For nine parishioners from the Diocese of Beaumont, January ended with a trip to San Antonio Jan. 31 for the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s Stewardship Institute at the Oblate Renewal Center.
Co-sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor, the institute is a three-day series of presentations in a retreat format designed to foster new stewardship ideas and different ways of approaching stewardship as a whole. Father Dean Wilhelm, pastor of St. William, Round Rock, opened the first evening with a presentation on the spirituality of stewardship.
“Stewardship is born of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I don’t wake up every morning and decide to be a good steward. This is what I do with my life as a response to Gods unconditional love,” Father Wilhelm
Through the presentations and discussing stewardship with the other attendees, parishioners took home tools they could implement in a variety of ministries.
“We’ve been given a lot of great ideas on how to get people involved. You can’t just put something in the bulletin and expect people to sign up. You have to let them know they are needed,” Maureen Peltier, parishioner at Our Lady of the Pines, Woodville said.
Bob Pfundstein presented a talk on the importance of lay testimony from parishioners and how that can impact the rest of the parish.
“You’re sharing your personal story and in that sharing we realize that we’re all on the same team. We’re all working toward a common goal. It’s not about me, it’s about people sharing their faith with each other,” Pfundstein said.
Attendees learned many valuable lessons that they could take back to their home parishes.
“What I’ve really taken away from this is how important hospitality is. When new people come to your parish they notice how you treat them. It’s so easy to be a welcoming parish through greeters and just a simple handshake and a smile,” Joann Trahan, parishioner at St. Anne, Beaumont, said.
The institute has also changed the way some of the attendees viewed stewardship as a whole as well as how they discuss it with others.
“When people hear that word ‘stewardship’ they automatically think it’s only about money. They forget that they have time and talent to donate as well. That’s what makes the difference. Just lending a helping hand whenever you’re able,” John Roby, parishioner at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, said.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
