Reflections Spring 2015

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

Spring 2015

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

We, the Diocese of Austin, 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

Danielle Madrid Associate Director of Stewardship and Annual Appeal

Jean Bondy Associate Director of Catholic School Development

The Catholic Diocese of Austin

A Time to Rejoice

On Jan. 21, the Diocese of Austin received great news from Pope Francis: he appointed Vicar General Daniel E. Garcia as auxiliary bishop of the diocese. This is the first time in the 67-year history of the Diocese of Austin that an auxiliary bishop has been appointed.

Remarking on this appointment, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez said, “I am most grateful to His Holiness for the gift of Bishop-Elect Garcia to this local church.

The Catholic Church in Central Texas is experiencing tremendous growth. This appointment is recognition by our Holy Father of the growing needs of the people of this diocese.”

An auxiliary bishop assists the bishop in carrying out his duties and responsibilities as the chief shepherd of the diocese.

Bishop-elect Garcia is 54 years old and grew up in the Central Texas town of Cameron. He was born on Aug. 30, 1960 as the eldest of four children of Daniel Castilleja Garcia, Jr. and the late Sarah Muñoz Garcia. He was ordained in 1988

by Bishop Emeritus John McCarthy, and has served in various capacities since his ordination. Since last March he has served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

“Bishop-elect Garcia has faithfully served the Church for 26 years; he is well respected by his brother priests and all those he has served and worked with over {continued on page 2} the years,” Bishop Vásquez said.

{continued from page 1} Bishop-elect Garcia has served in a variety of roles in the Diocese of Austin. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin, followed by Cristo Rey Parish in Austin and St. Louis King of France Parish in Austin. He briefly served at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Humble in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

In 1995, he was named Founding Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin, leading the parish from its inception through multiple building projects until his appointment as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia in 2014.

Over the years, he has served as Vocation Director and Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop. He has served on various diocesan committees, was a member of the Diocesan Vocation Team, Liturgical Commission, Diaconal Advisory Committee, Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors and Priests’ Personnel Board. He has also served as Chair of the Presbyteral Council and as Dean of the Austin North Deanery.

Remarking upon his ordination, Bishop-elect Garcia said, “I am very well aware of how God uses us, amidst our weaknesses and strengths, to build up the Kingdom of God. As I now prepare to be ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Austin, I sincerely ask all of you to pray for me. I am imperfect, but hopefully with God’s grace, God will continue to use me, now as successor to the Apostles, to build up His Kingdom.”

Bishop-elect Garcia will be ordained as auxiliary bishop on Tuesday, March 3 at St. William Parish in Round Rock. His ring, miter, and crosier will be blessed the evening before at Vespers. The ordination will be a ticketed event, however live streaming will be made available. Check www.austindiocese.org for more details.

Mark, Evangelist

Feast – April 25 Cardinal Newman wrote “I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.” This is especially true of the saint we celebrate today. St. Mark was an evangelist, a teller of the Gospel story, but he did not experience those events firsthand. He heard the stories from St. Peter and wrote them down, “careful not to omit or falsify anything of what he had heard.” His Gospel recounts the life of Christ from Bethlehem to Calvary, not as a purely historical record, but as a proclamation of the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Mark used his talents as a writer with the result that the Word he heard and believed could be heard and believed and lived by Christians 20 centuries later! In the Acts of the Apostles we learn that he also made several journeys with St. Paul and consoled St. Paul while he was in prison in Rome. St. Mark, pray for us, that we may use our gifts to become living links between the Gospel you preached and those who have not yet heard that Jesus Christ is Lord.

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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SPRING 2015

Finding Jesus at a Street Retreat

By Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez

In early December, 30 men in the diaconal formation program from the Diocese of Austin went on a street retreat based on the scripture “He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse” (Mk 6:8). The men were only allowed to take medications, a blanket/sleeping bag, change of clothes, a photocopy of their driver’s license, and toiletries — only what they could carry in their back pack through the streets.

This retreat greatly benefits our men in formation because they encounter Christ and it helps them identify with the poorest of the poor so that when they are ordained they can serve the poor with compassion and understanding.

In the words of Pope Francis, “The Church cannot ignore their cry. We must go there! Go out to encounter God who dwells in the city and in the poor; to go out to meet them and listen, to bless and to walk with the people and to facilitate the encounter with the Lord.”

Each time we got on a city bus, we had a beautiful encounter with someone thirsting to share their pain or joy. For example a man with his red-headed 4 year old joyously shared that he had been sober for 5 months. On another bus ride a man asked for prayer because he had not worked in two years after injuring his hand, but in the process had become an alcoholic. One bus driver, thinking we were homeless, was rude to one of our men when he fumbled putting his ticket into the machine even though he sees and talks to him when he rides this bus route to work daily. Our man was visibly hurt. We had become invisible, faceless, and unrecognizable in less than 24 hours.

We met many beautiful homeless people and other poor people in the bus but the most memorable one was a young homeless man, in his 20s or 30s with spina bifida, who was born diocese of austin

blind, and could barely speak that we met on Sunday morning.

We were under I-35, where 300-400 homeless people gather to hear live music, get food and clothing, pray, and hear the Gospel.

As he walked with his guiding stick, he looked like something out of the Gospel. It was a cold morning, and his hands were freezing and he had very little clothing. By the time he arrived, the food and drinks had run out so we got him a hot drink and a turkey sandwich at a convenience store across the street. He had all sorts of jerky movements in his head, arms, legs, and torso, but when he blessed his food his whole body became still. It was the most reverential prayer, I had ever seen in my entire life.

When the men in formation saw how much he was suffering from the weather, one of them took off his gloves and placed them on his trembling hands one of which was contracted from birth. Another man took off his jacket and put it on him. Another man took off his sweat shirt and replaced the blind person’s raggedy one. You could see that our men were close to tears and very emotional with this encounter. He said he had a headache so one of them gave him an aspirin. His care taker was also without enough clothing so our men continued striping themselves until one of our men had no shoes or jacket. I couldn’t bear to part with him; but the retreat was coming to an end as we were notified that two vans would be picking us up. I thought to myself, “who will take care of him when we leave?” I thought of taking him home as I sat next to him and put my arm around him one last time. By the time we loaded on the van, he was gone. I hope and pray I encounter him one more time.

–Deacon Guadalupe works in the Diaconal Ministry Office, which is supported by your donations to the Catholic Services Appeal.

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SPRING 2015

Millennials Make Spending Trade-offs, but Save Less As people move through life, their financial goals and priorities change. One thing that remains consistent for many is the challenge that comes with balancing long-term savings goals with short-term needs.

People often make lifestyle choices that affect their immediate financial situation, which can have longterm effects. Millennials (those born after 1980), in particular, are in a unique situation when it comes to saving for the future. On one hand, time — and the power of compounding money and interest that comes with it — is on their side. On the other, they face unique spending and saving challenges.

According to a study commissioned by Ameriprise Financial, Millennials are significantly more likely than both Boomers and Gen Xers to be consciously cutting back on discretionary expenses, but at the same time, they’re failing to save diligently, creating an interesting paradox.

• Don’t over-extend yourself when you’re making big purchases like a home or car. Despite tighter lending limits, it appears that many young homeowners have still borrowed beyond their means. Seventy-seven percent of Millennial homeowners admit that their mortgage payments have been a stretch. You may feel tempted to stretch yourself, but in the long run it’s not worth it.

Disconnect between spending cut-backs and saving The study found that younger Americans are likely to take on debt while trying to balance saving for other financial goals. It appears as if the cash that they’re saving by making spending trade-offs may actually be helping pay down debt rather than grow their savings.

• Say no to unnecessary expenses. According to the study, 36 percent of Millennials don’t currently have the discipline to say “no” to unnecessary purchases. Before making a purchase, ask if it’s really worth it. You might be surprised at how making a few changes can have an impact on your wallet.

The challenges that come from trying to pay down debt may be the reason that 59 percent of Millennials say they have a monthly savings plan compared to 75 percent of Boomers. Additionally, only 43 percent of Millennials with access to an employersponsored retirement plan are contributing enough to get the maximum employer match.

• Create a financial plan or monthly budget. Making a decision to give up something today to save for tomorrow isn’t easy if you don’t know where your money is going and why. Cutting back requires juggling financial priorities, putting off some of today's needs to support tomorrow's goals.

Failing to systematically save and the long-term impact on financial goals There’s no denying that altering spending habits is challenging. Changing any habit can be difficult. In this case, changing day-to-day spending habits can lead to extra cash, which may add up over time and make a big difference. Millennials looking to fund long-term financial goals should consider these steps.

Consider talking with a financial adviser to create a plan. Working with a financial professional can hold you accountable to attaining your long-term goals. Whether you choose to make small trade-offs or a few large ones, cutting back now to save for tomorrow will almost always bring rewards — emotionally and financially. Start planning now for your financial future.

Rey Garza, is a Financial Adviser with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Austin, Texas, specializing in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies. He may be reached at (512) 691-5912.

Join us at our upcoming

Pastoral Plan Community Gatherings

UPCOMING DIOCESAN EVENTS

March 3 Ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Danny Garcia

Monday, March 23 – St Joseph Catholic Church, Bryan Thursday, March 26 – Pastoral Center, Austin Monday, April 13 – St. John the Evangelist, Marble Falls Thursday, April 16 – St. John the Evangelist, San Marcos Thursday, April 23 – St. Louis Catholic School, Waco

April 5 Easter

May 6 Assembly of Catholic Professionals

To register visit us at: www.austindiocese.org/pastoralplan

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June 16 Lumen Gentium For event information, visit www.austindiocese.org

SPRING 2015

Criminal Justice Ministry

By John Gilluly The mission of the Criminal Justice Ministry of the Diocese of Austin is to promote Christ’s love and forgiveness through assistance, education and social interaction to the incarcerated and their families and to help those returning from prison successfully reintegrate back into society by becoming productive citizens.

When I first learned of the criminal justice ministry, I questioned if its efforts could make a difference. I also had reservations about my having a judgmental attitude toward convicted felons, and to be honest, I had little interest in going into prison units. I eventually did though, at the invitation of others already involved in the ministry.

I soon learned that sympathizing with prisoners was not what the ministry is about; most prisoners do not want your sympathy. What I did learn was that you can help men and women turn their lives around by showing respect for their dignity as human beings created in the image of God. True, those incarcerated in jail and prison units are there as a result of choices they made in their lives. And they know it. Prisons are not positive environments; most inmates feel rejected by society and have little sense of self-worth. And without guidance or counseling, there is little hope for change in their life attitudes or patterns. But, this is one area where ministry efforts can in fact make a difference – by introducing or reinforcing Christian values in their lives.

Over the years, I’ve seen a number of success stories demonstrating positive changes in the life values and attitudes of incarcerated men and women. I’ll never forget the conversation I had with one such inmate (“Porkchop”) during a spiritual retreat being conducted at his unit. Porkchop shared with me that he had been incarcerated for 25 years and throughout that time he had been a model prisoner, minding his business, so that he could get out at the end of his sentence. He told me that until now his sole purpose in life was to “take out” the guy that diocese of austin

put him there. After that, he didn’t care what happened to him.

However, during the retreat he gained an understanding of the concept and need for forgiveness. He went on to tell me that with God’s help, he had now chosen to forgive and even prayed for the man that he had hated for so long before.

He was ready to move forward with his life.

The scriptural basis for the criminal justice ministry can be found in Matthew 25 where, as throughout the Gospels, Jesus identifies with the oppressed and downtrodden. Of particular significance in these passages is that Jesus tells us our lives will be judged on how we respond (or not) to “these least brothers of mine.” Further in the New Testament, St. James tells us that for our faith to be authentic, our lives must bear witness to it by acts of charity. The criminal justice ministry provides just such an opportunity to serve in a charitable way.

I would like to add that there are many ways to serve in the criminal justice ministry other than by going into prison units. For example, parish social ministry efforts can be directed to help provide support to the families of inmates or to men and women upon their release. In whichever way you may choose to serve, no special skills are required; only a willingness to let God work through you.

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world . . . For I was in prison and you visited me.” (Mt 25: 34-36) –John Gilluly works with the Criminal Justice Office of the Diocese of Austin.

Your gift to the Catholic Services Appeal provides vital support to the Criminal Justice Ministry and its mission to assist incarcerated men and women as they reintegrate into society.

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SPRING 2015

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Stewardship Spotlight St. Margaret Parish, Giddings St. Margaret Parish in Giddings was founded in 1944 and is home to more than a thousand families. Father Jim Olnhausen has been the pastor there for 12 years. In that time, he has emphasized community building and establishing a feeling of parish ownership amongst the congregation. This is evident not only through their many successful fundraising campaigns, building projects, and events, but also in the way that the community comes together to overcome obstacles. When the church was vandalized almost two years ago, parishioners immediately descended on the church, cleaning up the sanctuary, clearing away debris, righting statues, and repairing damage so that everything would be in order in time for Mass.

The community is also known for its hospitality. Visitors to the

parish are sure to be greeted warmly. St. Margaret is also a training ground for diocesan seminarians, hosting them either during their pastoral or deacon years. During Father Jim’s time at St. Margaret, the parish has hosted one seminarian for a summer internship, two pastoral year seminarians and four transitional deacons.

Father Jim encourages his parishioners to be good stewards of their community, and to support their church and community through their gifts of time, talent and treasure. In 12 years, he has seen the parish offertory grow considerably, allowing the parish to renovate the interior of all of its existing buildings and being to build a new Religious Education/Multipurpose building. “I am very thankful for the priests and people who have preceded me, and pray for those who are to come after me,” Father Jim said.