ADVANCING THE MISSION
Sacred Heart Major Seminary , a Sound Investment in the Future of the Church
Karla Dorweiler
As a lifelong Catholic , George Schwartz has found a way to bring together all aspects of his life to reflect his Catholic faith . That includes his financial support of Sacred Heart Major Seminary . Schwartz , a Chartered Financial Analyst , is the Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel , Inc ., headquartered in Plymouth , Michigan
“ The need for priests is obvious ,” Schwartz said . “ We need good priests , and I know there are good priests being formed at Sacred Heart .”
Schwartz first developed a deep gratitude for Catholic priests while attending Detroit Catholic Central High School , where one of the Basilian priests at the school played an instrumental role in his father ’ s conversion to Catholicism . After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Detroit Mercy and establishing his company in 1980 , he learned about the work of Sacred Heart through his friends Tom Monaghan , founder of Domino ’ s Pizza , and Michael Monahan , former president of Comerica Bank .
“ I always knew about the seminary , of course . But it was through them that I came to appreciate the merits of properly formed and devoted young men that give their lives to support the Church ,” said Schwartz . “ Sacred Heart is a great institution , and I ’ m very fond of it .”
In his life and career , Schwartz champions pro-life and pro-family causes . For the last 20 years , Schwartz Investment Counsel has focused on “ morally responsible investing ” through Ave Maria Mutual Funds , a family of mutual funds for individuals seeking to avoid investing in companies that support abortion , pornography , or embryonic stem cell research . A Catholic Advisory Board provides guidance to the advisers in accordance with the Church and meets regularly to review the religious standards and criteria of the fund . Ave Maria Mutual Funds have grown to become the largest family of Catholic mutual funds in the country .
In his 2019 book , In God We Trust : Morally Responsible Investing , Schwartz explains the rationale behind investing with one ’ s conscience . The opening paragraph states :
Photo by Valaurian Waller
Wise investment management is a moral imperative . Why ? Because prudent investing is essential to meeting future needs and community needs , particularly through charitable giving . But there is another , perhaps more subtle moral dimension . When we invest in a company , we become an owner , and our investment contributes to the company ’ s success . Are we comfortable with what we own ? Does the enterprise reflect our core beliefs ? If not , what opportunities
26 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2022