Stewardship - A way of Life
Holy Family Parish is a community that is striving to model the spirituality of Stewardship in its everyday presence within the community of Amherst. This model is based on the reality that everything we have, everything we are and everything we will become is true gift from a loving God. Every man, woman and child in our community is called to return a portion of our time, talent and treasure for God's great bounty.
The way of Stewardship is based on the spiritual principles of the Hebrew Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus; and it is proven that where a Stewardship Lifestyle has been implemented, both givers' and receivers' lives have been changed. We thank God for all His blessings by returning a portion of time, talent and treasure allotted to us.
We are allotted a certain time on this earth. We are also given a measure of talent and treasure. Through the process of returning a portion of our giftedness that is intentional, planned and proportionate, we deepen our relationship with the Lord who gave everything to the Father on our behalf.
In 1992 the U.S. Conference of Bishops published a letter called “Stewardship A Disciples Response.” It said: “A Christian Steward is one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others and returns them with increase to the Lord. Each member of the Church shares in responsibility for its mission; each is called to practice Stewardship of the Church. Christians are also called to look outward and to place themselves at the service of the entire human community, especially those most in need.”
The above quote gives us the essence of the Spirituality of Stewardship and reminds us of our responsibilities as Christian Stewards. Those responsibilities are to care deeply for the people of Holy Family Parish and all people in the community of Amherst and beyond.
Important words from the pastoral letter speak of sharing gifts in a spirit “Justice and Love.” We see these words as a link with three aspects of our diocesan Church's document called “Forward in Faith” being Evangelization, Social Justice and Liturgy.
May we always share our gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure with an “Attitude of Gratitude.”
Our Approach
Stewardship – A Way of Life
Under the Pastoral Council section of this website we described the formation of a Stewardship Council as the overseeing body that promotes the Stewardship as a lifestyle choice at Holy Family Parish. The names of parishioners involved in our Stewardship effort are mentioned there.
Our committee promotes and supports on-going Stewardship activities in our parish life throughout the year. Through awareness, education and conversation all ministries, committees, organizations and outreach are aware that gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure given in the service of others is living a Stewardship lifestyle.
Every fall, emphasis is placed on a Stewardship campaign across the entire parish. We offer a variety of tools that inform and educate our parishioners about this model. Activities vary from year to year but include workshops, brochures, homilies, witness talks and ministry fairs. In the fall of 2007, we introduced a brochure on intentional, planned and proportionate sharing of financial treasure with the faith community.
Our fall program concludes with a commitment weekend whereby parishioners are canvassed to re-commit or commit to offering gifts of Time and Talent in various ministries, committees and organizations of the parish for the coming year.
In 2009, we hope to offer a Stewardship Day of Enrichment sponsored by the Archdiocese of Halifax for Holy Family Parish and surrounding communities of Cumberland County.
We realize that the concept of sharing personal gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure with others within a Stewardship model takes time to take root and grow. Often, we give of ourselves without realizing that God has graced us with the ability to offer that gift. Giving from a sense that God abundantly blesses us and we give from that abundance is a conversion process. In time we will all realize that everything we have, everything we are and everything we will become is true gift from a loving God.
How do I offer gifts of Time and Talent?
We feel every man, woman and child of Holy Family Parish has God given gifts regardless of age. We need to intentionally discern the nature of those gifts and then offer them proportionately. To conclude that we have nothing to offer the faith community is to diminish God’s creative power.
The Stewardship Model says, “Any gift offered, in the name of the faith community (Holy Family Parish) becomes an integral part of the communities mission and ministry.” Therefore our minds, our hearts, our voices, our hands and our feet all contribute to the mission and ministry of the parish. With Jesus Christ as our chief shepherd and modeling His life and mission to all people, how can we offer anything less?
Father Earl Smith, SJ in a recent parish mission spoke of Eucharist as a “Conversion of the Feet“. With the Eucharist to sustain and strengthen us, we will find innovative ways to offer gifts of Time and Talent.
Our voices can be used to sing and proclaim God’s word.
Our hands can distribute Eucharist to the faithful, the sick and shut-ins.
Our feet can visit those who need a helping hand meeting the demands of everyday life.
Our hearts can comfort those who mourn and those who have no one.
Our minds can teach, can lead others and assist administrative and practical demands of parish life.
Elderly parishioners, who gave gifts of Time and Talent in the past can always give prayerful support to the on-going mission of the parish.
How we offer gifts of Time and Talent can only be limited by our imagination. All gifts given from a sense of gratitude for God’s abundant blessings are cherished and treasured by our parish.