Stewardship Tip January 2010

It’s a new year! Time to plan for parish stewardship! Making a comprehensive plan for the whole year will help make sure that your parish grows in intentional stewardship over the next twelve months. Your particular plan will be unique to your parish, of course, but here’s a sample to get you started:

January – Plan the year’s stewardship activities, enlist a couple of people with digital cameras to take pictures at parish events this year (to use in the fall renewal materials), and send out grateful letters/reports to people who gave time or money to the parish in 2009.

February – Plan a pledge drive for prayer during Lent; schedule a Lenten stewardship study group or speaker.

March – Ask the pastor to preach at least one homily that highlights the traditional disciplines of Lent (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) as ways of giving time, talent, and treasure.

April – Rejoice in the resurrection – and feature the story of at least one good steward in each weekly bulletin this month.

May – Sign-up for “summer stewardship” by focusing on one liturgical ministry in the bulletin each week and inviting ministers to sign up to “cover” for vacationing ministers.

June – Begin fall renewal planning. Set the date(s) and begin to brainstorm for the theme and the logo. Reading the Scriptures for the commitment Sunday is a great way to start.

July – Plan a “mini” time and talent appeal for your formation ministries with “after Mass” sign-up opportunities to be offered several weekends in a row in August.

August – Do the formation appeal. Your DRE will be grateful for the attention and any new volunteer catechists who step forward. (And consider doing some advance sign-ups up for the fall religious education program at the same time.)

September – Prepare and publish the annual financial report. Add information about prayer and ministry development, too, and it becomes a stewardship report.

October – Finalize plans for the annual stewardship renewal effort. Prepare lay witnesses; prepare, proofread, and send out the mailing; talk with clergy, staff, and musicians to assure coordination of Mass, music, and message for the appeal week(s).

November - Conduct the stewardship renewal, enter pledges, and send thank you notes. Thanksgiving is perfect time to give thanks for the good work of all the parish councils – the Pastoral Council, the Finance Council – and maybe the stewardship committee, too!

December – Send out an end-of-the-year appeal that is grateful for the gifts already given and invites additional generous participation.

Comment or questions? Email giaction@osv.com