News

Diocese advances stewardship

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	Advancing the Mission
	For more information on this new stewardship campaign in the Diocese of Green Bay, see the four-page Advancing the Mission special section in the July 28 Compass print edition, or check out www.advancingthemission.org.

"What is it that you want me to do?"

Bp. David Zubik said that he has been asked this question numerous times by people looking for ways to better serve the Church of Green Bay.

"I can't tell you that," he responds. "I want you to go back and pray about it. You know what your gifts and talents are. You know what your capabilities are. How do you think God is calling you?"

That's also the approach Bp. Zubik encourages people to take for Advancing the Mission, a new stewardship campaign being conducted in three, six-month phases from now through the end of 2007, covering all 169 parishes in the Diocese.

"What I like about this stewardship campaign is that the foundation is actually in scripture," he said. "The visual I would like people to think about is the end of Matthew and Mark's gospels where Jesus confirms his trust in the disciples and says 'go and make disciples of all nations.' What Jesus is doing is advancing the mission. That's where we got the title from, the trust that is being placed in us by Jesus."

The campaign follows the stewardship model of prayer, service and sharing. It begins with prayer so people can "take a look at their relationship with God and their relationship with the church," said Bp. Zubik.

"The hopeful result from that prayer is that people will say I have talents that my parish and diocese can use," he said. "The hope is that people will step up to the plate so the parish can become more alive, so the diocese can become more alive."

The Advancing the Mission campaign features five components - a parish ministry component and four endowments. Parishes retain 50% of the gifts collected to be used for Vibrant Parish Ministry. The remaining 50% will be placed into endowments within the Catholic Foundation.

"We have 56 parishes operating in the red that need a financial boost, so retaining half of the proceeds will help in that capacity," said Bp. Zubik. "Parishes have many other needs such as improvement of facilities. This is a good opportunity to address those needs."

The four endowments are Leadership development, Evangelization, Life-Long catechesis and Priestly Retirement Care.

Leadership Development supports training of priests, deacons and all lay leadership. Evangelization will support ministry to three areas: "the unchurched, those who have left the church, and the people who are church, so they can become more deeply immersed in their faith," said Bp. Zubik.

Life-Long Catechesis supports education in the Catholic schools, religious education programs and adult faith formation.

"That third area (adult faith formation) is where we have the greatest need," said Bp. Zubik. "Adults are saying we really need to have opportunities for us to be able to learn our faith."

Priestly Retirement Care is the fourth endowment. There is an existing retirement fund, but it doesn't meet the needs, said Bp. Zubik.

"Because of the rising costs of healthcare and the basic needs people face in their retirement years, we need to offer support," he said. "We have 91 retired priests at this time. We owe them a great deal."

"It's important to clarify that there is a religious retirement fund in the fall that doesn't benefit the diocesan priests," he added. "It supports sisters, brothers and religious order priests."

While a parish is involved in its wave of Advancing the Mission, there will not be a formal Bishop's Appeal for the parish. The parish's Bishop's Appeal amount will be included in the campaign.

"There is a distinction between the two," said Bp. Zubik. "Advancing the Mission helps the church grow into the future. The Bishop's Appeal helps us to maintain church operations today."

"My sincere hope for the future is wrapped up in the title of the campaign," he added. "I hope we can advance the mission of Jesus and make best of the opportunity afforded to us at this time so we can really grow as a church. What that means is having folks much more involved in the church."