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Dear Friends in Christ,
The “Season of Stewardship” we have begun reminds me of a cherished memory from my past. Some of you will recall me sharing this story before, but in my humble
opinion, some tales bear repeating.
In 1995 I had the privilege of serving the community of St. George parish on Beacon Hill in South Seattle. One of our parishioners was a lady named Elizabeth who was a regular at Sunday morning Mass. Elizabeth was a convert to Catholicism, having been raised a Southern Baptist in the state of Alabama. She held on to a couple of customs from her former denomination. One was the wearing of her “Sunday best” clothing, which included a dress with flowers and a large hat that was impossible to miss when she walked into church. The other custom was to offer an audible “Amen” at the end of my homilies. If she liked my message everyone heard a robust Amen! If she wasn’t particularly impressed, she still gave a barely audible Amen. I knew where I stood with Elizabeth.
I came to discover that Elizabeth and her husband Walter wrote a monthly check to the parish for $98.70 which I learned was 10% of their fixed income of $987.00 a month. One Sunday after Mass when people had left I discovered Elizabeth helping herself to some canned food items that people would bring to support the local Georgetown Service Center. She turned red with embarrassment at my discovery and admitted that she and Walter were a few days away from receiving their modest monthly check and had no money for groceries. I assured Elizabeth she was welcome to the food, but also suggested that she cut back on their tithe to the church. I will never forget her response. “Oh Father Bill, God’s been so good to us. We just have to show our gratitude in this way.” Elizabeth and Walter were in fact rich in the things that matter most, a grateful and generous heart!
They are in heaven now, but I remember them as I reflect on what I will decide to give as my stewardship pledge in the coming year. I hope in hearing their story that you find yourself inspired to a similar display of gratitude for all the ways God has been so good to you!
Elizabeth and Walter…pray for us! Live Jesus in our hearts…forever!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor
