Piggy-Bank Stewardship

The time-honored savings receptacle teaches money management.

The investment firm T. Rowe Price surveyed a sample group of parents on their children’s money-management practices. That’s a scientific-sounding way of saying they asked a bunch of mothers and fathers (504, to be exact) how many of their kids have piggy banks. The answer: most (85%, to be exact). A clear majority also said the decision to withdraw money from the time-honored savings receptacle should be a “shared responsibility.” Commenting on the survey at MainStreet.com, writer Brian O’Connell said: “Teaching kids to save money with a piggy bank is a win-win-win. Kids get a great lesson on the value of money. Parents instill good personal finance habits for their kids at a young age. And banks get a ready-made audience of future customers who already understand the importance of saving money and the value of passive income (interest earned on bank deposit accounts).” Spoken like a true convert to Phil Lenahan’s steward-of-Providence way of thinking.

Kevin Bedan illustration

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis