Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Award

1. Effectiveness of the Stewardship Committee

• Promote the sharing of time, talent, and treasure to all.
• To promote Stewardship as a Way of Living.
• To help parishioners integrate their prayer life into what it means to be a steward/disciple of Jesus Christ.

a. The Parish has an active stewardship committee that nurtures a year-round stewardship education effort.                                           

• The stewardship committee nurtures the love of Christ by bulletin articles each week. The articles promote a stewardship way of life and what that means for our parishioners. We educate the parish by:                                             
• Stewardship fairs several times a year.
• Bulletin articles regarding stewardship.
• Defines discipleship and what that means for baptized Catholics.
• Neighborhood welcome postcard.
• Stewardship newsletter, (The Disciple) to convey information to parishioners about what ministries are achieving in the parish.
• Newcomers Reception three times a year. (Invitation)
• We host a speaker or workshop for our ministry leader each year.

b. The Pastor has an active role on the Stewardship Committee.

• The parish established a stewardship committee shortly after his arrival in 2007 when the mission became a canonical parish and he was named Administrator and subsequently Pastor. We had 16 ministries at that time; We now have 80! From the beginning, a clergy member has always served as a spiritual advisor to the committee, attending each meeting. The pastor receives the meeting minutes and attends meetings periodically. The Stewardship Coordinator meets with him on a weekly basis to remain informed. His advice is obtained on all matters that require his expertise. The chair of the committee also has frequent meetings with him.
• The Stewardship Coordinator and staff host two Stewardship Appreciation Dinners each year for about 400 of our stewards from every ministry and organization to thank them for their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
• Our Pastor, other Priests, Deacon, Stewardship Coordinator, and Stewardship Committee Members regularly attend the ICSC conference.

c. Parish mission statement incorporates a stewardship vision from the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship.

The parish mission statement (On our Website)

  St. Agnes is a Spirit-filled community that:

• Actively celebrates vibrant liturgies,
• Welcomes and nourishes people of all ages and cultures in the Catholic Faith,
• Connects with other faith groups and society to build a better community,
• Shares hope, bread, and the Good News with all.

d. The parish Stewardship Committee has a detailed annual plan with responsibilities on an on-going basis that is formulated with the collaboration and buy-in of other major parish councils (Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council show example of stewardship plan) 

All the heads of our councils and committees attend the Pastoral Council and are requested to join one of the workgroups of the council. The council meets once a month and the heads of the councils and committees give the pastor a report on their actions and plans. (Stewardship Calendar)

e. Parish produces an annual report that reflects stewardship throughout every area of parish life (show examples)

Our Stewardship brochure (Stewardship brochure) lists all our ministries and gives a brief summary of how they interact with parishioners. Our Justice and Peace Committee was the catalyst for a power pack program to feed hungry elementary school children in our county (Power Pack Flyer). The Justice and Peace Committee hosted a Respect Life Conference (Flyer and brochure of the conference). The Events Committee hosted a family picnic with food, face painting, cotton candy, rock wall, and bounce slide. It was a huge success when over 400 adults and children attended. We also have an annual 5K Walk/Run for Life event and an International Festival. (Pictures and Annual Reports)

2.  Commitment and Growth over 5 Years

a. Pastor or parish administrator shows leadership and commitment to stewardship as a way of life.

Very Rev. Robert J. Kantor V.F. became the administrator in 2007 and Pastor in 2010. He established the Stewardship Committee soon after arriving in 2008. The committee grew from being all volunteers with the consistent spiritual advice of clergy to adding a part-time staff member as Stewardship Coordinator with primary emphasis on time and talent.

b. The parish shows signs of a long-term commitment to stewardship (give examples)

The Stewardship Coordinator attends the ICSC Conference each year; along with the pastor, deacon, and any stewardship committee members able to attend. Our Hispanic Ministry priest and deacon have gone to the International Catholic Stewardship Conference, so they can incorporate stewardship into the lives of our Hispanic staff and parishioners. We have stewardship fairs each year, growing from one per year to three as the ministries have increased from 16 at the beginning in 2007 to 80 currently in both English and Spanish. (Increase of Ministries Chart)

c. The parish shows signs of spiritual growth (Give examples of growth in past 5 years such as increases in adorers/hours for Adoration of Blessed Sacrament, RCIA program candidates/catechumens, daily Mass attendance, participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, annual Mass count, other prayer participation)

• Our Adoration went from 3 hours on the first Fridays and extra hours during Advent and Lent to the current Perpetual Adoration (24 hours/7 days a week).
• Currently, we have fifteen different prayer groups that meet and pray for various people or causes.
• Small faith groups meet in people’s homes.
• Sisters In Spirit meets weekly to discuss various religious books.
• The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) has grown and Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) was added to address the increased number of children also entering the Church.
• Children’s Liturgy of the Word grew from monthly with a hiatus in the summer to each Sunday at the 11 o’clock Mass, with additional CLOW added in 2018 at the 5:00 Mass and seasonal Mass at Palmetto Ridge HS, where the parish is establishing a Mission.
• First Communion and Reconciliation grew from 107 children in 2015 to 161 in 2018.  (Statistic on Communion, etc.)

In 2013 we had our first Corpus Christi procession and it has grown each year since. It went from a simple procession outside the church to four (4) stations (altars) set up outside. The priest stops, placing the Monstrance on the temporary altar, leads the accompanying congregation in prayer, and moves on to the next station, culminating in Benediction back in the church.

 In 2016 we began Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP), holding it our parish center. In 2019 it evolved through the leadership of Dynamic Catholic into Welcome CHRP 2.0 which is held for both men and women twice each per year.

d. The parish has grown in the area of community outreach and has made outreach a major priority. (give examples of how it has grown.)

The parish has grown significantly in community outreach. We established a sister parish in a poor migrant area of nearby Ft. Myers, Jesus the Worker. It started as a project of the Justice and Peace Committee and has since grown into its own ministry with a coordinator. We began by assisting them in their food pantry several times a month. Now, we:

• Conduct yearly school supply drives.
• Transport Jesus the Worker parishioners to our International Festival featuring more than 20 countries including those represented in our sister parish.
• Bus sister parish members to our Living Nativity (Most of them do not have cars, and rely on the transportation we provide.)
• Provide for sister parish needs through a Christmas giving tree.
• Run a long sleeve shirt drive for Migrant Workers.
• Conduct food drives for them in cooperation with our St. Vincent de Paul Conference.                                                         

 The Justice and Peace Committee spearheaded a drive to feed children in our county who otherwise might have gone hungry on weekends during the summer. The drive was so successful that they were able to feed twice the number of children originally planned.

Our high school youth and young adults have participated in numerous mission trips, both domestically and internationally, assisting our brothers and sisters in need. Last year was in the community of Immokalee, known for its migrant workers. The program called “Mission Possible: Immokalee” also involved other teens from around our Diocese under the direction of the Diocesan Mission Office which happens to be directed by our pastor. The help of the Mission Office Coordinator, a St. Agnes parishioner, and parish Youth Minister was instrumental in the running of the five-day program. Components included hands-on work at the Guadalupe Social Services’ food pantry and soup kitchen, Friendship House homeless shelter, a youth camp in Bonita Springs, and orientation to the plight of migrant workers by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Prayer and reflection components including Mass and Adoration helped the teens integrate their experiences. 

Prison Outreach, called Light of Hope, began in our parish in May 2016. The Diocese handles training and credentialing our parish stewards. We provide the coordinator and participants. This ministry seeks to bring the Gospel to those who are incarcerated, their families, victims, and those who work in the justice system.

The areas of outreach include:

• Making the Sacraments available to the incarcerated
•  Visitation/classes/bible studies
•  Providing Bibles and religious books
•  Assistance after release from custody
•  Outreach to Correctional Officers
•  Outreach to families of the incarcerated
•  Outreach to victims of crime

Our annual Christmas Giving Tree includes components that help us interact with community members in need, including our Sister Parish, Jesus the Worker, Caridad, a ministry of our Hispanic Community which delivers Christmas toys to poor children in the community, and the Grace Center, established by a parishioner in Ethiopia to meet the needs of orphaned children and mothers who lack a means of support. 

Catholics for Cuba began with two of our parishioners and now has six members. The goal is to bring evangelization and the love of Jesus and hope to the Cuban people. They have successfully sent rosaries and other religious information several times to Cuba.

St. Agnes has taken a leadership role in supporting the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities in Naples. The Center provides a community food pantry, job training, and clothing for job interviews, among other services aimed at the working poor. Our parishioners lend a helping hand, and several of them are on the Center’s Advisory Board. Our parishioners also assist at the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen in Immokalee on a weekly basis.

Our pastor and two parishioners also serve on the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, fostering mutual respect and understanding through several programs illuminating aspects of our respective Faiths, hosting annual visitations of each other’s services and an annual Kristallnacht Commemoration alternating between the local synagogue and church. 

e. The parish offertory has increased (give specific increases year- over- year)

The parish offertory has increased nearly year of the parish’s existence, and the parish has consistently increased its support of Catholic Schools in the area. Each time there is a fifth Sunday in a month, four times annually, the parish conducts a second collection for a charitable purpose. Examples include Catholic Charities, our Sister Parish Jesus the Worker, and St. John Neumann Catholic High School. The parish also supports the works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through poor boxes and dedicated collections on St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving in addition to a food collection bin in the narthex of the church. (Financial Report)

f. Number of ministries and volunteers has grown (demonstrate year-over-year growth)

When the parish first opened in 2007, we had 16 ministries established. (See growth chart)

2007: Finance Council and Arts and Liturgical Environment Committee (to advise on completion of and installations in the new church) established

2008: The Pastoral Council and Stewardship Committee established, 21 ministries

2009: 22 Ministries 

2010: 36 Ministries – Very Rev. Robert Kantor installed as Pastor and appointed Vicar Forane.

2011: 44 Ministries

2012: 57 Ministries

2013: 56 Ministries

2014: 59 Ministries

2019: 81 Ministries, Councils, and Committees including 11 Organizations with parish affiliation.

g. Parish leadership attends regional, diocesan, and/or ICSC offered stewardship conferences, workshops, institutes, webinars, etc.

The stewardship coordinator, pastor, deacon, and other stewardship committee members regularly attend diocesan workshops, ICSC conferences. The Stewardship Coordinator and former chair of the Stewardship Committee attended the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita, KS. The clergy, staff members, and Stewardship Committee attend the Diocesan Stewardship Day as able when conducted. 

3.  Stewardship Education

a. Describe how the parish weaves stewardship education throughout the following demographic groups. What are some of the elements of Stewardship education in each area below? 

1) Children:

    We weave Stewardship into our catechesis for children by:

• Giving families Children’s Offertory Envelopes. The children write their name on it and circle “Time,” “Talent” or “Treasure,” then put in a little money or, if they choose time or talent, put in a picture or note about what they did for God in thanksgiving.
• Families are also invited to pack and decorate a “breakfast bag” for the homeless and use the CRS Rice Bowl during Lent to guide their discipleship.
• Each month at Faith Formation, they are invited to extend their involvement in the parish community by participating in other parish events.
• A Stewardship commitment card that involves children.

2) Youth and teens: 

Our middle school children use the Edge program; This helps them learn the importance of bringing Christ into their life especially in today’s society of negativism and want. The Edge program flows into the Life Teen high school program. Students must complete fifteen hours of community service for a one-year program (30 for a two-year program such as Confirmation). They assist in various ways at many of the parish events. Last year they logged nearly 4,000 service hours. The teens plan and organize, with adult supervision, the Easter Egg hunt, Christmas and Easter decorating, and Trunk or Treat safe experience for young children and their families. They also serve as teen leaders for Vacation Bible School, inculcating a sense of passing on the Faith as a good steward at a formative time in their lives. 

3) Young Adults: 

This regional group meets once a month at our parish or a local restaurant for friendship and topics of the day. The social teachings of the Church are weaved into the conversation and discussed accordingly.

4) Adults: 

The RCIA group uses pamphlets from Liguori Publications with varying topics. They discuss stewardship and how to incorporate it into all aspects of life. Materials also communicate that being baptized in the Catholic Faith entails responsibility and the need to employ one’s gifts and share the Good News. Faith Formation has worked to engage all parishioners with Formed.org to plug into a variety of catechetical and enrichment offerings. We have several Bible Studies that invariably cover the meaning and importance of discipleship in all its forms. 

5)  Seniors:

Stewardship for seniors has many facets: prayer groups, Bible study groups in both English and Spanish, and Formed.org. Homebound Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist visit our shut-ins who are not able to join the congregation for Mass. 

St. Agnes Seniors Singles meet monthly to plan social and service activities and also avail themselves of the many prayer offerings in the parish.

6) Various parish cultures: 

Several of our Spanish spiritual programs such as Consagración a Jesus pro-Maria (Consecration to Jesus through Mary) have also been started for the English-speaking community. Our International Festival, which started primarily offering food and culture from European and South American nations, has expanded and is a truly global international food and culture festival featuring more than 20 nations from Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and North America. 

7) Overall:

The Disciple, our stewardship newsletter, is published three times a year. The focus is to let our parishioners know about the good stewards of our ministries and what good stewardship is all about.                                                                We have instituted a Blue Mass for the area’s Law Enforcement and first responders, and a White Mass, for the area’s Medical Professionals, which have grown in size since they were first introduced a few years ago.

4. Annual Stewardship Renewal

a. Parish conducts an annual stewardship/commitment renewal (brief review of process and timing).

Our commitment form (English /Spanish) includes children on one side and adults on the other. This makes turning in their commitment form a family endeavor. We have three Stewardship Fairs each year. Our largest is Liturgical and Parish Councils and Committees in the fall. Many of our seasonal residents are back by then, generating get a healthy response.

b. Samples of parish-created materials (time, talent and treasure pledge cards, brochures, etc.)

• Parish Handbook
• Tour of the Church 
• Stewardship Brochure
• Commitment Card 

c. Review process for distributing and receiving pledge cards (during Mass, in the mail, outside church at tables, etc.) 

The commitment card is in the bulletin the week of the Stewardship Fair and the following week, Stewardship Sunday. This allows everyone to have access to the commitment form and allows them time to discern their gifts. We have extra cards printed and left in the pews with pencils, and at the Stewardship Table in the Narthex. This allows those who forget their commitment card a chance to fill one out. The completed cards are then collected by the ushers or in the baskets at the exits and on commitment Sunday and brought up with the gifts at Mass.

d. Use of lay witness testimony (brief overview of how utilized/do not submit lay witness talks).

A presentation is given at each weekend Mass for two consecutive weekends, by the parish chair of the Catholic Faith Appeal and our pastor, of the importance of sacrificial giving. This informs parishioners how and where their contributions assist others and help spread the Good News. Several of our young people share the mission work they perform locally and internationally. It has inspired them to continue their work in the missions and inspired our parishioners to connect through their support. Additionally, at each Mass of one weekend, a Diocesan video was shown highlighting the many facets of stewardship outreach in the Diocese, connecting the treasure offered in parishes with the tangible time and talent offered in service of those in need. 

e. Review follow-up strategy including acknowledgments, bulletin, or website updates, mid-year communication.

Stewardship cards collected from the baskets in the church are sorted by the Stewardship Committee. Calls and emails are being made to new stewards to thank them for their interest and tell them that their the card will be given to the appropriate ministry head for complete follow-up. The response is shared with the congregation through the stewardship page. The Disciple, our stewardship newsletter produced three times a year, informs parishioners about stewardship and the efforts of our faithful stewards.

f. Annual ministry fair or other ministry awareness activities conducted, and ministry guidebook is produced and updated annually.

We have three Stewardship Fairs a year to showcase stewardship opportunities to our parishioners. Our stewardship brochure is updated annually; Our parish handbook is updated every two to three years.

5. Empowering, and Engaging Use of Parishioners Gifts

a. Parish has a dedicated volunteer coordinator or stewardship director (full or part-time) to serve as gifts discernment leader, coach, and ministry coordinator. 

A part-time Volunteer Coordinator to serve as a communication and facilitation link between the pastor and the parish’s growing ministries was employed in 2008 at approximately the same time the Stewardship Committee was established. With a growing awareness of Stewardship in the parish, a new position of Stewardship Coordinator superseded the former Volunteer Coordinator in 2010. The current Stewardship Coordinator assumed that position in 2012, upgrading the services provided to our ministry leaders. The Stewardship Coordinator oversees all the ministries and meets with the ministry leaders as needed. When a new leader takes over the coordinator meets with her/him. The book, Blessings for Leaders by Dan Ebener, is given to them for assistance in their new role as a ministry leader. She also assists them with any questions or problems. Part of the Stewardship Coordinator’s responsibility is to help discern the right person to fill open ministry coordinator positions. 

The Stewardship Coordinator also facilitates the annual Ministry Training Day, a mini-retreat including a presentation by the pastor highlighting the spiritual and stewardship components of their service in the parish, followed by ministry specific training. She is part of the Stewardship and Justice and Peace Committees, guiding them to fulfill their missions in the parish.

Welcome receptions are held several times a year for new parishioners. They are hosted by the Stewardship Coordinator, along with members of the Welcome Committee and Stewardship Committee, and key staff, the pastor and other clergy. They all interact with our new parishioners on a personal basis, finding out information aids them in discerning a ministry that would suit their gifts and talents.

Though not all of our more than 1,000 stewards who are active in our various ministries can attend, two Stewardship Appreciation Dinners show appropriate thanks to approximately four hundred stewards. Each table is named for a ministry of the parish, and people are called up to the buffet line by ministry name, helping the large group gain additional awareness and appreciation for the many ministries of the parish. Photographs of stewardship in action from the previous year are projected on two large screens throughout the evening. A meaningful stewardship related gift is presented to each attendee. The Pastor leads attendees in a stewardship prayer placed at each table place and addresses the stewards, communicating the appreciation of the parish for their generous sharing of time, talent, and treasure. 

b. Parish offers a gifts discernment process to help parishioners identify their gifts and discern where best to use them for the benefit of the parish community and beyond.

Under the leadership of the Faith Formation Director, Called and Gifted workshops were conducted in the parish. All three parts of this format were conducted. Part one was a large group one day conference. Part two was individual with a smaller number participating. Part three involved small group sessions weekly for 5 weeks. This program will continue to be one important means of stewardship discernment. 

The Stewardship Fairs and the interaction of ministry representatives with parishioners at the tables are another way we help parishioners discern their gifts. The various ministries are there to inform those interested in how that ministry can engage the parish and others. Other workshops/seminars conducted by the Stewardship Committee help stewards discern their talents.

Every year two seats for a three-year term on the Parish Council open. A nomination form is in the bulletin to nominate someone or oneself. Nominees meet for an evening of discernment to decide who would be the most appropriate to serve. This prayer/discernment model is Christian at its core. 

c. Parishioners are aware of expectations of parish membership (what do I get as a member of the parish; and what can I expect to get from the parish?) Expectations are communicated through bulletin articles, pledge cards covenant/stewardship prayers, challenging stewardship themed homilies, welcome packet materials).

• At our newcomer’s reception, new members are given a welcome packet, (if they registered online and did not get one.) and a brief overview of what it means to be a member of a parish. (Newcomer’s Welcome Packet and its contents.) Our pastor explains that being a member of our church is being a member of the Body of Christ, this means we are part of a family and as such we have a responsibility to contribute both our talent and treasure.
• The stewardship coordinator has a page in the bulletin each week that addresses stewardship, what it means, and how to become better stewards of our God-given talents.
•  Homilies by our pastor and other clergy frequently remind us that by our Baptism we are called to be missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, be good stewards of our talents and treasure, and spread the Good News.
• The prominent displays of our parish Mission and Vision statements on the website, bulletin, and other printed materials reinforce the identity of the parish and the stewards who make it up. 

d. Parishioners are regularly recognized for using their gifts to serve the community (give examples of recognition methods used)

• Stewards are recognized and thanked for their service at the annual Stewardship Dinners.
• Departing ministry leaders are presented a small gift, certificate, and recognition at the conclusion of the weekend Mass they attend, with the presider publicly thanking them for their dedicated stewardship.

e. Ministry descriptions are used to effectively communicate expectations for serving in ministry and indicate term limits. Term limits are strongly encouraged to refresh ministries and ministers.

Each parish committee, council, and ministry has a mission statement. (See Ministry Mission Statement Sample.) When a new leader takes over a ministry, they meet with the Stewardship Coordinator and are given the guidelines and expectations for their ministry. Their responsibility is to communicate the information to their stewards and coordinate all training and orientation to new stewards.

Our Hispanic leaders, overseen by the Hispanic Ministry priest assigned to the parish, usually serve as the leader for a one-year term and replacements are discerned by the priest and members of the ministry. 

f. Leaders of ministry are formed in stewardship and effectively follow-up and welcome parishioners as they indicate interest (either through ministry fair or other contact opportunity.)

The Stewardship Coordinator has an annual meeting with ministry coordinators to steep them in the principles of stewardship. The leaders then live this spirit through the enthusiastic promotion of their ministry. To constantly attract addition people to service, they utilize:

• One of our three Stewardship Fairs held throughout the year.
• The “Answering the Call” promotions for stewardship in the bulletin.
•  Personal recommendations by other stewards.
•  Their own invitations to join a ministry.

6. Communication

a. Describe what forms of media are used to permeate the stewardship message throughout parish life (such as bulletin articles/blurbs, website, social media parish stewardship video, stewardship messaging in all parish ministry materials, logo, taglines, mailings, materials in pews/vestibule, envelopes, email distribution lists, signage, banners, other). Show growth and examples.

To promote the stewardship message, we use the following:

• First stewardship logo was used extensively on the website and in publications through 2015
• New logo created by one of our members was instituted in 2016 which we are using to date on all stewardship materials
• Regular Bulletin Stewardship page
• Stewardship page on our website
• A stewardship banner obtained in 2017 resides in the Narthex most of the year. 
• “Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God’s gifts and shares these gifts in love of God and Neighbor.” Diocese of Wichita
•  A companion Spanish stewardship banner is also utilized
• The Stewardship brochure is in the Narthex, in the newcomer’s handout, and available at the parish office.
• We have a Stewardship Brochure which lists all the ministries and information about them located in the Parish Center and the church narthex.
• Facebook is used to promote stewardship workshops and ministry events.

b. Describe any unconventional or unique communications means for reaching a higher % of parishioners (give examples)

We send out a welcome postcard to people that have just moved into the area. The card is a simple, welcome to the neighborhood and has a picture of our church and Mass times. We also use Facebook, Twitter, Parish App, website, bulletin online and We Share for online donations.

7.  Welcome and Hospitality

The parish has an effective welcome program and exhibits warm and inviting hospitality to all parishioners.

a. New parishioner orientation/official welcome/mentor families. 

• We have greeters at all the doors on the weekend welcoming families to the church at each Mass.
• Each parishioner gets a welcome letter from the pastor after they register. 
• Our newcomer receptions inform and welcome each person to our parish community and make them aware of the prayer and service opportunities offered.

b. Visitor guide/newcomer’s package/gift.

• All registrants are given a Welcome Packet, the Parish Handbook, and the Stewardship brochure when they register. 
• A tour of the church, explains, the architecture, statures, and areas of interest inside and outside the church. 
• At registration, Parishioners are presented a crucifix for their home.

c. Weekly hospitality/socialization after Mass.

• Coffee and donuts, in our covered canopy area outside after Mass.
• On Tuesdays after morning Mass, a breakfast prepared by stewards is hosted in our parish hall.
• The Knights have breakfast in our Parish Hall on the second Sunday of the month from September through April.
• Hospitality stewards aid Faith Formation by feeding families when they meet.

d. Kiosk or table outside church for welcoming and ministry information distribution.

• Three Stewardship tables in the Narthex provide information on any events that are coming up in the parish.
• There is a kiosk with faith formation information, registration, parish pastoral plan, and other materials vital to parish life.

e. Hospitality minister greeting parishioners by name.

• We encourage all parishioners to obtain parish name tags, making it easy for our greeters to welcome everyone by name. Given the diversity of our congregation from many different places, the tag includes their hometown giving another means of identification and connection. 

f. Important acknowledgments (birthdays, anniversaries).

• Milestone birthdays and anniversaries are recognized by the parish community at the conclusion of Masses with special blessings.

8. General parish assessment.

a. Parish is an example to other parishes of similar size and is open to mentoring other parishes in the diocese/archdiocese.

In 2016 we received the ICSC Stewardship Parish Certificate. We added many ideas to the Stewardship page of our website to assist other parishes. Through personal communications, we have assisted other parishes with ideas and implementation strategies.

b. What is unique about this parish? What lived lessons does the parish have to offer other parishes just starting to embrace stewardship?

Our parish is unique because even though we are a very large parish, we have found a way to connect in more intimate ways. We challenge our parishioners to choose to follow Jesus as intentional disciples, which leads to evangelization, human interaction, and the upholding of social justice. This enables them to see the face of Christ in all people they meet. We tirelessly communicate that through Baptism we received the call to be a Disciple of Christ, and it is up to us to follow this calling, use the gifts we have been given and spread the Good News.

c. In what area(s) does the parish have the greatest opportunity for growth in living Stewardship?

The greatest opportunity for growth in living stewardship is inculcating this value in our young people, making them aware that they are already Disciples of Jesus and assisting them in discerning their individual call.

Measurable Parish Data/Growth in Stewardship Efforts over Five Year period