St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Newsletter — November 2021

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Contents: 3 A Letter From Our

Pastor: Gratefulness and Giving go Hand-in-Hand

4 Thankfulness

Through the Holiday Season: God Calls Us to Prayer and His Presence

6 The Importance of

Loving God More Deeply at Mass

7 Hospitality Ministry: Building Fellowship and Sharing Faith Over a Fresh Cup of Coffee

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he feast day of our namesake, St. Francis Xavier, is coming up and the parish is planning a celebration with the entire community.

The St. Francis Xavier Festival and Marketplace will have something for everyone. This year, the festival will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Chelsea Davis, Festival Chair, has been excited to see the festival grow over the last few years.

“The festival is for the whole community, even outside of Stillwater,” Chelsea says. “We invite all of the churches in Stillwater and

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the surrounding areas.”

While this is the third official festival for our parish, there is a history of festival and market celebrations in the parish. The festival as it is today began the same year that the new church building was opened. The festival is a collaboration of parishioners, the Women’s Group, and the Early Childhood Development Center.

Volunteers take on different aspects of the festival.

“It builds the camaraderie of the parish,” Chelsea says. “It’s nice to see people wanting to volunteer, physically or through donations.” continued on page 2

NOVEMBER 2021

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St. Francis Xavier Festival and Marketplace

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There are many ways for parishioners to volunteer or contribute. The festival has a café, a raffle, crafts and children’s activities, and baked goods and freezer meals are sold. The ECDC runs a silent auction as a fundraiser for the program. Volunteers are needed to run activities and serve as cashiers. Donations of food will be needed for the café, baked goods, and freezer meals.

This year, the festival will have a Spanish translator in order to reach and include more families.

“I think we’re going to be building more of a community,” Chelsea says. “We are hoping to get more of the Spanish-speaking community involved.”

Chelsea is excited to have the festival back, as last year’s event was canceled due to the

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COVID-19 pandemic.

“We might not be able to do as much as we hoped in the time of the pandemic,” Chelsea says. “We might not see as many people as we did before. But it might surprise us.”

The festival and marketplace will have activities for the whole family.

Come to shop, support your community, and enjoy good food and activities!

“This year, we are going to have more children’s activities and more to do,” Chelsea says.

The festival will be held in the parish hall and children’s activities will be available in the youth lounge and the gym. The doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the festival will run until 3 p.m. Be sure to refer to the church bulletin and festival f lyers for more information!

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“It builds the camaraderie of the parish. It’s really nice to see people wanting to volunteer, physically or through donations.”

— C helsea Davis, F estival C hair

To volunteer at the St. Francis Xavier Festival and Marketplace, or to donate, please contact Chelsea Davis at 816-868-3572 or chellizmel@gmail.com.

2

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Gratefulness and Giving go Hand-in-Hand Dear Parishioners,

A

special "thank you" to all who turned in their commitment cards in October. It's not too late to get them into the parish office or online. Remember, stewardship is a way of life!

The month of November brings with it cooler weather, more football, Christmas on the horizon, and the continued ministry of our parish reaching out to the people of Payne County to help them fall in love with Jesus! The ministries featured in this month's newsletter help us with that outreach.

First, you'll read about the upcoming parish festival. This day of good food, games, and social activities will happen Saturday, Dec. 4. It comes on the heels of our Dec. 3 parish feast day where the Church around the world celebrates St. Francis Xavier, the great missionary to the people of India, Japan, and China. My thanks to all involved in this year's parish festival!

As we recover from the pandemic, parish receptions are going to play an even bigger role in the life of the parish.

From Sunday post Mass hospitality to receptions after big celebrations, these parishioners work hard to make everyone feel welcome. Could this ministry be for you?

Finally, just a word of thanks. I am so grateful to Almighty God and Bishop Konderla for the opportunity to be your pastor. I'm grateful to work alongside Fr. Robert Duck, our deacons, parish staff, and so many wonderful and committed parishioners who are working towards living a stewardship way of life.

God has given us everything. For that, we spend our lives giving it back. See you at Sunday Mass!

In Christ,

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

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Thankfulness Throug G od C alls U s

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he season of holidays and celebrations is upon us. It’s a time full of excitement, busyness, and joy. Much of this cheer is relating to those around us — gathering with family that we only see at holidays, or taking part in various events and activities, like work parties.

Last year at this time, we mourned the fact that due to COVID, things looked different.

Gatherings and parties were canceled, celebrations with family were limited, and the health, wellness, and concern for others were at the forefront of our thoughts and plans. It was difficult, but it was bearable because it was necessary to keep others safe and healthy, and at the time, we believed it was only temporary.

But a year later, we have reached this season and it feels a little different. We are realizing that it has been nearly two years since this began and it makes it harder to bear as it weighs on us that things have changed.

Life within our communities and families is different.

However, we must keep in mind that we are called to be a people of hope. Thanksgiving is a time during which we are reminded to stop and be

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Angela Vivar with her family — brother Ryan; father Hector (deceased); mother, Concepcion

thankful for what we have. The Advent and Christmas season is a time of joy as we celebrate the birth of Christ, and it is a reminder of the hope we have in the second coming of Christ.

Angela Vivar is the Coordinator of Hispanic Outreach Ministries at St. Francis Xavier Church — her outlook on maintaining that hope and remaining thankful

through this season is one from which we can all learn.

“We have to stay thankful and keep things in perspective through this holiday season by cherishing what we do have,” she says.

Angela shares how her relationship with God and her prayer life is something that roots her perspective during these times.

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gh the Holiday Season:

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H is P resence

“I am thankful that God is so attentive and He thinks before I do,” she says. “He calls me into prayer before I know that I need it. I am thankful that He is persistent even when I am not responsive.”

Angela refers to the Bible passage from Jeremiah as a foundation for her trust in the power of prayer: “When you look for me, you will find me.

Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me… and I will change your lot” (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

This is a gentle reminder of the importance of being near to Him, especially when many of us cannot be near our family and friends during this holiday season.

“During the holidays, we would go visit our family in Mexico every few years — and right now, that isn’t even an option,” Angela shares. “Our gatherings will be small. Just my mom, brother, and my niece.”

As we look to this holiday season that once again looks different than what we had hoped, Angela reminds us that even though our loved ones may not be physically near to us, we need to remember that the

nearness of God is constant.

“Every year, I see pictures of large families in matching pajamas around Christmastime, and I think that’s beautiful,” she says. “I hope that they love and cherish that they have that. We need more of that in the world. There are other families and people who spend the holidays alone or in a smaller setting, and I think it’s important to remember that Jesus cares, and He sees us and accompanies us. If we sit in silence long enough and if we open the Bible to passages like Psalm 139, Isaiah 43 and 53, or the Gospels, we can see that He knows how we feel.”

Angela goes on to share her experiences with hardship and loss around the holidays.

“I remember the Christmas before my dad passed away, and the holidays were very difficult because of the severity and location of his cancer and constant treatments and hospital visits,” she says. “As I sat alone in the living room facing the lit-up Christmas tree, and began to feel God’s presence next to me. It was so heavy in the room and I knew He was sitting adjacent to me.

All that was left was seeing

Him. I knew at that moment that He felt deeply what I was feeling — what my family and my dad were feeling. He is always sitting there next to us, and it’s kind of up to us whether we acknowledge it and allow His comfort in — something I’m working on. I would say to perhaps try what I struggle with, and that’s to accept God’s comfort. He is ready to give it and it is incomparable.”

As we head into the holiday season, let us remember to root ourselves in God’s love and keep our hearts thankful for the blessings we have.

“I am thankful that God is so attentive and He thinks before I do. He calls me into prayer before I know that I need it. I am thankful that He is persistent even when I am not responsive.”

— A ngela Vivar, C oordinator of H ispanic Outreach M inistries

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The Importance of Loving God

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hen young people see a person that intrigues them, that attraction becomes the topic of conversation at every opportunity. This attraction alters behavior so that we become enthralled with the other and desire to share our enthusiasm.

Imagine if we were more enthralled with the presence of Christ in our lives. Imagine if we fully recognized that Christ is truly present to us in His precious Body and Blood, and present as well in the proclamation of His Word and in the gathering of our community, praying and singing (see Sacrosanctum Concilium [Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy], para. 14).

Recognizing the living Christ in all these ways would awaken in us the desire to be with the One who is the object of our most fundamental, pure, and holy attraction to our merciful, loving, and gracious Savior.

If we were to recognize the presence of Christ in these beautiful ways, wouldn’t our desire to be more completely in His presence increase? Surely our desire to be better stewards of our time with the Lord would grow. Our attention to the readings and other prayers of the Mass would bring about within us deeper communion with the One who suffered and died for us. If I recognized that God is the answer to all my pangs of hunger, that Christ is my way to the Father, and that the Holy Spirit works to convert my heart and soul every day, would I not seek to fill that hunger at the banquet of the Lamb?

While active participation in Sunday Mass is an obligation for Catholics, we also will do well to

see the lovely, motherly care the Church shows us in establishing that requirement. The Code of Canon Law states clearly in paragraph 1247, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” Sometimes, we might hear that as an overbearing rule.

But it might more correctly be understood as our Mother, the Church, helping us learn what is best for us. At Mass, we hear the living Word of God proclaimed. He speaks to us. We receive as hungry, needy sinners, the precious Body and Blood of Christ. We encounter Christ’s living presence in our brothers and sisters worshiping God with us. If we truly understood that amazing truth, then how might it affect our lives? How might it affect our relationships? How might it impact our decision to bring our children along to Mass?

How might it awaken within us a deeper attraction, fascination, desire for the Lord?

Generally, when we find ourselves fascinated with someone, we do not decide to spend as little time as possible with them. We do not ration our time with them. We want to spend time with them, to see them, to listen to them, to get to know them, to develop a healthy, loving relationship with them.

at Mass Considering our reliance on the Lord of life and love, our fascination with His mercy, His goodness, His willingness to call us to Himself, maybe we should ask ourselves about what happens in us at Mass.

As I prepare to come to Church, do I find my mind turning to a receptive welcome of the Lord, just as I’ll be welcomed at the door of Church? Have I dressed for the important weekly (or daily) moment of meeting my King? Do I expect some profound wisdom from God in the readings? Am I open to correction, to challenge, to affirmation in the readings of God’s Word? Do I intently pray along with the priest presider throughout the Mass? Do I make an offering of my life, along with the bread and wine?

Do I genuinely hunger for the Body and Blood of Christ? And do I long for that blessing that sends me on my way with the mission to build the Kingdom?

Instead of worrying about what “counts” when it comes to Sunday Mass, maybe we should work hard at fostering our love for the Eucharist, our desire for eternal life, our attraction to the Master who calls us into a life of active discipleship. Instead of a merely heavy-handed requirement, maybe we can see more clearly that being at Mass together helps nourish us for a whole week of building God’s Kingdom. Coming with those expectations, desires, and hopes, leaving early when unnecessary would disappear as a temptation instantly. Coming late because other things have taken priority would not typically happen, other obligations notwithstanding.

Christ desires our company at Mass, from beginning to end. Let’s draw near to Him.

Ht3a˚Mœt^˝ Sharing Faith Building Fellowship Over a Fresh Cup of Coffee

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t. Francis Xavier is a big and beautiful parish, and our vibrancy is clear to all those who visit.

We want to make sure that every person who enters our doors knows they are welcome in this faith community.

The Hospitality Ministry is one way we can do this. After 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, the Parish Hall has a delicious spread of bagels, donuts, coffee, and orange juice. It’s not just a way to send people away with full stomachs — it’s also a chance for adults to share in fellowship and time for children to play. The treats, coffee, and juice are available each Sunday when there’s no Knights of Columbus breakfast.

Toni Smith enjoys leading

this ministry because hospitality is so important to her.

“We want to take our church beyond just saying ‘hi’ at the sign of peace,” she says. “We want people to get to know each other and for people to be immersed in the life of our parish.”

Toni also wants her family to have the opportunity to meet others of the parish, too. With only about five percent of people in Oklahoma being Catholic, Toni knows the best way to meet other Catholics is at Mass.

“This is important to me because I want my church to be more than just a place on Sundays,” she says.

Toni believes that those who feel at home will step up and join a ministry or start their

own. She also uses this as a way to get to know people, so she and others can offer support, whether a person is having a baby, going through a tough time, or just lost a spouse.

“We have so many people at our parish who care, and to help people we want to know what they have going on in their lives,” Toni says.

Several other ministries cover the setup, drinks, and coffee for the Hospitality Ministry, periodically. The coffee is purchased from Mystic Monk Coffee, which is made at a monastery in Wyoming.

Toni would invite anyone to get involved in the Hospitality Ministry. She enjoys working with the other coordinator, Cathy Albright, to bring a smile continued on back cover

“We want to take our church beyond just saying ‘hi’ at the sign of peace.

We want people to get to know each other and for people to be immersed in the life of our parish.”

— Toni Smith 7

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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

Hospitality Ministry to people’s faces through coffee and a donut.

“Who isn’t happy when they get a donut?” she says. “The kids, especially, just race down after Mass.

We are like their heroes.”

Toni also sees this as a chance to socialize, especially when someone brings a new person to St. Francis Xavier.

“Catholic Mass can be hard to follow and confusing if you are new,” Toni says.” This gives the person a chance to explain things and talk

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about questions they may have about the Mass. Plus, it shows we are a fun and welcoming place to be.”

In the end, we are all called to be hospitable to our neighbors in Christ.

An important way to evangelize is to be welcoming to every person we encounter. The Hospitality Ministry is just an extension of our hospitality at Mass.

“The whole focus is, we are the body of Christ,” Toni says. “We are all Jesus. We can all lead each other to Jesus."

If you would like to get involved in the Hospitality Ministry, please call Toni Smith at 405-334-1165.

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