Lord God, you alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life.  We praise you and we thank you for your power and your tender, faithful love.

Everything we are and everything we have is your gift, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of Your Son, JESUS CHRIST.

Fill our minds with HIS truth and our hearts with HIS love, that in HIS Spirit we may be bonded together into a community of faith, a parish family, and a caring people.

In the Name and Spirit of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent and our material gifts as an outward sign of the treasure we hold in Jesus. AMEN.

Few concepts are  more misunderstood than the concept of Catholic stewardship. Many hear the word "stewardship" and immediately it morphs into fund-raising. But that is not what stewardship is about.

From the St. Anthony Messenger's "The 7 Secrets of Successful Stewards" by Paul Wilkes, a good steward is the person who takes care of whaterver is is that she or he has been entrusted. Each person uses it well, to a good purpose. Stewardship affects every part of our lives.When we are using our time, talents and treasure, we are in balance with God...we realize we have been generously given those gifts and in turn we are using them for good purposes.

The 7 Secrets of Successful Stewards are:

1. Give until it feels good
2. See not obligation, but opportunity
3. Give to specifics; know where one's generousity is being directed
4. Have an attitude of gratitude
5. Share various gifts at the right time
6. Realize God will point the way
7. See stewardhip as a spiritual act