Prologue:

This is the sixteenth in a series of articles that will be appearing in the Sunday bulletin over the next several weeks. These articles are designed to help our parishioners understand what stewardship is all about and guide our parishioners in supporting our parish through prayer, service, and sharing.

The following is from TO BE A CHRISTIAN STEWARD: SUMMARY OF THE U.S. BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER ON STEWARDSHIP.  This summary is found in the last chapter of Stewardship a Disciple’s Response, A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship. First published in 1993, the Pastoral Letter from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops addresses Stewardship in chapters entitled the Call, Jesus’ Way, Living as a Steward, Stewards of the Church, and The Christian Steward. 

TO BE A CHRISTIAN STEWARD: SUMMARY OF THE U.S. BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER ON STEWARDSHIP

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”   (1 Pt 4:10)

What identifies a steward? Safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly are one answer; so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure.  But being a Christian steward means more.  As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gift gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord.

·         Chapter 15:  Disciples as Stewards

·         Chapter 16:  Stewards of Creation

The Bible contains a profound message about the stewardship of material creation: God created the world, but entrusts it to human beings.  Caring for and cultivating the world involves the followings:

Ø  Joyful appreciation for the God-given beauty and wonder of nature;

Ø  Protection and preservation of the environment, which would be stewardship of ecological concern;

Ø  Respect for human life—shielding life from threat and assault, doing everything that can be done to enhance this gift and make life flourish; and

Ø  Development of this world through noble human effort—physical labor, trades, and professions, the arts and sciences. We call such effort work.

Work is a fulfilling human vocation.  The Second Vatican Council points out that, through work, we build up not only our world but the kingdom of God, already present among us.  Work is a partnership with God—our share in divine-human collaboration in creation.  It occupies a central place in our lives as Christian stewards.  (To be continued….) [Top]