Catholic Community Foundation marks 25 years of growth

Sue and George Kempf, from left, members of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis, and Steve Stapleton, a member of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis, kneel in prayer on Nov. 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis during a Mass celebrated prior to the annual meeting of the Catholic Community Foundation board of directors. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

In July 1987, Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara made a single decision that, for the past 25 years, has borne fruit at parishes, schools and archdiocesan agencies across central and southern Indiana.

At that time, he established the Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) to manage endowments that would be established to support the long-term ministry of these institutions across the 39 counties of the archdiocese.

Shortly before Archbishop O’Meara died in January 1992, the CCF managed just 10 endowments whose overall value was less than $1 million.

That was soon to change.

Soon after Archbishop Emeritus Daniel M. Buechlein became archbishop of Indianapolis in July 1992, he made developing the foundation a high priority.

“He knew from his many years in leadership at Saint Meinrad [Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad] how important it was to have a strong foundation to support the long-term financial stability of the archdiocese,” said Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, apostolic administrator, during the Nov. 7 annual meeting of the board of directors at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center in Indianapolis.

J. Patrick Byrne, the newly elected president of the CCF board of trustees and a member of St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish in Floyd County, had similar words of praise for Archbishop Buechlein.

“His vision, focus, energy, and great love of God and of us helped Catholics across the entire archdiocese to become better stewards,” Byrne said. “He was able to balance being the shepherd of 147 parishes with knowing the needs of each individual parish.”

During Archbishop Buechlein’s 19 years of leadership, the number of CCF-managed endowments grew to 337 with their value reaching nearly $109 million.

Msgr. Joseph Schaedel, pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, served as CCF treasurer from 1994 to 2011 while he also ministered as archdiocesan vicar general.

He recalled Archbishop O’Meara establishing the foundation in 1987, but said he couldn’t foresee at the time how important it would become during Archbishop Buechlein’s tenure.

“I think it was a big deal at the time,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “But I don’t think any of us understood what a big deal it was going to turn out to be.”

Ellen Brunner, archdiocesan director of planned giving, sees how much of a big deal the CCF has become as she helps manage its endowments and gets new ones established.

“The breadth and depth that you see in the support that is provided is really something we can be proud of,” Brunner said. “It’s only been 25 years. People I talk to are often surprised to look at our annual report and see the number of endowments and donor-advised funds that we have. It’s really phenomenal.”

The breadth and depth of the more than 400 endowments now managed by the CCF is due in large part to the generosity of lay Catholics across central and southern Indiana who established them to support the long-term ministry of their parishes, schools and archdiocesan agencies spread out across 39 counties.

Jim and Christine Hackl, members of St. Luke Parish, established three such endowments in 1999 and 2000 to support their parish’s school as well as archdiocesan Catholic Charities, the formation of future priests, pro-life education and other Catholic schools across the archdiocese.

At the time, the Hackls wanted to support Catholic ministries, and sought an institution that could manage and distribute their gifts in a trustworthy manner. They chose to put their trust in the CCF.

“We’ve felt very good about it,” Jim Hackl said. “We felt and still feel that we went about it in the right way, that it’s in the right hands, and that it’s doing what we wanted it to do in a way that is far better than we could have done by ourselves.”

Hackl is also pleased with how the foundation has grown over the past quarter century.

“It’s not going to disappear,” he said. “There’s probably a critical mass [of endowments] there. We like the assurance that it will be around.”

Msgr. Schaedel noted that Archbishop Buechlein was able to grow the CCF to the extent that he did because he relied on expert advice from many lay Catholics across central and southern Indiana.

“They are top flight professionals in their fields,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “They continue to provide a lot of advice and expertise that we just wouldn’t have otherwise in finance, in communications and in all kinds of fields. We have volunteers doing what other places pay to have done by consultants.”

One of those volunteers is George Kempf. A vice president of a large financial services firm, Kempf just completed a term as president of the board of trustees.

Although he is in a position to appreciate the sound advice given to the foundation by many of his Catholic colleagues in his field, Kempf also looks higher to give credit for its success.

“God’s hand is clear in steering the success of the CCF in its first 25 years,” said Kempf, a member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis. “The mix of business owners, executives, financial people and others has also been very important to the success we see today.”

Byrne is happy to lead the CCF into its next 25 years as he begins a year as president of the foundation’s board.

Looking to the future, though, is somewhat easy for the Floyd County native because he is the great-great-grandson of the man who donated the original plot of land on which St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Church was built. Founded in 1823, it is the oldest faith community in the archdiocese.

“As our ancestors have provided for us, our faith and our Church is alive, present and growing right now in our archdiocese,” Byrne said. “The CCF helps to provide resources for the current and future needs as our parishes, schools and agencies continue to focus on spreading God’s word.” †

 

Related story: Quarter century of stewardship praised during Catholic Community Foundation annual meeting