Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church Newsletter — September 2021

september 2021

Our Lady of the

Assumption Pa r i sh

A ltar S ervers :

Beginning a Lifelong Journey with the Mass

Inside 3 September:

An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World

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Basic Questions About Our Stewardship Renewal

6 Service The Fourth Pillar of Parish Stewardship

7 Pray and Play:

New Ministry Fosters Fellowship and Community for Our Parish Families

5057 Cottage Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 481-5115 | olaparish.net

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hroughout the years, Deacon Michael Tateishi has witnessed the profound impact that serving Our Lord at the altar has made in the lives of our young parishioners.

“It really instills in them an appreciation for service and a sense of comfort with the Mass,” he says. “Most of them seem to have really great memories of serving. Sometimes they will come back to me and say things like, ‘Remember me? I was altar serving at that Easter Vigil when no one else was around!’ It is so nice to see so many of them returning to Michael assists Fr. Eduino.

Church, getting married and wanting their children to be baptized.”

“Our altar servers represent the parish on the altar, and their role is very important,” Deacon Paul Friedrich adds. “By being reverent and responsive, they give everyone a good worship experience.”

Our parish altar servers are now hard at work again after not serving for a while due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are students in the fifth through eighth grade and are currently being coordinated and trained by Deacon Tateishi.

“They are starting up slowly but surely,” Deacon Tateishi says. “Most of them seem happy to be back at it. The fifth and sixth-graders have a special appreciation for serving because it is new for them. We just trained a new group for the first time in about two years.”

The servers are usually trained during the spring of their fourth-grade year and are assigned to serve after the school year ends. In addition to receiving formal training, they learn by shadowing more experienced servers as well.

“During the training, we teach them how integral they are to the Mass,” Deacon Tateishi says. “Without their assistance, Father has a very difficult time, especially when it comes to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. They really continued on page 2

A ltar S ervers

help keep things moving along in a nice, orderly fashion.

We tell them to be aware of this fact while they are on the altar, but not to overthink things. We encourage them to relax, observe what others are doing, and ask us if they have any questions.”

The main duties of our parish altar servers are to arrive 15 minutes before Mass; make sure the altar and credence tables are prepared, and prepare them if they are not; assist the priest at the very beginning of Mass; hold the liturgical books during the Liturgy of the Word; prepare the altar and respond to the prayers during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and help the priest during Communion.

Overall, the Altar Server Ministry is a beautiful way to bring to life the stewardship vision in our midst.

Altar server David assists at Mass.

continued from front cover “Service is such an essential part of our parish life, and it is so important to teach our young people the value of it,” Deacon Tateishi says. “Altar serving helps do this.”

Ultimately, by encouraging our young people to serve at the sacred altar, where Christ offers His life for us with infinite mercy, we are encouraging them to give their lives generously in return.

“When you become an altar server, you begin a lifelong journey with the Mass,” Deacon Friedrich says. “Serving helps you grow closer to the Mass, understand it better, and take it with you. Hopefully, serving will help our young people become more involved in their faith in the future, such as with other ministries, or by entering the consecrated life or the priesthood.”

Barrett is one of our altar servers.

Brothers Brody and Grant serve at Mass.

If you would like more information, or to sign your child up to be an altar server, please contact Deacon Michael Tateishi at 916-486-9485 or deacon@olaparish.net, or Deacon Paul Friedrich at 916-601-0400 or deaconpaul@olaparish.net.

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A Letter from Our Pastor

AN ONGOING OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Dear Parishioners,

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n his letters, St. Paul often began by greeting his “brothers and sisters.” Every time I read one of these letters, it reminds me that you and I truly are sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ, the Church, but especially here in our parish. We need to understand that we are indeed a family, and the way we see and treat one another is fundamental to the health and happiness of this family.

Our spiritual family doesn’t stop at the walls of our church, but rather, extends to include every man and woman created in God’s image and likeness. You may be familiar with the term “Catholic Social Teaching,” part of which is built on a commitment to the poor. These are the beliefs that guide Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and they lay the framework for the Church’s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Once we make a commitment to be disciples of Jesus and pursue stewardship as a way of life, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching become very easy to incorporate into our lives.

Catholic Social Teaching has been around since those first followers of Jesus tried to balance their new faith with the realities of living in a world of Roman oppression. Jesus reminded His disciples then, just as He reminds us now, that caring for and administering to the poor should be at the core of all we do. Recall when the Lord said in Matthew, “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and

you gave me clothing; I was ill and you cared for me; I was in prison and you visited me.”

This is our foundation as we seek to embody mercy and justice to our fellow man and should be one of our major goals as a faith community. Many of our parish ministries provide for us an opportunity to do just as Jesus asked — to serve those most in need.

As we move into the fall season, with Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas soon to follow, now is a good time for us to recommit ourselves to addressing the needs we see around us — both as a parish society and as individuals.

I am proud of our collective efforts in assisting and serving the poor, but I also know that we can do more.

Many of us personally need to get involved in these efforts. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has a great love and regard for the poor and, like Jesus, he reminds us often of what we need to do. Pope Francis once said in a homily, “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Eduino Silveira Pastor

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BASIC QUESTIONS ABOU T What is a Stewardship Renewal?

This isn’t a parish fundraiser – far from it. Our Stewardship Renewal is the time when we are encouraged to re-prioritize the way we use God’s gifts in the Church. It is the time we write down how we will grow closer to Christ in the coming year.

Why should I fill out a commitment card?

Your Commitment Card allows you to make commitments to prayer, parish ministries, and offertory giving, or what we at Our Lady of the Assumption call “time, talent, and treasure.” There’s a two-fold reason to complete your card. First, it is an excellent opportuni-

ty to move forward spiritually and personally. Second, when you fill out a card, our parish is much better able to manage our many volunteers and make budgeting decisions.

How many parish ministries are there at Our Lady of the Assumption?

“Ministry” is a general term for any parish group, organization, or regular activity. There are dozens of ministries in our parish. You can sign up for certain ministries, or re-commit yourself if you’re already involved.

What if I sign up for a ministry, but later find I’m not very interested?

You are not making a solemn promise to participate in a particular ministry when you mark it on your commitment card. If you find that the parish group is different than you thought, or simply that their meeting time doesn’t fit your schedule, you can change your mind. There are plenty of other ministries to consider.

I’m hesitant to make a firm financial pledge. What if I lose my job?

Your commitment card isn’t a legal contract. If your circumstances change, your gift will change. In Scripture, we are asked to “give according to our means.” So if you lose your job, you may be unable to give at the level you pledged. Likewise, if you get a promotion, you may be able to give more. That is why at Our Lady of the Assumption, our standard of giving is based upon a percentage of income.

What happens if I don’t fill out a commitment card?

Returning a card offers a chance to make commitments to grow in your faith. If for some reason you lose your card, we’ll send you a reminder letter with an extra commitment card. Please make every effort to return it!

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OUR

Stewardship Renewal

TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE

Please bring your Commitment Card to Mass on Commitment Sunday, October 2-3. How will you use your time, talent and treasure in our parish?

Stewardship of Time Our definition of Stewardship of Time: Using my time on earth wisely; making time for personal prayer, family prayer, and quality time with friends and loved ones.

The bottom line about prayer: Without prayer, we cannot thrive spiritually. As Catholic Christians, it is a necessity to spend time each day with God. This includes reading Scripture and saying prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, but even more importantly, it should include a heartto-heart conversation with Jesus. He wants us to bring him all our fears, longings, needs, and desires.

What kind of Time commitments should I make? Your commitment card lists several suggestions for how to spend time with God in prayer. Review your current prayer life and take a step forward. For instance, start having daily prayers with your children or spouse. Commit to praying the rosary on the way to work or reading Scripture before bed each night.

Stewardship of Talent Our definition of Stewardship of Talent: Using my God-given abilities to strengthen the Church and help others, especially through parish ministries and activities.

The bottom line about parish ministry: No Catholic Christian exists in a vacuum. Scripture makes it clear that we must function within the wider faith community, putting our gifts in the service of others.

It’s not enough to go to Sunday Mass; we need to be involved in parish life and ministry.

What kind of Talent commitments should I make?

If you’re not involved in anything in our parish, now is the perfect opportunity to take a step forward. Check out your commitment card for a list of ministries. If you’re already involved, re-commit yourself to the important work you do. And if you feel God is calling you forward – sign up for something new!

Stewardship of Treasure Our definition of Stewardship of Treasure: The wise and just management of my financial resources; giving a proportionate amount of my income to the parish.

The bottom line about financial support: We need to take seriously the Biblical concept of the tithe, and start giving based on a percentage of income. It’s our responsibility to support the Church with our personal involvement and our financial support.

What kind of Treasure commitments should I make? Our goal at Our Lady of the Assumption is to give five percent of income to the offertory. Grab a calculator and figure out your target gift based on your total household income. Then make a plan for increasing your gift incrementally to reach five percent. During our Stewardship Renewal, choose a weekly or monthly gift to the parish, and be faithful to it for the next year.

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Service

hroughout Sacred Scripture, there are numerous references to service. There is the parable of the vigilant and faithful servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, “ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks” (Lk 12:35-40). There is the story of the good Samaritan who was moved with compassion to help the victim of a violent robbery (Lk 10:25-37). And there are several examples of Christ serving those around Him — feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, and even turning water into wine at a wedding banquet.

Why is service a running theme throughout the Gospels? Because service is at the root of living in imitation of Christ. Christ served others throughout His life on Earth, and His death on the cross was the ultimate act of service to mankind. And when we serve others, we are not only following in Christ’s footsteps, we are also serving Christ Himself: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).

As a stewardship parish, service must be at the heart of everything we do. The parish community is the bastion of service within the Catholic Church, as we serve one another and are also served by our brothers and sisters in Christ. As the Diocese of Wichita’s document, The Pillars of Parish Stewardship, states, “Like a blood family, the parish family stands ready and eager collectively to wrap their arms around their brothers and sisters when they suffer in trial and/or celebrate special events in their lives.”

It is good to recognize the parish community as a place where service is appreciated and can be utilized for the good of the Church. However, it is not enough for us to simply serve other members of our parish family. As disciples of Christ, it is our obligation to serve people in need everywhere they exist — in our families, our greater community, our country, and throughout the world. This can be a challenging concept, as it is often much more comfortable and convenient to serve those who are close to us than it is to reach out to “outsiders.” But, as The Pillars of Parish Stewardship eloquently points out, “Failure to have this understanding leads to a selfish parochialism, which is life draining to a parish stewardship way of life.”

Think of ways that you can serve others around you, both within our parish family and in the greater community. Our many parish ministries offer a great place to begin offering your time and talents, but the opportunities for service don’t end there. There are many civic and nonprofit organizations that do an immense amount to serve others across the globe and are always looking for volunteers.

Once you serve, you will find that you will reap numerous rewards in return, much like the faithful servants who doubled the talents their master had entrusted to them: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt 25:21).

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SERVICE

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The Fourth Pillar of Parish Stewardship

Pray and Play:

N EW M I N I S T RY F O S T ER S F ELL OW S H I P A N D C O M M U N I T Y F O R O U R PA R I S H FA M I LI E S

Young families gather after the 9 a.m. Mass for time to play, visit and pray.

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ometimes, it’s the simplest things that have the most profound effect. Thanks to a new ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption, children and their parents are getting to know the person sitting next to them at Mass. After the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass, a group heads to the playground with coffee for the parents and snacks for the kids. It’s a valuable opportunity for fellowship for the parents and play-time for the kids.

The first gathering took place this past June and the Play and Pray Ministry has been building in popularity ever since. Families with young children don’t always have an opportunity to take part in other church activities — they are often busy and their children aren’t in school yet.

“I think it’s a group of people in our parish who have such vibrancy, such energy, and new ideas; an unharnessed force that we can use to create a more vibrant parish,” says Katie Cunha, who helped get this group started. “As a parishioner myself, I have often been

unsure how to go about becoming more connected and more involved, so I hope this is an open door for that.”

Katie grew up at our parish and became a member again about six years ago. She would see new younger families at Mass, but would just smile, say “hello” and go on with her day. And, of course, Mass doesn’t necessarily offer time to get to know people. So, Katie talked to Tracy Urban, and they both agreed they needed a way to engage young families and, most importantly, make them feel welcome. Katie and Tracy approached Fr. Eduino Silveira, who was so excited about the idea he started the planning process immediately. Katie enlisted Hilary Simas and Hayley Figeroid to help.

“I have the hope of making Our Lady of the Assumption a welcoming community for this population,” Katie says.

In order to lay a foundation for our church for years to come, young children and their families need to be welcomed with open arms. Katie wants to go the extra continued on back cover

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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., 9:00 a.m.,11 a.m.,7:30 p.m. *See website for diocesan and county guidelines.

Pray and Play

continued from page 7

step to make sure these families receive hospitality and feel loved.

“I have had numerous parishioners come up to me and tell me what a beautiful family I have, and how happy they are to see us each week at Mass,” Katie says.

“I can’t even express how encouraging this is as a mother and how much this has meant to me. We need continued encouragement!”

Although this group is only a few months old, Katie has loved each gathering so far. She has enjoyed getting

to know people and building a community of young families.

“Eventually, I hope that this will be an open door to encourage growth for our young family population as well as the participation of young families in the parish,” Katie says.

All young families are encouraged to attend after the 9 a.m. Mass.

“Meet us — let us meet you,” Katie says. “Tell other families to come as well, we are so happy to meet them.”

If you would like to volunteer to bring coffee, water or snacks, please contact Katie Cunha at katieecunha@gmail.com or 916-203-4425.