Stewardship –
a Spiritual Way of Life:
Conversion to
a Life of Gratitude
Often in this day and age one hears about a crisis of faith. However, at the ICSC Institute held in Arnprior May 17-19 at the Galilee Centre, one of the speakers, Fr Joe MacKinnon from Halifax, noted that perhaps the church is really suffering from a crisis in trust – a lack of trust in God. As we try and find ways to control all aspects of our lives, we automatically negate the thought that despite our best efforts, we are not, in fact, in control. This could lead to despondency, and yet a sense of trust in our future and God comes precisely from knowing that we are not on are own, and that God is making it all happen. If all in our life is gift from God, it is precious and needs to be cared for and nurtured. Accepting the responsibility to do so is Stewardship. If all is gift, it is something not “of” us, and we do not “own” it. We accept an invitation to receive the gifts of time, talents and treasures in our life and give back in thanksgiving for those very gifts: we receive gratefully, tend responsibly, and then share in justice and love. Stewardship and being a steward of and for God is something that many have not even consciously considered, but according to the testimony given during the Institute, the benefits to individuals and parishes are immeasurable.
Gratitude is the starting point for stewardship - gratitude, in realization that all in our life is gift from God and that we need to give back for all our blessings. As this does not come naturally, a shift in attitude, a conversion, is required before we can travel on our journey toward God in this manner. The focus is not on our, or the church’s, need to receive, but on our need to give. Rather than responding to a request, stewardship is proactive. Everything important in our lives is pre-planned, and if stewardship is to be part of our lives, it then takes a proactive, conscious/intentional decision on the part of the individual, and/or the parish to become a true steward, a stewardship parish. Figure out precisely what you are going to give, then “do” it. Rather than giving of the leftovers of our time, talents and treasures, it is necessary to take an active decision and plan how you will share from the first fruits.
Accountability and transparency were mentioned by all speakers as key when discussing stewardship at a parish level. In his talk on “Parish Leadership in Stewardship”, apart from stressing that a stewardship committee needs to be set up separate from the finance committee when talking about introducing the possibility of stewardship at a parish, Steve Foran, also from Halifax, noted that all personal skills and qualities need to be considered in setting up the first committee, and that it needs a disposition of what “I” (the individual) can do. “Lord, how do you want to work through me to fulfill your will for my parish?” Furthermore, if we are to be responsible stewards, we cannot take on the job without all being clear on all the goals. And what are we working towards, for ourselves and others? Being the best we can be before God and our fellow man – being Christ’s body here on earth, and by our example inviting others to do the same. Albert Schweitzer said that example is not the “best” way, it is the “only” way. The phrase repeated at the Institute by Steve was that, by example and message we were here, first and foremost, to “save souls”. Steve also noted that while it was important to envision where stewardship could lead the parish, it was necessary to do so pragmatically, but more importantly, then act upon that vision. “Vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. But vision with action can change the world”.
Jim Kelley from Charlotte, North Carolina, who was a last minute substitute at Galilee for the director of the ICSC called away for medical reasons, spoke on his topic “Introducing Stewardship into a Parish”, from personal experience and as such emphasized the core of his next topic - “the Importance of Lay Testimony”. Jim began with his own and then family’s decision to focus on putting God first in their lives and then trusting in God to do the rest. Jim also made it very clear that the 17 points included in his description of how stewardship could be introduced into a parish, were not exclusive, nor to be considered as a one-step, one year programme, but rather a progressive introduction - a process for at least a generation. He added that each person has unique talents, but that part of our calling is not only to discern talents for ourselves, but to help others in the parish discern, develop and use their gift; sometimes an individual is incapable of seeing the talents that they themselves possess, but can clearly articulate the talents that they see in others.
Jim, like each speaker before and afterwards, was quick to note that often when hearing the word stewardship in a church context, a person is likely to think only of money, and that although one cannot deny that finances are always important in a church, time and talents often begin a person’s foray into stewardship as a personal practice. He noted that one doesn’t begin by giving of one’s treasure “after” paying the bills, and emphasized that that was similar to time, wherein you must schedule your priorities. Thus, you may need to change the way you look at how you plan your daily life, when you decide to give "x" amount of hours in service. If one were to begin by “scheduling” dedicated time for prayer every day (same time and same amount of time, beginning small and adding time only gradually) one could still feel amazing spiritual blessings, before going on to sharing one's time in service to others, let alone giving financially. Jim also underlined the notion that when one spoke of stewardship, it was not something that just involved the church. As a way of life it also embraces the family and community – the sharing of time and talents is not restricted to liturgies and Sundays – and leads to finding balance in one’s life.
To develop the concept of stewardship within a parish and only then introduce stewardship as a way of life for parishioners, both Steve and Jim discussed points that establish a welcoming setting for stewardship in general, and the multitude of ways and means that have been used by others over time to do so. The need for repetition, like in all forms of education, was seen as elemental. This includes the use of notices and comments in bulletins and homilies, perhaps the development of newsletters, the use of new social media networks, not to mention web pages and video clips, as well as prayers of the faithful to both highlight ways in which stewardship, even if called something else, is already active in the parish, as well as to show appreciation for those already sharing in their time, talents and treasure. By using a cross section of the parish in lay testimony, (an example given being someone speaking for just 3 to 4 minutes at the start of mass, but before the gathering hymn) (ie not before the time mass officially start) everyone, from the most senior parishioners to children and youth, can relate to some aspect of someone’s sharing in honesty and gratitude. Events in school to Sunday liturgies can be discussed using terminology of stewardship, thereby allowing children to be introduced to the concept while seeing it as a natural part of their lives from a young age.
Julie Kenny from “Sunday Visitor” spoke at length on “Recruiting, Training and Recognizing Gifts of Time and Talent” followed by “the Stewardship of Treasure”. Discussing challenges, roadblocks, differences, problems of identification as well as expressing certain cautions, Julie covered an area we often deal with in the parish and at many levels – “how” to get “whoever” to do “whatever”. The emphasis was on discernment, both on the part of invitee and inviter, the manner of invitation, the work setting provided, clarity in job description and requirements in skills and time, as well as follow-up in both training but also in appreciation of efforts. It was also mentioned that in the parish’s efforts to help identify talents within parishioners, it was the duty of the parish to remind all that service was not only to be considered within the parish, but also within the wider community. By this means all would be served – the community by service given to it, and the parish by the active involvement of parishioners in acts of service, and the individual in knowing that they were taking action on their gratitude for what they had been given. In terms of sharing in treasure, Julie talked about motives for sharing or not, generational factors, the consistency messages, challenges facing parishioners in terms of points of reference, different envelope strategies, but most importantly the need “NOT” to use the term “stewardship” when the only goal is to increase the offertory, or in the response to a crisis. That would be an incorrect use of the term, and denigrate any possible future chance to introduce stewardship to the parish as a way of life.
Mary Kelly of the Archdiocese of Toronto spoke simply but movingly about “Hospitality, Evangelization and Outreach”, followed the next day by ”Characteristics of a Stewardship Parish” – two topics that were in reality clearly interwoven, focusing on the three catch phrases used to describe stewardship: “time, talent and treasure”; “gratitude, generosity and trust”; “prayer, hospitality and service”. Mary began and ended with the comment that God is love and stewardship is love of God, others and also importantly, oneself. As such, stewardship challenges us to serve and receive hospitality graciously, reaching out observing what is needed, not what we think others need, seeing who is marginalized in the wider community, accepting the ideas of others, recognizing our own accessibility or “welcomingness” – and to see the parish as a community of people called to the mission of Jesus. We need to put a lot of time and effort in “feeding” the people so that they can “feast” not only at the Eucharist, but also at the table of the word. Good communication and the use of modern technologies is not a hallmark of all Catholic parishes, but it is something that needs to be looked at if stewardship is to be not only adopted by a parish, but to be effective in the community. Quoting Fr Ron Rolheiser, Mary said that the practice of justice is not optional by the church; rather it is just as non-negotiable as keeping the commandments and going to church. A serving parish may not start with financial stability, but warmth, hospitality and education all factor into this. God has provided every gift, and it is up to us to best use the gifts to live lives of proclamation, celebration and charity – to accept the roles of stewards in stewardship parishes.
"O Divine Spirit,
I wish to be before you like a light feather,
so that your breath may carry me where it wills,
and that I may not offer the least resistance to it."
Fr Francis Libermann
