Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Stewardship education leads to greater giving, participation
Stewardship education leads to greater giving, participation
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 9, 2008
Detroit – Msgr. Donald Hanchon readily testifies to the effects the archdiocesan stewardship education program has had on his parish. "I think it's been a great thing for Holy Redeemer," says Msgr. Hanchon, who adds that there has been an increase in the Sunday collection at the southwest Detroit parish.
"But what I have really noticed is an increase in the number of people who use envelopes and an increase in people involved in various parish ministries. I've seen a big increase there," he says.
The program, Called by Christ, Gifted by the Spirit, is offered through the archdiocesan Department of Development, and is among the ministries funded through the proceeds of the Catholic Services Appeal.
The annual CSA campaign, now under way, provides funding for most of the ministries of the Archdiocese of Detroit, including Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the departments of Education and of Parish Life and Services, many college and hospital chaplaincies, the Metropolitan Tribunal, the CTND Catholic cable channel and The Michigan Catholic.
At St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish in New Baltimore, parish council and commission members are studying the U.S. Catholic Bishops' document, "Stewardship: A Disciple's Response," and will begin the archdiocesan stewardship education program this fall, says Fr. Nicholas Zukowski, pastor.
"We're doing this to increase overall awareness of stewardship; that it's more than just dollars and cents – it's a whole major lifestyle choice," he says.
Fr. Zukowski says he is hoping the program results in greater involvement on the part of parishioners and greater outreach on the part of the parish.
"There's one line in the bishops' document that has provoked the most comment – that when one chooses to become a disciple, stewardship is not optional," he says.
That 1992 document from the bishops encouraged all dioceses to engage in stewardship education, says Tom Scholler, interim archdiocesan development director.
"When many people hear 'stewardship,' all they think of is money, but it's much more than that – it's about giving back to God and sharing with others," he says.
The archdiocesan program, first introduced in 1997, is undergoing some revisions, but the updated program will be available this fall. Scholler cautions, however, that successful use of the program requires a "pretty dedicated group in a parish to lead this effort." But if implemented properly, he says the program should result in not just increased collections, but also increased attendance and participation.
"The parish becomes a much more vibrant place," he adds.
An internationally recognized authority on parish stewardship promotion, Fr. Andrew Kemberling, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial, Colo., says stewardship is just a step.
"Stewardship is not the goal; evangelization is the goal. Stewardship is the means to the end, the how of evangelization," says Fr. Kemberling, whose 6,500-family parish in suburban Denver was recognized last year for outstanding work in stewardship formation at the parish level by the International Catholic Stewardship Council.
The Washington, D.C.-based ICSC, now headed by Michael Murphy, former development director for the Detroit Archdiocese, works to promote stewardship.
Fr. Kemberling says he believes his understanding of stewardship could turn around priests who are not enthusiastic about promoting stewardship. "Most of us priests don't like to talk about money, but I approach stewardship from a spiritual standpoint," he says.
"But I see stewardship as a means to evangelization, and that's what every priest does – calling people to discipleship," Fr. Kemberling continues.
He maintains that stewardship "is the key to the conversion of a materialistic, consumeristic world — because our people are drowning in materialism, and it is keeping them from hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ."
When people embrace stewardship, it "gets rid of the clutter, and you can hear the message loud and clear," Fr. Kemberling contends. Their understanding of themselves as stewards of the gifts God has given them "transforms the evils that material goods cause into blessings," he adds. The annual total from the collection plate at St. Thomas More Parish is about $4.5 million, and the parish makes a "tithe of the tithe" by earmarking 10 percent of that for outreach to the poor, Fr. Kemberling says.
But besides their monetary gifts, parishioners grow as disciples, he says. St. Thomas More is abuzz with activity, with about 6,000 parishioners involved in volunteer activity. Daily Mass attendance is in the hundreds, and from 800 to 1,200 people at each of seven weekend Masses.
Also, the parish school is thriving, with 660 students, and another 1,500 children are in the religious education program.
|
