By Joan King, Special to your Catholic Herald

WAUKESHA — If there are criteria for heading the Catholic Stewardship Appeal, one would know, after talking to Dick and Carol Richards, 2005 and 2006 chairman and chairwoman of the Catholic Stewardship Appeal for the Milwaukee Archdiocese, that enthusiasm tops the list. The Richards’ enthusiasm is rooted in their faith.

“It is our purpose on earth, one way we can help,” said Carol. “We are so strongly enthusiastic about the Catholic Stewardship Appeal. You know every single dollar is well spent and cared for. The money goes for many needs. We have rethought our charity giving, giving to where the heart directs.”

“The integrity of Catholic Stewardship Appeal is that only 8 percent goes to administration,” Dick added.

As chairs, the Richards attend luncheons and dinners, act as catalysts when needed, and mainly “show up when you’re asked,” according to Carol.

“When (Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan) asked, we couldn’t, we didn’t want to, say no,” she said. “In fact, we were honored to accept.” They met the archbishop in 2002, his first winter in Milwaukee, when he opened the annual Christmas display at the Country Springs Hotel and walked through their ‘Streets of Bethlehem.” They marvel at his outreach, his willingness to step in whenever there is a need.

“We prepare the way for the archbishop. Like the shepherds in the Nativity scene — there was always one with a lamb over his shoulders — we look at the archbishop as a shepherd, taking the sheep to safety. There are so many sheep that need caring for. He can’t do it alone. We want to do everything we can to help. We have to help,” said Carol. “Jesus said, ‘Go out. Don’t worry what you’ll say. The Holy Spirit will help.’ I always call on the Holy Spirit to put words into my mouth.”

The Richards are members of the Campanile Society, a leadership giving group for the archdiocese’s Catholic Stewardship Appeal. They’ve been featured in radio spots for the appeal and quoted on the Campanile Society flyer. They’ve hosted the annual Campanile Society dinner and brought new members into the society by championing the importance of the appeal.

After celebrating 51 years of marriage last July, both say they have been so blessed — to have found each other, to have good health, and family.

They noted that when they were young — both attended St. Alexander parish and grade school in Milwaukee — they were lucky to “have the nuns and go to Mass every day.”

“Our Catholic education was priceless. The home life we came from contributed good role models,” said Carol. “We came from solid families. My dad was the church secretary and my mother a foster mother (to more than 250 children, many of whom Carol and Dick are godparents for) with Catholic Charities. Dick’s mom and dad were involved with the formation of St. Francis Hospital. Three of his aunts joined the School Sisters of St. Francis at an early age and one became provincial.”

Although they were in the same grade at St. Alexander, they really started to know each other in a young people’s club at the parish after high school. According to the Richards’, 13 marriages came from that small group of 49 in which Carol was an actor and singer. Dick worked with the stage crew.

As advocates of teaching stewardship to children, the Richards note that their son is volunteer firefighter and EMT for the city of Delafield, their younger daughter and husband in Arizona cook for the homeless, and their older daughter gives back to the community at the Waukesha Women’s Center.

Dick is on the golden anniversary celebration committee at their parish, St. William in Waukesha. The couple attends daily Mass at the Schoenstatt Sisters Retreat Center in Waukesha.

After running Red Carpet Bowling Lanes for many years, the Richards have owned the Country Springs Hotel off Highway I-94 west of Waukesha for close to 25 years. Their faith also influences business decisions.

“When Dick is in control it is extremely ethical,” said Carol. Dick added, “When I grew up it was handshakes, no contracts. We worked with people. (At Country Springs) both husbands and wives work and their kids also. We have a great group of banquet waitstaff — the Country Springs Widows club. They’ve worked together for 20 to 30 years. We’re family here.”

The Richards enjoy seeing how the stewardship campaign and outreach works in distant parishes where they may vacation. Having just returned from Arizona, they marveled that the Phoenix Diocese has a goal of $10 million with a Catholic population of 500,000. The Milwaukee Archdiocese has a population of 700,000 and a goal of $7.5 million this year.

They will bring new ideas to upcoming appeal meetings in answer to “How can we expand the program here?” “How do we get outreach, parishes involved?”

“Anything in life that you push yourself to do, you’re the one who benefits. Asking people to help, each has to give from the heart and want to. When you think you’re giving, you end up getting more than you gave,” said Carol.

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