The Parish: Pope Francis states the parish is the “Church living in the midst of the Homes of her sons and daughters.” As the Church among us and through the 4 Pillars of Stewardship - Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, Service - our Heartland Parishes offer to all members:
- The benefits of Mass and the Sacraments.
- Opportunities of continued Faith formation.
- The benefit of living in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Opportunities to engage in parish life and activities.
- Opportunities to place one’s gifts at the service of the parish through our ministries.
The Precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The Obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor: (CCC 2041-2043)
- First Precept: You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor. (CCC 2042)
- Second Precept: You shall confess your sins at least once a year. (CCC 2042)
- Third Precept: You shall receive the sacrament of Eucharist at least during the Easter season. (CCC 2042)
- Fourth Precept: You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. (CCC 2043)
- Fifth Precept: You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church. (CCC 2043)
- The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities. (CCC 2043)
Parishioners: Discipleship calls us to more than membership; it calls us to an encounter with Christ through active Stewardship. Active Stewardship is realized when a parishioner makes a generous and sacrificial gift of their time, talent, and treasure to God and neighbor. No more and no less is asked of every parishioner. Active Stewardship for all parishioners is defined as:
- Attend Mass faithfully on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Participate in parish life and contribute one’s gifts of time and talent to serve the parish through its ministries, activities, and events.
- Return the completed Stewardship forms to the parish office annually.
- Support and cooperate with the religious education programs of the parish: Adult Faith formation,
Catholic schools, CCD, PSR, sacramental preparation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), etc.
Parents: I reaffirm my commitment to be an active steward. I ask the support of my parish in nurturing my faith as I strive to form my children as disciples of Christ.
- I will attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation unless impeded for a serious reason,
e.g. illness.
- I pledge to give a percentage of my income annually.
- I will nurture my child/children’s commitment to their faith and to their academic responsibilities.
- I understand that my child/children’s enrollment in Catholic school is contingent upon the way I
practice my faith.
- I will attend the annual State of Our Catholic Schools meeting
- I will participate as a steward in parish ministries, activities, and events.