The Spirit of
St. Louis @ March 2015
LOVE IS OUR MISSION The Family Fully Alive St. Louis Church invites ALL families (of ever y shape & size) to participate in a 4-part parish event occurring between March and September to raise awareness for and participation in the much anticipated World Meeting of Families, Sept. 22-27, 2015 in Philadelphia that will include a visit from Pope Francis!
ª MARRIAGE
– Saturday, March 21 We will celebrate the sacrament of Marriage as a gift to all of humanity, whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed or engaged with a Family Night Out.
ª MOTHERHOOD
– Friday, May 1 Come celebrate Motherhood and all moms whether it’s you or your mom.
ª
FATHERHOOD – Saturday, June 13 Dads. You Rock! Let’s celebrate all dads and the gift of fatherhood.
ª FAMILY
– Friday, September 18 The grand finale event will include a parish potluck, live music, activities for the kids and a send off blessing for any and all families travelling to the World Meeting of Families the following week.
The whole family is invited to all 4 events. Details about each event will be advertised in upcoming weeks. Stay tuned to our website, Facebook, bulletins and newsletters. WWW.ST-LOUIS.ORG ª WORLDMEETING2015.ORG A newsletter of st. louis catholic church • 7601 burnet road, austin, tx • www.st-louis.org
Parish Directory 512.454.0384 x220 ADULT & FAMILY MINISTRY Amy Allert, M.Th., Director x211 BUSINESS OFFICE Brenda Beltran, Business Administrator x221 CHILDHOOD MINISTRY Beatriz Franceschi, Director x219 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Tina Juarez-Bailey, Ph.D., Director x244 EARLY CHILDHOOD MINISTRY Mary Beth Skinnell, Director x216 HISPANIC ADULT & FAMILY MINISTRY Sumayah Abullarade, Director x213 LITURGICAL MINISTRY Bea Lamb, Director x202 MUSIC Chris Oelkers, Director x206 SENIOR MINISTRY Coral Migoni-Ryan, M.Div., M.Th., Director X 208 SOCIAL MEDIA-WEBSITE Christa Almaguer, Manager
The paschal Triduum 2015 The Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. What Sunday is the to the week, the solemnity of Easter is to the liturgical year. Lent ends quietly on Thursday afternoon and The Church enters the Triduum (three days). On Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, the Church embraces a time of prayer and fasting, a time of keeping watch lasting into the great Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. The Church emphasizes that the fasting of Good Friday and, if possible, Holy Saturday is integral to the keeping of these days and the preparation of the sacraments of initiation celebrated at the Vigil. The Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) is one single liturgy as we note that there is an invocation with the sign of the cross to begin Mass on Thursday and there is not a concluding blessing with the sign of the cross until the end of the Mass on Holy Saturday. (Worship, Fourth Edition, GIA Publiacations)
HOLY WEEK 2015 Tenebrae – Tuesday March 31, 7:30 PM
The Church gathers in dark silence to keep vigil as the passion and death are foretold in Scripture. God’s Word is joined by chanted psalms and motets reflecting the darkness of the world soon to be enlightened by the Dawn from on high breaking upon us at the Resurrection.
Maundy Thursday – Thursday April 2, 7:30 PM
This night recalls the Last Supper where Christ institutes the Sacrament of his Body and Blood which manifests itself in the love of washing the feet of one another.
Good Friday – April 3
Quiet Stations of the Cross – 12 Noon
The Solemn Veneration of the Cross – 3:00 PM Via Crucis – 5:30 PM
The Great Easter Vigil - April 4 - 8:00 PM Easter Sunday of our Lord’s Resurrection
6AM (Spanish), 7:30, 9:30, 11:30AM, 1:30 PM (Spanish), 5:00 PM (Spanish)
May these days call forth two sentiments in particular: praise, after the example
x265 SOCIAL MINISTRY of those who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with their "Hosanna!", and Bea Dela Rosa, Director thanksgiving, because in this Holy Week the Lord Jesus will renew the greatest x239 ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Patricia Romanies, M.Ed., Principal x205 YOUTH MINISTRY Paul Stadelman, Director OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
gift we could possibly imagine: he will give us his life, his body and his blood, his love. But we must respond worthily to so great a gift, that is to say, with the gift of ourselves, our time, our prayer, our entering into a profound communion of love with Christ who suffered, died and rose for us. As we conclude, let us listen once again to the words of one of these early Fathers, Saint Andrew, Bishop of Crete: "So it is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet, not coats or lifeless branches or shoots of trees, matter which wastes away and delights the eye only for a few brief hours. But we have clothed ourselves with Christ’s grace, or with the whole Christ ... so let us spread ourselves like coats under his feet ... let us offer not palm branches but the prizes of victory to the conqueror of death. Amen! Pope Francis, Rome, Holy Week 2014
The Spirit of St. Louis
FAMILY NIGHT OUT
Celebrating Marriage
We will celebrate the sacrament of Marriage as a gift to all of humanity, whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed or engaged.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21
ª WOZNIAK
HALL
6:00 - 10:00 PM
Childcare available, first call first served. 6 months–12yrs. Space is limited. MUST RSVP for childcare. Free will donations for childcare. Deadline March 18. (512) 454-0384 ext. 222. ª amy.allert@st-louis.org
LOVE IS OUR MISSION The Family Fully Alive
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THE MOST HONEST DAY OF THE YEAR Homily for Ash Wednesday - Fr. James Misko, Pastor
Dust thou are and to Dust thou shall return.
Here we are again - another Ash Wednesday, the most attended day of the Church Year and i t ’s not even a Holy Day of Obligation! And yet, here we are. I admit it. Ash Wednesday is one of Capax Dei: the ability to consider God. It’s not like my favorite days of the entire liturgical calendar and the animals on the African savannah or the fish in the always has been, which I think is very interesting. Amazon river or your dog or cat is sitting around this I guess I like Ash Wednesday because it’s so honest. Ash Wednesday contemplating God. We are the only Dust thou are and to Dust thou shall return. It members of God’s creation considering this profound doesn’t get any clearer than that. In a world where day. Ash Wednesday is a Capax Dei day par excellence. Political Correctness just about gags us, a world where And thirdly, Ash Wednesday is a great day because there’s almost nothing objectively true anymore, Ash it evens the playing field. Today a poor man stands Wednesday stands up and makes no apologies for shoulder to shoulder with a billionaire. A schooled itself. There’s no way around it. You can’t talk your woman stands right next to a woman who maybe way out of it. You can’t postpone it indefinitely. One never made it past the third grade. A president of a day we will all die. It’s the starkest reality that we as world power stands equal to a chief from an all but human beings ever face. And this honesty, I think, is forgotten tribe in New Guinea. On Ash Wednesday what makes Ash Wednesday oddly attractive. People all classes, all ethnicities, all human perspectives are don’t like to be conned or sold a bill of goods where brought into a oneness. All perspectives are purified; they don’t know all the facts. Ash Wednesday is all all bank accounts rendered insignificant; all lines of about the facts and that’s why people like it. HUMAN demarcation blurred into the one single line The second thing I like about Ash Wednesday is that of the Body of Christ and brought together here to lying just beneath the smudges of ashes and the taking prepare for the sacrifice and resurrection of His body on of acts of penance is the innate recognition that in Holy Week. In a world that obsesses on control there is something bigger than us, something beyond there’s something oddly comforting, at least just for our experience here on earth, something profound that today, in taking a step back and resting in the reality drives us to consider eternity. If there was no God, or that, as Cardinal John Henry Newman is famous for heaven, then why would we bother even talking about saying, God knows what He is about. death? It would be a non-issue. We talk about death This is why we are here today. This is why we come because God IS! It reminds me of a wonderful quote back to receive our smudges of ash year after year. from the great Englishman GK Chesterton: if there We need Ash Wednesday! It keeps us focused on were no God then there would be no Atheists. Ash what is really important and needs few words because Wednesday is about recognizing that there is something it is so honest; beautifully blunt, as if Ash Wednesday is beyond all of this, something beyond what we cultivate written onto our hearts and is spoken in the language for ourselves in this life, something universal. That’s of the soul. It’s the day that tells us who we are and why humans have always been explorers, astronomers, at the same time whose we are. Maybe more than scientists, philosophers, artists, and dreamers. There’s any other day in a human life, Ash Wednesday tells just something hard wired into our souls as we quite us the most fundamental truth that God is God and naturally gravitate toward reaching out beyond what we are His Creatures. And I suppose this is why Ash we already know hoping to catch hold of the truth of Wednesday is so appealing and the most attended eternity. This is our Capax Dei - our capacity for God. church day of the year. We are the only beings in God’s creation with
THE LORD NEVER CEASES
The Spirit of St. Louis
to have mercy on us
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Homily for Ash Wednesday – Pope Francis hypocrites do ... And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men ... And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites. (Mt 6:1, 2, 5, 16)” When you do something good, almost instinctively born in us the desire to be respected and admired for this good deed, to obtain a satisfaction. Jesus invites us to do these works without any ostentation, and to As God's people today we begin the journey of Lent, a trust only in the reward of the Father "who sees in time in which we try to unite ourselves more closely secret" (Mt 6,4.6.18). to the Lord Jesus Christ, to share the mystery of His passion and resurrection. The Ash Wednesday liturgy Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord never ceases offers us, first of all, the passage from the prophet to have mercy on us, and desires to offer us His Joel, sent by God to call the people to repentance and forgiveness yet again, inviting us to return to Him conversion, due to a calamity (an invasion of locusts) with a new heart, purified from evil, to take part in that devastates Judea. Only the Lord can save from His joy. How to accept this invitation? St. Paul makes the scourge, and so there is need of supplication, with a suggestion to us in the second reading today: “We prayer and fasting, each confessing his sin. beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. The prophet insists on inner conversion: “Return to (2 Cor 5:20)” This work of conversion is not just a me with all your heart” (2:12). To return to the Lord human endeavor. Reconciliation between us and God “with all [one’s] heart,” means taking the path of a is possible thanks to the mercy of the Father who, out conversion that is neither superficial nor transient, of love for us, did not hesitate to sacrifice his only but is a spiritual journey that reaches the deepest Son. In fact, the Christ, who was righteous and without place of our self. The heart, in fact, is the seat of our sin was made sin for us (v. 21) when on the cross He sentiments, the center in which our decisions and was burdened with our sins, and so redeemed us and our attitudes mature. That, “Return to me with all justified before God. In Him we can become righteous, your heart,” does not involve only individuals, but in him we can change, if we accept the grace of God extends to the community, is a summons addressed and do not let the “acceptable time (6:2)” pass in vain. to all: “Gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; With this awareness, trusting and joyful, let us begin assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing our Lenten journey. May Mary Immaculate sustain infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the our spiritual battle against sin, accompany us in this bride her chamber. (2:16)” acceptable time, so that we might come together to The prophet dwells particularly on the prayers of sing the exultation of victory in Easter. Soon we will priests, noting that their prayer should be accompanied make the gesture of the imposition of ashes on the by tears. We will do well to ask, at the beginning of this head. The celebrant says these words: “You are dust Lent, for the gift of tears, so as to make our prayer and to dust you shall return, (cf. Gen 3:19)” or repeats and our journey of conversion ever more authentic Jesus’ exhortation: “Repent and believe the gospel. and without hypocrisy. This is precisely the message (Mk 1:15)” Both formulae are a reminder of the truth of today’s Gospel. In the passage from Matthew, Jesus of human existence: we are limited creatures, sinners rereads the three works of mercy prescribed by the ever in need of repentance and conversion. How Mosaic law: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Over time, important is it to listen and to welcome this reminder these prescriptions had been scored by the rust of in our time! The call to conversion is then a push to external formalism, or even mutated into a sign of social return, as did the son of the parable, to the arms of superiority. Jesus highlights a common temptation in God, tender and merciful Father, to trust Him and to these three works, which can be described summarily entrust ourselves to Him. as hypocrisy (He names it as such three times): “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them ... Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the
Repent and believe the gospel.
ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL PREPARING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW WITH THE LIGHT OF CHRIST AS THEIR GUIDE
SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS
REGISTRATION St. Louis Catholic School is now registering for the 2015-2016 school year! We provide a rigorous Christcentered curriculum for Pre-K4 through 8th grade that will help students achieve success beyond our walls. Tours are available by appointment and can be scheduled with the Registrar, Ms. Dowling, at 512-614-6622 ext. 245. Forms and additional information are available on the school website at slcsaustin. org. We look forward to making your children part of our St. Louis Catholic School family!
Congratulations to all of our science fair winners! Our 6th through 8th grade students participated in our annual Middle School Science Fair. Our students had worked very hard on their projects and this made for quite the display. Congratulations to 8th grader Ariana, who won Best in Show! She along with other category winners will have the option of participating in the Diocesan Science Fair in April. 6th Grade Category Life Physical/Earth Team
7th Grade Category Life Physical/Earth Team
8th Grade Category Life Physical/Earth Team GREEN AND WHITE THANK YOU Thank you to all who attended, supported, and sponsored the St. Louis HSA Annual Green and White Night. It was a great night with lots of new and familiar faces. We are so grateful to all who support the school!
1st Place Gabriela Montes Chris Kalamarides Joe Sheffield & Conor Ziaja
2nd Place Arianne Poblete Gabrielle Muniz
1st Place Catherine Hermansen Thomas White
2nd Place Reagan Reitmeyer Luis Cuevas
Sarah Hughes & Sarah Lee
Victoria Pojman & Elizabeth Wostarek
1st Place Catherine Hermansen Thomas White
2nd Place Reagan Reitmeyer Luis Cuevas
Sarah Hughes & Sarah Lee
Victoria Pojman & Elizabeth Wostarek
3rd Place Kristen Leary Colin Donahue
Kiara VelezChris Bruns, Martinez & Bella Zach Lawson, Ramacciotti & Khoa Tran 3rd Place Matthew Melvin Thomas McCarthy Collin Brown & Max Courson 3rd Place Matthew Melvin Thomas McCarthy Collin Brown & Max Courson
Overall Best In Show
Ariana Pouya
Most Artistic Display
Cristabel Soto
Most Creative Experiment
Gabrielle Muniz
Most Interesting Question
Jovan Sigcho
ST. LOUIS HSA PRESENTS:
The Spirit of St. Louis
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THE ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Monday, April 27 Twin Creeks Country Club For more information, please contact Tamara Luera at tamara.luera@slcsaustin.org
MEGAN DOAN, PRE-K Mrs. Doan is in her 3rd year of teaching at St. Louis and loves all of her Pre-K friends. Why St. Louis? I had friends from Church at St. Elizabeth who had always said good things about St. Louis, so when an opportunity presented itself to teach here, I jumped at the chance. Once I got here, I was pleased to know that all the good things I had heard were true. Why do you choose to stay at St. Louis? I enjoy the families here. Plus the faculty and staff that I get to work with on a daily basis is a great support. We have a real sense of community and faith here at St. Louis and that is special. What are you goals here? My main goal here at St. Louis is for my class. For most, it is their first year in school and I want them to have a love of learning. I want them to understand and enjoy their faith so they can grow with it in their time here and beyond. Fun Fact: Mrs. Doan has been married for 4 years to her wonderful husband Brian. She has two cats named Iggy and Marvin and loves everything feline.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK We had a great Catholic Schools Week! Catholic Schools’ week is a time where communities celebrate and recognize Catholic Education nationwide. We appreciate the support we have at St. Louis and want to recognize our wonderful support system and their dedication to our school. The week started with the Diocesan “Celebrating Catholic Schools Gala” where St. Louis honored Christine Lemp for her continuous support and dedication to the St. Louis Catholic School community. We celebrated our parish, volunteers, grandparents and students with various activities around campus. Dr. Vanders visited our campus awarding St. Louis with an Advancing Our Mission Grant. It was a great week, rounded out with the annual 8th grade vs. faculty/staff game. Overall, it was a great Catholic Schools week and we look forward to next year!
MAX SCHOOLER, 6TH-8TH GRADE MATH TEACHER AND MATH CLUB SPONSOR Mr. Schooler is in his 4th year of teaching at St. Louis and graduated from SLCS in 1996. Why St. Louis? The main factor that drove me to St. Louis is that I went to school here.When I first started teaching, I taught in a public school. After a few years, I thought that it might be nice to be in a school where spirituality was a factor and part of my job as well. Why do you choose to stay at St. Louis? Well, our kids are great. There are great kids at every school, but it’s something special to see the connections they are able to make with each other because our classes are small. I have the opportunity to teach my students for 3 years; basically watching them transition from childhood into their teenage years. I can’t stress enough how great our community is. It’s great to see our students interacting with each other, more like they are family than classmates. Even if someone hasn’t been with a class for long, they take care of each other and that is something great about St. Louis. What are your goals here at St. Louis? I want my kids to like math more than when they started in my class. I try to make it fun for them by having the class make up games, use PowerPoints and the computer lab, even making up problems that are personal to them. I hope to build a connection with the primary students so that they can get to know me as their Math teacher before they come into my class. Fun Fact: Mr. Schooler and his wife of 3 years are both teachers. They, along with their daughter, Aretta, enjoy family road trips. His grandmother taught Science at St. Louis in the 1990’s and he credits her for being an inspiration to him.
pARish social MINISTRy SERVING THE NEEDIEST AMONG US
For Whom The Bell s Toll/ P or Q uien To c a n L a s C a mpa na s Please remember to keep in prayer the souls of those inmates who have been executed and those who may be executed. Also, prayer is requested for the victims of crime, the executioner, and all of their families. Schedule is subject to change due to stays and appeals.
Por favor recuerde tener en sus oraciones las almas de los reos, los cuales han sido ejecutados. Tambien orenmos por las victims del crimen, sus verdugos, y por las familias. El horario y las fechas pueden cambiar debido a las apelaciones.
MARCH 2015 4 5 5
PA OK PA
5 10
TX PA
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PA
Terrance Williams Benjamin Cole - STAYED Kenneth Hairston - STAY LIKELY Rodney Reed Alfonso Sanchez - STAY LIKELY Robert Diamond - STAY LIKELY
11 12 12 12 18 19 24
TX OH OH PA TX AL TN
Manuel Vasquez Robert Van Hook - STAYED Raymond Tibbetts- STAYED Kevin Mattison - STAY LIKELY Randall Mays Bill Kuenzel - STAY LIKELY Donnie Johnson
SPECIAL POSITION – SPECIAL NEEDS
PARISH PRO-LIFE COORDINATOR – VOLUNTEER POSITION
Each parish in the diocese is invited to appoint a Pro-Life Coordinator to initiate and organize pro-life activities within the parish. Although actively promoting a renewed respect for human life is the responsibility of every Catholic, a Pro-Life Coordinator would be the liaison to the parish, raising awareness about pro-life issues and advertising upcoming pro-life activities in the Diocese of Austin. This volunteer position would entail the following: • Working with the Pastor and Director of Parish Social Ministry in building a Culture of Life. • Being the parish liaison with the Diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living. • Staying informed of pro-life resources/services available in the parish/diocese and using this information to raise awareness and educate parishioners. • Promoting pro-life fund-raisers through advertising. • Involving parishioners in public policy issues with non-partisan voter information and updates from national, state and local Catholic advocates working to protect all life. • Organizing periodic prayer and worship opportunities that support a Culture of Life. • Forming a parish Pro-Life Committee to support the above mentioned activities. One or more parishioners could share this volunteer position together. If interested, please contact Bea Dela Rosa (512) 454-0384 ext. 265 or bea.delarosa@st-louis.org
Early Childhood Ministry
The Spirit of St. Louis
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SERVING OUR YOUNGEST PARISHIONERS
Save the Date! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June 22-26 Registration will begin in April
SANCTUARY CANDLE MEMORIALS The sanctuary candle is traditionally seen in Catholic churches, burning constantly to indicate the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. At St. Louis, in both the main nave and the chapel, the sanctuary candles are burning high above the floor in beautifully ornate fixtures suspended from the ceiling. Parishioners are given the opportunity to memorialize a deceased loved one with a $10 contribution, selecting a specified week in which one or both of the two sanctuary candles will be burned in their honor. Visit the church office with your donation, the name of your loved one, your choice of sanctuary candle and the selected week. Memorials are denoted in the Main Nave (M/N) or Chapel (C). Memorials reserved since the last newsletter deadline include: March 1 - 7 Memory of Jose & Ruben Reyes by Pablo Reyes (M/N and C) March 8 - 14 Memory of Fred McNair by Evelyn McNair (M/N and C) March 15 - 21 Memory Gilda Lozano by Maritza Langford (M/N) March 22 - 28 Memory of Ruperto & Dominga Reyes by Pablo Reyes (M/N and C) March 29 – April 4 To honor Connie Brown by Women’s ACTS team 2015 (M/N)
DRIVE A SENIOR - NORTH
COULD USE YOUR HELP – DRIVERS NEEDED! Can you give just 2 hours a month to help one of your senior neighbors get to a medical appointment or to the grocery store? Because that is what we do at Drive a Senior – we are an alliance of congregations and volunteers in the Austin north central area, which offers free services to older adults. St. Louis Church is a longtime supporter of Drive a Senior-North Central, and many seniors living in our area need assistance so that they can stay in their homes. What we most need are drivers to help take seniors to doctor appointments. And that’s where the 2 hours a month comes in. Can you spare that amount of time? You can make a great difference in the life of an older adult who can no longer drive. If you can help us out, please call Tina Prykryl at the Drive a Senior office, 512 453-2273. Visit our website at http://www.volunteerdriving. com/north-central-austin/
The Healing Sacrament
The Sacrament of Healing which includes the laying on of hands and anointing is offered every second Sunday of each month during the 9:00pm Compline service in the Chapel. Please join us Sunday, March 8, 2015. Compline is the last liturgical office of the day and this meditative service, held each Sunday, includes beautiful Gregorian chants of the Church. This is a wonderful prayerful way to end your weekend and prepare for the new week ahead.
From the Parish Office Perpetual Adoration
EIM Session Cancelled
Anyone is welcome at any time during the day or night to pray and meditate in the small Adoration chapel. After hours, nights and weekends, please use the keypad entrance that requires a code. The locked doors at these times provide security for adorers and for the sanctuary building itself. If you can commit to a specific time each and every week, you are truly a blessing! Keeping watch with the Blessed Sacrament is such a privilege and honor and your life will be enriched by the time spent with Jesus. To sign-up for a specific hour each week or for keypad code information, please contact Joshua Merrill at Joshua_Merrill@dell.com or 512-879-7514.
The Spanish BASIC EIM workshop that was previously scheduled for Saturday, March 28th (9am-Noon) has been cancelled by the Diocese. It will be rescheduled at a future date.
Prayer Blanket Ministry
The Ashes to Easter annual Lenten Mission project has begun. Lenten Mission boxes were handed out before Ash Wednesday. If your family did not get one, you are welcome to make your own. Put in some coins each day during Lent and pray for missions worldwide. Please return your boxes to the parish during Holy Week or no later than April 15th. Money collected will help local missionaries and missionary projects from our diocese.
This ministry meets on the third Monday from 7:00-9:00pm in members’ homes to create blankets that are lovingly handsewn, blessed and then available for sale. These make great gifts for special occasions or for loved ones suffering with illness. For details on monthly sewing sessions or to purchase a blanket, contact Evelyn Janecka at 512-453-6466. Grateful thanks to this generous ministry that recently donated $1,400 toward the purchase of a Sanctuary Lamp for the Adoration Chapel, and a Roman Missal for the Church! Your support of their bi-annual blanket sales made this donation possible! The ladies are busy sewing for their next “Blanket Bonanza” Sale on May 2-3.
St. Louis Flower Guild St. Louis Flower Guild welcomes volunteers throughout the year to enhance our worship spaces. There are two ways to volunteer: Each Friday, join a team that is creating the floral arrangements for the weekend Masses. Volunteers are especially needed before major feasts like Easter and Christmas. Call Dolores Rumpf 512-8362190 for additional details. Whether you can give two hours or ten, come help us decorate God’s house!
Grateful Thanks for Services Rendered
Recently, some generous people donated their services and materials to beautify our Church Office. We give thanks to ARNULFO PAINTING (Parishioner Arnulfo Tereza) who generously gave one of his weekends to paint the Church Office, something that had not been done since 1991! We also acknowledge Kevan and Shannon Calhoun of TOP SURFACE, who donated and installed the wonderful granite counters that now greet visitors in the Church Office. Each of these businesses gave their time and services after hours so Church business would not be disrupted.
Ashes to Easter
2014 Tax Statements
Per IRS regulations, St. Louis Catholic Church has now automatically sent out 2014 tax statements to anyone who had given a single donation of at least $250 during 2014. Donors who don’t quite meet this threshold may contact the church office at 512.454.0384 x 201 to request your statement. We are happy to mail your first statement at no charge, but we ask that you pick up replacement statements from the Church Office during regular business hours. Thank you to all our donors, large and small! Your gifts of stewardship and sacrifice do make a difference to your parish!
Is Your Information Correct?
Do we have your most up-to-date address and phone information? Are you receiving church envelopes monthly or quarterly in the mail? If not, please contact Belinda at the church office to update your records (512) 454-0384 ext 201 or Belinda.bryant@st-louis.org
Publication Deadlines
The next monthly parish newsletter will be the issue for APRIL. Thank you for submitting items no later than March 5 to evelyn.mcnair@st-louis.org Weekly bulletin deadlines are always 10 days in advance of an intended weekend. Submit items to bulletin@st-louis.org no later than Wednesdays at Noon.
The Spirit of St. Louis
New leadership in your ministry?
If you have elected new officers or other leadership in your ministry/organization that meets on the St. Louis campus, be sure the new people are certified in the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policies of the Diocese of Austin. They must have completed an Application for Ministry for a background check and should have attended an EIM workshop. Call Brenda Beltran (512) 454-0384 x 211 or contact her by email to report names of new leaders or to check on EIM status: brenda.beltran@st-louis.org
Kudos for Academic Honors
Congratulations to these St. Louis parishioners who earned Academic Honors for the second grading period at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School. HONORS Savanah Acosta Ericka Orozco Shelby Ferraris Clay Orrison Sophie Kalamarides Alex Pojman Dominic Kress Isabel Prado Tuan Mather Michelangelo Rodriguez Lindsay Morgan HIGH HONORS Christine Baticados Minh Mather Catherine Bruns Vu Mather Eden Desta Elena Pojman Giakhanh Hoang Maria Saenz-Rodriguez Andrew Kalamarides Gabriella Tucker Ian Kloc Kyle Wyborski Matthew Lemp
33 DAYS TO MORNING GLORY
Consecration to Jesus through Mary by: Fr. Michael Gaitley So, what is the connection between the Holy Spirit and Mary, the Blessed Mother? Do you find yourself struggling in your relationship with Mary? Discover the beauty of Marian consecration in this easy-toread format by Fr. Michael Gaitley. We welcome all parishioners to individually join us in participating in 33 Days to Morning Glory. No meetings are required. Beginning with a short gathering on April 10, this individual devotion culminates in a parish Mass on May 13, The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. See March/April bulletins for more details.
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The Farm Ministry The St. Louis Farm Ministry seeks volunteers to help prepare the “farm gardens” for the spring and summer. Ongoing tasks include tilling, planting, weeding, watering and it takes a lot of hands to prepare the area. Saturday, March 7th is the next work day from 8am-2pm and everyone is welcome! Regular volunteer hours are Thursdays from 4:00-6:00pm and Saturdays for 9:0011:00am. No experience necessary! Join one of the crews of three to five volunteers and rotate your service in the garden with other “green thumbs”. Contact AnnaWalsh for more information at annaruthwalsh@ gmail.com Come be part of our “growing” ministry!
Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary KC Ladies Auxiliary encourages members to enrich their spiritual life, promotes a spirit of friendship and gives assistance to the KC Council in developing independent programs and projects. Membership is open to any lady over 18 years of age, Catholic or non-Catholic whose husband, father, son, brother or sweetheart is a member in good standing of a Knights of Columbus Council, or the widow/daughter of a deceased member. If you have questions or need more information, please contact President Julia Johnson at 512-836-1726.
Naomi Circle This parish group is specifically for widows, who would like to seek the support and friendship of other women who have lost their spouse to death. The group meets monthly. If you are interested in attending or want more information, contact Annette Kohoutek at 512-451-1425 or Eileen Rosipal at 512-452-3292.
A Small Sample of What's New in the Parish Library The following books have been added to the Parish Library in the last six months. For the complete list of Children's books, Teen books, Adult books, and Media please check out our Web Page under "What's New in the Library..." The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism, by Christopher Kaczor. Much popular opinion about Catholicism is based on misunderstanding. Here is a book that examines seven major myths and attempts to separates fact from fiction. The issues discussed are: faith versus science, societal welfare, the status of women, the clergy abuse scandals, contraception, homosexuality, and samesex unions. Mr. Kaczor offers an analysis of Catholic practices and clarifies the Church’s teaching. My Sisters the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir, by Colleen Carroll Campbell. This is a touching account of the author’s spiritual growth. She is inspired by her ‘sisters’: Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, Faustina of Poland, Edith Stein of Germany, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Mary of Nazareth. Drawing upon the rich writings and examples of these extraordinary women, the author reveals Christianity's liberating power for women and the relevance of the saints to the lives of contemporary Christians. Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st Century Church, by George Weigel. The author explains that Evangelical Catholicism is reform of the Church based on two criteria: 1. The acceptance of the truth of the Gospel and all its consequences; 2. The holiness obtained through this acceptance would result in the proclamation of the Gospel. This reform began with Pope Leo XIII, continued with Vatican II, and continues today. The book lays out an agenda for Catholic reform and mission in the future. The Bad Catholic’s Guide to the Seven Deadly Sins, by John Zmirak. “A vital look at virtue and vice, with quizzes and activities for saintly self- improvement.” Here’s a guide to sin that will have you laughing before you realize you’ve actually learned something valuable. Theological and historical insights, stories of famous saints and sinners, and even quizzes have readers tally their scores on the virtue and vice index to check what degree they have imperiled their immortal souls. This, and the other Bad Catholic Guides, demostrate that religious education need not be boring. The Good Pope: The Making of a Saint and the Remaking of the Church— The Story of John XXIII and Vatican II, by Greg Tobin. When elected, John XXIII was seen as being a transitional Pope, but he surprised everyone by convoking an ambitious ecumenical council, the first in over century. Greg Tobin recounts John's remarkable story, from his impoverished childhood to his ascendancy to the throne of St. Peter. He truly did, as he stated "… throw open the windows of the Church, so that we can see out and the people can see in." The Wonders of Lourdes, Gerald Korson, editor. Published on the 150th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions to Saint Bernadette, this collection chronicles 150 true and moving stories, and recounts the epic history of a pilgrimage site that has become a sign of conversion, faith and hope for millions of believers. Each story is three or four pages in length, listed by year. The book does not need to be read from page one onward. Each story is unique, yet moving.
SENIoR MINISTRy FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART
Reflections on the Seven Last Words of Christ Senior Lenten Retreat A Senior Lenten Retreat will be presented by Father James Misko. The retreat will be on Saturday, March 14 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. It will begin with 8:00 a.m. Mass in the church and then continue in Wozniak Hall. A donation of $6.00 is requested to help defray the cost of the after-Mass refreshments and lunch. Everyone is invited. For reservations and/or more information, please contact the Senior Ministry office by March 12.
Trip to San Antonio Missions Date: Thursday, April 30 More information will be available in the bulletin and April newsletter. For reservations, contact the Senior Ministry office.
RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS HEART OF MARY Women’s Discernment Retreat This retreat will be led by the Apostles of the Interior Life, currently serving at St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University, who specialize in retreats, spiritual direction and discernment. The weekend is APRIL 24-26 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton and will include meals, prayer, Mass and Adoration, silence and meditations on Mary as the model for authentic discernment of the Father’s will. This retreat is for single, Catholic women (ages 18-45) with openness to the vocation of consecrated religious life and at varying stages of discernment. To register, go to www.austinvocation.com or vocations@austindiocese.org or (512) 949-2430.
HIGH SCHOOL DISCERNMENT DINNERS Join other high school-aged men in a great meal, prayer and discussion every first Wednesday of the month, from 7:00-8:30pm at St. William Parish Rectory, 1105 Deer Run, Round Rock. Come and learn more about discernment and the call to priestly life. RSVP to Fr. Alex at fralex@saintwilliams. org or call for information (512) 600-8154.
SINGLE CATHOLIC MEN Single, Catholic men (18 or older) interested in discerning their vocation in life are invited to an informal dinner with others who are also considering the possibility of the seminary and priesthood. The gathering is held at the Borromeo House at 905-B Duncan Lane in Austin. For more details, contact the diocesan vocation director, Father Jonathan Raia at fr-jonathan-raia@ austindiocese.org or (512) 949-2430.
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OUR SACRAMENTS OUR FAITH “The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1123) BAPTISMS JANUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 5, 2015 Juan Diego Bautista-Quiroz Mike Jaimes-Antonio Sofia Castellanos-Beltran Meghan Celeste Olvera-Herrera Diana Pizano-Luna Amelie Aubert Beaudoin Dorothy Meadow Nicolas Thomas David Summerville
MARRIAGES AND CONVALIDATIONS JANUARY 6 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015 Silviano Rebollar-Perez and Margarita Bautista-Victoriano
RECENTLY DECEASED Elsie Griffith Julia Ibarra James Deily Augustina G. Kirby Frank Olsovsky Agustina Arroyo Jose Lopez
Sisterhood of the Holy Cloth
Would you love to serve your church through a ministry that has no meetings, no dues and you can work from your own home? Then the Sisterhood is for you! These ministry volunteers launder the sacred linens (purificators and corporals) used at Mass and you only have to do it about every 5 weeks. We will train you and give you a written schedule. Please call Judy Bonham 512-836-4639 if you are interested.
Around the Diocese and beyond The Gabriel Life Association NEW RESOURCE IN THE DIOCESE
This new diocesan association is the “unified Catholic response to those facing crisis pregnancies in Central Texas.” They work together to maximize services to families, avoid duplication and shepherd women to available resources to ensure comprehensive care, even beyond pregnancy. If an individual member organization identifies itself as being part of the Gabriel Life Association, you can be assured that the services offered by that organization are in line with Catholic teaching on chastity and respect for life. The Gabriel Association offers a central point of contact for anyone needing pregnancy-related services currently available in the diocese. These include: Catholic Charities of Central Texas, The Gabriel Project, Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter, The St. John Paul II Life Center, Annunciation Maternity Home and Project Rachel. The Association’s toll-free Helpline at (877) We Care 2 or (877) 932-2732 can be the first point of contact for a pregnant woman seeking help. The vision of the Gabriel Life Association is a culture in Central Texas that provides every woman the support she needs to embrace life. If you would like to work toward this vision or are in need of assistance, contact any of the member organizations or the Helpline above. Information is also available at www.austindiocese.org/gla
Retrouvaille
A LIFELINE FOR MARRIAGE
Retrouvaille is a diocesan program that helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. It is designed to provide the tools to get your marriage back on track. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way. This program has helped thousands of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels from disillusionment to deep misery. For confidential information about the program or to register for the April 10-12 weekend, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit the website at www.HelpOurMarriage.com
Marriage Encounter
Do you and your spouse need some time together away from the stresses of everyday life? An upcoming Marriage Encounter weekend might be just the “refresher” retreat you need. Contact Steve and Linda Jaramillo at 512-6779963 or email www.wwmeaustin@gmail.com for information on future dates. Para informacion en espanol, llamar al 512-844-0785. For an online visit, go to www.wwme.org
A Joy Which is Shared CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL
Thank you to every parish household that responded so generously in 2014, pledging $147,000 of our $150,000 goal for this annual diocesan fundraiser. If you chose to pay out your pledge to the Diocese over the next 10 months, you will be billed with monthly statements from them. Please return your payments directly to the Diocese (not the parish) so you may be credited promptly for your donations. Thank you for supporting the CSA and the Church of Central Texas, helping us meet our parish goal for 2015!
Diocesan Special Collection in March
The Catholic Relief Services Collection on March 15th provides funding for CRS, the USCCB Office of International Justice and Peace, Migration and Refugee Services, Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, relief work of the Holy Father and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Please place your special envelope for this purpose in the regular collection that weekend and thank you for your generosity!
The Spirit of St. Louis
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SEVEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
Marriage Preparation By Deacon Rob Embry
How far ahead do we need to plan our wedding?
The diocese strongly recommends beginning the marriage preparation process at least 6 to 12 months before the desired date of the wedding. Contact a priest or deacon in the parish for an initial meeting at which you can discuss your plans and he can get to know you as a couple. Bring copies of your baptism certificate recently obtained from your parish of baptism. After this meeting you can contact the parish to register for our One in the Lord marriage preparation program (http:// www.st-louis.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=221) or the Together in the Lord program offered by the Diocese (http://austindiocese.org/marriage-preparation). You may arrange other sessions with the priest or deacon as necessary.
My fiancé was married once before, but he's not Catholic. He doesn't need an annulment does he?
Anyone previously married, Catholic, Protestant, or unbaptized, may not enter into a marriage in the Catholic Church unless the previous bond has been examined and found to be null, i.e. an annulment has been granted. This is because the Church believes that the foundations of marriage -- permanence, fidelity, and openness to life -- were laid by God in the creation of marriage itself and thus apply to everyone, not just Catholics in sacramental marriages.
Can we write our own vows?
In a word, “No”. To guarantee the integrity of the marriage vows with a full commitment to permanence, fidelity, and openness to life, the Church requires that the My fiancée is not Catholic. Can we have the wedding in her couple use one of the several forms of vows found in the official marriage liturgy. parents' church? For a marriage to be valid the Church requires that a Catholic marry before a priest or deacon using the Can we get married outside at this wonderful place with a approved liturgy of the Church. For a good reason, stunning romantic view? however, such as a non-Catholic partner may wish to A wedding is not simply an occasion to have a party. include a clergyman of his/her own denomination in the Nor is it primarily an expression of a couple’s creativity, ceremony, it is possible to obtain permission from the personal taste, and pop-culture preferences. A wedding Bishop to allow a non-Catholic ceremony conducted by a is a solemn occasion in which a couple declare before non-Catholic minister in the non-Catholic church. This God and the whole world their covenant commitment to love each other faithfully and exclusively for the rest is called “Dispensation from Canonical Form”. of their lives, and to give fruitful expression to that love in the procreation and rearing of children. A wedding We got married by a Justice of the Peace. How do we as a covenant before God is most fittingly celebrated get our marriage blessed by the Church? in a “sacred space” purposely set aside for the worship Since the Church requires that a Catholic marry before a of God. It is the policy of our Bishop that a Catholic priest or deacon using the approved liturgy of the Church, marriage ceremony officiated by a priest or deacon must a Catholic married by a Justice of the Peace or a non- be celebrated in a Catholic Church or chapel. Catholic minister without a dispensation is considered not validly married by the Church. To correct this Can we have our wedding in Lent? irregular situation the Church requires that you exchange Because Lent is a solemn season of reflection and penance, new vows before a Catholic priest or deacon. This can weddings are not celebrated in Lent. The only possible be done in a simple ceremony called “convalidation”. exception would be to conduct a simple ceremony on a Generally these are arranged on a weeknight and involve weeknight to convalidate (“bless”) the civil marriage of a only the minister, the couple, a pair of witnesses and close couple not married in the Church. family. Contact a priest or deacon to discuss this.
APERI, Dómine, os meum ad benedicéndum nomen sanctum What is Compline? tuum:munda quoque cor meum ab ómnibus vanis, pervérsis et aliénis cogitatiónibus; intelléctum illúmina, afféctum inflámma, ut digne, atténte ac devóte hoc Offícium recitáre váleam,et exaudíri mérear ante Sunday evenings, 9 p.m. conspéctum divínæ Majestátis tuæ. Per Christum Dóminum St. Louis Church Chapel nostrum. 7601 Burnet Road
Compli n e
In keeping with the earliest practices of the monastic communities, Compline is offered when the work of the day is completed and the quietness of the evening settles over the hearts and minds of those who have come together in thankfulness for the blessings of the day which has passed and in anticipation of God’s gift of a new day.
The Office of Compline originated in Southern Europe and throughout the Eastern Church in the first few centuries of Christianity. By the sixteenth century it had become a part of the parochial life as well. The prayer books of the day usually included Compline along with Morning Prayers and Vespers.
The Office of Compline at St. Louis Church follows the ancient format with the proper chants sung in Latin. We gather in the candlelit quietness of the chapel to lay down our cares and burdens and allow the Spirit to envelop us with healing and blessed presence. It is our desire that this service will be a blessing to the whole community as all are welcome.
Anointing of the Sick is offered every second Sunday during Compline.