august 2021
Our Lady of the
Assumption Pa r i sh
New Pastoral Plan Nears Completion Inside
Fostering Stewardship and Participating in the Life of Our Parish
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he Strategic Planning Committee for Our Lady of the Assumption 2 Formation has been working around the safety Transformed restrictions required by the COVID-19 Through Christ pandemic but anticipates having a draft of the 2021-2026 Pastoral Plan set before 3 W hat Are You Going to us this month. The plan will address Do With Your Life? all areas of parish life, from increasing parish membership and addressing the 4 Our Upcoming Parish needs of youth, to improving the physical plant and strengthening finances, among other goals. Juan Yniguez has been chairing the Strategic Planning Committee, with input from the Retreat an Opportunity Pastoral and Finance Councils, as well as from parish staff. He has drawn from his experi to Grow in ence preparing the previous Pastoral Plan written in 2018. Juan has again brought together Understanding of committee members who are involved in our church and have a good working knowledge Stewardship of the parish. As the committee has been working to develop the plan, they have drawn from the re6 The Blessings of the sults of the Stewardship Committee survey taken earlier this year. When the 2018-21 plan Catholic Mass was being developed, a parish assembly was held to gather comments. This time around, the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled the committee to develop a first draft before 7 Faith Formation: sharing it with the parish for critical comment. Passing on the Blessings Input from parishioners is an important part of developing the Pastoral Plan. and Gifts of Faith “Fr. Eduino is very, very big on including parishioners in anything we do,” says Carto Our Youth my Baca, chair of the Pastoral Council. “We want to make sure that we have input and decide what we can do from there.” Juan thus far has provided progress reports to Fr. Eduino and the Pastoral 5057 Cottage Way Council via zoom. He intends to do the same shortly with the Finance Council. Carmichael, CA 95608 Once it is safe, he will work with Father and the Pastoral Council to convene a Parish Assembly. (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net continued on page 5
FORMATION
Transformed Through Christ “Jesus not only calls people to him but also forms them and sends them out in his service.” From Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response
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his month, we are emphasizing the third pillar of parish stewardship — formation. Formation is the process of studying Christ’s teachings and incorporating them deeply into our lives. It is a lifelong effort by which we “put on Christ” (Rom 13:14) and are “transformed by the renewal of our minds” (Rom 12:2). Above all, our formation should include studying Scripture and Church teaching. It should also include discussion with other Catholics and honest self-assessment. Its goal is to “discern the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2). Because formation helps us understand God’s will, it therefore leads naturally to good stewardship. When our minds are transformed through Christ, we become like Him — as Christ gave His life for us, so we give our lives to others. Formation is not just an individual task. Instead, it is a communal responsibility that, when applied, will further help us to grow as a stewardship parish. Each one of us has an inherent need to give — to move from “selfishness to selflessness,” as the Diocese of Wichita’s document The Pillars of Parish Stewardship aptly states.
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Formation is a process of spiritual growth, and it leads to a deeper understanding of loving others as God loves us. Naturally, then, our Catholic formation should not end upon celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation or when turning 18 years old. Formation is a formidable task that we as Catholics should participate in for the duration of our lives. It involves “education of the mind and conversion of the heart” (The Pillars of Parish Stewardship), and helps us to lead the stewardship way of life rather than just understand it. Why not make formation a part of your renewal to Christ? Start by reading 10 minutes of Sacred Scripture a day, or by studying a chapter of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on a daily basis. Read a biography of your favorite saint for an example of an individual who lived as a disciple of Christ, and use this person as a role model when tending to your daily tasks. Keep an eye on our weekly parish bulletin for faith formation opportunities at the parish. Before long, your commitment to formation will lead you to naturally live the Catholic faith and understand stewardship in ways that you never imagined before.
A Letter from Our Pastor
What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? Dear Parishioners,
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e are called to be the disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is our calling — stewardship is the way we are to live the life we have been given. I don’t think we believers would or should argue the point. It begins with our Baptism and our new life as members of the Church. There are no questions about it, even though we may not always remember that we have been called to discipleship — it is a lifelong process, and we are all works in progress. But please remember, we are God’s “works” that evolve moment by moment, day by day, and year after year. To get more specific, we need to not only understand that stewardship is the expression of discipleship, but it is also the way in which we are to live our life. It is not a program — it is a way of life. I suppose at least once in our lifetime, we have been asked, “What are you going to do with your life?” Usually, that will happen at graduation, and how many of us have followed the path we thought we would at that time in our life? Perhaps we replied with a certain profession that may have interested us at the time. But there is always more to our answer than the title of a profession, just as there is more to our lives than just breathing. How do we use the gifts God has given to us? How we do so will define the life we live for God and the Church. That is our call to discipleship. It is how we should understand stewardship. Many people ask me why I am so convinced that stewardship is a way of life. The simple answer I give is always the easy one and the most practical. My life as a faithful steward makes sense. The story of Christianity is filled with people like you and me who wonder and desire how to live as a disciple of
Jesus Christ. It is what we are to do with our lives. Our attitude must be formed to spend the time and the talents we have, to do our part for God’s Church. When does that become our priority? When does it become our way of life? These are the questions any believer must ask themselves when we think about our relationship with God, His Church, and the people around us. But, throughout my time in life as a priest, stewardship as my way of life makes sense and is more than possible with what God has given me to work with. It is the same with each of us. I am grateful for what God has given me and thankful I can live my life as His disciple. I say that not just as a priest, but as a baptized member of His family. I am thankful my parents brought me to be baptized a Christian and begin a life that would lead me, like all of us, to be the disciple we are called to be. When we were baptized, no one asked us, “What are you going to do with your life?” If my parents and Godparents understood why we were all there, it should have been clear that we are all to be faithful stewards of all that God provides, beginning with the gift of life. That is why stewardship as a way of life is in my mind, heart, and soul. That, too, was a gift from God for which I am most grateful. This is my calling, and “this” is what I am going to do with the rest of my life. What will you do with yours? Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Eduino Silveira Pastor
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OUR UPCOMING PARISH
an Opportunity
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e set aside time for the things that matter to us. “If we’re not intentional, life will quickly pass us by and what Whether it’s keeping up with our children’s ac- God can do through us will be greatly diminished.” tivities or scheduling a vacation, we plan ahead. Similarly, This August, consider making the time to recenter we can plan and intentionally set aside time for God. on Christ and on giving back to Him and the faith “We have to be intentional about our time, talent, and community by attending a one-day retreat at Our Lady treasure because there’s no other way,” says Fr. Brian O’Brien. of the Assumption. The retreat will be facilitated by Fr. Brian O’Brien, Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Stillwater, Okla. Fr. O’Brien grew up in Stockton, Calif., and then moved to Houston, Texas, when he was 7 years old. He has been a priest since 2007 and is a big fan of both sports and retreats. “I played a lot of sports as a kid and now watch them for fun, so it’s great being in a college town like Stillwater,” Fr. O’Brien says. “I’ve been on many good retreats over the years both personal and communal. One of the best retreats I ever did was with the Carmelite Sisters in Alhambra, Calif.” Our retreat will take place at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish on Aug. 28.
“A stewardship way of life is not easy. It requires sacrif ice. I hope that those who come will be inspired by the lives of the saints, including a few they may never have heard of.” — FR. BRIAN O’BRIEN
Fr. Brian O’Brien preaching at Easter Mass, 2021
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RETREAT
to Grow in Understanding of Stewardship “The theme for the retreat is ‘Stewardship and the spired by the lives of the saints, including a few they may Saints,’” Fr. O’Brien says. “We’ll take an in-depth look never have heard of.” at the great heroes of our faith and how they show us Mark your calendars and plan on spending a little what a stewardship way of life looks like.” time recentering yourself on Christ with our like-mindCommunity members who participate in the retreat ed faith community members. will come away with an increased understanding of “I love Jesus, I love His people, I love stewardship, and I stewardship and inspiration from the saints. love parishes,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Put all that together and I’m “A stewardship way of life is not easy,” Fr. O’Brien says. excited to be with the people of OLA for the day. I really hope “It requires sacrifice. I hope that those who come will be in- a lot of people come to be part of this.”
If you would like more information about the upcoming retreat at Our Lady of the Assumption, please contact the parish office at 916-481-5115, or to RSVP, email worship@olaparish.net.
New Pastoral Plan
continued from front cover
As the committee has been working on the plan, how it addresses parish life is a priority for discussion. The survey showed that meeting the needs of younger parishioners is important. “In 2018 and in this cycle, one of the things we need is to find ways to interact better with more young people and young adults,” Juan says. “This is an issue for all churches, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Working with youth is very important. Discipleship creation is very important.” Joe Selewicz, Chair of the Finance Council, notes that the parish is fortunate to have an excellent parish school with an enrollment of 300 on the campus, with opportunities there to involve youth in the parish. Juan also wants to find ways through the plan to provide more financial support for the parish. The concept of stewardship has been woven throughout the discussions on the new Pastoral Plan. “We all are about commitment to help each other,” Carmy says. “We all are living it or we wouldn’t be doing this.”
“Under the Pastoral Plan, stewardship is being written into the goals and objectives,” Juan says. “Through the work of the Stewardship Committee, the parish is striving to better understand what stewardship is all about. In the coming weeks, this will be looked at further. Father has always been very good about stewardship, and I agree — stewardship permeates all of what we do in the parish. But it involves other issues, such as, do we pray with our family? It’s not just about money.” The parish budget naturally figures in the Pastoral Plan. The Strategic Planning Committee is committed to studying the work of the Finance Council to determine how the budget will impact what the Pastoral Plan covers. At this point, there appear to be no large differences between what the budget includes and the recommendations in the Pastoral Plan. Juan adds: “We’re fortunate the various advisory committees stay in touch, and we avoid big surprises.”
Please refer to the weekly bulletin for information on when the Pastoral Plan will be presented.
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The Blessings of the
Catholic Mass I
t is ironic that today, with all of the freedom of religion that we enjoy in the United States, many of us wonder why we must go to Mass on Sunday. However, if we really understood what the Mass is and how we participate in the celebration, we would instead be asking why we are, as sinful human beings, blessed with the opportunity to participate in the holy Mass. If we simply understood and recognized that God’s infinite goodness allows us to do so, we would be eager to go to Mass on Sunday and every other day of the week. It is true, however, that all Catholics are obliged to “Keep holy the Lord’s Day” by sharing in the Mass. But why are we obliged? The Eucharistic Liturgy is the center of our faith. It is “the summit toward which all activity of the Church is directed” and it is “the font from which all her power flows” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy 10). It does not exhaust the activity of the Church but is most certainly her greatest work. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is literally re-presented to the Father during Mass, and Christ allows us to join with Him in offering that sacrifice. Imagine our Lord and Savior dying on the cross for us right up the street. Imagine knowing that Mary is sitting at the foot of the cross with St. John, witnessing her Son giving Himself to the Father for the sake of all of us. Would we not run to be there? Would we not desire to share in His sacrifice, just as Mary did? Believe it or not, the sacrifice of Calvary is really, truly happening at our parish, every time the Mass is offered.
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Our participation in Mass gives us the strength and the graces we need to live our lives as Christ’s disciples. So, what does this mean for us? This means we have a front-row seat to the sacrifice of Calvary. Given such a gift, how can we not accept it? We also have a chance to join in Jesus’ sacrifice by offering our own prayers and petitions. As an example, what better gift could we give deceased loved ones than the offering of prayers for their souls in purgatory? Most importantly, we have the opportunity to receive the Eucharist, followed by quiet time, when we offer sincere thanks and allow God’s graces to fill us. Think of all you are missing when you do not properly prepare yourself to receive the Holy Eucharist. We ought to joyfully head to Church each Sunday, eager to give God glory in the greatest way we can! Attending and actively participating in Mass every Sunday is our obligation as Catholics. But we should not allow the fact that our attendance is “required” to stop us from going. Nor should we allow our laziness to overshadow the amazing privilege and the many blessings that lay before us in the Mass. The pope and the bishops direct us to participate in the Eucharistic Liturgy every Sunday because they know there is no better way to keep holy the Lord’s day — giving God thanks for all He has done for us in the most powerful way possible. They know that, through the Mass, we gain the graces necessary to live our lives in this world. Our ability to participate in the Mass is a wonderful gift, not a great burden. May Christ enlighten our minds and hearts to clearly see the wonders of the celebration, and give us great enthusiasm and eagerness to participate.
F aith F ormation :
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Passing on the Blessings and Gifts of Faith to Our Youth
he family is the first place children learn the faith. This is why the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls the family the “domestic church” (11). In turn, the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops lays out a number of ways to build a “domestic church,” like always attending Sunday Mass, praying a Rosary as a family, and inviting priests, deacons and sisters into your home, to name a few. Our parish Faith Formation program seeks to also teach children the faith, outside the home. “Parents nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of lived faith,” says Faith Formation Coordinator Joan Cotton. “Family provides a positive and receptive environment. We, as catechists, are there to enhance and encourage students to live by example and to follow the path God has laid out.” Joan has been working in her role at Our Lady of the Assumption for nine years. She is thankful to the eight catechists who help share the faith with the youth of our parish. “Among us, we have approximately 85 years of passing on what we have learned from those catechists that share their faith with us,” Joan says. “We have been so blessed.” Faith Formation classes are held on Sundays, beginning with 9 a.m. Mass for students and parents. For the 2021-2022 school year, kindergarten to eighth-grade classes will be in-person from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Joan and all the catechists look forward to a more normal year, after disruptions to last year’s program caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, they look forward to having the students back to being with their friends for in-person learning.
Joan Cotton, Faith Formation director, along with catechists Rachel Wann and Tracy Urban helping sign up students for Faith Formation classes after Sunday Mass.
Dale Stratford and Rose Ross have served as catechists for 5 and 15 years, respectively. Dale enjoys sharing the Catholic faith with the students. Rose teaches the second-grade class and enjoys helping students prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion. “Seeing 7 and 8-year-olds come away from the confessional after their First Reconciliation just bubbling with excitement and pure joy is heartwarming,” Rose says.
continued on back cover
“Parents nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of lived faith. Family provides a positive and receptive environment. We, as catechists, are there to enhance and encourage students to live by example and to follow the path God has laid out.” — JOAN COTTON, FAITH FORMATION COORDINATOR
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5057 Cottage Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net MASS TIMES: 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass Monday-Friday and first Saturday located inside of the church Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass Sunday Mass 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. *See website for diocesan and county guidelines.
Faith Formation
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Besides the weekly classes, students also participate in various ministries of the Mass, depending on COVID-19 restrictions. The first to fifth-grade students act out the Gospel for Christmas Eve Mass and eighth-grade Confirmation students act out the Stations of the Cross during Lent. All the catechists try to find new and interesting ways to keep all the students engaged in learning about their faith, as each student learns in a different way. In order to teach something, it must be really understood. Dale and Rose find that to be true. Teaching has really helped them grow in faith and understanding. “Teaching second grade humbles me,” Rose says. “I often feel inadequate to have the responsibility of helping parents
teach their children about our Catholic faith. Learning and growing in our faith and in our relationship with God is a lifelong process. My second-graders are constantly challenging me to look deeper into my faith.” Joan is really thankful for the opportunity to work with children and youth to help them grow in faith. She believes it’s important to use the gifts she has been given to spread the Good News. “Sharing the many ways that God shows His love for us must be enforced each Sunday we are blessed to have our students with us,” Joan says. “No matter what life brings, no matter what challenges come to us, it is our responsibility as a child of God to share all the love God has given to the children He has sent to me.”
Catechists are needed for the upcoming year. Interested parishioners and older teens may contact Joan Cotton at faithformation@olaparish.net or 916-849-2282 to get involved. To register a child, complete the 2021-2022 Faith Formation Registration form and turn it into the parish office. The child’s baptismal certificate must be on file.