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Contents
Stewardship Prayers of the Faithful
Save the Date!
Stewardship and Development in Tough Economic Times
Stewardship Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola
For Your Bulletin
FREE Stewardship Webinars
Encouraging Mass Attendance
True Stewardship is a Long-Term Investment
Mission Statement 
 
To be co-responsible with Jesus Christ in the building of the kingdom of God and to promote discipleship and spiritual growth through hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. 
 
 
Stewardship Links
 

Below are diocesan and publisher websites that contain resources on stewardship for use in your parish.  Some of these materials can be downloaded, while others must be ordered. 



Stewardship Prayers of the Faithful 

We recommend that every week in every parish, a stewardship intention be included in the "Prayers of the Faithful."  Below are sample intentions for each week from the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Please share this section with the person who writes your weekly intentions.

 
 

January 2, 2011

That, like the Magi, we may generously bring our gifts and treasures to Jesus, knowing that He will use what we offer to do His work here on earth.

January 9, 2011
That, recognizing the responsibilities of our own Baptism, we all may participate more fully in the life and liturgy of the Church.

January 16, 2011
That we may faithfully live as God's stewards, fulfilling the plan He had for each of us as He formed us in the womb.

January 23, 2011
That, like the Apostles, we may hear Our Lord's invitation, "Come after me," and respond by participating more fully in the mission of the Church. 

January 30, 2011
That, as a parish community, we may recognize that each of us has valuable work to do in building up the body of Christ. 

February 6, 2011
That we may become a more compassionate people, reaching beyond our parish boundaries to share our blessings with others who have greater needs than ours.

February 13, 2011
That the choices we make each day may be motivated by a desire to love and serve God more fully.

February 20, 2011
That we may be willing to go the extra mile in serving Jesus and encouraging others to participate in the life and liturgy of our parish.

February 27, 2011
That we may put God first in our lives, trusting that He will provide for all of our needs.
topStewardship News & Notes
A newsletter for those promoting the gifts of time, talent and treasure
January/February 2011


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

 

Aren't we all guilty of "zoning out" during Mass whenever the topic of money is discussed?  Read Msgr. Costigan's article True Stewardship is a Long-Term Investment to see how investing in a relationship with Christ is worth every penny, especially during these difficult economic times.

 

In this issue, we hope you will find ideas and resources to help grow and strengthen your parish communities in the New Year.  Also, be sure to save the dates Aug. 4-5, 2011 to attend the Region XII Stewardship Conference being hosted for the first time by our Diocese.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Diocesan Stewardship Council:
Chairperson:  Val Allen, St. Mark's, Boise
Debbie Gallegos, Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Pocatello
Dan Makley, Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Father Jesus Camacho, St. Mary's, Boise
Gail Estes, All Saints Catholic Parish, Lewiston
John Hart, Holy Apostles, Meridian
Deacon Mike Eisenbeiss, Sacred Heart Parish, Boise

Let us help you!
Jim Hughes, Director of Stewardship and Development, [email protected]
Margaret Hampton, Coordinator of Stewardship and Development, [email protected]

Save the Date! 

Father Daniel J. Mahan
Father Daniel J. Mahan

The Diocese of Boise will be the host diocese for the Region XII Stewardship Conference on Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5, 2011.  It will be held at the Boise Center on the Grove and is being sponsored jointly by eight dioceses in the Northwest.

 

"This is big news for the stewardship process in our diocese.  We are now mature enough in our stewardship efforts to join previous host dioceses Seattle, Portland and Spokane.  Whenever a diocese has hosted a regional conference the result has always been a major boost in the quantity and quality of parish stewardship efforts within the host diocese," according to Jim Hughes, diocesan Director of Stewardship and Development.  "It helps parishes of all sizes really understand the stewardship concept beginning with the spiritual principles and helps them put an effective and lasting process in place."

 

The program planning is in the early stages, but we already have confirmation that much sought after speaker Father Dan Mahan has agreed to be one of several nationally prominent keynote speakers at the conference.  Father Mahan is a terrific speaker renowned for his ability to engage fellow priests and pastors in the discussion on how parishes can implement effective parish stewardship.  A regional planning committee is already working on the conference program specifics.  Diocesan planning efforts will be lead by the Diocesan Stewardship Council and parish leaders from around the state.  Save the date and stay tuned for more conference information as we begin the New Year!

Stewardship and Development in Tough Economic Times
   

Everyone is worrying about the economy. Here are some of the best things you can do to encourage consistent giving even in uncertain economic times.

 

Believe in the Stewardship Message. Even in hard economic times, the stewardship message touches hearts. In 2001, parishes teaching stewardship saw their Offertory increase 3% while collections across the Archdiocese fell 5%.

Don't Assume Giving Will Suffer. Religious giving is often the last to suffer even when the economy is tight. Do not excuse your parishioners or give them permission not to give. Instead, encourage them to trust in God and keep their priorities in order. Remember Our Lord's advice, "Ask and you shall receive."

 

Be Appreciative. Especially when dollars are tight, donors want to hear that their gifts are appreciated. Use your bulletin, pulpit and letters to remind people how grateful you are for their gifts. Definitely plan to send an end-of-the-year tax statement and thank-you letter. Do not make donors ask you for this!

Consider Electronic Offertory. Electronic Offertory Giving tends to stay steadier than regular Offertory giving. This is because with Electronic Offertory Giving a parishioner's gift has become a true commitment rather than just a matter of "What's left in my pocket at the end of the week."

Be Accountable. During tough economic times people are much more conscious about where their money goes and that includes the money they give to you. Make more efforts to educate parishioners about the costs of running the parish and how the parish uses the contributions that are given.

Eliminate Unnecessary Sales and Events. Fundraising through sales and events often makes donors spend more than they want yet the parish only gets a percentage of what was given. Cut back on this kind of fundraising and instead ask parishioners to simply give more generously.

Ask for Planned Gifts. When disposable income is tight, donors may be more inclined to pledge planned gifts. Charitable Gift Annuities pay a very good rate and gifts through bequests make donors feel that they can help in the future even if they cannot give much now. Contact Jim Hughes at [email protected] for Planned Giving information or to organize an Estate Planning seminar for your parish.

Teach Fiscal Responsibility. We have economic problems today because people were not good stewards of the gifts God gave them. Our Sunday Visitor and Parish Publishing both offer resources for teaching good personal financial management.

 

Copyright Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Reprinted with permission.

Stewardship Prayer

of St. Ignatius Loyola


Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will--all that I have and call my own.
You have given it all to me.
To you, Lord I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.
FOR YOUR BULLETIN
A first step to getting parishioners to participate is to get them to register.  Use this article to encourage registration in your parish. 

Are You Registered?

Did you know that demographic studies estimate that more than 1/3 of all Catholics are not registered in a parish?  Please encourage your friends and family to register!

 

Registering is important because:

  • If a parish doesn't know who is out there, how can it adequately serve the needs of all - especially singles, divorced or young families who may not see the need to register? 
  • When the services of the Church are needed - such as for a wedding, Baptism or funeral - it is easier if the person is registered.
  • Registered parishioners receive helpful information about our parish including (list here the welcome and communication services that you provide.)

Registering is easy.  Simply (give directions for registering in your parish.).

 

 

Winter Weather Woes

Use this article if severe winter weather impacts your budget and/or your Offertory.  If you are using electronic Offertory, this is also a good time to remind parishioners how to sign up for electronic Offertory.

 

The recent winter weather provides double challenge for our parish.  When ice, snow, severe cold or winter illness prevents parishioners from attending weekend Masses, our Offertory suffers.  This has a direct impact on the funds we have available each week to pay our bills and meet our payroll.  The problem becomes even more complicated when we are faced with increased heating, salt and snow removal bills.

 

 Any extra help that you can give is greatly appreciated.  If you do have to miss Mass for illness or weather, please know how very grateful we are when you drop your Offertory gift later in the week or include it with your next week's offering.  This really helps us keep our budget balanced.

 

 

 
Copyright Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Reprinted with permission..
FREE Stewardship Webinars
The Development and Stewardship Office is purchasing a diocesan-wide registration each month that allows any parish staff or volunteers to attend webinars offered by Our Sunday Visitor at no cost.  There is no limit on the number of attendees from our diocese or your parish.  The one-hour sessions are offered at two times on the second Tuesday of each month, except during the summer months of June, July, and August when they are only offered at one time.

Our Sunday Visitor has assembled nationally acclaimed speakers to present a variety of stewardship topics for these webinars.  Below are descriptions of the upcoming webinars.  The parish link to register is:


Once parishes register on the link above, Our Sunday Visitor will send them the "Join" link for them to join the webinar.  The registration deadline is the day before the scheduled webinar.

 
Lorene DuquinGift Discernment
 Date:  Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Time:  12-1 p.m. or 5-6 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Presenter:  Lorene Duquin
Description:  God has given everyone gifts.  It's easier to identify the gifts of other people, but we need to be able to identify our own gifts.  It's not about us:  it's about what God has given us.  This webinar will offer practical tips on how to help parishioners identify their God-given gifts and find ways of using them at home, at work, in the parish and in the world.

Getting Started with Stewardship
Date:  Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Time:  12-1 p.m. or 5-6 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Presenter:  Trish Johnston
Description:  This webinar is intended for newcomers to stewardship, and for those who would like to revisit the basics of the stewardship process, with its deep roots in scripture and the lived experience of the Church.  Learn the core principles of the stewardship way of life and how to make it real in your own faith community.



Encouraging Mass Attendance

A First Step to Greater Stewardship


Successful stewardship parishes and dioceses across the country are finding that there is a direct correlation between Mass attendance and good stewardship.  Here's why:

  1. If Catholics are not even willing to give one hour a week to God in praise and thanksgiving, chances are they will not be very generous with their time, talent and treasure in other areas.
  2. If the work that we do as a parish community is not grounded in the Eucharist, then we can easily become little more than a private social club--giving time, talent and treasure for our own needs, interests and activities rather than for the overall mission and ministry of the Church.
  3. Stewardship takes great faith.  When we spend time with God in the Eucharist, our faith grows and He empowers us to go out and live as His faithful stewards.  Without the support of the Eucharist, living as a good steward can be an overwhelming challenge in today's busy and materialistic society.

 

Here are some suggestions for increasing Mass attendance in your parish:

  • Have the pastor call newly registered parishioners and ask them to stop and introduce themselves to him after Mass.
  • Schedule a monthly or quarterly "Family Mass" or "Children's Mass" with the themes more appropriate to students.  Involve students in the Liturgy.  Schedule them to bring up the gifts, be readers, serve as greeters, and help take up the collection.  When children attend Mass, the parents attend Mass.
  • Ask religion teachers in grades 6th-8th to have students discuss the Sunday homily as part of their religion class.  This requires them to attend Mass.
  • Ask all coaches to plan one team Mass a season.  Also ask organizations to schedule an annual or quarterly Mass for their members.
  • Ask the pastor to write to school families encouraging greater Mass attendance.
  • Ask the pastor to write a letter after Labor Day to all parish families, asking them to return to Mass after the summer vacations.
  • Ask the pastor to talk at all parish meetings about greater Mass attendance.
  • Plan special Masses for special groups.  Make sure these individuals receive mailed invitations or a phone call inviting them to attend the Mass.  An announcement in the bulletin won't work, since they may not regularly be attending Mass.  Include in the plans for these special Masses a blessing for thos honored and hospitality in the parish hall afterward.
  • In January--on the feast of the Lord's Baptism, invite all those who had a child baptized in the parish in the last year.
  • In February--on the weekend closest to Valentine's Day, invite all those newly married in the last year.
  • In March or April--invite all those who have registered in the parish in the last year.  Include their last names on a banner or poster that is displayed.
  • In May or June--invite all those who have graduated from high school that year.  It's easy to get those names by going back to 8th grade records from four years ago.
  • In November--on the weekend closest to All Souls invite all those who have lost a loved one in the past year.  You might want to tell them to bring a picture to place around the altar that day.

Copyright by the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Reprinted with permission.

True Stewardship is a Long-Term Investment

Msgr. P. James Costigan
Msgr. P. James Costigan

by Msgr. P. James Costigan

 

Many of us are guilty of "zoning out" at Mass whenever money is discussed.  In our minds, money has no place in church.  We think Mass should focus on spiritual matters, and encourage us to grow in our relationship with God, not tell us how to spend our hard-earned paychecks.  But, for the true steward, money has a spiritual component.  When used according to God's will, our income becomes a sort of prayer--an expression of our devotion to God, and our trust in His plan for our lives.

 

The concept of tithing--giving 10 percent to God--is viewed by many as an unreachable goal.  Most of us live just within our means, and consider tithing as an obligation we'd rather avoid.  Regardless, God calls us to return a portion of the gifts He has given us back to Him.  After all, "The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it" (Ps 24:1).

 

Giving of our treasure is a natural component of true stewardship.  Stewardship is not a fundraising gimmick; nevertheless, if we are to give of our all--as the gospels instruct us to do--then we must give from our wallets just as we give of our time and talents.  For many, the first steps toward reaching the scriptural tithe can be painful.  If we are not used to giving back to God financially, then we should expect to feel a pinch.  However, after some time, tithing becomes natural--and eventually, a joy.  Those who return a portion of their income back to God know the joy and blessings that comes from giving back to God out of gratitude.

 

And that's what tithing is all about:  gratitude.  Sure, it is important for parishioners to financially support their local parish by tithing.  Wer it not for the weekly offertory, churches wouldn't have the resources to operate.  But that's not the real reason we are called to tithe.  We are called to do so because that's what God has asked of us.  It's that simple.

 

Many choose not to tithe because they feel their parish will spend the money unwisely.  This is the wrong way to view tithing.  "We give to the Lord, not to our church; our churchis our trustee," writes Daniel Propson, professor of philosophy at Wayne State University, and contributor to Touchstone:  A Journal of Mere Christianity.  "If she has not seemed trusthworthy before, perhaps it is because we did not hazard to trust her.  Our role is to make ourselves volunerable, to give God the opportunity to transform the gift we have given for his kingdom.  At worst, we have done what we ought to do, and grown in character.  We have lived with less, and leaned on God more."

 

For many parishes, we are asked to give five percent of our income to the parish, one percent to the diocese, and four percent to other charities.  This isn't the sole focus of stewardship, but an integral part of the mix.  Stewardship is about giving our all to God, and our finances are a big part of who we are.  And, when it comes to long-term investments, investing in a relationship with Christ is worth every penny.

 

Copyright 2010 www.THECATHOLICSTEWARD.COM

 

Contact Information
Margaret Hampton at [email protected]