In a parish long known for generosity, St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Orefield is taking a thoughtful, faith-filled step to ensure that spirit endures for generations. Through the creation of a parish “Giving Book,” parish leadership has invited families to see their giving not simply as an annual obligation, but as a lasting investment in the mission of the Church and the vitality of its school.
Developed collaboratively by the pastor and parish finance committee, the Giving Book serves as both an educational guide and an invitation: an overview of the parish’s endowment funds, the purpose behind each, and the many ways parishioners can align their personal stewardship with the long-term needs of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and School.
The book was first introduced during Giving Sunday in the fall of 2024, when members of the finance committee spoke at Mass about the importance of building permanent sources of support through endowments. That message was repeated in November 2025, this time paired with an Estate Planning Workshop led by the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania—further underscoring the parish’s commitment to intentional, forward-looking stewardship.
“I am delighted to have you review our Giving Book for St. Joseph the Worker,” Monsignor Finelli writes. “We have produced this book in order for parish members to learn, understand, and develop their personal giving strategies for St. Joseph the Worker Parish and School.”
Monsignor VIctor Finelli
A Pastor’s Vision for Long-Term Strength
At the heart of the Giving Book is a pastoral message from Monsignor Victor Finelli, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker. Monsignor Finelli frames the initiative not as a financial appeal, but as an extension of the parish’s long tradition of generosity.
“I am delighted to have you review our Giving Book for St. Joseph the Worker,” Monsignor Finelli writes. “We have produced this book in order for parish members to learn, understand, and develop their personal giving strategies for St. Joseph the Worker Parish and School.”
He reminds parishioners that the story of St. Joe’s has always been one of sacrificial giving — and expresses confidence that this legacy will continue. By clearly outlining the parish’s investment funds and their purposes, the Giving Book offers a vision of financial health strong enough to support long-term capital needs while also providing a cushion for annual expenses.
“Our goal,” he explains elsewhere, “is to build up these funds so that, in the future, the income they generate can help sustain both the church and the school, while also supporting focused causes that matter deeply to our community.”
Partnering for Faith-Aligned Financial Stewardship
To steward these resources responsibly, St. Joseph the Worker Parish partnered with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania to manage its endowment funds and long-term assets. That decision followed extensive due diligence by the parish finance committee.
Chris Englebert, founding partner and chief investment officer of Englebert Financial Advisers, and a member of the parish finance committee, shared why the Catholic Foundation emerged as the clear choice.
“At St. Joseph the Worker, we did a great deal of due diligence to ensure that parish resources and the gifts people give are protected in every way,” Englebert said.
Among the reasons cited for selecting the Catholic Foundation were its independence from the Diocese of Allentown, investment strategies that respect Catholic values, professional fund management, broader diversification opportunities, improved financial controls, continuous monitoring, and lower management fees. The Foundation also provides quarterly portfolio reviews, annual audits and regulatory filings, and legal support for agreements.
“But one of the biggest selling points was the Catholic Foundation’s expertise in helping our parish team market and grow our parish and school endowments, particularly through planned giving,” Englebert said.
The Genesis of the Giving Book
For Tim Hood, business manager for St. Joseph the Worker, the Giving Book was born out of both opportunity and necessity.
“When I first started five years ago, various funds already existed at both the church and the school,” Hood said. “A few members of our finance council felt strongly that we needed a way to educate parishioners — not just about what funds existed, but how they could give and become involved in legacy planning.”
The result was a carefully designed booklet that helps parishioners become more intentional with their gifts. It connects the church and school communities, clarifies short- and long-term giving opportunities, and breathes new life into funds that were previously unknown, forgotten, or poorly understood.
Because of the Giving Book, Hood notes, the parish now has a clearer sense of what parishioners value most. It has sparked proactive conversations around estate planning and end-of-life decisions, increased intentional giving, strengthened community bonds, and drawn in parishioners who were once less engaged.
The plan moving forward is to update and distribute the Giving Book annually—once alongside the parish’s fall financial report and again around Easter — ensuring that stewardship remains an ongoing, prayerful conversation.
The Funds That Anchor the Mission
The Giving Book highlights key endowment funds that together support the full life of the parish and school:
St. Joseph the Worker Parish Endowment Fund
Established to support present and future parish activities, including capital improvements and annual maintenance needs.
St. Joseph the Worker Angel Scholarship Endowment Fund
Provides tuition assistance to children in need so they may attend St. Joseph the Worker School. Originally founded by former pastor Monsignor Robert Wargo through an annual Angel motorcycle run, the fund continues to grow and is used each year to supplement family tuition needs.
St. Joseph the Worker School Endowment Fund
Started by private donors, this fund supports special programs, educational initiatives, maintenance, and capital improvements at the school. Recent projects have included a new roof, enhanced security, and classroom upgrades, with staff submitting annual requests for future improvements.
St. Joseph the Worker Teacher’s Excellence Fund
Formerly known as the TTEE Fund, this endowment supports professional development for teachers and will one day provide honorariums and service recognition awards for long-serving faculty.
An Invitation to Give—Now and Forever
The Giving Book also outlines the many ways parishioners can support these funds, including gifts of cash, appreciated securities, IRA required minimum distributions, IRA beneficiary designations, real estate, and bequests through wills or trusts.
Taken together, the book is more than a catalog of funds. It is an invitation to see stewardship as discipleship — to make gifts that not only meet today’s needs, but quietly, faithfully sustain the parish and school long into the future.
As Monsignor Finelli reflects, St. Joseph the Worker is blessed with generous families.
“The Giving Book simply offers a way to ensure that generosity continues to build, strengthen, and safeguard the mission of the parish for generations to come,” he said.