PARISH STEWARDSHIP RESOURCE MANUAL As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

Office of Stewardship and Development

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION / -1CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP? / -2Time / -2Talent / -3Treasure / -3-

CHAPTER 3: LEADERSHIP / -4Diocesan Stewardship Council / -4The Role of the Pastor / -4The Role of the Parish Stewardship Council / Forming a Parish Stewardship Council / -4Parish Stewardship Council / -6Sample Bylaws / -6-

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CHAPTER 4: CALENDAR / -7CHAPTER 5: YEAR-ROUND STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS AND FORMATION / -8Parish Assessment / -8Ways to Engage Parishes in Stewardship

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CHAPTER 6: EXAMPLE OF PARISH STEWARDSHIP PLAN / -11Steps to Consider When Creating a New Ministry / -11Steps to Consider When Enhancing a Current Ministry / -12-

CHAPTER 7: STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL MONTH / -13How to Conduct the Weekends / -13Pulpit Announcements / -15Bulletin Announcements / -16A Guide for the Lay Witness / -17-

Sample Outline for Composing Lay Witness Talk Do’s and Don’ts of the Lay Witness Talk / -18Lay Witness Sample Presentation / -19-

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Sample Pastor Letter / -21Prayers of the Faithful / -22Music Liturgy / -23-

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CHAPTER 8: FOLLOW-UP / -24Parish Stewardship Commitment Cards / -24Thank You Letter to Those Who Responded / -26Follow-Up Letter to Those Who Have Not Responded Thank You Bulletin Announcements / -28Annual Stewardship Report / -29Parish Stewardship Evaluation / -30Parish Stewardship Evaluation Form / - 31-

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CHAPTER 9: RESOURCES / -32Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City Website / -32International Catholic Stewardship Council / -32Our Sunday Visitor / -33ParishSoft Time and Talent Module / -33Parish IQ / -33Stewardship Scriptures – Old Testament / -34Stewardship Scriptures – New Testament / -35-

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INTRODUCTION This Parish Stewardship Resource Manual is designed to walk with you as you begin the exciting journey of stewardship in your parish or mission. It can also be a resource to the parish or mission who has already begun their journey. This manual can be used by the larger city parishes or the smallest of missions in our rural areas. The information contained in this manual is in part a compilation of experiences of other dioceses and parishes who have been willing to share their journey with us. It also contains a thoughtful and detailed plan in which the Bishop, the Diocesan Stewardship Council, and the Office of Stewardship and Development feel will enrich and engage the parishes and missions of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. Please know the Office of Stewardship and Development is always willing to assist with your stewardship journey.

Shannon Lee Director Office of Stewardship and Development 27 C Street Salt Lake City, UT 84103 801-328-8641 extension 328 www.dioslc.org/stewardship

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WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP? Let’s begin by stating what stewardship is not. Stewardship is not about money. It is not a fundraising program. It is not about building a new parish hall. It is not a new fad or environmental word.

Stewardship is a way of life. Biblically based, in 1 Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” According to the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter of 1992, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 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

The decision to share our time, talent and treasure with our communion of faith is an important aspect of being a Christian steward. Christian stewardship is the grateful response we make to God’s generosity. The first quality of a Christian steward is being grateful. All that we have, and all that we are able to do, are gifts from God. Living a life as a Christian steward involves a deliberate decision to thank God for all His blessings by returning to Him a portion of our time, talent and treasure. Each year, Catholic households in the diocese are asked to prayerfully plan and make stewardship of time and talent a part of their lifestyle and stewardship of treasure a part of their budget.

Time God gives each of us 24 hours in a day. It is essential to balance those hours to spend time with our Lord in prayer, with our families, and at work. We need to ask ourselves: Do we spend meaningful time in prayer each day? Do we spend quality time with our families? Do we spend too much time at work? Do we spend an appropriate amount of those 24 hours offering our talents to our parish, our diocese and our community? TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Talent God has entrusted each of us with unique skills and talents. We must take time to recognize those gifts and discern how we can offer them to our parish, diocese and community to carry out the mission of the Catholic Church in Utah.

Treasure Stewardship also involves giving of treasure. All of us have different levels of material resources. We are called to return in thanksgiving a proportionate gift, each in a measure we have been blessed with.

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LEADERSHIP Diocesan Stewardship Council The Diocesan Stewardship Council, appointed by the Bishop and comprised of practicing Catholics, including Clergy and Religious, from each Deanery in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, from a variety of professional, ethnic, and geographical areas are considered for membership. The purpose of the Council is to advance stewardship as a way of life in the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City by helping Utah Catholics to live fully their baptismal call to stewardship.

The Role of the Pastor The pastor’s commitment and involvement is vital to the successful on-going stewardship journey of a parish. A pastor must take a leadership role in inspiring parishioners to accept stewardship as a way of life. A pastor will be able to cultivate stewardship as a way of life only if he is committed to the spirituality of stewardship as a way of life personally, and for his parish. In addition he will: • • • • • •

Recognize and understand that prayer is central to stewardship. Share his own personal commitment to stewardship, and be able to show tangible signs of his commitment. Promote hospitality. Support and encourage the Parish Stewardship Council. Embrace Scripture passages that affirm the principles of stewardship. Thank people for all they do to serve God by serving others.

The Role of the Parish Stewardship Council The Parish Stewardship Council’s mission is to provide stewardship awareness, education and year-round opportunities for parishioners to live a stewardship way of life.

Forming a Parish Stewardship Council The Parish Stewardship Council is a freestanding council existing under the direction and appointment of the pastor. The size of the council depends on the size of the parish community. You can use the size of your parish council as a guide in determining this number. Members should serve for a specific term, possibly a three-year term. - 4 -C1

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Members • People of prayer. It is important that members are concerned about parishioners’ relationship with God, not exclusively about the needs of the Church. Look for people who have a deep personal relationship with God, are grateful for their relationship and act out of gratitude. • Personally committed to stewardship as their way of life. They may not define their life as stewards, but they live it. • Diversity. Look for people who are not the few who always volunteer. Responsibilities • Same understanding of stewardship. It is important for all members of the Council to have the same understanding of stewardship. To achieve this understanding, it is recommended that time is taken with each new member to study the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, Stewardship: A • • • • • •

Disciple’s Response.

Parish Assessment. An annual or periodic review of the parish ministries to ensure they are meeting the needs of the parishioners. (See Chapter 5) Stewardship Plan. (See Chapter 6) Time and Talent List. Prepare and regularly update a list of ministries offered in the parish. Assist ministry leaders with developing a stewardship component/curriculum for their area. Conduct the annual Stewardship Renewal month. This process is done over a four week time frame and concludes the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. Year-round stewardship awareness and education. Reflections in the parish bulletin can include Scripture quotes regarding stewardship. Develop Prayers of the Faithful with a stewardship message throughout the year.

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Parish Stewardship Council Sample Bylaws MISSION To provide stewardship awareness, education and year-round opportunities for parishioners to live a stewardship way of life as outlined in the USCCB’s Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, Stewardship a Disciple’s Response. PURPOSE Assists the Pastor/Administrator in overseeing and coordinating the on-going parish stewardship formation. MEMBERSHIP 1. Appointed by the Pastor/Administrator 2. Must be registered, active members of {Parish} 3. Council is comprised of {Close to Number on Parish Council} 4. Ex-Officio Members a. Pastor/Administrator b. Parish Staff Representative c. Parish Council President 5. Each member serves a three-year term OFFICERS 1. Chairperson and Co-Chairperson appointed by the Pastor/Administrator 2. Officers serve for one-year terms 3. Responsibilities of the Officers a. Chairperson: Conducts meetings, oversees and coordinates the council and committees. b. Co-chairperson: Serves as the Chairperson elect, reports to the chairperson, acts as the chairperson in his/her absence, records and distributes minutes from meetings. MEETINGS 1. The Parish Stewardship Council will meet monthly on the {Same Day each Month} from {Time}. 2. Members are expected to attend all meetings. 3. Each member should attend all available diocesan stewardship formation events. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Conduct an assessment of how stewardship is emulated in the parish. 2. Bring parish results of assessment to Pastor/Administrator for review. 3. Create and submit a Stewardship Plan to Pastor/Administrator for review and approval. 4. Assist parish ministry leaders in bringing awareness of stewardship in their mission. 5. Conduct annual Stewardship Renewal in October/November.

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CALENDAR For parishes and missions who have not started a formal stewardship effort, the following calendar should be of benefit to you. January • Pastor appoints a Parish Stewardship Council o Together, they study “Stewardship A Disciple’s Response, A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship” February • Parish Stewardship Council o Conducts Parish Stewardship Assessment o Determines Ways to Engage Parishioners in Stewardship April • Parish Stewardship Council o Begin Implementing the Stewardship Plan May • Office of Stewardship and Development o Posts Current Year Materials Online for Parishes September • Pastoral Congress o Stewardship Tracks are available o Parish Stewardship Councils are encouraged to attend October/November • Pastors and Parish Stewardship Councils o First Sunday: What is Stewardship? o Second Sunday: Ministries in Our Parish o Third Sunday: Stewardship Renewal o Fourth Sunday: Thanksgiving Sunday December • Pastors and Parish Stewardship Councils o Thank Parishioners o Acknowledge their Commitment Cards o Give Volunteer Information to Ministry Directors

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YEAR-ROUND STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS AND FORMATION Parish Assessment In order for a parish to begin their stewardship journey, there must first be a reflective process on what the parish is currently doing that supports stewardship as a way of life. The Parish Stewardship Council should conduct an assessment of how stewardship is emulated in the parish. Below are sets of questions designed to assist in this process. Mass • Do homilies carry a stewardship message during various times of the year? • Does the music liturgy carry a stewardship message? • Is stewardship included in the Prayers of the Faithful? Welcoming/Hospitality • How welcoming are we as a community? • How are current parishioners welcomed into our parish? • Do we have a system for updating our parishioners information on a routine basis? • How are visitors welcomed into our parish? • Do we have a “Welcome Packet” for new parishioners? Ministries • What are our current ministries? • How are people invited to join in the ministries? • What other ministries are needed in our parish? • How do we promote the needs and opportunities for ministries? • Are all ministries receiving the support they need? • Who are the current ambassadors of ministries in our parish? Committee/Council Meetings • How is stewardship practiced in our committee/council meetings? • Does each member of our committees/councils understand stewardship as it is stated in the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship?

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Staff • Do staff members of the parish understand stewardship as it is stated in the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship? • How do staff members greet guests who arrive at the parish center? General • What are the specific needs of our parish? • How are we all connected to the parish and to each other? • How can the parish help parishioners use their talents, gifts to help others? • What opportunities do we give parishioners to communicate new ideas for the parish? • What is our parish’s understanding of stewardship as a way of life? • What are we doing to promote stewardship? • What are the obstacles that must be overcome before stewardship becomes a way of life in our parish? • Are we using publications (bulletins, etc.) to get the stewardship message out? • Where is stewardship visible in our parish?

Ways to Engage Parishes in Stewardship Below are a few suggestions of ways to engage your parishioners in the life of the parish. Mass • Homilies carry a stewardship message at least once a quarter. • Music carries a stewardship message. • Prayers of the Faithful focused on stewardship to be included during each Mass. Welcoming/Hospitality • Create welcome packets for newcomers and place them in a section of the vestibule where they can easily be seen. • Invite newcomers to speak to a ministry director after Mass. Ministries • Engage ministry directors in stewardship through retreats and pastor support. • Create a stewardship element in each of the parish ministries. • Inform Catechists and Catechumens of ministry opportunities available to them as members of the church.

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Committee/Council Meetings • Invite a speaker to present on stewardship at a parish meeting. • Make sure a stewardship report is always an item on the parish council meeting agenda. Staff • Provide staff with a list of ministry opportunities and the needs of each ministry. General • Place stewardship information, ideas, bible verses in the bulletin on a weekly basis. • Most parishes publish a financial report at least once a year. Along with this report, include a brief report on each ministry in the parish.

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EXAMPLE OF STEWARDSHIP PLAN Once a stewardship assessment of your parish has been completed, it will be helpful to have a plan of the changes or additions you would like to make. Keeping this type of information in the parish can also be useful during future assessments. The following are offered as examples:

Steps to consider when creating a new ministry: 1. 2. 3. 4.

What is the name of the ministry you would like to create? What is the mission of this ministry? Will there be start-up/on-going costs involved? Who will be the Ministry Director? a. How much time will the position require? 5. Where will it take place? 6. When will it take place? 7. How will parishioners learn of this new ministry?

Example: 1. What is the name of the ministry you would like to create? Eucharistic Ministry 2. What is the mission of this ministry? To bring parishioners closer to God and enhance their prayer life. 3. Will there be start-up/on-going costs involved? No. 4. Who will be the Ministry Director? Deacon Smith a. How much time will the position require? Two hours per week. 5. Where will it take place? Chapel 6. When will it take place? Every Tuesday from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 7. How will parishioners learn of this new ministry? Deacon Smith announces at Mass Bulletin Website

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Steps to consider when enhancing a current ministry: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

What is the name of the ministry you would like to enhance? What is the mission of this ministry? Why do you want to make changes to this ministry? What are the steps needed to make these changes? Who will ensure the steps are completed? When will these changes take place? Will these changes incur additional costs to this ministry? How will parishioners learn of these new changes?

Example: 1. What is the name of the ministry you would like to enhance? Welcoming Ministry 2. What is the mission of this ministry? To “come and see” the Lord at work in our parish community for new parishioners. 3. Why do you want to make changes to this ministry? To better serve our new parishioners in welcoming them to our parish. 4. What are the steps needed to make these changes? Create a Welcome Packet Create a Telephone and Email List of new parishioners 5. Who will ensure the steps are completed? Mrs. Mary Wilson 6. When will these changes take place? The Welcome Packet will be ready for the first Sunday in September The Telephone and Email List will be compiled in three weeks. Calls and emails will begin during week four and completed by week six. 7. Will these changes incur additional costs to this ministry? Additional costs will be for the production of the Welcome Packet. It is estimated to be a total cost of $200. 8. How will parishioners learn of these new changes? The Welcome Packet will be displayed in the foyer. Announcements will be made after Mass by Mrs. Wilson.

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STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL MONTH How to Conduct the Weekends The dates for the Christian Stewardship Renewal Month will always center around November. The exact starting date can change from year-to-year depending on when Thanksgiving falls during the month. The Renewal Month is made up of four Sundays, with the last Sunday ending on “Thanksgiving Sunday.” “Thanksgiving Sunday” will take place on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. The Renewal process should be coordinated by the Parish Stewardship Council in agreement with the Pastor. The following is a schedule, suggestions and recommendations for each weekend: First Sunday: “What is Stewardship?” The focus of this first Sunday should be explaining what the gospel meaning of stewardship is. The Diocese of Salt Lake City has adopted the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response as the definition for stewardship. •

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A visual presence of Stewardship Renewal around the church, such as the vestibule or parish hall. Stewardship posters and brochures, along with information on bulletin boards can be effective. Parishioners need to have a feeling that this is something special. A member from the Parish Stewardship Council or the Pastor speaks to parishioners at each Mass about the exciting Stewardship Journey, we, as members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City are embracing. Stewardship Brochures passed out after Mass, or mailed to each family prior to this first Sunday. Brochure templates can be obtained through the Office of Stewardship and Development. A letter from the pastor can be included with the Stewardship Brochures. Stewardship Announcement placed in the Parish Bulletin. Hymns sung during this Mass have a stewardship theme. Prayers of the Faithful include at least one prayer regarding stewardship.

Second Sunday: Ministries in our Parish Ministries offered through the parish may be highlighted. All parishioners need to know what is available for them to become engaged in the life and mission of the parish. If a ministry fair is conducted earlier in the year, then a ministry directory can be given to each family at this time.

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• • • • •

A representative ministry director speaks at all Masses to explain the overall mission of the ministries in the parish and how parishioners can become involved. This would be a good Sunday to have Ministry Directors represent their ministry by bringing up the Gifts during Mass. Stewardship Announcement in the Parish Bulletin. Hymns sung during this Mass have a stewardship theme. Prayers of the Faithful include at least one prayer regarding stewardship.

Third Sunday: Stewardship Commitment Cards It is important that the Pastor makes the invitation to each parishioner to live a life of stewardship through the giving of time, talent and treasure. • • • • • •

Stewardship Commitment cards are passed out after Mass, or mailed to each family prior to this weekend. Commitment Card templates can be obtained through the Office of Stewardship and Development. A letter from the pastor can be included with the Stewardship Commitment Card. Lay Witnesses speak at each Mass on how stewardship is a blessing in their life. Stewardship Announcement placed in the Parish Bulletin. Hymns sung during this Mass have a stewardship theme. Prayers of the Faithful include at least one prayer regarding stewardship.

Fourth Sunday: Thanksgiving Sunday This is the day families will return their commitment cards to the pastor. Parishioners need to understand this is a special day as they are giving thanks to God for the many blessings they receive each and every day. The commitment cards are presented to the Pastor in a way that reflects this special day. •

• • • •

Ideas for returning the Commitment Cards: o Invite a member of each family to come forward at the Offertory or other time during the Mass, as if they were going to receive Communion, and present their cards to the Pastor. o Ushers gather the cards during a special collection. Make available extra Commitment Cards to parishioners as they enter the Sanctuary if they did not bring theirs with them. Stewardship Announcement placed in the Parish Bulletin. Hymns sung during this Mass have a stewardship theme. Prayers of the Faithful include at least one prayer regarding stewardship.

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Pulpit Announcements A member of the Parish Stewardship Council and/or the Pastor should address the parishioners at each Mass during the Stewardship Renewal Month. The following are suggestions: First Sunday: “What is Stewardship?” Bishop Wester has asked the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City to begin a stewardship journey as one community of faith. Beginning this Sunday we will spend the next four weekends reflecting on the Gospel meaning of stewardship. Stewardship is a way of thanking God through our prayers for all the blessings He has given us, and by returning to Him a portion of our many gifts through the sharing of our time, talent and treasure with our parish community. Second Sunday: Ministries in our Parish This week, after all Masses, the Parish Stewardship Council is hosting a ministry fair. You are invited to join us in the [PLACE] and learn about our various parish ministries and the many volunteer opportunities that we have available to you. Please reflect this week on what you can do for the parish to share your love for the Lord. Third Sunday: Stewardship Commitment Cards Christian stewardship is the outward expression of Christian discipleship that fundamentally involves prayer, nurturing our families, and sharing our time, talent and treasure with others. This weekend we thank [NAME(S) OF LAY WITNESS] for speaking with us about their personal experiences as a Christian steward and what it has meant in their lives. Fourth Sunday: Thanksgiving Sunday God has given us many gifts. Today we are asked to commit ourselves to being good stewards of those gifts God has entrusted to us; to share our time, talent and treasure as a sign of the love and gratitude we have for Him. To the many parishioners who returned their Commitment Cards today, a heartfelt thank you. If you did not bring your Commitment Card to Mass today, it is not too late. There are cards available for you in the pews. The ushers will be collecting the Commitment Cards at this time, or you may drop them off in the gathering space as you leave today, or mail them to the parish office this week. Again, thank you for your participation in this important event for our parish family. (Place Commitment Cards in each pew prior to

Mass.)

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Bulletin Announcements The following are suggested bulletin announcements for use during the Christian Stewardship Renewal month. You can adapt them to your parish circumstances: First Sunday: “What is Stewardship?” Starting this weekend, our parish will begin reflecting on Christian stewardship as our way of life. Christian stewardship is biblically based and is a way of thanking God for all the blessings He has given us by returning a portion of our many gifts through the sharing of time, talent, and treasure with our parish community. Christian stewardship can change the spiritual lives of individuals and our parish as a whole. Second Sunday: Ministries in our Parish Where Christian stewardship has been implemented, it has changed the lives of both givers and receivers. Our parish depends on the generosity of our people, especially when it comes to the sharing of both time and talent. One of the fundamental principles of Christian stewardship is sharing our Godgiven gifts of time and talent with our parish community. This week, after all Masses, the Parish Stewardship Council is hosting a ministry fair. Please join us in the [PLACE] and learn about our various parish ministries and the many volunteer opportunities that we have available to you. Then, please reflect this week on what you can do for the parish to share your love for the Lord. Third Sunday: Stewardship Commitment Cards God has given us many gifts. How do you use them? How do you put them at the service of our Lord and our sisters and brothers at [PARISH]? Today [Father] is asking each parishioner to commit to being good stewards of the gifts God has entrusted to us; to share our time, talent and treasure as a sign of the love and gratitude we have for our Lord. Please take your Commitment Cards home and prayerfully decide what your gift to God will be through the sharing of your time, talent and treasure at [PARISH]. Fourth Sunday: Thanksgiving Sunday A sincere and heartfelt thank you to the many parishioners who returned their Commitment Cards today. If you did not bring your Commitment Card to Mass today, it is not too late. Please drop your card in the mail to the parish office this week or bring it to Mass next week. Thank you for your participation in this important event for our parish family.

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A Guide for the Lay Witness Stories – we are all captivated by stories. Media of all types, newspapers, magazines, internet are always looking for good human-interest stories. Every good homilist or preacher includes a story. Jesus used stories to teach others, and the Gospel writers, through their own stories that witness to their lives with Jesus, still bring about life-changing conversion to millions of people. Everyone can identify with some moment when the life-story of another brought about a change for the better in their own life. One of the most effective means of presenting the stewardship message is through the Lay Witness talk. This talk can be given either before Mass begins or at the completion of Communion. The lay witness talk has two purposes: to inspire people to accept the invitation to Christian stewardship, and to share real life examples of how stewardship is a way of life for them. People are motivated by hearing that Christian stewardship is a source of joy and peace. Hearing personal stories can lead to changes of heart and conversion. Careful consideration should be given when selecting your lay witness. The talk may be given by an individual or a couple. Keep the following points in mind when selecting lay witnesses: • • • • •

The person(s) must already be practicing stewardship in their own life through time, talent and treasure. They should be a person of prayer. They must be someone who shares his or her talents with the parish. The lay witness must support the church financially. The lay witness must be able to articulate about his or her faith and is comfortable speaking to a group.

Sample Outline for Composing Lay Witness Talk • • • •

Introduce yourself: Give a brief description of your family, the number of years in the parish, etc. Define Christian Stewardship: It is our response we make in gratitude to God for what He has given to us. Discuss how you began practicing stewardship: When did you first become aware of the concept? Did you have reservations? Be honest about your first reactions. People will relate to any feelings of “discomfort.” When did you begin experiencing the benefits? Speak of the effect living a life of stewardship has had on your faith life. Use anecdotes from your own family life.

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•

Urge your fellow parishioners to get involved: Invite parishioners to join you and your family in making your parish a stewardship parish, and living your life as a steward.

Do’s and Don’ts of the Lay Witness Talk Do: • • • • • • •

Make sure the pastor sees a copy of the remarks and offers suggestions. Emphasize that Christian stewardship begins with gratitude to God for all His gifts. Explain that Christian stewardship means giving of the “first fruits,” not what is left over. Talk about the personal need of each person to give of their time, talent and treasure. Talk about the joy and fulfillment that comes to those who give God the first share of their time, talent and treasure as a way of expressing gratitude and trust in God. Emphasize that it is time and talent and treasure, not just one or another. Explain that Christian stewardship involves not only your parish, but also the diocese and community.

Don’t: • Talk in bargaining terms: “I gave this much time or treasure and God gave me this in return.” • Talk in dollar or time amounts: “If everyone could give $10 a week” … “If everyone could give three hours a week.” • Use threats of possible consequences due to failure to give: “We won’t be able to heat the church this winter.” • Suggest that Christian stewardship is an obligation.

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Lay Witness Sample Presentation The following is an actual presentation given by a lay witness. While this presentation is individualized and obviously cannot be used, it serves as a model for how lay witness presenters can express their thoughts.

My first encounter with stewardship was in 1987. I sat in my parish church in Columbus, Georgia and listened to two people from Jacksonville, Florida tell us their story and ask us to consider giving a percentage of our income and more of our time to the church and community. Up until that time, I had thought I was doing pretty well. I had always given what I thought was generous to the church … especially in terms of money. I had been taught to “contribute to the support of the church”, both in the parochial school I attended in Philadelphia, and by my parents. When we were growing up, there was no Sunday Vigil Mass. Saturday night was the time to get ready for Sunday. Baths, polishing shoes, washing and curling hair and getting our church envelopes ready were all part of the ritual. My dad put $5.00 in his envelope in the 1950’s and each of us four kids put $.10 in ours. These were placed on the mantle behind my mom and dad’s wedding picture, ready to be picked up on our way to church on Sunday morning. When I grew up and got a job, I put $5.00 in my envelope. I figured that was what grownups did. We never consciously thought about the giving of time. It was just sort of expected that we would run errands for our neighbor who was in a wheelchair, or cut the grass of the elderly lady across the street. It was just part of what you did when you took food to a family who had a death or someone in the hospital. These were the things I continued to do as an adult without ever giving much thought as to how much time was involved or why I was doing it. It was only after listening to the folks from Jacksonville that I began to realize I wasn’t even close to giving in proportion to what I had. My dad’s $5.00 in the 1950’s and mine in the 1980’s were entirely two different things. The little “good deeds” for other people were nice, but kind of sporadic. My life has been richly blessed. I had a family who I loved deeply, parents who sacrificed to bring up four children and instilled in each of us a strong sense of church and morality. I was well educated, had a job, a home, friends and reasonably good health. God had given me many blessings … and I had to give serious thought as to how I was responding to His gifts. It took a while for me to do something, because I didn’t think I could raise my level of monetary giving, and I was pretty sure I didn’t have any “spare time” to volunteer. I eventually decided to “take the plunge,” but only on a trial basis of three months. I would give a tithe of 10% to my church and other charities, and I would find two more hours each week - 19 -C1

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to volunteer for something. I fully expected to be able to say at the end of three months, “Ok, Lord. I tried, but it doesn’t work.” That way, I figured I would be “off the hook.” Well, at the end of three months, I found that all of the bills had been paid, I wasn’t suffering from malnutrition, and I saved some money, bought clothes and went to the movies a few times. I also found out that I wasn’t worrying about money nearly as much as I had been. I had become a reading tutor in our county literacy program and loved it. I obviously wasn’t “off the hook,” but was hooked. Since that summer in 1987 the one overwhelming change in life has been a deepening of my faith. I really trust that God loves me and will take care of me. He has done it … even when I wasn’t sure it could be done. I guess my response to those who question the concepts of stewardship, or who are hesitant, is this: At least give it a try. Give God the opportunity to show you that He is a loving and generous God. He can only do that when we give up control and take that step in faith.

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Sample Pastor Letter

[ To accompany the Stewardship Brochure and Commitment Card ] {Date} {Family Name} {Address} {City, State Zip} Dear {Parishioner}: Often times, when parishioners hear the word “stewardship,” they think, “Uh-oh, Father is talking about money again.” It’s a common misconception. In reality, the most important part of stewardship is thankful prayer, along with the sharing of our time, talent and treasure. We, as Catholics must remember that everything we have is a gift from God, and is for us to use wisely in His service. He asks us to share it with our family and friends, with our parish family, and with those less fortunate in our community. I invite you to read the enclosed brochure reflecting on the fundamental principles of Christian stewardship. Each of us is blessed in different ways. This year I am asking each of the members of {Parish} to look at our blessings, our talents, and our financial resources to reflect on whether what we are returning to the Lord is appropriate in return for the great gifts He has given to us. Also enclosed is our Parish Commitment Card. Please reflect on it and indicate which current ministries you wish to continue and any new ones you would like to begin during the coming year. Also, please commit to put aside more time for prayer and spending more quality time with your family. Finally, I ask you to renew your financial commitment to the parish and encourage you to pray about what is an appropriate sacrificial gift in your family’s circumstances. This will allow us to better budget our parish finances and human resources this next year. I am touched by the continued generosity of our parishioners at {Parish} and I am confident of your annual commitment to our stewardship journey as a way of life. Sincerely yours in Christ,

Reverend {Name} Pastor

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Prayers of the Faithful The following are Prayers of the Faithful that can be used during the Stewardship Renewal Month. At least one stewardship prayer should be used during each weekend. The following may be adapted to better fit your parish: First Sunday: “What is Stewardship?” All that we have, and all that we are able to do are gifts from God. May Christians everywhere recognize the need to respond with gratitude to God’s many gifts .… we pray to the Lord. God created the world and everything in it. As stewards of this world, may we work toward a deep appreciation of all creation, respect for all human life, preservation of the environment, and development of this world through noble human effort … we pray to the Lord. Second Sunday: Ministries in our Parish O, God, our loving Creator and Giver of all good gifts, bless our parish, strengthen our faith and grant us the spirit of Christian stewardship so that we may give generously of our time, talent and treasure to proclaim the good news here in our church and throughout the world … we pray to the Lord. That the Spirit of love and compassion breathe the life of God into every ministry in our parish and diocese … we pray to the Lord. Third Sunday: Stewardship Commitment Cards That we have the openness to be good stewards of God’s many blessings … we pray to the Lord. Lord, as our parish family begins its journey of making Christian stewardship a way of life, may we be open to share our time, talent, and treasure with one another, our parish and our diocese … we pray to the Lord. Fourth Sunday: Thanksgiving Sunday Lord, God, Creator of the universe, we thank you for the gifts and talents You have given to each of us. These are represented by the treasure we are about to collect and offer at the altar, and by the personal commitments of time and talent that are being made. May these gifts enable us more effectively to carry out the mission of the parish and the mission of the church in the world … we pray to the Lord. In gratitude for all those who generously demonstrated their commitment to our parish by returning a parish stewardship commitment card … we pray to the Lord. - 22 -C1

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Music Liturgy In choosing music for the celebration of the Eucharist, priority should be given to music that is in accord with the scripture readings and the general season. However, topics of faith, discipleship, and the call to serve are strong in the readings of Ordinary Time. The following list of hymns may be considered during the Stewardship Renewal Month: `Tis the Gift to Be Simple All Are Welcome All Creatures of Our God and King Awake, O Sleeper Awake, O Sleeper Bienaventurados (Montgomery) Bienaventurados (Montgomery) Bring Forth the Kingdom Caminare (Espinosa) Come to Us, Creative Spirit (Mowbray/Proulx) Como Busca la Cierva (Gonzales Tescuano) Creo en Jesus (Erdozain) Cristo East Conmigo (Espinosa) El Vinador (Gabarain) Entre Tus Manos Es Mi Cuerpo Es Mi Cuerpo Go Make a Difference (Angrisano) Go, Be Justice God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending Gracias Senor (Gabarain) Here I am Lord (Schutte) I Love You, Lord/Te Amo Senor (Smith) In The Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful Lord, Let My Prayer Arise/Suba Mi Oracion (Hurd) Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace (Janco) Lord, You Give the Great Commission Make Us True Servants Moved by the Gospel, Let Us Move (Duck)

Oracion de San Francisco Que Alegria Cuando Me Dijeron (Manzano) See My Hands and Feet (Bringle) Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Servant Song Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo: (J. Cortez) Somos Una Iglesia (Eleazar Cortes) The Church of Christ in Every Age The Numberless Gifts of God’s Mercies The Servant Song (Gillard) The Spirit Sends Us Forth The Summons The Virtue of Humility (Dufner) Vamos Cantando al Senor (Espinosa) Vayan al Mundo/Go Out to the World (Cortez) We Are Called We Are Called We Are Called (Haas) We Bring God’s Holy Love We Plow the Fields and Scatter/Aramos nuestros campos Whatsoever You Do Whenever You Serve Me/Psalm 146 (Janco)

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FOLLOW-UP Parish Stewardship Commitment Cards The follow-up phase to the Stewardship Invitation Month is a very important component. You have now received the Parish Stewardship Commitment Cards from your parishioners and there are several steps that need to be taken. Commitment Cards • Separate the Commitment Cards into Time, Talent and Treasure. Time Commitment Cards • These cards only need to be entered into the ParishSoft database if it affects the parish, e.g. Adoration. • If it does not, this card can be returned back to the parishioner with the Pastor’s thank you letter. A parishioner may want to place the card in an area of their home to remind them of their commitment. Talent Commitment Cards • The Talent Cards are to be entered into the ParishSoft database in the Time and Talent module. Instructions for this module are included in Chapter 9 of this manual. • A report is then generated of the volunteers and should be given to the appropriate ministry leaders. • As soon as the ministry leaders have received their lists of continuing and new volunteers, they should contact the parishioners, thank them for their stewardship gift and invite them to the next meeting of their ministry. • If a ministry is unable to accept additional volunteers, the commitment card should be given to a ministry who does have a need for help. Every effort should be made to find a well-matched ministry. Treasure Commitment Cards • The Treasure Cards are turned over to the appropriate person as designated by the pastor: the Finance Council Chair, the parish bookkeeper or the staff member responsible for recording parishioner financial commitments. • A summary of the commitments should be prepared for the pastor, Parish Stewardship Council and the Finance Council.

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Acknowledge Time, Talent and Treasure Commitment Cards • Thank you letters should be sent from the pastor acknowledging those who responded. • It is important to send the thank you letters before the end of the calendar year to ensure that commitments are not forgotten. • Example of a thank you letter is included in this chapter. Contact those who have not responded • It is necessary to follow up with those who have not responded, as well as those who join the parish later in the year. • A follow-up letter should be sent soon after the Stewardship Invitation Month concludes. • Example of a follow-up letter is included in this chapter. • Stewardship materials and an invitation to make a stewardship commitment should be included in a “welcome packet” for new parishioners.

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Thank You Letter to Those Who Responded {Date}

{Family Name} {Address} {City, State Zip} Dear {Parishioner}: {Parish Name} has been truly blessed with a community who has accepted the invitation to Christian stewardship as a way of life as disciples of Christ. Thank you for reflecting on your own life with our Lord and for returning your Stewardship Commitment Card. I am very grateful that you have committed to spending time in {prayer and quality time with your family}. I sincerely thank you for the commitment you have made to share your God-given gifts of time and talent to the following ministries and activities at {Parish Name}: {Ministry and Service}. I also thank you for your commitment to give back to God through the offertory collection in the amount of {Dollar Amount or Percentage} for the {Year} calendar year. Your stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure will help us to preserve and expand our work in spreading the Good News. May God continue to bless you in the days to come and may the joy of giving be yours. Gratefully in Christ,

Reverend {Name} Pastor

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

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Follow-Up Letter to Those Who Have Not Responded {Date} {Family Name} {Address} {City, State Zip} Dear {Parishioner}: Recently, {Parish} has been discussing Christian stewardship and our need to enter into a more prayerful life, to spend more time with our families, to share our time and talent with our parish and community, and to give a portion of our financial blessings back to God. The response to this invitation has been very inspiring. More than {Number} individuals and families have made a commitment to live a life of stewardship. The invitation to Christian stewardship is very important to our parish family. I want to be sure that everyone has an opportunity to take part in the process of deepening our relationship with the Lord. We have not yet received your response and would very much like to invite you to participate in our parish stewardship journey. I have enclosed a Stewardship Commitment Card and Stewardship Brochure. Please take time to prayerfully consider your gift to God for the many blessings He gives you each and every day. Then mail your Commitment Card to the parish office or drop it in the collection basket. God has blessed us in abundant fashion. We show our gratitude by being good stewards of His abundant gifts. May God continue to bless you in the days to come and may the joy of giving be yours. Gratefully in Christ,

Reverend {Name} Pastor

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

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Thank You Bulletin Announcements •

A sincere thank you to the many parishioners who returned their Stewardship Commitment Cards. If you have not returned your cards, it is not too late. Please drop them off or mail them to the parish office this week.

•

Taking good care of our parish family is like taking good care of our immediate family. We nurture and bless our parish family when we join in prayer and song at Mass, and when we offer to work in a ministry. We also help our parish family when we make a sacrifice and place our offering in the weekend offertory collection. If you have not returned your Stewardship Commitment Cards, it is not too late. Please drop them off or mail them to the parish office this week.

•

God has given us many gifts. I truly thank those of you who have committed yourself to being good stewards of those gifts by promising to share your time, talent and treasure as a sign of the love and gratitude you have for Him. If you have not returned your Stewardship Commitment Cards, it is not too late. Please drop them off or mail them to the parish office this week.

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Annual Stewardship Report Many parishes submit an annual report to their parishioners that is focused entirely on the financial structure of the parish. It is suggested that a Stewardship Report which includes time, talent and treasure be submitted at the end of the year, in addition to your regular Financial Report of the Parish. The following is an example of a stewardship report. Saint Michael Catholic Church Salt Lake City, Utah 2012 STEWARDSHIP REPORT 824 Households Under 5 years …. 103 5 – 12 …………… 150 13 – 19 ………….. 149 20 – 29 ………….. 746 57 934 22

1,934 Individuals 30 – 39 …………. 289 40 – 49 …………. 145 50 – 59 …………. 188 60 and older …… 164

New Households Average Sunday Mass Attendance Average Weekday Mass Attendance

Sacraments Celebrated 32 Anointings of the Sick 25 Baptisms (includes adults) 73 Confirmations (includes adults) 41 Funeral Masses 15 First Communions 10 Marriages

Christian Service 57 Ladies Guild 25 People Visited by Ministers to the Sick 89 Families Adopted by Christmas “Adopt-aFamily” Program

Prayer and Worship 46 Altar Servers 10 Cantors, Choir 109 Eucharistic Ministers 62 Lectors 64 Ushers 339 Youth Group Participants

Council Members 6 Parish Council 4 Parish Stewardship Council 4 Finance Council

Christian Formation and Education 5 Adult Faith Formation 10 Baptismal Preparation Class 29 Bible Study Participants 5 Marriage Preparation Couples 35 Religious Education Students 28 RCIA Participants

Gift of Treasure $220,580 Offertory Pledge 390 Offertory Participants

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Parish Stewardship Evaluation The effectiveness of the stewardship effort cannot be based on financial results and volunteer commitments only. Because it is spiritually based, the results will be in the hearts of those who have responded to the stewardship message. While it is difficult to see the evidence in quantitative terms, we can see it in qualitative terms, e.g., more enthusiasm, increased joy, deeper individual commitment, and increased attendance at Mass and special liturgies. Commitments of time, talent and treasure, however, can be measured. The results should compare the number of volunteers participating from year to year, particularly with the year prior to the first stewardship effort. Offertory giving should be analyzed by looking at comparable periods in previous years. It is important that several members of the parish leadership meet with the pastor to formally evaluate the results of the stewardship effort. This should include the Parish Stewardship Council, Parish Council, and Finance Council. Since this is the first year of a stewardship effort for our diocese, the following sample of a Parish Stewardship Evaluation may seem too extensive. It is offered to serve as an example of what can be done with a year-round stewardship effort. Each parish will want to insert their own areas for evaluation depending on their community.

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PARISH STEWARDSHIP EVALUATION

Rate on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor and 10 being superior

PARISH STEWARDSHIP Effectiveness of the Parish Stewardship CouncilEVALUATION

1. The Council nurtures a year-round stewardship effort 2. The Council has a detailed annual plan 3. The Council has detailed responsibilities on an on-going basis

_____ _____ _____

Comments: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Stewardship Education 1. Stewardship Education for Children 2. Stewardship Education for Youth 3. Stewardship Education for Adults

_____ _____ _____

Comments: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Stewardship Renewal Month 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Mailings from the Pastor Educational Materials Ministry Booklet Ministry Fair Lay Witness Testimony Time, Talent and Treasure Commitment Cards On-Going Awareness Activities

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Comments: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Commitment and Growth 1. The parish shows signs of a long-term commitment to stewardship 2. The parish shows signs of spiritual growth 3. The parish has grown in the area of community outreach

_____ _____ _____

Comments: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

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RESOURCES Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City Website www.dioslc.org/stewardship

The diocesan website’s stewardship page includes resource materials you may find helpful. The site contains a video message from Bishop Wester and copies of his 2011 stewardship articles from the Intermountain Catholic. This site is in English and Spanish. It also includes a list of publications available to assist you in your stewardship journey.

International Catholic Stewardship Council www.catholicstewardship.org

The mission of the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) is to foster an environment in which stewardship is understood, accepted and practiced throughout the Catholic Church. The ICSC is a professional organization recognized internationally as a source of education, networking and information to advance the ministry of Christian stewardship as a way of life in the Roman Catholic Church, and to promote the cause of Catholic philanthropy in dioceses and parishes worldwide. ICSC is the only organization dedicated exclusively to advancing Christian stewardship, Catholic philanthropy and resource development in North America as well as overseas. Founded in 1962, ICSC has over 1,200 members representing over 800 dioceses and archdioceses, parish communities, Catholic organizations and professional firms internationally. Each Fall the ICSC hosts their annual conference in cities across the United States. Hundreds of pastors, diocesan directors of development and stewardship, parish leaders, professional firms, Catholic associations and religious congregations from around the world come together for four days of presentations, workshops, liturgies and major addresses. Participants experience the Catholic vision of Christian stewardship as a way of life. Timely topics by knowledgeable and experienced speakers fill a comprehensive program. Experts share practical information and experiences that have proven successful. Inspiring liturgies, annual award presentations, “table talk” luncheons, engaging receptions and specialized exhibits supplement the worthwhile and valuable program.

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Our Sunday Visitor www.osv.com

Our Sunday Visitor is a Catholic not-for-profit organization with two different divisions: publishing and offertory solutions. The publishing division is responsible for the writing and promotion of six periodicals, which include: Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly, Take Out: Family Faith on the Go, The Catholic Answer, The Priest, My Daily Visitor, and Grace In Action. In addition to the periodicals, Our Sunday Visitor publishes and markets over 500 products including books, tapes, software, and education materials. Our Sunday Visitor is also home to the nation's largest supplier of offering envelope products and services to Catholic parishes throughout the United States.

ParishSoft Time and Talent Module Each parish and mission uses the ParishSoft software program to track census, sacraments, and financial contributions. ParishSoft also has the ability to create and manage ministry groups, volunteers and liturgical schedules through the Time and Talent Module. An online instructional manual is available at: http://www.parishsoft.com/support/guides_parish.asp. You will want to click on “Time & Talent” Version 3.7.12. “Set Weekly Minister Count”, is taken from the “Time & Talent User Guide”. Please refer to the online guide for complete instructions. In this module you can enter in how many people are needed for a ministry and how many people have volunteered for this ministry. This assists the parish with information for scheduling and assigning interested volunteers.

Parish IQ After you have entered your stewardship information in the Time & Talent Module, you can extract this information through the use of Parish IQ. This module is available through Family Directory. Parish IQ is a user-friendly query tool that can extract the name, address, interested ministry and offertory pledge a family has made. This information can then be exported to a Word document to enable you to create your stewardship thank you letters easily.

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Stewardship Scriptures – Old Testament Deuteronomy 16:10 You shall then keep the feast of Weeks* in honor of the Lord, your God, and the measure of your own freewill offering shall be in proportion to the blessing the Lord, your God, has bestowed on you. Deuteronomy 26:1-4 “When you have come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you as a heritage, and have occupied it and settled in it, you shall take some first fruits of the various products of the soil which you harvest from the land which the Lord, your God, gives you, and putting them in a basket, you shall go to the place which the Lord, your God, chooses for the dwelling place of his name. There you shall go to the priest in office at that time and say to him, ‘Today I acknowledge to the Lord, my God, that I have indeed come into the land which he swore to our fathers he would give us.’ The priest shall then receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the Lord, your God. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the means to contribute so freely? For everything is from you, and we only give you what we have received from you. For we stand before you as aliens: we are only your guests, like all our fathers. Our life on earth is like a shadow that does not abide. O Lord our God, all this wealth that we have brought together to build you a house in honor of your holy name comes from you and is entirely yours. Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce. Proverbs 11:24 One man is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer. Psalm 116:12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me? Sirach 35:7-10 In generous spirit pay homage to the Lord, be not sparing of freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For the Lord is one who always repays, and he will give back to you sevenfold.

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Stewardship Scriptures – New Testament Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes Matthew 25:14-30 “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Luke 6:38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. Luke 10:25-37 There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it? He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And - 35 -C1

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who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction. ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” he answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 12:32-48 Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute [the] food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

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Luke 19:1-10 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Acts 20:35 In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Romans 12:6-8 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 1 Corinthians 4:1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. Galatians 5:13 For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.

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1 Timothy 6:7-9 For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life. Titus 3:14 But let our people, too, learn to devote themselves to good works to supply urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive. Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 1 Peter 4:8-10 Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 John 3:17-18 If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.

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Office of Stewardship and Development Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City 27 C Street Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 328-8641 www.dioslc.org/stewardship

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