1. Sacred Heart Church Austin, Texas Stewardship Campaign YOU CAN COUNT ON ME! / PUEDES CONTAR CONMIGO!
Introduction

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. 
Our Lady,
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.

3. Five years of growth
Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Austin

6. EARLY LESSONS 2012 – 2013 First Used Traditional Stewardship Program
Provided by Diocese
DISMAL FAILURE
WHAT WENT WRONG? EVERYTHING!
Going forward ???
Elizabeth resisted going back to old program
Elizabeth created “You Can Count On Me!”
This is Elizabeth’s Stewardship Program

7. Pre-Requisites for Growth Lessons Learned
2nd Baptist Church Lesson
Transparency Lesson
“Show me the money”
Continuous Visible Improvement Lesson
If they don’t see where the money is going, little will change
Newcomers Don’t Give Lesson
Community formation is continuous
People come and go - continuously
Don’t Talk About Money Lesson
Unless you are going to talk about money.

8. Pre-Requisites for Growth Lessons Learned
Stewardship is essential to pastoral ministry in a Hispanic Parish
Continuous Community Formation
We are forming:
Hopeful parishioners
Texas Catholics, American Catholics, Roman Catholics
The Mexican Church is different

9. TRUST – TRANSPARENCY Parish Revenue up 75% in five years
Recent Comments by Parish Council
Prior to Father’s arrival 3 years ago widespread mistrust regarding of use of funds –
“We never saw the fruit of our giving”
Easier to donate free time and labor – We could see the fruit of our physical labors
New pastor brought transparency
Frequent, even excessive financial reports
“Now we see the fruits and feel confident giving our money to the Parish”
Parish Revenue up 75% in five years
Then you can count on me

10. Sacred Heart Parish ~1000+ ??? Registered Families
(Families reluctant to register)
7 Weekend Masses for 3,000 to 3,500 attendees
Count Mass attendance: ~ 6 years data
2 English Masses for approximately 250 weekly attendance
Anglo parishioners generally older
5 Spanish Masses for approximately 3,000+ weekly
Younger Hispanic parishioners, most are immigrants
Reconciliation: 4 hours scheduled weekly
Up to 15 man hours per week with 3 priests

11. Sacred Heart Parish - 2017 Baptisms 514 First Communion 465
Confirmation
Weddings
Funerals
Quinceaneras

12. Religious Education – 2017-2018
Sacred Heart Parish
Religious Education –
1,400+ students in Religious Education
Down from 1850 in

13. Challenging Facilities
Rapid growth, changing demographics
Obsolete buildings; Deferred Maintenance
Lack of space for ministries
Mold and Asbestos problems
Air conditioners: All being replaced
Sanctuary only seats ~490
(Needs to double in size)
Lack of parking; Parking lot deterioration

14. What Works? Blessings: SISTERS!!!
Catholic school education for the poorest: No Barriers!
160+ children K – 12 in nearby Diocesan schools
Good RE program (Pre-K to Adult)
Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts; Cub Scouts
Only Hispanic Scouting program in region & growing
Adult spirituality programs
CRHP, Movimiento Familiar, SINE, Prayer groups
ESL (English as a Second Language)
Pro-Life Program is Pro-Family: Robust, regular programs

16. What Works? Customer Service: Front Office Attitude Give service:
Welcoming, Positive
Parish registration not required for service
Give service:
Provide broad range of family-oriented ministries:
EDUCATE: Good Catechism programs: Child and Adult
Pro-life/Pro-Family Environment
Spiritual growth opportunities, retreats
Respect Cultural Devotions: “Quinceaneras”, “Presentaciones”
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Teach, Explain, Respect
Baby sitting
Keep the Staff involved in decisions, issues
Regular (Weekly) Staff meetings; Everybody’s Agenda

17. What Works? GOOD LITURGIES Good Preaching and Teaching for Community
The Mass. The Mass. The Mass.
ONE LITURGY – Not 7 – Not Anglo vs Hispanic
Good Preaching and Teaching for Community
Preach the Announcements
Announcements say who we are; what we do
If it’s important enough to announce, then EXPLAIN
Dialog with the community; Consistent messages
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Good Finance Council; publish reports often
Multiple Counting Teams - Essential
Facilities: Continuous, visible improvement

18. Stewardship Continuous education on Stewardship
“What is a parishioner?”
“What is tithing?” (“Diezmo”)
Significant, continuous increase in parish income requires:
Trust, Transparency
Continuous, visible improvements
Planned, Ongoing Stewardship Formation
Spiritual, Personal, Family, Parish
Need to Teach Planned Giving

19. Stewardship Formation
“You Can Count on Me!”
FIRST FOUR WEEKS 1 2 3 4
Community Formation
Stewardship Formation
Why Christians Tithe?
Ask for Financial Support
What is a parishioner?
Membership Awareness
Parish Registration
Commit at Mass
NO MONEY TALK
TALK MONEY!!!