“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11
MERRILLVILLE – School pastors and principals within the Diocese of Gary were invited by Bishop Robert J. McClory to a meeting and luncheon hosted by Big Shoulders Fund and the Diocese of Gary. The event took place on April 29 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center and focused on the historic $150 million gift, announced last year, from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to Big Shoulders Fund to enhance and strengthen schools in the Diocese of Gary.
Colleen Brewer, superintendent of Catholic schools, said the day was a time to start looking forward to the “wonderful next pieces of what will be happening.”
“We hope it gets you a little excited thinking about the work we are about to embark on,” said Brewer, addressing those in the event center. “It’s a great partnership that we have with Big Shoulders Fund and it’s about to expand in great ways for our students.”
A series of speakers followed including Joshua Hale, president and chief executive officer of Big Shoulders Fund; Rebecca Lindsay-Ryan, chief schools officer; Dan Kozlowski, executive director, Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana and Bishop Robert J. McClory.
Over the past year, members from the diocesan leadership team and Big Shoulders fund have been creating the framework that will lay the foundation for this partnership to serve the students in the Diocese of Gary. Dan Kozlowski, executive director for Big Shoulders Fund NWI, shared, “This historic investment allows us to expand our shared mission - to ensure every child in Northwest Indiana has access to a high-quality, values-based education that prepares them for success in life.”
“We're here today to celebrate once again this historic opportunity that we have through the infusion of funds from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation through Big Shoulders for our schools here in the Diocese of Gary,” said Bishop McClory. “We want to celebrate the future full of hope for our schools.”
In lieu of what he called were “tremendous resources that have been provided to us,” he shared that the diocese was in the midst of a period of reflection and renewal for excellence in mission. He explained that meant aligning the resources that the diocese has to the mission it’s trying to accomplish.
Proving an example of this, he noted that at a parish level, all active priests in the diocese are currently completing surveys to honestly assess their strengths and leadership preferences. Also, every parishioner has been given the opportunity to fill out the Disciple Maker Index, reflecting on how they and their parish are living out their faith.
How does this apply to the diocesan schools and what does this mean for those institutions?
“The beautiful reality is that with this infusion of resources that we're getting we have to ask ourselves, how do we best align these resources to the outcomes that we all share?” said the bishop.
Bishop McClory mentioned that last summer, during a meeting that included priests who were pastors in schools as well as with principals, the two words he used often were data and transparency.
“In order to capture a snapshot of where we are, (data and transparency are) going to be necessary,” he said. “Of course, that's done in schools in a lot of ways and the state requires, particularly in Indiana, that more than a lot of other places, so, we're already doing this.”
Bishop McClory encouraged those gathered to continue thinking about the following questions: “What are we seeking to accomplish with this partnership?”, “What is the statement of purpose that we're seeking to fulfill?” and “What would be the goals?”
He reminded the audience that a statement of purpose between the Big Shoulders Fund, the Diocese of Gary, aligned with the resources of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, has already been developed.
“In our unwavering commitment to ensuring access to a values-based and performance-driven education for all students at a quality Catholic School in Northwest Indiana,” he read, “we seek to reimagine a network of Catholic schools dedicated to nurturing the minds, hearts, and souls of the students.”
“We are doing this, obviously, for the good of young people in Northwest Indiana to ensure they have a future full of hope infused with the love of Christ, living vibrant lives that God intended them to have.”
