What is Stewardship?
According to the 1992 U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, a steward is defined as a disciple of Jesus who “Receives God’s gifts gratefully, cultivates them responsibly, shares them lovingly in justice with others and returns them with increase to the Lord.” Stewardship is a way of life and is best understood within the context of conversion and evangelization. The disciple is motivated to share his/her time, talent, treasure, and assets with the Church and other worthy causes from a deep sense of gratitude and in a planned, proportionate and sacrificial manner.
Catholic Stewardship – A Reflection
Catholic Stewardship is a way of life. Stewardship is best understood within the context of the conversion process, the turning away from self-centeredness to the recognition that God is the loving Creator and source of everything in our lives. This conversion process transforms our fundamental perspective of life – we move from owners of what we have, to trustees/stewards of the unconditional and loving gifts that have come from God. With this perspective, a steward recognizes that everything comes from God, develops what has been given, shares it in a loving and just way, and increases what God entrusts to her/him according to the will of God.
Stewardship is counter-cultural and challenges the secular philosophy that all we have gives us value, and is solely ours. Instead, we are endowed with dignity because of an intimate relationship with God and because all our time, talent, treasure and assets are His gifts to us. We use these gifts to become co-creators and protectors of all life, …
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Quote on Stewardship from Pope Benedict:
“The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure. Therefore, please accept my encouragement for your efforts and my prayers that your upcoming conference will be a stimulus to the practice of stewardship in the Church.”