The Most Important Things to Do in Your Catholic School and/or Parish in 2021-22

As a young man growing up with a wise father, there were those memorable times where I knew what my dad was telling me could be (especially in later years) classified as meaningful and profound. One of those moments took place right after I graduated from De La Salle High School here in New Orleans. With both of us sitting on the porch outside of the log home where I grew up, amid a discussion about what I should major in as I headed off to college, my dad turned to me and said, “Son, sometimes the most important thing in life is figuring out what the most important thing is.”

In my morning prayers today, I was again reminded of my dad’s words in the reading from Matthew 12: 18-23: Jesus said to his disciples: Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

The parallels between what my dad said, the Gospel reading above, and the challenges Catholic schools and parishes are faced with as we move into the 2021-22 fiscal year are wonderfully related. What are the most important things Catholic leaders should be doing with uncertainty still on the horizon? Will we sow the right seeds in rich soil that will allow our mission to prevail and bear fruit thirtyfold? Will we take the right steps to continue to advance and develop our Catholic institution? These are meaningful questions that relate back to figuring out what the most important thing is so we can, “. . . bring people to Christ and Christ to people.”

This August 2021, ISPD will launch a series of postcards suggesting five Development—Advancement—Enrollment Management processes for Catholic schools and five Development – Stewardship–Communication processes for Catholic parishes to take as we move into this new fiscal year. We would classify these recommendations as “most important,” and also,  wonderful seeds to sow.

FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: CONSIDER FIVE DEVELOPMENT/ADVANCEMENT PROCESSES THAT WILL GENERATE REVENUE, GROW YOUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ENGAGE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

  1. Assess your Development/Advancement and Enrollment Management efforts.
    • Consider an objective and professional viewpoint with 20-25-page written report of what you are doing well, where you need to improve, and where you need to go over the next 1-3-6-12 months.
  2. Create your written Strategic Plan for Development/Advancement and/or Enrollment Management.
    • Consider a focused process engaging many people that will produce a written plan of action for Development/Advancement and/or Enrollment Management.
  3. Conduct the Financial Feasibility Study for a Capital Campaign.
    • Consider the value of engaging many to determine the level of financial support your Catholic school could receive for building/renovation projects or to fuel endowments or retire debt.
  4. Set-up and organize your Development/Advancement efforts so you can “Open Wide the Development/Advancement Box.”
    • Mission Statement
    • General goals
    • Personnel (staff and volunteers)Roles and responsibilitiesStrategic focus for 2021-22
  5. Implement the FISH! Philosophy and create your Culture of Belonging.
    • Be there.
    • Choose your attitude.
    • Make their day.

FOR CATHOLIC PARISHES: CONSIDER FIVE DEVELOPMENT/STEWARDSHIP PROCESSES THAT WILL GENERATE REVENUE, FILL THE PEWS, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ENGAGE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

  1. Assess your Development—Stewardship–Communication efforts.
    • Consider an objective and professional viewpoint with 20-25-page written report of what you are doing well, where you need to improve, and where you need to go over the next 1-3-6-12 months.
  2. Create your written Strategic Plan for Development—Stewardship–Communication.
    • Consider a focused process engaging many people that will produce a written plan of action for Development—Stewardship—Communication in your parish.
  3. Conduct the Financial Feasibility Study for a Capital Campaign.
    • Consider the value of engaging many to determine the level of financial support your parish could receive for building/renovation/restoration projects.
  4. Implement your Total Stewardship Process
    • Mission Statement
    • General Goals
    • Stewardship of Prayer
    • Stewardship of Ministry
    • Stewardship of Finance
  5. Implement an AWE! Culture throughout your parish
    • Affirm
    • Welcome
    • Engage

In June 2021, ISPD began our 32nd year of working with Catholic schools, parishes, and (arch) dioceses from coast to coast. With this history and experience, we are sometimes asked these questions, “What do you recommend? What is important for us to consider? How can we engage more people so the same ones are not doing everything? We invite you to consider the above five suggestions for Catholic schools and the above five suggestions for parishes. And please remember: ISPD stands ready to partner with you.

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