The Friday E-Pistle| August 29, 2008 | Print this issue |
IN THIS ISSUE
Address changes
Please send changes in staff and volunteer leaders to Shelley Metcalf or fax to (512) 949-2523 . This enables staff and volunteers to receive the Friday e-pistle and other diocesan communications.
Contact Us
The Friday e-pistle is sent to parishes and those serving the Catholic Church in Central Texas every Friday at mid-day. If you have information that you would like to have included in the Friday e-pistle, please send it by Tuesday noon to Christian González, director of Communications. This newsletter may be forwarded to all members of parish staffs and others who minister in the church, either in volunteer or paid positions.
Catholic Diocese of Austin
P.O. Box 15405
Austin, TX 78761-5405
512.949.2400
A message from Bishop Aymond
Priests’ Convocation
The Convocation for Priests is scheduled for Oct. 6-8 at the Marriott Hotel in Round Rock. Notification and registration materials were sent in June. Please register as soon as possible. The topic of the convocation is “Fishers of Men” and will enable us to more deeply reflect on our vocation to ordained ministry.
Pray for legislators
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has misrepresented Catholic Church teaching on the issue of abortion and pro-life. Please join me in prayer for all legislators, especially Catholic legislators that they will more fully understand and accept the teachings of the church on all pro-life and justice issues. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement regarding Speaker Pelosi's comments. You can read that statement at the link below in English and Spanish
- Bishop's statement on Speaker Pelosi's remarks in English
- Bishop's statement on Speaker Pelosi's remarks in Spanish
Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 1, is Labor Day. All diocesan offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.
Adult confirmation
We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for baptized Catholic adults on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin and on May 28 at 7 p.m. at St. Ignatius, Martyr Parish in Austin.
Ministry conference
Online registration for the 2008 Symphony of the Faith: One in Christ is now open. The conference is Oct. 17-18 at the Austin Convention Center. The cost is $25, which includes lunch on Saturday. This year's conference features a keynote presentation by Matthew Kelly and a concert by Jaime Cortez on Friday night and two rounds of workshops and a vigil Mass on Saturday. To register, visit the Web site link below.
Prayers requested
Please remember, in prayer, the following:
• Msgr. Ed Dokupil who is ill.
• Father Charles Van Winkle, CSC, and his family, especially his sister Mary Lou Biggs who died.
• Deacon Eugene (Gene) Morse and his family. His wife Gloria Morse, died Wednesday. The rosary is Sunday at 7 p.m. at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Mass is Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish in Killeen.
Year of the Living Word
Reflection question
Please consider using the following reflection question for the Gospel reading of Sept. 14, the feast of the Holy Cross:
• What stirs in your heart when you see the cross? In which ways does the cross transform your daily life?
Other resources for the Year of the Living Word, including a prayer and how to have a Scripture reflection at the beginning of meetings, are available in English and Spanish at the link below.
Social Concerns
Faithful Citizenship
An audio CD and DVD of Bishop Gregory Aymond’s recent talk on Faithful Citizenship is available for $10. To order, send check or money order to Social Concerns, Faithful Citizenship, 1817 East 6th St., Austin, TX 78702. Please note all deacons, priests, parish social minister or DRE will be sent a courtesy copy of the talk.
Pro-Life Activities
Dispatch
The weekly Dispatch newsletter from the Office of Pro-Life Activities is now available through the E-Pistle. Use the link below to read the most current issue.
Young Adult Ministry
Theology on Tap
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Bishop Gregory Aymond will be the speaker at Theology on Tap at Mother Egan’s in Austin at 7 p.m. Theology on Tap is a ministry for young adults. For more information, contact David Osman at the e-mail below.
Weekly notes
Bishop Aymond's prayer intention
Please consider Bishop Aymond’s prayer intention for the feast of the Holy Cross:
• That as we bear our daily cross and help others bear their cross, we may grow in a deeper relationship with the Risen Christ ...
Blessings and congratulations …
To the following priests on the anniversary of their priestly ordination:
Rev. Isidore Ndagizimana, Sept. 10, 1985 and Rev. Scott Mikkelson, Sept. 11, 1982.
Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM)
Upcoming EIM Basic and Refresher Workshops
EIM Basic or Refresher Workshops are scheduled on a quarterly basis by the EIM Office, coordinating with the EIM site administrator at parishes, schools and other diocesan agencies. Staff of these sites wishing to host a workshop must coordinate with their EIM site administrator. The EIM site administrator should make all workshop requests on the Workshop Request Table which is sent to parishes/schools a few months prior to each new schedule block. Additional workshops will not be not added to the EIM workshop calendar unless the EIM office determines a particular need. EIM site administrators may direct inquiries about EIM workshop scheduling to Emily Hurlimann or Colleen Schiller in the EIM Office at (512) 949-2400.
A schedule of 1˝ hour EIM Refresher Workshops can be found on the EIM homepage linked below:
3-hour EIM Basic Workshops currently scheduled and open to the public are listed here:
| Date | Time | Location | Phone |
| Sat, Sep 4, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, College Station | 512-693-6994 |
| Tue, Sep 7, 2010 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | Emmaus Parish, Lakeway | 512-261-8500 |
| Tue, Sep 7, 2010 | 6 to 9 p.m. | St. John Parish, Marble Falls - En Español | 830-693-5134 |
| Tue, Sep 7, 2010 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | St. Paul Parish, Smithville - En Español | 512-237-3299 |
| Tue, Sep 7, 2010 | 6 to 9 p.m. | St. William Parish, Round Rock - En Español | 512-255-4473 |
| Thu, Sep 9, 2010 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Austin | 512-476-6182 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Mary, Church of the Assumption, Waco | 254-753-0146 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Joseph Parish, Killeen | 254-634-7878 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Mary Catholic School, West, West | 254-826-5991 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. John the Evangelist Parish, San Marcos | 512-353-8969 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Patrick Parish, Hutto | 512-759-3712 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | Holy Family Parish, Copperas Cove | 254-547-3735 |
| Sat, Sep 11, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Edward's University, Main Bldg, Maloney Rm, 3rd flr | 512-448-8548 |
| Sat, Sep 18, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | St. Joseph Parish, Bryan | 979-822-2721 |
| Sat, Sep 18, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | Sacred Heart Parish, La Grange | 979-968-3430 |
| Sat, Sep 18, 2010 | 9 a.m. to noon | Our Lady's Maronite, Austin, Austin | 512-458-3693 |
| Sun, Sep 19, 2010 | 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. | St. Mary, San Saba - En Español | 325-372-3679 |
| Sat, Sep 25, 2010 | 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | St. Mary Parish, Brenham | 979-836-4441 |
| Sun, Oct 3, 2010 | 1 to 4 p.m. | St. Luke Parish, Temple | 254-773-1561 |
| Tue, Oct 5, 2010 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | University Catholic Center, Austin | 512-476-7351 |
| Wed, Oct 6, 2010 | 6 to 9 p.m. | St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Austin | 512-892-2420 |
| Thu, Oct 14, 2010 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | St. Louis Parish, Austin | 512-454-0384 |
Click here to view sample bulletin announcements to let parishioners know of these workshops.