December 2012 issue of the Bishop's Bulletin - Catholic Diocese of ...

Merrigan family finds Creative
ways to support St. Agnes
“
What a great tool to get
income for now and to
leave a legacy,” said Nick.
“It works for everyone.
”
The Merrigan family, members of St. Agnes Parish, Vermillion, insist that they are pretty
typical when it comes to supporting their parish and community. But as long-time parish
members, this multi-generational family has found some creative ways to be generous.
It started more than 62 years ago with the marriage of Wayne and Mary (McMunigal)
Merrigan. Wayne, better known as “Moose”, and Mary (hereafter called Mother Mary for
reasons that will become obvious), started their family, eventually having seven sons. Their
deep involvement at St. Agnes was never in question.
“Faith is what motivated us,” said Mother Mary, in a recent conversation at her home
in Vermillion that included two of her sons, Tom and Nick, along with Nick’s wife Mary
(hereafter called Mary Cooper, her maiden name). Tom’s wife Mary (no, it is not a
requirement that all women in the family are named Mary), was not able to be present.
Three of the seven sons died at young ages. “Faith got us through that, too,” said Mother
Mary. And faith is still the motivator for her as she deals with Parkinson’s and her husband’s
diabetes. He is in a Vermillion nursing home.
So when St. Agnes Parish and School began an effort to prepare for the future, faith was
the motivator for creative giving, which included from various family members, cash, crops
and a house. Working with the staff of the Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota,
the family learned about financial gifting tools that make gifts possible.
“I never knew you could make a gift of grain to the parish,” said Tom. “But it gave us a way
to give that otherwise might not have been possible.”
The house on High Street originally belonged to grandparents and eventually passed on
to Moose and Mother Mary. Working with the Foundation staff, the house was donated to
the parish in the form of a Charitable Gift Annuity, providing income to Mother Mary and
Moose for now, and after their passing, funding the Merrigan Family Endowment in Memory
of Cecelia Houlton (the grandmother who owned the home) to benefit St. Agnes school.
“What a great tool to get income for now and to leave a legacy,” said Nick. “It works for
everyone.”
“This campaign is based on relationship to the parish,” said Father John Fischer, pastor of
St. Agnes. “We are inviting people to consider the future of this parish and school, to pray
about this and discern how they can be a part of it. Involvement in the parish means they
will likely be involved in the effort,” he said.
The Merrigans are involved. Mother Mary still co-chairs the parish prayer group. Through
the years she and Moose helped build the school and the new church (in the 1980s), were
ushers, members of the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society,
cemetery board, lectors, and more.
Their children and spouses have picked up where they left off, in many of the same roles.
Mary Cooper currently serves as a member of the campaign steering committee. And the
other Mary (Tom’s wife) was a long time St. Agnes school board member.
“It all means more to me now because of what I have learned through this committee,” said
Mary Cooper. “The word stewardship puts a name on what we have always done. When
the kids were in school we were involved with everything, and after they moved on we kept
volunteering in other ways,” she said.
“The family is all on the same page when it comes to support of the parish and school,” said
Nick.
But how they do it is unique to each. “I’m not much of a meeting
guy,” Tom said, “but give me a job – tree trimming at the cemetery,
reroofing the rectory. You look around and 15 others from the parish
are there with you too.” From plumbing needs to carving turkey for
the parish dinner, the various Merrigans, including brother Greg and
his wife Janet, have been helping out in whatever way their talent and
time allow.
While St. Agnes is debt free and there are no emergency needs, Fr.
Fischer said, “The goal is for a comprehensive approach to all facets
of the community – school, cemeteries, rectory, and endowments to
support religious education for all ages, teacher formation, tuition
assistance and technology. We want to put the parish in the position
of being ready for the next 50-60 years.”
For example, the school has been growing which has required
the addition of a modular building alongside the school to provide
enough space. “The school needs help,” said Tom. “Our family
has had a good experience and the school deserves to be updated.”
All seven Merrigan boys attended St. Agnes and Mike, Steve and
Tom were part of the very first year of classes. And almost every
grandchild attended St. Agnes as well. “The school is a strong part of
our faith and it is exciting to see it continue to grow,” said Greg.
Cemetery planning and care is another area needing attention
and the family is involved there too. Tom has been a cemetery board
member for years and sees the importance of taking care of Catholic
cemeteries. Father Fischer said plans include upgrades at Calvary
Cemetery in Vermillion, as well as Fairview Cemetery, located east of
Vermillion along Highway 50 where long ago stood Our Lady of the
Rosary Church. Fairview is the older cemetery, but actually has the
potential to serve the parish needs well into the future.
The parish is praying a special prayer written by parishioners
invoking the assistance of St. Agnes, an early Church martyr.
“Parishioners are gaining a better sense of who our patron was and
the example of her commitment and faith can inspire us,” said Fr.
Fischer.
The Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota is providing
assistance for the St. Agnes campaign not only with creative gift ideas
but with operational and logistical support.
Fr. John Fischer, pastor of St. Agnes Parish, is leading a
comprehensive effort to prepare the parish for the future.
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2011 - 2012 Annual Report