Stewardship Assessment

The following survey is a self-assessment tool to help parishes reflect upon and measure their progress against certain threshold criteria with regard to the practice and promotion of stewardship.

A true “stewardship parish” recognizes the living presence of Christ in its midst, and sets out to steward this gift of God to all of humanity. A stewardship parish receives and delights in this greatest of gifts, and then offers the abundance of life and love that flows from Him to the people of the parish.

• Attendance at daily and Sunday liturgies has increased Parish has scheduled times for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
• Increased recognition of stewardship as a way of life with Christ in the Church
• Spirituality has grown in the parish, including increased personal devotion and
• more frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance
• Parish strategic planning that is intentional about seeking the guidance of the
• Holy Spirit and includes fostering stewardship as a way of life as a vital part of the parish plan
• Participation in the Rite of Christian Initiationfor Adults (RCIA) has grown
• Other

• How does the parish share stewardship resources of time, talent and treasure lovingly in justice with:
  • Individuals in need?
  • The local poor?
  • The local community?
  • The diocesan community?
  • The national community?
  • The worldwide community?
• How does the parish show that it is a good steward of
  • Creation?
  • Vocation?
  • The Church?
  • Mission?

• Witness talks are given each year by parishioners who are stewards of Christ's life and love
• Homilies regularly include stewardship themes
• Financial gifts are brought forward during the offertory procession, showing the
• link between the sacrificial offering of the peopleand the Eucharist
• Parish encourages prayer focused on asking for the grace to live as good stewards (e.g. prayer cards, prayer at parish meetings, prayer at home, reciting a stewardship prayer together occasionally at Mass)
• Other

• Greeters are present at every Mass
• Fellowship provided regularly after Masses
• Registration for new parishioners is easy for them (e.g. welcome table, welcome information in pews)
• New parishioners are offered some kind of orientation and official welcome by
• stewards of the parish
• Visitor guide is available for all who celebrate with the parish
• Newcomer’s packet is designed to welcome all new families who register
• Extra effort is given to offer genuine friendship to newcomers through the works of parish life
• Important days in people’s lives are celebrated (e.g. parish recognizes wedding and baptismal anniversaries, etc.)
• Other

• An annual commitment renewal takes place
• All parishioners (unless they’ve requested otherwise) are sent offertory envelopes on a regular basis
• Commitment reminder letters are sent
• Parish annual report includes every aspect of stewardship, including treasure
• Parish gives at least 5% of ordinary income to charities (not counting special collections)
• Planned GIving is promoted regularly
• Appreciation fo rthe fact that treasure offered outside the parish in the community-at-large is also good stewardship
• Other

• Bulletin insert on stewardship is distributed on a ‘regular’ basis
• Weekly bulletin includes a stewardship column or note
• Parish uses an annual Stewardship video
• Parish newsletter regularly contains information about stewardship as a way of
• life
• Website references stewardship information beyond the parish commitment materials for time, talent, and treasure
• Other

• Parish Leadership (Stewardship Commission, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, etc) regularly studies the Pastoral Letter and educates itself about the basics of stewardship
• Stewardship commission meets regularly
• Parish mission statement indicates a mature understanding of stewardship as a way of life and includes the stewardship vision set out in the Bishops’ pastoral letter
• Parish stewardship goals, objectives, and evaluation for theparish are prayerfully set by the stewardship commission in concert with the pastoral council and pastor
• Parish leaders regularly attend ICSC, Regional, and/or Diocesan Stewardship
• Conferences
• Other