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- Stewardship is a way of life
- Stewardship is a conversion of heart
- Stewardship is a disciple’s response
- Stewardship is an expression of love
- Stewardship is part of our vocation
- Stewardship is an honor and an opportunity
- Stewardship is centered in the Eucharist
- Stewardship is thanking God for all His blessings by returning to Him a
portion of the time, talent and treasure that He has given to us.
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- An appeal for funds
- Quickly implemented
- “…it is a journey, a conversion journey, and one that takes time to
take hold”
- A “way of life” for everyone
- A quick fix to fund a church or school
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- “Stewardship is primarily based on the person’s need to give in
gratitude, rather than on the church’s need to receive.”
- Reference:
Stewardship-Living Life As God Intended
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- Hospitality
- Prayer
- Faith formation
- Service
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- We are losing parishioners because people are not warmly welcomed
- we need to provide a more friendly and welcoming environment
- “When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
- We cannot form stewards if the pews are empty.
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- The faithful steward must pray daily, especially with prayers of
gratitude
- for the majority of parishioners, their one hour at Sunday Mass is
their primary connection to the life of the parish family
- “Thy will be done.”
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- Educating the mind and forming the heart are necessary steps in the
stewards growth
- “Whoever wishes to come after me must :
- deny himself
- take up his cross
- follow Christ” (Matthew 16:24-25)
- Family is the keystone of the Church
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- “I have come not to be served but to serve.”
- God created us with the desire to give because it is in giving that we
receive.
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- These are the essential components of stewardship
- Regular attendance and participation in Holy Mass
- Participation in various committees
- communication, education, family life, finance, liturgy, prayer,
stewardship, youth activities, special needs, etc.
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- Stewardship and Tithing are different
- stewardship is a “way of life”
- tithing is merely the treasure component of stewardship
- Treasure is a committed financial gift
- our gifts back to God should also include a portion of our financial blessings
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- Blessed Sacrament has been practicing a form of Stewardship for four+
years
- All Parishioners have been actively asked to give of there time, talent
and treasure everyday
- Many Parishes across the US have been practicing forms of Stewardship
for more than 35-years.
- Small parishes, large parishes
- Metro parishes, rural parishes
- Stewardship works
- Increased sense of community
- Increased parish involvement
- Increased evangelization of the Faith
- Increase Parish membership
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- It’s catching on in many dioceses and parishes across the country
- Successful examples include:
- Baton Rogue, LA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Green Bay, WI
- Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas City, KS
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pueblo, CO
- Spokane, WA
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Louis, MO
- Wichita, KS
- and many, many more
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- Increased giving of Time and Talents
- We need more Lay Ministers
- We can provide more services and gifts to the community
- We can defer simples expenses with peoples time and talent
- Development of more Priests, Deacons, and Religious
- Assist in the Faith Formation of our children and offer further
education for adults
- Build upon our generations of being a giving, compassionate and loving
Catholic Community
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- Increased parish growth
- in both membership and parish giving
- Increased parish involvement to better serve the needs of the parish and
community
- 70-75% in Wichita Diocese attend Sunday Mass
- greater sense of community
- more volunteerism
- Increased evangelization of the faith and expansion of mission and
ministries
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- Taken from “Stewardship-Living Life as God Intended”
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- Taken from “Stewardship-Living Life as God Intended”
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- All parishioners are involved in giving
- Strengthens the family unit and its bond to the “parish family”
- Evokes a sense of ownership in one’s parish
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- Is a vehicle through which we return some of our many gifts God has
given us
- thereby becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ
- “And keep in mind the words of Jesus who himself said, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive.”
(Acts 20:35)
- Requires a leap of faith
- of both the individual and parish alike
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- Three stewardship approaches have been particularly successful. They emphasize:
- Time and talent
- Time, talent and treasure
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Sacrificial giving
- Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida
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- Most successful
- Over thirty-five year proven track record
- Started by St. Francis of Assisi Parish by Msgr. Tom McGread in 1968
- Does not over-emphasize treasure
- “When people give their time and talent, the money will follow.”
- “Your wallet is never far from your heart.”
- now used by most parishes in the Wichita Diocese
- Parishioners invited to give 8% of income to parish
- eliminates all other fundraising
- children of Stewardship families are educated for free
- Successfully passed IRS scrutiny
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- Pastors have their hands full
- parishioners need to “step up and roll up their sleeves”
- Frees up pastor to focus on spiritual guidance and ministries
- Focus on being faithful in Stewardship, (rather than successful)
- Form a Stewardship Committee
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- Several couples/families
- Functions under Parish Council rather than Finance committee
- Emphasizes need to give thanks for all of God’s gifts
- gives equal emphasis to time and talent, not just financial gifts
- Spiritually motivated
- Exemplify and live out Stewardship in their daily lives
- Clear vision of where stewardship can take a parish
- Comfortable talking about money
- Willing to implement parishioner accountability
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- This is a journey, it does not happen overnight and in a single meeting
- Parish Survey
- Parishioners are asked what they want
- They are told what they said – in total
- A Parish structure if formed around what people want
- Introductory talks at a the Parish level
- A renewed call to Stewardship
- All Parishioners are invited to participate
- All Parishioners receive a Stewardship Packet
- Sign-up Sheets are filled out and returned
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- Belief - In stewardship as a way life
- Prayer - Stewardship is a spiritual activity
- Spirituality - We are bringing the Kingdom of God into our hearts
- Planning - Organization is the key to success
- Communication - Keeping parishioners informed is essential
- Hospitality - One of the pillars of stewardship and a key to growth of
the parish
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- Consensus - Pray, discuss, listen reflect reach a consensus
- Inclusion - Stewardship celebrates the fact that we are all members of
the Body of Christ
- Gratitude – Stewardship giving in gratitude to God for the gifts he has
given us. Never forget to thank
parishioners for returning those gifts to their parish
- Vision – Retain and cherish parish’s vision of what it might be but
remember, a commitment to Stewardship is a conversion of lifestyle and
that way of life may not be for everyone
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- Answer the question: What more can I do to share my gifts with others?
- We can truly make Stewardship a Way of Life
- Serve as a lector, server, greeter, usher or Eucharistic Minister
- Join the choir, play the piano, organ or other instrument
- Pray for vocations
- Teach religious education classes
- Join the Men’s Club, Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of Columbus or other
Blessed Sacrament service organization
- Help with grounds maintenance, funeral dinners, painting, carpentry, or
other unique volunteer needs of the parish
- Commit to generous and sacrificial financial support
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Notes