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WHO is a Christian Steward?
In the 1992 pastoral letter, Stewardship:
A Disciple’s Response, the U. S. bishops eloquently defined a Christian
steward as “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.”
WHAT does stewardship involve?
- A conscious, firm decision,
carried out by mature disciples of Jesus.
- Conversion, change of heart, expressed not as a single
action, but in an entire way of life.
- A recognition of God as the origin of life, the giver of
freedom and the source of all that we have and are and will be.
WHERE does stewardship take place?
Stewardship begins in the domestic church (the family) and
extends to the parish, the workplace, the local community, the diocese, the
universal church and the entire global community. Christian stewards cherish
and serve a broad range of interests and concerns: life and health, spiritual
and intellectual well-being, material goods and resources, the natural environment,
and the cultural heritage of humankind.
WHY stewardship?
Rooted in Scripture and tradition, stewardship is a response
to our Baptismal call to be disciples of Jesus and follow His way of life.
Since how we choose to spend our time, talent and treasure is a reflection
of our values, stewardship is also a tangible way to evangelize.
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