Blog

Stewardship Council Meeting: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Gay Ann Christy, Jay Bukalski, Linda Bukalski, Jen Eisenbach, Deacon Jim Hankins, Msgr. Greg Higley, Brandy Hutzler, Jennifer Otto, Susan Ziegler (absent)

Opening Prayer: STEWARDSHIP PRAYER

1. The following General Updates and Action Items were discussed: 

• Stewardship Charter: The Stewardship Charter, Rev. June 2025 has been given to Deacon Jim to present for further discussion with Msgr. Higley. Are there further actions for our council?ACTIONM: Gay Ann will forward the Stewardship Charter to Deacon Jim.

• Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in March: 5 parishioners from OLL will be attending: Msgr. Greg, Deacon Jim, Gay Ann Christy, Kelly Hamrin, and Karen Blevins. 

• OLL Leadership Training April 11^th:

✓ Hosted by OLL, presented by Great Catholic Parishes, Stewardship collaboration opportunity: Invited St. Ann’s from Warsaw and St. Stanislaus from Wardsville. UPDATE: St. Stanislaus will not be attending.  St. Ann’s is working on their participant List.

✓ Informational flyer available attached to meeting reminder.

✓ Office Staff: ACTION: Msgr. Greg will keep this as a current topic in staff meetings. They will determine which commission/council/organization table each staff member will be a part of.  The office staff will assist commissions/councils/organizations if they identify any specific individuals they recommend for invitation to the conference.

✓ Worship: Jennifer and Gay Ann will follow-up with Linda Ambrozi.  ACTION: Gay Ann will send information so Linda, Jennifer, and Gay Ann are all connected by phone and email.

✓ Social Concerns: Susan and Gay Ann met with Deacon Jim.  Susan and Gay Ann will follow-up with Deacon.

✓ Parish Council: ACTION: Brandy and Msgr. Greg will work together to coordinate Parish Council participation.

✓ Education: Gay Ann met with Michele and Joan.  ACTION: Linda and Brandy will follow-up with Michele and Joan (Education Table and Youth Group Table.

✓ Hispanic Community: ACTION: Msgr. Greg to assist with coordinating a table.

✓ Knights: ACITON: Msgr. Greg and Deacon Jim will follow-up with the Knights to determine who will attend. 

✓ Ladies Auxiliary: ACTION: Gay Ann met with Theresa and Karen and will follow-up on who will attend.

✓ Open Event Items for March:

1. Participant takeaways

2. Technology – Projectors/Screens

3. Food

4. Event Setup: Tables Thursday, Apil 9, Audio/Visual, Friday, April 10, Food at 8 am on Saturday, April 11.

• A Warm Welcome to our newest Stewardship Council Member: Jen Eisenbach

✓ ACTION: Jen will be working with Gay Ann to draft a first-pass layout for the Breaking Bread cover sticker

• Council Roles and Responsibilities: ACTION: Discussion about new assignments at Aprilmeeting.

✓ Chair: work with council members to define an annual calendar for meetings and CSR, lead council meetings, work closely with Msgr. Greg to align stewardship needs in our parish and parishes across our diocese, create annual budget. Additional items desired from Communication Developer.

✓ Vice-Chair: support the Chair and assume their role in their absence.  Ensure that we fulfill the expectation set forth in our council charter.

✓ Secretary: manage dates of meetings and meeting reminders, take minutes at meetings, get council approval of minutes, submit approved minutes to parish website administrator for posting on parish website.

✓ Communication Developer: work with the office staff, commissions/ministries, Knights, and Ladies Auxiliary, to create electronic messages for the Current Events Center TV, write weekly stewardship message for the bulletin, create first pass communications for anyadditional requirements from the council throughout the year.

✓ Parish Council Rep: represent the Stewardship Council at all Parash Council meetings and keep the council updated on parish information discussed at those meetings.

✓ Stewardship Partners: a stewardship single point of contact for each commission/organization at our parish.  Work closely with each group to support their needs to serve our parish and community.

• Stewardship Partner Updates:

o Pastoral Council: Jay Bukalski and Brandy Hutzler

o Knights: Msgr. Greg Higley and Deacon Jim Hankins

o Ladies Auxiliary: Gay Ann Christy: 

o Education: Linda Bukalski and Brandy Hutzler: 

o Social Concerns: Susan Ziegler

o Worship and Spirituality: Jennifer Otto

o Hispanic Community: Msgr. Greg Higley until new member joins the council

o Stewardship Communication: Gay Ann Christy

2. 2026 Catholic Stewardship Renewal: 

• CSR Kick-off Weekend: September 26-27 or October 3-4

• CSR 3 or 4 Weeks: try to close Oct 24-25 prior to Halloween weekend

• Update for Online Giving Dropdowns (Msgr. Higley): any update?

3. Decorating Welcome Wall for the holidays: Planning the same setup as last year Pray Fast Give – all 3 on Knights/Lady Auxiliary. Education Youth is doing a family activity during Lent on Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the Hungry, Clothe the Naked, Shelter the Homeless, Visit the Sick/Homebound, Visit the Prisoners, Bury the Dead, and Give alms to the Poor.  Adult Education is hosting a Lenten journey to deepen our spiritual life through Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving.

4. ACTION: Stewardship Reps should begin discussing with the chairs of the commissions/councils/organizations they represent – how responses to parishioners from our CSR went?  Have all parishioners interested been contacted?  We will discuss at our April meeting.

5. Next Meeting Date: March 31, 2026 at 4:30

Closing Prayer