St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Newsletter — January 2021

January 2021

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

CATHOLIC PARISH

n e w y e a r b r i n g s o p p o rt u n i t y t o r e n e w

Our Journey with Christ

T Inside 3

Forget the Resolutions... Seize the Opportunities!

4

Questions & Answers About Our Annual Stewardship Renewal

6

Questions and Answers About Our Faith

7 Grief Support Group Provides a Listening Ear and Journeys Alongside Our Bereaved

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

here is something undeniably exciting about the hope and optimism that come with the beginning of a new year. Following the season of preparation during Advent and the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ, we are invited to pause once more and reflect upon our goals and dreams for the coming year. As a parish, we look forward to continuing to provide the faithful of St. Vincent de Paul with many opportunities for spiritual growth.

Fr. Philip Brembah views the new year as a particularly unique time to take stock of our faith lives and begin a process of renewal.

“Of course, any time is a good time, but entering into a new year gives us a sense of hope,” Fr. Philip says. “I believe that celebrating Christmas, with Christ present among us, and celebrating Mary, the Mother of God on New Year’s Day, makes it a hopeful time to start over again or to continue from where we left off, to readjust ourselves to new circumstances. It is a time of rejuvenation.”

With some parishioners isolating at home due to the COVID-19 crisis, Fr. Philip continues to offer a livestream of the daily and weekend Masses. He is also excited about livestreaming the Holy Hour that takes place immediately following the Friday Mass. As the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, those present in the church and those following along at home pray the Rosary together. After a time for silent prayer intentions, the Holy Hour concludes with a benediction. Fr. Philip hopes that many parishioners will continue to watch the continued on page 2

ST. VINCENT de PAUL n e w y e a r b r i n g s o p p o rt u n i t y t o r e n e w

Our Journey with Christ continued from front cover

livestream videos from our parish and reflect on the readings and homilies throughout the day.

Whether online or in-person, participating in our Masses, prayer services, faith formation, and other parish activities is a wonderful way to stay connected to both our parish community and God. In many ways, a new year is an invitation to recommit to a closer relationship with Christ.

“In any relationship, you always have to evaluate yourself,” Fr. Philip says. “We have already made a commitment to Christ, and we agreed to journey with Him on that path of holiness that leads to eternal gladness. So entering the new year is a good way to assess how we are making the journey. Are we speeding or are we journeying with Him? Are we obeying the road signs — are we going according to the rules and the love — so we do not veer off of the path that Jesus has set for us?”

As Fr. Philip reminds us, two of the most important “road signs” for a faithful life can be found in Scripture and prayer.

As the Good News of salvation, the Bible provides us with the

insights we need to live in the presence of the Lord. Reading just one passage a day, Fr. Philip points out, will make us familiar with the Word of God and bring us closer in our journey. Carving out time for an active prayer life also plays an essential role in our spiritual growth.

“Prayer helps us to develop that personal relationship we have with Christ,” Fr. Philip says. “It is like dating someone — you want to be in the presence of that person all the time, and if you don’t talk to that person, you don’t feel complete.

Prayer life brings us close to Christ and deepens our relationship with Him, and in so doing, we get to know Him much better. There is a big difference between hearing about someone and having personal knowledge about them. This is about what we’ve personally experienced, deepening that friendship every moment of our lives by setting aside time in the course of our busy schedule.”

A new year is always a fitting time to step back and reflect on our lives and where we hope to be 12 months from now.

As Catholics, this process includes a prayerful discernment continued on back cover

“

We leave the gloom and the doom and everything behind, and we enter into the new year just like a child is born into the family. It’s a time of joy and a time of hope that the child is going to grow to become somebody great in the family.

We grow that way spiritually with Christ.” — Fr. Philip Brembah

2

A Letter From Our Pastor

Forget the Resolutions...

Seize the Opportunities!

Dear Parishioners,

O

ne of the most unforgettable years in our lifetimes is finally over and 2021 is here! With the new year, I recommend we forget the notion of making resolutions. This new year presents us with opportunities to practice faithful stewardship — that is, to view the start of 2021 as a time for opportunities instead of resolutions, and to choose to be the disciples we are called to be.

The choice is ours, as it always has been.

I know all too well that each New Year’s Day on Jan. 1, we do more than just begin a new calendar year. We make all kinds of promises, articulate expectations, and express hopes, desires and dreams. I don’t know who started that custom, but I do know I have spent years attempting with the best intentions to follow my own resolutions, only to become disappointed that most are forgotten all too soon. Therefore, it occurred to me that this year, I need a new and fresh approach to this. Perhaps we all need a new perspective. After all, isn’t that what faithful stewards are best at?

The to-do list for 2021 should be seen as a list of opportunities to practice the discipleship intended by Jesus — not just at the beginning of each year, but each day throughout the year when presented with opportunities to be a Christian disciple. In doing so, we are practicing the stewardship way of life. Maybe this year, each of us will be open to embracing the connection between discipleship and stewardship.

Discipleship and stewardship are indeed closely linked, so much so that it clearly defines our Catholic spirituality and touches every aspect of the life of the Church. I hope that the same vision is clearly in your sight — the moment of discovery that stewardship is a way of life, a defining moment presenting opportunities to live what we believe, using our time, talents and treasure to reach others around us.

Therefore, as we close out one of the most eventful years in modern history, and are at the start of a new year filled

with promise and hopefulness, I ask you to join me in celebrating the opportunities that will present themselves during 2021.

We need to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to them. They will be there when we least expect them. Our Lord’s call to be faithful stewards of the gifts we have been given is already echoing in our hearts as we have concluded a season of giving in which God’s gift to us, Jesus Christ, remains the perfect gift that keeps on giving to each of us. If we continue to receive our Lord with grateful hearts, we can respond in our own way of giving time, talent and treasure back as opportunities to become Christ for others.

I know that 2021 will be a year of great interest in what will happen in the world around us, and new opportunities will abound. Wait for them. Look for them. Treasure them when they become known.

While resolutions always seem to be good ideas, opportunities are often what God has chosen for us to experience so that our lives may be more whole and fulfilling. Can you think of a better way to start a new year than to forget the resolutions, and instead seize the opportunities God has waiting for us?

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Philip Brembah Pastor

3

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

Questions & Answers Abou

T

his past year has most certainly been a trying and unusual time, as we have navigated through uncharted waters. In the face of great uncertainty or difficulty, it is easy to become complacent. Yet, this is not what God calls us to do. We are called to live stewardship as a way of life — in the good, bad or uncertain times. In moments of trial, God raises up saints!

Our Stewardship Renewal reminds us that God’s gifts never stop being poured out. In turn, we never should have reason to stop thanking Him. So, let us take this Stewardship Renewal as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with God in the midst of our rapidly changing world.

Stewardship

E SAINTS THROUGH TCaHtholic Church

How do I use my Commitment Card?

Your Commitment Card allows you to make commitments to prayer, parish ministries, and offertory giving. It is designed to be used by the whole family.

Time Section: Everyone should be able to check the boxes to commit to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days or to view the Masses online during the crisis. In addition to those commitments, try to check at least a few other items. Daily prayer should be a priority for every person trying to grow closer to God. We recognize that the current crisis may impact your ability to carry out your commitments. Know the Lord sees what is in your heart and is pleased with your best efforts.

Talent Section: You can either sign up for new ministries or re-commit to your current ministries. Be sure to write your first name next to the ministry! This is especially important if the card is being used by more than one person.

Treasure Section: Clearly print how much money you plan to give each week or month to our parish. Try to take a step toward giving five percent of your income to St. Vincent de Paul.

ul

Pa St. Vincent de

m

ment Card 2021 Commit ame First & Last N

on Phone Email

pen

Spouse: First &

Last Name

Spouse: Phone Spouse: Email

Paul e

Address

olic Church

ton, TX 76016 g

City

State

ZIP

ass g this card to M ion, please brin . ed id After complet ov pr the envelope or mail using you! and God bless u yo k an Th

Issues like my age, physical limitations, and the current crisis prevent me from being active in the parish.

Should I still turn in a Commitment Card?

Yes! The first section of the card — Stewardship of Time — is the most important because it allows you to make commitments to prayer. Even if you can’t join a ministry or make it to Mass on Sunday, you can still pray for our parish. Your spiritual support has tremendous value in the eyes of God.

Commitment Weekend is January 30-31. Don’t forget to return your Commitment Card!

4

ut Our Annual Stewardship Renewal One time I turned in a card, but no one ever called me when I signed up for a ministry.

If this happened in the past, please forgive us! And don’t give up on filling out your Commitment Card! We have a very good plan to call every person interested in joining a new ministry. If for some reason the ministry leader does not call you within four weeks of turning in your card, let Renée Bader know at 817-478-8206, ext. 204.

How much should I give?

Your gift is entirely dependent on how much God has given you. At St. Vincent de Paul, we ask that you give five percent to our parish, one percent to the diocese, and four percent to other charities. Why a percentage of income? First, because the tithe (10 percent) is a scriptural benchmark that the Church has honored for centuries (see Malachi 3:10). Secondly, we give a percentage of income because it is a common-sense standard by which everyone can equitably support the parish. Most of all, we give because we believe God comes first in everything, even finances.

What if I can’t fulfill my financial pledge?

While our pledge is not a “contract,” we should all make a good-faith effort to fulfill it. Of course, if your financial circumstances change — if you lose your job, for instance — then the amount of money you give the Church will change, too. Likewise if you get a raise or bonus. The biggest reason many people don’t fulfill their pledge is that they attend Mass at another parish when they go on vacation, attend a wedding, etc. If you’re out of town, just make up for the missed Sunday when you write your next check to the parish. Using your envelopes is a good way to see which Sundays you missed.

Even before the crisis, I didn’t go to Mass frequently. Why turn in a Commitment Card?

Because this is your chance to turn over a new leaf !

Why not make a commitment to God to come to Mass every Sunday once the crisis is over, and until then, commit to viewing the Mass online each week, then write

down that commitment? Even if that’s the only commitment you make, take a step forward. Jesus Himself is waiting for you!

What happens if I don’t return my Commitment Card?

We will send you a reminder letter to encourage participation. Please make every effort you can to participate. Our Stewardship Renewal is a very important annual event in the life of our parish. You and your family are part of what makes St. Vincent de Paul a great community! Most importantly, your commitments are actually promises to Christ Himself. All of us are called to give back to God a portion of what He has given us.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Talent

Dear Parishioner,

(continued)

=Currently Involved =Interested in Joining Please clearly write the first name of interested family member on the line.

Prayer (continued)

Talent

(continued)

=Currently Involved =Interested in Joining

Stewardship

Stewardship Please clearly write the first name of interested family member on the line.

Formation (continued)

St. Vincent de Paul is in the midst of annual Stewardship Renewal. our Hospital and Homebound Visitation  Home Study Groups Ministry  RCIA Team This year, we are focusing on Stewardship Through the Saints. The  saints are Awareness  Music Ministry: Adult Choir Safe Environment Facilitator  Music Ministry: Children’s Choir stewardship masters! They surrendered whole lives to God. But it didn’t  Musictheir Ministry: Cantor/Psalmist Sponsor Couples  Music Ministry: Instrumentalists  The Vineyard Prayer Chain Ministry will your story be? It Thestarts Vineyard Hospitality happen overnight. Every saint has astory.

What withTeam  Prayer Shawl Ministry  Reader the ways God is calling you to become commitment. I encourage you to consider Service  Sacristan  Talent Vocations Committee  Altar it Angels a saint through the gift of your Time, and Treasure. Pray about and make  Audio/Visual Ministry  Bear Ministry a firm commitment with the enclosed Formation commitment card.  Catholic Charities of Arlington

THROUGH THE SAINTS St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

THROUGH THE SAINTS (Hope Center)

 Finance Advisory Council  Food Cart Ministry  Good Samaritans of the Open

May you look to the saints for inspiration and recognize that you, too, are called Clinic to be a saint. You will be in my prayers during this joyous time at St.Arms Vincent Landscape Ministryde  Men’s Club  Mission Council Paul. Please keep me in yours.  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd  Children’s Liturgy of The Word  Children Sacramental Preparation  Elementary Faith Formation  Preschool Faith Formation  RCIA Adapted for Children Team  Vacation Bible School

Sincerely yours in Christ,

YOUTH:

 RCIA Adapted for Teens Team  Youth Ministry Core Team ADULTS:

Fr. Philip Brembah Pastor

2021 Commitment Card

Stewardship Renewal 2021

CHILDREN:

 Adult Bible Study  Baptismal Preparation Team  Book Club continued on next panel

 Money Counters  Noreen’s Nourishment  Office Angels  Society of St. Vincent de Paul  Stewardship Committee  Wedding Coordinators  Women’s Guild

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 5819. W. Pleasant Ridge Road • Arlington, TX 76016 817-478-8206 • svdpcc.org

First & Last Name Phone Email

Spouse: First & Last Name Spouse: Phone Spouse: Email

Address City

State

ZIP

After completion, please bring this card to Mass or mail using the envelope provided.

Thank you and God bless you!

bring your Commitment Card second one. Thanks, andde God bless you!

St. Vincent Paul Catholic ChurchPlease to Mass, mail it to the parish office P.S. If you have already returned your Commitment Card, there is no need to return a

5819. W. Pleasant Ridge Road • Arlington, TX 76016

using the enclosed envelope or fill it out online svdpcc.org. Thanks, and God bless you!

5819. W. Pleasant Ridge Road • Arlington, TX 76016 • 817-478-8206 • svdpcc.org

Stewardship

THROUGH THE SAINTS

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Stewardship Renewal 2021

Every parish family receives a special “Stewardship Package” that further explains our parish’s vision of stewardship. It includes a booklet that describes every ministry in the parish, as well as your Commitment Card.

5

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

Questions Answers AND

W

hy do Catholics say they are attending Mass instead of Sunday service?

Catholics say they are attending “Mass” instead of “Sunday service” because Catholics have several “services,” or liturgical rites, that might take place on a Sunday. “Mass” more properly names the service we’re talking about. The word “Mass” comes from the Latin of the final dismissal, Ite missa est — roughly translated as “Go, having been sent out.” It reminds us that we leave Mass on a mission to bring the Kingdom of God into the world.

Why do we call the Mass a liturgy? (And what is a liturgy?)

Catholics don’t tend to use the term “service.” The Church from ancient times has used the term “liturgy” for its rites. “Liturgy” comes from the Greek words for “public” (leitos) and “working” (ergos) and means something like “an action done by or on behalf of the public.” “Liturgy” is what we call our worship because worship is the primary action of God’s people. We were made to worship God. It’s what we do!

Is the Mass actually two liturgies?

The Mass has many rites within it — Entrance Rite, Penitential Rite, Communion Rite, etc. — and is generally

6

A B O U T O U R FA I T H

divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word, where we hear Scripture readings and the homily; and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where the sacrifice of Christ is re-presented to the Father and Christ is made really present. In the Mass, we are fed both from the Table of the Word and the Table of the Lord’s Body and Blood.

Father’s garment seems to be the same four colors.

Does he decide what color to wear at each Mass?

The colors of the vestments at Mass are determined by the liturgical season or feast day. There are five seasons to the year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Purple is worn during Advent and Lent to symbolize penitence. White is worn during Christmas and Easter to symbolize joy and for Solemnities and feasts. Green is worn during Ordinary Time to symbolize growth in the Spirit.

Also, red is worn on Pentecost and at Confirmation Masses to symbolize the fire of the Spirit, and on the feasts of martyrs and apostles to symbolize the blood they shed for the faith. Black can be worn at funerals, Masses for the dead, and on All Souls Day (Nov. 2). In some countries, blue is worn on Marian feasts. The only time the priest can decide what color he wants to wear is at a funeral. He can choose from black, white, or purple.

Grief Support Group Provides a

Listening Ear and Journeys Alongside Our Bereaved

Y

ou may be surrounded by people, but when you’re lonely, it doesn’t make a difference. And when you’re grieving the death of a loved one, it can be one of the loneliest feelings in the world. Here in the Catholic community of St. Vincent de Paul, we want people to know that even in the most difficult, painful, and lonely times of life, some want to walk alongside you on the journey of grief.

“Our Grief Support Group is a safe haven where we can talk and listen with those who understand and care,” says parishioner Pam Heroux, the head facilitator of the group.

Having experienced several losses in her life, including the loss of her husband six years ago, Pam knows how important it is to have friends who can relate to your pain. The group is open to people who have experienced a loss of all kinds — a spouse, a child, a parent — and anyone needing support in their grief is welcome.

“We go through different types of grief, learning to grieve, accepting the reality of the loss, experiencing the pain of the loss, adjusting to life without the loved one, incorporating the loved one while journeying on, spirituality and healing, and holiday grief,” Pam says of the group, which typically meets in nine-week sessions.

Along with Pam, there are several other facilitators, including a retired therapist, who have experienced their own losses and hope to offer support to others. For Pam, one of the most difficult aspects of life after losing a loved one was not having places in which she could openly share her experience, as well as stories about her loved one(s) who had passed.

“With a group setting like this, you can express your feelings, you get them out and you walk away feeling better,” Pam says. “Everything you say in our room is confidential.

We want people to feel good and comfortable.”

“We try to let people know, ‘You’re not the only one who has gone through this,’” she adds. “We can help you process it.”

One of the sessions focuses on the topics of spirituality and how to incorporate your faith in your experience of loss. For Pam, her relationship with God became a significant

comfort and she hopes to encourage other Catholics to find hope and reassurance in their faith.

“God is with you, every step of the way,” Pam says. “He was always there for me — He is going to be there for you.

You can pray for guidance, you’re never alone — He is always there. God will be with you no matter what.”

Pam encourages those who have suffered a loss to consider coming to see what the Grief Support Ministry is all about.

The group is open to all — parishioner and non-parishioner alike, Catholic or non-Catholic — and she hopes that everyone who attends will find a place where they feel welcomed and supported in their journey of grief.

“Come and see what our program is about,” Pam says.

“It’s really difficult when you feel alone when you’re grieving.

Come talk and listen with those who understand and care.”

If you would like more information on the Grief Support Group at St. Vincent de Paul, please contact Pam Heroux at 817-919-9563 or griefsupport@svdpcc.org.

7

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

New Year Brings Opportunity to Renew Our Journey with Christ continued from page 2 of how Christ might be calling us to enrich our faith by living as intentional disciples in 2021. Fr. Philip hopes all the faithful at St. Vincent de Paul will be inspired by this time of renewal to participate in the opportunities for spiritual growth offered by the parish, delve a little deeper into Scripture, and rejuvenate their commitment to prayer.

“Following the joy of Christmas, we enter into the new year with joy,” Fr. Philip says. “And we are hopeful because we have evaluated ourselves and come up with resolutions to keep the light of Christ burning brighter.

We leave the gloom and the doom and everything behind, and we enter into the new year just like a child is born into the family. It’s a time of joy and a time of hope that the child is going to grow to become somebody great in the family. We grow that way spiritually with Christ.”