As a young couple, Mike and Debbie Bloomgren’s budget was often stretched. “There were times when we thought we weren’t sure how we would make it,” they recalled. They had considered missions work but God called them instead to the mission of raising a family with six children, grounded in a solid foundation of Catholic faith in their home.“In the early days, before paying the bills, we would always first take out money for the Church. It has always been important to us to give back to God first,” the Bloomgrens shared.

“Even though we started with nothing, God took care of us. And it seemed that the more generous we were, the more God would take care of us.” This practice of stewardship has continued to grow over the course of their marriage.

When they learned about the opportunity to create a Donor Advised Fund with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan, they decided to open one to support their parish, St. Joseph of Lake Orion, MI. “Now that we are stable we are in a place to give back in a way that will leave a legacy,” they said.

“We hand a legacy of faith and stewardship to our children and our children’s children. If we do not do it, who will?”

St. Joseph Parish will celebrate its 90th anniversary on November 4, 2018. The Bloomgrens describe the parish as, “a combination of the old and new together. It is almost like a rebirth.” They appreciate the hospitality of the parish and are grateful for their longtime pastor, Fr. Mike Verschaeve.

The Bloomgrens chose to establish a fund with the Catholic Foundation so that they would not have to spend time and energy making the investments themselves. They were attracted to the Foundation’s commitment to Catholic values and ability to make an impact in the local community.

“We can make a difference with our finances. Let’s start at home,” they said.

For others who may be considering a fund with the Catholic Foundation, the Bloomgrens advised, “Pray and have faith. The more you give, the more you will receive. This is true with your time and talent as well as finances. We didn’t always believe that until we experienced it.”

They shared a call to action to all Catholics: “We are the Church. We hand a legacy of faith and stewardship to our children and our children’s children. If we do not do it, who will?”