Bed-Stuy Parish Honored For Stewardship Program

Wide-ranging efforts to promote Gospel stewardship among members of its congregation have earned St. John the Baptist parish in Bedford-Stuyvesant the plaudits of the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC).

The parish was among 12 across the country selected to receive the ICSC’s first-ever Certificate of Recognition, which was presented at the council’s annual conference in Miami Beach (Sept. 23-26). Vincentian Father Joseph V. Agostino, pastor of St. John the Baptist, accepted the award, along with members of the parish.

“Considering that there are approximately 1,800 parishes in the USA, this is quite an honor,” said Thomas Flood, director of the diocesan Stewardship and Development Office.

Flood said St. John the Baptist parish was cited for “exercising stewardship” in pastoral areas such as prayer and worship, formation and education, hospitality, cultivating leadership, communications and “promoting among parishioners the stewardship of time, talent and treasure.”

In a workshop given in Spanish during the conference, Father Agostino and four parishioners – Milagros Colon, Maritza Laboy, Janet Rivera and Eugenia Ortiz – described two of the parish’s initiatives – a parish fair and a ministry fair.

Founded in 1962, the council states as a principal objective: “Empowering Catholics to live their faith as Christian stewards who generously offer financial and volunteer support to their Church as a means of thanksgiving to God.”

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