September 16, 2009

Seminars to address stewardship and managing one’s finances

Stewardship experts Phil Lenahan and Charles Zech to deliver free presentations at Centennial parish

By John Gleason

To help families and parishes in these troubled economic times, St. Thomas More Parish, along with Our Sunday Visitor, will sponsor two seminars on the practice of stewardship in October.

The parish, which has a large and successful stewardship program, hopes that people from across the archdiocese will avail themselves of these free information events, according to Mila Glodava, director of communications and stewardship for the parish.

“The event on Oct. 17 is primarily for parishioners,” she said.  “It’s open to anyone who wants to come find out what our speaker has to offer so they can take that back and apply it in their own lives.”

The seminar will be conducted by financial expert Phil Lenahan, author of the bestselling book, “Seven Steps to Financial Freedom,” and host of the popular radio program “Catholic Answers Live.”  During the talk, Lenahan will examine how it’s possible to balance faith and finances and learn what Christ and his Church have to say about managing money.  He’ll share how he and his wife were drowning in debt and living on credit before applying the mechanics of the seven steps.  Today, not only are Lenahan and his wife well on their way toward becoming debt free, but they have increased their giving to the Church—all while raising seven children.

On Oct. 24, another seminar, this one co-sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor and the League of Stewardship Parishes, will feature Charles Zech, director of the Center for the Study of Church Management and professor of economics at Villanova University’s School of Business in Pennsylvania. Zech is author of the bestseller, “Why Catholics Don’t Give and What Can be Done about It.”

According to Glodava, this second seminar is geared toward parishes and how to get stewardship programs rolling.  She said the purpose is to train trainers.

“We’re encouraging every parish to send at least four of their leaders to learn about enhancing stewardship in the parish,” she said.  “They could be from the stewardship committee, the parish council or staff—anyone who will be able to work with the pastor to effect stewardship in the parish.”

Zech’s talk is titled: “Building a Sustaining Parish.”  He’ll discuss how to organize a stewardship program, implementing stewardship in the liturgy, offering education on the spirituality of stewardship, and enhancing the offertory.

Father Andrew Kemberling, pastor of St. Thomas More, said both seminars should be worthwhile.

“I know Phil Lenahan’s program puts stewardship into practice in a real way for married people,” he said, adding that the presentation addresses the desire for the American dream and how to balance that with living a genuinely Christian life as a good steward.

“And Charles Zech is one of my heroes,” Father Kemberling said. “I quote him all the time.  As a statistician, he’s shown the need to permeate people with information to make certain practices effective.  You have to use multiple ideas connected together to make a stewardship program work, which is what we do in our program at St. Thomas More.”

Stewardship Seminars

Oct. 17: Phil Lenahan will speak from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: Charles Zech will speak from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: St. Thomas More is located at 8035 S. Quebec St., Centennial. 
Cost: free but R.S.V.P. is requested. Call 303-770-1155.