A Letter From Our Pastor

Transcription

1 In this Issue April An Easter Lesson from Rome On the Joy of Stewardship 3 God s Housekeepers: Working Quietly Behind the Scenes 4 A Community Event: 2013 Christ the Redeemer Spring Festival 6 7 St. Mark: Spreading Christ s Message Meet Parish Receptionist Lili Gonzalez Huffmeister Road Houston, TX A Letter From Our Pastor An Easter Lesson from Rome On the Joy of Stewardship Dear Parishioners, As Catholics the world over rejoice on the recent election of Pope Francis, we can look to his predecessor for a great lesson in stewardship. In both his life and his resignation, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI taught us the joy of returning our gifts to God and doing His will. Obviously this is a monumental time in the life of our Church. Like most of you, the news of the pope s resignation in February came as quite a surprise and shock. But as I read more about His Holiness and prayed for him and for our Church, his sense of stewardship and his love for the Church and for all of us became very evident to me. Sometimes as we promote and practice stewardship here in our parish, we may think that Rome has a different idea a separate perspective. Pope Benedict XVI, from the beginning of his papacy, has spoken in stewardship terms. His first papal Encyclical, issued on Christmas Day 2005, was titled Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love). As his first sentence in that book, Benedict XVI cited Holy Scripture from 1 John 4:16, God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Stewardship is an act of love. Benedict s choice to cease being our Holy Father is an act of love, an act of stewardship. In one of his recent Lenten messages, the Pope proclaimed, According to the teaching of continued on back cover

2 Pope Francis Cardinal Electors Surprise the World, Elect a Historic Pope As the white smoke billowed from the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, March 13, the world looked on with the eager crowd in St. Peter s Square to await the declaration: Habemus papam We have a pope! What happened next was a tremendous surprise to many likely including the new Holy Father, Pope Francis. Prior to becoming Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, S.J. was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in his native Argentina. His election was historic in several key ways he is the first pope from the Americas and the first non- European in over 1,000 years. He is also the first Jesuit pope and the first to choose the name Francis. A man of deep humility, Pope Francis likely chose his name to at least in part pay homage to St. Francis of Assisi, a man who lived a life of simple poverty spreading the Gospel and serving the poor. Pope Francis s humble lifestyle has already garnered a great deal of attention from the world media. As Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he eschewed the episcopal palace and limousine, choosing instead to live in a small apartment and ride the bus. Himself a strong proponent of the new evangelization, some have remarked how Pope Francis name also calls to mind another Jesuit, St. Francis Xavier, who was one of the great missionary evangelists in the history of the Church. The new Holy Father will surely seek to bring the legacies of both of these great saints humility and evangelization to the fore during his pontificate. In fact, during his appearance from the window of St. Peter s Basilica on the night of his election, these features were already on display. You all know that the duty of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome it seems that my brother cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him, the new Holy Father said with a laugh. But here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome. He then led the crowd in prayers for his predecessor, Benedict XVI, and spoke briefly of his hopes for renewed evangelization, beginning with Rome. Finally, before giving his first papal blessing to the hundreds of thousands gathered to welcome and congratulate him, he made a uniquely humble request for a newly elected pope. I would like to give the blessing, he said, but first I want to ask you a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me the prayer of the people for their bishop. At 76 years old, no one expected that the cardinal electors would turn again to Cardinal Bergoglio, who had received the second most votes to Cardinal Ratzinger in Nevertheless, given his reputation as a highly intelligent, deeply moral, and above all profoundly humble and holy man, perhaps Pope Francis is perfectly suited to guide the barque of St. Peter through the difficult waters the Church must presently navigate. Please keep Pope Francis in your prayers as he takes up the heavy burden of leading the more than 1 billion Catholics on earth. 2

3 God s Housekeepers: Working Quietly Behind the Scenes Here at Christ the Redeemer, there is a small ministry that quietly works behind the scenes for the benefit of us all. Called God s Housekeepers, these dedicated parishioners show up at the church every Monday morning and demonstrate how living a life of stewardship doesn t have to be complicated, but instead can be quiet, simple and very fulfilling. The purpose of our ministry is to maintain God s house, says Gilberto Pena, who coordinates this ministry along with his wife, Martha. And we do this so that everyone who comes to Mass will find beauty in our place of worship. The volunteers in this ministry are not a cleaning crew instead, after a busy two days of weekend Masses, they come to the church to put things in order and prepare our church for the upcoming week. For around 90 minutes, they replace candles, return any missals or music worship aids to their proper place, dust the altar, and pick up any paper, bulletins or items left behind in the pews. The volunteers also make a note of anything that may need to fixed for example, a broken kneeler and bring it to the attention of the maintenance crew. These are simple tasks but for those involved, it is a wonderful opportunity to be in God s Housekeepers. (Top row, from left) Gilberto Pena, Lyn Legato, Albin Sodolak, Dong Nguyen and Florence Riley. (Middle row, from left) Diane Legato, Neileen Lee, Linda Morales, Cheryl Williams and Anh-Viet Nguyen. (Bottom row, from left) Sylvia Florez, Martha Pena, Mariella Davila, Dorothy Haba and Ginger Elzner. Not pictured: Tommy Hunter. the church, working quietly with no one around, and experiencing that moment in which there is only God s presence and peace. It s a nice time to be in church, says Martha. It s so quiet, and everyone whispers. In fact, since everyone knows what to do, there is really very little talking. You can feel the presence of the Lord as we work. For Gilberto and Martha, being able to live stewardship through the various ministries offered by our parish has been a tremendous blessing on so many levels. When they first joined to the area and joined our parish, they didn t know anyone. After a while, they realized that those who were involved in the parish knew each other, and both Gilberto and Martha wanted to be part of that. So, as a couple, they decided to take that first step and become involved. We needed that family and friendship connection, says Gilberto. And we knew the only way to be part of that was to start getting involved. It didn t take long before the couple not only found ways to share their talents, but also began to meet and make new friends. Today, Gilberto is an usher and a member of the Knights of continued on page 5 3

4 When one thinks of parish fundraisers, a weekend of family fun and fellowship is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But with the 28th Annual Christ the Redeemer Spring Festival one of the biggest yearly fundraisers for our parish that is exactly what you get. The primary purpose of the festival is a parish fundraiser, says Mike Havelka, who chairs the festival with his wife, Camille. It is the church s primary fundraiser each year, but it is also a way for the entire parish to come together to have fun and work together for the community. That is why the theme has always been A Community Event. And it truly is an event for the entire community. No matter who you are, your age, whether you are single, married, retired or still in elementary school, the Spring Festival has something for you. There is something for everyone to do games and rides for the kids, bingo, an auction, crafts, and a flea market for the adults, and a variety of food for A Commu 2013 Christ the Rede all tastes along with entertainment to enjoy, Camille says. It is truly a great way to spend the weekend, or just a few hours, whenever they can attend. And remember, someone will win a new Toyota from our Grand Raffle. This year s Christ the Redeemer Spring Festival will be held on April 27 and 28. This event has been successful for so long largely because of the volunteers who put their time and effort into making the festival the best it can be each year. Volunteers are needed to make this festival happen, Mike says. When the festival first started, it consisted of a handful of wooden booths set up on the front parking lot. Over the years, the Christ the Redeemer community has grown, and so has the festival. We now have over 50 booths with job duties to fill, which require anywhere from two to 12 volunteers per shift, per booth. There are many ways for parishioners to be involved in the festival as volunteers. There is something for everyone to do games and rides for the kids, bingo, an auction, crafts, and a flea market for the adults, and a variety of food for all tastes along with entertainment to enjoy. It is truly a great way to spend the weekend, or just a few hours, whenever they can attend. Camille Havelka 4

5 nity Event emer Spring Festival We encourage everyone to get involved in one way or another, Camille says. It can be as simple as selling your one book of raffle tickets, baking a pie or cake for the sweetshop or Cake Raffle booth, making a donation to the auction, volunteering to take a shift in a booth, chairing a booth, or even helping with setup or teardown. No matter how you choose to participate in the Spring Festival, you will be glad you did. It is a fun way to earn money for the parish and a wonderful event for the community, Mike says. There are many people outside our parish that look forward to coming to our event since it is reasonably priced and lots of fun. For more information about the Spring Festival, or to get involved, please visit the festival website at festival.ctrcc.com, or call Mike and Camille Havelka at God s Housekeepers continued from page 3 Columbus, Martha participates in the Ladies Auxiliary, and both of them spend time in Adoration every Friday night for two hours beginning at midnight. In taking that first step, both of them discovered how in giving, one can get so much more in return. Being part of a parish community is not just about going to church, says Martha. It s about taking that step and reaching out. It s about friendship and camaraderie. It s about commitment, and that commitment motivates you to stay committed. And it is commitment which brings them to the church on those early Monday mornings to put things in order. Many thanks to Gilberto, Martha, and all of God s Housekeepers who give of their time and talent, working quietly behind the scenes to prepare our worship space for the enjoyment of all! Those who are interested in contributing their time and talents to God s Housekeepers may contact Gilberto and Martha Pena at It s a nice time to be in church. It s so quiet, and everyone whispers. In fact, since everyone knows what to do, there is really very little talking. You can feel the presence of the Lord as we work. Martha Pena 5

6 St. Mark: Spreading Christ s Message On April 25, Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Mark, whose Gospel we hear each Sunday throughout this liturgical year. The shortest and oldest of the four Gospels, Mark draws from oral tradition and a document named Q, which contains many of Christ s sayings. Likely written 25 to 30 years after the Ascension, Mark s Gospel serves as a source for those of Matthew and Luke. Setting this Gospel apart from the others, women play an integral role in Mark s Gospel, often understanding with clarity aspects of Christ s message that the apostles had difficulty comprehending. Furthermore, Mark portrays Christ s persecution as a result of His radical challenge to established orders of religion, economy and politics. While the history of Mark s Gospel is fairly accessible, many legends have arisen around him that cause difficulty when attempting to explore this saint s historical persona. Some associate Mark with Simon Peter after the Ascension, and others identify Mark as the young man who ran naked from the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ was arrested. Despite attempts to place Mark in Christ s physical proximity, the most significant depictions recall his activity as a disciple in the early Church. Some scholars say that Mark was a companion of Peter s and was the first Bishop of Alexandria thus, the first pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Mark is also said to be John Mark of the Acts of the Apostles, a cousin of who accompanied Paul on his journeys. However, most do agree on Mark s martyrdom. Tradition has it that he was dragged through the city streets due to his attempts to turn Alexandrians away from Egyptian gods. Although Mark s extraordinary achievements may not seem to align with the lives of the ordinary faithful, his story reminds all Christians of their responsibility to spread the Gospel message. Each believer is summoned to live a life of radical mission one that, like Christ s in Mark s Gospel, defies the status quo in search of greater good and justice. By following Mark s example, Catholics are empowered to continue their presence as a powerful political and social force, always attempting to mirror the kingdom of God on earth. Mark s story reminds all Christians of their responsibility to spread the Gospel message. Each believer is summoned to live a life of radical mission one that, like Christ s in Mark s Gospel, defies the status quo in search of greater good and justice. 6

7 Meet Parish Receptionist Lili Gonzalez Anyone who visits or calls the parish office is likely to speak with Lili Gonzalez, our new parish receptionist. As the first face and voice of our parish people encounter when they call or visit, she is excited to be at Christ the Redeemer and we are excited to have her here! Lili, the oldest of three siblings, was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Her family moved to Houston in 1995, and became parishioners at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Although both of my parents grew up Catholic, back then we weren t really living out our faith, and we attended Mass occasionally, says Lili. It wasn t until both of my parents attended one of the Cursillo retreats that our life would start to change. After this retreat, Sunday Mass became a priority, and we each started to open up our hearts to Christ and His Church. My parents became lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Shortly after, I became part of these ministries, as well. Together with her younger brother and her best friend, Lili started teaching catechesis at the age of 14. Being a catechist was my first taste of service, and I was hooked, Lili says. Ever since, I ve only stopped helping with this ministry for about two years of my life. I New CTR receptionist Lili Gonzalez am currently a catechist at both St. Ambrose and Prince of Peace. In high school, Lili attended youth Bible studies at Prince of Peace, and along with her brother, they enrolled in youth Confirmation classes although they had already celebrated their Confirmations as infants in Mexico. The youth Bible studies, retreats, and conferences enriched my faith, says Lili. I fell in love with God, and I came to find my life to be much easier when I let Him take over. When Lili was 17 years old, Fr. Abelardo Cobos, Prince of Peace s parochial vicar at the time, asked her to help start a Spanish Young Adult Group at the parish. For about five years, she served as coordinator and co-coordinator of the group. During that time, she also met Ismael Morales. He became one of my best friends, Lili says. We started dating early last year, and he is now my fiance. We re scheduled to be married at Prince of Peace in December of this year, and our celebrant will be Fr. Abelardo. Over the years, Lili has worked at one of the Harmony Charter Schools, served as assistant director of Religious Education at St. Ambrose, and worked at the front desk at Prince of Peace. Prior to becoming receptionist at Christ the Redeemer, Lili had previously visited the parish for Mass and for Eucharistic Adoration. She became aware of the job opening through her father, Juan Gonzalez, who has worked as part of the maintenance staff for five years. My favorite part of working here has definitely been being able to go to the 24-hour Adoration Chapel on a daily basis, and being with my dad, Lili says. Also, I love working with a staff where each person has a heart of service. I would like to thank the staff and parishioners here for the warm welcome. Lili takes over for Marjorie Castilla, who recently retired after 14 years of dedicated service to our parish. In that regard, she knows she has big shoes to fill. As Lili settles into her new role, she looks forward to getting to know more parishioners and becoming involved in parish and community activities. We welcome Lili to our parish family! 7

8 11507 Huffmeister Road Houston, TX April 2013 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID PERMIT NO. 47 CYPRESS, TX Mass Schedule Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. An Easter Lesson from Rome continued from front cover the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor. We, too, need to explore the ways we can love one another, just as Benedict has done. We thank him for his example of stewardship, and he remains in our daily prayers. As I write this, we have just received the news that we have a new Holy Father, Pope Francis. May he be as loving, as courageous, as caring, and as good of a stewardship example to all of us. This exciting and monumental time in the Catholic Church coincides with this glorious Easter season we will celebrate during the month of April. I am reminded each day of the many examples of stewardship in action within our parish community. There are so many who give generously and sacrificially of themselves models of stewardship who are an inspiration to me. Sometimes we may think that our celebration ends on Easter, but that is not true in our Catholic tradition. Easter begins what we call the Easter Season, what was originally called Eastertide. We are now in the midst of that glorious time a 50-day period that began at sundown (the Vigil Mass) on Holy Saturday, and culminates on Pentecost Sunday. Blessed John Paul II opened one of his Easter messages by saying, Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. Yes, it is time to continue to proclaim Hallelujah. Yes, we are an Easter people not just on Easter Sunday but also throughout the Easter season, and for that matter throughout our earthly lives. We must strive to convert our happiness into joy for others. Easter people share their hope outwardly and lift up those around them who need it. Christ is risen! Let us rejoice and be glad. Love one another! Hallelujah! Yours in Christ, Rev. Sean P. Horrigan