St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Newsletter — December 2020

December 2020

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

CATHOLIC PARISH

Celebrating the Season at St. Vincent de Paul with the Beauty of Music

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Unwrapping the Gift of Stewardship

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The Terry Family Keeping a Vibrant Catholic Faith at the Center of Life Together

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Focusing Our Hearts Heavenward: The Origin and

Beauty of the Nativity Scene

7 Meet Children’s Faith Formation Leaders Jo-Lee Buncic and Michal Tincup “We’re a Real Team”

5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 (817) 478-8206 www.svdpcc.org

t’s a feeling we all know — the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. And surprisingly, even amid 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 truly matters. And although our prayer and celebrations may look a little bit different this year, we likely need the nudge to refocus on what matters, just the same. Here at St. Vincent de Paul, we hope to invite people to prepare Although things will look a bit different this year, the their hearts for the coming of Christ, music of the Advent and Christmas seasons will help particularly through the power of song. us to enter into the wonder of the Incarnation.

“Advent in our society tends to be a hectic time when people are running around, trying to make sure they have everything ready for Christmas, and then Christmas lasts a day and it’s over,” says Kevin Keil, Director of Liturgy and Music. “I encourage people of faith to slow down their lives during Advent. Think about what’s going to happen, what has happened already, and the impact that has on the world and ourselves individually.”

In a particular way, the music at our Advent and Christmas liturgies will serve to help us enter more fully into the beauty of these holy seasons. From songs that tell the story of the Incarnation and redemptive work of Christ, to those that help us reflect on Mary’s openness to God, Advent and Christmas music can be, as Kevin says, a powerful “soundtrack to our prayer.”

“You’ve heard the expression, ‘Those who sing well pray twice?’” Kevin says. “It doesn’t mean ‘well’ in the sense of how pretty your voice is — it means continued on page 2

ST. VINCENT de PAUL Celebrating the Season at St. Vincent de Paul with the Beauty of Music continued from front cover singing with understanding. My encouragement is to look at the words first, asking ‘What is this saying to us?’ And then, not only are you praying with a beautiful piece of music, you’re praying with a deep understanding of the message that song is trying to present to you.”

Our traditional Christmas Concert will look a bit different this year, with members of our various choirs sharing their favorite Advent and Christmas selections through our Virtual Christmas Concert. These video performances will be released in short two-to-three-song segments, available on our website, inspiring people in their prayer and reflection from the comfort and safety of their homes.

“You can enjoy a few Christmas songs here and there when you’re in the mood and see some people, and maybe you haven’t even seen the church for a while,” Kevin says.

Uniquely this year, Kevin hopes that one of his favorite Christmas songs — one that he wrote — “See Amid the Winter’s Snow,” will help to inspire people to enter into the incarnational mysteries, during challenging times.

“I was having kind of a difficult year and I wanted to express the Christmas joy in a quiet reflective way,” says Kevin on writing the piece. “I was reflecting on what Christmas could

mean to me besides all the secular stuff and I wound up writing a very minor piece, just a quiet peace. This is a joyful season, but it is a time for us to reflect on things, as well.

“Christmas is the incarnation, it’s not just one day,” he adds. “It’s understanding how the Incarnation of Jesus makes a change. It’s when God broke into our reality and nothing that comes after that is the same.”

Although we will not have our traditional concert this year, members of our choirs will be sharing their favorite holiday selections via the Virtual Christmas Concert.

Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25 10 a.m.

All three Christmas Masses will be live-streamed.

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For updated Advent and Christmas Mass schedules, please visit our website at www.svdpcc.org or call the parish office at 817-478-8206.

A Letter From Our Pastor

Unwrapping the Gift of

Stewardship

Dear Parishioners,

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ost people associate stewardship with giving.

Some think it is a desperate plea by the church asking parishioners to give some of your time, talent and treasure to a worthy cause. Some think it is a noble gesture that identifies a faithful steward, a common occurrence this time of year. And for some, it is an understanding that the stewardship way of life brings joy and blessings to the giver by returning a portion of the gifts he or she has received from God. At Christmas, when it is most common to give or receive gifts, should this not also be a time when the stewardship way of life becomes the gift that is unwrapped by our consciousness and treasured by our faith? After all, the first gift of Christmas was the gift of God’s own Son. For those who may still be struggling to truly understand the stewardship way of life, that may be a concept that is difficult to accept, even at this time of year. But by living the stewardship way of life, it makes perfect sense to me. And during this season of faith, the gift of stewardship remains one of the blessings of my life as a Catholic, as a priest and as a pastor.

Before fully embracing a life of stewardship, I could justify wasting my time with less-than-worthwhile activities.

I could rationalize withholding my talents, because I often thought somebody else would always step up and take care of things instead of me. I restricted or limited sharing my material resources, thinking it wouldn’t make a difference — or worse yet, I thought others could afford to give more than me, because I believed I had already given enough. As each day passes, I remind myself often of how wrong I was in what I did with my time, talent and treasure. But the days for regretting my misunderstanding of the stewardship way of life are over.

Stewardship conversion changes all of that, and the reverse is now true. The more time, talent and treasure that I

can give, the more content and joyful I truly am. When is the last time you unwrapped a gift that gave you so much peace of mind and heart? Maybe you have never been aware of receiving such a gift, or maybe God is just waiting for you to unwrap what He has always wanted you to have. Perhaps it is the gift God wants you to have this year for Christmas.

The catalyst for stewardship is gratitude. And, as we recognize that all we have is a gift from God, it lights up our gratitude as if it were a large Christmas tree with too many lights on it to be counted. All we can do is look at it with wonder and awe, thankful for what we see, what we have, and the opportunity to give back something in gratitude.

It is more than just a spirit of “holiday stewardship” that seems to be so common this time of year. It is the core of the stewardship way of life, and once that gift is unwrapped, our conversion takes hold and our lives are transformed into faithful stewardship intended by our God. I hope and pray that you and your family will be blessed during this season of God’s grace, unwrapping the gift of stewardship in your lives and finding joy and peace — both during this season of grace and all year long.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Philip Brembah Pastor

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Terry Fam

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

The

Keeping a Vibrant Catholic Faith at the Center

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ears ago, as high school sweethearts, Jessica and Zach Terry could never have predicted the wonderful blessings the Lord had in store for them! Today, the couple is thankful for their four children — Emily, 12; Zachary, 10; Noah, 5; and Elijah, 3 — and the many ways that the parish family at St. Vincent de Paul has helped them keep a vibrant Catholic faith at the center of life together, even amid this year’s many challenges.

During their high school years, Jessica was a parishioner here while Zach and his family attended St. Joseph Catholic Church. Following their 2006 wedding, the couple decided to make St. Vincent de Paul their faith home.

Although the two had been practicing the Catholic faith passed down to them by their parents, they decided to make it an even bigger part of their life when they learned they were expecting their first child.

For a young family, some of the easiest — and most rewarding — ways to get involved in parish life are ministries that include or serve children. Jessica began by volunteering in the church

nursery. She then taught in our parish preschool for a couple of years before being hired as the coordinator of the preschool, Sunday school, and Vacation Bible School. During the five years in which she filled that role, Jessica was pleased to see her family develop a great love for our faith community.

“We started meeting the families, and I think that’s when we started to feel part of the parish,” she says. “I loved seeing the families and the babies growing up through the programs and the relationships that my kids built just by being there all the time. We became a part of the church family at that time, and the parish became a second home for my kids.”

The Terry family found another way to stay active in parish life by helping with the Las Posadas event each year. Jessica, Zach, and the children have all pitched in with various aspects of the reenactment and related festivities. They love this special opportunity to stay engaged with the Mexican heritage on both sides of their family.

Jessica has also participated in an adult Bible study for the past four

years, a group that has brought her many wonderful friendships, as well as an increased knowledge of Church teachings and traditions. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Terry family had started helping with the Second Sunday breakfast bar after Mass and enjoyed meeting even more parish families there.

As they raise four children, Jessica and Zach hope their commitment to living active discipleship will leave a legacy.

“We want to be role models for our children and show them that church goes beyond Sundays,” Jessica says. “Of course, Mass is the most important thing, but to live out your Christian life is to serve. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but this in turn has helped us to grow as Christians, as well. There are struggles, and it holds us together when times get tough, in marriage, and as a parent.

I pray that strong faith will also guide our children and keep them more grounded in life.”

Certainly, we have all experienced struggles in the past year as we learn to live and worship during a global continued on page 5

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mily

of Life Together “We want to be role models for our children and show them that church goes beyond Sundays. Of course, Mass is the most important thing, but to live out your Christian life is to serve. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but this in turn has helped us to grow as Christians, as well. There are struggles, and it holds us together when times get tough, in marriage and as a parent. I pray that strong faith will also guide our children and keep them more grounded in life.” — Jessica Terry pandemic, with numerous ministries and typical gatherings curtailed. Like so many, Jessica found her faith tested as COVID-19 seemed to turn the world upside down. Now more than ever, she is thankful for the gift of our Catholic faith and the loving parish family here at St. Vincent de Paul.

“It’s hard not being [physically] part of your church family,” she says.

“It was part of our daily lives and we took it for granted. Now we miss it all.

Everybody is struggling with this right now, and I’ve had to work harder to keep my faith alive during this time.

We just need to hold on. Thinking about our parish community makes me realize that there is so much to look forward to and hang on for. God will get us through this.”

Zach and Jessica Terry and their children, with Jessica’s parents and sister.

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ST. VINCENT de Heavenward: PAUL Focusing Our Hearts

NATIVITY SCENE The Origin and Beauty of the

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ith all the commercialism surrounding Christmas, 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. Yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back in time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth.

The modern challenges we face to keep our focus on Christ at Christmas is actually what first led St. Francis of Assisi to recreate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated with the growing materialism and greed that pervaded 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

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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 Christmas 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 many homes. 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 number 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.

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 number of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth.

Meet Children’s Faith Formation Leaders Jo-Lee Buncic and Michal Tincup: “We’re a Real Team”

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hildren are so much a part of St. Vincent de Paul Parish — our church doesn’t even have a cry room! —it stands to reason that their faith formation is a vital part of our parish life.

Jo-Lee Buncic, Director of Children’s Faith Formation and Michal Tincup, Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator, work together in creating and managing all of the children’s programs for our parish. These programs include preschool faith formation (ages 2 thru kindergarten), elementary faith formation (1st grade thru 6th grade), the Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW), the Sacramental Preparation Program, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program and the annual Vacation Bible School.

In most years, the programs would be held in-person. Classes would start in October and be Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Due to COVID-19 the last in-person session took place in March. The diocese instructed the parishes to shift all the children’s faith formation class to remote learning. We have worked to make sure that we are able to provide a program that would still allow us to maintain many of the same faith-filled qualities that we had in previous years.

“Our parish is a true community, a welcoming community, and our children always have a been a vital part of it. Children are blessed and welcomed right from the beginning. The Sacrament of Baptism is a community affair when the babies are presented to the community. The community supports all of our programs.”

In this new season, the faith formation for all of our children has moved to an at-home or virtual program. “Our pre-schoolers are using Catholic Brain’s program. Each week we send the families suggested videos they should watch during the week, based on the liturgical calendar… It’s amazing!”, Michal says. Our children’s faith formation sessions have gone virtual, via Zoom

Jo-Lee Buncic, Director of Children’s Faith Formation

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“It is a joy of seeing children discover the beauty of the love that God gives us — it is never-ending love He gives us, and seeing it in their faces. The happiness they bring to our parish, it brings us such joy, to see the families come together. We’re a part of their lives, not just when they’re little, but we see them grow up.” — Michal Tincup Michal Tincup, Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator

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ST. VINCENT de PAUL 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 (817) 478-8206 www.svdpcc.org

MASSES Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Weekdays: (M/T/Th/Fr) 8:45 a.m. in the church

(Wed) 6:00 p.m. in the church

Holy Days: 8:45 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Confessions: Saturday: 4-5 p.m. in the chapel

Children’s Faith Formation Leaders sessions. “To try to maintain a sense of community, our classes begin with a Zoom session for each grade level,” Jo-Lee says. The children meet with their catechists for about 20 minutes either on Sunday mornings or Wednesday afternoons. The catechists introduce the lesson and the families complete the lessons using the books Finding God, which they have access to online.

Both Jo-Lee and Michal value their communication with the parents and working to make sure that the remote platform is successful. Whether the learning is in-person or virtual, both treasure what they experience in helping our children learn about their faith.

“What I enjoy most is all the interaction with the children and families, and being part of the joy as they experience God in their lives, the Spirit in their lives,” Jo-Lee says. “I am a grandmother and great-grandmother, and many times that joy, I equate it with what my experience is working in faith formation.”

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“My feelings are similar,” Michal says. “It is a joy seeing children discover the beauty of the love that God gives us — it is never-ending love, and seeing it in their faces is a gift. The happiness they bring to our parish, it brings us such joy, to see the families come together. We’re a part of their lives, not just when they’re little, but as we watch them grow up.”

If you would like more information about the Children’s Faith Formation programs, call Jo-Lee Buncic at 817-478-8206, ext. 214 or Michal Tincup at 817-478-8206, ext. 213.