By Dan Sherven
The Archdiocese of Regina welcomes James Lipoth as the new Director of Development.
Lipoth says his role comes down to three things: connecting with people, communicating the mission of the Church — specifically the Archdiocese of Regina — and asking for what is needed to accomplish that mission. He will oversee all fundraising efforts in the Archdiocese, as well as offering support for parish fundraising efforts.
Lipoth spent 13 years in financial services before his new role as Director of Development, and is quick to point out that giving to the Archdiocese is not just about money. “When we focus on what we are trying to accomplish, that is really the piece of importance,” he says.
“God is generous and we’re created in His image,” Lipoth says. “We become generous in a sense — in a smaller way — the way God is generous, when we give in various ways, including when we give monetarily. When we donate, we become co-missionaries with the causes that we donate to.”
“Sometimes we can give our time,” Lipoth says. “We have the time or the talents to do things. Sometimes the way of participating and being part of the mission is by giving.”
One of Lipoth’s talents is music: “The first eight years of my adult life I served in youth and music ministry in various places across Canada, and I have a heart to serve God through serving people and through ministry.”
“[God] speaks to me through music,” Lipoth says. “And I feel like I speak to Him with music. It’s an integral part of my prayer life; it always has been and it always will be.”
Lipoth plays in the band The Silent Jays, which began with him playing music at Mass. “After Mass someone came up to me and asked if I’d be willing to play at the Luther High School Gala. I really hadn’t played a lot of music outside of Church events. So I reached out to some friends that I [knew] from playing in Church and music ministries, and we put a group together.”
The Silent Jays play at events throughout Regina. “I love all types of music,” Lipoth says. “I’ve listened to just about everything over the years. I’m always growing and changing with what I love to listen to. I would say lately more Blues, Folk, and Americana.” He often gives talks outlining his personal testimony and speaks about the relationship between faith and music.
“I grew up in a family that was practicing Catholic,” Lipoth says. “We’d go to different events. It was always a part of our family. We’d pray together. My faith came alive in a personal way at a SEARCH retreat in Regina that I attended when I was 15. At that retreat I learned, not just in my head but in my heart: God knows me and He loves me.
“He wants me to be in Heaven with Him and He has a plan for my life now. Ever since that point in my life, I have viewed myself to be on a journey to seek out what that plan is.”
Now Lipoth says, “the plan is to serve Him through ministry, through development. Using the tools I’ve developed from my eight years in ministry combined with the experience and tools I’ve developed in financial services and working with people in business.”
He says his biggest challenge as Director of Development will be “making sure we connect with people. We need to communicate our mission as a Church and show how [people] can take part in the mission of the Church in various ways, including donating.”
“The way I see this role is rooted in all of us in the Archdiocese today taking our place in history,” Lipoth says. “This is where God put us. He’s established a Church and this is our time to be stewards of that Church. I’m very hopeful for developing and growing that Church here.”
In closing Lipoth says, “God calls us to have a spirit of generosity. It’s part of His own nature and it’s a way we’re created in His image. That generosity can take many forms. My focus is to cultivate a spirit of generosity through giving.”
You can reach James Lipoth at 1-306-721-6726. And you can learn more about giving to the Archdiocese of Regina here: https://archregina.sk.ca/giving
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Dan Sherven is the author of three books: Light and Dark, Classified: Off the Beat ‘N Path, and Live to the Point of Tears. Here you can find his books, articles, podcasts, and more: https://linktr.ee/dansherven |
