“As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”
The Bible tells us that we all have received gifts from God to use for the good of others. In 1st Peter we read:
“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
We all are called to use the gifts God has given us and thus glorify God by the proper use of them. The first examples of using gifts received from God are those given to the Church by Jesus. The most obvious gifts used by the Church are the sacraments. The Church celebrates Mass every day of the week, allowing all Catholics the daily opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. The Church makes sure our children are prepared for the reception of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Couples learn about love, grace and commitment when the church prepares them for the sacrament of marriage. Adult faith formation is offered to help adults continue their spiritual growth. The Church is investing its time, talent and treasures in its people.
Parishes also have members who themselves who give time, talent and treasure to the Church. These volunteers help and support the many ministries of a church. Volunteers will share their gift of song by being part of the choir. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults will have volunteers that teach those catechumens and candidates who desire to join our faith. Churches will have volunteers that form a hospitality ministry so all visitors will feel welcomed. CCD programs will have adults who volunteer their time in both preparation and teaching of your children as they continue to grow in their faith.
Many church volunteers are in the role of teacher or as they are called by the Church, catechist. A catechist is a person that passes on our faith. The National Directory for Catechist says the call of a catechist is a vocation, an interior call, the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Church defines vocation as God’s invitation to love and serve him. By our creation we all are called to love and serve God. That love and service comes through the vocation God has given us.
We all are called to use the gifts God has given us and thus glorify God by the proper use of them. The first examples of using gifts received from God are those given to the Church by Jesus. The most obvious gifts used by the Church are the sacraments. The Church celebrates Mass every day of the week, allowing all Catholics the daily opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. The Church makes sure our children are prepared for the reception of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Couples learn about love, grace and commitment when the church prepares them for the sacrament of marriage. Adult faith formation is offered to help adults continue their spiritual growth. The Church is investing its time, talent and treasures in its people.
Parishes also have members who themselves who give time, talent and treasure to the Church. These volunteers help and support the many ministries of a church. Volunteers will share their gift of song by being part of the choir. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults will have volunteers that teach those catechumens and candidates who desire to join our faith. Churches will have volunteers that form a hospitality ministry so all visitors will feel welcomed. CCD programs will have adults who volunteer their time in both preparation and teaching of your children as they continue to grow in their faith.
Many church volunteers are in the role of teacher or as they are called by the Church, catechist. A catechist is a person that passes on our faith. The National Directory for Catechist says the call of a catechist is a vocation, an interior call, the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Church defines vocation as God’s invitation to love and serve him. By our creation we all are called to love and serve God. That love and service comes through the vocation God has given us.
