Blood Drive, Stewardship Commission

As we wrap up the Christmas season and move further into 2023, one important next step for our community will be the formation of a parish stewardship commission.

When people hear “stewardship,” they often assume it’s just a churchy way of asking for money, but a stewardship commission oversees so many other key functions of a parish. The following explanation is adapted from the “Parish Commissions and Committees Manual” from the Archdiocese.

The purpose of the stewardship commission is to support efforts which build and strengthen community as a part of the mission of the Church. A parish community is about developing a sense of belonging, building relationships, and connecting people with one another in a way that helps each member encounter Jesus. This involves personal contact and invitation. Ministries in this area of mission can include welcoming and engaging new members, establishing ways of communicating to and with parishioners, conducting opportunities for parishioners to socialize and celebrate, and sharing time, talent and treasure as a disciple of Jesus.

The larger vision for the commission would be to develop several committees to help with various aspects of stewardship such as (again from the Commissions Manual):

• A welcoming committee to welcome and orient new parishioners to the parish to build a strong sense of community and belonging.
• A communications committee to publicize and promote the parish ministerial activity through various means to inform and invite parishioners to participate.
• A parish life committee to plan, promote, facilitate, and coordinate activities that bring parishioners together for mutual support, celebration of special parish and life events.

We currently have a human concerns commission. Since their initial meeting on November 1, they have planned a blood drive for this month and have more projects in the works. One of the first jobs for our new liturgist will be to form a worship and liturgy commission. Slowly but surely, we are working toward a more engaged, parishioner-driven parish.

If any of the aspects of the stewardship commission appeal to you, please let me know and we can start to get organized.

Other updates…
The restoration of the floor in the lower church continues slowly. We’ve also done some painting down there in the last couple of weeks. It should be completed sometime in February. So, we have a goal of bringing back a 5:30 p.m. Mass down there in Lent.

I keep hoping to be able to announce new staff hirings. Stay tuned on that. If you know of anyone who would be a good parish Communications Coordinator, please put them in touch with Ray.

Continued Christmas Blessings!

Fr. Ben