Spring 2018
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Church of Saint Mary Newsletter
Quarterly Newsletter
A Papal Missionary comes to the Church of Saint Mary Father Jim Sichko Father Jim Sichko will give our Parish Mission on March 12, 13, and 14. Each evening’s talk will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the church. Fr. Jim will conclude after an hour and will invite everyone to a light reception in Beckerle Hall. Fr Jim uses real life experiences and ties those experiences into the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Known for his presentations entitled “60 Minutes for Jesus,” each talk is geared for all in a family
household with no exceptions. Pope Francis commissioned Fr. Jim as one of a thousand worldwide Papal Missionaries of Mercy. Of those thousand, one hundred live and work in the United States. (cont. page 2)
AT A GLANCE:
FR. JIM SICHKO PAPAL MISSIONARY
OF
MERCY
COMMISSIONED BY POPE FRANCIS FULL
TIME
PREACHER, EVANGELIST, AND
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
A PRIEST OF LEXINGTON
THE
HAD
DIOCESE
OF
A CAREER AS AN
OPERA SINGER
KNOWN
FOR ACTS
OF RANDOM KINDNESS
HONORED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS WORKS WITH MANY CELEBRITIES
churchofsaintmary.com
Come,
Page 2
Spring 2018
Feasibility Study shows support for expansion
Encounter Christ at our next
This year, the Church of Saint Mary took one
The Priority Planning Team formed in 2013 to
more step towards fulfilling the vision for the
ask parishioners for input on how they wished
parish outlined in 2013.
the parish to grow. The team hosted a number of Listening Sessions. Parishioners shared their
Night of Mercy
The planning study summary on page 3 is the
hopes with the team.
distillation of hundreds of hours of research distilling information from hundreds of surveys.
Three major areas were identified as growth opportunities:
The summary indicates strong support for the five projects listed in the surveys. Parishioners indicated high, medium, or low support for each
project. Each answer of high is worth ten points.
Facilities Formation, and
Service & Outreach.
Medium is worth five. Low is zero. Parishioners said the most immediate priority
Thursday, March 8 6:00 p.m. Meal 6:30-7:30 p.m. Prayer
The New Parish Hall project garnered an 8.14,
was a Sanctuary Renovation. Completed in 2015,
meaning that most survey respondents indicated
the renovation of the sanctuary included a solid
high support for that project. The Music Room
marble altar, statues of Saints Mary and Joseph,
earned a 5.37, meaning that the majority of re-
and the placement of the tabernacle and crucifix
spondents gave medium support.
in the center of the sanctuary.
Adoration Song Teaching Intercessory Prayer Confession
across the world. He weaves our everyday life experiences into the larger context of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Parish Mission: March 12, 13 & 14 An experienced opera singer before his ordiFr Jim will preach at all the Masses on the
nation to the priesthood, Fr. Jim often sings and
weekend of March 10 and 11. He will return for a
tells tales of his work on stage in both musicals
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening mis-
and other plays.
sion. Each evening will begin in the church at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude in one hour. Parish
How do I learn more?
groups will offer receptions each evening in
Several confessors will be present to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Beckerle Hall following the mission.
Updated information is posted to churchofsaintmary.com/mission. You may also call the
Fr. Jim’s presentation is entitled 60 Minutes with Jesus. Known as an engaging storyteller, he will share stories of his role as a Papal Missionary of Mercy, and how that role has taken him
Parish Office, 918-749-1423, if you have questions.
Spring 2018
Page 3
Church of Saint Mary Newsletter
churchofsaintmary.com
Katy Plaisance is coordinating this year’s Tennis Classic. Katy agreed to a short interview to tell us how she got involved and why she keeps coming back. How did you first get involved?
Katy: The church and school had found an unusual source of funding— a tennis tournament—but it had become inactive. The church was looking to reactivate it and asked me for some help. They knew that I play tennis and THE 8TH ANNUAL SAINT MARY TENNIS CLASSIC, BENEFITTING THE SCHOOL OF SAINT MARY, IS FRIDAY, APRIL 13, AT CASE TENNIS CENTER AT LAFORTUNE PARK, 5302 SOUTH HUDSON AVE. TOURNAMENT FORMAT INCLUDES LADIES DOUBLES COMPE-
6.0, 7.0 AND 8.0 COMBINED DIVISIONS; LIGHT BREAKFAST, CATERED LUNCH, BEVERAGES AND PRIZES PROVIDED. TITION IN
CHECK IN BEGINS AT 8:15AM WITH PLAY STARTING AT 9:00AM. IF A PLAYER OR TEAM REGISTERS BY MARCH 23, THEY RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FEE OF
$35/PLAYER. AFTER MARCH 23, THE
ENTRY FEE IS FORTY DOLLARS PER PLAYER.
TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.CHURCHOFSAINTMARY.COM/TENNIS.
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love all things tennis. They asked me to help get the tournament going again. In its current iteration, this is our fifth annual tournament. The tournament has grown to use nineteen of the twenty-one courts at the Case Tennis Center.
Spring 2018
nis, some waiting for the next match to start. Our tournament is novice-friendly. Of the ninety-two players last year, sixty were in the beginner division. They get to meet new people as they wait for a court.
What keeps you coming back? I like seeing so many people from the Tulsa tennis community. Each tournament is a reunion of sorts because I get to see all the people I play with throughout the year. It’s a good way for me to give back to the school. What’s your favorite part of the day? I like to watch the matches— especially the finals— and lunch and the awards at the end of the day. I enjoy hearing all the positive feedback about the day. Of the people who play, there might be four parishioners or school moms. It’s a great event because it reaches out to the tennis community, to each of the four or five local tennis clubs. Tennis players are a bit obsessive. They usually take every chance they get to play, especially if a prize is involved. Our tournament is nice because it’s an outside source of funds. What can newcomers expect? Newcomers can expect a lot of ten-
The Tennis Classic puts out the word about the Church of Saint Mary. ________________ For those who are not able to participate in the Saint Mary Tennis Classic but want to support the tournament, there is the opportunity to become a tournament sponsor. All sponsors receive recognition in all media and advertising for the Tennis Classic, including promotional signage at the event. In addition, every sponsor will receive a complimentary team entry for the 2018 Tennis Classic. Contact tournament chair, Katy Plaisance, at 918-734-1036 or katy.plaisance@yahoo.com for information about becoming a sponsor. Volunteers are needed the day of the event for set-up, check-in, bracket management, lunch service, and cleanup. Whether an individual can only come for an hour or two, or is able to stay for the whole day, we appreciate any time he or she can contribute. It’s really a fun day and lunch is provided for volunteers, too.
Spring 2018
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Church of Saint Mary Newsletter
Dave Miley, Jonathan Gable build up Golf Tournament Jonathan Gable and Dave Miley are coordinating our May 14 Golf Tournament. How did you get started? Jonathan: Jennifer Wood and Dave Miley brought me on board to help out. Dave: I’ve been involved in golf my whole life so it was a natural fit for me to get involved when I moved to town in 2003.
Dave: I like talking with the participants, getting to know them, having fun, eating, drinking, and playing golf. It’s a great day of getting to know fellow parishioners, some I don’t see on a regular basis.
THE 22ND ANNUAL SAINT MARY PARISH GOLF TOURNAMENT, BENEFITTING THE SCHOOL SAINT MARY,
IS SCHEDULED FOR
14, AT THE OAKS COUNTRY CLUB. TOURNAMENT IS OPEN TO WOMEN AND MEN AND WILL FOLLOW A FOUR-PERSON SCRAMBLE FORMAT WITH SHOTGUN START AT
Jonathan: We all get involved in our own lives and we get busy. This golf tournament is attractive because I enjoy golf but I also get to see the community.
OF
MONDAY, MAY
1:00PM. LUNCH,
BEVERAGES, AND
PRIZES INCLUDED; LUNCH BUFFET OPENS AT
11:30AM. TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR
$1,500
AND INCLUDE REGISTRA-
TION FOR A FOUR-PERSON TEAM, PLUS PROMOTIONAL SIGNAGE AT THE EVENT AND RECOGNI-
TION IN ALL MEDIA AND ADVERTISING FOR THE
What keeps you coming back? Jonathan: I have a past with golf—a little bit of high school golf. Being part of this church community and sending my kids to school here, it’s fun to see the community grow. That’s what I’m excited about this year—to see the community grow and to bring more people into our tournament. Do you have a favorite part of the day?
How does the Golf Tournament benefit the school?
TOURNAMENT. BLE FOR
$250
HOLE SPONSORSHIPS ARE
AGE ON A HOLE.
CONTACT DAVE MILEY AT 918-
Dave: The tournament benefits all of us because it brings us together in a way that helps us to get to know each other. It paves the way for future projects.
492-7094, DMILEY2@GMAIL.COM
It also benefits the School financially. In the past, those funds have gone to assist the needs for the school.
LUNCH, BEVERAGES AND PRIZES.
THAN
GABEL
AVAILA-
AND INCLUDE PROMOTIONAL SIGN-
AT
OR JONA-
918-798-6147, TI-
TLEISTJG@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A SPONSOR.
INDIVIDUAL
ENTRY FEE IS
$150
AND INCLUDES
INDIVIDUALS
MAY SET THEIR OWN TEAMS OR REQUEST TO BE PAIRED WITH A GROUP. IS
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
MAY 4. TO REGISTER, VISIT
WWW.CHURCHOFSAINTMARY.COM/GOLF.
WE
NEED VOLUNTEERS AT THE GOLF TOURNA-
MENT TO HELP WITH CHECK-IN AND TO OBSERVE THE HOLE-IN-ONE HOLES DURING THE EVENT.
IT’S A
LOT OF FUN TO BE OUT ON THE COURSE
WHETHER YOU’RE VOLUNTEERING OR PLAYING AND LUNCH IS PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTEERS, TOO.
TO VOLUNTEER
FOR EITHER EVENT, OR TO GET
MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT JENNIFER
WOOD AT 918-749-1423 OR JWOOD@CHURCHOFSAINTMARY.COM.
churchofsaintmary.com
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Spring 2018
Full Remission. What’s next for Greg Seefeldt?
Greg Seefeldt will co-direct Men’s ACTS Retreat "I am so thankful for the Saint Mary church and school community who have been so amazing to me and my family during the past year. I could truly feel the power of all those prayers, and I know the Lord was carrying me through some of the toughest parts of my treatments." Greg Seefeldt
Everyone at the Church of Saint Mary has been praying for Greg Seefeldt after his sarcoma diagnosis. Strengthened by the love of his family, and the support of his church and school community, Greg is in full remission. What's next for Greg? He is going to be a co-
director of the April Men's ACTS retreat. It's coming up on April 26-29, 2018. Many of you may know Greg as we were praying for him during the intentions at Mass much of last year. Greg is in full remission now and is excited to be participating at the retreat.
Spring 2018
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Church of Saint Mary Newsletter
Why Take Time for ACTS? How often are you tempted to answer the question, “How are you?” with “I am busy.” We get consumed by what’s immediately in front of us. Sometimes we are so busy we miss the people in our life and the chance to encounter them. We get consumed by our busyness. What Happens on an ACTS Retreat?
How does Father Jack show his support for ACTS? Father Jack not only endorses ACTS, he is often the chaplain at our ACTS retreats. Father Jack said “ACTS, first and foremost, is run by people just like you: single, married, with kids, no kids, grandkids. ________________ “ACTS meets you where you are. You don’t have to be a spiritual guru to go on this retreat. You can also be someone advanced in your prayer life. There’s something for everyone who is ready to take this next step.
The ACTS retreats are for adults at least 21 years of age held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Retreat Center in Luther, Oklahoma. Women and men retreat separately. The weekend retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass celebrated with the parish community. The retreat incorporates a wide range of Catholic praise and worship including Mass, adoration, the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Sacred Scripture.
Participants hear of the experiences of God’s presence in ordinary lives and of answered prayer; have the freedom to openly discuss their real spiritual questions; see the relevant application of the Gospel in the lives of fellow parishioners; and witness first-hand how faith is authentically lived out. Talk themes revolve around:
Adoration: the call by, acceptance of and response to God. Community: the love and caring of each other Theology: the study of God through scripture and the Catholic faith Service: to God and his people
________________
“There’s plenty of evidence of parishioners who have taken that next step. The 6:30 a.m. daily Mass is packed. That’s because of ACTS. Their love of the Eucharist has come alive. “For all those reasons, I invite you to come on this retreat. Will you make time for the Lord to touch you? Will you allow the Lord to help you take the next steps.”
April 5-8, 2018
April 26-29, 2018
Women’s ACTS Retreat
Men’s ACTS Retreat
churchofsaintmary.com/acts
churchofsaintmary.com
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Spring 2018
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TULSA, OK
Church of Saint Mary
PERMIT NO. 162
1347 E. 49th Pl. Tulsa, OK 74105
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