2012 Stewardship Renewal
Christ at the Center - November 2012
Each year in November, we are asked to reflect on the many gifts God has given us and to discern how we are using our gifts to come together in unity as a parish community and build up the kingdom of God at St. Martin de Porres. At all liturgies on Commitment Weekend, Father Sy will be asking everyone to prayerfully discern and to offer their commitment of time, talent and treasure for the coming year. Brochures with attached commitment cards can be found in the parish office, the church vestibule and in the pews at Mass on that weekend. Children's brochures will also be available in the pews that weekend. The adult brochure and children's/youth brochure can be selected below.
Brochures with attached commitment cards are also being mailed to all families and can be found in the parish office, the church vestibule and in the pews at Mass on that weekend.
- Christ at the Center - Adult
- Children Commitment Brochure
St. Martin de Porres is striving to live the Stewardship way of life through the genuine welcoming and invitation to all who attend our faith community and challenging all to put their gifts to use for building up the kingdom of God both inside the parish and outside in the community and world.
When we consider our participation in Stewardship, we need to include our time and talent, as well as our treasure. As with our sacrificial giving, giving time and talent expresses our gratitude to the God who has given us these gifts.
What is Christian Stewardship?
A steward is someone who takes care of what belongs to someone else, like an administrator or trustee, not an owner. Christian stewards recognize that everything really belongs to God - everything we are and everything we have - and that God will hold us accountable for how we use the many gifts He entrusted to our care. If we truly believe this and experience a conversion of heart, we can't help but respond with profound gratitude. This gratitude is expressed in our celebration of the Eucharist (the very word means thanks) and in the way we live our everyday lives.
What does it mean to live the Stewardship way of life?
The Stewardship way of life is a biblically based Catholic spirituality. Living each day as a good steward means answering our own personal call from Jesus Christ to be his disciple; following his example of loving service to others. In their Pastoral Letter "Stewardship: A Disciple's Response", the American Bishops describe 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."
Gifts from God are not meant to be kept only for our own use, but to be shared with others so everyone has a share in God's abundant graces
Stewardship Prayer
God my Creator,
you made me all that I am and gave me all that I have.
Help me show my gratitude
by using these gifts to serve others in your name.
Jesus my Redeemer,
you taught me the way to eternal life
by your example of loving service to others.
Grant me the courage to respond to your call to Discipleship
by following in your footsteps.
Holy Spirit of God,
be with me as I choose each day to put you first in my life.
Let me be a model of Christian Stewardship
so others will come to know you through my actions.
I pray, dear Lord,
that you open the minds and hearts
of all the men, women and young people of our parishes,
that we may joyfully accept your challenge
to be good stewards.
Amen.
Contact: Mark W. Murphy
Phone: (714) 504-1006
e-mail: markmurphy3@hotmail.com
Link to Diocese of Orange Stewardship Web site: www.rcbo.org
