Reflections Fall 2011

...recognizing our gifts of time, talent and treasure

Fall 2011

reflections... a newsletter from the Stewardship and Development Office

WE ARE RE ONE We, the Diocese of Austin, the Catholic Church of Central Texas through the Word and Eucharist, prayer, formation and education, social ministries and advocacy, embrace diverse cultures throughout the diocese so that together, as the Catholic Church, we may continue the mission of Christ in the world today.

Stewardship and Development Office Diocese of Austin 6225 Highway 290 E. Austin, TX 78723 (512) 949-2400

Most Rev. Joe S. Vásquez Bishop of Austin

Scott Whitaker Director of Stewardship and Development

Bob Vallilee Associate Director of Stewardship and Development

Jean Bondy Associate Director of Catholic School Development

Emily Powers Ender Executive Assistant

The Catholic Diocese of Austin

In the Nicene Creed, we profess a Church that is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.” These words are more than a fessimple description; as part of our profestion sion of faith, they give us a call to action and a chance to live what we believe.

As Church, we are apostolic and holy because, following in the footsteps of the Apostles, we have been commissioned by God to enter into a holy work — to continue the mission of Christ in the world.

As Church, we are one and catholic because we are unified as well as universal. In the Creed, we declare that we do not stand alone as one individual, one family, or even one parish. Rather, we belong to a communion that extends throughout the ages and across the world.

One time a year the Catholic community in Central Texas unites to support the formational, educational, and charitable works of our bishop and our diocesanwide ministries. We come together from our many different walks of life and diverse parish communities as a sign of our shared identity in the One Body of Christ.

The Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) provides essential annual operating sup-

port for vocations, pro-life and justice ministries, spiritual enrichment, youth programs, family life, pastoral ministries, Catholic education, and Christian formation programs across the diocese. The CSA enables our diocesan ministries to respond to the needs of the whole community in Central Texas.

The theme for CSA this year is “We Are One/Somos Uno.” As St. Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians, we each have our own identity in the One Body of Christ: “There are many parts, yet one body” (1 Cor 12:18-31). And, Paul tells us, each part has a unique and essential role to play.

The CSA is our opportunity to welcome one another into the saving work of Christ and to acknowledge that each family and every parish has something to contribute to the ministry of the diocese as a whole. The programs supported by the CSA provide works of preaching, teaching, and service that no one parish {continued on page 2}

{continued from page 1} or individual could accomplish on their own. Rather, these ministries are made possible through our coming together as one to further the mission of the Church.

Together, through the Catholic Services Appeal, we can affirm our belief in a unified, universal Church that extends beyond our home and parish community, united by a common call to holiness and a shared mission to continue the work of Christ.

As we seek to proclaim the Gospel, both in our individual lives and as a community, we would do well to remember that our unity brings us strength. Resources may be scarce for each of us in these uncertain times, and it may be difficult to see the difference one small contribution can make — but just as with the many members of the One Body of Christ, our gifts united together will equal a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

WE ARE RE ONE WELCOME ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST HAS WELCOMED YOU. –ROM 15:7 Scott Whitaker is the Director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Austin. For more information on the Catholic Services Appeal, please review the materials that will be mailed to your home, visit www.austindiocese.org/csa, call (512) 949-2441, or e-mail scott-whitaker@austindiocese.org.

ICSC 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE October 23-26, 2011 Orlando, Florida

Stewards of

The ICSC annual conference offers the most comprehensive and relevant programs on the theology, spirituality and practical aspects of Christian stewardship.

God’s Grace NETWORK! The ICSC annual conference is widely recognized as the most valuable opportunity for those involved in Christian stewardship to connect with others who share their commitment to teaching stewardship as a way of life. Many say meeting others with similar experiences is the main reason they attend the ICSC Conference!

LEARN! The ICSC annual conference is filled with sessions and forums that provide practical information you can take home and use immediately.

You will be exposed not only to topics that offer fundamentals but also new ideas, innovations and strategies!

GROW IN YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH! The ICSC annual conference is a great opportunity to get away from your busy schedule to pray, refl ect on your own life of faith, listen to inspiring reflections and participate in invigorating liturgies!

REGISTER TODAY!

T H A N K YOU . . . for your ongoing support and generosity to the Our Faith ~ Our Legacy campaign.

To date, more than $15.6 million has been returned to parishes.

diocese of austin

Register online at www.catholicstewardship.org or call ICSC toll free at 1.800.352.3452

1.800.352.3452

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INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC 1275 K Street NW Suite 880 STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL Washington DC 20005-4083 2

Fall 2011

It’s in the Ordinary Time During this time the Church focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus. The daily scriptures recall how Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom, taught the crowds, healed the sick, and fed the hungry. That was Jesus’ ordinary time — ministering to God’s people.

Through Baptism, we are called to imitate Jesus’ ministry to others, not only during the holidays and solemn seasons, but also during the ordinary times. We respond to this Baptismal call not only through organized ministries of preaching, teaching, healing, and serving, but also in the way we live our lives — from how we treat our families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to the responsible stewardship of our resources.

Ordinary Time celebrates the Paschal Mystery. It leads to the Resurrection. And, it places our lives — all that we do and are — in the context of God’s saving plan for humanity.

People hunger and thirst every day — for justice, for material well-being, for knowledge of God. Perhaps more than any other season, Ordinary Time reminds us that the Church, our communities, and the world need our support of time, talent and treasure so that our brothers and sisters are fed all year long.

One winter as we were returning f from serving at a citywide Christmas banw quet que qu e for the homeless, my sson o asked, “Where do tthe he p people eat when it isn’t is sn’ n’tt Ch C Christmas?” rist ri sttma stma m s The seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Lent make us mindful of the needs of the homeless, the hungry, the marginalized, and the lonely. Churches and organizations collect food, sponsor meals, distribute coats and sweaters, and organize many other charitable programs.

At Easter we rejoice that Christ has risen from the dead, and we celebrate with food, new clothes, and visits to family and friends. In this time of abundance, we once again remember those who are in need.

But what about the ordinary times? Why is the rest of the liturgical year called “Ordinary Time”? In reality, there is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time.

The “ordinary” in “Ordinary Time” comes from the Latin word for “order, arrangement, or right placement”. Ordinary Time is about understanding that everything in life has its proper place, or, as the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us, “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens” (Eccl 3:1). Above all, Ordinary Time shows us that God has a place in our lives, and that we have a place in His plan of salvation.

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” –Jn 21:15 Dr. Geri Telepak is Director of Religious Education and Formation for the Diocese of Austin.

St. Martin of Tours, Bishop (317-397) Feast Day - November 11

Born in what is now Hungary, Martin served in the Roman military until he became a Christian. He then became a monk and journeyed to France with his mentor St. Hilary to establish a monastery at Poitiers. Eventually, he was ordained a priest, and in 371, the people of Tours persuaded the reluctant Martin to leave the monastery and become their bishop.

Devoted to the pastoral care of his flock, St. Martin spent much of his episcopacy visiting rural faith communities, which set the stage for what we would call “parish life.” Martin frequently turned to prayer when faced with difficulties; even as he lay dying, he prayed for the Lord to use him: “Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the task; your will be done.”

A popular legend holds that one cold day, St. Martin cut his cloak in half and shared it with a beggar. That night, he had a vision of Jesus, clad in the half he had given away. The word “chapel” (from the French for “cloak”) derives from this story, which testifies to the generosity of heart and enduring legacy of St. Martin of Tours.

Adapted from Sharon Hueckel, Steward Saints for Every Day, Copyright © 1999, the National Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Régine Pernoud, Martin of Tours: Soldier, Bishop, Saint, Copyright © 2006, Ignatius Press, San Francisco. All rights reserved.

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FALL 2011

A Catholic Burial . . . An Eternal Sign of our Faith in the tradition of the Church. While it seems the funeral and burial act are sometimes more of a tradition for the living than the dead, a Catholic burial ensures that respect for the human body is a priority.

What does it mean to commit ourselves as Catholics to a Catholic burial? One doesn’t often come across this question in life . . . until faced with the earthly loss of a loved one.

Yet, planning our own place of rest can be a gift of peace to our families, the Church, and ourselves, so that at the time of death, the focus remains on our faith.

As Catholics, we find comfort in the rituals and deep tradition of our faith. This is also true in preparing for the final phase of our life here on Earth. In walking the journey of losing loved ones with families, I have witnessed the comfort that a burial in a Catholic cemetery, and the opportunities for celebrating their lives, can bring to members of our Christian community, and I am honored to be a part of that service.

A Catholic burial expresses our tradition of worship and belief in the Resurrection. It shows our trust in the victory of Christ over death and our belief that together we form one communion, one Body, in Christ. The bonds we build with one another in faith are not broken by death, but allow us the opportunity to await the Lord’s coming in communion, together, in sacred ground.

A Catholic cemetery is a place for the living to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away, as well as strengthen our bonds of Christian community while still on Earth.

A place of celebration is not what typically comes to mind when thinking of a cemetery, but what better way to honor and remember, to celebrate life and community . . . than to choose a Catholic burial, an eternal sign of our faith.

When making end-of-life arrangements, it is important to understand the views of the Church and the tradition of a Catholic burial. The Catholic Church encourages the burial of Catholics in Catholic cemeteries (Canon 1180.1) as a statement of our continued belief in everlasting life. Catholic cemeteries also provide reverent disposition of the body

Amy MacKay is the Director of Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens in Georgetown, Texas.

For more information on Catholic burial traditions, visit www.olotr.com.

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FALL 2011

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

This Advent, the Church h in the h United States will implement the third edition of the Roman Missal, which will include revised translations of existing prayers, responses, and acclamations in the English version that adhere more to the original Latin. For the last year, the Diocese of Austin’s Office of Worship has been preparing for the revised Roman Missal, coordinating with liturgical publishers, developing resources, and, since spring 2011, offering workshops for parishes.

Father Leon Strieder was ordained in 1976 and teaches liturgy and sacraments at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. Strieder agrees that even the slightest change can be challenging, but our willingness to embrace the revisions will be key to assimilating them into our spiritual understanding. Although the more literal translations from Latin may feel strange to the English-speaking tongue, “if you give the new translation a chance, you will get used to it,” Strieder said.

With the foundation that has been laid by the Office of Worship, pastors and parish staff have been empowered to prepare their parishes to implement the revisions beginning November 27, 2011.

PERSPECTIVE

Monsignor Elmer Holtman sees the revisions as a positive step and part of the natural process of change. For him, the revised Roman Missal offers an opportunity to think more deeply about what happens at Mass. Holtman, now retired from active parish duties, was newly ordained in 1964 when the transition resulting from Vatican II began. “The education I was getting [at seminary] was not about how to do these new things, but about my attitude. What does Eucharist mean to me? It taught me to evolve as a priest.” Change, Holtman added, is both natural and necessary. “Snakes and crabs shed their old skins so they can grow bigger,” he said. “The same with the Church — you have to change to grow.”

PREPARATION

Father Larry Covington, pastor at St. Louis Parish in Austin, has been preparing his community for the revisions since last fall. Compared to the changes resulting from Vatican II, the revised Roman Missal is a “blip,” said Covington. Nevertheless, he knows that the new translations will be a surprise for some, and he has been working diligently to ensure that parishioners already know what to expect come Advent.

No doubt, we will all experience a few growing pains as we incorporate the revised Roman Missal into our liturgies — and our spiritual lives. With that in mind, the Office of Worship will continue to provide support and resources to parishes and parishioners, including a page on the diocesan website devoted to the revised Roman Missal. For more information, visit www.austindiocese.org/romanmissal.php.

Enedelia J. Obregón is a Special Correspondent for the Catholic Spirit.

The Office of Worship is supported in part by the Catholic Services Appeal.

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FALL 2011

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Stewardship and Development Office Diocese of Austin 6225 Highway 290 E. Austin, TX 78723

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L EAVING A LEGACY R E M E M B E R I N G A LLEN A N D D E N A E H E BE RT met in 1987 in their senior year of high school and have been married for over 20 years. Both were raised in the Catholic faith in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Heberts are blessed with nine children ranging in age from two to seventeen, and the family attends St. William Parish in Round Rock, where they are active in parish life.

Allen and Denae take seriously the call to be good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure and consider it their ďŹ rst responsibility to raise their children to be committed Catholics who love Christ and His Church. In addition to being Catholic parents, Allen and Denae are members of the Adult Faith Formation core team at

Y O U R

C H U R C H

St. William. Denae is currently a coordinator for FISCHETeen (a youth group for teens in home school). Various family members are in the parish choir at St. William.

The Heberts support a number of Catholic and charitable causes, including their parish, the annual diocesan Catholic Services Appeal, and numerous pro-life and social justice ministries, including the diocesan OfďŹ ce of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living, Heroic Media, and Texas Alliance for Life. In addition, Allen and Denae have shown support for Catholic education by helping to build Holy Family Catholic School.

Allen and Denae have included the Catholic Church in their will.