Maryann Arceo, a volunteer at St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in Menlo Park, California, listens to a man as he receives a box of free groceries at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. (David Maung / CNS / 2021)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
What crosses your mind when the word “stewardship” comes up? Do you think of it solely in terms of money? Do you quickly brush it off as something unrelated to our Catholic faith?
Stewardship is deeply rooted in Scripture and is significant in our lives as Catholics. In the very first book of the Old Testament, God instructs us, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth” (Gn 1:28).
So, what does this mean for us today? It’s essentially God saying, “This world is in your hands, so take good care of it.” Right off the bat, God entrusts us with the responsibility of being good stewards of the gifts he’s given us.
This is not just an Old Testament concept. In fact, of the 36 parables in the New Testament, more than half touch on topics like time, talent, possessions or money. If Jesus talked about stewardship that much, it should be a cornerstone of our lives today.
As Catholics, we often talk about stewardship in terms of “time, talent and treasure.” While these are tangible ways to express and evaluate stewardship, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us that stewardship is deeply intertwined with discipleship. It’s about how we respond to God’s call in every aspect of our lives.
Here’s a key point the Scriptures and church traditions emphasize — stewardship isn’t about the church needing our resources; it’s about our need to show gratitude. Sure, the church and our parishes will always have financial needs, but our focus shouldn’t solely be on meeting those needs. Instead, we should gratefully give back a portion of our time, talent and treasure to God, acknowledging all that he’s blessed us with.
Remember, stewardship isn’t just a one-time thing or a checklist to complete. It’s a way of life — a continuous call to live as followers of Christ. It takes time to set personal goals and define what stewardship means for each of us.
So, let’s start by reflecting on our commitments to our parish. How do we live out our faith daily with our families and friends? How much time do we devote to prayer, Mass attendance, or participating in parish ministries and activities? And when it comes to finances, what percentage of our income should we dedicate to God each week? How can we use our talents to enrich our parish community?
In the months ahead, we will ramp up our efforts to educate and communicate about stewardship. Together, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of how stewardship is our response to God’s call to discipleship. With God’s guidance, our hearts will be transformed as we wholeheartedly embrace a renewal of stewardship within our parish.
Take a moment to examine how you’re currently responding to God’s call to stewardship. If he were to call you home tomorrow, would he say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”?
