Parish Success Stories

When Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil, CMI, attended the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita several years ago, he returned to Palm Coast with a clear conviction. He wanted stewardship to become more than an annual initiative. He wanted it to become part of the identity of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Like many parishes emerging from the pandemic, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was working to reconnect parishioners, rebuild participation, and foster a renewed sense of community. Fr. Jose believed stewardship could provide the foundation for a stronger, more unified parish. To help bring that vision to life, he partnered with Catholic … Read more

  For Fr. Larry Denis, stewardship is not simply a parish initiative. It is a way of life that has shaped his own faith journey for nearly two decades. Long before entering the seminary, Fr. Larry spent fifteen years as a school teacher and served on the Stewardship Committee at Annunciation Catholic Church on the Big Island of Hawaii. Like many parish leaders, he wanted to help parishioners become more engaged in the life and mission of the Church. In 2016, he attended the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita with fellow parish leaders. The experience challenged him to think … Read more

On April 16, 250 priests, parish staff, and lay leaders gathered at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton for the 2026 Stewardship Conference hosted for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Parish leaders came from more than 110 parishes across the archdiocese, reflecting a strong desire to continue growing stewardship in a more intentional and sustainable way. Archbishop Bernard Hebda opened the day with prayer and shared his vision for living out stewardship in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as disciples of Jesus Christ. His presence and leadership set the tone for a day focused not … Read more

When Fr. Frank Quezada arrived at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, he knew the first step in leading a new parish was not immediate change. It was discernment. After nearly four decades of priesthood, Fr. Quezada understands that the beginning of a pastorate is a time to listen carefully, assess honestly, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide the path forward. “As a new pastor, eight months in, what I have been trying to do is assess, evaluate, and reflect over what we have, what we do not have, and what we need — but to let that be dominated … Read more

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 … Read more

Catholic Stewardship Consultants joins Catholics in southern Illinois and throughout the country in offering prayerful congratulations to Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, on his appointment as Bishop of Belleville, Ill. Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop-Elect Godfrey to shepherd the Diocese of Belleville. A monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1994 and has served in parish ministry, seminary formation, and diocesan leadership for more than three decades of priestly service. Most recently, Bishop-Elect Godfrey has served as rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville and, since May 2025, as diocesan administrator following the … Read more

St. Jude Catholic Church in Indianapolis has long cared about inviting parishioners into deeper involvement. Even before the pandemic, the parish hosted ministry fairs and conducted annual stewardship renewals. The desire was there. Leaders genuinely wanted every parishioner to find a place to serve and grow. But over time, parish leadership recognized something important. Good intentions were not always producing lasting engagement. Renewals were conducted with simple sign-up sheets. Volunteers stepped forward. Yet without consistent systems for follow-up, some commitments quietly faded. “There were efforts in place,” says Kris Chaney, Director of Ministry Operations at St. Jude. “But follow-up could … Read more

When Fr. Antony Thekkekara arrived in the United States in 2007 as a missionary priest, he did not yet know how deeply stewardship would shape his priesthood. Early in his ministry, he was assigned to serve alongside Fr. Jim Golka, now Archbishop-Designate James R. Golka of the Archdiocese of Denver. It was there that Fr. Antony encountered stewardship not as a fundraising program, but as a way of discipleship. Under Archbishop-Designate Golka’s mentorship, he came to understand that stewardship is about forming hearts, helping parishioners recognize that everything is a gift from God and respond in gratitude. That conviction has … Read more

When Fr. John Stearns became pastor of Our Lady of the Visitation in Kiowa, Colorado, he stepped into a parish that had experienced years of transition. Parishioners continued to gather for Mass, but ministries were limited and parish life beyond Sunday was quiet. Fr. John brought steady pastoral leadership and consistent presence to the parish. Over time, trust grew, relationships deepened, and ministries began forming again. Fellowship increased, and parishioners responded to new opportunities to engage more fully in the life of the parish. As participation grew, so did the desire for deeper prayer. “We have added weekly adoration opportunities … Read more

  When Fr. Mark Zacker became pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, the parish was emerging from one of the most difficult seasons the Church has faced in recent memory. Like many parishes across the country, St. Francis had experienced a significant decline during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Mass attendance had dropped, morale was low, and many parishioners felt disconnected. The community was faithful, but it was clear that rebuilding would take more than simply reopening the doors. From the beginning, Fr. Mark recognized that renewal would require a clear spiritual foundation and a practical … Read more