Advancing Our Church

Summer Development Planning is an important time of year. What can your organization do differently for the 2019-20 fiscal year to raise more funds and meet the needs of your mission? Today, Jim Friend talks with Vanessa Dickerson and Fred Roberts, two of Changing Our World’s expert consultants, who share their experiences and recommendations. Some of the topics covered in our conversation include:

* How to address the Church scandal from a development perspective,* What the development staff should focus on in the new fiscal year,* The importance of conducting a regular self-check and self-inventory on your development strategy,* Dealing with changes in the tax code,* Sacrificial giving of the parishes, and* The importance of making the ask.

We hope today’s conversation on summer development planning will inspire you. Fred, Vanessa, and Jim enjoyed the opportunity to explore ideas to help your mission.  If you have any follow-up questions or comments about today’s discussion, you can leave them in the comments below or email [email protected].

Today’s guests: Fred Roberts is a Senior Director at Changing Our World. Fred brings over 20 years of fundraising experience to Catholic institutions around the country. Vanessa Dickerson is a Director at Changing Our World. Prior to coming to CW, Vanessa was a Director at Ellis, Partners in Management Solutions and a project manager for America Online.

In this episode Brian Crimmins (CEO of Changing Our World, Inc.) and Jim Friend travel to the Diocese of Rockville Centre where they meet with: Bishop John Barres, Bishop of the Diocese; Mark Ackermann, CEO of the Long Island Catholic Community Foundation; and, we’re joined on the phone by retired business executive Larry Bossidy.  The conversation begins on strategic planning and focuses on how Catholic business people are needed to share their gifts with the work of the Church. The discussion includes how the principles of Larry’s best-selling book, “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” have been successfully adopted into the business of Church operations and planning. Lastly, we think you’ll enjoy the personal stories and dialogue that happens when each of the men shares something about their faith journey.

On December 9, 2016, Pope Francis named Most Reverend John Oliver Barres the fifth Bishop of Rockville Centre.  Bishop Barres came from the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania, where on May 27, 2009, he was named the fourth Bishop for the Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI. 

Mark Ackermann was recruited to serve as the first President and CEO of the Catholic Community Foundation of Long Island in December 2018. In his new role, Ackermann is tasked with inaugurating the operations of the new independent Catholic Foundation and establishing the fundraising, investment, and distribution of its philanthropic resources for programs of the healthcare, education and Catholic Charities ministries within the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Larry Bossidy is a Catholic businessman and retired Chairman of the Board and CEO of Honeywell International Inc., a global $40 billion advanced technology, controls, and manufacturing company. Bossidy’s distinguished five-decade career includes executive positions at General Electric and as CEO of AlliedSignal. In 2002, Larry co-authored the best seller “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” with Ram Charon. In the business world, Larry’s experience speaks for itself, but what we think you’ll find even more powerful is his commitment and service to the Church. 

We want to hear from you! There are many great stories of people and institutions advancing the mission of our Church today. Drop us a line and let us know about the excellent work you’re doing in Catholic Stewardship, Leadership, and Advancement. Send an email to [email protected] or contact us on

Kolbe Academy will open in fall 2019 as the nation’s first, Catholic high school for students battling addiction. The Diocese announced the opening of Kolbe Academy on Sept. 7, 2018, at a press conference at St. Francis Center for Renewal, Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem. In this episode, Jim interviews Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, Dr. Brooke Tesche, chancellor of education and John Petruzzelli, the principal of Kolbe Academy.

The school is the brainchild of Dr. Tesche who proposed the idea to Bishop Schlert. “Our goal is to do whatever it takes to give them the services they need,” said Tesche. “They need to learn how to live without drugs and alcohol in their lives. Faith is the critical element for their success. A key element in recovering is ‘surrendering.’ We can talk about it and explore it in a Catholic high school,” she said.

The logo for Kolbe Academy is a phoenix symbolizing rebirth, rising from flames and ashes, beating all life challenges and defeating hard times. The academy is named after St. Maximilian Kolbe, the patron saint of people struggling with addiction, prisoners and the pro-life movement. For more information about Kolbe Academy, please visit their website.

There are many great stories of people and institutions advancing the mission of our Church today. With this in mind, Advancing Our Church wants to hear from you with the hope that we can share the excellent work you are doing. At the same time, you might also know about someone who is making a significant impact. Tell us about it by sending an email to [email protected] or by contacting us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

The 2019 Florida Stewardship Conference, which was held in May 2019 in Miami, was a tremendous success and as a result, we had the great opportunity to conduct a series of great interviews. Some of our guests included, but were not limited to Archbishop Wenski, Archbishop of Miami; Julianne Stanz, author and national speaker on Evangelization; and, Fr. Leo Patalinghug, also known as the “cooking priest”. Our co-host this week is Anna Vallez, Senior Director at Changing Our World (CW). Anna talks with us about Stewardship and CW’s approaches to Stewardship with the Latino community. Anna’s enthusiasm, coupled with her experience in overseeing Stewardship initiatives, makes this an interesting podcast.

Staff Spotlight: This week meet Gavan Mooney. Gavan is President and Chief Client Officer for Changing Our World. During Gavan’s interview, we discuss his inspired vision for our podcast and CW’s long and distinguished history of working with Catholic nonprofits, dioceses, parishes, hospitals and much more.

There are many great stories of people and institutions advancing the mission of our Church today. With this in mind, Advancing Our Church wants to hear from you with the hope that we can share the excellent work you are doing. At the same time, you might also know about someone who is making a significant impact. Tell us about it by sending an email to [email protected] or by contacting us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

This week we visit the home of the St.Vincent de Paul Society at their national headquarters in St. Louis. For over 175 the Society has served millions of people on the front lines through their 4,400 local conferences. The society serves 800,000 members worldwide, known as Vincentians. Their goal is to grow in holiness by building a more just world through personal relationships and service to people. In a single year, 100,000 U.S. members in 4,400 local communities provided $3.4 billion worth of service to the poor. St.Vincent de Paul operated 435 thrift stores that produced $150 million in mission-related revenues. And spent $75 million running emergency, transitional and long-term housing programs.

During this episode, you will hear from members of the St.Vincent de Paul Society including Mr. David Barringer, CEO, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, National President and Mr. Joseph Manogue, Chairman of the National Foundation. We know you’ll enjoy learning more about their amazing story.  

For more information about the St. Vincent de Paul please visit their website at www.svdpusa.org. Please consider visiting their YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/SVdPUSA for some great video content. 

We are back! Today, Advancing Our Church relaunches as the official Podcast of Changing Our World! During our episode, we interview Mr. Brian Crimmins, CEO of Changing Our World and learn more about this exciting announcement.

There are many great stories of people and institutions advancing the mission of our Church today. With this in mind, our Podcast wants to hear from you with the hope that we can share the good work you are doing. At the same time, you might also know about someone who is making a big impact. Tell us about it by sending an email to [email protected] or contact us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Matthew 25: 35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

The Friend family wishes you a very Merry Christmas!

Some of my favorite Christmas memories involve welcoming friends over for a Christmas party. In the Friend home, we’ve thrown some pretty big Christmas parties in the past. The parties were so large, in fact, that my children were somewhat annoyed with me for inviting so many people. But my intention behind the party was always “the more the merrier”. My goal was to fill our home with love and friends and share our family’s love for the season with those who touch our lives. I wanted to let our guests know that they are important to us.  I wanted to let them know that they hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts. That’s the love that I believe that God wants for our families and our parish communities this Christmas.

Each year, Christmas Masses at our parishes are packed with visitors, giving us a great evangelization opportunity.  These services are a celebration of the birth of Christ and offer us the chance to welcome the stranger just like Mary and Joseph experienced from the Inn Keeper.  Everyone in our parish has the opportunity to play a role and become an ambassador for Christ this Christmas.

Let’s not get annoyed that someone is sitting in our seat this Christmas. Let’s turn and smile to the people around us at Mass and welcome them.  

Try not to sit at the end of the pew so that people need to climb over you to find a seat. Sit in the middle of the pew so that visitors can easily find a seat.

We have the opportunity to be the signs and symbols of Christ and talk with people after Mass. Let’s not bulldoze our way out of the parking lot so that we can get home a little faster.

We all know that the Catholic Church of America has had a very difficult year. Soon we will begin 2019 with new hope and many challenges. The way we begin to advance our Church is by welcoming the stranger and welcoming those who are returning to Mass. We need to be the Inn Keepers, welcoming back the lost who are seeking Christ this Christmas. 

We want to fill our parishes with a love for Christ and share that love with those who are in our community and beyond. Let your guests know that they are important to you.  Let them know that they hold a special place in your parish and in your heart.  Let’s have a real celebration at Mass, a Christmas Party that everyone will remember.  We all have a mission this Christmas. Welcome the stranger, build community. Make their experience memorable.  There has never been a more important time for evangelization, and everyone has a part to play.

Have a wonderful Christmas! Now, let’s get to work!

More resources:

American Magazine “How parishes can turn ‘Christmas Catholics’ into regular Massgoers”

Denver Catholic: “How to welcome Christmas Catholics”

Continue the conversation.

Catholic Social Entrepreneurship

Today we focus in on this idea of Catholic Social Entrepreneurship. A Social Entrepreneur uses the techniques of a start up a company to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. Why not use those same techniques to tackle the issues of today’s Catholic Church? One great example of this concept is some of the work that is currently revitalizing Catholic education and I talk a little about that during the podcast.

As a Catholic church, we have to be open to the business practices of the world so that we can engage others in this mission. By engaging the laity in a healthy, constructive and respectful way, we can find business solutions the further our ecclesial work. I hope you will join me for this very brief reflection

I want to hear from you…

Please leave a comment!  Send me a quick email to [email protected]  or use the SpeakPipe app on this page and leave me a voicemail.

If you’d like to support the show retweet our show or repost our episodes on Facebook.  You can follow our show on Twitter @AdvancePodcast or join our Facebook Group. Thank you for your support and prayers!

The Parable of the Talents

This week’s Gospel is the Parable of the Talents.  The Master of the house gave his three servants talents to share and grow while he was away. We know the story and how it fundamentally serves to remind us of the basic theology of Stewardship.  Everything we have is a gift from God and we are called to serve each other and Him by sharing those gifts.

We all want to receive the same praise that the wise servants received from their master “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Sometimes God has a plan for us that we don’t fully recognize until we spend some time in prayer and discernment.  Today, I share a little personal reflection of my own career.  God called me to share talents that I didn’t expect.  Sometimes the life of a steward isn’t glamorous.  I have been called to haul trash, paint walls and scrub floors in my ministry career.  All of this was necessary in order to advance the mission of our Church.

More to Come!

Please leave a comment!  Send me a quick email to [email protected]  or use the SpeakPipe app on this page and leave me a voicemail.

Please follow our show on Twitter @AdvancePodcast or join our Facebook Group. Thank you for your support and prayers! 

A Brief Stewardship Reflection

Today’s Podcast is a little different in that I reflect on humility and Stewardship.  This episode is about the fact that our focus on sharing our time, talent and treasure should be about the mission and not “Who Gets the Credit”.  How many times in our lives have we felt as though we weren’t getting enough credit for something?  It’s an aspect of our humanity that we all deal with and sometimes it can come out during stressful times.  Today’s reflection focuses on this week’s Gospel Reading which can be found on the USCCB website here. I also tie in a great story that Bishop Robert Barron shared on his podcast this week which you can listen to it here.  Bishop Barron’s Podcast episode that I refer to is called “The Privilege of the Mission“.

More to Come!

I really enjoyed everyone’s feedback last week as I introduced you to Faith in the Future.   I would love to get your feedback on today’s format and if you like what you heard.  Please leave a comment!  Send me a quick email to [email protected]  or use the SpeakPipe app on this page and leave me a voicemail.

Please follow our show on Twitter @AdvancePodcast or join our Facebook Group. Thank you for your support and prayers! 

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia signed a historic management agreement with the Faith in the Future Foundation in 2012. The contract granted oversight of 17 Catholic High Schools and four schools of Special Education.  Archbishop Chaput’s bold move engaged the laity in this first of a kind partnership that captured the attention of the entire country.  This episode visits Faith in the Future 5 years after the signing of the agreement. The podcast will offer an update on the progress, the challenges and the road ahead.  

Today’s show will offer various perspectives on this important milestone. You will hear from Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Ed Hanway, Casey Carter and more. For more information about Faith in the Future, please visit their publications page.