To the Community

Stewardship at St. Anselm in our weekly liturgies.

A recent visitor to St. Anselm, coming from another parish, stopped me after Mass on a Sunday and asked me, “Is this a Catholic parish? You didn’t take up a collection!”

I laughed, then, gently explained how we place our offerings in the baskets as we come into the church at the beginning of Mass. Then, I noted that if people forget to give at the beginning of Mass, people are free to place an offering in the baskets after Mass.

The man smiled and said, “I like that! You’ve made it very comfortable. I really enjoyed the song during the offertory….the words were so beautiful. Everything was beautiful! I really felt that I prayed today!”

I thanked the gentleman, and thought to myself…”That’s what it’s all about. We want people to join in the prayer of the liturgy. If people have a good experience of prayer in song and ritual, they will become stronger members of the community.”

So, it’s our policy here at St. Anselm to only rarely “pass the basket” at Mass. Usually the only time we take up a “special collection” is for the annual Mission Appeal mandated by the diocese, and for a “special need” such as a response to a flood, earthquake, or other disaster.

Remember, our parish sets aside a percentage of our weekly income to help people in need. Our Community OutReach (COR) committee responds to emergency needs in our local community. We also “give aid” to local charitable organizations like Catholic Charities by providing meeting spaces for them, and hosting some of their outreach programs. We also host a large number of “Anonymous” programs that provide support for people dealing with addictions and disorders.

Our hospitality does have a price, however. You know how the cost of energy is rising, so too for us here at St. Anselm. We have bills to pay for water, electricity, phones, etc. We need your generous stewardship to help us to continue to be a place of hospitality and welcome. We need your help to maintain the beauty of our buildings and grounds.

Thank you for all that you do to share your gifts of time, talent and treasure to build up the community of St. Anselm.

Fr. Gene Vavrick

Creative responses to Stewardship at St. Anselm

STEWARDSHIP PRAYER

Oh Lord, giver of life and source of our freedom,
we are reminded by the Psalmist
that yours is “the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.”
We know that it is from your hand that we have received all we have
and are and will be.

Gracious and loving God, we understand that you call us to be
stewards of your abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us.
Help us always to use your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously.

May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Christ in our lives.
We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.