In the Gospel, Jesus fed 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish. After the crowd was satisfied, there were 12 wicker baskets left over. God provides the abundance. In each episode of this podcast, we will explore, with pastoral leaders and development professionals, all the many ways God meets the spiritual and temporal needs of our parish communities, our Catholic schools and the diocesan church. And not only meets those needs but provides in abundance.
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THE LATEST EPISODE
EPISODE 45: Intentional Disciples
Katherine Coolidge, Director of Parish and Diocesan Services, Catherine of Siena Institute
Katherine Coolidge, from the Catherine of Siena Institute, joins Twelve Wicker Baskets for a conversation on the importance of intentional discipleship and stewardship in parish communities. Katherine shares her experience in parish ministry and her work with the Institute, highlighting programs like Ananias Training and the Called and Gifted Discernment Process. These initiatives help parishioners identify and share their spiritual gifts, fostering a culture where generosity and mission are rooted in a personal relationship with God. She emphasizes that stewardship should move beyond transactional giving, encouraging parish leaders to inspire deeper engagement through prayerful discernment, storytelling, and communal responsibility. As Katherine explains, “For us to be able to take care of that, we have to cast a broader and deeper vision for our people and call them into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Because it’s when they’re walking with Jesus that they can begin to grasp John Paul II’s vision…ultimately we are called to bear fruit and it’s not just taking care of those things that are closest to us, but it’s also being there for the sake of the world.”
Katherine also addresses practical challenges in fundraising and parish leadership, advocating for transparency and a clear sense of mission to build trust and support. Sharing examples of parishes that have successfully cultivated stewardship, she includes stories of sacrificial giving and community impact. Storytelling is highlighted as a powerful tool for connecting parishioners to the transformative work of the church.
Guest: Katherine Coolidge
Title: Director, Parish and Diocesan Services, Catherine of Siena Institute
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To contact the podcast, email twb@steiergroup.com.
ABOUT THE HOST, CHRISTOPHER BEAUDET
President of Diocesan Engagement for the Steier Group
Twelve Wicker Baskets host Christopher Beaudet hails from Massena, New York. He obtained a B.A. in History and Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame; a Master of Divinity and an M.A. in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul, MN); a License (J.C.L.) and Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.) from the Catholic University of America; and an M.A. in History from Boston College. Previously, Christopher served as Vice Rector for Administration at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity of the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Chiefly responsible for engaging the hierarchy and diocesan leaders across the United States and Canada to address fundraising needs, Christopher gains familiarity with the unique pastoral context of each diocesan Church, assists in identifying and defining their funding needs, and then orchestrates the Steier Group’s design and implementation of planning studies and capital campaigns to address them.
