Stewardship and Young Adults
An Invitation to Help Change the World
This is a call to young adults everywhere to renew the face of the Earth. This
is a call to listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking of gratitude
and responsibility. This is an invitation to Catholic stewardship.
What Is Catholic Stewardship?
Stewardship is not simply making donations or taking care of the building and
grounds.
It is a spirituality—hence a way of life—made of four parts:
- Receiving the gifts of God with gratitude
- Cultivating them responsibly
- Sharing them lovingly in justice with others
- Standing before the Lord in a spirit of accountability
It is up to you to determine how you will live out this stewardship way of
life. You will not be alone, however. Millions of fellow Catholics are
traveling together with you.
The Gifts of God
Think of God's gifts in broader terms, not simply the material goods or
security you may enjoy. These are gifts, too:
- Your faith, hope, love, and joy
- Your family love and relationships with others
- Your intelligence, talents, and skills
- Your imagination, compassion, and vision
- Creation in all its splendor
Our Catholic tradition teaches us that with so many blessings come great
challenges. At all times in our lives, we have an opportunity—and a
responsibility—to share what we have been given.
Jesus Is the Steward
It begins with remembering our Baptism, when we became followers of Jesus
Christ. From this call flows the commitment to Christ that makes stewardship
possible—and deeply rewarding. However, this is a commitment to a lifetime
of action, and it requires sacrifice.
Through following Christ, we have the benefit of the role model of sacrifice
for the greater good, a model of self-giving and loving service.
Hearing and Responding to the Call
Everyone has a calling, which is another way of saying that your walk
with God is personal. When you hear the call to gratitude and responsibility—in
your friendships and family, in your work, wherever you go—then taking the
next step to answer that call is where Catholic stewardship may be clearly
seen.
And in our faith, that response happens in a wonderfully rich, vibrant
community of diverse and talented individuals. We are all encouraged to
consider responding generously to God's call to a priestly or religious
vocation, as well as to the single or married life.
What Does a Catholic Steward Look Like?
Catholic stewards take care of the world around us, including embracing the
social teaching of the Church.
- We work as partners with God in the redemption of the world.
- We respect human life and dignity.
- We protect the natural environment.
- We share our gifts (time, talents, and treasures) with others.
- We communicate our enthusiasm.
For your own development as a Catholic steward, it helps to spend time in
prayer and reflection to recognize your gifts from God. Then discover how best
to use those gifts for the benefit of others—and of course, invite others to
discern and share their gifts, too.
The Challenges and Rewards of
Stewardship
It is an incredible challenge to live in imitation of the life of Christ. We
all face obstacles, opportunities, and challenges, living in a fast-paced
environment with many responsibilities. Our spiritual hunger does not always
get a chance to be nourished through prayer and action.
However, a clear sense of purpose—nourished by the Eucharist and our rich
Catholic tradition—opens the door for us to actively commit to a life of
gratitude and responsibility; to thank God for his endless gifts, and then to
decide what we can do to help the world. The rewards include:
- Making a difference in people's lives
- Becoming an active member of a fulfilling Catholic community
- Discovering talents inside you, waiting to be used
- Letting go of your worries and setting realistic goals in both your
spiritual and secular life
- Experiencing the amazing increase in God's presence that comes with a
partnership with the Lord
To Learn More
We invite you to speak with your pastor and parish leaders. Read our pastoral
letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response, available by calling
800-235-8722 or online at www.usccb.org. You may also want to go to
your diocesan website or the International Catholic Stewardship Council (www.catholicstewardship.org).
Look for new opportunities to discuss stewardship with others. And keep
listening to the stirrings of your own heart.
We look forward to journeying together.
Reflection Questions
- What resources, talents, and abilities has God given me? Do I use them
in service to others? How might I take the next step to become a more
effective steward?
- What qualities in the life of Jesus provide a model for living and an
example of good stewardship? How might they compare to my own life and
lived experience?
- If I am to work to be an effective Christian steward, with the help of
God's grace, what will it cost me in terms of personal sacrifice and
hardship? Am I willing to take the next step?
- How am I reaching out to invite others to recognize their gifts? What
opportunities do I provide for them to employ those gifts for the good of
the community?
Change the World
"I am convinced that if we can make stewardship part of our faith
life we can truly change the world. We can make this a much better
place in which to live—not just for us, but for everyone. I am
convinced of this because I am convinced that it will attack the
selfishness that besets all of us. It turns the mine to ours;
it turns self to others. It turns us from just loving ourselves
to loving others as Jesus loves them."
-
-
-
-
-
- Bishop John J. McRaith
-
-
-
-
-
- Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky
|
Stewardship and Young Adults: An Invitation to Help Change the World
was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved for publication by the
full body of bishops at their November 2003 General Meeting and has been
authorized for publication by the undersigned.
-
-
- Msgr. William P. Fay
-
-
- General Secretary, USCCB
Copyright © 2003, United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
copyright holder.
Stewardship and Young Adults: An Invitation to Help Change the World
is available in a print edition and may be ordered by calling toll-free
800-235-8722. Ask for publication number 5-525.