“The Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship”

“The Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship” Blessed Sacrament Parish Mission Scottsdale, Arizona March, 2007

FOOL

The Word of God “Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. Practice what you teach.”

Faithfully living the Gospel is the focus of many teachings of Jesus Christ. Parents best teach their children by the daily faithful example of faith, hope and love.

The Pillars of Parish Stewardship From Jesus Christ as the foundation and the capstone, four pillars arise in a stewardship parish: • HOSPITALITY • PRAYER • FORMATION • SERVICE

Download the Document • Our diocesan website is www.cdowk.org • Click on Stewardship / Giving Icon • Click on The Pillars of Stewardship document

The Pillar of HOSPITALITY • “When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” (Mt 25:35) • We cannot form stewards if the pews are empty. • Perhaps a lack of understanding concerning our sacramental theology.

“You’re Sitting in My Pew!” • How do we as a parish family welcome one another? • How do we welcome those who are visiting our parish? • Do I understand hospitality to be an act of stewardship?

“What Name Do You Give Your Child?” • Significance of the name. • Holiness of the Name of God. • One loses anonymity when another knows your name. • Pictorial Directory to match a name with a face.

We Are Called to Be a ParishNot a Clique • When someone moves into the parish, how do we welcome them as members of our family? • “When you meet, eat.” • Communion = ‘to be in union with = common union’

Building Blocks for Hospitality • Role of Pastor • Pastoral Planning • Invitation • Called by Name (Pictorial Directory) • Communication • Social Activities • Direct and Rapid Follow-Up to Invitation

The Pillar of PRAYER • “Thy Will be done.” • Individual and Communal Prayer • Eucharist = “Thanksgiving” • For majority of parishioners, their one hour at Sunday Mass is their primary connection to the life of the parish family.

Our Need to Thank God “You have no need of our praise, yet our desire to thank You is itself your gift. Our prayer of thanksgiving adds nothing to your greatness, but makes us grow in your grace.” Preface to Eucharistic Prayer

Grace • Grace is our participation in the life of God • Grace is a total gift from God, something that we cannot merit or earn • Grace leads us on our journey to the Kingdom of God

“I Don’t Have Time to Pray” • It is not true that so-and-so has more time than I do. • It is how I choose to use the gift of time that God gives me. • The faithful steward must pray daily, especially with prayers of gratitude in the heart.

Eucharistic People • 70-75% of the Catholics in Diocese of Wichita attend Sunday Mass every week. • 20 of the 93 parishes in the diocese have Perpetual Adoration. Many others have regular hours of adoration throughout the week. • 34 seminarians studying for the diocese this spring semester. • 49 priests in the diocese under the age of 50 years old. • Prayer is at the heart of a faithful steward’s life.

Building Blocks for Prayer • Pastor • Every parishioner • Universal Call to Holiness • Liturgy • Sacraments • Desire for Conversion • Virtues

The Pillar of FORMATION • “Knowledge is power.” True or False? • Educating the mind and forming the heart are necessary steps in the steward’s growth. • New emphasis upon adult faith formation. • Family is the domestic Church.

Parents Are The First Teachers of Their Children in the Ways of the Faith • How can parents teach the faith when they feel inadequately prepared to do so? • There is no “graduation” from faith formation! Faith formation is a life-long endeavor.

Faith is a Journey:Do We Know the Way? “The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From great courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependency; From dependency back again to bondage.” Sir Alex Fraser Tytler

The Disciple’s Response • To know the stewardship way of life does not make one live a stewardship way of life. • Life-long formation of the individual and the parish is critical.

Building Blocks of Formation • Pastor – travels his own journey of formation • Stewardship Committee • Lay Witness Talks • Needs Identification • Parish Ministries • Ongoing catechesis from childhood to adults • Volunteer Opportunities

The Pillar of SERVICE • “I have come not to be served, but to serve.” • Service within the parish, but also to serve outside the parish boundaries. • Emphasis upon the intention of the steward.

Giving to a Needvs.A Need to Give • There will always be needs present in this world. • Even if there were no needs however, we still have a need to give. • God created us with this need to give. It is in giving that we receive.

Building Blocks of Service • Pastor – seek ways to allow him to do what is specific to his role • Parish Council • Stewardship Committee • Annual Renewal Process • Youth Involvement • Evaluation

Receive what God gives Don’t cling to Don’t grasp things beyond at things their time before their time Accept what one receives and generously share

“The Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship”