Spencer's intergenerational activity focuses on stewardship in parish

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
November 13, 2003

SPENCER - Sacred Heart Church was another parish that held an intergenerational gathering this fall. They used it as a time to raise awareness about stewardship opportunities within the parish.

According to Robin Barber, pastoral minister at the Spencer parish, Sacred Heart held a Stewardship Fun Fair Oct. 19 and 22.

"We had a large signup sheet regarding stewardship opportunities in our parish and we thought this would be a way to bring it to life," she explained. "Each person from different committees, councils and groups had a booth like at a ministries fair."

Each booth offered food. There was chili, hotdogs, bratwurst and multiple desserts and candy. All of the worship ministries were set up in the body of the church other booths were displayed in the school and the school gymnasium.

"We had guest books at each booth, so everyone could look at who went through their booth," noted Barber.

Many of the booths were decorated in such a way that it would highlight the particular ministry it related.

"There were all different ages," she said. "We really got to see it in action."

The Oct. 19 event was held directly after Mass and the Oct. 22 was during the time usually scheduled for parish religious education classes.

The parish's stewardship committee manned an information desk. These members also served as scouts and offered tours of the parish and school facilities to new members of the parish.

"More than anything else, it was nice fellowship," stressed Barber.

Through the Generations of Faith training parish teams from the diocese have learned that they must prepare for an experience, experience it and then follow-up.

"The stewardship fair was our preparation because we didn't have the actual signup for ministries that day," noted Barber. "This was our learning mode."

At the fair, the people were sent home with information and sign up sheets. They had time to think about how they wanted to become involved in the parish. The sign up sheets were turned in to the parish on Nov. 9.

Barber pointed out that this was the second intergenerational event the parish has sponsored. Last year they also organized a gathering centered on stewardship, but she noted this year they incorporated more the concepts from the Generations of Faith training of John Roberto.

"We learned from John Roberto that the event can be anything and it can be adaptable," said Barber.

She sees value in the intergenerational aspect of this ministry concept.

"In my job I am very fortunate to be around children, young parents and the older generation. Whenever I am around the older generation I always wish that others could hear some of this wisdom from people that are one, two or even three generations above me," said Barber. "This type of ministry does bring them (the various age groups) together."

One person commented to her that through the stewardship fair he was able to see how many people it took to run the parish.

It gave people a chance to see some of the volunteers that are involved in ministries that are not as visible - such as the ladies that put on the funeral dinners or members of the finance council.

Barber said it also provided an opportunity for people to see that many different types of people or personalities can become involved in assorted ministries.

"You can see yourself in other people and realize that I might have the gift to do this because I know I am similar to this person," she explained. Parishioners were also able to see how even busy people made time for church service. For example the fourth-grade teacher, Michelle Lauch, serves as an usher and lector.

Barber commended all of the efforts that the committee chairs put in to the stewardship fair. And while it was a lot work, she noted that everyone enjoyed themselves.

At Sacred Heart, the focus of its intergenerational ministry programs will focus on "Our Call to Ministry: Our Baptismal Call." The parish's next intergenerational event will focus on prayer where they will feature a general assembly, meal and breakout sessions for various age groups. It will conclude with evening prayer for the whole group.