Our Call to Stewardship

What is Stewardship?

​Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God’s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor.  "Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ leads naturally to the practice of stewardship." (U.S. Bishops, Stewardship: A Disciples' Response, 14).  As Christians, our primary identity is that of a steward. 

Stewardship is not about money or fundraising. It is a spirituality.  It is a way of life.  "Stewardship always starts with the personal experience of the Risen Christ in our midst and in our hearts." (U.S. Bishops, Stewardship, at 1). 

As Christian stewards, we are called to gratefully recognize and receive God’s abundant gifts in our lives and generously share them with others.   A steward recognizes that God is the source of all life and every blessing and that all gifts of time, talent, and treasure come from God. A steward is grateful for those gifts. A steward takes care of and increases those gifts, and then freely gives back the first and best portion of those gifts to God. 

To read the U.S. Bishops' letter on stewardship, click here.

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Why is stewardship important?

Through faithful stewardship we participate in the Church's divine mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As stewards, it is our responsibility to spread God’s Word through the generous, sacrificial return of our time, talent, and treasure to God, who has given us every blessing in life.  

With all of our gifts, stewardship spirituality urges us to focus on making God the priority and giving him the first and the best, rather than worrying excessively about what we think we need or must have.​ 

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Time

Time is one of God's precious gifts.  In practicing Christian stewardship, we freely offer a generous portion of our time back to God in prayer and deepening our faith.  Lost time is something we can never recover.  In stewardship spirituality, we prioritize our time to give to God what is God's.

We can wisely use the gift of time through personal and group prayer, studying the Bible, attending religious education classes, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and reading spiritual books. 

To learn more about the opportunities to spend more time in prayer, explore the "Grow" tab of our website.

Talent

Each of us was created by God in his image and given certain skills and abilities to serve him in a particular way that he has intended from all eternity.   As Saint Paul says, "to each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit" (1 Corinthians 12:7). That benefit is the building up of the Church.

As Christians we recognize that our gifts are meant to be shared with others.  Sharing the gift of ourselves is how we express our gratitude for being created as unique and gifted people.

To learn more about the opportunities at St. Hilary's to share your skills and talents, click here to learn more about our ministries.

Treasure

Our treasure includes every material gift God has bestowed upon us.  Although it may appear that we have earned whatever wealth we have through hard work alone, it was God who gave us the ability, health, and opportunity to obtain the many things that we have.

Although the Church is always in need of money to fulfill its mission of evangelizing the world, the stewardship of treasure begins with our own deeply-ingrained need to give.  We simply will never be happy until we practice great generosity.

​To learn more about how to donate to your parish, see below. 

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How to Donate to St. Hilary

You can offer your financial gift to your parish in several important ways: 

1.  Use our contact form or parish registration form to request envelopes to make your contributions each week at Mass.  

2.  Set up an automated payment through your online banking bill payment service.

3.  Authorize a monthly electronic contribution by completing the online EFT form or downloading the EFT form and returning the form to the rectory. Click on the corresponding buttons to the right.
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4.  Make a one-time or recurring donation online by clicking the button to the right.  

​5.  Make a bequest to St. Hilary Church as part of your estate planning.  Contact our Business Manager Adrian Gordon at (415) 435-1122.

6.  Sign up for eScrip and designate St. Hilary School as the recipient of your eScript points.  Just go to www.eScrip.com and follow the simple instructions.  Be sure to plug in St. Hilary School #137965399 when you register.

Downloadable Electronic Funds Form

Give Online Today

Annual Financial Report

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What are the qualities of a Christian steward?

Christ calls us to be stewards of the gifts that he gives us.  A faithful steward is characterized by a life of virtue.  It is a total way of life that is reflected in a number of characteristics.  There are at least ten qualities of a Christian steward: prayer, humility, trust, patience, responsibility, gratitude, generosity, simplicity, mercy, and perseverance.  Each of these virtues is an integral part of stewardship. 

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Watch a Video on Catholic Stewardship

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A Stewardship Prayer

Heavenly Father, as Christian stewards, help us to recognize that all blessings come from you.
Open our hearts to a deeper gratitude for all that you have given us—our time, our talent, and our treasure. Give us prudence to take care of these gifts and increase them for your kingdom.
Inspire us to share these gifts freely in love of God and neighbor, giving back the first and best portion to you. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.