~ STEWARDSHIP: THE CHURCH IN SERVICE ~

There is perhaps no greater realization in life than to come to know in our heart of hearts that we are loved by someone. Without this realization all else seems futile. With this realization all else seems possible. Women and men have a deep rooted need not only to feel connected to another, but to feel cherished by another.

Scripture invites us to find in this human relationship, a mirror of our relationship with God. We are loved and cherished by God, not because we have earned this, but rather because it is the will and gift of God to us. Indeed our very lives are a gift from God, and the blessings of our lives come from a generous and loving God. It is both worthwhile and productive to spend appropriate time making this a deeply felt reality in our lives.

Just as it is true in human relationships that with the realization of being loved comes the desire to return something in kind to the other, so too in our relationship with God. It is most natural to want to return something in gratitude to God for our blessings. This comes not because we "have more" than others, or that we "owe" God something, or that we "have to" do something. Rather, the knowledge of being loved and blessed creates a need and a desire to respond in kind, to "make a return to the Lord for all the Lord has done for us." [Psalm 116]

For the Christian believer, this "return" to God first and foremost takes the form of prayer both private and communal. It is principally in the celebration of the Eucharist that we both receive God's life and love, and return to God praise and worship. Celebrated with the people of God, we now see ourselves as part of God's Kingdom. There is no more important return that we can make to God than to participate regularly, with attention and devotion at the celebration of weekly Eucharist with God's people! As Catholic Christians this is both our privilege and our duty to gather on the Lord's Day to give thanks and celebrate the Eucharist together.

This, then, is what we ask of you as a matter of first priority as a member of Saint Malachy Parish. Will you be a person of prayer both privately and in the life of the community? Will you commit yourself to attending Sunday Eucharist regularly with the People of God of this parish? This is ultimately the source of all of our blessings as individuals and as a parish.

Beyond prayer, we invite you to share in other responsibilities of parish life. These would include your participation in the time/talent and treasure aspects of parish life. Together, these three dimensions of sharing our time, our talents and our treasure are referred to as Stewardship. For disciples of the Lord, Stewardship is not a program...it is a way of life. Another page in our web site, Opportunities For Ministry, highlights some of the different areas of parish life where we can be of service to one another by sharing our time and our talents. Starting with prayer, the most fundamental Christian ministry, we then list volunteer opportunities under the headings of Liturgical, Catechetical, Youth, Christian Service and Parish Community Ministries. Please take some time to review these, and decide where your time and talent might best be offered. Perhaps it is in working with youth...or visiting the women inmates of MCI Framingham...or proclaiming the Word of God as a lector at mass. In sharing our talents we help build up the Body of Christ, the Church.

Lastly, we believe that it is important for all parishioners to help in the financial responsibilities of the parish, according to your own means. It is true that ultimately it is an individual decision of how often a person will attend prayer or any parish program. However, it is also true that Saint Malachy Parish needs to be professionally staffed, heated, lighted, cleaned, and programs operating fifty-two weeks a year, so that when people choose to participate or need our help, we can serve their needs. It may be at the time of birth when young parents come to us to have their child baptized. Or, later on, when families present their children for religious education and sacramental preparation. For some it will be at times of personal crisis or illness that we need to be available as when staff and volunteers visit the sick in hospitals or at home. For still others the death of a loved one and subsequent grieving are times when we are called on to offer special support and services. A parish cannot survive on a "pay as you go" kind of approach. This is certainly true at Saint Malachy's where the expenses in fiscal year 1997-98 exceeded $300,000. The needs of all are best served when each person assumes their share of financial responsibility, as well as their offering of time and talent.

We ask you to consider regular (weekly or monthly or even annually) planned percentage giving to the parish. This stands in sharp contrast to a previous system of special maintenance collections, a Grand Annual Collection, Holy Day collections, etc. Just as we budget at home for our necessities and items we deem important to ourselves and our family, we invite you to begin to budget a percentage of your income for the support of the church and other worthwhile charities. The Biblical notion of percentage giving is spoken of as a tithe, a return of 10% of income. As a suggested goal in the archdiocesan program five percent is suggested to be given to the parish, five percent to other charities.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call upon any member of the parish staff which looks forward to sharing this journey of faith with you. Nourished by the Eucharist and strengthened by our sharing of time, talent and treasure, may we grow together in the Body of Christ.