Stewardship

In 1997, the Parish Family of St. Philip & St. James began its commitment to the Stewardship way of life. The parish continues to renew the covenant yearly with an annual commitment of time, talent and treasure.

View the 2005 Stewardship report

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is based on the spiritual principles of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. It is a way of life. It is a way of thanking God for all His blessings by returning to Him a prayerful share of the time, talent and treasure allotted to us.

Stewardship engenders a spirituality that deepens our relationship to the Lord. Stewardship involves intentional, planned and prayerful giving of time, talent and treasure.

As we give, we are blessed in many ways. Stewardship is an important concept for our spiritual growth as Catholics – both as individuals and as a Parish Family. Adopting stewardship as a way of life changes our lives and the changes the life of our Parish Family.

Pope Benedict XVI's Quote on Stewardship

" The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure. Therefore, please accept my encouragement for your efforts and my prayers that your upcoming conference will be a stimulus to the practice of stewardship in the Church."

— His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

From the letter of His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, then Cardinal Prefect, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican City, dated 20 June 1997, to His Excellency, The Most Reverend James Patrick Keleher, S.T.D., Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas and Episcopal Moderator of the National Catholic Stewardship Council.

Time, Talent and Treasure

As Catholics, we are asked to reflect on the amount of sharing
we do within our Parish Family and outside in the greater community in which we live. Specifically, we look at our TIME,
our TALENT, and our TREASURE in determining our response as good stewards.

We find that we are more apt to share gifts because of the many blessings we have received than because of the need of the parish budget or the need for volunteers. When we give out of a feeling of gratitude, we begin to offer the gift that God wants us to give: the gift of ourselves.

Giving of TIME involves being with God in prayer and worship, sharing our love with family and friends, and volunteering our time in church and community activities that help others and promote justice.

Sharing our TALENT arises from the fact that God has given each of us the ability and gifts to do certain things well and we are to develop those talents for the good of others. Many individuals commit a certain number of hours each week to prayer and charitable activities.

Giving of our TREASURE is equally as important as giving of our time and talent. Since God does not hold back on any area of His giving, we should not hold back on any area of our giving, especially in the crucial areas of supporting our Parish, Diocese, Catholic schools and community organizations.