On Stewardship Awareness Sunday, we reflect on our call to be more grateful and generous. We are grateful for all the gifts and blessings that God has given to us and to be more generous in sharing those gifts with others. After all, every blessing given to us by God is meant to be shared, so we strive so share our time, talent, and treasure for the common good.
What does this look like practically? I think there are four things that define a good steward, things we should commit to as we consider our own Stewardship:
1. Commit to Sunday Mass. Our celebration and sharing of the Eucharist is our first and foremost call, as the Eucharist is the summit and source of our life at Catholics. Are you present every Sunday? If not, commit to a more regular presence each Sunday and make the Eucharist the central focus of your week.
2. Do something for your personal spiritual life. Beyond Sunday Mass, what else nourishes your spiritual life? Can you commit to some time of personal daily prayer, spiritual reading or podcast, the rosary, or Bible Study? Can you commit to some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration?
3. Do something for someone else! Participate in outreach or service to others. How are you serving others in our community? Can you be part of a parish ministry or organization, or even better, commit to leadership in some capacity? Can you serve the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society or Isaiah 58 Ministries? Can you volunteer at school? Do you volunteer in our community?
4. Be as financially generous to the parish and other charities as you are able. Do you give weekly or monthly to the parish? Commit to being a regular giver. Sign up for electronic giving and adjust your giving annually. Remember the parish in your estate planning. Strive to tithe, that is, to give 10% of your gross income to the parish and to other charities.
If you are doing these four things, thank you for your witness to Living Stewardship!
If not, where can you focus your energy and resources to grow in Living Stewardship?
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I am edified by the good Stewardship shown by the people of the Archdiocese and our parish for this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal! The ACA set a record this year, raising more than $17 million from almost 32,000 households to fund the charities and ministries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Here at St. Margaret of Scotland, we pledged $69,591, surpassing both our published goal and our challenge goal. 43 donors made a pledge for the first time! 22% of our parish family made a pledge to the ACA, surpassing last years 19%. I am most grateful to all who made a donation or pledge to the ACA, as it shows our commitment to our local Church and especially to those who are served by the charities and ministries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Thanks to our parish chairs for the last two years, Ian and Lisa Mulligan, and thanks to our parish staff, especially Carmela and Deborah, for their work on the practical details of our parish ACA campaign.
