Donor Story
Bishop Lawrence T. Persico Endowment for Pastoral Ministry
In 2017, as he approached the fifth anniversary of his ordination as bishop of the Diocese of Erie, The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico marked the milestone not with a celebration for himself, but with a gift for the future of the Church. Through the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania, he established The Bishop Lawrence T. Persico Endowment for Pastoral Ministry — a lasting source of funding to strengthen those who serve the people of God.
“As I approached the fifth anniversary of my ordination as Bishop of Erie, I wanted to express my appreciation to the people of this diocese,” Bishop Persico said at the time. The endowment was created in response to needs identified during the diocesan pastoral planning process. He envisioned a fund that would quietly but steadily build resources for clergy and lay men and women seeking to deepen their knowledge and enhance their pastoral skills.
“My hope is that by establishing this source of funding which will build into the future, the Foundation will always have resources for people who want to build their skills and knowledge in pastoral ministry,” he explained.
Recently, Bishop Persico revisited the story of the fund’s founding and reviewed its growth and impact. The original purpose statement, he said, still reflects his intention. “Pastoral ministry is a broad term,” he noted. From preschool religious education teachers to parish and diocesan staff, from clergy to graduate-level professors, the fund was designed to be open to anyone committed to serving the Church more effectively.
What surprised him most was the growth of the fund. The balance has grown to more than three times his original gift. He recalled the notifications he received when others contributed to the endowment and expressed gratitude for those who joined him in strengthening it. The growth, he said, is a sign that the broader community shares his vision.
A review of the fund’s impact sparked a particularly meaningful conversation. Bishop Persico carefully counted the clergy and lay leaders who have already benefited, recalling the conferences they attended, the courses they completed, and the training they received. One grant stood out in particular — support for studies in canon law for the Assistant Chancellor of the diocese, Maria Caulfield. She is the first lay person in the diocese being formally trained in that discipline. “This is good because it benefits her personally, and she will be a great value to the Church in this diocese,” he said.
For Bishop Persico, the heart of the endowment is not institutional strength alone, but personal growth. “I wanted to open the grant opportunity to all to further their knowledge of their faith and their appreciation for the Church,” he reflected. He returned often to a simple conviction: when individuals grow, the Church grows with them. “If I know more about the Church, I can use that knowledge for the betterment of the people I serve. Greater knowledge drives me to assist my sisters and brothers in the Church — to make them a better person in their role of discipleship. The people make up the Church, and this makes for a better Church.”
Especially in a time of priest shortage, investing in both clergy and lay leadership is essential. The endowment ensures that formation will continue — not just today, but long into the future.
“And this will continue to grow long after I’m gone and continue to serve the diocese and enable more people to take advantage of this,” Bishop Persico said. Pausing, he added with characteristic humility, “I wish I could give more.”
Through this endowment, his gratitude has become a lasting gift — one that will strengthen pastoral ministry for generations to come.
“My hope is that by establishing this source of funding which will build into the future, the Foundation will always have resources for people who want to build their skills and knowledge in pastoral ministry.”