National report sparks conversation among local Catholics on shift needed to re-engage young people about their faith

Foundation kicks off forum series with first conversation on young people and their faith. Generation Z doesn’t trust institutions, including religion. When asked in a recent survey to which religion they belong, 39 percent of 13-25-year-olds responded, “None.” It’s a stark finding, one of many found in the Springtide Research Institute’s new report, “The State of Religion & Young People 2020: Relational Authority.” It also formed the backdrop for a…

Endowment Madness: Holy Family Parish institutes ‘full-court press’ with five funds to guard parish’s future

Holy Family Parish supports an active community in Nazareth, one that requires more than faith and care to continue. It requires funding, and Holy Family has taken an aggressive approach toward providing it. Like a basketball program pursuing the Final Four of March Madness, Holy Family wrote a new playbook last year, one meant to secure the financial future of its parish, school, and youth ministry program. Holy Family’s game…

Faith-filled Couple Make Major Impact Gift to Catholic Schools

All of their married life, Matt and Sandi Lloyd have been deeply engaged in their Catholic faith. The couple has played an active role in numerous Catholic institutions and causes close to their home in Reading and throughout the Diocese of Allentown. This deep engagement, and the impact these organizations have played in their life, led the Lloyds to create two new educational endowment funds with the Catholic Foundation of…

Board approves donor designated fund option

A fourth investment product that provides pastors with an intermediate investment option and more flexible access to their investment funds was approved by the Board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation at its October 2018 board meeting. During one-on-one meetings and in group presentations, pastors had expressed interest to the Foundation to consider a donor designated investment option. “The Catholic Foundation wants to make sure we are serving the needs…

Foundation receives $300,000 bequest from endowment partner

The Catholic Foundation received a gift of $300,000 from the estate of Albert J. Neupauer in December 2018. The total value of the scholarship endowment fund started by Neupauer increased six times with the addition of his bequest. Exactly one year before his death on August 21, 2018, Neupauer signed an agreement with the Catholic Foundation to establish the Albert J. Neupauer Education Endowment Fund. Neupauer wanted to provide young…

Foundation rolls out marketing, planned giving partner programs

In an effort to provide additional value to its endowment fund partners, the Catholic Foundation recently rolled out customized marketing and planned giving programs. The focus is to help partners raise awareness among its constituencies about their endowment funds managed by the Foundation. The goal is to help foundation partners get additional contributions and grow their endowments. “Offering these services and resources is another way the Catholic Foundation differentiates itself…

Seminarians benefit from Seminary Education Endowment Fund

As a former Army chaplain deployed in Afghanistan, Fr. Christopher Butera had to be keenly aware of his surroundings. Although the United States was decreasing its presence, attacks on U.S. forces had increased and there was a bounty on Christian chaplains. In addition to his safety, Fr. Butera was on constant alert monitoring the disposition and spiritual well-being of his soldiers. These heightened awareness skills have proved beneficial in Butera’s…

Msgr. Wargo Sees Endowment Funds as Vital for Parish’s Future Success

Monsignor Robert Wargo, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Orefield, knows all too well the time and energy needed to raise funds for key parish programs. In the 46 years since his ordination as a priest, Monsignor Wargo has helped to raise millions of dollars in the half a dozen parishes where he has been stationed. He recalls organizing a successful $125,000 fundraising effort for a parish cemetery only…

Foundation introduces donor designated cemetery funds

Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Allentown that oversee a cemetery may participate in the newly created donor designated cemetery fund program started by the Catholic Foundation. Cemeteries are required by law to set aside a portion of the sale of burial plots in a perpetual care account. The purpose is to cover the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. The Catholic Foundation is the best option for parishes…

Catholic Foundation Endowment Funds Help to Ensure Future of Our Catholic Schools

Immaculate Conception BVM Church, Douglassville is among the parishes that have education endowments to support their schools. Pictured, Immaculate Conception Academy celebrated 100 days of school Feb. 9 by dressing in silly, clashing clothing and collecting nonperishable food items for the local food bank. The Student Council Executive Board set a goal of at least 100 items, and by Feb. 14 students had collected 282. For information on how to…

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