Saint Francis F rancis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH
Contents: 2 Examining Our New Year’s Resolutions Through the Lens of Stewardship
3 Excited for New
Opportunities in 2021
4 Our Lector Ministry:
Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart
6 The Patron of Catholic Schools in America St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
7 Our Parish Library
Provides a Host of Opportunities to Delve into the Riches of Our Faith
Join Us For Our Upcoming Lenten Parish Mission An Opportunity to Grow and Renew Our Faith
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t can be all too easy to get caught up in a routine of attending Sunday Mass, praying before meals and in the evening, with our minds otherwise on work or other obligations. Most of us are busy every day of the week — so leaving home for a retreat, whether just for a weekend or an entire week, is not plausible. But a parish mission can help us break the routine and learn more about our faith, all without having to even leave town! This year’s Lenten Parish Mission will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, 15, and 16 in the nave. We are blessed to welcome Fr. John Lanzrath of the Diocese of Wichita, who will be leading a presentation on the topic of “Encountering the Lord in the Season of Lent.” Fr. John is a renowned speaker and Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in El Dorado, Kan. “A Lenten mission is an opportunity to focus one’s continued on page 5
JANUARY 2021
We are blessed to welcome Fr. John Lanzrath of the Diocese of Wichita, who will be leading a presentation on the topic of “Encountering the Lord in the Season of Lent.” Fr. John is a renowned speaker and stewardship expert, and is Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in El Dorado, Kan.
Saint
Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH
Examining Our New Year’s Resolutions Through the Lens of Stewardship
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very January, we all step forward into the New Year with new ideas, goals, and resolutions. But after the initial sparkle of the New Year has faded, it can be easy to forget our once-fervent resolutions. However, we might find that it’s a bit easier to keep our New Year’s resolutions if we look a bit beyond our physical selves. By also involving our spiritual lives, as well as the lives of others, we can add a lot more meaning to our resolutions. Renowned Catholic author Matthew Kelly says, “We’re all trying to be better versions of ourselves,” and that’s basically what any resolution is about. Stewardship is essentially the same thing — if we embrace living a stewardship way of life, we become better versions of ourselves. We can use our time and talent to make improvements in our lives, in the lives of others, and the life of the parish. It all comes down to one basic point — if we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, then we are supposed to be good stewards of those gifts, use them for the benefit of others, and return our talents tenfold to the Lord.
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One idea to help incorporate stewardship into your New Year’s resolutions is to make two distinct resolutions each year — one at the beginning of the liturgical year, and one at the beginning of the calendar year. We can think of the first Sunday of Advent as the Church
It all comes down to one basic point — if we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, then we are supposed to be good stewards of those gifts, use them for the benefit of others, and return our talents tenfold to the Lord. New Year, and we can make our own spiritual resolutions at this special time each year. Then, for the new calendar year, we can make resolutions for our health and well-being. In both cases, we can commit to these promises much in the same way we make our commitments during our annual Stewardship Renewal. We can make these resolutions, write them down, and share them with someone. Once you’ve
written it down and shared it, you are now holding yourself accountable. We are both physical and spiritual beings. Taking care of the physical side of things is a good start, but if we ignore the spiritual side, what kind of progress are we truly making? Even if you already regularly pray, you can add five more minutes to your prayer time each day to take a step forward in your faith. Even if you read the Bible once a week, you can take a spiritual leap and make it twice a week. One way to make a good resolution is to consider joining or increasing your involvement in one of the parish’s prayer, faith formation, or outreach ministries. Making resolutions requires us to truly reflect on the areas in our lives that we’d like to improve, while also ensuring that our priorities are in order. Remember, there is no need to take a giant leap all at once. So, as we begin a new calendar year, remember that even the smallest steps forward in faith can go a long, long way as you continuously renew your relationship with Christ.
A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR
Excited for New Opportunities in 2021 Dear Parishioners,
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blessed and happy 2021 to you all! The first part of 2021 is going to look a lot like much of 2020, but Jesus is Lord, and we must continue in the great work of growing in holiness and evangelizing the world for Christ and His Church. Our life of stewardship continues as well, and I’m so pleased to share with you two wonderful ministries and an important event coming up in the life of our parish. The season of Lent is not far away, and as a time of conversion, we will be hosting a Lenten parish mission once again this year. It is a great blessing for us to welcome Fr. John Lanzrath from the Diocese of Wichita. A seasoned pastor and sought after speaker, Fr. Lanzrath does one parish mission a year, and he chose us! We will hold our Lenten Parish Mission from Feb. 14 to 16, beginning at 7 p.m. each night. These are the three days leading up to Ash Wednesday, so it is a perfect time to come and be challenged to be a better Christian. Mark your calendars! The Lector Ministry led by CC Crane is a great gift to our parish. With a church building the size of ours, proclaiming God’s word is not
easy. Our lectors are well trained and take very seriously their duty to speak God’s word to His people. If you’re interested in being a lector in English or Spanish, we’d love to have you. There are opportunities at daily Masses, Sunday Masses, and Holy Days. In addition to the Lenten mission and our lectors, I want to highlight our parish library. Located in the bridal room/parlor between the narthex and the parish hall, our parish library has over 500 titles of good Catholic books. Led by Brennan Lacy, the library is available to anyone who comes to our church. There are books for kids and adults covering a wide variety of theological topics. There are books for beginners and the more advanced theological mind. I hope you’ll stop by the library and always have a good spiritual book by your side. Have a great January! In Christ,
Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
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Our Lector
Proclaiming God’s W
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hen our parish lectors proclaim the Sacred Scriptures, they read from their hearts — out of love for Our Lord, and in awe of His Word. “The lector needs to diminish so that the Word of God may increase,” says CC Crane, who coordinates the Lector Ministry at our parish. “They are encouraged to proclaim it in a way so that message can resonate with our parishioners. They are asked to proclaim God’s Word, not just read the words on the page. We want people to hear it the way it was intended to be heard. We want the hearer to be moved and changed by what we read.” Lectors assist during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass by proclaiming the readings of the Old and New Testaments in a meaningful way. They carefully review the Scripture passages and practice reading them aloud before reading them at church. Lectors usually read during the
More volunteers are welcome to serve as lectors. For further information, please contact the parish office at 405-372-6886.
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daily and weekend Masses. “The Lector Ministry is truly important,” CC says. “We ask our lectors to take this ministry very seriously, and they do. We have such excellent lectors at our parish.” Lectors are asked to prepare well ahead of time, for the good of all involved. Ultimately, the Lector Ministry is a crucial tool of evangelization within the walls of our parish home, enriching the spiritual lives of its volunteers as well as its beneficiaries. “We ask them to reflect on the readings so that they understand what they are reading,” CC says. “The Scriptures we read as lectors could be the only Scriptures that someone hears in a week or even a year.” Through this ministry, lectors build up their relationship with Christ, the Eternal Word. New lectors are required to undergo parish training soon after they sign up. The lectors are also guided on how to use appropriate resources, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops audio and printed versions of upcoming readings. They are also given lector
workbooks and other tools to prepare themselves to present God’s Word in an accurate, inspiring way. Lectors who read at our 1 p.m. Spanish Mass are organized by Argelia Najera, who generously devotes herself to making sure the lectors have a great experience with their ministry. “On the Monday before they read, I send each lector a picture of the upcoming Mass readings so that they can pray about the readings and work on them all week,” Argelia says. “We also ask our lectors to dress respectfully and bow before they read. I try to talk everything over with them on Sunday morning and remind them of what they need to do.”
Ministry:
Word from the Heart Overall, those who serve as lectors find that it deepens their union with our parish family in a unique way. “It helps us be more involved, and take more ownership in our parish community,” Argelia says. “The church needs people to participate! The more participation there is, the stronger and more dynamic the parish will be.” Furthermore, it also allows them to more profoundly embrace the stewardship way of life. “The greater the stewardship of your time, talent, and treasure, the greater your sense of purpose will be,” Argelia says. “The parish is your family, and whatever you invest in your family will bear fruit. The more you volunteer, the more you will form a personal connection with your fellow parishioners. The beauty of God’s Word is that it crosses all languages and cultures. It is the same in English as in Spanish.”
Parish Mission
“The greater the stewardship of your time, talent and treasure, the greater your sense of purpose will be. The parish is your family, and whatever you invest in your family will bear fruit. The more you volunteer, the more you will form a personal connection with your fellow parishioners. The beauty of God’s Word is that it crosses all languages and cultures. It is the same in English as in Spanish.” — Argelia Najera
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spiritual life heading into a holy season,” says Fr. Brian O’Brien. “If one enters into it with an open heart, God can do amazing things.” Each year since we have been in the new church, we’ve had a mission. We also have a summer parish mission in Spanish. All of our parish missions, including this one, can strengthen your spiritual life. “This will be a great way to get you ready for Lent and Easter,” Fr. O’Brien says. Fr. O’Brien says anyone should feel welcome to
attend the Lenten Parish Mission — parishioners are invited to attend all three days, but if you only have time to attend one of the evening presentations, you are welcome to just attend that evening. Please reach out and invite friends and family — after all, we can use this parish mission as an opportunity to evangelize. “We want everyone in Payne County to encounter Jesus Christ,” Fr. O’Brien says. “The theme of this mission goes right along with that.”
Please join us for the upcoming parish mission at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, 15 and 16 in the nave. For more information, please call the parish office. 5
Saint
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The Patron of Catholic Schools in America St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
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s the first American-born canonized saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton’s entrance into history was guided by Divine Providence. Born on Aug. 28, 1774, just months after the Boston Tea Party, Elizabeth’s childhood witnessed pivotal events in the formation of our country — the Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence, and the American Revolution. At the time of the foundation of the new Republic, in a society predominately hostile toward Catholicism, a flower blossomed that would forever change the shape of education in the United States. Elizabeth Seton was born into a wealthy Protestant family in New York City. Her life, although materially blessed, was not without suffering. Elizabeth’s biological mother died when she was only 3, and her younger sister, Catherine Josephine, died at the age of 2. A spark of faith, however, was visible even in her early childhood. When questioned about her sadness concerning her sister’s death, Elizabeth simply responded, “Kitty is gone up to heaven. I wish I could go there too.” Elizabeth grew into a beautiful woman, courted lavishly by handsome young men from prominent New York families. At the age of 19, she met a charming New York financier, William Seton, and the couple was wed in 1794. They remained in high society until her father-in-law’s passing, which left them to care for William’s seven younger siblings, along with three children of their own. Consequently, the Seton finances crashed. The couple traveled to Italy — it was here that William’s health failed him, and he died in December 1803. Providentially, Elizabeth was left in the company of a strong Catholic family where she witnessed the practice of the faith. In a letter to her sister, Elizabeth wrote, “My sister dear, 6
how happy would we be, if we believed what these dear souls believe, that they possess God in the Sacrament, and that He remains in their churches...” After an eight-month stay, Elizabeth returned to America, and she began to investigate Catholicism more deeply. She was besought by Protestant friends who hoped to dissuade her. At this time, Elizabeth prayed repeatedly, “If I am right, Thy grace impart, still in the right to stay. If I am wrong, oh teach my heart to find the better way.” In 1805, after much interior struggle, Elizabeth became Catholic. Abandoned entirely by her family and friends, she resolved her financial difficulties through teaching. In 1807, Elizabeth was invited to establish a Catholic school for girls in Baltimore. The task was daunting, and Elizabeth labored intensely, explaining how “from half past five in the morning until nine at night, every moment is full — no space even to be troubled.” After winters spent in continual hardship and sacrifice, the school flourished and, within years, Mother Seton planted the seed from which sprang the parochial school system — along with hospitals and orphanages. Before her death in January 1821, she was the active mother of five — although two of her daughters died young — and the spiritual mother of a full-fledged religious congregation known as the Sisters of Charity. She was canonized in 1975, and her feast day is celebrated on Jan. 4. Thanks to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Catholic parochial school system remains vibrant and active. And as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we are thankful for the sacrifice of this loving wife, devoted mother, foundress and allAmerican saint.
Our Parish Library Provides a Host of Opportunities to Delve into
the Riches of Our Faith
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s Catholics, we can look toward a great many writers who share our tradition. From prolific saints to current theologians and even everyday people — we’ve inherited a wealth of resources from those who have taken the time to share their journey with God, and reflections on the doctrines of our faith, through the written word. Here at St. Francis Xavier, we hope to make some of these texts, and other resources, available to our parishioners, aiding them in their understanding of the faith and spirituality, while also empowering them to share the beauty of these truths with others. “We are trying to evangelize Payne County,” says Fr. Brian O’Brien. “To do that, we need to know our faith well. Anyone who
engages with the library has a wealth of resources to grow in their faith.” Our library offers a wide variety of published resources, giving parishioners access to over 500 high-quality theological and spiritual books. From children to adults, or from lifelong Catholics to those who are curious about the faith, our library has something for everyone. “The books are theological in nature and are good for newcomers to the faith and lifelong Catholics,” Fr. O’Brien says. “There are books on saints, liturgy, Church history, family life, and more. “I’ve seen other parishes with libraries, but they are usually a bunch of books nobody wants,” he adds. “I wanted this library to have the best of Catholic theology. Every book in there
is valuable. At any given time, about 150 books are checked out. It’s making a difference in the parish.” As we seek to share our faith with others in our community, the Parish Library can be an invaluable tool, for as the saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” For those struggling to be open about their faith, reading a book can lead to greater understanding and confidence in what we believe and why it’s worth sharing with the whole world. “After we’ve encountered Jesus, we then need to grow with Him,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Reading is a way we can grow. “The Catholic faith is inexhaustible,” he adds. “Any adult who’s not reading about their faith is falling short of what’s possible. I recommend everyone always be reading or continued on back cover
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Saint
Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 711 N. Country Club Rd • Stillwater, OK 74075 Web: www.SFXStillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6886
Parish Library
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listening to a book about their Catholic faith.” Volunteers are also needed to help keep the library organized and up-todate. For those who prefer quiet, behind-the-scenes roles, this may be the perfect form of service, helping our parishioners, who will then go out to all of Payne County. “We can always use people who love books and want to help keep it organized and updated,” Fr. O’Brien says. Fr. O’Brien encourages parishioners to consider stopping by the library any time the church building is open and to find a book that will enrich their spiritual life. The borrowing process is simple — take the card from the inside cover of the book, write your name in it, and drop the card in the “checked out” box. “Any time the church is open, the library is open,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Just go on in! “You don’t know as much as you think you do,” he adds. “I encourage everyone to find a topic they don’t know a lot about and dive in!”
If you would like more information on our Parish Library, or to become involved in helping to keep it organized and up-to-date, please contact Brennan Lacy at 405-888-9709 or brennan_lacy@yahoo.com.
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