Proportionate Giving:
Stewardship calls us to realize that each of us is called to give as God has given to us. We no longer base our giving on what others are giving. We no longer excuse ourselves from giving because we do not see others giving. Rather we give in proportion to all that God has given to us. Spending Time with God: Stewardship involves spending time with God. Recognizing that every day is a gift from God, we strive to spend some of each day with God, through prayer, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, scripture reading, quiet, meditation and other spiritual activities. Sharing Talent: Stewardship involves sharing talent. Recognizing that God has given each individual unique skills and talents so that together we can do the work of Our Lord, we strive to share our own talents and to encourage and welcome others to also use their talents to carry out the mission and ministry of the Church. Giving Treasure: Stewardship involves giving treasure. Giving time and talent does not excuse us from giving treasure. We know that throughout the Gospels, Jesus challenged us to give as it has been given to us. Recognizing the tremendous financial blessings that abound in our country, we strive to give at least 10% of our resources back to God, to support the building up of God’s kingdom. Although this level of giving may not be immediately possible, we are aware of what percentage we are giving back and regularly strive to increase the amount, taking small incremental steps toward giving a full tithe. Trust in God: Stewardship is trusting God. We believe that our generous God will always provide for us. None of us will ever have all that we want, but we will always have all that we need. Accountability: Stewardship calls us to recognize that just as in the Parable of the Talents, each of us will someday be asked by God to give an accounting of all that we have done with the gifts that have been given to us. Likewise, parish communities that embrace stewardship must be accountable to the community for the way in which the parish uses the gifts entrusted to it. Thankfulness: Stewardship calls us to be ever grateful for the gifts that God has given. Not only are we called to be grateful to God, but we also must be grateful to one another. Just as we thank God every day, a stewardship parish must also show gratitude, recognition and appreciation to those who have given generously to the support of the parish.
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Definition
It is difficult to teach or practice stewardship, unless we have a clear understanding of exactly what it is. If we wish to embrace stewardship, we must gradually learn to embrace every definition or aspect of it. Scripture Based All of the teachings of stewardship come directly from the Gospels, the Old Testament and the letters of the New Testament. Stewardship is not a new fad, or environmental word. Stewardship is the way God has expected His people to live since the beginning of time. Dependence on God Stewardship is recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. We can take credit for nothing. Everything we have and everything we do is a result of some gift that God has placed into our hands. Gratitude Stewardship is living a life of gratitude – taking the time every day to recognize the gifts that God has given and to be grateful for them. Giving Back Stewardship is returning a portion of our gifts to God. The gifts we return are our time, our talent and our treasure. We return these gifts not because God or our Church needs them but because we feel an overwhelming need to show our love and gratitude to God. Transformative Stewardship is transformative. Once we embrace the stewardship message it changes the way we look at every decision we make. Stewardship becomes a total way of life. A Love Response Once we allow God to truly take up residence in our hearts we become so overwhelmed by His abundant love for us that we just naturally feel the need to join our lives with Him and dedicate our time, talent and treasure to carrying out God’s work here on earth. Our generosity comes from within and not from any external pressure or reward. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The theme for Catholic Education Week this year is, “Exploring Paths of Joy”. This theme is taken from a very well-known Bible story where two people were walking down a path away from Jerusalem towards Emmaus. This was not really a path of joy. They wanted to escape the troubles in Jerusalem. Jesus had been crucified and they were discouraged. These travelers meet Jesus on that road to Emmaus and even though they feel lost, he helps them find joy. First, he listens to their worries. Then, he begins to teach them. He helps them understand that it is through the terrible sadness of the crucifixion that the joy of Easter and the resurrection comes. At the end of their journey, he makes himself known to them “in the breaking of the bread.” ‘Exploring’ means setting out to find something new. You can explore by going out to new places or you can explore by taking a fresh look at something you have known for a long time. When you explore your minds and hearts must be open to listen and see and discover. I am grateful for the many opportunities young people find in our publicly-funded Catholic education system in the Diocese of Hamilton thanks to the many workers and supporters right from our early learners through the elementary years, into high school and beyond to university. The story of Emmaus reminds us that exploring Scripture and seeing Jesus in the Eucharist are two important pathways to joy. Throughout this week, I know you will continue with your study and celebration of God’s Word in Scripture. I am grateful that your teachers and parents continue to help you understand God’s Word more and more. We are also so blessed by the ministry of the many priests of the Diocese of Hamilton who open the Scripture to you in the homily. Through the ministry of our priests, we are also brought the gift of the Eucharist where each of us meets Jesus “in the breaking of the bread”. I encourage you all to continue exploring these paths with your school communities at times of special celebration and with your families on Sunday for the celebration of the Lord’s Day. Exploring is meant to be an adventure. It may mean going out into our neighbourhoods. I know many of our Catholic schools take on projects to clean parks and neighbourhoods, to work on gardens, and to keep waterways clear. These acts of caring and good stewardship of nature are worthwhile pathways to joy. I know some of you care for people in faraway places – places touched by war, political troubles, and poverty. Whether you are raising money to send away or whether you are travelling yourselves to these places, be prepared to bring your joy to these tasks and to find increased joy in your service to the Lord. When you set out to explore, you will certainly meet people. They maybe others in your own school, they may be in your community or even from other countries. Be prepared to listen. Be ready to meet Christ in others. For every good word or good deed you do, see Jesus in the other person and know that whatever you do to the least of his brothers or sisters you do to him. Meeting Jesus on the path is our joy. The travelers to Emmaus asked themselves “Were not our hearts burning” when he spoke to us? Our hearts feel full of the fire of his love when we find him on our path. Jesus is walking at our side. He wants us to go out and be a sign of God’s love as we encounter others on the journey. Go and explore! Find new paths and look back to familiar ones for new treasures. Be ready to bring your joy to your exploring and remember the source of that joy – our faith in Jesus Christ. May we all celebrate the many ways that our publicly funded Catholic education system in the Diocese of Hamilton supports us as we continue Exploring Paths of Joy! Sincerely in Christ and Mary Immaculate, +Douglas Crosby, OMI Bishop of Hamilton |
Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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