How Development Is a Ministry

Editor's Note: This article was printed in the St. Thomas Aquinas parish bulletin's Educational Column shortly after I began my Development & Alumni Coordinator position in July, 2006.

On July 5, 2006 I began a new chapter in my development career by joining the staff of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center. In the last seven years while I was serving Bellevue, IA’s Marquette Catholic Schools, did I truly began to grasp and embrace the concept that development is much more than organizing fund raising events and managing volunteers; it is only a small piece of the large jigsaw puzzle.

There are many parallels of Jesus’ ministry and development. Both Jesus and the development professional’s main focus are building up God’s kingdom. This is accomplished by cultivating relationships based upon the foundations of trust and communication. There are many laborers in the vineyard, but few are chosen to serve as volunteers or professionals. Development personnel, whether volunteer or staff, are truly ministers as we are called to develop positive and healthy interpersonal relationships based on the mission of the organization.

I would like to close with The Development Prayer as it truly encapsulates the ministry of development.

THE DEVELOPMENT PRAYER

Many have been called for this work, Lord. Few are chosen. We realize that this important ministry of development can be both fulfilling and challenging. Help us to learn that development isn’t “fundraising,” but rather the way to involve people of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center. Our goal in development is to build a sense of spiritual bonding, community, friendship and commitment. A result of achieving our goal will be financial support.

Help me to overcome the notion that development is simply “asking for money.” Help me and others realize that development actually brings people close to you, dear Lord.

Help me to come to know you better, Lord; by doing your work, by instilling Gospel values in our students and promoting the Center and its Gospel values to parents, alumni, friends, parishioners, grandparents and others.

Let me learn that development is not a win-lose situation, that development is really a process of bringing Christ to people and people to Christ. Help me to learn that extending myself to others and inviting them to participate is not a weakness, but a strength.

Help me to learn that making myself vulnerable, in order to serve others, is a gift and a blessing and that You made yourself vulnerable to save us, O Lord.

Let this ministry of development be successful by blessing us and giving us the courage to tell the story of Catholicism with boldness, conviction, commitment and love.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.