Stillwater Catholic SERVING ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISHES

THE Stillwater Catholic SERVING ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISHES IN THIS ISSUE 2 3 4 6 Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive The United States Welcomes Pope Francis September: An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World Forming Disciples Through Our Youth Ministry This Month s Update on Our Parish Facilities Project SEPTEMBER 2015 The Martinez Family: Friends With Jesus On First Fridays, you can find the Martinez family at our parish, spending some quality time with their best friend. They talk to Him, hand Him their burdens, listen to His wise advice, and adore Him. After they leave, they are satiated with peace, joy and hope. I really like going to adoration, and being at church, Marselina Martinez says. It makes me feel tranquil, and the children enjoy it as well. This friend is Jesus Christ, hidden with magnificent humility in the Eucharist. Day after day, Jaime and Marselina Martinez and their children, Mirella, Jennifer and Cristobal, make a point of following in the footsteps of their heavenly friend the best they can. We have been going to Mass together for 20 years, Jaime says. I try to teach my family to have faith, be honest and go to Mass every Sunday. We try to pray together as a family often. We have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and we pray the Rosary together at times. Marselina and I are both from Mexico, and when we go home to see our families, we always try to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. They also live out their love for Christ by being faithful, active parishioners, and stewards of their time, talent and treasure. Their children savor the chance to go to Vacation Bible School almost every year, and like to pitch in to make it a great success. They can t say enough good things about it! continued on back cover

The Stillwater Catholic Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive The United States Welcomes Pope Francis Pope Francis has traveled to Israel, Brazil and Turkey, among other countries throughout the past 30 months of his papacy. This fall, our Holy Father will travel to the United States for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. This papal visit will be a historic event for the United States. Many expect Pope Francis to speak about immigration and our responsibility as stewards of creation along with other current topics of interest. On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 22, the pontiff will travel from Cuba to the United States. The following day, the leader of our Church and the leader of our country will convene at the White House. President Obama has called Pope Francis transformative, publicly thanking the pontiff for his moral example and his instrumental role in furthering relations between the United States and Cuba. After midday prayer on Sept. 23 with bishops at St. Matthew s Cathedral, Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Junipero Serra, the Spanish Franciscan instrumental in establishing the California missions, at a Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In keeping with his reputation for the unprecedented, Pope Francis will then speak to a joint session of the United States Congress on the morning of Sept. 24, thus becoming the first pope to address Congress. Afterwards, Pope Francis will visit St. Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington before departing for New York City and arriving to participate in Vespers at St. Patrick s Cathedral. On Sept. 25, Pope Francis will become the fourth leader of the Catholic Church to visit the United Nations and speak to the United Nations General Assembly. From the United Nations, Pope Francis will travel to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site. There, he will lead an interfaith service for peace. Despite his limited days on American soil, Pope Francis designated time to visit Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem. The pope will be received by a largely immigrant student population at this Partnership School, which is one of a six-school organization devoted to urban Catholic education in the communities of South Bronx and Harlem. The celebration of Mass at Madison Square Garden concludes this last full day in New York City. After arriving in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and then speak at Independence Hall on immigration and religious freedom. In the evening, the pope will at last arrive at the World Meeting of Families 2015, the theme of which, chosen by Pope Francis, is Love Is Our Mission: the Family Fully Alive. That evening, he will be the guest of honor at the Festival of Families. On Sept. 27, the pope will convene with bishops at St. Martin s Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary before visiting the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, where he will meet with select prisoners and their families. In the afternoon, Pope Francis returns to the World Meeting of Families to celebrate the concluding Mass at Benjamin Franklin Parkway before departing in the evening for Rome. As we prepare for the Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis actions exemplify for us the Corporal Works of Mercy. Let us remember our call as Christians to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ. 2

A Letter From Our Pastors September: An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World Dear Parishioners, In his letters, St. Paul often began by greeting his brothers and sisters. Every time we read one of these letters, it reminds us that we are all truly sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ, the Church, but especially here in our own parish. We need to understand that we are indeed a family, and the way we see and treat one another is fundamental to the health and happiness of this family. Our spiritual family doesn t stop at the walls of our church, but rather, extends to include every man and woman created in God s image and likeness. You may be familiar with the term Catholic Social Teaching, which is built on a commitment to the poor. These are the beliefs that guide Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and they lay the framework for the Church s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Once we make a commitment to be disciples of Jesus and pursue stewardship as a way of life, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching become very easy to incorporate into our lives. Catholic Social Teaching has been around since those first followers of Jesus tried to balance their new faith with the realities of living in a world of Roman oppression. Jesus reminded His disciples then, just as He reminds us now, that caring for and administering to the poor should be at the core of all we do. Recall when the Lord said in Matthew, For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave me clothing; I was ill and you cared for me; I was in prison and you visited me. This is our foundation as we seek to embody mercy and justice to our fellow man, and should be one of our major goals as a faith community. Many of our parish ministries provide for us an opportunity to do just as Jesus asked; to serve those most in need. As we move into the fall season, with Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas soon to follow, now is a good time for us to recommit ourselves to addressing the needs we see around us both as a parish society and as individuals. We are proud of our collective efforts in assisting and serving the poor, but we also know that we can do more. Many of us personally need to get involved in these efforts. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has a great love and regard for the poor and, like Jesus, he reminds us often of what we need to do. In a recent homily, Pope Francis said, The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty. Together, we can make a difference. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Kenneth Harder and Fr. Stuart Crevcoure Pastors 3

The Stillwater Catholic Forming Disciples Throu Youth group members posing with Pope Francis, cardboard cutout-style. Youth Group members race for their seats at the Steubenville conference. (From left) Sydney Weiser, Elizabeth Nieman, Ana Sanchez, Dana Raun, Bianka Ponce, and Mary Arena. Youth Minister Sara Greenlee takes to heart the lesson of Matthew 28:19-20 Go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. For Sara, the nation that needs discipleship is in her own backyard! Sara is entering her second year as the full-time youth minister, after graduating from Oklahoma State with a degree in microbiology. The youth group serves parishioners from both St. Francis Xavier and St. John the Evangelist. This is my missionary work! Sara says. God put this in my face. It s kind of incredible how He made this happen. Youth Ministry covers a wide array of programming weekly middle school and high school groups, as well as Coffee with Christ on Tuesdays before school and a Wednesday lunch for high-schoolers. An area of particular impact has been the Discipleship Groups small-faith communities for high school participants to deepen their faith with their peers. Discipleship groups are critical that human interaction, that human relationship, Sara says. Katelyn Bishop has been an active participant in the Youth Ministry programs this past year. For Katelyn, involvement in the Discipleship Group was a positive, growing experience. I loved how everyone was, she says. Whether that be in learning or helping others, I m just very proud to say that I m part of such an outstanding group. The same ethos of encounter animates the Confirmation program. With only 12 teens last year, Sara was able to take a uniquely personal approach. Using Matthew Kelly s Decision Point program, Confirmation candidates would watch one video at a time, and then, meet individually with Sara for discussion. I reiterated a lot of the key facts of the chapter, Sara says. We explored a lot of the topics that way and related it to their lives. That went really well. I m proud of my Confirmation kids! Youth Group members waiting to be the first ones through the gates for a Steubenville session. The Youth Ministry program relies on the sup are interested in offering your time and talent Greenlee by phone at 405-332-1701, or emai 4

gh Our Youth Ministry Confirmation is not graduation for the Church, however, and school letting out doesn t mean Youth Ministry is on summer vacation! High-schoolers were able to attend the Steubenville Mid-America youth conference, hosted by Franciscan University of Steubenville and held at Missouri State University, July 17-19. The Youth Ministry program brought 14 youth to the event. It was everybody s first time, Sara says. Every single one of them got so much out of it. They got to the arena an hour early [for] lunch and confession, they were always the first to get in line. Featuring nationally known speakers such as Ennie Hickman and Leah Darrow, the conference also included abundant opportunities for the sacramental encounters with Christ. The highlight for most kids is adoration, Sara says. Not only was it Jesus, but it was also 4,000 teens all in one place being silent, all understanding what s actually happening right now. To experience that all together, you can feel that Catholic, universal sense. Youth Ministry also sponsored a week of the Totus Tuus program, from July 26-30. Grade school-age children participate in a Bible school-like setting during the morning, while middle and high school students took part in an evening program. Sara knows that Youth Ministry is essential, particularly for teens coming of age in a tumultuous culture. We need to know our faith so we can evangelize, so we re speaking truth, so we re defending the Gospel, she says. The youth agree. In a world that offers to fill us with so many false hopes, Katelyn has come to realize the importance of relying on God. She shares a quote that inspires her faith. A great quote comes from Fr. Leo (Patalinghug) The health of a Christian is not on how filled he is, but how hungry he is, she says. As a disciple, we must open ourselves up to Christ and be prepared to be filled with grace. Youth group members made it to the stage at the 5,000-person conference. Youth from St. Francis Xavier and St. John Evangelist at the 2015 Steubenville Mid-America conference. port of parents and volunteers to thrive. If you to this essential ministry, please contact Sara l at stillwatercatholicyouth@yahoo.com. Steubenville Mid-America draws 5,000 participants. Parish youth were able to experience a microcosm of the universal Church. 5

The Stillwater Catholic This Month s Upda on O Good progress has been made on Phase I earthwork on our new church project. As of this writing the first week in August we have had 16 cumulative rain days when no work could be done, and no accidents have occurred. Our expected completion date has now been pushed to the middle of September 2015. The five photos below show various aspects of construction progress, taken on July 31, Aug. 6, and Aug. 8, approximately two and a half months from the start of construction. Rough completion of detention pond (central greenway area) looking south from main church entrance, July 31. (This is to be covered with top soil and then grass-seeded.) Large fill along east fence line looking north (compare with fence height), July 31. Illustrating amount of cut from original surface around test well for ground source heat pump, looking northeast, Aug 6. Future south drive approach from Country Club Road, formed but not cast, looking north, July 31. 6

te ur Parish Facilities Project Flintco, our general contractor, estimates that as of Aug. 5, approximately 82 percent of the rough grading earthwork and 45 percent of the fine grading has been completed. This does not include installation of underground utilities, which are also part of this Phase I. We continue to await drawings and specifications from our architects that incorporate our value engineering changes, for our review and approval before proceeding with re-bidding for the remaining work in Phase II. We also continue to await engineering work on our fire safety water line from Sixth St. We have decided to move the fire pump and pump house from the north side of the fellowship hall kitchen to the edge of the wooded area south of the detention pond, where it can be hidden. This will save both piping costs and pumphouse costs. These changes are being incorporated into our re-bid package. We and the City of Stillwater staff have received the draft report of a formal land survey detailing the boundaries of our land swap arrangement within the area of our 12 th Ave. property, which will render our property contiguous, with good access to 12 th Ave. After review, we recommended a few minor changes, and the survey firm has been requested to incorporate these changes into their final report. Once these results are in hand and approved by both city staff and us, a document will be prepared by the City Attorney and sent to the City Commission for approval. We expect several more months, at the least. After formal approval by the city, we will put the property up for sale, with net proceeds pledged to our new church project. Please continue with your prayers for success of this project and your pledge fulfillments. Main north drive approach from Country Club Road, looking northeast, Aug. 8. 7

The Catholic Community of Stillwater St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church PO Box 909 Stillwater, OK 74076 Web: www.stfrancisxavierstillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6886 St. John University Parish and Catholic Student Center 201 N. Knoblock St. Stillwater, OK 74075 Web: www.stjohn-stillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6408 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 58040 PERMIT NO. 3 St. Francis Xavier Sunday Mass Saturday Vigil, 5 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. (Español) Daily Mass Tuesday - Thursday, 8 a.m., Friday, 12:10 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesday, 5:45-7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Change Service Requested St. John the Evangelist Sunday Mass Saturday Vigil, 6 p.m. Sunday, 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5 p.m. during semester Daily Mass Mondays at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, 12:10 p.m. & 9 p.m. during semester Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday, 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Martinez Family continued from front cover They always say they learn a lot about Jesus there, Jaime says. Furthermore, as a family, they see giving as an integral part of their lives. We try to help however we can at church, and do whatever needs to be done, Jaime says. The parish is like a second family to us. At this time, Cristobal gives his time as an altar server, and feels honored to do so. It was his idea to become a server, Jaime says. He really likes to help the priest at Mass, and it helps him to learn about the Catholic faith. As the father of the family, Jaime strives to bring the beauty of the Catholic faith to his family the best that he can. I wish all Latin Americans would remember where we come from, and the faith that we always have traditionally had in the Church and in the Catholic faith, he says. I don t believe that it is right to just go to a non-catholic church for various reasons, like because they have a good band, or because they offer to help us. We know the Catholic faith that we grew up with, that our parents have taught us. Marselina and I want to stay Catholic and we want to help our children stay Catholic, too. I try to teach my family to have faith, be honest and go to Mass every Sunday. We try to pray together as a family often. We have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and we pray the Rosary together at times. Marselina and I are both from Mexico, and when we go home to see our families, we always try to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Jaime Martinez