St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Newsletter — November 2020

Saint Francis F rancis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH Baby Blessings Ministry

Contents: 2 Teaching Our Children the True Meaning of Stewardship

3 Having a Great

November and Living the Stewardship Way of Life

4 Parish Finance Council Working to Ensure Proper Stewardship of Our Treasure

6 Praying for the Holy

Souls in Purgatory

7 Our Parish Office Volunteers Evangelizing in Our Parish as The “First Greeters”

Bringing Happiness and a Lovingly-Crafted Gift to New Parents

“A

baby is a blessing, a gift from heaven above. A precious little angel, to cherish and to love.”

This concise, yet beautiful verse is included with each blanket, made by the Baby Blessings Ministry group. Thanks to this dedicated group of women at our parish, new babies have a handmade, knitted, or crocheted blanket to snuggle with.

Once a month, the group gathers to knit or crochet together. However, due to COVID-19 precautions, the ministry members now make the blankets at home. While this beautiful form of stewardship has continued through the pandemic, group founder Jenny Nelson says that it’s been hard to not be able to get together.

The blankets are created for new “We look forward to the day when we can babies of the parish. get back together again,” Jenny says.

Before the onset of the pandemic, the group was gathering the first Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. They pray for the families who will be receiving the blankets and then get to work knitting or crocheting.

“I enjoy getting together with other ladies that have similar talents and

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NOVEMBER 2020

Saint

Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE TRUE MEANING OF STEWARDSHIP

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hat is your response when someone compliments your child’s achievements in art, music or sports? Do you say “thank you” as a kind response, or do you thank God for granting your child the gifts necessary for success?

As parents, we serve as the primary educators of our children. Teaching them from a young age that their talents — whether in soccer, chorus or painting — come not from us, but from God, is essential to teaching stewardship. God graciously grants each of us unique skills and abilities, and it is our job to use those gifts to glorify Him. As parents, aunts, uncles, or older siblings, we can guide children in our lives to recognize their Godgiven gifts. We can further encourage children to use God’s gifts to their full potential, and then thank Him for bestowing them. This teaches young Catholics how to be good stewards. Indeed, not utilizing our talents brings to mind the parable of the servant who buries the treasure his master gives him, instead of using it to create more treasure. God wants us to use our talents wisely and thankfully.

Teaching children to utilize their talents to build God’s kingdom is only one step of the threefold stewardship message. How your children spend their time is also important. As we move through the hustle and bustle of our day — balancing school, chores and extracurricular activities — do we find time to spend with God? It often seems as if 24 hours is not long enough to fulfill our many daily tasks.

So, how can we find the time to teach and demonstrate the importance of sharing our time with God? Simple time offerings include praying on the way to school, stopping by the church to pray for a friend in need, or thanking God for a good outcome on a test. Even learning about a saint over 2

dinner and praying as a family before bedtime can be a valuable time offering to the Lord.

As parents, finding daily prayer time ourselves is also necessary, both for our roles as good stewards and as an example to our children. How wonderful for a child to witness their parent in quiet prayer devotion!

The third tier of stewardship — treasure — is most frequently overlooked when educating our children. Birthday money from Grandma and allowance money doesn’t count — or does it?

All gifts we receive are really from God, and the “first fruits” of those gifts should be generously returned to God — even if they come from Grandma. Starting as early as grade school, children can understand the concept of giving back to the all-giving God if we simply take the opportunity to teach it to them. Witnessing our weekly tithe is a great start, but encouraging them to give in their own children’s offertory envelope is also important. Knowing they are returning to God in thanksgiving will fill them with joy!

Of the many lessons parents instill in their children, teaching them to be good stewards should be a top priority. Our goal as parents is to get our children to heaven to be with our creator, God. Teaching them to be good stewards is a great way to ensure entry.

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Having a Great November and Living the Stewardship Way of Life Dear Parishioners,

T

hank you for your generous response to our Annual Stewardship Renewal that we conducted in October. If you haven’t made your commitments of time, talent, and treasure, fill out the commitment card that we sent you last month and mail it back to the parish. Or, if you misplaced it, send me an email me at frobrien@sfxstillwater.org, and I’ll send you the link to do it online.

In this month’s stewardship newsletter, we’re highlighting three important ministries in our parish: The Parish Finance Council assists me in making sure we are good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us. Treasure comes to us via the Sunday collection, online giving, estates and wills, stocks, investment revenue, and restricted gifts for specific things within the parish, like statues, youth programs, and help for the poor. There’s a lot to keep track of and the Finance Council assists staff members Kathy Bower and Leah Benjamin to have the highest ethics and best practices in financial management. I’m grateful to those who give of their talents in this way!

The work of the parish staff is a vital force towards having a mission-driven parish. I love our parish staff and am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them every day. Behind the scenes

of a successful parish staff are office volunteers who give the staff flexibility to concentrate on important projects or to be involved in vital meetings. Office volunteers answer the phones, help with mailings, greet visitors, and add a spirit of joy to the office that makes us a better parish. We’d love to have volunteers every day!

Finally, the Baby Blessings Ministry helps us give a warm welcome to our newest parishioners.

When a baby is born, it’s a source of great joy but is also a lot of responsibility. We want our young families to know they are loved with a hot meal and some gifts. We also pass on information about setting up a Baptism, which saves the family the time in doing so. If you love babies and want to serve young families, this ministry is a great way to get involved.

These are just three of several ministries that make our parish a great place to be as we seek to evangelize Payne County by living this stewardship way of life. Let’s have a great November!

In Christ,

Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

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Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

PARISH FINAN

Working to Ensure Proper S

F

or some, the idea of working on finances elicits a sense of dread. It could be balancing the checkbook, making a budget, or even just paying bills — it’s a stressful activity.

But for others, something is rewarding about working with numbers and discerning how to best allocate available funds. And for those who have this gift, serving on the Parish Finance Council is a great way to serve our community.

Parishioner Cade Crawford, who has been a banker for 23 years, began serving as Chair of our Finance Council several years ago, upon the opening

of the new church. As required by Canon Law, the role of the Finance Council is to provide advice and counsel to the pastor, in matters regarding the management of the parish’s financial resources.

“Our primary role is to offer advice, consultation, and assistance in the administration of the assets of the parish,” Cade says. “I have served on numerous non-profit boards, so I’ve got a little bit of experience dealing with financials and helping non-profits navigate through challenging situations, as well as the good years, too. It’s been a blessing for me to be able to help and provide

The St. Francis Xavier Finance Council serves to advise Fr. O’Brien on financial matters in the parish, and works to ensure our parish’s ability to serve our mission — now, and for years to come.

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NCE COUNCIL

Stewardship of Our Treasure whatever expertise or advice I can give.”

People from a variety of different backgrounds are appointed by the pastor to serve on the Finance Council, offering their expertise in different areas. For Cade, who also serves as a lector, being on the Parish Finance Council is a unique opportunity to share his particular gifts and experience in the world of finance.

“I know my talents, my gifts are from God and I can’t think of a better way that I could serve,” Cade says. “For me, it’s very rewarding to be a part of the Finance Council, to be able to give back in some small way, using the talents God has provided me to be able to make a living and support my family.”

In addition to ensuring that the parish finances can sustain the day-to-day operations, the Finance Council also serves to help plan for the future of the parish. Uniquely, this year, the Finance Council has worked with Fr. O’Brien to help navigate the unexpected challenges of COVID-19.

“We’re still a very new parish,” Cade says. “As with any new start-up, whether it be a business or church, or even family units, those first few years are often the hardest to navigate financially. We’ve tried to put some foundation in place to serve as stability to help determine what is normal, while also trying to manage our resources so we can actually grow.”

Transparency is a core value of the Finance

Council, and Cade hopes that parishioners will be assured that their stewardship of treasure is part of building up our community.

“I think that was important to Fr. O’Brien and all of us on the Finance Council, to be very transparent,” Cade says. “Every year we give a financial report, and we have the financials available in the bulletin. Transparency has been a big deal for us.”

Cade has found that serving on the Finance Council has helped him to grow in his faith and feel a sense of responsibility for helping our community to embrace the stewardship way of life.

“I think it’s drawn me closer to the Lord and closer to the parish,” he says. “There’s pride there in knowing, not only are we monitoring and helping to provide consultation and advice, but I’m out in front trying to lead by example with time, talent and treasure, from a stewardship standpoint.”

At the end of the day, the heart of the Finance Council’s work is to ensure our parish’s ability to serve our mission — now, and for years to come.

“Everybody on the council, parishioners, and staff are all passionate about helping our parish succeed in its overall mission to evangelize Payne County,” Cade says. “It’s an exciting time for our church, and I think we’re excited to be a part of it and have some small part in helping our parish and church continue to grow.”

If you would like more information on the St. Francis Xavier Finance Council, please contact Council Chair Cade Crawford at 405-880-4109 or cadecrawford@yahoo.com.

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PRAYING FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY

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any Catholics are aware that the Church dedicates the first two days of November — All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 — to commemorating and praying for the souls of the faithful departed.

But did you know that during the entire month of November, the Church places a special emphasis on praying for the souls in purgatory?

The Church has always taught us to pray for the souls of those who have passed on from this life. Even in Old Testament times, prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought “well and religiously concerning the resurrection” (Liturgical Meditations, The Sisters of St. Dominic). And in the early days of the Church, St. Paul further emphasized the importance and responsibility of not only remembering our brothers and sisters who have passed away, but actively praying for them: “For the Lord himself... will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will first rise” (1 Thess 4:16).

Because of the very state of the holy souls in purgatory, we as earthly brothers and sisters in Christ are closely connected to those who passed on from this life. We share in the peace of knowing that salvation will one day be obtained, but are simultaneously suffering in separation from God. The Church also teaches that we have the opportunity to play a big part in helping these souls through their period of purgation, so that they may soon enjoy eternal glory with the Lord.

This month, please make a special effort to offer prayers for your deceased friends and loved ones, and all those who have passed away in the grace and friendship of God. Offering a Mass for someone who has passed away is an especially fruitful way to honor the memory and bring comfort to a holy soul in purgatory.

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PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory.

May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: “Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Amen.

OUR PARISH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS Evangelizing in Our Parish as The “First Greeters”

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ur parish office volunteers do much more than answer the phone or help with parish mailings. They can hear the voice of Christ in those seeking welcome and help — and they return that voice of Christ through their loving care.

Karen Bisges wears multiple hats as the Parish Office Assistant, and assistant to the Coordinator of Evangelization, as well as to the parish Communications Coordinator. She coordinates the office volunteers in their multiple tasks.

“We have a pretty good team,” she says.

The COVID-19 restrictions brought about some changes in the office, regarding the number of volunteers being able to work. Nevertheless, their dedication and eagerness to help has meant they have been able to get the necessary work done.

The volunteers are often the first face parish visitors see when they walk in the door.

“The volunteers offer them a beverage, and try to see what their needs are,” Karen says. “If they

need a priest, or want to arrange a Mass intention, any other daily tasks, they take care of it.”

Many of the volunteers also help Karen fold the liturgy aid materials for the weekend Masses.

“That’s one of the larger tasks, preparing for the weekend,” Karen says. “Other volunteers help with other projects, like mailings to parishioners.

We need their help.”

There also are times when calls come in for help with food, gasoline money, and other pressing needs. Those seeking help find they are receiving the loving care of Christ through the volunteers’ help.

Through their efforts, the volunteers also play a large role in providing evangelization to visitors or callers who are not Catholic. Whether the request is for some kind of assistance, or just arranging a tour of our church, they are treated with warm, welcoming hospitality. Through our volunteers’ efforts, the hearts and minds of those seeking help are more receptive to learning more about our Catholic faith.

“People are more open to what you say,” Karen says. “They are open to learning more about Catholicism and Christ. Our volunteers help with evangelization by being that first greeter, that first responder to their questions. When people call for assistance, we want the volunteers to be open to them about their needs. By having a warm attitude, it truly changes things. People will come in and we’ll pray with them and even go to Mass with them. By offering a better reception to the community of Stillwater, they will see us in a better light and visit us more.”

Additional volunteers are needed to join the office team — particularly to cover the phones. Anyone willing to volunteer may contact Karen Bisges at 405-372-6886, or by email at karen@sfxstillwater.org.

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St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 711 N. Country Club Rd • Stillwater, OK 74075 Web: www.SFXStillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6886

Baby Blessings Ministry

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interests and getting to know them better,” Jenny says. “We receive the gift of friendship as we make things for others.”

Jenny began this ministry in early 2018. She thought it would be a great opportunity for fellowship, built around a hobby that many women enjoy. Now, members distribute 15 to 20 blankets per year. They keep plenty on hand so they don’t run out. And, the New Baby Welcome Ministry members distribute the blankets when they take a gift and food to the new parents.

“I enjoy giving of my time and talent to hopefully bring some happiness to the new parents of our parish,” Jenny says. “We want them to know that their new baby is already loved by our church members, and we care about them as a family.”

Of course, there is no better way to show you care than a handmade gift.

Jenny says this small act of kindness makes a big difference for parents. She wants all parents to know they, along with the new addition, are very loved by our parish members. This is a way to reach out and spread God’s love.

“It’s just a simple way to show we care,” Jenny says. “This ministry shows that we truly welcome and pray for these new members in our parish.”

Anyone who enjoys knitting or crocheting is invited and encouraged to get involved with this wonderful ministry. For now, blankets are being made at home. Jenny Nelson hopes that the group can once again meet in person soon. For more information, please contact Jenny at 405-747-5465 or jjnelson1@suddenlink.net.

ONLINE GIVING:

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