I have not resorted to recycling old bulletin columns yet, but I am taking this opportunity during Catholic Stewardship Renewal to repost a FAQ that was put in the bulletin last year. This will offer folks an opportunity to reflect on the values of stewardship now that a year has passed since our first stewardship commitment last October. How have we grown in our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship but also the process of making our commitment. Last year one third of the parish families returned their commitment forms. This year we are making it easier to participate in that after a certain time, we will go ahead and mail out the packets that weren’t picked up.

What is stewardship?   "As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10)  Stewardship begins with a spiritual awakening. We see who we are with new light, that everything we have is from God. A steward then receives God's gifts of time, talent, and treasure gratefully, cultivates them responsibly, shares them lovingly in justice with others—proportionately and sacrificially, and returns them with an increase to the Lord. This FAQ will focus on the treasure aspect of stewardship.

Why have we become a total stewardship parish?  Bishop Shawn McKnight brought with him the personal experience of growing up in the flagship parish for stewardship: St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita, Kansas. His pastor, Msgr. Thomas McGread began what would become a transforming movement for the US Church in response to Vatican II's call for renewal. The Wichita Diocese has been the model of how members can join the Church's mission by offering their time, talent, and treasure. Stewardship is one of three priorities of Bishop McKnight's pastoral plan for the Diocese of Jefferson City. All parishes in the diocese transitioned to total stewardship on July 1, 2023.
 
What are the changes that stewardship requests of us?  For many parishioners, stewardship requires a few practical changes, for example, how to use the envelope set and to be a bit more intentional in planning their contributions throughout the years. Stewardship is not just about treasure. Many parishioners are committed to spending time with God in prayer and study, especially fidelity to the Sunday Mass, and in sharing their talents and skills in the many ministries of the parish. But all of us will be guided in discernment and prayer toward making a yearly commitment of time, talent, and treasure, and be assisted in making that commitment bear fruit in action. This FAQ will focus on the treasure aspect of stewardship.

What does tithing mean? Tithing is a biblical concept that calls the People of God to offer their first fruits to the Lord in thanksgiving for God’s blessings (cf. Deuteronomy 26). We recently heard one foundational text from the Book of Genesis at the Solemnity of Corpus Christi: “[Melchizedek] blessed Abram with these words: ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Tithe means a tenth of the graces God has blessed you with, typically accounted for yearly. Bishop McKnight asks that we contribute 8% of our annual income to our parish, with the remaining 2% going to the other charities and causes we wish to support.

What are the core values of stewardship?  Hospitality is the first pillar. It means that our parish welcomes others, especially the poor and distressed, into our midst and offers them rest in the Lord. Prayer is what sustains us in our generosity. It is how we discern God’s will, petition His mercy, and celebrate His graces, especially in the Eucharist. Formation as disciples is essential to stewardship. As the Lord formed his disciples through parables and example, He endlessly transforms us through His Holy Word, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Church, especially when we study our faith and respond to ever-new realities of life. Finally, we share God’s grace primarily through service to others through our parish ministries, building up the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
How has the envelope set I received changed?  Stewardship simplifies our contribution to the mission of the Church. The custom has been to have second collections at Mass to fund the national collections the US Bishops have traditionally supported. We have been accustomed to contributing to the charitable efforts of the parish through what has been called “the Quarter Sunday” collection the first weekend of each month. Special envelopes were also included for specific ministries such as Catholic education and the cemetery.  Most of these envelopes for second collections have been removed. Parishioners are then requested to combine what they would normally give to these second collections with their regular stewardship tithe.

Why have the Second Collections gone away?  Stewardship simplifies our offering with the concept of the tithe. The practice of second collections has a distinct disadvantage for both the steward and the intended beneficiary. In fact, the second collections have essentially burdened the people who happened to be at Mass on the particular weekend for taking the collection. Then at that Mass, it is limited to the people who prepared their envelopes or had money to place in the basket. Lamentable as it is, we have to admit that most of our parishioners do not contribute substantially to the scheduled second collections. This shift to stewardship will be an act of faith. We trust that those who have given generously at these second collections will continue to do so but now in the form of their tithe. Tithing challenges those who have minimally or not at all supported the distinct pastoral needs that these collections represent by ensuring that a portion of their tithe does go to meet the needs of others.
 
How does stewardship affect our parish budget in regard to support for the Diocese?  On the 15th of each month, our parish will render an accounting for the previous month’s income. The report will include the ordinary income we receive from the offertory collection, mailed-in contributions, electronic giving, and other regular contributions. Ten percent of the total amount will be sent to the Diocese to support the mission of the wider Church. Excluded are extraordinary revenue, such as preschool tuition, non-Catholic school tuition, and any interest earned from money on deposit with the chancery. Part of stewardship is accountability. We will provide recurring statements showing where we are with parishioner tithes and the amount sent to the Diocese. We will no longer pay the cathedraticum, a straight tax on our income, nor will parishioners be asked to participate in the fall Diocesan Catholic Stewardship Appeal. We will no longer make contributions to the US Bishop's special collections. Instead, the Diocese will tithe a percentage of its income to the Universal Church, particularly those second collections.
 
How do I make my annual Catholic Stewardship Renewal commitment?  All parishioners will find a packet with their family’s name on it with renewal materials in it in the back of church. Every household will fill out a Commitment to Stewardship form outlining their commitment to time, talent, and treasure. The document will be returned to the parish office, which will track responses. The Stewardship Council and the parish commissions will assist parishioners in fulfilling their commitments of time, talent and treasure. Please take the time to pick up your packet, complete the forms and return them to the office. Packets not picked up in the next week will be mailed. We can save a lot in postage when parishioners take the time to pick up their packet in church.

How will our parish account for the gifts of time, talent and treasure that are offered to assist in our mission?   A Stewardship Council, still in the process of formation and in need of volunteers, will lead the effort to collate the information from the Catholic Stewardship Renewal pledges. The parish has worked toward reforming robust and comprehensive commissions to coordinate the offerings of time and talent so that everyone finds a place for service. The commissions, the parish council, and the finance council will each play a part in the formation and accountability that is required as we become better stewards of God’s graces. Accountability is a key value of stewardship. When someone volunteers to serve, they are welcomed, formed, given a role to play, and affirmed in their service. When someone tithes, they deserve to be informed how that tithe is put to use in our parish mission. 

How does stewardship affect our Catholic School?  Of all the best practices of tithing that Msgr. McGread developed the model for funding the Catholic schools in our diocese has been the most consistently lived out. Mary Immaculate Catholic School does not charge tuition to Catholic families. This is true for all the elementary schools but one in our diocese. The stewardship model developed in the 80s in Wichita was introduced into our Diocese by Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe. Through his efforts, our parishes first encountered the notion of stewardship commitment of time, talent, and treasure. He ensured that our school would not charge tuition to Catholic families. But Catholic education is not free. That means each family who sends their children to our school is bound by faith and integrity to support our parish’s entire mission proportionately and sacrificially. To do otherwise would betray a basic trust. Similarly, all parishioners are obligated to support Catholic education, especially in the form of a Catholic school. To fulfill the duty of passing on the faith to the next generation as Christ commanded us to do.

How can I be reassured that the ministries I am passionate about continue to flourish amid this change?  Parish staff and the leadership organizations have a duty to account for God’s blessings offered in the form of time, talent, and treasure. Service on a parish leadership team, such as the Worship Commission or the School Advisory Board, is a great way to get involved. Forming a Social Concerns Commission which advises the pastor on the acute and recurrent needs of the surrounding community will not only continue the direct charity we provide to the food pantry and to the individuals who ask for assistance, but most importantly  expand our charitable outreach.

What does this mean for a Catholic’s relationship with a parish?  The Code of Canon Law, #528.1 states: “A pastor is obliged to make provision so that the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish.” Canons 528 and 529 detail the specific obligations of a pastor. In effect, at the very least, every Catholic is a parish member by living within its territorial boundaries; thus, they have the right of access to the sacraments. But what about the duties of a parishioner? At our baptism, we made a promise, ourselves or through our parents, to remain a committed disciple of the Lord and active members of the Body of Christ, His Church. Stewardship will help keep that commitment. Parishioners who register, honor their stewardship commitments, and meet the obligation to participate in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Holy Eucharist on Sunday and Days of Obligation, will be able to embrace this transition with grace and ease. Those who find it difficult to participate in the faith-life of our local Church will perhaps come to a better understanding of the 23rd Psalm’s reference to “rod and the staff.” Using the crooked staff, the shepherd pulls the sheep out of danger, the rod to offer a little “incentive” to move forward to where the shepherd wants them to go.
 
What biblical sources can assist my discernment regarding stewardship?  Chapter 26 of Deuteronomy is a wonderful summary of Old Testament stewardship. Especially motivating is the idea of offering one’s first fruits back to the Lord. A practice connected to the harvest, offering first fruits transforms our response to grace from holding back to generous trust that God provides. Matthew 25 is a chapter entirely devoted to accounting for God’s blessings. There we find the parables of the stewards who are each given different talents, and of the sheep and the goats where charity and mercy define the Last Judgment. Stewardship also provides a way to read the Bible. Many of the letters of Paul contain passages that illustrate the four virtues of stewardship: Paul continually thanks the churches for their hospitality to him. Paul models constant prayer in his intercessions to God for the faithful and in response to the great trials he encountered. He consistently educates in his letters by marvelous theological formation on the mysteries of the faith. And Paul ultimately gave his life in service of evangelization.