3 4

Groupsshouldchooseafacilitatorforeachsession,andthisresponsibilitycaneasilybesharedfrom

onesessiontoanother.Theestimatedtimetocompleteeachsessionisaboutanhour,butthelength

ofthesessionmaybeexpandedtomeetthegroup’sneeds.Thefacilitator’spreparationtimeincludes

gatheringtheitemsfortheprayerexperiencesandprayerfullyreviewingthelessonchoosingwhich

Scripturepassagetoutilize.GroupmembersareaskedtoreadspecificsectionsofthePastoralLetter

onStewardshippriortothesession,althoughpartsoftheletterarereadduringthesessions.We

encourageeachindividualtoapproachthestudysessionswithanopenhearttoGodandanattitude

ofrespectforothers.PraythatGod’sSpiritwillmoveinyourheartsandinyourgrouptobringabout

Hiswill.

ItisourhopethatthisstudyguidewillhelpmembersofTheDioceseofRockforddrawclosertoGod

andoneanotherandbecomeevenbetterstewardsofthemanygiftswepossess.

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

IPeter4:10

MayGodblessyou.

S E S S I O N 1

Gathering and Opening Prayer• ParticipantsgatheraroundaBibleandalightedcandle.

• Openinprayerbysingingahymnthatisknowntoyourgrouporby

prayingPsalm139:1-6together.

Lord,youhaveexaminedmeandyouknowme.Youknoweverything

Ido;fromfarawayyouunderstoodallmythoughts.Youseeme,

whetherIamworkingorresting;youknowallmyactions.EvenbeforeI

speak,youalreadyknowwhatIwillsay.Youareallaroundmeonevery

side;youprotectmewithyourpower.Yourknowledgeofmeistoo

deep;itisbeyondmyunderstanding.—Psalm139:1-6

The Word of GodReadaloudoneofthefollowingScripturepassages:

Mark1:16-20 Thecallofthefirstdisciples

John1:35-42 Thefirstdisciples

Acts9:1-19 Saul’sconversion

Takeafewmomentsforsilentreflection,andthenshareyourthoughtson

thefollowingquestions:

1. Howisthecalltobeadisciplepersonal?Howisthecalltobea

disciplecommunal?

2. Isthereadifferencebetweenbeingadiscipleandbeinga

churchmember?

3. DescribeyourowncalltofollowJesus.Didittakeplaceata

specificmomentoroveraperiodoftime?

THE CALL

PREPARATION:

• Read Chapter 1, pages 13—15, “The Call”, in “Stewardship, A Disciple’s Response.”

• Read the suggested Scripture passages shown in this chapter.

A N C I E N T CATHOLIC

W I S D O M

“Thepromisedstrengthof

theHolySpirit,whichyouare

abouttoreceive,willmakeyou

morelikeChristandhelpyouto

bewitnessestoHissuffering,

death,andresurrection.Itwill

strengthenyoutobeactive

membersoftheChurchandto

builduptheBodyofChrist.”

From the “Invitation”, Liturgy of Confirmation

5 6

Studying the Pastoral Letter: “Stewardship, A Disciple’s Response”AfterreadingChapter1,pages13—15,pleaseshareyourreflections

andinsightsonthefollowingquestions:

1. “Christiansmustbestewardsoftheirpersonalvocations.”Whatdoes

thisphrasemeantoyou?Describeyour“personalvocation.”

2. Whatisthe“costofdiscipleship”whereyouliveandwork?

3. HowisChristianStewardshipmuchmorethanthesharingoftime,

talentandtreasure?

“If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”John 13:17

InlightofourstudyoftheselectionsfromtheScripturesandChapter1of

thePastoralLetteronStewardship,suggestsomepositivestepstoward

makingStewardshipmoreapartofday-to-daylifeasaCatholic.Usethe

suggested3-stepprocess.

SESSION 1 : THE CALL (continued)

Reflection Notes:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Afteramomentofsilence,

participantsmaysharetheir

insightswithoneanother.

— S T E P P R O C E S S

1. In sacred silence, allow the Holy Spirit to teach your heart and

to guide your actions.

2. Identify where in your work, relationships, or personal time you are

challenged to apply what you have learned in this session.

3. Write a few words as a reminder to yourself.

SESSION 1 : THE CALL (continued)

Closing with Ritual PrayerAreadingfromtheFirstLetterofSt.Peter:

Beloved:Cometohim,alivingstone,rejectedbyhumanbeingsbutchosenandpreciousinthesightofGod,and

likelivingstones,letyourselvesbebuiltintoaspiritualhousetobeaholypriesthoodtoofferspiritualsacrifices

acceptabletoGodthroughJesusChrist…Youare“achosenrace,aroyalpriesthood,aholynation,apeopleof

hisown,sothatyoumayannouncethepraises”ofhimwhocalledyououtofdarknessintohiswonderfullight.

—1Peter2:4-5,9

Silent Reflection

Usingthelightedcandle,eachparticipantpresentsthecandle

toanotherandsaystothatperson:

You were called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.

Thepersonreceivingthelightedcandleanswers:

Amen.

Takeamomentofsilence.

Asagroup,prayeithertheLord’s Prayeror

theSteward’s Prayer(foundontheinsidefrontcover).

PREPARATION fOR ThE NExT SESSION

Please read Chapter 2: “Jesus’ Way” in Stewardship, A Disciple’s Response.

5 6

Studying the Pastoral Letter: “Stewardship, A Disciple’s Response”AfterreadingChapter1,pages13—15,pleaseshareyourreflections

andinsightsonthefollowingquestions:

1. “Christiansmustbestewardsoftheirpersonalvocations.”Whatdoes

thisphrasemeantoyou?Describeyour“personalvocation.”

2. Whatisthe“costofdiscipleship”whereyouliveandwork?

3. HowisChristianStewardshipmuchmorethanthesharingoftime,

talentandtreasure?

“If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”John 13:17

InlightofourstudyoftheselectionsfromtheScripturesandChapter1of

thePastoralLetteronStewardship,suggestsomepositivestepstoward

makingStewardshipmoreapartofday-to-daylifeasaCatholic.Usethe

suggested3-stepprocess.

SESSION 1 : THE CALL (continued)

Reflection Notes:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Afteramomentofsilence,

participantsmaysharetheir

insightswithoneanother.

— S T E P P R O C E S S

1. In sacred silence, allow the Holy Spirit to teach your heart and

to guide your actions.

2. Identify where in your work, relationships, or personal time you are

challenged to apply what you have learned in this session.

3. Write a few words as a reminder to yourself.

SESSION 1 : THE CALL (continued)

Closing with Ritual PrayerAreadingfromtheFirstLetterofSt.Peter:

Beloved:Cometohim,alivingstone,rejectedbyhumanbeingsbutchosenandpreciousinthesightofGod,and

likelivingstones,letyourselvesbebuiltintoaspiritualhousetobeaholypriesthoodtoofferspiritualsacrifices

acceptabletoGodthroughJesusChrist…Youare“achosenrace,aroyalpriesthood,aholynation,apeopleof

hisown,sothatyoumayannouncethepraises”ofhimwhocalledyououtofdarknessintohiswonderfullight.

—1Peter2:4-5,9

Silent Reflection

Usingthelightedcandle,eachparticipantpresentsthecandle

toanotherandsaystothatperson:

You were called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.

Thepersonreceivingthelightedcandleanswers:

Amen.

Takeamomentofsilence.

Asagroup,prayeithertheLord’s Prayeror

theSteward’s Prayer(foundontheinsidefrontcover).

PREPARATION fOR ThE NExT SESSION

Please read Chapter 2: “Jesus’ Way” in Stewardship, A Disciple’s Response.