St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Newsletter — December 2020

Vincen de Paul Saint

catholic church | seward, nebraska Inside this Issue 2 Christmastime

Stewardship How We Can Bring His Son to the World

3 Celebrating Jesus’ Birth: A Celebration of Life, Death and Truth

4 Parish Sacristans Provide a Valuable Service Preparing for “the Greatest Show on Earth”

6 Focusing Our Hearts

Heavenward: The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity Scene

7 Ushers Live out the

Pillar of Hospitality

by Welcoming Parishioners and Guests

DECEMBER 2020

Celebrating Advent and Christmas AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

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Hearts Prepared for the Coming of Christ

t’s a feeling we all know — the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. And surprisingly, even during a pandemic, some of the busyness remains the same. Whether you’re perusing Amazon for the perfect gift, baking dozen upon dozen of delicious Christmas cookies, or creating an incredible light display in your front yard, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of this holy season.

Advent is a reminder to step back, slow down, and be reminded of what really matters. And although our prayer and celebrations may look a little bit different this year, we likely need the nudge to refocus on what truly matters, just the same. Here at St. Vincent de Paul, we hope to invite people to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ, both in-person and through virtual opportunities.

The Seminary plans to offer their annual Advent Lessons and Carols — either inperson, virtually or recorded — to encourage local Catholics to enter into the prayerful nature of the season through song. The Children’s Christmas Program will allow parishioners to reflect on the story of Christmas and God’s love for humanity, either continued on page 5

Vincen de Paul Saint

catholic church | seward, nebraska

CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP

How We Can Bring His Son to the World

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t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way.

Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world.

What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer, Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us to go, and there are many places to which He may 2

never go unless we take Him to them.”

How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat.

These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship.

We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet but to enable someone else to be them, as well.

Advent and Christmas allow us to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.

A Letter From Our Pastor

Celebrating Jesus’ Birth: A Celebration of Life, Death and Truth Dear Parishioners,

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his month we will celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Even amid a pandemic, the celebration of Jesus will happen and it is probably most important for us to do so with vigor this year. Fear and anxiousness concerning our mortality are a part of our world.

Should there be this fear and anxiety? Jesus clearly states, “Do not be afraid.” He says this because He came to save us from sin and death. His death is the “remedy” for death, says St. Ambrose. He died so that we may live. The life that Jesus gives is the central message of the Nativity, so it is imperative that we celebrate Jesus’ birth this year with great vigor.

Jesus took on our human nature, and the divine and the human are united. Jesus humbled Himself by sharing our humanity, so that we may share in His divinity. This is a phrase that the Priest says inaudibly when he pours the water and wine into the chalice.

Every time we celebrate Mass, we remember that Jesus became man, so that we may share in His divinity.

Sharing in His divinity means that we share in His immortality. He shares His divinity with us, so that He can conquer death in each of us. He shares His divinity with us to strengthen us to reject sin, which brought death into the world. He shares His divinity with us so we will have life with Him now, and forever.

In sharing His life with us, He taught us about the Father and the Holy Spirit in His teachings. Jesus’ words give life because they are the truth. Unfortunately, everything we hear, and all we say, may not be true. The lies that we hear, and the lies perpetuated by the evil one, lead us down a road that leads to death. Jesus taught the truth, and He says that the truth will set us free. The truth sets us free from sin and death. Jesus’ teaching and His death on the cross both set us free from sin and death.

The truth about the cross is that it is a perfect sacrifice for our sins. The truth about His death is that the cost of sin is death. Sin kills our relationship with Jesus, and Jesus embraces the death due to

our sin, to set us free. The truth is that Jesus wants us to live in freedom from sin; loving Him and serving Him each day.

The truth about Jesus’ cross is another part of the Good News we celebrate with His birth.

Teaching the truth provides us with a road map that leads to living the truth. In the document The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium, there is a clear and powerful statement about teaching. “Teaching has an extraordinary moral depth and is one of man’s most excellent and creative activities, for the teacher does not write on inanimate material, but on the very spirits of human beings.” Teaching the truth is what we do in a Catholic school and we write it on the spirits of every child that comes through our doors.

Our human spirit has the power of intellect and will, guiding the choices that we make in life. These powers need immersion in truth, or the decisions and choices we make will be harmful to our salvation, and we can lead others down that path too. I understand the gravity of the effect teaching has on the minds, hearts and souls of young children, so I am passionate about the need for a Catholic school. Our Catholic school is celebrating its 20th year because of your support and prayers. We look forward to another 20 years and more, and we look forward to sharing the truth about Jesus, Who sets us free and gives us life, now and forever.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Msgr. Robert Tucker, Pastor 3

Vincen de Paul Saint

catholic church | seward, nebraska

PARISH SACRISTANS PROVIDE A PREPARING FOR

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ave you ever noticed how beautifully prepared our sanctuary is for each and every Mass? The altar sits ready for the celebration of the Eucharist, the holy vessels gleam, the tabernacle candle is lit. All of these details come together to provide a peaceful and reverential atmosphere for worship, though many of us may not know who we have to thank for ensuring that the sanctuary remains such a sacred haven — our sacristans.

Sacristans take care of several “housekeeping” details for the celebration of Mass by washing altar linens, server cassocks, and surplices, and replenishing the candles, host and wine. While most of the sacristan’s work happens behind the scenes, it is nonetheless essential to our parish.

Tausha Dybdal is one of several people who serve St. Vincent de Paul in this special ministry. “[Without sacristans], the time involved in caring for all these tasks would take away from the time a priest or pastor would have to administer to the people those things that only they can do,” she says. “Jesus had friends among Him and His apostles to help administer to the people, as well.”

Tausha was first inspired to serve as a sacristan by her son, Levi. While he was attending our diocesan altar server leadership camp, Levi desired to participate in a leadership role. However, his ability to fill the cabin leader position was compromised by his battle with childhood cancer. The adult team leaders developed the role of sacristan at the camp especially for him. In the following years, many young men would go on to serve as sacristans at the camp, thanks to the inspiring role model they found in Levi.

Like the boys who followed in Levi’s footsteps at the leadership camp, Tausha was also inspired to become a sacristan. By serving the church in this way, she feels a greater connection to Levi, as well 4

Sacristans take care of several “housekeeping” details for the celebration of Mass, such as replenishing the host and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist. While most of the sacristan’s work happens behind the scenes, it is nonetheless essential to our parish and ensures that our priests may focus on administering to their parishioners.

as a deepening of faith and intimacy with the Lord.

“I, too, saw the light of Christ that shone through Levi, and it made me want to serve the Lord in this way also,” she says. “Levi passed away on Sept. 5, 2016, and I know that the Eucharist is the time of the Mass when I can be as physically close to him and all the other saints and angels in heaven as I can be. It has been a gift that keeps that endearing love of Christ alive, and having it tied to Levi reminds me that we have someplace better to get to. It’s only a matter of time.”

Feeling richly blessed by her experience as a sacristan, Tausha encourages anyone who may be interested in living out intentional discipleship at St. Vincent de Paul — as a sacristan or in any other ministry — to prayerfully consider giving of their time and talent. “[Serving as a sacristan] keeps reminding me of the many spiritual gifts the Lord gives us

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VALUABLE SERVICE

“the Greatest Show on Earth” every day in the simplest tasks,” Tausha says.

“It is like being part of a road crew that helps make the greatest show on earth happen just by helping behind the scenes. It is in quiet prayer and daily tasks that we can give some of our greatest glory to God. We can never repay God enough for the life He has offered us. God is great all the time!”

Our parish looks forward to the day when we can once again have full participation of all our servers during the Mass! Any parishioner interested in learning more about the Sacristan Ministry may contact Tausha Dybdal at Tausha-Dybdal@cdolinc.net or 402-643-3421.

Celebrating Advent and Christmas

in-person or recorded.

“These events are focused on drawing our minds and hearts to Jesus’ birth and God’s love for us,” says Msgr. Tucker. “God so loved the world that He sent His son into the world, so we’re celebrating God’s love for us. We have the Christmas programs and the Advent Lessons and Carols to help us, to draw our minds and our hearts to God’s love, communicated to us in the birth of Jesus.”

Also, an Advent Penance Service will be offered, giving people a chance to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Feast of Christmas.

Accommodations will be made to ensure that people can safely go to Confession and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.

As has become a tradition in recent years, we will be giving away a book at our Christmas Masses.

This year, it will be Matthew Kelly’s new book I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life’s Essential Daily Habit. The book is designed to help Christians learn to prioritize their faith and relationship with God, especially in prayer.

Despite the changes and adjustments that will affect various aspects of our celebrations, Msgr. Tucker encourages parishioners to enter into the Advent season of prayer and reflection.

“Slowing down, we talk about doing that every

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year,” Msgr. Tucker says. “Don’t fill your time with all these different things. Focus on the birth of Jesus and how important that is for all humanity and for us personally.”

Msgr. Tucker hopes to welcome back many of our parishioners — especially those who have been away due to COVID-19 — to join in our celebrations of the birth of Christ.

“We’re hoping we have a lot of people here for Christmas Masses, people who haven’t been here for a while, maybe because of COVID or for whatever reason,” Msgr. Tucker says.

“Why did Jesus come?” he adds. “He came to save.

There are a lot of things we can be anxious about in these times and the message Jesus gave is, ‘Do not be afraid, I am with you.’ If we really believe those words, He brings us hope. We do not have to be afraid.”

If you would like more information on Advent and Christmas celebrations and our Mass schedule at St. Vincent de Paul, please see the bulletin or parish website at www.stvincentseward.org.

If you would like to help with Christmas decorations or music for the Christmas Masses, please contact the parish office at 402-643-3421.

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Vincen de Paul Saint

catholic church | seward, nebraska

Focusing Our Hearts Heavenward:

The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity Scene

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ith all the commercialism surrounding Christmastime, it’s far too easy for us to lose sight of the true reason behind the season. Overwhelmed by our endless to-do lists and the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping, our focus quickly shifts away from the Christ Child’s birth. And yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back into time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth.

Interestingly, it was circumstances much like our own today which first led St. Francis of Assisi to recreate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated with the growing materialism and greed that seemed to pervade 13th century Italy, St. Francis wanted a way to visually remind people of Christ’s humble beginnings — to show them that Christmas isn’t about pomp and circumstance or material goods, but rather about unselfish love. Describing the idea to his friend Giovanni, St. Francis wrote, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger...”

And so St. Francis’ idea took form on Christ-

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mas Eve in 1223. This original Nativity scene was a living one, even including live animals. Villagers were deeply moved by the silent display of humble beauty, and the Nativity tradition soon spread throughout Italy and surrounding Europe. It is a tradition that remains today in nearly every Christian church and in many homes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene somewhere.

Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. Many families have a tradition of hiding the Infant Jesus, only placing Him in the crib on Christmas morning. This helps build anticipation during the Advent season as we anxiously await the Divine’s birth. Others go a step further, actually wrapping up the Christ Child to be opened as the very first gift of Christmas.

Yet, whatever your family’s particular traditions, we hope that the Christmas Nativity continues to draw your heart heavenward this Christmas season — to center us all on the greatest gift ever given, our Incarnate Lord.

Ushers Live out the Pillar of Hospitality

by Welcoming Parishioners and Guests

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s a stewardship parish, we are familiar with the “Three Ts” of parish stewardship — Time, Talent, and Treasure. But we also live out the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service.

Here at St. Vincent de Paul, the Usher Ministry works to lovingly fulfill that first pillar of hospitality. After all, when we are visitors at a parish or have had a hectic morning getting everyone in the car, what could be better than a smiling face welcoming us to church?

Denny and Bonnie Hentzen have been serving as ushers for many years. They initially signed up to show their children, who were young at the time, the value and importance of volunteer ing in the parish. Years later, they are still giving of their time to this important ministry. Our ushers serve also as greeters, welcoming parishioners and guests as they enter.

“Everyone wants to feel welcome, whether they have been a member of the parish for years or when new families don’t know anyone in the church family,” Bonnie says. “Feeling welcome encourages interaction and commitment.”

The ushers also help facilitate the Communion line and find a couple or family to bring up the offertory. They are there to chat with people as they leave and distribute bulletins. Ushers also help people find a seat when the sanctuary is full.

Of all the ushers’ tasks, Denny and Bonnie feel greeting people is the most important way to encourage stewardship.

“If people feel that they are wanted or needed, there is a lot more commitment and interaction on their part,” Bonnie says.

CJ Novak greets parishioners and guests at the door.

That interaction and commitment may, in turn, lead to more involvement at St. Vincent de Paul.

Denny and Bonnie also find greeting to be the most enjoyable part of this ministry, and they both appreciate doing their part in making St. Vincent de Paul a welcoming environment. The Hentzens look forward to the day when the customary handshake and hug can return to their pre-Mass welcome — currently, COVID-19 precautions mean these greetings are not possible.

But the couple is happy to help in whatever way they can during this challenging time. They encourage anyone to get involved as an usher and reap the same spiritual rewards they have for all these years.

If you would like to learn more about serving as an usher, please call the parish office at 402-643-3421.

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Vincen de Paul Saint

catholic church | seward, nebraska

152 Pinewood Avenue | Seward, NE 68434 (402) 643-3421 | stvincentseward.org

Christmas Mass Schedule Thursday, December 24 — 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 24 — 8:00 p.m.

Friday, December 25 — 8:00 a.m.

Friday, December 25 — 10:00 a.m.

Solemnity of Mary Mass Schedule Thursday, December 31 — 4:00 p.m.

Friday, January 1 — 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

LITURGY SCHEDULE Daily Masses: Monday thru Friday at 7:00 a.m., Saturday at 8:00 a.m.

Sunday Obligation Masses: Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Sunday at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Confession: Monday thru Saturday: 20 minutes before each daily Mass, Saturday: 4:30 to 5:20 p.m., Sunday: 7:30 to 7:50 a.m. & 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. Other confession times available by appointment.