First Annual Witness of Hope Grant: When Blessings Become Responsibility

How do you share a story you’re grateful for without sounding boastful? Scripture reminds us that humility is essential (Philippians 2:3), yet it also teaches that when we serve those in need, we serve Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40). Holding both truths together, we want to share something important about the work unfolding at the Catholic Foundation.

Today, the Foundation stewards more than $50 million in assets on behalf of parishes, schools, cemeteries, and ministries across the Diocese of Winona–Rochester. These funds, ranging from scholarship endowments to permanent care accounts to parish agency funds are managed faithfully under Catholic Responsible Investing guidelines. By God’s grace, this past year brought strong market returns, and we are grateful for the growth entrusted to us.

So when we hear stories about a single mother suddenly unable to cover Catholic school tuition after an unexpected medical bill or a parish facing a costly boiler replacement they didn’t budget for, our instinct is always the same — we want to help.

But here’s the truth: the money we steward is not ours. It belongs to the people and ministries we serve. Our role is to safeguard it, grow it, and help it reach the needs it was intended to support. Still, when the market performs well, the fees that sustain our operating budget also rise; because the more funds we manage, the more resources we have to serve you. And fiscal year 2025 was, indeed, a strong year.

Ability Requires Responsibility

With the blessings entrusted to us this past fiscal year, we recognize a responsibility to give. Therefore, we are introducing the first annual Witness of Hope Grant. Its name draws inspiration from Bishop Barron and Word on Fire’s call for all disciples to be witnesses in the world. The word Hope reflects the heart of this initiative: to support the most urgent and impactful needs across our local communities, sowing hope where it is needed most.

First Peter 3:15 tells us “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”  This passage beautifully echoes the spirit of the grant: a public witness to the hope we hold in Christ, expressed through concrete acts of generosity in Southern Minnesota.

How the Witness of Hope Grant Works 

For the Witness of Hope Grant, you will not find us circulating applications or inviting parishes and ministries to compete for funding. Nor will you see us publicizing the individual stories of those who receive support. This grant is intentionally designed to be a quiet, hope-filled act of service—an exercise in humility that keeps the focus on those in need rather than on the Foundation.

Each December, we will review our operating budget and discern how much we are able to give based on the resources available. From there, we will seek the wisdom of local leaders or simply wait in prayerful attentiveness for God to reveal an urgent need. Our goal is simple: to respond faithfully, generously, and without fanfare wherever hope is needed most.

We are grateful for the countless ways you support your parishes, schools, and ministries. The Witness of Hope Grant is our way of joining you in that work—quietly, prayerfully, and with deep respect for the dignity of every person we serve. Together, may we continue to build a community where hope is not just spoken but lived.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Elizabeth