The four pillars of Stewardship in a parish are: Hospitality, Prayer, Formation and Service. Today, I would like to focus on the pillar of Formation. Formation is not just reserved for a specific age group or a limited time of our life. Rather, it is a lifelong journey that involves conversion, relationship with God, moral formation, and being a steward.
Faith formation is a conversion process that involves education and conversion of the heart. It requires us to continually learn about how scripture, church teachings, and Catholic doctrine all help us in our understanding and practice of our faith. It’s a call from God that’s made possible through the gift of grace.
Faith formation helps us to grow in our relationship with God. The closer we become in our love relationship with God, the better we can love others and help to lead others in their relationship with God as well.
Faith formation helps to promote a healthy moral formation in Jesus Christ. By studying his parables, teachings and miracles we can begin to see how these blessings guide us in forming our own morality and give witness to Christ’s teachings in our own lives.
Faith formation helps us to become good stewards and follow Jesus’ example of “servanthood.” When we acknowledge God’s love, mercy, and blessings in our own lives, we ourselves are more willing to “give back” or “return” the blessings to others.
May we continue to be lifelong learners and move forward to becoming all that Christ is calling us to be.
In loving service,
Karen Bartos