CCF president exhorts Bishop Chatard seniors to give back

Jim Schellinger, president of the board of trustees of the archdiocese’s Catholic Community Foundation, speaks about stewardship to members of the senior class at Bishop Chatard High School in the Indianapolis North Deanery on April 30. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

With less than a month before they graduate from high school, the seniors of Bishop Chatard High School in the Indianapolis North Deanery got some advice to last a lifetime from Jim Schellinger, president of the board of trustees of the archdiocese’s Catholic Community Foundation.

Schellinger, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis, exhorted his young listeners on April 30 to realize how special they are, remain true to their values, and remember to give back to their Church and the broader community.

Since most of the seniors at Bishop Chatard will likely go to and graduate from college, Schellinger emphasized how special they are by telling them that, on average, only 1 percent of the world’s population gets to do that.

“Now, if you don’t think you’re special, think about those statistics,” he said.

Schellinger also said that the legacy we leave when we die in large part comes about through remaining true to our values.

“One hundred years from now, [there will be] all new people,” he said. “None of us will probably be here to talk about it. So make sure that you leave your mark, and you leave the world better than when you found it.”

He told the Chatard seniors that they leave their mark on the world by being good stewards and by giving back to others.

Schellinger explained that the importance of giving back to the community was instilled in him by his parents. He said it’s so important to him now that he sees his gubernatorial campaign as “an extension of giving back.”

He said the importance of stewardship really hit home for him when, as a young adult, he became a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and the pastor gave him envelopes to put in the Sunday collection.

“But it’s more than just giving money back,” said Schellinger. “It’s about giving time and giving your talent because you have so much to give back. … Make sure that you understand the importance of giving back because when you give back, guys, it will come full circle back to you so many times and as so many blessings in other ways.”

Chatard senior Suzy Nasser, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis, said she was glad that Schellinger took time to speak to her and her classmates, who are part of an age group that she said sometimes doesn’t pay much attention to current events.

“Everybody is too busy watching MTV and VH1 at the age of 18,” Suzy said. “No one turns on the news. [So] it’s kind of cool that he came in during our school hours to [talk] to us.” †