Wescott preparing to tackle new role

A quarter century of work for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita isn’t quite long enough for Michael W. Wescott, but he is expressing plans to adjust the volume and nature of that work.

Wescott, who has directed the diocese’s Office of Development and Planned Giving since 2004 – before which he spent three-and-a-half years as director of development at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School – will soon step away from his current position. Nevertheless, Wescott notes, he plans to take on a new part-time role and serve the diocese by helping Vicar General Fr. John Jirak with his duties as moderator of the curia.

“It’s time to let somebody else lead this office,” Wescott said. “I will work for Fr. Jirak part-time, probably 20-24 hours a week.”

“I have been blessed to know Mike for several decades now, including as his pastor and now as his supervisor,” Fr. Jirak said. “Mike is truly unique in his role as director of development for the diocese. His experience, gifts, skills, and disciplined approach to his work have borne incredible fruit for the diocese. Honestly, in Mike’s case, it may be better to admire his work than to try to imitate it.”

A glorious ride

Every job has its downsides, Wescott acknowledges, but the previous two-and-a-half decades have been more about blessings than headaches. “Every job has some aspect that you don’t really love, or that you find unsatisfying,” he said. “It’s fair to say that the percentage of my job that meets that description is very small. I have loved this job.”

And it’s not only the tasks and responsibilities, Wescott indicates. Arriving on Monday mornings to work alongside the people in the diocesan curia and their leaders has been a joy, says a man who was hired by former Bishop Thomas Olmstead, and worked for preceding Bishop Michael Jackels and the diocese’s current shepherd, Bishop Carl Kemme.

“It’s been a glorious ride,” Wescott said. “Both Bishop Jackels and Bishop Kemme have been quite visionary, and the vision is always big, and the opportunities are huge.”

Wescott expresses particular appreciation for Bishop Kemme’s penchant for partnership. “People probably don’t realize what a collaborator he is,” he said. “He really, sincerely seeks input. Fr. Jirak is no different.”

Wescott readily acknowledges his career has included some misses alongside the hits, but expresses appreciation for the people who have placed their trust in him to the point that such disappointments are even possible. “People have believed in me,” he said. “They have given me the opportunity for failure, and I have taken it. But over these 25 years, I have been positively received, especially by our great priests.”

Engaged faithful

Wescott says he arrived at his latest career decision after considerable prayer and discernment. “It’s time for me to step away,” he said. “I will continue to serve on the Curia Leadership Team and on the Diocesan Building Commission. I will also have a bit of both supervisory responsibility and project management. It’s exciting to think I still have enough horsepower to take on something like that, but I think God’s calling me to allow somebody else in the younger generation to steer this ship.”

As he looks back, Wescott admits that it’s hard to identify a favorite memory or two, but even if no specific moment or two immediately sets itself apart, certain types of experiences do. “I enjoy every time that I get to go out to be with people, or when I get to introduce people to the bishop,” he said. “I am also still amazed to see how alive the Church is outside this chancery building. I am inspired to see so many Catholics out there who believe the same things I do.”

Had he spent more of his time within the walls of his office, Wescott suggests, he could easily have fallen prey to doubts about whether the faithful were truly engaged with the Church. The antidote to that has been going out to meet the faithful amid initiatives such as the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign. “I go out to places like Fort Scott, Fredonia, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Kingman, Ark City, Winfield, and talk with people,” Wescott said. “I see that they are good, strong Catholics who are excited about the visions we are putting forward.”

That is not to suggest that those visions have always been accepted immediately, he continues, but even that aspect of the work has become something Wescott especially appreciates. “I don’t have all the answers, but I love being able to defend our vision and say something like ‘That’s a good question. And let me tell you what we were thinking,” he said. “I love sharing those reasons with others.”

Ultimately, Wescott says his time in the position has been eye-opening. “When you put the right thing in front of people, and they get excited about it, their generosity is humbling,” He said. “Some say they could never ask for money, but I tell them I’m really just inviting people to believe in the future of our Church.”