The Steier Group is proud to present our podcast, Twelve Wicker Baskets with Christopher Beaudet. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app.
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.
The 44th episode of the podcast is Supporting Higher Education with Fr. James Burns.
Fr. James Burns, President of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, discusses the mission of Catholic higher education, emphasizing the integration of psychology and theology in priestly formation and the importance of donor relationships in sustaining Catholic educational institutions. He highlights the centrality of faith, human formation, and virtue development to the university’s mission, and how storytelling and authentic engagement inspire philanthropic support. Fr. Burns advocates for a faithful engagement with Church teachings while encouraging sincere inquiry and dialogue grounded in the truth of Christ as the way, the truth and the life.
Addressing contemporary challenges with students and society, Fr. Burns underscores the inseparability of fundraising from the mission of Catholic education, stating, “The ultimate purpose of fundraising is to support student flourishing, virtue formation, and the mission of the Church.” He emphasizes the importance of authentic, ongoing relationships with donors, deep listening, trust-building and understanding individual motivations, which foster a cycle of human flourishing for both giver and recipient.
Guest: Fr. James Burns
Title: President, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
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To contact the podcast, email twb@steiergroup.com.
