THE LIGHT of FAITH Your Impact Presented in This Special Edition the GOOD NEWS of GIVING
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Philanthropy Inspired by Faith / Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Gratiasagere SUMMER 2020 ANNUAL REPORT EDITION THE LIGHT OF FAITH Your Impact Presented In This Special Edition THE GOOD NEWS OF GIVING YOU HELP US THE FUTURE BY PATRICK GRACE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FRED DEGRANDIS, BOARD CHAIR, envisionCATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION How does the Catholic Community their missionaries that share virtue and faith with Foundation continue to be effective amid a younger Catholics. pandemic – a crisis like no other in modern history? The unequivocal answer is by Philanthropy can bring people together and moving forward carefully and strategically, inspire the human heart, which we’ve seen in the building on lessons learned throughout tremendous outpouring to help people in need our 20-year history, and never losing sight during the pandemic. Since the crisis began, of our most valued partner in philanthropy we have: – YOU! You help us envision the future beyond COVID-19. You inspire us to fortify • Seeded an Emergency Response Fund parishes and ministries. You give to help that has raised close to $600,000 and is others in their moment of need. You reflect accessible to pastors to help people in the light of faith on opportunities that will their community meet their basic needs. change us for the better. • Created a Universal Offertory Program to assist parishes in receiving online We are grateful and humbled by your offertory support. support and invite you to a deeper • Implemented a comprehensive parish- relationship that will allow us to envision based program called SECURE to the future together. We need only be reassured by assist pastors and parishes in the words of the Gospel: “The light shines in the strengthening parish life with the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” necessary resources to navigate this (John 1:15) time of uncertainty and beyond. On this 20th anniversary of the establishment of • Continued to emphasize the vital work the Catholic Community Foundation, we feel more of Catholic Charities with a transitioned blessed than ever to report on the legacy you have message that appropriately states, “We established with the Church in Northeast Ohio. need you now, more than ever.” Since our founding, we have been privileged to partner with you to raise more than $500 million We are confident that we will emerge from this for various areas of ministry that breathe life into pandemic stronger than ever, and look forward to the work of the Church and our communities. the next 20 years with optimism and enthusiasm. This includes Catholic Charities whose frontline Our pastors, Church leaders, Catholic Charities workers heroically help more than 400,000 people frontline workers, school teachers, and YOU give each year; tuition assistance that aids Catholic us this hope. education and the 40,000 students enrolled in our schools; and, the recently launched Heart The Catholic Community Foundation remains of a Shepherd campaign which offers support committed to connecting you with new to our busy seminaries, the men studying there, opportunities and new avenues for giving to and priests who have faithfully served the Church the causes you care about most. All that we do and now enjoy a well-deserved retirement. We is guided by the light of faith and wrapped in also invite support for the Culture Project and gratitude to you for making this work possible. 2 GRATIAS agere IN THIS ISSUE 2 THE GOOD NEWS OF GIVING CHRIST IS THE REASON Patrick Grace and Fred DeGrandis FOR OUR HOPE 3 DIOCESAN MESSAGE Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason 4 A FAMILY COMMITTED TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS for your hope.” – Peter 3:15 Four children in Catholic schools and the important support of Fund A Dream. Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, 6 SAM MILLER’S LEGACY OF GENEROSITY CONTINUES Hope is the defining stirring of the Christian heart A significant gift when our community needs – the confident affirmation that God is with us, no it most. matter what. Over the past few months, we have 8 PATRICIA IS A CATHOLIC all been witness to moments of human despair as CHARITIES’ HEALTHCARE HERO On the frontlines at St. Augustine Health Campus. the coronavirus has upset lives and delivered future uncertainty. Yet, as believers, we know with certainty 9 FR. BILL THADEN HELPS STABILIZE that Christ is the reason for our hope. The path of FAMILIES IN HIS COMMUNITY Distributing Emergency Response Funds to the Catholic Church is illuminated by a faith that people impacted by the pandemic. walks forward with God and others. 10 PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR’S CORNER Thank you for your philanthropic partnership with the Catholic Community Lisa J. Roth, Esq. Foundation. Your generosity allows the Diocese of Cleveland to shine a bright 11 THE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT light of faith in Northeast Ohio. This special Annual Report edition of Gratias Agere is a tribute to your impact, which reaches from parishes to Catholic Education, ◊ Heritage Society Member, Sophie Kosem, Gives with Purpose Catholic Charities, and Priestly Formation. ◊ Catholic Charities Appeal Raises $14 Million The stories unfolded here reflect the light of faith and the power of individuals to ◊ Thank You to Our Giving Society Leaders rise above dire circumstances, to make sacrifices, to follow God’s plan, and to ◊ Deacon Joseph Robinson Awaits celebrate their blessings. Yes, people have recently been impacted by remote Priestly Ordination learning, delayed ordinations, social distancing, and new ways of working. Yet, ◊ 2019 Financial Overview people have also been impacted by the goodness of others. ◊ Our Board of Directors In our Diocese, two men will be ordained in August to serve as priests. Catholic 27 STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Charities is on the frontlines caring for the elderly and feeding the hungry, and our Rev. Dan Schlegel Catholic schools are innovating to provide children with academic excellence and 28 DATES TO REMEMBER Gospel inspiration. In addition, individuals have provided legacy gifts that support parishes and ministries that extend grace from generation to generation. The light of faith allows us to view all things with a memory of what God has done for us and the promise into which God calls us. This is our journey together – a journey of trust, gratitude, and hope. Thank you for giving of yourself so humbly and generously, and for reflecting Christ’s glory and love for all. Sincerely yours in Christ, The mission of the Catholic Community Foundation is to foster faith-based stewardship in the community for the spiritual, educational and charitable needs of all. Gratias Agere, ‘to give thanks,’ is published by the Catholic Reverend Donald Oleksiak Community Foundation for benefactors of the Diocese Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland. Send correspondence to Linda Corcoran, [email protected], 216-696-6525 x1042. COVER PHOTO: AFTER MONTHS OF CLOSURE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, REV. CHUCK BUTKOWSKI AND PARISHIONERS COME TOGETHER AGAIN TO CELEBRATE MASS ON PENTECOST AT ST. ADALBERT CHURCH IN BEREA. SUMMER 2020 3 THE MAJERNIK FAMILY IS TO CATHOLICgrateful SCHOOLS and committed“We knew from the time Kylie was born that we were going to send her to a Catholic school,” says Becky Majernik. Catholic education was an important part of Becky’s own upbringing, and her husband Mike had attended Catholic schools as well. “We knew the value of Catholic education and wanted our children to have the opportunity to live their faith daily,” says Becky. Becky and Mike have been successful in providing a Catholic education for all four of their children. Their daughter, Kylie, recently graduated from Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School (NDCL). This fall, Andrew, a junior at NDCL, will be joined by his brother, Connor, a freshman. And Danny, the last of the four Majernik children to be educated at St. Paschal Baylon Elementary School, will enter first grade. 4 GRATIAS agere “Having four children in Catholic schools is challenging,” says blessing and gift to be part of this program,” says Diane. Becky, “But it is not something we are willing to give up. We see the solid foundation it has provided for our kids.” Both Mike A FAMILY OF FAITH TOGETHER and Becky work hard to support their family and to cover the “We are continuing to realize even more reasons why we love costs of Catholic school tuition. Mike works as a captain with St. Paschal Baylon School and Parish,” says Becky. “We sent the Mentor Police Department, while Becky tutors children our children there for religion so that they could learn their with autism. “We sacrifice a lot to send them to Catholic faith. We see the fruits of that every day.” The older children schools. Without tuition assistance, keeping participate in the St. Paschal Youth Group, which is led by the kids in their Catholic schools would be Mrs. Mickol, Danny’s kindergarten difficult, especially now during the quarantine,” teacher. Becky marvels at how says Becky, who is unable to work during Mrs. Mickol teaches a Bible verse this time since her job takes her into other for every letter of the alphabet people’s homes. Mike also does side jobs to to kindergarteners, “and they supplement their income; many of these, too, remember them!” she says. have been put on hold. During the quarantine, the Majerniks survived like many other families: FUND A DREAM FOR DANNY hanging out together. They are In March, Mike and Becky were notified awaiting the days when they can that Danny was chosen to receive a $2,500 participate again in parish life. Fund A Dream scholarship for the 2020- “Even the kids have commented 2021 school year. The news could not that they miss going to church,” have come at a better time.