From the Desk of Fr. Joseph West, OFM Conv. I want to share with you my thoughts with you on stewardship and the opportunity we have to become even better stewards of what God has entrusted to us at St. Anthony Parish. God has given us time, the time of our lives. God has blessed us all with various talents or abilities. Through the grace of God the majority of us have financial resources. God has loaned us time, God has loaned us treasure. These are called the three T s of stewardship: Time, Talent and Treasure. Stewardship is not simply making monetary donations or taking care of the buildings and grounds. It is a spirituality, a way of life. It acknowledges that Jesus is Lord of our lives and we want to place ourselves and all that we have at his service. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 Live the Legacy! St. Anthony Parish has served the Clarksville and Jeffersonville communities for over 160 years. It is truly a gift given to us by those who have gone before us, as is the Catholic faith itself. In his inaugural address John Kennedy proclaimed: the torch has been passed to new generation So has our Parish and our Catholic faith. Now is the time for a new generation to receive what has been entrusted to it and become stewards for the net generation. St. Anthony Parish Community needs you and every one of our members! We need your active participation at Sunday Mass! It epresses your love for God and it epresses your love for us. We need this witness of your love and devotion. Our world needs the witness of a loving and devout Community praying together on the Lord s Day. If something has kept us apart, let the things of the past be healed by the grace of God. If you know of others who may be interested, offer them a ride. This is truly a time for renewal and a perfect time to make a return to full and active participation in your Parish Community. How Shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me? Psalms 116:1 During October take time to prayerfully reflect on all God s gifts to you. Consider if there are new or different ways for you to show your gratitude for these gifts. Am I giving cheerfully in gratitude for all that God has given to me? Am I putting God first in my personal budget and financial planning? Am I using my time and talents to do everything for the glory of God? Sharing your Time and Talent St. Paul tells us: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit; There are different forms of service but the same Lord: There are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the spirit is given for some benefit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 As St. Paul said, each individual has gifts given to him or her for the good of the Community. And this is the basis of the spirituality of stewardship. The Holy Spirit works in and through individuals, you and me. The Spirit never does this just for our individual pleasure, but rather all gifts are given for the good of the entire Community. I ask that everyone in our Parish Community to reflect on their individual time and talents. Our
time is precious and limited so we spend it doing the things we enjoy and value or just need to get done. We give our time to those we love, our family, friends and neighbors. Talents may be special gifts such as music, athletics, plumbing, maintenance, painting or artistry of various kinds. Talents are also the ability to listen attentively to another, the willingness to visit the homebound and those in nursing homes, reading at Mass, ministering the Eucharist. St. Anthony Parish needs the involvement of each and every member. There are so many opportunities for those willing to be involved. Please take time to review the information on pages 3-6 which highlights the many activities here at St. Anthony. Pray and reflect over the direction you feel God is leading you. Then complete the back of the Stewardship Intention Card to indicate the ministry or ministries you intend to serve in the upcoming year. Sharing your Treasure Our American culture offers an infinite variety of ways to use or misuse the money we earn. But, like our time and talent, our money is another way we epress ourselves and declare who we are and what we stand for. From the very beginning Christ was concerned was concerned with the right and proper use of our money: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and Take a Step in Giving thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, no thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Matthew 6:19-21 Reflect on your heart s commitment to St. Anthony Parish. To continue to meet our immediate needs and to meet the long-term financial health of our Parish. I ask you to consider giving at least 2% of your annual income to the Gospel Ministries of St. Anthony Parish. Please take a look at the chart Take a Step in Giving. Locate your annual household income in the left hand column. In the first column to the right of that figure you will find the amount you can donate weekly in order to be tithing at 2%. If you so desire, the chart provides for percentages greater than 2%. You will, of course, have to determine what is right for you. I know from my own eperience that it feels good to give a significant amount to something I believe in. Please don t give till it hurts; give till it feels good. Pray and reflect on your income and epenses. Can you make a tithing commitment of 2%? If not can you afford ½ that, or 1%. I urge you to become a percentage giver. Let s not tip God with a few dollars, but truly commit ourselves to a very specific goal Yearly Income 2% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% 4.0% 4.5% 5.0% $25,000 $9.62 $12.02 $14.42 $16.83 $19.23 $21.63 $24.04 $30,000 $11.54 $14.42 $17.31 $20.19 $23.08 $25.96 $28.85 $35,000 $13.46 $16.83 $20.19 $23.56 $26.92 $30.29 $33.65 $40,000 $15.38 $19.23 $23.08 $26.92 $30.77 $34.62 $38.46 $50,000 $19.23 $24.04 $28.85 $33.65 $38.46 $43.27 $48.08 $60,000 $23.08 $28.85 $34.62 $40.38 $46.15 $51.92 $57.69 $70,000 $26.92 $33.65 $40.38 $47.12 $53.85 $60.58 $67.31 $80,000 $30.77 $38.46 $46.15 $53.85 $61.54 $69.23 $76.92 $90,000 $34.62 $43.27 $51.92 $60.58 $69.23 $77.88 $86.54 $100,000 $38.46 $48.08 $57.69 $67.31 $76.92 $86.54 $96.15
The Right Fit of Time and Talent! What is the right fit? It is matching our individual talents and calling with one of the many ministry opportunities available at St. Anthony. Once we discover our right fit, our Parish Community will benefit by having each of us doing what we naturally do best and in a ministry that we are passionate about. In addition, by having the right fit makes our service to God and our Parish a more rewarding eperience. Please use this information to find your right fit at St. Anthony Parish! If you have a question about any of these ministries, please contact the Parish Office and we will have someone on the parish staff or a parishioner involved in that ministry contact you to provide more information. Parish Leadership Ministries Parish Council Finance Council School Committee Stewardship Ministries Adopt-a-Plot Buildings, Grounds & Maintenance Cemetery Collection Counters Communications Disaster Response Team Heavenly Dusters (Church Cleaning) Nursery Picnic Booth Chair Picnic Committee Picnic Workers Stewardship Committee Consult, advice, and propose policy to the Pastor regarding the various programs, operations and activities of St. Anthony Parish. Monitors the finances of the Parish, prepares and recommends an annual budget to the Council. Develops policies, annual and long-range plans, annual operating budget and direct the implementation of Archdiocesan, Deanery and Parish educational policies in the School program. Parishioners that adopt an area on our parish grounds to maintain by trimming bushes, pulling weeds, planting flowers and adding mulch as needed. Committee identifies needed maintenance and recruits volunteers or oversees the selection of outside contractors to implement needed maintenance to the parish physical plant and grounds. Group oversees finances and maintenance of the Saint Anthony of Padua Cemetery located in Jeffersonville. Teams of parishioners who count and prepare the Sunday deposit and other church collections. Group keeps the parishioners informed of all activities and events through the "Padua Press and church and school websites. Group that plans how our Parish can assist the community in the event of a major disaster. Teams of parishioners who work to clean the church on Friday or Saturday of each week. Adult and youth volunteers provide our young parents with the opportunity to attend the 11 am Mass while their toddler receive dependable care. Chairs set up booth and recruit volunteers to assist in working their booth. Committee plans all aspects of the picnic and recruits booth chairs and workers to assist in the implementation of the picnic. Parishioners who volunteer to work the various jobs at the summer picnic, from set up to tear down. Committee dedicated to educating, encouraging, recognizing and modeling ways to share our individual gifts with the Church and community. 6 times Annually
Christian Community Ministries Friendship Committee (Funeral Meals) Parishioners provide food for families of deceased parishioners by making, ordering, delivering and/or serving food as requested. Communion to Homebound Parishioners deliver Eucharist to nursing homes, hospitals and the homebound. Health Ministries (Blood Pressure Check) Parishioner health care professionals promote health and wellness through blood pressure checks and other health information following Mass on a monthly basis. Men's Club Piecemakers (Quilting Group) PrimeTimers (Senior Citizens) Red Cross Blood Drive Club provides community-building among all men of the Parish and provide service to the Parish. Group makes quilts for the Parish Picnic and provide instruction on quilting to interested members. Provide community-building and social opportunities for senior citizens. Parishioners assist with blood drives at St. Anthony usually every 8 weeks. Twice a Month Respect Life Group works to bring awareness of issues related to all facets of human life from natural conception to natural death. Secular Franciscans A lay fellowship drawn to the spirit and life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Order participates in service and outreach activities. Small Church Community/Faith Sharing Parishioners currently in or who wish to create a small church community for sharing faith and growth in Christ. Set by Group St. Vincent de Paul Committee Committee helps feed the hungry, clothe the needy and provide shelter for the homeless. Tender Loving Care Parishioners assist with short-term needs (food, visits, prayers,etc.) of parishioners who are eperiencing a tragic event such as a loss of a loved one or a family illness. Faith Formation Ministries Adult Religious Education Children's Religious Education Confirmation Preparation Group that plans and/or assists in the implementation of programs for adult learning and faith formation. Catechists assist in implementing children's faith formation in Grades K-9. Group that plans and/or assists in a program for high school students preparing for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Two Sundays per month 1 to 2 Planning s Faith Formation Committee Group meets to plan and implement faith formation programs and provide feedback to the Director or Religious Education. Liturgy of the Word for Children Group that plans and/or assists in a program offered for children age 4 through 8 during Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Living Your Faith Through Stewardship Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Rite of Christian Initiation of Children Sacramental Preparation Vacation Bible School School Ministries Group that plans and/or assists in a program for Adults who are in the process of joining the Catholic Church. Catechists teach children who are beginning the process of receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Group that plans and/or assists in a program preparing parents and children to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation and/or Confirmation. Group that plans and/or assists in the implementation of Vacation Bible School. during RCIA Program during RCIA Program 1 to 2 Planning s 1 to 2 Planning s Art Fair Volunteer Adult volunteer to assist with the annual school art fair. Cafeteria Volunteer Adult volunteer to assist in the cafeteria. Enrollment / Recruitment Committee Marketing Committee Parent/Teacher Organization Leaders School Office Volunteer Stewardship Friday Spiritual Life Ministries Adult Choir Altar Servers Art & Environment Cantor Committee that develops and implements recruitment programs to recruit new students to attend St. Anthony School Committee that develops and implements marketing programs for St. Anthony School. School parents active in various school fund raising activities like Market Day, community building events and activities to provide communication opportunities between teachers and parents. Adult volunteer to assist with various clerical tasks in the school office. Parent and Grandparent volunteers who plan and implement stewardship focused program in school. Choir that provides music ministry for Sunday Mass and holy day Masses, seasonal celebrations, and miscellaneous parish gatherings. Youth trained to assist the Presider, so that the ceremonies proceed smoothly. Group that plans and/or assists in decorating the Church for Christmas and Easter and other various liturgical celebrations during the church year. Responsible for songs or hymns that require solo passages, leading the assembly in a recurring refrain and inviting parishioners to join voices in hymns used throughout the Mass. during school year Practice Eucharistic Ministers Parishioners trained to distribute Eucharist at Mass. Greeters Instrumentalists Parishioners stationed at the entrances to greet and welcome parishioners and guests to Saint Anthony Church. Musicians willing to share talent by playing their instrument at Mass or other events as requested.
Lectors One Voice Music Group Resurrection Choir Sacristans Ushers Youth Ministries ACT NOW/Youth Planning Athletic Committee Chaperones/Drivers Living Your Faith Through Stewardship Parishioners trained to proclaim the Word of God in the Scripture and lead the congregation in the Prayer of the Faithful during Mass. Choir that provides music ministry for Sunday Mass and holy day Masses, seasonal celebrations, and miscellaneous parish gatherings. Choir that provides music ministry at funerals as requested. Parishioners who ensure that prior to Mass cleaned linens are available, that altar vessels are kept safe, that consumables like altar wine and altar bread are in adequate supply. Parishioners trained to assist in greeting parishioners and guests, help with seating as necessary, collect the offering and distribute bulletins. High School Youth who plan the programs and activities for our parish youth ministry. Committee that plans, recruits and screens coaches, schedules games and practices, coordinates concessions, approves ependitures for parish athletic teams. Parishioners willing to be chaperones or drivers for Youth activities. Practice Coaching Parishioners willing to coach a school athletic team. Scouts & Leaders Young Adult Group Youth Liturgical Ministers Sharing of Talents - Resource Pool Parish Office Volunteer, Mailings, Bulletin Stuffers, Phone Volunteer Altar Linens Laundry Parishioners interested in joining parish sponsored scouts or in becoming a Scout Leader. Parishioners interested in participating in young adult activities (ages 19 to 39). High School Youth interested in being trained to serve as Ushers, Lectors or Eucharistic Ministers at monthly Youth Mass. Parishioners who provide clerical assistance in the Parish Office during business hours. Parishioners who keep the linens used during the Eucharist pressed and cleaned. Varies by Scout Group Painting, Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical Parishioners who share craft skills on special projects. Snow Removal Parishioners who assist with snow removal. Technology Sewing Parishioners who share their technology skills on special projects. Parishioners who share their sewing skills on special projects. Other Parishioners who share special skills not listed above.