Mr Jim Kelley, a United States specialist in ‘stewardship’ will visit Australia in late May – June to discuss the concept and how parishes and the church groups can benefit from its adoption.
The concept of stewardship is about the individual putting the Gospel into action – a spirituality for life that is both radical and life-giving.
An increasing number of Australian parishes are inculcating stewardship principles and practices into their way of life.
Stewardship is embraced ecumenically and challenges the Christian disciple to foster a sense of gratitude, responsibility and generosity through the better use of their time, talent and treasure.
Stewardship will require a change of heart to embrace a radical vision for what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today, not just on Sundays, but in every area of an individual’s life – to see and experience life as gift from God.
While stewardship’s origins are embedded in the Hebrew Scriptures it was the development of a US Catholic Bishop’s Pastoral Letter: Stewardship A Disciple’s Response in 1992 that created the impetus for widespread adoption of stewardship principles in the pastoral life of many American parishes.
Mr Kelley, a board member of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, has more than 20 years experience in the formation and practice of stewardship in his own diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.
In the past few years, leaders from several Australian dioceses have attended stewardship conferences in the USA.
The Catholic dioceses of Brisbane and Wollongong dioceses are sponsoring Stewardship Institutes in Brisbane and Sydney in 2007.
The institutes will provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles and practicalities of stewardship.
For more information on the Stewardship Institute in Brisbane please visit the website www.bne.catholic.net.au/stewardship
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