Consider joining the National Catholic Stewardship Council (NCSC)

“The primary goal of the National Catholic Stewardship Council (NCSC) is to promote Christian Stewardship theology as a way of living for all Catholics. Through its seminars, publications and annual conventions, the NCSC emphasizes that all members of our family of faith are called to be Christian stewards and share their gifts of time, talent and treasure, in proportion to the blessings they have received from God,” from the National Catholic S-ewardship Council Manual. Membership fees vary. Contact the Office of Stewardship for details at 508-929-4368 or mgillespie@worcesterdiocese.org.

 

 

One of the greatest gifts of Christ to a parish are the people who offer themselves to lead or help with various parish functions—so use them! Prepare them for their ministry or activity. Acknowledge their involvement by sending them a letter of thanks. Honor them by listing their names in the bulletin or on the bulletin boards.

 

The Stewardship Committee should meet once a month to assist the parish community in the unfolding of stewardship as a way of life. Seasonal small groups can be created to study stewardship theology, catholic social teaching and the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.

 

Respond to stewards!

Parishioners deserve a personal reply to the generous sharing of their abilities and their financial resources. Nothing hurts more than to be unintentionally neglected by a committee or a pastor. Failure to respond to a stewardship pledge sometimes leads a parishioner to experience feelings of frustration or anger directed at the parish and the Catholic Church. Please do everything possible to respond quickly to every offer of stewardship! Recognize, acknowledge and apply the individuals’ gift.

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Communicate Stewardship

Parishioners deserve frequent reminders of the continuing activities of stewardship throughout the parish. Written communications stimulate a parish’s stewardship vision and encourage parishioners to continue their participation. Opportunities for involvement are announced and publicized. A monthly newsletter providing reports of stewardship and stewardship literature in the parish booklet rack are good ways to support stewardship participation. Public recognition of participation is appropriate within a newsletter.

 

 

How Pastors May Influence Stewardship

Pastors have their hands full. The parish staff is overworked and heavily burdened.

Most priests find it necessary to talk about money with greater frequency. Constant preoccupation with parish life, dwindling cash reserves and rising costs take a toll on the daily life and mission of the Church. Fear and worry sometimes influences a pastor’s ministry and outlook on parish life. Pastors wonder how they can find the time or the energy to implement a stewardship program or process.

 

In the diocese of Worcester, pastors in parishes that cultivate and nurture stewardship do not worry as much about paying bills, cutting expenditures and staff, or cultivating and operating ministries. Pastors have fewer hassles in parishes when comprehensive stewardship is practiced because parishioners assume greater responsibilities. Stewardship generates sufficient funds and an abundance of talented people in ministry. Most important, pastors find more time to shepherd, to give spiritual guidance only they can give, to carry out the ministries singular to priests.

 

Pastors come to recognize their obligation to model and practice stewardship in their own lives. The pastor plays a vital role in the stewardship process because stewardship is not only personal; it is theological and spiritual. The best programs in the world will not work without a pastor’s support and leadership. Establishing a parish stewardship committee, under the sponsorship of the pastoral council will foster responsible stewardship awareness and renewal—and free the pastor from the details of managing the stewardship process.

 

Pastors are agents of change. They encourage parishioners to discern their giftedness, to develop and share talents and to understand that everyone has a responsibility to one another. Pastors are encouraged to be steward-leaders and servant-leaders in the tradition of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s leadership and His ministry were geared toward freeing people, making them wiser, helping them grow.

 

Priests must teach and preach good stewardship theology because stewardship enables lay Catholics to put Christ first in their lives and participate fully in the life of the Church.

 

Sometimes, a new pastor will come from a parish experience that did not practice stewardship. He may stress other priorities and be non-supportive of stewardship. The pastoral council, finance council, pastoral staff and stewardship committee are encouraged to introduce the new pastor to the benefits of stewardship within the parish. The new pastor can study the bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship and talk to the parishioners about their own commitment to this way of living. It is important that the parish community support the new pastor while he internalizes what stewardship will mean in his own life.