Amesbury, MA
At no time in the history of the Church were the People of God meant to be passive. Jesus' most controversial and celebrated teaching moment was His directive for His followers to "Love one another". That active (and activating) love was to be the mark by which they might be known; it is the manifestation in both the spiritual and physical world of how and why we are called "Christian". That simple call led to a transformation of the world 2000 years ago, and it leads us still as we engage in continuing conversion to more fully realize the Kingdom of God.
There is a variety of gifts, but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
In the most important document from Vatican II, De Ecclesia (Constitution on the Church),the role of the laity is set forth without ambiguity. "The term laity is here understood to mean all the faithful... These faithful are by baptism made one body with Christ and are constituted among the People of God; they are in their own way made sharers in the priestly, prophetical and kingly functions of Christ; and they carry out for their own part the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the world".
(n. 31)
We are many parts, we are all one body.
And the gifts we have, we are given to share.
May the Spirit of love, make us one indeed.
One, the love that we share; one, our hope in despair; one, the cross that we bear.
And the gifts we have, we are given to share.
May the Spirit of love, make us one indeed.
One, the love that we share; one, our hope in despair; one, the cross that we bear.
(Marty Haugen)
Listen to Marty Haugan:
We Are Many Parts
We Are Many Parts
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is discipleship. The life of a Christian steward is lived as a disciple of Christ. As the U.S. Bishops point out in their pastoral letter on stewardship, "Following Jesus is the work of a lifetime. At every step forward, one is challenged to go further in accepting and loving God's will. 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." This is accomplished by personal accountability in our use of Time in Prayer, Talents, and Treasure. It means a day-by-day, moment-by-moment living out of these characteristics, particularly when it is most difficult to do so. Such a commitment may seem overwhelming at times if we rely solely on ourselves. The stewardship way of life teaches that we are capable of nothing on our own; and that is true especially when it comes to fulfilling this commitment to discipleship. Instead, it is made possible through the gift of God's grace, which, in His love, He makes ever-present for us, so long as we ask for and respond to it.(Colleen Smith)
Please visit each of the Stewardship' pages for information as it relates to Holy Family Parish.
Stewardship is everything you do
after you say yes to Jesus Christ.
after you say yes to Jesus Christ.
(Clarence Stoughton)
