Time is running out to register for our upcoming Msgr. Thomas McGread Stewardship Conference April 18-19, 2018, which we guarantee will give you the foundation to develop stewardship as a way of life at your parish.
For the past 15 years, the McGread Conference has inspired and educated thousands of priests, religious, and lay Catholics looking to transform their parishes through stewardship.
The conference is named for the late Msgr. Thomas McGread, who passed away in April 2013. Msgr. McGread has been called the “Father of Stewardship,” and he was instrumental in the drafting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. Conference attendees will hear the incredible story of how Msgr. McGread’s stewardship vision transformed his parish — St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita — and how his stewardship model has impacted other parishes across the country. The conference is scheduled during the middle of the week so that all participants can arrive Tuesday evening and depart Thursday afternoon.
Wondering if the conference would be beneficial to you and your parish? Here are a few “Frequently Asked Questions” (and answers) to give you a better idea of what to expect.
What topics will the speakers cover in their presentations?
Each of the pastors and lay leaders invited to speak at this conference will share his or her parish’s stewardship story. Learn about the joys and challenges of implementing stewardship in a parish setting. Additionally, representatives from Catholic Stewardship Consultants will speak about practical steps for developing stewardship in your parish. Click here to download the conference brochure, which includes a bio on our speakers and a preview of his or her presentation.
My parish is already a “stewardship parish.” Will I learn anything new at the conference?
Definitely! In addition to the insights and best practices mentioned during each of our presentations, the conference offers attendees the opportunity to network and learn from clergy and lay leaders from other parishes who may be in different stages on their own stewardship journeys.
I don’t think “stewardship” will work at my parish. Should I still attend the conference anyway?
First of all, stewardship can work at every parish and in every person’s life! The USCCB in its pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, states that stewardship and discipleship go hand-in-hand. We are all called to be disciples and, therefore, we are all called to stewardship. Attending the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference will offer additional insights on how stewardship can transform your parish community. Additionally, representatives from CSC will be on-hand at the conference to offer further guidance and tips to consider when implementing stewardship at the parish level.
What else is included with my conference registration?
Several free items to help your continuing stewardship eduction and formation will be given to each attendee. Those items include the book Grateful and Giving by Dcn. Don McArdle, which explores the beginnings of stewardship at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, a DVD presentation of Msgr. McGread speaking about stewardship, and more!
The McGread Stewardship Conference is held at the Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Click here to view the brochure and find out more about the McGread Conference. You may also register for the conference by clicking here and completing the secure online registration form.
The April 2018 conference will sell out, so register today! You may register online at the link above, or if you have any questions or would like more information, contact Shari Navarre at 888-822-1847, ext. 3702, or by e-mail at shari@catholicsteward.com.
