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2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish/St. John Church and Student Center
2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report
Parish Mission and Vision Statement
We are a Roman Catholic Parish in a university community, joining students of all ages, joining people from all walks of life and from all corners of the world, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
As a Eucharistic people, we nurture spiritual growth through worship, evangelization, stewardship, education, service, justice, outreach and hospitality.
2014/2015 Finance Council Members
Chair, Chuck Theis Vice Chair, Tim Sambaer
2014/2015 Parish Council Members
Chair, Carolyn Malmstrom
Marty Boehme Anne Leyden
Paul Charette Meghan Louglin-Krusky
Anne Davich Peter Ruddell
Katie Diller Paula Thomas
Andrea Durkee Art Weber
Maggie Frankland Al Weilbaecher
Randy Hackney James Lyon
Pete Hinz William McKenna
Bill Hugnagel Steve Ragatzki
Chris Lacroix
Parish School
Page 2 2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School kicked off the 2015 -2016 school year with our teachers in a professional
development session that supported our staff in faith formation, literacy, and a focus on Response to
Intervention.
As we moved through the 2015-2016 school year, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School’s enrollment peaked at 361
students from 223 families. These students were able to participate in a variety of enrichment opportunities such
as: The BIG Science Lesson (1st Grade), Exploring Nature at Harris Nature Center (2nd Grade), The BIG Zoo
Lesson (3rd Grade), Annie’s BIG Nature Lesson (4th Grade), Howell Nature Center Camp (5th Grade),
Leelanau Outdoor Center (7th Grade), and Washington D.C. (8th Grade).
Our curriculum focus for the academic school year was literacy and data. Dr. Caitlin Dilion and Mrs. Kerri
Wilcox helped lead our school through Word Revelations, a phonics based curriculum, created by Dr. Caitlin
Dilion to focus on the fundamentals and build a solid foundation for literacy instruction. Throughout the year
our teachers also added a new comprehension series, Making Meaning, which helped to walk our students
through a more comprehensive literacy study of both non-fiction and fiction text. As we journeyed through the school year, we also compiled data to help drive our new Response to Intervention (RtI) format to help us
support all students at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School.
On November 13, 2015, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School held our annual Faith & Fundamentals Celebration at
the University Club. This celebration is our annual fundraiser to support the needs of our beloved school. The
night kicked off with Fr. Dan taking flight in the helicopter to drop 500 pre-sold golf balls on our beautiful green
space behind the school. The night continued with a silent and then live auction of wonderful projects created
by our students and gifts donated from our surrounding community. We had a wonderful turn out and we look
forward to seeing everyone at our next celebration parish-wide celebration, Auction with a Twist on Friday,
October 22nd.
During the academic year and throughout the summer, our middle school students have engaged in volunteer
opportunities at Volunteers of America. Our middle school religion teacher, Mrs. Caruso, has continued our
partnership where students volunteer to serve food, wipe tables, sweep floors, offer words of inspiration, and a
kind smile three times a month to the homeless in our community.
In middle school, our Student Council worked to support those in need in other countries and in our local
communities. Students worked together and organized events to raise money for: the Lingap Children’s
Foundation, a safe haven in the Philippines for kids who would otherwise be in life-threatening situations, and the
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Countries, a Catholic organization that provides relief to the
homeless and those affected by the Flint Water Crisis.
Our middle school students continued their Catholic sustainability initiatives through their work with the Green
Club. During the 2015-2016 academic year, we remained at Emerald status and provided several green
opportunities for our students. Throughout the year, the club increased the school's recycling efforts in the
cafeteria by purchasing a number of bins and educating other students on what can be recycled. Green Club
students continued their annual project of using re-purposed recyclables as ornaments and selling them as a
fundraiser for more green efforts around the school. The entire school was encouraged to "Bring Green to
Wear Green to Protect Green". This effort raised money that the Green Club donated to the World Wildlife
Fund after the school voted on an endangered habitat to protect. During our Earth Week celebration, our theme was "Ditch the Plastic", and club members educated others on ways to use less plastic. Lastly, the club
took a trip to the Detroit Zoo, which is a world leader in sustainability and conservation efforts.
2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report Page 3
Catholic Faith Formation
Religious Education We believe that even our youngest parishioners are called to holiness!
This past year 83 volunteer catechists encouraged our children’s faith by teaching Catholic prayer, doctrine
and tradition, faith in action and personal witness
We met with nearly 450 students in four different sessions on Sundays and Mondays.
27 students studied in our 7th and 8th grade online programs, working
interactively with a catechist from home.
This year we were able to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (a Montessori
approach) for preschool and kindergarten children in our new Atrium.
A regional Sacramental Preparation program for special education students was
offered again. They received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and
Confirmation.
An Advent “Activity Morning” for moms and children
enriched the season and “Third Thursdays” in the
summer were fun and educational evenings for people
of all ages.
92 children were prepared for Reconciliation and
First Holy Communion. 86 students from our parish were Confirmed after a
year of exploring Christian Discipleship. Their
preparation included regular meetings with sponsors,
service and deep consideration of a passage of Scripture
which culminated in presentations of “homilies” in May.
Youth Ministry Each week our Sunday evening and morning youth groups met to
explore the disciplines of a disciple: prayer, worship, study,
fellowship, service, generosity and witness.
Adult and teen leaders worked together to plan sessions and activities.
We used a small-group discipleship model to create an environment
where our teens could come to know and love their faith.
During the school year, teens participated in a number of service
opportunities, including assisting with the
Christmas “Gift to the Christ Child” program,
the Backpack Project at SVCC and the Easter
Butter and Chocolate Lamb sale.
Our own Epiphany Retreat at Bethany House in Dewitt, the MISSION Retreat in
Wixom, and the Steubenville Youth Conference had many enthusiastic participants
who brought their enthusiasm back to share with others.
Full of gratitude to our many donors, several teens attended the Diocesan Youth
Leadership Camp, Franciscan University LEAD and the Vision Conference at the
University of Notre Dame. Summer Youth Group focused on “Faith Stories” and we gathered each week to
hear the way God worked in the lives of a dynamic adult Catholic.
Four teens spent a week of their summer on a mission of service in Flint, some being
trained and engaging in street evangelization.
Many teens from the parish enjoyed the Lansing area Exalt! evenings of Praise and
Worship.
Page 4 2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report
The Parish Music Ministry currently consists of over 200 musicians and includes seven distinct ensembles:
St. Thomas Aquinas Choir: The St. Thomas Aquinas Choir uses a diverse repertoire of choral music to lead
musical worship at the weekly 11:00am Masses and special concerts and events. The choir has a long
tradition of excellence and currently welcomes over 40 singers.
St. Thomas Aquinas Contemporary Ensemble: The St. Thomas Aquinas Contemporary Ensemble is
committed to leading contemporary musical worship at the weekly 9:00am Masses and special concerts and
events.
St. John Music Ensemble: This large ensemble meets from 7:00pm-9:00pm on Thursdays at St. John Church
and then divides up to provide music for all five Sunday liturgies at St. John Church as well as for seasonal
concerts. Weekly participation in this musical ensemble is regularly over 40 musicians.
St. John Collegiate Chorale: This musical group consisting of only collegiate undergrad and graduate
students was created in 2010 and has seen the roster expand rapidly from an initial 9 members to a current
peak membership of 60 singers and instrumentalists.
Children's Choirs: The combined East Lansing Catholic community of St.
Thomas Aquinas Church and St. John Church and Student Center offers
two Children's Choirs. The Cherub Choir is designed for all parish children
from grades K-3 and the Seraph Choir welcomes all children from grades 4-
8. 2014 included the addition of an after school program and saw
participation reach a peak of 52 children at St. Thomas Aquinas Christmas
Eve Mass.
St. Thomas Brass Ensemble- This talented group of brass instrumentalists
plays at all major celebrations at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish as well as at
concerts and special events.
Some of 2015/2016's notable Music Ministry events included:
8th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols
Choir tour to Athens and
Corinth, Greece to
perform with Sir Simon
Carrington, founder of the
"King Singers." The choir
twice led mass at St. Denis
Cathedral in Athens for
major feast days of the
church year.
Annual "Steak and Song"
fundraiser, which saw a
50% increase in ticket
sales!
Music Ministry
2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report Page 5
RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Adult Faith Formation
2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report Page 6
We continue to look to our Bishop’s Pastoral from April 2012 and the Diocesan Assembly of November
2014 for direction and guidance as we seek to foster intentional discipleship – or as Pope Francis calls us
“missionary disciples” -- a deepening of our relationship with Christ so that we might share His good news and
personal invitation with those placed in our daily lives. Adult Faith Formation is a collaborative effort of many
parishioners, over and above those who serve on our Adult Faith Formation Committee, as noted in the
following report.
Alpha for Catholics was offered January through March—a proven program for helping participants know &
encounter Christ in a deeper and more meaningful way. Paul & Cindy Charette, along with a dedicated team of
16 Hosts & Helpers, provided the leadership for about 65 participants to grow in their faith through Alpha.
Several DVD Studies were offered this past year
“Oremus: A Guide to Prayer” &”
Psalms: The School of Prayer,”
facilitated by Katrina Iamarino about the importance of prayer in our
developing relationship with God.
One of our summer DVD studies
was “Lectio: Prayer” facilitated by
Annie Kitching who used FORMED.
Other DVD studies included “The
Mystery of God” (by Bishop Robert
Barron) and “Saying Yes: Discerning
and Responding to the Will of God,” (by Albert Haase, OFM).
Special Presentations this year included
Sr. Simone Campbell, from Network, presenting on “The Spirituality of Activism.”
Dr. Timothy P. O’Malley shared on “Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si: A Theological and Ethical Approach,”
Dr. Gabriel Reynolds packed Fr. Mac Hall for a timely presentation on “Islam, the Catholic Church, and the
Future of the World.”
Professor Monica Weis, SSJ, PhD, entitled “Monk, Mystic & Prophet: The Expanding Vision of Thomas Merton,”
courtesy of the 10th Endowed Lecture in American Catholic Thought & Culture.
Judi Harris, Director of STVCC Refugee Services Program, sharing with our parish on “Refugees in Our City –
How Can We Help,”
Lenten Soup & Substance program, celebrating our parish’s 75th Anniversary.
Catholic Social Justice initiatives continue to be offered by
graduates of past JustFaith programs who have formed a local
affiliate of Network, called “EL Catholics Network,” under the
able leadership of Ed Welch. In addition to ample opportunities
to meet, lobby, and write our local representatives, several
group members facilitated by Anne-Marie Voice sponsored our
first Fair Trade Coffee & Chocolate Sale in the parish, while Paul
& Cindy Charette continue to coordinate parish volunteers
helping out at the Cristo Rey Community Center. We also offered a “Letter Writing for Justice” opportunity for parishioners
to write their representatives.
Social Media Websites
Cont. page 7
Gabriel Reynolds Presentation
Letter Writing for Justice
2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report Page 7
Senior Ministry
The Mission of Senior Ministry
is to promote community and
fellowship in Jesus Christ.
Social Media Websites
Cont. from page 6
Ongoing Programs
Monday evening “Centering Prayer” coordinated by Vince Gebes
Wednesday morning Bible Study facilitated by Carol Ann Wilkinson
Thursday afternoon Faculty & Community Book Discussion Group overseen by Tony Wojcik
Monthly “Catholic Update” Sessions for parents during religious education classes and our annual Lenten Faith
Sharing Groups.
Giving away 1,200 copies of Matthew Kelly’s book, Rediscovering Jesus, at our Christmas Masses.
Over 2,000 little black Lenten books during the week of Ash Wednesday along with little books for Advent &
Easter.
Held Advent & Lenten Book Sales, thanks to the dedication of Mary Conklin, also enriched parishioners for
those seasons!
If you wish to become (more) involved in Adult Faith Formation or would like to receive our bi-weekly email,
please contact Al Weilbaecher at [email protected].
Campus Ministry
Page 8 2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report
Retreats
The 2015-2016 academic year saw a significant increase in the number of students attending retreats through our
campus ministry program:
75 students at Freshmen Ignite on Sept 18
105 students at the For Freedom Christ Set Us Free Fall Undergrad Retreat on Nov 4-6
52 students on the Upperclassmen Discernment Retreat on Jan 15-17
87 students on the Fan into Flame Spring Undergrad Retreat on April 1-3
The Lilly Foundation awarded St. John Catholic Church and Student Center a grant for $30,000 over five years
to support Campus Ministry Theological Exploration of Vocation initiatives. We wrote the grant to expand our
Upperclassmen Discernment Retreat, which focuses on Ignatian discernment skills, identification of personal
spiritual gifts, and challenges students to consider vocations to priesthood, consecrated life or lay ministry.
Evangelization
In September, St. John hosted St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) Training Conference for students & parishioners. SPSE taught evangelization skills like How to Share your Testimony, Basic Etiquette of the Evangelist,
Sharing the Story of Salvation and more.
The parish Knights of Columbus helped cook & serve the Fall and Spring Exam Week Late Knight Breakfasts-
with chocolate chip & Oreo pancakes & bacon after the Tuesday night exam week Masses.
St. Patrick’s Day Street Evangelization team gave out free water & pretzels to revelers in the East Lansing bar
district, encouraging students to be safe and raising awareness of the significance of the feast day.
During our Holy Week Evangelization on campus, students did a beautiful job chalking sidewalks with scripture
passages & invitations to visit St. John's.
Also, students braved the rain and camped out at The Rock on Tuesday night of Holy Week. They painted The
Rock to raise awareness of Holy Week, and took at beautiful picture of their handiwork at sunrise. This
picture has been seen on Facebook by over 9,445 viewers, like 497 times and shared by 38 people and
organizations, including Faith Magazine and the Diocesan office of Evangelization.
Alternative Spring Breaks
73 students and parish mentors traveled to seven sites across the United
States and Mexico to serve in the following social work and housing
development projects:
° Camden, NJ: Romero Center Ministries for inner city social work
° Philadelphia, PA: Holy Redeemer Corps for inner city social work
° Bethlehem Farms, WV: Sustainable farming and rural social work
° Cholula, Mexico: Community Links international social work
° Jonestown, MS: Home rehabilitation with Sr Kay
° Rural Kentucky: Christian Appalachian Project home rehabilitation
° Salem County, NJ: Habitat for Humanity home construction
Faith Formation
Four student leaders traveled with Katie to Evangelical Catholic Training
Camp in Indiana to immerse themselves in a week of prayer and
evangelization training prior to the beginning of the academic year, along with hundreds of student leaders and
campus ministers from across the Midwest. 16 students participated in our Parish Collegiate Intern & Churchin Program in 2015-2016. In addition to their
duties in various parish ministries, they read and discussed the book The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything by Fr
James Martin, SJ and Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell.
Evangelical Training Camp
2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report Page 9
16 college seniors, Katie and a young
alum traveled to Chicago for the Sixth
Annual ESTEEM Capstone Conference
at St. Clement Parish in Chicago,
joining 75 other students from ten
campuses across the country.
Students heard talks from Chris &
Angelika Lowney on applying
principles of Jesuit formation to lay
leadership. Angelika has worked for
Jesuit Refugee Services in Africa and
Rome. Tim is the 27 year old
president of the Jesuit Volunteer
Corps!
A Marriage & Family Formation Series
for students was held during Lent and was an EPIC success!
° 54 students at Fr. Mark’s Sex Talk
° 70 students at Dr. Tim O’Malley from the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy’s talk on the Rite of Christian
Marriage
° 45 students at the Fatherhood Panel, featuring Fr Mark, Rich Budd from the Diocese of Lansing, Dcn Dave
Drayton, parishioner Matt Treadwell, vocations director Fr John Linden and Fr. Dan Westerman.
° 40 students at the Motherhood Panel, featuring Meghan Loughlin-Krusky St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
School, from Dawn Hausmann from the Diocese of Lansing, parishioner Cathy Treadwell, Sherry
Drayton, Maureen Budd and Sr. Yvonne Mary Loucks, RSM.
Fr. Pierre Konja gave a talk in March on the Chaldean Catholic Rite, the plight of Christians in the Middle East,
and celebrated a Chaldean Rite Mass. This is the third year in a row that we have hosted a Chaldean Catholic
priest as a means of educating our students and parishioners about Eastern rites of the Church and reaching
out to the significant community of Chaldean students who attend MSU.
Vocations & Post Grad Volunteering
Our campus ministry program bears fruit in helping students and young adults discern God’s call to serve the
Church and world.
Kelly McClelland, MSU 2016 grad and avid retreat goer, joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest.
Jen Beckner. MSU 2016 grad and campus ministry intern, moved to Paraguay for a year to teach English with a small Jesuit nonprofit organization.
Austin Schneider, MSU 2015 grad, has been accepted into the Echo Program- a two year apprenticeship
program in parish lay ministry, resulting in a free Master of Arts degree in Theology from the University of
Notre Dame.
Taylor Piotrzkowski, 2015 grad and campus ministry intern, took a position as a campus minister for Catholic
Campus Mission in Flint, serving students at UM-Flint, Kettering University, Mott Community College and
Baker College.
Two young men discerned a call to seminary through Priesthood Discernment Group led by Fr. Dan
Westermann.
° Tyler Arens was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Lansing. Tyler was a young professional on
staff at MSU and leader of our Graduate Student and Young Professional Group.
° Stephen Moening was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Stephen was a Freshman
and active participant in our campus ministry programs, particularly retreats and campus outreach.
Wendy Rutherford entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, Indiana. Wendy
graduated in 2013 and was a member of the Emmaus House for Women’s Discernment.
Page 10 2014-2015 Annual Stewardship Report
The St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Fund was established in the summer of 2013. The goal of the Faith Fund is
to provide a future endowment which will help fund the long-term ministry of the East Lansing Catholic
Community. The fund has over $800,000 in planned giving pledges.
The STA Education Foundation, Legacy Fund for Catholic Spartans and the
St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Fund exist only through the continued support of donors.
For more information about supporting these critical funds,
contact Keith J. Tharp at [email protected] or 517-351-7215.
St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Fund
Legacy Fund for Catholic Spartans
The Legacy Fund for Catholic Spartans was established as an endowment fund within the Capital Region
Community Foundation. The fund ensures that all gifts given in support of the Legacy Endowment for Catholic
Spartans will be managed and used specifically for student ministry programs at St. John Church and Student
Center. The endowment secures a sustained source of funding for the programs and ministries that are essential
to prepare current and future Catholic students for leadership roles in the 21st century church and society. In
fiscal 2014/2015, the Legacy Fund reached 1.2 million dollars in principal.
Sacramental Preparations
Some sacramental preparation is done through the Adult Faith Formation Office.
Our parish again celebrated well over 100 baptisms of infants & young children
this past year, after they take part in a baptism preparation process.
Confirmation was celebrated for six of our MSU students & adults, after
participating in a meaningful preparation process.
Seventy-five couples took part in our Engaged Seminars this past year, thanks
to the generosity of our presenting couples, Hedlun Walton & Stephanie
Hirchert, Ray & Angie Herek, & Kevin & Bernice DeMarco,
Over two dozen married couples serve as FOCCUS mentors for our engaged
couples, meeting
with them at least
twice to discuss
communication,
finances, families and what role
faith will play in
their relationship.
“Couple Prayer” was offered to provide support
& enrichment for couples after their wedding,
Deacon Jim & Karen Kasprzak and Deacon
David & Ann Zygmontowicz sponsored this
popoular 6-week program helping couples (both
married and engaged) to strengthen their
relationship by praying together as a couple.
Page 10 2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report
2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report Page 11
The fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016, finished within the parameters of the budget
that was developed collaboratively between members of the Finance Council, Fr. Mark Inglot and parish
leadership. The 2015/2016 overall parish budget was the result of several months of pre-planning with a goal of
enhancing the overall operations of our churches and the school. Financial statements were produced monthly
and were carefully reviewed to ensure that income and expenses stayed within the guidelines of the budget.
The charts on the next page show an overall picture of the Parish as of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.
Financial Statistics
St. Thomas Education Foundation
The St. Thomas Aquinas Education Foundation has spanned decades and provides grants to both the church and
the school. The fund is managed by a board of trustees appointed by the pastor and meets annually to award
grants. The fund has grown from several thousand dollars in its beginning to a balance over $450,000 in fiscal
2014/2015.
Offertory $2,535,090
57%
Parish General Donations & Memorials $73,272
2%
Other Revenue
(fundraisers, fees, endowments, etc.)
$331,379 7%
Revenue From Formation
& School $1,529,879 34%
Total Parish Income for 2015-2016$4,469,620
Salaries and Benefits of Employees & Clergy
$2,795,104
63%
Costs to Operate All Parish
Facilities$348,941
8%
Parish Programs (school,
formation, campus ministry, etc.)
$839,720 19%
Matthew 25 Donations
$140,359 3%
Assessments From The
Diocese$152,948
3%
Contribution to Reserves$79,939
2%Building Improvements
$112,609 2%
Total Parish Expenditures for 2015-2016$4,469,620
These numbers have been reviewed and approved by
the Parish Finance Council.
Your generous stewardship is a blessing.
2015-2016 Annual Stewardship Report Page 12
