In gratitude, we take up the challenge to be faithful with little,

with much and with ALL. Needs are great – in our parish, our community and our world. God blesses us abundantly and invites us to use all we have – not just a small portion – in love for Him and His people.

As we share more of the blessings entrusted to us with others, we find ourselves thinking differently about money and things and people and time. We notice a need and wonder how we can meet it. We see an injustice and bring our skills to bear to make it right.

As we share more and more of our resources in service to God and to others, we receive even greater blessings in return. Giving proportionately from our abundance creates a circle of sharing that is a hallmark of a good steward who is faithful with little, faithful with much, and faithful with all.

Growing into true Sacrificial Giving, moving toward the standard of the biblical tithe, is an on-going process. Prayerful reflection lies at the heart of the process. As Catholics seeking the wisdom and courage to be truly faithful in all things, we can seek the guidance of Mary, Our Blessed Mother, who, Pope Francis reminds us, helps us mature in our faith:

“Dear brothers and sisters, how hard it is, in our time, to make the ultimate decisions. The temporary seduces us. We are victims of a trend that pushes us to the temporary ... as if we want to stay teenagers for life. We should not be afraid of the agreed commitments, commitments that involve and affect the whole life. In this way, our lives will be fruitful. A mother helps children grow, which is why she trains them not to give in to laziness … not to recline in a comfortable life, which is content to just have things.

Our Lady does just that with us, helps us to grow humanly and in faith, to be strong and not give in to the temptation of being human and Christian in a superficial way, but to live with responsibility, to strive higher and higher.”

Pope Francis, excerpts from remarks at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, May 2013.

A publication from the Office of Parish Stewardship.

FaithfulWith Little With Much With All

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come,

share your master’s joy.” — Matthew 25:21

SACRIFICIAL GIVINGFaithful in All Things

PlannedGod trusts us to give thoughtful consideration to stewarding our financial resources. Giving to our parish should become integrated into other financial decisions as part of a careful, intentional, planned response to God’s generosity.

ProportionateEvery gift, regardless of size, is needed and valued. Sacrificial Giving simply calls us to be honest with ourselves, and with God, when we determine – based on our ability – what our financial commitment to our parish will be.

PrioritizedFocus changes as individuals grow and mature. We know, however, that God’s goodness to us never waivers. Faithful stewards strive to keep God at the top of their list of personal priorities.

PowerfulFaithful stewardship can change us in ways we never imagined. Bit by bit we grow as intentional disciples, sharing more and more of our resources, making an increasingly positive impact in our parishes, our communities and our world.

Our children develop a sense of responsibility step by step. We give young children simple, small tasks, adding more responsibilities as they grow in age and ability. In time they mature, becoming well prepared and fully capable to accept the responsibilities of adult life.

The path to embracing stewardship as a way of life follows a similar trajectory. We know that we are called to share our gifts and resources, and we often begin sharing in simple, small ways. Sacrificial Giving calls us to mature in our sharing as our ability and resources grow.

Faithful stewards recognize the unique circumstances of our lives – the talents we possess, the health and ability to work hard, the opportunities and challenges along the way – as gifts from God that have allowed us to prosper. Sacrificial Giving calls us to share our financial resources as mature Catholics, well prepared and fully capable of accepting the call to intentional discipleship.

Sacrificial Giving is. . .

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will

be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

— James 12:48

“The success or failure of parish programs, the vitality of parish life, or its absence, the ability or inability of a parish

to render needed services to its members and the community,

depend upon all.” Stewardship; A Disciple’s Response

U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”

— Anne Frank