Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we continue to grow in the awareness of Stewardship in our Diocese, I am frequently asked 'What do you mean by Stewardship? Some want to put together a 'Stewardship Ministry' in order to increase monetary collections or to increase volunteers.

Stewardship is the concrete way we live out our baptismal call to be disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We call ourselves disciples and we are stewards in the way we live and act as disciples. A Steward first recognizes that everything is freely given to us by God. First is the very gift of life, of our time here on Earth. A life of Stewardship recognizes that time is a precious gift from God, to be shared back with God, with our families, with our friends, with the stranger and the outcast.

A Steward also recognizes the gifts of Talent from our loving God. Each irreplaceable and unrepeatable human life is a gift from God and a vital part of God's design and plan. A Steward knows that every person is a gift who will guide us toward holiness.

Of course a Steward also recognizes financial and material gifts as always coming from God. The goal is not to separate out 10% and consider the matter closed but to see everything, the full 100% as having a role in our personal and public journey with Christ.

A Steward recognizes God's gifts, strives to grow those gifts, and gratefully shares those gifts with increase to the Lord through others. Our Savior accepted the life, talent and resources that He was given by the Father and then offered all that he had back to the Father, even to death on the Cross, as a free gift.

We are happy to also offer our personal support to our parishes, schools and other organizations in their Stewardship spiritual formation. May God bless and guide all our efforts.

Rev. Emile 'Bud' Pelletier, Jr.
Vicar of Stewardship