'Begging letter' nets windfall for Crozier Society

Sometimes, people don't know you need help until you ask for it.

That was the case last year at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard when the co‑pastors, Fr. Gregory Smith and Fr. William Swichtenberg, found that the parish would once again not make its target for the diocesan Bishop's Appeal ‑ some $64,000.

"That bugged me," said Fr. Smith. "We'd be four, $5,000 short."

That shortfall, he added, had to be made up from the parish's regular budget.

So the two priests sent a "begging letter" to selected parishioners asking them to join the Green Bay Diocese's Crozier Society.

The Crozier Society is made up of people who give $500 or more each year to the Bishop's Appeal, said Ronald Shaha, diocesan director of the Bishop Appeal.

St. John's had 17 Crozier members in 1999. After the pastors' letter, the number rose to 45.

"That surprised us," Fr. Smith said. "Consequently, last year we made our target the first time in a long time."

What also surprised the priests was the "most common response" to their letter.

People told Fr. Smith that "we didn't know about it. We never heard about it (the Crozier Society). We'd be glad to do it."

The co‑pastor said he thought the Society was well‑publicized. Shaha said it is publicized through brochures sent to prospective members, The Compass, and vicariate meetings. Prospective members are people who have given at the $200 level or better.

A third surprise for Frs. Smith and Swichtenberg was the fact many respondents were young families, not just retirees as they had expected.

Fr. Smith added that both he and Fr. Swichtenberg are Crozier Society members. "We've made that known," he said, adding that "I do it. I believe in it. It's a good place to put my charity. I think it's a good modeling. I hate to ask people to do stuff I won't do."

St. John Parish recently sent out letters inviting members to join the Crozier Society for 2001. As of March 9, the parish had 39 Crozier members for 2001, Shaha said.

In 2000, Shaha said, total membership in the Society was 894. They contributed 18% of the money raised for the Bishop's Appeal.

This year, membership could rise to 1,100, Shaha added. As of March 9, 780 continuing members had responded and 153 new joined. More than 300 had not contributed this year yet.

Shaha pointed out that the Crozier Society benefits parishes by helping them meet their goals. Members receive free subscriptions to The Compass and other diocesan mailings. They are invited to an appreciation Mass in spring and a dinner in fall that is paid for by an anonymous contributor.