Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Prayer for My Parish

Gracious and loving God, we ask you to send
your Holy Spirit upon our parish to fill us
with love. Make us instruments of your love to
everyone that we encounter at home, at work,
in our neighborhoods, and in our parish community.

Work through us so that we can bring your
truth to those who are searching for you.

Help us to grow in gratitude so that we can
recognize and thank you for all the good
things you have given us.

Instill in us a deep sense of generosity so
that we are willing to share our gifts,
our talents, our time, and our financial
resources.

Deepen our desire to follow your will and to
do all things for your honor and glory.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lour
and Savior. Amen.


Source: Our Sunday Visitor

Friday, October 23, 2009

Glory and Thankfulness

Glory and Thankfulness – Hallmarks of Stewardship, Adapted from an article by E. Jane Rutter, Director of Stewardship, Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri

Jesus calls us to follow. The Christian vocation represents a call to be a disciple of Christ. Receiving our commissioned summons in Baptism and Confirmation, we can focus on listening and for Christ’s personal calls throughout our lifetime. We respond through our spiritual formation and stewardship expressions.

Every day gives new opportunities to show that we choose to live as one of Christ’s disciples. Our expressions can show that we have listened to the Gospel messages, have received God’s gifts gratefully, are nurturing our gifts responsibly, sharing them justly and generously and returning each with gratitude through our daily living.

October 4 Respect Life Sunday – Stewardship demonstrates respect for God’s creation. Be aware of the many educational opportunities, prayer services, public witness events and programs to raise funds for those in need that are hosted in your diocese throughout the month of October to help build a culture of respect and defense for every human life. Each person is called to demonstrate reverence for human life through his/ her own special and unique gifts of creation.

October 18 World Mission Sunday - Organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, World Mission Sunday is an important day in the life of the Church because it reminds Catholics worldwide about the importance of giving: “…as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration” and for the missionary activity of the Church (see Redemptoris Missio 81). We are reminded, as stewards and disciples, that it is the Lord through His universal Church, who we are called to serve - with the same love that He gives to each of us.

October 25 World Priest Day - This Sunday we celebrate the men who have exercised a unique stewardship of their lives by entrusting them to the Lord as priests. It is an opportunity for Catholics to thank, affirm and share their love and support for priests. Started by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter community, it is joined with the Serra Club’s celebration of Priesthood Sunday today. Throughout this year, dedicated as the Year for Priests, we can pray for vocations, and encourage those who might respond to this unique call. We can also respond to our own baptismal call by working collaboratively with our priests to build up the Kingdom of God.

October 31 “All Hallows Eve” – In the annual rhythm of the Church’s life of prayer and worship, the Solemnity of All Saints begins with Mass on Saturday afternoon, October 31, as well as Evening Prayer I in the Liturgy of the Hours. We rejoice in those who celebrate the heavenly banquet with Jesus Christ and we recall the Church’s rich tradition of faith-filled stewards. Keep “All Hallows Eve” from becoming “hollow” by celebrating the Christian connection to Halloween and the positive messages that stem from the holiday for the benefit of ourselves and the spiritual formation of our children. Celebrate this day as a Catholic heritage of faith.

Source: International Catholic Stewardship Council Website


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Stewardship Prayer

Gracious and loving God,

As we gather in Your name,
lead us into a deeper encounter
with Your Son,
Jesus Christ
who transforms us by Your grace
and reveals Your active presence
in our lives.

By the power of Your Spirit,
help us become better stewards of
Your abundant blessings,
Open our hearts to the needs of our Church
and to the hunger in the world.

And in this Year for Priests,
show us how to nurture them,
walk with them
and labor with them
to hasten Your kingdom.

We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
AMEN


Dios amoroso y bondadoso,

Al reunirnos en Tu nombre,
guíanos hacia un encuentro más profundo con Tu Hijo,
Jesucristo;

Quien con Su gracia nos transforma
y nos revela Su presencia activa
en nuestras vidas.

Por el poder del Espíritu Santo,
ayúdanos a ser mejores corresponsables
de Tus bendiciones abundates.

Abre nuestros corazones a las necesidades de nuestra Iglesia
y al hambre en el mundo.

Y en este año de los sacerdotes,
muéstranos como cuidar de ellos,
como caminar con ellos
y como trabajar con ellos
para así acercarnos a Tu Reino.

Te lo pedimos a través de Cristo, Nuestro Señor.

AMÉN


Thoughts on Stewardship

Stewardship is the language of our faith, spoken through our actions, which was exemplified by the life of Christ.



Source: Becoming a Successful Stewardship Parish

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Resources for Parish Bulletins - October 2009

A Stewardship Moment

English Version

October 4th – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our relationships with our spouses, family, friends, coworkers,
and those in our community of faith are gifts from God.
Jesus reminds us today that it is hardened hearts that damage
or even break up a relationship. We pray that we may be good
stewards of our relationships. We pray that we may be patient
with others, seeking to understand while wanting to be understood.
We pray that through humility and loving service our
relationships will be as God intends them to be.

October 11th – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus makes a dramatic statement regarding the rich in today’s
Gospel. We are all rich compared to most in the world. Our
society causes us to occasionally develop a misplaced trust
in our money and our possessions instead of trusting in God’s
generosity. When we seek security in at-risk things, like our
possessions, we are vulnerable to anxiety and fear. As good
stewards we know that our possessions must not possess us,
lest they get in the way of our discipleship.

October 18th – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today is World Mission Sunday – a reminder of our call to evangelize.
What is evangelization? It is to be good stewards of the
Gospel. Gospel means ‘good news’, and not to share this good
news would be poor stewardship. We don’t have to be experts
in scripture to share the good news. We can be a light to others
simply by the example of our lives – by loving and serving one
another.

October 25th – 30thSunday in Ordinary Time
After healing the blind man Jesus told him to go, to be on his
way. But the man decided to follow Jesus. Being a disciple of
Jesus is a choice. The stewardship way of life likewise involves
a choice, in fact many choices. We choose to be grateful, we
choose live generously, and we choose to trust that God will
always provide for our needs. These are three choices central to
the stewardship way of life.

Spanish Version

Para el fin de semana del 3/4 de octubre de 2009
Vigésimo Séptimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Las relaciones con nuestro esposo/a, familia, amigos,
colegas, y con todos aquellos en nuestra comunidad de
fe, son dones de Dios. Jesús nos recuerda hoy que es un
corazón endurecido el que daña o rompe una relación.
Nosotros oramos para que seamos buenos corresponsables
de nuestras relaciones. Oramos para que seamos pacientes
con otros, buscando entender mientras deseamos ser
entendidos. Oramos para que a través de la humildad y
el servicio amoroso, nuestras relaciones sean como Dios
intenta que sean.

Para el fin de semana del 10/11 de octubre de 2009
Vigésimo Octavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Jesús hace una dramática declaración referente a la
riqueza en el Evangelio de hoy. Todos nosotros somos ricos
comparados con la mayoría en el mundo. Ocasionalmente,
nuestra sociedad nos genera el desarrollo de una confianza
fuera de lugar, en nuestro dinero y posesiones, en lugar de
la confianza en la generosidad de Dios. Cuando buscamos
seguridad en cosas de riesgo, como nuestras posesiones,
nosotros somos vulnerables a la ansiedad y al miedo. Como
buenos corresponsables, sabemos que nuestras posesiones
no deben poseernos, no sea que interfieran en el camino de
nuestro discipulado.

Para el fin de semana del 17/18 de octubre de 2009
Vigésimo Noveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Hoy es Domingo Mundial de las Misiones –un recordatorio
de nuestro llamado a evangelizar. ¿Qué es la evangelización?
Es ser buenos corresponsables del Evangelio. El Evangelio
significa “buenas nuevas”, y el no compartir estas buenas
nuevas sería una corresponsabilidad muy pobre. Nosotros no
tenemos que ser expertos en las escrituras para compartir las
buenas nuevas. Podemos ser una luz para otros, simplemente
con el ejemplo de nuestras vidas –por el amor y servicio de
unos con los otros.

Para el fin de semana del 24/25 de octubre de 2009
Trigésimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Después de sanar al hombre ciego Jesús le dijo que continuara
su camino. Pero el hombre decidió seguir a Jesús. Ser un
discípulo de Jesús es una elección. La corresponsabilidad
como forma de vida, involucra también una elección, de
hecho muchas elecciones. Nosotros elegimos ser agradecidos,
elegimos vivir con generosidad, y elegimos confiar en que
Dios siempre proveerá de nuestras necesidades. Estas tres
elecciones son el centro de la corresponsabilidad como forma
de vida.



Source: International Catholic Stewardship Council. Courtesy of Dan Potvin, Director of Stewardship and Development, Archdiocese of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada