Fr. Ronald Mohnickey, T.O.R., a Parochial

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1 Good Stewards of Good Shepherd Newsletter MAY/JUNE 2016 THEIR FAITH IS AN INSPIRATION TO ME Our Good Shepherd RCIA Process Fr. Ronald Mohnickey, T.O.R., a Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd, has spent most of his life as an educator. Ordained in 1971, the Franciscan priest has served on the faculty of Franciscan University for several years. When he arrived at Good Shepherd last year, one of his assignments was to serve as the director for our RCIA process. RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the method by which people desiring to seek full initiation into the Catholic Church can do so. RCIA was promulgated by the Church in 1974 and revised in It is a ritual process through which people are formed as disciples of Jesus Christ. There are two groups of people included in the RCIA process the unbaptized, who are called catechumens, and the baptized, who are termed candidates. This year at Good Shepherd, we were pleased to welcome 20 new members into our community through RCIA 15 candidates and five catechumens. RCIA prepares the catechumens to receive all three Sacraments of Initiation Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This occurred at this year s Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, March 26. For Fr. Ronald, this has been a unique and fulfilling experience. Although I have been an educator for a good portion of my priestly life, I am also a learner, he says. This has been a wonderful learning experience for me at Good Shepherd, and for me as a priest. Witnessing the faith stories of parishioners, which is part of the process, and then receiving statements of continued on page 2

2 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community OUR GOOD SHEPHERD RCIA PROCESS continued from front cover 2 faith from each of the candidates and catechumens was an excellent way to affirm my own faith. Father involved himself from the beginning in the entire process as he attended every RCIA session, normally held on Monday evenings for two hours. In an effort to become more familiar with each person in the program, he met with each on an individual basis. Prayer is an important part of what we do as Catholics and it is very necessary in relation to initiation, Father says. Everything begins and ends with prayer. Following our opening prayer, we would hear a faith witness from a parish member. That might be followed by a more formal presentation, and then we would divide into smaller groups for discussion. Sometimes we would hear about the saint whose feast day we were celebrating on that day. We would close with prayer. For Father, meeting and working with our candidates and catechumens was an extraordinary experience. Our candidates and catechumens who entered the Church through the RCIA process are an extraordinary group of people, he says. We had everything from a banker to a retired general to a man raised in communist Albania. Their faith is an inspiration to me and should be an encouragement to all the people of our Good Shepherd Catholic Community. Although struck by each person s faith story, Father shared one in particular. The gentleman who was raised in Albania was indoctrinated to atheism by the communists as a school student, he says. One day, he returned home to find his grandmother on her knees praying. He reacted to this by lecturing her about the foolishness of that, and that initiated a discussion through which he began to see things in a different light. That occurred many years ago but it ended up as a key motivation for him to seek full initiation as a member of the Church. Each of the people who came into the Church at Easter had a different motivation for doing so, but all shared one thing a kind of commitment to the faith which provides a lesson to all of us. Our candidates and catechumens who entered the Church through the RCIA process are an extraordinary group of people. We had everything from a banker to a retired general to a man raised in communist Albania. Their faith is an inspiration to me and should be an encouragement to all the people of our Good Shepherd Catholic Community. Fr. Ronald Mohnickey, T.O.R. The RCIA process begins in August, and extends through and beyond Easter. If you or someone you know might be interested in RCIA, or if you are already a member of the parish and think you might like to be involved in other ways in RCIA, please contact Fr. Ronald Mohnickey, T.O.R. at or rmohnickey@gscc.net.

3 A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR We Are All Part of the Ministry of Hospitality Greetings Good People! This is a time of many celebrations in the Church. The list is almost endless at this time of year First Communions, Confirmations, graduations, and weddings. There are so many events that bring people who are not from the parish, or even members of the Church, into our parish. You may recall that we speak of the Four Pillars of Stewardship Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. I want to particularly speak of that pillar of Hospitality this month. It is important every day of every year and at everything we do as a parish community. However, at this time of year, when there may be strangers and newcomers in our midst, it becomes even more important. Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. In Matthew 25:35, the Lord speaks to us in terms of expectations when He says, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. He makes it clear to us that whenever we welcome any of His brothers and sisters, we welcome Christ Himself. Sometimes, we may think that this concept of hospitality is the responsibility of a committee, ministry or group of people assigned that task but the truth is that we are all part of the parish hospitality effort. If we are going to be a stewardship parish, and if each of us is going to be a good steward, we need to be aware that we need to seek and find Christ in everyone around us, everyone we meet, and certainly everyone who enters our church or other parish facilities. Hospitality is a parish priority that each of us must take to heart. It is not so challenging to greet someone, smile at them and welcome them yet, it may require a little extra effort on our part. That means we must have an awareness of those near us, of those who may appear to be alone or new. We may not always think of Christ in this way, but if we carefully listen to Holy Scripture, we must realize that He was a caring, welcoming and friendly person. If we are to be His disciples, we need to be the same. As stated, Jesus assures us that when we welcome others, we are welcoming Him, as well. St. Paul once said that people who are hospitable sometimes entertain angels. For us, parish hospitality is not an option. It is our way to model the Kingdom of God right here and right now. In Christ Jesus Our Savior, Fr. Richard Eldredge, your pastor Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. In Matthew 25:35, the Lord speaks to us in terms of expectations when He says, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. He makes it clear to us that whenever we welcome any of His brothers and sisters, we welcome Christ Himself. 3

4 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks us to live this Holy Year by opening our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society: fringes modern society itself creates. And he calls us to open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help! As Catholics, we are called to be merciful and respond to the basic needs of humanity through the corporal works of mercy, says Outreach Coordinator Kathy Guarino. We are grateful to offer a mission and outreach ministry at Good Shepherd that engages our parishioners in learning about and supporting people in need in our community, in Honduras and in other places where we can be disciples of Jesus to those in need. Honduras Mission Program After Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras in 1998, the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Diocese of Juticulpa, Honduras, formed a covenant partnership focused on rebuilding and humanitarian assistance. In April 2008, Good Shepherd established a covenant with the Fray Casimiro Cypher Center Trade School in Campamento, Honduras. From 2008 to 2013, Good Shepherd parishioners traveled to Honduras to visit with staff and students at the trade school. In December of each year, mission REACHING OUT WITH MER team members and other parishioners attended trade school graduation festivities in Campamento, while adults and youth visited each summer on mission trips. Parishioner and Mission Council member Bob Eilenfeldt recalls his experience traveling to the trade school graduation celebration. In most cases, these students were the first people in their families to attend school, let alone graduate from a high school or trade school, he says. Graduation is a very special two-day event. To witness of the pride on the faces of students, their parents and their families is so heartfelt. In July 2013, the Diocese of Fort Worth suspended all trips to Honduras because of the dangerously high level of crime and violence. But Good Shepherd continued its mission program in Honduras and with the trade school by supporting the schools in other ways. Twice a year in June and in the fall Director of Schools Nelson Rodriguez visits Texas to meet with leaders and parishioners at Good Shepherd. The Mission-Outreach Council is updated on our work with the Trade School and three other bilingual schools that Good Shepherd supports. We also review progress on existing projects and create new project goals. Additionally, Roland Rodriguez, the chair of the Honduras Mission Program at Good Shepherd, is in close contact Nelson Rodriguez and provides regular updates to the Mission- Outreach Council and parish leaders. Good Shepherd Welcomes New School Director We recently learned that Nelson, who has been the director of schools since the 1990s, is retiring. Good Shepherd is excited to welcome Wilson Romero as the new director of schools. We are thrilled that both Nelson and Wilson will visit Good Shepherd in June, Roland Rodriguez says. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to thank Nelson for his years of sacrifice, service and dedication to the schools and our 4

5 CY, BOTH NEAR AND FAR partnership, and to enthusiastically welcome Wilson to our Honduras Mission Program. Each June, Good Shepherd conducts an annual collection for Honduras. Thanks to your generosity, Good Shepherd has helped finance construction projects; pay staff salaries and college scholarships; and purchase textbooks, schools supplies and equipment for the schools. There is an extreme level of poverty in Honduras, and the best option for people there to change their lives for the better is to get an education, Roland says. Partnering with the schools in Honduras brings hope for a better life to more than 1,200 students a year. Local Outreach and a Mission Trip In addition supporting Honduras, the Mission-Outreach Council offers parishioners opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus through local outreach opportunities. Good Shepherd partners with eight local organizations, including Catholic Charities Fort Worth, GRACE and the Community Enrichment Center, to help those in need nearby. It s also planning a mission trip to the Columban Mission Center in El Paso from June 24-29, A small group of parishioners will learn firsthand about the poverty, migration and human rights issues that face those on the U.S.-Mexico border. They ll visit the border to see and learn about what takes place there. They ll also explore El Segundo Barrio, one of the El Paso s poorest neighborhoods with an extensive history as a place of refuge; Annunciation House, which is home to thousands of refugees and homeless poor; and area migrant and refugee services programs. As a mother, I can truly relate to the stories of parents who want to protect their children from the dangers of corruption, violence and drugs that are prevalent in their countries and send them to the U.S. to seek asylum, Kathy says. Now I ll be able to be with these people to hear their stories, share their pain and offer unconditional love. Especially in this Year of Mercy, we are called and encouraged to serve others with our whole heart, and we invite you to do so through Good Shepherd s mission and outreach programs. A proud high school graduate Columban Mission Center in El Paso The destruction in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch, 1998 For more information about the Honduras Mission program, please visit the program website at net/about-us/gscc-councils/mission-outreach-council/honduras-missions. You may also contact Kathy Guarino with questions about any of our mission and outreach programs at kguarino@gscc.net or , ext

6 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community 6 CELEBRATING THE CORONATION OF MARY The May Crowning For many Catholics, May Crownings of statues or icons of the Blessed Mother have become rites of spring. Like flowers blooming or Mother s Day, this annual Marian devotion reminds us that the cold of winter is behind us, and it ushers in a month during which the Catholic Church pays special homage to Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. Generally taking place during the first weekend of the month, May Crownings bring children often, recent First Communicants out in their Sunday best to participate in processions and adorn statues of the Blessed Mother with crowns of flowers or actual gold crowns. Additionally, the children often place roses at her feet, and Catholics carry out similar practices in their homes by placing roses around statues of the Blessed Virgin, or even adding ornamentation to images of Mary. But where did this practice come from, and how did it develop into the tradition that we currently know and love? The Coronation of Mary had been a popular subject in European art and literature for centuries, but the tradition of the May Crowning can be most accurately traced back to the late 16th century. Perhaps inspired by the practice of adding ornamentation to Marian icons that had been carried out by some Eastern churches, Pope Clement VIII added two crowns to the icon of Mary with the Infant Jesus in the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The crowns were eventually lost, but were replaced by Gregory XVI in 1837 in a rite that was to become the standard practice for crowning. While the May Crowning is not an official liturgical celebration on the Church calendar, it is an important practice in honoring Mary as the Queen of the Universe, and its imagery is especially influential in the faith formation of children. As Liz Kelly writes in May Crowning, Mass, and Merton and Other Reasons I Love Being Catholic, One of the defining aspects of being Catholic is devotion to Mary. I favor no Marian celebration more highly than May Crowning, the feast that recognizes Mary as queen of heaven and earth. To a person of any age, this is a mighty big title, but to a child of five or six or seven, it expands to enchanting, magical proportions. How many queens does one get a chance to meet in a lifetime, much less crown? This year, make a special effort to honor the coronation of Mary through participation in a personal or public May Crowning devotion. GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Financial Report July 1, 2015 February 29, 2016 Revenue YTD Stewardship 2,336,273 Departmental 25,331 Formation 169,978 Program 83,286 Outreach 9,996 Miscellaneous 169,465 Total Revenue 2,794,329 Expenses Wages, Benefits, Taxes 900,590 Administration 183,320 Facility 280,977 Utilities 86,691 Outreach 159,020 School support 104,524 Formation 110,117 Program 95,634 Diocesan Tax 305,460 Total Expenses 2,226,333 Net Income Transferred to Building Fund 567,996 Building Fund Goals: (As of 2/29/2016) Anticipated cost:...$6,521,636 Funds collected:...$5,423,054 Families Participating Goal:...(50%) Actual Families Participating:... 1,429 (41%)

7 MUSIC TO GOD S EARS The readings. The Creed. The Eucharistic Prayer. Some elements of Catholic liturgy are always the same, from parish to parish, Mass to Mass. But there are also some unique aspects that may vary a bit such as the music at Good Shepherd s Saturday and Sunday evening Masses. Contemporary music is really based on the idea of congregational singing, so everything we sing has a chorus that s easy and accessible it s stuff that you hear if you listen to Christian radio, says Ashley Leisten, a college student who was part of the Sunday 4 p.m. 4 Hymn Choir during her time in high school. I think it s really important to use to contemporary music that pertains to what we re hearing at Church, but rephrases it in such a way that it s easy to sing along with and relate to. The 4 Hymn Choir, as well as the Peace Band, which serves at the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass, all seek to help the congregation enter more fully into prayer and worship, through a contemporary style of music. We do traditional music, sprinkle in songs that people know, and we do one or two simple, prayerful, contemporary pieces, says Terri Leisten, Director of the 4 Hymn Choir. Both groups include guitars, piano, flute and drums, and a number of talented, mostly young, vocalists. We have so many committed young people, says Terri of her group, which welcomes both high school and returning college students. For Theresa Montya, who leads the Peace Band, the welcoming and inclusion of young people, from middle school through adults, is an important element of her ministry. I want to give them the confidence to be involved in Mass, Theresa says. It s giving people a great place to serve. For both Terri and Theresa, the groups provide a special opportunity, not only for the congregation to be active in music during Mass, but also for the musicians and choir members themselves to grow in their understanding of music as a prayer. The 4 Hymn choir serves at the 4 p.m. Mass each Sunday evening. It s the whole thing of when you sing, you pray twice I think if you re praying a song, rather than just singing a song, it makes all the difference in the world, Terri says. That s how we practice it That sounds really good, but what is the song about? The purpose of the 4 Hymn choir is to help enhance the liturgy, says Maggie Luter, a teen involved in the choir. We are not there to perform, but to lend our voices in praise to God. Theresa points out that it might sometimes be easy to fall into the performance mentality. But eventually, it becomes not about how well you sing, but how well you pray, she says. Try to pray the words instead of just say the words. Seeing people grow in their own experience, singing, and spiritual growth as well, it s fun to see that happen, Theresa adds. Theresa hopes that sharing a more contemporary style of music with the congregation will also encourage young people to see the relevance of the Church and stay involved as they get older. I think we have to stay current with our teens, and music is a really big way that they relate, she says. If we keep it relative, I think it keeps them from falling away. (The 4 p.m.) Mass combines Catholic hymns with contemporary worship songs, which creates a more youthful vibe at Mass, Maggie adds. I feel that it s crucial to keep the tradition behind the continued on back cover 7

8 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community 1000 Tinker Road Colleyville, TX (817) NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID COLLEYVILLE TX PERMIT NO. 87 Address Service Requested MUSIC TO GOD S EARS continued from page 7 Mass, through the hymns, but the contemporary worship music relates to the teens. From Ashley s point of view, the choir isn t the only thing that s different at the Masses with contemporary music. People want to participate in this Mass they sing along, they pray along, she says. If you re in a rut and you come in and see people committed involved and unafraid, it s something really powerful to see. So, if you re looking to participate more fully in the liturgy, come check out one of our contemporary music Masses! The Peace Band serves at the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass. If you have musical talents you would like to share, please contact Theresa Montya regarding the Peace Band at or montyakid@yahoo.com, or Terri Leisten regarding the 4 Hymn Choir at terrileisten@gmail.com. As Theresa emphasizes, You just have to have a good ear and a little bit of guts! 8 LITURGY SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m. Sunday: 9 & 11 a.m., 4 p.m. Daily Morning Prayer and Weekday Masses: Mon, Tue, Thu, & Fri: 8:15 & 8:30 a.m., Wed: 7:00 p.m. (Mass only)