Southeast Texas Catholics will soon have a chance to do a little bragging about the good works of their parish or mission. The Diocesan Stewardship Council is looking for the parish or mission that has made the greatest stride in 2007 toward Total Stewardship.

This will be the fourth year that Council has recognized a parish of mission for its efforts. Former recipients of the Bishop Curtis Guillory award are St. Anne, Beaumont; Our Lady of the Pines, Woodville; and Our Lady of Light, Anahuac, and its station Casa Madre Teresa, Smith Point.

Stewardship committees are being asked to submit either a short video or a scrapbook on their efforts toward Total Stewardship. The videos should be no longer than 10 minutes. The submissions will be judged on the content of the stewardship effort, not the professionalism of the video. “Each year, we stress that it is the content that counts, but I think people worry too much about the video itself,” said Council member Billie Matthews.

“I’m really pleased that Council is permitting parishes and missions to use other visuals besides a DVD,” said Letty Lanza, director of Stewardship and Communications. “But, I am also hoping that many will submit DVDs so that our diocese can submit those for the national award given out by the International Catholic Stewardship Conference.”

Submissions should include specific strides made in 2007. “We’re not looking for the best Stewardship parish, but the parish that has made the biggest change,” Lanza said. “People ask me what’s important to include,” she said. “Tell us if your parish has increased weekend or daily Mass attendance, if you’ve added new prayer groups, or if you’ve had your first Stewardship or Ministry weekend. Has your offertory collection gone up? Is your parish involved in the community?” Including specifics is important.

“And give us some numbers. Maybe last year you only had four lectors and this year you have 10. Or maybe in 2006 only 27 percent of your parishioners gave to the Bishop’s Faith Appeal and in 2007 35 percent gave.”

In addition to the actual award, the recipient parish will receive funding to cover the cost of more training on Stewardship.

The deadline to submit nominations is April 2. The award will be presented at a reception April 13 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica Center.