Stewardship
The Mission of the The International Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc. is to foster an environment in which stewardship is understood, accepted, and practiced throughout the Catholic Church. Empowering Catholics to live their faith as Christian Stewards.
STEWARDSHIP:
A concept as old as the Bible was reborn in the early 1960s and now has the potential of changing the way Catholics live-and give-in the world of today.
We know from the Bible that everything we have is a gift from God. We are stewards-managers of the many gifts God has given to us. As Christian stewards, we recognize that all that we are-all that we have-belongs to God, and we are accountable to Him for the use of all things. Therefore, we must live and give as Christians, generously sharing our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure.
The primary goal of the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) is to promote this concept of Christian stewardship. This Council was founded in 1962 through the patronage of His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Ritter and under the direction of The Reverend Paul F. Kaletta of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri. As head of the Archdiocese's Expansion Fund, Father Kaletta saw the need for a Catholic theology and a philosophy of resource development which would lead to a sharing of information about financial problems in the Church. Cardinal Ritter invited various representatives around the country to share ideas about Church support.
The organization, which was originally named the National Council for Diocesan Support Programs, in 1968 was renamed The National Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc. At its annual conference in September 1999, the Board of Directors voted to change the organization's name to the International Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc. (ICSC) to reflect its international mission. The name change became effective 28 November 1999, the first Sunday of Advent. Through the years, ICSC has evolved a theology of stewardship which is presented as a way of life.
In 1965, the Council began holding annual conferences in cities throughout the USA. The International Catholic Jubilee Stewardship Conference will be held in Washington, DC, in the year 2000, followed by conferences in San Diego, Toronto, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Boston.
Episcopal support has also been an essential part of ICSC's Board of Directors. In 1967, when the Board was formed, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Albert R. Zuroweste, D.D, Bishop of Belleville in Illinois, became the Council's Episcopal Moderator. Five years later, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward E. Swanstrom, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of New York in New York, then the Executive Director of Catholic Relief Services, accepted an invitation to serve as the Council's Associate Episcopal Moderator. Later (in 1974), Bishop Zuroweste, because of age and the pressure of other duties, asked to be relieved and he was replaced by His Excellency, The Most Reverend William G. Connare, D.D., Bishop of Greensburg in Pennsylvania, who became Co-Episcopal Moderator, along with Bishop Swanstrom. Bishop Connare served as ICSC's Episcopal Moderator for fifteen years, retiring in 1990. His Excellency, The Most Reverend James Patrick Keleher, S.T.D., Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, currently serves as Episcopal Moderator.
Under the leadership of Father Kaletta, the Council's first Chairman, the International Catholic Stewardship Council continued to grow over the years. Father Kaletta died in 1974, but his vision continues to shape ICSC, which now serves the Church throughout the world. His dream of representatives from across the country sharing their ideas about Church support has been realized. The Council he founded now provides a ready network of members who are happy to share their expertise and opinions at any time with fellow members.
The Council promotes the concept that stewardship is not simply an appeal for funds; it is a way of life. Through its seminars, publications and annual conference, ICSC emphasizes the point that all members of our family of faith are called to be Christian stewards and share their gifts of time, talent and treasure in proportion to the blessings they have received from God.
ICSC has hosted two international Stewardship Seminars, held in Rome in 1973 and 1998. In both cases, representatives from all over the world attended and discussed matters of stewardship in their cultures. Presentations and panel discussions were heard simultaneously in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
The First Annual Institute for Stewardship and Development, which provided a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles and techniques of stewardship and development, was held in Marriottsville, Maryland in 1993.
Subsequent institutes have been held in Danville, California, Marriottsville, Maryland and Mundelein, Illinois. The institute's next winter session next year will be held 29 January- 2 February 2001 at San Pedro Center in Winter Park, Florida. The next summer session will be held 24-28 July 2000 and 23-27 July 2001 at San Damiano Center in Danville, California.
Also, ICSC's Board of Directors accepted a proposal in October 1993 from The National Planned Giving Institute at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, to train diocesan executives and others in the area of planned giving.
Through its programs, the International Catholic Stewardship Council offers practical steps-and an overall vision-that can lead to untold future benefits for the Church. ICSC offers blueprints for increasing diocesan and parish support with the goal of providing faith communities with a stable financial base for the future. But, more importantly, the Council's work is aimed at empowering Catholics to live their faith as Christian stewards who generously offer financial and volunteer support to their Church as a means of thanksgiving to God.
These Christian stewards come to know that their investments in their parishes, dioceses and other Church institutions pay untold benefits both to them and to those whom each group serves because their gifts are helping to build the Kingdom of God in the hearts of His people.
Publications about Stewardship:
The International Catholic Stewardship Council offers members and
non-members a whole host of special materials and mailings to promote spiritual
health and financial growth. Many of our publications are in English and
Spanish.
Commitment:
ICSC's newsletter will keep you up-to-date on stewardship-related
activities and news in the Catholic Church. Each issue includes feature
articles, upcoming events, and profiles of parishes and dioceses throughout the
world.
"Gladly Will I Spend and Be Spent" (2 Corinthians 12:15)
A Brief History of the International Catholic Stewardship Council
1962-1997.
Written by Sr. Mary Roger Madden, S.P., this limited edition history
is a fascinating look at the birth of stewardship in the Catholic Church.
Anyone who serves the Church in stewardship and development will find in
these pages a sense of excitement and hope for the future.
The Life of the Christian Steward:
Reflection of the Logic of Commitment
Published originally under the title of The Spiritual Meaning of Stewardship
of Time, Talent & Treasure: The Logic of Commitment, this booklet
describes the eight-step program towards a spirituality of stewardship.
ICSC Parish Stewardship Program
Available from The Liturgical Press
(800-858-5450), this program details the steps necessary to promote
the concept of Christian stewardship in your parish.
Pray Always and Never Lose Heart:
A Treasury of Private Prayers for the Christian Steward
This inspirational prayer book compiled by ICSC, features a variety
of stewardship prayers used in parishes and dioceses, general prayers
and a revised version of Pope Pius XII's deeply spiritual encyclical Mystici Corporis.
Resource
Full of practical advice and new insights, ICSC's respected journal
features articles (in English and Spanish) by experienced Church leaders and
visionaries on how to promote the laity's understanding of stewardship and
educate everyone in the community of Christ to share their God-given
gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
Steward Saints for Every Day (bi-lingual edition)
In Steward Saints for Every Day, author Sharon Hueckel gives us a
brief but notable look at the Church's great ones of history in the light of
Christian stewardship. "The men and women you will meet in these pages are as
diverse as the worshippers at your parish church on any Sunday morning," she
writes.
"The only thing they have in common is their love of the Lord and
their willingness to use their gifts in his service."
Published in a bilingual edition (English/Spanish), this book is
truly a must for all members of your parish, diocese or community.
Stewardship - Disciples Respond:
A Practical Guide for Pastoral Leaders
This resource manual contains specific guidelines for introducing and
nurturing a strong program of stewardship. Available in English and
Spanish, it is a hands-on companion to the important NCCB Pastoral Letter on
Stewardship.
The Stewardship Rosary NEW
This new booklet provides a fresh approach to the rosary from the
perspective of stewardship as a way of life. It focuses on the relationship we
must build with Christ through his Mother in order to recognize everything we
have as a gift. Only after this recognition takes place can we freely offer
everything we have back to Him. The Blessed Mother stands poised as our
companion and intercessor to help us on our way. This rosary booklet is a great way
to rediscover this timeless prayer to Our Lady and revitalize our
experience of her.
