In January of 2005, St. Joan of Arc became a Stewardship Parish. Our parish donates a percentage of the regular offertory to worthy organizations and charities. This committee recommends quarterly donations to the Finance Council and Father Nathan. Many worthy organizations have been helped through St. Joan of Arc’s financial assistance. We are thankful that even in these challenging economic times, we have been able to continue our giving. Our parishioners are growing in an understanding of their gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure.
Stewardship calls us to recognize that all of creation is a gift from God. As stewards, we recognize God as the source of all that we are and all we possess. Therefore, we are responsible to use the gifts that God has entrusted to us in gratitude to God in everything we do. When we apply stewardship principles to everything we do in our daily lives, we put our faith into practice. We participate in God’s Kingdom here on earth and help carry out Jesus’ work.
WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?
Stewardship is acknowledging that all we have and all we are come from God. It is rooted in gratitude and blossoms in giving of ourselves. Stewardship is a prayerful acknowledgment of God’s generosity to us. As Christian stewards and disciples of Jesus, we recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and the source of all things. We give of our first fruits in thanksgiving for God’s generosity to us.
We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards. Stewardship is an ongoing conversion of heart and has the power to shape our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live.
WHAT IS SACRIFICIAL GIVING?
Sacrificial giving does not mean only monetary contributions. It is based on the notion that the giving of one’s Time, Talent and Treasure is central to the Christian life and the concept that we give not from our surplus, but from our first fruits. Giving expresses our trust in a God who will provide for us and in a community that will use our gifts to build His kingdom.