Stewards at Work: Building Community

A parish that values Stewardship values Community Building. The key to Stewardship and sacrificial giving is to build community in the parish. The parish is Alive! Anybody involved with planning, organizing and implementing an event knows what’s involved. It takes time, talent, communication, relationship building, recruiting workers, hard work, and coordination of details. Last weekend, we had another successful St. Matthew Feastday Funfest and we built community together. It began with over 400 believers celebrating the Eucharist outside in an informal setting followed by a parish party. Thank You to everyone who helped out and participated. I often have been asked, why don’t we have a festival? The last festival here earned $2,000 over the amount obtained through the parish raffle in 2002 in spite of major efforts of parishioner-leaders. There are major weather risks, poor location, and heavy reliance on beer sales and legal gambling. Since then, we have focused as a parish on other events that build community. We have many who help build community in our parish. A few who haven’t been mentioned lately include:

Athletic Association...coaching our kids in a variety of sports; hosts the Bay View Soccer League in the spring and fall on weekends; run concession stand (purchasing food, sales, and supervision); holds the Memorial Day Soccer Tournament; helps improve our athletic fields including lining it; creating a wonderful environment for our kids to learn skills, have fun, and compete.

Scouting...Girl Scouts and Brownies, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, etc., offering wonderful opportunities for our youth to develop skills and character and have fun.

Youth Ministry...opportunities led by staff member Shelly Madden that help our youth experience “fun at church”— sometimes considered an oxymoron for youth and teenagers.

Holy Name...organizing its annual card party and Mother’s Day Breakfast.

Home & School...creating social events and fund/fun raisers like the golf tournament, etc.

School Auction Committee that creates a great deal of fun and funding for our children. Those who work in civic organizations that support the broader community.

Sometimes, we forget to recognize “community builders” as part of the Ministry of Jesus. It is part of quality family life, stewardship, and helps us all belong to and participate in our community of believers. So, “hats off” to all who help build community in so many ways mentioned above and not mentioned above here at St. Matthew and in our Oak Creek Area.
May our Loving God continue to bless us! Tom Schneider, Dir. of Administration & Stewardship