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Stewards of God's Gifts: Catechetical Sunday 2004
by Steven Ellair

The theme for this year's Catechetical Sunday celebration is taken from the sixteenth chapter of Luke—a chapter unified by its teachings about possessions and the necessity of utilizing those possessions wisely. In Luke 16:1–13 we hear specifically of a steward who was responsible for both the protection and the growth of his master's possessions. We are reminded that, as stewards of God's gifts, we too are called to care for, nurture, and share those gifts that have been entrusted to us.

Catechetical Sunday celebrates those people who continue to build the Church through sharing the gift of faith with others and is cause for a great celebration indeed! In the formal role of catechist or teacher, many people in our communities give untold hours preparing lessons and extending themselves to nurture the faith of others. What an incredible gift to the Church! Our celebration and recognition of these "stewards" should be joy-filled exclamations of our gratitude. But let's not stop there, because we have even more to celebrate on this day!

Catechesis is not a ministry reserved just for a few. It is the entire community that participates and is responsible for building faith. If we were to look into our lives for those people who had a positive impact on our faith and taught us, by word or example, what it means to be a follower of Christ, we would quickly come to realize that the ministry of catechesis extends farther than we might have first believed. Even the way the parish community as a whole welcomes, celebrates, and serves catechizes!

This year, while planning for our Catechetical Sunday celebrations, let's recognize all who share in the ministry of catechesis. Taking care to give special recognition to those who accept the formal role of catechist or teacher, let's also bless and commission the entire community of faith for their role in this important ministry. As we do so, we will be not only celebrating but also reminding ourselves and the larger community of our collective responsibility as catechists, building the Church through sharing faith. This will allow us all to more fully embrace our incredible role as "Stewards of God's Gifts!"