What is a Stewardship Renewal?
This isn’t a parish fundraiser – far from it. Our annual Stewardship Renewal is the time when we ask each other to re-prioritize the way we use God’s gifts in the Church. It is the time we write down how we will support our Little Falls Catholic Community.
Why should I fill out a commitment card?
Your Commitment Card allows you to make commitments to prayer, parish ministries, and offertory giving, or what we at Little Falls call “time, talent, and treasure.” There’s a two-fold reason to complete your card. First, it is an excellent opportunity to move forward spiritually and personally. Second, when you fill out a card, our parish is much better able to manage our many volunteers and make budgeting decisions.
How many ministries are there at my parish?
“Ministry” is a general term for any parish group, organization, or regular activity. There are dozens of ministries in our parish. You can sign up for certain ministries, or re-commit yourself if you’re already involved.
What if I sign up for a ministry, but later find I’m not very interested?
You are not making a solemn promise to participate in a particular ministry when you mark it on your commitment card. If you find that the parish group is different than you thought, or simply that their meeting time doesn’t fit your schedule, you can change your mind. There are plenty of other ministries to consider.
I’m hesitant to make a firm financial pledge. What if I lose my job?
Your commitment card isn’t a legal contract. If your circumstances change, your gift will change. In Scripture, we are asked to “give according to our means.” So if you lose your job, you may be unable to give at the level you pledged. Likewise, if you get a promotion, you may be able to give more. That is why, in our Little Falls Catholic Community, our standard of giving is based upon a percentage of income.
What happens if I don’t fill out a commitment card?
Returning a card is an important part of being an active member of our parish community. If for some reason you lose your card, we’ll send you a reminder letter with an extra commitment card. Please make every effort to return it!
Time, Talent, and Treasure
Stewardship of Time
Our definition of Stewardship of Time: Using my time on earth wisely; making time for personal prayer, family prayer, and quality time with friends and loved ones.
The bottom line about prayer: Without prayer, we cannot thrive spiritually. As Catholic Christians, it is a necessity to spend time each day speaking to God. This includes reading Scripture and saying prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, but even more importantly, it should include a heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus. He wants us to bring him all our fears, longings, needs, and desires.
What kind of Time commitments should I make? Your commitment card lists several suggestions for how to spend time with God in prayer. Review your current prayer life and take a step forward. For instance, start having daily prayers with your children or spouse. Commit to praying the rosary on the way to work or reading scripture before bed each night.
Stewardship of Talent
Our definition of Stewardship of Talent: Using my God-given abilities to strengthen the Church and help others, especially through parish ministries and activities.
The bottom line about parish ministry: No Catholic Christian exists in a vacuum. Scripture makes it clear that we must function within the wider faith community, putting our gifts in the service of others. It’s not enough to go to Sunday Mass; we need to be involved in parish life and ministry.
What kind of Talent commitments should I make? If you’re not involved in anything in our parish, now is the perfect opportunity to take a step forward. Check out our commitment card for a list of ministries. If you’re already involved, re-commit yourself to the important work you do. And if you feel God is calling you forward – sign up for something new!
Stewardship of Treasure
Our definition of Stewardship of Treasure: The wise and just management of my financial resources; giving a proportionate amount of my income to the parish.
The bottom line about financial support: We need to take seriously the Biblical concept of the tithe, and start giving based on a percentage of income. It’s our responsibility to support the Church with our personal involvement and our financial support.
What kind of Treasure commitments should I make? Our goal is to give five percent of income to the offertory. Grab a calculator and figure out your target gift based on your total household income. Then make a plan for increasing your gift incrementally to reach five percent. During our Stewardship Renewal, choose a weekly or monthly gift to the parish, and be faithful to it for the next year.
Please bring your Commitment Card to Mass on Commitment Weekend — Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. How will you use your time, talent, and treasure in our parish?