Time

Talents

Treasures


Stewardship

"How can I be a better steward of God’s creation, deepen my love and service of God and Neighbour?”

The Catholic Community of St. Viator's - God’s Love in Action

Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and in community. It is more than giving money to the church. Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for and managing all that God has given us.

Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship; it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life.

Stewardship is the grateful response to God's grace and goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world, and of how we can best serve God as disciples of Christ.

Defining Stewardship

Receive God’s gifts gratefully, nurture God’s gifts responsibly, share God’s gifts with charity and justice, and return God’s gifts in abundance.

RECEIVE

  • Accept Gods’ Gift of Life on this earth.
  • Accept and acknowledge the talents God has given you.
  • Accept financial success and what it enables you to accomplish.
  • Accept Gods’ help on a daily basis.

NURTURE

  • Take care of your health.
  • Take care of your environment.
  • Take care to use the talents you have been given.
  • Take care to organize your time fruitfully.

SHARE

  • Give time to your family, your parish and your community.
  • Give you talents for the good of others.
  • Give financially in proportion to what God has given to you.
  • Give encouragement so that others will live a life of stewardship.

RETURN

  • Leave this earth a better place.
  • Leave a legacy of generosity.
  • Leave a spirit of LOVE.
  • Leave no doubt that God comes first in your life

Stewardship

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” I Cor.12:27

“Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.” Rom. 12:5

“There are no insignificant ministries in the church. Some are visible and some are behind the scenes, but all are valuable.” The Purpose Driven Life


Download a copy of the Stewardship Pamphlet: Gifts List
Please return this form in the collection basket on Sunday or to the Parish Office
 

“We are One Body”  Stewardship Time & Talent Opportunities.
Please take a minute to review the talents given to you by God.

Liturgical Ministries

Art and Decorations,  Sacristan,  Liturgical Linens, Lector/Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ministers of Hospitality Usher/Greeters, Children’s Liturgy, Music Ministry, Office Volunteers.

Faith Formation

Children’s Catechist, Rite of Christian Initiation Adults, Youth Group, Marriage Preparation Team, Baptism Preparation Team, Prayer Group, Intercessory Prayer Network

Human Concerns Committee

Food Bank, “Adopt a Family”, League for Life, Development & Peace

Ministries

Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Website Committee, Funeral Lunch Committee, Garage Sale Committee, Stewardship Team, “Sharing God’s Gifts” Committee, Social Committees, Maintenance Committee, Church Cleaning, Gardening/Landscaping, Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus, Viatorio Bingo Committee

Visitation

Sick and Shut ins, Home Welcoming visits


Stewardship Prayer

Almighty God, I give thanks for all that I have and all that I am. Most of all, I give thanks for the great gift of Your Son, Jesus. I pray that through a personal relationship with the Risen Christ, my heart will be open to continued conversion in my life. I pray that I may be a good steward: that I will follow faithfully, serve joyfully, give generously, live responsibly, and possess sensibly. In gratitude for the abundant gifts You have so graciously given to me, I return to You the first fruits of these gifts, through acts of service and by generously sharing all that You have entrusted to me. Heavenly Father, by Your Holy Spirit, help me to be a gift to others, in {Your name}. Amen


Trust In God - Giving Off The Top

A missionary in Africa had taught his people to tithe. He had explained that “tithe” meant “one-tenth,” and that this should be their goal. He also had emphasized the difference between giving what is left over, and giving off the top.

Early one morning a man came to the door with a fish, explaining that this was his “tithe”.

“You must have done well,” said the missionary, “if you already caught 10 fish.”

“No,” said the man. “This is the one I’ve caught so far. I’m going back now to catch the other nine.”


Everything We Have is a Gift From God.

We need to take time to recognize and thank God for the gifts He has given to us. God calls us to return a portion of our gifts – our time, talent and treasure – to help the work here on earth. We are called!

  • Called to be faithful
    Stewardship is basically following the word of Jesus. You can find hundreds of passages form the Old and New Testaments calling us to be good stewards.
  • Called to be prayerful
    One of the first ways that we give time back to God is by spending time in prayer.
  • Called to be trusting
    In order to be good stewards we must trust that God will always take care of us and provide for what we really need in this life.
  • Called to be courageous
    Being a good steward takes courage. (Read the story of the Good Samaritan.) Courage to stand up for what is right and just.
  • Called to be mindful
    “Mindful” means paying attention to all the wonderful little things that surround us everyday – the glories of nature, the blessings of home and family, the things that happen to us and the kind people we meet.
  • Called to be generous
    It is important to understand the real meaning of the word “generous.” Every gift is not a generous one. Some can be selfish or inadequate. Generosity means sharing unselfishly.
  • Called to be grateful
    Learning to be thankful for what we have is an important step realizing we really do have enough to share with others.
  • Called to be organized
    A good steward respects and values the time God has given to him or her. Thus, that steward uses his or her time well, understands priorities, plans activities and is well organized.
  • Called to be aware
    A good steward realized he or she has many blessings and that God wants us to use our blessings to help others.

In order to do that a good steward must become more aware of how he or she can help, whether it is stopping to help someone who dropped papers in the hall or learning about the needs of the poor among us.

 
 
   
   
Last Updated: May 30, 2010