The eloquent silence of St. Joseph
‘Very Often Nowadays We Need Silence. Silence is Important.’ Now that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays have come to a conclusion, perhaps now is the perfect time to reflect on the sacredness and healing of silence in January. The holiday season has been layered over by the noise and confusion of a …
ICSC January Stewardship Prayer
Prayer is the first principle to embracing stewardship as a way of life. Through prayer, we confront our own spiritual disorganization and chaos and create a sacred inner space within ourselves where we can meet and have a conversation with God. Exercising good stewardship over our life of prayer is the first essential step to our ultimate goal in the spiritual life: to live unceasingly with a deep joy in the presence of God. The ICSC family is preparing for its 58th annual stewardship conference and would like to share with you the following conference prayer so you may get a glimpse into the community’s own conversation with the Lord.
Stewardship Saint for January: Saint John the Almsgiver
Saint John the Almsgiver earned the title “almsgiver” because of his passion for social justice and his stewardship of the poor and oppressed. Born at Amathus, Cyprus, around 560, the son of the governor of Cyprus, he was wealthy and of noble lineage. His wife and children died before John reached the age of 50. …
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Advent: Exercising Good Stewardship of Our Spiritual Lives
When you say the word “Advent,” what immediately pops into mind? A feast of color, atraditional manger scene bathed in soft candlelight, glistening snowflakes falling on festive trees,a yearning for the One who is to come. But sometimes, the season brings other images: crowded stores, treats that tempt us to toomany calories, limitless to-do and …
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ICSC December Stewardship Prayer
Stewardship Prayer Lord, As we journey through this Advent season,give us the wisdom to be good stewardsof this time of grace, a time to be more prayerful,to listen more intently to Your Word;a time to allow our faith to grow and mature.Show us how to give witnessto your Good News more ferventlyamong our families, friendsand …
Stewardship Saint for December: Saint Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier was born in 1506 to an aristocratic Basque family near Navarre, Spain. At the age of 19, he went to study at the University of Paris, and by age 24, he was already a teacher of philosophy who had a promising academic career ahead of him. His life changed after he became acquainted …
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Transform November into a Month of Thanksgiving
Very soon Americans will celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays; a time where so much is devoted to sumptuous meals highlighted by turkey and pumpkin pie, traveling to and from the ancestral home, enjoying family, feasting on leftovers, seeing a Thanksgiving Day parade and watching football. For many of us, Thanksgiving Day is so full of activity …
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ICSC November Stewardship Prayer
Stewardship Prayer Gracious and loving God, As the autumn season continues its transformation;and the days become shorter, the earth cooler;as we anticipate joining family and friendsin joyful celebration on Thanksgiving Day,we pause to give You thanks and praisefor the abundant blessings You have bestowed upon us: For life and health, safety and comfort,food and nourishment, …
Steward Saint for November: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Frances Cabrini, better known as Mother Cabrini, was the first American citizen to be elevated to sainthood by the Catholic Church. Born in 1850, near Milan in northern Italy, she was the youngest of 13 children. As a young girl she was fascinated by the stories of missionaries and made up her mind to …
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