Florida Catholic | Region’s Stewardship Professionals Meet In Sarasota

Region’s stewardship professionals meet in Sarasota

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Published: 07.04.08

SARASOTA | Representatives from 11 diocesan stewardship and development programs across the southeast United States gathered for a regional meeting of the International Catholic Stewardship Council June 18-20 on Lido Beach.

Diocese of Venice Stewardship and Development Office director Mary Campo served as host of the regional meeting for the second year in a row.

Region XIV of the council includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Representatives from St. Petersburg, Miami, Pensacola-Tallahassee and Orlando attended the meeting.

“It’s all about sharing information and learning from each other,” Campo said. “It is about how we can best serve our dioceses and the faithful.”

The group members used their time to discuss a variety of topics, including stewardship, foundations, capital campaigns, annual appeals, planned giving and expansion of their missions.

One of the highlights included a meeting and dinner with Bishop Frank J. Dewane in Sarasota.

Jim Kelley, president of the international council and development director for the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., said stewardship is a spiritual and pastoral thing. It is not about money, it is a way of life.

“When people are blessed by God, gratitude becomes a motivation,” Kelley said. “Stewardship is (more) about the needs of the individual to give thanks than it is about the church’s need to receive anything. It is all about keeping people engaged.”

The council represents more than 170 archdioceses and dioceses, and more than 500 parishes across the country. Through its seminars, publications and annual conference, the council emphasizes the point that all members of the family of faith are called to be Christian stewards and share their gifts of time, talent and treasure in proportion to the blessings they have received from God.

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Region’s stewardship professionals meet in Sarasota

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