Good Steward Newsletter – September 2004

Giving Everything We Have

For the past twelve years, since the U.S. bishops published their pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Way of Life, parishes and dioceses throughout the United States have been praying about, reflecting on and practicing stewardship. We have taken just the beginning steps in a journey that will last until the Lord calls us home.

The Gospel of St. Mark gives us the ultimate stewardship story:

And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living. (Mk 12:41-44)

How successful have we been at teaching this stewardship message? Have we witnessed in our own lives, and in our preaching, that our Lord calls us to give everything we have – our hearts and minds, our time and talent, and (yes) our treasure? Can any of us say truthfully that our work is finished? That we’ve done stewardship and it’s now time to move on to something else? No, the work of stewardship (prayer, learning and action) continues. If we are to truly make stewardship a way of life in our homes, our parishes and our archdiocese, we must follow the Lord’s example by calling people together and continuing to point to examples of stewardship in our midst.

RSI’s Stewardship Enhancement Initiative (SEI), which several dioceses are involved in this fall, combines mission awareness, pastoral planning and stewardship education. The objective is to help parishes enhance the Church’s mission by putting the theology of stewardship into action. By helping our parishes become better stewards of their mission and ministries and by teaching parishioners the principles of Christian stewardship, we can provide Catholics in all regions of our country with concrete opportunities to give everything we have to the Lord by our full, conscious and active participation in the mission of the Church.

This Stewardship Enhancement Initiative is more than “just another program.” Mission can never be seen as just a passing fancy – the latest fad – because it is essential to the Church’s existence as an evangelizing community called to carry on Christ’s work in the world. And authentic stewardship is never a “quick fix.” It is always a lifelong journey characterized by ongoing spiritual conversion and practical changes in the way we live our daily lives. For participating parishes, this Stewardship Enhancement Initiative is a moment of renewal (not unlike a parish mission – only more comprehensive and longer lasting) that is intended to strengthen and revitalize what is a never-ending process of growth-in-mission and faith-in-action.

In recent years, some have predicted that the crises and scandals facing the Church would produce widespread disillusionment and disengagement by Catholics. These predictions seriously underestimate the fidelity and resilience of the Catholic people. We are a people with a mission. With the help of God’s grace, we are strong enough to withstand any obstacles – including those of our own making and those placed in our way by external forces. And, while we have certainly been wounded by these trials, we will persevere in carrying out the ministry of Christ in our parishes, in our dioceses, and in the mission and ministries of the Universal Church.

It’s true that the Lord places heavy demands on us (to give everything we have without counting the cost), but it’s also true that everything we have was first given to us by the Lord. God’s grace makes it possible for us to give and share everything that we have in order to be good stewards who carry out the Church’s mission in the world! May we never lose sight of our mission. May we always remain faithful to the Lord’s challenging invitation to follow Him without counting the cost!

Copyright © 2004, 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.