St.
Patrick's P A R I SH m o n t h ly n e w s l e t t e r
Inside This Issue: 3
September: An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World
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6
Basic Questions About Our Stewardship Renewal
The Eucharist and Stewardship as a Way of Life
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Greeter Ministry: Upholding Hospitality as a Pillar of Our Vibrant Faith Community
SEPTEMBER 2021
Meet Parishioner
Colleen Deneen:
Advocating for Life and Sharing Talents with God
P
arishioner Colleen Deneen has always felt convicted to advocate for the lives of the unborn and to value the lives of the elderly, especially in our current culture that disrespects life in its earliest and ultimate moments. “Participating in the Pro-Life Ministry is a calling, an obligation if you will, to work to right a wrong that is the underlying cause of so much destruction in our world,” Colleen says. “We must learn to recognize the blessings of little children and the wisdom and experience of our elderly.” Colleen and her family relocated from San Colleen Deneen’s own Francisco to Grass Valley in 1993 because they faith has grown immensely wanted to raise their youngest daughters in a rural through her work with the setting free from a “big-city influence.” Music Ministry, and she “Since we had decided to send our children to has also grown closer to the Mt. St. Mary Academy, it only made sense that we faith community. would join St. Patrick even though we lived between Grass Valley and Auburn,” Colleen says. “This parish has been our home for 28 years.” Over the years Colleen has engaged in several different parish ministries, but she has been particularly called to the Pro-Life Ministry and Music Ministry. In San Francisco, Colleen and her family were committed to helping continued on page 2
St.
Patrick's P A R I SH Parishioner Colleen Deneen young women in crisis pregnancies. “We provided a home, education, and emotional support to unwed mothers during a very challenging time,” Colleen says. “During those years in San Francisco, five young women lived with us — a benefit not only to them but to our own children who learned the value of helping others.” Having sung in her parish choir as a child, Colleen has an ongoing love of music. During her high school and college years, she helped with annual elementary school musical shows for parents and school communities. “I was particularly drawn to liturgical music, and this love carried over into parish life in San Francisco, where I started a children’s choir and a junior high choir to sing at Mass,” Colleen says. It was a natural transition for Colleen to continue working with the Music Ministry at St. Patrick. “Teaching children to know and understand their faith through liturgical music just made sense,” Colleen says. “How many of us still remember the musical jingles we heard on TV or radio as children?” At St. Patrick, Colleen also had the opportunity to work with our adult choirs when a choir director was needed.
“I have come to know nearly all of our parishioners by name or face over the years. I have shared in their happiness while planning weddings and anniversary celebrations, or their pain and sorrows while planning the funeral of a loved one. I have learned that music is the universal language that speaks to the heart.” — Colleen Deneen 2
continued from front cover
“It was the best of all worlds — continuing my work with the children and teens, as well as working with the adult choirs to continue bringing beautiful music focused on God to our parish community!” Colleen says. Colleen’s own faith has grown immensely through her work with the Music Ministry, and she has also grown closer to the faith community. “I have come to know nearly all of our parishioners by name or face over the years,” Colleen says. “I have shared in their happiness while planning weddings and anniversary celebrations, or their pain and sorrows while planning the funeral of a loved one. I have learned that music is the universal language that speaks to the heart.” New members are always welcome to join any of our parish choirs and share their talents with our faith community while enjoying fellowship on their spiritual journeys. “It’s rewarding to watch Mt. St. Mary children experience the joy of singing in music class or even in the hallways at school,” Colleen says. “I am so thankful that God gifted me with music and so grateful that I’ve been given so many opportunities to offer this gift back to Him in so many ways.”
A L e t t e r F ro m F at h e r
September: An Ongoing Opportunity to Dear Family,
M
Change the World
ost Sundays, the Second Reading is taken from one of the epistles of St. Paul and begins with the words “Brothers and Sisters.” While these words do not precede every single verse in St. Paul’s epistles, they capture the flavor of his writings as an address to the various Christian communities which he wrote and loved. They also encompass his understanding of the relationship of believers as the Body of the Christ, the Church. In his writings, he urges them, and us, to live as what we are — members of Christ’s body and of the family of God. Our parish community is truly a family, a family born out of the Eucharist and made manifest in the way we treat and care for one another. Our spiritual family is not contained to the walls of our churches or even the wider community of Catholics. It extends to every single person, man, woman and child — all of whom are made in the image and likeness of God. This is a foundational principle of human dignity and Catholic Social Teaching. Perhaps, you are familiar with this term — it is often expressed by a commitment to the poor and it lays the framework for the Church’s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. The more we respond to the call to discipleship through the stewardship way of life, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching become more central and are very easily incorporated into our daily lives. Catholic Social Teaching is a relatively young term, but the concept has been around since the first Christian disciples tried to balance the harsh realities of living in ancient Roman culture and the teachings of Christ to love, forgive, and serve. Our blessed Lord
taught His disciples then, as He does now, that caring for the poor is at the core of what we do — “I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty drink; a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35 ff). This is the foundation as we seek to embody mercy and compassion towards our neighbor and should be one of our major goals as a community of faith. We have several ministries in our parish that seek to attend to this call of the Gospel. Additionally, both as a parish and as individuals we support many of the efforts in the wider community to meet the needs of the poor. As we move into fall and then Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have the perfect opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the needs of those around us. The many good works done as a parish and individuals are a source of joy and pride for me and I hope for us all, but we are called to do more. Our Holy Father Pope Francis reminds us, “The measure of the greatness of society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” Together, we must respond to the call of the Lord to serve Him by serving those most in need. Together, we can make a difference. Your Father in Christ,
Fr. Estrella Parochial Administrator
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St.
Patrick's P A R I SH
Basic W
hat is a Stewardship Renewal? This isn’t a parish fundraiser – far from it. Our annual Stewardship Renewal is an opportunity to re-prioritize the way we use God’s gifts in the Church. It is the time we write down how we plan to grow closer to Christ in the coming year with our commitments of time, talent, and treasure. Why should I fill out a commitment card? Your Commitment Card allows you to make commitments to prayer, parish ministries, and offertory giving, or what we at St. Patrick’s call “time, talent, and treasure.” There’s a two-fold reason to complete your card. First, it is an excellent opportunity to move forward spiritually and personally. Second, when you fill out a card, our parish is much better able to manage our many volunteers and make budgeting decisions.
uestions
ABOUT
to our means.” So if you lose your job, you may be unable to give at the level you pledged. Likewise, if you get a promotion, you may be able to give more. That is why at St. Patrick’s Parish, our standard of giving is based upon a percentage of income. What happens if I don’t fill out a commitment card? Returning a card is an important part of being an active member of St. Patrick’s. If for some reason you lose your card, we’ll send you a reminder letter with an extra commitment card. Please make every effort to return it!
How many parish ministries are there at St. Patrick’s? “Ministry” is a general term for any parish group, organization, or regular activity. There are dozens of ministries in our parish. You can sign up for certain ministries, or re-commit yourself if you’re already involved. What if I sign up for a ministry, but later find I’m not very interested? You are not making a solemn promise to participate in a particular ministry when you mark it on your commitment card. If you find that the parish group is different than you thought, or simply that their meeting time doesn’t fit your schedule, you can change your mind. There are plenty of other ministries to consider. I’m hesitant to make a firm financial pledge. What if I lose my job? Your commitment card isn’t a legal contract. If your circumstances change, your gift will change. In Scripture, we are asked to “give according
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Please bring your Commitment Card to Mass on Commitment Weekend, October 2-3. How will you use your time, talent & treasure to grow closer to Christ in the coming year?
OUR STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL Time, Talent and Treasure Stewardship of Time Our definition of Stewardship of Time: Using my time on earth wisely; making time for personal prayer, family prayer, and quality time with friends and loved ones. The bottom line about prayer: Without prayer, we cannot thrive spiritually. As Catholic Christians, it is a necessity to spend time each day speaking to God. This includes reading Scripture and saying prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, but even more importantly, it should include a heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus. He wants us to bring him all our fears, longings, needs, and desires. What kind of Time commitments should I make? Your commitment card lists several suggestions for how to spend time with God in prayer. Review your current prayer life and take a step forward. For instance, start having daily prayers with your children or spouse. Commit to praying the rosary on the way to work or reading scripture before bed each night. Stewardship of Talent Our definition of Stewardship of Talent: Using my God-given abilities to strengthen the Church and help others, especially through parish ministries and activities.
What kind of Talent commitments should I make? If you’re not involved in anything in our parish, now is the perfect opportunity to take a step forward. Check out our commitment card for a list of ministries. If you’re already involved, re-commit yourself to the important work you do. And if you feel God is calling you forward – sign up for something new! Stewardship of Treasure Our definition of Stewardship of Treasure: The wise and just management of my financial resources; giving a proportionate amount of my income to the parish. The bottom line about financial support: We need to take seriously the Biblical concept of the tithe, and start giving based on a percentage of income. It’s our responsibility to support the Church with our personal involvement and our financial support. What kind of Treasure commitments should I make? Our goal at St. Patrick’s is to give five percent of income to the offertory. Grab a calculator and figure out your target gift based on your total household income. Then make a plan for increasing your gift incrementally to reach five percent. During our Stewardship Renewal, choose a weekly or monthly gift to the parish, and be faithful to it for the next year.
The bottom line about parish ministry: No Catholic Christian exists in a vacuum. Scripture makes it clear that we must function within the wider faith community, putting our gifts in the service of others. It’s not enough to go to Sunday Mass; we need to be involved in parish life and ministry.
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St.
Patrick's P A R I SH The Eucharist and Stewardship as a
I
Way of Life
n 1992, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a pastoral letter titled Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. This document was an invitation to follow Christ Who gave of Himself for us. Each of us is called to serve our neighbors and to be stewards of God’s creation and of all that has been entrusted to us. However, to truly understand stewardship, we must look to the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is the total gift of our loving Savior to us. Stewardship is our response to that gift. Even the word “Eucharist” implies stewardship. The word “Eucharist” finds its roots in the Latin word eucharistia, which in turn came from the Greek word eukaristos, which meant, quite simply, “gratitude” or “thanksgiving.” How fitting that we, who are called to be a stewardship people, celebrate at the focal point of every Mass an act of thanksgiving and gratitude — namely, the reception of Jesus’ gift to us — the Eucharist. In their pastoral letter on stewardship, the bishops speak of the Eucharist in this way: “The Eucharist is the great sign and agent of this expansive communion of charity… we enjoy a unique union with Christ and, in Him, with one another. Here His love — indeed, His very Self — flows into us as disciples and, through us and our practice of stewardship to the entire human race.” When we receive Christ’s Body in the Holy Eucharist, we hear the minister say, “The Body of Christ.” To this, we respond, “Amen” – which means in Hebrew, “Yes; it is so.” This is the essence of stewardship. We should enter the Church for Mass out of “gratitude.” We recognize the presence of the Lord in Holy Communion, and then we truly receive the Lord. What is left for us to do is the fulfillment of stewardship — that is, sharing what we have received in love of God and neighbor. Our entire experience speaks to stewardship — we are grateful; we recognize the real presence of the Lord; we receive
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the Lord; and then we share what we have received. Christ’s gift to us through the Eucharist is an invitation to us. We are called to give beyond what is convenient or what may be comfortable. We are called to forgive even when forgiveness may not be deserved; we are called to love even when that love is not returned. We are called to love as God loves us. The Eucharist is stewardship celebrated. The Mass is more than a ritual. It is an actual encounter with God, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We need to respond to the Eucharist with our complete selves. What we experience in the Eucharist should, in turn, translate into our daily lives. We are committed to the Church, which is Christ’s body. We show our love for His body by acts of charity and generosity. We spend time in prayer, expressing our gratitude and our love. God’s greatest gift to us is Christ’s great love for us — this was shown when He was crucified on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us eternal life. God’s love for us is without limit, and He offers Himself to us in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Stewardship is how we respond to that gift.
Greeter Ministry:
Upholding Hospitality as a Pillar of Our Vibrant Faith Community
W
e’ve learned a lot of new ways to do things during the COVID-19 pandemic, from electronic clinic visits to virtual Mass and much more. We’ve also learned that an important part of our faith is celebrating with one another. The Mass is to be experienced in person, alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. So, what could be more important than making sure every single person seated around us knows they are truly welcome in God’s house? Here at St. Patrick's Parish, we are blessed with a dedicated group of greeters who ensure that all who enter our church feel welcome. The greeters are there to open the door, lend a smile or answer a question. Barbara Cross takes care of organizing greeters for the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. With several couples helping, each team greets about once per month. Barbara and her husband, Tom, have served as greeters for about 10 years. They are both active in Grass Valley and at St. Patrick’s and enjoy being involved and making connections with folks. “This ministry has been a real joy for us,” Barbara says. “We can put names with faces. So often, you know faces, but you don’t know their names.” Barbara and Tom know what it’s like to be a new face at a Catholic Church. Barbara grew up in Southern California and the
couple lived on the East Coast for many years. Catholic parishes have always been a place for them to feel welcome and build community. “When we would move, the first thing I would always do is find a church and be a part of that,” Barbara says. “That was a great introduction to the community. It’s been a real strength for me.” Being involved at church has been a real blessing to Barbara throughout her life. “Ministries are a big part of my faith,” she says. “I love doing things to help others, and showing Christ’s love to others. Being involved has certainly strengthened my faith, and I’ve gotten to know so many more
people.” Through the Greeter Ministry, Barbara hopes she can spread the hospitality to guests, and parishioners, both new and old, at St. Patrick’s. “Through this ministry, you get to see people and get to know people that we would not necessarily ever interact with,” Barbara says. Importantly, it has been a way for Barbara and Tom to invite parishioners to get involved in other ministries, especially young couples. And, of course, they just want to be there to uplift people when they enter St. Patrick’s. “People really do open up to you as you start to see them more at Mass,” Barbara says. “It’s fun to watch that transformation.” continued on back cover
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St.
Patrick's P A R I SH 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 (530) 273-2347 stpatrickgrassvalley.org
Greeter Ministry
continued from page 7
As more and more people return to Mass and new faces enter our doors, we want to make sure every single person feels welcomed and loved. The greeters can also help tourists who may have questions. “We want to make sure it’s a good experience coming here,” Barbara says. “We don’t want them feeling like they don’t need to come to Mass. Greeters welcome them at that first step back in the door.” Barbara invites anyone who loves spreading hospitality to get involved as a greeter. “Don’t be afraid of it — give it a try!” Barbara says. “There’s no big time commitment since you are there anyway!”
“We want to make sure it’s a good
experience coming here. We don’t want them feeling like they don’t need to
come to Mass. Greeters welcome them at that first step back in the door.” — Barbara Cross
If you would like to get involved as a greeter, please call the parish office at 530-273-2347.
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)