct result of the generosity and involvement of all families in our parish.
As we move forward, I challenge you to continue living the stewardship way of life: get to know your neighbors, share your talents, and continue to give generously and sacrificially. It’s not about how much you give—it’s about the spirit in which you give. The widow who gave her last two coins gave more than many wealthy individuals because she gave out of her need, not her surplus. Let’s continue to support one another, not just through financial contributions, but by living our faith fully—by attending Mass, sharing our talents, and giving of our time and treasure. Together, we can continue to build a community where all children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to receive the best Catholic education possible.
Stu Meether, Director of Stewardship & Parish Life
FATHER JARROD’S CONCLUSION
A couple of weeks ago, I led a bus tour around the state of Kansas during which we saw 26 Churches in 6 days. These were some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring churches in the state of Kansas. Particularly when I got to western Kansas, around the Victoria area, I was struck by how many beautiful Churches simply sprouted out of the ground… towering monuments of faith and sacrifice. I considered that many of these churches were built between 1900 and 1915 at a time when such an expensive undertaking would have been gargantuan for people of far fewer resources than we have today. Some of those people may well have been living in clay houses while they were sacrificing to build stone churches.
But then another thought occurred to me about their motivation. Perhaps they were motivated not only by sacrifice and stewardship, but also, and maybe less noble, they simply saw the neighboring towns get a church and they thought to themselves, “Hey, if they get a church like that, why can’t we?” But then I realized a nobler truth: they weren’t motivated because they simply saw what another community had, but rather the other community let them see the potential they themselves had to build such a church for their own community. Seeing what others accomplished inspired their own potential to accomplish the monumental task themselves.
So, it is with St. Francis and the Diocese. Msgr. McGread started the Stewardship Way of Life at St. Francis in 1969, yet the Diocese, as a whole, did not start funding schools in this way until 1984! St. Francis, along with a couple of other parishes, lived this way of life 25 years before it went Diocesan wide. And why, ultimately, did it go Diocesan wide? Because the parishes of our Diocese saw their own potential in what a few parishes were accomplishing before them. Seeing what was happening here at St. Francis, other parishes came to know they could accomplish the same thing.
What was true in 1984 is true today. We are in a new generation of stewardship. Today is not 1969. Today is not 1984. Today has its own unique challenges and pressures. But this only means this: Today is the day for us parishioners at St. Francis to meet this new monumental moment and make stewardship thrive! Just as St. Francis showed other parishes their potential to begin stewardship, so too, today, we ourselves must show all parishes that Stewardship is alive and well and that we most definitely can respond to today’s needs. We must rise to this challenge! The Stewardship Way of Life works. Its benefits are undeniable. Its beauty is inspiring. Its vibrancy is contagious. Let us, today, make Stewardship work in this parish and show the world its potential in forming disciples of Jesus Christ!
Father Jarrod Lies, Pastor