Catholic Stewardship Appeal | Diocese of Jefferson City

After three years as your bishop, I am truly amazed and humbled by Catholics in the Diocese of Jefferson City who make a sacrifice to support the Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA). Through the CSA, we continue to provide vital support to parishes, schools and the community at large.

For over a year now, our parishes have been planning and working on our diocesan pastoral plan that focuses on the challenges we currently face:

• Cultivating a spirituality rooted in the Catholic understanding of stewardship;
• Promoting effective co-responsibility among ordained ministers and the laity; and
• Helping every parish become universally recognized as a center of charity and a sanctuary of mercy within the larger community.

It is with your constant support that we are able to continue spreading God’s message of stewardship, co-responsibility, charity and mercy. I humbly ask that each of you prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift so we, as a church, can continue serving those in need. I thank you for all you have done and continue to do to lift up your Local Church.

Most Rev. W. Shawn McKnight
Bishop of Jefferson City

Development Staff

Director of Development & Missions
Jake Seifert
573-635-9127, ext. 227

Administrative Assistant
Position Vacant
573-635-9127, ext. 237

Alphonse J. Schwartze
Memorial Catholic Center
2207 West Main St
Jefferson City, MO 65109-0914

“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7

Where does the money given to the CSA go?

CATHOLIC EDUCATION: Our Catholic schools serve over 6,000 students with more than 600 teachers in 37 elementary schools and 3 high schools across the diocese. Our Catholic elementary schools thrive on a tithing model rather than tuition. Generous support of parishioners allows our schools to reach even more students as part of the evangelizing mission of the Church. Our Catholic schools are affordable to families who seek an excellent education in a Christ-centered environment. Your gift supports our Catholic School Office, providing guidance, training and administrative support to pastors, principals, faculty and staff. It ensures that our children receive a strong foundation for transforming the world with Gospel values.

FOSTERING VOCATIONS: Tomorrow’s pastors are in our seminaries today. Your gift helps seminarians receive essential academic, spiritual and emotional formation that spans five to eight years.

OUTREACH: Concern for people in need helps identify us as followers of Christ. Our diocese’s commitment to Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri helps provide advocacy for the poor, assistance to individuals in need, and ongoing response to recent flooding and disasters in our diocese.

MATRIMONIAL TRIBUNAL: Pre-marriage assessment and annulment services are essential for building strong families and healing broken bonds. Your gift helps the diocese offer these services free of charge.

COMMUNICATION: Through good communication, our diocese is able to evangelize and amplify the mission of the Church. Your gift helps support the work of our communication office and The Catholic Missourian.

FORMATION: Growing in faith and knowledge of Christ must be a lifelong pursuit. Your gift helps support pastoral ministries, Hispanic and youth ministry, development and other services to parishes and individuals.

CHANCERY SERVICES: The Catholic Center in Jefferson City is the bishop’s base of operations for ministries to parishes. Your gift helps cover services for employees and visitors to the Catholic Center, in addition to building and grounds maintenance.

Sharing in our success

This year's diocesan goal for the Catholic Stewardship Appeal is $2 million. Parishes are eligible to receive a rebate when pledges and/or cash meet or exceed their parish goal by March 15, 2022 and pledges are fulfilled by the fiscal year end June 30, 2022. Any pledge funds received after July 1, 2022 will be applied to the following year’s CSA parish goal.

No money collected in the Catholic Stewardship Appeal or in your parish contributions will be used for any payments related to sexual abuse.

Weekly Resources for Parishes

Pre-kick-off Weekend (Oct. 10 or Oct. 17)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

The diocesan Catholic Stewardship Appeal will officially begin in our parish next weekend. In the next couple of weeks, you will receive a letter from Bishop McKnight inviting you to participate in this year’s appeal. If each of our families would give a small portion of their income, we would easily reach our parish goal of ($ parish goal). As you reflect on the information about the CSA and the life of our Church, please remember that we are called to give out of gratitude.

Pulpit announcement

The Catholic Stewardship Appeal officially begins in our parish NEXT weekend. Please prayerfully consider making a gift this year. Read this weekend’s bulletin for more information.

Kick-off Weekend (Oct. 17 or Oct. 24)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

This weekend we begin our Catholic Stewardship Appeal at (parish name). This annual appeal is the primary source of funding for sustaining ministry and assistance for the 106 parishes and missions in the 38 counties that make up the Diocese of Jefferson City. The CSA theme, “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), encourages each of us to give back to God that which we have received. Please pray and give consideration on how you can help with this year’s CSA.

Pulpit announcement

Our annual Catholic Stewardship Appeal begins in our parish this weekend. As noted in the bulletin, all registered households will receive an invitation and information from Bishop McKnight regarding this year’s CSA. This campaign funds vital services to all of the parishes and schools of the diocese and to those in need in the larger community.

Third weekend (Oct. 24 or Oct. 31)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

The Catholic Stewardship Appeal is well underway. A blessed thank you to everyone that has made a financial and prayerful commitment to our appeal. Our work is reliant on you as our faithful to help fund programs in our parishes, provide Catholic education and formation for our children, foster vocations, provide disaster relief through Catholic Charities, and many more vital programs in the diocese. Remember that no gift is too small and each and every person’s gift is important.

Pulpit announcement

Thanks to our Catholic Stewardship Appeal, we enjoy access to sacraments and the service of priests and deacons. The annual appeal also funds teacher formation, ministry to youth, efforts in support of family and pro-life, and care for the poor and marginalized. You can ensure that this continues by making a pledge to this year’s Catholic Stewardship Appeal. Your donation, regardless of size, makes a difference.

Fourth weekend (Oct. 31 or Nov. 7)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

We thank all who have given generously to the annual Catholic Stewardship Appeal. As we look at our lives and the many blessings God has given us, let us give a portion to the CSA as a way of saying thank you to the Lord. Through the CSA, we make known the Kingdom of God by helping each other to live our faith and share our Gospel belief. Our gifts to the CSA and ministries it supports are our grateful offerings to God.

Pulpit announcement

The Catholic Stewardship Appeal depends on the contributions of faithful Catholics across the diocese to support many programs and services vital to our parishes schools, and those in need in our communities. Consider the many blessings God has bestowed upon you and show your gratitude by making a pledge to this year’s campaign. Please be generous.

Fifth weekend (Nov. 7 or Nov. 14)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

The Eucharist is the source of our Catholic Stewardship Appeal. Eucharist means “thanksgiving,” and the CSA is an opportunity for us to thank God for all He has given us, particularly the gift of His Son. Both remind us that followers of Jesus are to be bread broken for the life of the world. Through the CSA, we make known the Kingdom of God by helping each other to live our faith and share our Gospel belief. From honoring the dignity of each life, to teaching people about our faith, to sharing our resources with those who are alone or in need, our gifts to the CSA and the ministries these gifts support are our grateful offerings to God.

Pulpit announcement

The Catholic Stewardship Appeal allows each of us to be partners with Pope Francis and Bishop McKnight in carrying out the soul-saving mission of the Church. We are blessed to be able to give sacrificially in thanks to God while helping to support Catholic outreach to people in need, in crisis or without a church community. All gifts to the CSA, great and small, help to make God’s kingdom known on this earth.

Sixth weekend (Nov. 14 or Nov. 21)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

For Catholic disciples, sacrificial giving is in our DNA. Other people’s sacrifices, offered in love, have allowed the Good News to be preached and taught to us and those who went before us. We are people of gratitude and will only reach the fullness of our identity when we put our thanks into action. Your gift to God through the Catholic Stewardship Appeal helps ensure for the present and the future a vibrant Catholic community in which Gospel values are caught, taught and celebrated.

Pulpit announcement

Currently, we are at (insert %) percent of our parish goal as we enter the final weeks of the Catholic Stewardship Appeal. Thank you to all who have made a gift or pledge. If you have not yet done so, please know that we benefit greatly by the services and support provided through diocesan ministries. We appreciate any gift you are able to make.

Seventh weekend (Nov. 21 or Nov. 28)

Bulletin announcement (or use the graphic available here)

We are near the end of this year’s Catholic Stewardship Appeal. For each one of you who chose to give back gratefully to God through a contribution to the CSA, we are deeply appreciative. Each gift, when combined with the gifts of thousands of other parishioners throughout the diocese, makes a very real difference. For those who have not yet joined your fellow Catholics in support of the CSA, we urge you to pray about it. You can also make a pledge by going online to diojeffcity.org and clicking the “Donate Now” button.

Pulpit announcement

This is the last weekend for the annual Catholic Stewardship Appeal, and the last weekend for parish CSA announcements. If you have not yet made a donation or pledge to this year’s appeal, you will find envelopes in the pews or in the back of church. Please prayerfully consider making a donation—all gifts are appreciated. Thank you to everyone who has already responded.

Prayers of the Faithful for Parishes

For the Kick-Off Weekend (Oct. 10 or Oct. 17)

For the Final Weekend (Nov. 21 or Nov. 28)

Options for the Intervening Weeks

That we at (parish name) may respond to our Catholic Stewardship Appeal as grateful stewards of God’s many gifts… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may show care and generosity for one another by sharing our gifts for the good of the whole Church… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That working together and sharing our gifts, we may become worthy disciples of Christ: ministering to those in need and instructing those seeking Your truth and justice… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may be transformed by the Spirit to live a life of stewardship marked by faith-filled prayer, service to our neighbor, and generous sharing…WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may open our hearts to the mission and ministry of our Catholic Stewardship Appeal… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may remember that all we have comes from You, rejoicing in that generosity and showing our gratitude by sharing our gifts with others… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may be good stewards of Your abundance and faithful caretakers of all You have entrusted to us, bearing witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That we may rejoice in Your generosity and follow Your call to live a stewardship way of life… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

That, aware of Your many blessings, we may be good stewards of time by putting prayer first in our lives, of our talents by serving others, and of our treasure as we contribute to build up our Church and aid those in need… WE PRAY TO THE LORD

PRAYER FOR A STEWARDSHIP PARISH

My parish is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes,
if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship,
if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a parish of loyalty and love,
of fearlessness and faith,
of compassion, charity, and mercy,
if I, who make it what it is,
am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God,
I now dedicate myself to the task
of being all things that I want my parish to be.
Amen.

Downloadable Resources

Bulletin Graphics

Bulletin graphics, both one column and two column, can be downloaded for each weekend, beginning Oct. 9-10.
Sample of all graphics

Logos:

Development Staff

“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"

Where does the money given to the CSA go?

Sharing in our success

Weekly Resources for Parishes

Prayers of the Faithful for Parishes

PRAYER FOR A STEWARDSHIP PARISH

Downloadable Resources

DIOCESAN OFFICES and PROGRAMS