International Catholic Stewardship Council

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP September 2021 • e-Bulletin

A STEWARDSHIP PRAYER A Transforming and Safe

for September
Opportunity at the 59th
Heavenly Father,
Even during this time of pandemic, Annual ICSC Conference
September is a month that offers hope
This week, ICSC presenters are polishing their presentations for
for things to come:
September’s stewardship conference. Topics such as Evangelizing
our daily life has a new rhythm,
through COVID-19, Engaging the Youth for the Future of Our Church
there are new beginnings and New Stewardship Lessons We’ve Learned During the Pandemic,
and a new energy. are compelling reminders of our need to minister to the Catholic
faithful and beyond even in these times of uncertainty.
In this month of accelerating activities, As conference presenters prayerfully work through their
keep us mindful that we live for Christ PowerPoints, it is not hard to imagine the Holy Spirit at work as well,
and not for ourselves, and engaging, mentoring and inspiring them just as it has done throughout
that to be good stewards of the history of the Church; even during times of pandemic. The voices
his Gospel should be our goal of these dedicated presenters, along with many others, at Mass, in
each and every day. meetings, while networking and in renewing friendships, will certainly
give testimony that Christ is at the center of it all.
In this month of transition
help us find a deeper spiritual
balance in our lives
that takes time for you and
listens to the promptings of your Spirit.

We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

As conference presenters prayerfully work

through their PowerPoints, it is not hard to imagine
the Holy Spirit at work as well
We now know how to live with COVID much more than we
did 18 months ago. We know how to act with prudence to keep the
virus from upending our lives of faith. The ICSC conference will give
participants the opportunity to share their faith journeys and help each
other as leaders discover the necessary tools to convey the stewardship
message in an even more authentic way.
The first priority for the conference is certainly the safety and well-
being of everyone in attendance and ICSC’s recently updated “Well-
Being Protocols” on the conference page of the ICSC website are
Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
STEWARDSHIP SAINT for September
meant to keep everyone safe. You can
click HERE to see those protocols.
Moreover, ICSC’s wonderful partners Saint Vincent de Paul�
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel have The feast day of Saint Vincent de
put into place some very impressive Paul is September 27, the date of his
safety and well-being protocols of passing in 1660. He was the founder
their own. All conference participants of the Vincentians and the Sisters of
will be encouraged to be good Charity, and is the patron saint of all
stewards of each other and follow charitable organizations.
these protocols. Born in 1581 to a peasant
family in southwestern France,
Vincent studied for the priesthood
at a local Franciscan college and
then at Toulouse University. He
was ordained a priest at the age of
nineteen.
Little is truly known of Vincent’s early life in the priesthood except that he
spent a year in Rome, perhaps studying. In 1612 he became a parish priest
in a village just north of Paris and the following year became a tutor in the
household of the wealthy and politically powerful Gondi family. He remained
with the family for the next 12 years and spent some time as a parish priest
where he attended to the needs of the sick and the poor in his parish. In 1617
The Most Reverend he formed a group of women who ministered to the needs of these families. He
Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of established similar groups in other villages.
Roseau on the Caribbean Around the year 1618 Vincent came to know Saint Francis de Sales, whose
writings, especially the Introduction to the Devout Life, had a strong influence
island of Dominica,
on him. That same year Vincent established a society of priests, sometimes
concluded his liturgy referred to as “Vincentians,” who with the financial support of Madame Gondi,
at the 2017 conference would go from village to village on the Gondi estates to preach to the peasants
with remarks about and conduct missions. The mission work became so successful that with the
transformation and triumph approval of the archbishop of Paris and continued financial support of the
Gondis, the group established a base in Paris and their community continued
through the Holy Spirit. to grow along with their ministry.

The Most Reverend Gabriel

Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau on the Vincent’s approach to a devout life of faith was
Caribbean island of Dominica, to be simple, practical and to have confidence in
presided at the closing Mass of the God’s love and mercy.
2017 ICSC conference on the day
his island was being devastated by Meanwhile the women’s groups started to multiply. In 1633 Vincent began
Hurricane Maria. He concluded offering formal religious formation for this new group, called the Daughters of
the liturgy with remarks about Charity. A new order of women religious was born that ministered in hospitals,
transformation and triumph through orphanages, prisons and many other places. The order was formally approved
the Holy Spirit. He said he was by the Church in 1668.
grateful for the ICSC conference Vincent’s approach to a devout life of faith was to be simple, practical and
because it gave him the tools, to have confidence in God’s love and mercy. He would maintain: “When you
resources and inspiration to return leave your prayer to care for a sick person, you leave God for God. To care for
to his diocese and help the Catholic a sick person is to pray.”
faithful rebuild their homes, renew At Vincent’s funeral the presiding bishop said that he had “changed the
their lives and to teach them how to face of the Church.” He was canonized in 1737. In 1833, Blessed Antoine
become even better stewards of Christ Frederic Ozanam would found the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1885
Jesus. Indeed, that is the aim and the Pope Leo XIII named St. Vincent de Paul universal patron of all works of charity.
hope of this year’s ICSC conference.
 JOY
RESTORE

Psalm 51:14

ICSC Annual Conference

59th September 12-15, 2021
Hyatt Regency Orlando

The Dream of Elijah

Join us in Orlando
Philippe de Champaigne
oil on canvas, 1655
September 12-15, 2021
Musée de Tesse, Le Mans, France Hyatt Regency Orlando
*All Covid Safety Protocols Observed

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Reverend Michael White Future of Our Church
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 Be a Good Steward of Your
Faith this Autumn
STEWARDSHIP There’s something wonderfully renewing about autumn, even in this time of

EXPRESSIONS uncertainty when we are encouraged to be more cautious about our health
and interactions. Still, it’s all about new beginnings. It is a time to be mindful
of God’s call for spiritual renewal.
September Observances We remember those feelings of starting again even if it’s been years since
we walked through the school house door, and even if we don’t have our
National Hispanic Heritage own children heading off to the classroom this fall. We still get that heady
Month is observed in the U.S. from feeling of new possibilities in the crisp autumn air. This is the perfect time
September 15 through October 15. to bring a sense of spiritual renewal to your life and to your family – the
This month honors the histories, domestic church.
cultures and contributions of
American citizens whose ancestors
came from Spain, Mexico, the
Caribbean, and Central and South
America. Begun as a weekly
celebration in 1968, the tribute
was extended to a month by
President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
Persons of Hispanic origin make
up over 35% of the U.S. Catholic
Church, and a higher percentage
of youthful Catholics.

National Childhood Obesity

Awareness Month reminds us that
childhood obesity is now a national
crisis, with nearly one in every
three of America’s children being
overweight or obese. Not only
does excess weight adversely affect
our children’s well-being, but its Pray with your children as you tuck them in, making the
associated health risks also impose
prayer personal and about the day’s events.
great costs on families, the health
care system, and the economy.
Check out “Let’s Move” to learn Autumn can truly bring out a new resolve to improve our lives as
more about how to help children summer’s freedom gives way to the structure of fall. For adults, faith formation
become healthier and stay active. gatherings and prayer groups, even by “zoom,” are just forming in parishes.
Check out the opportunities. With summer ending, many organizations are
September 11 – National gearing up for new volunteers. Contact your local Catholic Charities or Habitat
Grandparents Day was for Humanity to see how you might help out.
proclaimed by U.S. President Think of the autumn season as a way to discover a new rhythm for
Jimmy Carter as the first Sunday your prayer life. If new activities can be scheduled into your daily life, start
after Labor Day. This day was scheduling in more quality time for prayer. Schedule family time for a short
originally proposed by a West prayer. Say a blessing at breakfast, or a brief morning offering. Try to bring a
Virginia housewife who hoped it more regular prayer schedule to your home. Pray with your children as you
would inspire people to visit those tuck them in, making the prayer personal and about the day’s events.
who were lonely in nursing homes, Make a resolve this fall in the midst of the constantly evolving changes
and encourage grandchildren to in our lives, to bring Christ more prominently into your family’s daily routine.
learn from the wisdom of their Make the stewardship of your faith and �family a commitment as autumn
grandparents. brings a sense of renewal.
 A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Weekend of September 4/5, 2021 Weekend of September 18/19, 2021
St. James teaches that those who are perceived to be poor In today’s Gospel, we learn that the disciples of Jesus
in the eyes of society are the ones who have been chosen had been discussing among themselves who was the
to inherit the Kingdom of God. Indeed, we are saved greatest. Jesus is about to turn their idea as well as our
because of our poverty and redeemed out of our need, not society’s idea of “greatness” upside down. He embraces
because of our material wealth or achievements that the a child and tries to help the Twelve understand that
world finds praiseworthy. St. James also suggests that we to be great is to be focused on something other than
are stewards of others, especially the poor and it is how themselves. Jesus teaches that true “greatness” lies
we respond to the poor and needy that will define our in being a good steward of those who are not great:
relationship with the Lord. Can you identify the poverty, welcoming one who is not viewed as great by our
whether spiritual or material, that is in your own life? How society’s standards, like the child, the innocent, the
can that “poverty” be redeemed? As stewards of others, vulnerable, the suffering, those who are outside our
how do we respond to the poverty that exists right in our comfortable circle of family, friends, companions and
own parish? colleagues, those who need a welcome. Jesus redefines
our notion of greatness. How do we define greatness? Is
our notion of greatness consistent with the teachings of
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus Christ?
Weekend of September 11/12, 2021
St. James asks what our love for Jesus Christ can possibly
mean if it does not result in action on behalf of, and Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
to benefit, our neighbor. He suggests that faith in Jesus Weekend of September 25/26, 2021
Christ is demonstrated most profoundly in our care for the St. James warns us about accepting the standards of the
needy, the suffering, and the underprivileged. Stewardship world and assuming that what is normative in society
includes proclaiming the Good News by putting our faith needs no countercultural challenge. The temptation to
into action on behalf of others. In what ways have we been hoard riches and make sharp bargains at the expense
willing to make sacrifices and renunciations for the sake of of the powerless is pervasive because these things are
Jesus Christ and our neighbor? generally done and look respectable enough. St. James
points to God’s judgment on these attitudes and actions
of amassing wealth and comfort at the expense of others.
How might we be better stewards of the material blessings
we have been given? How might we use our wealth with
compassion toward others?

International Catholic ICSC@catholicstewardship.org

www.catholicstewardship.com
Stewardship Council (800) 352-3452