ISPD is announcing the third year of our Circle of Catholic Champions. This is a combination of individual Catholic leaders, parishes, schools, and (arch)dioceses that ISPD has worked with in the past 37 years. They represent the following traits that exhibit true Catholic Development – Advancement – Stewardship excellence:

• Commitment to engaging people
• Belonging leads to believing culture
• Proactive thinking
• Excellent stewardship of resources they have been given
• Collaborative leadership
• Ability to create and share an innovative and dynamic vision
• Mission-driven results
• Commitment to bringing people to Christ and Christ to people

Pastor, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Slidell, Louisiana

Fr. Jared Rodrigue serves as pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, where he has fundamentally transformed parish culture by putting people first and listening deeply to their needs and hopes. Recognizing that belonging leads to believing, Fr. Jared established the Adoration Chapel as a spiritual anchor and fostered an environment of genuine welcome and healing that strengthened parish identity and mission alignment. This cultural shift—grounded in authentic community and deep faith—became the foundation for the parish’s ambitious “Welcome Home: Building Upon Firm Foundations” capital campaign. Through comprehensive listening sessions, a parish-wide survey, and personal conversations with parish leaders, Fr. Jared mobilized the entire parish family around a shared vision for a new permanent church building. The result: a $6.7 million campaign that demonstrates how cultivating true belonging inspires believers to invest sacrificially in their parish’s future and mission.

Executive Director, Catholic Education and Faith Formation, Archdiocese of New Orleans

Dr. RaeNell Houston leads Catholic education and faith formation across the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where she oversees a comprehensive spectrum of faith formation and educational opportunities for Catholics of all ages. Recognized nationally for her visionary leadership, Dr. Houston was appointed to the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) board of directors for a three-year term. This past year, she championed a bold archdiocesan initiative in partnership with ISPD to strengthen operational vitality across all Catholic schools through workshops and direct coaching—delivered via cohorts and one-on-one engagement. Her commitment to putting people first and fostering genuine belief in the mission has transformed how schools approach their foundational operations and community culture, exemplifying ISPD’s principle that belonging leads to believing.

President, Prince of Peace Catholic School, Plano, Texas

Faustin Weber serves as president of Prince of Peace Catholic School, a three-time National Blue Ribbon School recognized for educational excellence and Catholic formation.

Beyond the school’s walls, Weber is a vocal advocate and thought leader in Catholic education, writing and speaking about what the industry must do differently across all areas—from strategic leadership and enrollment to culture and faith formation. Drawing on his experience leading three Catholic high schools, he challenges the status quo and offers actionable ideas for transformation through his LinkedIn articles, “Ideas For Catholic Education,” positioning himself as a strategic voice calling the Catholic education community toward meaningful change and renewed purpose.