2015_why stewardship

THE ROLE OF CLERGY in Transforming Hearts

and Forming Stewards…One Step at a Time.

Diocese of San Diego

2 Why Stewardship?

Truly you have formed my inmost being;

you knit me in my mother’s womb.

I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.

My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown

to you.

When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the

depths of the earth.

Your eyes have seen my actions; in your book they are all

written; my days were limited before

one of them existed.

How weighty are your designs, O God;

how vast the sum of them!

Were I to recount them, they would outnumber the sands;

did I reach the end of them, I should still be with you.

Psalm 139:13-18

Diocese of San Diego 3

The Diocese of San Diego Stewardship Advisory Commission, was commissioned to develop and sustain, within every Catholic faith community throughout our diocese, a culture of actively engaged disciples of Jesus Christ who are

committed to living their lives as good stewards. The real work of transforming hearts and forming stewards begins within our parishes and faith communities. As clergy, your role in this process is paramount.

VocationDiscipleship

& Community

Stewardship

“Once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option.”

— Bishop John J. McRaith

4 Why Stewardship?

A personal call: Priests and People Together

“Stewardship always starts with the personal experience of the Risen Christ in our midst and in our hearts. It is a vocation to discipleship. The following of Christ as a disciple entails

a personal response, and the call can result in a positive impact on our faith communities.” —Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan

You, who know so well what is involved when you answer the call to vocation, are in a unique position to help others with that same decision. The vocation of all baptized Christians is a “call” to be a disciple of Christ and the way of life that

brings it home is stewardship. Because each of us must discern, know, and live our lives in joyful acceptance of our call, it is fundamental to who we are individually and as parish and faith communities that we live as stewards.


Where are you now?“In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection,

and all of us are responsible for it.” — Pope Francis

In your parishes, and in your life, how have you been able to be a witness to living a life of good stewardship? Pope Francis speaks of stewardship in terms of how to live it out in the contemporary world, but the call to this way of life is as old as our ancestors in faith whose stories are told in Sacred Scripture.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of how you have personally heard and responded to the call to stewardship, take time with the following reflection exercise.

6 Why Stewardship?

Reflection ExerciseStewardship:Stewardship is a deeply spiritual way of life that begins with recognition of and gratitude for all we are, have, and will be. For what are you most grateful in your life and ministry? How does your day-to-day life as a priest reflect this gratitude?

“Being a disciple is not just something else to do, alongside many other things

suitable for Christians. It is a total way of life and requires continuing conversion.”

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,

Tenth Anniversary Edition (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)


Reflection ExerciseGiving: Who inspires you by their gift of spirit, time, financial giving, prayer, and sharing of talent? In what ways do you seek to inspire others?

“To be a Christian disciple is a rewarding way of life, a way of companionship with

Jesus, and the practice of stewardship as a part of it is itself a source of deep joy.”

Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth

Anniversary Edition (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

8 Why Stewardship?

Reflection ExerciseTrust: Living and growing as a good steward requires a deep trust in God’s providence. What challenges your trust in God at this time? In what, or through whom, does Christ console you?

“Stewardship involves a lifelong process of study, reflection, prayer, and action. To make stewardship a way of life for individuals, families,

parishes, and dioceses requires a change of heart and a new

understanding of what it means to follow Jesus without

counting the cost.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth Anniversary Edition

(Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)


Reflection ExerciseLiving the Eucharist: Stewardship is profoundly Eucharistic. What recent experience called you to sacrifice, to give deeply of yourself for the sake of another?

“And what do Christians bring to the Eucharist celebration and join there with Jesus’ offering? Their lives as Christian

disciples; their personal vocations and the stewardship they have exercised

regarding them; their individual contributions to the great work of

restoring all things in Christ.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth Anniversary Edition (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

10 Why Stewardship?

“Stewardship is an expression of discipleship with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice

stewardship recognize that God is the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be. My friends, when you talk

about stewardship you come to a third conviction. It is an expression of discipleship, which really asks us to put on new lenses - new lenses

where we look at who we are and what we do from an entirely different perspective. And that is what stewardship is about.”

— Archbishop Thomas Murphy

Think about your parish. What would it be like if the staff, the leadership, and the entire faith community looked at their call to discipleship through the lens of stewardship? Consider the key areas listed below for fostering stewardship

as a way of life. All have the potential to positively impact the parish and its people. Which area will you choose in order to take a step in the coming year?

Change can come…One Step at a Time


Communication• Commission an exciting new website,

updated bulletin, parish App, electronic newsletter

Formation• Present homilies reflecting the spirituality

of stewardship, bring in national speakers, attend workshops and events like International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) Conference, Diocesan Church Ministers Conference, and Los Angeles Religious Education Conference

Hospitality• Take a look at the facilities to insure they are

clean, fresh, and inviting

• Try one weekend when everyone wears a name tag to get to know each other

• Review your signage to assure it is clear and helpful

• Review your usher and greeter ministries

Registration• Evaluate how people are greeted when they

come to your parish, look at a one-on-one registration process/orientation; consider being available on weekends to register new families

Gifts Discernment• Use programs and procedures liked Called &

Gifted Discernment Process by Catherine of Siena Institute and Living Your Strengths to discover and cultivate parishioners’ gifts

Engagement• Look for ways to foster a sense of belonging,

help parishioners get involved in parish life

Commitment• Dedicate time every year for annual

stewardship renewal, emphasize stewardship as the natural and necessary response of an intentional disciple

12 Why Stewardship?

Network, Support, Resources Whether your parish is new to stewardship, has been faithfully committed to stewardship for some time, or your stewardship efforts need to be re-energized, you can take a step with support.

Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response: A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops http://www.usccb.org/upload/stewardship-disciples-response-10th-anniversary.pdf

Diocesan Stewardship Commission — Contact Damian Esparza at [email protected] http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/en-us/giving/stewardshipdevelopment.aspx

The Parishes of San Diego Stewardship Network —Contact Richard Roy at [email protected]

International Catholic Stewardship Council http://www.catholicstewardship.com

Catholic Life and Faith — Contact Leisa Anslinger at [email protected]://www.catholiclifeandfaith.net

Books You May Want to Consider:Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop “Doing Church” and Start Being the Church Again Author: Albert L. Winseman

Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter Authors: Michael White and Tom Corcoran

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus Author: Sherry A. Weddell

What Do I Own and What Owns Me? A Spirituality of Stewardship Author: Daniel Conway

More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest Author: Daniel J. Mahan


Responding to the CallWe encourage you to see stewardship through the lens of spirituality, not financial need. It is the need to prioritize Christ that keeps our use of time, talent, and treasure aligned and in balance. Your role as clergy is to take a leap of faith. Prayerfully discern how the Spirit is moving you to bring the message of stewardship as a way of life to those who trust in you for direction in their faith lives.

“Let the Lord, your God, show us what way we should take and what

we should do.” Jeremiah 42:3

14 Why Stewardship?

One Parish’s Stewardship Story: A Leap of FaithPicture a parish living in quiet desperation. Morale is at an all-time low. Collections are suffering. Attendance is waning. The Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities have no need for each other. Pleas for a heightened level of involvement and an increased offertory collection fall on deaf ears. The ship is sinking and everyone is exhausted.

Fast forward a few months to January 2013. The Business Manager and Finance Council Chairman are invited to meet the in-coming bishop, Bishop Cirilo Flores, and the new Director of Development, Damian Esparza. They speak of many things that day, but the underlying theme is Stewardship. The Spirit is present and brings inspiration and hopeful anticipation to those gathered in His Name.

They return to the parish and enthusiastically present the ideas to the pastor. The pastor agrees to create a Stewardship Team (Business Manager [now with a concurrent title of Stewardship Director], Finance Council Chairman, and Music/Liturgy Director) and allows them to pursue whatever means are necessary to drive this forward. The pastor and team do not fully understand what lies ahead. They take a blind Leap of Faith and trust in the Spirit to direct their endeavors.

The teams begins attending the gatherings of the Diocesan Network of Stewardship Parishes, learning from their peers. Resources and advice are shared freely. The pastor knows instinctively that he must send the team to the annual ICSC (International Catholic Stewardship Council) conference. It was to be held in Dallas and would cost several thousand dollars to pay for the conference, lodging, and airfare. The parish absolutely did not have the funds to cover the expense. Another Leap of Faith. Within days of


making the payments, a parishioner drops off an undesignated check in the amount of $2,500. She’s asked if it can be used to pay for the Dallas conference. She’s thrilled to be part of this undertaking.

Just four short months after the initial Diocesan presentation, the parish launches Stewardship as a Way of Life to the parishioners. In retrospect, it could have been more polished. It could have been a lot of things it wasn’t. But it was Spirit-driven, sincere, and heartfelt. It touched hearts. It opened minds. And just two years later, the parish is living a transformation.

The Stewardship Team has grown from three to fifteen members, all engaged and dedicated to the mission. New ministries and groups have been formed. Membership in existing groups has doubled or tripled. Parishioners are attending Adult Faith Formation events. A Greeter ministry was formed and welcomes parishioners into the church at every weekend Mass. The registration process was improved and is now a one-on-one orientation with a member of the Stewardship Team. New parishioners feel welcomed and important and are ready to be an active part of parish life. The English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities are now making strong efforts to collaborate. Events are being planned differently to be inclusive of all.

In September 2014, the Stewardship Team introduced a Covenant with God, a tool designed to help parishioners move further along on their faith journey. Almost 800 parishioners completed the Covenant, sealed it in a self-addressed envelope, and placed it in the Covenant chest. These were stamped and mailed back last month and they will be asked to complete a new Covenant this month. There were responses from so many parishioners immediately after signing the Covenant and in the months that followed. They shared how the process of Stewardship and the Covenant was

16 Why Stewardship?

changing their lives. They indicated that they had been starving for direction and support.

You are encouraged to take some time and prayerfully discern the needs of your parishioners.

You may not have introduced Stewardship as a Way of Life to your parish, and wonder why it’s worth the effort – the pews are full, the collection is healthy. But are the parishioners growing in their faith and living it as Disciples of Christ, or are they attending Mass and supporting the parish?

You may be living Stewardship already, but it has gone stale. Have the parishioners become disinterested in your efforts? Perhaps it’s time to bring in new resources and breathe new life into your congregation.

Or perhaps it’s time to look at the new path on which your parish can embark.

Whatever your current status, trust in the Spirit. Take a Leap of Faith. God never disappoints.


Supplemental Questions For the Parish Laity No matter where your parish is with stewardship there are 5 basic principle facts to address.

For parishes already fostering stewardship as a way of life:All is gift! In what ways does your parish invite people to recognize and acknowledge their gifts and to grow as good stewards of them? How do parishioners respond?

Why stewardship? What evidence do you have that parishioners are living and growing as stewards as a response to their faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ?

Giving: What is the impact of your parishioners’ generosity of giving of time, talent, and treasure? Have you established an annual practice of expressing gratitude for the generosity of your parishioners?

Trust: In what ways are your parishioners invited and challenged to place their trust in God, separating their wants from their needs, and shaping their life accordingly?

Living the Eucharist: How is the celebration of the Eucharist at your parish a gathering of thankful disciples, ready to be nourished and sent forth as good stewards of all they are and have?

• All is (a) gift!• Why stewardship?

• Giving• Trust

• Living the Eucharist

18 Why Stewardship?

For parishes that need to re-energize their stewardship efforts:

All is gift! Do parish leaders intentionally and personally invite people to participate in ministry, based on their gifts and talents? Is there an on-going, year-round focus calling those in the pew to grow as good stewards?

Why stewardship? What evidence do you have that parishioners are living and growing as stewards as a response to their faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ?

Giving: Is there an annual call to make a commitment to give of self, time, talent, and treasure? In what ways do parishioners respond? In what ways is parishioner giving recognized and thanked?

Trust: Is there regular encouragement and challenge to trust in God for all things, in all circumstances of life?

Living the Eucharist: In what ways are homilists and those who select music for the liturgy attentive and responsive to the stewardship connections in the Sunday readings and prayers?


For parishes that are not yet focused on stewardship as a way of life:

All is gift! Think about all that takes place in your parish in an average week. Who are the people who give of themselves and their resources to insure that parish ministry is in place? In what ways do you help these people recognize their gifts, to grow in gratitude for them, and invite others to serve with them?

Why stewardship? Stewardship is a spiritual way that connects faith with daily life, rooted in recognition of and response to our many gifts and blessings. Who among your parishioners already gives evidence of being a good steward? How might you invite those parishioners to encourage others to adopt this way of life?

Giving: Beyond appeals for financial giving, are parishioners regularly encouraged to give of their time and talent, within the parish or for the needs of others?

Trust: Use examples of trust in God in daily life offered in homilies, bulletin articles, or at parish meetings and events.

Living the Eucharist: Take a step to foster stewardship by making a stewardship connection with the readings or prayers in the Sunday Mass at least once a month. Note the ways in which you see parishioners responding.

Diocese of San Diego

2015_why stewardship

Documents