Stewardship
"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 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 gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.
We plant seeds, knowing they hold hope for the future. We lay foundations, knowing much building must follow. There is a sense of liberation, however, in realizing this. We can do something, and we can do it very well. We can take the first step in making a difference, knowing that we may never see the end of the road, the results of our actions, the recipients of our giving. We receive and offer the gift of hope. The harvest will come.
Many of our days are spent "growing dirt," preparing the soil for future plantings. That is an act of hope. We know we are only workers, not the Master Gardner. Accepting the gifts of silence, light, the guiding Spirit and hope, we are co-creators of the future, which is in God's hands.
Pillars of Stewardship
The four pillars of stewardship are Hospitality, Prayer, Formation and Service. These pillars invite parishioners to experience, witness and live the stewardship way of life in response to their baptismal call to discipleship. Each baptized person is called to give of time, talent and treasure to strengthen these four pillars that support the parish community – your parish community.
St. George Catholic Stewardship Renewal:
Every October the members of St. George Parish are encouraged to prayerfully reflect on where God is calling them in regards to stewardship within our parish. As a result of this reflection, parishioners are asked to fill out the St. George Time & Talent Commitment and the St. George Offering Commitment to confirm their intent to live as active stewards of St. George Parish. During this time all parishioners are asked to reflect on the following three questions:
Will you commit to pray with us as a community by regularly attending Mass on weekends and Holy Days?
Will you commit to actively participate in our parish by offering your time and talents to serve the parish community and be a part of its fellowship and opportunities for ongoing Christian formation?
Will you commit to sacrificially give of your "first fruits" of material treasure to support the operation and ministries of our parish community?
Catholic Stewardship Renewal (CSR) Resources:
To view the many opportunities available to participate in the life and ministries of St. George Parish, please see the St. George Ministry Guide.
To select and notify the parish of ways you would like to participate in the life of the parish, please fill out the St. George Time & Talent Commitment.
Once you have prayerfully considered what you can sacrificially give to support the ministries, including our school, and charitable offerings of the parish, please fill out the St. George Sacrificial Giving Commitment.
Supporting St. George:
Parishioners are invited to support our parish through on-line giving either via credit/debit card or through automatic debits. Just click the Donate Now button located at the top of the page.
The fact we are Catholic is not only manifested in the beauty of our churches; it is in our daily living as generous stewards.
I invite you to consider the ways in which you make room for God in your life through your personal, ongoing faith formation; by your active charitable works; and by personal prayer and active participation in Mass.
Be not afraid to give yourself to Christ by being a generous steward. You will not regret it.