Margo Truett
Pastoral Assistant
St. Anne Church, Columbus, GA
DEFINE!
Importance
of Hospitality
and
Community
Building
Present
concrete
ideas
Share your ideas!
One who receives God’s gifts
gratefully, cherishes and tends
them in a responsible and
accountable manner,
shares them with justice and
love with others, and
returns them with
increase to the Lord.
Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response
A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship
USCCB.org
It is not about…
giving because the Church has needs
getting people to fill our ministries
fulfilling some obligation to avoid guilt
keeping up with our neighbors
It is about…
understanding everything is a
Gift from God
knowing that God has given us
these gifts for which to care
being aware that He expects us
to generously share these gifts
out of gratitude!
It’s all God’s anyway!
God has a plan for YOU!
You gotta SHARE!
It’s all God’s anyway!
St. Anne Catholic Church
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Began in 1961
Located in Columbus, GA
Over 1900 households
990 families with children
Pre-K - 12 school
Stewardship began 1986
First Stewardship Council
established in 1990
Stewardship process
Treasure renewal in November
Time & Talent in Spring
Ongoing processes throughout the year
Community
Hospitality
Engagement
Welcome/
Hospitality
the first step
to
Welcome/
Hospitality
The quality or disposition of
receiving and treating guests and
strangers in a warm, friendly,
generous way.
Dictionary.com
Hospitality is not an option.
One of the pillars of stewardship
We are called to follow the way of
Christ
The CHURCH’S Primary Mission:
The great commission: Matthew
28:19-20
Take a look at your parish
Adequate signage
Parking
Parking attendants
“Church Caddies”
Kiosk in vestibule/narthex
Be welcoming
Greeters
Welcome Ministry
Welcome desk
Visitors’ book
Contact everyone within one week
of first visit
Welcome letter and stewardship
materials sent out immediately
Parish Council call to welcome
New parishioners’ receptions
Welcome new parishioners in
bulletin monthly
Postcards inviting new parishioners
to Ministry Fair
the second step
to
Engagement
To attract and hold fast
To become involved
To bind, as by pledge
Dictionary.com
Believing does not
necessarily lead to
belonging,
but belonging can
lead to believing!
Growing an Engaged Church
By Albert Winseman
Everyone in parish invited
Meaningful to individual
Ongoing, ever-learning,
never-ending process
We, as Church, are called to
be facilitators
Everyone must be invited!
Know your parish community
Parish database
Update it frequently
Frequently review and
communicate parish statistics
Everyone must be invited!
Organize a Stewardship Development
Group
Pastor, parish staff representative, and
parish lay members
Have representation of ALL of your
parish
Clear roles and expectations
Need rotation of members
Stewardship as an ongoing process
Clearly define your mission and vision
Define your parish stewardship process
Realistic goals
Organize a parish stewardship calendar
Provide opportunities for people to
get involved using their unique gifts
Stewardship as an ongoing process
Communicate effectively
Stewardship:
A way of life!
Current communication tools: bulletin,
e-newsletter, website, emails, kiosk,
facebook, twitter, bulletin boards
Educate about stewardship everywhere!
Report results and updates of your process
Stewardship as an ongoing process
Develop and nurture your leaders
Identify leaders in your parish
Ask how they are currently being reached
Provide opportunities for spiritual
formation, ongoing stewardship education,
and personal development
Retreats
Tap in to existing meetings and groups
Stewardship as an ongoing process
Evaluate and continue the cycle!
Learn from your experiences
Keep on keeping on
Keep it fresh!
the third step
to
Community
Hospitality
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father;
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.‘
Matthew 25:34-36
Host community-building events!
Encourage parishioners to speak to
those around at Mass
Introduce to new parishioners
Encourage development of new
ministries
Posters around parish reminding
others to be welcoming
Use all of your communication
tools to educate about importance
of hospitality
Frequent homilies about
importance of being a welcoming
community
Offer parish training sessions
about hospitality
There is always the danger
that we may just do the work
for the sake of the work.
This is where the respect and the love and
the devotion come in –
that we do it to God,
to Christ,
and that's why we try to do it
as beautifully as possible.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Stewardship:
A Disciple’s Response
USCCB.org
Stewardship:
Disciples Respond
A Practical Guide for
Pastoral Leaders
Our Sunday Visitor (OSV.com)
Company’s Coming
by Richard J. McCorry
When They Come Home
by Melanie Rigney and
Anna M. Lanave
Inviting Catholics Home
by Sally L. Mews
Beyond the First Visit
by Gary L. McIntosh
VIDEO: What Visitors See!
By Gary L. McIntosh
churchgrowthnetwork.com