Holy Family Parish establishes four endowments in one fiscal year

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

CLEMMONS — Imagine the value of an endowment that was established 50 or more years ago at the founding of a parish – that’s what Father James Stuhrenberg ponders in planning for the future of Holy Family Parish in Clemmons as it approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.

“If an endowment was set up at a church’s very beginning, what would it be worth now?” he asks as he recalls the 50th and 80th anniversaries of his past parishes.

When it comes to his current parish, Father Stuhrenberg didn’t want any more time to slip away. In his desire to add to Holy Family’s security in a lasting way, he began speaking from the pulpit about the importance of planned giving.

It’s working.

Since he became pastor of Holy Family in 2020, four new endowments have been established, each in the 2021-’22 fiscal year, bringing the parish’s number of parishioners obtain a Catholic education.”

The three additional endowments are the Holy Family Catholic Church Facilities Endowment Fund, which provides for facilities needs at the church; the Rieker Family Endowment Fund, which provides for liturgical needs such as Mass intentions, candles, vestments and hosts; and the St. Joseph Endowment Fund, which provides for the general needs of the parish.

Father Stuhrenberg said he is immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the endowments.

He encourages further growth of these funds by holding second collections to build on the principal of the endowments. Parishioners can also give to these efforts through the parish’s website.

Other efforts include the establishment of a parish planned giving committee and hiring a development/stewardship staff position at the parish.

“Father James is doing a wonderful job educating his parishioners on the benefits of proper estate planning,” said Gina Rhodes, director of planned giving for the Diocese of