MADISON — The Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation, Inc. (CDMF) is pleased to announce two new additions to its board of directors: Fr. Tim Renz and Zak Koga.
New board members
Father Renz grew up around Jefferson and studied business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 2011 and is currently serving as the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Atkinson.
Upon his appointment to the board, Father Renz shared that he is looking forward to utilizing his perspective as a parish priest and his experience with church and school finances.
Koga is the co-founder and co-owner of Karben4 Brewing, the Madison-based craft beer brewery he started with his brother and a business partner.
He and his wife, Laura, currently live in Waunakee with their children and are parishioners at St. John the Baptist Parish.
Koga and his team at Karben4 started setting up “Drive-Thru Taprooms” at many parishes around the Madison area during this pandemic.
It has been a great way to support both the parishes and local businesses.
New funds
This past June, a generous donor established the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) Endowment.
The CMC is a non-profit organization that assists our brothers and sisters through meeting basic needs and providing opportunities for educational and spiritual growth.
Beginning in January of 2022, this fund will make distributions to directly support the CMC’s operating costs, programs, and services.
Another new fund was created in December of 2019: the Maier Family Endowment for Rural Catholic Life.
This fund was initially established by the board of directors and friends of the CDMF to honor Daun Maier’s service to the diocese following her retirement as the foundation’s first executive director.
Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general and CDMF board member, shared the following reflection at its inception:
“Having served as a seminarian and later as a parish priest in our rural parishes, especially in Grant County, I can attest to the unique economic hardships, social service needs, and spiritual needs among our cherished rural families. They’re the ‘backbone’ of our diocese in so many ways, with a solid faith life amidst the challenges they face.”
This fund will begin making distributions to support rural Catholic life through grants to parishes, ministries, and Catholic organizations in the diocese in early 2021.
If you would like to learn more about the CDMF or contribute to one of the endowment funds, visit www.diocesemadisonfoundation.org or call 608-821-3049 for more information.
Erin Kerns is the development coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation.