WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?
What is stewardship and what is a stewardship parish? Stewardship is not just about money. Stewardship is not a gimmick to raise the offertory collection. It is not a quick fix for declining income or lack of volunteers, and it is not a capital campaign.
Stewardship is a way of life. It is a way of life based on the recognition that all we are and possess are gifts from God. As the U.S. bishops remind us in their pastoral letter, "Stewardship; A Disciple's Response", we are obligated by God's generosity to receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.
Similar to the spiritualities of St. Frances of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola, stewardship is the spirituality that God has given this age to combat the evils of selfishness, materialism and consumerism that plague our culture and society. Stewardship helps us keep God first in all aspects of our lives.
To be a stewardship parish means to be a parish that reflects the Catholic Church in the first century. The description in the Acts of the Apostles of the early faith community is the blueprint for what it means to be a stewardship parish: "The group of believers was one in mind and heart. No one said that any of their belongings was their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had" (Acts 4:32). A stewardship parish is simply a parish made up of believers who recognize that they own nothing, that they are simply caretakers, stewards, of all God has entrusted to them.
One of the hallmarks of a stewardship parish is hospitality. Hospitality does not mean providing coffee and doughnuts or selling breakfast tacos after Mass. Hospitality means greeting and treating all who enter the door of the church, rectory, parish office, classroom, or who call on the phone, with the love of Christ. Hospitality is not just the job of the ministers of hospitality or ushers. It is the obligation of every single person who worships, works or volunteers at the parish. We must be welcoming to all as Christ welcomed all.
A stewardship parish reflects the belief of its members that all is a gift from God and we must be good stewards of those gifts. A stewardship parish puts God first in all aspects of parish life, assuring all the parish does is for the glory of God and in response to God's generosity. A stewardship parish shares the gifts given to it with others in love and justice. A stewardship parish invites, develops and fosters the talents and skills of its parishioners. A stewardship parish provides varied opportunities for parishioners to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, Scripture, vibrant liturgies and ongoing education for members of all ages on the Catholic faith. A stewardship parish is open to the Holy Spirit's guidance for its ministries, leaders and mission.
A stewardship parish, like the communities of the early church, is comprised of believers who proclaim the love of Christ throughout the week by their words and deeds, and who gather together on Sunday around the altar to break open the word of God, to receive Christ in the Eucharist and to offer a portion of the gifts they have received back to God in thanksgiving.
TIME - One of the greatest gifts God gives us is the twenty four hours of each day. The idea of giving up some of our precious moments can be much more difficult than making a monetary contribution. For that reason, a gift of time is a good place to start living as a Christian steward. Let's not forget about the power of prayer. Without daily prayer, most of us can never make the leap of faith required by authentic Christian stewardship.
TALENT - Each of us has been given at least one gift that we can use on behalf of the rest of humanity. For every skill you possess, there is a need somewhere in your family, your parish, or your city. If you aren't sure where your talents lie, prayerfully contemplate the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Somewhere in them you are sure to find something that makes you say, "Yes, I can do that!"
TREASURE - Often we don't realize how much "stuff" we're accumulating. We hang onto things we no longer want or need. This doesn't mean we are called to give up everything, but it does mean that we need to be willing to share our abundance. While sacrificial giving does not always round off to a specific amount, it does require making God our top priority. To adopt a practice of sacrificial giving, reflect over everything God has given you and then get specific about the size of your donation when determining what will go to the parish Sunday collection, the missions, Catholic school tuition, private charities, or a combination of all.