TESTIMONIALS FROM PRIESTS
Fr Des Dwyer SJ
Hawthorn Catholic Parish
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
We booked Stephen and the Parish First team for our May 2023 Parish Renewal Program. It was an important one for the parish. Like all parishes, we are in the process of rebuilding that strong connection to parish, that true sense of parish community, after the years dominated by COVID-19.
Stephen did a great job for us, with terrific engagement with parishioners – we were able to refresh our ministries, welcoming many new volunteers, update our parish records, and achieve a financial result well above expectations. It’s
given us the resources to meet the challenges that all parishes face. We couldn’t be happier!
The Parish First approach is thoroughly professional and made it all so easy for our parish team. We simply could not run the Program anywhere near as successfully using parish resources – and my experience would suggest no parish could!
The Parish First Parish Renewal Program was exceptional value and we have already booked our next Program. We have no hesitation in recommending Stephen and the Parish First team.
Fr John Healy
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish
Laverton – Point Cook – Altona Meadows
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Melbourne’s rapidly expanding western suburbs is the third largest in Victoria, with two churches and one school hall used as a Church – five Primary Schools and a Secondary College. We welcome over 1,800 parishioners to Mass each week and reflecting the nature of our young community, conduct over 250 Baptisms each year. We are busy and growing!
We have a strong Mission focus – striving to be a parish of ‘Welcome, Prayer and Hospitality’ – outward looking in our actions, providing a warm welcome and home for all, as well as opportunities for continued faith formation. We ask ourselves: “How do we welcome the visitor, our young families, those with a desire to grow in faith? How do we extend quality pastoral care and support to those in need?” We each have a role to play as we rise to these challenges.
In 2020 we engaged Stephen and the Parish First team to assist us with providing the resources to meet these challenges. Unfortunately, COVID-19 intervened and after a few ‘false starts’, we were able to conduct a Parish Renewal Program in 2022. It was a wonderful event for the parish!
There was a strong “buy in” from parishioners with the Renewal Program. Our Groups and Ministries were reinvigorated and there was an excellent financial response, giving us renewed confidence as we move ahead – with significant investments required for the refurbishments of our two existing churches and the faith development of parishioners through conferences, faith reflection and retreat.
Stephen brings expertise and a wealth of experience and as I can testify, a record of success. As a Parish we have benefited from the expertise of the Parish First team, and I had full confidence in their support of what we as a Parish were wanting to achieve. In a time when it is not easy to talk about finances the Parish First team enables that conversation to happen with parishioners that is transparent, honest, and encouraging them to come on board with supporting the financial needs of the Parish. I highly recommend Stephen and his Parish First team to any parish – wherever you may be. We cannot do this on our own and that is where the Parish First team come to our aid, answer all the questions of how to run a successful Program. Now to booking our next Program…
Fr Jude Pirotta mssp
St James the Apostle Parish
Hoppers Crossing North
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
The Parish of St James, Hoppers Crossing North is situated in one of the fastest growing areas in Melbourne.
In 2016 with the increase in Mass attendance, the Parish Leadership team felt it was time to conduct a Parish Renewal Program. Stephen Littleton and his team journeyed closely with us in the preparation and planning of our first Parish Renewal.
The Program result surprised us all as we witnessed a significant increase in volunteers sharing their gifts and talents in the various ministries. We also were able to attract new contributors with an increase to our current contributors. This helped us with completing our much-needed church extension and renovation, the relocation of the presbytery and the development and extension of our church carpark.
We called upon Stephen again in 2022 and his Parish First consultancy as we began to recover from the COVID pandemic. Parish First gave us the opportunity for a fresh start to renew and review our commitment to Parish life, exercising our discipleship in maintaining and sustaining our many varied ministries and the future expansion of our church with the St James Community.
Parish First listened to our challenges and concerns and helped provide real engagement amongst parishioners with a deeper sense of commitment.
I have no hesitation in recommending and endorsing the work of the Parish First team to any Parish.
Fr Greg Trythall
St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish
Williamstown
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
When I first started as a priest 44 years ago financial programs for parishes were in their infancies, and often varied in quality. On the other hand, the Parish First group, headed by the capable and experienced Stephen Littleton, is very professional in approach. In my experience, Parish First run programs that have a good balance between mission and maintenance as well. Their materials and advertising are based on good theology, yet parishioners are made to realize that they should not only be challenged in maintaining ‘the parish plant,’ but also to participate in the life of the parish.
I have known Stephen for many years. He is talented in the field of helping parishes meet their financial goals for both mission and maintenance. He has wide experience in the field and possesses great integrity, competence, and love of the Church.
Parish Renewal Programs are not easy to run but Parish First communicate well beforehand to set up good programs. During the Programs, they are very much hands on to help and support where it is needed. I doubt very few ever regret hiring Parish First for their parishes because the results talking personally have always been extremely good. My own parish has benefited significantly from the money raised: it has helped us to finish some quality and expensive roofing on our lovely William Wardell Church here in Williamstown, and helped make sure we employ a range of quality staff to meets the needs of a modern parish community.
I highly recommend the work of Stephen and the Parish First team.
Fr Michael Sierakowski
St Francis Xavier and Our Lady Help of Christians
Montmerency and Eltham
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
I’ve known and worked with Stephen Littleton for many years – initially when he was with the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and I was Parish Priest of the large Holy Trinity Parish in Melbourne’s South-East, incorporating the Bentleigh, East Bentleigh and Moorabbin parish communities. He coordinated and conducted a number of
Parish Stewardship (Thanksgiving) Programs for us – always in a thoroughly professional manner, generating strong income and renewal of parish life.
In the past 3 years I have moved Parishes and as a result, I had no hesitation in engaging Stephen and his Parish First
consultancy to undertake a review of our systems and thanksgiving in my current parishes of Eltham and Montmorency, during the recent COVID lockdowns.
Stephen’s review has already led to considerable cost savings in the management of our parish thanksgiving,
provided support and training for our parish team and enhanced the reporting for me and the Parish Finance Council. It has been a very worthwhile exercise.
I would like to conclude my recommendation on a personal note, in that his expertise is invaluable – Stephen has worked across the whole Archdiocese of Melbourne and in neighbouring Dioceses in Victoria, so his knowledge of Catholic Parishes and their financial positions in a variety of settings assures me that he is very suitable to help me
strengthen the financial position of my parish with clear and good information. Stephen also knows the latest technologies and programs available to support any parish. Thus, on the odd occasions, I have had to call on his expertise at inconvenient times! Just make sure that you get his mobile number!
I have no hesitation in recommending Stephen and his Parish First team.
Fr Linh Tran
Nazareth Parish
Grovedale - Anglesea - Torquay
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
Nazareth Parish engaged Parish First for a Parish Renewal Program in October 2019. It was a valuable time of renewal which brought significant results for our parish. The Program encouraged real engagement amongst parishioners which lead to a significant increase in volunteers for our parish groups and ministries and meant that we achieved our financial goals. The new outreach initiative to the wider community has already brought benefits. I highly recommend Stephen and the Parish First team to any parish looking for genuine parish renewal – it’s a wonderful investment in your parish.
Fr Fabian Smith
St Anthony of Padua Parish
Melton South
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
We have been working hard for a long time to raise funds to build an extension on St Anthony’s Church. We have had many events in recent years and done ‘in house’ renewals of our Stewardship Program. However, despite all our best efforts we realised we needed more, so I invited Stephen from Parish First to come and meet with our Parish Leadership team. I am so glad I did. We completed our Renewal Program in early December 2019, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We were able to attract new contributors and many of our existing contributors made good increases to their commitments. The overall result was a healthy boost to our weekly income – even better than we had hoped for. Not only that, it really brought our community together. So, if you too need a little help, I recommend you give Stephen a call at Parish First.
Fr Martin Ashe, EV
Christ the Light Parish
Mernda - Whittlesea - Kinglake
(Archdiocese of Melbourne)
Parish First conducted our Parish Renewal Program in November 2019. We are in a rapidly growing area of Melbourne, so we need not only financial strength but good engagement with our parishioners. The Parish First Renewal Program helped us with both. We not only exceeded our financial challenge but also brought dozens of new volunteers on board. I have no hesitation in endorsing the work of the Parish First team - Fr Martin Ashe
I would like to endorse the comments of Fr Martin regarding our recent Renewal Program with Parish First. As a member of the Parish Financial Council I know the importance of not only having income to operate the parish today, but to be able to plan and budget with confidence for the future. It was a terrific financial response to the Program, above what we had hoped for. It was a very wise investment in the future of our parish and I highly recommend that you talk to Stephen at Parish First about what they can do for your parish - Rob Williams (Parish Finance Council)