Catholic Spirit, January 2020

January 2020, Vol. 38, No. 1

 The official publication of the Diocese of Austin 

En Español: Páginas 27-30

Encountering Christ Campaign exceeds $85 million goal

By Darci Swisher | Correspondent

The Encountering Christ campaign has raised $96 million in pledges, thanks to the generosity of more than 18,000 families in the Diocese of Austin.

“This is a historic milestone for our beloved church here in Central Texas,” Bishop Joe Vásquez said. “The

effect of our efforts will be felt in our diocese for generations to come.”

The diocese has seen many changes since its founding in 1947, with the number of Catholics having grown by 25 percent in the last dozen years alone.

Bishop Vásquez initiated Encountering Christ to provide a vibrant and secure future for the diocese and meet

Bishop Joe Vásquez greets a parishioner after the Mass celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 7 at San José Parish in Austin. With joy and thanksgiving, the bishop recently announced the Encountering Christ Capital Campaign reached its goal of $85 million in pledges. More than 18,000 families have made a pledge to date. (Photo by Gabriel Lujan)

the goals outlined in the diocesan Pastoral Plan, Encounter that Leads to Transformation.

“We are continuing to build a culture of encounter in our diocese,” Bishop Vásquez said. “Together, we are supporting our clergy, strengthening our parishes, forming emerging disciples and embracing discipleship.”

As with the Our Faith, Our Legacy campaign, parishes and missions are the largest beneficiaries of Encountering Christ. All 127 parishes and missions participated in the campaign in a series of waves that began in January 2018. They will retain 30 percent of the gifts they collect up to their individual goals, as well as 70 percent of any amount collected over goal.

“In gratitude to God, we celebrate this success, remembering that the Encountering Christ campaign is ongoing,” Bishop Vásquez said.

Now that parishes have concluded the active fundraising phase of Encountering Christ, they are entering the fulfillment phase, a five-year period when those who made pledges are able to fulfill them, said Scott Whitaker, director of stewardship and development.

“Parishes will receive their share of campaign funds as parishioners fulfill their pledges,” he said. “As every dollar comes in as a gift or a payment of a pledge, it is split 30-70 between the diocese and the parish it was pledged to, with the parish share placed in a special account.”

More than $22 million in gifts and pledge payments have already been collected, Whitaker said. As funds are received, parishes can begin tackling the projects they identified for their campaign case statements.

“It is exciting to see parishes from the early waves already completing projects,” Whitaker said. “While many

of these local needs involve maintaining and upgrading facilities or paying debt, they are integral to ensuring parishes can continue to provide their parishioners with more encounters with Christ.”

The diocese must also wait for pledges to be fulfilled to begin the projects it identified for Encountering Christ. Campaign funds have already been directed to the seminarian endowment and to the pension plan and trust for retired priests.

Father Jonathan Raia, the diocesan director of vocations, is thankful Encountering Christ is helping ensure the diocese has happy, healthy and holy men entering the priesthood.

He had a special message for those who have donated to Encountering Christ: “Thank you for your gift to Encountering Christ, and for investing in the priesthood and the men being formed to serve as our shepherds.”

In addition, the expansion of the St. John Paul II Residence for Priests in Georgetown is now underway. The residence currently provides a comfortable home and close-knit community for 16 retired priests of our diocese. They share Mass, meals and activities; access transportation to and from appointments; and receive care and support for medical needs. The diocese is allocating $2 million from Encountering Christ to construct four additional duplexes to bring the capacity to 24.

Donors will be updated on progress in the diocese and at parishes through social media, on the campaign website, at www.encounteringchristcampaign. org, and in the Catholic Spirit and the diocesan Reflections newsletter, Whitaker said.

“As more pledges are fulfilled, more items will be checked off the diocese’s list,” he said. “It is very exciting.”

Bishop’s Interview

Pro-life advocate

Secrecy ends

Español

Bishop Joe Vásquez discusses the sacrament of confirmation.

Abby Johnson seeks to lead people away from abortion.

PAGE 19

PAGE 5

Pope Francis calls for an end to the secrecy surrounding abuse cases. PAGE 8

Parroquia joven de Hutto se ha convertido en una ‘familia de familias.’ PAGE 30

2

VOICES

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

THE MISSION OF THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

As the official newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin, the Catholic Spirit is dedicated to providing information, education and formation for the Catholic community of Central Texas. This mission calls for the newspaper: • to provide readers with an understanding of our Catholic faith and traditions; • to be a primary source of information on Catholic issues relevant to the community; • to be a unifying element for faith communities, both rural and urban, throughout Central Texas; • to show respect for and appreciation of all cultural groups and traditions; • to emphasize topics affirming the Catholic community and life, while acknowledging the humanity of the community and examining, with courage, topics that challenge and encourage growth in the faith.

Blessed Franz Jagerstatter and the Gospel of life

HOW TO SUBMIT INFORMATION Deadline for submission of articles or information for the Catholic Spirit is the 10th of the month for publication in the following month’s edition. Deadline for the February issue is Jan. 10.

Submit material in one of the following ways: • E-mail to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org.

• Mail to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723 Catholic Spirit has unrestricted editing rights.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription rates are $12 for one year. To subscribe, send a check payable to Catholic Spirit to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723. Members of a parish in the Austin Diocese may receive the newspaper for a reduced rate. Contact your parish staff for more information.

ADDRESS CHANGES Send all address changes to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723. Please include your parish’s name and city. If receiving duplicate copies of the Catholic Spirit, call (512) 949-2443 or e-mail catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org.

STAFF Publisher: Bishop Joe S. Vásquez Editor: Shelley Metcalf Assistant Editor: Christian R. González Advertising: Shelley Metcalf Spanish translation: Gina Dominguez Columnists: Thad Crouch, Father Tom Frank, Mary Lou Gibson, Father Paul-Michael Piega and Luisa de Poo Correspondents: Alfredo E. Cardenas, Ricardo Gandara, Enedelia J. Obregón, Carla Smith, Darci Swisher and Mary P. Walker Catholic Spirit subscribes to Catholic News Service (CNS) and is a member of the Catholic Press Association. Catholic Spirit cannot be held liable or responsible for the content of any advertisment appearing within these pages. Advertisements are solely the responsibility of each advertiser. Misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be directed to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau.

By Thad Crouch | Guest Columnist

Award-winning Hollywood director and former Austinite, Terrence Malick’s new film about Franz and Franziska Jagerstatter, “A Hidden Life,” opened on Dec. 13. It beautifully tells of their trials, love and faith through dialogue, action, narration of their actually letters, as well as gorgeous cinematography juxtaposing light with Nazism.

Blessed Franz was a martyr who witnessed to the Gospel of life amidst the Nazi culture of death. Born in 1907, he was “unruly” in his younger years; after a conversion experience, he married, honeymooned on trip to the Vatican, reared three daughters and farmed in the village of St. Radegund, Austria.

Nazi violence to innocent peoples troubled Franz. Many Austrian Catholics were swept up in the culturally acceptable threats to human life and dignity of that time and place. Some were blind to Nazi’s threats. Others fearfully participated to survive.

Franz discerned to be a conscientious objector to “service” in the World War II German Army.

He was an ordinary, humble farmer, not a peace activist. He based his stand on Catholic Just War Teaching rooted in the bases of all other Catholic social teachings — the sanctity of life and love of God and others.

It may seem remarkable that a simple farmer and lay sacristan knew Just War Teaching if not for two things. First, in Franz’s boyhood, his father died during World War I, a war in which nations inflicted unprecedented massive deaths upon each other. Secondly, World War I engendered the

PRAY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE!

Copyright 2020 by the Austin Diocese. All rights reserved.

JANUARY 21-29, 2020

Reproduction of any editorial content, photograph, art or design is prohibited without written permission of the publisher Catholic Spirit (ISSN 0896-2715) is published 11 times annually (monthly except one issue in July/August) by the Austin Diocese.

9 Days for Life is a novena for the proteccon of human life. Each day’s intennon is accompanied by a short refleccon and suggested accons to help build a culture of life. Join today at www.9daysforlife.com!

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez (publisher) 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB Austin, TX 78723

4 WAYS TO JOIN

9DaysforLife.com

Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas.

Image: A mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe decorates a side altar in the Church of Santa Maria della Famiglia at the Vaacan. Dec. 15. (CNS photo/Paul Haring.)

POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Catholic Spirit 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB Austin, Texas 78723

The 9daysforlife.com website provides ways to join the novena for life from Jan. 21-29. Participants can subscribe to daily emails or text messages and get other resources at www.9daysforlife.com. (USCCB image)

broadest, most effective global peace movement in history. It prompted declarations of Nov. 11 as “Armistice Day” and the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which outlawed war. The pact was signed by the U.S. in 1928 and eventually by 80 other nations.

Look it up!

Franz understood German war motivations were the same as World War I — political and economic advantage — the very Cambridge Dictionary definition of militarism. If perpetrated by a non-nation, such acts are defined as first degree murder, mass shootings and terrorism.

Franz’ neighbors, family, pastor and bishop asked him to think of national duty and his children. Franz assumed his bishop feared he was a spy intent on arresting bishops.

Franz responded that there was no guarantee he would survive the war, he didn’t want his children to have a Nazi father, and that we should prioritize eternity over temporal life.

Franz became a despised traitor and was imprisoned because he had become holy enough to act on Christ’s command to love our neighbors and enemies above patriotism. He thought of other fathers, wives and children in other nations. His wife, Franziska, was also his prison pen pal who painfully supported his loving act of faith.

Franz was executed Aug. 9, 1943. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI beatified him in October 2007.

Franziska was present for the Mass, she was 94 years old!

In our own time and place, the culture of death threatens human life and dignity through abortion, the refugee crisis, racism and assisted suicide. For decades all three of our most recent popes have also pointed out threats of execution, ecological harm to creation’s capacity to sustain the breadth of human life, militarism and unjust wars. Each of which violates church teachings and commands to love neighbors and enemies.

Today it is still illegal in the U.S. for troops to conscientiously object to unjust war based in Just War Teaching and — while highly unlikely —such troops can still be legally executed.

Blessed Franz’ witness of noncooperation with the culture of death’s militarism calls us to stand for love and the Gospel of life today.

Thad Crouch is a parishioner of St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin.

OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS Bishop Joe Vásquez has made the following appointments: • Father Adrian Chishimba has been appointed parochial vicar of St. Mary Cathedral in Austin, effective Nov. 25.

• Deacon Channing Fell, currently assigned to St. Mary, Church of the Assumption in West, has been granted retirement status effective Jan. 1.

ADVISORY Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Corey Don Cunningham is requested to notify Gloria Villarreal as soon as possible at (512) 949-2482.

JANUARY 2020

CENTRAL TEXAS

3

Our Lady leads procession through streets of downtown Austin

A diocesan celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe was held Dec. 7 in downtown Austin. Participants gathered at St. Mary Cathedral where they received a blessing from Bishop Joe Vásquez, who then led the procession through the streets of Austin to San José Parish. Bishop Vásquez then celebrated Mass for nearly 850 people at San José Parish. Parishes throughout the diocese also celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. The feast day celebrates the appearance of the Blessed Mother to San Juan Diego in the 16th century. (All photos by Gabriel Lujan, except photo at top left, which is from Cristina Quintanilla)

Catholic Charities luncheon raises more than $700,000

By Catholic Spirit Staff

Catholic Charities of Central Texas hosted the 13th annual Creating Hope in Central Texas Luncheon on Dec. 6 in Austin. More than $700,000 was raised in just one hour thanks to many generous guests and supporters. The money will go directly to the clients and families Catholic Charities serves through their six programs: counseling services, disaster response, financial stability, parenting and pregnancy resources, immigration legal services and veteran services.

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Catholic Charities introduced their guests to a new luncheon format.

The majority of the program consisted of a panel discussion moderated

by Judy Maggio, a longtime Austin journalist. Maggio was joined by a Catholic Charities client, volunteer, program director and parish partner to discuss the effect of their services across the CCCTX 25-county service region. As echoed by the luncheon’s

panelists, Catholic Charities is a lifeline and vital resource for those living in poverty throughout the Central Texas community.

As their major yearly fundraiser, donations made at the Creating Hope luncheon allow Catholic Charities to plan for future growth across the Diocese of Austin. To donate, visit www.ccctx.org/donate.

The panelists featured at the 13th annual CCCTX Luncheon included (from left) Melinda Vaughn, a volunteer; David Stephens, a client; Judy Maggio, the moderator; Father Chris Downey, a community partner; and Justin Estep, director of the CCCTX’s Immigration Legal Services program.

In photo at left are Father Jairo Sandoval-Pliego and parishioners from San José Parish in Austin. (Photos courtesy Kara Henderson)

CENTRAL TEXAS

4

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Austin tribunal members attend Roman Rota conference

By Paul Madrid | Special Correspondent

In November, members of the diocesan tribunal participated in a week-long conference in Rome on marriage and the family, which ended with meeting Pope Francis.

The Tribunal of the Roman Rota held a formation course in Rome on the two Synods of Bishops on marriage and the family and Pope Francis’ exhortation “Amoris Laetitia.” Pope Francis charged the Rota with forming ministers for the pastoral care of couples in difficult marital situations.

Father Christopher Ferrer, the diocesan judicial vicar, said the diocese collaborated with the Roman Rota in 2018 when the dean of the Rota, Msgr.

Pio Vito Pinto, conducted a formation course in Austin for diocesan clergy.

“Msgr. Pinto later asked Bishop Joe Vásquez for the diocese’s assistance in preparing an English edition of the textbook used for these formation courses held in Rome and around the

world,” Father Ferrer said. Bishop Vásquez assigned the Tribunal to translate and edit the textbook from Italian.

The English edition of “Marriage and the Family in the Synodal Journey of Pope Francis,” an indispensable resource for understanding Pope Francis’ teaching, is available for purchase from the Tribunal.

While in Rome, members of the tribunal had dinner with Msgr. Pinto and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich, wife of former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

“An important part of the conversation at dinner was the celebration of 35 years of formal U.S.–Vatican diplomatic relations,” said Deacon Michael Forbes, a canonist, tribunal judge and former member of the U.S. House of

Our Kids at Heart congratulates Father Mark Hamlet for receiving the Kellerman Memorial Leadership Award for his dedication to Catholic Education.

OKAH was founded by Father Mark Hamlet to support the Parish Partner Program throughout the Diocese and to raise funds for tuition support to low-income families. We currently provide tuition support for over 150 students, including the above graduating Seniors from San Juan Diego Catholic High School. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Representatives. Deacon Forbes met Ambassador Gingrich through her work as a staffer on the House Committee on Agriculture.

“It was good to share with the ambassador the work of the Rota in advancing the Holy Father’s mission to wounded couples and to hear of the important points of collaboration between the United States and the Holy See,” Father Ferrer said.

Father Michael O’Connor, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Austin, and transitional Deacons Zack Rodriguez and Chris Smith, who are studying for the priesthood in Rome, also attended the conference.

The final session took place in the Clementine Hall where Pope Francis gave an address on ministry to broken couples. The pope met personally, but briefly, with each of the course’s 500 participants includ-

For up-to-date information from the Diocese of Austin, visit On the Internet at www.austindiocese.org On Facebook search “Diocese of Austin” On Twitter, go to @AustinDiocese

Members of the diocesan tribunal attended a conference in Rome at the end of November. During their time in Rome, they visited with U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich, Newt Gingrich and Msgr.

Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota. (Photo courtesy Deacon Michael Forbes)

ing bishops, judicial vicars and judges from around the world.

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the involvement of married couples in marriage preparation courses for the engaged and helping to heal those in broken relationships as St. Paul’s frequent collaborators Sts. Priscilla and Aquila did.

“Msgr. Pinto referred to this couple throughout the conference,” Deacon Forbes said. “By doing so, the Monsignor was teaching us how this kind of outreach involving well-formed married couples goes all the way back to the church’s apostolic foundations.”

Deacon Smith, who studies at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family, said Pope Francis’ words on journeying with couples were important, “especially those who are frail and wounded so that they might find the soothing and healing of Christ through the church.”

Meeting the pope was one of the highlights of the conference for each of the diocesan delegation.

“It was beyond beautiful,” Deacon Forbes said. “I broke down when I came back to my chair.”

Father Ferrer was “happy to hear that his holiness wants our diocese to continue advancing this vision for married life.” Pope Francis told him, “Go on and continue with your work.”

JANUARY 2020

CENTRAL TEXAS

5

Abby Johnson: Mother, wife, convert, advocate for life

By Ricardo Gandara | Correspondent

Many people have a turning point in their lives where they wake up, correct their ways or choose a different path. Abby Johnson’s life-changing moment happened on an abortion table where as a Planned Parenthood worker, she said she witnessed a 13-week old baby struggle to move away from a probe during an abortion procedure.

Eventually, she converted to Catholicism. It saved her marriage, yes, but more importantly it redeemed her from working at Planned Parenthood where she watched abortions and oversaw a Texas clinic that performed them.

“Coming into the church was the best thing we’ve done as a family,” she said. “The sacraments were what helped me heal after leaving such an evil industry and getting to know Christ in such an intimate way. Not only did I forgive people in the industry, it was a redemption for my past sins.”

It has been a harsh reality since 2009 when she left Planned Parenthood, having served as director of the clinic in Bryan. She has become an outspoken pro-life advocate and has taken her message around the world exposing what she says is the reality at Planned Parenthood: providing abortion services across the country. She wrote a book, “Unplanned” and last spring her story was chronicled in the release of a movie by the same name.

“I’ve watched it about 100 times and it is an accurate accounting,” she said.

She will also bring her story to the Saints and Scholars, Celebrating Catholic Schools fundraiser on Jan. 11 (www.csdatx.org).

Johnson hides nothing of her messy past, which includes having two abortions of her own, one chemical and one surgical.

“I’ve heard it all; I’ve done a lot” she tells high school students in one of many presentations found on YouTube.

Her story unfolds in college where the girl with a Christian upbringing went “a little bonkers. I partied all the time, drank all the time, missed classes because I was hung over,’” she told the high school students.

Then a 20-year-old student at Texas

A&M, she found the wrong crowd and got pregnant in 2000. The man she was dating expressed his opinion, and she ended up at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston where she had an abortion with no complications.

At a volunteer fair at school she approached a table hosted by Planned Parenthood. She learned of its services: pregnancy prevention, education and testing.

“I heard the pitch and fell for it,” she said. She became a volunteer escort.

She enjoyed the work. “We were providing contraception to the masses, even 10-year-olds. We were saving women from death on the street from illegal abortionists. I believed I was doing the right thing,” she said.

Eventually she was hired and became a POC (product of conception) technician. “That is someone tasked with taking everything suctioned from a uterus, putting it in a dish and reassembling all the body parts to ensure we got all the parts and nothing remains in uterus,” she said.

She rose the ranks and became clinic director in Bryan, supervising doctors and nurses who performed abortions. She had no medical credentials. She was a licensed therapist with a master’s degree in psychology. She was named “Employee of the Year” in 2008.

Things began to unravel in August 2009. She met with a supervisor who told her there was a new goal to double the number of abortions from the previous year. She walked out of her meeting and met her goal. But something, gnawed at her.

“Why were we doubling our numbers when our mission was to prevent abortions and provide preventative care and education?” she asked. When she questioned the strategy, she was reprimanded, she said.

A few weeks later in September 2009, she was asked to participate in an ultrasound guided abortion procedure, something against protocol because the standard was to perform abortions without the use of ultrasound guidance.

The visiting doctor from Austin called it a “safer” procedure.

The procedure was the turning point in her life.

“I held the ultrasound probe on the woman’s body. The woman was about 13 weeks pregnant. The heartbeat and

brain activity were there and the organs were developed …

I saw the child jump and its arms flail to get away from the probe. He had no place to go, but he tried to move to another part of the uterus. The doctor repositioned the probe and asked the technician to turn on the suction instrument.”

She stood there in “total shock.” She thought about her then 4-year-old daughter Grace and seeing her in utero at 12 weeks during an ultrasound procedure of her own.

“I looked at that 13-week old baby and thought, ‘What if that was Grace?’” she said.

Johnson had heard enough and seen enough.

“There is a question all women ask: Will my baby feel it? Planned Parenthood’s answer was that a baby doesn’t develop sensory until 28 weeks of pregnancy. How had I believed the abortion lie and the rhetoric?” she asked.

She resigned in October 2009 and joined the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life, a pro-life organization. When she began telling her story, it became national news. Planned Parenthood sued Johnson, an attempt to keep her from telling her story. Eventually, a court sided with Johnson and she continued her message on the national circuit.

Johnson’s story also came under fire by three publications. In late 2009, Texas Monthly dug holes in her account, then followed up in April 2019 with “Sorting Fact and Fiction in the story of Pro-Life celebrity Abby Johnson.” The investigative piece specifically poked holes in Johnson’s participation in the September 2009 sonogram abortion procedure.

Planned Parenthood asserted the procedure never took place. Records the agency provided the magazine don’t show an abortion beyond 10

Abby Johnson travels around the world educating the public on prolife issues, advocating for the unborn and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry. She is the founder of “And Then There Were None.” (Photo courtesy www.abbyjohnson.org)

weeks of gestation. Johnson’s claim all along has been that the abortion procedure she witnessed was that of a 13-week old boy.

In April 2019, Johnson reputed Texas Monthly’s assertions in the conservative online magazine “The Federalist” saying Planned Parenthood’s records were false. “This isn’t a trustworthy organization,” she wrote.

“Understand that Planned Parenthood isn’t great at keeping records and the records they do manage to keep are often not correct or are deceptively altered,” she said.

Johnson’s message everywhere is dictated by the truth, she said, which explains why she holds nothing back during presentations. “That’s really important to me. I’ve lived a life where honesty was not valued; we held the truth back from women. After I left the clinic, I wanted to live only the truth,” she said.

These days, Johnson continues on the paid speaking circuit and runs “And Then There Were None” (www. abbyjohnson.org), a ministry that helps abortion workers leave their jobs. To date, she has helped more than 430 abortion workers leave the industry, she said.

She and her husband, Doug, have seven children and live in Pflugerville.

6

CENTRAL TEXAS

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Young Hutto parish has become a ‘family of families’

By Alfredo E. Cardenas | Correspondent

St. Patrick Parish in Hutto will celebrate its 20th anniversary on May 1. In those two decades, the parish has endeavored to secure its identity in the Hutto community and it has found a permanent home. Today the parish is ready for the future with a new pastor at the helm.

Father Brian Eilers, who began his assignment as pastor of St. Patrick on July 1, said he wants the parish to be family oriented.

“I want it to be a family of families,” he said.

In 2000 Bishop John McCarthy issued a decree of erection for the new parish and appointed Father Andy Gunn, a priest convert from the Episcopal church, as its founding pastor.

Under Father Gunn the community was small and everyone knew one another. Founded to serve the Catholics in northeast Austin, Father Gunn promptly sought a temporary site while the parish looked for a more permanent home. For the first month, the small community of 12 celebrated Mass at St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville. They then arranged to hold Mass at Dessau Elementary School. According to the parish’s history, a “church on wheels took form.”

They soon outgrew the elementary school, so they moved to the Dessau Middle School.

On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father James Garneau, a priest from Raleigh, NC, celebrated the Spanish Mass at St. Patrick Parish in Hutto. The parish offers Mass in Spanish every Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

(Photo by Alfredo Cardenas)

After two years, they moved to a rented space at the Pflugerville Office Park while they continued to look for land to build a church. Negotiations for a property on Dessau Road fell through, but the street selected for the church’s location still bears the name of St. Patrick Place. Parishioners continued looking for a site for their sanctuary and settled for another rental space on Gregg Lane. Finally, in 2007, the diocese announced that St. Patrick was moving to Hutto, which had no Catholic church. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Dec. 16, 2007, at 2500 Limmer Loop. Bishop Gregory Aymond dedicated a new multipurpose facility on 19 acres of land on Aug. 24, 2008. The parish of about 500 families finally had a home to call its own.

Sadly, Father Gunn was there only in spirit, having succumbed to cancer in 2006. Still, his legacy was secure.

The small congregation became a family, and under the leadership of Father Keith Koehl the parish continued to grow.

Then the economic downturn stifled the growth in the Hutto community, and the parish numbers stopped increasing. The remaining parishioners were saddled with a huge debt. Many left for neighboring parishes. To add to the parish’s challenges, priests came and went leaving the community with very little consistency.

Still the parish persevered and regained its footing and began to increase its numbers slowly. By the time Father Eilers arrived in mid2019, the congregation numbered 1,000 registered families. The numbers continue to rise as the town of Hutto also grows.

Father Eilers said the parish recently added a Spanish Mass to help meet the pastoral needs of an underserved group in Hutto.

Planning for a Spanish Mass started last

September with a group of parishioners, many of them bilingual, along with people who had called the parish office to inquire about a Spanish Mass. They planned for different ministries, such as choir, lectors, hospitality ministers, altar servers, etc. Ministers from the other Masses helped train the Spanish Mass volunteers.

Father Eilers said they also received help from pastors at neighboring parishes in Taylor, Pflugerville, Round Rock and Georgetown. Three hundred fifty people attended the first Spanish Mass, and about 275 attend on a weekly basis.

“We already had a lot of things in Spanish or bilingual,” Father Eilers said. Some people were already involved in Spanish Masses at other parishes and did not want to leave there even though they live in Hutto.

“We’ll keep inviting them,” he said.

He plans to introduce an international lay movement called “Teams of Our Lady,” in which couples come together to pray, share a meal together and live out family life.

“The culture doesn’t tell us what family life means anymore,” Father Eilers said. “My concern as a pastor is that as we grow, we do so in faith together and not just putting on the Mass for people. We need catechesis and daily prayer.”

He believes the family groups will give parishioners a sense of belonging and create a more vibrant, stronger bond within the community. He also wants to look at ways to minister to parishioners who are not married.

Within Hutto’s population, Father Eilers believes there are still many Catholics not attending Mass. He hopes to increase the parish numbers through a mail-marketing campaign,

Father Will Straten (right), dean of the Georgetown/Round Rock Deanery, welcomed Father Brian Eilers as the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Hutto. (Photo courtesy Denise Aponte)

probably before Ash Wednesday. The pastor is also considering offering 15-minute Ash Wednesday services every 30 minutes to help people reconnect with the Catholic faith.

St. Patrick is the largest faith community in Hutto, and Father Eilers is working to stay connected to the greater community. He knows the school administrators by name, attends local football games, and tries to be involved throughout the community. The parish is also a significant contributor to the local food bank, he said.

We are called “to bring the Good News and the fullness of the Catholic faith to everyone,” he said. We must share “the treasure and depth of faith we have as Catholics, like the sacraments such as Eucharist, reconciliation, and marriage.”

“We can’t just sit and serve those who come in through our doors, that’s not why we exist,” Father Eilers added. “We exist for everyone who lives in our territory. So I want to help this parish to become ambassadors, to invite all the people to enjoy the fruits of the Kingdom, which the Catholic Church offers.”

For more information about St. Patrick Parish in Hutto, visit www.stpatrickhutto.org or call (512) 759-3712.

CENTRAL TEXAS

JANUARY 2020

7

Your gift supports diocesan ministries that provide: formation for future priests, care for our active and retired priests, hope for the poor, comfort for the sick, education for children, defense of life and strength for families.

Yo soy la Vid

Clergy Formation

$2,755,000

Catholic Education

$1,044,000

Life, Charity & Justice $953,000 Spirituality & Worship $564,000 Pastoral Ministries

2019

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5

u Cash, check or money order u Credit or debit card u Electronic fund transfer from bank accounts u For secure giving: www.austindiocese.org/csa u Text dollar amount to (512) 829-3826 u One-time gift or over 10 months u Stock and IRA: Contact the Stewardship & Development office at (512) 949-2450

Diocese of Austin 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB Austin, TX 78723

Maneras de Dar u Efectivo, cheque o giro bancario u Tarjeta de crédito o débito u Transferencia electrónica de fondos de cuentas bancarias u Medio de pago seguro: www.austindiocese.org/csa u Mandar cantidad por mensaje de texto al (512) 829-3826 u Una sola donación o a través de 10 meses u Acciones y cuenta de fondos para el retiro (IRA): Contacte a la oficina de Corresponsabilidad y Desarrollo llamando al (512) 949-2450 Facebook “f ” Logo

Telephone (512) 949-2400 Fax (512) 949-2520

2020

Su donación apoya ministerios diocesanos que proveen: formación para futuros sacerdotes, cuidado de nuestros sacerdotes activos y retirados, esperanza para los pobres, consuelo para los enfermos, educación para niños, la defensa de la vida y solidez para familias.

Yo soy la vid y ustedes las ramas. El que permanece en mí y yo en él, ése da mucho fruto, pero sin mí, no pueden hacer nada. ~Juan 15:5

Ways to Give

$484,000

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f ” Logo

Formación del Clero

$2,755,000

Educación Católica

$1,044,000

Vida, Caridad & Justicia

$953,000

Espiritualidad & Culto Divino

$564,000

Ministerios Pastorales

$484,000

2019

2020

CMYK / .eps

@AustinDiocese

www.austindiocese.org/csa

8

IN OU R W ORLD

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Pope lifts secrecy obligation for those who have been abused

By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse.

“The person who files the report, the person who alleges to have been harmed and the witnesses shall not be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to matters involving the case,” the pope ordered in a new “Instruction On the Confidentiality of Legal Proceedings,” published Dec. 17.

In an accompanying note, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, said the change regarding the “pontifical secret” has nothing to do with the seal of the sacrament of confession.

“The absolute obligation to observe the sacramental seal,” he said, “is an obligation imposed on the priest by reason of the position he holds in administering the sacrament of confession and not even the penitent can free him of it.”

The instruction was published by the Vatican along with changes to the already-updated “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela” (“Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments”), the 2001 document issued by St. John Paul II outlining procedures for the investigation and trial of any member of the clergy accused of sexually abusing a child or vulnerable adult or accused of acquiring, possessing or distributing child pornography.

In the first of the amendments, Pope Francis changed the definition of child pornography. Previously the subject was a person under the age of 14. The new description of the crime says, “The acquisition, possession or distribution by a cleric of pornographic images of minors under the age of 18, for purposes of sexual gratification, by whatever means or using whatever technology.”

In describing the procedural norms for how the tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to be composed and conducted, Pope Francis has removed the requirement that the legal representative of the accused be a priest. The law now reads: “The role of advocate or proc-

urator is carried out by a member of the faithful possessing a doctorate in canon law, who is approved by the presiding judge of the college.”

But the abolition of the pontifical secret over the entire Vatican process is the greatest change made. And, not only are victims and witnesses free to discuss the case, the amended law specifies that the still-in-effect obligation of Vatican officials to maintain confidentiality “shall not prevent the fulfillment of the obligations laid down in all places by civil laws, including any reporting obligations, and the execution of enforceable requests of civil judicial authorities.”

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Vatican’s chief abuse investigator, told America Magazine the new law makes clear that “anybody who discloses misconduct or a crime and anybody who is impacted by the misconduct or the crime, and the witnesses, should never be subject to a vow or a promise of silence on the fact that they have reported.”

The new law, he said, explicitly states people’s “moral duty” to cooperate with civil authorities in reporting and investigating the crime of abuse. “Moreover, there is an obligation not to bind people who disclose misconduct or crimes by any promise or vow of silence,” he explained.

In a separate interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Scicluna described as an “epochal change” the pope’s decision to drop the “pontifical secret” — the highest level of confidentiality. “That means, of course, the question of transparency now is being implemented at the highest level,” he said.

The new rules do not mean that documents from Vatican abuse investigations and trials will be made public, he said, but “they are available for authorities, or people who are interested parties, and authorities who have a statutory jurisdiction over the matter.”

In the past, when a government or court asked the Vatican for information on a case, the response usually was that the material was covered by “pontifical secret.” Now, Archbishop Scicluna said, once “all the formalities of international law” are fulfilled, communication with other authorities “and the sharing of information and documentation are facilitated.”

In September 2017, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors asked Pope Francis to reconsider Vatican norms maintaining the imposition of “pontifical secret” in the church’s judicial handling of clerical sex abuse and other grave crimes.

The secret ensures cases are dealt with in strict confidentiality. Vatican experts have said it was designed to protect the dignity of everyone involved, including the victim, the accused, their families and their communities.

But when Pope Francis called the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences to the Vatican for a summit on the abuse crisis in February, victims and experts alike urged a revision of the policy.

Linda Ghisoni, a canon lawyer and undersecretary for laity at the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, told the summit removing the pontifical secret from abuse cases would reverse a situation or the impression of a situation where secrecy “is used to hide problems rather than protect the values at stake,” including the

In a decision published Dec. 17, Pope Francis abolished the obligation of secrecy for abuse victims during Vatican trials and processes.

(CNS photo/Evandro Inetti, pool)

confidentiality of the victims and the right of an accused to a fair trial.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, told the summit that removing the pontifical secret would promote transparency in a scandal where the lack of transparency has meant “the rights of victims were effectively trampled underfoot and left to the whims of individuals.”

In his commentary, Bishop Arrieta noted that already in May with the publication of “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) on procedures for handling allegations of abuse or of the cover-up of abuse, Pope Francis already banned imposing confidentiality agreements on victims.

The bishop also took pains to note that the abolition of absolute secrecy — the “pontifical secret,” which is invoked with an oath — was not the same thing as removing all obligations for confidentiality.

The “secrecy of the office” still applies to Vatican officials and others involved in an investigation or trial of a cleric accused of abuse or of a bishop or religious superior accused of cover-up. Except for sharing information with civil authorities, the basic professional secrecy serves, as the new law says, to protect “the good name, image and privacy of all persons involved.”

IN OU R W ORLD

JANUARY 2020

9

Mom who lost son to suicide seeks to educate, spread hope

By Mary Solberg | Catholic News Service

Three years ago, Betty Koscinski, 75, lost her son to suicide. She now spends most of her time and energy spreading hope and educating others about mental illness.

“Not many people at my age start out on a new path,” said Koscinski, a member of Notre Dame Parish in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

Before her son Joe’s death in 2016 at age 41, she already had been working for 10 years as a behavioral specialist consultant, a mobile therapist and a program integrity consultant.

She gave presentations on stress management, eating disorders, depression and suicide prevention.

Earlier, she taught theology and physical education for 19 years at Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage.

Nothing in her professional background prepared her for the shock of losing her own son. But it did, however, provide the resources and skills

necessary to begin sharing her grief journey in new ways.

Since Joe’s death, she developed a 90-minute seminar, titled “Stop the Stigma.” She weaves together her son’s day-to-day struggles up to his tragic death. She also discusses the myths and misunderstandings about mental illness, as well as important information about suicide prevention.

“My hope is to save lives through education,” she told Faith magazine of the Diocese of Erie.

Additionally, Koscinski is a speaker for Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement. The weeklong program is designed to guide interactions between police officers and those living with mental illness.

In November, she spoke for the second time at the Crisis Intervention Association of Pennsylvania’s state conference in Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania.

She also is a trained facilitator for a program called “Talk Saves Lives,” endorsed by the American Foundation

of Suicide Prevention. She discusses suicide, especially as it pertains to youth.

Additionally, she has given related presentations to several public high schools in two Pennsylvania counties, and at Kennedy Catholic. She’s hoping to offer her expertise and personal insight to other Catholic schools.

“I want people to understand that those who suffer from mental illness are not crazy. They are just people like you and me who got dealt a very unfair card in life, a chemical imbalance in their brain which affects their thinking, their behaviors and the choices they make,” Koscinski said. “I want to educate people about the signs to look for when a loved one might be contemplating suicide.”

According to statistics from the World Health Organization; Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, or SAVE; and the Centers for Disease Control: • Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between ages 10 and 34. It is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between ages of 35 and 54.

• Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The highest suicide rates in the U.S. are among whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives.

At one of her presentations to law enforcement, a burly police officer came up to Koscinski and gave her a huge hug.

“He held me in his arms and thanked me,” Koscinski said. “He said he would never look at someone with mental illness in the same way again.”

Her three years of grief, she said, have turned to light.

“My life has meaning and purpose again,” she said. “It’s so gratifying for me at the age of 75 to know that I am making a difference, giving people a better understanding of mental illness, and offering hope to those who are struggling.”

January 18, 2020 - 8:30 AM February 2, 2020

PICTURED ARE STUDENTS RECEIVING NATIONAL MERIT RECOGNITION IN 20192020.

SAVIOCHS.ORG/ADMISSION

IN OU R W ORLD

10

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Knight brings more than clean water to Guatemalans

By Andrew Butler | Catholic News Service

The only water available to the people in the mountain region of Santa Maria in Jalapa, Guatemala, was bacteria-infested.

Women and girls would spend as much as eight hours per day hauling the water for their families. They would walk an hour one way down a mountain slope, then trek back up carrying the water on their heads.

This was a daily routine for Susana.

“It wasn’t a clean river,” Susana said. “The pit had a lot of waste. Dogs would come by and drink the water.

Whatever kind of animal came too.

That water is very dirty. Very contaminated.”

If it’s not enough that drinking the water ran the risk of illness and disease, carrying the heavy water containers caused spinal issues for generations of women. But the bacteria-infested water seemed the villagers’ only option. They could only hope that the conditions would somehow improve.

That hope was fulfilled by Ted van

der Zalm, a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Catharine’s Council 1394 in Ontario, who founded Wells of Hope with his wife, Miriam, in 2004 to bring clean water, education and basic health care to the poor.

The couple had a decade of experience drilling water in Africa and brought their knowledge to Guatemala after learning about the plight of residents in Santa Maria. At the time, they had four young children, three still in diapers.

“My wife and I were talking,” van der Zalm recalled. “We said, ‘Look, God has blessed us with a beautiful home. Maybe the home was not meant just for us. Let’s go to the bank with our home, get a loan against our home, we’ll buy a drilling rig.’“ The van der Zalms drove their rig from Ontario to Guatemala. Along the way, members of the Knights of Columbus and their families provided lodging, meals and gas money. When the van der Zalms arrived at their destination, they pitched tents and started drilling.

For his commitment to serving

Retreats at Cedarbrake 5602 N HWY 317, Temple, TX 76502

Feb. 8: An Evening for Married Couples A retreat, dinner and Mass for married couples will be held Feb. 8 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. This is a day for celebrating the sacrament of marriage. The day begins with a talk,followed by Mass with Franciscan Father Albert Haase and then dinner.

The cost is $50 per couple.

Feb. 28–March 1: Healing through the Heart of Jesus Healing through the Heart of Jesus will be held Feb. 28–March 1 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. The focus will be on our identity as God’s loved ones and on the wounds that prevent us from living that identity. Father Charlie Garza, pastor of St. Albert the Great in Austin, will be the presenter.

Feb. 15: Live Big, Love Bigger with Kathryn Whitaker The Live Big, Love Bigger retreat is Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, in over your head and looking for a way out, join us as Katherine Whitaker leads the day with laughter, truth, tools to live an intentional life and a “whole lotta Jesus.” Whitaker is a Catholic speaker and author of “Live Big, Love Bigger.” Cost is $40.

Feb. 26: Ash Wednesday Day of Reflection To register, call the Cedarbrake office at (254) 780-2436. www.cedarbrake.org cedarbrake@ austindiocese.org

those most in need, van der Zalm is featured in “Everyday Heroes,” a video series produced by the Knights of Columbus showcasing ordinary men acting in extraordinary ways, who are strengthened by their Catholic faith and membership in the Knights of Columbus.

In the Knights’ Everyday Heroes video, van der Zalm demonstrates the process of drilling a well. By drilling a 12-inch hole, 960 feet down, the well produces more than 100 gallons of water a minute — more than enough to sustain three communities, with a tap at every household’s front door.

Van der Zalm said this is life-changing.

“The women will never have to walk for water again, they will never have to feel the pain in their backs again. They will have water at the front door — fresh, pure drinking water 24/7,” van der Zalm said.

The benefits of the well are numerous. Sickness has declined, the death rate has fallen and children are able to attend school more regularly. The availability of water also allows every household to have its own vegetable garden where people can grow their own food. They no longer rely on the rain, which previously was their only source of water for agriculture needs.

“If the rains were bad, the harvest was poor, you would get starvation,” van der Zalm said.

Wells of Hope also is building homes for those in the community. A local mother named Natalia came to Wells of Hope last year begging for help. Abandoned by her husband, she struggled to support her five children in their house made of dried corn stalks. When it rained, the inside of the house would become soaking wet.

Wells of Hope is constructing a home for her.

Natalia’s story is not atypical for people in the area. Many women are left abandoned by their husbands or are widowed.

“She already came and said how grateful she is for the advancements

Ted van der Zalm is the founder of Wells of Hope, an interdenominational group founded on Christian principles. is organization has brought clean drinking water to more than 80,000 people in remote regions of Guatemala. (CNS photo/Spirit Juice, courtesy Knights of Columbus)

we’ve made on the house and she says from now on we’ll be dry. From now on we can stay nice and warm at night time,” van der Zalm said.

Thanks to efforts like these, more than 50,000 residents in the communities of Santa Maria, Jalapa and Jutiapa have 14 new water wells, 19 newly constructed schools and dental care.

All of these projects, van der Zalm says, are a hand up, not a handout.

This was especially evident when the community came together last year to create a new well. Van der Zalm did the drilling and pump installation while community members dug the trenches and installed the plumbing.

“The real heroes that humble me to the core, every single solitary day, is the poor that we serve. The sacrifices that so many women in the mountains make. They are true heroes in my book,” van der Zalm said.

Knights of Columbus in Canada and the United States have helped raise more than $1 million to purchase new drilling equipment for Wells of Hope.

Currently, Wells of Hope is finishing the first permanent medical facility in the mountains of Santa Maria Xalapan. It also will include a dental clinic staffed by Wells of Hope volunteers and personnel provided by the Guatemala Ministry of Health.

“We began Wells of Hope because we are all called to love our neighbor as our self. This power of love is so incredible that the seemingly impossible becomes possible,” van der Zalm said.

Hearts on Fire

National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,289 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Austin Diocese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Number of Students National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 789,363 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,022 Austin Diocese . . . . . . . . . . . 5,211

Diocese of Austin Financial Aid Awards 2017-2018 . . . . . . . . . $ 5,890,631 2018-2019 . . . . . . . . . $ 5,819,738 2019-2020 . . . . . . . . . $ 6,757,059

w w w. C S DAT X . o r g FOLLOW US

C S DAT X

11

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS JANUARY 2020

By Misty Poe Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Number of Schools

Learn more about the power of Catholic education

SPECIAL SECTION

In many places throughout Scripture and tradition the Lord’s love for each of us is described as a fire. The beautiful image of fire helps to convey the nature of God’s love. Fire serves to light, to warm and to purify.

The images we see of Jesus’ Sacred Heart often employ the image of fire or flame to express the intensity of His love for us.

As we reflected on our mission as Catholic schools and asked ourselves where we wanted to concentrate our efforts during this school year, we were struck by the image of the Sacred Heart. We want to be sure that the flame of Christ’s love is ignited and sustained in our administrators, teachers, staff, students and families.

Hence, we chose “Hearts on Fire” as our theme for this year.

The message of God’s burning love for each soul is a message the world and each individual needs to hear.

Catholic schools are unique places where this message can be conveyed. I have recently reflected on the ways in which the flames are enkindled, preserved and passed on to the beloved. This hit home for me when I encountered two former students from my teaching days at the Cathedral School of St. Mary. These students regaled me with stories of how important their Catholic school experience was to them and how they wanted the same experience for their children. It warmed my heart to hear they now had their children enrolled at Cathedral School. Fire can be shared without being diminished or extinguished. This brings to mind a Holy Trinity Catholic High School alumnus who has returned to her alma mater to teach theology and lead the school’s campus ministry program. Finally, there are those families for whom the parents did not have the experience of Catholic education and who, at great sacrifice, choose to enroll their children in one of our schools because they have been enkindled somewhere along their own journey. They enliven our community.

How is your heart? Your child’s heart? Are your hearts on fire? Do you and your children want to grow in your relationship with God? We seek to make our Catholic schools communities where the flame will be enkindled, protected, and passed on to those around you. We encourage you to visit a Catholic school near you.

Saints & Scholars C E L E B R AT I N G C AT H O L I C S C H O O L S Honoring Our Diocesan School Heroes: Drs. Kevin & DeAnn Stuart Cathedral School of St. Mary

John & Michelle Duran Santa Cruz Catholic School

Giacomo & Beth Leone St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School

Kim Bohac St. Mary’s Catholic School, Taylor

Kelly Walker Holy Family Catholic School

James & Becky Poer St. Austin Catholic School

Ned Ewart St. Joseph Catholic School, Killeen

Jim Oakes St. Mary’s Catholic School, Temple

Philip & Donna Reilly Holy Trinity Catholic High School

Bodie Nash St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School

Margie Stock St. Joseph Catholic School, Bryan

John & Darlene Simcik St. Mary’s Catholic School, West

Very Rev. James Misko St. Louis Catholic School

Theresa Prado St. Michael’s Catholic Academy

Kent & Beverley Keahey St. Louis Catholic School and Reicher Catholic High School, Waco

Eric & Martha Garcia St. Theresa Catholic School

Knights of Columbus, Council #2574 Sacred Heart Catholic School

Cecilia Locke St. Gabriel’s Catholic School

Art & Lucinda Soto San Juan Diego Catholic High School

Marie Irvin St. Helen Catholic School

CSDATX.ORG | PURCHASE TICKETS | BECOME A SPONSOR | DONATE ONLINE

JANUARY 11 | HYATT REGENCY TOWN LAKE, AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ABBY JOHNSON

12

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL OF ST. MARY PK3 - 8 | www.smcschoolaustin.org | 910 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, 78701

Dio c ese o f Au s t in

Cathedral School of St. Mary is proud to be the longest continuously running Catholic school in the Diocese of Austin. For more than 153 years, Cathedral School of St. Mary has offered a strong academic foundation, rooted in our Catholic faith, to generations of families. We currently offer a Catholic Classical curriculum teaching truth, beauty, goodness and wisdom centered on Christ and God’s creation. Cathedral School is a small, close-knit community of under 200 students in which students, faculty and staff are devoted to walking in the Word of God. Contact us for a tour of our beautiful school, where downtown Austin is our playground.

(512) 476-1480

admissions@cssmaustin.org

|

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK4 - 8 | www.holyfamilycs.org | 9400 Neenah Ave., Austin, 78717

S PE C I A L S E CT ION

Holy Family Catholic School is located on a beautiful campus in northwest Austin. Serving 599 students, Holy Family is a regional school that works with parents to nurture the growth of the whole child – spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. Our school is Catholic – promoting the teachings of the church. The school offers more than 25 competitive athletic teams, and nearly 15 before and after school activities including, award-winning robotics and theatre arts, dance, choir, creative movement, student council and academic competitions. In 20182019, the elementary team won the state PSIA championship for the eighth year in a row. In the class of 2019, 30% maintained a national percentile rank of 90% or higher in their most recent Iowa Assessments in reading or math.

(512) 246-4455

| HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 9 - 12 | www.holytrinitychs.org | 6608 West Adams Ave., Temple, 76502

Janu a r y 202 0

Holy Trinity Catholic High School seeks to form the Christian leaders of tomorrow. Now in its 21st year of service to Central Texas, Holy Trinity continues to strive to develop the intellect, educate the heart and form the character of each student by giving witness to Gospel values. The highly qualified faculty and staff provide students a unique Catholic, college preparatory curriculum. Each year Holy Trinity students receive National Merit Program recognition, and 100% of Holy Trinity graduates are accepted to college. Holy Trinity students have the opportunity to participate in athletics, community service, awarding-winning visual and performing arts and a wide range of student clubs and activities, including the Forensics team, which is currently seeking its 12th state title.

(254) 771-0787

ibrogan@holytrinitychs.org

pmeriwether@holyfamilycs.org

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL

13

PK3 - 6 | www.sacredheartschoollg.com 545 East Pearl St., La Grange, 78945

voelkell@shcs-lg.org

San Juan Diego Catholic High School (SJDCHS) is a community of faith in partnership with the Congregation of Holy Cross, located in the heart of South Austin, minutes from downtown. SJDCHS provides students a college preparatory education along with an unparalleled corporate internship experience throughout all four years of high school. SJDCHS students enjoy the newest building in the Diocese of Austin where they ignite their passion for learning by engaging with dedicated teachers in our stateof-the-art facility. SJDCHS is proud to be making a difference in the lives of our college-bound students and their families. Corporate partnerships with businesses such as Dell, Seton, St. Edward’s University and the law offices of Vinson & Elkins help support students who benefit from this unique experience.

(512) 804-1935

SANTA CRUZ CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 8 | www.sccstx.org | 1100 Main St., Buda, 78610 Santa Cruz Catholic School (SCCS) offers an outstanding education, extracurricular programs and an athletic program that includes six different sports to offer students beginning in fourth grade. Our exemplary educational curriculum includes daily Spanish classes, daily physical education and honors courses for qualified students. SCCS develops the whole person by teaching students important lessons and lifelong habits that will prepare them for their future. This begins in each classroom where we promote a positive atmosphere in which children are treated with respect. Our staff strives to make students accountable for their own success. Our graduates become servant leaders who make a remarkable difference in their communities.

We invite you to take a tour with us at any time to see our beautiful campus and meet our dedicated staff.

(512) 312-2137

mmcgettrick@sccstx.org

tbutler@sjdchs.org

|

9 - 12 | www.sjdchs.org | 2512 South First St., Austin, 78704

Dioce se of Aus tin

SAN JUAN DIEGO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

S P E C I A L S E C TIO N

|

(979) 968-3223

Janu ar y 2020

For 88 years, Sacred Heart has combined Catholic faith and rigorous academics to set high standards for student achievement. Our mission is focused on forming young disciples and our curriculum is designed to grow the individual’s spiritual, intellectual, social and physical growth. Sacred Heart promotes opportunities and attitudes for Christian service through community service projects such as a food drive for the AMEN Pantry, Toy Drive for Christmas, making ornaments for the city Christmas at the Schemekenfest celebration, Veteran’s Day program, collecting food for the local animal shelter and making seasonal decorations for the local nursing home. Spiritual growth and religious values are taught through daily prayers and Gospel readings and attending weekly Mass. The students take turns at Mass serving as readers, cantors, gift bearers and altar servers.

14

ST. AUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 8 | www.staustinschool.org | 1911 San Antonio St., Austin, 78705

Dio c ese o f Au s t in

St. Austin Catholic School, along with our Paulist priests, has been honored to educate Austin-area students for 100 years. St. Austin has a contemporary urban campus located in the heart of downtown Austin, between The University of Texas and the Texas Capitol. Our diverse school population is comprised of 205 students who come from more than 39 Austin-area ZIP codes. Each day our students receive an authentic education that prepares them to be Christ-centered, academically strong, moral community leaders.

St. Austin is proud to be the first school in the diocese to launch a gifted and talented program. We also have earned the distinction of being a National Blue Ribbon School and with our small class sizes, we are able to continue this legacy of excellence year after year. We invite you to schedule a private tour to learn more about the education our students receive.

(512) 477-3751

admissions@staustinschool.org

|

ST. DOMINIC SAVIO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 9 - 12 | www.saviochs.org | 9300 Neenah Ave., Austin, 78717

S PE C I A L S E CT ION

St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School is a co-educational college preparatory school preparing young men and women to become faith-filled, visionary and inspirational leaders in service to the church and the world. With 409 students, Savio provides a curriculum that encourages intellectual and creative thinking with nearly 40 Pre-AP and AP level courses. There are more than 50 clubs and competitive teams for students to choose from in academics, athletics, faith formation, fine arts, foreign languages, leadership, social awareness and technology. The class of 2019 earned more than $12.4 million in scholarships and completed more than 8,100 hours of community service. In the school year 2019-2020, 11 students received National Merit Recognition, totaling 93 students who have received National Merit recognition since the school opened in 2009.

(512) 388-8846

|

ST. GABRIEL’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 8 | www.sgs-austin.org | 2500 Wimberly Ln., Austin, 78735

Janu a r y 202 0

St. Gabriel’s Catholic School provides an extraordinary private school experience for students in Pre-K 3 through eighth grade. With a commitment to core values of integrity, caring and excellence, our students thrive academically and spiritually through a comprehensive social emotional learning program, meaningful service learning partnerships and projects as well as challenging project based learning opportunities. With a commitment to an innovative curriculum and a rich Catholic education, our students excel through cutting-edge maker space and coding programs, engaging creative and performing arts, a robust foreign language program offering Latin, Mandarin and Spanish, and much more. This year we are proud to incorporate our advanced Robotics program to all third and fourth grade students.

(512) 327-7755

fgolab@sgs-austin.org

hbologna@saviochs.org

S

P 6

M le E a e T c h a

15

ST. HELEN CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK4 - 8 | www.shcslions.org 2700 East University Dr., Georgetown, 78626

mnemec @shcslions.org

St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School offers young people the means to gain knowledge and to develop the understanding and wisdom essential to serve and prosper in a global society.

Our school was voted one of the top three private schools in Austin for the Best of the Best Awards! Our priests and faculty believe in fostering hearts that are compassionate and nourished by Catholic teachings and values; minds that are curious and well-trained in the humanities and sciences; lives that are active and committed to citizenship, service and social justice. Our Holy Cross priests are present for the students through classroom visits, weekly Mass, teaching and encouraging with an emphasis on faith formation and excellence in education. Our school community lives by the Holy Cross motto: Ave Crux, Spes Unica - Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope!

(512) 442-3602

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK4 - 12 | www.stjosephschoolbcs.org 600 South Coulter Ave., Bryan, 77803 Founded in 1894, St. Joseph Catholic School (SJCS) is celebrating its 125th year of providing a Catholic education to families in the Brazos Valley. The Elementary Campus is a hub of academic, social and spiritual growth. St. Joseph Junior High and High School students keep active schedules with Mass participation, choir, band, art, technology, Latin, Spanish, competitive athletics and the core curriculum. We offer Pre-AP and AP courses in science and English, and juniors and seniors have the option to attend dual credit courses at nearby Blinn College. This year SJCS introduced a high school culinary arts enrichment class, a career advancement course and a graphic design program.

The athletics department rolled out their newly adopted core values: humility, courage, sacrifice, commitment and solidarity. Our Eagle pride is strong and our hearts are on fire to provide another year of educating students in mind, body and spirit.

(979) 822-6641

sbadillo@stjosephbcs.org

mfontana@st-ignatius.org

|

PK3 - 8 | school.st-ignatius.org | 120 West Oltorf St., Austin, 78704

Dioce se of Aus tin

ST. IGNATIUS MARTYR CATHOLIC SCHOOL

S P E C I A L S E C TIO N

|

(512) 868-0744

Janu ar y 2020

St. Helen Catholic School is committed to educating the whole person to see with Christ’s eyes. We strive to encourage each child to attain their full academic potential, foster a commitment to know, love and serve God and others, guide students to become conscientious and successful members of the community, and respect and celebrate each child’s individuality. We are a warm and inviting community where students, staff and parents work together to foster joyful disciples.

16

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 7 | www.sjcskilleen.org | 2901 E. Rancier Ave., Killeen, 76543

Dio c ese o f Au s t in

St. Joseph Catholic School in Killeen has served the diverse population of the Killeen/Fort Hood area since 1955, educating students in Catholic values, traditions, providing a firm foundation in academics and fostering respect and service. Our students are taught a faith-based curriculum in a caring, family environment that emphasizes spiritual growth and religious values through daily prayer and weekly Mass.

(254) 634-7272

office@sjcskilleen.org

|

ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Montessori (ages 3 - 6), PK4 - 8 | www.slcsaustin.org 2114 St. Joseph Blvd., Austin, 78757

S PE C I A L S E CT ION

The mission at St. Louis Catholic School is to form children in “wisdom and holiness”. Since 1956, St. Louis has recognized and embraced the need to provide a quality Catholic education that is relevant for today’s student. St. Louis is best described as a school at the crossroads in which tradition meets innovation. Our program begins with the only Montessori Catholic Primary School in Austin for children ages 3-6. We also offer a robust traditional Pre-K4 through eighth grade curriculum. Along the road, students are enriched with a variety of both technological advances and classical traditions, such as logic, coding, makerspace, musical theater, band/choir, art, Spanish, French, STEM and opportunities in many competitive sports. All these experiences happen within an environment filled with Catholic heritage.

(512) 664-6622 ext. 245

|

ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL & REICHER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Janu a r y 202 0

PK3 - 12 | www.stlouiswaco.org, www.reicher.org 2208 North 23rd St., Waco, 76708 St. Louis-Reicher Catholic School provides students with an education that enriches the mind, body and spirit in a safe and caring environment. All class sizes are small to enhance academic instruction and student engagement.

The elementary school’s rigorous core-curriculum and enrichment courses of art, music, Spanish, drama, technology and physical education build a strong foundation for success in our students. The junior high and high school curriculum are college preparatory, and the high school offers 27 honors, AP and dual credit courses.

Our school is joyfully Catholic. The spiritual growth and well-being of each student are the primary purpose of our school. PK3-K attend chapel once a week and first through 12th grades attend weekly Mass.

(254) 754-2041

bchollett@stlouiswaco.org

rosalie.dowling@slcsaustin.org

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

17

PK3 - 8 | www.stmarystaylor.org | 520 Washburn St., Taylor, 76574

|

admissions@stmarystaylor.org

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 8 | www.stmarys-temple.org | 1019 South 7th St., Temple, 76504 The mission of St. Mary’s Catholic School is the commitment to academic excellence and the spiritual development of our students toward a life of prayer, service and love. Students at St. Mary’s Catholic School celebrate Mass weekly and have opportunities to altar serve and lector. We are proud of our accelerated academics, community service and extensive extra-curricular activities including PSIA, NJHS, Student Council, God Squad, basketball, volleyball, golf, track and cheerleading. Our expanded middle school electives program includes robotics, multimedia, Falcon TV, band, choir, drama, creative writing, visual arts, dance and film study. rmorales@stmarys-temple.org

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK4 - 8 | www.stmaryswest.com 507 West Spruce St., West, 76691 Founded in 1899, St. Mary’s Catholic School has a history of providing a quality Catholic education in mind, body, spirit and service. Online programs are implemented to enhance math, reading and social studies skills. Junior high students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities including NJHS, athletics and student council. St. Mary’s focus on Catholic identity includes weekly school Mass, a traveling classroom vocations cross, monthly adoration, and allowing Gospel values to permeate all areas of education. Each year our Mustangs serve the greater community by collecting toiletry items to donate to a local youth program, donating canned goods to stock the local food pantry and hosting an annual “baby shower” to collect baby items to donate to Care Net Pregnancy Center. St. Mary’s Catholic School students make a difference in the community and world in which we live.

(254) 826-5991

ericka.sammon@stmaryswest.com

Dioce se of Aus tin

|

(254) 778-8141

S P E C I A L S E C TIO N

(512) 352-2313

Janu ar y 2020

Educating for wisdom and virtue, centered on Christ! St. Mary’s Catholic School carries a rich legacy filled with 123 years of faith, academics and service formation. Founded in 1896 by Dominican Sisters, St. Mary’s has recently returned to its roots by implementing the Classical and Catholic methods of our outstanding educational history. Our faculty engages students in classic literature novel studies, integration of the humanities (history+literature+religion), Socratic discussions, formal logic, Latin, active learning experiences such as our Junior Master Gardener program, and the daily pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness in all learning. With twice-weekly Mass, service activities both in and out of school, competitive athletics, fine arts, Spanish, technology, advanced credit and Cultural Arts class, our students become servant-leaders for Christ as they grow in wisdom. St. Mary’s offers bus transportation from Round Rock and Hutto.

18

ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY 9 -12 | www.smca.com | 3000 Barton Creek Blvd., Austin, 78735

Dio c ese o f Au s t in

As stated in the four pillars of our mission, a St. Michael’s education inspires lives of service, courage, personal integrity and intellectual curiosity. Together these provide the scaffolding necessary for growth and advancement. St. Michael’s students also learn from each other and outside experts in an academic program designed with flexibility and a responsive curriculum for a changing academic landscape. Students have many opportunities to explore and experience a broad range of courses and activities, including classes in partnership with the University of Texas. Our ultimate goal is to develop self-directed students who are stakeholders in their own education. Faith life at St. Michael’s, coupled with our service learning program, supports the school’s mission of inspiring lives of service through a relationship centered on Jesus Christ. At St. Michael’s Catholic Academy we know each of our students and are committed to their individual success. We are a family of families.

(512) 328-2323, ext. 1643

lesparza@smca.com

|

ST. THERESA’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL PK3 - 8 | www.st-theresa.org | 4311 Small Dr., Austin, 78731

S PE C I A L S E CT ION

At St. Theresa’s Catholic School, teachers continue to emphasize both high academic standards and values that build character, integrity and compassion. Our new addition of a Little Flower Catholic Academy nurtures children ages 3 or 4 and graces the campus. Our full offering of athletics keeps students active outside the classroom. Our fall sports season was very successful for our student athletes with our cross-country, volleyball and football teams having fun and winning first place in the CAPPS Championships. Our academic honors shine bright with the PSIA and Quiz Bowl teams taking high honors.

Located on a wooded 21-acre campus in Northwest Austin, our school is a ministry of St. Theresa Parish and serves 350 students. St. Theresa’s is dedicated to educating students in a Catholic, community oriented and academically excellent environment where they learn, serve and believe.

(512) 451-7105

abizzanelli@st-theresa.org

students receiving tuition assistance Pathway to Vocations 3 Priests 3 Seminarians 4 Religious Novices in the last five years

|

21

National Merit Scholars (2018-2019)

New programs offered at our Catholic schools: • Montessori • Classical education • STEM • Corporate internship

$22.7M in scholarships

100%

100%

Learn more about Catholic education by visiting www.CSDATX.org

College acceptance rate

Janu a r y 202 0

36%

2018 Graduates offered over

Graduation rate

|

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN AT A GLANCE...

|

JANUARY 2020

GOOD NEWS

19

BISHOP’S INTERVIEW

Confirmation strengthens us to be disciples of Christ Bishop Joe S. Vásquez is the fifth bishop of the Austin Diocese, which is home to more than 530,000 Catholics.

Editor: Bishop, we are continuing our series of interviews on the sacraments. This month we are discussing confirmation. What is the sacrament of the confirmation?

Bishop Vásquez: Through the sacrament of confirmation we are “more perfectly bound to the church” and we are given “a special strength of the Holy Spirit,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. At our baptism we received the gift of the Holy Spirit, but with the sacrament of confirmation that gift is confirmed or made stronger.

Confirmation is one of the three fundamental sacraments or sacraments of initiation that make us Catholic: baptism, Eucharist and confirmation. The sequence of sacraments should be baptism, confirmation and then Eucharist.

However, the sequence for the Latin Church is that confirmation follows after Eucharist, thus, in the Diocese of Austin, most young Catholics are confirmed as teenagers, usually in ninth or 10th grade. Non-baptized people who are brought into the Catholic Church receive baptism, then confirmation and then Eucharist. Once these three sacraments have been celebrated, the recipient is a full member of the Catholic Church with all the rights and the responsibilities that are entailed.

At our confirmation we are strengthened to be a witness of Jesus Christ in the world. Sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are to go out into the world and help others know the joy of the Gospel and the good news of our salvation.

Editor: What is the relationship between confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Bishop Vásquez: The Gospels speak about Jesus’ baptism as he came out of the waters of the Jordan, the Holy Spirit descends upon him.

He is filled with the Holy Spirit and from that moment on he is anointed to complete God’s mission to save

the world. When we hear the word “Christ,” most people think it’s part of Jesus’ name.

But it’s more like a title.

Jesus the Christ would be more appropriate.

The word Christ comes from the Greek word “christos,” which means anointed. At our confirmation as we are anointed with holy Chrism, we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and sent out like Jesus to proclaim the good news and continue the work of Christ. The Holy Spirit imparts gifts so we can live as faithful Christians. The seven gifts as we traditionally know them are wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, piety, fortitude and fear of the Lord.

Editor: Each year you travel around the diocese to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with thousands of young people.

What is it like to be with the youth of the diocese?

Bishop Vásquez: Celebrating the sacrament of confirmation with our youth is very exciting for me. Typically, youth can be a little intimidated by my presence because I usually ask a few basic questions about their understanding of the sacrament of confirmation. This helps me know the young people are prepared to receive the sacrament. I am inspired by our youth who are excited about their Catholic faith and who take seriously the call to live out their Christian faith as disciples of the Lord Jesus.

In a time when there are so many distractions from the faith and many young people are questioning or doubting their faith, it encourages me to see there are so many who are passionate about their faith. Sometimes I get letters from young people who tell me why they want to be confirmed, and I am very impressed with their sincerity and love for the church and its sacraments. They love their Catholic faith, and they want to live it well.

I must compliment the parents, the catechists, the youth ministers, the priests, deacons and religious who are

teaching our young people about the faith. They are working hard to form the next generation of the church.

Editor: What’s the role of the sponsor at confirmation?

Bishop Vásquez: The role of the sponsor is to accompany the young person, or the candidate, as they receive the sacrament of confirmation.

This is a commitment for life. Many may see it as a nice gesture given to a friend or relative, but to be a sponsor means committing to walking with the candidate for the rest of one’s life.

The sponsor is to serve as a model of faith. The sponsor accompanies the confirmand on the journey of faith, walking alongside –– not ahead, nor behind them. The sponsor offers encouragement, support and prayer.

A good sponsor also supports the parents and helps the young Christian live out their Catholic faith.

Editor: Many treat confirmation as the end of their religious education. However, we never stop growing in faith, correct?

Bishop Vásquez: Yes, this is very sad to me. Unfortunately, many see confirmation as a coming of age sacrament or as a graduation type of a sacrament. They may think, “I have the three sacraments and I don’t need to really worry about anything else.”

This is not true!

Once we have been confirmed, we don’t immediately know everything

During the Rite of Confirmation, each candidate comes before the bishop. He then anoints the candidate’s forehead with Sacred Chrism and says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” And the confirmand responds, “Amen.” (Catholic Spirit file photo by Arlen Nydam)

we need to know. Our journey of faith is a life-long learning process.

The Catholic faith is truly about discipleship, which involves learning about our faith and deepening our faith every day. The sacrament of confirmation helps us to strengthen our relationship with Christ and with the community of faith.

Like baptism the sacrament of confirmation is given only once in our life, so that means we are completely changed. We are given this indelible mark, and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit which marks “our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service forever” (CCC, 1296). This sacrament calls us to live like Christ every single day.

Editor: What is your prayer for those who will be confirmed in 2020?

Bishop Vásquez: May all of us be filled with the love of God and recognize we are sons and daughters of a loving father, who has given us his only Son to save us. May all those preparing for confirmation open themselves to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is God’s gift to all his beloved children.

GOOD NEWS

20

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

ON THE LITURGY

The liturgical theology of the altar and stone

By Father Paul-Michael Piega, S.T.L. | Columnist

Throughout salvation and world history, every single human has a sense of the cosmos, the divine, mystery, and even more so a sense of religiosity. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.”

With that desire for God comes the desire to give something to God in return, specifically a sacrificial act on an altar or stone. “Altars are one of the oldest cult objects, indicating man’s veneration and propitiation of supernatural forces. They are places of sacrifice and have come to be an integral part of religious observance and hence of sacred places, temples and churches,” according to the “Oxford Companion to Christian Art.” With this in mind, I want to share the significance of the usage of an altar and stone in religion and in Christianity.

To begin, let’s look at the altar in its historical context, as well as its usage in world religions. In nearly all ancient cultures, “the general symbolic qualities of rock — permanence, strength, integrity — were heightened and given sacred significance in individual standing stones, sacrificial stone axes or knives, and stone objects such as amulets. Stones stored heat, coldness, water and (as jewels) light. They could appear as giant, lifelike presences,” Jack Tresidder writes in “The Complete Dictionary of Symbols.”

Stone and rock are equated to “dependability, integrity, steadfastness, stability, permanence, strength and in China, longevity,” he writes.

In Chinese paintings, the rock is a Yang (male and active) symbol; rock

sculptures, notably on Easter Island, in Egypt and more recently Borglum’s monumental presidential carvings at Mount Rushmore, convey power and symbolism.

For the altar, there is a sense of mystagogy and cosmos, “microcosm and catalyst of the sacred. All the liturgical gestures, all the architectural lines converge towards the altar. It reproduces in miniature the temple as a whole and the entire universe. It is the place where the sacred condenses more intensely … hence it is high (“altum”) with respect to its surroundings, bringing the symbolism of the center of the world ... representing the place and instant which a being becomes sacred,” according to “Dizionario dei Simboli.”

In history sacrifice to a deity has been common to all ancient religions, “hence the idea of a special altar of sacrifice was found within religions.

Indeed, the Latin word ‘altare’ means just that, a place of sacrifice,” writes Steven J. Schloeder in “Architecture in Communion: Implementing the Second Vatican Council through Liturgy and Architecture.”

For ancient Romans, there was a unique distinction between “altare” and “ara.” The “altare” was reserved for sacrifices to one of the higher gods, whereas the “ara” was used for lesser gods and offerings to the dead, Peter Murray writes in “The Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture.” Thus, as a place of sacrifice, the altar was –– for pagan religions –– a place for burning sacrificial offerings to supernatural deities, Gerhard Podhradsky writes in “New Dictionary of the Liturgy.”

It is interesting to note the Jewish and Mosaic altar of burnt offering was of acacia wood and bronze (Ex 27:16), the altar of incense was of acacia wood and gold (Ex 30:1-5), and the

Spiritual support for men and women with same-sex attractions to help them live chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love.

austintexascourage@gmail.com (512) 666-1043 or www.couragerc.org

altars in Solomon’s Temple were also bronze (2 Chr 4:19), though this may have been the covering over stone.

Presumably, the altar (after the exile) in the rebuilt temple was of stone, Schloeder writes.

For the Christian Latin church, the “altar by its structure symbolizes the table both of the last evening and of Calvary on the last day of Jesus’ self-emptying life. The reason: the altar is the place of remembrance of the Supper and of the sacrifice of Christ the Savior: of the whole Christ, head and members, Bridegroom and Bride (this aspect of remembrance is sometimes signified also by the relics of the martyrs that are placed in and under the altar),” Anscar J. Chupungco writes in “Handbook for Liturgical Studies: Liturgical Time and Space.”

Thus, today in our Catholic churches, as the Catechism says, the altar is the center and focal point of a church.

Grow your long-term & retirement savings with us

Patsy A. Wiley Llano/Kingsland/Austin 830-613-0644

The altar is the focal point of every Catholic church. Above Bishop Joe Vásquez prays the Eucharist Prayer surrounded by priests from throughout the diocese during the annual Chrism Mass, which was held at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin in 2019. (Photo by Gabriel Lujan)

“The Christian altar is the symbol of Christ himself, present in the midst of the assembly of his faithful, both as the victim offered for our reconciliation and as food from heaven who is giving himself to us,” (CCC, 1383).

In the next column, I will look at the liturgical theology of the altar in its biblical context.

Father Paul-Michael Piega currently serves as the associate pastor at St. Albert the Great Parish in Austin. Ordained a diocesan priest in 2018, Father Piega holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

3.80

ANNUITIES • IRAs • 401k ROLLOVERS

%*

APY

*Includes current yield + 1.65% first year additional interest

Angie Serna Biehunko San Marcos 512-393-4536

Monica Mikeska Temple 254-760-3653

Interest rates are subject to change. Minimum guaranteed rate is 1.50%. Home Office: San Antonio, Texas. #ASU 10.19

JANUARY 2020

GOOD NEWS

21

ON MISSION

Five generations celebrate faith at St. Mary in Pin Oak

By Father Tom Frank | Columnist

St. Mary Catholic Church and Cemetery are near Pin Oak Creek, in the southeastern part of the diocese about 8 miles south of Paige and 6 miles north of Smithville on Hwy. 2104. Wikipedia calls Pin Oak a ghost town in Bastrop County, but every Saturday at 6:15 p.m., the Eucharist St. Mary in Pin Oak is about 6 miles north of Smithville. The mission is served by St. Margaret Parish in Giddings. (Photo from www.stmargaretgiddings.org)

brings in folks from all around the area. Five generations are represented, most of the parishioners are related to each other. The historic church, with seating for 100, is almost full each Saturday evening.

This small community is served by St. Margaret Parish in Giddings. The mission also sports a hall and office area plus spacious grounds and an outdoor shrine to the Blessed Mother.

There is even a designated slot for the priest to park!

I was there twice recently for Mass.

On the second visit, I asked folks to stay and visit with me about this lovely location.

The Pin Oak community was originally settled in 1827 by German immigrants. Farming and cattle ranching were the main sources of income for those families. In 1849, Adam Becker, a carpenter by trade, built

an extra room onto his home and reserved it as a chapel for the Catholic community. A circuit priest from Taylor or Frelsburg traveled on horseback every month or two for Mass.

In 1869 the Catholic families sold six acres of land to the bishop of Galveston for the purpose of building a small church for the Pin Oak community. The bishop paid $12 for the land.

That same year, a sturdy log church was completed. Mass was celebrated once per month, then twice per month on Sundays at 10 a.m. Priests came from Frelsburg, Taylor, Smithville, La Grange and Austin.

In 1911, the log church was replaced by the current church, which was partially remodeled a few years later, with expansion for more seating and a raised ceiling.

In 1944, St. Mary in Pin Oak became the mission of St. Margaret Parish in Giddings, which is 21 miles away. As Giddings grew, the regular weekend Mass for Pin Oak became the Vigil Mass at 6:15 p.m.

When Becker built the extra room on his house for a chapel, he also purchased a special bell from a company in Indianola (south of Victoria) and brought it by mule to the little chapel.

That bell is still in use 170 years later.

Religious education, Bible studies and Knights of Columbus activities are all held with St. Margaret Parish in Giddings. But care of the little church, including all the liturgical garments and supplies and the grounds are maintained by volunteers.

The mission holds a festival/ homecoming on the first Saturday of October. The hall can accommodate about 200 people.

This small church is peaceful and inspiring. Call St. Margaret Parish in Giddings at (979) 542-0217 to schedule a visit.

Father Tom Frank, a priest since 1970, retired in 2014. He has a love for small towns and mission churches, and thus hopes to visit more in the future.

22

GOOD NEWS

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES

Working to build a culture of life, civilization of love

By Luisa de Poo | Guest Columnist

In the past decades we have heard great debates on when life begins.

People from different belief systems or ideologies have their own answer to this question based on personal beliefs or feelings, their own subjective truth.

But what is the truth? When really does life begin? Why is the church so adamant to defend life in all stages? What can we do to embrace the teachings of the church regarding respecting life and be truly disciples of Jesus?

Life begins at the moment of conception –– this is a scientific fact. A unique human being begins to develop at the very moment of fertilization.

As Christians we believe life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death. Life is given by God and we believe that no one other than God may end a life. As we read in the book of Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”

As the U.S. bishops state, “Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human

family. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Human dignity comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment.”

Abortion and euthanasia are direct attacks on the value of human life, which is also threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research and the use of the death penalty. We often treat people as if they were disposable. In many ways, we have forgotten God’s call to a covenant of love and justice; we have forgotten his special love for the poor and outcast. We must remember the words of Jesus Christ who came “to bring glad tidings to the poor ... liberty to captives ... recovery of sight to the blind,” (Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with “the least of these,” the hungry, the stranger, the ill and the imprisoned, (Mt 25:45).

Now is the time to create a culture of life in our homes and in our parishes and communities. We must oppose practices destructive to human life at any stage and promote practices that lift the human spirit with love and compassion. We can begin by opening our hearts to God’s call for care of his creation, especially his upmost creation –– the human person.

In “Evangelium Vitae,” St. John Paul

II encourages us to build a culture of life and a civilization of love. This could happen by praying outside an abortion clinic, by volunteering in parish social ministries or food pantries, by being an advocate in a pregnancy resource center, by visiting the elderly, by ministering in a prison or jail, by volunteering with the Gabriel Project or at Catholic Charities of Central Texas, by feeding the homeless, by evangelizing those on the peripheries or by welcoming the stranger. Wherever you feel called to serve, do so with an open heart letting the Holy Spirit work through you so you can pour Jesus’ love into those you are serving.

Did you know 75% of women who choose abortion are low income, 60% are in their 20s, and 86% are unmarried? Beginning March 25, as we mark the 25th anniversary of “Evangelium Vitae,” the U.S. bishops will launch “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service,” a national initiative of prayer, service and witness to life. This is an opportunity for all parishioners

to help pregnant and parenting moms in need.

“Women facing challenging pregnancies should see the church as a place where they can find help, especially with its myriad of social services and organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of people in crisis,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee of Pro-Life Activities.

To learn more about this campaign or about building a culture of life contact me at (512) 949-2487 or luisa-depoo@ austindiocese.org.

Luisa de Poo serves as the associate director for Pro-Life Activities for the Diocese of Austin. She can be contacted at (512) 949-2487 or luisa-depoo@austindiocese.org

Attention: Freelance writers & photographers The Catholic Spirit seeks journalists and photographers to write stories (news and features) or take photos on a monthly basis. Please send samples of writing/ photos to catholic-spirit@ austindiocese.org or call Shelley Metcalf at (512) 949-2443.

GOOD NEWS

JANUARY 2020

23

SAINTS FOR OUR TIMES

St. Basil focused on community, prayer and work

By Mary Lou Gibson | Columnist

In the fourth century, two important events occurred in the Catholic Church: the heresy of Arianism and the birth of St. Basil the Great.

Arians viewed Jesus as human but not divine, and St. Basil played an important part in resisting this heresy.

Basil was one of 10 children born into a highly educated, wealthy family in 329 in Caesarea, Cappadocia (now Turkey). His family included several saints: grandmother – St. Macrina the Elder; sister – St. Macrina the Younger; brothers – St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Peter of Sabaste.

He began his education in Caesarea and then was sent to Constantinople and Athens to study. There he met Gregory of Nazianzus and they became close friends. After completing his studies, Basil returned to Caesarea and was baptized. He lived for a time as a hermit with his brother, Gregory, on the Iris River in Pontus.

He attracted numerous disciples who he organized into the first monastic community in Asia Minor in 356 in Pontus, near the religious community his sister, Macrina, had established.

Basil had previously visited monasteries in Egypt, Palestine, Coele-Syria and Mesopotamia.

Basil composed a rule and became known as the father of Eastern monasticism. David Farmer writes in the “Oxford Dictionary of Saints” that today nearly all the monks and nuns of the Greek Church follow his rule.

His emphasis was on community life, liturgical prayer and manual work.

Basil was ordained a priest in 363 and lived in the monastery for five years before being called by Archbishop Eusebius to come to Caesarea to refute the teachings of Arius.

He became bishop of Caesarea in 370. Rosemary Guiley writes in “The Encyclopedia of Saints” that he laid down the law, required spiritual discipline, settled disputes and vigorously opposed heresy. As bishop, Basil in-

curred the wrath of Emperor Valens who favored Arianism and vigorously opposed and persecuted Basil. Valens split the region into two dioceses to weaken Basil’s authority.

Basil was a powerful speaker and writer and had an extensive correspondence. More than 300 of his letters survive. His most important doctrinal writing is the treatise on the Holy Spirit. Tom Cowan writes in “The Way of the Saints” that Basil’s advice for leading a more perfect life was “Recognize yourself, and watch yourself.”

Even with all his efforts to combat Arianism, Basil did not neglect his people. Farmer writes that he built a new town called the Basilad, which included a church, a hospital and a guest house. He also organized relief programs for the poor, opposed those involved in widespread prostitution traffic and tightened up discipline of clergy and church officials.

Richard McBrien writes in “Lives of the Saints” that Basil was espe-

cially concerned about the quality of candidates for the priesthood and the excessive involvement in politics and accumulation of wealth by clergy. In later centuries, Basil was regarded as a champion of the church’s liberty against secular encroachments.

He suffered a series of setbacks in 373 when his health began failing and his key friend and supporter St. Athanasius died. Basil died on Jan. 1, 379, leaving a lasting imprint on the church. Arianism was denounced at the Council of Constantinople in 381-382 thanks largely to Basil’s influence.

His feast day is Jan. 2, and he is honored in Russia as one of its patron saints. Basil was proclaimed a doctor of the church in 1568, one of the four original doctors of the church from the East.

Mary Lou Gibson is a freelance writer and a member of St. Austin Parish in Austin.

Experience the Ancient Catholic Mass of the Holy Land!

May this new year fill your heart with visions of a brighter tomorrow unfolding new hopes and dreams.

Our Lady thanks the many families who entrust their loved ones to our care.

Owners, Nick & Ellen Brumder and the Staff at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens.

Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church 1320 E 51st Street, Austin TX 512-458-3693  www.ourladysmaronite.org “It was in Antioch that the Disciples were first called Christians.” Acts 11: 26 Mass Schedule Sunday 10:00 am Wednesday 6:00 pm Friday 12:05 pm Saturday 5:00 pm

GOOD NEWS

24

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

SPECIAL COLLECTION

Seminarian and Priest Education and Formation The special collection for Seminiarian and Priest Education was taken up in parishes on May 11-12, 2019. The collection supports the cost of the formation and education of seminarians and priests in the Diocese of Austin. To report an error, contact the diocesan Finance Office at (512) 949-2423.

PARISH TOTALS PARISH TOTALS PARISH TOTALS PARISH TOTALS AUSTIN CENTRAL DEANERY Austin, Cristo Rey Austin, Holy Cross Austin, Sacred Heart Austin, San Jose Austin, Santa Barbara Austin, St. Austin Austin, St. Ignatius Austin, St. Julia Austin, St. Mary Cathedral Austin Central Totals AUSTIN NORTH DEANERY Austin, Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Austin, St. Albert the Great Austin, St. Louis Austin, St. Theresa Austin, St. Thomas More Austin, St. Vincent de Paul Cedar Park, St. Margaret Mary Lago Vista, Our Lady of the Lake Austin North Total AUSTIN SOUTH DEANERY Austin, Dolores Austin, San Francisco Javier Austin, St. Andrew Kim Austin, St. Catherine of Siena Austin, St. John Neumann Austin, St. Paul Austin, St. Peter the Apostle Lakeway, Emmaus Stony Point, San Juan Diego Austin South Total BASTROP/LOCKHART DEANERY Bastrop, Ascension Elgin, Sacred Heart

$2,460.92 $485.00 $3,119.00 $706.00 $1,096.17 $2,499.22 $3,201.67 $238.00 $3,015.48 $16,821.46 $4,433.00 $2,644.25 $3,340.38 $6,145.27 $12,940.94 $3,810.96 $6,551.48 $1,097.00 $40,963.28 $1,264.50 $2,257.00 $180.00 $6,479.82 $7,772.23 $2,865.05 $1,017.00 $1,635.30 $177.00 $23,647.90 $2,526.01 $1,441.20

Lockhart, St. Mary of the Visitation $1,864.54 Luling, St. John $623.19 Martindale, Immaculate Heart $361.00 Rockne, Sacred Heart $660.00 Smithville, St. Paul $1,580.00 String Prairie, Assumption $417.00 Uhland, St. Michael $449.91 Bastrop/Lockhart Total $9,922.85 BRENHAM/LA GRANGE DEANERY Brenham, St. Mary $3,087.00 Chappell Hill, St. Stanislaus $495.00 Dime Box, St. Joseph $380.50 Ellinger/Hostyn Hill, St. Mary $649.00 Fayetteville, St. John $1,888.00 Giddings, St. Margaret $977.81 La Grange, Sacred Heart $2,191.00 Lexington, Holy Family $201.00 Old Washington on the Brazos, St. Mary $178.00 Pin Oak, St. Mary $201.40 Rockdale, St. Joseph $755.31 Somerville, St. Ann $436.00 Brenham/La Grange Total $11,440.02 BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION DEANERY Bremond, St. Mary $600.00 Bryan, Santa Teresa $1,993.00 Bryan, St. Anthony $1,860.99 Caldwell, St. Mary $2,256.51 College Station, St. Mary $4,125.37 College Station, St. Thomas Aquinas $3,659.95 Franklin, St. Francis of Assisi $594.00 Frenstat, Holy Rosary $891.00 Hearne, St. Mary $947.06 Bryan/College Station Total $16,927.88 GEORGETOWN/ROUND ROCK DEANERY Andice, Santa Rosa $3,558.55 Corn Hill, Holy Trinity $1,366.00

in Central Texas Luncheon

The Ameel Family Anonymous (6)

Atchley & Associates LLP

Ben E. Keith Beverages

Carmen & Raymond

Sarah & Jimmy Mansour

Helen & Ryan Weekley

Pat & Steve Macy Catherine & Pepe Martinez

Cindy Matula &

Michele Beasley

Selma & Blaise D’Mello

Susan & Dr. John Fox

Julie & Michael Scarpato

Ladies of Charity of Austin

Ladies of Charity, Lake Travis

Angela Colmenero

Dialogue Institute

Kathleen & Chris

Patti & Jack Gullahorn

Molly & Chris Cloran

Atchley & Associates

Jean Olson

Drs. Jill & Drew Grimes

Annie Chavez

Missy & Jim Daywood

Linda & Bill Carson

Garcia

for Life

Sarah Antenora

Audrey & Louis Munin

Kimberly & Miguel

Anne & Jay Winckler

Central Texas Coalition

McCollum

Stacy & Brent Bruegging

Earthman

Barbara & Dr. Ed Weir

Allison & Robert Cavazos

TABLE CAPTAINS

The Mulva Family

Gretchen Clement

Vargas

Fernando Sotelo

Victoria Beynon

Judy & Patrick Cantilo

GRAND TOTAL

$228,493.15

Thanks to the generous supporters of the Catholic Charities 13th Annual Creating Hope in Central Texas Luncheon!

Kirsten & Scott Luke

Stephanie & Michael

Elizabeth & Jim Bradbury

Marble Falls, St. John $2,014.00 Mason, St. Joseph $287.50 San Saba, St. Mary $362.83 Sunrise Beach, Our Lady of the Lake $137.00 Lampasas/Marble Falls Total $7,723.48 SAN MARCOS DEANERY Blanco, St. Ferdinand $751.00 Buda, Santa Cruz $8,566.00 Dripping Springs, St. Martin de Porres $2,156.35 Johnson City, Good Shepherd $126.40 Kyle, St. Anthony Marie de Claret $3,064.67 San Marcos, St. John $1,991.40 San Marcos, Our Lady of Wisdom $430.47 Wimberley, St. Mary $1,922.05 San Marcos Total $19,008.34 WACO DEANERY China Spring, St. Phillip $290.00 Elk, St. Joseph $326.00 Gatesville, Our Lady of Lourdes $495.73 Hamilton, St. Thomas $145.00 McGregor, St. Eugene $378.49 Mexia, St. Mary $716.55 Moody, Our Lady of San Juan $31.19 Tours, St. Martin $528.00 Waco (Bellmead), St. Joseph $835.10 Waco (Hewitt), St. Jerome $2,895.00 Waco, Sacred Heart $1,462.82 Waco, St. Francis on the Brazos $1,338.00 Waco, St. John the Baptist $313.75 Waco, St. Louis $4,696.86 Waco, St. Mary of the Assumption $987.00 Waco, St. Peter Catholic Center $884.00 West, Church of the Assumption $2,311.62 Waco Total $18,635.11

Thank you!

13th Annual

LEADERSHIP GIFTS

Georgetown, St. Helen $7,092.19 Granger, Sts. Cyril and Methodius $1,147.00 Hutto, St. Patrick $1,614.74 Manor, St. Joseph $523.26 Pflugerville, St. Elizabeth $2,705.98 Round Rock, St. John Vianney $2,846.87 Round Rock, St. William $11,548.00 Taylor, Our Lady of Guadalupe $1,195.45 Taylor, St. Mary $2,972.05 Georgetown/Round Rock $36,570.09 KILLEEN/TEMPLE DEANERY Belton, Christ the King $2,505.34 Burlington, St. Michael $105.00 Cameron, St. Monica $472.00 Copperas Cove, Holy Family $5,588.09 Cyclone, St. Joseph $726.00 Harker Heights, St. Paul Chong Hasang $4,100.08 Killeen, St. Joseph $4,665.21 Marak, Sts. Cyril and Methodius $297.00 Rogers, St. Matthew $407.00 Rosebud, St. Ann $315.00 Salado, St. Stephen $1,246.00 Temple, Our Lady of Guadalupe $1,317.18 Temple, St. Luke $2,526.00 Temple, St. Mary $2,016.84 Westphalia, Visitation $546.00 Killeen/Temple Total $26,832.74 LAMPASAS/MARBLE FALLS DEANERY Bertram, Holy Cross $125.00 Burnet, Our Mother of Sorrows $502.00 Goldthwaite, St. Peter $365.00 Horseshoe Bay, St. Paul the Apostle $1,243.00 Kingsland, St. Charles Borromeo $1,287.15 Lampasas, St. Mary $618.00 Llano, Holy Trinity $569.00 Lometa, Good Shepherd $213.00

Foundation

Hilary & John Olson

Margaret & Lee Rigby Ellen & Paul Seals

Bernadette & Daniel Shelley

DeeAnn & David Smith Georgia Sobieski

St. William Catholic Church

Ascension Seton LLP

Suzanne & Dan Bautch

Brazilian Rosary Group, Claudia Hisky

Tammy Cooper

Celia & Dennis Daniel Bea De la Rosa Southwest

Kacy & Christopher Dolce

Kay & Brendan Doyle

John Gilluly

Louri O’Leary

St. Austin Catholic

Patricia Hayes

Jean Olson

St. Edward’s University

Alejandra & John Hamlet Sareta & Brad Heath Megan Helmbrecht Kristin Hill

AnnMarie Olson Kimberly Phelan

Mary Lou & Tom Poloskey

Kate Johanns

Christine Reyes-Paiz

Home

Anne & John Reysa

Just Walking Each Other Ryan Leggett

Suzanne Leggett

Kirsten & Scott Luke Pat & Steve Macy Valerie Maurer

Neal McMaster

St. Michael’s Catholic

Sacred Heart Catholic

St. Patrick Catholic

Yesenia Rodriguez Church

San Jose Catholic Church

Brook Teoli-Phelps

High School

Mary Flanagan

Rev. Bruce Nieli

Keili & Ted Smith

Bill Carson

Karen Graf

Buzad

Eilers

Joanne & Deacon Ray

Desiree & Scott Brutocao

Julie & Fred Frey

Church, Rev. Brian

Cathy Olson Muth &

Lily Morales

Joanne & Eric Boyce

Rania & Dr. Francis

Academy, Heidi Sloan

St. Thomas More Catholic

Julie & Michael Scarpato

Janet Fontenette

Society

San Juan Diego Catholic

New York Life

Renee Brown

Catholic Church

Evangelina Rodriguez

Kristen Erdem Justin Estep

Church

St. John Neumann

St. Katharine Drexel

Ana & Brent Boecking

Deacon Rob Embry

St. Elizabeth Catholic

Sara & Ray Ramirez

Emily Dufour

Claire & Rod Bordelon

Church

Brent Muth

Tini Nguyen & Al Li Laurie & Deacon Patrick O’Beirne

Kim Obermeyer

Sanders

Hannah Silk-Kapasi

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Church, Jennifer Bibbo

University Catholic Center

Helen Weekley

WellMed Charitable Foundation

Young Catholic

Professionals

JANUARY 2020

BU LLETIN BOARD

Calendar of events

Mark your calendars for these events that are coming up across the Diocese of Austin. Send entries for this section to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org.

Jan. 2: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for high school men from the Temple area at the rectory of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Temple. This month the group will explore how celibacy is a noble and life-giving aspect of certain vocations.

Details: https://td.godiscalling.me.

Jan. 5: Byzantine Divine Liturgy for Theophany will be celebrated at 5 p.m. at Holy Cross Parish in Austin.

It will include the Great Blessing of Water, followed by a potluck supper.

Details: info@austinbyzantine.org or (412) 735-1676.

Jan. 8: Catholic Scripture Study classes are held on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Louis Parish in Austin. Details: www.cssaustin.org.

Jan. 8: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for high school men from the Austin area at the rectory of St. William Parish in Round Rock.

This month the group will explore how prayer is an integral part of the discernment journey. Details: https:// hd.godiscalling.me.

Jan. 11: A commemoration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will begin at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Parish in Austin. Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria will be the speaker, and the prayer service will feature the Holy Cross Parish Choir.

Jan. 11: Saints and Scholars, a celebration of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Austin, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Town Lake in Austin. Abby Johnson, author of “Unplanned,” will be the keynote speaker. Details: www.csdatx.org.

Jan. 12: Byzantine Divine Liturgy is celebrated every Sunday at 5 p.m. at Holy Cross Parish in Austin. The Liturgy is followed by a community meal.

Details: info@austinbyzantine.org or (412) 735-1676.

Jan. 15: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for men (18 years and older) from the Austin area at the Borromeo Discernment House in Austin. Details: https://ad.godiscalling.me.

Jan. 16: The Maria Goretti Network, a self-help support network for those affected by abuse and their families, will meet at 7:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville (room 120 in the Parish Ministry Center). Details: trina@mgoretti.org or (713) 851-3708.

Jan. 18: A TDCJ Volunteer Training/ Orientation will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Austin. Those interested in minis-

tering with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are invited to attend.

Details: (512) 949-2460 or john-gilluly@austindiocese.org.

Jan. 20: Diocesan offices will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Jan. 21: Adoration for young professionals will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt in Austin. Details: www. facebook.com/SchoenstattAustin.

Jan. 23: 33 days of preparation prayer for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary begins Feb. 20. Visit www.TexasToJesusThroughMary. org by Jan. 23 to receive a free Montfort preparation prayer book by mail and for more information.

Jan. 24: Our Lady of Angels Maternity Shelter will host its 17th annual Benefit Banquet at the Frank Mayborn Center in Temple. Tickets are $60 per person, or $450 for a table of eight.

Tickets: www.ladyoftheangels.org or (254) 742-2340.

Jan. 25: Texas Catholic Pro-Life Day begins with a prayer vigil at 201 E. Ben White Blvd. in Austin. Masses will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at San José Parish in Austin and St. Louis Parish in Austin. Then everyone is invited to the March for Life, which begins at 1 p.m. The Rally for Life starts at 2 p.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol. Details: www. austindiocese.org/ texas-catholic-pro-life-day.

Jan. 31 – Feb. 2: The Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference will be held at the Waco Convention Center.

This year the conference is focused on Mary, the Mother of God. Details: tressi-breecher@austindiocese.org or (512) 949-2464.

Feb. 5: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for high school men from the Austin area at the rectory of St. William Parish in Round Rock.

This month the group will explore how in discernment, timing is everything. Details: https://hd.godiscalling. me.

Feb. 6: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for high school men from the Temple area at the rectory of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Temple. Details: https://td.godiscalling.me.

Feb. 11: The Vocations Office will host a discernment dinner for men (18 years and older) from the Austin area at the Borromeo Discernment House in Austin. Details: https://ad. godiscalling.me.

25

Opportunities to reflect, retreat Listed below are retreats and days of reflection in the month ahead.

Jan. 15: The School of Contemplative Living at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton will be held each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Jan. 15- Feb. 19. Through educational lectures and prayer experiences, participants will be exposed both to the history of Christian spirituality as well as basics of a healthy, authentic and contemplative lifestyle. Details: www. cedarbrake.org or (254) 780-2436.

Jan. 18-19: A “Come and See” Discernment Weekend for single Catholic women 18 to 40 years of age will be held at Incarnate Word Convent in Victoria. Details: (361) 575-7111 or iwbsvoc@yahoo.com.

Jan. 18: A TEC (Together Encounter Christ) Retreat will be held at Eagles Wings Retreat Center. TEC is a high energy and spirit filled retreat where young adults (age 17 and up) explore and deepen their faith. Retreat cost is $125, which includes two nights, meals and supplies. Details: tecofctx. wordpress.com/.

Jan. 31-Feb. 2: A weekend retreat for spiritual directors will be held at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. Carol Ackels, the director of the Ignatian Spirituality Center, will discuss Ignatian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction. Details: www.cedarbrake.org or (254) 780-2436.

Jan. 31-Feb. 2: The Byzantine Catholic Community of Austin will host an iconography workshop at Holy Cross Parish in Austin. No experience is necessary, and all techniques will be taught in class, accompanied by prayer and an explanation of the theology of icons. Cost is $110 for adults.

Details: (412) 735-1676 or info@austinbyzantine.org.

Feb. 6-9: Single young men (16-35 years old) are invited to experience the life of a seminarian first-hand by visiting Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving. This “come and see” event can provide a lot of clarity for one who is discerning his vocation! Details: https://vh.godiscalling.me.

Feb. 7-9: Married couples are invited to strengthen, renew and rekindle their sacrament of matrimony by attending a Marriage Encounter weekend. For more information, visit www. austinme.org/apply or call (512) 6779963 or e-mail wwmeaustin@gmail. com.

Feb. 8: A retreat, dinner and Mass for married couples will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. This is an evening for celebrating the sacrament of marriage. The cost is $50 per couple.

Details: www.cedarbrake.org or (254) 780-2436.

Feb. 8: “No Man Left Behind: Go Make Disciples,” the eighth annual Catholic Men’s Conference will be held Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Travis County Expo Center. The conference is presented by the Central Texas Fellowship of Catholic Men. It will feature Mass with Bishop Joe Vásquez; and presentations by Dr. Edward Sri and Father Ken Geraci. Tickets are $45 in advance, with discounts for students under 18 and for groups. Visit www.centexcatholic.com for more information.

Feb. 15: The Live Big, Love Bigger retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. Kathryn Whitaker will lead this day of laughter, truth and tools to live an intentional life.

Cost: $40 including lunch. Details: www.cedarbrake.org or (254) 7802436.

Feb. 20: Join thousands of faithful throughout the Austin Diocese for the 33 days of preparation for the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

Prayers are done privately using the consecration preparation book. Details: www.TexasToJesusThroughMary.org.

Feb. 26: The Ash Wednesday Day of Reflection will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. Details: www. cedarbrake.org or (254) 780-2436.

Feb. 29: The Vocations Office will be host Project Andrew at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin for single young men, 15 to 45 years old. Come explore whether God may be calling you to be a priest and gain valuable help in discerning God’s plan for your life. Details: https:// pa.godiscalling.me.

Burse The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has completed burses for the Clerical Endowment Fund (CEF) in honor of Father Joseph Varickamackal and Father Dominic Perunilam.

The totals for the burses as of Oct. 31, are listed below by council.

Austin $542.00 Bastrop/Lockhart $563.00 Brenham/La Grange $262.00 Bryan/College Station $2,888.60 Georgetown/Round Rock $3,803.00 Killeen/Temple $256.00 Lampasas/Marble Falls $759.86 Waco $5,472.00 Previous Balance $1,483.54 Total $16,030.00 The Clerical Endowment Fund provides low-cost loans to parishes. Interest from the loans is used to educate diocesan seminarians. For information, contact Judy Edwards at (979) 846-0617.

BU LLETIN BOARD

26

Official schedule

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Parish and community events

The official schedule for Bishop Joe Vásquez is listed below. Dates and times are subject to change.

Jan. 15: Priest Personnel Board Meeting, Pastoral Center, 10 a.m.

Bishop Vocations Meeting, Pastoral Center, Joe S. 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 17-28: Ad limina visit, Rome Vásquez Jan. 30: EIM Review Board, Pastoral Center, 9 a.m.

Finance Council, Pastoral Center, 11 Jan. 4: Mass for Movimiento Familiar a.m.

Cristiano, St. Louis Parish, Austin, Jan. 31: Monthly Budget Meeting, 10:30 a.m.

Pastoral Center, 8:30 a.m.

Jan. 6-10: Texas Bishops’ Retreat, San Jan. 31–Feb. 2: Diocesan Catholic Antonio Youth Conference, Waco Convention Jan. 11: Annual Commemoration honCenter oring Martin Luther King Jr., St. John Feb. 3-5: National Catholic Bioethics Neumann Parish, Austin, 11 a.m.

Center Bishops’ Workshop, Dallas Celebrating Catholic Schools Awards Feb. 7: Secretariat Directors, Pastoral Dinner, Hyatt Regency, Austin, 6 p.m.

Center, 9 a.m.

Jan. 13: Meeting with Prioress GenerFeb. 8: Mass, Annual Men’s Conferal of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, ence, Travis County Expo Center, Mother of the Eucharist, Pastoral Austin, 8:30 a.m.

Center, 10 a.m.

Feb. 9: Confirmation, St. Austin Parish, Jan. 14: Catholic Charities’ Meeting, Austin, 2 p.m.

Pastoral Center, 8:30 a.m.

Confirmation, Sacred Heart Parish, Presbyteral Council, Pastoral Center, Austin, 7 p.m.

10 a.m.

Listed below are events happening in our parishes and Catholic schools. The public is invited to these events.

A Pilgrimage to England

Ethics and Integrity in Ministry update

In the footsteps of St. Thomas More & the English Martyrs

May 11–21, 2020

$3,999 roundtrip from Austin Spiritual Director: Father John Guzaldo, pastor of St. Luke Parish in Temple Explore the home of St. Thomas More in London • Stonor Park where Jesuit missionaries celebrated Mass despite anti-Catholic persecution • Oxfordshire • Ramsgate • Canterbury • West Grinstead, Sussex For more information, contact Deacon Jerry Klement at deaconklement@slparish.org or (254) 774-9050 or Holy Land Travel Center at (866) 339-3323.

Jan. 4: The annual Boar’s Head Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Albert the Great Parish in Austin. This theatrical presentation visits a castle of Old England, a lavish royal party, the arrival of the Yule Log, caroling and more. Details and tickets: www.boarsheadaustin.com.

Jan. 11: Holy Trinity Parish in Corn Hill will host a dynamic evening with Kevin Dunn, international (pro-life) filmmaker and speaker, at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Activity Center. The vigil Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Dunn’s award-winning films and testimonies have touched thousands throughout the world, opening people’s eyes to, and educating them about the atrocity of assisted death, or euthanasia, which has become all too common in our world. Learn also, how to become a “prophet of hope” in the lives of those around you. There is no cost to participate. Details: www.kevindunn.info.

Jan. 17: Passion and Purpose for Marriage will be presented by Dr. Allen Hunt from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin. Couples are invited to learn new and practical ways to strengthen and enrich their relationship.

Tickets: www.DynamicCatholic.com/Austin.

Feb. 8: St. William Parish in Round Rock will host a Sweetheart Dinner and Dance at the Parish Evangelization Center. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the dance will go from 8 to 11 p.m. General admission is $50, and reserved seating is $75. To purchase tickets, call Julio Campos at (512) 635-4707 or visit www.st-william.org for details.

Feb. 24: The Knights of Columbus, Council 3444 will host their annual Clergy Appreciation Banquet Feb. 24 at the Columbus Club Hall at 2218 West Avenue D in Temple. The evening begins with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. All clergy are invited. Details: (254) 721-4223 or bjmcatee@hot.rr.com.

EIM WORKSHOP

All clergy, religious, seminarians, employees and adult volunteers serving in a ministry requiring EIM compliance must submit an EIM Application for Ministry (one-time only) and attend an EIM Workshop at least once every three years. Go to www.eappsdb.com/austin to submit a new application or login to your existing account to find the list of workshops and to signup (use Forgot Password if you don’t recall ID/password). Contact your parish EIM site administrator (insert name) if a paper EIM application or other assistance with EIM compliance matters is needed.

Workshop Notes: 1) attendees must pre-register at least 24 hours before workshop start time – walk-ins are no longer admitted, 2) arrive early - late arrivals are not admitted and 3) do not bring children to the EIM workshop.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse and have concerns regarding your attendance at a workshop, contact Emily Hurlimann at (512) 949-2447 to discuss an alternative workshop arrangement.

HAVE YOU, OR HAS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED ABUSE?

TEXAS CATHOLIC PRO-LIFE DAY JANUARY 25, 2020 8:00 a.m. Prayer Vigil 201 E. Ben White Blvd, Austin 9:15 a.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by Mass San José Parish, Austin and St. Louis King of France Parish, Austin 1:00 p.m. March for Life to the Texas State Capitol Assemble at 14th St. and San Jacinto St. 2:00 p.m. Rally for Life South Steps of the State Capitol

Life, Charity and Justice • Pro-Life Activities

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez and the Diocese of Austin are committed to providing compassionate care to persons who have experienced abuse, particularly if committed by clergy or a church representative. If you have or if someone you know has experienced such abuse, contact the diocesan Coordinator of Victim Assistance and Pastoral Support at ileana-hinojosa@austindioce.org or (512) 949-2400.

REPORT ABUSE

Report abuse of a minor, elderly adult or an adult with a disability to local law enforcement or to the Texas Abuse Hotline at www.txabusehotline.org or (800) 252-5400 and to the diocese at www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse or (512) 949-2447.

REPORT UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

Report unethical behavior by a person serving in ministry to the diocese at www.austindiocese.org/other-concerns or (512) 949-2447.

JANUARY 2020

ESPAÑOL

27

ENTREVISTA AL SEÑOR OBISPO

La Confirmación nos fortalece para ser discípulos de Cristo El Obispo José S. Vásquez es el quinto obispo de la Diócesis de Austin, que es el hogar de más de 530,000 Católicos.

Editora: Señor Obispo, estamos continuando una serie de entrevistas sobre los sacramentos. Este mes hablamos sobre la confirmación ¿Qué es el sacramento de la confirmación?

Obispo Vásquez: A través del sacramento de la confirmación estamos “más perfectamente unidos a la Iglesia” y se nos da “una fuerza especial del Espíritu Santo,” de acuerdo con el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica.

En nuestro bautismo recibimos el don del Espíritu Santo, pero con el sacramento de la confirmación ese don es confirmado o fortalecido.

La confirmación es uno de los tres sacramentos fundamentales o sacramentos de iniciación que nos hacen Católicos: bautismo, Eucaristía y confirmación. La secuencia de los sacramentos debería ser bautismo, confirmación y entonces Eucaristía.

Sin embargo, la secuencia para la Iglesia Latina es que la confirmación sigue después de la Eucaristía, por lo tanto, en la Diócesis de Austin, la mayoría de jóvenes Católicos son confirmados como adolescentes, usualmente en el grado noveno o décimo. Las personas no bautizadas que son traídas a la Iglesia Católica reciben el bautismo, entonces la confirmación y entonces la Eucaristía. Una vez que estos tres sacramentos han sido celebrados, el que los recibe es un miembro completo de la Iglesia Católica con todos los derechos y las responsabilidades que ello trae consigo.

En nuestra confirmación, somos fortalecidos para dar testimonio de Jesucristo en el mundo. Sostenidos por los dones del Espíritu Santo, hemos de salir al mundo y ayudar a que otros conozcan el gozo del Evangelio y la Buena Nueva de nuestra salvación.

Editora: ¿Cuál es la relación entre la confirmación y los dones del Espíritu Santo?

Obispo Vásquez: Los Evangelios hablan sobre el bautismo de Jesús mientras que sale de las aguas del Jordán, cuando el Espíritu Santo de-

sciende sobre Él. Él es entonces lleno del Espíritu Santo y desde ese momento es ungido para completar la misión de Dios de salvar al mundo. Cuando escuchamos la palabra “Cristo,” la mayoría de la gente piensa que eso es parte del nombre de Jesús. Pero es más como un título. Jesús el Cristo sería más apropiado. La palabra Cristo viene de la palabra griega “christos” que significa el ungido. En nuestra confirmación mientras que somos ungidos con el Santo Carisma, somos fortalecidos por el Espíritu Santo y enviados, tal como Jesús, a proclamar la Buena Nueva y continuar el trabajo de Cristo.

El Espíritu imparte dones para que podamos vivir como fieles Cristianos. Los siete dones que conocemos tradicionalmente son sabiduría, entendimiento, conocimiento, consejo, piedad, fortaleza y temor de Dios.

Editora: Cada año, usted viaja alrededor de la diócesis para celebrar el sacramento de la confirmación con miles de jóvenes ¿Cómo es estar con la juventud de la diócesis?

Obispo Vásquez: Celebrar el sacramento de la confirmación con nuestra juventud es muy emocionante para mí. Típicamente, los jóvenes pueden estar un poco intimidados por mi presencia por que usualmente pregunto alguna cuestiones básicas sobre su entendimiento sobre el sacramento de la confirmación. Esto me ayuda a saber que los jóvenes están preparados para recibir el sacramento. Nuestros jóvenes que están emocionados sobre su fe Católica y que toman en serio su llamado a vivir su fe Cristiana como discípulos de Nuestro Señor Jesús, me inspiran.

En un tiempo en el que hay tantas distracciones de la fe y tanta gente joven se encuentra cuestionándose o dudando de su fe, me anima ver que hay muchos jóvenes que son apasionados en su fe. Algunas veces recibo cartas de jóvenes que me dicen por qué quieren ser confirmados y estoy muy impresionado con su sinceridad y amor por la Iglesia y los sacramentos.

Ellos aman su fe Católica y quieren vivirla bien. Debo felicitar a los padres, los catequistas, los ministros juveniles,

los sacerdotes, diáconos y religiosos que están enseñando a los jóvenes sobre su fe. Están trabajando duro para formar la próxima generación de la Iglesia.

Editora: ¿Cuál es el papel del patrocinador en la confirmación?

Obispo Vásquez: El papel del patrocinador es acompañar al joven o al candidato mientras que recibe el sacramento de la confirmación. Este es un compromiso de por vida. Muchos puede que lo vean como un gesto amable hacia un amigo o pariente, pero ser patrocinador significa comprometerse a caminar con el candidato por el resto de nuestra vida. El patrocinador debe servir como un modelo de fe. Él acompaña a quien se confirma en el viaje de fe, caminando a su lado – no adelante ni detrás de él.

El patrocinador ofrece ánimo, apoyo y oración. Un buen patrocinador también apoya a los padres y ayuda al joven Cristiano a vivir su fe Católica.

Editora: Muchos tratan a la confirmación como el final de su educación religiosa. Sin embargo, nunca dejamos de crecer en nuestra fe ¿verdad?

Obispo Vásquez: Sí, esto es muy triste para mí. Desafortunadamente, muchos ven a la confirmación como un sacramento de graduación. Puede que piensen, “tengo los tres sacramentos y no necesito preocuparme de nada más”. ¡Esto no es verdad!

Una vez que hemos sido confirmados, no sabemos inmediatamente todo lo que necesitamos saber. Nuestra fe

Durante el Rito de la Confirmación, cada candidato se para frente al obispo. Él, entonces, unge la frente del candidato con el Santo Carisma y dice, “Recibe por esta señal el don del Espíritu Santo”. Y el confirmante responde, “Amén”. (Catholic Spirit file foto por Arlen Nydam)

es un proceso de toda la vida. La fe Católica se trata en verdad sobre el discipulado, lo que involucra aprender sobre nuestra fe y profundizar en nuestra fe cada día. El sacramento de la confirmación nos ayuda a fortalecer nuestra relación con Cristo y con la comunidad de fe.

Como el bautismo, el sacramento de la confirmación es dado sólo una vez en nuestra vida, eso significa que – por él – somos completamente cambiados. Se nos da esta marca indeleble, y somos sellados con el Espíritu Santo lo cual marca “nuestra pertenencia total a Cristo, nuestra puesta a su servicio para siempre” (CCC,1296). Este sacramento nos llama a vivir como Cristo cada día.

Editora: ¿Cuál es su oración por aquellos que serán confirmados en 2020?

Obispo Vásquez: Que todos seamos llenados con el amor de Dios y reconozcamos que somos hijos e hijas de un padre amoroso, que nos ha dado a su único Hijo para salvarnos.

Que todos aquellos preparándose para la confirmación se abran a si mismos hacia el don del Espíritu Santo, que es el regalo de Dios para todos sus amados hijos.

ESPAÑOL

28

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

La Campaña Encontrando a Cristo excede su meta de $85 millones Por Darci Swisher | Corresponsal

La Campaña Encontrando a Cristo ha reunido $96 millones en compromisos, gracias a la generosidad de las familias de la Diócesis de Austin.

“Este es un suceso histórico para nuestra amada iglesia aquí en el Centro de Texas,” Dijo el Obispo José Vásquez. “El efecto de nuestros esfuerzos será sentido en nuestra diócesis por generaciones venideras”.

La diócesis ha visto muchos cambios desde su fundación en 1947, con el número de Católicos habiendo crecido un 25 por ciento en los últimos doce años únicamente.

El Obispo Vásquez inició Encontrando a Cristo para proveer de un futuro vibrante y seguro para la diócesis y para cumplir las metas descritas en el Plan Pastoral diocesano, Encuentro que Lleva a la Transformación.

“Estamos continuando el construir una cultura de encuentro en nuestra diócesis,” dijo el Obispo Vásquez.

“Juntos, estamos apoyando a nuestro clero, fortaleciendo a nuestras parroquias, formando discípulos emergentes y abrazando el discipulado”.

Tal como con la campaña Our Faith, Our Legacy, las parroquias y misiones son las más grandes beneficiarias de Encontrando a Cristo.

Todas las 127 parroquias y misiones participaron en la campaña en una serie de olas que comenzaron en enero de 2018. Ellas retendrán 30 por ciento de los donativos que reúnan hasta sus metas individuales, y el 70 por ciento de cualquier cantidad más allá de su meta.

“En gratitud a Dios, celebramos

este éxito, recordando que la campaña de Encontrando a Cristo continúa,” dijo el Obispo Vásquez.

Ahora que las parroquias han concluido la fase de recaudación de fondos activa de Encontrando a Cristo, están entrando a la fase de cumplimiento, un periodo de cinco años en el que aquellos que hicieron compromisos podrán cumplirlos, dijo Scott Whitaker director de corresponsabilidad y desarrollo.

“Las parroquias recibirán su parte de fondos de la campaña según los parroquianos vayan cumpliendo con sus compromisos,” dijo. “Mientras que cada dólar entra como una donación o pago de un compromiso, se divide 30-70 entre la diócesis y la parroquia a la que fue comprometido, y la parte de la parroquia se coloca en una cuenta especial”.

Más de $22 millones en donaciones y pagos de compromisos han sido ya recolectados, dijo Whitaker. Como se van recibiendo los fondos, las parroquias pueden comenzar a abordar los proyectos que identificaron para las declaraciones de casos de sus campañas.

“Es emocionante ver a las parroquias de las primeras olas que están ya completando sus proyectos,” dijo Whitaker. “Mientras que muchas de estas necesidades locales involucran el mantenimiento y actualización de instalaciones o el pago de deudas, son integrales para asegurar que las parroquias continúen proveyendo a sus parroquianos con más encuentros con Cristo”.

La diócesis debe también esperar a que los compromisos sean cumplidos para comenzar los proyectos que

Para información actualizada de la Diócesis de Austin, visítenos en línea En internet en http://www.austindiocese.org.

En Facebook busque y siga a la diócesis en “@DioceseofAustin” y “@bishopjoesvasquez.”

En Instagram siga a la “dioceseofaustin” y a “bishopjoevasquez.”

En Twitter, siga a la @AustinDiocese.

El Obispo José Vásquez saluda a un parroquiano después de la Misa celebrando a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe el 7 de diciembre en San José Parish en Austin. Con gozo y agradecimiento, el obispo recientemente anunció que la Campaña Capital Encontrando a Cristo alcanzó su meta de $85 millones en compromisos. Más de 18,000 familias han hecho un compromiso hasta ahora.

(Foto por Gabriel Lujan)

identificó para Encontrando a Cristo.

Los fondos de campaña han sido ya dirigidos al fondo para seminaristas y al fideicomiso del plan de pensiones para sacerdotes retirados.

El Padre Jonathan Raia, director diocesano de vocaciones, está agradecido que Encontrando a Cristo está ayudando a asegurar que la diócesis tenga hombres santos felices, sanos y santos entrando al sacerdocio. Él tiene un mensaje especial para aquellos que han donado a Encontrando a Cristo: “Gracias por su donación para Encontrando a Cristo, y por invertir en el sacerdocio y en los hombres que están siendo formados para servir como nuestros pastores”.

Además, la expansión de St. John Paul II Residence for Priests in Georgetown se encuentra en camino.

La residencia actualmente provee de

un hogar cómodo y de una comunidad unida para 16 sacerdotes retirados de nuestra diócesis. Ellos comparten Misa, alimentos y actividades; tienen acceso al transporte hacia y desde sus citas; y reciben cuidado y apoyo para sus necesidades médicas. La diócesis está ubicando $2 millones de Encontrando a Cristo para construir cuatro duplexes adicionales para que la capacidad crezca a 24.

Donadores serán actualizados sobre el progreso en la diócesis en las parroquias a través de los medios sociales, en el sitio web de la campaña, en www.encounteringchristcampaign. org, y en el Catholic Spirit y el boletín diocesano Reflexiones, dijo Whitaker.

“Mientras más compromisos sean cumplidos, más asuntos serán realizados de la lista de la diócesis,” dijo.

“Es muy emocionante”.

JANUARY 2020

ESPAÑOL

29

Trabajando para construir una cultura de vida, civilización del amor Por Luisa de Poo | Columnista Invitada

En las décadas pasadas hemos escuchado grandes debates sobre cuándo es que la vida comienza. Gentes de diferentes creencias, sistemas o ideología tienen su propia respuesta a esta pregunta basados en sus creencias personales o sentimientos, su propia verdad subjetiva. Pero ¿Cuál es la verdad? ¿Cuándo comienza la vida en realidad? ¿Por qué es la Iglesia tan firme en defender la vida en todas las etapas? ¿Qué podemos hacer para abrazarnos a las enseñanzas de la Iglesia en lo concerniente al respeto a la vida y para ser verdaderos discípulos de Jesús?

La vida comienza en el momento de la concepción – esto es un hecho científico. Un ser humano único comienza a desarrollarse en el mismo momento de la fertilización. Como Cristianos creemos que la vida es sagrada desde el momento de la concepción hasta la muerte natural. La vida es dada por Dios y creemos que nadie más que Dios puede terminarla. Como leemos en el libro de Jeremías, “Antes de formarte en el vientre de tu madre, ya te conocía”.

Como declaran los obispos de Estados Unidos. “La enseñanza social

Católica está basada en, y es inseparable de nuestro entendimiento de la vida humana y la dignidad humana.

Cada ser humano es creado a imagen y semejanza de Dios y es redimido por Jesucristo, y por lo tanto es invaluable y digno de respeto como un miembro de la familia humana. Cada persona, desde el momento de la concepción hasta la muerte natural, ha heredado dignidad y un derecho a la vida consistente con esa dignidad. La dignidad humana viene de Dios, no de alguna cualidad humana o logro”.

El aborto y la eutanasia son ataques directos al valor de la vida humana, la cual es también amenazada por la clonación, la investigación de las células madre embrionarias y el uso de la pena de muerte. Con frecuencia tratamos a la gente como si fueran desechables. De muchas maneras, hemos olvidado el llamado de Dios a un pacto de amor y justicia; hemos olvidado este amor especial por los pobres y los apartados de la sociedad. Debemos recordar las palabras de Jesucristo que vino a “Llevar buenas noticias a los pobres…anunciar la libertad a los cautivos y a los ciegos,” (Lc 4:18-19) y que se identificó a si mismo con “el más pequeño,“ los hambrientos, los forasteros, los prisioneros (Mt 25:45).

Ahora es el momento de crear una cultura de vida en nuestros hogares y en nuestras parroquias y comunidades.

Debemos de oponernos a prácticas destructivas de la vida humana en cualquier etapa y promover prácticas que eleven el espíritu humano con amor y compasión. Podemos comenzar por abrir nuestros corazones al llamado de Dios de cuidar de su creación, especialmente su mayor creación – la persona humana.

En “Evangelium Vitae,” San Juan Pablo II nos anima a construir una cultura de vida y una civilización del amor.

Esto podría ocurrir orando afuera de una clínica de abortos, siendo voluntario en ministerios sociales parroquiales o en despensas de alimentos, siendo alguien que aboga en un centro de recursos para el embarazo, visitando a los ancianos, sirviendo en ministerio en nuestras prisiones, sirviendo como voluntario en el Gabriel Project o en Catholic Charities of Central Texas, alimentando a los que no tienen hogar, evangelizando a aquellos en las periferias o dando la bienvenida al extranjero.

Donde sea que usted se siente llamado a servir, hágalo con un corazón abierto dejando que el Espíritu Santo trabaje a través de usted para que puede derramar el amor de Jesús en aquellos a los

que usted está sirviendo. ¿Sabía usted que 75% de las mujeres que escogen el aborto tienen bajos ingresos, 60% están en sus veintes, y 86% no están casadas? A partir del 25 de marzo, marcamos el aniversario número 25 de “Evangelium Vitae,” y los obispos de Estados Unidos lanzarán Caminando con Madres Necesitadas: Un Año de Servicio, una iniciativa nacional de oración, servicio y testimonio de vida. Esta es una oportunidad para todos los parroquianos para ayudar a mujeres embarazadas o ejerciendo su maternidad necesitadas.

“Mujeres enfrentando embarazos en circunstancias difíciles deben ver a la Iglesia como un lugar en el que pueden encontrar ayuda, especialmente con su variedad de servicios sociales y organizaciones dedicadas a cubrir las necesidades de la gente en crisis,” dijo el Arzobispo Joseph Naumann, Presidente del Comité de Actividades Pro-Vida de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados unidos.

Invito a aquellos que quieran aprender más sobre esta campaña o que estén interesados en construir una cultura de vida en su parroquia a que me contacten llamando al (512) 9492487 o escribiendo a luisa-depoo@ austindiocese.org.

Celebración diocesana en honor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Una celebración diocesana en honor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe fue llevada a cabo el 7 de diciembre en el centro de Austin. Los participantes se reunieron en St. Mary Cathedral en donde recibieron una bendición de parte del Obispo José Vásquez, quien entonces, lideró la procesión a través de las calles de Austin hasta San José Parish. El Obispo Vásquez entonces celebró la Misa para casi 850 personas en San José Parish. Parroquias de lo largo de la diócesis también celebraron a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe el 12 de diciembre. La festividad celebra la aparición de la Santísima Madre a San Juan Diego en el siglo 16. (Fotos por Gabriel Lujan)

30

ESPAÑOL

CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Parroquia joven de Hutto se ha convertido en una ‘familia de familias’ Por Alfredo E. Cardenas | Corresponsal

St. Patrick in Hutto celebrará su 20mo. aniversario el 1 de mayo. En esas dos décadas, la parroquia ha logrado asegurar su identidad en la comunidad de Hutto y ha fundado un hogar permanente. Hoy, la parroquia está lista para el futuro con un nuevo pastor a su frente.

El Padre Brian Eilers, quien comenzó su asignación como pastor en St. Patrick el 1 de julio, dijo que desea que la parroquia sea orientada a la familia.

“Quiero que sea una familia de familias,” dijo.

En 2000, el Obispo John McCarthy emitió un decreto de erección para la nueva parroquia y asignó al Padre Andy Gunn, un sacerdote convertido de la iglesia Episcopal, como su pastor fundador.

Bajo el Padre Gunn, la comunidad era pequeña y todos se conocían.

Fundada para servir a los Católicos en el Noreste de Austin, el Padre Gunn buscó oportunamente un sitio temporal mientras la parroquia buscaba un hogar más permanente. Para el primer mes, la pequeña comunidad de 12 celebraba la Misa en St. Elizabeth Parish en Plugerville. Entonces ellos arreglaron el tener Misa en Dessau Elementary School. De acuerdo a la historia de la parroquia, una “iglesia sobre ruedas tomó forma”. Ellos pronto crecieron más que la capacidad de la escuela primaria, así que se mudaron a la Dessau Middle School.

Después de dos años, ellos se mudaron al espacio rentado en Pflugerville Office Park mientras que continuaban buscando la tierra para construir una iglesia. Las negociaciones para una propiedad en Dessau Road fracasaron, pero la calle seleccionada para la ubicación de la iglesia todavía tiene el nombre de St. Patrick Place. Los parroquianos continuaron buscando un lugar para su santuario y se conformaron con otro espacio rentado en Gregg Lane.

Finalmente, en 2007, la diócesis anunció que St. Patrick se estaba mudando a Hutto, que no contaba con una iglesia Católica. Una ceremonia de inicio de obras se llevó a cabo el 16 de diciembre de 2007, en 2500 Limmer Loop. El Obispo Gregory Aymond dedicó una nueva instalación de usos múltiples en 19 acres de tierra el 24

de agosto de 2008. La parroquia de cerca de 500 familias de St. Patrick finalmente tenían un hogar que podían llamar propio.

Desafortunadamente, el Padre Gunn estuvo ahí sólo en espíritu, habiendo sucumbido al cáncer en 2006.

Aún así, su legado fue asegurado. La pequeña congregación se había convertido en una familia y bajo el liderazgo del Padre Keith Koehl, la parroquia siguió creciendo.

Entonces, la crisis económica detuvo el crecimiento en la comunidad de Hutto, y los números parroquiales dejaron de crecer. Los parroquianos restantes se enfrentaron con una deuda grande. Muchos se fueron a parroquias vecinas. Para agregar a los retos parroquiales, los sacerdotes vinieron y fueron dejando a la comunidad con muy poca consistencia.

Aún así, la parroquia perseveró y recobró su paso y comenzó a incrementar sus números despacio. Para el momento en que el Padre Eilers llegó a mediados de 2019, los números de la congregación crecieron a 1,000 familias registradas. Los números continúan creciendo mientras que el pueblo de Hutto también crece.

español o bilingües,” dijo el Padre Eilers. Algunas personas ya estaban involucradas en las Misas en español en otras parroquias y no querían irse de ahí aunque viven en Hutto. “Seguiremos invitándolos,” dijo. Él planea introducir un movimiento internacional laico llamdo “Teams of Our Lady,” en el que las parejas

El Padre Eilers dijo que la parroquia había recientemente agregado la Misa en Español para ayudar a cumplir con las necesidades pastorales de un grupo en Hutto que no recibía los servicios suficientes.

El Padre Eilers dijo que la parroquia había recientemente agregado la Misa en Español para ayudar a cumplir con las necesidades pastorales de un grupo en Hutto que no recibía los servicios suficientes. La planeación para una Misa en español comenzó el septiembre pasado con un grupo de parroquianos, muchos de ellos bilingües, junto con personas que habían llamado a la oficina parroquial para preguntar sobre una Misa en español. Ellos planearon diferentes ministerios, tales como el coro, lectores, ministerios de hospitalidad, servidores de altar, etc.

Ministros de otras Misas ayudaron a entrenar a los voluntarios de la Misa en Español.

El Padre Eilers también recibió ayuda de pastores de parroquias vecinas en Taylor, Pflugerville, Round Rock y Georgetown. Trescientos cincuenta personas asistieron a la primera Misa en español, y cerca de 275 asisten semanalmente.

“Tenemos ya muchas cosas en

se reúnen para orar, compartir una comida juntas y vivir la vida familiar.

“La cultura ya no nos dice qué significa la vida familiar,” dijo el Padre Eilers. “Mi preocupación como pastor es que, mientras crecemos, lo hagamos juntos en la fe y no sólo organizando la Misa para la gente. Necesitamos catequesis y oración diaria”. Él cree que los grupos familiares darán a los parroquianos un sentido de pertenencia y crearán un lazo más vibrante y fuerte dentro de la comunidad. Además, él también quiere buscar maneras para servir en ministerio a los parroquianos que no están casados.

Dentro de la población de Hutto, el Padre Eilers cree que todavía hay muchos Católicos que no asisten a la Misa. Él espera incrementar los números de la parroquia a través de una campaña de mercadotecnia por correo, probablemente antes del Miércoles de Ceniza. El pastor está también considerando ofrecer servicios de 15

En la festividad de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, el Padre James Garneau, un sacerdote de Raleigh, NC, celebró la Misa en español en St. Patrick en Hutto. La parroquia ofrece Misa en español cada domingo a las 12:30 p.m.

(Foto por Alfredo Cardenas)

minutos durante el Miércoles de Ceniza cada 30 minutos para ayudar a la gente a reconectar con su fe Católica.

St. Patrick es la mayor comunidad en Hutto, y el Padre Eilers está trabajando para estar conectado con ella en general. Él conoce a los administradores escolares por nombre, asiste a juegos de futbol locales, y trata de estar involucrado a través de la comunidad.

La parroquia también contribuye significativamente al banco de alimentos local, dijo.

Estamos llamados a “llevar la Buena Nueva y la plenitud de la fe Católica a todos,” dijo.

Debemos compartir “el tesoro y la profundidad de la fe que tenemos como Católicos, como los sacramentos tales como la Eucaristía, reconciliación y el matrimonio”.

“No podemos nada más sentarnos y servir a aquellos que entran por nuestras puertas, esa no es la razón por la que existimos,” agregó el Padre Eilers.

“Existimos por todos los que viven en nuestro territorio. Así que quiero ayudar a esta parroquia a que se vuelva embajadora, para que invite a toda la gente a que disfrute los frutos del Reino, que es lo que ofrece la Iglesia Católica”.

SIGHTINGS

JANUARY 2020

Parishioners from St. Mary Parish in Lockhart held a public rosary rally in honor of America Needs Fatima on Oct. 12. (Photo courtesy Janie Cruz)

31

The preschool students at St. John Neumann Parish in Austin decorated the hallways of the parish Pastoral Center for the holidays. The parish also celebrated veterans with a Mass and a reception. (Photos courtesy Susie Thompson)

On Nov. 18, St. Austin Parish remembered Paulist Father Jim Wiesner, who passed away suddenly while serving as pastor of the parish in 2009.

(Photo courtesy Jennifer Anderson)

An America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally was held on the Fayetteville Courthouse Square in October.

(Photo courtesy Madeline Kovar)

On Giving Tuesday Santa Cruz Catholic School in Buda hosted a luncheon for local uniformed police officers, firemen, veterans and teachers. (Photos courtesy Michelle Quintanilla)

The IMPACT (Influencing My Peers As a Catholic Teen) youth group of St. Joseph Parish in Rockdale collected socks and soap in an Advent Giving Tree community service project.

They then delivered the gifts and caroled to the 95 residents of St. Joseph Manor Nursing Home in Caldwell. (Photos courtesy Bonnie Holub) The cheerleaders from St. Louis Catholic School in Austin participated in the Chuy’s Children Giving Children Parade in downtown Austin. (Photo courtesy Carrie Vernieuw)

Students from St. Michael’s Catholic Academy participated in the “Run for the Water” to support the Gazelle Foundation, which gives people in Burundi lifetime access to clean water.

(Photo courtesy Laura Duggan)

Parishioners from St. Mary, Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lago Vista delivered 95 lap robes to Cedar Park New Hope Nursing Home residents.

The items were crocheted and knitted by the St. Mary’s Prayer Shawl ministry. (Photo courtesy Berniece Donnellan)

Kay Hassan from Georgetown recently made a commitment as a Providence Associate with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. (Photo courtesy Jason Moon) Send photos by the 10th of the month to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org. Publication is not guaranteed.

SIGHTINGS

32

Austin Diocese 6225 Hwy. 290 East Austin, Texas 78723

Pastoral Juvenil celebrated its monthly Mass Nov. 22 at Dolores Parish in Austin. About 100 young adults from 12 parishes attended the Mass and rosary. The group also hosted a Mega Posada on Dec. 7 at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Dripping Springs. (Photos courtesy Yazmin Mani)

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court #115, Maria Galante continued their 25-year tradition with their annual Christmas party for the dorm residents at the Austin State School. This year’s theme was “Frozen.” (Photo courtesy Catherine Longoria)

St. Theresa’s Catholic School in Austin collected 399 coats during a service project hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization. (Photo courtesy Andrea Bizzanelli)

The Knights of Columbus from Harker Heights conducted their first Coats for Kids event during November and December. They donated coats and $2,500 to the Killeen Homeless Awareness Response Program. (Photo courtesy Charles Parker)

Catholic Daughters of the Americas at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin hosted their annual Christmas Coffee on Dec. 7. This event raises money for several parish ministries. (Photos courtesy Michelle Fontana)

CATHOLIC SPIRIT Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, Texas

Bishop Joe Vásquez and Father Jude Uche celebrated the debt-free status of St. Stephen Parish in Salado on Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy Joann LaCanne)

St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin held its first Posada in Johnson Hall. The parish also celebrated a Mass with mariachis on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photos courtesy Christine Carter) St. Theresa Parish in Austin hosted a Lessons and Carols service as well as a Tree Lighting and Advent Party on Dec. 7. (Photos courtesy Linda Gockel)

Father Stephen Nesrsta blessed the graves in the Holy Trinity Church Cemetery in Corn Hill. A Mass was held in the cemetery on All Souls Day. (Photo courtesy Jennifer Klepac)

Send photos by the 10th of the month to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org. Publication is not guaranteed.