Years ago, two generous parishioners at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in St. Paul made decisions that continue to bless their beloved community today. Philip LaVelle designated a gift for the endowment he established through his estate plan, while another donor established an endowment in memory of his wife after her passing. Both created lasting support for the parish and its school. The parish itself also established an endowment through the collective generosity of its parishioners.
Together, these funds reflect a shared commitment to Holy Spirit’s future. The generosity that built them continues to bear fruit and will support Holy Spirit for generations to come.
Probably no one appreciates the stability these endowments provide more than Holy Spirit’s pastor, Fr. Tom Margevičius. “We can go about our ministry here with a certain confidence,” Fr. Tom observes. “We can dream big and ask important questions without worrying that the lights will get turned off on us. The endowment gives us the freedom to focus on ministry.”
One of these endowments supports Holy Spirit’s pre-K–8 elementary school. Distributions from the scholarship fund help make Catholic education more accessible for families today while extending the impact of one donor’s generosity to future generations.
“Any donation made for student scholarships is an opportunity to change a life and bring a child to Jesus,” says school principal Dr. Jennifer Krieger. “You impact a family; you impact a community. The gifts everyone brings make us who we are at Holy Spirit.”
Dr. Krieger has been a member of Holy Spirit for many years and recalls fundraising for the parish endowment. She understands the generosity of her fellow parishioners and why they want to ensure the future of both parish and school. “People feel welcome here and they want to share that with others,” she explains. “They think, ‘My kids had a great experience at Holy Spirit, and I want to share that with others who might not have that opportunity.’”
“Stewardship is a way of life,” Fr. Tom says simply. “When you give yourself to the other, you receive a sense of belonging, purpose, and love.”
Investing in Families and Children
Fr. Tom became pastor at Holy Spirit about a year ago. Since then, he’s observed an uptick in the number of young families attending Mass. “You notice it in lots more crying and pattering feet,” he says. “That’s music to my ears. It’s the sound of the future. We’re investing in families and children.”
Each gift to Holy Spirit’s endowments becomes part of a longer story of faith, strengthening the parish and school for future generations.
For anyone who thinks their contribution might be too small to matter, Dr. Krieger has a message for them. “You don’t need to give a million dollars,” she says. “Any little bit makes a difference, so never underestimate the impact you might have when you give.”