STEWARDSHIP

          Stewardship is a way of life.  It is a way of living each day in gratitude for all the blessings that God has given to us.  The roots of stewardship can be found in the Bible, which tells us over and over that God is the Creator and Giver of all gifts.  It is our responsibility to show our gratitude to God for these gifts, by giving back to Him the “first fruits.”

 

          We do not own the gifts God gives to us.  We are only here on earth to use those gifts to do God’s work.

 

          In 1992 the U.S. Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter on stewardship entitled: “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.”  The Bishops decided a Christian steward is one who:

 

          VReceives God’s gifts gratefully

          VCherishes and tends them responsibly

          VShares them in justice and love

          VReturns them to God

 

          Sharing our gifts and returning them to God means giving generously of our time, talent and treasure.  We give to God by sharing with our Church and with those in need.  Time and talent can be shared by becoming involved in parish life, volunteering and offering a helping hand.  Treasure can be shared by making a conscious effort to make a financial gift to God first, when paying the bills and buying the things we want.  When we give to God only after all our personal spending, we end up throwing Him the loose change or having nothing left at all to give.  When we give to God first we are making a gift of faith, trusting that God will provide for our needs.

We are truly giving the “first fruits” just as God asked us to do in the Bible.

 

          Stewardship is often a foreign concept to our consumer-oriented society.  However, it is through stewardship that our ancestors built up the Church we have today.  In order to educate modern day Catholics about stewardship, St. James Cathedral offers a comprehensive set of stewardship education brochures. 

 

                         For more information on Stewardship, please contact:

 

Peggy H. Smith

          Director of Stewardship & Development

St. James Cathedral

215 N. Orange Ave.

Orlando, FL 32801

Telephone: 407-422-2005

E-mail: psmith@stjcc.net