Reflections Spring 2018

SPRING 2018

...recognizing ...recognizingour ourgifts giftsofoftime, time,talent talent and and treasure

A LENTEN Reboot

by David Wood

One of my great displeasures is needing to shut down my laptop and having to wait for software to load and then reboot. Patience is not my strong suit. We have also experienced the need to reboot our electronic devices when they become “buggy” and are not operating as intended.

Have you ever considered Lent as a “spiritual reboot?” We all develop habits that may interfere with optimally living out our baptism.

us; taking us back to the fundamentals of prayer, fasting and charity or almsgiving.

In prayer, we respond to God’s ever-present invitation to enter into communion and conversation with God. Without maintaining and strengthening that primary relationship, how will we know who we are as a Christian? Modeling our lives on Christ and the example of holy women and men, saints, we learn to be holy.

Our identity as Christians is realized in relationship with Christ and Christ’s Body, the Church. Lent invites us to revisit who we became in baptism and how we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to be more Christ-like to all people. Lent reboots

One of the traditional prayers of Lent is the Stations of the Cross. Through this practice, we are led to reflect more deeply on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus.

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2018

Upcoming DIOCESAN EVENTS

APRIL 1

Easter MAY 9

Assembly of Catholic Professionals Austin MAY 19

Transitional Diaconate Ordination St. John Vianney Parish, Round Rock MAY 28-31

Priest Summer Gathering For event information, visit www.austindiocese.org

See additional prayer resources on page 5 or the Diocese of Austin website for Lenten Resources at www.austindiocese.org/lenten-resources

In addition to prayer, fasting is also an important discipline, perhaps even more so today when consumption seems to be constantly presented at every turn. How often do we regret what we have done or what we have failed to do? Fasting strengthens us to be able to do what is right though we may not desire to do it. Some may be surprised to know that weekly fasting from meat (abstinence) on Fridays is still a practice of the Church. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. Fasting allows us to easily and faithfully become who God calls us to be. What is preventing this? Is it time watching TV rather than praying or serving at church? Is extra time at work preventing us from fulfilling our vocation as parent or spouse? Do we give into unhealthy desires?

Fasting is a “negative” in that it is “not” doing something. The positive side is charity or almsgiving. We fast, so that we can do. Perhaps we fast from going to a restaurant for lunch or dinner and we give the savings to the poor.

Perhaps we fast from TV and use that time strengthening relationships with our spouse, children or friends, or by becoming involved in activities at church or a service organization. Almsgiving, charity, or actions of love and service are fundamental to Christianity. Remember, Jesus said his disciples would be known by their love.

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This Lenten spiritual reboot should help us to be more aware of God’s constant presence in our lives and be more responsive to “function” by strengthening our relationship with God and others. By becoming more aware of our failures, we are moved to repentance in response to God’s love. We become more aware of our need for God’s assistance and the assistance of others. We bring this identity to give thanks in the celebration of the Eucharist where we praise God for His overwhelming love. We are also led to Penance where we sacramentally express our failures and our conviction that with God’s grace we will strive to avoid sin.

Take time this Lent to allow God to clean out the bugs and glitches and spiritually reboot you to fulfilling lives in union with God and the Church.

THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF AUSTIN

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Parish

Rite of Christian

initiation

This Easter, St. Mary's Catholic Center in College Station will welcome a new group of Aggies into communion with the Roman Catholic Church! Thirty-one students will complete their initiation into the Church, eight will be baptized, confirmed and admitted to Eucharist and 34 will come into full communion with the church. Please keep them, and all catechumens and candidates, in your prayers.

SKY FALCON '18: My upbringing was very Christian so when I came to college I started searching for a place to attend church. I found St. Mary’s with the help of my Pi Phi sisters, and it felt very much like home. My favorite part is the strength of the community – we all have busy lives as college students, but when my RCIA group comes together on Tuesday nights, we’re able just to put it all aside and grapple with the truths of the faith. It’s evident that God is working through my life to bring me to Himself.

THOMAS BLACKWOOD '18: I grew up Episcopalian, but my grandmother was Catholic so I learned about the Mass from her. I remember feeling called to the church from a young age, and wanting to receive the Eucharist as a kid. During my sophomore year of college, I began praying in earnest about joining the Roman Catholic Church. In June of last year, I began a novena to the Divine Mercy of Jesus, and in that time of prayer I realized I was supposed to become Catholic. I began RCIA at St. Mary’s in the fall – it’s been dynamic, and I’ve learned so much about the faith. It hasn’t been all easy, and there’s been a bit of conflict with my Protestant family and friends as we talk about Scripture, Tradition, purgatory and other things. But in becoming Catholic, I’m most excited about two things: the Eucharist and the unity of the Church in heaven and on earth. The Eucharist began my journey into the faith. It’s important as a symbol to Episcopalians, but when I learned the reality of what it is in the Catholic Church, the real presence of Christ – it’s so important. I also love thinking about how I am going to be part of the very same church as is a kid going to Mass in Peru or a Carmelite nun in Morocco, united with all the saints who worship God in heaven.

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FROM

Stewardship

ASHES TO

Easter

“As you do it to the least of these who are my brothers and sisters you have done it unto me.”

—Matt 25:35

Surprised by Lent!

by Charlene O'Connell

The diocesan Pastoral Plan invites people to an Encounter that Leads to Transformation, to continue on the “pathway of discipleship through a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.”

Lent is certainly a prime time in the liturgical calendar to examine our journeying on the pathway of discipleship and to seek ways to experience a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ. Specific objectives in the plan might serve as inspiration for spending quality time on your relationship with Christ and one another, as well as participating in the traditional Lenten activities of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Two objectives under Goal 1 call us to show appreciation for our Catholic faith by increasing our contributions and by deepening our relationship with Christ through prayer. Objectives under Goal 3 encourage us to support the life and dignity of each person and help “meet the spiritual and material needs” of persons at the periphery of society.

Several years ago, as the Lenten season approached I was trying think of a different way to journey through Lent that might have some long-term effect beyond these weeks. Like my mother, I love to shop. I like to collect seasonal decorations, knick knacks, and I love shoes.

I decided one Lent to put aside what I love doing and, without any specific expectations, see what God might do in my heart. This was not about giving something up for Lent. It was about trying to shift my focus away from what I wanted or even needed to trying to be more open to God’s presence. I expected the whole enterprise to be very hard to do but was surprised that I didn’t really miss the shopping. I also decided not to tell anyone about my Lenten decision and just nonchalantly declined shopping excursions. I did the same thing the next year and that’s when my husband noticed I was not coming home with a shopping bag and there were no Amazon boxes on the porch. That first year, when Lent was over and Easter week emerged on the calendar I thought I would be ready to go out shopping again, but that didn’t happen. Over the years, I’ve been surprised by a sense of contentment and a desire to live more simply. Once the Christmas season has ended, I now look forward with eagerness to Lent and quietly excited to see how this temporary commitment to refrain from all personal purchases will affect me this year.

When my daughter Alicia (now 25 years old) was young, she would always make sure we didn’t forget to pick up an Ashes to Easter box after Mass the first week of Lent.

It took time for her to realize that something so small could have a great effect on our family. The boxes are one of the many wonderful family traditions of Lent. They engage children in the values of compassion and charity through the daily act of praying and giving. Ashes to Easter is an annual Lenten mission project that affirms and encourages local missionary groups and other mission activities of the diocese.

This mission collection was spearheaded by Rev. Tom Frank in the 1980s, and began as a parish project supporting works of charity and missions. During the first week of Lent, more than 56,000 boxes were distributed to parishes throughout the diocese.

Families are encouraged to take a box and drop in extra coins during Lent. Boxes may be returned to the parish the first week of Easter. Last year more than $102,000 was collected and distributed to missionaries and religious working in Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, India and Mexico. For information on how to promote mission awareness, stimulate mission education endeavors, cultivate mission spirituality and nurture missionary active contact Vianey Hernandez at vianey-hernandez@ austindiocese.org or (512) 949-2407.

As the Pastoral Plan invites us to an encounter with Christ, think about what you can do during Lent that might transform you just a bit to be Christ’s disciple and be open to any surprises.

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Prayer

PRAY FAST GIVE Spiritual suggestions to help prepare our hearts for the glory of Easter

THE DAILY EXAMEN: This is a method of reflection and self-examination at the end of the day as taught by St. Ignatius in five steps: 1) Pray to God to examine the day with God’s eyes.

2) Give thanks to God for the day and all that occurred.

3) Carefully review the day’s actions and events as guided by the Holy Spirit.

4) Acknowledge your shortcomings within yourself and in your actions.

5) Ask for God’s presence and assistance in the day to come and any special tasks.

Visit this site, for more information https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen THE ANGELUS: A traditional prayer that can be prayed at any time but commonly at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. The prayer invites the prayer to reflect on the mystery of the incarnation with a verse before reciting the Hail Mary. As you pray, ask, “Do I receive God’s Word faithfully as Mary did in response to the Holy Spirit.” “Am I a handmaid of the Lord willing to do God’s will?” “Do I allow God’s Word to take flesh in me to transform me and the world?”

An explanation and the simple but profound prayer is found at http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-angelus.html LECTIO DIVINA OR "DIVINE READING": This is a way of reading and reflecting on Scripture either alone or in a group. It involves four steps: reading, reflection, response and rest or contemplation. Perhaps spend the week reflecting on one of the Sunday readings.

A convenient explanation, scriptures and prayers for each day is available at the Carmelite website http://ocarm.org/en/content/ lectio/what-lectio-divina

CHURCH'S NORMS ON FASTING: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/ catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm

OTHER LENTEN SPIRITUAL PRACTICES: + Seek the sacrament of reconciliation + Pray the rosary daily or attend daily Mass + Plan time for family meals on most nights of the week + Volunteer to help in the community + Meditate on the readings of the day (www.usccb.org/bible/index.cfm) + Spend time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament + Read a spiritual book instead of watching TV + Contact someone personally rather than using social media or texting + Increase charitable giving for six weeks + Take a walk and appreciate God’s creation DIOCESE OF AUSTIN

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Make these 40 days count

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Celebrating Saints

Joseph the Worker MAY 1, OPTIONAL MEMORIAL

In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1, the day set aside in some countries to celebrate the dignity of labor and the rights of workers. With its emphasis on work, this feast is also an obvious springboard to total stewardship. In their pastoral letter on stewardship the U.S. bishops declare, “People first of all are stewards of the personal vocations they receive from God.” Husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus, and carpenter of Nazareth, St. Joseph was a model steward, putting his entire life at the service of God. The Church teaches that all who, “in the course of gaining a livelihood for themselves and their families, offer appropriate service to society…can be confident that their personal efforts promote the work of the Creator, confer benefit on their fellowmen, and help to realize God’s plan in history.” God our Father, creator and ruler of the universe, in every age you call us to develop and use our gifts for the good of others. With St. Joseph as our example and guide, help us to do the work you have asked of us and come to the rewards you have promised. Amen.

Adapted from Sharon Hueckel, Steward Saints for Every Day, Copyright © 1999, the National Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

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