Sioux City parishes unite for stewardship initiative this month

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted Oct.10, 2002

This month the pastors of the Sioux City parishes have joined forces to offer a stewardship initiative called "The Lord's Harvest - A Time for Commitment."

Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the Diocese of Sioux City, pointed out that at this time, during the fall of the year when people are thinking in terms of the harvest, the pastors want parishioners to consider this a time to harvest gifts for the church.

"While pastors are very much interested in the financial harvest, just as important are the talents of the parishioners and their time," he said. "All of the priests in Sioux City are united in this effort to make October Stewardship Month."

Stewardship encompasses gifts of time, talent and treasure.

This is the second year for a citywide stewardship initiative.

"Last year we decided as the pastors of Sioux City that it would be important for us to set aside a specific time of the year so that we could proclaim it in all of the parishes at the same time," said Father Gary Snyder, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Sioux City. "We found that to be very successful last year."

Father Merlin Schrad, pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City, said that such a stewardship program is good because it reminds parishioners of their call to serve the church as a result of their baptism.

"So often in our view of supporting the church we zero in on the financial aspect and we forget about the two other components - to give of our time and talent," he said. "The time that they give can be something that is very private and something that they can do at home. The same with sharing their talents - they can do things on an individual or one to one basis."

For instance, parishioners may wish to bring Communion to the sick, send birthday cards to the homebound, pray for others or be a part of the prayer chain. Even the homebound people can take part in some of these activities.

Father Snyder agreed that many people think specifically of financial contributions when they hear the word stewardship.

"We are trying to broaden people's idea of what stewardship entails," he said. "Particularly as we find ourselves as priests broadening our ministry, it is important for people to take on responsibilities that priests often had in the past."

Father Schrad said he liked the stewardship program because it reminds every person that they have something to give.

"Sometimes in a larger city people don't know when or how they can give their time or talents. By participating in and answering the forms that will come to them in the mail it is a way that they can let us know they are willing and want to be involved. We are not always aware that they want to do that," he said.

The programs also serves as a reminder that everything people have is a gift from God, so in return they should give of their time, talent and treasure in thanksgiving. The pastor noted that fall is a great time to do a stewardship programs as people can see the blessings of the harvest and prepare for Thanksgiving.

One of the main reasons for holding the unified city stewardship initiative, Father Schrad noted, was that many Sioux City parishioners frequently attend other parishes. This way, they were all given a similar message no matter what service they attended.

In addition to spreading the same message at the same time, Wharton pointed out that the united effort enabled the parishes to share resources and cut expenses.

"This is one of the first stewardship campaigns that we are doing exclusively through diocesan offices. We are not hiring outside counsel to do this, we are taking advantage of the experience we have with stewardship programs and calling in everyone's talents to put it together," he said.

The Office of Development and Stewardship of the diocese this year is coordinating the effort.

"Our role at the development office has been to develop the materials and the strategy that the pastors need to put this into place in the parishes," he added. "We have given them the materials, the schedule and the resources we think they need to make this work."

All Sioux City parishioners have or should soon receive a mailing from their pastor providing an overview and explanation of "The Lord's Harvest" stewardship initiative. Initially, pastors will speak from the pulpit about stewardship and the importance of parishioners becoming involved in the parish. The following week, parishioners will receive a second mailing that will include commitment forms. Parishioners will be asked to volunteer for various ministries and committees as well as list their intended financial commitment to the parish. As a followup, lay homilists will speak on the needs of the parish and some of the available opportunities. As the stewardship initiative draws to a close, parishioners will bring their forms to church on Commitment Weekend.

"This is a concerted effort in the city to get everybody thinking about stewardship and giving of themselves," said Wharton.

He said now that the stewardship program has been created other parishes and/or clusters in the diocese are welcome to use this as a model.

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