Spring Festival Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary in 2015 Let’s take a trip down memory lane. The first few years of the CtR Spring Festival featured wooden booths, blue tarps and one large tent with a few small rides for kids. On April 25-26, 2015, 30 years later, the community and parishioners will enjoy several sleek white tents, shuttle buses, giant inflatables, a two-story obstacle course and activities across the grounds of CtR. The Spring Festival has definitely grown over the last 30 years – all thanks to the loyalty of parishioners who have been here from the beginning. Mike and Camille Havelka, who joined the Spring Festival committee in 1988, have been coordinating the committee as chairmen since 2003.
April 2015 11507 Huffmeister Road Houston, TX 77065 281-469-5533 www.ctrcc.com
“Mike and I love working each year with the Festival,” Camille said. “We have an awesome committee that is more like an extended family after more than 25 years together. They have been wonderful volunteers and supporters.” Festival faves include the cake raffle, Bingo, the Classics’ Sweet Shop, Piece Maker’s Crafts, Coke Ring Toss, face painting and the very popular expanding food court. Camille said the Holub’s yummy homemade barbecue has been a staple since the beginning. “Not having to hire a caterer has significantly increased the profits as well as become a Festival tradition,” Camille said. “The Nguyen family has also supported the Festival with the egg rolls and Asian food for all 30 years and their second generation is still making their tasty food under the watchful eyes of the first generation.” Kid favorites are the confetti eggs and marshmallow shooters. “Although these are dreaded each year by the adults for the flying marshmallows, confetti mess and sticky shoes, the kids certainly love them,” Camille said. Although the Festival is just once a year, Mike said the Festival is a huge event. “The Festival takes nearly a thousand volunteers,” he said. “This gives parishioners a chance to work together, get to know one another and make new friends. Since our Festival’s theme is ‘a community event,’ it is only right that we reach out to Cypress Assistance Ministries to help those in need enjoy family fun.” Mike said that Cypress area families who are not members of CtR also look forward to the Festival. “With welcoming smiles on friendly faces, we show that we are a warm and welcoming church for everyone to come anytime,” he said.
After almost 30 years of organizing it, the Havelka’s have found a rhythm to coordinating the Festival. “The housework and chores get neglected just before Festival weekend,” Camille said. “We sometimes grumble at each other when we get a bit stressed in the days leading up to the Festival, but for the most part we are a good team. Mike is very good at big details like creating new games, selecting tents, entertainment and rides. My strengths are the ‘behind-the-scenes stuff ’ like the bulletin, phone calls and emails, and the Festival financials.” Mike said the Festival exemplifies the philanthropic spirit of CtR. “Parishioners give their time, talent and treasure - time in volunteering; talents from a diverse group of specialists electricians, craft makers, brisket cookers, bakers, organizers, garden specialists; treasure is evident in the donations we receive to adopt-a-family, auction and plants,” Mike said. More help is needed as the Festival continues to grow. Get your family involved with the Festival by becoming the chairperson of a booth run by your family, help with set-up the week before the Festival, volunteer to work at one of the rides, sell your raffle tickets, or even donate a few hours to help with Festival clean up on Sunday or Monday. “Volunteering is such a great way to participate as well as provide the help we need,” Camille said. “Families can work together and parents can teach their children Stewardship.” Come one come all and bring a few friends! All are welcome on April 25-26 at CtR. To get involved, visit festival.ctrcc.com. †
In this Issue
Mass Schedule Saturday, 5:00 p.m.
Letter from your pastor, Fr. Sean Horrigan
Sunday, 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m.
Apply Now for CtR Catholic School
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Blood Drive at CtR – Sunday, April 19 Christ the Redeemer is in its 17th year of partnership with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. More than 1,350 donations have been collected and countless lives saved. More than 170 hospitals and healthcare facilities receive blood components from the Blood Center, several of which are in Cypress.
Preparing for the upper grade levels, Principal Betty Sierra envisions CtR Catholic School becoming a flagship S.T.R.E.A.M. school within the next two years. “The students will learn to reason and think outside of the box through hands-on activities that come from a student-driven environment,” she said.
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
New Executive Director of Cypress Assistance Ministry – Martha Burnes Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM) has welcomed a new executive director, Martha Burnes. She brings a wealth of non-profit and outreach experience to CAM. She worked 20+ years for the United Way among other things. We welcome her to the Cypress community and CtR looks forward to continuing our partnership with CAM. †
We’re growing leaps and bounds! In our upcoming second year we plan to offer Pre-K 3 through 6th grade for families. For students, science and math are educational cornerstones for learning, but Catholic schools are adding an emphasis on religion and arts to broaden the scope of instruction for students. S.T.R.E.A.M. is the Catholic interpretation of the popular scholastic method S.T.E.M., an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. CtR Catholic School is a S.T.R.E.A.M. school, which enables teachers to focus in an interdisciplinary way on S.T.E.M., while incorporating the arts, and allowing religion to flow throughout the daily routine.
For more information on S.T.R.E.A.M. and admissions, visit ctrschool.com. †
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
April 2015
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Your support of our parish blood drives is crucial. You may never know whose lives you may one day save, but they know you through your donation. Give the gift of life by donating from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Sign up on April 11-12 to reserve a time slot. Digital Donors can still register through the Blood Center website. If you need help, contact Marty Weidemann at 832-338-8400 or martyatm93@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are still welcome, but there may be an increased wait time without an appointment. † www.ctrcc.com
Dianna Perham Retires as Coordinator of Parish Life
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Vacation Bible School Conquers Mt. Everest
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Organist Follows in Footsteps of CtR Mentor Friends in Need Cater to Grieving Families Spring Festival Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary in 2015
Easter is Coming
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Let us praise the Lord as Christ our King is almost here. Christ is soon risen, so let us faithfully finish our Lent to prepare our hearts and minds for the Easter celebration. Below is the Holy Week and Easter schedule at CtR.
Holy Week
April 2: Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s Supper) - 7 p.m. April 3: Good Friday (Celebration of the Passion and Veneration of the Cross) - 3 p.m.
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April 3: Tre Ore (Three Hours) – 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. (A time of Scripture readings and reflection in the church) April 4: Holy Saturday (RCIA Preparation Rites) – 9 a.m. April 4: Blessing of Easter foods and baskets – 9:45 a.m.
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April 4: Easter Vigil Mass – 8:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday
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April 5: Easter Sunday Masses 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. in the Church and Parish Hall; 1 p.m. in the Church only
11507 Huffmeister Road Houston, TX 77065 281-469-5533
No 5 p.m. Mass No incense in the Parish Hall.
Let us also celebrate and welcome the 32 newest members of our Catholic Church through the waters of baptism during our Easter Vigil and the 27 people who will make a profession of faith on Divine Mercy Sunday. †
From Your Pastor, Fr. Sean Horrigan Dear friends in Christ,
“Check with Dianna.” “Dianna can help you.” “Let me ask Dianna.” These were common phrases among CtR parishioners and staff in reference to Dianna Perham. Perham, a long-time volunteer and coordinator of Parish Life at CtR, will write the next chapter of her exciting book of life – retirement.
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and His triumph over sin and death. After 40 days of Lent, we now celebrate for 50 days the wonder of the Resurrected Christ!
Not shying away from a challenge, Dave and Dianna poured their hearts into the life of the CtR parish. If a volunteer was needed, Dianna was there. If a donation needed to be made, the Perhams gave an offering. Volunteering so often, Dianna was hired as the Coordinator of Parish Life by Fr. Dominic Peluse, SCJ, and had been rocking it ever since – to say the least. Dianna was in charge of several ministries, including Friends in Need, Piece Makers and Welcoming Committee, and was CtR’s wedding coordinator – something she said she will miss dearly.
“I’m ready to retire, but I’m still not sure what I’m going to do all day,” she laughed.
We are pleased to resume our CtR parish newsletter. In a way, this too is a “rebirth” as some of you will remember past editions. We have “resurrected” the newsletter as one more way to communicate with the people who call CtR home. I’m a big believer that we have to continuously strive to find multiple ways to announce the Good News. It is our hope that this “new” newsletter (which will come to your mailbox four to six times a year) will be a way for you to discover the varied ways God is alive at Christ the Redeemer – and to find your own place in the Church.
Dianna and her husband Dave have been at CtR since the early 80s and see CtR as a child they have seen grow up rather than a building that keeps getting bigger. “My husband and I were on a campaign for every building here,” Perham said. “We’ve thoroughly and absolutely enjoyed it. It’s really something else and we look around and go, ‘Oh my gosh!’ It’s been very nice to see it change. Any of the other ones who started here would say the same thing.”
I want to extend a special invitation to those of you who may be reading this and thinking: “Why is CtR sending me this?” Truth be told, we send it to every registered household (that’s more than 6,100 homes), and even if you haven’t been to the parish in a while, chances are you are still in our database. That’s fine by us and it is our hope that you read something that will spur you to reconnect with the parish. You are always welcome here. If for some reason you’d rather not hear from us, just let us know and we’ll make that correction in our files. You will find news and notes about CtR in each issue and a way to become engaged in the life of the community. Obviously Easter is foremost on our minds at the start of April, and I pray that everyone will join us at some point in this most holy season so that we might more fully celebrate the wonder of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are also in high gear for the 30th anniversary of our Spring Festival, which we’ll celebrate on the last weekend of the month, April 25-26. This is an event not to be missed. It’s by far our most popular parish activity and one that attracts thousands of people from CtR and the greater Cypress community. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us. Your help as a volunteer in a booth or at a game is a great way to get involved in all the fun. Newcomers are especially encouraged to dive right in by helping out. From our new CtR Catholic School (which has had a phenomenal first year), to RCIA (59 new Catholics will join the faith this Easter), to Bible studies, Youth Ministry, St. Anne’s Society (for moms), the Knights of Columbus, and our many liturgical ministries, there is always – always – something happening at Christ the Redeemer. Come discover how you might encounter the Lord anew. Ultimately what we talk about at CtR is living a life as an intentional disciple. It’s one thing to say “I’m Catholic” or “I go to CtR,” but how might we live our faith more intentionally? When we live for Christ with purpose it changes who we are at a fundamental level. That’s why Stewardship is such an integral part of our faith journey. When we see that all that we have and all that we offer (as the old hymn goes) comes from above, then returning our gifts to God is not a burden or obligation. It becomes paramount to our very being and we become more like Christ – His heart, His hands, His love. In the end, isn’t that what it means to be a disciple? We’ll help you discover those many ways to live out intentional discipleship at CtR with every issue of our newsletter. Come and discover the joy of our Catholic faith that awaits. I’ll see ya’ at Mass! Peace,
Fr. Sean Horrigan, pastor at CtR, said Dianna and Dave still have a place among the CtR staff family, and he wants her to be the first person people call when they need help around the office.
Having lived all over the country, Perham was a little less than impressed when she arrived at CtR, but she quickly hit the ground running welcoming people into her home.
“Dianna has been a blessing to our parish for lo these many years,” he said in an email to the staff. “CtR is well known for being a place of warmth and hospitality and a great deal of credit for that goes to Dianna, who has been at the center of so many of our events as a tireless and dedicated worker. She has been the first here and the last to leave so many days and nights. She truly embodies a spirit of Stewardship and all of us have been blessed by her many gifts.”
“During the week, we’d have Mass over at our house,” she said. “I mean think about it - we came from Chicago, from California, Michigan, Illinois and we saw all these magnificent churches. And we came here and thought ‘...What?’ But everyone would come to the house and eat. It’s been a very good journey.”
CtR would like to wish Dianna the best in her retirement and, we hope, some rest and relaxation. †
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The musicians and singers at CtR truly use the Mass as the way they give glory to God through their talents. CtR’s Music Ministry is a challenging and equally rewarding ministry that organist Dorothy VanDine not only is a part of, but wants to pursue as her career choice. VanDine, who is finishing up her undergraduate study at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University majoring in organ performance, is an organ scholar with CtR’s Music Ministry. You can hear her impressive organ skills at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday Masses. “Music was always an integral part of my life,” VanDine said. “I think that using music to enhance the liturgy and bring people together is extremely powerful, and that feeling of ‘togetherness’ has inspired me to continue to study and work in the music ministry.” Originally from Pennsylvania, VanDine began studying piano when she was 5, added cello in elementary school and organ when she was 12. In high school, she decided to seriously pursue music in college. Now at Rice, VanDine said she was blessed to find CtR. “Honestly, I Google searched ‘Catholic Churches in Houston,’” she said. “I was completely new to the area so I researched the music ministries and sent emails to music directors. I was looking for a
position as organist and I hit the jackpot when Bridget emailed me back.” Bridget Wenk, Director of CtR Music Ministries, has been a mentor for VanDine for two years. “Bridget is literally the best,” VanDine said. “She is extremely kind, supportive, knowledgeable and is always willing to help. I have never met a person more willing to pass on her knowledge to others. Organizational skills are a must, and she has conquered them. She really knows how to run a huge program. Every detail is taken care of and everyone is prepared.” Seeing Wenk manage her five ministries with about 150 people in all, VanDine said she is challenged to bring her A-game daily. “It’s not always easy as a college student, but it is definitely worth it,” she said. She encourages the musically inclined to join the Music Ministry. “You will have a blast, I promise,” she said. “Working with Bridget has not only inspired me to be a better musician and music minister, but also a better person. The CtR Music Ministry is a big family, and that is not only rare, but also very important to the church community and music making.” VanDine has applied for several master’s programs for organ performance. For more information on the Music Ministry, visit ctrcc.com/music. †
Vacation Bible School 2015 Conquers Everest
Friends in Need Caters to Grieving Families
Learn to conquer challenges with God’s mighty power! This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is “Everest.” Our Sunday Visitor’s totally-catholic VBS will “anchor kids in rock-solid Bible truths that will guide them through life’s challenges.” VBS is June 22-26. Registration for volunteers opens online on April 1. Registration for parishioners opens online on May 1 and for all others on May 2.
children entering 1st grade through entering 5th grade. The cost is $25, which includes a T-shirt, a snack and Bible buddies for each child.
In 2014, CtR had about 50 funeral services and Masses of Christian Burial. Amid the various resources that go into this - music, liturgy and logistics - the bereaved family can take one important thing off of their list: the reception. The Friends in Need Ministry serves the parish community with food for receptions after funerals at no cost to families. Ministry members greet families when they arrive at funeral receptions, assist them with any physical needs, and provide all the food and décor for receptions.
Director Jill Dimiceli said kids encounter God’s word in surprising and unforgettable ways.
Adult leaders are needed to facilitate activities, decorating, planning and organizing. Teens in 8th grade or older can serve as crew leaders for the children, but must attend required formation training. Make VBS 2015 a family affair and volunteer to participate together!
“Each day we learn one simple Bible teaching – which makes it easy for kids to remember and apply to real life,” she said. “Every station is designed to reinforce the daily Bible point in a hands-on, interactive way that keeps everyone engaged.”
Contact Dimiceli at jdimiceli@ctrcc.com. Also, don’t forget: Religious Education online registration begins April 1 for volunteers and students registered this year (2014-15). Registration will open for all others on May 1. Visit ctrcc.com/re. †
CtR offers two sessions: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. VBS is open to preschool children age 3 (must be potty trained), age 4 and entering Kindergarten, and elementary-age
Fr. Sean
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
Organist Follows in Footsteps of CtR Mentor
Dianna Perham Retires as Coordinator of Parish Life
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
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www.ctrcc.com
Ministry member Linda Ford said families are sincerely appreciative of receptions because it relieves them of at least one stress factor during this tough time. “We provide them a place to enjoy a meal and meet with their family and friends after the funeral,” she said. “An unexpected blessing, we have been told many times, is how they are unaware of what we would do. The grieving families are very grateful.” Geneva Nichols, another volunteer with the ministry, said parishioners in this ministry see it as a way to contribute the time and talents they have been graced with.
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
“Some have become involved because they have witnessed this ministry through their own loss, others just wanted to help to be part of it,” Nicholas said. “It is a voluntary thing. No one feels tied down. If they can’t participate, they let us know and can help next time.” Ford said ministry participants truly see that it is better to serve than to receive. “This is a beautiful ministry,” Ford said. “We’re doing what our Lord put us on this earth to do: love your neighbor as yourself.” To learn how you can help, contact Ford at 281-656-8767 or fordhou61@yahoo.com. †
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