Season of Stewardship
“Stewardship,” said one of our parishioners, “is about taking a gift from God, nurturing it, making it grow, and then giving it back to God.” He went on to compare it to raising children. You put a lot of time, effort, and money in each child; but you never lose what you have invested. You simply watch and marvel at the wonderful masterpiece it becomes. In a recent letter from Bishop Paprocki, we are invited to participate in a new season of stewardship. During this season we are asked to reflect and discern the gifts we possess. Do we realize they come from God? And do we know how to use them to create something truly wonderful? I recall a story in the Gospel where wealthy man went on a journey. Before leaving, he gives three of his servants some talents to watch for him. The first invests the talents he was given and made five more. The second also doubled the talents he was given, but the third simply hid his talent, making or losing nothing. However, the master was angry with him because he did nothing with the gift he had given him. (Matthew 25:14-30) It is a lesson in stewardship. God gives us gifts to care for, grow, and then give back.
When we use our gifts we build up the community as well. To build a community of faith starts with the recognition of the variety of gifts that exist in the community. The second step is to invite people to invest those gifts in the community. For example, Blessed Sacrament is our faith community. There are many gifts and talents present here. How could these gifts be grown to give something back to God that is truly marvelous? Such an approach to using our gifts is what stewardship really is. It is what the bishop is inviting us to contemplate.
My hope is to have many conversations about this approach to living our faith. Does it work? Does it build a strong parish? How can we grow this attitude? It begins with a vision of what our community could be. It continues with the discovery of gifts we have received and the fact that these gifts come from God. It calls us to figure out how to use our gifts in order to build something wonderful for God. Stewardship is about a way of living our faith that involves trust and gratitude. Take some time this week to ask yourself if you are living a life of gratitude? Do you care for the gifts God has given you and do you use them to build something wonderful for God?
Father Jeff
Stuck at home but still want to grow your faith? Our Monday Morning Study Group takes place in person AND online. Study group starts at 9:15 AM in the Rectory Basement - contact Deacon Dave Erdmann at derdmann@bsps.org to find out how to attend via Zoom.
What's the story behind your rosary?
The seventh graders had a party on the Blessed Mother’s birthday, September 8, outside under one of our Blessed Sacrament tents. Students enjoyed treats in blue packaging and received prayer cards and rosaries in honor of Her birthday. We now pray with those rosaries to honor Mary on her special feast days like October 7, Our Lady of the Rosary. Our Mother Mary loves to hear the prayers of the students, especially in the prayer of the Most Holy Rosary.
Angie Christie
B.S.S. 7th grade teacher
My Mom was born and raised in a tiny town called St. Mary's in Kansas and my Dad was from a big city, Bridgeport in Connecticut. These locations were polar opposites, but they met in Washington D.C. where they were both working in a government office. One day it was my Mom's turn to make the coffee run for the office. As she was collecting the money, my Dad pulled out a handful of change to give her and she noticed that he also pulled out a rosary. She thought to herself that he must be a good Catholic boy so it would be okay for her to date him. Thus, a good Catholic romance started, which lasted until their deaths, and which resulted in me being born of the marriage. So, my story: had it not been for the rosary in my Dad's pocket, my Mom would not have dated him, and I would not have been born.
Pat Fitzgerald
Parish Council Member