20th Anniversary
Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference
August 2023
Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center
Wichita, Kan. — August 30-31, 2023
Event Brochure ◊ Online Registration
How a Typical Catholic Parish
Became an International Model
The late Msgr. Thomas McGread is often called the “Father of Stewardship.” At this one-of-a-kind conference, we share the remarkable story of how stewardship transformed Msgr. McGread’s parish — St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita — and how it has impacted other parishes across the country.
This conference, for both clergy and lay leaders, will provide a setting for you to discover how to teach your parishioners to become better Christian stewards. Come see where it all began.
Beginning in the 1960s, Msgr. McGread built one of the most vibrant parishes in the country by teaching parishioners how to use their personal gifts, or what he called “time, talent, and treasure.”
Msgr. McGread was influential in the drafting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, which adopted his terminology and theological vision. Msgr. McGread’s approach to stewardship was that it is a spiritual, biblically-based principle that begins with conversion of heart and translates into a lifestyle of service. His message was so compelling that he was invited to speak at parishes and dioceses across the country, and he also was the keynote speaker at several ICSC conferences. In addition, Msgr. McGread was a part of our team at Catholic Stewardship Consultants from 2002 up until his passing in April 2013.
While Msgr. McGread is no longer with us in body, he remains with us in spirit, and his stewardship message lives on. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to view one of his presentations via large-screen video.
When: August 30-31, 2023 — Scheduled during the middle of the week so all participants can arrive Tuesday evening and depart Thursday afternoon.
Where: Spiritual Life Center of the Diocese of Wichita — This is a modern retreat and conference center where you will see stewardship in action during your visit.
Cost: Registration fee for Clergy and Lay Leaders is $350 — This includes all sessions, and breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a DVD of Msgr. McGread explaining the key components of building stewardship — ideal for viewing with your Pastoral Council or other leadership groups.
Conference Speakers
Very Rev. John Lanzrath
Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, El Dorado, Kan.
A native of Wichita, Kan., Fr. John Lanzrath earned a degree in mathematics and worked as a civilian in military intelligence at Boeing Military Airplane Company before resigning to enter the seminary. He studied at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and later at Gregorian University in Rome. He has served the Diocese of Wichita in many capacities since his ordination in 1988 – associate pastor, Vice-Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia, Director of the Spiritual Life Center, Director of Stewardship, Vicar for Priests, and as Chancellor of the Diocese. Fr. John worked closely with Msgr. McGread in spreading the message of stewardship throughout the diocese and across the nation. In addition, Fr. John was instrumental in the development of their diocesan manual, The Pillars of Parish Stewardship.
Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB
Rector, Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, Ill.
Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, is the rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, Ill. Professed as a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in 1989, he was ordained a priest in 1994. After returning from studies to the abbey in 2001 and earning his Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from the Catholic University of America in 2003, he taught seminarians, lay students, and deacon candidates for 12 years. He also held several administrative posts in the seminary at St. Meinrad. In 2012, he became pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Huntingburg, Ind. In 2013, Bishop Charles Thompson assigned him to be rector of St. Benedict Cathedral, and three years ago, he began working to develop stewardship as a way of life at the cathedral parish.
Mr. Eric McArdle
President, Catholic Stewardship Consultants
Eric McArdle is the President and co-founder of CSC. For over 20 years, Eric has worked with hundreds of parishes across the country on every aspect of stewardship development. At CSC, Eric and his staff work closely with parish and diocesan clients, utilizing a proven spiritual-based process that focuses on communication, education, and evangelization. Parishes that implement the CSC process have been successful in deepening the spirituality and practice of stewardship. CSC clients have seen parish life transformed, as individual parishioners and families grow in their relationship with God through a life of generous giving of their time, talent, and treasure. Eric, his wife Lisa, and their five daughters are members of St. Mary on the Hill in Augusta, Ga. At St. Mary’s, Eric has been involved in various parish ministries and also has served in many key parish leadership roles.
Very Rev. Gary Kastl
Rector, Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, Okla., Vicar General of the Diocese of Tulsa, and Chaplain to Legatus
Fr. Gary Kastl was ordained in 2007 for the Diocese of Tulsa. Since that time, Fr. Kastl has served the diocese in several leadership capacities including the Chair of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee, the Director for Continuing Education of the Diocesan Clergy, and the Coordinator of Priests’ Retreats and Days of Recollection. In addition, he has worked for the Catholic Leadership Institute as the Ministry Development Manager, helping to implement their programs for ongoing priestly leadership formation in dioceses across the country. He is currently a Leadership Consultant for CLI. Stewardship has been an integral part of Fr. Kastl’s life, and he has been very successful in developing stewardship as a way of life in four different parishes, including his most recent pastoral assignment as rector at Holy Family Cathedral. He also serves as on the board for Bishop Kelley High School and St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
Mrs. Lisa McArdle
Vice President of Client Services, Catholic Stewardship Consultants
Lisa McArdle is one of the co-founders of Catholic Stewardship Consultants (CSC) and currently serves as Vice President of Client Services. For over 24 years, Lisa and her husband, CSC President Eric McArdle, have worked with hundreds of parishes across the country on every aspect of stewardship development. Lisa and her team at CSC work closely with parishes and dioceses, utilizing a proven spiritual-based process that focuses on increasing the practice of stewardship. Together, Lisa and Eric co-authored the 2019 book Stewardship Success: A Practical Guide for Catholic Parishes, and her second book, Stewardship Starts at Home: Using God’s Gifts to Grow as Disciples of Christ in our Domestic Church, will be published in 2022. Lisa has been married to Eric for 27 years, and the couple has five daughters ranging in age from age 11 to 26 years old, along with a son-in-law and two grandchildren. She is a member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta, Georgia, where she serves in various parish ministries.
Mrs. Shari Navarre
Client Manager, Catholic Stewardship Consultants
Shari Navarre is well-versed in stewardship development, having worked with pastors and parishes across the country for the past 13 years for Catholic Stewardship Consultants (CSC), and as a longtime parishioner of St. Mary’s, a total stewardship parish in Augusta, Ga. A wife and mother of four, Shari received a business degree from Augusta University and worked several years as a banking officer before putting her career on hold to raise her young family. She joined the team at CSC in 2010 and has served many parishes over the years, offering sound guidance to pastors, parish staff, and other parish leaders to help them implement best practices in stewardship, while also facilitating parish leadership gatherings designed to form parish staff and lay leaders in the key elements of the stewardship way of life. She also has spoken at several diocesan and international stewardship conferences.
Rev. Greg Paffel
Pastor of St. Donatus, St. Alexius, St. Francis de Sales, Sts. Peter and Paul, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul’s in Sauk Centre, Minn.
Fr. Greg Paffel has worked to develop stewardship as a way of life at his six-parish community in the Diocese of St. Cloud. A graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Fr. Paffel has twice served with the National Evangelization Team (NET), spent time with the college ministry of St. Paul’s Outreach, and assisted with Steubenville Youth Conferences. In his last parish assignment, Fr. Paffel successfully developed stewardship and has mirrored that success at his current assignment with this multi-parish community. Some of Fr. Greg’s goals for the 20 years of his priesthood have been to lead people into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to help them become more involved in parish life through stewardship.
August 2023 Conference Schedule
Wednesday, August 30
Breakfast — 8:15 a.m.
Opening Prayer and Welcome — 9 a.m.
Morning Presentations — 9:15 to 11:50 a.m.
Lunch — 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon Presentations — 1:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Evening Prayer — 5:30 p.m.
Dinner — 5:45 p.m.
Dessert Reception — 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 31
Mass — 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast — 8:15 a.m.
Morning Presentations — 9 a.m.
Closing Prayer and Lunch — 12 p.m.
Spiritual Life Center
This is a modern retreat center where you can relax with no distractions. During your stay at the SLC, you will experience stewardship at work when spending time in a chapel reserved for quiet reflection and personal prayer, when simply viewing the beautiful flower gardens planted and tended by volunteers, or when being graciously served by volunteers and staff. They offer private bedrooms, individually climate-controlled, with private bathroom, shower and vanity, and no TVs or in-room wifi access (wifi is available in the lobby and conference rooms). There are comfortable lounge areas adjacent to all bedroom corridors offering a welcoming place to relax and engage in quiet fellowship with other retreat participants. There are 60 rooms that can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $65 per person per night for single occupancy, and $55 per person per night for double occupancy.
Spiritual Life Center • 7100 E. 45th St. N. • Wichita, KS 67226
316-744-0167 • slc@slcwichita.org • www.slcwichita.org
Area Hotels
The following hotels are not connected with the conference, but are within a few miles of the Spiritual Life Center: The Courtyard by Marriott (316-636-4600); TownePlace Suites by Marriott (316-631-3773); Hampton Inn (316-636-5594)
Transportation
Please arrange your transportation to and from the conference.If you are flying into Wichita, car rental is suggested.
Questions
Contact CSC Conference Coordinator Shari Navarre at 706-877-5547 or e-mail shari@catholicsteward.com
Msgr. Thomas McGread Stewardship Conference
August 2023 – Register Now!
Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center
Wichita, Kan. — August 30-31, 2023
Event Brochure ◊ Online Registration
“This conference has helped me to form my commitment to build stewardship at St. Vincent’s. The commitment of others is contagious and helps me believe that this way of life is something everyone needs to know about.”
Msgr. Robert Tucker, Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul, Seward, Neb.
“The conference is always a refresher for me. It reinvigorates me and challenges me to take back what I learn. Everything was wonderful – thank you.”
Msgr. Leo Enlow, Pastor, St. Peter, Quincy, Ill.
