Stewardship Tip July 2007

The “tragedy of the commons.”  That’s what economists call it when the fact that “everybody” owns something (that is, it’s owned “in common”) means that nobody takes responsibility to care for it.  Sadly, that’s the situation in many of our parishes.  We see gum on the front steps or crumpled offering envelopes in the pew rack and we wonder why “someone” doesn’t do something about it!  There are paper towels strewn on the restroom floor, and when we cross the parking lot, we see fliers blowing around between the cars.  It’s our parish, but we didn’t drop the gum or wad up the special collections envelopes!  It’s not our fault that the last person “missed” the trash can with her used paper towel or that the advertiser didn’t secure the “2 for 1” coupon securely under each windshield wiper!  The parish belongs to all of us, collectively, and to none of us, individually.  But good stewardship can keep us from experiencing the tragedy of the commons.

\Good scouts – and good stewards – always leave the site better than they found it.  Try it!  The next time you see a candy wrapper carelessly tossed aside in the gathering space or a paper napkin that somehow landed under the coffee and donuts table, pick it up and throw it away!  Take a moment to re-stack the hymnals that have somehow cascaded from the bookshelf into a heap on the vestibule floor.  Gather up and discard the petals that have fallen from the bouquet laid at Mary’s feet or straighten up the pile of missalettes at the end of the pew.  This summer be a parish steward –alert to all the small ways that you can make the parish environment just a little bit better for the person coming to the next later Mass.  No one will thank you, but everyone will benefit!