Stewardship continues to be a disciple's response

Stewardship withstands the test of time. Jesus called us to be His disciples and the path to being a disciple is through living a life of stewardship. Jesus tells us exactly how to achieve this in St. John’s Gospel when He says, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 14: 34-35).  
For 92 years on the final Sunday in January parishioners of the Archdiocese of Mobile are asked to come together as good faithful stewards to show mercy and love for our neighbors by making a financial commitment or pledge to the Annual Catholic Charities Appeal. This Appeal was started in 1931, during the Great Depression — the same year the U.S. adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our national anthem. This was so long ago! 
Yes, fashion has changed, technology has advanced and the cost of living has increased. In fact, in 1931 a stamp was only $0.02, gas was $0.10 per gallon, and for $640 you could buy a new car. The average national wage in 1931 was $1,850 per year. The economy was in crisis and the need was overwhelming yet the response from the faithful Catholic community was remarkable. Everyone seemed to have a clear understanding of stewardship in 1931. 
How is this 92-year-old appeal still relevant today? While we escaped the Great Depression, the hands of time and inflation moved the price of everything up, so the need today is just as great if not greater than it was in 1931. In fact, today, the price of everything is exponentially more. The needs have grown and so has our population, but unfortunately the number of faithful Catholics who respond the annual Catholic Charities Appeal has steadily declined over time.     
If we just look back 25 years, in 1998 more than 12,000 faithful stewards contributed to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal. Yet, in 2022 the number of faithful Catholic stewards who gave the Catholic Charities Appeal dropped to 7,400. The call to stewardship has not changed. 
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds us to “… Serve one another through love . . . bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 5:13, 6:2). 
Life is busy and it can be difficult to find the time to serve those in need. The annual Catholic Charities Appeal is a powerful way to show our love for those in need. The ministries funded by the Catholic Charities Appeal show the love of Christ by serving those in need right here in our communities.  
The USCCB’s pastoral letter titled Stewardship: A Disciples Response defines a Christian steward as “One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends to them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with all and returns them with increase to the Lord.”
­­— Shannon Roh is the Executive Director of the Office of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile.