Saturday, August 29, 2009

Stewardship and the Parish Stewardship Council

To many, the term stewardship is misunderstood. All too often, due to the manner and context in which we use and communicate the term stewardship, there has resulted a fear and negative connotation as to what it implies. The frequent use of the term outside of and absent its fundamental and foundational understanding of and connection to the Christian call to discipleship tends to suggest and form, in the minds of many, that it is simply a process to enhance development and / or fundraising efforts.

The U. S. Bishops‟ pastoral letter, “Stewardship – A Disciple’s Response,” first published in 1992, states, “Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Good stewards live with joy and gratitude for the blessings they have received–including those that have multiplied through diligence and hard work. Indeed, good stewards live in communion with Christ and through Christ and the Spirit strive to return all gifts to the Father „with an increase’.”

Under the direction of the parish pastor, it is the role of a parish stewardship council to witness, invite, encourage and provide the opportunity and facilitate the spiritual and practical “Formation of Christian Stewards” within each of their respective parish communities.
In order to effectively fulfill the role and duties entailed in serving as a parish stewardship council, those selected to serve must, as a pre-requisite, be formed in the spirituality of stewardship, witnessing to such in their own Christian way of life and actively involved in the process of forming Christian stewards within their parish community.

From: The Catholic Diocese of Wichita

Quote of the Day

“As each one has received a gift,
use it to serve one another as good
stewards of God’s varied grace."

Peter 4:10

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Quote of the Day

"The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the misson of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent, and treasure." (Mt 28: 19-20).”
Pope Benedict XVI

Giving Supports Ministry

FINANCIAL HEALTH GROWS MINISTRIES, FOSTERS GIVING

We all know that giving is an integral part of our Christianity, that everything we have comes first from God, and that we have a moral obligation to share with those in need. When we encounter those around us who are generous with their time, talent and treasure, we recognize them as persons who put their Christianity into action.

Giving, however, doesn’t always come easily. It’s one thing to take blankets and clothes to the neighbor whose house just burned down, but it’s quite another to give money when we’ve lost a job or are concerned that our church may not handle the funds wisely. Habits can also work against giving—missing Mass, forgetting church envelopes, believing the parish has enough donations without ours. Sometimes we’ve simply become accustomed to a lifestyle that requires all of our income to support. Parish leadership is the key to removing all these obstacles that get in the way of generous giving. When our churches demonstrate a strong, healthy financial position, parishioners are encouraged to “step up to the plate” and give more. Ministries—better funded and vibrant—can reach across the aisle and provide tangible service that members are able to touch and feel. A culture of service is created and becomes the norm rather than the exception for church families.

Discipleship

Stewardship may also be thought of as a component of discipleship.
A helpful metaphor is to think of discipleship as a gem with stewardship being but one facet of that gem.

The Christian disciple is not only called to be a good steward of the gifts God has given. He/she is also called to personal holiness, to evangelization, to lifelong learning, to the sacramental life, and to prayer, service, and sacrifice—all facets of the gem. We are privileged to have access to the gem, but with that privilege comes the responsibility to polish those cuts and facets in
accord with God’s will for us.

Characteristics of Stewardship

Characteristics of Stewardship

Christian stewardship can be identified by several meaningful characteristics, according to Stewardship, a national newsletter written by Parish Publishing:

- Christian stewardship provides spirituality that the lay person can take home from church, exercise at work and express through personal involvement in the community and church.

- Christian stewardship successfully bridges the material world around us and the world of the Spirit within us.

- Stewardship enables Christians to measure the extent of their faith in and love of Jesus by the kind and quality of the stewardship they perform.

- Stewardship gives joy! Those who voluntarily give their time and abilities for work in the parish and community will always experience joy if they give them for Christ. They are not, however, guaranteed freedom from frustration.

- Stewardship is not job-oriented or project-minded. It is a way of life for a lifetime.

- Christian stewardship takes a positive view of money. It sees money not only as a medium of exchange but also as a symbol of the person who has it. The way we acquire it, use it, and share it, we are revealed in those actions.

- Christian stewardship helps us to become aware that God is the ultimate giver of the gifts we have. To give to God should be from the top—not from what may be left over.

- Stewardship teaches Christians to be concerned about where and how to share their parish financial overflow. Stewardship is not giving just to meet the budget needs.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Resources for parish bulletins - August 2009

English Version:

For the weekend of August 1/2, 2009
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus proclaiming that he is “the bread of life.” He then offers an invitation to come to him. For us, the invitation is to live the Eucharistic life in Christ. What does it mean for our parish family to live together in the Eucharist? What does it mean for us to share the Eucharist together, to participate in the “bread of life” together? Does it mean we love each other, support our community of faith, work together? Do we carry each other’s burdens? Celebrate our joys? What are the practical implications of being good stewards of our Eucharistic life together?

For the weekend of August 8/9, 2009
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Ephesians urges us to be mindful that part of our life together in the Eucharist means being kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving, just as Christ has forgiven us. What can we do this week to show our kindness, compassion and forgiving attitude toward others in our family of faith?
How can we be even better stewards of our faith community as, what St. Paul refers to as “Imitators of God?”

For Saturday, August 15, 2009
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,” are prominently placed near the beginning of the Gospel of St. Luke. They initiate the Gospel Canticle at Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. They are heard in today’s Gospel. The Feast of the Assumption offers, among its numerous Marian themes, a celebration of the Our Blessed Mother’s life of holiness, a life full of grace, a life from which new life in Jesus Christ bursts forth. Mary is the model of Christian stewardship par excellence; one who carries and brings forth the life of Christ. As a Eucharistic people, how can we be imitators of the Blessed Virgin and allow Christ’s presence within us, to be present in the world? How can our lives proclaim the greatness of the Lord?

For the weekend of August 16, 2009
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus announces that he is the “living bread.” And we understand that the Eucharist is the center of our life in faith: in our families, parish, local church and throughout the world. We are the stewards of Christ’s life in the Eucharist. We are called to put the Eucharist into action. How do we do that? St. Paul enjoins
us to be always grateful, to worship, to try to understand the will of the Lord and to watch carefully how we live. What are some of the ways we can put the Eucharist into action this week?

For the weekend of August 22/23, 2009
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, we hear that a number of Jesus’ followers left him because his message was too difficult for them to accept. In essence, they did not believe in him. He then asked the Twelve if they wished to leave as well. Peter responds by making a profound profession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Twelve made a choice and stood by their choice, remaining loyal to their commitment to Jesus. A good question for our reflection might be this: Are we satisfied with the stewardship we exercise over our baptismal commitment? Are we just “along for the ride?” Are we keeping Christ in front of us as we make decisions about our daily activities, our relationships, our parish, issues in the workplace, issues such as peace and justice? What is the quality of our stewardship?

For the weekend of August 29/30
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the reading from the letter of St. James we are urged to be “doers” of the Gospel, not just listeners. Being a “steward” of God’s Word is a matter of listening to the Good News, embracing the Good News and putting the Good News into action in our day-to-day lives. And whenever we are uncertain as to what decisions to make or actions to take as good stewards of the Gospel, St. James reminds us: We can never go wrong if we resist popular values that are not compatible with the Gospel, and we come to the aid of those who are burdened, distressed and poor.

Spanish Version:

Para el fin semana del 1-2 de agosto de 2009)
Décimo Octavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
En el Evangelio de hoy escuchamos a Jesús proclamar que él es “el pan de vida.” El ofrece entonces una invitación a seguirlo. Para nosotros la invitación es para vivir la vida Eucarística en Cristo. ¿Qué significa para nuestra familia parroquial vivir juntos en la Eucaristía? ¿Qué significa para nosotros compartir juntos la Eucaristía, participar en el “pan de vida” juntos? ¿Esto significa que nos amamos unos a otros, que apoyamos nuestra comunidad de fe y trabajamos juntos? ¿Estamos dispuestos a cargar los problemas los unos de los otros? ¿Nos une la celebración de nuestras alegrías? ¿Cuáles son las implicaciones prácticas de ser buenos corresponsables de nuestra vida Eucarística juntos?

Para el fin de semana del 8-9 de agosto de 2009
Décimo Noveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
La Carta a los Efesios nos recomienda estar conscientes de que parte de nuestra vida, juntos en la Eucaristía, significaser amables, compasivos y estar dispuestos a perdonarnos unos a otros, justamente como Cristo nos ha perdonado.¿Qué podemos hacer esta semana para mostrar una actitud amable, compasiva y de perdón hacia otros en nuestra familia de fe? ¿Cómo podemos ser aún mejores
corresponsables de nuestra comunidad de fe de acuerdo a lo que San Pablo describe como “Imitadores de Dios”?

Para el sábado 15 de agosto de 2009
La Asunción de la Bendita Virgen María
Las palabras de la Bendita Virgen María, “Mi alma proclama la grandeza del Señor,” son colocadas prominentemente al inicio del Evangelio de San Lucas. Se inicia con ellas el Cántico del Evangelio de la Oración Vespertina en la Liturgia de las Horas. Son escuchadas en el Evangelio de hoy. La Festividad de la Asunción ofrece, entre sus numerosos temas Marianos, una celebración de la vida de santidad de
Nuestra Bendita Madre, una vida llena de gracia, una vida de la cual brota la nueva vida de Jesucristo. María es el modelo de corresponsabilidad Cristiana par excellence; es quien alberga y lleva en ella la vida de Cristo. Como pueblo Eucarístico, ¿cómo podemos ser imitadores de la Bendita
Virgen y permitir la presencia de Cristo dentro de nosotros, para que esté presente en el mundo? ¿Cómo pueden nuestras vidas proclamar la grandeza del Señor?

Para el fin de semana del 16 de agosto de 2009
Vigésimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Jesús declara que él es el “pan de vida.” Y nosotros entendemos que la Eucaristía es el centro de nuestra vida de fe: en nuestras familias, nuestra parroquia, nuestra iglesia local y alrededor
del mundo. Nosotros somos los corresponsables de la vida de Cristo en la Eucaristía. Somos llamados a poner en acción la Eucaristía. ¿Cómo hacemos esto? San Pablo nos enseña a ser siempre agradecidos, a participar en el culto, a tratar de entender la voluntad del Señor y a observar cuidadosamente cómo vivimos. ¿Cuáles son algunas maneras en las que podemos poner en acción la Eucaristía esta semana?

Para el fin de semana del 22-23 de agosto de 2009
Vigésimo Primer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
En el Evangelio de hoy escuchamos que muchos seguidores de Jesús lo abandonaron, porque su mensaje era muy difícil de ser aceptado por ellos. Esencialmente, ellos no creyeron en él. Entonces él preguntó a los Doce si ellos también deseaban abandonarlo. Pedro respondió, haciendo una profunda profesión de fe en Jesús como nuestro Señor y Salvador. Los Doce se quedaron por su propia elección, permaneciendo leales a su compromiso con Jesús. Esta podría ser una buena pregunta para nuestra reflexión: ¿estamos satisfechos con la corresponsabilidad que nosotros ejercitamos sobre nuestro compromiso bautismal? ¿Estamos solamente “a lo largo del camino para ser llevados en el viaje”? ¿Estamos colocando a Cristo frente a nosotros cuando tomamos decisiones acerca de nuestras actividades diarias, nuestras relaciones, nuestra parroquia; en cuestiones de nuestro trabajo, o en temas de paz y justicia? ¿Cuál es la calidad de nuestra corresponsabilidad?

Para el fin de semana del 29-30 de agosto de 2009
Vigésimo Segundo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
En la lectura de la carta de Santiago, nosotros somos impulsados a ser “hacedores” del Evangelio, no sólo oyentes. Ser “corresponsables” de la palabra de Dios es cuestión de escuchar las Buenas Nuevas, abrazar las Buenas Nuevas y poner las Buenas Nuevas en acción en nuestra vida diaria. Y cuando estemos inciertos sobre que decisión tomar o que acción realizar como buenos corresponsables del Evangelio, Santiago nos recuerda que nunca estaremos en el error si nosotros nos resistimos a los valores populares que no son compatibles con el Evangelio, y estamos prestos para ayudar a quienes seencuentran agobiados, a quienes sufren y a los pobre

Source: International Catholic Stewardship Council

Living Our Baptismal Promise

As Catholics, we are encouraged to share what we have with others, to respect our neighbors as ourselves and to assist those less fortunate. We typically respond to this request when asked and proceed to go about our daily lives until the next request is heard. What most individuals do not realize is that by sharing of ourselves and helping those around us, we are, in essence, practicing Christian stewardship.

In fact, "stewardship" reaches far beyond financial contributions and encourages Catholics to live their lives as disciples of Jesus. Equipped with this knowledge, we have the power to change how we understand and live out our lives, beginning a life-long process of sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure out of gratitude, not out of obligation. Living our baptismal promise becomes the motivational force behind our actions.