Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 23, 2002
New faces head archdiocesan stewardship, capital campaign programs
Helping parishes develop stewardship, raise funds proves rewarding
By Alwen Bledsoe
A row of offices on the second floor of the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization house the archdiocesan Stewardship and Development offices as well as the Catholic Foundation. Now two of those offices have new occupants.
Nancy Walla became secretary for stewardship and development Nov. 19, following her appointment as president and executive director of the Catholic Foundation Oct. 1. Joseph Roos began serving the archdiocese as director of parish stewardship and capital campaigns Nov. 15.
Walla previously was senior vice president and legal counsel for an international health care company headquartered in Denver. Roos was director of development for Catholic Charities in Madison, Wis.
In Walla's new position at the Catholic Foundation, she directs the long-term giving and planned giving for the archdiocese.
"I work with the archbishop and the board of directors to build up the existing endowments and to open new endowments that assist us in supporting the mission and ministries of the Church in northern Colorado," Walla said.
The "ministries that we support" are the Catholic schools, the archdiocesan seminaries, evangelization and religious education, local parishes and institutions, clergy and lay retirement, community services and social concerns, Walla added.
As secretary for stewardship and development, Walla directs the office's work of supporting parishes as they develop stewardship and pastoral council programs and committees. She also directs the archdiocesan fundraising efforts.
There are several aspects of the job that Walla said she finds particularly meaningful .
"The particularly appealing aspect of the Catholic Foundation is that we're planning for the Church's future," Walla said.
Helping others understand the importance of stewardship — offering time, talent and treasure to the Church — is also a vital piece of her job, she added.
"I tremendously enjoy the ability to help people both with their pathway to the Church as well as in their immediate needs," Walla said. "Best of all, however, are the many blessings I have received in my new roles."
Walla credits God with attracting her to her new job.
"I just felt a calling to take the skills and gifts God had given me and put them to use in service to his Church," Walla said.
In his new position, Roos counsels and supports parishes in the areas of parish councils, stewardship councils, and programs and fundraising for major construction projects like new schools and churches, he said.
"I enjoy helping people help themselves," Roos explained.
The job, he added, is really a ministry as fundraising provides churches with the resources they need to do their work.
Roos began fundraising work when his parish burnt down in 1988. He played a central role in raising the money to restore the church, he said. He also volunteered as director of institutional advancement for Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, N.Y.
That experience coupled with 16 years at IBM and his most recent job at Catholic Charities has really culminated in his current job, Roos said. The previous experience has provided him with the tools and expertise he uses daily now, he added.
Moving to Colorado has been an added bonus to the job — a big bonus, Roos said.
"It's a dream come true," he said.
He just took his first trip up the mountains a couple of weekends ago, Roos added.
"The beauty of the mountains is indescribable," he said.
And being a "people person," Roos loves the relationships and interactions that come out of his work.
"The people are friendly," he said of Coloradans.
Best of all, though, his job never gets boring.
"Whenever you're working and doing whatever you do for God and giving back, whether it's helping people or whether it's solving a problem, or whatever, you can't help but find joy in that, and that's why my job is so wonderful," Roos said. "There's never really a bad day because it's all meant to give back and to do for his kingdom."
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