Stewardship

At the heart of our Christian lives is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Like any other relationship, this one needs to be intentionally nurtured. We all know, only too well, that growth in any aspect of our lives, whether academic, athletic, economic or spiritual, never happens by chance. We must be committed, make choices and be accountable to one another. To be disciplined about how we grow and learn spiritually is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple. The word disciple, in the New Testament, literally means “one who learns.” This is the reason for this Stewardship of Time Initiative. At Saint Benedict Parish, we ask and expect every child, youth, adult and senior to make a commitment for the coming year to personal prayer and to a program of faith formation. This book, given to each family, will help you decide which option is right for you. Please receive this prayerfully and with an open mind. I know that, for some of you, it may have been a long time since you have taken part in a faith formation program. It is never too late to begin again and there is always so much to discover: “How rich are the depths of God” (Romans 11:33). To those of us who struggle with not having enough time, we recall the words of Jesus who told us to seek first His kingdom and that everything else would then be given to us. Each parishioner is being asked to commit to regular personal prayer time, as well as at least one of the programs of spiritual development that have been outlined in this booklet. On Commitment Sunday, two Commitment cards will be distributed: one for children aged 6-12, and one for adults aged 13+. Each person will be asked to fill out the card, committing their time to God in specific ways. One section of the commitment card will be torn away and kept by the parishioner, reminding them of their commitment, and the rest of the card will be returned to the parish.

On behalf of the Stewardship Team, I hope and pray that this booklet will guide you in being able to make decisions about programs and activities that will best suit your spirituality, personality and schedule. There is a rich diversity present in this booklet, and this is a reflection of the great richness we are blessed with here at Saint Benedict. Together, let us make wise use of this resource so that we may continue to grow and mature as disciples of Christ and as a community of faith, the Church.

Fr. James Mallon Pastor Saint Benedict Parish

Stewardship

Liturgy Ministries

Ministry and Talent Opportunities

Responsible Ministry

Ministry Guidelines