Catholic Stewardship Chair

Parish Appeal Chairperson Position Description
 

As a parish chairperson, you act as a liaison between the archdiocese and your parish, ensuring the implementation of the recommended Appeal strategies and promotional activities. In addition, the parish chairperson is responsible for serving as a spokesperson for the Appeal. 

Working closely with the pastor, the parish chairperson plays an important role in communicating the message of stewardship to the congregation. If a parish stewardship committee exists, the Appeal parish chairperson should be a member. A consistent message of stewardship will enhance not only the Appeal, but also gifts to the parish of time, talent and financial resources.

The two primary responsibilities of the Appeal chairperson are (1) to build excitement and enthusiasm for the Appeal, and (2) to implement strategies designed to motivate and encourage gifts. You are our representative and partner in this most important effort for the Church in southeastern Wisconsin.  Your efforts at personal communication and follow-up with parishioners are critically important to your parish’s success in meeting goal.

Responsibilities

• Display the Catholic Stewardship Appeal posters in prominent places in the parish.
• On weekends leading up to the actual kickoff, place announcements in your bulletins to make parishioners aware of its coming.
• On kick-off weekend, please perform the following activities:
  • Ensure that your parish bulletin contains an announcement about the Appeal on kickoff weekend as well as a special message from your pastor that speaks to the Appeal’s importance and encourages financial support.
  • Play Archbishop Listecki’s video DVD, See With God's Eyes, at all Masses. The video should be preceded or followed by a few words about the importance of the Appeal from you, the presider, pastor, or other testimonial speaker. This brief talk should emphasize the impact the Appeal has and motivate those present to financially support the Appeal.
• Beginning with kick-off weekend and extending through June, arrange for placement of bulletin announcements, ensure that pulpit announcements are made, and that intercessions are included in the Prayers for the Faithful.
• Implement Appeal strategies found at the parish resources link under Communication Strategies at www.catholicappeal.org.  Please note the strategy in July regarding the parish follow-up mailing.  Your parish is asked to actively participate in this.
• Ensure regular communications with the pastor, parish director or administrator about the parish’s progress toward its Appeal goal.
• Follow all instructions for the processing of gifts that may come to your parish office directly, rather than to us.