As we prepare for and proceed

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1 Good Stewards of Good Shepherd Newsletter JAN/FEB 2016 UNPACKING THE PRINCIPLES LEARNED AT REBOOT! LIVE! Lenten Wednesdays As we prepare for and proceed through the season of Lent, we have some wonderful opportunities to spend time in selfreflection, formation and preparation for Easter. And here at Good Shepherd, we have the chance to look ahead to Lent through RE- BOOT! Live! on Jan. 27. Then, once Lent begins, we will begin to unpack the things we learned at REBOOT! Live! through our Lenten Wednesday gatherings. Our purpose for Lenten Wednesdays is to continue to build upon the REBOOT! Live! event that we ll be experiencing as a community just before Lent, says Fr. Jonathan McElhone. Each evening, we will gather for Mass to be nourished by our faith, and then continue to unpack and develop practical tools that Chris Stefanick will present to us at REBOOT! Live! I ll be presenting, and we intend to have other sharing from parishioners on their experience of the different themes we have laid out for each evening. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend Lenten Wednesdays, whether they were able to attend REBOOT! Live! or not. Mass will begin at 7 p.m., and the evening will end by 8 p.m., though Fr. Jonathan invites those who are able to stay and spend some time with our Lord in adoration, reflecting on what was discussed during the evening. I think Lent is a time where we look to see what are the things that God is calling us to die to to recognize our sin or vices, so that we can more fully experience the resurrection and new life that is offered to us as Catholic Christians, Fr. Jonathan says. Lenten Wednesdays will help parishioners to do this by building community and walking a faith journey together, but also by helping to identify in a non-judgmental way these areas where God desires us to grow to help us have a fuller life. Whether you are able to make it to REBOOT! Live! or not, Lenten Wednesdays will have something for you. Chris Stefanick closes out the evening at REBOOT! Live! by continued on back page

2 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community STEWARDSHIP OF TIME Giving Back to God During the Golden Years 2 Ask any newly married Catholic couple what they remember most about the marriage preparation process, and they are bound to tell you one particular thing communication. As with any relationship, communication is a key element of the equation. Poor or nonexistent communication leads to bitterness and confusion, separating individuals from their spouses. Good communication allows husbands and wives to grow closer together, deeper in love, while reinforcing their union as man and wife. Prayer is a particularly fruitful form of communication between spouses and God. When one prays on behalf of his or her spouse, graces are bestowed on both individuals. Prayer is also a sign of love the man who prays for his wife indirectly communicates that he wishes the best for her, and that he is putting her first in his communication with God. Prayer can also be a wonderful expression of stewardship, especially for senior couples who can no longer participate in parish ministries. As one of the three Ts of stewardship, prayer is time spent with God. During prayer, one builds a relationship with the Lord, sharing with Him one s deepest desires, cares, hurts, fears, and thanksgivings. Prayer is something we all should do, regardless of our place in life. But for many senior couples, it becomes their primary form of stewardship during the golden years. Prayer is unique in that it benefits the individual who is offering the prayer, as well as those being prayed for and those in the surrounding community. Consider this a parish offers its parishioners Perpetual Adoration. This means that, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, someone in the parish is praying. While the prayers being offered will most certainly not be focused on every individual in the parish, the whole parish benefits because someone is communicating with God, and God is at work in the community. Adoration is also a wonderful way to spend time with one s spouse before Our Lord, present in the Eucharist. There are many other ways in which senior couples can participate in prayer. First and foremost is the holy Mass. As the principal prayer of the Catholic faith, Mass attendance not only allows us to communicate with God, but also physically receive Him through the Eucharist. When God took on the form of man, He entered into the human life. We can complete the circle and enter into the divine life by receiving God during Communion. And Mass doesn t have to be a once-a-week type of activity. Daily Mass is available for those whose schedules permit, and it often becomes the stepping-stone toward a greater prayer life and, ultimately, a deeper relationship with God. In addition to Mass, the seniors of our parish particularly those who are homebound can participate in prayer ministries, such as prayer lines, the Legion of Mary, Rosary groups and more. These ministries offer members the opportunity to participate without ever leaving home. They also connect these parishioners with the rest of the parish, which is a true blessing for the sick and homebound. If you are senior parishioner, and are searching for a way to live out stewardship with your spouse, consider joining a prayer ministry, attending adoration or daily Mass, or simply set aside time during the day to pray with your spouse. If none of these opportunities exist, take the initiative to start one. God will surely bless your efforts!

3 A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR Resolve to be Merciful Greetings Good People! Most of you are aware that we launched a Holy Year of Mercy on Dec. 8, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. You are most likely also cognizant of Pope Francis motivation for proclaiming this year. In his announcement the Holy Father stated, It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective. If we do nothing else during this Holy Year, each of us must seek forgiveness from the Lord; and we also need to make an effort to forgive others. Mercy is, after all, a two-way street. We receive it, but we must as well show it. In fact, during this month when many make resolutions, let us each resolve to be merciful. That, of course, is not always easy, and sometimes may not even be convenient. Being able to be merciful requires us to look beyond the emotional, past the self-centeredness that may lead us to be angry and unforgiving. The story is related that soon after becoming pope, an interviewer asked Francis to describe himself the pope immediately answered, A sinner. However, he quickly added, Who has been looked upon by the face of mercy. Each of us can recall when we have been looked upon by the face of mercy. This needs to be our motivation for showing to others what we have received. Also, in his letter announcing this Holy Year, the pope called us to have a deep desire for true conversion. This is what stewardship is all about not being self-centered, but God-centered. It asks us to recognize, acknowledge, and share our many gifts. Nevertheless, to do that effectively requires a conversion on our part. That needs to be part of our purpose for this year, too. Stewardship always seems to come back to the concept of love for one another. One of the misnomers and a conclusion many have drawn from the Year of Mercy is that God s essential characteristic is mercy. The Lord s fundamental attribute is love. Mercy is what love looks like when we show it. Therefore, let us resolve to show mercy and love to all we meet, all we know, and all with whom we may work. In Christ Jesus Our Savior, Fr. Richard Eldredge, your pastor Each of us can recall when we have been looked upon by the face of mercy. This needs to be our motivation for showing to others what we have received. 3

4 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community COME HOME: WELCOMING CATHOLICS INT Many of us may tend to think of conversion as something that occurs in the minds and hearts of nonbelievers. However, parishioners Traci and Mark Kurvers, facilitators of Good Shepherd s Come Home Ministry, understand that conversion is a lifelong process affecting all of us as we grow in our individual call to discipleship. I don t think you need to physically ever have been away from the Church to know what it s like to leave, Traci says. Most of us go through phases when our faith wasn t necessarily in perfect alignment with the Church. In the early years of our marriage, Mark and I weren t necessarily away in the sense that we stopped practicing completely, but we went through a period where we really weren t engaged, not even going to Mass each Sunday. God, in His goodness, often uses our imperfections, transforming them into good. In the case of Traci and Mark, this period of non-engagement helped prepare them for their current roles leading Come Home. This evangelization program meets every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in room six of the Hall. Its purpose is to welcome Parishioners Traci and Mark Kurvers, facilitators for the Come Home Ministry fallen-away Catholics back into the Church family, answering their questions and leading them toward the path of active discipleship. We try to make it a welcoming place for people who have been away from the Church, where they can freely ask questions and learn more about the Catholic faith, Mark says. We ve had some people mention issues of coming back to a parish and not feeling welcomed they were just one of hundreds. This is a way to help filter them back in, bringing them into the family. Inspired by similar ministries at surrounding parishes, Come Home began last year as part of the Evangelization Ministry. For Mark and Traci, leading Come Home has been a unique way for them to live out their call to stewardship. Evangelization is more of the abstract, Traci says. Stewardship is really the movement behind it the hands and feet so to speak of evangelization. This ministry is how we walk the walk, truly giving of our time and gifts to evangelize others. It is the action part of that discipleship with God. The ministry aims to provide a warm and caring environment, where people feel safe to share their questions and struggles. It provides them with a place that is completely nonjudgmental a place to vent in a safe zone, Traci says. We re not priests or nuns. We re just normal parishioners who are here to listen and understand. Through Come Home, the Kurvers have encountered people from all walks of life. Some left the Church because of divorce and remarriage; some because of issues with the Church s teachings on contraception and human sexuality; others, rather than leaving because of issues with Church doctrine, left because they were never really engaged in their faith, having never truly encountered Jesus Christ. No matter the individual s history, Come Home is 4

5 O THE FAMILY designed to reach out to these fallen away Catholics, welcoming them home and helping them become active members of our community. We ve seen that although so many people have issues with the Church, at the same time, they are drawn to it, Mark says. So many people say that they just didn t feel right they didn t feel whole or complete and they just needed to come back. By devoting their time to this ministry, the Kurvers have also seen their own faith lives deepen. They have received a fuller knowledge of the Church s teachings, as well as a greater empathy toward the sufferings and failings of others. This has helped me to truly enter into the Scriptures, trying to understand them more fully and really just becoming more engaged, Mark says. If you are a fallen-away Catholic desiring to come home to Mother Church, consider joining Traci and Mark for the next Tuesday gathering. You and your questions are always welcome. Vibrant volunteers, eager to share Christ and His Church s teachings, are also wanted. For more information, please contact Mark and Traci Kurvers at GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Financial Report July 1, 2015 October 31, 2015 Revenue YTD Stewardship 1,076,324 Departmental 10,691 Formation 127,441 Program 38,805 Outreach 9,400 Miscellaneous 63,363 Total Revenue 1,326,024 Expenses Wages, Benefits, Taxes 445,314 Administration 89,294 Facility 138,882 Utilities 50,663 Outreach 91,852 School support 66,367 Formation 54,081 Program 57,122 Diocesan Tax 109,589 Total Expenses 1,103,164 Net Income Transferred to Building Fund 222,860 Building Fund Goals: (As of 11/20/2015) Anticipated cost:...$6,139,943 Funds collected:...$4,606,042 Families Participating Goal:...1,678 (50%) Actual Families Participating:...1,382 (41%) 5

6 GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Community A FAMILY BUILT ON FAITH: When RJ and Nina Muraski first met on their way to a college retreat in 1984, little did they know that their shared van ride was the start of a shared journey through life. As the two St. Mary s University students spent the trip chatting, they soon discovered that they had much in common both were one of seven children, and both were raised in the Midwest. I m from Kansas City and Nina is from Omaha, but we had to go all the way to San Antonio to meet each other, RJ quips. Five sons and 25 years of marriage later, the Muraskis concluded years of travel with RJ s military career by settling down in Texas, where they feel blessed to call Good Shepherd their home parish. Since joining Good Shepherd several years ago, the entire Muraski family has enjoyed involvement in various ministries and groups. Nina works with Children s Liturgy of the Word, washes altar linens and robes, and has taught faith formation and helped with Vacation Bible School. RJ serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, takes part in the Men s Rosary and Discipleship Ministry, and is currently sponsoring a candidate in the RCIA program. Their sons Dennis, 21; Johnathon, 19; William, 17; Thomas, 14; and Joseph, 11 have also been active parishioners, serving in roles such as altar server, usher, and Eucharistic Minister. Both RJ and Nina recognize the fruits that come from their family s involvement in church life. Family is such a fundamental organization, a fundamental unit, to our religion, RJ says. To encourage each other, to grow in faith together, and for Nina and I to be that example, to show that God is there to support us there s so much goodness in that. It s the mortar that holds us together, Nina adds. It is the energy and the food that we need to get through each day. The faith makes us solid as a family. Having both been raised by strong Catholic parents, RJ and Nina hope that the values they are passing down to their sons today will continue to stay with The Muraski family (from left) RJ, William, Dennis, Johnathon, Joseph, Nina, Thomas them into adulthood and instill in them a lasting dedication to good stewardship. I definitely feel that stewardship is what Christ wants us to do, Nina says. We are supposed to be His hands and feet here on earth that was emphasized by the pope when he was here. We are so blessed and it is really important to give, whether it is tithing in the basket or giving of our time. RJ agrees that we are called to give of ourselves to God in many different ways. When people think of stewardship, they think of money, but it s important to remember that it is also about time and talent churches need people just to be present, he says. With your presence, God will use you in any capacity to help the church. Life can certainly get hectic for a family of seven, and it isn t always easy to make the time for stewardship activities. Despite these challenges, the Muraski family stays committed to giving back. 6

7 MEET THE MURASKIS The Muraski family (Back row, from left) William, Nina, RJ, Johnathon. (Front row, from left) Thomas, Joseph, Dennis. It s a focused decision, a conscious one, Nina says. We know it is important and have to make an effort to do it it s a priority that has to be on the top of the list. In addition to instilling Catholic beliefs and values in their sons by practicing their faith as a family unit, RJ and Nina look to the church and Catholic schools to help encourage their children to bring these values with them into adulthood. Nina has seen the benefits of their Small Church Community, or SCC, in this respect. The adults formed the group, but after the first meetings, we saw the kids really wanting to get together, she says. The kids see the importance of their faith and the strength that the community gives you, and we want them to stay involved [with the faith] as they continue to grow. The Muraskis are also thankful for the Catholic schools that help reinforce the values they have taught their sons at home. Two of their sons have graduated from Nolan Catholic High School, where one son is currently a senior. Their two youngest children transferred from a public school to Holy Trinity Catholic School this school year. The Catholic education gives them a firm foundation of how to survive out in the world, Nina says. I really feel that high school is the last chance we have to surround them with good people and learn good choices, and hopefully in college they will [do the same]. RJ, who serves on the School Advisory Board at Nolan High School, also sees Catholic education as a great benefit to students. You can learn and receive education anywhere, but to have that faith to surround and embrace them as they re learning just shapes their minds a little differently, he says. They learn about something bigger than themselves, and it s good to be embraced by other folks of the same faith and great examples of people that will challenge them and incorporate their education with their faith. From a chance van ride 31 years ago to marriage, parenthood, and a transient military lifestyle, RJ and Nina Muraski have grown their lives, and their family, in faith. They feel blessed to call Good Shepherd their home parish. I love the priest and the community, Nina says. They re very warm and welcoming. It feels like family there every time you walk in the door. I definitely feel that stewardship is what Christ wants us to do. We are supposed to be His hands and feet here on earth that was emphasized by the pope when he was here. We are so blessed and it is really important to give, whether it is tithing in the basket or giving of our time. Nina Muraski 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 Lenten Wednesdays continued from front cover leaving us five challenges for the future, Fr. Jonathan says. Our goal over the eight weeks of Lent is to unpack those challenges and help our parishioners to be able to succeed in living out those challenges by equipping them with tools the Church offers us. All of us, whether we realize it or not, have a need in our hearts to grow in our faith. The business of our lives can rob us from being able to fulfill that need. Being able to come to Mass and spend this 30 minutes growing in our faith will help invite God into the rest of our week throughout Lent. There are still tickets available for REBOOT! Live! Tickets are $19, and can be purchased from the volunteer REBOOT! team after weekend Masses, or online at the parish website. I m certain that no one who attends is going to be disappointed, Fr. Jonathan says. If you can t attend, you re going to want to catch up with a friend who did and find out what this event is all about. For those who aren t able to attend, Lenten Wednesdays are open to everyone, and they really build on REBOOT! and everything we experience there. Attending REBOOT! Live! is like a mini retreat. When you go on retreat, you reach a peak and your faith is invigorated, but then it begins to dissipate when you come back home. The Lenten Wednesdays are to kind of help us so that we don t come crashing down off the mountain, but rather are able to continue to grow each week in our faith throughout Lent. For more information on REBOOT! Live! or Lenten Wednesdays, or to find out how you can help make each of these events a success, please contact the parish office at To purchase tickets for REBOOT! Live! please visit 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)