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.

 

Catholic Stewardship of Emotions during Tragedy and Disaster

 

When Natural Disaster Strikes

When a natural disaster strikes, there are no easy answers.  The pain is so horrible and so raw that the mind begins to shut down. One question those of us a step removed from disaster need to ask ourselves, is how do we as good stewards handle the emotional impact of tragedy?  There are many very human reactions.  As a young person, I tried to hide from tragedy, never listening to the news, plugging my ears so I didn’t have to hear about anything that was sad. As a youth and young adult, I told myself that it was someone else’s problem and not my worry.  I built a thick shell and only acknowledged the bright side of life.  I learned that hiding from the bad in this world, or making it someone else’s problem didn’t make it go away. Sooner or later, we all have to face sadness and tragedy in our own lives, those of our loved ones, even our community and we need to be good stewards of our emotions to do that in a healthy way.  After working in a parish for many years, listening to stories of sadness that inevitably come to a church, helping to prepare funerals for old and young alike and being part of a community where I was aware of the tragedy and the joy in people’s lives, I learned through my dear Pastor and parish staff friends that turning to God is the only light in the darkness.  It is only right that we pray our way through tragedy in our own lives and in the lives of others.  Whether we are first responders, collectors of needed items, listeners to others grief, or givers of money, we are good stewards of our own emotions and warriors to help those hardest hit, if we pray without ceasing for God’s peace and presence in the midst of disaster.  A better person than I said:

“Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it.  He came to fill it with His presence.”  Paul Claudel     This is not a pat answer or just easy words to say.  We are challenged to believe those words. I have heard many say when they look back on terrible tragedies in their lives, that God must have carried them through because without Him life would have been impossible.  Let us ‘steward’ (take care of) all who are suffering by responding as best we can by holding them continually in prayer.

Catholic Stewardship of Time and Talent

Archdiocese of Seattle Stewardship of Time and Talent

The date is fast approaching when our parishes will be called upon to begin their Stewardship of Time and Talent campaign.  We are excited about this pairing and look forward to seeing how our parishes customize their materials to incorporate both.

Speaking of materials….we are rolling out our new artwork during this Time and Talent opportunity.  We hope all of you notice our new text drawn from John 3:16.  We welcome your comments. 

Click on hyperlink below image for more info and to order your Time and Talent materials.

 

http://clients.printwest.net/customers/seattlearchstewardship/

Choose Username from Drop Down Menu

Password is:  ps2014

 

 

LA Religious Ed Congress

St. Charles Borromeo

Patron Saint of Catechists

 

I recently was fortunate to attend (for the first time) the LA Religious Ed Congress.  I walked through what seemed like miles of booths in the exhibitors’ hall.  Many of those booths were full of materials from publishers offering resources to help catechists.   While I think a catechist who lives and understands stewardship as receiving gratefully, cultivating responsibly, sharing lovingly, and returning generously and communicates that through their catechesis is what is needed, often it is helpful to have additional resources.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Here are a few of the more popular resources:

      ·         Taking Care of Gods Gifts (OSV) – for younger kids

·         7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free (OSV) – for adults    
 

·         Stewardship, A Way of Life.  Four Faith Sharing Sessions (Liturgical Press) – for adults

·         Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community website

·         Stewardship Bulletin Inserts (Parish Publishing)

·         A Catholic Kids Guide to Stewardship (Twenty Third Publications)

·         The Bible Speaks of Stewardship – A Four Session Study (Twenty Third Publications)
 

If anyone has used any of these resources, or has other ideas for resources, please let us all know via the comment section below.  Thank You.  Scott Bader