A Bishop's Journey in Stewardship…

Welcome to you all.

Stewardship is a way of life. And this way of life is a concrete response to Jesus’ invitation to follow him. After a seemingly fruitless night of fishing, Peter and the other apostles heard Jesus tell them: Duc in altum! Put out into the deep. While counterintuitive to Peter’s own sentiments at the time, he obeyed Jesus and was rewarded with a great catch. His trust in Jesus’ word, his willingness to venture beyond reliance on his own self, tell us something of the challenges and the blessings of a way of life lived in stewardship. And like Peter when we undertake this venture we are humbled – for we receive so much more than we give. One of the central teachings of the Second Vatican Council is that man can only realize himself through the sincere gift of himself. In a culture increasingly marked by consumerism, materialism and radical individualism, Stewardship as a way of life reminds us that we find fulfillment and happiness,“ we realized ourselves” - in the words of the Council Fathers –, not through self seeking but through self giving. In the Church, we enter into the mystery of the life of the Most Holy Trinity, the communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in mutual and reciprocal self-giving. As members of Christ’s Body, we are called to share in that life – through the mystery of the Cross. We join ourselves to Christ and his sacrificial gift of his life through the sincere gift of ourselves to God and to our neighbor.

This is stewardship lived from within the heart of God – a stewardship in which each one brings his gifts – and at the same time is gifted. In the communion, which is the Church, there is no one who is so rich that he cannot receive; nor is there anyone so poor that he does not have something to give.

Much of my priesthood has been in working with refugees and immigrants – especially with the Haitians whom I served as their parish priest for almost twenty years. Many times, I met them as they arrived on our shores –some of them arriving in rickety boats, I shared their struggles to find protection and dignity in this country, I watched with admiration as they overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to build new lives for themselves and their families. And looking back I see in their struggles against oppression and poverty, their fight against discrimination and prejudice, a real effort to “realize themselves through the gift of themselves”. Indeed, their leaving their homeland to risk everything in a new land was not about “self seeking, self fulfillment”, they didn’t come just to “get” material possessions they couldn’t have at home. Their coming to our shores meant great risk, great sacrifice as they left loved ones behind, as they left the known and the familiar. But they came precisely so that they could help the loved ones they left behind. Today, our immigrants – from whatever country they came – send millions home every year in remittances – remittances that buy food, build houses and educate loved ones left behind but not abandoned. The daily sacrifices of immigrants, especially the most vulnerable –those here without documents – is an example of stewardship – of living not for oneself but for the other.

I saw the same in my parents – and those of their generation, the greatest generation who born at the beginning of the twentieth century survived two world wars and a depression, but because of their faith readily sacrificed their time, their talents and their treasures to raise families, to build parishes and Catholic schools, and even universities.

My parents were simple folk – my dad born in Poland left school in the 6th grade to help his parents make ends meet. My mom born in Polish Detroit was raised by her maternal grandmother after her mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918. During World War II she worked in defense plants –like Rosie the Riveter – contributing to the war effort. They met and married after the War and moved to South Florida. Of modest means, they raised and provided a Catholic education to two children. Of simple faith, they allowed their son to leave home at the young age of 13 to join the seminary and pursue a vocation to the priesthood. My parents were good stewards – because they did not look first to themselves but to others. They, like the Haitians with whom I worked, embodied a living theology of “the gift” which must be the heart of any stewardship program.

The fact that I was ordained a bishop on the day that would have been the 50th wedding anniversary of my mom and dad if they had been still alive was perhaps an affirmation given in heaven of their willingness to sacrificially allow a young boy to leave home at such a young age. God is not outdone in generosity.

Our Holy Father at the beginning of this new millennium called on us to “start afresh from Christ” by once again hearing his voice call out to us: Duc in altum, put out into the deep.

We must do so courageously – without fear. As Jesus reminded his disciples often fear is useless what is needed is faith. For 25 years the Holy Father has echoed the prophets who spoke in God’s name telling his people: Be not afraid.

As stewards of God’s many gifts, we too must heed that call not to be afraid. Whether its fear of the stranger, fear of economic downturns, fear of terrorism, fear of the unknown – whatever its manifestation, fear can make us turn into ourselves, reinforcing the selfishness that is part of our fallen nature. Stewardship helps us overcome fear because stewardship allows us to place our trust, our hope in Christ. – As Peter said to Jesus, “I have worked all night and have not caught anything, but because you say it, I will lower my nets.”

As Christians, this is our daily challenge to listen to Jesus who calls us each by name, to lower our nets by contributing our time, talents and treasures confident that he – and not our efforts – will assure a great catch.

As Bishop of this diocese, let me assure you how happy I am that the Lord has sent me here – to you. I look forward to working with you to build up God’s kingdom here in Central Florida. Together let us go forth into the Lord’s vineyard and work as good stewards by giving of ourselves in grateful service to the God from whom every good gift has its origin and to whom every gift is returned for his greater honor and glory.

Bishop Thomas Wenski
Bishop of Orlando