ROAR–Responsibility, Ownership, Accountability and Reward

Many folks think that stewardship is utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation; yet, the four principles that the Bible describes of stewardship are responsibility, ownership, accountability and reward.  These words actually spell an acronym that we should all try to live by which is ROAR.  Eight teens/young adults and three adult leaders traveled this year with the help of our faithful and generous parishioners for Catholic Heart Work Camp to Mishawaka, Indiana.  St. Patrick’s Church of Hubbard embraced the mantra, “Generously God has blessed us, graciously we respond.”  Our campers lived up to the challenge.

Our tremendous teens freely gave up a week of their summer to work with individuals found through agencies who were struggling mentally, physically and emotionally because of the losses of family members.  Some of these people lived very active lives and due to a loss were shaken to their cores.  By being a beacon of hope and by using the love of God, we offered labors of love to spark the enthusiasm back into the residents that they really needed.  Many of the teens helped purge, clean, paint, and complete landscaping work handling overgrowth of shrubs and bushes. Additionally, help was provided to local food banks and pantries which provided extra man hours to the South Bend, Indiana area.

The C.H.W.C. staff did an amazing job to uplift the spirituality of our teens and young adults.  Our program each day was brightened by Fr. Jeff, Joe Farris, a known motivational speaker, and of course the Lee Roessler Band who provided a tender and genuine integral part of the week.  One of the staple phrases used by Joe Farris came directly from a quote by Mother Theresa when she spoke only three words in an interview before her passing, which was to “Give God Permission.”  The phrase encouraged all of us to allow God to lead the way and for us to allow him to steer and be the light.  Being courageous and allowing God to work can be amazing.

Many Blessings, Dominic Mileto

 

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. – C. S. Lewis