The Saint Columban Stewardship Commission provides the parish community with an intentional coordinated effort to increase the parish’s awareness and give practical methods to live out faithful stewardship both personally and communally.  This mission is to become better stewards of God’s gift of life and blessings given to each of us.  This undertaking will be accomplished through formation, worship and service ministries.

Major Aims:

• Formation:  The commission will provide written material and other resources that explain the aspects of sharing TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE, coordinating with parish formational programs (e.g. RCIA, ERE, school, bible studies), communication resources (e.g. bulletin, newsletter, website), and creating new materials.
• Worship:  The commission will research and develop prayer opportunities for the parish community (i.e. based on the liturgical season) that can be used at the opening or closing of meetings, devotions at home with our family, and used at other opportunities.  Through prayerful reflection on the Sunday readings, the commission will provide preachers with possible stewardship connections based on the readings for their discretionary use.  The commission will also develop prayer services for the community that celebrate our gratitude and highlight specific acts of stewardship by the community.
• Service:  Highlight the many wonderful acts of charity (e.g. school efforts, missionary support, youth ministry, Outreach, SVdP, JSA Commission, Boosters, Girl and Boy Scouts) that  are already happening in the parish and how such acts of charity connect to stewardship.
   

Few concepts are  more misunderstood than the concept of Catholic stewardship. Many hear the word "stewardship" and immediately it morphs into fund-raising. But that is not what stewardship is about.

From the St. Anthony Messenger's "The 7 Secrets of Successful Stewards" by Paul Wilkes, a good steward is the person who takes care of whaterver is is that she or he has been entrusted. Each person uses it well, to a good purpose. Stewardship affects every part of our lives.When we are using our time, talents and treasure, we are in balance with God...we realize we have been generously given those gifts and in turn we are using them for good purposes.

The 7 Secrets of Successful Stewards are:

1. Give until it feels good
2. See not obligation, but opportunity
3. Give to specifics; know where one's generousity is being directed
4. Have an attitude of gratitude
5. Share various gifts at the right time
6. Realize God will point the way
7. See stewardhip as a spiritual act