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Our 2009 Catholic Sharing Appeal
time is here!!
Why is there a Catholic Sharing Appeal? The Catholic Sharing Appeal (CSA) was established to help support missions and ministries administered by the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee on behalf of the 58 parishes, missions, and outreach agencies that constitute the diocese.
Outside the parish, what does the diocese do for us?
The diocese performs a variety of services that assist every parish. It helps provide a framework for parish ministries through the departments of Christian Formation, Marriage & Family Life, Youth, and Ethnic Concerns. The diocese is responsible for the formation and education of future priests, provides supervision for the two Catholic high schools and nine elementary schools, runs the Property and Liability Insurance Program, administers health and retirement packages for all full-time employees of every Catholic organization and parish, manages the savings and loan for all parishes as well as the Endowment for the Education Foundation, and provides the single largest contribution to our local Catholic Charities.
How is the diocese funded?
The three principal sources are financial support of individuals through the annual Catholic Sharing Appeal (approximately 43% of budget), from parishes as a share of their offertory income (approximately 43%), and from national collections designated to help mission dioceses.
How does the CSA work?
Parishioners have the opportunity to make a pledge or an outright gift to the CSA each year. A parish goal is proportional to its size compared to the rest of the parishes of the diocese. Once a parish reaches their goal in support of diocesan ministry, the amount over goal is returned to the parish to help fund local needs.
How do I get involved as a parishioner?
You will have the opportunity to make your pledge commitment the next two weekends—February 3-4 and 10-11. At St. Ann, stop by the Parish Hall to pick up and fill out your pledge commitment card. At Our Lady, stop in the office area Also, remember that anything we collect over our goal comes back 100% to the parish, which last year totaled $100,000.Thank you in advance for your continued generosity.
Principles of Catholic Stewardship
of Time, Talents and Treasure
"As each one has received a gift,
use it to serve one another as good stewards of God`s varied grace."
(Peter 4:10)
The word "stewardship" refers to the Catholic approach to the gifts that God has bestowed upon us. Stewardship is living out a commitment to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered. Profound gratitude, justice and love become the fundamental motives for giving back to God. Everything that God has given to us is intended to serve the divine plan. Therefore, our life is to be lived in gratitude toward God. In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, share our time, talent and treasure to build up the Church and make our world a better place.
The Church needs you and God has chosen you to go out into all the world. Every Christian is to take an active part in the life of the Church and to share the gifts of salvation. Three convictions in particular underlie our understanding of stewardship:
1. Mature disciples make a conscious, firm decision, carried out in action, to be followers of Jesus Christ no matter the cost to themselves.
2. Beginning in conversion, change of mind and heart, this commitment is expressed not in a single action, nor even in a number of actions over a period of time, but in an entire way of life. It means committing one`s very self to the Lord.
3. Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be. They are deeply aware of the truth that "The Lord`s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it" (Psalm 24:1). They know themselves to be recipients and caretakers of God`s many gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another.
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