WHAT YOUR MONEY MEANS AND HOW YOU SHOULD USE IT
Frank
Hanna, author of the above mentioned book, was recently interviewed on EWTN. I
got a copy of the book and read it. I found it most interesting and I believe
anyone who reads the book will be blessed by doing so.
What is Stewardship?
If we want to be a good disciple of Jesus then we must be good stewards of the gifts God has given us.
• In order to be a good disciple one must commit to build the kingdom of God on earth.
• In order to build the kingdom we must invest in it with our very lives.
• Our lives belong to God and through the power of the Holy Spirit we are to become God’s instrument—mouthpiece—voice.
• We are called to spread the Gospel and further God’s kingdom.
• Good stewardship starts with a personal, intimate relationship and encounter with Jesus
Christ who loves us unconditionally.
• We commit to follow him and to be his disciple.
• Such a relationship of love demands a response on our part—our new vocation is to become a radical disciple.
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Authentic stewardship demands conversion of heart, mind and soul.
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Good stewards live a life of joy and peace, entrusting their lives into the Lord’s care.
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When people hear the word stewardship they think a money talk is not far behind. That does such a dis-service to the overall concept of stewardship as set forth by our bishops.
Good stewardship involves:
Evangelization and witness to the Gospel
Growing in faith and the teaching of the Church
Stewardship of one’s home and family members
Stewardship of embracing a simple lifestyle
Stewardship for care of the earth—ecological concerns
Stewardship of sharing the good news in the marketplace and in institutions
Stewardship and accountability of personal finances and parish affairs
Stewardship of time and talent to promote the reign of God in parish and wider world
Stewardship of social justice and the work for peace.
The Christian Steward
A Christian steward is imaginative, conscientious and faithful.
A Christian steward is motivated by generosity and love as well as duty.
A Christian steward promotes the reign of God on earth with a vision toward life eternal with God.
A Christian steward offers their time, talent and treasure for the building of the God’s kingdom—in parish, civic and worldwide community.
A Christian steward embraces the Biblical principle of tithing for the building of God’s kingdom [a possible rule of theumb-5% for the parish, 5% for the world’s concerns]
A Christian steward cares for God’s creation and is an advocate for care and maintenance of the earth.
A Christian steward understands that the Church exists to generate itself…good stewardship requires the baptismal call to go out and evangelize—to exercise the baptismal responsibility to be priest, prophet and king—priest to serve God’s people, prophet to proclaim the Good News, king, to lead people to Christ.
A Christian steward embraces a preferential option for the world’s poor and oppressed.
A Christian steward understands the dignity of all people and is a willing voice and advocate to promote that dignity.
A Christian steward is fiscally responsible---a good manager of the financial gifts God has provided.
Electronic Giving Available!
As you may know, many parishes have started to offer parishioners the opportunity to give financially to their church family through on-line banking.
Many people today, especially younger people, do all their banking on-line. Several parishioners who travel a lot or forget their envelopes have told us that they would be much more consistent and generous in their giving if they could do it on-line.
Click Here for the Electronic Giving Form
