The Office of Stewardship
As we look at ways to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak and its impact on parishes, parishioners, our communities, our clergy and religious and our lay workers, we will be sending you the Stewardship newsletter each week.
 
We will do our best to share ideas from parishes in the Archdiocese, the Province and the US. We will also provide links to programs and vendor sites that may be of value.

When the pandemic is under control and things begin to return to some normalcy, we will be remembered for messages of love and hope, for reaching out to our parishioners and neighbors, for spiritual support of the faithful and for staying a part of people’s lives. We will be known by our deeds.
 
Included in this issue is a request to parishes to share thoughts, ideas and practices that we can then pass along to all parishes in the Archdiocese.
 
List of ideas to implement in your parish during these days of COVID-19
Here is a list of ideas gathered from around the country to help sustain the parish and its ministries as we live though these days of the Coronavirus.

Online Giving

  • Most parishes are already set up for parishioners to give electronically to your parish. This in itself is a head start in weathering what the virus may bring.

  • Remember to direct your parishioners to your online giving through all your social media outlets - where to go and whom they can contact if they have any questions or concerns.

  • If your parish does not have online giving click here for a list of venders that are more than willing to help you get started. You can also call Nancy Stoehr for more information on how to get started at 404-920-7614.

  • Compare venders, talk to other parishes about their experiences, and read some of their reviews online.

Encourage parishioners to look into Bill Pay

  • Ask your parishioners to see if their bank offers a Bill Pay option. They can set up their parish as a reoccurring payment, generating an electronic check and sending it via USPS.

Set out baskets or lock boxes in safe areas

  • If your parish is still open to parishioners during certain times of the day. Set out a basket or lock box where they can drop off their gift.

  • Keep in mind that because of the COVID-19 outbreak - staff and volunteers will still need to be conscious on handling what they touch.

  • Have gloves and hand sanitizer available at all times.

Take Precautions

  • It is important that your staff and volunteers take precautions when handling cash and envelopes.

  • As mentioned earlier, provide gloves (both latex and non-latex), hand sanitizer, as staff and volunteers work on counting and recording.

Schedule giving reminders for Sunday Delivery

  • Setup an email reminder to your parishioners who have provided you with an email or who are already on your email list for parish updates/newsletters.

  • Schedule an email to go out on Saturday before the Vigil Mass or Early Sunday morning reminding your parishioners for their need of giving and support to continue.

Be mindful of the income impact on members

  • For many parishioners, the present crisis will not affect their income. Some have been offered the opportunity to work from home.

  • Not everyone is in the same situation. The Coronavirus crisis will affect others greatly. Make sure that your parish conveys a message of hope, encouragement and impact.

Elderly parish members are more at risk – Remember to reach out regularly

  • Hearing through several media accounts that the elderly people are more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, be sure to take extra steps to care and keep in contact with them.

  • Develop different strategies for pastoral care on these days.

  • Create a call list of your parishes elderly members and call on a regular basis. Make sure to ask how they are doing and if they are in need of any basic food supplies.

  • Pray with them.

  • Offer assistance if applicable and in line with your parish policies amid COVID-19.

Consider raising funds for Coronavirus Assistance

  • Although it is a time of hardships, people are still looking for ways to give. Consider offering your parishioners an opportunity to provide designated giving to a Coronavirus Assistance Fund.

  • iGive Catholic could help assist in this type of funding for your parish.
  • you can contact Juliet Greco with the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia for more information at 404-497-9440.

  • These funds could be used where other ministries are falling short during these days.

Inform your parishioners of the different ways to give to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal

  • Inform your parishioners of the different ways to continue giving to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.


  • Bill Pay through their bank.

  • Send a check or money order to: The Archbishop's Annual Appeal P. O. Box 2396 Smyrna Ga 30081-2396

  • Call the Office of Stewardship to make a debit/credit card transaction over the phone at 404-920-7600.

  • Setup automatic deductions each month. Call Julieta Sanchez at 404-920-7605 for assistance.

Remember to always send messages of hope, encouragement and impact

  • As many may be aware, parish life has been affected by this crisis. As your parish continues to communicate with your parishioners, we invite you to be a voice of hope and encouragement – keep in mind that our Lord Christ will get us through this. Know that one of the reasons people give other than as “A way of life,” is the belief in the mission of giving to live out their works of discipleship.

  • Celebrate your parish in your communication to parishioners of the impact your parish continues to receive through their generosity.

  • Make sure to mention the lives that have been greatly touched across your many ministries because of their giving.

  • Post stories of these impacts through your social media outlets.
 
 Continue reading below for more information on how to help ways to adjust in these days of Coronavirus.
Greater Mission - Five things parish leaders can do
Today, we face a scary and challenging time but there are things we can do to meet this challenge.
 
Many in our parish and our community are in need as their jobs have been reduced or greatly affected through this crisis. Calls and request for help have increased at the rectory and parish office. More and more people have been pressed into asking for help or seeking help from local food pantries, shelters and outreach agencies. Please know that all of them and you are in our prayers. We have been asked by several diocese and parishes what can be done during this time to help parishes assist those in need. Most masses are not even occurring and, in the large majority of parishes, that will greatly affect their ability to operate normally, let alone attempt to address the increase of need. Below are five key things that parish leaders can do. Please know that Greater Mission is here to assist and support you any way we can.

Greater Mission, Newsletter - Our response to COVID-19 3\27\2020
Parishes sharing their thoughts and ideas
Here are some was parishes are reponding.

Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, Peachtree Corners - "Reaching out by telephone , live streaming mass 7 days a week, walking with ministry leaders to reach out to the volunteers, going to reaching out with phone calls to all in database in our area, even though inactive. Caring for our neighbor. Using Social Media platforms and emailing our active parishioners; live streaming a Lenten reflection thru music &reflections Fri pm, zoom staff meetings and council meetings. We are busy." - Jeanne Bell, Business Manager

St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pembroke Pines Fl - "By prayers ,phone calls
Me particular praying constant and watching Mass daily , reading the gospels and calling other parishioners in case they need help and prayers
This is a time for prayers,sacrifices and penance like Our Lady keeps asking us to do
God bless all of you." - Tania Montes, Volunteer

Saint Ann Catholic Church, Marietta Ga - " On the mass front, we had 2383 views of our Mass last Sunday, That was individual views and we are estimating a value of 2.5 per view based on our demographics that is nearly 6000 people reached. At the end of the broadcast, we are adding a text to donate number. We should have some results on that at the end of the week.
 
We also had 2.4K views of Fr. Ray's inspirational messages and 1.6K on the 4:00 worldwide rosary. The key thing we are seeing is people are looking to the church. All of our departments are using Zoom (83 teens on last night's zoom), Facebook live etc. to stay in touch." - Saint Ann, Business Manager
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"We, the Catholic Church of Saint Ann, will continue to do everything we possibly can to care for the health and the safety of our most vulnerable."
- Father Ray
Share your best practices

Please continue to share you thoughts and ideas. We would appreciate hearing of any of the things you have done to stay connected with your parishioners during these times and to share them with parishes in the Archdiocese.

Thank you for participating and sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Office of Stewardship | Nancy Stoehr | 404-920-7614 | [email protected]