Giving and sharing can come in many forms

	FIRST IN: Fr. Greg Smith places his weekly offering envelope in the collection basket at St. John the Baptist Parish, Howard. Fr. Bill Swichtenberg also contributes. (Rick Evans photo)

First in a three-part series on the Stewardship of Sharing

By Sarah Malcore
Compass Correspondent

Giving and sharing come in many forms. That is the message Fr. Greg Smith, co-pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard, spreads to his parish.

Nor does giving always have to be in the form of cash, Fr. Smith says. It can also come in the form of time or talent.

"I grew up during a time where people did not talk about stewardship," Fr. Smith says. "It seemed that back then the parish was run cheaper and the need just was not as serious as it is today."

Fr. Smith says he did not give stewardship much thought until he was in the seminary where a classmate mentioned that he once had a pastor who put an envelope in the basket every week.

"I found it quite interesting to hear that a priest was giving into the collection basket like the rest of the parish," Fr. Smith says. "I spoke to other priests and classmates about the matter. At the time, it seemed the consensus was that giving your life to the church was enough, and that we were not expected to give more. That idea bothered me over time though, a priest who did not support his own parish."

But stewardship remained on Fr. Smith's mind. In about 1984, while he was a pastor at St. Luke Parish in Two Rivers, the parish was part of a program that brought in speakers who talked about sacrificial giving.   Full story ...

	Mass Times 2004-05 Fall/Winter Mass Schedules (from Sept. 3 issue)
	Just for Kids Kids invited to write Christmas essays

 • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --
    Bridging the Gap: All in the Family

 • Reflection on the Readings by Auxiliary Bishop Morneau --
    November 7, 2004: Choose road of love, growth and grace

 • Explaining the Scripture by Fr. Richard Ver Bust --
    November 7, 2004: 'Good hope' in the coming of Christ

 • Editorial -- Bread of life
    Novel points out important lesson about the Eucharistic banquet for Year
    of the Eucharist

 • Editorial -- Just for Kids 17: 2004
    Christmas stories is the theme this year

 • Eye on the Capitol --
    Tuesday's voting doesn't end our call to faithful citizenship

 • Foundations of Faith --
    Stewardship and the Church have lots in common
    Acts of the Apostles tells us how they lived; the Creed tells us how we live

 • Saint of the Day --
    First U.S. saint was an immigrant
    Mother Cabrini came to run orphanage that didn't exist

 • Calendar of Events

Articles on Bishop's Appeal 2004: • Bishop's Appeal hits $4.67 million (September 3, 2004) • Giving to Bishop's Appeal makes some major gains (May 21, 2004) • Gifts to annual Bishop's Appeal top $4 million (May 14, 2004) • Gifts to annual Bishop's Appeal near $4 million (Apr. 30, 2004) • Appeal tops $3.4 million (Apr. 2, 2004) • Diocese offers helping hands in many ways (Mar. 26, 2004)     Sidebar: Bishop's Appeal     Sidebar: Topping $3 million • Providing an escape from financial quagmire (Mar. 19, 2004)     Sidebar: Nearing $3 million • Parish finds help from diocese only a phone call away (Mar. 12, 2004)     Sidebar: Appeal giving up • Consultant helps parishes tune up Sunday liturgies (Mar. 5, 2004)     Sidebar: Appeal tops $2 million • Camp draws generations of diocesan youth (Feb. 27, 2004)     Sidebar: Appeal at 30% • Befriending persons in need (Feb. 20, 2004) • Diocese helps engaged prepare for marriage (Feb. 13, 2004) • Appeal theme mirrors Catholic way of life (Feb. 6, 2004)     Pie chart of Bishop's Appeal use • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David A. Zubik --     Blockbuster action and beyond (Feb. 6, 2004)