May 24, 2017
by Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond
 
The Archdiocese of New Orleans has made many efforts to explain the concept of stewardship to Catholics. Can you talk about what stewardship is? 

When most people think of stewardship, they often think solely of financial giving. While financial giving is one aspect of stewardship, it is not the primary meaning of stewardship. Stewardship really is an attitude toward life. It is recognizing the gifts that God has given to us, and, in gratitude to God for those gifts, we give back to God in many ways. Stewardship is a way of thinking and expressing thanks. All we receive is a gift from God, and our gift back to God requires ongoing prayerful discernment of what God is calling us to share with others and his church.  

What does discipleship mean? 

Discipleship is a way of life. Stewardship is an attitude of gratitude through which I live my life of discipleship. If I truly believe that everything I have, everything I am and everything I accomplish are gifts from God, then I will want to follow Jesus as a faithful disciple and be a good steward of the gifts he has given to me. A disciple works to make Jesus present in the world today.  […]
 
We have heard a lot about the three t’s of stewardship: time, talent and treasure. 

If we can nurture a spirit of gratitude for all that God has given us, then we will want to share with God and the church the resources that he has given to us in terms of time, talent and treasure.  […]
 
How would you suggest Catholics do this? 

This can be answered only in prayer – first, in a prayer of thanksgiving for what God has given to me, and, secondly, in a prayer of enlightenment, asking God to enlighten me about the many gifts I have received and then to enlighten me as to how I can give back. We must all live a life of gratitude. Gratitude will help us realize Jesus’ call, “Come, follow me” and to live that call through our actions.