Growing Together in Stewardship

Dear Friends,

Blessings!

Our St. Agnes community continues to grow, and that is a great blessing. More families are joining our parish, more children and young people are participating, and more people are turning to St. Agnes for worship, formation, the Sacraments, and pastoral care.

But growth also brings greater responsibility.

As our parish grows, so do its needs. More people means more ministries, greater use of our facilities, and increasing costs to support the mission entrusted to us. For that reason, the spirit of Christian stewardship must also grow among us.

This is something very personal to me.

Since I was a child, I have felt a responsibility toward the mission of the Church. I never stopped to ask whether the Church had enough or whether my contribution was really needed. I simply found joy in giving because I believed that her mission mattered.

There was never much doubt in my heart about investing my time, talent, and treasure in the Church. I have always considered the Church my second home.

My father would sometimes tell me, “Eres candil de la calle y oscuridad de la casa,” which roughly means, “You are a light in the street, but darkness at home.” I think he was gently reminding me that I was often giving so much of my time and energy to the Church that he wished I would spend a little more of it helping with the family business.

And somewhere in my heart, I felt like answering with the words of the young Jesus in the Temple: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

That same conviction remains with me today.

Some of you serve generously with your time and talents. Others, because of work, family responsibilities, age, or health, may not be able to serve actively. But all of us, according to our possibilities, are called to support the mission with our treasure.

Today, I earnestly ask every household to prayerfully review its Sunday contribution and, if possible, consider increasing it.

Please consider online giving or setting up an automatic recurring contribution, which provides St. Agnes with consistent support throughout the year.

My friends, I am not asking you to give everything you have. I am inviting you to live what Jesus taught us:

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Matthew 22:21

Let us give to God joyfully because we believe in His mission.

Together, We are St. Agnes!

Fr. jc