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!

Stewardship of Prayer at a Catholic Church

Prayer Fair at St. Augustine Parish in Oak Harbor, Washington

A big thank you to St. Augustine Parish for sharing their excellent information about holding a Prayer Fair Weekend in the parish.  They had theirs on the weekend before Lent (this year that was February 22 and 23) and it was very successful.  It was sponsored by the Stewardship Commission to help parishioners explore ways to deepen their relationship with God.  Barb Dumit was kind enough to share a complete template on planning, holding, and follow up for a Prayer Fair.  If you would like a copy, just email parishstewardship@seattlearch.org.  For a sneak peek, see some of their suggestions below:

• Hold Mass in Parish Hall
• Set up identical booths on either side
• These booths include all prayer ministries, books including the Little Black Book for Lent, and some new ideas that involved interaction with the youth in the Parish (see below)
• After the Homily, Father had parishioners get up and 'shop' for new ways to Pray (he gave them 10 minutes)

This interactive approach was carried forward in the follow up steps with a big cross built by  the youth.  Parishioners were invited to write the 'burdens of their hearts' on sticky notes and attach them to the cross.  The youth, prayed for these 'burdens' throughout the following week.  Over 300 prayer notes were attached to the cross.  What a beautiful way to involve youth in sharing, caring and praying and being Stewardship of Time models for the whole community.  Congratulations, St. Augustine Parish for this inspirational and practical way to be good Stewards of Prayer.  For more ideas and a complete template don't forget to email parishstewardship@seattlearch.org. 

Comments welcome.  Click on the words 'no comments' and a text box will pop up for you to type in your response.

How to tell if someone is a visitor or newcomer to Mass

A tip from a Parish Staff member!

 

 

How can you tell if someone attending Mass is a newcomer or visitor?  Maybe you have many parishioners at your parish.  Enough, so that it is impossible to recognize everyone.  Especially if it is a Mass you don't normally attend.

 

Kathi Rowley of Mary, Queen of Peace recently gave us this tip.  "If they have to ask for or are looking for the bathroom, they probably haven't been there before."  She pays attention to those who pop out of Mass and are obviously hunting for something!  What a brilliant idea. So for all of you that are working on welcoming...give it a try.

(Thanks to Kathi for this tip!)

 

She also shared her parish's 3 step process to make contact with newcomers.  During the week in which they register, two senior parish volunteers with the 'gift of gab', call the newcomers and welcome them.  A month later, the pastor makes a phone call to welcome them again.  Finally, 6 months out, someone from the pastoral council calls them again.   This is working well for our Sammamish parish and we think it will work well for you.  If you try this, please let us know by emailing parishstewardship@seattlearch.org.  As always, we welcome your comments. 

A Great Year for a Ministry Fair!

 

This is a particularly good year for a Ministry Fair

 

 

Recently, our office has been advising parishes to have Ministry Fair's every couple of years.  They are large endeavors and doing them well periodically seems to be better than struggling with them every year. In fact, data we collected several years ago showed us that Ministry Fairs seem to yield a bigger response when they don't occur every year.

 

This year, there are some good opportunities because of the way the calendar cycles.

 

If you are doing Time & Talent renewal late this Spring to coordinate ministry sign-ups with Pentecost, the weekend before Pentecost would be a great time for a Ministry Fair.

 

If you are doing Time & Talent renewal after Labor Day, the weekend between Labor Day and Catechetical/Build Hope Sunday is a particularly good one to show off your ministries.

 

We have good information for putting on a Ministry Fair.  If you would like it, contact us at parishstewardship@seattlearch.org and we will be glad to send it to you. 



ME25 Impact Seminar Explained

Is your parish having an ME25 Impact Seminar?

 

 

Sometimes at ME25 Impact Seminars, the question about 'hierarchy' of Engagement is raised.  This is the idea that the Engagement Items are arranged from 'self' focused to 'outward' focused as seen on the above pyramid. 

 

These groups of questions are labeled:

• ‘What Do I Get’
• 'What Do I Give'
• 'Do I Belong'
• 'How Can We Grow'

These labels have raised some questions.  Al Winseman, of Gallup, whom many of you have heard speak has told us that on the Q12 Seminar, they have relabeled this hierarchy so that it reads:

• 'Basic Needs'
• 'Individual Contribution'
• 'Belonging or Teamwork'
• 'Growth'

To those of you involved with Impact Seminars, we ask,  "What do you think of these new labels?"  Please leave us a comment.