The Spirituality of Stewardship

Stewardship is rooted in scripture, recognizing we, as individuals, are not owners of our lives but rather are stewards or managers. Stewardship, quite simply, is recognizing that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God and being grateful and generous with those gifts.

Stewardship is a conversion journey of receiving God’s love and returning love to Him. A conversion requires prayer, reflection, and time to allow God to show us who we are and the person of love that we can become. Throughout the conversion experience, the disciple yearns to change and grow into the person God created them to be – a steward uniquely His own, but united in one Body through Jesus Christ. Stewardship transforms lives because of its love, and it is in this transformation process and conversion journey towards love that we give new life to the Church. “If you wish to come after me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For if you wish to save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake you will save it.” (Luke 9: 23-24)

A Message of True Stewardship | Msgr. McGread | Wichita, KS

Msgr. Thomas McGread is the father of parish stewardship. He introduced this message and practice at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, KS, in the early 70’s and was instrumental in the writing of the USCCB pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.

Giving of our time, our talent and our treasure, and bringing us closer to God, was the message Father Thomas McGread brought to Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Wichita, Kansas when he was appointed pastor in 1968. He brought with him a vision from the words of Saint Peter:

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

This vision was then conveyed and began to be lived by the 600 families of the parish. Monsignor McGread’s message was simple: Strive to share our gifts of time, talent and treasure for the service of God and all of His people. Do this out of thanksgiving to God for all that He has given us.