When Fr. Leo Enlow arrived at St. Peter Parish in Quincy, Illinois, the church was at a crossroads. With a staggering $300,000 in debt, the sense of mission had all but faded.
“The parish was in debt again,” Fr. Leo recalls. “The Living Stones campaign had gotten us out of debt, but it didn’t last. People had an attitude of ‘no change.’ We were in a rut of business as usual — and we weren’t emphasizing the idea of giving of self.”
A New Foundation
Everything began to change when St. Peter partnered with Catholic Stewardship Consultants (CSC). Inspired by the spirituality of stewardship, the parish leaders embraced the Four Pillars of Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service — as the framework for renewal.
“Several of us had heard how the Diocese of Wichita used stewardship to transform parishes and even eliminate school tuition,” says Doug Greenwell, Stewardship Committee Co-Chair. “Fr. Leo came to St. Peter at exactly the right time. A few of us attended the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference, hosted by CSC in Wichita and it was an eye-opener. The emphasis wasn’t on fundraising — it was on spiritual renewal.”
This spiritual renewal began in simple yet profound ways: emphasizing hospitality, sharing parishioner stories through a new parish newsletter, and helping parishioners rediscover their personal call to discipleship. “CSC emphasized that we first needed to be more welcoming and interactive,” Greenwell continues. “Money and tithing weren’t the focus. CSC helped us promote the giving of time and talent, and once that spirit took hold, everything else followed.”
Stewardship Takes Root
The partnership quickly became woven into the fabric of parish life. Through annual renewals, leader workshops, and personalized communication materials, CSC guided St. Peter to remain focused on its mission. “Each year they keep us on task and focused on our renewal,” says Chris Robnett, the other Stewardship Co-Chair. “Early on they helped us build a strong foundation through hospitality and formation. They also facilitated ministry leader training and provided great speakers for parish-wide retreats. CSC has become a real friend to our leaders and office staff.”
The parish began to witness tangible change. During the renewals, prayer commitments surged from 788 in 2010 to more than 5,260 in 2024, a remarkable six-fold increase. Ministry commitments rose from 2,211 to 2,691, including over 500 new sign-ups last year alone. About 84 percent of participating households now serve in at least one ministry — a hallmark of a mature stewardship parish.
CSC’s focus on formation extended across all generations. “We see strong engagement in formation and prayer from our grade-school children in Saints Alive, through our youth programs like FOUND, to our adult men’s and women’s groups,” Robnett explains. “Stewardship has become part of how we live and grow together as a parish family.”
From Deficit to Discipleship
The renewal of spirit at St. Peter Parish has sparked a remarkable financial transformation. Offertory commitments have soared from $579,000 pledged in 2010 to over $1.48 million in 2024, with the average pledge rising to $3,198 — nearly 50 percent higher than a decade ago. St. Peter now consistently operates with a healthy surplus, enabling reinvestment in ministry, outreach, and parish facilities.
“By focusing on the Four Pillars, we’ve overcome a deficit budget and moved to a very strong positive balance,” says Robnett. “That gives us opportunities to drive capital campaigns that will keep our stewardship parish strong into the future.”
This transformation extends beyond the parish campus. Each year, St. Peter contributes $60,000 to support its sister parish in Haiti — an act of solidarity that parishioners now embrace as second nature. “Our Haiti partnership is a concrete example of what stewardship allows us to do,” Fr. Leo notes. “Our parishioners don’t even question it. They understand that everything we have is a gift from God and that we’re called to return those gifts in gratitude.”
A Culture of Ownership
As participation increased, parishioners began to feel genuine ownership of their church community. “Before, only a handful of people carried the weight of parish life,” Greenwell shares. “Now, people believe it’s their parish — their responsibility — to do the work of God. That sense of belonging and accountability has changed everything.”
This renewed ownership has made parish initiatives smoother and more widely accepted. “Our recent capital campaign was smooth and easily accepted,” Fr. Leo explains. “It was just an extension of what we were already doing through stewardship.”
Looking Ahead
Today, St. Peter’s Stewardship Committee continues to partner closely with CSC to sustain this vibrant culture. “As with anything, we’ll keep growing and changing,” Robnett says. “We need CSC to help maintain our focus on stewardship, to train new ministry leaders, and to collaborate with our pastor to keep stewardship alive at St. Peter.”
Fr. Leo agrees. “CSC helps us meet our present and future needs. The newsletter keeps people informed and creates a sense of belonging. The renewal keeps us on track. And sending new people to the McGread Conference every year ensures that fresh energy keeps flowing into our parish.”
From a parish once burdened by debt to a thriving, mission-driven community, St. Peter in Quincy stands as a model of what happens when stewardship becomes more than a program — when it becomes a way of life.
Take the Next Step Toward Stewardship Renewal
If you’ve ever wondered how to awaken stewardship in your parish — to move beyond maintenance and into mission — we invite you to take the next step.
Let’s talk about how your parish can experience this kind of renewal.
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