Stewardship: Time, Talent, and Treasure

Published
FFHL Logo
February 10, 2014
Issue 20
Stewardship: Time, Talent, and Treasure
 
This week, the campaign would like to thank all of the dedicated pastors and ambassadors working on Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love. Your commitment to this effort will make a lasting impact on the Church of western North Carolina. In the winter of 2013, ambassadors shared their experiences visiting with fellow parishioners.
 
I can tell you today that this was one of the more rewarding experiences of my life – I got to meet new people and talk to them like they were old friends; I was able to listen when that is all the people wanted me to do; I recognized when people were truly “stretching” to help and along the way I was excited to bring in pledges and commitments to this campaign.- St. John Neumann parishioner
 
I have met and spoken to lovely, wonderful people. They have welcomed me into their homes and treated me like family, my church family.  This experience has allowed me to meet and reconnect with people in the parish. I feel pride when I hear the results growing each week and know I have been a small part of this success. – Holy Cross parishioner
 
All in all, this experience has been an enriching one for me. Face to face meetings with families have proven to be a blessing for me.  Indeed, there is much more involved with this campaign than money. I think the emphasis is on love. In my case, it is;  I love God! Moreover, I am so grateful to God for all the many, many miraculous blessings in my life, I couldn’t say no to the request to serve in this way. I took myself out of my comfort zone, and God has surprised me by comforting and blessing me with energy, enthusiasm, and joy! Praise God! – Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner
 
Please visit the link below to hear more about the positive relationships Ambassadors created while working on this effort and how giving back to the Church has blessed them.
 
Campaign Statistics
 
 
Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love has raised more than $37 Million from 6,296 donors. Thank you for your continued prayers for the success of this endeavor! 
 
  
*A portion of the Leadership Gifts Phase total raised is shared with parishes, therefore the overall total is less than the sum of the individual phases. 
 
* Retired, but pastor when campaign was conducted. 
 
 
Good News
 
Block One
 
St. Mary in Greensboro offered all families an opportunity to participate in Forward in Faith, Hope, and Loveduring its first Commitment Weekend. Sixty-two families responded to Fr. Jack Timlin’s appeal that highlighted the initiative’s support of Catholic Charities and Faith Formation. The weekend raised $114,060, bringing St. Mary’s to $248,525 or 42% of goal. 
 
At Divine Redeemer in Boonville, Fr. Enrique Gonzalez-Gaytan welcomed generous gifts from 15 families totaling more than $34,000.  The parishioners are inspired by the initiative’s commitment to Multicultural Ministries and Catholic Charities.
 
St. James the Greater (Concord) hosted its final opportunity to learn about Forward in Faith, Hope and Love. Nine families attended the special reception that further explained the growth at St. James the Greater as well as the greater Church of western North Carolina. Families felt it was a truly exciting time to be a Catholic and look forward to the continued growth of their parish and expansion of their church.
 
Fr. Bob Ferris and parishioners at St. Aloysius in Hickory celebrated the success of the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort at Masses. St. Aloysius surpassed its $1,800,000 campaign target and looks forward to making repairs to the roof of the sanctuary. While gifts continue to be made, St. Aloysius has now raised $2,013,110, or 112% of its goal, from the participation of about 38% of the active parish community. 
 
Block Two
 
At St. Helen in Spencer Mountain, Msgr. Mo West and the Ambassador Team have been actively meeting with parishioners to share the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love message. Eleven gifts were received this week from generous families, almost doubling the total that has been received. The parish leadership is encouraged by the generosity of families!
 
Through the generosity of ten families, St. Matthew in Charlotte raised more than $100,000 this week! The Leadership Team and Ambassadors continue to introduce Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love and the message of inspiration to other committed Catholic families. Families are motivated to participate after they learned about the diversity of ministries being enhanced such as the Priest Retirement Trust Fund, College Campus Ministries, and Catholic Charities.
 
Fr. Joseph Mack at St. Paul the Apostle in Greensboro welcomed his leadership team at a Campaign Executive Committee orientation on Thursday. The families are looking forward to the church renovations, made possible with the local share that will enhance the parish’s extensive list of ministries and activities. 
 
Fr. David Miller at St. Dorothy in Lincolnton held his Campaign Executive Committee orientation on Wednesday, February 5th. The Campaign leaders in attendance are excited to begin the campaign, and are especially motivated by the support being given to Catholic education, priest retirement, and Catholic Charities.
 
Fr. Michael Buttner and Fr. Stephen Hoyt at Holy Family in Clemmons hosted a Volunteer Recruitment Orientation where five additional families joined the parish Ambassador committee. At this event, families were invited to consider a sacrificial commitment through time, talent, and treasure. Families are excited to join this effort that will help provide for additional meeting space for the many active ministries of the parish.