FOUR PILLARS OF STEWARDSHIP
St. Joseph Parish School, aligned with the vision of the 1992 American Bishops Pastoral Letter on stewardship, embodies a Stewardship Parish and School through the integration of its four pillars: hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. Rooted in the belief that stewardship is a way of life, as echoed by Father Eric Castro, MS, the school fosters a culture where students learn to receive God's gifts with gratitude, nurture them responsibly, and share them lovingly. This holistic approach encourages students to be conscientious stewards, not just in material contributions but in their daily lives and interactions. By instilling these values, St. Joseph Parish School aims to develop students into disciples of Christ, accountable to God for the gifts they have received and shared, thus fulfilling their commitment to the parish, school, and broader community.
In his contemplative reflections, Father Eric Castro, MS, presents a profound challenge to both our parish and school community, urging the adoption of Stewardship as a fundamental way of life. His insights encourage a deeper commitment to the principles of stewardship within our spiritual and educational settings.
Hospitality
Christian Kindness
“When I was a stranger, you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). The Gospel teaches that whenever we welcome the least of our brothers or sisters, we welcome Christ Himself. That is why the first mark of a stewardship parish is hospitality. Being friendly is one of the first ways we can be Christ-like toward others.
Modern Catholic parishes are often so large and have so many Masses that many parishioners don’t know one another. To create a sense of community, be sure to smile and greet others as you enter and exit the Church. Let’s try harder than ever to be a welcoming community.
Prayer
Heart-to-Heart with God
“Do not become so involved in the work of the Lord that you forget the Lord of the work,” a seminary professor once taught. In other words, don’t get so caught up with parish projects and outreach efforts that you forget to draw aside to spend time with God in prayer. Every great saint has taught that prayer is the most essential component in the life of the Christian. Through prayer, we nurture our most important relationship – the one that will last for all eternity.
A healthy prayer life should include communal prayer such as Mass, as well as personal prayer and family prayer. The two biggest obstacles to prayer are lack of time and lack of understanding of how to pray. We have to schedule time for prayer just as we would for an important appointment. And we have to learn how to pray from other people. Many saints have written spiritual books that describe different methods of prayer.
Formation
Continuous Conversion
Pope John Paul II always emphasized ongoing conversion. From childhood through adulthood, our whole life must be a process of drawing closer to God. He never stops calling us forward to learn more and to examine ourselves more deeply.
Very often our society values material things more than interior virtues. But as personal experience shows, when we finally acquire the car or house or “toy” that we wanted so badly, it doesn’t really satisfy. On the other hand, we don’t tend to desire spiritual virtues with the same kind of longing, but when we actually have them, we find them far more rewarding than material things.
Service
Love in Action
“Amen I say to you, whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). This Scripture was one of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s favorites. Each time she picked up a poor and hungry child, she knew she was ministering to Christ. While we may not view ourselves as saints, we too are called to such heroic service right within our own community. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “To be a saint is not the privilege of a few, but the duty of everyone.”
We have many service opportunities right here within our own parish. If you have the willingness to serve and take the initiative to find where you are needed, you’ll find that there is no end to the families and individuals who truly need help. How can you reach out to them in love?