Annual Report to the Parish

 

 

Now is a good time to start putting together an Annual Report to your Parish.  Make sure you include your financial statistics and information on the outreach programs in your parish.  Jazz it up a little with colorful graphs, pictures of folks doing ministry, photos of special events in your parish, etc.  To see how some other parishes in our Archdiocese have created informational and fun to read reports, go to http://www.seattlearchdiocese.org/Stewardship/PS/resources.aspx look under the heading Stewardship of Time/Talent and Treasure and scroll down to Annual Report Examples.

Catholic Stewardship in July

As a lead up to Stewardship of Treasure which takes place in November, it is not too early to begin putting Stewardship and Gratitude into the hearts and minds of your parishioners.  If you don't already have a Stewardship Column in your bulletin, now is a good time to start.  Your column should contain your weekly donations and how those donations relate to your budget; plus or minus.  We also have a stewardship logo and some bulletin notes which you can obtain by emailing parishstewardship@seattlearch.org.  Do you have pictures and stories about parishioners involved in ministries that you could include in the column (please seek permission from those in photos before publishing).  Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Any unsung heroes who quietly help in your parish
• A ministry such as pea patch, sandwiches for homeless, any outreach ministries
• Honoring those who volunteer in your office
• Stewardship ministries in which children volunteer
• Many others...

As time gets closer to November, reminding parishioners that their donations support these ministries can be done in your Annual Report to the parish.

If you have ideas to share with other parishes, please leave a comment to this post by clicking on 'no comments' below.  A window will pop up for you to type in your comment. 

Thank you, Western Washington parishes for the good work you do to support Stewardship in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Catholic Stewardship of Peter's Pence

 

 

The Real Story

The Peter's Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England, King Alfred the Great collected money, a "pence," from landowners as financial support for the Pope. Today, the Peter's Pence Collection supports the Pope's philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression, and disease.

By supporting this collection, our parishioners are standing next to Pope Francis as a witness of God's love to those most in need and participating in good stewardship through solidarity with the rest of the world.

 

Most of our parishioners are eager to partake of that solidarity by being generous stewards.  We, as parish leaders, need to make it as easy as possible for them to give.  One key aspect is to give parishioners the information needed to make a decision about how to support Peter's Pence.

 

Most effective is to do an announcement before Mass begins that includes information about the collection.  You might think it's important to include the history of Peter's Pence that is in the first paragraph of this blog.  In that same Mass do an announcement at collection time reminding parishioners that their Peter's Pence envelopes should be deposited in the collection basket as it gets passed around.

 

Thank you, Parish Leaders, for being good stewards of this special collection and for all the good stewardship you show in so many ways!

 



Catholic Stewardship End of Fiscal Year



As we approach the end of the fiscal year, think about doing a big 'Thank You' to your parishioners for their support of the parish. We suggest a bulletin announcement and perhaps a pulpit announcement.

You could include a recap of how the parish is finishing the fiscal year.  Maybe you could frame it in the context of Stewardship and how the parish has been a good Steward of the parish budget which includes the donation commitments of your parishioners... being sure to thank them for their generosity.  Please also thank them for volunteering in ministry and praying for the parish.  In so doing, you are reinforcing that Stewardship is not just about money, but Time and Talent as well.

This is also a good time to send out those 2nd quarterly letters of the year. We have been told by many that they appreciate the quarterly letters because it helps them stay on top of their commitment.  It also shows that you are practicing good Stewardship by being fiscally responsible.


The Office of Parish Stewardship wants to extend our thanks to all you parish staff members for the terrific job you do in promoting Stewardship throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle!



Any practices or suggestions you would like to make?  Leave us a comment by clicking on ironically, the words 'no comment' at the bottom of this post.  A text box will pop up that you can type your comment in.

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCES - WHAT'S HAPPENING...Sooner and Later!



For those of you that plan a little ahead...and for those of you that plan way or way, way ahead!

1.  A Little Ahead:

• The International Catholic Stewardship Council's Annual Conference is October 5 - 8, 2014 in Orlando, Florida.  For the brochure including Topics, 7 Speakers, and Registration Information click on:                                                               https://www.catholicstewardship.org/ISIC_2014/conference.aspx

2.  Way Ahead:

• The 11th Northwest Regional Stewardship Conference will take place June 26-27, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kennewick, Washington.  More information will be available this Fall - keep reading our blog.  This conference is affordable enough to send your Parish Stewardship Commission to as well.

3.  Way...Way...Ahead:

• The 2015 International Catholic Stewardship Conference will take place September 22-25, 2015.  For more information click on:                               http://catholicstewardship.com/programs-a-events/future-conferences

         Start Budgeting Now!! 
        

Stewardship of Time and Talent Follow Up

 

Many parishes did a Stewardship of Time & Talent Commitment Renewal in these weeks around Pentecost.  If your parish was one of them, congratulations & we hope all your hard work has yielded much interest in your parish's ministries.

 

Don't forget:

• Enter your data ASAP.  It can be easy to let the paperwork sit, if you are busy focusing on all of your regular responsibilities.
• Get the data to your ministry coordinators immediately for follow up.
• Remind them weekly for the next few weeks of the need to contact the folks who signed up for their ministry.
• In the Thank You letter you send to all those who returned a commitment card, make sure you include a line letting them know that if they don't get contacted by the ministry coordinator in the next couple of weeks, to let the parish office know.
• Consider having one of the parish staff, or a very trusted volunteer in the parish office, contact all those who are NEW volunteers (not repeat sign ups) so that these very crucial folks are contacted.

As we celebrate the birth of the church, it's fantastic to see some of the excitement in our own parish over people who are enthused enough about ministry to volunteer!



Catholic Stewardship of Summer

 

School will be out soon and as all parents know, that day is the real beginning of summer.  Because summer begins a new chapter of enjoying life, how can we be good Stewards of ourselves, our children, and our society during these months of new challenges?  Here are some helpful hints that you can include on your website, in your bulletin, or in your newsletter:

• Be good stewards of driving during these months when everyone is out and about.
• Keep close watch on children and elderly when weather is hot and keep everyone hydrated.
• Be very vigilant around water.  A close eye can prevent a tragedy.
• Yard work should be done in the cooler parts of the day so you don't become over-heated.  This is especially true of older folks.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and make sure your children do as well.
• Wearing sunscreen is an easy protection from skin cancer.  Use it on yourself and your children.
• Going camping?  Natural bodies of water, while looking clean, usually harbor bacteria that can make you sick.  Only drink clean water you bring with you, unless there is potable water in campground.
• Remember to be filled with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for these blessed days and for all the blessings that fill our lives.
• And....Very Important!  Take advantage of online giving and don't forget your parish during vacation time.

These are just a few hints that will help you be good stewards of this time of the year.  More safety tips abound on the internet.  Good stewards care about their environment and the people in it.  Be smart, be safe, be a good steward!