Vicarious stewards of service

By Br. Steve Herro, O.Praem.

	Stewardship Stewardship: A Way of Life is the diocesan thrust. It invites Catholics to acknowledge that all of life is a gift of God and to respond through prayer, service and sharing. This series will look at ways to do that.

"... Transform us through the power of your Spirit to nurture a Stewardship way of life marked by faith-filled prayer, service to our neighbor and generous sharing...." (Stewardship Prayer, Diocese of Green Bay)

Br. Steve Herro

Vicarious - felt or experienced as if one were participating in the feelings or experiences of another

Anissa Lodzinski and I were chatting in the hallway on the second floor of Bona Hall earlier this summer. After I described our week's service through the St. Norbert College Alumni and Parent Relations Office to Operation Helping Hands (Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans), she said, "Thanks for doing that for those of us who cannot."

I kicked her comment around in my brain for awhile. Though Anissa might not have intended it, her remark caused me to reflect on the "vicarious stewards of sharing" we are blessed to meet along our life's journey.

At the same time, I was reminded of fellow retreatants who often pray aloud "For those tending our ministries while we are on retreat." As we go about our vacations, retreats, service trips, and so on this summer, let us not forget those "manning the fort" who are enabling us to be a stewardship people.

Before thinking that we cannot possibly take the time to vacation, retreat, or serve this summer because we are "so indispensable/busy," think again; leave yourself open to vicarious stewards of service/prayer/sharing.

I acknowledge the "vicarious stewardship of service" of Beth Lepinski, Patty Young, and Shelia Schaut, who did the bulwark of planning three Farm Bill forums in northeastern Wisconsin, preparing the diocesan social concerns department material for our new Web page, and transferring of diocesan social concerns videos for me while we were moving office furniture for Catholic Charities of New Orleans.

I acknowledge the "vicarious stewardship of service" of Fr. Gilbert Jacobs, Fr. John Kastenholz and Cindy Halbrook for filling in for me at St. Norbert Abbey so we could begin cleaning and gutting four floors of low income, elderly apartments.

I acknowledge the "vicarious stewardship of service" of Tracy Boyd, Nancy Mathias and Vicki Browne, who were not able to join the six of us on our service trip, but who supported us by making financial, transportation, and other logistical arrangements and providing needed traveling supplies, snacks, and maps so we were well fed, rested and directed during our week.

I acknowledge the "vicarious stewardship of service" of the staffer at the St. Norbert College Kress Inn, whom I met when I returned our rental vehicle's keys. How often do we return from a near or life altering experience but perhaps lack someone to process it with? She had served with several other university students in New Orleans just seven months after Hurricane Katrina. As we shared our memories, I was reminded again of the pervasiveness of Christian service and outreach.

Whether your gift is deep praying, active listening, thorough organizing, or any other asset, share it this summer in order to give a loved one necessary time off for relaxation, prayer, or service.

Scripture has something to say about stewardship and the sharing of gifts. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 12:4-11 that there are many gifts but the same Spirit, many forms of service but the same Lord, many different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. Paul's words not only ring true for the "vicarious stewards of service" who helped make our service in New Orleans possible, but also for the synergy that was evident amongst our six volunteers.

Whether it was Dolores Kendall driving through interstate downpours or big city congestion, Becky Welch navigating through foreign lands, Tom Browne and Misuzu Maeda displaying the uncanny ability to offer rescuing hands when our own hands appeared full, or Patrick Browne breaking the ice with Katrina victims and encouraging them to share their stories with our six volunteers, our sharing of personal gifts for the greater good all helped provide for a combined significant sharing of service.

(Br. Herro is the Green Bay Diocese's director of social concerns.)