Giving

 

​“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” ~ 1 Pt 4:10

Christian stewardship is a way of life. In the Diocese of Greensburg, we are committed to our common goal that all members of our family of faith are called to share their gifts of time, talent and treasure in proportion to the blessings they have received from God.

Christian stewardship is living out a commitment to be centered on Jesus Christ, rather than one’s self. It involves an ongoing conversion of the heart. For each of us, no matter where we are on our personal path of faith, stewardship is a lifelong journey. Stewardship is, therefore, much more than a program or a fund-raising effort, although it can include a focused effort within parish life.

For example, through a regular stewardship renewal project, parishes can make a special effort to encourage parishioners to prayerfully consider how much of their time, talents, and treasure they can commit to their parish and community in the future.

The foundation is committed to helping parishes continually educate parishioners about stewardship, and provides many resources to help parishes in that educational effort.

​A Christian steward is one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cultivates them responsibly, shares them lovingly in justice with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.

Central to our human and Christian vocations, as well as to the unique vocation each one of us receives from God, is that we be good stewards of the gifts we possess.  God gives us this divine-human workshop, this world and church of ours. The Spirit shows us the way. Stewardship is a part of that journey.

(Excerpts taken from Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, pastoral letter prepared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops).

​​The Diocese of Greensburg and all of its parishes will embrace Christian stewardship as a way of life and a means of living out our discipleship of Jesus Christ, as evidenced by its planning and practices, in an attempt to achieve salvation of the souls entrusted to the diocese through a sincere conversion of mind and heart, followed by a faith-filled response in word and deed. The concept of Christian stewardship, and the principals upon which it is built, are outlined in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pastoral letter "Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response."

According to the pastoral letter, the first step is to recognize that we have all been called, through our baptism, to be disciples of Jesus Christ. “Mature disciples make a conscious, firm decision to be a follower of Christ.”  As a result, we are called to express our discipleship through our actions.  In other words, we are called to live out our faith, regardless of the implication to ourselves.

​The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Greensburg works with parishes of every size and income to promote sound fundraising practices that derive from the principles of stewardship. Stewardship calls us to recognize that all that we have is a gift from God and that we are called by God to receive these gifts gratefully, use them wisely and to share them with others.

The foundation can assist parishes with such initiatives and efforts as:

• Stewardship education
• Diocesan Lenten Appeal
• Increased offertory programs
• Individual major gift and planned giving consultation
• Capital campaign planning

If you would like more information or want to discuss your parish's own situation and opportunities, please feel free to contact a member of our staff at 724-552-2502.