“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?” Psalm 116:12

The Foundation ended the fiscal year June 30, 2011 with $21,601,376 in total assets, an increase of 28% from last year. Thirteen new endowment funds totaling over $925,000 were established for the benefit of our parishes, Catholic schools, seminarian education and Catholic Social Services programs. Six of these new endowment funds came from bequests. You can read about all of the endowments in the foundation and the parishes, schools and other Catholic programs they support in this annual report. Also included is information about grant distributions for the year, a full financial report on the foundation and our Catholic Heritage Society. (Click here to download a copy of the Foundation Annual Report 2010-2011.)

Breakout topics include:

*profile of a stewardship parish *stewardship and hospitality *keeping stewardship alive *stewardship in the Hispanic culture *growing an engaged church *the stewardship ministry fair

With the successful completion of last year's DSA, bringing in over $4.9 million to help fund diocesan ministries, we are ready to kickoff the 2012 Diocesan Support Appeal. You can read more about the success of last year's appeal in the December 16, 2011 issue of the Catholic News Herald. Our goal for 2012 is $4,785,000. All registered households should receive a letter, brochure and pledge card from Bishop Jugis around February 1st. Parishes are encouraged to show the DSA video at all the Masses on the first weekend in February. This year's video highlights Catholic Campus Ministry, the Family Life Office of Catholic Social Services and two of our Seminarians. (Click here to see the video in English.) (Haga click aquí para ver el video en Español.)The February 3rd issue of the Catholic News Herald will feature articles with details about the 2012 DSA. Pastors and parish DSA coordinators can find the following materials on this website: the DSA Parish Manual, Parish Bulletin Inserts, and the Appeal Sunday Lay Presenter Manual.

Click here if you would like to make a gift to the 2012 DSA on our secure website. Be sure to include the name of your parish when prompted.

For additional information regarding the Diocesan Support Appeal, please contact Barbara Gaddy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 704-370-3302.

A Grant for Educational Excellence

The Classroom Economy is one of the exciting hands-on-grants funded by the MACS Education Foundation this school year. The 3rd grade students of Mrs. Warren's class at St. Gabriel Catholic School are actively involved in a year-long study of economics where they earn credits and debits while maintaining a class bank and store. The unit is cross-curricular: students learn major principle concepts, as well as use math skills on a daily basis.

Throughout each week, students can earn credits for any number of things. For example, students who hold classroom jobs each week earn credits on weekly basis according to our agreed payroll. Credits are also earned sporadically for following rules, showing good character, putting extra effort into school work, and being responsible.

Debits are given to students when they break laws (classroom rules) in our community of learners. At the end of each pay period, students add up their credits and subtract their debits to calculate their weekly total. Mrs. Warren writes paychecks to all of her students at the end of each pay period that reflect the amount that they have earned after balancing their credits and debits.

Students cash their checks at the Bank of Warren to receive the money (Warren Cash) that they have earned. Students will then have the opportunity to spend their Warren Cash at the end of each pay period at the class store (Warren-Mart). Students can, of course, choose to save their money to purchase a more expensive item at the Warren-Mart. For this reason, all students have wallets in which to store their Warren Cash.