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:

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:

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.

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:

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
  1. 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?

  2. 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?

  3. 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?

  4. 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.
November 12, 2003 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops