february 2022
Our Lady of the
Assumption Pa r i sh
The Hospitality Ministry Inside 2 How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children?
3
The Word of God: How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It?
4
Lectio Divina and Taizé Prayer Meditative Reflections Help Bring Us Closer to God
F
6 Valentine’s Day
The Feast of a Christian Martyr
7 Children’s Liturgy
of the Word A Space for Our Littlest Parishioners to Experience the Word of God
5057 Cottage Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net
Fostering a Warm and Welcoming Community at All Times
or many Catholics, it can be a daunting prospect to visit a new parish. The church feels unfamiliar, the music and parish habits might be different from their home parish, and sometimes nobody makes an effort to smile and welcome you to that parish community. So, the Hospitality Ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption is aiming to make sure that we are a welcoming community for all that visit and participate in parish life. This parish ministry, led by Victoria Yniguez, takes inspiration from Matthew 25:35, “For I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” The ministry aims to make our parish hospitality offerings more well-rounded, increase our efforts in welcoming people to the parish for Sunday Masses, and support existing parish ministries in their own hospitality efforts. “We are a parish community that wants to make hospitality to all a priority,” says Fr. Eduino Silveira. “When we develop this sense of belonging through hospitality, we are able to build the foundations for our parish community.” As the ministry’s mission statement puts forth, “The Hospitality Ministry welcomes new members to the parish family, continues to embrace longstanding members, and seeks ways to encourage disaffiliated members to return to the parish and the Catholic faith.” Some of the Hospitality Ministry’s previous efforts have involved creating small groups for social dinners throughout the year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry also shared prayer materials like rosaries with the community to help encourage the faith in such a time of uncertainty and despair. This ministry hopes to make more connections with parishioners and walk alongside them through the ups and downs of life, as well as to celebrate anniversaries, births, and milestones, and also offer continued on back cover
T
How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children?
he Church has made it clear that parents are primarily responsible for the spiritual and cognitive development of their children in matters of the faith. As the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, states, “Husbands and wives find their proper vocation in being witnesses of the faith and love of Christ to one another and to their children” (Chapter 4, Section 35). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further emphasizes this vocation, by pointing out that the moral education and spiritual formation of children is not only the right, but the responsibility, of their parents: “The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable... Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children” (CCC 2221, 2223). But how can we as parents create an environment in the home conducive to spiritual and moral development? As busy adults, how are we to disseminate the knowledge and understanding of the tenets of the faith to our children in the way that a trained and experienced catechist can? Furthermore, how do we strike a balance between teaching our children in the home and not interfering with the faith formation and sacramental preparation they are currently receiving through their parish school or religious education program? The answer to all of these questions is stewardship. Indeed, it is important that we reinforce the lessons that our children learn in school and at religious education classes by talking to them about the faith, reading Sacred Scripture with them, and spend-
2
ing time in family prayer. And there are several authoritative resources online that can help parents in this task, including Catholic Parents Online at www.catholicparents.org. This site links parents to numerous other websites and documents that can help them in talking to their children about the faith. But the best way that we can teach our children is by serving as a living example to them of how to live as disciples of Christ. If we want our children to grow up as strong Catholics and to display a lifelong commitment to their faith, then it is important that we ourselves live a committed faith life. This includes an ongoing commitment to our own faith formation as adults and active participation in the sacraments. It also includes the giving back of our time, talent, and treasure in service of our community in thanksgiving for the gifts that God has given us. Parenting can be a tough vocation, and children deal with many influences in their lives that exist in stark contrast to the values that their parents often hope to instill within them. Fortunately for parents, the stewardship way of life provides a simple and effective model for teaching our children in matters of the faith. By living as stewards of God’s gifts and reaping the spiritual rewards that accompany this lifestyle, we are tangibly showing our children that sharing of our gifts and talents leads to a life of happiness and spiritual fulfillment. In doing this, we give them a good opportunity to follow in our footsteps and make their faith a top priority for the rest of their lives.
A Letter from Our Pastor
The Word of God: How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It?
Dear Parishioners,
A
few short weeks ago, we completed our Christmas season. We are now in what we call Ordinary Time — but before long, we will begin Lent. This is one of those rare years when Ash Wednesday is in March — so, Lent does not, of course, begin in February this year. The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We speak often of the Word in the Church. As most of you are aware, the first part of our Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. What does that mean to us? Basically, there are four parts of our celebration of Mass: Introductory Rites; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist; and Concluding Rites. My focus in this reflection is that second part — the Liturgy of the Word. The main parts of that are a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading, the Gospel, and a Homily. We draw on Holy Scripture from the Bible for the readings. As Catholics, we do not consider that these readings are about God, or about the Church, or about our faith, or a history lesson, or a nice story from long ago. We consider them to be God speaking directly to us. Thus, our attentiveness to what is being proclaimed is important. Are we listening? Do we hear? And then,
do we respond in our lives? All of those should be facets of how we approach the Word of God. For us, the Word of God is the living Word. God is speaking to us as a community, and He asks us to be faithful to His Word. If we pay attention and truly listen, God can nourish our spirit, and Christ can be more real and present to us. The Homily, the Responsorial Psalm, the Profession of Faith, and the Intercessions develop the Word further and complete it. The Profession of Faith is our acceptance
of God’s Word. However, the question for us is, how do we respond to the Word? Does it change our lives? Does it bring us to the conversion necessary to live lives of stewardship and service? It is not easy, I know. Being able to listen, to hear and then to act requires time, practice, commitment, and a desire to fulfill all of this. That is one of my prayers for us — that we can hear the Word, and that we can bring it to life in our own lives and in the lives of others. Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Eduino Silveira Pastor
3
L ectio D ivina
and
T aiz
Meditative Reflections Help Bring U
M
editative prayer is a wonderful way for us to grow closer to God — and here at Our Lady of the Assumption, we offer the opportunity each month to participate in contemplative prayer and Scripture reflection through Lectio Divina and Taizé Prayer. These monthly, 30-minute retreats accompanied by Eucharistic Adoration came about after ministry leader Kristine Breault attended a retreat put on by the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “At the retreat, they used Lectio Divina as an alternate examination of conscience,” Kristine says. “I felt so moved by the Gospel passage they read, and it spoke to my own life so intensely. It was the first time that I understood how ‘the word of the Lord is living and effective,’ as St. Paul says in Hebrews 4:12. It paved the way for me to learn to pray with Scripture, and it taught me how to converse with the Bible, how to read it, and hear it speak to my life. “I began working with the concepts that they discussed at that retreat to put together a ‘joyful examination of conscience’ as an RCIA resource,” she adds. “I went to consult Deacon Michael about it, and we put together a trifold for RCIA. Then, he was inspired to ask me to collaborate with Casey Oliver on an event us-
4
ing Lectio Divina. She introduced me to Taizé Prayer, and we found that the two practices really worked well together.” The retreat is usually scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month, unless in the case of a holiday or other special event. “The environment is lovely — we dim the lights, and light candles around the altar,” Kristine says. “We have beautiful piano music, and we read the Gospel for that coming Sunday. The purpose is to reflect on the Gospel, to prepare us for Mass and Communion, and to allow the Word of God to speak to and change our hearts.” Taizé prayer was formed out of an ecumenical Christian community in France and has spread to parishes and communities of many denominations. This form of prayer is a simple one- or two-line chant, which here at our parish is accompanied by piano. “The songs themselves are prayers — some are from the Psalms,” Kristine says. “I find the music essential to properly hear the readings and to fully engage in Eucharistic Adoration. I am reminded of the Eucharistic Prayer when the priest calls, ‘Lift up your Hearts’. Then we respond, ‘We lift them up to the Lord.’ To me, this means that we must change the orientation of our hearts in order to understand
zé
P rayer
Us Closer to God the truth of the Eucharist. We must lift up our hearts towards heaven, out of the mire of our daily lives and the dark skepticism of our world. This is exactly what happens when we hear these beautiful songs — the music rouses our hearts so that we are buoyant and more receptive to the Holy Spirit.” Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of reading, meditating, and praying upon Scripture. “Prayer is truly powerful, but it is important that when we pray, we do not just speak to God,” Kristine says. “It is important to listen to God as well, to make our hearts soft, humble, and open to correction so that our desires change — so that our will is to do God’s will. The Gospels tell us what God’s plan for our lives is and how to live it out. When we take the Gospel message in, through Lectio Divina, the wisdom becomes available to us when we need it. “In our worship aid, we include journal prompts after each reading to help those who are new to Lectio Divina and this kind of reflection, so it needn’t be intimidating,” she adds. “The journals can also be used as a gentle examination of conscience specific to that Sunday’s Gospel readings. However, you may do anything you like with the time. You can sit and pray, or you can sing along with the chants. It is just a lovely, quiet time, when we can come to the church, worship, and prepare ourselves for Reconciliation and to receive the Eucharist that Sunday.”
All are welcome to attend the Lectio Divina and Taizé prayer retreat each month. The next prayer retreat will be held on Feb. 24, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. — you are invited to attend either in person or online via livestream. Prayer requests may be submitted to either Kristine Breault at kristinebreault@gmail.com or Casey Oliver at worship@olaparish.net.
5
Valentine’s Day
C
The Feast of a Christian Martyr
andy, flowers, romantic dinners, and excuses for wooing are the common traditions we associate with the oncepagan holiday known as Valentine’s Day. Dangling cupids, candy “message” hearts, and faux longstemmed roses clutter every card store, waiting for that lastminute purchase. The question is — how did this over-commercialized holiday really begin? There are a few stories surrounding the history of Feb. 14 and St. Valentine himself, all dating back to the Roman Empire. The 14th day of February was a day set aside to honor the goddess Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. The following day, Feb. 15, began the feast of Lupercalia — a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. As part of the festival traditions, there was a name drawing among the young people. The names of young Roman women were written on slips of paper and placed into a jar. Each young man would draw a young woman’s name from the jar, and the two would be partners for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing lasted an entire year, and often, the couple would fall in love and later marry. At the time, Emperor Claudius II was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns, and he was having a difficult time recruiting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that soldiers were reluctant to join because they did not want to leave their loves or families. With this in mind, Claudius decreed all marriages and engagements canceled in Rome. During this time, St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and he and St. Marius secretly married young couples. For this, St. Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who sentenced him to be beaten and then executed by beheading. He suffered this martyrdom on Feb. 14, around the year 270 AD. Before his death, it is said that St. Valentine left a note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” Although the truth behind the St. Valentine’s legend is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. It is no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Over time, Feb. 14 became a time for lovers to exchange sweet messages, making St. Valentine the patron saint of lovers. The date was often commemorated with the sending of poems and simple gifts. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that Feb. 14 was the beginning of the avian mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine’s Day — should be a day for romance.
6
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
I
A Space for Our Littlest Parishioners to Experience the Word of God
f you’re looking for a way to get your littlest Catholics more involved in the liturgy, then Children’s Liturgy of the Word might be just the thing for them. During the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass, children are invited to attend the Children’s Liturgy, where they will experience the Gospel reading in a way that they can understand and relate to their own lives. Tracy Urban leads Children’s Liturgy of the Word and has seen growth in the community and in the children through her work in the ministry. “Children are super important to our community, and by providing a space for them to hear the Word of the Lord and share fellowship with their peers, they look forward to coming to church,” Tracy says. “It’s great for the older community to see youngsters and feel a sense of hope and encouragement.” Tracy has many years of experience working with youth and children. She brings with her 19 years of youth ministry experience, 27 years working in faith formation, and a background in early childhood education. Fr. Eduino knew that working with the young children was Tracy’s area of love and expertise, and he encouraged her to restart Children’s Liturgy of the Word. The 9 a.m. Mass was the perfect place to start, as it was already a growing community of families with young children, many of whom meet after Mass for Play and Pray. During Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Tracy and a team of parent volunteers present the Gospel message to the children, ages 3 through 10, in language that they can comprehend, followed by an activity such as a game or craft, perhaps a familiar story that ties into the Gospel reading and songs. Children’s Liturgy lasts through the homily, then the children return to Mass and their families. Tracy is often struck by how the children absorb the faith and live it out in their own simple, innocent way.
“They’re filled with faith and wonder and they are so sincere,” Tracy says. “It really touches my heart and helps me in my own faith development. I get so much back from their sincerity and genuineness.” Tracy hopes to see Children’s Liturgy of the Word grow into a Children’s Ministry that brings the Children’s Liturgy to more Mass times and even extends beyond Mass. She would love to see it offer more to families as they journey through the liturgical year, providing more opportunities for community, faith formation, and support of families. Parishioners reached out to Tracy after the last ministry fair, and she would like to see more parents and parishioners take on an active role in the ministry. Participating in the formation of young children is rewarding for all involved. “I see our faith in them and I see the Lord in them,” Tracy says.
If you would like to learn more about Children’s Liturgy of the Word, or to get involved, please contact Tracy Urban at 916-509-0625 or 1tracyju@gmail.com. 7
5057 Cottage Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net MASS TIMES: 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass Monday-Friday and first Saturday Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass Sunday Mass 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. *See website for diocesan and county guidelines.
The Hospitality Ministry
comfort in times of sickness, despair, and death. In many ways, the members hope to be an additional avenue of support to other ministries like Martha and Mary, the Bereavement Ministry, and others. They also want to invite individuals and families to welcome parishioners and visitors to Masses on Sunday mornings. “Looking out for our neighbors, truly being brothers and sisters to them, is something we are called to
continued from front cover by the nature of our faith,” Fr. Eduino says. “Offering hospitality to strangers is an opportunity for us to grow as Christians and live the message of the Gospel. From there, we develop those stronger foundations of community and we are able to pray for each other out of a strong desire to support each other in times of need.” Let us all work together to increase the hospitality of our parish.
“Offering hospitality to total strangers especially is an opportunity for us to grow as Christians and live the message of the Gospel. From there, we develop those stronger foundations of community and we are able to pray for each other out of a strong desire to support each other in times of need.” — Fr. Eduino Silveira The Hospitality Ministry hopes to grow its team at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. If interested in supporting the initiatives of the Hospitality Ministry, please contact Victoria Yniguez at victoria2803@att.net.
