St. Anne Catholic Church

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• Pillar of Hospitality
• Pillar of Prayer
• Pillar of Formation
• Pillar of Service

• Pillar of Hospitality
• Pillar of Prayer
• Pillar of Formation
• Pillar of Service

• Pillar of Hospitality
• Pillar of Prayer
• Pillar of Formation
• Pillar of Service

Stewardship

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 14: 34-35)

With Jesus as the foundation, there are certain elements that need to be in place within the parish structure, which enable parishioners to convert to a stewardship life through the giving of self in time, talent and treasure.  Hospitality, Prayer, Formation and Service are the pillars that rise from the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Recognizing that this conversion is primarily a call from God made possible through grace He bestows upon us, the task of conversion to stewardship is part of our response to discipleship.

The four pillars of hospitality, prayer, formation and service invite us to experience, witness and live the stewardship way of life in response to our baptismal call to discipleship. Individually, each baptized person is called to give of time, talent and treasure to strengthen these four pillars that support the parish community. 

As a parish embraces stewardship as a way of life, We recognize the responsibility not only to our own parish, but also to the diocese, the community and the Universal Church. Strengthening the pillars of hospitality, prayer, formation and service make us faithful disciples to the love given us freely by our loving God.  As faithful stewards, our only response to these gifts received is gratitude. Living stewardship is a disciple's response to our God, who has given us everything that is good!

THE PILLAR OF HOSPITALITY

 

“When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” (Mt. 25:35):

 

You welcomed me by Greeting - The warmth of a handshake or hug, the smile of a friendly familiar face, the sound of your name from another’s lips, the wink and acknowledgement that says I see you and I am so glad you are here.  We are all prodigal children longing to be welcomed home.  In a hospitable parish, parishioners and guests feel they belong and are appreciated.     This since of ownership and belonging strengthens and grows the stewardship way of life in the parish. 

You welcomed me by Invitation - A phone call, a card or letter, home visits, noticing a particular gift or talent someone possesses, an acknowledgement that says you have a gift from God to share.  Invitation is vital to a welcoming parish. Whether a new or long-standing member, parishioners need to be invited to serve in the most personal way possible.  An inviting parish seeks new ways to improve hospitality and welcome to all members of the parish family and is growing the stewardship way of life.

You welcomed me by Name - “I have called you each by name, A place where everybody knows your name,”…to be known by your name is a powerful thing.  Think of a time when your name was mentioned - when your teacher called out your name in class, when you saw it in the paper, when someone calls your name in a crowd, or someone seeks you out to initiate a conversation.  For people to know us by our name makes us significant, we no longer exist anonymously in the parish.  Knowing each other by name is one of the most dynamic ways of establishing hospitality and welcome and growing in  the stewardship way of life.

“Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” (1 Peter 4:9) Making people feel welcomed and loved is much needed in a fast-moving, no-time-to-talk world. Hospitality seems difficult in a world that seems to move at the speed of fiber-optic cable (light). Yet hospitality is a clear teaching from God's word. So begin with prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ. God will lead you in how to open up your life to be welcoming. Imitate the positive example of those who have welcomed you into their own life.

"Peace be with you.  The friends greet you; greet the friends there each by name" (3 John 1:15).”

The  Pillar of Prayer 

 

This is the second of the four pillars of stewardship.  Remember a couple of months ago we started with a visual image of stewardship as a structure built on a foundation.  The foundation is Jesus Christ.  This structure is held up by four pillars.  We have already reviewed the first pillar of hospitality.  Now let’s look at the second pillar of prayer. Our mission statement says it, “St. Anne seeks to be a welcoming community committed to prayer, service, and growth in love of God and neighbor.” Notice prayer is first.  We must begin and end everything in prayer, our day, our night, our meals, our meetings, big decisions, little decisions, good times and especially bad times.  To do this it takes commitment.  Are you committed to prayer? 

 

Prayer is based on your relationship with God and trust in God.  Would you ask a stranger for a loan? I hope not. Would you ask your dad?  Probably so, because of your relationship and trust, they are the key. It is the same way with God, only you must always pray for His will for you, not yours.  He knows each of us, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me” (John 10:14-15)  We are so limited in our knowledge and understanding.  However, God’s is unlimited. What happens or is best for us in the course of life is only something he knows. His purposes may be far beyond what we could even imagine. Where we trip up is assuming we know God's will. Trust in God and trust in your relationship with God.

 

We have been given so many different ways to pray, no one way is better than the other maybe just more comfortable.  Have you found a way to pray? 

V       Did you know the Adoration Chapel is open everyday and you do not have to have a scheduled time to go? 

V       Did you know we have a Rosary every Wednesday evening at 6:30 in the church? 

V       Did you know there is an opportunity for confession every Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 in the church? 

V       Did you know that you can light a candle in the church for your own prayer intentions? 

V       Do you pray at dinnertime?

V       Do you pray at bedtime? 

V       Do your children see you pray? 

V       Do you give thanks to God?

 

Are you a person of prayer? If you are not sure of your relationship with God, start with prayer.  If you are not sure where to begin your stewardship journey, start with prayer. If you are too tired, pray for rest.  If you are too busy, pray for a break.  If you don’t know how, pray for guidance.  If you feel unworthy, pray for strength.  And the list could and does go on and on.  Begin by trusting and believing. God will provide in WAYS far beyond what you imagine possible.   Just Begin!

The  Pillar of FORMATION 

 

St. Anne seeks to be a welcoming community committed to prayer, service, and growth in love of God and neighbor.

 

The pillar of FORMATION –We are one body, the body of Christ.  This makes the formation, education and growth of each person even more important because it becomes part of the formation of our entire parish.  God calls us as disciples to share what we receive, not only to share it but to be generous, grateful and loving in our giving.  We are all on a life-long journey of conversion, everyone’s story and journey is different.  The important thing is to keep sharing, learning and growing. 

 

Share your story – By sharing your personal journey, you can make God’s message real in another’s life.  Maybe someone who is doubting or scared or feeling lost can relate to you and be inspired to continue the journey.  A person who has a story to share but doesn’t share it, cannot receive the spiritual joy that God gives to His stewards. 

 

Educate yourself  –  We all learn best by doing.  Ongoing Catholic education is important if we are to grow in our lives as stewards.  Education is continued through the parish school, PSR, RCIA, Faith Sharing Bible Studies, youth and adult education offerings, homilies at mass, parish ministries and stewardship renewal drives.  There are so many opportunities to continue growing in your faith and the stewardship way of life.  It is in this collective effort and the grace of God at work in our lives that faith formation thrives.

 

Room to grow – Allow yourself time to grow.  We don’t all get there at once.  Knowledge itself is not enough.  You must apply what you learn.  Just because you know the stewardship way of life does not mean that you live the stewardship way of life.  One cannot teach well what one fails to live. 

 St. Anne seeks to be a welcoming community committed to prayer, service, and growth in love of God and neighbor.

 

 The final pillar to be addressed in this series of articles is the pillar of service.  This is where the “rubber meets the road.”  The pillar of service is when you put into action the other three pillars of hospitality, prayer and formation. 

 

At St. Anne’s we are asked to be of service and also asked to be served too as well. There are times in our lives when we have gifts to give, and there are times when we must receive gifts.  If a parishioner finds they can serve and be ministered to, they have little need to search elsewhere for this fulfillment.  St. Anne Parish is definitely a place where service is appreciated and utilized for the good of the Church and the community.

 

 Service does place demand on our time.  But the Scriptures abound with illustrations about those whom God called to serve, to be at his beckon call and quite frankly we should be at home with this way of thinking. Who is in control of your time?  Is their balance or chaos?  Are you disciplined in the use of your time and as a result a good steward of the precious gift that God has given?  This brings to mind the third commandment, keep Holy the Sabbath.  It was made so that God could protect us from getting swept up in the confusion of life, to bring balance to work and rest.  God calls us to give from our want not our surplus.

 

Service comes in over 105 different ministries at St. Anne. Look at the ministries on the stewardship renewal form.  Read about the ministries in the information booklet.  There truly is something for everyone!  Please take the time to pray over what God is calling you to do for His kingdom.

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