“There is no reason to fear; love casts out fear—this is what we are aiming at nothing less.”

Fr Atonio (left) with Bishop Rivas and Fr Jomar

Group discussions

Fr Leslie Lett

Youth participant

Bishop Robert Rivas of the Diocese of Kingstown urged members of the Catholic community in St Vincent and the Grenadines to “capture the vision of Stewardship.”

Bishop Rivas, addressing an assembly January 19, leading up to the 17th anniversary of the Diocese of Kingstown, called for a recommitment to Stewardship as the way to revitalising parish life.
“We are here to recapture giving,” Bishop Rivas said.

“As you share your gifts and talents, the Lord enriches you.”
Bishop Rivas said that Stewardship was the “tool for revitalising our parishes.”

Both priest and people must capture the spirit of Stewardship the Bishop said. He added that we were called to share our gifts and that it was in giving that we come to understand God and ourselves.

Fr Leslie Lett, one of the featured speakers, said that we are called to be Stewards through the Eucharist. “Stewardship is profoundly Eucharistic,” Fr Lett said.

According to Lett, the Eucharist provided the spirituality aspect of Stewardship. The Eucharist entailed much more than just attending church Fr Lett explained.

“What we do in celebration in church must follow outside,” Fr Lett said.

The Eucharist is the source of Christian life and meaning, by going to the Eucharist, we are in fact celebrating the Christian life. “The Eucharist pours out into the world through us,” Fr Lett said.

Bishop Rivas urged parents to train their children in Stewardship and teach them how to use their talents for the service of God.

He encouraged persons to put the past behind them and to capture the vision of Stewardship.

There was a call for each parish to form a Stewardship committee to take charge of examining meaningful ways to revitalise parish life and to start identifying gifts and talents to begin changing the face of the community.

There was also a call for more support and interaction between priest and community, particularly the laity.

The Bishop said that the people were charged with empowering others in the same manner we seek empowerment. “We have work to do, God will give us the grace to do it if we are willing to open and do it.”