We had our annual Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal today. I was thankful that they played the video on a screen before Mass started, as they have done the last couple of years. Genuinely I’m not too fond of the stewardship video in lieu of homily, which I have experienced. Apparently, only priests and video equipment are ontologically capable of delivering a homily.
There is just so much that annoys me about these appeals. It is not the appeal to money by the diocese that bothers me at all; I have no problem with necessary stewardship. What annoys me is that I feel as if I am treated as a captive audience, “While we got you here for your Sunday obligation, watch this video to appeal to you heart-strings and hopefully your purse-string.” What I hate the most is the “Liturgy of the Envelop Form Filling.” All the details on how to fill it out, the blocks to check, and all the various options.
The production quality of these videos has certainly improved in my limited experience, but if you need slick videos to get people to contribute; there is a more serious problem regarding discipleship that needs to be addressed.
The other part that annoys me is the aesthetics of the whole setup. Whether it is TVs with DVD Players, Projector Screens, etc—it is such an intrusion on the liturgical space. I am always so tempted to make sure the equipment is blessed, that is by dowsing them in a liberal amount of holy water.
This got me thinking: How long have these video stewardship appeals been going on? Or really, how long have these appeals been occurring during Mass?
I do wonder if during the silent film era they had the bishop, seminarians, Catholic Charities, and others onscreen with placards? Maybe with music to highlight emotional appeals. Charlie Chaplin to raise money for chaplains.
More likely it was the priest reading a letter from the Bishop and forming a homily around 2 Corinthians “for God loves a cheerful giver.” I would find that more appeal-ing.
They should do these appeals on Ash Wednesday, that would solve the crowds.
