The promotion and practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent, and treasure."
Make a gift to a parish, to Diocesan Catholic schools, to specific ministries, to the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Florida, or to support the Catholic Compass.
Gifts to CSA support the Bishop and pastor in their three-fold mission of teaching, serving, and worshipping - giving you the opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call to discipleship. CSA provides funds at the diocesan level for ministries and operations that extend beyond the parish.
Your gift supports the mission of Catholic Charities: to answer Christ's call to help those in need through social services. Catholic Charities provides emergency assistance, adoption services, immigration services, pregnancy support and more.
Today's Gospel from Matthew reminds us to trust the Lord even when it seems He is not answering our prayers.
God desires to lead us to the joy of heaven and eternal life with Him. To prepare us for that day, He calls us to grow in faith and to live each day as a grateful response to His goodness. In other words, He is forming us into saints. This is what the stewardship way of life is meant to accomplish. At times that process is difficult. Often, it stretches us beyond our comfort.
Jesus certainly challenged the Canaanite woman in today's Gospel. She cried out to Him on behalf of her daughter, who was tormented by a demon. How did Jesus respond to this desperate mother's plea? At first, He "did not say a word in answer to her." Undeterred, she continued to seek Him, and He continued to test her faith.
She responded with such remarkable trust that Jesus proclaimed, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." Imagine hearing those words spoken to us by our Lord. There could be no greater affirmation of a life lived in faithful discipleship.
The stewardship way of life will test our trust in God at times. But those are often the moments when He is doing His greatest work within us. Let us persevere in faith, trusting that His plan is always leading us toward the joy He has prepared for us. www.CatholicSteward.com
LUMEN CHRISTI LEGACY SOCIETY
Lumen Christi means the "Light of Christ," which is the light in all things, which gives light to all things. Through their gifts, members of the Lumen Christi Legacy Society share in this light, helping others encounter Christ and bearing witness to the Gospel throughout Northwest Florida. The Lumen Christi Legacy Society honors those who have named their parish, school, or the Foundation with a legacy gift.
JOin us!
Legacy isn't about being remembered. It's about remembering what matters and making sure it continues. Will you consider including the Church in your will or estate plan?
John is a certified financial planner with 35 years' experience in development and finance. He has organized successful development projects all over the United States and has been the director of development in our diocese since 2000. John became a CFP in April of 1994.
Andrea brings 25 years of local philanthropy work, capital campaign experience, and nonprofit leadership to the Diocese. She leads the new Lumen Christi Legacy Society, provides development support on the parish level, and supports overall Foundation efforts.
Celeste has served the Diocese for 10 years, bringing extensive experience in stewardship, gift processing and data management to the team. She prepares donor acknowledgements, oversees stock and IRA charitable contributions, ensures accuracy across diocesan records, and provides support to parishes.