Don’t take others for granted
By Dan Stremel
Director, Offices of Finance and Stewardship
If you are like me, when the word stewardship is mentioned, at least one person’s face comes to mind. This person might be memorable because of the gift of treasure they gave unselfishly for another important cause or because this person has shared a particular talent either in the community or at the parish. This person might also be memorable because being with someone else in need or spending time in prayer is a routine part of his or her life. In fact, I would suggest that most of us can think of several people who we identify as stewardship minded when the conversation turns to this topic. I would also suggest that we often take for granted these people and the manner in which they spend their daily lives as Christian disciples.
What is it about that person that has made them so memorable? Was it a teacher, a coworker, a spouse, one of the children, or a stranger? Did this person’s sharing come at a time of joy, at a time of sorrow, a time of struggle, or during an emergency? Perhaps this person shared his or her gifts at a time when you requested help, or showed up miraculously like a guardian angel.
I remember the day that I met with Bishop Gilmore after he was named to shepherd this diocese. We conversed about many things, but the most memorable part of the conversation from my perspective was a discussion about the dedicated men and women on the staff at the diocesan offices. I suggested that the staff is always willing and able to shift duties to assist someone else in a time of need, or with a special project, and that they were always willing and able to work together for the good of the people in the diocese. Over the past 17 years that I have been ministering in the diocese, I have been privileged to minister with many priests, sisters, deacons, and men and women who have shared their unique gifts with this attitude in mind. Some would suggest that this is a job and that because all of us are paid to do this job that this type of attitude is expected. I would agree to some extent with this assessment, but it is because these people minister, not just go to work, that they are special and that they are truly practicing discipleship each and every day.
Each month as the directors meet to pray, discuss ministry throughout the diocese, and to network on how we might better minister together in strengthening our faith communities, I am reminded of the gifts of stewardship that these men and women continue to share with others. Many people don’t understand the evangelization, education, and assistance that these people are involved in, but I am confident that even though some of the staff has changed over the years, my assessment seven years ago to Bishop Gilmore has not. Unfortunately, though, it seems that often when a time of need has passed, I am remiss in appropriately recognizing their efforts. While I understand that these people do not practice stewardship because they seek recognition, I don’t want to take their efforts for granted and want to thank the dedicated chancery staff who continue to minister as Christian disciples each day with me.
As this Lenten season quickly draws to a close, I would invite each of you to take a few moments to reflect on how those people around you — at home, at work, at the parish, and in the community impact your life. I believe it is safe to suggest that these are the people who come to mind when the discussion turns to stewardship. It is my hope in these last days of Lent that each of us will come to recognize more fully this gift of sharing called stewardship. I pray that each of us will not take these people and their gifts for granted, but that each of us will resolve to imitate their examples of stewardship throughout the year and to show them by your example how much you appreciate the gifts they have shared.