“Stewardship is the ability to share one’s gifts of life, time, talents, and resources with others with no strings attached and no conditions.”

-the late Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy, Seattle

At Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, stewardship is an important message and one that we try to cultivate throughout the various aspects of our parish life.  Stewardship is often heard in parishes and schools and even from the pulpit, but what does it mean?  Most people associate stewardship with money, but it is much more than that.  Stewardship is a way of life that acknowledges our dependence on God for all that we have and all that we are.  It is accepting the idea that everything we have and are come from God and giving God thanks for these gifts by sharing them with others.

 

 

“As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them in loving justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

- Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response

Action, the Gift of Our Time

Many of us spend countless hours each day on unimportant activities, such as watching TV or surfing the internet.  Yet we always feel rushed for time and often think we never have enough hours in a day.  A great way to thank God for his gift of life and for each hour that we have is to spend some of that time in prayer.  We strive to set aside time each day to pray, either spontaneously or through more formal prayers such as attending daily Mass or Eucharistic Adoration.  We can also give of our time through volunteering.  There are many ways to become involved in our church and school and you can find out more about these opportunities throughout our websites.

Ability, the Gift of Our Skills

God has given each of us countless gifts through our skills and interests.  In return, he asks that we share those gifts with others.  Our biggest obstacle is often not knowing what gifts we possess or how those gifts can be utilized to help our parish.  You are encouraged to complete it and return it to us.  It is useful in helping us determine your skills and interests to help determine opportunities to best serve our parish.

“Once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option.”

-from US Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship

Abundance, the Gift of our Possessions

The stewardship of treasure is often the one that is most dreaded by parishioners and leaders alike.  It is difficult to part with our hard earned money and the possessions that we bought with that money.  However, God never intended for us to hold our worldly possessions tightly.  We must strive to give from what we have been given.  Clean out your closets and donate unused items to charities.  Make a commitment as a family to tithe to the parish and its ministries.

A Pastoral Request and Prayer

I am asking you to join me in prayerfully seeking God’s direction for your increased support of our ongoing programs and ministries. Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to grow in your offertory giving and help you make the most of your gifts and talents.  We ask God to grant our parish his success as Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church boldly and joyfully moves forward.

Click here, if you would like to fill out a stewardship commitment form.

Click here, if you would like to participate in our electronic giving program.