Father Daniel J. Mahan of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Bishop Larry Silva and diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development director Mark Clark give remarks at the Stewardship Day event, Jan. 25. (HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Catholics are called to holiness, and stewardship is “the practical way of life that gets us there,” said the keynote speaker at the diocesan Stewardship Day gathering Jan. 25 at Holy Family Church in Honolulu.
Diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development director Mark Clark gives remarks at Stewardship Day, Jan. 25. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Father Daniel J. Mahan of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, author of “More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest,” visited Hawaii to share his insights on the spiritual giving of time, talent and treasure.
About 200 local parishioners, religious and clergy from every island — representing more than 40 parishes and faith communities — attended the Saturday event. It is the second time the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development has held this workshop, as Bishop Larry Silva continues to encourage parishes to find sustainable ways to support their ministries.
Bishop Silva opened the Stewardship Day program using Scripture passages to illustrate themes of gratitude and generosity. Using the example of the multiplication of the loaves and fish to feed 5,000 people, the bishop said those present at the time of Jesus’ miracle serve as a “paradigm” for today’s Catholics in the way they viewed and shared their resources.
“Whatever they got, they gave thanks for,” Bishop Silva said. “That’s when the miracle began.”
Hawaii’s faithful have been gracious in contributing their talents and financial gifts to spread the Gospel, he added. That has borne much fruit in the diocese, “but there is so much more to do.”
Father Mahan echoed Bishop Silva’s message in his first talk of the workshop, “Stewardship as a Spirituality.” He said good stewards of God’s gifts are grateful for the blessings they receive, responsible in nurturing them, and beneficent in offering those graces for the betterment of others.
Catholics practicing good stewardship become close to God and the church, and have a keen sense of mission in life. Father Mahan said this exemplifies “holiness.”
Parishioners, he noted, can assess their own abilities to contribute time, talent and treasure to the church, and “make a return to the Lord with increase.”
“I have yet to meet a parish where stewardship is practiced and taught consistently that a transformation didn’t happen,” he said. “Stewardship is not something that stops when the stewardship season is over. It’s ongoing.”
“Our Lord is not interested in a percentage or part,” he added. “The Lord wants a full and total response to him.”
Father Mahan highlighted his experience as pastor of a small church in Indiana, where repairs and more volunteers for ministries were sorely needed. After fostering a culture of stewardship there, parishioners eagerly came forward to help with everything from yard work to increasing collections.
“It is my prayer that your parishes will flourish,” he said.
After Father Mahan’s talk, Dave and Bernie Reeves of St. Ann Church in Kaneohe led a forum to discuss their Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee. The outpouring of time, talent and treasure from St. Ann parishioners for their outreach mission served as an example of the impact of stewardship.
Father Mahan closed the Stewardship Day with the session, “Seven Steps to Success.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 1992 pastoral letter, “Stewardship, a Disciple’s Response,” outlined the following recommendations for establishing a stewardship culture in parishes:
- Personal witness
- Commitment of leadership
- Hospitality, evangelization and outreach
- Communication and education
- Recruiting, training and recognizing gifts of time and talent
- Stewardship of treasure
- Accountability
Father Mahan suggested that clergy and lay people provide personal testimony at their parish about stewardship at least once a year. He recommended recruiting parish volunteers according to their talents, not simply based on the time they have to spare for any available ministry.
Parishioners, he said, should consider their “stewardship of treasure” in a “prayerful, planned, proportionate and sacrificial” manner contingent with their finances.
Transparency in church spending and activities is key in fostering stewardship participation as well.
An “eighth step,” Father Mahan said, is perseverance. It is not easy to get everyone on board with stewardship, he acknowledged, but it is possible over time.
“This is something that you will want to keep coming back to,” he noted. “I have not known it to fail at any parish.”
