Stewardship Commission

**Tom Scholler, Stewardship Commission Chairperson**
**Rose Mary Smith, Stewardship Coordinator**
**Nancy Steele**, **Parish Secretary**
**Bob Giddey,** **Maintenance Director**

**Stewardship Commission Mission:**
The Stewardship Commission serves the Parish Pastoral Council
by promoting the concept of stewardship --
the giving of time, talent and treasure --
to complement the parish vision of
growing together in faith and discipleship.

**The Commission's Major Areas of Responsibility Are:**
* The Parish Census
* Building and Grounds Maintenance
* Offertory/Fundraising
* Budget Management
* Catholic Services Appeal
* Endowment and Planned Giving
* Resource Services
* Stewardship Formation
* Communications

**So Just What is Stewardship?**

On Stewardship Weekend, January 23/24, 2010,
some of your fellow parishioners shared what stewardship means to them in their lives.
To see what they had to say, follow the links below...

**Tom and Marcia Scholler**

"We have learned in the course of our lives
that the whole heart of stewardship is knowing, loving and serving God."

To read more, click here...

**Denny and Nancy Walters**

"It is up to us to 'steward' or manage everything
that God brings into our lives in a way that honors Him."

To read more, click here...

**Geoff Wright**

"As the situation [household impacted by loss of employment] persisted,
we began to realize that it's important, even when times are tough,
to look for reasons to express our gratitude for all that God has given us."

To read more, click here...

**Erica Zentner**

"...Stewardship is what brings our parish community together as one.
When we are becoming stewards, we are making a conscious decision to give back to God."

To read more, click here...

**Time, Talent and Treasure:**

Please prayerfully consider how you can best serve your parish
by sharing of your God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure.
If each of us does a little, it's not too much of a burden on anyone.
We depend on your volunteerism and contributions
to help make our parish a success, so, particularly during these
tough economic times, please do all you can to help!
Extra volunteer forms and Treasure cards can be accessed
and printed out by clicking on the links below.
Once completed, the form and card may be dropped off at or
mailed to the Parish Office. Thank you!!!

2010 Time & Talent Volunteer Opportunities

Annual Treasure Renewal Card for 2010
A Message from Thomas P. Scholler, Stewardship Commission Chairperson
Fellow Parishioners: Happy New Year! No, it’s not time for Auld Lang Syne and the descending ball in Times Square — it’s the beginning of St. Dan’s 2009-2010 parish fiscal year on July 1. This year’s budget, approved by Father Chris and the Pastoral Council and submitted to the Archdiocesan Department of Finance and Administration, projects offertory collections of $19,500 per week, a decrease of about 2.25% from last year’s budget. This reflects the reality of the poor Michigan economy, and is in line with the parish’s current offertory experience. Moreover, the parish commissions, through the staff, have budgeted a decrease of almost 5% in parish operating expenses. These prudent measures will permit the parish to continue accumulating some reserves for anticipated maintenance and renovation projects being studied by the parish facilities task force. While prudent management of parish funds is important, it is more important for all of us at St. Dan’s to understand that Christian stewardship is not merely about money. Stewardship is fundamentally spiritual, based in prayerful reflection on how we live our lives in gratitude for all of God’s gifts to us. Of course, each week in the Eucharist — from the Greek meaning “thanksgiving”— we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every weekend at every Mass, our church were packed with parishioners giving thanks for all that our Heavenly Father does for us? Perhaps now more than ever, we should reflect seriously on the motto on our currency, “In God We Trust.” While we suffer through difficult economic times, still God is faithful and has given each of us blessings beyond measure. And He expects us to use these gifts according to His plan through the sharing of our time and talent in prayer and service to others, as well as in our offertory gifts and donations to the Archdiocesan Catholic Services Appeal. Every year, our parish holds Commitment Weekend. In anticipation of that annual event, each of us should give prayerful consideration of our appropriate personal stewardship response in committing our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure in the service of the Lord through our parish. Generous sharing of our spiritual and material gifts will see many blessings for the St. Daniel Catholic Community. Thank you for your continued generosity to St. Dan’s!!!