Saunders Catholic Schools Open Forum March 6, 2018
Agenda Opening Prayer - Fr. Morin Catholic Schools Nationally & Lincoln Diocese - Fr. Morin & John Kreikemeier Saunders Catholic Schools in the Community - Mike Weiss SCS Advancement Committee Report Eva Fujan & Dan Gruenes Small Group Discussions Closing Prayer Fr. Faulkner
Catholic Schools Nationally & in the Lincoln Diocese Lincoln Diocese rates #1 in Priests and #1 in Seminarians per Catholic population in the U.S. 47 Seminarians in Lincoln vs. 16 in San Diego Diocese 5 New Ordinations in Lincoln in 2017 vs. 7 in Los Angeles Religious Vocations in Lincoln were attributed to: Affordable Catholic Schools Priests and Religious in Schools Strong Parish Commitment to the Development of Children in the Catholic Faith 85% of Seminarians went to Catholic Schools Yes We Can A Pathway for Vocations Walt Thome, 2017
Our diocese, serving more than one hundred thousand Catholics, has no seminarians. I mean that literally: not one. They have ordained two men in the last ten years, one of whom has left the priesthood to get married. Churches are closing everywhere. The stalwart priest who is our pastor has had to say Mass for five churches scattered over twenty miles. The farther-flung diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, serving not quite one hundred thousand Catholics, has forty eight seminarians, at least two priests in every parish, no churches being shut down, and plenty of schools. The obvious question is, Why doesn t everyone try at least a few of the things they do in Lincoln? Or, more properly put, Why doesn t everyone stop doing nine or ten of the things they never have done in Lincoln? Professor Anthony Esolen, teaching fellow & writer in residence at Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts, in Merrimack, New Hampshire
It seems that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles ordained only seven men in 2017 for well over 4 million Catholics Just for comparison, I looked up a couple of small dioceses that have been far more successful in recruiting (seminarians). In Wichita, ten men were ordained in 2017; in Lincoln Nebraska, there were five. Now Wichita serves approximately 120,000 Catholics, Lincoln about 95,000 How is this possible? How can two small dioceses have no vocation crisis while the largest archdioceses in the country have a tremendous problem? Common sense suggests at least a few factors that might make a big difference. For one thing, I looked into these two small dioceses not only because they produce a lot of vocations to the priesthood, but because they are well-known for Catholic schools that are very up-front about their Catholicism and very affordable for most Catholic families. Fr. Mark A. Pilon, a priest of the Diocese of Arlington, VA
Saunders Catholic Schools - Spiritual Formation Religious Alumni - 14 Faithful Neumann Alumni in the Community: Focus Missionaries Parish Council Finance Council Newman Center Podcasts Apologetics Teachers Bible Studies, Youth Group Leaders Six Neumann Alumni Eucharistic Adoration
Saunders Catholic Schools - Academics Neumann students are rated above state and national averages for College Preparedness Neumann students score about state and national averages in ACT Scores State Graduation Rate - 89%, State Private School 99.7%, National Average is 83%, Neumann over 99% Neumann, St. John s and St. Wenceslaus ranked first in math scores in all but one grade, based on 2017 Iowa Skills Tests (3 rd -8 th Grade)
Saunders Catholic Schools in the Community 104 Teachers & Staff Members (5 th Largest Employer - 2015 Report) 642 Students Average cost of education State -$12,230 Wahoo - $12,240 Mead - $18,615 Yutan $14,482 Cedar Bluffs $15,079 East Butler - $22,805 Neumann - $8,412 Cost of Education National Averages: 1,878,000 students in 6,429 Catholic Schools Average public school cost of $11,066 per student Catholic schools provide $20 Billion a year in tax savings (SCS - $7.9m)
Saunders Catholic Schools in the Community Alumni Move Back to Attend Our Catholic Schools Fr. Christiansen s Comment I have parishioners from Aquinas, Pius, Bergan and Scotus, but not Neumann. If they are close enough to get back to Wahoo, they move back so their kids can go to Neumann. Recent Alumni Moving Back Omaha, Elkhorn, Hastings, Lincoln Families Moving/Visiting Saunders County to Attend SCS Proximity to Lincoln/Omaha & Lincoln Diocese Kansas, South Dakota, California, Maine, Oregon
Saunders Catholic Schools A Few Stories Fr. Steven Snitily Sr. Peggy Kucera Pat & Angie Burke
SCS Advancement Committee Formed in 2015 to help implement Strategic Plan & advance Catholic Schools in Saunders County Committee includes 8 Pastors, Administrators and Members of the Strategic Planning Team Meets Every Other Month During School Year Advisory Role for 3 School System
Strategic Plan Projects 83 Projects; 81 Complete; 2 In Progress 5 New Projects Proposed; 5 Accepted and Complete Pillars & Accomplishments Vibrant Student Life FFA, CYAO, Robotics, Volleyball, Baseball Distinctly Catholic Mission Trips, Campus Missionaries, JPII Men, Campus Ministry Director, Chaplain, Alumni Outreach Committed Families Saunders Catholic Outreach, Trunk or Treat, Welcoming Kits, 3 Yr. T-shirts Exceptional Teachers/Excellent Academics Saxon Math, ACT Prep Course, PSAT Testing, Jr/Sr Resource Teacher, Salary, Insurance, Dual Credit/AP Class Offerings (3/8) Finance & Development Development Office, Enrollment, Marketing, Grants, Transfer Scholarships, Cost Savings, Bus Savings
SCS Advancement Committee Financial Goals from Strategic Plan Tuition Mix - Relief to Parishes Transparency & Communications Increased Development & Enrollment Evangelization Parents & Parishioners Tuition Mix 5 Year Goal 50% Parishes, 25% Tuition, 25% Development 7 of 10 parishes send more than 100% of Sunday & Holy Day Collection to Saunders Catholic Schools 2018-2019 - 2.4% Reduction in Assessment to Parishes
140% % of Weekly Parish Income to Schools 126% 120% 100% 108% 103% 111% 106% 94% 105% 110% 80% 60% 78% 68% 40% 20% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 Parishes Provide Financial Support to Saunders Catholic Schools
$4,000,000 SCS 2015-2016 Actual $3,500,000 $3,000,000 21% $2,500,000 21% $2,000,000 $1,500,000 58% $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 BNHS St. W St. J Total Parish Contributions Tuition Contributions, Grants, Endowment
$4,500,000 SCS 2016-2017 Actual $4,000,000 $3,500,000 21% $3,000,000 22% $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 57% $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 BNHS St. W St. J Total Parish Contributions Tuition Contributions, Grants, Endowment
Neumann 2017-2018 Budget Donor no longer contributing $100K per year starting in 2018 PACE, Donor, Donations 11% Development 10% Tuition 22% Parish Support 57%
Neumann 2018-2019 Budget We must replace donor contribution and increase Development Efforts 2018 Development & Annual Appeal 21% Tuition 23% Parish Support 56% Steps to the 5 Year Goal: Reduce Parish Assessments by 2.4%, Increase Tuition $200, Increase Development Efforts
Challenge for a Healthy Future Development & Announce 2018 Fall Annual Appeal Development - $320,000 Annual Appeal - $180,000 Groups of 10 Personal Meetings What can you do? Fall Group & Individual Meetings Evangelize the Benefits to Others Encourage New Enrollment Gratitude & Prayer
Small Group Discussions What are your suggestions for a successful Annual Appeal Campaign? What are your suggestions to further advance the Strategic Plan, with new projects and future funding for the schools in Saunders County?
Agenda Opening Prayer - Fr. Morin Catholic Schools Nationally & Lincoln Diocese - Fr. Morin & John Kreikemeier Saunders Catholic Schools in the Community - Mike Weise SCS Advancement Committee Report Eva Fujan & Dan Gruenes Small Group Discussions Closing Prayer Fr. Faulkner