St.
Patrick P A R I SH m o n t h ly n e w s l e t t e r
JOIN US FOR OUR Inside This Issue: 3
A Letter From Father: What Are You Going to Do With Your Life?
Bereavement Ministry Serves as a Guide for the Grief Journey
Stewardship of Treasure Giving to God First
4 6 7
Meet Parishioner Matthew Vanderpol A Faith Journey That Led Him Home to the Catholic Church
AU G U S T 2 0 2 1
STEWARDSHIP RETREAT An Opportunity to Draw Closer to Christ
T
here are few ways to nurture our faith life in a more meaningful way than by participating in a parish retreat — and this month is the perfect time to do so! Here at St. Patrick, we are blessed to have the opportunity to increase our spiritual awareness with a one-day parish retreat led by the dynamic Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB. By opening our hearts and minds, we can answer the call to deepen our faith. Fr. Godfrey, the current Rector at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, Ind., is looking forward to joining us on Aug. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to share his deep passion for the stewardship way of life. He brings with him a great enthusiasm for the topic in Fr. Godfrey Mullen addition to a wealth of personal experience. “Through the grace of God, I’ve been a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey since 1988 and a priest of the Catholic Church since 1994,” Fr. Godfrey says. “Each assignment I’ve been given by the superior has brought many blessings. I have served the Church as a seminary teacher, pastor, chaplain for a community of Benedictine Sisters, seminary administrator, Choirmaster, and other tasks. I’ve continued on page 2
St.
Patrick P A R I SH STEWARDSHIP RETREAT directed retreats since soon after I was ordained a priest.” Our retreat day will be a unique opportunity for parishioners to come experience a spiritual renewal as they learn more about stewardship and how to grow in our relationship with Christ. The retreat will start with Mass and include talks by Fr. Godfrey, time for personal reflection, brief small group discussions, and time for fellowship during the meals. The theme of stewardship is near and dear to Fr. Godfrey’s heart as it provides us with a valuable guide to life in Christ. “This topic is important because it helps people see their true vocation as Christian disciples,” he says. “In other words, what has Christ asked me to do?" We have all been blessed in so many various ways. The first step is to recognize these blessings. Once we realize how truly blessed we are, the natural response is to show our gratitude. And, the best way to show that we are grateful for a gift, is to use it. In today’s busy world, a parish retreat invites us to step out of our daily routines for a moment and focus on strengthening our relationship with God and, in turn, more fully answering the Gospel call to community and discipleship. “It’s not an easy task to take stock of the most important elements of our lives while we’re in the thick of daily living,” Fr. Godfrey says. “A retreat, at its best, gives us the ‘time away’ — even if it’s in our parish — to examine what is important and how we’re measuring up. Retreats also encourage the important art of listening to God’s grace speak to our hearts. It’s so easy to miss that still, small voice in our otherwise hectic lives. It’s also a wonderful time to connect with other parishioners,
continued from front cover
an act of hospitality in itself so that we become stronger communities of faith.” With the inspiring Fr. Godfrey at the helm, our 2021 parish retreat promises to be an engaging experience for all. We hope that parishioners will plan on taking advantage of this opportunity to experience a deepening of faith by participating in our one-day stewardship retreat on Aug. 28! “More than anything, I appreciate the good work the Holy Spirit chooses to do in the lives of people as a result of drawing near to the quiet voice of God’s grace,” Fr. Godfrey says. “I look forward to getting to know my fellow disciples on the journey.” The retreat is free and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by August 18 so that we can plan accordingly. We hope you can join us!
“It’s not an easy task to take stock of the most important elements of our lives while we’re in the thick of daily living. A retreat, at its best, gives us the ‘time away’ — even if it’s in our parish — to examine what is important and how we’re measuring up. Retreats also encourage that important art of listening to God’s grace speak to our hearts. It’s so easy to miss that still, small voice in our otherwise hectic lives.” — FR. GODFREY MULLEN, OSB
Please plan to join us for our upcoming retreat, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 28! To RSVP, contact Kathy Green, 916-705-1662.For more information, please contact the parish office.
2
A L e t t e r F ro m F at h e r
What Are You Going to Do With Your Life?
Dear Family,
O
ne of the greatest joys I have as parish priest is to celebrate the Baptisms of both adult converts in the great Easter Vigil and of infants. These are both unique and wonderful moments, yet both are also very different from each other. In the Baptism of adults, there is a great sense of rejoicing because they have finally come home — in the Baptism of infants, there is great joy because that infant now shares in the life of grace, is made a child of God and a member of the Church. There is one thing that is common to both, common to us all no matter how recently or long ago we were baptized — we are called to be students of the Lord Jesus, to live as He lived, so that we might share in His Death and Resurrection. This is a lifelong process, a work that God brings to completion day after day, month after month, year after year. God begins the work and we respond to His call, to His love and to His grace, this response is truly what stewardship is — a disciple’s response to the call of God in our lives. Stewardship is not just a response but is the way we live our lives as disciples of the Lord, it is a response that matures into a lifestyle. Over the last month or so, I have had many happy reunions with families that I have not seen in many years, their children are now teenagers and young adults. More than ever, I found myself asking these young people, “what are you doing with yourself these days?” A question asked to find out their plans, hopes, goals and dreams. Let me tell you, the responses were varied! Some were very good and revealed a strong sense of direction and ambition, others not so much. In the course of these conversations, I had a chance to remind them that God has given them certain gifts, certain talents and abilities. I encouraged them to talk God about these things and offer them back to Him so they might be used for the greatest good and God’s glory. That is what stewardship is! Making a return of what God has given us, so that with Him greater
things can do be done. People ask why I am convinced stewardship is so important in our parish life and our lives as individuals, and the answer is easy — stewardship makes sense! As I live each day of my life, stewardship helps me ask, and answer, the important questions. Have I made time for God? Have I used my abilities to serve Him and His people? It helps me remember that all I have God has given me, and increases the desire to give Him all that I am, to live fully as not only His priest, but His son. To be His son or daughter is the greatest gift we have been given — I am thankful that my parents and godparents brought me to the holy waters of Baptism. In the rite of Baptism, when the new life of grace is poured into our souls, we are not asked, “what are you doing with your life?” but we are given a candle. We are told that we have been a new creature, given a new dignity and told to keep the light of Christ alive, with the help of our parents and godparents. In short, we are called to live as disciples of the Lord Jesus. Then, bringing the rite to a close, before the blessing and dismissal, clothed in the white garment, the light of Christ burning before us, we pray “Our Father…” And we begin living life as Christians, and disciples. A great gift is given to us, a gift beyond measure — to call God “our Father,” to live in His love. This gift of relationship and love is why stewardship guides the way I live my life and my vocation — it constantly asks, “what are you doing with your life?” What will you do with yours? Your Father in Christ,
Fr. Estrella Parochial Administrator
3
St.
Patrick P A R I SH
Bereavement Ministry SERVES AS A
A
s Catholics, we are called to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ — and when someone loses a loved one, it’s a time when they need that helping hand the most. St. Patrick’s Bereavement Ministry is a resource for those navigating grief after losing a loved one. By providing emotional support and solidarity, the ministry gives the bereaved a place to process their grief journey. “Each of us grieves differently,” says ministry leader Mark Frederick. “Grief is a journey, in the same way as life. It’s very important that we take our time on that journey — you can’t push somebody into grief, and you also can’t push someone out. Some days are good, and other days are bad. Some people are calm, some are angry, some get emotional. What matters is that you do it in your own time, and not anybody else’s time.” Mark first got involved in bereavement ministry
4
after losing two of his own loved ones. In late 2010, his brother-in-law passed away — 12 days later, he lost his sister to cancer. One day, while driving and listening to Catholic radio, he heard an advertisement for a local bereavement workshop. He called the organizers and shared his experience, and they explained to him that the workshop was intended for those wanting to get involved with helping the bereaved, but that he may also be able to get some help from what he learned. “It was a really good start,” Mark says. “It helped me a lot, and I decided I wanted to start up a bereavement ministry at my own church. I contacted Hospice of the Foothills to see if they could help me get started, and they let me join them for a few of their sessions to get an idea of how it worked. Then I approached our priest at the time and told him what I wanted to do, and he said he had been praying for this, praying for someone to do that.
GUIDE FOR THE GRIEF JOURNEY “I asked two nurses who had dealt with grief to help me out,” he adds. “We started having monthly meetings, and I met individually with people if they wanted to meet more often. We also did things like candle lightings and celebrating All Souls Day. We’re open for anyone experiencing any type of grief — both those who are grieving family and friends and those who have lost beloved pets. I’ve had several people come back and thank me for helping them get through a rough period, and there are people I talk to every few months to see how they are doing. A lot of them have gotten to a place where they don’t need to come to meetings anymore, and they are moving forward and things are going well.” Since everyone’s grief journey is different, the Bereavement Ministry tries to meet everyone at their own pace. Group sessions involve sharing and discussion, but no one is forced to share or participate. Many find that they prefer to listen before speaking, and Bereavement Ministry meetings are a safe place to do just that. Mark regularly attends bereavement workshops to stay up to date, and he works to ensure that people know a variety of different methods of dealing with grief. “There are many different ways that we can approach grief,” he says. “What matters is that we find what works for us so that we can move forward. I had a big oak tree fall in my backyard, and it was completely crushed and falling apart. After I removed all the broken wood and pruned it back, it gave it a chance to start growing into something new. It had a good root structure, and after I pruned and guided its growth for a couple of years, it is now
back in full production and able to prosper. People are like that — we need to be pruned and guided sometimes, and it’s the same for grief. “It’s also important to be aware of yourself and to know what times are more difficult for you than others — if you know that, then you can prepare,” he adds. “For example, if you have difficult evenings, it might be helpful to have a designated person to talk to before you go to bed. Our physical health also impacts our mental and emotional health, so I always want to make sure that people are healthy and taking care of themselves. This involves getting good sleep, good nutrition, making sure they are getting out of the house, taking walks, and exercising. I ask people what their hobbies are, and suggest they start getting involved in those again. I also have several book suggestions that might be able to help people through their pain. It can enrich the mind and provide a different point of view.” As a Catholic, Mark also helps the bereaved to approach their grief through a faith perspective. “There are so many good readings in the Bible for grief, and I recommend a lot from Psalms, Sirach, Wisdom, and Proverbs,” he says. “A lot of the readings involve images of nature, and I find it helpful sometimes to go outside and find something that reminds you of a verse, and to sit and ponder that. I also suggest doing daily Scripture readings and reflections. There are also times where it’s a good idea to just go and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament and just open up and talk to God — to say, ‘This is my problem, Lord, how can you help me?’”
Anyone grieving a loss, or anyone who wants to help the bereaved is welcome to get involved with the Bereavement Ministry. For more information, please contact the parish office at 530-273-2347.
5
St.
Patrick P A R I SH
Giving to God First
STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE
H
ave you ever wondered why no one really becomes uneasy when someone brings up the first two “Ts” of stewardship – giving of your time or talents – but when the third “T” comes up, many of us become uncomfortable? That third “T” is treasure, and some people simply become so annoyed by the subject, they tune out the words from the pulpit. Why is there seemingly such an adverse reaction? Our finances are such a personal subject. Discussing money issues with others is not easy, and having someone tell us what to do with our finances is even worse. We earn the money, after all. So shouldn’t we decide what to do with it? Of course, the answer is “yes” – we decide every day how to spend our hard-earned dollars. Indeed, the monetary choices we make will either keep our finances in check, or put us into the red. The average American family has about $7,000 in credit card debt – so finances certainly represent a challenge to our current society. Tight budgets, trying to “keep up with the Joneses” or poor financial management may be to
blame for our tight resources. Does this mean we do not have anything left over for God? Stewardship, at its roots, teaches that we are not supposed to give God our “leftovers.” We should instead strive to return to God a portion of our “first fruits” – giving to God first and then using the rest for our other needs. God gave us our talents that help us earn a living, after all. He should come first. This idea can be worrisome for many. If our finances are already strained, how will we ever find enough to give back to God? Or, if we do try to give God our “first fruits,” will there be enough left over to cover our required expenses? Taking the correct financial steps toward good stewardship simply boils down to trust – believing that God, who takes care of all of His creation, will take care of us. Trust that in giving to God first, we are both acknowledging that our multitude of blessings come from Him, and that we are thankful He chose to give them to us. And finally, trust that if we give to Him first, that all else will fall into place – because He is in ultimate control.
Stewardship, at its roots, teaches that we are not supposed to give God our “leftovers.” We should instead strive to return to God a portion of our “first fruits” – giving to God first and then using the rest for our other needs.
6
Meet Parishioner Matthew Vanderpol A Faith Journey That Led Him Home to the Catholic Church
T
here is a real beauty to being raised in the Catholic Church from childhood and continuing to practice the faith in adulthood. But there is also a beauty in finding the Catholic faith as an adult and participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process, or RCIA. The latter is how Matthew Vanderpol entered into the Catholic faith. Through a series of small promptings, he is now a full member of the Catholic Church, having received First Eucharist and Confirmation this past Easter. Matthew’s wife, Amber, became Catholic in 2007. The couple has six children, all of whom have been raised in the Church. Matthew has consistently attended Mass for many years. He knew, at some point, he might feel the call to become Catholic. Over time, he says, that call gradually became louder. “Going to Mass as a family gradually changed from something that I had to do out of obligation to my family and simply became something that we did,” Matthew says. “It was a part of our identity.” Last fall, Matthew attended an RCIA information night and decided to give it a try. A video series called The Search, from the Augustine Institute, helped Matthew explore and answer questions he never realized he had. He also credits Fr. Alexander Estrella and Fr. German Ramos for helping lead him in the faith. Matthew has been a member of the St. Joseph Men’s Guild at St. Canice for a few years and vice president for the last two and a half years. He grew up in a family with no consistent faith life. As a child, Matthew periodically attended Lutheran services and was baptized Presbyterian. “As an adult, I started to meet people who I admired who were religious and that made me
continued on back cover
Matthew Vanderpol
Matthew Vanderpol with his wife, Amber, and their family
7
St.
Patrick P A R I SH 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 (530) 273-2347 stpatrickgrassvalley.org
Meet Parishioner Matthew Vanderpol start to think more about religion,” he says. All of this background led Matthew to where he is today. He is happily practicing our faith as a confirmed Catholic. The RCIA process really helped Matthew to learn so much about the Catholic faith. He was surprised, though, how much he knew already from attending Mass all these years. He wasn’t sure if he would be ready to receive the sacraments at the 2021 Easter Vigil. But the answer became quite clear a few weeks before Easter when Deacon Rick Soria asked if anyone had any more questions about the Catholic faith. No one spoke, so he jokingly said, “Two thousand
continued from page 7
years of Church teaching and you don’t have any questions? You know everything?” Matthew spoke up and said, “For me, it’s not that I know everything, it’s more that I know enough to take the next step.” This is when Matthew knew he was ready. Having gone through the process himself, he would encourage anyone exploring the faith to enroll in RCIA. “Think about why you want to convert, what questions you have and what might be holding you back,” he says. “Seek out answers to the questions and pray about the things holding you back.”
If you are interested in learning more about the RCIA process, or would like to enroll, please contact Traci Jagger at 530-575-0176 or rcia@stpatrickgrassvalley.org.
MASS SCHEDULE Monday-Saturday: Daily Mass at 8:30 a.m. | Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 p.m. | Sunday Mass: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish)