FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

This page will be updated regularly as new FAQ’s are published.

FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS

Pre-Kickoff FAQs

The diocese encompasses over 70 parishes in four metro areas (Ann Arbor, Flint, Jackson, and Lansing) and covers 10 counties: Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw. The diocesan offices assist the bishop in fulfilling his role as chief shepherd to sanctify, teach, and govern the Diocese of Lansing.

Yes, the Diocese of Lansing is financially sound, and that stability allows us to conduct a campaign that focuses on making our schools ever more On Mission, Affordable and Accessible. This campaign is part of the long-term vision for the diocese, a vision of a thriving and growing community where an authentically Catholic education is available to all families who desire it for their children.

A capital campaign is an effort to raise money in a fairly brief period to pay for a significant project or to build up a large fund for future use. For a Catholic diocese or parish, this refers to gifts and pledges over and above parishioners’ regular giving to the Sunday collection. Parishioners will be invited to pledge their faithful generosity over five years.

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Post-Kickoff FAQs

In short, there is no penalty or assessment of a parish that falls short of its target. Parish targets are aspirational. The only expectation is that pastors and parish leaders make a good-faith effort to follow the recommendations of the diocese and the Steier Group in conducting the campaign.

Transparency is a top priority for the Diocese of Lansing and The Catholic Foundation. Regular updates on campaign priorities, parish projects and fundraising totals will be regularly communicated to parish leaders and the public-at-large through a number of avenues – bulletins, emails, social media, FAITH Magazine, just to name a few.

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Specific Campaign Priorities FAQs

Keeping quality educators is challenging in any school setting – public or private, secular or religious. In our Catholic schools, we are blessed with talented teachers who educate our children in the academic fundamentals and model Gospel values. The diocese has developed two strategies to attract, form, train, and retain excellent and faithful teachers and administrators at our Catholic schools: the “Sign, Train and Retain” program and the “Invest in the Best” program, which includes bonuses, grants and training for our teachers.

We aim to substantially grow the financial aid endowment fund created during the Witness to Hope campaign, which will allow us to distribute more than $1 million in aid each year to assist more families’ stated needs. We will also establish “New Family Grants” that will help make Catholic education a reality for children not already enrolled in our schools. Both efforts will significantly lower the financial barrier to a Catholic education. Meanwhile, the Accessible priority will establish the “Serving God’s Children” Endowment Fund to provide grants to better serve children with special needs. The Regional Catholic High School Enhancements fund wishes to provide up to $2 million to each of our four high schools for their individual needs.

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Supporting a Parish or School Directly FAQs

This is about unity. Our parishes are not, nor should they be, isolated from one another or split by school vs no school or any other distinction that does not advance the sacred mission. We cannot educate in isolation, we cannot evangelize in isolation, we cannot perform works of mercy in isolation. We are united and dependent on one another, across parish lines. Since we are united, we best be unified. The future of the Catholic Church depends on our youth, and the future of our youth depends on proper Catholic education and formation.

 

Our $70 million campaign will address these important priorities:

35% ON MISSION $24.5 MILLION

Attract, form, train, and retain excellent, faithful teachers and administrators.

30% AFFORDABLE $21 MILLION

Grow tuition assistance for current and new families.

15% ACCESSIBLE $10.5 MILLION

Improve assistance for students with special needs. Enhance services at our four regional high schools.

20% LOCAL INITIATIVE $14 MILLION

Intended to bolster parish school, religious education/faith formation, parish-sponsored homeschool initiatives, or other urgent, local needs.

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“This campaign planted a beautiful seed in our parish. Now we get to watch it grow, touching the lives of children, families and educators.”

CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER NICOLE KUKLEWSKI, ST. PATRICK CHURCH