December 2021
ST. VINCENT de PAUL
CATHOLIC PARISH
Greeters Ministry: Providing a Warm Welcome to All Who Enter Our Parish Doors
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Christmastime Stewardship How We Can Bring His Son to the World Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas Preparing for Advent: A Time to Open Our Hearts for the Coming of Jesus
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What is the Immaculate Conception? A Closer Look at this Important Feast Day — Dec. 8
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Meet the Prayer Shawl Ministry Wrapping Recipients in
God’s Love
5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 (817) 478-8206 www.svdpcc.org
hat is a parish community without warmth and welcome? We all hope to encounter a friendly face and a place to call home. Don McGrath knew 20 years ago that if St. Vincent de Paul wanted to create a strong community, there was no better place to start than at the doors of the church. “Greeters are the first people that visitors meet,” Don says. “Our purpose is to make all who attend Mass feel welcomed and valued.” At a stewardship meeting 20 years ago, Don presented the idea of a Greeters Ministry. He thought that if the parish wanted Don McGrath is always recruiting new to attract and retain parishioners, then greeters for this vital and rewarding ministry. making sure everyone is greeted personally as they come to Mass would make a strong and lasting impression. “If we could become a friendlier parish, we could attract more parishioners,” Don says. The greeters welcome everyone with a kind word, a handshake, or — in Don’s case — a new joke for the kids. They also keep a particular eye out for visitors. If a greeter sees someone new, they welcome them, have a friendly conversation, and can invite them to register with the parish. Don remembers one family in particular that he welcomed to the parish. This family told him that they had been to several parishes and this was the first one where they had been welcomed — they decided to stay. Moreover, the whole family of four joined the Greeters Ministry and served until they moved away. There are about 25 greeters who are scheduled regularly. Most are scheduled every other week, but some choose to serve every weekend at the Mass that they attend. Three greeters are positioned at the main doors, and with one greeter serving at each side door to ensure that everyone is welcomed by a friendly face. Don is always recruiting new greeters for this vital and rewarding ministry. If you are friendly and outgoing, the Greeters Ministry may just be an ideal fit for you. It’s a continued on page 5
ST. VINCENT de PAUL CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP
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How We Can Bring His Son to the World
t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way. Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world. What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us to go, and there are many
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places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them.” How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship. We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well. Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas Dear Parishioners,
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hen I think of December, the first thing that comes to my mind is Christmas. While that may seem obvious, there are several other possibilities. I could think of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas. I could think of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation, and the patronal festival of the United States. I could think of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose popularity has spread far beyond the Hispanic community. December also brings the winter solstice. And it brings the end of the secular calendar year, which means getting my financials together for the upcoming income tax season. But instead, I think of Christmas — one of the greatest feasts of the Christian year, along with Easter and Pentecost. The basic truth of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, is plenty of reason for us all to rejoice and worship. But we’ve piled so much extra baggage on our Christmas observance, and worship is often almost lost in the shuffle. We send Christmas cards to people we contact at no other time of the year. We put up wreaths, Christmas trees, and lights. We host parties for family and friends. We visit relatives. We plan and prepare Christmas meals. And we have Christmas gifts to buy. No wonder the Christ Mass becomes an afterthought! Maybe, though, we can combine our Christmas activities with our stewardship commitments. Treasure is the simplest. Shouldn’t the most expensive Christmas present we give be the one to Jesus whose birthday we’re celebrating? Risen and glorified, He needs nothing we have. But His Body — the Church — continues Jesus’ mission here on earth and always needs additional resources. Time and Talent may be a little more complicated, but can’t we spend a little more of our time in worship and prayer? Stop by the church for a visit to the Christmas Crib and offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of God’s Son. Attend Mass each day of the Christmas Octave. Gather your family for prayers together in the morning or at dinner in preparation for Christmas Day and through the Christmas season.
And Talent? There are lots of possibilities: Sing in the choir for the Christmas Masses. Help decorate the Church. Cook or bake for someone who is homebound. Invite someone who will be alone to share Christmas dinner with your family. Offer to work in a soup kitchen if you will be alone. The possibilities are endless. Yes, December means Christmas. But with some planning, we can make this hectic time a real blessing both for ourselves and others. Pray for me that I can keep Christmas properly, and I’ll pray for you. And by the way, have a Merry Christmas! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Philip Brembah Pastor
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ST. VINCENT de PAUL Preparing for Advent: A TIME TO OPEN
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he season of Advent is a time to prepare for the birth of Jesus — when God revealed His closeness. Here at St. Vincent de Paul, we are blessed with numerous opportunities to prepare and enter our hearts into this solemn, reflective season. In turn, we can also set aside time to prepare by ourselves or with our families. A great way to help prepare is to come to enjoy some Christmas music on Dec. 19, for a 1 p.m. concert that includes the adult and children’s choirs. Both Director of Faith Formation Nicholas Senz and Director of Stewardship and Ministry Renée Bader
encourage parishioners to consider making this Advent special. One way is to buy or make an Advent wreath and light it with your family. You might also do some research and learn about the origins of the Advent wreath. “We should be taking Advent to look forward to not only Christmas but also the second coming of Jesus,” Nicholas says. “Christmas is such an important part of our faith, as much as it has worked its way to becoming a commercial holiday. It’s one of the most important feast days of the year, but it can be easy to have it sneak up on us.” Nicholas also recommends reviewing the daily Mass readings all through Advent. There are also many prayer
“We should be taking Advent to look forward to not only Christmas, but also the second coming of Jesus. Christmas is such an important part of our faith, as much as it has worked its way to becoming a commercial holiday. It’s one of the most important feast days of the year, but it can be easy to have it sneak up on us.” — NICHOLAS SENZ, DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION
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OUR HEARTS FOR THE COMING OF JESUS books out there that offer daily reflections for Advent. We will be handing out a devotional book to all parishioners. Whatever you choose to do, use this as a time to slow down to prepare your heart. “Don’t forget that there are 12 days after Christmas,” Nicholas says. “Consider planning Christmas parties for after Christmas to preserve the Advent season.” We can also use Advent to find ways to give back. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul sets up a tree in the narthex with candy canes that list a financial need. This is a great
way to support the important work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which offers essential assistance to those in need all year. Renée recommends accessing videos from Busted Halo — bustedhalo.com — to learn more about Advent and why it is celebrated. Another idea for families with children, each week have everyone draw a family member’s name. For that week have them do secret nice things for their person. Each nice act, they get to add a piece of straw to the manger, so on Christmas morning, Jesus has a softer bed.
Check out the parish bulletin each week for more information on upcoming Advent and Christmas activities!
Greeters Ministry
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simple ministry but has a deep impact on both current parishioners and visitors. A simple and friendly welcome can leave a lasting impression on someone who is searching for a parish to call home. “It is one of our most important ministries in the parish,” Don says. “It attracts many new parishioners and makes them feel welcomed in the parish.” In his role as a greeter, Don also has an opportunity to assist the elderly and encourage young men to consider the priesthood. There are truly no limits to the impact a greeter can make. After leading the Greeters Ministry for 20 years, Don plans to hand over leadership to a younger generation. “Someone with new ideas can help the Greeters Ministry grow,” he says.
If you are friendly and outgoing, the Greeters Ministry may just be an ideal fit for you.
If you would like to be a welcoming face for the parish, please consider joining the Greeters Ministry. To learn more, please contact Don McGrath at 817-944-1940. 5
ST. VINCENT de PAUL What is the Immaculate Conception? A Closer Look at this Important Feast Day — Dec. 8
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hen it comes to Catholic trivia, there is one simple question that often evokes an incorrect response: “What is the Immaculate Conception?” More often than not, this term is believed to designate Christ’s conception within Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit. A good guess, no doubt. But that is incorrect! The term “Immaculate Conception” describes the state of Mary’s soul within the womb of her mother, St. Anne. It has nothing to do with a special type of generative conception by her parents — Mary’s body was formed in the usual manner by her mother and father. Instead, the term “Immaculate Conception” describes how Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the first moment of her existence. Every person since Adam and Eve has been born with the stain of original sin, which can be washed away in the cleansing waters of Baptism. Yet, this fallen state never touched the soul of Mary, the new Eve. She was conceived with original sanctity and innocence, escaping all faults, depraved emotions and passions, and remained sinless. She was not exempt from the temporal penalties of Adam, however — including sorrow.
The belief in Mary’s Immaculate Conception has been held by the Church throughout history, though only officially declared a dogma in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. Highly devoted to the Blessed Virgin, Pius IX hoped the official definition would draw emphasis to the already existing belief, thereby inspiring deeper devotion to Mary. This dogma finds its roots in both Scripture and Tradition, and remains consistent with reason and the teachings of our early Church fathers. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year on Dec. 8 and is one of the few declared Holy Days of Obligation on the Church calendar. All Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on this day. Why not make this liturgical feast a special day of devotion? Bring a rose to place before an image of the Blessed Virgin in the church sanctuary, or arrange a little altar at home for your children to decorate. Recite the Magnificat and discuss the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception. Once this beautiful feast is brought alive in our hearts and in our homes, we will never again mistakenly answer that “tricky” question, “What is the Immaculate Conception?”
THE MAGNIFICAT My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation.
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He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and His children for ever.
Immaculate Conception Mass will be held at 7:00 p.m. on December 8th. We will livestream this Mass.
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Meet the Prayer Shawl Ministry Wrapping Recipients in God’s Love
eeing the physical and spiritual comfort her family members experienced through the gift of prayer shawls was the inspiration for Jan Nelson to establish the St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Shawl Ministry in 2010. “With permission from our pastor, I asked for anyone who could knit or crochet to create prayer shawls,” Jan says. “Twelve ladies responded and since then it has grown to 50 dedicated ladies who give their time and talent to serve our parish and beyond. In that 11-year period, we have made 4,311 prayer shawls to help others.” Although most of the ministry members work on the shawls at home, many of them gather from 10 a.m.-noon on the second Tuesday of the month at the Johnson Activity Center to work on their pieces. “The meetings are very talkative,” Jan says. “There’s a wonderful fellowship with each other and they love to talk and help each other with their knitting or crocheting. We don’t get all 50 together at once, but we usually have between 15 to 20 at a time.” Each shawl takes about three, five-ounce skeins of yarn to complete. Generous donations help pay for the yarn, and at times, the ministry members buy their own yarn so they can choose the type of yarn they prefer. “We make them with yarn and prayer, and we pray for the recipient as we work so the shawl will bring physical warmth and spiritual comfort,” Jan says. “It’s a tangible way of giving God’s love and presence. They are blessed when they are completed and when they are given to someone, we continue to pray for them. It’s amazing to read the ‘thank you’ notes we’re given. They thank us and tell us they felt God’s love and comfort, and of how wearing them have changed their lives.” While the shawl recipients know they are wrapped in God’s love, the women making the shawls find themselves growing closer to Christ as they work. “They feel good they are able to help someone, and especially when you get a ‘thank you’ card and hear from a person about how wonderful it was for them,” Jan says. “It’s very encouraging to them and a blessing for us. We see God’s work, and it is humbling to be part of it. The ladies have said it benefits them spiritually. The prayer shawls go out to our parishioners, both
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Shawl Ministry gather for one of their regular meetings. The members knit or crochet prayer shawls for those in need of spiritual comfort.
men and women, to children, and their relatives and friends, wherever in the world they live.” Each prayer shawl is given with a card that states “My God who understands each need bless and keep you in His tender loving care.” The card tells the recipient that the shawl was made for him or her and that the ministry is praying for the recipient. They are invited to wrap the shawl around themselves when they go out, when they are sleeping, or whenever the need is there for love and support. The Prayer Shawl Ministry also gives shawls each month to Catholic Charities, the Gabriel Project, and the Open Arms Health Clinic. The group uses extra yarn to make hats and scarves for the needy and homeless. “When a child is baptized at St. Vincent de Paul, we give the baby a fleece blanket to welcome him or her as a child of God into our church,” Jan says. Jan encourages anyone in our parish to ask for a prayer shawl for a personal need or for someone they know, whether Catholic or non-Catholic. “Most of the time our lives are full of happiness, but at times we are dealt with a challenge,” Jan says. “It might be the death of a loved one, sickness, divorce, or pain. We are reminded of God’s love when we are facing a tough time and this is when we need a prayer shawl.”
Need a prayer shawl? Call Jan Nelson at 817-496-9646, or Jo Lee Buncic at 817-454-3065. Jan also encourages anyone who can knit or crochet to contact her for info about how to join the ministry. 7
ST. VINCENT de PAUL 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 (817) 478-8206 www.svdpcc.org
MASSES Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Weekdays: (M/T/Th/Fr) 8:45 a.m. in the church
(Wed) 6:00 p.m. in the church
Holy Days: 8:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Confessions: Saturday: 4-5 p.m. in the chapel
Christmas Masses Sunday, Dec. 19 St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Concert 1 p.m. in the church Friday, Dec. 24 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. We will have overflow seating and will livestream both Masses. Saturday, Dec. 25 10 a.m. We will have overflow seating and will livestream the Mass.