the
One Faith Hope Love bulletin
Fall 2018
Catholic Community Foundation for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Online Program Provides Flexibility and Faith Formation Teachers, catechists and their students benefit Victoria Ryan has been a volunteer catechist for decades. She took traditional classes to learn about teaching the faith and has been working to pass on the Catholic faith ever since. At her local parish, St. Julie Billiart, she teaches 6th graders on Sundays. In 2017, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati released a new online platform for teachers and parish catechists to keep-up-to date on their religious educator certification. The program is called Vocare, which means “Called to Teach.” This web-based platform was designed and launched with funding from the One Faith, One Hope, One Love capital campaign. The classes involve several forms of media, including instructional videos, graphics, music, and reading material. “I didn’t expect to like it,” said Ms. Ryan, referencing her concern when she started the program more than a year ago. “Now I really look forward to the next lesson.” The program has also helped to enhance her own faith development, and she is hopeful that others are experiencing the same growth. “The program provides practical tips on teaching, but what I find most valuable is how it focuses heavily on the content we are teaching,” said Ms. Ryan. “Even after 12 years of Catholic schooling, ongoing adult faith formation is very important, and this is a great tool for that.” Also included in the Vocare platform is content focused on the Theology of the Body. “I found the Theology of the Body content very informative and eye opening,” said Ms. Ryan. “I’m very impressed with just how much content is available.” It was an adjustment for some teachers and catechists to transition to the web-based learning program, but after the first year of use, organizers are confident that more and more users
will become comfortable with the platform. “We have heard feedback from users that once they get over that initial shock of coming into online learning, they actually enjoy the flexibility and convenience of completing courses at home,” said Andrea Patch, who manages the curriculum for Vocare at the Archdiocese. “Over the years, we’ve heard feedback from our teachers and catechists, asking that our catechetical certification process be reformed, and Vocare was our response here in the Archdiocese,” said Ms. Patch. “We have spent two years building a program that remains faithful to Church teachings, but is more flexible for busy lifestyles, and more affordable for schools and parishes.” Currently, more than 3,400 users are active on the Vocare system. An increase in users is expected with the start of the new school year. To assist new users, support is provided by Vocare staff members at the Archdiocese. For more information or questions about Vocare, call 513-421-3131 or email VocareSupport@CatholicCincinnati.org.
Discounts Give Laity That Extra Boost
“I might not have gone through the program without it.” The “fostering vocations” component of the One Faith, One Hope, One Love campaign is typically associated with the formation of seminarians at the Athenaeum of Ohio, but it also fosters vocations for lay students who are seeking to further their education and serve others in the Church. For the last three years, every lay student at the Athenaeum has received a tuition discount for classes because of funds contributed to the One Faith, One Hope, One Love campaign. This has impacted students in the: •permanent diaconate program •lay pastoral ministry program •lay graduate programs •non-degree certification programs In 2017, all lay students received a 50% reduction in tuition for a total of $176,701 in scholarships. For the current academic year of 2018-2019, lay students have benefited from a 25% reduction in tuition. According to Dr. Susan McGurgan, the Director of the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program, “Our students are deeply appreciative of the people in the Archdiocese who were able to give to the campaign and have made this possible. I believe that the assistance makes a concrete difference in our students’ lives.” Anna Klosterman, who is in her final year of the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program, agrees. “I don’t think I would have enrolled without the tuition assistance,” said Ms. Klosterman. “I greatly appreciate the support and I think most people in my class would say the same thing that I am saying: I might not have gone through the program without it.” Ms. Klosterman has been discerning her vocation to serve others since her youth. Building on her experience as a nurse and care-giver, she plans to apply her Catholic faith in her ministry to serve others when she graduates in May.
Dr. McGurgan also noted that students are taking more classes and finishing their degrees and programs earlier to take full advantage of the tuition discounts – and the sooner they graduate, the sooner they can put their education to good use. “The people of the Archdiocese are the recipients of our graduates’ knowledge, preparation and formation, whether a student goes on to serve as a volunteer, staff member, or a teacher. I think every parish in our Archdiocese has been touched by an Athenaeum graduate.” The Archdiocese of Cincinnati continues to foster vocations with support to the One Faith, One Hope, One Love campaign. Funds for this allocation are given to the Athenaeum of Ohio. In 2017, the Athenaeum received just under of $2.5 million from the campaign. In addition to tuition assistance for lay students, campaign funds were used for capital improvements and endowment growth.
the One bulletin
Fall 2018
Students’ Skills Improve over the Summer Dayton Summer School Success!
The Dayton Summer School program completed its 10th year this past summer with 80 students participating. The program runs for 4 weeks and is designed to help struggling students in kindergarten through 7th grade maintain and increase their knowledge in Math and English/Language Arts over the summer break. Contributions from the One Faith, One Hope, One Love campaign provided $40,000 to help cover the cost to operate the program. Tuition cost for families is $100 for the first child and $50 for each additional child. To help measure the program’s effectiveness, students are given a preassessment and a post-assessment. This year, 89% of the students demonstrated an improvement in Math and 83% improved in English/Language Arts. Breakfast and lunch are also provided daily, along with bus service from neighboring locations for students needing transportation. The summer school program serves students from these Dayton Catholic schools: Ascension School Immaculate Conception School Incarnation School St. Helen School Mother Brunner School Our Lady of the Rosary School St. Benedict School
Holy Angels School St. Christopher School St. Peter School St. Anthony School St. Charles School St. Albert the Great School
“Many of our students live in struggling neighborhoods, so this program offers a healthy and productive environment for them to be a part of for a good portion of the summer,” said Lindsey Rupp who runs the program with Monica Haus. Both Ms. Rupp and Ms. Haus agree that the small class sizes, around 10 students per teacher, has a very positive impact on students’ overall growth and well-being. “In addition to helping academically, teachers can focus on meeting the social and emotional needs of the children. They’re able to develop a healthy relationship where the students see them as role models,” said Ms. Haus.
Catholic Community Foundation for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati 100 East Eighth Street, 2nd Floor Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Historic Campaign Reaches $100 Million in Pledge Payments! SEMIANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO BENEFICIARIES ON JUNE 30, 2018 Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio $ 430,721.70 Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley $ 259,249.19 Catholic Schools (Tuition Assistance Endowment) and Education $4,664,865.52 Distributions to Parishes $3,680,794.79 Fostering Vocations/Athenaeum $1,064,249.04 Retired Archdiocesan Priests $ 932,973.11
OVERALL CAMPAIGN TOTALS as of September 30, 2018
$164,646,640 $106,073,225 35,802
Total Pledged: Total Paid: Total # of Donors:
Distributions of the One Faith, One Hope, One Love campaign are allocated semiannually according to the chart below. Catholic Education
Local Parish Priorities
20%
50%
Parishes receive 20% of all funds raised up to their goal and 60% of funds raised over goal.
12% 8%
10%
Fostering Vocations Caring for Retired Diocesan Priests Catholic Charities and Social Services