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Stewardship Prayer
O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom,
I know that all I have received is from your hand.
Gracious and Loving Father,
You call us to be stewards of Your abundance,
the caretakers of all You have entrusted to us.
Help us to always use Your gifts wisely
and teach us to share them generously.
Send the Holy Spirit to work through us,
bringing Your message to those we serve.
May our faithful stewardship bear witness
to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives.
We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus' name. Amen.
A Christian steward recognizes God as the source of all, and knows that we will be held accountable for how we used the gifts he entrusted to our care.
We acknowledge that everything comes from God and that returning a small amount of time, talent, and treasure (10%) is the best way to thank God for our gifts. The Stewardship Way of Life emphasizes the need to give more than anyone needs to receive.
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Who Is A Christian Steward?
He or she is a person 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 first step in practicing the stewardship way of life is a realization that everything comes from God - our time, our talents, our treasures, our families, our friends, our lives, our faith, eternal life, Jesus, the sacraments, the world around us and everything else. The next step is a conversion of heart and mind where we thank God for all these gifts, accept the responsibility placed on us by them, and use them wisely and lovingly to serve God and others.
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"An Active Parishioner"
An active parishioner is one who is registered in the parish and actively participates in the life and mission of the Parish and the Church. By "actively participating," it is meant, among other things that:
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the person/family is registered in the parish ( included in the parish census)
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the person/family is attending Mass regularly
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the person/family helps the parish through their stewardship gift of talent, time and treasure (the family is receiving and using envelopes)
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the person/family is involved in the religious education programs, social activities, service projects, and fundraising activities of the parish.
The above understanding is used in determining readiness for the celebration of sacraments and enjoying the privileges and support of the Parish Community.
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Good Stewardship In Action
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Living Out The Beatitudes
Each year our PSR 6th grade holds a bake sale to benefit various organizations. Special thanks to the mothers and students who helped to make this fundraiser a huge success. Proceeds are typically split among St. Joseph Cares, Appalachian Experience, Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
Sharing Our Abundance
Do you have an abundance of fresh foods from your garden—maybe more than you can use? For several weekends in late August and early September, you can share your abundance with other parishioners and the 4C’s Food Cupboard through our Produce Sharing Program. During WEEKEND MASSES ONLY, please bring your clean, fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden. Place them on the table provided in the alcove outside the church entrance. Parishioners are invited to take home what they would like from the sharing table. All produce left after the last Mass will be taken to our local 4C’s food cupboard, the Crestwood Coalition for Community Care. Thank you to St. Joseph Cares for coordinating.We Plant ~ We Grow ~ We Share
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Ox Roast Fair Donations
Members of several Girl Scout Troops of the Crestwood School District and other volunteers collected a vehicle full of canned goods to help stock the shelves of the 4C's, Mantua's food cupboard. Thanks to these young ladies, a very valuable community service project continues.
Our leftover food products that could not be returned to suppliers is donated each year. These items may include beef, produce, and bread products. Some beef and other items are sometimes reserved to be used for upcoming Free Community Meals. It’s wonderful to be able to reach out to those in need.
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Pope Francis' Encyclical Laudato Si ~ The Care of Our Common Home
On Pentecost, 2015, Pope Francis issued his encyclical letter on Earth, our common home. In his opening paragraphs the Pope cites St. Francis of Assis who called the earth our sister."Praised be to you, my Lord, through our Sister,
Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us . . . "The Pope writes, "This sister now cries out to us . . ."
In six chapters the Pope explains the predicament of our Earth: what is happening, how we got there, and what must be done.In an effort to become well informed and an active participant, members of our parish formed Study Group for Pope Francis encyclical on the environment. The group met during the Fall of 2015 and additional study groups have continued. Various members continue the Care of our Common Home by enhancing our recycling efforts at St. Joseph's.
Below are some ways to live out Pope Francis' call:
1. Reaffirm Our Vocation as Stewards of Creation
As individuals and families: Counteract the "Throwaway Culture"
In Laudato Si', Pope Francis brings attention to our "throwaway culture," which "quickly reduces things to rubbish" (no. 22). In your daily life, try to identify the ways in which you can choose reusables, rather than disposables, such as coffee mugs, reusable bags, or cloth napkins, and commit to making one change during this month.As a community: Educational Program
Use the educational program “Befriend the Wolf” from the Catholic Climate Covenant to reflect on our vocation as stewards of creation. The program is designed to help your community contemplate the connections between all creatures under God our Creator. Visit Catholic Climate Covenant to access this resource.2. Thank God for His Wonderful Handiwork
As individuals and families: Meal Prayer
Before and after meals, say a short prayer of thanksgiving for the life-giving food that sustains and nourishes us. Briefly consider how all nourishment ultimately comes from the earth, and give thanks for all the human hands that helped bring this food to your table. May we recognize, as Laudato Si' has taught us, that this "moment of blessing, however brief, reminds us of our dependence on God for life" (no. 227).
As a community: Eucharistic Adoration
One of the most meaningful ways we give thanks as Christians is through the sacrament of the Eucharist, a word which means "thanksgiving." As Laudato Si' proclaims, through “the Eucharist, the whole cosmos gives thanks to God" (no. 236). To celebrate this sacred reality during the Season of Creation, we recommend hosting a one-hour, care for creation-themed eucharistic adoration in your parish. Please visit bit.ly/PCJP-EA to access a resource created by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace for this purpose.3. Implore God's Help and Ask His Pardon
As individuals and families: Confession
In calling for a deep "ecological conversion," Pope Francis has emphasized the importance of examining one's own conscience, of recognizing one's sins against creation, however great or small. Seeing the interconnectedness of our world leads to an understanding that “[e]very violation of solidarity and civic friendship harms the environment” (Caritas in Veritate, no. 51). We invite you to bring these sins to confession and to perform a spiritual work of mercy for our common home, such as an act of “grateful contemplation of God’s world” (Laudato Si’, no. 214).
As a community: Prayer Service
One final suggestion for this time is to organize a prayer service in your parish. The Catholic Climate Covenant has developed a four-part prayer service to be said after Mass each week. As we approach the beautiful autumn season, holding this service outside may allow for a rich experience. Please visit bit.ly/CCC-PS to access this resource.
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Care For CreationIn Action
One step to live out Pope Francis' call to Care for Creation is to keep used household items out of landfills. Bring your old printer cartridges, cell phones, computer accessories, compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and batteries (all but non-rechargeable alkaline) to the bins located in the All-Purpose Room. See the collection bin signage or contact Emma Kennedy (330-703-0677) for more information. A recycling collection date for larger household items will be scheduled in the future. An increased recycling effort will take place at the Ox Roast Fair to help care for our Earth. For more resources related to care of creation, please visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops webpage on the Environment at usccb.org/environment.
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