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Stewardship
A concept as old as the scriptures was reborn in the early 1960's and now has the potential of changing the way Catholics live - and give - in the world today.
We know from the scriptures that everything we have is a gift from God. We are stewards - managers of the many gifts God has given to us. As Christian stewards, we recognize that all we are - all that we have - belongs to God, and we are accountable to Him for the use of all things. Therefore, we must live and give as Christians, generously sharing our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure.
Everything we have is a gift from God. We possess nothing that we can claim solely to our own efforts. It is God who gave us life. It is God who gave us intelligence. It is God who gave us the physical strength to work. Everything we have comes from God.
We are not creators. We are stewards of God's gifts to us. We must use our gifts of time, talent and treasure in a responsible way. And that includes giving back to God some of what he has given to us. It means giving to God's work some of our time, some of our talents and some of our treasure.
The center of faith life for most of us is the neighborhood church, the local parish church. Here, with the help of a committed staff and generous volunteers, we learn about God and the riches of our heritage. It is through the parish that we reach out to those in need of care and support, and celebrate the special events that mark our journey in maturity and faith.
It is in our parish church that we are welcome into the family of God at Baptism. There, too, we first receive the bread of the Eucharist and learn to ask God's forgiveness. Often, it is in this same parish church, with friends and neighbors as witnesses, we ask God to bless our marriage vows and to increase our love as husband and wife. In times of sickness or need, we turn to our parish for healing and support. Finally, at the end of earth's journey, it is in our parish church that our funeral takes place to celebrate our life with God whom we love and serve.
Saint Cyril Parish is our spiritual home. The parish has been built up by those who made faith-filled sacrifices over the years by those who made faith-filled sacrifices of every sort. Our parish history testifies to this reality. Now, we are called to be the good stewards of this generation.
As a parish we are called by our baptism to be heralds, servants. If all of this sounds beautiful and challenging, it is. But to make it work takes a substantial commitment of faith and hope, time and money. Perhaps a great deal more of both for us than it did for our parents and grandparents in their day.