Additional information
by C. Jarrod Lies S. T. L. (Author)
The Diocese of Wichita defines stewardship as the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God's gifts and shares these gifts in love of God and neighbor. Msgr. Thomas McGread, stated, "A stewardship way of life is a thanksgiving way of life, living life as God intended it to be lived. It's not a program. It's a way of life. And this is really the biggest mistake many people make." The mistake referred to is reducing the idea of stewardship to financial development. In the Diocese of Wichita the accent of stewardship is on gratitude for God's gifts, not on methods of increased financial giving. This accent includes subordinating stewardship to discipleship and making discipleship missionary in practice. The goal of this book is to summarize and explain the purpose and meaning of stewardship as practiced in the Diocese of Wichita. After an overview of its historical development within the diocese itwill proceed through stewardship's scriptural, magisterial, and pastoral foundations and conclude with the identity and responsibilities of a steward. Although the foundations of stewardship will be explained, a detailed description of the process by which it is implemented within a parish is outside the scope of this book. A further aim of this book is to elucidate the intrinsic relationship between stewardship, discipleship, and evangelization. Finally, it is hoped that persons more inclined to see stewardship in terms of finances will come to understand it more in terms akin to the apostolate as set forth in the documents of Vatican II.
Author Biography
Fr. Jarrod Lies (pronounced "Lease") is the son of David and Patty Lies. He has four brothers, three sisters-in-law and ten nieces and nephews. On May 26th, 2001 he was ordained by Bishop Gerber to the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas. He holds undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Conception Seminary College and Master's degrees in Scripture and Divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum. In 2018 Fr. Jarrod completed a License in Sacred Theology for the New Evangelization through Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, MI. Fr. Jarrod spent his first two years of priesthood in Pittsburg, Kansas, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish where he performed parish and hospital ministry and assisted at St. Mary's-Colgan grade school and high school. He then spent eight years as Director of Pastoral Care (chaplain) at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Wichita, KS. During that time he also served as the main celebrant of the Extraordinary Form at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Wichita. For four years Fr. Jarrod served as the Director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Wichita as well as the Pastor of St. John's, Clonmel, KS. As Director he oversaw the programs and training for those involved in the religious formation of youth ages kindergarten through college. This included giving talks and presentations throughout the diocese, overseeing resources for Religious Education programs, facilitating the Diocesan Speakers Bureau and serving for two years on the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). As pastor at St. John's he served pastoral and sacramental needs of the people of his parish of 160 families. Fr. Jarrod is currently the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Wichita, KS. St. Francis is a parish of 2700 families. It has a grade school with 675 students, highly active youth and adult formation programs, and is well known for its implementation of the stewardship way of life.
