2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal Parish Resource Manual. For Pastors, Deacons, Parish Staff, Lay Persons and BAA Volunteers

Transcription

1 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal Parish Resource Manual For Pastors, Deacons, Parish Staff, Lay Persons and BAA Volunteers

2 Table of Contents Stewardship Prayers Page 3 Letter from the Director of Stewardship & Development Page 4 Welcome to the 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal Page Bishop s Annual Appeal Goals by Parish Page 7 Calendar of Success Page 11 Parish Leadership Roles and Responsibilities Page 12 Basics for a Successful Bishop s Annual Appeal Page 13 Elements of a Successful Appeal Page 15 In-Pew Soliciation Page 16 Gift Processing Procedures Page 17 Suggested Bulletin and/or Pulpit Announcements Page 18 Suggested Prayers of the Faithful Page 19 Sample Letters from the Pastor Page 20 Lay Witness Preparation Page 22 Sample Lay Witness Testimonials Page 26 This Resource Manual is designed to assist the parish pastor, parish coordinators and leadership teams in conducting the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Contact Information: Catholic Pastoral Center Office of Stewardship and Development 2170 E. Victory Drive Savannah, GA Phone Fax stewardship&development@diosav.org Website: Maureen Coates Director Erika Simpson Program Manager Mary Forbes Administrative Assistant Kimberly Johnson Stewardship Coordinator P a g e

3 Stewardship Reflection Let us focus on generosity, or returning God s gifts with increase, through the generous sharing of our time, talent and treasure. It is recommended that all parishes include a stewardship reflection each week in their bulletin, to encourage parishioners to more generously share their time, talent and treasure. Stewardship Prayer #1 Generous God, I give thanks to you for the gifts you have given me -my life, my family, my friends time, talents, and material possessions. All that I have comes from you. Help me to remember this and rejoice in your goodness. Walk with me, my God. Help me on my spiritual journey, so that I may constantly renew my relationship with you and all the good people in our parish and beyond. Renew in me your Spirit. Give me the strength and courage to become a better follower of Jesus, to be a disciple. Help me hear the call to Come, Follow Me. I give glory to you, my God, as I make stewardship a way of life. Amen. Stewardship Prayer #2 O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom, I know that all I have received is from your hand. Gracious and Loving Father, You call us to be stewards of Your abundance, the caretakers of all You have entrusted to us. Help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. Send the Holy Spirit to work through us, bringing Your message to those we serve. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus' name. Amen. 3 P a g e

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5 Dedicate Yourself to Conversion of Heart and Generosity of Spirit! Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. Welcome to the 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal! The purpose of the Bishop s Annual Appeal (BAA) is to help raise funds and carry out the mission of our Dioceses for ministries, programs and offices. The Bishop s Annual Appeal provides funding for: VOCATIONS The Bishop s Annual Appeal provides substantial funding for the education of seminarians presently studying for the priesthood. It also helps fund the Diaconate program. EDUCATION MINISTRIES Faith Formation Young and Young Adult Campus Ministry Catholic Schools Ecumenism SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRIES Deanery Social Services Catholic Charities Family Advancement Ministries (Macon) Family Life MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMS Programs for Hispanic, Migrant and African American groups are supported by funds from the BAA and reach as many as 75,000 people in peak seasons. Included in this are the salary subsidies of priests in Mission parishes. COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY The Communications Office handles communications between the Diocese and both the Catholic and secular communities in South Georgia and throughout the world. It provides a link between diocesan offices and parishes and the diocesan newspaper, The Southern Cross. Other ministries such as the Councils of Priests and Religious, the Stewardship Office, Tribunal, and Spiritual Renewal also receive funding from the BAA. 5 P a g e

6 Ministries and Programs Funded by the Bishop s Annual Appeal 2018 Bishop's Annual Appeal Allocations Vocations 10% 3.1% 1.3% 25.8% Education Ministries - Faith Formation, Ecumenism Rural Mission Parishes 15.2% 7.4% 3.9% 4.8% 28.5% Social Service Ministries - Catholic Charities, Family Life Multi-Cultural Ministries Special Ministries - Stewardship, Tribunal Communications & Technology Diocesan Tithe BAA Expenses The Diocese has committed 3.1% of the monies raised by the BAA to be considered a diocesan "tithe. In keeping with his commitment to Stewardship, the Bishop has designated that these funds to be used outside of our immediate needs for the good of the larger church and its people. Diocesan Information SIZE - 90 counties in South Georgia comprising 37,038 square miles est. in 1850 POPULATION - Total population of 2,800,000 of which 77,287 are Catholic PARISHES - 55 Parishes and 24 missions ACTIVE PRIESTS - 88 SEMINARIANS - 19 DEACONS - 74 RELIGIOUS - 82 Sisters and 2 Brothers SCHOOLS - 5 Catholic High Schools and 13 elementary schools RELIGIOUS EDUCATION- 4,902 students enrolled in religious education 6 P a g e

7 BISHOP S ANNUAL APPEAL GOAL - CY 2018 BASED ON FY 2017 SUNDAY & HOLY DAY CONTRIBUTIONS CY 2018 GOAL DEANERY / CITY PARISH $ 2,700,000 ALBANY DEANERY Alapaha St. Ann $ 3,327 Albany St. Teresa 87,022 Americus St. Mary 14,376 Bainbridge St. Joseph 8,667 Blakely Holy Family 2,047 Cairo St. Elizabeth 4,565 Camilla St. John Vianney 2,780 Cordele St. Theresa 10,602 Cuthbert St. Luke 688 Donalsonville Incarnation 1,164 Fort Valley St. Juliana 8,903 Montezuma St. Michael 2,899 Moultrie Immaculate Conception 16,641 Thomasville St. Augustine 23,710 Tifton Our Divine Saviour 27,145 TOTAL $ 214,536 AUGUSTA DEANERY Augusta Most Holy Trinity $ 89,647 Augusta St. Joseph 50,509 Augusta St. Mary on the Hill 242,811 Grovetown St. Teresa of Avila 222,740 Louisville St. Joan of Arc 3,752 Waynesboro Sacred Heart 13,142 TOTAL $ 622,601 7 P a g e

8 COLUMBUS DEANERY Buena Vista St. Mary Magdalen $ 568 Columbus Holy Family 68,288 Columbus Our Lady of Lourdes 18,900 Columbus St. Anne 152,140 Columbus St. Benedict the Moor 20,254 Pine Mountain Christ the King 29,374 TOTAL $ 289,524 MACON DEANERY Dublin Immaculate Conception $ 25,325 Eastman St. Mark 3,849 Kathleen St. Patrick 41,565 Macon Holy Spirit 24,806 Macon St. Joseph 123,022 Macon St. Peter Claver 49,052 McRae Holy Redeemer 1,802 Sandersville St. William 4,159 Warner Robins Sacred Heart 127,852 TOTAL $ 401,432 SAVANNAH DEANERY Port Wentworth Our Lady of Lourdes $ 19,460 Richmond Hill St. Anne 75,738 Savannah Blessed Sacrament 69,004 Savannah Cathedral 114,395 Savannah Resurrection of Our Lord 27,184 Savannah Sacred Heart 39,759 Savannah St. Benedict the Moor 31,799 Savannah St. Frances Cabrini 54,142 8 P a g e

9 Savannah St. James 115,869 Savannah St. Peter the Apostle 91,797 Savannah Sts. Peter & Paul 13,300 Springfield St. Boniface 27,662 Tybee Island St. Michael 28,869 TOTAL $ 708,978 STATESBORO DEANERY Claxton St. Christopher 7,995 Metter Holy Family 3,542 Millen St. Bernadette 1,422 Pembroke Holy Cross 4,163 Reidsville St. Andrew the Apostle 1,392 Sandhill Our Lady of Guadalupe 2,409 Statesboro St. Matthew 43,453 Swainsboro Holy Trinity 4,617 Sylvania Our Lady of the Assumption 5,100 Vidalia Sacred Heart 21,125 TOTAL $ 95,218 VALDOSTA/BRUNSWICK DEANERY Alma St. Raymond $ 735 Baxley St. Rose of Lima 5,698 Brunswick St. Francis Xavier $ 57,285 Darien Nativity of Our Lady 8,793 Douglas St. Paul 22,726 Fitzgerald St. William 3,486 Folkston St. Francis of Assisi 2,851 Glennville St. Jude 2,277 Hazlehurst Good Shepherd 3,992 Hinesville St. Stephen First Martyr 22,413 9 P a g e

10 Jesup St. Joseph 6,625 Ray City St. Anthony of Padua 11,808 St.Mary's Our Lady, Star of the Sea 34,666 St. Simons Island St. William 70,423 Twin Lakes San Jose Mission 1,584 Valdosta St. John the Evangelist 88,170 Waycross St. Joseph 21,881 Willacoochee Holy Family 2,298 TOTAL $ 367,711 GRAND TOTAL $ 2,700,000 Summary of BAA Appeal Category * Bishop's Annual Appeal $2,600, $2,600, $2,600, $2,600, $2,600, Total Raised $2,621, $2,579, $2,607, $2,491, $2,762, Number of Parishes Over Target Number of Parishes Under Target Percentage of Goal Raised % 99.22% % 95.83% % Number of Donors by Household 8,248 7,992 7,912 7,580 7,076 Average Donation by Household $ $ $ $ $ *2017 figures as of 12/14/2017 Parish Information Our 2018 Parish Goal is: Amount Pledged Last year: Number of Donors Last Year: Participation % Last Year: $ $ 10 P a g e

11 2018 Bishop Annual Appeal Calendar of Success - UPDATED January 29 & 31 February March 3-4 March March March 21 March April 1 April 7-8 May 1 June 2-3 September 8-9 December BAA webinar available to all involved with the BAA. BAA Kick-off Weekend - Show Video at all Masses. Bishop s Annual Appeal letter will have arrived at all actively registered (in our database) homes by now. First pulpit announcement and Prayers of the Faithful Bulletin announcement Second pulpit announcement Bulletin announcement Prayers of the Faithful at all Sunday Masses Third pulpit announcements Bulletin announcement Prayers of the Faithful at all Sunday Masses Updated BAA Progress Reports appear on the Stewardship Website ( Fourth pulpit announcements Bulletin announcement Prayers of the Faithful at all Sunday Masses Pastors begin working with Lay Presenters on their talks Easter Sunday Bulletin Announcement Appeal Sunday In Pew Envelopes Distributed Bulletin Announcement Lay Presenters speak at all Masses The second letter from the Bishop is sent to households who have not yet responded to the 2018 BAA. Parishes are asked to distribute Spanish #7 Remit envelopes at every Spanish Mass. (Only for parishes with Spanish Masses.) Parishes are asked to distribute Spanish #7 Remit envelopes at every Spanish Mass. (Only for parishes with Spanish Masses.) Parishes are asked to distribute Spanish #7 Remit envelopes at every Spanish Mass. (Only for parishes with Spanish Masses.) 11 P a g e

12 Parish Leadership Roles & Responsibilities The Office of Stewardship and Development will be responsible for the preparation and distribution of all appeal materials and offer informative training and support to any parish. The most significant aspect of the Bishop s Annual Appeal are committees and leadership within the parish. The Role of the Pastor Priests today have many responsibilities, and the support and involvement of parish lay leadership is so important. This help can be realized by tapping into the gifts and talents that parishioners have been given by God---their Time, Talent and Treasure. The pastor is key to successful stewardship. When a pastor is dedicated to, and involved in, the stewardship process, the parish experiences the full benefits of stewardship. It is vital that the pastor remind the parish community on an ongoing basis, through homilies and letters that Stewardship makes the parish community vibrant and alive. Pastors who convey the message they support the Bishop and that the Annual Appeal provides critically needed ministries to the entire Diocese (including the pastor s own parish) will be successful in meeting their parish goal. The pastor is also responsible for recruiting the general chairperson or other lay speaker(s) to make a presentation at all Masses on the appropriate weekend. The Role of the General Chairperson The Chairperson is responsible for assisting the Pastor during the Appeal by keeping in regular contact with any communication or status updates. The chairperson also coordinates meetings with the Pastor and Parish Volunteers regularly throughout the Appeal year. The Role of the Parish Secretary The Parish Secretary insures that BAA information is in the bulletin regularly and that materials are plentiful and re-ordered as needed by contacting the Office of Stewardship and Development. The Role of Parish Volunteers Volunteers assist the pastor, general chairperson and parish secretary throughout the Appeal. They are supporters of the BAA and offers consistent understanding and support of the BAA. Volunteers may also be called to be lay witnesses and present pulpit testimonials. Volunteers must be familiar with all appeal materials (brochures, pledge cards, etc.). 12 P a g e

13 Basics for a Successful BAA In addition to having a solid plan for your parish appeal, it is equally important to implement activities that continue to educate yet gain the attention of new donors. Here are some helpful tips to assist in a successful parish Bishop s Annual Appeal. Pray. The power of prayer creates a unified strength that should always be encouraged and never underestimated. Our goal is to pass on the treasure of our faith to the next generations. Everything we do in the parish and diocese are means to the end of accomplishing this mission. Ask prayers that we rise to the challenge generously. Review, Evaluate, Plan. Review your parish BAA results from last year, evaluate all approaches that were taken, determine ways to improve results and create a plan that will achieve your parish goal. Share that plan with your parishioners. If your parish failed to reach your goal, ask for help. We can provide additional support for any parish that needs it. Offer EVERYONE the Opportunity to Participate. Do not decide what your parishioners will or will not financially support. Give them a chance to make their own decision. The best way to do this is through a strong, in-pew education and ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. If you don t ask, donors will not give. A donor does not know what you want, need or what is expected until they are asked. Include Youth, Parish Ministries & Parish Staff. Being part of the BAA for your parish draws these important ambassadors into the participation in the life, mission and work of our Catholic Faith Community. Parishes that get over 45% participation rates tend to reach their goals. Know the Facts. Be sure that everyone sharing the good news of the physical, educational and spiritual programs of the Bishop s Annual Appeal is speaking with factual information. Target a Specific Amount. Don t generalize gift giving. Mention pledge options to maximize your offer. Donors appreciate knowing what is expected of them. Research the average gift for your parish last year, and challenge those below that level to meet it. Challenge those who give above it to raise their sights higher. Keep your sights high, and don t seek the lowest gift option first. Make Your Pledge First. As a faithful parish leader make your own gift/pledge first, leading others to support the Appeal by your own example. Keep a Positive Attitude. This is a parish appeal and a positive approach to its objective and overall importance to your parish should remain sincere and upbeat. 13 P a g e

14 Informative Parish Announcements. Bulletin and pulpit announcements each week regarding the Appeal are essential. Be short, informative and grateful. Thank Everyone! There is no substitute for genuine gratitude and affirmed progress. The success achieved with the Bishop s Annual Appeal is directly related to the leadership, enthusiasm and motivation provided by the Pastor and parish coordinators to parishioners. Appoint volunteers to assist you throughout the year with the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Have them call our main office for ideas or support: Commitment: Make a sacrificial gift or pledge to the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Preparation: Play the BAA video in your parish. Be sure to have the necessary equipment to ensure that each parishioner will have a visual. Utilize all of the BAA materials provided to you from the Office of Stewardship and Development. Make sure that in-pew envelopes are readily available throughout the parish for the duration of the Appeal. Be Positive: Exhibit an enthusiastic attitude about the Appeal and have a sincere and supportive approach. Make the success of the Bishop s Annual Appeal your goal. Participation: Emphasize the importance of 100% parish participation and its role in the overall effort. Encourage pledged gifts to the Appeal, as contributions made overtime allow for flexibility and the opportunity to contribute larger gifts. Focus on our parishioner s willingness to share and sacrifice. Give them the opportunity to practice good Catholic Stewardship principles. By supporting the Bishop s Annual Appeal, they return to the Lord what has been received. It represents their response to God s unfailing love for each of them. Elements of a Successful Appeal 14 P a g e

15 Posters We are sending enough posters so that you can place them in various places where they will be seen by the maximum number of people. Please hang them where there is a lot of traffic and have them displayed in an attractive manner. Bulletin/Pulpit Announcements & Prayers of the Faithful Please use announcements listed in this resource manual or adapt them to your particular situation. Again, they are suggested tools to help you. Lay Witness Talks A brief testimonial by a lay parishioner who is active in your parish is a powerful peerto-peer appeal and can play a significant role in encouraging other parishioners to support the BAA and to be generous. It is important for the lay witness to be someone who actively practices Stewardship in the parish, i.e., shares generously of his/her time, talents and treasure with the parish community. A Personal Thank You Saying thank you is most important when parishioners respond generously to your request for help. All donors will receive a thank you, but the Pastor s recognition of their participation in the Bishop s Annual Appeal is important too. In addition to thanking parishioners from the pulpit and in the bulletin, please consider sending a personal letter of thanks to each parishioner who contributes. Upon request, we will supply the parish/mission with a list of those who have already contributed. Diocesan Website Throughout the campaign, an updated BAA progress report will be posted on the diocesan website each week. Please see Letters from the Pastor The Pastor s support of the Bishop s Annual Appeal is the single most important ingredient of success. The pastor who underscores the Bishop s message and highlights the intimate relationship and interdependence of the parish and the Diocese will convict his people to give generously and feel more involved in the wider, global Church. To make your parishioners aware of the positive impact of their financial pledge, a personal letter from the pastor can be most effective. A letter should especially be considered if you find that toward the end of your campaign, the pledges do not meet your expectations. In-Pew Solicitation 15 P a g e

16 Solicitation Points and Background Information In-Pew Solicitation is an excellent way to increase participation in the Bishop s Annual Appeal in your parish. Be sure to announce from the pulpit that parishioners can find special envelopes in the pews for this purpose. Important Steps to Success Be sure that parishioners have at least two weeks advance notice before they are asked for their gifts at mass. This way they will come to church prayerfully prepared to make a pledge or cash donation. One week prior to appeal weekend, remind and encourage parishioners to read the Bishop s Annual Appeal brochure and letter that was mailed to them. On appeal weekend, place In-Pew envelopes and pens at the ends of the pews. Be sure to ask the ushers to replenish the supply before each mass. After the pastor gives a brief homily, a lay witness shares briefly his/her experience regarding the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Either the celebrant or the lay witness should then give step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the In-Pew envelope, with emphasis on promoting the pledge system. Be sure to encourage the parishioners to complete the envelopes in church. Be sure that a specific gift request ($10, $15, $20 per month, or one hour s wage per week) is made as part of the instructions. Encourage people to give a larger gift than last year if this is within their means. Do not encourage them to take the envelopes home. At this point, the parishioners are prepared to make their donations. Allow a few minutes for the parishioners to fill out their pledge envelope. The ushers or special collectors should now collect the completed pledge envelopes. As with all primary methods of solicitation, the follow-up is an essential and integral part of the appeal campaign. In some cases, personal circumstances may prevent someone from making a gift; however, it is important the every parishioner has the opportunity to give. Therefore, it is recommended that a follow-up method of solicitation be utilized such as a letter from the pastor. Preparing In-Pew Envelopes for Gift Processing 16 P a g e

17 The purpose of the Gift Processing guide is to assist the parish staff and the Office of Stewardship and Development team in proactively reviewing and recording all contributions made to the Bishop s Annual Appeal. By following this process, we can properly credit every donor s contribution. This will help foster a spirit of partnership among donors, parish staff members and the Office of Stewardship and Development for funding the work of the Church in our Diocese. Please ask parishioners to fill out their pledge cards and checks / credit card information and have the ushers collect them. Please ask them to indicate the name of your parish on the pledge card so your parish receives credit. Once ushers have collected all pledge cards, please gather all pledges and checks and send them to our lockbox: Bishop s Annual Appeal P.O. Box Atlanta, GA Please note this is a new PO Box and Zip Code!! (Note: Mail will no longer be received at the old PO Box.) All checks should be made payable to the Diocese of Savannah. All gifts to the Bishop s Annual Appeal, whether they are received through the mail or through In-Pew weekend collection baskets, will be processed as swiftly as possible. If checks are made out to the parish, please deposit them and send a check from your parish made payable to the Diocese of Savannah and send to the address above. Please indicate the name of the person making the gift and the amount they contributed so they may receive individual credit. Please do not hold the checks for any length of time as parishioners want to make sure their pledge statements are up to date. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at (912) Suggested Bulletin and/or Pulpit Announcements #1 17 P a g e

18 The Bishop s Annual Appeal will commence the weekend of February 17 and 18. It is time for us to do what we can to support not only our Diocese but the programs and ministries that benefit our parish and our Catholic community. The BAA supports our Catholic Schools and the education of our future priest and deacons. The BAA supports ministries that change lives for the better. We are blessed with much; let us be a blessing to others. #2 This week we begin the Bishop s Annual Appeal. This year s theme is Missionary Disciples. Your sacrificial gift and prayers will help make this year s appeal a success. Our parish target is $ and we can do this if, after thoughtful consideration and prayer, everyone participates according to our ability. #3 You should have received a letter and pledge card from Bishop Hartmayer last month. Please prayerfully consider your gift this year. We want to show our support of the diocesan family by exceeding our goal this year (or by continuing to exceed our goal as we have in past years). #4 Just a reminder! If you haven't yet made your pledge to the Bishop s Annual Appeal, please consider doing it this week. As good stewards, each of us has a responsibility to share our great gifts that come from God. Please be generous in your sharing. #5 As of the last report we received, % of our parishioners have made a pledge to the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Our support of diocesan agencies and ministries is one way that we respond to God for all we have received. #6 Thank you to those who have made their BAA pledge. Next week is Appeal Sunday. If you have not yet made your pledge, we will have envelopes at Mass next weekend. #7 Appeal Sunday Today is Appeal Sunday. We will be giving those who have not yet made their pledge to the Bishop s Annual Appeal an opportunity to do so today. If you are not able to make a pledge, please consider a one-time gift. Each one of us is Christ to all we meet. During other weeks, please remember to remind everyone of the Bishop s Annual Appeal and to THANK those who have responded with a sacrificial gift or pledge to the 2018 Bishop Annual Appeal. Suggested Prayers of the Faithful Please use one or more of the following Prayers of the Faithful (or revise to accommodate your parish) throughout the campaign year. 18 P a g e

19 1. Dear Lord, help us to understand that our Bishop s Annual Appeal is our form of stewardship for our diocese, continue to bless our parish family and keep us faithful to giving our time, talent and treasure to the Church and to those in need WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 2. For all parishioners contributing to our Diocese s needs, may their gifts be an expression of the gifts God has given them WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 3. That God may bless our parish and Diocese, strengthen our faith, and grant us the spirit of Christian Stewardship during our Bishop s Annual Appeal WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 4. That those who are served by our support of the Bishop s Annual Appeal, may know the power of Christ s love WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 5. That we may respond generously as faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to us WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 6. That we may recognize the blessings that flow from the practice of Christian stewardship in support of the Bishop s Annual Appeal WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 7. That we may recognize our need to give of what we have to help others through the Bishop s Annual Appeal WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 8. That the Bishop s Annual Appeal may be successful in our parish and in all parishes in the Savannah Diocese WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 9. May sharing our financial gifts through the Bishop s Annual Appeal help to bring our children to know, love, and serve Jesus WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 10. That we may share the benefits of our blessings through our support of the Bishop s Annual Appeal WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 11. That through our participation in the Bishop s Annual Appeal, we will continue to be channels of the presence of Christ in our world WE PRAY TO THE LORD. 12. That our pledge to the Bishop s Annual Appeal will be an acknowledgement of our desire to generously support the work of the wider Church Community WE PRAY TO THE LORD. Sample Letter from Pastor (To be sent in April to parishioners who have not contributed to the BAA) 19 P a g e

20 Date Name Address City/State/Zip Dear (use the parishioner(s) first name), Everything we do as a Church boils down to helping people young and old have the encounter with Christ that comes through our faith and leads us to union with God in time and eternity. It can be tempting to think being Catholic means just illuming the inside of our own parish community. But that would be like lighting the inside of a bushel basket. The gift of faith we have as Catholics is not for us alone. We have been given this gift in order to share it with others, starting with our children and grandchildren. Now I am asking you to reach beyond the boundaries of our parish and share your resources with our Diocesan ministries through a contribution to the Bishop s Annual Appeal. At the parish level, we have many opportunities to benefit from the resources that the Bishop s Annual Appeal funds such as educating our Priests and Deacons, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, and Family Life. The Appeal also, funds Catholic Social Service programs and soup kitchens, as well as Respect Life and Marriage Preparation, Hispanic and African American Ministries and Rural Mission Churches. A gift to the Bishop s Annual Appeal is a way to serve as Missionary Disciples here in our diocese by helping to fund many important ministries and services. Please prayerfully consider making a gift to this important appeal. You can make a donation online at or by sending a pledge or check to: Bishop s Annual Appeal P.O. Box Atlanta, GA *Please indicate the name of our parish on the memo line. As always, thank you for your generosity. Please be assured of my constant prayers. Sincerely yours in Christ, To be Hand Signed by Pastor Sample Letter from Pastor (To be sent in April to parishioners who have pledged and/or contributed to the BAA) 20 P a g e

21 Date Name Address City/State/Zip Dear (use the parishioner(s) first name), I would like to personally thank you for all that you do to help our parish. You truly are a people of faith. Your pledge to the 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal tells me that you recognize the role of each person in the evangelization and life of our church and our diocese. Your generosity insures that the people of our parish and our diocese will continue to receive spiritual, educational, and social services from the Church. Thank you for helping to build our legacy of faith here at (parish) by responding and ensuring the ministries of our Church continue on. As you know, our goal for the 2018 BAA is $(parish goal). With your continued support and participation, I know we will fulfill our mission with great success. Again, thank you for all you do in the support of our Church. May God bless you and your family. Sincerely yours in Christ, To be Hand Signed by Pastor Lay Witness for Pulpit Presentation 21 P a g e

22 It is likely, despite your best efforts to communicate about the Bishop s Annual Appeal, that many parishioners may either not have read the material or have not yet decided on making a pledge. Inviting a lay witness to speak to the congregation provides unparalleled motivation to participate in the appeal at that particular moment. Remember that people give to people. And they love to hear real life stories! Thus, the use of a lay witness is an effective means of increasing participation in the BAA. The lay witness presentation provides parishioners with a peer-to-peer example of why the Bishop s Annual Appeal is an important responsibility shared by all members of the diocese. A witness brings into focus, through the sharing of personal examples, how and why support for the appeal is vital to continue the work of the diocese. The focus of the Bishop s Annual Appeal is serving Christ by serving others. As stewards of God s gifts, we have been entrusted with what the Lord has provided each of us. It is up to us, as Disciples of Christ, to provide the means by which the Gospel message can be witnessed through the ministries of social justice, Catholic education and faith formation, religious ministries, and spiritual development. The goal of the lay witness should be to share with peers why support of the appeal is important to him/her and to others. People are motivated to become involved for the first time, or to move into a deeper commitment to sharing their time, talent, and treasure by hearing that supporting the Church is important in the lives of lay people just like themselves. Many people are committed to the Bishop s Annual Appeal, but not all of them are able to make an effective presentation. It is very important that lay witnesses be able to stand at the pulpit and speak clearly and effectively to the congregation. The lay witness should meet with the pastor to plan the presentation. It also would be helpful for him/her to read Scripture passages about stewardship and the material about stewardship in this manual. The lay witness should write out a 3-5 minute presentation about their personal experiences in relating their faith to acts of charity in their life. It is vital that the pastor spend time with each lay witness, helping with the presentation and delivery of the witness talk, and listening to a dress rehearsal of the presentation. Please note, it is not a good idea for the lay witness to speak extemporaneously, or without the pastor reviewing their presentation. Please allow ample time for your pastor to review the speech before presentation. How To Prepare Your Talk 22 P a g e

23 Who should be asked to make the Lay Witness Presentation? An energetic and enthusiastic speaker A long-standing, active parishioner A contributor to the Bishop s Annual Appeal A member of the Parish Council, Finance Committee, Stewardship Committee or a Parish Commission A Lector, Eucharistic Minister or Catechist To assist you in preparing the most effective talk, we offer the following information on the Bishop s Annual Appeal and hints on effective communication. Thoughts for developing your talk: Pray: All things should begin and end with Prayer. God knows our hearts and we must first give ourselves to Him and seek His will for our lives. Watch the BAA Video: We will provide you with a copy of the DVD at your request or you may view the video online at Make your gift to the BAA: We are able to speak well about an important project like this if we can speak from our own commitment. Make your gift so that you may speak with confidence and ask others to give. Draft some thoughts to share: What words would you like to say to inspire others to give? What comes from your own experience of giving to God, your own parish and the Bishop s Annual Appeal? Use this as a free form, unedited way to express your own hopes for this talk before scrutinizing your words for the final talk. Read the Case Components: Familiarize yourself with the case components of the BAA. We certainly do not want our speakers to recant a listing of all of these many ministries but be familiar with what is served by the BAA. Outline your talk: It is important to script your talk for the Appeal. Even if you are an experienced public speaker, it is important to keep your words concise and to the point. Keep your talk to less than 5 minutes. 23 P a g e

24 Thank the parishioners: Include a thank you to parishioners for their past support. For those who are staff, Seminarians or those who benefit from the BAA: Use real stories and experiences that demonstrate and describe how the BAA met your needs and/or the many needs of people in our Diocese. Stress that this BAA helps change lives: Mention that it is through the generosity of the people of the Diocese that important services can be provided to our children and grandchildren. Repetition of important words or phrases is an effective method of imparting the main message of your talk (.. because of your generosity,... without your generosity,... rely on your generosity ) and reinforce the importance of the BAA to those who benefit from the BAA. Questions? Please call the at Motivate: Your job isn t so much to teach or explain it as it is to motivate people to give. Don t forget to ask them to make a gift or pledge! A Few More Hints For Developing Your Talk Remember to thank the parishioners for their past support. Be conscious of your appearance. Real people stories and experiences work better than statistics. Remember that you are a performer out there and the outcome you are seeking is 100% response. Speak from the heart. Strive to deliver the talk in a sincere, enthusiastic, and friendly manner. Emphasize the opportunity donors have to give out of compassion, concerns, or gratitude for their own blessings. Think for a moment. What motivates a person to give? 24 P a g e

25 Conclude with a brief word mentioning how Stewardship enables us to return, with deep and sincere appreciation, a portion of our gifts of time, talent, and resources to God. Practice, practice, practice! Practice your talk out loud in front of a mirror. Deliver it to your spouse, family or friend and ask for their critique. SPEAK SLOWLY. Much more slowly than usual so your audience will hear you and be able to follow your message. Your talk will have a direct impact on how people will respond to the Bishop s Annual Appeal. Your words will make a difference! Sample Lay Witness Testimonial #1 (After introduction) Stewardship means different things to different people. Let me share with you what stewardship has come to mean to me. 25 P a g e

26 Reflecting back on the time spent growing up, I ve realized more and more not only how loving my parents were but also how wise they were. I learned a lot from my parents, but there are four things I learned from their example that have had a particular impact on my life. First, was the fact that God loves us. He is good and we can trust Him. Second, was that each of us is given certain gifts and talents and one of our responsibilities in life is to discover what those gifts and abilities are, develop them and use them to benefit others. Third, was that to whom more is given, more is expected. Fourth, was that having a job and spending time with your family is important but not enough. We also need to spend time being with and helping others. With that kind of learning and my parents example, I did not have a great deal of difficulty in grasping the concept of stewardship of prayer and service. I didn t call it that, but I did it. From the time I was in high school onward, I made sure I spent time doing things for and with other people, mostly through different types of volunteer work. As I continued to give of my time and service, I realized I was growing spiritually. God and other people became a more important part of my life. As an adult, I continued to give of my time and service through various church and community groups. Yet, something was still missing. You see, I gave of my time and service but not my financial resources. I reasoned that I spent so much time in church and community activities that I didn t need to give regularly to the church or other community groups. Sure, I gave some, but it was sporadic and unplanned. It wasn t until my husband/wife and I completed a course for engaged couples seven years ago that I started to look even more seriously at my relationship with God. We realized that we couldn t hold back on any area of our giving because God wasn t holding back on any area of His giving. We also decided that we wanted God to be at the center of our marriage. That led us to a decision to start giving of our finances in a planned and proportionate way. We started giving two percent of our income to the church and other charities in Five years later, we were giving at eight percent of our income to the church and other charities. As we continued to give, we ve learned that we are growing more spiritually and that our faith is deepening. By giving as we have, we have tried to place material things and money in their proper perspective. That has caused us to look at what we need versus what we want. For example, when we bought a new home almost two years ago, we bought a somewhat smaller house than we might have if we hadn t been practicing stewardship of our financial resources. Stewardship has become a way of life for us. It is not always easy, but we try to live it. Presently, I am spending eight hours a week in ministry work outside my job and my wife is spending three hours per week in her ministry work. In the area of sharing of our financial resources, 80 percent of our giving is church-related, while the other 20 percent goes to community agencies. My wife and I are planning to move to the biblical tithe, 10 percent of our income, next month. 26 P a g e

27 In growing spiritually, we have come to know and appreciate how deeply blessed we are by God. We are deeply grateful for that. That is why stewardship of time, service and sharing has been and will continue to be an important part of our lives. Sample Lay Witness Testimonial #2 Good morning! I can t believe that I m actually standing before you this morning, but when Father asked me to speak to you today I just couldn t say no to him! My name is and I have been a member of this parish community for years. I don t have any children but I have plenty of nieces and nephews that I love to spend time with and enjoy watching them grow. I grew up in a family that did not understand stewardship. Sure, we went to Mass and we learned right from wrong. But when the offertory basket came around, my parents did what many Catholics do: they threw in a few dollars in the collection. In the last few years, I have grown in my understanding of what it means to be a good steward. I understand that stewardship and the Bishop s Annual Appeal is not a season of the year, and it s not reaching into my purse for a few extra dollars as the offertory basket starts its way down the aisle or the Bishop s Appeal pledge card arrives in my mailbox. In the last few years I ve come to realize that my stewardship of treasure needs to be prayerfully planned on a yearly basis. It needs to be a grateful response to all the wonderful gifts that the Lord has given to me. And although I am not wealthy by anybody s standard, I have been gifted with a house, my health, a job, and friends that are a blessing to me. I may not have enough money for a fancy new house or a brand new car but, yes, I have a great deal to be thankful for! My commitment to stewardship began rather oddly in a conversation with a friend over how much to tip a waitress who had been particularly attentive to us. We decided that the usual 15 percent may not be enough to really show her our appreciation for her good service. Then my friend, Susan, made a comment that really stunned me. She said, Do you ever think about the fact that we are so willing to leave a tip of more than 15 percent to someone who keeps our iced tea glass full but it s so hard for us to give more than a pittance to the Lord who has blessed us with life, health, and blessing upon blessing? I don t think Susan ever really knew how astounding that little comment was! To be honest, it haunted me for a long while! I kept hearing it over and over. It gnawed at me! One day I sat down with my calculator and figured out how much I was giving back to the Lord. It s humiliating to tell you today that it was less than 1% of my income. I was giving less than 1% of my income in gratitude for every blessing that the Lord kept heaping on me! I can t tell you that I immediately jumped to the biblical tithe of 10% because that would be a bold-faced lie. However, each year since then I have added more and 27 P a g e

28 more to the offering that I give back to the Lord. Each year I make it a very prayerful decision, a planned decision. I do not believe that stewardship is about what the parish needs or what the Diocese of Savannah needs. If it were, we would all be in trouble! There is far more need in the world than we could ever hope to overcome. So if our giving were based on need, we would never be able to stop! But it is not; at least, it is not only about the needs of others. It s about our own need---our need to give. When you think about it, it is clear that God has blessed us abundantly, far more than we deserve. We in South Georgia are far more fortunate that the vast majority of humanity---all of whom are God s children, no less beloved than we are. In recognition of this abundant and undeserved blessing, we must share with others who are less fortunate. I believe my personal first step was to actually plan a specific amount to contribute consistently each week. It wasn t a huge increase but it seemed like a big step at the time, and somehow I was able to make ends meet. I must have cut back on something, but I could not tell you exactly what. And by the time it came to take another step, I hardly noticed it anymore. And so it has been for every step since. I will not pretend to have come to appreciate the value of stewardship overnight. At first, it was a sense of shame that made me open my wallet. But eventually, I came to realize what stewardship was about. And here is what I learned: it is all about sharing. It is about freely sharing with others the blessings that God has freely shared with me. It is not just about tithing, per se. It is about generosity. If you are grateful for God s many blessings in your life, then sharing is the only legitimate response. If you think you cannot do it, let me assure you that you can. Take a step, however small. And next year, take another. There will never be a better time to start. There are always good reasons not to give, whether it be student loans, retirement or everything in between. It is never going to get any easier---unless you accept God s call to generosity in your heart. All you have to do is put your trust in the Lord and take a step. Most of us will not become saints overnight. But perhaps we can reach that goal one step at a time. Thank you and God bless you. 28 P a g e

29 Office of Stewardship and Development 2170 E. Victory Drive Savannah, Georgia P a g e