Called to be Followers of Jesus Christ: The 55th Annual ICSC Conference

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1 International Catholic Stewardship Council CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP July 2017 e-bulletin A STEWARDSHIP PRAYER for July Dear Lord, Thank You for teaching me to be generous as You have been generous with me. Thank You for showing me that all I am and have are gifts from You and that these gifts from you, Lord, are meant to be shared. Show me the joys of generosity. Help me to understand that others, perhaps unknown to me, depend on me for help. Remind me that my world, my parish, needs Good Samaritans to heal the wounds of our times. Make me a gift to others in Your name. Amen. Called to be Followers of Jesus Christ: The 55th Annual ICSC Conference The Call is the title of the very first chapter of the United States Catholic bishops pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple s Response. Their premise is that every baptized Christian is called to be a follower of Jesus Christ and to be a good steward of their life in Christ. Today, twenty-five years after the stewardship pastoral was written, the International Catholic Stewardship Council honors the bishops pastoral at its 55th annual conference to be held from September 17 to 20, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. This year, ICSC adopts as its conference image the classical painting The Calling of Saint Matthew by Michelangelo Caravaggio. This painting depicts the gospel scene where Jesus calls Matthew to follow him (Mt. 9:9); thus, changing his life radically. The painting symbolizes that universal call to follow Christ Jesus no matter the cost. It is not a coincidence that this year s ICSC conference will take place a few days before the feast of Saint Matthew on September 21. The spiritual energy generated at the annual ICSC conference is always inspiring! Internationally recognized as the most valuable conference for those involved in Christian stewardship, the annual ICSC conference Continued on next page

2 Continued from previous page STEWARDSHIP SAINT for July Most of the session titles are new presentations, unless brought back by popular demand, as we strive to continually address the needs of ICSC members and the Catholic Church! is a gathering of scores of Catholic stewards living and teaching Christian stewardship in the Catholic tradition. It offers over 80 program sessions to inform and inspire attendees through the sharing of innovative ideas, networking with peers, and providing best practices and proven strategies for inviting others in parishes and dioceses alike to become good stewards of their life in Christ. Please note: Most of the session titles are new presentations, unless brought back by popular demand, as we strive to continually address the needs of ICSC members and the Catholic Church! We invite you to join us in Atlanta to celebrate with others and the call to Stewardship: A Disciple s Response! Saint James (the Greater), Apostle Saint James the Greater was one of the apostles closest to Jesus; the others being his younger brother, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Peter. He is not to be confused with James the Lesser, another one of the twelve apostles, or with James from the Acts of the Apostles who was the author of the Letter of James and the leader of the Jerusalem community. By the Gospels accounts, James, born in Galilee, was an ordinary fisherman who showed no signs of being readily able to grasp the genius of his master s life and ministry. He and his brother were even considered hotheads as Jesus gave them the nickname Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17). On one occasion, when a Samaritan village refused hospitality to Jesus, they urged him to call down fire from heaven to destroy it, which prompted a stern rebuke from their teacher (Luke 9:51-56). On another occasion, with uncomprehending ambition, James and his brother made a daring request to sit at Jesus left and right hands, places of honor in the glory of the kingdom of God. Jesus warns them of the suffering and hardship they will eventually endure in Jesus name (Mk 10:35-40). What makes this ordinary, impulsive man a stewardship saint, however, is that he allowed Jesus call to discipleship to cut through his ordinary, everyday life. His response was instant, complete and single-minded. James and John were working on their boats with their father, Zebedee, when Jesus calls them to follow him. And at once, leaving the boat and their father, they follow him (Mt 4:22). It was a call to share in Jesus mission, a call that allowed for no other priority. James response in faith models what the response of each Christian disciple is to be to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By the Gospels accounts, James, born in Galilee, was an ordinary fisherman who showed no signs of being readily able to grasp the genius of his master s life and ministry. James is also privileged to be one of the apostles chosen by Jesus to witness his most dramatic signs of power: his Transfiguration and the raising to life of Jairus daughter. James was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom. He was beheaded during the persecution of Herod Agrippa I between the years 42 and 44 (Acts 12: 1-3). Later traditions hold that James actually preached in Spain or that at least his body was transferred from Jerusalem to Compestela in Spain, which, in any case became a major pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. Saint James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain, Chile, Guatemala and Nicaragua. He is also the patron saint of pilgrims, pharmacists, laborers and those suffering from arthritis. His feast is celebrated on July 25.

3 25 Years of the 2o17Bishops Pastoral Letter Leading Others to Christ With Our Steward s Response by Leisa Anslinger, author and co-founder of Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community (CSEC). In what ways does Christ s love touch others through your life of stewardship? How do you lead people in your community to discern how each is called to minister and serve? Do people in your community recognize that stewardship is about more than giving money to the 1962 celebrating YEARS Join us in Atlanta of teaching stewardship For the International Catholic Stewardship Council s 55th Annual Conference September 17-20, 2017 Stewardship is about sharing one s gifts and blessings with the Church, and much more. Special Early Bird Member Rate! $499 registration fee per person, through July 31 Visit catholicstewardship.com for more information and to register TODAY. parish or diocese? Our responses to questions such as these are at the heart of the way we approach stewardship leadership. We may say stewardship is a way of life, yet the message we share with people in our community may sound more like, stewardship is about giving money to the Church. The reality is, the path of discipleship, lived through stewardship, leads each of us to grow in holiness. We may struggle to put this call into words, yet we know that living and growing as good stewards is a meaningful way to connect faith with daily life. This is a gift we must give one another. It is gift that is sure to have lasting impact in Continued on next page

4 Continued from previous page the lives of individuals and the life of the faith community. The following excerpt from the U.S. bishops pastoral letter on stewardship is worth your reflection: Christians must be stewards of their personal vocations, for it is these that show how, according to the circumstances of their individual lives, God wants them to cherish and serve a broad range of interests and concerns: life and health, along with their own intellectual and spiritual well-being and that of others; material goods and resources; the natural environment; the cultural heritage of humankind indeed, the whole rich panoply of human goods, both those already realized and those whose realization depends upon the present generation or upon generations yet to come. Catholics have a duty, too, to be stewards of their Church: that community of disciples, that Body of Christ, of which they, individually and together, are the members, and in which if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy (1 Cor 12:26). Stewardship is about sharing one s gifts and blessings with the Church, and much more. The more we share this great call to live and grow as stewards in all of the aspects of our lives, the greater the likelihood that people of all ages and stages of life and faith will hear the call and enthusiastically respond to it. Be Good Stewards of Your Family This Summer July is the heart of summer, and summer is an exciting and challenging time for stewardship of the family. Everything turns a little upside down for the family in summer. Kids out of school, grandparents visiting, teens with a first job, road trips and those big family reunions: Sometimes it seems summer dashes by in a flurry of wet bathing suits and backyard barbecues. How does the Christian steward make summer a special time for the domestic church of family? Relax!... No, really!... Relax! Slow down! The world often spins around us and we are caught up in work, social media, activity. Gift yourself and your family with time this summer. Be truly present. When Pope Francis addressed a homily to families in 2013, one word he used often was simplicity. Make time for family meals, but make them simple and nutritious. We need simplicity to pray as a family, the Holy Father said. Let each family member take a turn praying a simple grace at family meals. Linger over good food and good conversation. Make family your focus. Listen to your children. Take time for a night out with your spouse. Make a commitment to fun and presence. The Holy Father also asked families, How do we keep our faith as a family? We don t keep it for ourselves, he said, as a personal treasure like a bank account. No, we share it. We witness it. How can we witness faith during the summer months? Christian families are missionary families, Pope Francis said. Summer is a good time to plan a field trip to a shelter or a food bank. Call ahead and ask what you can bring and how your family can help. Many agencies plan summer picnics and presentations by refugees during the season. Let your kids experience this diversity. Attend a vacation bible school or help with one. Invite a priest from your parish, or perhaps a lonely neighbor, to dinner. Spread your family joy. The summer readers in your family might benefit from finding Catholic periodicals or books on heroes of our faith. Visit new parishes during the summer. If you are on a road trip, never miss Sunday Mass and take advantage of a side trip to a shrine or an historic Catholic church. Most of all, relax and enjoy. Pope Francis says, The family which experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally.

5 A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of July 1/2, 2017 In today s Gospel, Jesus minces no words: whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Few of us will be called to die the way Jesus did. But to be his disciples means having the willingness to lay down our lives with him and for him. Exercising good stewardship of the Gospel requires taking up one s cross daily and following Jesus. There will be dying to do on our way to the Father. It could be unfair treatment, health problems, fatigue, frustration at work, failed relationships, loneliness or sadness. If we, like Jesus, encounter and accept suffering, we will bring the hope of the cross to others. There is no cross the Lord s love cannot transcend. In your reflections this week, consider how your cross, no matter how heavy, might become an instrument of hope and Christ s love. Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of July 8/9, 2017 One of the most well known and beloved passages in scripture is the gentle invitation of our Lord in today s Gospel reading: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. When we need physical rest, we sleep or take a nap. When we need emotional rest, we sometimes take a vacation. But how do we find spiritual rest? How do we discover Christ s peace as we grapple with the complex issues of life deep in our hearts? Good stewards find their rest in the Lord. Reflect this week on what you do to welcome the peace of Christ into your heart. Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of July 15/ In today s reading from the prophet Isaiah, there is a guarantee that the unleashing of God s Word will bear much fruitfulness in the world. The Word of God will accomplish whatever God sends it forth to do. His Word is given to us as a gift to be nurtured, shared and made to bear fruit. The question is whether or not we are exercising good stewardship over God s Word. Have we been fruitful with God s Word? Have we unleashed God s Word? Do we share God s Word or do we leave that task to others? Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of July 22/23, 2017 In today s second reading, Saint Paul bids us to take comfort in knowing that when God invites us to pray to him, he knows our true needs, even if we do not. The Holy Spirit intercedes and prays for us even if we can t come up with appropriate words; even when we don t have a clue what to ask for. We are not left alone. Good stewards know that prayer is an important part of living a life in Christ. The important thing is to make space for God. Do we let God into our hearts? Do we make room for the Holy Spirit to pray within us? Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of July 29/30, 2017 A profound stewardship prayer is offered by the young king Solomon in today s first reading. He asks the Lord to give him an understanding heart, compassion towards God s people and the insight to distinguish right from wrong. An understanding heart, or wisdom, is a gift from God. It is a gift that enables us to make good decisions and prudent choices. Cultivating and sharing this gift is essential, especially when poor decisions and lack of compassion have consequences that can adversely affect the lives of others. Do we exercise good stewardship over the gift of wisdom? Do we share our compassionate hearts with others? International Catholic Stewardship Council ICSC@catholicstewardship.org (800)