Stewardship at St. James
As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops tells us in Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, “Stewardship involves a lifelong process of study, reflection, prayer, and action. To ‘Make stewardship a way of life, it requires a change of heart and a new understanding of what it means to follow Jesus without counting the cost.’”
Becoming engaged disciples begins with a strong foundation in the principles of our Faith. Personal engagement strengthens our faith, both as individuals and ultimately as a parish community; continuous Catholic education for children and adults is vital to our own personal growth as disciples of Christ. This engagement and education will “turn the believer’s way of life into a witness of love that makes the proclamation [of the Gospel] credible.” Directory for Catechesis, pg 7.
To engage with our community of faith and encounter all that God has offered to us, we center our lives around prayer, service, and sharing.
Prayer
During this year’s Stewardship Renewal, will you seek to strengthen your relationship with God?
The foundation of our prayer lives and our ongoing formation as Catholic stewards centers around the Mass. The celebration of the Liturgy gives us the spiritual nourishment that we need to live our lives as faithful stewards. A constant challenge exists for us to make the correlation between our call to active discipleship as stewards and the liturgies we celebrate.
Each time we pray, we invite God into our lives at that moment, strengthening the foundation that we stand upon.
How can prayer life be strengthened?
● Pope Francis’ encouragement is to spend time in prayerful study of the Scriptures, asking God what He would have you learn about Him and His will for your life through His Word.
● Go before Him in the Blessed Sacrament in adoration, giving Him thanks for the good things He has brought to your life and asking for help in the challenges.
● Research the lives of the saints, read their worlds, and ask God for the grace to live as they did.
● Utilize St. James’ Catholic resources such as My Parish App, and St. James Facebook, as well as usccb.org, iBreviary app, Word Among Us and printed material in the Gathering Space to pray and learn more about our Catholic Faith.
● Parish prayer groups listed in the Faith Formation section.
Serve
In what ways can you serve the community of St. James in order to encounter Christ more fully?
The work of stewardship and evangelization always begins at home - the “home” in our own hearts and families, and the “home” of our parish. A faithful steward shares his or her talents by serving others. A personal conversion nourishes the Christ-like service that inspires gratitude and generosity.
How do we deepen our Faith through Service in our own Parish?
● Become a greeter to welcome our all who join us for liturgy
● Walk alongside a session of young disciples in Faith Formation
● Help provide or serve a funeral meal for those grieving.
● Share the Eucharist with those at Mass and those who cannot join us for liturgy.
Share
How can we be stewards of God’s gracious gifts?
God has a plan for every aspect of your life, including your finances. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2404) tells us to be “stewards of providence,” and calls us to use our resources not just for our own good, but also for the good of God’s work in the Church. To become better managers of the resources He has entrusted to us, we must learn how to take the gifts God has given us - our skills, our abilities and our income - and use them for His work.
“By your generous support we are able to continue the mission and ministry of our parish. WE are able to meet challenges and continue to prepare for a future filled with faith and hope in our hearts.” - Fr. Joe Hannappel
How can we be stewards of God’s gracious gifts?
The famous author, C. S. Lewis, once wrote, “A person whose hands are full of parcels cannot receive a gift.” Stewardship is a lifelong conversion of heart, mind, and soul, so that we are able to receive God’s love and return that love to Him. The better we understand our Catholic Faith and our personal role within God’s kingdom, the better equipped we will be to share God’s love and resources.
This year, how will you take the next step in your journey of sharing God’s love through personal formation and conversion?