Compass Catholic Ministries Offering a Path to the Stewardship Way of Life

To fully embrace stewardship, we must have a clear understanding of our financial situation and habits. But if we lack that understanding, we hesitate to step forward to support our parish. Katie Sheppard, our parish Director of Advancement, recognized this problem and found a solution — Bible studies through Compass Catholic Ministries.

“How do we get people to support our parish if they don’t feel the freedom to donate or understand the biblical principle behind it?” Katie says.

We hear the term “financial freedom” a lot lately. The secular world wants you to believe that it means having the money to spend it how you want. However, true financial freedom is managing your resources in a way that is pleasing to God.

“You can’t effectively do that if you are worried about debt, preoccupied with having enough, or consumed by the next expense or purchase,” Katie says.

All of our gifts, including our financial resources, are on loan to us from God to use in gratitude to bless others. Katie identified Compass Catholic Ministries as an organization that offered financial courses founded on biblical teachings. Currently, there are two programs offered at Christ the King. “Set Your House in Order” is a five-week program and “Faith and Money Matters” is a six-week program.

These are small-group studies led by a facilitator. The sessions each are offered two to three times a year. Classes are also offered online on the Compass Catholic Ministries website at www.compasscatholic.org.

“‘Faith and Money Matters’ is a Bible study that helps you look at your finances through a Catholic lens,” Katie says. “You create a spending plan and establish goals to hit certain milestones — saving for retirement, establishing a safety net, or saving for college.”

This class looks at our motivations around money, saving and investing, as well as spending.

“What we do with money is psychological,” Katie says. “You become more aware of the ‘why’ behind the way you spend, save, invest and donate money — it all goes back to trusting God. There is no judgment in the class and no financial information is shared. It is a safe space to talk about money.”

“Set Your Home in Order” helps you order your affairs and start to look at estate planning.

“You update your records, assemble passwords, make sure you have a healthcare directive, a power of attorney, a will, and a funeral plan,” Katie says. “It’s a very popular class and is a gift to your family members. By taking the class, you are actually embracing and not ignoring what needs to be done.”

Parishioners are invited to become class facilitators but are advised to take the classes themselves. There is a training manual available. Compass Catholic also offers free money coaching services to help support you along the way.