Stewardship

"Where your treasure is…there will your heart be." (Matt. 6:21)

Spirituality of Stewardship

Stewardship flows out of an understanding that everything we are and have is a gift from God. Good Shepherd Catholic Church is committed to good stewardship and encourages the development of good stewards in its parish families.

Stewardship is not just a program, it's a complete lifestyle. The basis of stewardship is a life of total accountability and responsibility, acknowledging God as Creator and Owner of all.

Stewards, as disciples of Jesus Christ, see themselves as caretakers of all God's gifts. Gratitude for these gifts is expressed in prayer, worship, offerings and actions, as stewards share these gifts willingly with one another.

Good stewards often demonstrate their stewardship by giving of their time, their talent and their treasure.

The gift of time

Service to our church and community consists of offering our time in activities such as serving the poor, volunteering at school, lecturing and taking communion to the home bound. The gift of time spent in prayer is just as important.

The gift of talent

God blesses us each with unique talents that can serve our church and community. By offering back those God-given talents to the church and one another, we are able to bless Him in return.

The gift of treasure

Though this is often the most difficult gift to offer back, experience shows that giving of your financial resources often produces the most fruit in the lives of those who make the sacrifice.

Good stewardship means prayerfully considering giving from our financial resources, without guarantees of a return or gratification. Yes, this often requires stepping out in faith, when the diversion of financial treasure to charitable purposes would seem to create a hardship.

We must remember that no one can outdo Jesus in generosity. And He instructs us, "…do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'…indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things…strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Our financial blessings can help accomplish God's work by supporting our parish's mission and its many ministries. In this respect, we are making a "return" on the Lord's contribution through the many gifts He has bestowed on us.

Those who practice these principles will tell you that stewardship produces much joy in the lives of those who voluntarily give of their time, talent and treasure.

No doubt, the spiritual benefits outweigh all else. Stewardship generally deepens people's faith and will ultimately change their lives.

Coordination

The Stewardship Core Community plans and coordinates efforts to develop stewardship as a way of life in the parish.  Responsibilities include communicating the stewardship message through a variety of awareness activities, as well as coordinating the annual time, talent and treasure appeals. They support and assist the ministries of the parish by providing overall coordination of ministry recruiting efforts, such as the Ministry Fair, and developing creative ways to draw others into ministry.

The Stewardship Core Community meets each year in June to evaluate the previous year's activities and formulate goals for the coming year.

Meetings - every 4th Sunday, 7:30 PM (meetings changed on holiday weekends)

MINUTES available as pdf files

February 24, 2008 Minutes
January 27, 2008 Minutes
November 18, 2007 Minutes
September 9, 2007 Minutes
June 28, 2007 Minutes - Annual Retreat
April 27, 2007 Minutes
February 25, 2007 Minutes

Core Community Members

Questions and Inquiries, Contact:

Pat and Bill Beckett, Stewardship Co-ordinators, 893-1837
E-mail: beckettp@gs.ptdiocese.org