Based on what is known as the Four Pillars of Par­ish Stewardship, the four components of the initiative are: hospitality, prayer, formation and service.

Hospitality encourages welcoming new members to the parish. “When parishioners feel welcomed, it fosters a sense of ownership and personal involve­ment in lived stewardship to the parish family.”

Prayer enables the Christian to nurture a personal relationship with God. “While parishioners find great fulfillment in giving themselves to parish life, prayer purifies and intensifies the intention of the steward. Prayer increases our yearning to receive…the Eucha­rist…Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucha­rist, we are strengthened as a parish family to go and to serve the Lord. Stewardship is a lived response of the disciple to follow this command.”

Formation enlivens the desire on the part of the steward to “share what one has received and to share with a generous, grateful and loving heart.” As stewardship is a “formidable task involving education of the mind and conversion of the heart…” each parish organization plays a role in the faith formation of its parishioners.

Service engages the steward not only in works for the parish but for the diocese, the commu­nity and the Universal Church. Although service is what most think of in relation to steward­ship, service brings into practice the three other pillars of hospital­ity, prayer and formation.

Stewardship Opportunities Form