BLESSED. CHOSEN. SENT. 2016 Parish Stewardship Renewal Workshops - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BLESSED. CHOSEN. SENT.

2016 Parish Stewardship Renewal Workshops August 20 & 24, 2016

Prayer for the Stewardship Journey Gracious and loving God, you are the giver of all good gifts. We recognize that all that we are and have come from you, and make a renewed commitment to be good stewards of these many blessings. Lord Jesus, you show us God’s way of love and mercy. Nourished by your Body and Blood in the Eucharist, we dedicate ourselves anew to live as members of your Body in the world. Holy Spirit, you guide and inspire us in our daily living. Fill our hearts and minds with your wisdom. Strengthen our resolve to live as people who are blessed, chosen, and sent, sharing in Christ’s mission as good and faithful stewards. Amen.

• BLESSED. CHOSEN. SENT.

• Introductions
• How many have done this before?
• What is your hoped for expectation?
• BLESSED. CHOSEN. SENT.

• Stewardship Renewal in the Diocese of Orange:
• 2009 – 2016 – 8th Year for Diocesan-Wide Renewal
• Recognized in 2015 by ICSC for Total Stewardship

Effort!

• Why do we do it annually?
• BLESSED. CHOSEN. SENT.

• To provide an annual process for the faithful to prayerfully

discern their commitment to the parish

• Do our parishioners know what the expectations of church

membership are?

• To encourage a faith response, rather than an obligation or

giving out of guilt

• To encourage the faithful to respond to THEIR need to give,

rather than giving to a need

• To increase engagement of those that are disengaged
• r minimally engaged in the life of the parish
• To grow generosity in the parish, allowing the parish to

fully support and increase ministries and outreach

• Theme for 2016 – Blessed. Chosen. Sent.
• We have been chosen by Christ, called to live as

disciples, and are sent out in mission, to share God’s love and mercy.

• We do this by sharing our faith, time, talent and

treasure as good stewards.

Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live our lives.

Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, USCCB 2002

• The Christian vocation is essentially a call to be a

disciple of Jesus…

• “Jesus’ call is urgent. He does not tell people to follow

him at some time in the future but here and now – at this moment, in these circumstances. There can be no delay.” SDR

• An Annual Renewal is an essential part of the 7

elements of Parish Stewardship

• It is ONE tool in the overall Parish Stewardship

Plan – but an essential one!

• We have work to do…
• Catholic Parishioner Engagement on average across

the country

• 16% fully engaged
• 49% disengaged
• 35% actively disengaged
• This is one important way we can invite more to

become fully engaged

16% Engaged 49% Not Engaged 35% Actively Disengaged

• Is this something new?
• Annual Commitments in Protestant faiths are common
• Annual Stewardship Renewals are becoming more of a

common practice in many Catholic dioceses and parishes across the country

• Top Stewardship parishes across the country as

recognized by the International Catholic Stewardship Council ALL conduct an annual Renewal or Recommitment as a key element of their Stewardship planning

• It should be a part of your overall Stewardship

strategic plan and calendar for the year

Examples a measurable outcome of Parishes’ Ordinary Income that Incorporate Stewardship Renewal in Their Annual Calendar in addition to their outreach, evangelization and vibrant parish ministries (including tuition-free Catholic education)

• St. Michael’s Church – Olympia, WA
• 2800 registered families
• $47,000 weekly offertory/$2.4 million annually
• Queen of Peace Church – Gainesville, FL
• 2,217 registered families
• $34,000 weekly offertory/$1.8 million annually

• The annual renewal invites parishioners to prayerfully

consider what gifts they have received in the past year and invites them to commit specifically how they will share those gifts as stewards in the upcoming year

• To encourage faithful to respond to THEIR need to give,

rather than giving to a need

• If they are never asked, how will they know what the

expectations for parish membership are?

• How will they grow in their own faith journey?

• To build the ministry life of the parish through

engaged parishioners

• To increase the number of engaged parishioners who

are fully living their faith

• To build up the Kingdom of God in your parish

• Each commitment from a family or individual is for a year
• Circumstances may change with availability for

ministry/outreach

• Financial circumstances can change



May need to decrease pledge or may be able to increase pledge

• Why do we need to complete a commitment card?
• A gift that we collectively give to our parish

family

• Helps parish to identify the gifts of individuals

to apply toward the needs inside and outside of the parish

• Helps parish with budget planning

• Resources Available:
• Resources will be available at: orangecatholicfoundation.org

under Stewardship Resources

• Stewardship Renewal Complete Guidebook including timeline and

templates

• Brochures available in 3 languages to order (Eng/Sp/VN)
• Stewardship Renewal Themed Brochure
• Separate commitment cards / 3 options available (Adult, Youth and

Child)

Material Order Form – due by 9/20/16

New Theme and Brochure Design Available in 4 languages

Adult Commitment Form

God Owns It All …We are Called to Share

God Owns It All …We are Called to Share

• Goals for Today:
• Introduce Theme for 2013 Stewardship Renewal
• Review Materials for 2013
• Key Elements of a Stewardship Parish
• Why Stewardship Renewal?
• Review the timeline
• Talk about options
• Review materials
• Set goals

• What has your parish experience been?
• Experienced with Stewardship Renewal?
• First Time?
• Just thinking about it?

• Practical Steps
• The timeline and details behind a successful renewal

Prep Steps

• Core Program – 3 weeks
• Maximum Results
• Moving Toward Increased Engagement

Page 10 of Guidebook

Prep Steps for Best Results

Page 11 of Guidebook

Core Program

Page 12 of Guidebook

Steps for Maximum Results

Core Program -3-Week Renewal

• Announcement Weekend (Oct 29-30)
• Pulpit announcement announcing all parishioners to

receive a letter that coming week

• Pastor/Presider ties Sunday homily to Stewardship
• Lay Witness Speakers
• Bulletin inserts
• Prayers of the Faithful (2 provided)
• Stewardship Prayer

Week in between Announcement and Commitment Weekend:

• Stewardship brochure from pastor is mailed (previous Friday if

bulk mail/Monday if first class) to all registered parishioners with brochure and commitment card

• Parishioners are asked to prayerfully discern and bring their

commitment card with them to Mass the following weekend

• Commitment Weekend (Nov 5-6)
• Cantor announcement before Mass
• This is Stewardship Renewal Sunday…(announcement in liturgy notes -
• pg. 22)
• Pastor gives Stewardship homily at all Masses/leads

congregation through completing commitment cards

• Allow 2-3 minutes of silent time for this (background music)
• Congregation together reads Covenant Prayer on brochure (if

desired or at end of Mass)

• Invitation by pastor for families or individuals to come forward

when ready and place commitment card in basket in front of altar (Instrumental music playing in background during this process)

Liturgy helps in guidebook

• Bulletin announcements
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Homily Helps
• Pulpit Announcement
• Remind people that they can bring their commitment card the

following Sunday either at Mass or to the parish office

Liturgy Highlights

• Step-by-Step guide to walking through commitment

card process during liturgy at homily time

• Importance of making a commitment in the context
• f a sacred ritual
• Becomes a sacrificial offering/a covenant between

the individual and God

• All present (even those who do not turn in a card will

be impacted by the act of coming to the altar)

• Invite families to come up together

• Thank You/Celebration Weekend – Nov 12-13
• Bulletin announcement (thanks to all who participated by

turning in a commitment card)

• Consider publishing names in bulletin (alphabetically)
• Special hospitality celebration that day
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Pulpit Announcement

• Alternative for Parishioners to Submit Their

Renewal Pledge

• Consider setting up an online form through your parish website

with commitment form

• The more options the better!

Important!

• Probably the most important factor that

will affect your outcome

• Thorough Follow-up and Follow-Through

This will make all the difference in reaching your goals!

• Plans for entering data into parish database

asap!

• Thank you letters
• Letters to non-responders
• Telephone follow-up – guide in guidebook
• Mid-Year Follow-Up Letter

• Options:

Can be adapted to your individual parish needs

• Abbreviated or customized Program
• Full Program Recommended!

• Setting a goal
• Set a realistic goal (suggest no more than 50% of number of

families who attend Mass on Sunday)

• October Mass count number / 3 (avg. family in OC)
• (example: 2400 mass count/3 = 800 families on average who

attend Mass on an average weekend)

• 800 X 30% = 240 commitment cards
• 800 X 50% = 400 commitment cards
• 800 X 75% = 600 commitment cards

• Annual Stewardship Reports
• Published 2-4 weeks prior to commitment weekend
• Tells the parish story
• Includes letter from pastor
• Sample cover letter
• Recap of parish life including update on ministries/sacraments

(include pictures)

• Includes year-end fiscal report of parish
• Should be distributed/mailed at least one month prior to

Stewardship Renewal (recommend week ending Oct 8-9 – one month prior to Stewardship Weekend)

• Ministry Fairs
• Options: All on one weekend
• Quarterly fairs highlighting ministries by emphasis

(liturgy/outreach/community)

• Multiple mini-fairs highlighting a few ministries
• Ministry Guidebooks – (samples on table)
• Lay Witness Speakers

• Timing for your Parish
• Start by putting together a team
• Then set up your timeline
• If not this year, then plan for next!

• Let’s look at the Responsibility Worksheet
• Your parish may vary slightly
• Better organized/better results
• Be sure to put the 3 weekend dates on parish calendar and keep

them clear for this effort (especially Commitment Sunday)

• Letters and Mailings
• Samples available in guidebook and online
• Telephone follow-up

• Your results will be directly related to the effort put

forth

• If no follow-up, then minimal results
• More follow-up, better results

• If all follow-up steps are taken, maximum results will

be realized.

• Imagine your parishioners receiving regular

communication from your parish acknowledging them for their involvement and reminding how important they are to the life of the parish!

Resources available on

• rangecatholicfoundation.org

under Stewardship Resources

Upcoming Stewardship Formation Opportunities – RSVP please!

10/22/16 – Region XI Stewardship Conference 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Our Lady of Fatima Church, San Clemente www.orangecatholicfoundation.org/2016StewConf 10/2-5/16 – 2016 International Catholic Stewardship Conference New Orleans, LA Limited scholarships available for first time attendees www.catholicstewardship.org

Questions & Answers

Who will be the next Total Stewardship Parish in the Diocese of Orange? Thank you and remember you always have help just a phone call away! Debbie Leaverton Director, Parish Stewardship Education dleaverton@orangecatholicfoundation.org (714) 282-3026