Good Steward Newsletter – December 2007

A Stewardship Pilgrimage

What is a pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place undertaken by people of faith who want to express their prayerful devotion and grow in holiness. It is also an opportunity for individuals with special problems or difficulties to seek God’s help. The inspiration and graces that the pilgrims receive on their physical journey are intended to strengthen and renew the spiritual journey, or pilgrimage of faith, that all Christians are called to travel during our lifetimes. Religious pilgrimages are as old as humanity itself. They are found in virtually all great world religions, and they symbolize the journey to God that is at the heart of every human existence. In a Christian context, pilgrimages can be experienced as sacramentals — sacred signs or instruments of God’s grace (like candles, holy water or the rosary) that help Christians encounter the mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection and grow in faith.

What is a stewardship pilgrimage?

A stewardship pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place by people of faith who want to grow in their understanding and practice of stewardship as a way of life. Stewardship is a journey of faith, a practical form of spirituality. It is a response to the Lord’s call to discipleship. Christian stewards are: 1) grateful for all God’s gifts, 2) accountable for their development and use, 3) generous in sharing with others, and 4) willing to give back to God with increase. By traveling to holy places and actively remembering the witness of those who have gone before us in faith, hope and love, Christians who seek to follow Jesus without counting the cost receive inspiration and encouragement to continue on their stewardship journey and to increase their capacity for the grateful cultivation and generous sharing of all God’s gifts.

The Pastoral Office for Stewardship and Development for the
Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana is sponsoring A Stewardship Pilgrimage to Italy, May 8-17, 2008. The trip, which will be guided by well-known stewardship author, Dan Conway, and popular spiritual director, Fr. Daniel C. Davis, O.P., is open to the public. All interested persons should contact Pamelia Storms-Barrett, Director of Stewardship and Development, at
800-617-7466 or pbarrett@dioceseoflafayette.org.

Please note that the deadline for making a reservation is January 29, 2008. For more information, see the following itinerary, then contact Pam Barrett for more details.

What is the pilgrimage itinerary from May 8-17? What are some of the stewardship themes we’ll be exploring?

Day 1: Travel from various airports in the U.S. to Italy
As pilgrims, we place ourselves under the care of St. Joseph, patron saint of Italy, who guided the Holy Family during its sojourn into Egypt.

Day 2: Simplicity of Life (Assisi)
Pilgrims arrive at Assisi following a long journey. Here we celebrate the beauty and simplicity of life that characterized the life of St. Francis.

Day 3: Caring for All God’s Creation (Assisi)
St. Francis was keenly aware of the gifts God has given us in His creation. Today we experience the joy of being stewards of the world entrusted to our care.

Day 4: The Gift of the Holy Eucharist (Orvieto)
The Eucharist is a miracle that is recurs on a daily basis all over the world. Here in the ancient Roman city of Orvieto, we recall a singular occasion when this miraculous gift was shared with a priest who was experiencing severe doubts about the Real Presence.

Day 5: Stewards of Beauty—art, music and architecture (Rome)
St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s Pieta all represent the finest stewardship of talent the world has ever known. Today we absorb the beauty around us and express our gratitude to God for all His gifts.

Day 6: The Transformation of Politics and Culture (Rome)
Once the center of the known world, Rome remains the timeless “eternal city” where politics and culture converge. As Christians, our stewardship extends to the values of freedom and human dignity that represent the highest moral achievement of western civilization.

Day 7: Church Unity and the Ministry of St. Peter (Rome)
The Bishop of Rome is the source of unity for the whole Church—the chief steward of our one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Today we join Pope Benedict XVI in his weekly audience and give thanks to God for his ministry as the successor of St. Peter.

Day 8: Peace and Justice (Montecassino)
St. Benedict was the father of western monasticism and a patron saint of Europe. To honor the saint’s wisdom and practical spirituality, we visit his monastic home high on a mountain top south of Rome—totally destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II but now completely restored in its magnificent Benedictine simplicity.

Day 9: Joyful Stewards—food, fellowship and enjoyment of the gift of life (Rome)
Our final day in Italy is devoted to experiencing with gratitude and joy the abundant gifts of this city and its people.

Day 10: Return to the United States
On our return trip, we beg the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for a safe trip home to our families and friends.

Copyright © 2007, Daniel Conway Permission is given to copy and distribute this Good Steward Newsletter for use in religious or educational settings provided that proper attribution is given to the author. This publication may not be sold or distributed to the general public without the express permission of the author.