Annual Catholic Appeal and Parish Stewardship. What's the difference?

                                                                   

     Annual Catholic Appeal                  Parish Stewardship                                               

 

Hopefully all Catholics are aware that the Archdiocesan Annual Catholic Appeal is happening now!

 

Several parishes at this time of year – and in the Fall as well – share information with their parishioners reminding them of the difference between Parish Stewardship and the

Annual Catholic Appeal.  We all know that some confusion still exists. So what can you do as parish staff to make the difference clearer to your parishioners.

 

In your bulletin, announcements, and other means of communication...

Point out:

• The Annual Catholic Appeal supports the Archdiocese, as well as its ministries.
• Parish Stewardship of Treasure supports the income of the parish through weekly/monthly donations in the offering basket or electronically
• Annual Catholic Appeal giving/pledging occurs in the Spring of each year
• Parish Stewardship of Treasure commitment occurs in the Fall of each year
• The Annual Catholic Appeal is a one time gift or is a pledge that is spread over 10 monthly payments to the Archdiocese
• Parish Stewardship of Treasure is our giving to our Parish throughout the year, using our weekly/monthly offering envelopes
• The Annual Catholic Appeal is giving to the Archdiocese and is billed by mail from the Archdiocese
• Parish Stewardship of Treasure is our giving through the offertory at Mass to our parish

Please take this opportunity to educate your parishioners on the difference between the Annual Catholic Appeal and The Parish Stewardship Yearly Commitment Renewal.  Both Campaigns are important ways for parishioners to follow the Gospel Call to share their gifts with others and with our generous God from whom all gifts are received.

Easter Stewardship

The big day is almost here, and since we have so many folks join us this Sunday that aren't around on other weekends, it's important as good Stewards and Evangelists that we make them feel welcome. Here are some tips:

• Make sure it is clear where to park – especially if the usual church parking lot is full.  And it hopefully will be!  Is handicapped parking easily found?

• Make sure it is clear how to get from the parking lot into the church.   (Not always clear! And rarely as clear as we 'experienced' folks think it is.)

• Ask those good & faithful folks who attend every week to sit towards the front and scoot towards center to make it as easy  as possible for less regular attendees - especially since they might be last minute arrivals.

• You want to make everyone feel welcomed as they come in the church - in a subtle and stress free way.  Consider having the ushers/greeters hand out a worship aid or something else to worshippers as they come in.   For most of us, it is usually easy to say hello and welcome people if we have something to give them.  You might even ask kids to help out with this.   Non-regular attendees might be less suspicious of children handing something out.

• Make sure there is some ‘Welcome’ info in the pew envelope holders with the pew envelopes, and definitely make sure the pew envelopes are well-stocked – they DO make a difference.

• Consider handing out a gift after Mass as people leave, like a Prayer card, flower or some such item.  Make a special gift for the kids such as a bag of jelly beans or little plastic easter egg with candy inside.

We hope these ideas help you make your church an inviting, friendly place that says Welcome to all on Easter.

 

Catholic Community



Stewarding Community with Parishioners

 

Earlier this week, I listened to a Paulist Evangelization Ministries webinar on Families, Evangelization, and the New Catechesis.  Aside from the important topic of evangelization, which is so crucial to spreading the message of stewardship, it made some good points about how we steward community with our parishioners.
 

• A Faith Forming System should take into account that to a great extent there is Church Life and there is Daily Life that our parishioners experience.

 

• We are dealing with parishioners - and people who reside in our parish - that are greatly diverse in how they experience religion, from Vibrant Faith and Active Engagement to Not Affiliated.

 

• Parishes have the challenge of connecting Church Life and Daily Life. (And our culture makes it much more important that we make those connections.)

 

The good news is that Online/Electronic Communications can make that much easier than in the past.  A lot of good and practical ideas were shared.  To listen to this webinar go to:

 

http://eventcenter.commpartners.com/se/Meetings/Playback.aspx?meeting.id=248115

Catholic Stewardship of Social Media

Sherry Hayes-Pierce

Social Media is a big part of many people’s lives.  It, therefore, needs to be addressed by our parishes.  In the last couple of years, our parishes have been asked to include parishioner emailing as a way to communicate to their flock and where this is done, there has been much positive feedback.  Because we needed help to think more broadly about how to use social media beyond the email, the Stewardship and Development office brought in a speaker to help us.  Her name is Sherry Hayes-Pierce and we gained some very good knowledge from her that we would like to pass along to you:

·         As regards Social media – rather than any do’s or don’ts in the Church world, Sherry talked about  the what’s.  Because it is important for parishes to connect with their people, it should be important to do that in the most effective way possible. Social media is one of these effective ways

·         Does your parish have a facebook page?  What are some things that you post on your facebook page?  Is there anything important that you don’t post, but could?  What about the Prayers of the Faithful; Sunday readings; funeral dates and times; messages that drive folks back to your website?  If the sky was the limit, what other things could you think of?

·         What about youtube?  Could you post a message from your pastor?  What about videos of your youth, parish events, witness speakers.

What does your parish do already?  What new ideas do you have?  Please tell us in the comment box below (click on the line - no comment - and a comment box will appear) or send an email to parishstewardship@seattlearch.org.