Stewardship, A Way of Life

Stewardship is based on the fact that all that we have and all that we are comes from God. We commit ourselves to stewardship as a way of thanking God for all His blessings; returning to Him a portion of the time, talent, and treasure he has allotted to us:

1. Each week, we choose what will be done with the 168 hours we have available to us. Good stewardship of time means we will share some of that time with God in prayer, praise and thanksgiving, and some time caring for the needs of others.
2. Every person has a flair for something. Good stewardship of talent means we identify our talents and use them to glorify God and to help other people.
3. Although the amounts vary significantly, we all bring some kind of revenue into our households. Good stewardship of treasure means we intentionally plan to donate a set percentage of our income to the church and other charities. As a final act of stewardship, we should prayerfully consider leaving a portion of our assets to the Church in our wills.

Through the efforts of dedicated parishioners and staff members alike, Christ Our King Parish is able to offer members of its faith community a variety of services and support, as well as the means with which to be of greater service to members in need. Parishioners interested in participating in any of the parish ministry groups should contact the parish office.

Stewardship Vision

Christ Our King regularly assesses the needs of our ministries and provides adequate resources for each.

Christ Our King uses a wide variety of methods to inform the parishoners of the needs and functions of all parish ministries so that there can be fuller involvement of laity at all levels.

Christ Our King instills in our youth the desire to contribute their time, talent and treasure to the parish so that they may feel more a part of it today while establishing a strong faith foundation.

A Tithing Community

Christ Our King Church is a Sacrificial Giving Community. Each week, the first ten percent of our collection is distributed to charitable organizations and needs. Please make contact with the Parish Office for information regarding the submission of tithe candidates.

Stewardship Opportunities

Liturgical Ministries

• The Assembly
• Liturgical Environment
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Ushers & Greeters
• Offertory Gift Bearers
• Lectors
• Altar Servers
• Altar Care
• Adoration Team
• Baptismal Robes
• Collection Counters

Music Ministry

• Adult Music Programs
• Youth Music Programs

Senior Adult Ministries

Youth Ministries

• Senior High Youth Program
• Junior High Youth Program
• Adult Volunteers

Outreach Programs

• East Cooper Community Outreach - ECCO
• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Christ Our King Shelter Team
• Respect Life Committee

Parish Committees

• Communications Committee
• Pastoral Council
• Liturgy Committee
• Finance Committee
• Newcomers Welcoming Committee
• Lazarus Committee
• Reception Committee
• Parish Business Directory Committee
• Vocations Committee
• Web-Site Committee
• Library Committee

Other Parish Organizations

• Cursillo
• Knights of Columbus
• Marriage Encounter
• Scouting

The Assembly: The Assembly is the primary ministry in which we all share. We are the Body of Christ gathered as one. We share a primary ministry with one another to be hospitable, gracious, and prayerful. The liturgy is not what the priests and ministers do while others attend. It is what we all do together as Church. The most important ministry is the one we all share with equal responsibility as a baptized people.

Liturgical Environment: (Including Seasonal Decorating) is a planning team which assists with the details of the parish liturgical celebrations including planning and preparation of the environment. CONTACT: Bill Becknell 884-5587

Eucharistic Ministers: Eucharistic Ministers are members of the Assembly who assist in the distribution of the Eucharist. Some Eucharistic Ministers give love, support and care to the sick by bringing them Holy Communion. Annual training sessions begin after the New Year, and Eucharistic Ministers are commissioned on the Feast of Corpus Christi for the period of one year. Annual renewal is necessary. CONTACT: Sr Mary Cyril 884-0065

For more information, see the Eucharistic Ministers page

Ushers & Greeters Ushers and Greeters are adult parishoners interested in serving the parish by being greeters at weekend Masses, holiday Masses and special services. Each serves the parish by greeting worshipers as they enter the church, being able to answer questions pertaining to parish activities and the Mass schedules, seeing that chairs and Orders of Worship are available, taking up the offertory gifts, assisting with seating and distributing bulletins.

Offertory Gift Bearers Ideally during the year we'd like each family to serve during the Liturgy by presenting the gifts at the Offertory during the Liturgy. Families are contacted on a alphabetical basis, throughout the year, and asked to serve in this capacity so that it is not necessary to register for this ministry. Parishoners who can be available on a standby basis to substitute, however, should complete a registration form. CONTACT: Susan Miller, 884-5587

Altar Care Altar Care is a ministry open to members of the parish who are interested in assisting in caring for the linens and sacred vessels used in the Liturgy, as well as arranging the altar. Teams rotate on a monthly basis. CONTACT: Rose Kavanaugh 884-0326

Adoration Team The First Friday of every month Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the Chapel from 7:30am until Benediction at 5:00pm. Individuals are asked to spend one hour in prayer during this time. CONTACT: Shirley Barry 884-4925

Baptismal Robes During the Sacrament of Baptism infants are presented a white robe. This bib-like garment is cut, sewn, and decorated by parishoners. CONTACT: Helen Pstrak 884-0506

Communication Committee The Communications Committee address the many ways in which we spread the Good News. In particular, our parish web site offers explanatory information about the many committees working within the parish as well as the name and phone number of contact person(s) responsible for the committee. The website provides links to Catholic church-related pages, events at Christ Our King, ministry schedules, and more.

By The Way, the newsletter of the parish, presents articles written by parishoners and includes Scripture Readings, Parishoner Reflections, and Christ Our King Happenings. It is delivered three times a year to our homes for family reading. If you are interested in being a reporter or assisting in working in other areas of the newsletter, please contact the office.

Collection Counters Members of the Parish who volunteer their time on Sundays to record the collections.

Senior Adult Ministries Senior Adult Ministry is designed to support the work of the parish in reaching out to members age fifty-five and older. The Ministry concentrates on direct services. The direct services include working with the homebound elderly and residents in the local nursing homes and retirement villages through visiting programs, pastoral visits, liturgical celebrations, telephone contacts, transportation for Sunday Mass, for doctor and/or hospital appointments, and when possible, providing temporary care for care givers. The services also include providing families with information on services available to senior citizens and how to access the services.

It is also a goal of this Ministry to empower our older, vibrant seniors to be leaders for bringing about social change in our community through their deepening involvement in the life of the Church by participating in the various service opportunities in the Parish and in the outreach programs of the Church and community. CONTACT: Sr Mary Cyril 884-0065

East Cooper Community Outreach ECCO is an ecumencial organization dedicated to helping families and individuals who are in need. Established by Christ Our King Church for the purpose of providing temporart relief to victims of Hurricane Hugo, ECCO now serves as a permanent community resource to offer on-going assistance with basic necessities. Services offered include assistance with groceries, clothing and household goods. Financial aid is available for rent, utilities and prescriptions. The ECCO dental clinic is open two evenings a week to provide free emergency dental care to eligible patients. The ECCO operating model is simply stated ... a minimum of paid staff and a maximum of volunteer help. Volunteers assist in every phase of ECCO operations. Dentists donate their time and skills in our dental clinic. Other volunteers give their hearts and hands to assist with client screening, shelving and bagging food, follow-up visits to clients and office assistance. The guiding spirit at ECCO is one of neighbors helping neighbors. The backbone of the ministry is the area churches where denominations are immaterial and people are served in a harmonious Christian effort. For further information, contact Jack Little, Director, or speak with a staff member at 849-9220 or visit ECCO at 1145 Six Mile Road, Mt. Pleasant.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization of lay persons who seek to help those are suffering in a spirit of justice and charity, and by a person to person involvement. The society has two aims: "To do a great deal of spiritual good to its members through the excercise of charity, and to do a little spiritual and temporal good to a a few poor families in the name of Jesus Christ." (Manual, St. Vincent De Paul Society) Members strive to achieve the Society's aims by visiting the needy individuls and their families, offering financial and/or spiritual aid, and establishing personal contact. The Society serves everyone, regardless of creed, opinion, color, origin or caste. Meetings are held monthly and are publicized in the church bulletin. CONTACT: Mimi Santos, 884-5587

Christ Our King Shelter Team Every evening, some 90 to 120 homeless men gather at the shelter located at 334 Meeting Street in Charleston. Volunteers from various churches staff the shelter each evening on a rotating schedule, serving dinner and breakfast the following morning. Christ Our King, one of the churches on the volunteer schedule, assumes responsibility for this very special ministry on the third Tuesday of every month. CONTACT: Rev. Mr. Joseph F. Cahill 881-3213 (men) Jan Maize 881-1007 (women) Rev. Mr. Joseph F. Cahill

Respect Life Committee The work of Mother Teresa invites us to insure that respect for human life is an attitude, a way of living. Our Respect Life Committee is a group of parishoners who work together for the cause of life. The first Saturday of each month the members recite the Rachel Rosary in the chapel following the 8:00 am Mass.

Pastoral Council This parish leadership group is composed of twelve parishoners and staff members who act as an advisory council to the Pastor, as well as coordinate all parish activities. The Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month, with the exception of July and August. Members are appointed to an open ended term. CONTACT: John Maize, 881-1007

Liturgy Committee The Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy says that the Litury is the "source and summit" of our lives as Christians. It is in the Liturgy that we are most ourselves as God's People. The Liturgy Committee seeks to support the liturgical life of the Parish. CONTACT: Bill Becknell 884-5587

Finance Committee The Finance Committee oversees the budgeting process as well as serving as an advisory board to the Pastor regarding financial matters. The committee meets monthly. Members are appointed by the Pastor. CONTACT: Darryl Reyna 884-3184

Newcomers Welcoming Committee The Newcomers Welcoming Committee offers immediate support and information to new parishoners in an effort to assist in easing them into parish life and stewardship. Committee members make welcoming phone calls to newly registered parishoners and also host Newcomer Receptions. During Newcomers Weekend tables are manned after each Mass to register individuals and families. A concerted effort is made to make visitors feel welcome to and answer questions regarding the parish. CONTACT: Kathleen Loveland

Vocations Committee The Vocations Committee has its mission the nuturing of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. The members are appointed, however volunteer help is always appreciated. CONTACT: Rev. Mr. Joseph F. Cahill 881-3213

Web Site Committee The Web Site Committee is responsible for updating the Parish's Internet presence. We are always open to individuals interesting in gathering and creatively presenting information. CONTACT: Brian Justice 971-0856

Library Committee Volunteers are needed to assist in all aspects of running the newly formed parish library. A variety of sub-committees deal with selecting materials, cataloging materials, and staffing the library. CONTACT: Sr. Donna Lareau, OLM 971-8273

Cursillo The Cursillo Movement provides the tools (primarily weekly and monthly group renunions), the mentality, the strength, and the support to assist the laity in developing a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully Catholic by being fully Christian. It devotes itself to drawing forth from Cursillistas a commitment to bring about change in their environment with the Gospel. CONTACT: Julie Dunn and Michael Flato 884-0659

Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus is an organization of Catholic men which promotes the values of Church and family through a service program that supports vocations, Pro-Life, the elderly, our youth and the community. Practicing Catholic men eighteen and older are invited to join.

Marriage Encounter Marriage Encounter Weekends provide a positive and personal expereince, offeriing a technique of loving communication to couples who want to enrich their marriage. CONTACT: Parish Office 884-5587

Scouting Christ Our King, in cooperating with the school. provides use of our facilities to various scouting groups for both boys and girls. Please check the directory for contact names and numbers. CONTACT: Ross Murphy 556-5117 (boys) Calli Condon 884-1030 (girls)