THE promotion of stewardship as a way for Catholics to live their mission in the world will receive a major boost in Australia this year with the staging of the first national conference on stewardship.
Supporting that will be stewardship institutes being held in Townsville in Queensland and Campbelltown in NSW, and the 2009 Season of Stewardship in Brisbane.
The Campbelltown institute and the national conference will be held on July 2 and 3 at the same venue – the Campbelltown Catholic Club Convention Centre, and the Townsville institute is on June 19 and 20.
The “Season of Stewardship – Forming Generous Hearts” will be held from June 23-26 in Brisbane.
Parish clergy, pastoral council members and interested parishioners are being encouraged to attend the stewardship events.
National Stewardship Network chairman Chris Ehler, who is a mission development officer with Brisbane archdiocese’s Faith and Life Vicariate, said the Season of Stewardship program had something for everyone.
Mr Ehler said stewardship was a spirituality of life that challenged the Christian disciple to foster a sense of gratitude, responsibility and generosity through the better use of time, talent and generosity.
“Anyone who is new to stewardship will benefit from the forum (“Living gratefully and generously”) on Tuesday, June 23, that will explain the essential characteristics and benefits of living a stewardship way of life,” he said.
“The network gathering (“An evening in dialogue”) the next day is for those already actively engaged in the stewardship way of life while the workshop (“Sharing the joy in faith formation”) on the Thursday is for religious education educators such as state school RE teachers.”
Mr Ehler said the final stewardship seminar – “Forming generous hearts” – on June 26 would benefit parish pastoral ministers and anyone interested in growing stewardship habits of the heart.
Guest speaker for all the stewardship events Leisa Anslinger, from Indiana in the United States, will be in Australia during June and July to also present stewardship institutes in Townsville and Campbelltown.
Mr Ehler said while all events in Brisbane were free, registration was still essential. Participants are able to register up to two days prior to each event by phone to (07) 3336 9362 or by email via mcl.fl@bne.catholic.net.au
More information on the Brisbane Season of Stewardship, the 2009 stewardship institutes or the national conference is available at www.australianstewardship.catholic.net.au
