Monday, February 21, 2000
Forum goes beyond Mass
Catholics urged to get involved
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Six nationally recognized Catholic officials will urge Catholics to do more than attend weekly Mass and offer weekly tithings when they attend the Diocese of Covington's March stewardship conference.
Archbishop James Keleherof Kansas City, Mo., will give the keynote address at “Stewardship ... Spirituality and Beyond'' from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. March 11, at the Receptions Conference Center in Erlanger.
Set time aside
He and other speakers will stress the need to get more involved in their church and religion — perhaps set aside time for prayer, volunteer their time to good deeds or even become better family members.
Sue Grethel, the diocesan stewardship director, explains that the Catholic religion is based on the premise that everything people have is a gift from God and they are merely his “stewards.”
Stewardship “is a way of life. It's "What am I going to do with the gift?'” Mrs. Grethel said.
She said she became aware of the concept several years ago and made changes in her life to become a better steward. For example, she now sets aside time every day to pray.
She considers herself a “beginning steward.”
School lessons
The diocese's parochial schools, she said, also are focusing on stewardship by incorporating it in lesson plans. For example, some students might be asked to donate books to inner-city children.
The conference will start with a 9:15 a.m. prayer service and include four workshops.
Other speakers will be Bishop Robert Muench of the Diocese of Covington; the Rev. Thomas Gentile, who chairs the stewardship committee of the Archdiocese of Louisville; James Kelly, the development director for the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C.; Thomas Lilly, stewardship director for the Diocese of Owensboro; and Barbara and Francis Scholtz of St. Augustine, Fla., who have spoken at about 55 other stewardship conferences.
About 200 are expected to attend the conference. The fee will be $20.
Preregistration is suggested. Registration on the day of the event begins at 8:30 a.m.
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