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Stewardship
Stewardship at SMV “Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge…may you excel in this gracious act also.” -2 Corinthians 8:7
We share in the life of God in the Sacraments, in Scripture, in Tradition and in our life together. Our common life is built around a common faith. We all have a part to play in the life and work of the Church, and this work of mutual support is what we mean by the word “stewardship.” Each member of SMV is called to contribute to the everyday life of the Church. Each person is called to prayer and worship, service, and financial contribution. Everyone must give something. Of course, we don’t ask for equal giving, but we do ask for equal sacrifice. Jesus, who gave us so much, is our model. Thus, if one is to follow Christ, one must contribute.
Stewardship Basics A good steward uses his or her time, talent, and treasure to build the Kingdom of God, especially within his or her parish. The underlying motive for the good steward is love: if we love God, we will love our parish community and support it with the generous gift of ourselves.
Stewardship of Time: Using my time on earth wisely; making time for personal prayer, family prayer, and quality time with friends and loved ones.
Stewardship of Talent: Using my God-given abilities to strengthen the Church and help others, especially through parish ministries and activities.
Stewardship of Treasure: The wise and just management of my financial resources; giving a proportionate amount of my income to the weekly parish offertory. SMV parishioners are asked to give 5% of income to the parish, 1% to the diocese, and 4% to other charities.
Why an annual commitment? So much can change in a year that it’s important to annually re-assess our commitments to our Lord. You may have more or less time to devote to ministries, or more or less money to contribute to the offertory. This Commitment Card is the way you express your annual commitment to God.