The ICSC faith family traveled from different countries to gather in Orlando to reflect and learn more about how we can be good stewards of God’s blessings. The theme this year, Responding with Grateful Hearts, rang true in the hearts of those who gathered for networking and educational opportunities.
International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) – Responding with Grateful Hearts
Our own diocesan faith family had 98 of the more than 700 attendees. Ten of the Orlando-area attendees were grant recipients from The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (Foundation). Each year the Foundation, through funding from its endowment, provides grants for clergy, parish staff and lay leaders to participate in the ICSC conference. Applications are received and a committee selects awardees based on criteria such as first-time attendees and a preference for clergy and laity to attend together from a parish, school or entity. Congratulations to our awardees who are able to participate with colleagues from around the world and bring back best practices to their parish for enhancing stewardship.
Several parish delegates were able to attend the conference through a grow your parish/school stewardship grant from the Catholic Foundation. Our 2023 ICSC grant award recipients: Danielle Cardamone, Music Ministry & Communications, Divine Mercy Merritt Island; Barry Meehan, Director of Faith Formation/Religious Education, Blessed Trinity Ocala; Shane Hendry, Director of Advancement & Marketing, Morning Star Catholic School; Kaitlin Menner, Youth & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, Blessed Sacrament Clermont; Carol Knouse, Operations Manager, Divine Mercy Merritt Island; Eric Montes, Stewardship Coordinator, St. Joseph Palm Bay; Magda Morales, Coordinator for Hispanic Ministry, Liturgy Coordinator, Good Shepherd; Nilda Santana, Stewardship Staff and Catechist, Good Shepherd Orlando; Raul Nieves, Youth Ministry Coordinator, Holy Redeemer Kissimmee; Vickee Carino, Office Manager, Holy Redeemer Kissimmee. Adriana Esquerra replaced scholarship recipient Danielle Cardamone who was unable to attend.
Each year ICSC recognizes excellence among its world-wide members in a variety of categories. The Foundation was honored to receive the award of Excellence for their Planned Giving program and also for Total Foundation Efforts.
The Foundation team was also heavily involved in welcoming attendees and helping to make the conference valuable and memorable. Bishop Noonan celebrated the opening Mass of the conference and our team members helped to develop panels of speakers and were speakers themselves, sharing best practices. We are grateful for this faith-filled network of peers and family members in Christ who we can walk with on our discipleship and journey.