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The joy of giving starts with God Himself. All we have and all we are is a gift -- pure, unmerited gift -- given by God. Life
and time, talents and abilities, family, relationships, emotions, health, material goods -- all are given freely to us by God,
who loves us and trusts us to be good stewards of his abundance. (from Joyful Generosity») Practical ways to live
stewardship
Christian stewardship isn't something you do; it's the way you live your entire life. It is quite literally a call to renew the face
of the earth. As Father Andrew Kemberling of St. Thomas More parish in Centennial, Colorado, puts it, stewardship is "a
gift from God for the conversion of a materialistic world."
Stewardship prayer
Lord God, you alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human
life. We praise you and thank you for your great power and tender, faithful love. Everything we are and everything we
have are your gifts, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Fill our minds with His truth and our hearts with His love, and in His spirit may we be bonded together into a community of
faith, a parish family, a caring people. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the
gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent, and our material and spiritual gifts as an outward sign of the treasure
we hold in Jesus. Amen
The word "stewardship" refers to the Catholic approach to the gifts that God has rather than self-centered. Profound
gratitude, justice and love become the fundamental motives for giving back to God. Everything that serve the divine plan.
Therefore, our life is to be lived in gratitude toward God. In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ,
share our time, talent and treasure to build up the Church and make our world a better place.
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If you are over the age of 70½, you must take a required minimum is taxed as ordinary income. However, federal
legislation enacted on October 3, 2008, extends the opportunity for you, for the remainder of 2008 and throughout 2009,
to make a direct distribution from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as St. Brigid, the Catholic Family Foundation, the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, or another Catholic institution in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Such distributions, while not
subject to income tax, will still count toward fulfilling your required minimum distribution.
For more information about how you and the Church can benefit from an IRA charitable rollover, contact the parish office
or the Catholic Family Foundation at (410) 625-8497 or visit our website at www.archbalt.org/cff.
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Stewardship is the recognition that we are made by God and belong to Him. If not for God's sustaining love for us, we
would not exist. In order for us to live our lives to the fullest, we must respond to God's invitation to acknowledge His love
for each of us and dedicate ourselves completely to Him. This devotion to Him means that we must recognize "greatest
commandment." The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
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"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Sir Winston Churchill
Remember the Parish in your Will (Legacy Giving)
This is a wonderful option for everyone! Although remembering the Parish in your will does not provide St. Brigid with
monies now, it helps to guarantee the future of your Parish. Your bequest, trust or special endowment will be an enduring
legacy to help ensure the future of your Parish and the Catholic community.
The donations of homes or other personal property in a last will and testament have helped build and maintain many
parishes!
If you are interested in a Charitable Remainder Trust or a similar arrangement with our/your parish please contact St.
Brigid's Parish Office for assistance and for more information, visit the Archdiocese of Baltimore Development
Office/Stewardship site by clicking HERE
Make an Anonymous Donation
You may want to contribute to St. Brigid without making a public pledge of support. Although making a public pledge will
often motivate others to do so as well, we realize that Perhaps you would prefer to make a donation this is not for
everyone. If you would prefer to make an anonymous donation, we will ensure your wishes are met. Contact the Parish
Office for assistance.
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Your monetary gifts and donations make a
meaningful difference in the St. Brigid programs and
ministries. We wish to extend our gratitude to
everyone who supports St. Brigid through their
commitment, volunteerism and as for their prayers,
active participation and dedicated service.
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Stewardship is looking at all that you have and knowing that
"all good gifts around us come from heaven above,"
generosity out of all the generosity you have received.
of $100, $500 or $1000. Stewardship is returning to God a
portion of all that you have received on a regular and weekly
basis.
No one can tell you the dollar amount you should give as
everyone's income is different and there is no need to give
more than they can afford. God does not ask us to give
more than we have. If we simply give out of the abundance
we have received, it will be the right amount.
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For more information please contact
Ms. Betty Brocato
Business Pastoral Associate
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 410-563-1717
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Stewardship Links
International Catholic Stewardship Council
Stewardship & Young Adults - US Council of Catholic Bishops
What is Catholic Stewardship? - The Catholic Visitor
What is Stewardship? - The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, CO
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Mary, the First Steward
The following is an excerpt from an article written by Mary Beth Newkumet for the monthly
newsletter from the International Catholic Stewardship Council.
During May, the Church asks the faithful to turn their attention to Mary, the Mother of God. So
often in parish life, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the recipient of a wonderful devotion. We come to
her in prayer, lighting candles, asking for her assistance for our many worries and troubles. And
so it should be! As our Mother, Mary is the one who can attend to our many personal needs. Yet,
how many of us enlist her aid in our stewardship efforts? As we call forth the gifts and talents of
the faithful, how many of us ask for her intercession in making our initiatives more fruitful?
I would like to propose that in parish and community life, Mary is the best person to assist with
our teaching and practice of stewardship. Why? Because she was the first steward of Jesus Christ.
Consider the Gospel account of the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1- 11). Mary shows us the path of true
stewardship through four natural steps: 1.) participating in a close personal relationship with
Jesus; 2.) paying attention to the needs of the people around her; 3.) asking Jesus to fulfill those
needs; and finally, 4.) allowing herself to be an instrument in the Lord’s providence and
abundance.
Mary’s stewardship is a way of both dependence and action. Her relationship with Christ
naturally makes her more attentive to other people. When she recognizes that a lack of wine will
be an embarrassment to the wedding hosts, she does not try to fix the situation herself. She goes
to Jesus. This is key! As the first steward of the mystery of the Incarnation, Mary appreciates the
fact that she cannot provide what is needed on her own. Once she asks for his assistance, she is
so confident in his ability to provide that she tells the stewards: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).
The outcome of abundance is well known to most of us, but it bears repeating from a stewardship
perspective. A dependence on the living Jesus results in an act of providence that is far greater
than anyone could have imagined.
Our gifts of time, talent and treasure are meant to be shared. But before this “disciple’s
response”, we must ask for the grace to approach our stewardship with Mary: to deepen our
relationship with her Son; to ask for a heart that sees the needs around us; to go to Christ first as
we learn to depend on him alone; and finally to allow ourselves to be the instruments of his Father’
s providence, through the work of the Spirit of Love.
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