By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa is a parish that believes in stewardship as a way of Christian living. Parishioners Karen Lung and her daughters, Marissa and Kelli, have embraced a life of stewardship that has brought growth to their faith and the warmth of a “second family.”
Karen’s experience at Our Lady of Sorrows began years ago, before Marissa was born, when she joined the parish choir after life changes.
“It was one of those things I was really grateful for, and I knew God was working for me,” Karen said. “I wanted to give back by being more active. Music, especially at our church, is so beautiful, and I wanted to start there.
“Then I met different people — that was so wonderful. The more I gave, the more I wanted to continue giving. I joined other ministries, and I joined the Stewardship Committee.”
Karen now serves as chair of the Stewardship Committee. She is also a member of the Altar Society, serves as a Eucharistic minister, and is involved with the youth ministry. She also has served as a catechist in the religious education program.
When Marissa was 9, her mother insisted she become an altar server.
“As a kid, that really helped,” Marissa said of her understanding of her faith. “I became more content and more understanding of what was said in the homily. I started to really enjoy being an altar server.
“I tried being a lector; I didn’t know how hard it would be. When I trained, I truly realized that you’re reading God’s Word, so I started to develop this understanding of why I was there. I was serving my community that I grew to love. I found a second family there. My mom inspired me.”
Serving the parish in stewardship has meant that Karen, Marissa and Kelli have all experienced growth in their personal faith lives. Karen said she is hopeful that her daughters are learning more about their faith as she learns more about hers.
“I feel on fire about it,” Karen said. “I’m really passionate about it.”
Their experiences in helping others in the community have brought home the value and joy of stewardship. They also have experienced the joy of being part of their parish family.
Although Karen is involved in many areas of parish life, it is serving as chair of the Stewardship Committee that carries the most meaning to her.
“I feel everything has led me to there,” she said. “Being the chair, I like the mission and purpose of it. It goes hand in hand with my discovering more about my faith. I want to share it. The Stewardship Committee is one way I’ve found to help all others feel the same way about our faith. That’s what’s most important to me.”
Marissa has found perspective through helping during the parish’s monthly food distribution events on Saturdays.
“I take little things for granted,” she said. “For example, sometimes I snack when I’m bored. I don’t need it. But helping with the distribution helped me. I realize I should be grateful for what I have. I enjoy it when the people come, and it makes me grateful and helps me know I’m making a difference in my community by helping people.”
Both Karen and Marissa have found that as they work within their parish, their faith has continued to grow.
“Faith is central to how I live,” Karen said. “I’m very different from how I was before. My faith has grown, and I think about it more often. In anything I do, it always comes into play. It guides me on how we are with others and how we want to be as Christians, as Catholics. It guides me in what kind of person I want to be in any situation.”
“Watching my mom grow in faith — that motivates me to do the same,” Marissa added. “I look for ways to grow in my faith as well, to guide me through this stage of my life.”
Above: Kelli, Karen and Marissa Lung are active parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)