Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:44

Conference an opportunity for faithful to exchange ideas and learn
Bishop Michael O. Jackels and Leisa Anslinger will be the main speakers at the Diocesan Stewardship Conference Saturday, March 3, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Wichita. This year’s theme is “Together-We Gather, We Learn, We Serve.”
Registration begins at 9 a.m. The day will conclude with Mass at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $15, however, no parish will be turned away due to lack of finances.
Fr. Ken Van Haverbeke, director of the Office of Stewardship said, “We cannot live our Christianity alone. Love is our destiny. Only in community, together with others, can we have a love that is not selfish.”
He said the 2012 Diocesan Stewardship Conference is an opportunity for parishioners and parish leaders to share ideas, form one another, and support one another in the Stewardship Way of Life.
Fr. Van Haverbeke added that the conference workshops will provide practical and useful advice for urban or rural, big or small, English or Spanish speaking parishes.
“Together we will gather to learn more about stewardship so that we may serve in love of God and neighbor.”
“We hope to have every parish represented at the conference!” Father Van Haverbeke said.
Dan Loughman, coordinator of the Stewardship office, said it has been four years since the last diocesan stewardship conference.
“During these past four years we have deliberately focused more on the spirituality of stewardship, that of breaking down our definition of stewardship into teachable moments and themes seeking to strengthen and bring about a more uniform understanding and practice of the stewardship way of life throughout the Diocese.”
Bishop Jackels’ 18-month TOGETHER Vision journey throughout the Diocese has played a major role in this overall spirituality of stewardship formation process, Loughman said.
“Our upcoming diocesan stewardship conference will serve to provide the opportunity for ministry leaders of our parishes to now come together, listen to presenters with practical suggestions to further strengthen the message and practice of stewardship, and to simply share ideas and bond with those from other parishes.”
A gathering to meet the presenters will be held Friday, March 2, at the Spiritual Life Retreat Center. Overnight accommodations may be made through the Spiritual Life Center for a free will offering.
Contact Father Ken Van Haverbeke regarding any questions about accommodations at the retreat center or about sending a team of parishioners to the conference.
“We hope to have every parish represented at the conference!” Fr. Van Haverbeke said.

Conference workshops and presenters
• Leading Talent Development in the Parish, Leisa Anslinger, director Catholic Life and Faith
• Stewards of the Deposit of Faith, Rev. Jarrod Lies, director Office of Faith Formation, Diocese of Wichita.
• Parish Superheroes Working as a Team, Jody Paulsen, former assistant director of Parish Stewardship Diocese of Lincoln, Neb.
Raffles, Fundraising and Stewardship, Mike Wescott, director Office of Development and Planned Giving, Diocese of Wichita.
Stewardship in Small Parishes, Rev. Ken Van Haverbeke, director Office of Stewardship, Diocese of Wichita
• COMPARTIR: El Compromiso del Discipulo Misionero, Josefa G. Fernandez, director Office of Hispanic Ministry, Sr. Reyna Resendiz; Ann Cordero, St. Patrick Parish; Cruz Navarette, St. Margaret Mary Parish. (In Spanish only.)
• COMPARTIR: La Llamada al Discipulo, Sr. Rosa Cruz, Plaza, Sr. Maria Teresa Pacheco. (In Spanish only.)