Stewardship
Catholic Stewardship – Who is a Steward?
“One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible manner, shares them in justice and love with all, and returns them with increase to the Lord”……..from STEWARDSHIP – a Disciple’s Response, National Conference of Bishops.
The Bishops’ Pastoral Letter says parishioners must accept responsibility for their parishes and contribute generously with both money and personal service to parish programs and projects.
A parish Stewardship committee actively attempts to identify and seek involvement in the work of the Church. Anyone is welcome to become involved in the work of the committee and the work of the Church.
Stewardship begins with the recognition that everything we have comes from God. In turn, we are grateful and in thanksgiving we give back to God by sharing our gifts, generously. The vitality of parish life or its absence is a reflection of the parishioners’ responsibility to contribute their time, talent and treasure where needed.
As Catholic stewards we have the obligation to share our God given gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure. Each one is talented in some way. We examine ourselves, our talents and how these talents can benefit our parish and the community at large. By sharing our personal gifts we contribute to an active and vital parish. Hundreds of our parishioners are involved in the work of the church. For example on any given Sunday many participate in our Liturgy as Eucharistic Ministers, Commentators, the Choirs, Ushers and Altar Servers. Many others are involved at other times in our other numerous parish and outreach ministries.
In the Spring, we ask our parishioners to volunteer their time and talent to any of 60 ministries in the parish, or to simply share a particular talent where needed. We request Stewardship Commitment forms asking parishioners to indicate the ministry(ies) in which they would be able to share their time and talent. Volunteer names are then submitted to individual ministry chairpersons for involvement in the work of that particular ministry.
In the Fall we make a request for the financial support of the parish for the coming year by requesting parishioners to complete contributory Intent Forms. Since we are a large parish we need to fill many financial needs including the ever present care and maintenance of our facility. We ask parishioners to prayerfully consider their gift of treasure as a tithe, if they are able, 5% to the Church and 5% to other charitable outreach ministries from their net adjusted income. By completing intent forms for their annual contribution we are better able to arrive at an annual parish operating budget for the following year.
It’s easy to become involved in the work of our parish at any time. Each weekend on page 2 in our weekly Seton Voice, all parish ministries are listed with the name and phone number of the person to contact for their participation. Our Stewardship is our response to God’s love for us.
Stewardship of Treasure - How Much to Give?
Giving of Treasure is an individual decision. The question asked is “How much should I give”. The answer can be found in the U. S Catholic Conference of Bishops’ recommendations. Here is what they had to say about giving of treasure. In the context of a total commitment to Stewardship that is planned, proportionate and sacrificial, it is important to set goals for giving. All Christian stewards must consider prayerfully the gifts they have received from God and they should make a decision in advance from the “first fruits” instead of what is left over after other obligations have been met about what to give.
Once Christian Stewards make this decision it is suggested that one-half of a family’s or individual’s commitment of time, talent and treasure be given to the parish; the other half then can be divided among other worthwhile religious, educational and charitable organizations.
The three most important considerations for giving:
1. It must planned. It should not be what’s left at the end of the week or month. Make God’s gift the first you give!
2. It must be proportionate. What one gives should be in proportion to their individual resources. We all have needs, essentials and wants. Do you spend more on your wants than on God’s share of your resources?
3. It must be sacrificial. The ancients offered their sacrifices out of a sense of gratitude for God’s many blessings. Can you say the same?
The Biblical tradition is 10% of your gross (first fruits) treasure.
If 10% is your goal, the bishops recommend 5% go to your parish. Click to view the chart and determine your goal based upon your income level.
Meeting Minutes
Parish Tithing Policy
As a stewardship and tithing parish we elect to give 10% of our weekend offertory collection at Mass to charitable causes requested by our parishioners. We firmly believe our commitment to tithe is an act of faith that God will not be outdone in generosity. This means we share from our own need with others less fortunate. Any member of the parish may submit a tithing request in writing to Fr. Ted. Please include contact information for the organization as well as a description of the organization’s purpose/activities. The parish tithe for each weekend is decided by the Peace and Justice Tithing Committee according to the number of approved charitable organizations.
Monetary Contribution Information
To set up an automatic debit contribution from your bank account for your weekly or monthly offerings, please print out the electronic contribution form and bring or mail it to the Parish office with a voided check or savings deposit slip attached. Click here to access the form.
If you bank online, you may electronically send your offering on a weekly or monthly basis directly to our office. Please notate that the offering is for one of the following:
Donating Securities to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
To donate stocks, bonds, or other securities to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please provide your broker with the following delivery information so that he or she may send it to our account rep, Russell Bauman., at David A. Noyes & Company.
Click here for complete instructions for either mail or broker delivery.
Please notify Lisa Vandelaarschot in the Parish Office at 846-3850 with the following information:
* The DTC number refers to a securities broker's assigned number for participating in securities settlement services as provided by the Depository Trust Company, a member of the U. S. Federal Reserve System. The DTC number, along with an entity's account number is required to transfer securities and funds electronically.
Gift of Stock Transfer and Sale Procedures
Tax Savings
Contributions, including gifts of publicly-traded securities, made to the church qualify for a charitable contribution deduction under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. The church is a tax-exempt organization described in Section 501 (c) (2). Its federal taxpayer identification number is 35-1508839. For federal income tax purposes, fair market value of the gift is deductible assuming you itemize your deductions for the year in which ownership in the security is transferred to the church.
Prudent tax planning indicates that securities, in which current fair market value is less than your cost basis, be sold by you in order for you to claim the loss for possible tax benefits. The net proceeds from such a loss sale would be available for a charitable contribution to the church.
Special Opportunity for Tax Savings
If takeover of a company in which you hold appreciated stock is imminent, consider giving the stock to the church instead of tendering it. You may avoid the tax on the appreciation and receive a charitable deduction instead. The church will incur no tax when it tenders the shares.
Delivery by Mail
On the back of the stock certificate you wish to contribute, or on a stock power form, “assign” the shares to the church and have a qualified witness "medallion guarantee” your signature. Be sure to sign your name as recorded on the face of the stock certificate.
Send stock certificate(s) by registered mail to:
David A. Noyes & Co., DTC #0141
Attn: Russell Bauman
Account number: 4835-5901
111 Monument Circle, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN. 46204
In a separate envelope, click here and complete and enclose the form. This will authorize the deposit of your stock certificate into the Church’s account and it serves as an additional record of your generous gift. Upon receipt, the donated stock will be deposited in the Church’s account.
Caution
If you simply tell the broker to sell appreciated securities in your account and send the proceeds to the Church, the gain on the sale will likely be attributed and taxable to you.
Broker Delivery
Instruct your broker to contribute your stock ownership to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, federal taxpayer identification number 35-1508839. Your broker can contact David A. Noyes & Co., Indianapolis, IN at 1-800-285-1700
to arrange with either Russell Bauman or his associate, Donna Dolen, for wire transfer of your contributed stock into the Church’s Account.
David A. Noyes & Co., DTC #0141
111 Monument Circle, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN.
The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Account number is 4835-5901
Note:
Upon receipt of the form, the Church will issue a receipt for the gift using the value of the securities on the date as postmarked. Mutual fund transfers typically take longer to execute. You should call the mutual fund company to order proper forms they require in order to make a gift.
Please mail this form to:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
10655 Haverstick Road
Carmel IN 46033
Frequently Asked Questions
My stock is not held by a broker and my certificate is for more shares than I want to contribute. How do I proceed?
Deliver the certificate to the church with instructions to return a new certificate to you for the number of shares you want to keep. Include your Social Security Number and home address. David A. Noyes & Co. will have a new certificate issued and sent to you.
Caution: If you submit your certificate to the transfer agent your self for reregistration, considerable delay may occur. The date of the gift will not occur until the shares are registered in the church’s name on the issuer’s books.
What kind of receipt will I get from the Church?
You will receive a confirmation of the sale of the securities. You should contact your tax advisor regarding valuation for tax purposes and IRS form 8283, which is required in most cases to be attached to your income tax return for the charitable contribution deduction. Valuation for tax purposes is ultimately the donor’s responsibility.
Information contained herein is not intended as legal or tax advice. You should consult your personal advisor if legal or expert assistance is required. The purpose of this publication is to provide accurate and authoritative information of a general nature only.
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