Reflections Winter 2014

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

Winter 2014

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

Devoted Teacher Celebrates

Forty Years

in the Classroom

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

When Debbie Svreck attended her niece’s baptism more than 40 years ago, she was captivated by the joy of the sacrament, not thinking of her teaching career. However, after the baptism, young Debbie Svrcek found herself engaged in conversation with Msgr. Mark Deering, founding pastor of St. Louis Parish in Waco. He suggested she submit her resume for a teaching position at the school and if something became available, they would contact her for an interview. In that instant, God’s plans for Svrcek’s future began to unfold.

Today, midway into her 40th year at St. Louis Catholic School in Waco, Svrcek cannot imagine being anywhere else and gave no indication that retirement is in her future plans.

“I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in fifth grade and have never regretted that decision. I’m starting to get bored by mid-July every summer and start thinking about the upcoming school year,” she said.

A native of Waco, Svrcek graduated from Baylor University and worked in a business office for a year before beginning her teaching career. Initially, her plan was to work in a Catholic school for five years and then move to the public school system for a new experience. But, as time passed, she began to question her plan, thinking, “Why would I leave? I like it here.”

For Svrcek, one of the most rewarding moments in teaching is experienced in that split second when you see a student’s eyes light up with understanding. She has spent most of her career teaching English and Religion to seventh and eighth grade students.

Principal Nisa Lagle said, “Working with her (Svrcek) has been such a blessing.

Both parents and students, as well as her fellow teachers, all {continued on page 2}

{continued from page 1} respect her greatly.”

Svrcek recalled a very special day this year when seniors from the AP English class at Reicher Catholic High School visited her classroom. They came to thank her for having taught them in junior high and congratulate her on 40 years at St. Louis Catholic School.

“The class had written really wonderful notes expressing their appreciation for what they had learned in my class. Moments like this make me realize just how much I really do enjoy my job,” she said.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is her favorite book and she re-reads it every year, discovering something new each time. Not surprisingly, reading is a favorite pastime, but she treasures her annual fishing trips to Rockport, with her dad.

He has always inspired her with words of wisdom, which she has passed on to students at St. Louis Catholic School.

Entering the school, you feel a peaceful environment; everyone shares a common goal and knows each other by name. Positioned above a wall of windows in Svrcek’s classroom is the message, “Inspired by Christ.”

Whether seventh-grade students were aware or not, this message was evident in their sparkling eyes and friendly greetings to Svrcek as they entered for their final class period of the day. In this welcoming, comfortable space, they learn, are challenged and united in an atmosphere of mutual respect and care for everyone present.

From this humble teacher came heartfelt words: “I hope I was able to convey to you how much I enjoy working with the students at St. Louis. I have been here so long that I feel as if the students, their parents, our faculty, and staff are all one big family,” said Svrcek. No doubt by next July she will, once again, anticipate welcoming students to her classroom, happy to begin year 41 of teaching students at St. Louis Catholic School.

Catholic school educators are sharing the joy of Christ with thousands of children and adults, as they provide them with the opportunity to practice their faith, study the social teachings of the Church, and encounter Christ. Your gift to the Catholic Services Appeal helps Ms. Svrcek and all Catholic school educators change the life of students and families every day. diocese of austin

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John Neumann Bishop, 1811-1860 Memorial – January 5 St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811 and came to the U.S. where he was ordained a priest in 1836. Four years later he became a Redemptorist — the first to be professed on American soil — and at age 41, he was ordained Bishop of Philadelphia. Gifted in languages and devoted to the catechetical instruction of children, he organized many immigrant parishes and worked tirelessly to establish parochial schools.

In his eight years as bishop, the number of Catholic grammar schools in the diocese grew from just two to more than 100. The bishops’ pastoral on stewardship declares, “Ever member of the Church is called to evangelize, and the practice of authentic Christian stewardship inevitably leads to evangelization.” St. John Neumann’s good stewardship of his gifts and positionhis fluency with languages, his passion for Catholic education, his considerable administrative skills, and his influence as Bishop and the resulting evangelization of the young in Philadelphia is an inspiring illustration.

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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“What does ‘stewardship’ mean to you?”

By Danielle Madrid The question hung in the air.

There I was, interviewing for a job in the “Stewardship and Development” department, and my pre-interview prep hadn’t included any research on why the Development department would include the word “stewardship” in the title. Nor had I read the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciples Response. At the time I didn’t even know the letter existed. To put it simply, I was stumped.

I had to say something, though.

But, what? The word “stewardship” gets bandied about quite a bit in development; we talk about stewarding our donors all the time. Working for a secular nonprofit, as I was at the time, stewarding a donor meant taking them out for dinner or coffee a few times a year, maybe a site visit to watch a program in action. But, that couldn’t be it.

This question had been personal. What did “stewardship” mean to me? I paused a moment to collect my thoughts. And then I knew how I would answer.

I grew up on a farm in rural Missouri. My mom’s parents, immigrants

diocese of austin

from post-war Hungary, lived with us.

My Grandpa took care of the farm, and I was often seen following him around the property. We fed the cows, we baled hay, we worked in the garden. He taught me to fish, tried to teach me how to drive the tractor (I was too scared to go faster than a slow, slow walking pace), and taught me more about life than my young self was able to understand at the time. One of the most important lessons that Grandpa taught me, was that our animals and our land were not ours to do whatever we wanted with; they were ours to care for, to tend.

The U.S. bishops characterize a Christian steward as someone who recognizes God as “the source of all they have and are and will be.” I can think of no better example of stewardship than Grandpa. When he arrived in this country in 1957, Grandpa had a wife, two children, and only $12; he had to struggle for everything that he needed. Despite this rough start, he viewed everything he had as a gift that had been given to him. When I woke up grumpy in the mornings, he

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would remind me that every morning was a good one, if I was still alive, and that I should thank God for this day.

So, what does “stewardship” mean to me? To me, it means remembering the lessons that I learned from my Grandpa. Every day, and all that we have, is a gift. Stewardship is about caring for and protecting what has been put in our care — this includes our talents and possessions, but more importantly, it also includes our families, our children, our animals, and our relationships with friends, coworkers and neighbors.

As Pope Francis reminds us:

Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation! To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope!

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Keep Your Finances in Check

This Holiday Season

Have you ever entered the New Year financially strapped because you spent more than you intended to over the holidays? If so, you’re not alone.

The good news is that there are steps you can take today to help avoid “paying the piper” when the credit card bills arrive in January.

Gif tL ist Write down the names of everyone on your gift list. It may be helpful to create your list after you’ve determined how much you’re comfortably willing to spend on gifts this year. This way, you can keep your list controlled to a certain number of people.

Discuss your approach to holiday spending with your spouse. If your approach differs greatly, look for common ground and agree to compromise to enable you to stay on track financially. Talk about how overspending over the short-term on the holidays will affect your day-to-day finances and long-term goals.

Set a budget and stick to it. Assign an affordable dollar amount to each recipient. If something they desire costs more than what you’ve budgeted, ask someone else to go in on the gift with you or give the recipient a gift certificate that they can apply toward the item they desire.

Check out your local dollar store. You can often find high quality gift bags, bows, ribbon and tissue paper for cheap. If possible, go earlier in the season when the selection is at its best.

Keep your holiday receipts together. This makes it easier for you to track your expenses and stay within your budget. It also makes it easy to locate a receipt if you find an item at a significantly lower price elsewhere and want to return or exchange your original purchase.

Control holiday party costs.

Gifts aren’t the only expense during the holiday season. Parties are another, especially if you host one.

To help reduce costs, host the event with a friend to split the costs. Keep the menu simple — and ask others to bring something to share. If you’re serving alcohol, offer a signature drink instead of stocking a full bar or ask guests to bring a bottle of their favorite wine.

Comparison shop for the best price. Thanks to the Internet and mobile device scanners, comparison shopping is quick and easy — and well worth your time. If you’re making an online purchase, take a moment to search for coupon codes for the site you’re purchasing from. If free shipping isn’t available, see if there’s a free “ship to store” option to help stretch your holiday dollars.

Staying on track with your finances during the holidays is all about being realistic about what you can afford. It may be tempting to overspend, but it’s important to think about the effect that doing so may have on your overall financial situation. Consider working with a financial adviser who can help you save money during the holiday season and throughout the year so you can work towards your short- and long-term financial goals.

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.

See what’s new with our

UPCOMING DIOCESAN EVENTS

Pastoral Plan

January 16-18 Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference (DCYC), Waco

and join us in our journey to Christ.

January 24 Celebrating Catholic Schools Event, Austin

February 5 Catholic Charities Celebrate Life 2015 Benefit, College Station

Visit us at:

www.austin.org/aboutus/pastoral-plan diocese of austin

December 17 Assembly of Catholic Professionals Luncheon, Austin

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February 11 White Mass, Austin For event information, visit www.austindiocese.org

WINTER 2014

Our Lady of Guadalupe religiosity and lives were as important to God, as the culture, values, religiosity and lives of those who conquered them. Our Lady of Guadalupe brought thousands of indigenous people to the Catholic faith. She became the Queen of Mexico, and the Empress of the Americas.

St. John Paul II called Mary of Guadalupe the Queen of the New Evangelization, as she incarnates what the New Evangelization requires from us: respect of the dignity of the other despite differences; compassion and openness to others; and willingness to serve as a “bridge” between cultures and languages and between God and his people.

In preparation for this diocesan-wide celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 6, the office of Hispanic Ministry in collaboration with other diocesan offices prepared and offered events in different languages across our diocese to evangelize on Mary of Guadalupe and her impact in the history of the Catholic Church in the Americas.

Now more than ever, Catholics need to know the story behind the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and reflect on why St. John Paul II called her the Queen of the New Evangelization, so we can follow her example, and respond to our call to bring the Gospel to all the ends of this earth.

On Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. hundreds of Catholics from around the diocese processed from Round Rock High School to St. William Parish to commemorate the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to San Juan Diego. The procession ended with the celebration of Mass by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez at 10:30 a.m. at St. William Parish.

This diocesan celebration occurred just days prior to the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. The celebration on Dec. 6 was an opportunity for parishes to unite with Bishop Vásquez to honor Mary of Guadalupe, her story and effect in the life of the Church in the Americas.

The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe took place in Mexico City on the hills of Tepeyac in 1531. During the five apparitions, Mary presented herself to St. Juan Diego as the mother of our true God and explained that she wanted to have a home to “exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows” (taken from the Nican Mopoua).

Our Lady of Guadalupe brought the Gospel to the Americas through love and understanding. By appearing as an indigenous woman and honoring the indigenous culture, she communicated to the natives that their culture, values, diocese of austin

Hispanic Ministry is supported in part by the Catholic Services Appeal.

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Stewardship Spotlight St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church was founded in 1937 by the Congregation of Holy Cross and remains a vibrant fixture in South Austin. The parish welcomes nearly 3,800 families every weekend and continues to grow. Holy Cross Father Bill Wack, pastor since 2009, along with Father Paul Ybarra and Deacon Dan Ponisciak, work to share the love of Jesus with those they encounter and to assist others not only to recognize and develop their own gifts, but also to discover the deepest longings in their lives. Parish ministry is one of the specific charisms unique to the Congregation of Holy Cross, emphasizing education of not just the mind, but also the heart.

It is in this same vision that the clergy and pastoral staff work to continue to minister to the community of St. Ignatius Martyr.

One of the ministries that continues to flourish at St. Ignatius is the ministry to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Every Sunday, the 11:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses are ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted. This ministry is critical to enabling the deaf community to full, active and conscious participation in the life of the parish. In addition, ASL interpreters are available in working with the Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs in helping those children who need special assistance learn about their faith and to prepare to receive the sacraments. This ministry is just one of the many amazing opportunities within St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church that help to bring people together and to grow as one Body in Christ.