Volunteer Coordinator
 Laura Corrion
 Phone:  248-853-5390--Ext 117
 
Volunteer Corner

Some food for thought as we prepare for St. Mary’s annual Volunteer Fair that will take place the weekends of October 4/5, 18/19, and 25/26.

 Some of us have gifts for leadership, some for healing and others for administering. Some of us have gifts for building or growing things, some for nurturing or consoling others, still others for teaching or serving as mentors. But whatever gifts we are blessed with, as Christians, we recognize that these gifts come from God.

 As Christian stewards we also recognize that our gifts are meant to be cultivated and shared with others, beginning with our family and friends, with those whom we gather to share the Eucharist, and with the world. The challenge for us is recognizing the sacredness of our gifts and acknowledging the importance of sharing them.

 It has been reported that by the time the average American reaches 50 years of age, he or she will have spent a full 10 of those years in front of the television set. Other recent studies reveal sobering insights into how the average American chooses to spend the forty hours of "free" time he or she has each week

1. Television viewing 12 hours
2. Socializing and eating out 6 hours
3. Shopping and self improvement 5 hours
4. Movies and reading 4 hours
5. Hobbies 3 hours
6. Sports and exercise 2 hours
7. Religious activities and volunteering 1 hour
8. Other activities 7 hours

How we gather together as Christians to live, work, minister to one another and worship together is a sign of how we anticipate the coming reign of God. It also gives evidence of the third fundamental aspect of Christian stewardship: sharing our talents and skills with our parish community. The list of activities above reveals something significant about how Americans choose to spend their time. For the Christian, re-prioritizing time in order to share our giftedness means confronting cultural values.

Celebrating the Eucharist means more than just attending Mass for one hour on Sunday. We are called to participate in the life of our parish communion. Christ calls us to make His presence known in concrete ways. That call requires involvement, and the gift we give of ourselves blesses the particular community of Christians we are involved with and blesses those whom our parish hopes to touch.

Source: Archdiocese of Detroit Website – Fundamentals of Christian Stewardship (www.aodonline.org)

If you are able to donate your time for any of our ministries, please contact Laura Corrion at 248 853 5390X117 or at laurac@smoth.org.

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