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To be co-responsible with Jesus Christ in the building of the kingdom of God and to promote discipleship and spiritual growth through hospitality, prayer, formation, and service.
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Stewardship Prayer | | |
for the New Year
Loving and merciful God,
You are the Lord of
new beginnings.
You sent us Your Son so that we
may begin anew
and enjoy new life in Your Spirit.
We ask you to bless this new year, to guide and direct our plans,
and to show us how to find the
resources necessary
to carry out these plans.
Give us the wisdom to take advantage of opportunities
we may have to help and serve others,
to bring peace to the hearts of those who are troubled, and hope to those who suffer. Help us approach this new year as good stewards of your abundant gifts, with an awareness of your daily presence, and the obedient spirit we need to be your faithful servants. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
This prayer from ICSC January 2011 e-Bulletin
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| Bulletin Bits Based on Sunday Readings | | |
These bulletin bits are from Sharon Hueckel's book Stewardship by the Bookand are reprinted here with permission. Whether your parish is preparing to launch a formal stewardship "program," nurturing an earlier stewardship effort, trying to increase awareness of the link between discipleship and stewardship, or just trying desperately to keep the parish financially afloat, dropping Stewardship by the Book into the bulletin each week is one fairly painless way to work at stewardship education. Click here for stewardship reflections for the January/February Sunday readings.
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| Prayers of the Faithful | |
We recommend that every week in every parish a stewardship intention should be included in the "Prayers of the Faithful." Click here for January/February
prayers. |
| Stewardship Links
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Below are diocesan and publisher websites that contain resources on stewardship for use in your parish. Some of these materials can be downloaded, while others must be ordered.
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 Stewardship News & NotesA newsletter for those promoting the gifts of time, talent and treasure
January/February 2012
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This time of year, we often look for new ways to improve our lives by making New Year's resolutions. Fr. Tropha's article on Stewardship Resolutions and the article from ICSC entitled A New year, New Beginnings for the Christian Steward help us to start another new year as better stewards.
Returning Our Gifts to the Lord helps parents and children gain a greater understanding of stewardship and what it means to be a good steward.
What are your ideas? Send us creative ways to reach out to our brothers and sisters (mhampton@rcdb.org) and we will try to publish them in this newsletter or on our web pages.
LET US HELP YOU!
Diocesan Stewardship Council:
Chairperson: Val Allen, St. Mark's, Boise
Debbie Gallegos, Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Pocatello
Dan Makley, Our Lady of Rosary, Boise
Father Jesus Camacho, St. Mary's, Boise
Gail Estes, All Saints Catholic Parish, Lewiston
John Hart, Holy Apostles, Meridian
Deacon Mike Eisenbeiss, Sacred Heart Parish, Boise
Office of Development:
Margaret Hampton, Coordinator for Office of Development, mhampton@rcdb.org
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Stewardship Resolutions
by Fr. Michael Tropha, Copyright 2011, www.thecatholicsteward.com
 One year ago, I made a New Year's resolution to lose 25 pounds during 2010. I even made a bet for $1 with one of the altar servers at my parish that I would lose the weight. He asked me how we would know for sure that I did lose weight. I said to him, "Don't you trust your pastor?" He said to me, "Not one who bets." Well, I had to pay off my bet a few weeks ago, Since I did not lose the weight I wanted to. Our collection for the needy is $1 richer with the donation from the altar server.
The New Year is a traditional time to make resolutions for . . Read More
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Returning Our Gifts to the Lord
From the US Bishops' Pastoral Letter, Stewardship, A Disciple's Response
All members of the Church have their own role to play in carrying out its mission: parents, who nurture their children in the light of faith; parishioners, who work in concrete ways to make their parishes true communities of faith and vibrant sources of service to the larger community; all Catholics, who give generous support - time, money, prayers, and personal service according to their circumstances - to parish and diocesan programs and to the universal Church.
For Parents
It is your example that is most important if you are to raise your children as good stewards. If you Read more
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A New Year, New Beginnings for the Christian Steward
The practice of making New Year's resolutions goes back over 3000 years. The start of a New Year gives us the feeling of a fresh start, a new beginning, and new opportunities. It is a time when people feel that they can begin anew with their lives. Common New Year's resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier; or to spend more time with family. Still others include managing money better and being more organized.
Although there is nothing in the Bible or notable in Christian tradition about New Year's resolutions, many good stewards take advantage of this time of year to become closer to the Lord. They may re-commit themselves to pray more, to read the Bible, or to attend Mass more regularly. If you are looking for some helps in your New Year's resolutions, here are a few ideas to get you started: Read More
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FREE Stewardship Webinars
January 10 - The Importance of Lay Witness in the Parish Stewardship Effort
February 14 - How to Get Parishioners Involved in Parish Life The Office of Development purchases a diocesan-wide registration from Our Sunday Visitor that allows any parish staff or volunteers to attend one-hour webinars offered every 2nd Tuesday of the month at no cost. There is no limit on the number of attendees from our diocese or your parish. You may participate from your own personal computer at home or at the office. All you need is an internet connection and a phone. Click here to find out more about these upcoming webinars. |
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For Your Bulletin: What Is Stewardship?
Copyright Archdiocese of St. Louis. Reprinted with permission.
Part 4 of 5
As we strive to live as faithful and generous stewards, it is important that we understand all of the facets of stewardship. Here are just a few key aspects of stewardship. Stewardship is:
- Generosity - Giving Treasure Stewardship involves giving treasure. Giving time and talent does not excuse us from giving treasure. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus challenged us to give as it has been given to us. Aware of our tremendous financial blessings, we strive to give generously to support the building up of God's kingdom. We recognize the 10% tithe as an important sacrificial goal. Although this level of giving may not be immediately possible, we are aware of what percentage we are giving back. We regularly strive to increase our generosity, taking small incremental steps toward giving a full tithe.
- Trust in God Stewardship is trusting God. We believe that our generous God will always provide for us. None of us will ever have all that we want, but we will always have all that we need.
- Accountability Stewardship calls us to recognize that just as in the Parable of the Talents, each of us will someday be asked by god to give an accounting of all that we have done with the gifts that have been given to us. Likewise, parish communities that embrace stewardship must be accountable to the community for the way in which the parish uses the gifts entrusted to it.
All fifteen of the aspects of stewardship, identified by the St. Louis Archdiocesan Stewardship Education Council, can be found on their stewardship website at www.archstl.org/stewardship. Click on "Stewardship Education" and then "Stewardship Is . . ."
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