Have you ever wondered what exactly people do within our parish? Throughout the next year, we are going to share stories from the staff about what a typical day looks like for them. We will also share stories from parishioners about their experience on a committee or being involved with an activity in our parish. Today we will hear from Kate Tyler our Pastoral Associate: "The joy and challenge of being a Pastoral Associate is how different each day looks. The only tasks that are ever the same each day is taking care of emails and phone calls. It is a blessing to be able to have a job that is as unique as the people in the parish. It is truly a pleasure to serve God and his children. Here is a just a brief summary of one Monday in the life of the Pastoral Associate: I begin & end each week by walking throughout the Church to straighten up the materials by all the doors. I collected the Liturgical Ministers sign in sheet to contact any ministers who did not check in or did not get a sub to assist with Mass that weekend. I made copies & scans of the scripture readings for our Lectors and emailed them out or left them to pick up in the sacristy so they can prepare to proclaim the Word of God for the coming weekend. I checked out a few Catholic youtube pages to find a new worth watching video to share on the parish website as well as the parish facebook page. I tweeted information on our parish twitter page. I touched base with Emily about our plan for the Becoming Catholic Gathering & we finalized any details that we still needed to work on. As part of the Pastoral Care Team, I went to St. Luke's/Unitypoint and Mercy Hospital to visit parishioners. Our pastoral care team has coordinated at least one St. Matthew's member to visit those in the hospital each day of the week. It is a great pleasure to pray and talk with parishioners no matter what is happening in their life. I started working on the planning details for the Mass of Remembrance on Thursday November 2 which is All Souls' Day. I left work for a bit of family time & dinner together before returning to set up for our Becoming Catholic Gathering. Each Monday night Emily & I work together to lead a group of individuals who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. We coordinate all the details but the night is truly lead by the Holy Spirit. We spend much of the time in prayer & having small group discussions. At the end of the night I turn off all the lights and lock the doors. Each day of the week and each week may have similar tasks to get done but there is always different needs that I am responsible for taking care of. I have the great blessing of working together with every staff member at the Parish which includes the School & ECC. If I had to pick one word to describe a day in the life of a pastoral associate, it would be Grace. God blesses me with the gifts I need to serve Him each day and I get to bring His Love & Grace to all those I journey with each day.
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“As Christian Stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.” - United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) - About 15 years ago, I moved across town and switched to St. Matthew Church as a divorced mother with one child in grade school, one in middle school and one starting high school. I was rather busy with a full time job and kids activities but something was missing. I was just going through the motions. I got a call to be a catechist for 7th grade Religious Education. I had taught at St. Jude’s for several years and missed the community feeling. This was my first stewardship commitment at St. Matthew & I have been a catechist ever since. Sharing my faith with youth has always uplifted my spirits and brings me closer to God. I learn from them probably more than they learn from me. This feeling is what had me yearning for more. The more time I spend sharing my faith the more peace and joy I experience. God’s love is addictive and I cannot get enough! Along with being a Catechist for Faith Formation Classes, I have been or am currently involved in Pastoral Council, Stewardship Committee, Parish Festival Planning Committee, Green Square Meals, Family Promise and my most honored position as an Eucharistic Minister. To be able to help nourish others with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ brings me closer to God and to those who come to receive. You will never know how stewardship opportunities can be a blessing until you wander out of your comfort zone. -Brenda Kowalsky - "All of the teachings of stewardship come directly from the Gospels, the Old Testament and the letters of the New Testament. Stewardship is not a new fad, or environmental word. Stewardship is the way God has expected His people to live since the beginning of time."
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matter; I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” Matthew 25:23 “Jesus calls us, as his disciples, to a new way of life – the Christian way of life. He calls us individually, by name. God intends each one of us to play a unique role in carrying out the divine plan. The challenge, then, is to understand our role – our vocation – and to respond generously to this call from God.” -USCCB- I would like to take a moment to introduce myself, I am Derek Jensen. Jill, our four children & myself have been parishioners of St. Matthews for around 8 years. About three years ago I had a desire to become more involved, it became very important for me to have a stronger relationship with my parish. I started working with Father Dave on where my talents might be best utilized. I first was asked to join the Stewardship Committee, where I have served for over 2 years. I then was appointed to the Finance Council by Father Dave and within a few months was asked to serve as the chairperson. I attend the monthly Pastoral Council meetings as part of my commitment to the Finance Council as well. Being a steward of the parish in my volunteer duties has allowed me to be closer to my faith, accomplish my personal goal of being more involved and allows me to feel better about myself. I have learned in the process that being a good steward of the parish means much more than monetary giving, it means giving my time and talents as well. By doing so, only now do I feel I am giving all I can to my parish. - Derek Jensen - “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10 “Christian Stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live. Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards” -United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) - All are welcome to share a short reflection (300 words or less). Please include how you live stewardship within your life, how you give back to God for the gifts He has given you, and why it is important for you to be a good steward.
I'm sure some of you are thinking that you are not a good steward or that you don't do enough to write a reflection but the truth is, you only needed to say yes to one thing in order to be considered a good steward. If you have any questions or would like to submit your stewardship reflection, please contact Kate Tyler at 363-5238 or [email protected] "As Christian Stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord." - United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) - Our Parish Stewardship Committee has decided to monthly highlight those from our parish who are good stewards of the gifts God has given to them. The first of two ways you will see this information shared is through a bulletin insert on the 4th weekend of every month. Each bulletin insert will include details about stewardship. We will showcase reflections written by parishioners exemplifying their acts of stewardship within our parish and/or larger faith community. The second way is through our parish blog. Bulletins are a great way to spread information but so is the internet! All are welcome to share a short reflection (300 words or less). Please include how you live stewardship within your life, how you give back to God for the gifts He has given you, and why it is important for you to be a good steward. I'm sure some of you are thinking that you are not a good steward or that you don't do enough to write a reflection but the truth is, you only needed to say yes to one thing in order to be considered a good steward. For example, I said yes to a friend who asked me five times to get involved in youth ministry at my parish as a teenager. From that yes, I was asked to attend a retreat that winter. Because of that yes, I was asked to attend a Steubenville Youth Conference that summer which then led me to say yes to serve on the Student Ministry Team, go on a service trip, attend World Youth Day in Germany and....well I could go on for days about how each simple yes led me to the next thing which eventually led me to becoming the Pastoral Associate here at St. Matthew's but my point is that saying yes once is all it takes to be a good steward. Have you said yes to being a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Altar Server or Hospitality Minister? Have you said yes to helping with an activity at the School, Faith Formation Classes or in the Parish? Have you said yes to attending Mass at St. Matthew's? Have you said yes to attending a program promoted by our parish? If you said yes to any of those questions, then you would be considered a good steward and we want to hear your story. Your reflection and a photo can be emailed to me at [email protected] Two times each month, we will share a reflection right here on our Parish Blog. Can't wait to share with you soon about what all of you are doing within our parish. St. Matthew's Catholic Parish is blessed to have so many wonderfully gifted human beings as a part of our family. Thank you for your willingness to share your gifts with the parish as well as for helping share your example of stewardship. - Kate Tyler - Pastoral Associate - |
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