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Vision Statement
Our people see the
value of stewardship as a way of life and no longer give based on need but
as a grateful response as committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Our parish
leaders collaborate with us as partners, moving toward the goals in the spirit
of cooperation and trust for the benefit of all the Catholic faith
community. Peoples' hearts are impacted and experience conversion through
God's grace working in and through us.
Action Statement
Through long and short-term strategies that call forth the gifts
of time, talent, treasure and assets of the members of the Diocese, we
further the Mission of the Rockford Catholic Diocese of proclaiming the
Reign of God in Word, Sacrament and Service.
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What is Stewardship?
According to the 1992 U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter, Stewardship: A
Disciple's Response, a steward is defined as a disciple of Jesus who
"Receives God's gifts gratefully, cultivates them responsibly, shares
them lovingly in justice with others and returns them with increase to
the Lord." Stewardship is a way of life and is best understood
within the context of conversion and evangelization. The disciple is
motivated to share his/her time, talent, treasure, and assets with the Church and
other worthy causes from a deep sense of gratitude and in a planned,
proportionate and sacrificial manner.
 Catholic Stewardship
- A Reflection
Catholic Stewardship is a way of life. Stewardship is best
understood within the context of the conversion process, the turning away from self-centeredness
to the recognition that God is the loving Creator and source of everything in our lives. This
conversion process transforms our fundamental perspective of life – we move from owners of what we
have, to trustees/stewards of the unconditional and loving gifts that have come from God.
With this perspective, a steward recognizes that everything comes from God, develops what has been given,
shares it in a loving and just way, and increases what God entrusts to her/him according to the will of God.
Stewardship is counter-cultural and challenges the secular philosophy that all we have gives us value, and
is solely ours. Instead, we are endowed with dignity because of an intimate relationship with God and because
all our time, talent, treasure and assets are His gifts to us. We use these gifts to become co-creators and
protectors of all life, ...
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article
 Quote
on Stewardship from Pope Benedict:
"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."
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