Stewardship
Stewardship Weekend: November 12-13, 2016
Live Discipleship
Be Grateful - Pray - Serve - Share
Our most important identity and model lies in the person of Jesus Christ.
“In this period of crisis today, it is important not to turn in on ourselves, burying our own talent, our spiritual, intellectual, and material riches, everything that the Lord has given us; but, rather to open ourselves, to be supportive, to be attentive to others. Set your stakes on great ideals, the ideals that enlarge the heart, the ideals of service that make your talents fruitful. Life is not given to us to be jealously guarded for ourselves, but is given to us so that we may give it in turn.”
Pope Francis, on April 24, 2013
Everything that we have is a gift from God. Perhaps we have musical talents, maybe we have the ability to make people smile or laugh, we might be a good listener, or perhaps we are gainfully employed in a position because of God-given abilities and intelligence. We all have unique qualities, abilities and possessions that we can share with others to improve their lives. Let’s open ourselves up to others and share our blessings. What may seem small to us, can be huge to another.
He is the one who needs the least.
- Spend time in daily prayer. Developing a close personal relationship with God is an important step to becoming a Catholic steward.
- Commit to working in one or more of the many ministries doing good work at your church or in the community. Participate in stewardship projects that allow you to use your time, talent, and/or resources to give back to God in thanks-giving.
- Give generously and regularly for church support through sacrificial giving, to diocesan collections and the Bishop’s Appeal, and to other worthy causes.
What are the Benefits of Stewardship?
It is an incredible challenge to be a disciple of Jesus in today’s world. We all face obstacles, opportunities and challenges in our fast-paced environment that promote selfishness and greed as the path to success and happiness.
Having a clear vision and sense of purpose informed by the Gospel, opens the way for us to actively commit to a life of gratitude, generosity and responsibility, to thank God for abundant gifts and play our part in creating a better world.
Being a Christian Steward will help us to:
- Nuture our talents for the benefit of others
- Let go of our worries about chasing after more and more of the world’s goods
- Experience the power of God’s presence in our lives
- Cultivate a generosity of spirit and an attentiveness to the needs of others.
