Resurrection Catholic Parish

Love God - Serve Others

  • Home
  • About us
    • About Resurrection
    • Parish Staff Directory
    • Parish Registration
    • Sacraments
      • The Sacrament of Marriage
    • Giving Options
    • Parish History
      • Parish Annual Report
      • Dream Big Projects
    • Catholic Links of Interest
    • Resurrection Catholic Parish Icons
    • The Pieta
    • Contact us
  • Stewardship
    • What Is Stewardship?
    • Prayer
    • Service
    • Hospitality
    • Formation
  • Faith Formation
    • Faith Formation Ministries
    • Life Kids
    • Edge
    • Life Teen
    • VBS
    • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
  • Ministries
    • Ministry Directory
    • Mass Ministry Scheduling
  • Calendar
  • Resurrection Primary Catholic School
You are here: Home / Search for "my own church"

Search Results for: my own church

Faith Formation Ministries

Registration for 2022/2023 Youth Faith Formation is open!  Details below.

  • REGISTER HERE: Sign in to your My Own Church (ParishSoft) account.
  • PAY HERE
  • View member details for your family and make sure all contact and children’s information is up-to-date.
  • Navigate to your child’s tab to see their details and click on the Faith Formation tab.
  • Click Add Class. Select the correct Term (2022-2023), Class, and Grade.
  • Click Add to Class.
  • Repeat for any siblings as needed.

FAITH FORMATION RE-IMAGINED: JOIN US

Through Faith Formation, we are prepared to grow and support one another in our rich Catholic Faith!

Faith Formation is not about what you “get” out of it, it is not a CONSUMABLE product. It IS a lifelong process of investing in one another (The Body of Christ) in faith, challenging and stretching our spiritual muscles to grow and strengthen, and linking arms with the Family of God as we learn to be Disciples of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit moves in and through the gathered family of God as we listen, share inspirations and feel safe enough to voice our doubts and questions. Relationships/ friendships deepen. Trust happens. Spiritual growth blossoms and matures, leading to appreciation and understanding of the presence of God in our daily lives. This in turn, prompts us from within to share the GOOD NEWS through our actions and our words.

YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS.

Youth Faith Formation (Pre-K through High School)

(SCROLL DOWN FOR ADULT MINISTRIES)

Click the links for more details on each ministry, and register using the link at the top of the page.

Life Kids (Preschool – 5th grade, First Reconciliation + Communion Prep) Meets Sundays 9:45am to 10:45am and follows the school year calendar.

First Reconciliation / Eucharist Prep: This is offered to 2nd grade+, and will meet within the regularly scheduled Life Kids sessions. If your child(ren) will be participating in this Sacramental Prep, please make sure to register them for Life Kids IN ADDITION TO Sacramental Prep. To see detailed information about First Reconciliation / Eucharist Prep please visit the Life Kids page.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) Students ages 4 yrs. through 5th grade join together for one week every summer to learn about the love of Jesus through skits, music, games, and more. Students in 6th-12th grades and adults help out as volunteers.

Edge (6th – 8th grade) Meets Sundays 9:45am to 10:45am and follows the school year calendar.

Life Teen (9th – 12th grade) Meets twice a month after the 11:00am Mass during the school year.

Confirmation Prep: NEW THIS FALL (2022)! Confirmation will be offered for youth in 7th grade through high school, and will meet once a month. If your child(ren) will be participating in Confirmation Prep, please make sure to register them for either Edge or Life Teen IN ADDITION TO Confirmation Prep. To see detailed information about Confirmation Prep please visit the Edge or Life Teen page. 

Adult Faith Formation

Sunday Adult Faith Formation Sessions

These sessions occur on select Sundays between Masses. They are generally scheduled September through May, and are a great opportunity for adult parishioners and parents of children in faith formation to grow in their own faith as an adult. Session topics and speakers vary. All adults are welcome. Contact Betsy Taylor – (503) 522-8937 or  btaylor@rcparish.org

Brown Bag Bible Study

Bring your brown bag lunch and join men and women for Bible Study on Thursdays at noon. There’s always interesting conversation and something new to learn. Open for all adults. We are happy to have you join in anytime.
Contact Betsy Taylor – (503) 522-8937 or btaylor@rcparish.org.

First Saturday Women’s Faith Sharing Group

A ministry for women by women who gather every first Saturday of the month for prayer, theological reflection and community building. Women of all ages are welcome. Contact Angie Bozanich – angie.bozanich@gmail.com.

Men’s Bible Study

Parishioners and visitors gather for Bible study, faith sharing and retreats for men. Meets the second Saturday of each month.
Contact Eugene Wallace – (503) 678-2955 or (503) 407-5499.

Women’s Bible Study

Meets weekly throughout the year on Wednesdays, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Childcare is provided. Women are invited to join and are welcome at any time during the year.
Contact Judy Cook – (503) 657-8046 or judith.cook@comcast.net.

Father Bill’s Letter to The Parish June 11, 2020

June 11, 2020 by Marcus Reynolds

My dear parishioners,
We live in challenging times. The last two weeks have been especially difficult. This latest episode began with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, followed by weeks of protests for racial equality and justice in many cities and towns across our nation. Sadly, there has also been rioting and looting by a small minority. Thankfully, the demonstrations have been largely peaceful and have been a forceful witness to the need for significant change in our country and around the world.
All people have been horrified by the video of George Floyd laying in the street handcuffed while a police officer holds a knee on his neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds. It is heart wrenching to hear George Floyd saying over and over that he couldn’t breath. Towards, the end of his life George begins calling to his mother. This reminded me of Jesus hanging on the cross with his mother watching on from a distance. I thought of the Pietà in our church showing Mary holding the body of her murdered son.
With much shame, the Catholic Church has sometimes been guilty of enabling the institution of racism in America. When I was in Mt Angel Seminary in the 1990’s, we would gather for a Community Mass each morning before classes began. The priests on the faculty would take turns celebrating the Mass with the seminarians. One morning, a faculty member who taught Old Testament scripture, presided at the Mass. He was a Jesuit from the Maryland Province. During his homily, he began talking about what it was like growing up in Maryland. He said that, as a child, he had always been intrigued by the large iron rings attached to the wall in the back of his parish church. One day he asked one of the Jesuit priests what the rings were for. The priest told him that they had been used in the 1850’s by Catholic families who attended Mass on Sundays to chain up their slaves to the rings so that the family would be free to go forward for Mass. In the midst of recounting this piece of Catholic history in Maryland, the priest began to cry. He expressed the deep shame that he has always felt regarding the church’s role in the enabling, if not promoting, of slavery in those early days of our nation’s history.
We are all good people and we are all children of God. However, sometimes we can find ourselves taking a passive stance when it comes to racism in our society. Our police officers are, of course, dedicated, well trained professionals who put their lives at risk each day to protect all of us from harm. However, there are those few officers who engage in violence and brute force when it comes to dealing with minority peoples. Let us pray that all of the demonstrations will not be in vain and that systems will change so that police officers who do something wrong are held accountable. Let us pray for George Floyd and all minority people who have been brutalized and some times killed by officers who represent us. We pray that this systemic racism in our country be stopped. We are all brothers and sisters who are made in God’s image and are called to live in peace and harmony with one another. We can hardly wait for that to happen.

Fr. Bill Moisant, Pastor June 11, 2020

Filed Under: News

Protecting the Veil of the Mother of God Icon

4’ x 7’ Egg Tempera on Gesso
Installed February 2017

In the Icon of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God, written for the people of God and residing in Resurrection Catholic Parish, we see a new translation of an ancient and deeply venerated image dating to an extraordinary event in the 10th century.  That event, the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in Constantinople, occurred in the Blachernae church where her robe, veil, and part of her belt were preserved after being transferred from Palestine in the fifth century.

On Sunday, October 1, 911 AD, during the All-Night Vigil, when the church was overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ Saint Andrew, at the fourth hour, lifted up his eyes towards the heavens and beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos (“God Bearer”) coming through the air, resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints: Saint John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time.  Then, coming near the Bishop’s Throne, she continued her prayer.

The Theotokos approached the center of the church, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time. Her face was drowned in tears. Then she took her veil (cerement) off and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. After completing her prayer, she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed “more than the rays of the sun.” Saint Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, “Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?” Epiphanius answered, “I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.”

The Ever-Blessed Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all the people calling on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily to her intercession, “O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my name for help. Do not let them go away from my icon unheard.” During that time, the people in the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion. After the appearance of the Mother of God, the danger was averted and the city was spared from bloodshed and suffering.

In this translation of the ancient icon, the Theotokos stands within the mandorla, representing the intersection of the visible and invisible Universe of God’s creation; she holds in her hands the precious veil of protection which she spreads over all of her children in the anticipation of its infinite value.  In the Orthodox tradition, numerous churches and basilicas are named in honor of this miraculous event, including the great basilica of St. Basil in Moscow.

In the tradition of the Western Church, our Lady is venerated as the Virgin of Mercy, and her icon, dated to the 13th century, shows her with her children gathered together under her spacious, outstretched cloak.  Through the centuries, these icons have included a variety of individuals gathered for protection, individuals ranging from clerical members to monastic communities to families who may have commissioned such an icon.  In some images, angels hold up her cloak as the Theotokos holds her child in her arms.

On October 1, the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven: “Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you.”

Ten Principles of Catholic Stewardship and Development

September 9, 2019 by Resurrection

TEN PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

James J. Lanahan, Director of Development, Diocese of Camden (reprinted with permission)

Listed are 10 principles that characterize and describe Catholic institutions that embrace the concept of Stewardship.  Whether a diocese, a diocesan office, a stewardship or development office, a parish or some other Catholic institution, these are the principles in action that one should readily be able to identify in an organization committed to Stewardship.

From the writing of the Bishop’s pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response in 1992 to the most recent writings that focus on Stewardship from an ecological perspective, our Catholic understanding of the concept of Stewardship has grown significantly, both in depth and breadth.

Stewardship as a Way of Life has had, and continues to have, a significant impact in dioceses and parishes across the United States and across the world. Diocesan offices of Stewardship have increased across the country. More and more parishes have introduced the concept of Stewardship to their parishioners. Even diocesan and parish finance councils are coming to understand the spirituality of fundraising; recognizing that their role is much more than that of volunteer. They are beginning to recognize their work as one of ministry.

Despite the good news, there are many dioceses, parishes, and catholic entities where Stewardship is unknown. Not only is it not practiced, but there is little understanding of Stewardship from a theological perspective, let alone a more practical, implementation perspective.   For some, the lack of acceptance may be on intellectual grounds. For others, I would suggest that the implementation of many of the principles described below require significant change. change that is essential; but nonetheless difficult.

Like Byron in Framing the Principles of Catholic Social Thought (199), I would suggest that there is nothing official about the number 10. Some future writers may wish to combine certain of the principles. Others may wish to add more. Regardless, this list is provided for at least three reasons, albeit, slightly different from those noted by Byron. First, to create a reasonably complete list. Second, to create a “standard” frame of reference for observing and evaluating Catholic institutions. Third, to provide a blueprint for bishops, pastors, religious, ministers, and parishioners in planning and strategic development.

The author wishes to acknowledge the impact of the writings of William J. Byron, S.J. and Henri Nouwen. Their work was central to the identification and articulation of several of the characteristics presented.

It may appear to the reader that the characteristics described in this paper are more focused on the Stewardship of Treasure. I would argue otherwise, although not within the limitations of this presentation. While my own office is committed to the broadest concept of Stewardship, which includes Time and Talent, the reality is that as a fundraiser I must be successful. The ministries of my diocese depend on it.

 

  1. Mission/Vision

“When there is no Vision the People Perish” (Proverbs 29:18)

“[F]undraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people the opportunity to participate with us in our Mission/Vision.” (Nouwen, 2010, p. viii.)

“Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore” (White and Corcoran, 2013, Rebuilt, p. 38)

 

The single most important characteristic of a Stewardship organization is that it have a clearly articulated, well communicated mission/vision statement. Everyone in the organization must know it. It is the basis for everyone’s elevator pitch. It is posted on every office wall. No institutional initiative is undertaken unless it is consistent with the mission/vision. It is the basis of the organization’s long-range strategic plan.

The mission/vision statement in conjunction with a strategic plan tells us who we are (Mission), where we are going (Vision), and how we are going to get there (Strategic Plan). Without it, at some time in the future, you will be lost.

Good Stewards contribute their gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure because of their belief in, and commitment to, your mission. Yes, they contribute because they are asked (if you don’t ask; they do not give). Yes, they contribute because of who is asking (people give to people). And yes, they may even contribute because of certain tax deductions. However, if they are not committed to your mission, the other factors become virtually irrelevant.

From a stewardship of treasure perspective, it is Vision that provides new direction and opportunities. It gives us courage. When we have Vision, we can proudly proclaim what we believe in. We no longer ask because we have a need but rather because we believe so strongly in our Vision that we want to offer others the opportunity to participate. It is, in fact, the opposite of begging. (Nouwen, 2010, p. 17)

  1. Leadership

“Canon 515, §1: A parish is a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor parochus) as its proper pastor (pastor) under the authority of the diocesan bishop.”

“Leadership is like beauty: difficult to define, but most people will recognize it when they see it…. leaders are clearly recognizable as those who affect the direction a person or a group (e.g. parish) will take. (Cieslak, Parish Management Handbook, p. 114)

 

Authors of many qualitative studies (Patrick McNamara, “More Than Money: Portraits of Transformative Stewardship” (1999), Paul Wilkes, “Excellent Catholic Parishes: The Guide to Best Places and Practices (2001), or Justin Clemens, “Stewardship: A Parish Handbook (2000)) have clearly identified the importance of solid pastoral leadership as a key and essential characteristic of a stewardship parish. The same is true for a diocese, university, or other catholic institution.

The research has shown that leadership comes in many different styles; and it is always strong in successful organizations. Successful pastoral leaders may use one of many styles of leadership. What is important is that they ARE leaders and their communities follow them. Cieslak in The Consequences of Pastoral Leadership suggests (2003, p. 115) that there are five (5) characteristics of good leadership: a guiding vision, passion, integrity, trust, and curiosity and daring.

Good leadership is essential, whether in a diocese, a diocesan department, a diocesan entity, a high school, a nursing home, or any other catholic entity.

  1. Relationality

“We will never be able to ask for money if we do not know how we ourselves relate to money.” (Nouwen, 2010, p. 27)

“People give to People” (famous fundraiser)

“When fundraising as ministry calls us together in communion with God and with another, it must hold out the real possibility of friendship and community.” (Nouwen, 2010, p. 49)

 

It is all about relationships: the relationship of the Bishop to his priests and people, the relationship of the Pastor to his people and the relationship of the people to one another. That is why “church happens” in the parish, not the diocese.

It is in the parish that we come together in celebration at liturgy. It is in the parish that we welcome new members through the sacraments of initiation. It is in the parish that we ask for forgiveness and forgive one another. Moreover, it is in the parish that we say goodbye to our loved ones.

Relationships begin in the parish. That is where teaching moments occur. That is where relationships begin and where they grow. Pastors are the key.

Relationships are essential to successful fundraising. First, we must have a healthy understanding of our relationship to money. What is the place of money in our lives? Is money ever the subject of family conversations? Are those conversations anxious? How do we spend our money? Are we more interested in the tax deduction than the gift?

“Money is a primary reality of family relationships. It is also a central reality in our relationships with people, institutions and causes beyond family life.” (Nouwen, 2010, p. 28)

The concept of our relationship to money extends even further to our relationship to those who have money. As Nouwen (2010, p 36) points out, “sometimes our concern for the poor may carry with it a prejudice against the rich.” We must come to recognize that the rich have all of the same problems that the poor experience (loneliness, problems of health, spiritual crises, etc.). The one problem they do not have is wealth. They also have the same needs as the poor have, including the need to make a difference.

We must become more comfortable with money and with those who have it.

  1. Conversion

“Stewardship involves a lifelong process. To make stewardship a way of life for individuals, families, parishes and dioceses requires a change of heart.” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 2002, p. 2

“Fundraising is also always a call to conversion. And this call comes to both those who seek funds and those who have funds…we are drawn together by God who is about to do a new thing through our collaboration” (Nouwen, 2010, p. 17)

“A conversion from giving to a need to needing to give. Or “Fundraising raises funds. We should be raising givers” (White, 2013, p. 178)

 

Stewardship is a way of life. It is not a program. It involves a lifelong process of study, reflection, prayer, and practice. It is not about a change in intellect; it is about a change in heart.

By definition, conversion takes time; years of time. Conversion is about movement. It does not end.

Likewise, the stewardship message provided by our bishops in their pastoral letter on stewardship continues to grow and evolve. Our focus on the concepts of time, talent, and treasure has expanded into the areas of social justice, community and global stewardship, and ecological stewardship.

The conversion will continue – and we must continue to grow with it.

As White, in Rebuilt points out, (2013, p. 68) “Christianity is not a monument or a museum. It’s a movement. It’s got to move.” That movement is often painful.

The fact that our church is about movement should not surprise us. Prusack (2004) in Church Unfinished reminds us “Like human life, the church is lived forward but understood backward. The church came from the “community of unexpected persons” whom Jesus gathered around himself…. the church was then shaped, over the course of centuries, by human decisions made in the Spirit…. linking the understanding of the complex development of the Church in the past with an eschatological openness (leads) to the future in which God may be calling the Church to new possibilities.” (Prusak, 2004) 

  1. Ministry/Spiritual

“[A]s a form of ministry, fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feeding the hungry.” (Nouwen, 2010, p. 21)

“Fundraising from the point of view of the Gospel says to people, ‘I will take your money and invest it in this vision only if it is good for your spiritual health.’ In other words, we are calling them to an experience of conversion.” (Nouwen, p.       20)

“[W]hen parishioners believe they are engaged in a parish ministry, they know that their activity is vital to the success of the parish…Through our baptism, we share in the priesthood of the laity. We are all called to ministry.” (Zech, 2006, p. 131.)

 

Because stewardship is about mission and vision, about relationship building, and about conversion – it is also spiritual.  Do we treat it as spiritual?

If we believe that stewardship of treasure, especially, is spiritual, then how do we distinguish ourselves from secular fundraisers? Are we sure that our approach to the donor is more “proactive” rather than minimalist from an ethical point of view? Does our “ask” provide a spiritual component? How about our “thank you?” Are we promote the tax deduction more than the mission?

As you learn about best practices utilized in secular fundraising, are they appropriate for Christian fundraisers? Jeavons and Basinger in Growing Giver’s Hearts (2000) raise many of these questions, and more; as well as quite a few answers.

  1. Participation

“Canon 1260: The Church has an innate right to require from the Christian faithful those things which are necessary for the purposes proper to it.”

“Canon 1261:§1: The Christian faithful are free to give temporal goods for the benefit of the Church.”

“Each person has a right to participate in society. Each person has a right not to be shut out from participating in those institutions that are necessary for human fulfillment” (Byron, 1999, p. 9)

“God calls. We respond. This fundamental essential pattern in the life of every believer appears throughout salvation history. The Father calls a chosen people, patriarchs, and prophets. Jesus calls his apostles and disciples. The Risen Lord  calls everyone.” (USCCB, 2002, P. 7)

 

Even in our current world, when the issue of immigration reform is such a strongly debated and controversial issue, I find a general acceptance of William Byron’s fourth principle of catholic social thought; namely, the principle of participation. We all believe that everyone has a right to participate in our economy in a productive, dignified, and fair manner, to attend the church of their choice, and to participate in the other important institutions in our society.

Yet participation is a principle that we “may need to turn on its head,” if in fact, it is to be a stewardship principle in action. A few examples may be instructive.

When a parish conducts a capital campaign, the most common reason that non-donors give for not contributing is “no one asked me.” And, very often they are correct. We do not have the right, in any fundraising effort, to NOT ask everyone to give. To not ask is to deny them the opportunity to participate.

The same holds true of “the ministry fair,” where a parishioner volunteers to serve in the hall on Sunday, but no one ever calls to follow-up.

A student of Canon Law is not surprised by the apparent contradiction found between Canons 1260 and 1261. For every freedom that Canon asserts, there seems to be a corresponding obligation. As God calls, Jesus calls, and the Risen Lord calls, we are obligated to respond to that call.

At the same time, our Church is required to provide the opportunity, education and training so all believers can respond to their particular call. The church is required to provide its co-workers in the vineyard with the formational opportunities to answer their call. 

  1. Abundance/Gratitude

“One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with all, and returns them with increase to the Lord”

“[C]hurches insist on “doing church” rather than “being” Church: that is, building a congregation of dedicated and energized members who are growing spiritually and, at the same time, are reaching out in concern and service to the world.” (Winseman, 2006, Growing an Engaged Church)

“The normal human response toward someone who freely shares his or her property with us is a feeling of gratitude. To be sure, God doesn’t need our thanks. However, as human beings, as people of faith, and as disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to express our gratefulness for the many gifts and blessings we have received.” (Clemens, Stewardship: A Parish Handbook)

 

As Catholics, we all believe that God loves us abundantly (although this point is not without debate), gives us gifts of abundant grace, and offers His forgiveness without limit. We recognize God’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure. We recognize that “all that we are” is a gift from God – gifts that we are called to give back with increase because those gifts are not “owned by us” – they belong to God.

Despite our “beliefs,” how often do we encounter parishes that can’t find volunteers (that is what they call them), especially when it comes to helping out with the diocesan annual appeal.     Or, perhaps it is the finance council that after 5 years of cutting the budget, has to cut it once again because there is just no way that they can ask anyone to give any more than they currently are. And maybe, the pastor who says, “there is just no way we can raise money to pay off the debt that is stopping use from creating the ministries that our people so desperately need.

As suggested by Jeavons and Basinger in Growing Giver’s Hearts (2000, p. 75), we need to recognize the importance of appropriate goal setting in fundraising efforts (appropriate can mean higher). We need to recognize the cumulative negative effect of crisis driven appeals. Finally, we need to recognize the power of positive thinking, most especially the power of spiritually driven positive thinking.

Finally, we must be grateful for the gifts that God gives us. As both a church and as individuals we must demonstrate our gratefulness for the gifts that God has given us. Pastors and other church leaders must demonstrate that gratitude to their ministers, and, beyond that, as fundraisers, we must show our gratitude, especially from a spiritual perspective, to our donors. 

  1. Accountability/Transparency

“Canon 1273: By virtue of the primacy of governance, the Roman Pontiff is the supreme administrator and steward of all ecclesiastical goods.’

“Canon 1276: It is for the ordinary to exercise careful vigilance over the administration of all the goods which belong to public juridic persons subject to him.”

 

Canon law is clear as to who is the administrator of the temporal goods of the church. It is also clear that the ordinary can delegate temporal responsibilities to the diocesan finance officer, and the local pastor. Canon 1284 — §2, 7° — indicates they are to keep well organized books of receipts and expenditures; 8° — draw up a report of the administration at the end of each year; — §3 It is strongly recommended that administrators prepare budgets of incomes and expenditures each year; it is left to particular law, however, to require them and to determine more precisely the ways in which they are to be presented. Nor does it address the role of the members of diocesan and parish finance and pastoral councils.

What may be less clear is that the concept of accountability extends far beyond just temporal affairs. It extends to physical, human resource (personnel policies, compensation, human capital, etc.) and pastoral activities of the diocese or parish.

“Success in stewardship and development efforts of a parish or diocese requires a visible commitment to accountability… from the way decisions are made and carried out by diocesan or parish personnel to the way money is collected, managed, and used.” (USCCB, 2002, p. 61)

“A visible commitment to accountability will be reflected in the leadership style and attitudes of the bishop, pastor and all who have responsibilities.” (USCCB, 2002, p. 61)

While Canon 1284 encourages financial reporting of income and expenditures as well as the preparation of budgets of the same, it does not require them. That is left to the particular law of the diocese.

While the USCCB in Disciple’s on the Journey does not address the issue of transparency directly, the need for transparency is implied in the discussion of accountability and the role of communication.

The importance of transparency becomes evident however in the work of Zech in Best Practices in Parish Stewardship, p. 123. Among his eight (8) best practices is the reminder that good stewardship begins in the parish house. “If we want our parishioners to be good stewards, we need to model this behavior for them. The parish administration must be careful that its spending decisions reflect good stewardship, that it has in place effective internal financial controls, and that it is accountable and transparent in all its financial dealings.”

Zech in Why CATHOLICS DON’T GIVE…And what can be done about it, (2006, p. 129), even draws out the implications for us. He lists seven (7) things that our church must do. The second most important involves the fact that parishioners want and expect to have direct input into decision-making. They expect accountability and transparency.

Remember two (2) things. First, Catholics can be good stewards by supporting any number of institutions or organizations. No one can require donors to support US, and second, accountability and transparency are intimately linked. 

  1. Planned and Purposeful

 “A capital campaign is a carefully planned, well-organized, needs-based program to raise a substantial amount of money within a specific time frame.” (USCCB, 2002, p. 55)

 

I would suggest to you that each of the ten (10) characteristics or principles of catholic stewardship and development involve activities, tasks, or processes that are planned and purposeful. Mission/vision statements, for example, are by their very definition planned and purposeful.

Further, each of the three-fold aspects of time, talent, and treasure involve extremely well researched, planned, and purposeful components. For example, the work of the Gallup organization in the development of their Strength Finders tool and their work on growing engaged church communities are particularly well-planned and purposeful programs.

The most planned and purposeful aspects of stewardship however, involve those related to the stewardship of treasure. Whether it be your Bishop’s Appeal, offertory improvement programs, capital campaigns, major gift fundraising or planned giving, each of you will be spending some of your time learning about best practices and how they can be best applied in your particular diocese, parish or church entity.

From a pastoral perspective, even the casual reader of Rebuilt and Tools for Rebuilding (White and Corcoran, 2013) will recognize that the authors have presented a well thought out plan to help a church get from point A to point B. You may not agree with that plan, or even like it. Regardless, it took many years to develop the plan as it is articulated on paper and it is a well-planned, purposeful, and thought out methodology.

  1. Community Building/Kingdom of God

 “The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.” (Gaudium et Spes, 1988, opening paragraph)

“Indeed, if we raise funds for the creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the kingdom. We are doing exactly what we are supposed to do as Christians.” (Nouwen, 2010, p 23)

 

The opening paragraph of Gaudium et Spes sets the tone for the rest of this Vatican II document in that it focuses on the church in the context of the modern world. It calls us to a new eschatological view where we recognize, as followers of Christ, that we have a responsibility to bring about the Kingdom of God here and now, while recognizing that we will not experience its fullness until eternity.

This sense of man’s role in bringing about the kingdom of God and its relationship to the concept of stewardship is evident in the research of McNamara (More Than Money: Portraits of Transformative Stewardship, 1999). For him there are three prerequisites or ingredients of successful stewardship. The first was a solid, convinced pastoral leadership. The second was a welcoming ministry but one that had clear, new membership expectations. The third was a clear focus on ministries and programs that all members are expected to participate in. Many of these programs are directed externally, or outside the congregation. Many are directed in service to the poor.

Stewardship communities are about building the kingdom.

From the viewpoint of stewardship of treasure, Nouwen’s (p. 49) perspective is that when fundraising calls us together in communion with God is builds friendship and community. It has been said that “money follows mission”, but is also true that Mission follows money. When donors give, they are even more committed to our mission. If we are good Christian fundraisers, our givers grow spiritually from their giving.

Successful fundraising efforts that are, well-planned well-organized, and well-executed always result in stronger communities.

Some Conclusions, Concerns, Best Practices and Beyond.

  1. Have I captured the ten (10) +/- major characteristics of organizations committed to stewardship? If so, on a scale from A to F, how would you grade your diocese, parish, school, or other institution?
  2. I live in a diocese that has gone through a major consolidation/merger process. I live in a parish and a diocese where Mass attendance has been steadily decreasing. Does this sound familiar? What are you doing about it? What would IBM do?
  3. What is the percentage of parishioners in your diocese or parish who makes their offertory contributions electronically? Ask your local banker if he or she thinks checks will still be in existence in ten (10) years? Is your diocese or parish prepared to make the transition?
  4. Is there a parish in your diocese that maintains an “off grid” bank account? Are their parishes that still use cash from the collection for their rectory “petty cash” account? Do all of your parishes get a financial review every year? How often do they get an audit? Are the members of your parish councils aware of the “financial crisis” that may be coming?
  5. When was the last time your Bishop was evaluated? When was the last time he asked staff to evaluate him? How about your pastors? Do you have a merit pay increase

 

Bibliography

Beal, J. P., Coriden, J. A., & Green, T. J. (Eds.). (2000). New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law. New York, New York, USA: Paulist Press.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (1998). Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Byron, W. J. (1998). Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching. America Magazine – Archived Article.

Clements, C. J. (2000). Stewardship: A Parish Handbook. Liguori, Missouri, USA: Liguori Press.

Conway, D. (1992). Stewardship and Development: A Study Co-Sponsord by Saint Meinard Seminary and Christian Theological Seminary With Funding From the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Evans, B. F. (2014). Stewardship: Living a Biblical Call. Collegeville, Minnesota, USA: Liturgical Press.

Gaudium et Spes. (1988). In A. Flannery, O.P., Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents (Vol. 1, pp. 903-1014). The Vatican: Costello Publishing Company.

Hoge, D., McNamara, P., & Zech, C. (1997). Why Are Pastors Uneasy About Money. In Plain Talk About Churches and Money (pp. 1-17). Washington, DC, USA: The Alban Institute.

Jeavons, T. H., & Basinger, R. B. (2000). Growing Giver’s Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry. San Francisco, California, USA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

McNamara, P. H. (1999). More Than Money: Portraits of Transformative Stewardship. Alban Institute.

Nouwen, H. J. (2010). A Spirituality of Fundraising. (J. S. Mogabgab, Ed.) Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Upper Room Books.

Prusak, B. P. (2004). the CHURCH UNFINISHED: Ecclesiology Through the Centuries. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Paulist Press.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2002). Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

West, R. a. (2008). Internal Finanacial Controls in the U.S. Catholic Church. Journal of Forensic Accounting , 9 (1), 129-155.

White, M., & Tom Corcoran. (2013). Tools for Rebuilding. Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: Ave Maria Press.

White, Michael, & Corcoran, T. (2013). Rebuilt. Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: Ave Maria Press.

Wilkes, Paul. (2001). Excellent Catholic Parishes: The Guide to Best Places and Practices. Mahway, NY, USA: Paulist Press.

 

 

Click here to read the original version of this document

Filed Under: Stewardship

Imagine if . . . Resurrection Catholic Parish Dreams

The question: Imagine if our parish eliminated our nearly $6000 monthly debt payment (nearly $70,000 annually) for the Moisant Faith Formation Center? What would YOU recommend the parish do with those funds? DREAM BIG!

In no particular order, here are the Dreams that Resurrection parishioners offered in January 2019:

  1. Repay the remaining mortgage on the Moisant Center sooner, to avoid excess interest.
  2. A hospitality project: (create) a very inviting sitting place/coffee bar with fireplace and comfortable seating (e.g. Holy Grounds Coffee House).
  3. Take this opportunity to complete the Moisant Center as designed in the original plans, including a lobby gathering area with a library and gift shop, an elevator into the Church, the parish offices with an upper level parking area.
  4. Set up scholarships for young adults starting college or vocational training, and also for parishioners having a difficult time finishing their education.
  5. Have a reader bar for hearing impaired – like the one at the Portland Opera, positioned over the wood wall behind the choir. It’s especially important for the homily, prayers of the faithful, message for stewardship, announcements, etc. This could also be used at 1 or 2 masses to provide a translation into Spanish for the homily, prayers, etc. (I’m wiling to be involved in this project: Gary Gorgan, gscorgan@hotmail.com)
  6. Sponsor a sister parish in need
  7. Help the homeless (St Vincent de Paul would know needs)
  8. Aid those devastated by fires, hurricanes, etc.
  9. Team with Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV) to organize a clean-up of camps; sponsor dumpsters.
  10. Support Catholic education in our area.
  11. Give to Mary Knoll Father and Brothers (New York)
  12. Raise the staff salaries to attract the best people.
  13. A cover from the church to the hall.
  14. For the seven side (north) windows in the church, have stained glass panels created, each depicting one of the sacraments, for either  the square panes above the large panels.
  15. Recover/upholster the pews and kneelers
  16. We should recover the pews discolored from cleaning chemicals
  17. Add some more rocks to (outside Resurrected Christ) statue or build a mountain around him
  18. A building for the preschool or renovate Rossman Hall (acoustics and lighting)
  19. A new kitchen
  20. A live stream of the masses to those who are homebound
  21. Youth Service Encounter: ask high school students to sign up for a service trip for their junior year. Start as freshmen completing volunteer service hours for which the church “pays” them back in service trip dollars so they can go on their trip junior year. Then, as seniors they can counsel, give back post-trip to teach younger high school students about their experience. Its designed to support young adults to explore other areas while contributing annually, locally. Trips may be abroad if able to fund those encounters. Good for everyone!
  22. We think the little house should have new siding and windows/doors so it is structurally sound (and free of rodents.)
  23. Dennis Rood should have at least summer help for general infrastructure needs.
  24. We should consider helping some of the poorer parish in the archdiocese with money for educators, school supplies, or other assistance such as repairs or basic upgrades – perhaps a challenge for matching funds.
  25. We do not want more debt for quite a while!
  26. Remodel/update the Hall so it could be used as a multi-purpose space with bright lighting and wall dividers that can be easily moved.
  27. A Catholic K-8 school! Or a vineyard.
  28. Air conditioning for Rossman Hall.
  29. Diffusing or colored glass on the south-side windows in the church to shade the sun.
  30. Reupholster church pews and kneelers
  31. Upgrade church sound system (left side has an echo and is difficult to hear clearly there.)
  32. Move the Blessed Sacrament back to the center of the church.
  33. Save the money.
  34. Help the homeless and hunger with shelter in existing buildings.
  35. Regular feeding of families in homeless shelters.
  36. Open a youth center for middle and high schoolers with pool tables and games, etc., but also incorporate classes in abstinence, drug prevention, family issue resolution, etc.
  37. Explore a school (K-8)
  38. Reupholster pews
  39. Theatre for concerts, movies, plays, lectures
  40. Not a school
  41. Second entrance/exit (parking lot)
  42. Build a retreat center
  43. Add a gym for youth to gather in sports, fellowship and community
  44. Tear down the old house and build something more useful that could (also) be an excellent revenue source.
  45. Add stained glass to the west wall.
  46. Free health clinic
  47. Put in another entrance/exit to our parking lot
  48. Rec Center/Gym to encourage more youth participation (faith is fun)
  49. Save it as a rainy day fund in case of recession
  50. Help St. Vincent de Paul
  51. Use for the homeless: rent rooms
  52. Help the smaller, poorer parishes to (help) make ends meet
  53. More faith formation for couples who are 40-60 (empty nesters)…not nerdy church stuff, but rooted in faith and emphasize marriage
  54. Sponsor a church in Honduras or Guatemala
  55. More Community outreach
  56. Middle school
  57. Bigger kitchen
  58. Second parking lot entrance/exot
  59. More community outreach, service for those in need
  60. New upholstery in the pews
  61. Open a service center for food, goods, etc.
  62. Build a rec center/gym used for school PE
  63. Sponsor beds at a homeless shelter/transitional housing
  64. Blessed Sacraments at the Altar
  65. Put a school in
  66. Build a school for the older kids
  67. Develop a family enrichment center
  68. Develop a food/farming co-op
  69. Build a school
  70. Feed the hungry
  71. Fix up the little house to house a refuge family, unwed mothers and provide sponsorship
  72. Complete remodel of the (little) house – brought up to code for a needy family
  73. Elevator (enclosed) next to the chapel with covered walkway from chapel to Moisant Center
  74. Partner with Marylhurst University (closed!)
  75. A faith library for Life Kids, Edge and Life Teens. Books that children/families can borrow and learn more about their faith, history of the church, saints, theology, etc. as well as DVDs. Also a movie night at the church, creating a family event that would be fun for the community.
  76. Form a ministry to help the poor and help us see God in others. We aren’t a good location for a soup kitchen or shelter, but could make space for homeless living in their cars, with porta potties and dumpsters. Important to treat people as people, with monthly potlucks with the homeless population.
  77. Gym or high school
  78. Reupholster the pews
  79. Conduct a study to see if (the parish) can be self-sustainable in electricity – solar and geothermal. Install greenhouse for year-round crop production
  80. Conduct maintenance and upgrades on the priory (little house); energy efficient upgrades
  81. Start bee keeping
  82. Cost saver: turn down heating at all masses
  83. Partner with Catholic Charities and Clackamas County and build a community of 8 to 12 tiny transitional houses for the houseless in our community. Or, partner with Clackamas County and allow the houseless to camp on platforms in one of parking areas.
  84. I would love a prayer garden, north of the parking lot between the church and freeway. A quiet place to walk and pray the stations of the cross. Similar to the grotto or the retreat house in Beaverton. Parishioners may want a quiet place to pray during the week or off-hours when the church is locked. It would also be a great place (when the weather is nice) for the day care or faith formation kids to learn about the stations or have teachings.
  85. Renovate the home on the church’s property.
  86. Hi ~ I am so hoping (and praying) that parishioners step forward to pay off the Center! Once this is done, my suggestion would be to focus on the little house on the property. It is historic and very charming, but it is falling apart. We could continue to use it for ministries and meetings, or it could be used to house someone in need or someone who might be hired in the future as a groundskeeper or for security. Sally Egland
  87. Off-site transitional housing for families
  88. Raze the Hay Barn and replace with new office and conference space. Then raze the small house and garage. Replace garage with workshop somewhere on campus or the current office building.
  89. New, expanded kitchen in Rossman Hall.
  90. Remodel Rossman Hall
  91. Wrap concrete posts in church with “icon” style materials. Mary’s suggestion years ago.
  92. Not a grade or middle school.
  93. What to do with $70K/Year:  1. We rent Fr. Bill’s house from the Archdiocese. Should we buy it? 2. Put in railings up to the Ambo and at the Moisant Center where Joan fell.  3. Replace the windows in the Office building, especially the Fireside room. 4. Improve the landscape at the entrance to the lower lot. Specifically, clean up the vegetation between Father’s house and the church. 5. Get high speed internet to the Office  6. Revise the entrance from Ek Rd. into the lower parking lot. Possibly a separate and a separate exit. John & Mary Grammel
  94. (submission) 1.Fix all deferred maintenance on campus such as siding on the Little House. 2. Create a second entrance/exit to main church parking lot if possible. 3. Be true stewards and donate the rest to the poor. ~Laura Hamel
  95. I hope that the parish would buy back from the Archdiocese the two lots next door to the parish on Ek Road so that we would have room to expand in the future.
  96. Put it aside and build a rainy day fund first. Then set up an endowment for the school for help with tuition for those need it. After that increase or contribution to those in need. Bill Sprague
  97. Some kind of nice covering from the Church to the Hall for the bad or hot weather. Thank you!
  98. Get a decent audio system that works with the space. People have said they cannot hear the singers even though they use microphones.
  99. I would like to recommend to substantially increase the budget on Landscaping around the church including the parking lot. Also re-pave and new stripe on the parking lot. Thanks, Mike D.
  100. Fund a parents day out or indoor play space program. Where we used to live the churches offered these types of programs and they were awesome. A place to go during the day with your small children when the weather is too yucky to be outside, Grab a coffee and spend time with other parents while the kids run.
  101. Or a 1 day a month parents day out. These used to be one Saturday a month, you drop off your kids and there were crafts, and singing and playing for littles, and board games and foosball and activities for older kids and you knew you had this 1 day you and your spouse could go on a date or get a project done.
  102. Do mission trips all over the world!
  103. Buy a wheelchair-equipped mini-bus to pick up stranded parishioners for mass
  104. Beyond our efforts supporting St. Vincent de Paul, are there other agencies that we could partner with to support the homeless?
  105. Build a gym for students, staff, parishioners
  106. Create a full service food bank
  107. I would like to see some noted speakers come in to talk about Theology of the Body, Marriage, Life & Moral Issues.
  108. I’d like to see a Memorial to Life erected on the grounds, used as a focal point for supporting and teaching the Sanctity of Life.
  109. More options for childcare during events: Women’s 1st Saturday, Mass.
  110. Faith Buddy Online Forum
  111. More adoration times during Lent and Advent.
  112. Two women’s retreats per year.
  113. Take a flight to different places and show and tell who Lord Jesus is.
  114. ProLife Center (most important give God gave.
  115. Expand kitchen and update hall
  116. Make a donation in the name of the parish to help build a homeless shelter.
  117. Focus on the homeless: we should consider forming a committee to discuss options and then get guidance as to how to proceed. (Susan Skites)
  118. Automate the elevators.
  119. Fix, reconstruct buildings by office for youth faith formation.
  120. Make walking paths to youth formation.
  121. Support transitional housing for homeless.
  122. Encourage, recruit and support seminarians. Support retired priests and religious.
  123. Continued maintenance of preschool playgrounds.
  124. As the school is a mission of the Church, I would love to see our current preschool expanded by adding more classrooms and grades . There are also so many people moving to the area we could provide not just preschool, but an amazing PreK-5th grade Catholic education.
  125. Expand our amazing school adding grades 1-8!
  126. Renovate the hall and build a gym.
  127. Catholic schools are the heart of a parish. There is already an amazing and successful preschool here and there is a great need in his community for a catholic school. Let’s keep building this school and add more grades and build a bridge between school, parish and community.
  128. The preschool has been so successful; there is clearly a need/demand for an elementary school. This would enable us to reach that many more families and build our community.
  129. Build up the parish savings account for several years after the $70,000 is no longer needed annually for debt repayment. Those funds could serve as a “rainy day” fund towards large, unanticipated parish expenses; also provide seed money for various of the “Dream Big” projects suggested.
  130. Build a multi-level deck and remodel the hall. Make it more inviting and incorporate the views.
  131. Improve the Ek Road entrance for safety
  132. Stained glass windows
  133. Save for a rainy day – if everyone paid 2 percent more, the FFC would get paid off quicker
  134. Build homeless shelters
  135. Create a larger cry area
  136. Have daycare for younger children
  137. Remodel the kitchen
  138. Funding for Father’s Heart Ministry
  139. A new ministry for young married couples (evenings out with free babysitting)

Have an idea not listed here? You can still add your Dream by clicking here. 

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

Recent Bible Study posts

Women’s Bible Study

Ministry Opportunities

  • Altar Servers (Mass Ministries)
  • Young Adult Ministry
  • Breaking Bread
  • Bridge Club
  • Brown Bag Bible Study
  • Celebrate Life Committee
  • Coffee & Doughnuts
  • Communion to the Homebound and the Sick
  • Community Garden Committee
  • Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
  • Faith Formation Ministries
  • Father’s Heart Street Ministry
  • Finance Council
  • First Saturday Women’s Faith Sharing Group
  • Funeral Reception
  • Hand in Hand Committee
  • Health and Wellness Team
  • Hospitality (Mass Ministries)
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Lectors (Mass Ministries)
  • Lenten Soup Suppers
  • Mary’s Cousins Prayer Shawl Ministry
  • Men’s Ministry
  • Music Ministry
  • Parish Council
  • Peace and Justice
  • Prayer Request
  • Quilting Group
  • Red Cross Blood Drive
  • Resurrection Catholic Primary School
  • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
  • Sacristans (Mass Ministry)
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society
  • Welcoming Committee
  • Wine and Cheese
  • Women’s Bible Study & Fellowship
  • Women’s Retreat

Stewardship Opportunities

  • Altar Servers (Mass Ministries)
  • Young Adult Ministry
  • Breaking Bread
  • Bridge Club
  • Brown Bag Bible Study
  • Celebrate Life Committee
  • Coffee & Doughnuts
  • Communion to the Homebound and the Sick
  • Community Garden Committee
  • Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
  • Faith Formation Ministries
  • Father’s Heart Street Ministry
  • Finance Council
  • First Saturday Women’s Faith Sharing Group
  • Funeral Reception
  • Hand in Hand Committee
  • Health and Wellness Team
  • Hospitality (Mass Ministries)
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Lectors (Mass Ministries)
  • Lenten Soup Suppers
  • Mary’s Cousins Prayer Shawl Ministry
  • Men’s Ministry
  • Music Ministry
  • Parish Council
  • Peace and Justice
  • Prayer Request
  • Quilting Group
  • Red Cross Blood Drive
  • Resurrection Catholic Primary School
  • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
  • Sacristans (Mass Ministry)
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society
  • Welcoming Committee
  • Wine and Cheese
  • Women’s Bible Study & Fellowship
  • Women’s Retreat

Parish Icons

Resurrection-Icon-web-thumbnail-72dpi

Recent Posts by Fr. Bill

Welcome to Resurrection Catholic Parish

Volunteer Connection

  • FF Registration 2022-23
  • Gym at Resurrection
  • The Weekly Homily With Father Bill: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • Welcome to Resurrection!
  • 12/19/21 The Weekly Homily With Father Bill Moisant

Volunteer Profiles

  • Volunteer profile: Meet Rebecca Widden

Additional Stewardship Reading

  • Ten Principles of Catholic Stewardship and Development
  • A summary of Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response
  • A stewardship manual

Contact Us

Resurrection Catholic Parish
21060 SW Stafford Road
Tualatin, OR 97062
Tel: 503.638.1579
Map/Directions

Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9am - 12pm

Worship Schedule

Mass Times:
We are currently offering in person Mass on Wednesdays at noon, Thursdays at 830 AM Saturdays at 430 pm, and Sundays at 830 and 11 Am. We are currently streaming the Mass via our Facebook Page Sundays at 11 am

Reconciliation
Reconciliation is offered Saturday at 330 in the church.

Follow Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2022 Resurrection Catholic Parish, Tualatin, Oregon

Copyright © 2022 · Outreach Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in