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Contents
Bulletin Bits
Prayers of Faithful
Make Giving Part of Your Summer Plan
For Your Bulletin: Stewardship Thoughts
Stewardship Webinars
Register for NW Regional Stewardship Conference
Planning a Stewardship Renewal?
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 Prayer of Gratitude

 

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits and blessings which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me.  Merciful Friend, Brother and Redeemer, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly day by day. 

Amen

 
Bulletin Bits Based on Sunday Readings 
  

These bulletin bits are from Sharon Hueckel's book, Stewardship by the Book, and are reprinted here with permission.  Whether your parish is preparing to launch a formal stewardship "program," nurturing an earlier stewardship effort, trying to increase awareness of the link between discipleship and stewardship, or just trying desperately to keep the parish financially afloat, dropping Stewardship by the Book into the bulletin each week is one fairly painless way to work on stewardship education.  Click here for stewardship reflections for the July/August Sunday readings.

 

Prayers of the Faithful

We recommend that every week in every parish a stewardship intention should be included in the "Prayers of the Faithful."  Click here for July/August prayers.

 

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. 


4 Pillars of Stewardshp

 

Hospitality

Prayer

Formation

Service

 

Click here to access the complete Four Pillars of Stewardship resource manual from the Diocese of Wichita

 

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topStewardship News & Notes
An e-newsletter provided by the Office of Development for those promoting the gifts of time, talent and treasure
July/August 2013

          

Temperatures are heating up as we head into July and what better time than summer to relax, reflect, and plan for the year.  Check out the links in this newsletter to plan your parish stewardship renewal efforts and great resources for newbies just getting started.

 

There are also Stewardship Thoughts, Prayers of the Faithful, and Bulletin Bits to help continue with educational efforts throughout the year.

 

Summer can also be difficult for parishes and nonprofits as they struggle to fill volunteer positions while people take vacations so don't forget to Make Giving Part of Your Summer Plan.  This summer, we are also making our final push for our Building On Our Past, Envisioning Our Future capital campaign, which has reached nearly $12 million from over 5,500 donors statewide.  If you have not yet participated, please click here to donate.

 

Please checkout the many upcoming stewardship educational opportunities including the monthly webinars and the NW Region XII Stewardship Conference in Vancouver, WA scheduled for August 23 and 24.  We hope you find this newsletter insightful and will share with your friends in the stewardship journey.  God bless!

 

What are  stewardship ideas or topics you'd like us to feature?  Send us creative ways to reach out to our brothers and sisters at [email protected] and we will try to publish them in this newsletter or on our web pages. 

 

LET US HELP YOU! 

Diocesan Stewardship Council:

Val Allen, St. Mark's, Boise
Debbie Gallegos, Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Pocatello
Father Jesus Camacho, St. Mary's, Boise
Gail Estes, All Saints Catholic Parish, Lewiston
Carolyn Bailey, Holy Apostles, Meridian
Bob Sobotta, Superintendent, Catholic Schools Office
  
Office of Development:

Adrienne Smith, Director, [email protected]

Margaret Hampton, Coordinator, [email protected]

Kerry Duraso, Data Management Specialist, [email protected]

Make Giving Part of Your Summer Plan

 

This article adapted from the May 2013 ICSC e-Bulletin

     
Summer is now in full swing and summer temperatures are rising.  Flowers are blooming and trees are budding.  And Christian stewards are reminding themselves that stewardship continues as we head into the days of vacation, barbecues, summer reading lists, family reunions and trips to the beach.

 

We need to be especially mindful of our commitment to giving to our parish and our local church, the diocese.  The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that November and December are the biggest months for giving in the United States.  But for those lazy days of summer?  Not so much

 

Just think about the giving impetus during the holiday season.  Every school classroom has a charitable project, youth groups take a turn working at the local soup kitchen.  Offices sprout "giving trees" and shelters are inundated with food and donations.  The Christmas spirit inspires us to share the bounty.  Cold weather brings out our desire to make sure others are sheltered from storm.

 

But often, charities tell us that . . .  Read More

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   For Your Bulletin:  Stewardship Thoughts

 

by David Baranowski, Archdiocese of St. Louis

  • "You're blessed when you get your inside world, your mind and heart, put right.  Then you can see God in the outside world." Matthew 5:8
  • "Aspire not to have more but to be more." Archbishop Oscar Romera
  • "Father, I know I enjoy comfort more than challenge.  By Your Spirit, move me forward and create in me a desire to stretch beyond my comfort zone."
  • "We are called to trust God, but we must not forget that God trusts us, too," Mother Teresa once said, " I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
  • Regarding gossip:  "No one can tame the tongue, the only blunt instrument that grows sharper with constant use." John Howard
  • "Prayer should move us to action even if it is to be more compassionate or faithful."
  • This quote by Abraham Lincoln:  "The law cannot give mankind the right to do what  is morally wrong."
  • "Great leaders are great because they serve others and in doing so inspire us to do the same."
  • "Living your faith is not just avoiding sin but actively seeking to do good."
  • "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own." Proverbs 3:5
  • Regarding your faith education - "Whatever you do to enrich your faith formation and to draw closer to Christ, it's essential to do it regularly.  And, most importantly, it's vital that you don't rely on your on interpretations of the things you learn.  St. John the Cross has some wise words for those who fend for themselves when it comes to spiritual learning:  "He who has himself as a spiritual director has an idiot for a disciple."
  • "Anyone can be great because anyone can serve." Dr. Martin Luther King
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Stewardship Webinars
NEW!  We have reserved a room at the Diocesan Pastoral Center for group viewing.  If you would like to bring your lunch and join us, please RSVP to Margaret at [email protected].  Consider gathering a group together in your area. 
  
July- The Development Office will not be purchasing and hosting a webinar this month.
August 13th- Gift Discernment
The Office of Development purchases a diocesan-wide registration from Our Sunday Visitor that allows any parish staff or volunteers to attend one-hour webinars offered every 2nd Tuesday of the month at no cost to you.  There is no limit on the number of attendees from our diocese or your parish.   You may participate from your own personal computer at home or at the office. All you need is an internet connection and a phone.  Click here to find out more about these upcoming webinars and to register.
  
Stewardship Conference Logo 
Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, 2013, at St. Joseph Parish in Vancouver, WA.
  • All parishioners, diocese employees, and volunteers are invited to attend this two-day Stewardship Conference.
  • Registration cost will be $75 (or $50 for one day).
  • Tracks will focus on:
    • Basics of Stewardship
    • Building Relationships with Parishioners--Hospitality, Welcoming, and Effective Communications
    • Growing an Engaged Church
    • Stewardship for Special Communities--Hispanic, Vietnamese, Youth, Volunteers.
  • Featuring nationally recognized speakers.
  • Online registration and detailed schedule:  click here
  • Interested in carpooling to this conference and/or applying for a scholarship?  Contact Margaret at [email protected].
  • Registration deadline is July 31, 2013.
FREE Estate Planning Seminars
 
  As a service to our parishes and schools, the Development Office will be offering FREE Estate Planning Seminars beginning this fall.  Please contact Adrienne Smith at [email protected] or call 208.350.7552 for more information or to schedule one in your area of the state.
  
  

Planning a Stewardship Renewal?

 

Summer is the ideal time for planning your annual stewardship renewal efforts or maybe this is the first time your parish will be conducting a stewardship commitment of time, talent, and treasure.  Currently, the Diocese of Boise is working to adapt and adopt its own stewardship resource manual for publication online.  In the meantime, the Diocesan Stewardship Education Council has reviewed several resources from other diocese that you can access and adapt to your specific parish needs.  Each parish is different in their understanding and practice of stewardship.  Therefore, we offer a few sample manuals that are organized for the novice and experienced parish family.  They are:

 

Diocese of Wichita:  http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/office-of-stewardship/services-resources

Diocese of Dodge City:  http://www.dcdiocese.org/stewardship/stewardship-renewal-resources

Archdiocese of Seattle:  http://www.seattlearchdiocese.org/Stewardship/PS/default.aspx

International Catholic Stewardship Council:  http://catholicstewardship.com/parish-resources

If you would like assistance in your stewardship efforts, please contact Margaret Hampton in the Development Office at 208.350.7539. or [email protected]

 

Contact Information
Margaret Hampton at [email protected]