St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Newsletter — April 2021

Saint Francis F rancis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

Contents:

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:

2 Teaching By

Example The Importance of Prayer in a Child’s Life

3 A Letter From Our Pastor

4 Fostering

Stewardship at Home with Stillwater Catholic Homeschoolers

6 Divine Mercy Sunday

and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

7 English Choir Honors God and Lifts Our Worship Through Stewardship of Talent

APRIL 2021

T

Sharing the Love of Christ with Our Youngest Parishioners

his may be Children’s Minister Jacob Farni’s first Vacation Bible School at St. Francis Xavier, but he has been planning a lively session that will help our youngsters grow in their faith while also empowering them to share their love of Christ with others.

Although there is no firm start date at this time, Jacob is aiming to schedule Vacation Bible School for the third or fourth week of June on the St. Francis Xavier campus. He is currently lining up volunteers for the VBS Team. He is looking for both youth and adult volunteers, anyone 6th grade to adults. Children attending Vacation Bible School may be pre-K through fifth grade.

“I imagine I will need at least a small team of 20 to 30 people,” Jacob says.

“If you are willing to serve, I need you!”

The theme for Vacation Bible School is one that he has been mulling over, continued on page 5

Saint

Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

Teaching By Example

“I

The Importance of Prayer in a Child’s Life

want to be just like Mom and Dad!” Perhaps nothing lifts a parent’s heart like hearing these words. While certainly affirming, such words also remind us of the great responsibility that comes with parenthood.

Children often examine the lives of their parents when making decisions that will affect their own lives. For example, a young boy may dream of becoming a physician one day, just like his father.

Or a young girl may hope to become a veterinarian, just like her mother. Could the same be said about their parents’ faith lives?

Just as children learn traits and values from their parents, they should also learn the importance and great joy of developing a personal relationship with Christ. And the foundation of such a relationship is prayer — conversation with God. How should we go about teaching our children to pray? There are several methods, but none works as well as teaching by example. Begin teaching the importance of prayer by praying openly with your spouse. This teaches children that prayer is meaningful and important, and not just a ritual.

Also, pray with your children — in the morning and in the evening. Show your sons and daughters the importance of beginning and ending each day in prayer.

While a fortunate dilemma, it’s a dilemma nonetheless — Catholics face the challenge of discerning which prayers to use, considering the thousands available. A good rule of thumb is to start simple — maybe an Our Father or Hail Mary, and then move into something more complex — Hail, Holy Queen or Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, 2

among others. Begin with prayers your children can pick up fairly quickly. Not only will this show them that praying can be fun and easy, but shorter prayers are also usually easier to understand.

Teach your children the importance of spontaneous prayer, rather than just prescribed prayers. Spontaneous prayer is any prayer that is created at the same time it is offered. Another way to think of spontaneous prayer is “praying in your own words.” Structure spontaneous prayers according to the ACTS acronym — Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. In layman’s terms, this means beginning each prayer with words of adoration, such as “You are the Lord God Almighty.

I love you.” Move into a period of contrition, asking God’s forgiveness for the sins you have committed.

Then, give words of thanksgiving, thanking God for the gifts He has given. Finally, spend time sharing with God your heart’s desires. These intentions can be personal or on another’s behalf. Following this format ensures that spontaneous prayer “covers all the bases,” and doesn’t become just a mental wish list. While God wants to hear and grant our wishes, He also expects words of adoration, contrition and thankfulness.

The best time to begin praying with your children is right now. The sooner they learn about prayer, the sooner they can begin cultivating their own relationship with Jesus. Many parents even pray with their children before birth, hoping their unborn son or daughter can hear their words in utero. Remember, there is no better way to teach one’s children about the value of prayer than by example.

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Excited For New Opportunities to Grow in Discipleship this Spring and Summer Dear Parishioners,

A

s we head into April, we’re already looking at an exciting (and COVID-free) summer. Our new Children’s Minister Jacob Farni is off to a great start and we’re looking to have Vacation Bible School return this summer. An event like VBS can only happen with committed staff and volunteers and that’s what we have! I’m so grateful to all who give of their talents to help our children grow in love of Jesus Christ!

As the school year comes to an end, I want to recognize all the many educators who poured their hearts out over the past year. One hard-working group of educators in our parish are our Catholic homeschoolers. We have about a dozen families who homeschool and their contributions to the parish are numerous. If you’re considering homeschooling, get in touch with the group with questions and for support.

Finally, I can’t say enough about our choir!

Singing at the English Masses each weekend, Matt Cabeen, Marilyn Middlebrook, the cantors, and the choir make beautiful music each week.

Music is such a powerful way to pray and our choir helps all of us to pray. If you’ve ever considered joining the choir, now is the time!

Come make a joyful noise unto the Lord (Psalm 100).

Let’s continue to live a stewardship way of life as we move into April. Our time, talent, and treasure given for the Lord will make our parish and our world a better place to be.

In Christ,

Very Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor St. Francis Xavier Xavier Catholic Church

3

Saint

Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

Fostering Stewardship at Home WITH STILLWATER CAT T he seeds of faith, hope, families can find the support they and charity are most need to carry on their apostolate firmly planted in a child’s of Catholic home education in the heart in their own home, and midst of the world. that is why homeschooling is a “Our primary mission is to wonderful setup for learning. be a support group for Catholic “Homeschooling is a life homeschooling families, and choice for us,” says Catie Hanson, especially for homeschooling who serves as a coordinator for mothers, because they are doing The All Saints’ Day celebration Stillwater Catholic Homeschoolers, the teaching,” Catie says. “Over on Nov. 1, 2019 along with Rose Cabeen. the years, we have held monthly “Although homeschooling is get-togethers for homeschooling academically challenging, that moms, during which we talk about aspect is not as important to homeschooling topics, such as how us as the relationship and faith to incorporate Catholic traditions aspects. Homeschooling gives into your homeschooling day. We our children the freedom to build started these meetings because relationships with their siblings, we wanted to provide a way for other homeschooled children, and homeschooling moms to meet each Jesus all day long.” other, share ideas, and support The homeschooling lifestyle each other as teachers.” provides families with unique Furthermore, Stillwater A historic reading lesson at flexibility so that they can foster Catholic Homeschoolers Pleasant Valley School their children’s spiritual lives and organizes a rich variety of nurture their talents in extraordinary ways. social, educational, and faith-based activities for “This morning, I took my boys to adoration homeschooling children as well. with me at 8 a.m. because they weren’t required “After we began meeting as moms, we started to to be anywhere else at that time,” Catie says. think it would be important for our children to come “Homeschooling gives us the ability to plan our together and get to know each other better, so Rose daily schedule around our life of faith. We have started coordinating some field trips,” Catie says. extra time to pray, go to daily Mass, and celebrate The group once toured the Fashion Department the liturgical seasons.” at Oklahoma State University, where they visited However, homeschooling isn’t for the faintlabs for testing fabrics, and saw machines that hearted. Homeschooling parents need to make great make and cut patterns. They have also visited sacrifices to provide an excellent, well-rounded museums, and hope to visit a bald eagle sanctuary education for their children at home — bringing soon. them close to the Heart of Christ, in the heart of Lastly, the group has also been working on their domestic churches. Thanks to groups like the hosting events that enrich the liturgical seasons, Stillwater Catholic Homeschoolers, homeschooling such as an All Saints’ Day party.

4

HOLIC HOMESCHOOLERS “The kids went to Mass dressed up in their saints’ costumes, and people asked them afterward about their saint,” Catie says. “It was great!”

Overall, the Stillwater Catholic Homeschoolers group serves as an inspiring means of evangelization within our parish family and beyond.

“We should try to reach out to individuals who

may not go to our parish but are homeschooling, and give them support and advice,” Catie says.

“We can tell them how homeschooling allows us to develop our relationship with Jesus, and explain to them the attractiveness of homeschooling. We can also share these things with the people in our parish.”

If you would like more information, please contact Catie Hanson at 405-612-8153 or Catherine.R.Hanson@gmail.com, or visit the Stillwater Catholic Homeschoolers Facebook page.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL based on his previous experience.

“The theme for VBS this year will be: Crowned.

Children will learn how, through their Baptism, they are children of God, and if His children, then also Heirs to His Kingdom! The Red Carpet will be rolled out and the Trumpets will blast, and so we hope to see all the princes and princesses this summer at VBS for what will be a royally awesome week!”

Through the prevalence of Disney princesses, many small girls, in particular, want to be princesses — but this is based on fantasy, Jacob explains. But through the grace of God, we are all royalty.

As the youngsters experience the fun and

continued from front cover

lessons of Vacation Bible School, they will be growing closer to Christ to become His disciples so they can lead others to Him. “This is a chance to share the love of Christ,” Jacob says. “Those who encounter Christ and love Jesus, that love overflows. They need an outlet, so this provides a fun way to share the Gospel.”

The youngsters attending Vacation Bible School will be able to experience a more personal relationship with Jesus as they come to understand that through Him, they are Children of God. “He tells us, ‘Those you fed and clothed, that was me,’” Jacob says. “This is a good way to grow in your love of Jesus.”

The Vacation Bible School volunteers will have a training session for the program. Volunteers must take VIRTUS — Protecting God’s Children training that includes two background checks. If you would like more information, please call the parish office at 405-372-6886.

5

Saint

Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

Divine Mercy Sunday and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

I

n the 1930s, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy, received a message from the Lord that she was to live her life as a model of Christ’s merciful love and spread Christ’s mercy throughout the world.

She proceeded to offer up all of her personal sufferings in atonement for the sins of others.

She kept a diary in which she wrote of God’s mercy, as well as about her special devotion to Mary Immaculate and to the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, which gave her strength. Sr. Faustina’s diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, serves as the handbook for the devotion to the Divine Mercy. In it, we read of the message of mercy that she received from Christ.

On April 30, 2000, Sr. Faustina Kowalska was canonized by Pope John Paul II. Then, on May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship decreed that “throughout the world, the second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come.”

On Divine Mercy Sunday — occurring 6

this year on April 11 — all parishioners are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, always remembering and practicing the essential “ABCs” of Divine Mercy: • Ask for mercy • Be merciful to others • Completely trust in Jesus How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet “Chaplet” simply refers to the prayers counted on a rosary. The Lord said to St. Faustina, “You will recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary in the following Manner:” • Begin with: One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed • On the “Our Father” beads, say: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

• On the “Hail Mary” beads, say: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

• In conclusion, recite the following three times: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

“I want the whole world to know my infinite mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in my mercy” (Diary, 687).

ENGLISH CHOIR

M

Honors God and Lifts Our Worship Through Stewardship of Talent

ost of us are likely familiar with the saying — often attributed to St. Augustine — “to sing is to pray twice.” Here at St. Francis Xavier Xavier, English Choir Director Matt Cabeen cites the ancient proverb with the same meaning, as quoted by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal — “Bis orat qui bene cantat.”

We are so blessed to be surrounded by beautiful music in our parish, thanks in part to the English Choir members under Matt’s direction. He is thankful we have so many people willing to give their time and talent to music.

“Jesus calls us to invest all of our talents, whatever they are, and so we have a duty to Him to use whatever talents we have for His glory and service,” Matt says. “Those who can sing should raise their voices! This may be in the choir or just in the pew at Mass, according to a person’s station in life and other responsibilities.”

As Matt notes, even singing along at Mass is a form of stewardship, engaging in prayer through song and giving of your talent. But if you would like

The English Choir sings at the Dedication Mass in early March 2020.

to hone your talent and meet new people, consider getting involved with the English Choir!

The group practices Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and has an average of 15 to 20 members.

Because our choir loft has room for social distancing, the choir is still practicing and singing at weekend Mass during the COVID-19 pandemic. ”I, for one, am very thankful that we have been able to continue our music ministry because of its importance to worship,” Matt says. “It brings

joy to our parish at a time that has been difficult for so many.”

Matt enjoys being part of and directing the choir. Having served as director for nearly two years, he is so honored to work with choir members who not only have beautiful singing voices but also strong faith lives. He is blessed by their willingness to share their talents in giving praise to God. “We are most fully human and most fully alive when we realize our potential and develop the powers that God has given continued on back cover

7

Saint

Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 711 N. Country Club Rd • Stillwater, OK 74075 Web: www.SFXStillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6886

English Choir

continued from page 7

us,” Matt says.

Then, there’s the community that is fostered through the choir, for which Matt is also thankful. The members are there for one another and pray for one another.

Matt also appreciates the emphasis on beautiful music by Fr. O’Brien and the young people who also add to the music at our parish.

“It’s great having young people involved in this ministry because it means that we have a sustainable and vital program,” Matt says.

Matt is especially grateful for every person, whether in the choir or in a pew, who adds to the music at St. Francis Xavier Xavier. It takes everyone, from the choir members to cantors to all the instrumentalists, to fill our parish with beautiful music.

Matt also wants parishioners to know they can reach out with song ideas and feedback at any time. He also asks parishioners to thank cantors, choir members, and instrumentalists when they have an opportunity.

“I want to invite people to come to sing with us,” Matt says. “We’re a friendly, open group, and there’s no commitment. And, even if you never set foot in the choir loft, sing loudly when you’re at Mass, because singing honors God and, again, is a mode of prayer.”

If you would like more information on getting involved in the choir, please contact Matt Cabeen at matthew.cabeen@ gmail.com or call the parish office at 405-372-6886.

ONLINE GIVING:

PARISH REGISTRATION: