Ministries > Stewardship

 ...that gratefully acknowledges God's abundant gifts and generously gives God gratitude by sacrificially offering the first and best portion of our Time, Talents and Treasures to continue Christ's mission through the ministries of our Cathedral community.

"People must think of us as Christ's servants. Stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of Stewards is that each one be found worthy of God's trust." 1 Cor 4:1-4

• Stewardship is rooted in Sacred Scripture. It brings God into the center of our life as our Creator who always gives us everything we need.

• Stewardship is a belief that we do not own God's gifts but are caregivers who return the first and best portion of these gifts to thank God and continue God's work on earth.

• Stewardship is a decision to ultimately trust God who does not weary, who sent us Jesus, who saves us, and who always cares for us.

• Stewardship is a way of being obedient to God's Holy Word which tells us that our return to God "shall be in proportion to the blessings the Lord, our God has bestowed on us." (Deuteronomy 16:10)

• Stewardship is to nurture and use wisely God's gifts of our Time, Talent and Treasures to build up God's Kingdom on earth and continue Christ's charity through participating in and supporting the growth and ministries of our Parish.

• Stewardship is a process of standing honestly before God as we weekly grow toward offering full tithes of Time, Talent and Treasures in a spirit of joy.

• Stewardship is a sacrifice that follows Jesus' offering of himself on the Cross to accomplish God's work.

• Stewardship is a new way of life which frees us to rely more on God and to see all of life as a precious gift from our generous and ever caring God.

• Stewardship is our consistent, loving, and grateful response to God.

You may download or print your Parishioner Commitment form and your Parishioner Census Information form from this page. The forms are provided in two different file formats:

• Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - Adobe Acrobat Reader required (free download)

• Microsoft Word Document (.doc) - Microsoft Word required

Instructions:

• To view or print a document click on the document's icon or filename. The document will open in a new browser window.

• To save documents to your hard drive: Internet Explorer - Right Click on the document's icon or filename and select "Save Target As..." Netscape - Right Click on the document's icon or filename and select "Save Link Target As..."

Parishioner Commitment Forms:

Parishioner Census Information Forms:

Adobe Acrobat Format

Census.pdf 135 Kb

– OR –

Microsoft Word Format

Census.doc 101 Kb

 

Being a good Biblical Steward

• God is generous

• God has given us everything we have

• We are able to express our gratitude to God

• We place our trust in God's constant care

• We faithfully care for all of God's gifts to us

• We give to God the first portion of these gifts

• We render to God the best portion of every gift

• We consecrate in proportion to what God gives

• We dedicate our Time and Talents to God's works

• We obey God by tithing our Treasures to God

Questions about the Ten Biblically Based Beliefs

      Q. Isn't "Stewardship" just a gimmick for raising funds in the Church?

No! Biblically, God has directed believers to return the first 10% of the gifts they have received from the Lord as a sign of gratitude for God's gifts and to continue God's work here on earth. This is called the biblical tithe. The following are verses from the Bible referring to tithing:

      Leviticus, Chapter 27
      Numbers, Chapter 18
      Deuteronomy, Chapters 12, 14 and 26
      2 Chronicles, Chapter 31
      Nehemiah, Chapters 10, 12 and 13
      Amos, Chapter 4
      Sirach, Chapter 35
      Malachi, Chapter 3

       Q. I give to my Parish already. What does giving the "first and best portion" mean?

Giving of the "first ten percent" means letting God be the top priority in your life and gratefully returning to God your tithe "off the top" even before rendering "to Caesar" through taxes. Tithing comes before taxes. God should never receive your leftovers to continue God's work in the Church.

      Q. Did Jesus teach or mandate tithing?

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish them, but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17). The noted scripture scholar, Fr. John F. O'Grady, STD, SSD, has emphasized that Jesus clearly stressed that his followers were to thank their heavenly Father, care for the needy, and generously share their possessions. In the New Testament the words and example of Jesus and his first followers urge Christ's followers to offer even more than the 10% prescribed in the Old Testament.

      Q. Did the Catholic Church ever teach about tithing before?

Yes! The Catholic Church has always taught about tithing. St. Thomas Aquinas taught in #87 of his Summa that "men are bound to the payment of tithes". The Council of Trent decreed in chapter 12 that "the payment of tithes is due to God...those who do not comply or prevent others from doing so are to be excommunicated". Number 297 of the Baltimore Catechism taught that Catholics were to contribute to the support of the Church and specifically mentioned tithes. Chapter 3, number 10 of Vatican II's Decree on the Laity taught that "it is a duty and honor for Christians to return to God a part of the good things they receive from him." The Church's most recent emphasis on biblical tithing appeared in chapter 4 of the U.S. Bishop's 1992 Pastoral Letter on Stewardship.

      Q. Why should I use a card to express my stewardship commitment to God?

The Stewardship of Treasure Commitment card expresses your faith decision and commitment to gratefully return to God a consecrated gift to continue God's work in your parish. Throughout the year this card reminds you of your promise, it helps you step closer to tithing and aids in planning how God's work will be accomplished in your parish this year.

      Q. What if my income increases?

If your circumstances change, so should your return to the Lord. Give only in proportion to the Lord's gifts to you.

      Q. What about other charities?

Give to them, but remember it is clear that the biblical tithe is to be directed to one's faith community, not a secular charity. Christ established the Church to continue and accomplish God's works. Some people give 5% to their parish, 1% to the Bishop's Faith Appeal, 1% to the second collections in Church, and 3% to other Catholic agencies, religious communities or charities. Of course one's parish comes first, especially if it is in need of money to accomplish God's work.

      Q. My child is in a Catholic school and I am paying tuition. Does God also expect me to tithe?

It would seem so! Sending children to private Catholic schools gives them high quality education, discipline and religious instruction. All parents are expected to provide their children with the best moral and educational formation. Paying tuition can not be equated with one's obligation to gratefully return to God the first and best portion of what one has received from God.

"Where your treasure is, there is your heart." (Luke 12:34) 

Where are you in your gratitude to God and in your Stewardship of God's Gifts? Begin today to prayerfully prepare your commitment as a good Steward. Express your gratitude to God for all God's generous gifts to you by consecrating the first and best portion of your weekly income to continue God's work in our parish. Spiritually reflect on your gifts from God, your present income and your return to God during the past year in your weekly regular offering envelopes. Strengthen your relationship with our Lord by re-evaluating your giving to God in light of your commitment to your faith.

Use the Stewarding of Treasure chart on this page and plan to return to God a weekly offering that is proportionate to the gifts you have received from God. Reverently complete your Stewardship of Treasure Commitment Form as you set your giving goals for the coming year. Consecrate your expression of gratitude to God by returning your completed Stewardship of Treasure Commitment Form.

Print this page and clip out the Stewardship of Treasure Commitment Form.

Plan your Grateful and Generous Response to God

Make your Biblical Tithe to God your eventual weekly offering goal. Where are you in your gratitude to God and in your stewarding God's gifts? Begin today to prayerfully prepare your commitment as a good Steward. Express your gratitude to God for all God's generous gifts to you by consecrating the first and best portion of your weekly income to continue God's work in our parish. Spiritually reflect on your gifts from God, your present income and your return to God during the past year in your regular offering envelopes. Strengthen your relationship with our Lord by re-evaluating your giving to God in light of your commitment to your faith.

Use the Stewarding of Treasure Chart below and plan to return to God a weekly offering that is proportionate to the gifts you have received from God. Reverently fill out your Stewardship of Treasure Commitment Form as you set your giving goals for the coming year. Consecrate your expression of gratitude to God by returning your completed Commitment Form.

• Find on this chart your present weekly income and Weekly Envelope Offering.

• Move one block to the left to determine what an increase of one percent in your Weekly Offering to God would be as you move toward full tithing.

"As the body of Christ - Put your gifts at the service of one another"  (1 Peter 4:10)

Stewardship of Time and Talent Offering in St. Anthony Cathedral is when you commit yourself to following Jesus by doing everyday good works of charity for others through ministry in our parish.

Remember the Lord's word to each of us on judgment: "When did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or homeless, or sick or in prison? Then the Lord will say to us, as long as you cared for the needs of the least of the least, you did it to me. Come into the joys of the heavenly kingdom."  (Matthew 25-37-40)

• Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - Adobe Acrobat Reader required (free download)

• Microsoft Word Document (.doc) - Microsoft Word required

Instructions:

• To view the Time and Talent Form, click on the document's icon. The document will open in a new browser window

• To save the Time and Talent Form to your hard drive: Internet Explorer - Right Click on the document's icon and select "Save Target As..." ; Netscape - Right Click on the document's icon and select "Save Link Target As..."

Time and Talent Forms: