- Donor Stories
Honoring Family, Forming Priests
In recent years, Father Tom Wiedel has walked through a series of losses that reshaped his perspective on faith and family. “My dad passed away in 2018, and I lost my youngest brother in 2019,” says Father. “In 2022, another brother died in an accident. Less than a week later, my mom passed away. A friend said he felt she died of a broken heart.”
Carry the Faith Forward
To honor the faith and example of his grandparents, parents, and brothers, Fr. Wiedel wanted to turn their memory into lasting support for priestly formation. “I wanted to leave something that would carry their names and help others continue the Lord’s work,” he shares. “A seminarian education fund is something they would be proud to be associated with.”
A Simple Way to Begin
At first, Fr. Wiedel considered writing a check. Then a conversation with Planned Giving Officer Chaz Zurcher opened other avenues. “I had this Knights of Columbus life insurance policy,” he says. “Chaz let me know it’s important to the Foundation that donations are given as wisely as possible, and using this policy is the smartest move for a Seminarian Burse Fund.”
How the Gift Works
By naming the Catholic Foundation as the beneficiary of that policy, Fr. Wiedel set up his legacy without touching his bank account. Upon his passing, the proceeds will go directly to the Foundation in honor of his grandparents, parents, and brothers. “It will go in a lump sum, and I trust the Diocese will know what to do with it,” he says. “There are so many different needs in a seminary.”
The Foundation combines seminarian burse gifts into a pooled endowment that the Diocese draws from each year—for tuition, housing, or facilities—so the support follows formation needs over time.
Humble at Heart
Simplicity guided Fr. Wiedel’s decisions. “The reality is, I’m 65, and I keep my finances modest,” he shares. “I like that the Foundation is here to handle this, and I know they’ll follow through with my wishes. That’s not something you can say for every charitable organization.” The team sees his gift a bit differently. “Fr. Wiedel is a generous person with a great heart,” says Zurcher. “And he’s been an important part of many rural parishes throughout his career.”
Rural Ministry, Lasting Good
Fr. Wiedel’s priesthood has been shaped by small parishes where pastors learn every name and stand with people through ordinary seasons. He wants future priests formed to serve in that same steady, pastoral way. “I give what little I have and try to get things sorted as best I can,” he says. His quiet plan carries love forward—honoring family while equipping the men who will serve the Church for years to come.
