Meet Our Parish’s New Advancement Director!

In June, we welcomed Patrick Kennedy as our new Director of Advancement. Some of you may remember Patrick from his work as an embedded consultant for our Preservation & Promise church restoration campaign from 2020 to 2022. Patrick was also a member of our most recent OCIA cohort, joining the Catholic Church (and our parish) this Easter. Patrick will help lead our membership growth, engagement, and giving efforts; he’ll also guide a strategic planning process as we discern God’s calling for our parish community in the coming years.

Prior to joining our staff, Patrick was a professional fundraising consultant for nearly seven years. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, and B.A.s in History and International Studies from Presbyterian College in upstate South Carolina.

Learn about Patrick Kennedy in this short interview.

What is an advancement director? Why is it important? And why are you excited about the role?

Advancement is about moving forward. In a parish context, that means to listen for how Jesus is calling our community to be his hands and feet in our specific time and place, and then to marshall the people and resources to go follow that call. I recently learned from Maggie Warner that the part of church where the congregation sits - the nave - comes from the same root word as navy and naval. In other words: the church is a ship. Our pews aren’t stadium seats: they’re benches with oars. I see my role as helping us discern where we need to take our ship, ensure we’re well-supplied for the journey, and help us all row in unison so we get where we need to go. I’m excited because we have so many incredibly talented, warm, and active rowers at St. Ignatius Parish. Folks have been quick to welcome me and respond to some of my early asks for support - especially our parishioners who join us on our livestream!

What inspired you to join our parish community in this new role? What prepared you for the opportunity?

I was placed here as a consultant, but I came to have such an appreciation for the place and people here. This parish was the first place that made me feel like I could practice my spirituality while still being my full, authentic self. After I rotated off this assignment, I went to work for other nonprofit clients where - frankly - the work didn’t feel as meaningful and the people weren’t as fun. When Fr. Greg asked me to consider the position, it was a very easy decision to come back and get to rowing.

Reach out to Patrick with any questions at [email protected] or 415-422-6503!