Sunday, July 6, 2025
Stewardship of Spiritual Gifts
January through June marked an important initiative by our parish Stewardship Committee. Starting with the Baptism of the Lord and continuing through Pentecost, we offered a spiritual gifts inventory to every member of our community that culminated with our Ministry Fair. Almost 100 people took the inventory and 144 people signed up for a ministry at the fair. I am truly grateful to those who participated.
New ministers are a sign of hope and barometer of vitality! As we learned during our Hope and Holy Spirit Parish Retreat, almost every element of Luke’s gospel portrait of Jesus has its complementary feature in the portrait of the Church as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. Like Jesus at his baptism, the Church is anointed by the Spirit at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is active now, within and among us, as we continue the saving mission of Jesus. Each one of us is endowed with spiritual gifts or charisms by virtue of our baptism to be developed and shared in service to the church, the Mystical Body of Christ.
During June, the parish pastoral staff conducted three New Minister Orientations. Ministry is made possible by gifts of the Holy Spirit and the generous response of people like you. God speaks to us through both our gifts and the needs in our community. It is not too late to take the spiritual gifts inventory to discover your primary spiritual gifts and explore ministries that align with them (see the button on our home page or pick up a copy from the parish office). Please see the bulletin pages as a reference and feel free to reach out to the pastoral staff, clergy or other ministers as the Holy Spirit inspires you. Share our joy. Feel the delight God has in you when using your charisms for God’s glory and the good of our brothers and sisters.
In Christ,
Rev. Robert P. Capone