Stewardship Newsletter

Stewardship of Time

Most people admit that it’s difficult to find a quiet moment to spend with God. Family and work responsibilities sometimes seem to take up every spare second. Unless we’re good stewards of our time, prayer just doesn’t happen.

To become a more prayerful person, take inventory of how you spend the 168 hours in the week to find which things may be less important than regular prayer. During this Stewardship Renewal, join with other parishioners who are learning to rearrange their schedule to make “first things first.”

“For Catholics, stewardship of time should include setting aside periods for family prayer, for the reading of Scripture, for visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and for attendance at Mass during the week whenever this is possible.”
From the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship

Stewardship of Talent

Are you serving in a ministry at St. Francis Xavier? With hectic work schedules and family life, we all need time to relax and exercise — but we also need to rejuvenate ourselves through service. Reaching out in love to others, while sometimes difficult, is nonetheless spiritually enriching. In fact, it is a necessary part of our Catholic life.
Perhaps you could become a sacristan, sing in the choir, or simply serve food and punch at a parish reception. No matter how big or small your contribution, our parish just isn’t the same without you! The best part is, when we serve together, we not only form friendships with one another, but we also deepen our relationship with God Himself. Now that’s stewardship!

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service, but the same Lord; there are different workings, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Stewardship of Treasure

Have you ever created a family or personal budget? At the top of most people’s list of expenses are big items like the mortgage, car payments and tuition.  Other expenses are food, credit card payments and entertainment. But how about the Church? Does St. Francis Xavier have a place in your family’s budget? Throughout Scripture, we are taught to give to God our “first fruits” or the “choicest portion.” In modern speech, we might say that the first “line item” in the family budget should be returning a portion of our income to God. Both symbolically and in actuality, this is a powerful expression of God’s place in your life. “Where your treasure is, there also lies your heart” (Matthew 6:21).

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”
2nd Corinthians 9:10-11