 Stewardship Stories
Think about a valuable lesson you have learned in your life. Take a moment to remember that lesson, then record it.
Share that lesson with us at Pax Christi by sending your message to Mary Kennedy, Director of Stewardship, mkennedy@paxchristi.com. We will post them here.
My stewardship became embedded into me through my parents. I grew up in a small NW Minnesota farming town where our family owned a grocery store but the story starts earlier than that. My father grew up on a small farm outside of town with very little. He quit school after the 8th grade to work construction and help his family out. I was told he would leave for the big cities of Fargo/Moorhead at the beginning of the week, spend the week there and returned on the weekends with his earnings which he gave to his dad – how much grandpa kept and dad got I’m not sure. So in tough times he served his family. After being drafted and spending his time in the Navy he came home and along with his brother brought one of the town’s two grocery stores and got married.
As members of Assumption Catholic Church both my mom and dad were very active in just about everything. My dad was a member if the Knights of Columbus, helped out on just about any project that ever needed help and I was told was generous in his giving. My mom was a member of the choir and the ladies aid and they had us 5 kids enrolled in the small Catholic school that served grades 1-6. Now outside of church my dad was also involved in many other things. He delivered groceries to those who could not make it to his store, he played his accordion (he was 100% polish!) to the folks at the senior center (he actually could play that and the piano/organ without ever taking a lesson), he, along with his other grocery competitor (and others), was a volunteer EMT and helped build the area ambulance service, he was a council member for one of the three wards in the city and many other countless things. But don’t think because of this that he never spent anytime with his family. He worked hard but held a great work life balance. He left for work early, was always home for 1 hour at noon for lunch and he closed the store at 6 PM and we always ate as family at about 6:30. He took us kids fishing at every chance he could, played with us, got us involved in church activities and we always went places together as a family. All of this occurred before blackberries, cell phones, computers and all of the other gadgets that today most all of us could not function without.
His store was not open on Sundays, even though he knew he lost business as his competitor was - though occasionally I can recall him receiving a call and giving in to open up so someone could get something they desperately needed. I remember him saying, “It’ll be the day I die before that store is open on Sundays.” Unfortunately that day came too early as he had a sudden heart attack and died here in Minneapolis while taking his family to watch the state basketball tournament in 1978 – he loved basketball. Being only 12 at the time, my brothers and sisters were 17, 15, 11 and 5, I don’t recall everything but some are very vivid. The church was packed and all businesses closed, I witnessed men that I never thought would cry cry and during the homily I vividly recall the priest tell stories and talk about his stewardship (none of it financial related) . I know for a fact he loved serving others and I could go on and on with more examples that I either witnessed or others told me but I also know that he set an example for all of us kids and others to follow.
Now I don’t want to leave my mom out as she has, and continues to, serve right where my father left off. She still sings in the choir, cleans the cups, chalice and other things after mass, serves (bakes/cooks) for funerals and in other times of need, attends weekly bible study, donates time to meals on wheels and helps with some of the elderly in the community – my guess is she does even more than that.
So to anyone that is reading this I ask that in memory of my dad and the continued stewardship of my mom that you find time to give of your time and talent, even if it starts with the opening a door for someone. And also please pray for those that struggle to find the time or have family (or other) constraints that prevent them from serving - I know I personally struggle with my family constraints and how it hurts my desire to be a better steward. My family gave me a great example to follow and I pray that I can pass that same example on to my kids and others around me.
Thank you!Marc
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