When Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil, CMI, attended the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita several years ago, he returned to Palm Coast with a clear conviction.
He wanted stewardship to become more than an annual initiative. He wanted it to become part of the identity of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Like many parishes emerging from the pandemic, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was working to reconnect parishioners, rebuild participation, and foster a renewed sense of community. Fr. Jose believed stewardship could provide the foundation for a stronger, more unified parish.
To help bring that vision to life, he partnered with Catholic Stewardship Consultants and began implementing a long-term plan focused on stewardship formation, communication, and engagement.
Looking back now, parish Business Manager Elizabeth Foran has seen the impact firsthand.
“Since then, there has been an awakening and a real increase,” she says.
One of Fr. Jose’s earliest priorities was improving communication. Through a parish newsletter and consistent stewardship messaging, parishioners began learning more about ministries, volunteer opportunities, and the many ways they could participate in the life of the Church.
“There has been a big difference in how things are communicated,” Elizabeth explains.
As communication improved, stewardship became more than financial support. Parishioners began to see stewardship as an invitation to share their gifts, serve others, and take ownership of the parish’s mission.
“There is always that core group of volunteers living stewardship,” Elizabeth says. “We want to expand that, and we are seeing it happen.”
As stewardship became more deeply rooted, Fr. Jose began looking beyond immediate results and toward the future. In 2025, he established a Stewardship Committee focused on helping stewardship remain a defining characteristic of parish life for years to come.
“We want to solidify our stewardship culture so that the parish can sustain these efforts no matter who the pastor is,” Elizabeth explains. “We want it to be a real charism of our Church.”
The fruit of that commitment can be seen throughout parish life. Weekend Mass attendance now averages approximately 2,900 parishioners, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Volunteer participation has expanded significantly. Ministries continue to grow, and offertory support has increased year after year.
“The offertory is increasing in a significant way, volunteerism has grown leaps and bounds, and Mass attendance is up,” Elizabeth says.
The strength of the parish’s stewardship culture was also evident during its recent capital campaign. Following a feasibility study, parish leaders were advised that a goal of approximately $3 million would be realistic. Fr. Jose challenged the parish to pursue a $7 million goal.
Parishioners responded generously, pledging more than $5 million to date and allowing the parish to fund the first phase of construction entirely with cash. Just as encouraging, regular offertory giving continued to grow throughout the campaign.
What began as a conviction after a stewardship conference has become a parish culture shaped by participation, generosity, and shared mission. Parishioners are more engaged. Ministries are stronger. Attendance is growing. Most importantly, stewardship is becoming part of the parish’s identity.
Fr. Jose’s vision is not simply to increase participation today, but to build a culture of stewardship that future generations will inherit and continue to strengthen.
What Is Possible When Stewardship Shapes Parish Life
The story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton shows what can happen when stewardship becomes woven into the fabric of parish life. With clear leadership, intentional formation, and parishioners willing to respond to God’s invitation, stewardship can become more than a program. It can become a lasting culture.
If you are discerning how to deepen stewardship and engagement in your parish, Catholic Stewardship Consultants would be honored to walk alongside you and help support your vision.
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