Vincen de Paul Saint
catholic church | seward, nebraska Inside this Issue 3 Catholic Schools and
the Buffet Line
4 A Front-Row Seat
to God’s Provision in the Midst of COVID-19 Stewardship of Our Treasure and the Generosity of Our Parishioners
6 Building The
Domestic Church Living Stewardship in Our Family as Pandemic Continues
7 St. Vincent de Paul
School Opens Its Doors: Looking Forward to a Year of New Opportunity
SEPTEMBER 2020
Bible Study Opportunities in Our Parish Allowing God’s Word to Penetrate Our Hearts
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f we are going to fulfill our calling to become true disciples of Christ, we as Catholics must follow the example of the first disciples. This means spending time St. Vincent de Paul parishioners are invited and encouraged listening to, learning from, to take advantage of our parish’s FORMED.org subscription. and imitating our Lord. And Through this site, parishioners can gain free and easy access what better way is there to to biblical studies and books from renowned authors and do that — says our Pastor, scholars. These can be viewed conveniently at whatever time Msgr. Robert Tucker — than and place best meets the needs of your schedule. through the living Word of God? “As Catholics, we have to understand that the Bible is more than a book that was written over 2,000 years ago for the people of that age,” Msgr. Tucker says. “It is something that is living and relevant for all people of every age. This is because it contains truths that never change and the wisdom of God.” While we hear the Word proclaimed each time we attend Mass, many continued on page 2
Vincen de Paul Saint
catholic church | seward, nebraska
Bible Study Opportunities in Our Parish continued from front cover
Catholics feel ill-equipped when it comes to personal study and knowledge of the Bible. We get lost in the historical narratives and archaic language of some of its books, and confused by its parables and symbolism. “Many people are kind of nervous about the Bible because it’s not easy to read,” Msgr. Tucker says. “How many people, for example, have started reading through the Bible and read Genesis and Exodus only to give up when they get to books like Leviticus? That’s why Bible studies are so helpful. They allow us to go along with someone who can help guide us through the Word and accompany us on the journey.” Not only do such studies help us understand the Bible better from an academic standpoint, but far more importantly, they also enable us to take in its rich spiritual content — allowing the reader to enter into an intimate, spiritual conversation with the Lord. “It’s so important that we begin to view Scripture as a living Word that was written for me personally,” Msgr. Tucker says. “It invites us into a spiritual conversation with God as we read God’s Word and listen to it. This allows the ‘two-edged sword’ to penetrate our hearts and marrow (Hebrews 4:12).” One way for parishioners to do this is by taking advantage of our parish’s FORMED.org subscription. Through this site, parishioners can gain free and easy access to biblical studies and books from renowned authors and scholars. These can be viewed conveniently at
“Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” — HEBREWS 4:12 a time and place best meets your schedule. “There are many studies there that people can do independently on their own,” Msgr. Tucker says. “There is a new one on Matthew, as well as one on St. Peter, the Eucharist, and others.” Yet, because we are fundamentally social creatures, it’s also good to have group studies available, enabling parishioners to grow in faith alongside one another. This provides a level of accountability, as well, making it easier for us to stay on track with our spiritual goals. That’s why, as Msgr. Tucker notes, St. Vincent de Paul hopes to provide ongoing Scriptural studies through the parish, gathering parishioners together either in person or through Zoom video conferencing to learn, discuss and internalize God’s Word together. “Though it’s becoming clear that things with COVID-19 aren’t going away anytime soon, we can’t quit growing in our faith,” Msgr. Tucker says. “That’s why I want us to continue offering opportunities for people to come and study God’s Word, whether that is in person or virtually.”
Please refer to the parish bulletin for announcements about upcoming Bible study opportunities, or contact the parish office at 402-643-3421.
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A Letter From Our Pastor
Catholic Schools Dear Parishioners,
I
AND THE BUFFET LINE
remember going to local buffets like Valentino’s or Country Buffet and being amazed at the variety of food. There were so many choices, yet I was going for one meal. It is easy to focus on the things that I like, and eating only those items alone led me to an unbalanced meal. If I would focus on the desserts and ice cream, I would have a month’s worth of sugar and carbohydrates in an hour meal. I was preparing to give a talk to Catholic school teachers years ago about the importance of education in a religious school. In preparation for the talk, I read a letter from the Cardinal in charge of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. I have read that letter a number of times since he wrote it in 1997. Cardinal Pio Laghi outlines the characteristics of a Catholic school which can be similar to ones intention when entering a buffet line. There are so many options and it is easy to be attracted to some items and lose the focus on the whole meal. Pio Laghi does not express it so crudely. He states that a Catholic school “sets out to be a school for the human person and of human persons” finding “their fulfilment and unity in Christ” and the greatest danger to education is “the fragmentation of education.” In describing a Catholic school in this way, he is emphasizing a comprehensive education finding its fulfillment in Jesus Christ which keeps our whole life in view. Returning to the example of a buffet and nutrition, there are many things on the buffet line that are necessary for good health. Our bodies need protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, fat and hydration. Choosing only one of these, which is sometimes done with certain diets, the needs of the whole person are not addressed. Cardinal Laghi states that “material and spiritual needs (of each person), is at the heart of Christ’s teaching” and the “promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic school.” Jesus is first a teacher and called lovingly “Rabbi” by Mary Magdalene. He spent the majority of His
time teaching about the Kingdom of God. He addresses the needs to the whole person, the material and spiritual, and He points them to the way to heaven. In our Catholic schools, we imitate the example of Jesus with the material and spiritual comingled in the daily education of the children in our school. Everything we do in the educational process is done while keeping our eyes on the end, the Kingdom of God. The questions “how?” and “why?” are both addressed and answered in the person Jesus. Our children want to know “how” to read, though the reason “why” we learn to read mysteriously brings us closer to God each day. Reading, solving math equations, and understanding the world in which we live, helps us know the creator of all things. The “why,” which is a philosophical approach to education, gives purpose and meaning to daily endeavors. If this is missing, then education becomes the memorization of facts, and learning skills for a material end, rather than a glorious, eternal reward with the God who loves us. The first characteristic of a Catholic school described by Pio Laghi is “a place of integral education of the human person through a clear educational project of which Christ is the foundation,” which can be boiled down to entering the buffet line free from distraction to nourish our entire being. So again, this year and every year, our plan for our Catholic school is to keep our students close to Jesus. He is our life and our salvation, in Him we live and move and have our being, and in Him we learn to live the full meaning of life. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Msgr. Robert Tucker Pastor 3
Vincen de Paul Saint
catholic church | seward, nebraska
A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO GOD’S PROV Stewardship of Our TREASURE and th
T
he past several months have changed much about the way we live our lives — from the way we work, the way we shop for groceries, to the way we communicate with our family and friends, and the way we worship. However, here at St. Vincent de Paul, one thing that has not changed is the faithful generosity and commitment of our parishioners who financially support our community — and for that, we are truly grateful. “I had all kinds of fears at the beginning of this COVID stuff,” says Msgr. Tucker. “I remember writing an article about the 1930s and thinking, ‘This could end up being the same,’ and it hasn’t. People have really stepped up [financially] and kept doing what they have been doing. There is generosity and commitment to the Church and faithfulness to the mission of the Church.” During the 2019-20 fiscal year, at a time
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when parishes all over the country were suffering financial hardships, our donations were up nearly $9,000 from the previous year. “We’ve got generous people and we have people who are committed to the mission of the Church,” Msgr. Tucker says. “There are people who’ve come in and said, ‘We know this is a tough time, here’s a gift.’ “It touches my heart to see people’s goodness,” he adds. “So many people just love the Church.” Parishioners’ continued financial generosity has allowed us to continue fulfilling our mission, particularly in the areas of education — which is where about 50 percent of our annual budget is allotted, supporting our school, CCD program and adult faith formation program. Our Spirit 2020 summer fundraiser was also a great success, despite becoming a remote event. Particularly during a time when many of us had
VISION IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19 he GENEROSITY of Our Parishioners more limited opportunities to give of our time and talent, especially with many of our formal parish ministries on hold, giving of our treasure allowed our staff to continue doing their important work. “We would like to be able to do things with our own hands and feet, but sometimes it’s not possible to do this,” Msgr. Tucker says. “But when we give financially, we’re allowing someone else to be those hands and feet that we wish we could be. It is a way that we can empower others to do the work of the Lord, and we participate in that with our financial gift.” We plan to move forward with financial prudence and caution in the coming months, given the uncertainty of the financial effects of COVID over the next several years — yet, we are confident in God’s provision. “The effects of what has happened over the last five or six months are probably not going to show themselves until much later down the road,” Msgr. Tucker says. “Our interim bishop has advised us, ‘Be patient and prayerful, and don’t be quick to get right back on all the agendas and efforts that you were planning before the shutdown.’ He’s been a voice of caution and I’m listening to that. We need to make sure that we’re making good and wise choices with the resources that we have.” Msgr. Tucker is grateful for the many ways that our parishioners have come together, as a tangible reminder of our shared mission and efforts to do God’s work in our parish and
“We would like to be able to do things with our own hands and feet, but sometimes it’s not possible to do this. But when we give financially, we’re allowing someone else to be those hands and feet that we wish we could be. It is a way that we can empower others to do the work of the Lord, and we participate in that with our financial gift.” — Msgr. Tucker community. He reminds all of us that regardless of the size of our donation, God works in powerful ways when we come together in generosity. “There are times when things happen that are discouraging, and the Lord gives us these consolations to help us keep going,” Msgr. Tucker says. “He knows when we start getting discouraged, and He just helps us by sending someone along who gives us that hope. The Lord never forgets us. “While I’m here, I hope to help the Catholic community here grow — grow in faith and love, giving our time and talent and treasure for this end,” he adds. “It doesn’t matter how much we’re giving, because when our gift is united to the entire group, we’re participating with the whole community in doing something good.”
If you would like more information on using our e-tithe program, please visit www.stvincentseward.org/e-tithe/ or call the parish office at 402-643-3421.
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Vincen de Paul Saint
catholic church | seward, nebraska
BUILDING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH Living Stewardship in Our Family as Pandemic Continues
A
s the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the question of how to strengthen our family faith and continue to live Stewardship as a Way of Life while separated from the sacraments and parish life is being put to the test. Our priests and parish leaders already have found new ways to minister to our parish family from a distance. Now, it is our own time to shine within our own homes. It is our time to seize this opportunity and continue to build our own Domestic Church. What is the domestic Church? Simply put, it is our family — the smallest body of gathered believers in Christ. The early Church fathers understood the home was fertile ground for discipleship, sanctification, and holiness. And the Domestic Church plays a key role in this as the primary place where we practice coming to intimately love others. Even before the pandemic, in recent years, our Holy Father Pope Francis placed great emphasis on the family, asking us as Catholics to explore the meaning and the theology of the Domestic Church. During his address at the World Meeting of Families during his 2015 apostolic visit to the United States, Pope Francis told us, “Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith.” Now, as the pandemic continues to distance us from our parish community and affects the way we live our faith and practice stewardship, it is now more important than ever to discern the unique role God has in mind for our lives, and the lives of our family members. If your family truly is committed to answering the call to live as intentional disciples of Christ, our response to this call starts in the home through stewardship. 6
As Catholics, we often associate stewardship with sharing our time, talents and resources with our parish. We see it as volunteering and helping to build our parish community. Rarely, do we recognize the need for stewardship in our own homes. But what can you do to live out stewardship as a Domestic Church? You can set aside time each day for personal and family prayer. If you are still unable to attend Mass, you and your family can participate in the Sunday liturgy and daily Masses in your home via livestream. Read and reflect each day on the daily Mass readings, which are available online at www.usccb.org/bible. Do some online faith formation together. Other ideas include simply being kind to each other, doing something extra for your spouse or children, avoiding criticism, or working on being more patient with a family member who sometimes can be challenging to be around. Help a family member financially during these challenging times. Pray for our family members and each of their unique needs. Spend extra time with a child and our spouse — make that a priority worked into each week. The possibilities for living stewardship within our Domestic Churches are endless. How we treat each other in our homes is as important as praying together when living out stewardship. In a nutshell, live in your home with your faith-filled family celebrating your Catholic identity! Stewardship is not just something we do within the confines of our parish walls. It is meant to be lived 24/7, to be practiced anywhere and everywhere. And it begins with our Domestic Church — our families. By focusing on new ways to share our Time, Talent and Treasure together within our own homes — both during the pandemic and after the storm passes — we can make faith the source and center of our family lives and fulfill our mission as the Domestic Church.
St. Vincent de Paul School Opens Its Doors:
Looking Forward to a Year of New Opportunity
W
hile the events of the past several months have certainly put everyone “to the test,” St. Vincent de Paul School Principal Denise Ray looks forward to new and positive opportunities as the 2020-21 school year gets under way. “My hope is that we move through our year with as little disruption as possible, keeping our children and staff safe and healthy, and allowing things to move with as much routine as we can,” Mrs. Ray says. “We trust in God, and He walks this journey with us.” With the abrupt conclusion of the 2019-20 school year, it’s safe to say most children are looking forward to going back to school, along with their teachers. But even as the last school year ended in such an unusual way, Mrs. Ray was proud of the teacher and staff response when the school closed in March. “For a group of teachers who had little time to move from a learning platform that was known to them to one that was foreign, I was so impressed with the amount of time, effort and love that was put into the lessons,” Mrs. Ray says. “It was inspiring to witness and our teachers rose to the occasion.” Now, Mrs. Ray is glad to return to in-person teaching. St. Vincent de Paul opened on Aug. 13 for the 20th school year. This academic year will look different than those of the past. Although students are back in the classroom with their teachers, the safety measures make things different for everyone. One of the biggest changes is the smiling faces of the kindergarten to fourth grade students now being covered by masks. Preschoolers will enter with a mask, but will
be able to remove it after a normal temperature reading. “We are looking forward to working side by side with our students, and helping them to grow in their academic and spiritual journeys,” Mrs. Ray says. “We are also looking forward to seeing their smiles, even though they will be shaded by the masks for a good portion of the day.” Lunch times will be more staggered and varied, with some eating in the classroom or outside, except for kindergarten and first grade. Temperature checks will be completed when entering school. The Seward County Health Department regularly meets with school staff to communicate infection rates, ages and “risk dial” indicators. The “risk dials” dictate what mitigations are used. Unfortunately, volunteers and guest visits will be limited this school year, in order to keep everyone safe. Teachers and staff will continue to use a continued on back cover
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Vincen de Paul Saint
catholic church | seward, nebraska
152 Pinewood Avenue | Seward, NE 68434 (402) 643-3421 | stvincentseward.org
St. Vincent de Paul School Opens Its Doors continued from page 7 number of technology platforms that were used last year, and which proved to be very helpful. Mrs. Ray is excited about this year, especially for our youngest learners, the preschool and kindergarten students. She wants to reassure parents of her excitement for this school year. “We are here to serve and help you in the formation of your children,” she says. “St.
Vincent de Paul School believes that each child has unique and beautiful gifts, and we will partner with you to bring those gifts to fruition. We look forward to working with you for the next few, but usually quick-moving years.” She wants to congratulate last year’s St. Vincent de Paul graduates and wishes them luck as they “set the world ablaze.”
If you would like more information on St. Vincent de Paul School, please visit www.mystvincentschool.com.
LITURGY SCHEDULE Daily Masses: Monday thru Friday at 7:00 a.m., Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Sunday Obligation Masses: Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Sunday at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Confession: Monday thru Saturday: 20 minutes before each daily Mass, Saturday: 4:30 to 5:20 p.m., Sunday: 7:30 to 7:50 a.m. & 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. Other confession times available by appointment.