Wichita, Kan., Mar 20, 2010 / 11:00 am
Msgr. Thomas McGread, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas who formed Christian stewards in his many years of ministry, often said the textbook of stewardship is the Word of God. The Diocese of Wichita has developed a series called “The Spirituality of Stewardship” to help parishes form the next generation of stewards.
“This formation series is an attempt to help people understand that the heart of stewardship is the truth that God is love and God’s love is life itself,” Fr. Lanzrath said. “This year, 2010, is the 25th anniversary since the Diocese of Wichita embraced stewardship in 1985. We have a second generation now, if you will, and the formation has to precede the service,” he added.
When Bishop Michael O. Jackels became bishop of the diocese in 2005, Father Lanzrath said, he knew the diocese was a stewardship diocese but was surprised when the parishes he visited had various understandings of what stewardship is.
“So he came back to the diocesan stewardship council and asked us in 2007 to come up with a clear, concise, easily-remembered, teachable definition of stewardship in 25 words or less,” Fr. Lanzrath said.