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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.
 Stewardship
- A Way of Life...
Stewardship is a way of living out
our faith as individuals, as a faith community, indeed in the actions of our
daily lives.
First, as individuals, we strive to become Christian Stewards as defined in
the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.” The
Bishops state: “A Christian steward is one who receives God’s gifts
gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable
manner, shares them in justice and love with others and returns them with
increase to the Lord.” Or, in other words, stewardship is making a choice to
live a Christ-centered life. It means realizing that all we have and all
that we are able to do are gifts from God, and that everything that we
choose to do with those gifts is in a sense our gift back to God in
gratitude. This is the way we fulfill our baptismal promise to love and
serve the Lord. Stewardship is our way of responding to God’s call with a
life of gratitude.
Click here to continue...
 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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