They all attended the 2015 International Catholic Stewardship Conference in Chicago! 

I met the Australian my first day there, Miss American 2001 was our Keynote at the Saturday Gala, and the girl from Olton - that's me!

  
"My kind of town, Chicago is" according to the legend Frank Sinatra. 

Ok, maybe not the best Catholic to begin this blog post with, but nevertheless...Chicago is a great town! Every three years the International Catholic Stewardship Conference is held in Chicago and this was my second time in Chicago for the conference. 

I have so much to share about the sessions and speakers but I'm going to narrow it down to three main points. 

FIRST -  Stewards of our Strengths

I mentioned this on our Facebook page as I sat in on this session. What's that? You didn't know we have a Facebook page? It's just a little something I started while in Chicago...no biggy! "Like Us" here at www.facebook.com/CatholicStewardshipLubbock 

So back to Stewards of our Strengths. If you answered YES-NO-YES-YES then you're ready to take the Clifton Strengths Finders course! (Contact our office by )   Once you are aware of your GOD GIVEN strengths it will be easier and more natural to give of your Time, Talent and Treasure. How so? 

Well my top five strengths are 1) Restorative (problem solver) 2) Woo (Winning Others Over) 3) Analytical 4) Positivity and 5) Communication (#IloveBlogging!) Now I know when it comes to other strengths such as Adaptability or Empathy I'm not the BEST person for the job. 


Two of the emotions, Joy and Sadness, get lost and are trying to find their way home. 
There comes a time when Joy, whose strength would definitly be positivity, is hindering the situation. 
Bing Bong, the pink elephant made of cotton candy who cries candy, is sad and Joy uses her strength of positivity to try and distract him with happy thoughts. It's only when Sadness comes along and emphathizes with Bing Bong that Bing Bong is able to stop crying, feel better and help the girls on their journey. At this moment Joy realizes that Sadness's strength of empathy is what worked, not Joy's positivity.


  Sometimes it's hard to believe that taking the back seat is the best thing you can do in a stituation, but if you truly see the God Given Goodness in someone else then you should be aware of moments when they need to shine and you need to step away or be invovled in another capacity. 

Wouldn't it be great if all our committees had someone with each strength? Think of how well-rounded and productive that parish committee could be! Oh- is my positivity showing???

Second main topic I learned
I chose to go to Tracy Earl Welliver's session on the Everyday Steward because I read his biography in the program and he seemed like the kind of guy I would enjoy listening to and BOY was I right! 
He started his session by telling us all we are a blessing in his life and then he asked us to share with the person next to us what makes us special. Sound corny?
Well, how often do you think you are special? How often do you say outloud what makes you special? Tracy said he often begins his talks with this exercise and one time an older man approached him after the talk to tell him that he always thought humility meant thinking you-zero and God-everything. However, we are made in the image and likeness of God. Humility is recognizing God made you on purpose for a purpose. 

Tracy shared 4 crucial stewardship parables of Jesus, the catechetical method, the five thresholds of conversion, the six characteristics of an everyday steward, the 4 C's of stewardship communication and he finished his talk with the story of The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. 

The main thing I learned from him is the difference between evangelization, discipleship and stewardship. 
BRILLIANT!!! 

and sad at the same time. We have a great evangelization department here at the Diocese. Many of our parishes are creating new disciples through the sacraments annually. But when it comes to stewardship we are at a stand still. Even our larger parishes don't understand and live out stewardship. THIS MUST CHANGE. Will you help me?

And the final take away...

The final take away I learned was also mentioned on Catholic Radio this morning. PRIORITIES



    

We wake up each morning with gifts from God. At the end of the day we should have given away all our gifts! And when we do we will be filled with JOY!



I pray you can recognize the God given blessings in your life and how you can be an instrument of God's Will in the lives of first to your family and then the world!

Next year the ICSC conference will be in New Orleans October 2 - 5, 2016. 
Call our office to apply for a scholarship to attend 792-3943 ext 207.

Your Grateful Steward in Christ, 

Rachel