Answers to Some Basic Questions About Stewardship
WHO is a Christian Steward?
In the 1992 pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, the U. S. bishops eloquently defined a Christian steward as “one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.”
WHAT does stewardship involve?
- A conscious, firm decision, carried out by mature disciples of Jesus.
- Conversion, change of heart, expressed not as a single action, but in an entire way of life.
- A recognition of God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom and the source of all that we have and are and will be.
WHERE does stewardship take place?
Stewardship begins in the domestic church (the family) and extends to the parish, the workplace, the local community, the diocese, the universal church and the entire global community. Christian stewards cherish and serve a broad range of interests and concerns: life and health, spiritual and intellectual well-being, material goods and resources, the natural environment, and the cultural heritage of humankind.
WHY stewardship?
Rooted in Scripture and tradition, stewardship is a response to our Baptismal call to be disciples of Jesus and follow His way of life. Since how we choose to spend our time, talent and treasure is a reflection of our values, stewardship is also a tangible way to evangelize.
HOW is the parish vital to stewardship formation?
The parish community facilitates the individual’s spiritual process of conversion by supplying a fertile environment for gift discernment and stewardship formation. The parish provides opportunities for the individual to live out the call to discipleship through prayer, hospitality and service.
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