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ST. peter C ath athoo lic li c CHu Chu r ch Monthly Newsletter
OUR UPCOMING STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL
Providing the Parish Community With Opportunities for Involvement and to Share Gifts
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s the St. Peter Parish community continues to grow in stewardship, each parishioner is invited and encouraged to embrace living fully as a disciple of Christ. This fall, we once again have the valuable opportunity to reflect upon how we share our gifts as disciples and to make commitments to further live out the stewardship vision as members of St. Peter’s, as well as the wider community. When we consider why we should reflect upon our stewardship gifts and how we use them each day, as Becky Huebner points out, we can look directly to Scripture. “Countless Scripture passages — including ‘So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches’ (Luke 16:11) — remind us that we are all to be good stewards of our time, talent and treasure,” Becky says. “It is a good time to think about the gifts and talents that God has given us and how we can use them,” adds Debby Rye, who served on the Strategic Planning team along with Becky. “By filling out our commitment card,
it helps us to think about it and make a commitment to sticking to it. It also helps us to feel like we are part of the parish and community of St. Peter’s.” The stewardship pillar of hospitality is also important continued on page 2
S t. pet er C atholic Ch ur ch OUR UPCOMING STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL continued from front cover
to consider as we enter into the upcoming renewal, which takes place with the theme “A Place to Belong.” “I read a book recently, How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, and learned that early monks in the process of practicing hospitality, actually birthed what we know now as the hospital,” she says. “The root word is the same — my takeaway is that care of the soul and care of the body are equally important. In our efforts to create a culture of hospitality here at St. Peter, hopefully, we can be a ‘hospital’ for the soul. Aside from being what we are called to do and be, it is just plain fun to be together in work and play!” “The Hospitality Ministry is one way that we are hoping parishioners will feel more welcome and feel a sense of community and family at St. Peter’s,” Debby says. “One of the new ministries is the Mass Refreshment Ministry. We are hoping that by having monthly courtyard Mass Refreshments that people will get to know each other and feel a sense of belonging. Social activities build a sense of community. We want parishioners and guests to feel like they belong. Importantly, the pillar of hospitality truly upholds a parish community, allowing us to connect in faith, fellow-
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ship, and even fun — all of which foster a strong bond of stewardship among our entire faith family. “Rolling hot dogs in foil for our recent ‘Mass Refreshment’ event was a perfect example,” Becky says. “A group of parishioners gathered to pitch in. Being newer, I did not know many there but had fun meeting others. It turns out, I was not alone. Another chimed in to say how much she was enjoying helping, mixing, and mingling. I assumed that she too might be newer, but she was a founding member of our parish. I can’t say I actually ate a hot dog but I was so filled — and so was she!” As stewards, we are all blessed with unique gifts, and even if it isn’t immediately apparent how you might share your own gifts, it’s something worth praying about! “Our hope for this upcoming Stewardship Renewal would be that every parishioner takes the time to fill out their card,” Debby says. “We have been working hard to make sure that our parish ministry leaders are contacting people that show interest in their areas and invite them to participate. There is something for everyone! We all have God-given gifts and we should take the time to look through the booklet and fill out our cards.” “Our Lord wasn’t kidding when He said it is ‘more blessed to give than to receive,’” Becky says. “When we act as the body of Christ, just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
A Letter from Our Pastor
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE? Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
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e are called to be the disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is our calling — stewardship is the way we are to live the life we have been given. I don’t think we believers would or should argue the point. It begins with our Baptism and our new life as members of the Church. There are no questions about it, even though we may not always remember that we have been called to discipleship — it is a lifelong process, and we are all works in progress. But please remember, we are God’s “works” that evolve moment by moment, day by day, and year after year. To get more specific, we need to not only understand that stewardship is the expression of discipleship, but it is also the way in which we are to live our life. It is not a program — it is a way of life. I suppose at least once in our lifetime, we have been asked, “What are you going to do with your life?” Usually, that will happen at graduation, and how many of us have followed the path we thought we would at that time in our life? Perhaps we replied with a certain profession that may have interested us at the time. But there is always more to our answer than the title of a profession, just as there is more to our lives than just breathing. How do we use the gifts God has given to us? How we do so will define the life we live for God and the Church. That is our call to discipleship. It is how we should understand stewardship. Many people ask me why I am so convinced that stewardship is a way of life. The simple answer I give is always the easy one and the most practical. My life as a faithful steward makes sense. The story of Christianity is filled with people like you and me who wonder and desire how to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is what we are to do with our lives. Our attitude must
be formed to spend the time and the talents we have, to do our part for God’s Church. When does that become our priority? When does it become our way of life? These are the questions any believer must ask themselves when we think about our relationship with God, His Church, and the people around us. But, throughout my time in life as a priest, stewardship as my way of life makes sense and is more than possible with what God has given me to work with. It is the same with each of us. I am grateful for what God has given me and thankful I can live my life as His disciple. I say that not just as a priest, but as a baptized member of His family. I am thankful my parents brought me to be baptized a Christian and begin a life that would lead me, like all of us, to be the disciple we are called to be. When we were baptized, no one asked us, “What are you going to do with your life?” If my parents and Godparents understood why we were all there, it should have been clear that we are all to be faithful stewards of all that God provides, beginning with the gift of life. That is why stewardship as a way of life is in my mind, heart and soul. That, too, was a gift from God for which I am most grateful. This is my calling, and “this” is what I am going to do with the rest of my life. What will you do with yours? In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor 3
S t. pet er C atholic Ch ur ch QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR
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nce again, it’s time for our Annual Stewardship Renewal. Just as the Church proposes a time of spiritual renewal each Lent, we believe in the importance of a yearly examination of commitment. Is the Lord asking you to give more time, talent, or treasure to our parish this year? The following Q&A about our Stewardship Renewal should help you discern your commitments to St. Peter this year.
Commitment Weekend is Aug. 21-22. Don’t forget to bring your Commitment Card to Mass! I feel like my life is already too full with family obligations and work obligations. I barely even have time to relax. How can I possibly share my time and talents with St. Peter? We all have many obligations to our families, jobs, schools, and other endeavors. But we also all have the same number of hours in the day with which to accomplish these things. The issue is not how much time we have, but how we prioritize that time. Before you fill out your Commitment Card, take some time to reflect on your priorities, and where God fits into your day-to-day life. Remember, living as true stewards of God’s gifts involves giving back the first fruits of what He has given to us in thanksgiving, not the “leftovers.” I am happy with my current level of parish participation. Why do I need to keep filling out a Commitment Card every year? As part of the renewal process, it is important that we consider our current level of participation in parish life at St. Peter. Sometimes, the call to stewardship involves the quality of service in addition to its quantity. In looking through the opportunities for 4
ministry available at the parish, you may find yourself drawn to a new ministry you haven’t tried before, or new ways to share of your time with God to enrich and enlighten your prayer life. So, even though your current level of parish participation might not change drastically, the ways in which you participate may evolve as you grow in living the stewardship way of life. Even if you end up continuing to participate in the exact same ministries as you have in the past, marking and turning in a Commitment Card means you have reviewed your present ministries and recommitted yourself to them. I’m not very active in the Church and, frankly, feel like it may be too late to get involved. Why should I fill out a Commitment Card? It’s never too late to renew your faith life, and filling out a Commitment Card is a simple step through which you can immediately re-enter the life of the parish. Our parish community is not here to judge you, but to welcome and nourish you in your faith journey. Begin by checking the box that says, “Attend weekly Mass and Holy Days of Obligation,” and take some time to discern additional ways in which God is calling you from that starting point. I’m physically unable to attend Mass or be active in parish life at St. Peter. Is there any reason for me to submit a Commitment Card? Of course! Your prayers are just as important to the success of our parish community in carrying out its mission as ministry participation and financial contributions. Take a moment to look over some of the opportunities to spend quiet time with God listed in the “Stewardship of Time” section of the Commitment Card, and take a step towards growing in your relationship with Christ and His Church.
Annual Stewardship Renewal I’m reluctant to make a financial pledge for the year in case my circumstances change and I’m unable to fulfill it. Should I? Your Commitment Card is not a legally binding contract; it is a pledge of intentions. Make your pledge based on what you are setting out to do to give back to God, and do your best to fulfill that pledge. If your financial cir-
JULY 2021 - JUNE 2022
A P lace to
Belong
CH S T. P E T E R C AT H O L I C C H U R Every parish family receives a special “Stewardship Package” in the mail that further explains our parish’s vision of stewardship. It includes a booklet that describes every ministry in the parish, as well as your Commitment Card.
cumstances change, your gift will likely change, as well, but it is still important to prioritize God first. Nobody is going to send the bill collector to your house if you can’t fulfill your pledge due to a change in your financial situation! But we’ve all got to start somewhere, and it’s important that we begin our commitment by writing down our goals for giving back of our gifts to God. I’ve expressed interest in a ministry in the past through filling out a Commitment Card, but nobody from the parish ever followed up with me about it. While we do our best to consistently follow up with everyone who has shown interest in the opportunities for ministry at St. Peter, we are human, and we sometimes fall short in our follow-up. If this has happened to you in the past, we sincerely apologize, and we encourage you to renew your interest in any activities in which you might like to participate by filling out a Commitment Card this year. Every year, we go into the renewal with every intention of making sure that everyone who has expressed interest is contacted with more information, and we will do so again this year. I don’t agree with everything that goes on at St. Peter. I feel like when I fill out a Commitment Card, it condones the things I disagree with. In filling out a Commitment Card, you are not making a pledge between yourself and St. Peter; you are making a pledge between yourself and God. Disagreements occur in life. This is a part of being human, and we respect the opinions of each and every member of our parish family. But it is of utmost importance that each of us fulfills our discipleship of Christ by growing in our relationship with Him and utilizing the gifts He has given us to carry out His mission on Earth, regardless of disagreements or misunderstandings. Beyond helping the parish, filling out a Commitment Card expresses a devotion to spiritual growth and a strong belief in the Catholic faith. 5
S t. pet er C atholic Ch ur ch CCD PROGRAM
KICKS OFF NEW YEAR, READY TO FORM OUR YOUNG CATHOLICS IN THE FAITH
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he family is the first place children learn the faith. This is why the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls the family the “domestic church” (11). In turn, the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops lays out several ways to build a “domestic church,” like always attending Sunday Mass, praying a Rosary as a family, and inviting priests, deacons and sisters into your home, to name a few. The St. Peter Religious Education program, or CCD, seeks to also teach children the faith, outside the home. This year ’s program will kick off in August with Wednesday night classes for sixth through eighth grades from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Classes for first through fifth grades are from 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The program’s new Director, Blake Vajgrt, looks forward to the new year. In particular, the sixth to eighth-grade program is exciting for him because it offers a mix of book learning and small groups. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he says. “I love this format.” Blake is thankful to be coming into such a strong program with so many great catechists and is excited to be working with the Christ the King Sisters. Sisters teach at the school and also in the CCD program for the sacrament years of second and fifth grade. “What a blessing it is to have the Christ the King Sisters around,” he says. “They are a phenomenal religious order and a tangible expression of our relationship with God in a supremely visible way.” At St. Peter, students receive the Sacrament of
The Christ the King Sisters lead the sacramental preparation classes.
Confirmation in fifth grade. This Sacrament of Initiation strengthens God’s call to all of us as part of our Baptism. Some parents may regard Confirmation as their child’s “graduation” from CCD. However, Blake encourages parents to continue with the program all the way through eighth grade. Blake cites the parable in Matthew 13 where Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a “pearl of great price.” “When you put your child in the CCD program, you are giving them a supreme gift that has infinite value,” Blake says. “Sometimes the best gifts, we never know how it touched a person. If the faith is cultivated correctly, you are giving your child something that no money will ever buy.”
To register your child for CCD, please visit https://www.saintpeterslincoln.com/ccd.html. If you would like to get involved in our CCD program, please contact Blake Vajgrt at blake-vajgrt@cdolinc.net. 6
New School Year
BRINGS EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN
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hen St. Peter School opens once again on Aug. 16, everyone’s smiles and excitement will be clearly visible as the masks will be gone. Our principal, Sister Mary Michael, is looking forward to seeing the students and faculty without as much social distancing — and with many fewer Zoom sessions. As for the school itself, St. Peter School will be welcoming a new three-year Preschool level and some exciting changes to the Spanish program. “Father has hired a youth minister who will be doing the Spanish program,” Sr. Mary Michael says. “He plans to take a mission trip with our children and parents to a Spanish-speaking country where there is great poverty.” There also are plans to return to a regular schedule for physical education. Everyone will be welcoming our new Assistant Principal James Widoe and saying farewell to Assistant Principal Jenn Tran, who has been named Principal at Blessed Sacrament School. Through the restrictions and caution everyone coped with last year, one thing remained the same for St. Peter School students — the strong foundation in their Catholic faith. As students and faculty dealt with the trials of COVID-19, our students were encouraged to live their faith. They were always treated with love and were allowed to receive the sacraments and attend daily Mass. They learned about the goodness of marriage and family life. “This becomes more and more necessary in the culture in which we live,” Sr. Mary Michael says. St. Peter Parish has been a consistent supporter of the school, and there are many ways help can be offered.
“Pray for us, first of all,” Sr. Mary Michael says. “And if they are parents, build a strong family life. That is important. We need their financial support and their children. They are the primary source of formation of their children, and we try to work as closely as we can with them.” The school offers families strong encouragement when it is time for the children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion, and then later for Confirmation. Parishioners themselves can help personally at the school by volunteering to listen to the children’s prayers or to listen to them reading. Volunteers can help the children with math, as well as help supervise recess. Volunteers can also help at the junior high level with “Leisure Games.” All those volunteering are required to have received the Safe Environment Training and a background check. Other activities to look forward to in the school year will include Grandparents Day that will be observed on the first day of Catholic Schools Week in January, as well as the Feast of St. Peter that will be observed on Feb. 23. “We will have a Eucharistic procession with all the kids, as they will all have received First Communion,” Sr. Mary Michael says. “It will be a beautiful display of our faith and devotion.” Throughout the school year, the students will be learning more about the teachings of the Catholic Church. “This is becoming more and more important, to know the truth,” Sr. Mary Michael says. “It is important to love the truth and be able to act on it. Our families are blessed to live in Lincoln, where we have a strong Catholic education system that will form strong people — people with a sound foundation.”
Families may enroll their children at any time during the year. Those interested may call Sister Mary Michael at 402-421-6299. 7
S t. pet er C atholic Ch ur ch 4500 Duxhall Dr. │ Lincoln, NE 68516 402-423-1239 │ www.saintpeterslincoln.com
MASS SCHEDULE:
Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. DAILY MASS Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m. Saturday: 8:15 a.m. CONFESSION: Monday & Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Saturday: 3:00-4:00 p.m.