Southern Nebraska Register
The first-ever Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving will be held May 16.
The event provides an opportunity for supporters of Catholic education to give to any Catholic school in the city of Lincoln.
“Catholic schools in Lincoln provide an education that is authentically Catholic, distinctly different, and surprisingly possible to students of all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Bishop James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln. “I encourage all the faithful to support our schools with renewed fervor during this year’s Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving.”
Many Catholic schools in Lincoln—including Pius X High School—participated in the Lincoln Community Foundation’s Give to Lincoln Day in previous years during the month of May, and received enthusiastic support from the community. Because of new participation requirements instituted by the Lincoln Community Foundation contrary to Church teaching, Catholic organizations—including schools—will not participate in the 2023 event.
Dozens of other faith-based Christian organizations in the community of Lincoln also made the same decision because of the foundation’s new policy.
“We knew if we were not going to participate in Give to Lincoln Day, we’d need to pivot and create an alternative opportunity for our generous benefactors who annually support us on this day,” said Courtney Johnson, director of advancement for the Pius X Foundation.
Under Johnson’s leadership, the Pius X Foundation is hosting the Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving for the entire Lincoln Catholic School community. Johnson said it was an easy decision for Pius X to offer the opportunity to participate in this event to parish schools as well.
“Pius X and the Lincoln Catholic Elementary schools all belong to the same parish family. We’re in this together! We’re happy we’re able to support our fellow Catholic school community in this way, and I’m so proud of my team’s ability to quickly execute this new endeavor,” Johnson said.
Most schools—including Pius X—will use the funds raised during the Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving for a specific project or local need, ranging from facility improvements to the hiring of additional staff. Details of each school’s planned project can be found at lincolncatholicschools.org.
There will also be the opportunity for donors to support the mission of Catholic education in Lincoln generally by giving to the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund. Founded in 2018, the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to families who may not otherwise be able to afford tuition.
Katie Ostgren, director of development & stewardship for the Diocese of Lincoln, said the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund is crucial to the continued mission of Catholic education in Lincoln.
“Catholic schools in Lincoln and across the diocese have formed generations of faithful priests, religious, and laypeople who continue to serve the Church locally and throughout the world,” Ostgren said. “Supporting Catholic education in our diocese is a priority of Bishop Conley and should be for all of us, as the fruits of our investment in Catholic education are apparent. Supporting the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund is one way to give the gift of Catholic education to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be educated in a Catholic environment.”
Nearly $3 million in tuition assistance is awarded by the Diocese of Lincoln each school year to students through the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund. These scholarships cover up to 75% of the cost of tuition for students. One in four students qualifies for the Good Shepherd Scholarship based on their family’s income level, and some families qualify for further tuition assistance from schools and parishes on the local level.
“Supporting Catholic education on every level—through our parishes, by supporting schools directly, and diocesan-wide through the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund—is vital to the continued sustainability of our Catholic schools,” Ostgren said. “We know that Lincoln, Nebraska, is a better place because of our Catholic schools and their service to the broader community. The Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving is an exciting new opportunity for all of us to work together to continue the legacy of Catholic education in Lincoln that so many have invested in and sacrificed for through the years.”
Donations are already being accepted at lincolncatholicschools.org leading up to the Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving May 16. Donors to any participating schools or organizations during the Lincoln Catholic Schools Day of Giving can expect that the receipts for all gifts made—regardless of where they are designated—will come from the Pius X Foundation, but can be assured that all gifts will be directed toward the schools or organizations to which they are made.
A note from the diocese about Give to Lincoln Day
Bishop James Conley of the Catholic Diocese announced in April the withdrawal of Catholic schools and organizations from Give to Lincoln Day. Reasons for this decision include:
>The Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) “non-discrimination affirmation” statement actively discriminates against those who seek to incorporate Biblical faith into their charitable works. It imposes a social and political agenda on all non-profits. Sexual orientation and gender non-discrimination policies are being used to punish those with Gospel views on marriage and human sexuality.
Officials from the Diocese of Lincoln met with LCF leadership and explained potential legal issues with LCF’s statement. We offered compromises and common-sense solutions. After a period of their own deliberation, LCF informed us we would still need to sign their statement in order to participate. Thus, we had no other choice but to go our own separate way.
>The LCF statement all are required to sign could affect the right of Catholic schools to hire and fire administrators and teachers who are expected to adhere to the Catholic faith.
>The Diocese wishes to ensure our teachers, who are expected to teach, model, and live a Catholic life, actually do it. The “non-discrimination” statement may impede our ability to do so.
>The LCF statement may affect a Catholic school or organization’s right to set policies regarding facilities, including restrooms and sleeping quarters, consistent with Catholic beliefs.
>The LCF statement could affect the ability of our schools to maintain their religious identity and our right to form students in the Catholic faith.
Our Catholic schools serve and educate all students whose families choose to send their children to Catholic school – Catholic and non-Catholic, regardless of race or ethnicity, and without regard to a child’s socioeconomic status. Catholic organizations are on the streets of Lincoln fighting hunger, homelessness and poverty. We serve everyone in need, regardless of faith, beliefs or politics.
If you would like to support our efforts to accomplish this mission, please seek out and give directly to our Catholic schools and organizations, including those listed below and others serving our community as well.
Lincoln Diocese Catholic Schools Directory
UNL Newman Center huskercatholic.com
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska csshope.org/support-css
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House goodcounselretreat.org/support
