Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church Newsletter — June 2022

june 2022

Our Lady of the

Assumption Pa r i sh

Building and Grounds Committee Keeping God’s Physical Church Running Smoothly

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ere at Our Lady of the Assumption, we are blessed with the Building and Grounds Committee that helps with differ2 Keeping Our ent maintenance projects around Stewardship the campus. Six parishioners make Commitments up the core group and they act as in the Summertime an advisory committee to Fr. Eduino. They keep track of upcoming 3 Embrace the Holy Spirit maintenance repairs that will be needed, do research, take their 4 Celebrating Sacraments information to Fr. Eduino and of First Eucharist and the Finance Committee, and Confirmation (From left) Deacon Michael Tateishi, Steve Mahnke, John eventually help to implement the Blaschke, Duane Johnson, Casey Oliver, Joan Cotton repairs.

6 A Catholic’s Guide to “You get to meet and work with a lot of really great people on this committee,” Good Summer Reading says John Blaschke, Committee Chair who has been involved with the group for several years. “It also gives you a better understanding of how the parish runs. When 7 Eucharistic Homebound I first got involved, I had no idea how many steps were required to get a project Ministers Bring Christ’s done.”

Love to All Members of Our Over the past couple years, the Building and Grounds Committee played a Community role in helping keep things open and active during the pandemic.

“We installed cameras to do video streaming. This project was not originally part of the budget, but it was a big need for our community. We updated air conditioning, such as switching to more advanced filters to help keep the school open.”

Another major project for the Building and Grounds Committee has 5057 Cottage Way been Affinito Hall. For the last year, this has been a big driving force for Carmichael, CA 95608 everything around the campus. As the first new building on campus (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net

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Keeping Our Stewardship Commitments in the Summertime

he kids are out of school and our fast-paced lives Give Thanks for the Sun centered on school and youth sports activities have Praise God for the sun, time off from school and easygoslowed down. Our own internal clocks are now on summer ing days by visiting the adoration chapel to say a quick prayer. time. We’re ready for a break from our hectic lives.

Bring a journal or rosary along to help stay focused. Little chilAnd while we take vacations and enjoy the leisurely pace dren can even bring a religious coloring book to give thanks to of the season, we need to remember that summer is not the God on their terms. Or, before heading to the pool, why not time to take a vacation from God. In fact, summer can serve as attend daily Mass with the kids? It’s a perfect way to start the the perfect opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, day and set the tone that — vacation or not — God is still an especially since most of us have considerably more free time. important part of your family life.

So, instead of neglecting our faith due to busy days and late nights, try these simple steps to embrace God during Don’t Take a Vacation from Mass the quieter summer months and during your vacation.

Often while on a vacation away from our parish family, we are not familiar with where to attend Mass. Don’t let Get More Active in a Parish Ministry that be an obstacle for you. Check out masstimes.org in The summer is actually a perfect time to get more order to find out where and when to go to Mass. In addiinvolved in a parish ministry. Because we no longer have tion, if you are lodging at a hotel, the concierge will assist to get the kids to and from school, or get them to sporting you with directions to the nearest Catholic Church. events or other activities that normally occur during the school year, our schedules are a bit less cluttered. Summer Summertime Stewardship of Treasure is indeed a perfect time to fill some downtime with service The prime reason for keeping up our pledge all summer to God through ministry and giving of your talents. Take a is that God doesn’t go on vacation. He continues to sustain look through the parish ministries to find something that us throughout the summer months. He persists in pouring suits your particular interest or talent. out blessings on us, even during the hottest weather. He keeps on meeting us in His sacramental presence when we Vacation Bible School, for Kids and Adults go to Mass wherever we travel. As God remains faithful to Vacation Bible School is a great way for younger chil- us during the summer, we are called to be faithful in our dren to learn about God through songs, activities and commitments to Him and our parish family, even during fellowship. The fun-filled lessons build upon Gospel teach- our vacation time. ings while keeping kids’ attention. For older children, it is a great opportunity to offer service by being a team leader So, enjoy the warmer temperatures and the relaxed or assistant. Adults can also help plan, decorate, organize atmosphere. Just don’t forget Who provides the sun and and teach during the week. It’s a wonderful activity for the the sand! And most importantly, remember to take God entire family! with you wherever you go on vacation!

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A Letter from Our Pastor

Embrace the Holy Spirit

Dear Parishioners,

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ou’ve all heard homilies about Pentecost, which comes on June 5 this year. Pentecost was the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles while they were gathered for prayer in Jerusalem.

Coming 10 days after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, the descent of the Holy Spirit turned the apostles from a collection of fearful followers looking for some direction into a band of courageous witnesses ready to declare their faith in Christ to the whole world.

You’ve heard that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church because that was the day when newly filled with the Holy Spirit, St. Peter preached the first Christian sermon, inviting his listeners to turn to Jesus as their Savior and their Lord. Those who accepted the invitation were baptized and “were added” to the Church (Acts 2:41). That day marked the beginning of the Church’s public mission, which continues to the present.

But the Holy Spirit’s actions in the Church were not limited to the apostles in an ancient time. He remains active down to the present, guiding the pope and the bishops as they go about their work of sanctifying, teaching and ruling in the Church.

The Holy Spirit acts in the sacraments to make them effective signs of grace. We see the Holy Spirit’s work in the witness of the saints through whom He continues the work of salvation.

The Spirit, moreover, acts not only in the Church as a corporate body but also in the lives of individual Christians.

We become temples of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism. Then at Confirmation, which is our own personal Pentecost, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit unites us more closely to Christ, increases the spiritual gifts we have been given, and strengthens us to spread and defend the faith.

Ultimately, Pentecost is more than simply a feast celebrating something that happened a long time ago. Of course, the coming of the Spirit we read about in Acts 2 took place just once. But the Holy Spirit remains active today, guiding the Church as a whole, but also working in

the life of each individual Christian to make us holy.

Maybe you don’t feel as if the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Well, God the Father gave us free will, so we can choose whether or not we’ll obey Him. And God the Holy Spirit, being united in the one Godhead with the Father and the Son, honors that freedom. He’ll never force us to turn away from sin or compel us to obey God’s commandments. The Spirit offers us grace.

He will beckon us toward heaven, and occasionally we may feel Him nudging us along, but we always have the freedom to choose God or to reject Him. Perhaps you’ve made a commitment to worship at Mass at least weekly and spend some time each day in prayer. Maybe you have promised to use some of your talents in parish ministries and service to the community. You may even have turned in a card at our last renewal to indicate your pledge of a portion of your treasure to be used in God’s service.

I hope you’ve done all of these. If so, both the Holy Spirit’s grace and your response were involved in your decision. And the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to fulfill your commitments.

This Pentecost, make the Gradual verse we’ll sing just before the Gospel your personal prayer: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia.

If you do, you’ll find the Holy Spirit working even more strongly in your life. You’ll be happier, and the world, at least your little corner of it, will be a better place.

Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Eduino Silveira Pastor

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Celebrating Sacraments of Firs We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our young parishioners who received the Sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation this spring. Our parish community is blessed to share in these joyous celebrations with you!

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st Eucharist and Confirmation

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A Catholic’s Guide to

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GO OD SUMMER READING

ave you been wondering what to read during vacation this year? Why not give spiritual reading a try?

There are thousands of titles out there — too many for any one person — just waiting to make a positive impact on your faith life. Reading is a fantastic opportunity for general spiritual direction and good practice for every searching soul.

Choose a title from “you can’t go wrong” authors such as Louis de Wohl, G.K. Chesterton, Peter Kreeft, Francis de Sales, C.S. Lewis, and Scott Hahn. Their works alone should take you well into the summer, and possibly through to the next decade.

Or, choose from this list of great Christian books, in no particular order:

Catholic faith. Now well-known speakers and Catholic apologists, Scott and Kimberly recount their story with simplicity and love.

The Good News about Sex & Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching by Christopher West This down-to-earth application of Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is an easy-to-read, yet insightful account of the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage.

What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating Addressing 52 of the greatest misconceptions of the Catholic faith, Keating draws upon Scripture and Tradition to dispel errors and explain the rationale behind Church teaching.

The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux In this autobiography and all-time favorite Catholic book, St. Therese teaches her “little way” of spiritual No Greater Love by Mother Teresa childhood. Millions of copies have been sold worldwide.

This anthology collects the teachings and sayings of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Founder of the Missionaries Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis of Charity and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, St. One of the most popular introductions to the Chris- Teresa of Calcutta speaks joyfully about her work with tian faith ever published, this series of broadcast talks the poor and God’s call in our lives. has been collected into book fashion. Mere Christianity sets out to “explain and defend the belief that has been Surprised by Truth edited by Patrick Madrid common to nearly all Christians at all times.”

Eleven converts give their Biblical and historical reasons for becoming Catholic. These unique personal Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott testimonies continue to transform hearts throughand Kimberly Hahn out the world in an insightful read for Catholics and This offers a conversion story of a brilliant, non-Catholics alike. anti-Catholic Scripture scholar and his wife to the Happy summer! Happy reading!

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Eucharistic Homebound Ministers

Bring Christ’s Love to All Members of Our Community

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hile the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, it can be all too easy to take for granted that we can frequently receive Christ in the Eucharist. The members of our community who are homebound or in the hospital for extended lengths of time don’t have this luxury, but the Eucharistic Homebound Ministers make sure that these parishioners are not forgotten. This ministry has a special draw to ministry coordinator Peggy Vellanoweth. While she has been unable to continue her work as a nurse due to an injury, Peggy has found that her gifts and talents for nursing are put to good use in surprising ways through this ministry.

“I love bringing the Lord to people,” Peggy says. “It gives them hope and I can listen to them and be with them on their journey through their illness.”

Receiving the Eucharist and having a visitor is a great comfort to those experiencing long-term illness or aging. Fr. Eduino makes the initial contact and can offer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Then he passes their information along to Peggy, who chooses a minister that would be a good fit to visit them. Peggy keeps detailed records of who has been visited and when those visits were. She also keeps addresses on file and the contact information for a family member in case they have trouble getting in touch with someone.

When she makes a visit, Peggy likes to say a prayer with the recipient — sometimes something as simple as the Our Father. She gives them Communion, even just a small piece if that is all they are able to receive. Over time, Peggy feels that she really gets to know people.

“I’ve developed relationships with these people,” she says. “You hear their history and how they’ve been involved in the parish. Many of them have also done this ministry — they’ve been involved and they care.”

COVID-19 has made it more difficult for ministers to carry out their service since they have been unable

Eucharistic Homebound Ministry coordinator Peggy Vellanoweth

to visit patients in the hospital or the nursing homes.

However, Peggy is ready to pick things up and looks forward to when the ministry can return to making normal visits.

Parishioners who are interested in taking the Eucharist to the homebound don’t necessarily have to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, although it is preferred. Peggy does a brief phone interview with new volunteers and takes them through a simple training session, showing them where the Eucharist is kept and how to use the pyx, the small case for carrying the Eucharist.

“It’s such a rewarding ministry,” Peggy says. “It really gives a lot back to us.”

If you would like to volunteer with the Eucharistic Homebound Ministry, please contact Peggy Vellanoweth at 916-488-1982.

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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.

Building and Grounds Committee in years, the hall has offered something of a learning process for the committee members. “It’s like getting to know your new car,” John says.

The committee is currently working on three projects.

First, they are looking at plans for installing Stations of the Cross outside in front of the church — this is a big project that will not happen overnight and will need to be implemented slowly. The committee is also looking at installing solar panels — also in the early stages of research and planning. Finally, the group is continuously taking care of issues that pop up to help keep the parish running smoothly.

“It is like owning a house,” John says. “You have to keep up with the maintenance. Everybody is aware of what is going on and we look for problems before they arise. It is always cheaper to catch the problems early.”

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The Building and Grounds Committee is open to anybody interested. You may not come from a construction background, but you may have other skills to share. All it takes is a willingness to jump in and help, even if you don’t have all the answers. And, we always welcome parishioners with experience in the trades.

The committee is also currently looking for someone that can build a database with MS Access or other skillsets.

“We would like to be able to track what work is done on campus, church, or school,” John says. “For example, when did we last replace the AC compressor on unit 14, or when was the last time the church was painted?

We would love help setting this up and getting this database started.”

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the Building and Grounds Committee, please call the parish office at 916-481-5115 and they will get a message to John Blaschke.