For more information on any of our products or to make corrections to your address, please use this form and return it to us in the postage-paid envelope. For your convenience and faster service, you can also call us at 800.698.0299.

Please read the article on Page 2 with ideas on how you can raise money for your parish and have fun at the same time.

CATHEDRAL CORPORATION’S STEWARDSHIP NEWSLETTER

In his message

for World

Communications

Day 2014, Pope

Francis said:

“The revolution

taking place in

communications

media and in information technologies

represents a great and thrilling

challenge; may we respond to that

challenge with fresh energy and

imagination as we seek to share with

others the beauty of God.”

How is your church responding to

the challenge? Are you maximizing

and integrating all the tools you have

available?

Engaging parishioners in your message

and mission is key to the strength and

growth of your parish’s stewardship.

People who are engaged attend Mass

more regularly; give generously of their

time, talent, and treasure; and have a

lasting connection to the parish.

The Mass and parish activities are obvious

forms of engagement, but what about

other forms of communication, such as

your parish bulletin, website, emails,

social media, offering envelopes, direct

mail, and mobile?

If the answer is that you could be

communicating more effectively and

efficiently, then start by creating a

strategy.

A good first step is to define your target audience(s): active families, inactive

Fall 2014

St. Mary’s & St. Patrick’s Church President’s Message

This issue of Cathedral Corporation’s Offerings is prepared especially for:

Increasing revenue and enhancing efficiencywith multiple products from Cathedral

t. Mary’s Church in Champlain, New York, and St. Patrick’s Church in Rouses Point, New York, have been partnering with Cathedral for many years.

Father Clyde A. Lewis has been the pastor of St. Patrick’s Church for 12 years, and became pastor of St. Mary’s about a year ago. “I have worked with Cathedral and Cunneen with all of my parishes,” he said. “They have always given us excellent service and we are very satisfied with their products.”

”I have been at St. Mary’s for 30 years, and we were working with Cathedral when I was first hired,” added Laura Trahan, parish secretary.

Both churches started with Offering Envelopes. St. Mary’s recently switched from boxed sets to bimonthly mailings. “With the mailing program, we are finding that parishioners are giving more regularly. In the past, some families picked up the boxed sets once a year, put them in a drawer, and after a while forgot about them. Mailing the envelopes is an excellent reminder and form of communication. We also find that the mailings help to keep our address list updated,” Laura continued.

St. Patrick’s Church implemented an Increased Offertory Program three years ago that achieved outstanding results. “We are still benefitting from the increase in offertory income,” Father Lewis stated.

St. Mary’s just recently completed a similar

S

program, which included an initial request and three follow-up letters. “The results have been encouraging, and we are continuing to see increases,” said Laura.

Both churches also have adopted eGiving Programs. “The program is quite new for both parishes and people have to get used to it, however, it is working very smoothly. It is definitely important to offer an electronic giving option to those who want to use it,” said Father Lewis.

“Being able to rely on one company for many of products and services is very beneficial for our parishes,” said Father Lewis. “Cathedral knows our staff, and we know their team. They are familiar with our requirements, and we know their products are top quality. It is also easier and less time consuming to work with one company rather than multiple suppliers. We are very pleased that they offer so many different types of products that help us increase our church revenue.”

St. Mary’s Church

continued on page 2

Cathedral Corporation offers the Essentials® line of printed and electronic financial communication programs, personalized direct mail and e-marketing services.

— INFORMATION REQUEST FORM —ABOUT OUR CHURCH

Pastor

Secretary

Business Manager

The biggest challenge our church faces:

We would like to see articles about:

WE’D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT:

cparishessentials.com c Increased Offertory Program

c Customer Loyalty Program c Online eGiving

c Regular Mailing Program c Holiday Mailings

cBoxed Sets cSpecial Envelopes

c Liturgical Envelopes c Bulk Envelopes

c Online List Maintenance c Children’s Envelopes

c Bilingual Envelopes cCapital Campaigns

c Envelope Recording & Reporting Service

cNCOALink® Address Change Service

Cathedral Corporation • 800.698.0299 • fax 315.338.5874 • www.cathedralstewardship.com

Proven Fundraising Ideas for Parishes

C

Cathedral Expands its Presence in Southern U.S. by Acquiring AXIS Data Solutions

athedral Corporation has acquired the Orlando, Florida-based, AXIS Data Solutions that provides printing, mailing, data programming, and e-business applications.

In making the announcement, Cathedral President and CEO Marianne Gaige said, “We are expanding our presence in the southern part of the United States to better serve our existing parishes and offer our services to other churches. We are in the process of hiring a sales representative who will concentrate on working with churches — offering all of

our products and services.”

All leadership and staff are remaining in their current positions, with David Salazar continuing as President.

We are also planning an event so that our customers in Florida can meet the team, learn more about our products, and discover how AXIS Data Solutions’ state-of-the-art equipment can help parishes with their printing needs.

For more information or to set up an appointment, please call Alicia Culp, Chief Operating Officer at 1-800-852-3174.

undraising doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore — it can be fun and successful.

Our new booklet, “15 Wonderfully Productive Fundraising Ideas for Your Parish,” is replete with church-tested programs.

Not only do they raise money, they also engage parishioners in meaningful ways. The majority of these ideas don’t require months of planning or large time commitments.

For example, one of the best fundraisers in recent years has been the Variety Talent Show.

It is fairly easy to organize and produce. Tickets will sell out fast because parish members and friends always want to see

F

their fellow parishioners perform. A talented Master of Ceremonies adds to the entertainment value of the show. You can also make money by selling food and beverages.

To order a FREE copy by postal mail or email, please call 1-800-698-0299 or email info@cathedralcorporation.com.

families, teens, seniors, the broader

community, or other groups.

Next, set clear engagement goals for each audience.

Determine how you will measure success.

Choose your message and vehicles for communicating those messages. Make

sure that if you use multiple vehicles, the

messaging is consistent.

Test messages with a small group before you “roll them out.”

Evaluate the response, revise, and if necessary, test again.

It’s easier and you’ll be more successful

if you start with one target audience

and a manageable program. Once you

implement a program, put strategies in

place to keep it going. It can easily be

expanded as you start to see positive

results.

Cathedral has worked with parishes

throughout the country on their

communications programs. If you

would like more information, please

email John Cunneen at jcunneen@

cathedralcorporation.com.

I will also be discussing more specifics

and other elements of communications

programs in future issues of the newsletter.

As we enter the Christmas season, we wish

you and your parish a Merry Christmas and

a healthy, happy New Year.

We value your business, your loyalty, and

your friendship. Thank you.

Marianne W. Gaige

President & CEO

mgaige@cathedralcorporation.com

President’s Message continued from page 1