Mission Statement:
To support the mission of the Church to proclaim and teach, to sanctify and serve, the Diocese of Orange Office of Stewardship fosters the practice of good Christian Stewardship. Families, parishes and the diocese itself are called to model Christian Stewardship, wherein individuals more fully live their baptismal call to discipleship. The Office promotes Stewardship through ongoing education, motivation and invitation to the Stewardship way of life, and by providing practical support and tools to assist clergy and laity as they facilitate conversion of heart and the sharing of individual gifts with the Body of Christ.

Director of Stewardship:
Debbie Leaverton
Phone: (714) 282-3026
E-mail: dleaverton@rcbo.org

What is Christian Stewardship?
A steward is someone who takes care of what belongs to someone else, like an administrator or trustee, not an owner. Christian stewards recognize that everything really belongs to God - everything we are and everything we have - and that God will hold us accountable for how we use the many gifts He entrusted to our care. If we truly believe this and experience a conversion of heart, we can’t help but respond with profound gratitude. This gratitude is expressed in our celebration of the Eucharist (the very word means thanks) and in the way we live our everyday lives.

What does it mean to live the Stewardship way of life?
The Stewardship way of life is a biblically based Catholic spirituality. Living each day as a good steward means answering our own personal call from Jesus Christ to be his disciple; following his example of loving service to others. In their Pastoral Letter “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response”, the American Bishops describe a Christian steward as:

“One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.”

Gifts from God are not meant to be hoarded or kept only for our own use, but to be shared with others so everyone has a share in God’s abundant graces.


Stewardship Prayer

God my Creator,
you made me all that I am and gave me all that I have.
Help me show my gratitude
by using these gifts to serve others in your name.

Jesus my Redeemer,
you taught me the way to eternal life
by your example of loving service to others.
Grant me the courage to respond to your call to Discipleship
by following in your footsteps.

Holy Spirit of God,
be with me as I choose each day to put you first in my life.
Let me be a model of Christian Stewardship
so others will come to know you through my actions.

I pray, dear Lord,
that you open the minds and hearts
of all the men, women and young people of our parishes,
that we may joyfully accept your challenge
to be good stewards.

Amen.

Minutes from 7/22 meeting

"Stewardship: A Disciple's Response"
The pastoral letter written by the American bishops in 1992, is available in Catholic Bookstores or directly from USCCB. English and Spanish copies can be purchased through the Office of Stewardship for $6.00/copy.

Parish Stewardship Manual
Produced by the Diocese of Orange Stewardship Office for parish Stewardship Committees. Complementary copies available through the Office of Stewardship.

International Catholic Stewardship Council
See Website: www.catholicstewardship.org