Grapevine the St. Francis
March 2020
Originally established as a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in 1986, St. Francis of Assisi Outreach has grown over the last 34 years to become a stronghold of giving in the Grapevine community. As our parish mission states, we are working to build the Church through reaching the poor, and our Outreach is the primary way we accomplish this end. This past year alone, our Outreach efforts gave nearly $200,000 in financial assistance to those in need from the surrounding areas, regardless of their religious affiliation. “We have hardly any overhead. Our staff is almost all volunteers and the Church budget covers all our expenses,” says Mary Molini, Director of St. Francis Outreach. “This means that all the money donated to our Outreach Assistance Programs actually goes to those in need, unlike most other charitable organizations. We take great pride in the fact that we never turn people away because we are ‘out of money.’” In fact, over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, our Outreach assisted over 250 local families. Joanne Baston, who has served as a case worker for numorous years, describes the good Outreach does, saying, “Each week I am given the opportunity to put into action God’s greatest commandment - love one another. It is so difficult for most of our clients to come in and ask for help and it is a very humbling moment in their lives. On the surface the Outreach is a place to come for assistance, but our clients
THE HEART & HANDS OF OUR PARISH MISSION To connect the hearts, hands, and efforts of our parish community to meet the basic necessities of our brothers and sisters in need.
usually need so much more than money and boxes of cereal. They need kindness and understanding and they need a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on. Most importantly, they need prayer,” says Joanne. Nancy Habasch, another Outreach volunteer, recounts just the type of ways this ministry helps build up the Church. “I remember interviewing a lady one day who said she used to come to St. Francis but fell away. Now she was taking care of her grandchildren and was thinking of returning...I saw her that Saturday night at Mass with the kids and my heart soared! I felt like maybe I’d made a difference.” Mary continues, “We want parish families to know that we are a tangible way for them to help those in need, either by giving or even just shopping in our thrift store. We so appreciate the donations to the food pantry, and the financial support we receive is imperative to our work. If you meet someone who is in need, please tell them that we are a resource. Pick up a few Outreach business cards at the entrances to the Church and keep them in your wallet. We are here to help!” As Nancy reminds us, “Working in Outreach makes me extremely grateful for what I have and it makes me realize I don’t have to look far to see how many people need help. We would never be able to accomplish all we do without the generosity of our parishioners. So thank you!”
OU TR E AC H
$194,192
1147+ 252 130+
Total amount of financial assistance given in 2019
Individuals assisted at Christmas
(rent, utilities, medical, RX, etc.)
$65,000+
Families adopted at Christmas
Food Baskets prepared for holidays
Amount of financial assistance given over the holiday months (not including gifts donated through Angel Tree)
A NEWSLETTER OF ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 861 WILDWOOD LN, GRAPEVINE TX • SFATX.ORG
FROM THE PASTOR Dear Parish Family, It is hard to believe that I have been pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for a year now. We have been blessed tremendously as a community over the past months, and I hope that reading this issue of The Grapevine newsletter gives you a little taste of these blessings and also brings you great hope for our future as a parish.
OFFICE HOURS Monday - 9:15 am - 8:30 pm Thursday (closed for lunch from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm)
Friday Sunday
9:15 am - 12:00 pm 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
CHURCH HOURS Monday - Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
8:00 am - 8:30 pm 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
MASS SCHEDULE WEEKENDS
(Nursery at 10am, 1pm & 4:30pm)
Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am 10:00 am (en español) 1:00 pm 4:30 pm WEEKDAYS Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:30 am 6:00 pm 8:30 am 8:30 am
St. Francis of Assisi Church 861 Wildwood Lane Grapevine, Texas 76051 817.481.2685
sfatx.org
@StFrancisTX
Advent and Christmas were quite joyful as we celebrated these seasons in our newly renovated sanctuary for the first time. We also hosted our first parish Christmas party in recent years, with the Family Life Center bursting at the seams. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers, including the Knights of Columbus and choir members, who made this event possible. We hope this will become a new tradition for welcoming those in our community to encounter Jesus through the love of neighbors and friends. Our children in catechesis, especially those in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, were blessed to hear the great prophecies of Christ as well as the stories of the annunciation, visitation, and nativity over the past few months. Around 50 adults from our parish have also been attending an 8-week bible study on salvation history utilizing “The Great Adventure Bible Timeline.” These stories remind us that the Messiah came as the littlest among us in quite humble circumstances, fulfilling all that the prophets had proclaimed. May we remember that God can use each of us in a particular way to accomplish His great plan, despite our small place in the world. In January, we were blessed to welcome Orlando Vera as our new director of music and liturgy and Deacon Perfecto Santiago who joined our diaconate clergy. We are grateful to have both of them to assist with our liturgies as part of our pastoral staff. The Recommitment Initiative of the Capital Campaign is still underway, as we continue to close the gap in funding needed to complete the St. Dominic Savio Formation Center and Holy Family Adoration Chapel. I am hopeful that in the coming months we will reach our goal through the continued hard work of our campaign committee. If you have yet to contribute or would like to extend your initial pledge by an additional year, please visit sfatx.org/campaign. Remember to visit our website regularly (sfatx.org) and follow us on social media (@StFrancisTX) to stay up-to-date on parish happenings. I look forward to a fruitful Lent and Easter season! Be assured of my continued prayers for you and your families! In Christ, Fr. Sojan George Pastor
PARISH PARISHHAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS
A Strategic Plan for an
Parish
Edmund Mitchell, Director of Evangelization & Catechesis
For most Catholic parishes in America, my guess is that the biggest barrier to becoming a thriving community of evangelization is often overlooked because it sounds boring. That barrier for most parishes is likely organizational health. This past fall, Father Sojan, Scott Immel (Coordinator of RCIA), Tim Jara (Coordinator of Youth Ministry), and myself attended a conference in California called The Amazing Parish Conference. Hundreds of pastors from around the nation attended with a small group from their parish staff to focus on one question:
What makes a parish an AMAZING parish? At this conference, we wrestled with the challenges and opportunities Catholic churches experience today. Pastors and staff members prayed together, talked honestly, and dug into what was going on at a deeper level in their parish. One of the speakers, Pat Lencioni, made a point that stuck with our team throughout the whole conference. He argued that, while a parish is similar to a company because it’s an organization of people who are hired or volunteer to accomplish a goal, a parish can’t just be run like a secular company. For successful secular organizations, their ultimate goal is building a profitable business. But parishes can’t merely be focused on staff, productivity, and profit. Instead, parishes have a different, very important goal - the salvation of souls. Pat looked out at us and said “I’m not saying we should hold our parishes to the standards of companies like Google and Apple.” You could feel a sense of relief from the crowd. “I’m saying, if what we’re doing is that important, we should be holding our parishes to HIGHER standards.” That point hit us like a truck full of corporate businessmen. As we contemplated just what these higher standards would look like, the conference gave us so much excitement and hope for our parish (and parishes around the country).
We committed to renewing and building three pillars at our parish: a culture of prayer, a culture of healthy teamwork, and a culture of active discipleship. Since this conference, we’ve been meeting regularly to pray together, to talk about our relationship with Jesus, and to talk openly and honestly about how we work as a team to accomplish what’s most important—reaching every single person in our parish boundaries and introduce them to a life changing relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI • 2020
HOLY WEEK & EASTER
Holy Thursday (4/9) 7:00 pm
Liturgy of the Eucharist, Washing of Feet, Transfer of Blessed Sacrament & Adoration until midnight
Good Friday (4/10) 3:00 pm 5:30 pm 7:00 pm
Stations of the Cross Via Cruces Liturgy of the Word, Communion & Adoration of the Cross
Holy Saturday (4/11) 10:30am 8:30 pm
Blessing of the Easter Bread (Chapel) The Easter Vigil: Easter Fire, Liturgy of the Word, Sacraments of Initiation & Liturgy of the Eucharist
Easter Sunday MASS TIMES: 8:00 am 10:00 am 12 :00 pm 2:00 pm (Spanish)
No 8:30 am Daily Mass on Holy Thursday or Good Friday, no adoration on Good Friday, no confession on Holy Saturday, and no 5 pm & 4:30 pm Masses on Easter Weekend. No Daily Mass and building closed on Mon, Apr 13.
LENTEN ACTIVITIES EVERY FRIDAY 5:00 - 7:00 pm Knights of Columbus Fish Fry 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross 7:45 pm Stations of the Cross (Spanish)
MAR 16-18 6:30 pm
Lent Mission
MARCH 30
Reconciliation Service
7:00 pm
PARISH HAPPENINGS
A Wonderful Winter u
v
u
w
x
w
y
z
z
u Santa Breakfast v Christmas Mass with Fr. Sojan w Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Series x Upper Room: A Night of Empowerment y Young Adult Christmas Party z Rediscover Christmas: A Night for our Parish Family { Father Daughter Dance
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OUR FAITH • OUR FAMILY • OUR FUTURE AN UPDATE FROM FR. SOJAN ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: As of February 1, 2020, I am happy to announce that we have received pledges totaling more than $4.3 million towards the Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future Capital Campaign. This is only about $500,000 short of the goal needed to begin Phase 2 of the project, which will include needed updates to the FLC kitchen, parking lot resurfacing, and the building of the St. Dominic Savio Formation Center and Holy Family Adoration Chapel. Over the coming months, I will be working with the Campaign Committee and the Diocese to determine next steps and a timeline for these projects. In the meantime, I ask for your continued prayers for the success of the campaign. If you would like to be part of closing the gap in funding, either by donating or volunteering to call parishioners to request their participation, please contact the parish office or visit sfatx.org/campaign. Thank you for your support!
CAMPAIGN PROGRESS Amount Pledged (as of 2/7/2020) $4,359,323 Amount Collected (as of 2/7/2020) $2,502,380 Cost of Phase 1 (completed Fall 2019) $1,011,313 Estimated Cost of Phase 2 (building of the $3,800,000 Formation Center, parking lot resurface, etc.)
Current Gap to Fund Phase 2
~$500,000
STAY UPDATED & MAKE YOUR PLEDGE:
sfatx.org/campaign
YOUTH CATECHESIS & YOUTH MINISTRY The Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Explained: A Series with Laura Nelson of Children's Catechesis In the Atrium, the message of God’s love for us is ever present; it’s in the Mass, in the Bible, in the way we meditate on God’s Word. But, during Lent, one of the ways we learn of God’s love for us is through the Parable of the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John (John 10:1-16). In true Atrium fashion, we approach this parable very intentionally with the children. We meditate on the words of the parable together and we ponder what they mean. We ask the children questions as we unpack the Scripture together but we NEVER give them the answers. We lead them to the deeper meaning of the parable but it’s up to them to connect the dots.
• “Why did Jesus say He was the Good Shepherd?” • “What do you think it means to be a Good Shepherd?” • “The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name. What does that mean?” • “He lays down His life for the sheep. Why does He do that?” Then, after a period of reflection on how wonderful it would be to be one of the sheep who are so loved and cared for by the Shepherd, we ask the children, “If Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who are the sheep?” As adults, we may think it’s obvious who the sheep are. But, to the children, this is a very difficult question. It challenges them to think about the parable and the Shepherd much more deeply. Often it takes weeks or even months for them to realize who the sheep are. As an adult working alongside the children, it takes a lot of patience and self-control to wait for the child. But, when the moment of realization finally comes, the joy and excitement that comes with it make all worthwhile. and welcoming atmosphere, these conferences aim to lead the young church into a life-changing experience with the love of God. Attending a Steubenville Conference will bring you face to face with the relevant proclamation of the Gospel, authentic moments of worship and prayer, and above all, a tangible encounter with Christ in the Sacraments.” The speaker and musician line up this year is Ennie Hickman, Ike Ndolo, Fr. John Parks, Mark Hart, Rachel Leininger, & Katie Hartfield!
Summer is already on its way and we can’t wait! One of the highlights every Summer is the Steubenville Lone Star Conference that takes place right here in Irving, TX. This year it will be June 19-21, 2020. Imagine 3,000 high school teens gathered from across the country for a life-changing weekend centered on God. The energy and excitement in the room is comparable to a Twenty One Pilots concert... and yet it’s for Jesus!! But don’t let the lights, sounds and crowds fool you, this is so much more than just another youth rally. As Lifeteen, one of the event host organizations, puts it: “Through an energetic
If you know any incoming 9th-12th grade students who are looking for a deeper relationship with God, or just craving “more” in life - please invite them to this Conference. Don’t miss this. It won’t be the same without you!
STEUBENVILLE LONE STAR // JUNE 19-21 WHO CAN ATTEND? Incoming 9-12th grade students. COST: $350 ($250 for incoming 9th graders). A $50 deposit is due by March 5th to secure a spot and space is limited! Registration includes transportation, hotel, conference registration, t-shirt, and meals. MORE & REGISTER: sfayoungchurch.com
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
You are Not alone:
Grief Ministry at St. Francis A ministry most would hope they would never need, our St. Francis Grief Ministry is a lifeline for those in emotional turmoil after a life-altering diagnosis or the loss of a spouse, child, parent or loved one. Specifically, their mission is to serve Christ in the person of the dying and bereaved by offering a safe, confidential place to find solace in one’s grief, comfort in sharing with others, and healing through knowing that others experience similar feelings of sorrow, helplessness and hopelessness. “Some people wait for months and some people immediately contact us, so there is no right or wrong way to do it,” says Bonnie Krause a Grief Ministry leader. “We encourage people to reach out to Rosie when they feel the need for this type of support, and she can get you in contact with our team.” The ministry uses ‘The New Day’ Journal over six sessions, meeting individually with the bereaved every other week. “We encourage the attendee to journal and then share what they are comfortable sharing. Then we we will just talk. When you lose someone, you want
to talk about it, so we are kind of that place where people can go to talk and tell the story as many times as they want.” In existence at the parish for over 12 years, the Grief Ministry team is a small group of individuals, many of whom have sought the services of the ministry themselves in their own grief. Because the ministry meets individually with those who seek the support, there is often a “line” to meet with the group. “It is very individualized, so if you have a need, you would come in singly. This is a unique approach, unlike other grief groups, like Griefshare,” continues Bonnie. The group also focuses primarily on serving parishioners, but have helped friends of parishioners as well. “We take them in and are willing to help them. We talk about how you have to be close to God, and so we have had people return to Church after going through Grief Ministry. This ministry is truly a blessing for all those involved.”
HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: Bringing Christ to the Sick, the Aged & the Dying As one of the oldest ministries in the Church, the Homebound Ministry unites those who have gifts in pastoral care with those who need visitors, either at their homes or at seven area assisted living facilities. Each Sunday, and as needed, this group of about 40 parishioners visit the sick, the aged, and the dying to proclaim the Gospel, lead prayer, and bring the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist to those who are not able to make it to Mass. While the sacramental rites of confession and anointing of the sick can only be led by an ordained priest, this group of Servants/ Eucharistic Ministers fill the important role of bringing support and comfort from person to person, uniting the Church, even when a priest can’t be present. “The pastoral care of the sick, the elderly and the dying requires not only serious commitment but the presence of carefully trained volunteers,” says Josephine Crane, the ministry coordinator. To join the ministry, one must attend the parish Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Training and also the Safe Environment Training required by the diocese.
Each minister is scheduled to visit about once a month, with the time commitment being about 1-2 hours each visit. Josephine continues, “This ministry is like a vocation. Our witness in the assisted living facilities, either through providing Communion Services or visiting residents two-by-two, has encouraged some residents to ask to be converted to the Catholic Faith.” Susan Davis, one of the ministry members, recollects, “When Josephine asked me to join the ministry, I was hesitant because of the time commitment and monthly sacrifice. But, here we are, 10 years later, and this so called sacrifice became a life-changing blessing....I give thanks for the witness of grace and thanksgiving of people from all walks of life as they receive the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Cecilia Winters, another member, notes, “I have been a part of this ministry for almost 20 years now and I have found it to be ‘extraordinary’! It’s a very dynamic, never boring way to serve Christ and His people.” If you are interested in joining this ministry, please sign-up for the next EMHC Training or contact Josephine Crane at shepherd10140@yahoo.com.
STAFF Q&A
MINISTERIO HISPANO
ORLANDO VERA
Having previously served as a volunteer for many years with the English and Spanish choirs, Orlando joined our parish as a staff member in January 2020. As we welcome him to the parish, here’s a bit about him: Describe your role AT THE PARISH. As Director of Music and Liturgy, I oversee all things that pertain to the Liturgy of Mass including all Sundays, Holy Days, Funerals, and Weddings. I also play piano for two English Masses and conduct and rehearse the choir for the 10AM Mass. Tell us a bit about your BACKGROUND. My immediate family, including my parents and one sister and her family, reside in Denton, where I also reside. I have two other sisters who live with their families in Austin and San Antonio. We grew up in the small west Texas towns of Lamesa and Big Spring. I have an undergraduate degree in flute and musicology from University of North Texas College of Music, where I also did graduate study in voice and opera studies. I also did graduate studies in voice performance and pedagogy at Ball State University. THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Patient, Creative, Loving FAVORITE FOOD? I particularly enjoy Vietnamese and Thai cuisines, although I like so many different kinds of foods. I will never turn down pizza or fried chicken, but my favorite restaurant is Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill in Dallas. FAVORITE MOVIES? I enjoy epics including the Star Wars stories and the Lord of the Rings. FAVORITE SCRIPTURE? I love learning from the Gospels and particularly the readings of the Passion of Christ. Despite Christ’s earthly experience during His Crucifixion, I receive the greatest message of hope, love, faith, and true devotion to God. What DO YOU DO ON YOUR DAY OFF? When I am off, I try to rest but usually end up working on some type of project, usually a musical project. What is your favorite ASPECT OF YOUR JOB? I love preparing the sacred and liturgically sound music for the celebration of Mass. It is a beautiful experience to follow and learn from the lectionary as I choose music and follow the teachings of the Church.
CUARESMA CAMINO HACIA LA PASCUA
Como católicos, en esta cuaresma estamos invitados a vivir un tiempo fuerte de oración y preparación para celebrar la gran fiesta de la pascua. El tiempo propicio para revisar nuestra vida y pedirle al Señor que nos ayude en este camino de conversión, permitirnos experimentar su perdón como al Hijo prodigo que después de a ver abandonado la casa paterna es recibido con gran amor y misericordia, el abrazo del padre lo experimentamos en el sacramento de la reconciliación. También son necesarias las obras de caridad que nos ayudan a vivir la generosidad y redimirnos de nuestras culpas. Nuestra Iglesia también nos procura los medios para llegar preparados a celebrar la pascua. Tendremos la oportunidad de participar en los viacrucis cada viernes a las 7:45 en la iglesia.
HORARIO DEL TRIDUO PASCUAL
Los tres días en que celebramos la Pasión, Muerte y Resurrección de nuestro Señor. JUEVES SANTO (April 9) Misa de Lavatorio de pies a las 7:00pm seguida de adoración del Santísimo hasta la media noche. VIERNES SANTO (April 10) 5:30 pm Viacrucis en español con la Liturgia de la Palabra, comunión y adoración de la Cruz a las 7:00pm. SABADO SANTO (April 11) 8:30PM Vigilia Pascual DOMINGO DE RESURRECCION (April 12) Misa en español a las 2:00pm
STAFF MUSINGS
LET US NOT GROW WEARY Sam Ford Coordinator of Middle School Ministry
Lent is an amazing opportunity to hit the reset button on our spiritual lives. It is an annual 40-day retreat preparing us for Easter. We are encouraged to doubledown on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The readings at Mass get us back to the basics of the Christian life – to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel with renewed fervor. The Church, in Her wisdom, asks all of the faithful to go to Confession at least once a year, preferably during Lent in preparation for Easter, in order to remain in a state of grace, as well as prior to receiving Communion after having committed any grave sins (see Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1457). That’s the minimum requirement; should we do more than that? Let’s be honest – Confession seems hard. Even when we have the time, we find ourselves reluctant to drive to the church to wait in a long line to tell someone all the bad stuff we’ve done. That doesn’t sound appealing. What’s actually going on in the sacrament? Confession is the way back to spiritual freedom! We enter the confessional sinners and walk out of the confessional as saints! God wants us to be saints! God wants to forgive us! There is “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Luke 15:7)! When we step into the confessional, we
encounter Jesus himself, we are washed clean of our sins, and we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit in the fight against temptation to fall back into sin. When we go to confession, all of Heaven rejoices! Why wouldn’t we want to do that more often? Pope Francis says that “the problem is that we ourselves tire, we do not want to ask, we grow weary of asking for forgiveness. [Jesus] never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness.” God never grows tired of forgiving us; why should we grow tired of asking for forgiveness? Getting in the habit of frequenting the Sacrament of Confession is difficult. It requires deep self-awareness— brutal honesty with one’s self about our shortcomings—guided by the light of the Holy Spirit through a regular prayer life. While it is difficult, it is so worth it! The more we rid ourselves of sin, the more closely we can conform ourselves to Jesus, who is our Way, our Truth, and our Life! Growth in holiness requires systematically rooting out sin from our lives so that Jesus might lay claim to more of our hearts for the Kingdom of Heaven; “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30). As we journey through Lent towards Easter, I want to encourage you to not grow tired of asking for forgiveness, for it is through the healing power of the Sacraments that we grow as disciples of Jesus. I challenge you to commit to going to Confession regularly! A good, achievable goal is to go once per month, if not every 3 weeks. May this Lent mark the start of a lifelong habit of growth and purification in your spiritual life! Come, Holy Spirit!
LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANCE
Joseph Barringhaus Coordinator of Marketing & Events
It all changed in an instance. We’ve always known that it can, but it never really sets in until something out-ofthe-blue happens. In January, Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter accident. If you read any number of the stories in the news, you read that Kobe would fly in a helicopter to a lot of his games and a number of personal events. Likely, he felt pretty safe in a helicopter. Who would’ve thought that the great Kobe Bryant would die tragically in a helicopter accident? It is somewhat poetic though, in a time where the country seems so divided on almost every topic. Kobe still united us all, this time over more than basketball. I never knew Kobe, I never even saw him or spoke to him, but for some reason seeing that this truly amazing athlete passed away made us all realize just how quickly life can change. Everyone has their reason as to why Kobe’s death mattered so much more to them. Some may think Kobe passing affected them because he was one of the best in the game and inspired them to be the best, too. Others because he was wealthy and could afford the best security, travel, and life out of all of us. Others, like myself, think it was just so sudden and unexpected. I’ve known it for some time, but it never really hit home until then, when I realized how much I needed to live each moment like it’s my last. I was just married, something I’m ecstatic about, but it was a reminder. My marriage is something I never want to take for granted. Life on earth is hectic; it’s tiring, and it’s temporary. That temporary aspect is the piece that I now focus on. At any moment, it could all just end. Our life here on Earth is temporary, but our life in Heaven (should we make it) is everlasting. The morning Kobe passed, he reportedly went to Mass. That’s just miraculous to me. While his life was tragically lost, he had the blessing of attending Mass before passing. It just goes to show, if the life we’re living here on Earth is so short lived, then our time here should be spent in preparation for the everlasting.
Lenten Transformation A Reflection by Deacon Perfecto Santiago
In the Gospel of Mark (7:1-13) the Pharisees ask Jesus why his disciples do not observe the traditional ritual cleansing before they eat. Rather than answer their question, Jesus chastises them for their hypocrisy. He tells them that they neglect the commandments of God in favor of human tradition. He goes on to accuse them of using tradition for their own benefit rather than for the glory of God. It’s easy to fall into that trap. After all, it’s much easier to go through a checklist and check off our religious “duties” than it is to focus on the challenge of living as a true disciple of Christ each and every day. Mark reminds us of the danger that a checklist can pose to our soul. When we fall into the checklist of faith mentality without growing in holiness, we can become somewhat like “spiritual robots,” who are ritually compliant without surrendering our will to the transforming power of grace. Perhaps we may have fallen into that mindset because of the distractions of life. Regardless of the reason, we are not called to be people who go through a checklist with regard to our faith, but to live our lives as true and authentic disciples of Christ. He showed us how all the way to the Cross. Let us make this Lenten season most transformative to our spiritual selves. Let us do more than follow a ritual checklist - more than giving up something, more than attending Lenten services, more than abstaining from meat on Friday - and commit also with renewed vigor on the practice of charity, mercy, and humility during Lent and throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Let our inner selves be closely united with the heart of Christ in his love for the poor and the marginalized, in the practice of charity, mercy, and humility, in prayers, and in faithful obedience to the Father. We will then be truly a new creation when we rise with Christ on Easter Sunday.
CIS OF A N A
SS
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SCHOOL NEWS
P RESCHOOL
The last several months have found our Preschoolers learning about sharing and stewardship. We started collecting food for the Outreach Program. The children enjoyed taking their items to the Outreach Center themselves. We also celebrated sharing with our Thanksgiving Feasts. The PreK 3 and PreK 4 children were especially thankful for their time together! In December, we joined with the Knights of Columbus again to put on our 3rd Annual Santa Breakfast. Then closed out 2019 with the children celebrating the Nativity, by singing our favorite Christmas songs at our Advent Program. Winter has been celebrated with snowmen, snowball fights, and our Rodeo Luncheon! We are currently enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year. To find out more or to schedule a tour, please contact Karen Bedore at 817-481-2685 x230 or preschool@sfatx.org or visit sfatx.org/preschool.
Mass at HTCS with Father Sojan
SAVE THE DATE
Play Dates for Children ages 1-4: Coffee and treats for parents, and games & activities for kids. Come enjoy a morning of fun and relaxation.
Holy Trinity, our parish school, celebrates mass every Wednesday morning at 8:25 a.m.. All parishioners are welcome!
Author MICHELLE STAUBACH GRIMES will visit Holy Trinity on Feb 7th. She will read to our students K-2 grade. Annual Parish Preschool Visit: Holy Trinity
middle school students will be visiting St. Francis Preschool on February 18. They look forward to sharing this time with the preschoolers and assisting the teaching staff in the classrooms.
February 3: Valentines Play Date April 20: Spring Play Date
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VISIT CAMPUS AND CONSIDER A CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILD
3750 William D. Tate Avenue • Grapevine, TX • 76051 • 817.421.8000 • admissions@holytcs.org
ST. FRANCIS FAMILIES they’re funny; other times I’m amazed at how profound they are. What is a favorite scripture passage for your family? Deuteronomy 31:6 —“Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.” With children that range in age from four to 18, we see many different issues, but this still applies to all of us. Everyone faces fears or challenges. Young children are afraid of the dark, older children face challenges at school, teens fear what their peers will think, and we all Tell us a bit about your family. know that as parents we face a multitude of challenges My husband Michael and I (Katie) will celebrate our and fears on a daily basis. This passage is a reminder 20th wedding anniversary in March. We have five that no matter what you are facing, you are never alone. amazing (and totally different!) children. Our oldest son, Trust in God and he will be there with you. Logan, is a senior at Grapevine High School and will be What mass does your family typically attend and attending Texas A&M in the fall, majoring in Chemistry. what parish ministries are your family involved in? Our other three sons, Jackson (14 yrs), Nathaniel (11 We generally prefer the Saturday vigil, but sometimes yrs), and Grant (8 yrs) attend our parish school, Holy attend on Sunday mornings when we help with Trinity Catholic School. Harper, our spunky little doughnuts. We’re also appreciative of the added Sunday princess, turned four in the fall and currently attends the evening mass though when our schedules get crazy. The parish preschool. Michael works as a project manager boys have participated in the music ministry, Young in new construction, and together we own a general Church, and volunteered at Vacation Bible School. contracting company with projects ranging from minor During the years, I have served on the Preschool remodels to new homes. Advisory Council for three terms, served as a chair What is an interesting fact about your family that in Mothers with Young Children, and volunteered people may not suspect or know? with Vacation Bible School. I am currently serving Aside from their love of sports, all of the children are as one of the two Parish Connections Committee very much into music. Despite having two parents that Representatives for Holy Trinity Catholic School. can’t play a thing, we have a bass player, drummer, Together, with Christine Cerone, we act as liaisons flautist, trumpeter, and singer.....our very own little between the church and school, facilitating volunteers band in the making! for events such as childcare for the Parish Appreciation Do you have any fun or interesting family traditions? Dinner, the BBQ Cook-off, doughnuts, and VBS, just to name a few. And yes, we are the ones standing at the Growing up in South Texas, everyone has tamales at table in the Narthex. Feel free to stop by and say “Hi.” Christmastime. My parents still bring up dozens of tamales to us every year and that’s what we eat after Mass We’re not asking for money!!!
ReederFamily
on Christmas Eve. I think that there might be a riot at our house if we ever tried to serve something different! What is one way your family prays together? At meals we usually say grace twice. We start with the prayer that they say at the preschool, and then the traditional grace that the boys say at Holy Trinity. That way everyone gets “their prayer” said at each meal. At night, after the stories have been read and the last questions answered, we turn out the light and end the day with the “Angel of God” prayer. We also give the kids an opportunity to say anything that they are thankful for and add their own intentions. Sometimes
What do you love most about the parish? We’ve been parishioners here since 2002, so we’ve seen a lot of changes. There have been ebbs and flows. Friends have come and gone. But the one constant is the sense of community. There’s always a familiar face and a helping hand when you need it. These featured families, along with all our parish families, contribute to what makes St. Francis a thriving community. We are honored they call us home. To nominate a family to be featured, email Dani Milliken at dmilliken@sfatx.org.
NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAPEVINE, TX PERMIT NO. 87
861 Wildwood Lane Grapevine, TX 76051 Return Service Requested
LENT MISSION
Monday - Wednesday | March 16, 17 & 18 6:30 - 8pm in the Church
Join Fr. Khoi Tran as he leads our parish community in prayer and reflection on how to overcome our common mistakes and intentionally live out our vocation as Christ’s disciples. MORE INFO: sfatx.org/lentmission