St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Newsletter — September 2020

September 2020

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

CATHOLIC PARISH

An Inside Look at Our Money Counters Ministry Stewards in Safeguarding our Parish’s Treasure

O Inside 3 4

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“Coincidental” Stewardship Founding Parishioners Reflect on 44 Years of the St. Vincent de Paul Community

ur community has come to embrace the stewardship way of life and the importance of giving our first fruits to God. This has led us to faithfully sharing a portion of our treasure in the offertory basket week after week, putting our trust in the Lord’s unfailing generosity. Yet, have you ever considered where that money goes once it leaves your hands? Who is responsible for counting and recording these donated funds? How can you know with certainty that your hard-earned money is truly going towards God’s work?

The answer to all of these questions is the Money Counters, a group of dedicated men and women who regularly give their time in service to the parish, as they meticulously count, recount, record and deposit all funds received in the weekly parish offertory.

“We have tried to create a number of teams that we can put on a calendar and rotate so that the same people aren’t continuously counting,” says former parish Business Manager and longtime money counter John Pearson. “Over the years, we’ve had a minimum of three and a maximum of six teams, which is really nice. We try to have at least four, preferably five to six people on each team so that when holidays or something with the family comes up you can say, continued on page 2

Building The Domestic Church Living Stewardship in Our Family as Pandemic Continues

7 Meet Our Men’s Club

Sharing in Fellowship while Supporting the Parish

5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 (817) 478-8206 www.svdpcc.org

Members of our faithful Money Counters team

ST. VINCENT de PAUL Money Counters

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‘Hey, I can’t count,’ and it’s still enough people. We’d like to have at least three people present for accountability and one person on each team serves as the captain.”

Teams gather to count the collections for each of the weekend Masses. Some gather and take time for a break, while others handle the task all in one sitting.

“Each team has its own strategy,” John says. “Most of the teams can count all four Masses in two or two and a half hours, except for the teams that like to take a break for a snack and social time before focusing back on the task at hand. Early on, we decided we wanted to count each Mass separately so as to see what each Mass contributed. This provides us with important information for the Finance Council.”

Over the years, great care has been taken in creating directions and procedures which enable better exactness and accountability while counting the funds. Similarly, although new ministers are welcome, great care must always be taken when considering who is permitted to join the ministry.

“Not everyone is called to serve in this ministry,” John says. “The diocesan guidelines say that anyone who is serving needs to be an active member of the parish and known by the staff and parishioners. The guidelines also require us to have a clear background and credit check for each money counter. We would like to have more teams, but we also need to make sure each person can really commit to this important ministry.”

Although the actual task of counting money may seem like a menial job, it is vitally important to parish life. John feels that this ministry is essential because it helps ensure a financially secure environment for the parish.

“These funds and the proper counting and safeguarding of them are so important because they determine what kind

of Religious Education programs we can offer and how extensive they can be,” John says. “We know we’re always going to have the Mass, but this determines how many special presentations or decorations we can have — how much outreach we can do.”

By offering their time in this way, Money Counters are blessed to be able to witness firsthand the generosity of their fellow parishioners. They also form lasting relationships with one another, oftentimes spilling over into other parish ministries.

“I’ve met some wonderful, wonderful people,” John says. “I’ve learned about their lives and their families. I think that’s a big piece of St. Vincent’s overall — we’ve built a community that doesn’t stop at the front stairs. It walks right up to the front door with you and shakes hands. It’s become a true family.”

“These funds and the proper counting and safeguarding of them are so important because they determine what kind of Religious Education programs we can offer and how extensive they can be. We know we’re always going to have the Mass, but this determines how many special presentations or decorations we can have — how much outreach we can do.” — JOHN PEARSON

For more information about the Money Counters Ministry, or if you would like to get involved, please contact Laura Crocker, Census and Records, at 817-478-8206, ext. 206.

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A Letter From Our Pastor

“Coincidental” Stewardship Dear Parishioners,

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he famous author G.K. Chesterton once said, “Coincidences are God’s way of staying anonymous.” Since fully embracing the stewardship way of life, coincidences have become cherished experiences for which I thank God — and rightly so! While God stays anonymous, coincidences are His way of interacting with the world He created. Importantly, as we have been continually impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with many of our circumstances changing day to day, we can be grateful for His “coincidental” intervention.

As I continue to witness the grace-filled effects of the stewardship way of life on our parish, and in my own life, it is definitely God’s hand at work in our lives of faith. If some identify a coincidence as a “surprise blessing” that lifts the spirits and draws one closer to gratefulness to God, we cannot deny that in those circumstances that God is giving us the grace to live and celebrate our faith. So, let’s celebrate the coincidences!

Celebrate the coincidence that Chesterton himself converted to Catholicism late in his life, yet wrote book after book affirming and defending the Catholic faith long before his conversion. Four years after Chesterton joined the Catholic Church, he wrote a phenomenal book called The Catholic Church and Conversion. It is one of the best works on conversion to Catholicism, as well as a wonderful description of conversion to the stewardship way of life. The same experiences, or “coincidences,” apply when we find ourselves drawn into the understanding, practice and expression of discipleship, known to us as “stewardship.”

Chesterton describes conversion in three steps.

“The convert takes his first step rather unwittingly when he decides he’s going to be fair to the Catholic Church,” he wrote. The convert to stewardship must also dispel the “myths of stewardship” and give it a chance.

This first step of conversion then leads to a long and enjoyable second step, which is the utter fascination of learning what the Catholic Church really does teach. Chesterton says, “It is like discovering a new continent full of strange flowers and fantastic animals, which is at once wild and hospitable.” For the stewardship convert, it is recognizing that stewardship is a practical way of living the Gospel.

It makes sense, and others are doing it with joy and passion. What they have, the convert also wants.

Then, the convert to Catholicism suddenly realizes with a shock that he can no longer be detached and impartial about the Catholic Church. The convert to the stewardship way of life realizes this is the way he or she wants to live — and makes the commitment to do so.

If this were not true of what Christ has called us to be, I would not be writing this today. If this were not true of our commitment to stewardship, you may not be reading this today. And, if this were not true of a stewardship parish such as ours, we would not be the faithful stewards we are today. Wouldn’t you also agree it is a “coincidence” to thank God for each day of our lives?

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Philip Brembah Pastor

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ST. VINCENT de PAUL Founding Parishioners Reflect on

G An early gathering of St. Vincent de Paul takes place in the old Knights of Columbus hall before the original church structure was built.

Construction takes place on the new church building, 1984.

This picture of the original St. Vincent de Paul church building was taken the day ground was broken for the new church.

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44 Years

erri Dunning will never forget when she and her husband, Earl, moved to Arlington in 1965 and drove past a sign proclaiming “Population: 25,000.”

The couple marveled at the low number, only to discover with the 1970 census just how rapid the area’s growth had been. Between 1960 and 1970, the new census revealed, the population had risen to 125,000!

In tandem with our general population boom, the number of Catholics in the area had exploded, as well. In 1969, the Diocese of Fort Worth became a separate entity from the Diocese of Dallas, and by the 1970s, Bishop John Cassata had determined that more parishes were needed in the Fort Worth/ Arlington community. On Leap Day in 1976, Fr. Philip Johnson celebrated the first Mass for St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

Parishioner Gerri Dunning remembers well our parish’s unlikely first location.

“We were in the Knights of Columbus Hall, which at the time was in a strip mall where they worked on cars and that sort of thing,” Gerri says. “We had Mass in one room, and the children stayed in a nursery that was set up in the room with the bar!”

Although the parish began with less than 100 registered families, these enthusiastic parishioners certainly knew how to roll up their sleeves and make things happen! A Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, and even a choir were quickly formed.

Land was acquired, and by December 1977, Masses were moved into the structure that now serves as our administrative building.

That same year, Gerri was surprised to find herself in a new role as parish historian, beginning the 40-plus years of her photo documentation for the church.

“One day in 1977, I was sitting home minding my own business when the phone rang,” Gerri recalls. “It was Fr. Philip Johnson’s secretary, and he wanted to know if I would be willing to organize the pictures people had been handing in to them. So I’ve been taking pictures ever since.

I have an archive of over 130,000 pictures, and the past few months, I’ve been working on tagging all the faces I can.”

From its very first years as a parish, St. Vincent de Paul has been inspired by its patron saint and his devotion to works of charity.

“We’ve always been very much about stewardship,” Gerri says. “Fr. Johnson taught us we were a stewardship parish and

of the St. Vincent de Paul Community “We’ve always been very much about stewardship. Fr. Johnson taught us we were a stewardship parish and that didn’t mean just giving your money, but also sharing your time, talent and treasure. The Ladies of Charity, now known as the Women’s Guild, and Men’s Club have done a lot for the church and the community. We’ve always been noted for how different we were, how welcoming.” — GERRI DUNNING that didn’t mean just giving your money, but also sharing your time, talent and treasure. The Ladies of Charity, now known as the Women’s Guild, and Men’s Club have done a lot for the church and the community. We’ve always been noted for how different we were, how welcoming.”

This charism of St. Vincent de Paul also rings true for John Pearson, who served as our Parish Business Administrator from 1988 to 2016.

“There was a song we sang many times on Sunday that said, ‘Together we shall build a house of God,’ and St. Vincent de Paul was known for his outreach and his giving,” John says.

“So that was a goal from the very beginning — that everyone should give a percentage of their income, and the church spends a percentage of its income on outreach.”

John and his wife, Nicki, were also original members of the parish. In addition to his role as Business Administrator, John has served on our Pastoral Council and Building Committee. He has watched both our physical church structures and our parish family grow over the years.

“We’ve always loved to get together and had a lot of organizations that bring people together — the fall festival and anniversary dance, the fish fry,” John says. “That’s why we built the gym to fit so many people. Nicki and I started a fellowship Sunday very early, where we had coffee after Mass and people would come and talk, it was revised two years ago as Second Sunday.”

Reflecting on her 44 years in the parish and her role as parish historian, Gerri feels a deep love for the St. Vincent de Paul faith community.

“My kids all live in other parts of the state and ask me to move near them,” Gerri says. “And I say, ‘Leave my church?

No!’ I worked very hard to build it. I do feel I built it brick by brick because I went every day to take pictures. I was there twice every day during the construction to take photos so John Pearson could see how things were progressing.”

Looking back with gratitude and looking ahead with great hope, John sees only blessings for our parish.

“St. Vincent de Paul parish had a great past,” he says.

“And, we will have a great future.”

This 1983 rendering displays the new church to be built for St. Vincent de Paul.

The first structure built for St. Vincent de Paul Parish has held many roles over the years, including serving as a multipurpose building and administration offices.

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ST. VINCENT de PAUL Building The Domestic Church

Living Stewardship in Our Family as Pandemic Continues

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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 and affects the way we live our faith and practice

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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.

As Catholics, we often associate stewardship with sharing our time, talents and resources with our parish. We see it as serving 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.

Meet Our Men’s Club

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Sharing Fellowship While Supporting the Parish

ood Christian fellowship isn’t always easy to find, especially for men. So, more than 40 years ago, around the time our parish was founded, a group of men started the Men’s Club as a service and social organization. The group has thrived in the decades since.

The purposes of the club are to “aid in the development and growth of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, to develop fellowship as a way of life and to promote an active interest in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church,” according to the club’s website, svdpmc.org.

According to current President Tom Wallace, the club was formed out of a need and desire for camaraderie among male parishioners. The Men’s Club is led by an elected Board of Directors. Active members meet at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Johnson Activity Center. There are usually about 100 members in attendance, and there are about 200 enrolled members.

Meetings consist of gathering time, a meal, a business meeting, a guest speaker and time for fellowship. Fellowship activities include ping-pong, foosball, cards and visiting.

“We are there to grow together in Christian fellowship and encourage each other to live more dynamically for Christ,” Tom says.

In addition to fellowship and socializing, the group also does fundraisers to benefit the parish. The main events are the Parish Picnic, Lenten fish fry dinners and a Mardi Gras celebration.

Normally the Parish Picnic is held each year in September, near the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul which is Sept. 27.

It is open to the entire parish and community. The Men’s Club handles the food. There is also a live band, inflatables for the kids and Bingo. continued on back cover

Men’s Club members prepare for the Hill Country BBQ in 2019.

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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

Men’s Club

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Mardi Gras takes place on the Saturday before Lent begins. The evening includes food, fellowship, a live and silent auction, and casino card games.

A favorite fundraiser for Tom is the fish fry, which takes place each Friday of Lent, besides Good Friday. About 800 to 1,000 people are served in a two-hour period.

“To see how hard people work at the fish fry to serve, it’s really amazing to see,” he says. “It’s amazing that we serve 1,000 people in two hours. All of the money benefits our church.”

The Men’s Club members donate to specific work at our parish. They also help out around the church with larger projects in order to assist the maintenance

department, and they have helped with landscaping and the construction of a shed.

“We all just step up and do what we can do to help around the parish,” Tom says.

The Men’s Club was going to attend the Texas Rangers opening game this spring, with a tailgate party included as a social outing. There were about 500 people signed up for the event, but it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s amazing how I’ve become closer to the church and have met so many people since I joined the Men’s Club in 2008,” Tom says. “It’s a great opportunity for fellowship, and to support our clergy and do what we can for our parish.”

All men 18 and older are invited to attend and join Men’s Club. For more information, please email Tom Wallace at president@svdpmc.org.