The document discusses the important role of clergy in fostering a culture of stewardship within Catholic parishes and communities. It emphasizes that stewardship is a spiritual way of life that involves gratitude for God's gifts and living as disciples of Christ. The document provides reflection exercises for clergy to evaluate their personal stewardship and how they inspire others. It also offers resources and ideas to help parishes strengthen communication, formation, hospitality, and other areas to promote stewardship as a way of life. The goal is to help clergy discern small steps to encourage stewardship through their preaching, leadership and witness of faith.

1. THE ROLE OF CLERGY
in Transforming Hearts
and Forming Stewards
…One Step at a Time.
Diocese of San Diego

2. 2 Why Stewardship?
Truly you have formed my
inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s
womb.
I give you thanks that I am
fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown
to you.
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the
depths of the earth.
Your eyes have seen my actions;
in your book they are all
written;
my days were limited before
one of them existed.
How weighty are your designs,
O God;
how vast the sum of them!
Were I to recount them, they
would outnumber the sands;
did I reach the end of them,
I should still be with you.
Psalm 139:13-18

3. Diocese of San Diego 3
The Diocese of San Diego Stewardship Advisory
Commission, was commissioned to develop and
sustain, within every Catholic faith community
throughout our diocese, a culture of actively
engaged disciples of Jesus Christ who are
committed to living their lives as good stewards.
The real work of transforming hearts and forming
stewards begins within our parishes and faith
communities. As clergy, your role in this process
is paramount.
Vocation
Discipleship
& Community
Stewardship
“Once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus
Christ, stewardship is not an option.”
— Bishop John J. McRaith

4. 4 Why Stewardship?
A personal call:
Priests and People Together
“Stewardship always starts with the personal experience of the Risen Christ in our midst
and in our hearts. It is a vocation to discipleship. The following of Christ as a disciple entails
a personal response, and the call can result in a positive impact on our faith communities.”
—Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan
You, who know so well what is involved when
you answer the call to vocation, are in a unique
position to help others with that same decision.
The vocation of all baptized Christians is a “call”
to be a disciple of Christ and the way of life that
brings it home is stewardship. Because each
of us must discern, know, and live our lives in
joyful acceptance of our call, it is fundamental
to who we are individually and as parish and
faith communities that we live as stewards.

5. Diocese of San Diego 5
Where are you now?
“In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection,
and all of us are responsible for it.”
— Pope Francis
In your parishes, and in your life, how have you
been able to be a witness to living a life of good
stewardship? Pope Francis speaks of stewardship
in terms of how to live it out in the contemporary
world, but the call to this way of life is as old as
our ancestors in faith whose stories are told in
Sacred Scripture.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of how
you have personally heard and responded to the
call to stewardship, take time with the following
reflection exercise.

6. 6 Why Stewardship?
Reflection Exercise
Stewardship:
Stewardship is a deeply spiritual way of life
that begins with recognition of and gratitude
for all we are, have, and will be. For what are
you most grateful in your life and ministry? How
does your day-to-day life as a priest reflect this
gratitude?
“Being a disciple is not just something
else to do, alongside many other things
suitable for Christians. It is a total way of
life and requires continuing conversion.”
United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,
Tenth Anniversary Edition
(Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

7. Diocese of San Diego 7
Reflection Exercise
Giving:
Who inspires you by their gift of spirit, time,
financial giving, prayer, and sharing of talent? In
what ways do you seek to inspire others?
“To be a Christian disciple is a rewarding
way of life, a way of companionship with
Jesus, and the practice of stewardship
as a part of it is itself a source of deep joy.”
Unites States Conference of Catholic
Bishops: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth
Anniversary Edition (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

8. 8 Why Stewardship?
Reflection
Exercise
Trust:
Living and growing as a good steward
requires a deep trust in God’s providence.
What challenges your trust in God at this
time? In what, or through whom, does Christ
console you?
“Stewardship involves a lifelong
process of study, reflection, prayer,
and action. To make stewardship a
way of life for individuals, families,
parishes, and dioceses requires
a change of heart and a new
understanding of what it means
to follow Jesus without
counting the cost.”
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,
Tenth Anniversary Edition
(Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

9. Diocese of San Diego 9
Reflection Exercise
Living the Eucharist:
Stewardship is profoundly Eucharistic. What
recent experience called you to sacrifice, to give
deeply of yourself for the sake of another?
“And what do Christians bring to the
Eucharist celebration and join there with
Jesus’ offering? Their lives as Christian
disciples; their personal vocations and
the stewardship they have exercised
regarding them; their individual
contributions to the great work of
restoring all things in Christ.”
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth
Anniversary Edition (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002)

10. 10 Why Stewardship?
“Stewardship is an expression of discipleship with the power to change
how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice
stewardship recognize that God is the origin of life, the giver of freedom,
the source of all they have and are and will be. My friends, when you talk
about stewardship you come to a third conviction. It is an expression
of discipleship, which really asks us to put on new lenses - new lenses
where we look at who we are and what we do from an entirely different
perspective. And that is what stewardship is about.”
— Archbishop Thomas Murphy
Think about your parish. What would it be like
if the staff, the leadership, and the entire faith
community looked at their call to discipleship
through the lens of stewardship? Consider the
key areas listed below for fostering stewardship
as a way of life. All have the potential to
positively impact the parish and its people.
Which area will you choose in order to take a
step in the coming year?
Change can come
…One Step at a Time

11. Diocese of San Diego 11
Communication
• Commission an exciting new website,
updated bulletin, parish App, electronic
newsletter
Formation
• Present homilies reflecting the spirituality
of stewardship, bring in national speakers,
attend workshops and events like
International Catholic Stewardship Council
(ICSC) Conference, Diocesan Church
Ministers Conference, and Los Angeles
Religious Education Conference
Hospitality
• Take a look at the facilities to insure they are
clean, fresh, and inviting
• Try one weekend when everyone wears a
name tag to get to know each other
• Review your signage to assure it is clear and
helpful
• Review your usher and greeter ministries
Registration
•Evaluate how people are greeted when they
come to your parish, look at a one-on-one
registration process/orientation; consider
being available on weekends to register new
families
Gifts Discernment
• Use programs and procedures liked Called
Gifted Discernment Process by Catherine of
Siena Institute and Living Your Strengths to
discover and cultivate parishioners’ gifts
Engagement
• Look for ways to foster a sense of belonging,
help parishioners get involved in parish life
Commitment
•Dedicate time every year for annual
stewardship renewal, emphasize stewardship
as the natural and necessary response of an
intentional disciple

12. 12 Why Stewardship?
Network, Support, Resources
Whether your parish is new to stewardship, has been faithfully committed to stewardship for some time,
or your stewardship efforts need to be re-energized, you can take a step with support.
Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response:
A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.usccb.org/upload/stewardship-disciples-response-10th-anniversary.pdf
Diocesan Stewardship Commission — Contact Damian Esparza at desparza@diocese-sdiego.org
http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/en-us/giving/stewardshipdevelopment.aspx
The Parishes of San Diego Stewardship Network —Contact Richard Roy at rroy@san.rr.com
International Catholic Stewardship Council
http://www.catholicstewardship.com
Catholic Life and Faith — Contact Leisa Anslinger at leisaanslinger@me.com
http://www.catholiclifeandfaith.net
Books You May Want to Consider:
Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop “Doing Church” and Start Being the Church Again
Author: Albert L. Winseman
Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter
Authors: Michael White and Tom Corcoran
Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
Author: Sherry A. Weddell
What Do I Own and What Owns Me? A Spirituality of Stewardship
Author: Daniel Conway
More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest
Author: Daniel J. Mahan

13. Diocese of San Diego 13
Responding
to the Call
We encourage you to see stewardship through
the lens of spirituality, not financial need. It is
the need to prioritize Christ that keeps our use of
time, talent, and treasure aligned and in balance.
Your role as clergy is to take a leap of faith.
Prayerfully discern how the Spirit is moving you
to bring the message of stewardship as a way
of life to those who trust in you for direction in
their faith lives.
“Let the Lord, your God,
show us what way we
should take and what
we should do.”
Jeremiah 42:3

14. 14 Why Stewardship?
One Parish’s Stewardship Story:
A Leap of Faith
Picture a parish living in quiet desperation. Morale is at an all-
time low. Collections are suffering. Attendance is waning. The
Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities have no
need for each other. Pleas for a heightened level of involvement
and an increased offertory collection fall on deaf ears. The ship is
sinking and everyone is exhausted.
FastforwardafewmonthstoJanuary2013. TheBusinessManager
and Finance Council Chairman are invited to meet the in-coming
bishop, Bishop Cirilo Flores, and the new Director of Development,
Damian Esparza. They speak of many things that day, but the
underlying theme is Stewardship. The Spirit is present and brings
inspiration and hopeful anticipation to those gathered in His Name.
They return to the parish and enthusiastically present the ideas
to the pastor. The pastor agrees to create a Stewardship Team
(Business Manager [now with a concurrent title of Stewardship
Director], Finance Council Chairman, and Music/Liturgy Director)
and allows them to pursue whatever means are necessary to drive
this forward. The pastor and team do not fully understand what
lies ahead. They take a blind Leap of Faith and trust in the Spirit
to direct their endeavors.
TheteamsbeginsattendingthegatheringsoftheDiocesanNetwork
of Stewardship Parishes, learning from their peers. Resources and
advice are shared freely. The pastor knows instinctively that he
must send the team to the annual ICSC (International Catholic
Stewardship Council) conference. It was to be held in Dallas and
would cost several thousand dollars to pay for the conference,
lodging, and airfare. The parish absolutely did not have the funds
to cover the expense. Another Leap of Faith. Within days of

15. Diocese of San Diego 15
making the payments, a parishioner drops off an undesignated
check in the amount of $2,500. She’s asked if it can be used to
pay for the Dallas conference. She’s thrilled to be part of this
undertaking.
Just four short months after the initial Diocesan presentation, the
parish launches Stewardship as a Way of Life to the parishioners.
In retrospect, it could have been more polished. It could have
been a lot of things it wasn’t. But it was Spirit-driven, sincere, and
heartfelt. It touched hearts. It opened minds. And just two years
later, the parish is living a transformation.
TheStewardshipTeamhasgrownfromthreetofifteenmembers,all
engaged and dedicated to the mission. New ministries and groups
have been formed. Membership in existing groups has doubled or
tripled. Parishioners are attending Adult Faith Formation events.
A Greeter ministry was formed and welcomes parishioners into
the church at every weekend Mass. The registration process was
improved and is now a one-on-one orientation with a member of
the Stewardship Team. New parishioners feel welcomed and
important and are ready to be an active part of parish life. The
English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities are now
making strong efforts to collaborate. Events are being planned
differently to be inclusive of all.
In September 2014, the Stewardship Team introduced a Covenant
with God, a tool designed to help parishioners move further along
on their faith journey. Almost 800 parishioners completed the
Covenant,sealeditinaself-addressedenvelope,andplaceditinthe
Covenant chest. These were stamped and mailed back last month
and they will be asked to complete a new Covenant this month.
There were responses from so many parishioners immediately
after signing the Covenant and in the months that followed. They
shared how the process of Stewardship and the Covenant was

16. 16 Why Stewardship?
changing their lives. They indicated that they
had been starving for direction and support.
You are encouraged to take some time
and prayerfully discern the needs of your
parishioners.
You may not have introduced Stewardship as
a Way of Life to your parish, and wonder why
it’s worth the effort – the pews are full, the
collection is healthy. But are the parishioners
growing in their faith and living it as Disciples
of Christ, or are they attending Mass and
supporting the parish?
You may be living Stewardship already, but it
has gone stale. Have the parishioners become
disinterested in your efforts? Perhaps it’s time
to bring in new resources and breathe new life
into your congregation.
Or perhaps it’s time to look at the new path on
which your parish can embark.
Whatever your current status, trust in the Spirit.
Take a Leap of Faith. God never disappoints.

17. Diocese of San Diego 17
Supplemental Questions
For the Parish Laity
No matter where your parish is with stewardship there are 5 basic principle facts to address.
For parishes already fostering stewardship as a way of life:
All is gift! In what ways does your parish invite
people to recognize and acknowledge their gifts
and to grow as good stewards of them? How do
parishioners respond?
Why stewardship? What evidence do you
have that parishioners are living and growing
as stewards as a response to their faith in and
relationship with Jesus Christ?
Giving: What is the impact of your parishioners’
generosity of giving of time, talent, and treasure?
Have you established an annual practice of
expressing gratitude for the generosity of your
parishioners?
Trust: In what ways are your parishioners
invited and challenged to place their trust in
God, separating their wants from their needs,
and shaping their life accordingly?
Living the Eucharist: How is the celebration of
theEucharistatyourparishagatheringofthankful
disciples, ready to be nourished and sent forth as
good stewards of all they are and have?
• All is (a) gift!
• Why stewardship?
• Giving
• Trust
• Living the Eucharist

18. 18 Why Stewardship?
For parishes that need to re-energize their stewardship efforts:
All is gift! Do parish leaders intentionally
and personally invite people to participate in
ministry, based on their gifts and talents? Is
there an on-going, year-round focus calling
those in the pew to grow as good stewards?
Why stewardship? What evidence do you
have that parishioners are living and growing
as stewards as a response to their faith in and
relationship with Jesus Christ?
Giving: Is there an annual call to make a
commitment to give of self, time, talent,
and treasure? In what ways do parishioners
respond? In what ways is parishioner giving
recognized and thanked?
Trust: Is there regular encouragement and
challenge to trust in God for all things, in all
circumstances of life?
Living the Eucharist: In what ways are
homilists and those who select music for
the liturgy attentive and responsive to the
stewardshipconnectionsintheSundayreadings
and prayers?

19. Diocese of San Diego 19
For parishes that are not yet focused on stewardship as a way of life:
Allisgift!Thinkaboutallthattakesplaceinyour
parish in an average week. Who are the people
who give of themselves and their resources to
insure that parish ministry is in place? In what
ways do you help these people recognize their
gifts, to grow in gratitude for them, and invite
others to serve with them?
Why stewardship? Stewardship is a spiritual
way that connects faith with daily life, rooted in
recognitionofandresponsetoourmanygiftsand
blessings. Who among your parishioners already
gives evidence of being a good steward? How
might you invite those parishioners to encourage
others to adopt this way of life?
Giving: Beyond appeals for financial giving,
are parishioners regularly encouraged to give of
their time and talent, within the parish or for the
needs of others?
Trust: Use examples of trust in God in daily life
offered in homilies, bulletin articles, or at parish
meetings and events.
Living the Eucharist: Take a step to foster
stewardshipbymakingastewardshipconnection
with the readings or prayers in the Sunday Mass
at least once a month. Note the ways in which
you see parishioners responding.

20. Diocese of San Diego