The Friday E-Pistle| January 16, 2009 | Print this issue |
IN THIS ISSUE
- Official appointments
- Priests retreat
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Postcard Campaign on FOCA
- Daily e-mail from the Pastoral Center
- Year of St. Paul Mass and Pro-Life Mass
- Prayers requested
- Resources updated
- Reflection question
- Life Times
- Meet and greet
- Rite of Election
- Free furniture
- Together in God’s Image training
- Special collection money due
- St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School
- Tactics for Tough Times workshop
- BREAD Workshops
- Bishop Aymond's prayer intention
- Blessings and congratulations …
- Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM)
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
Official appointments
In order to serve the people of God, Bishop Aymond has made the following appointments:
• Father Anthony Mbanefo, MSP, as administrator of Ascension Parish in Bastrop, effective immediately.
• Deacon Johnny Ojeda to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Martindale, effective Feb. 1.
Priests retreat
Next week the priests of the diocese will gather for retreat. Please pray for all the priests. I will be with the priests, so in the event of an emergency, please call my assistant Rick Bologna at (512) 949-2415.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, Jan. 19, is the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Diocesan offices will be closed. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The Office of Black Catholics is hosting the seventh annual “Blood of the Martyrs” blood drive on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Blood and Tissue Center van will be parked on Chalmers Street between Eighth and 11th streets on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University. Donors must be at least 17, have a picture ID and a Social Security number. To register in advance, or for more information, contact Johnnie Dorsey at (512) 217-9616 or e-mail him at the address below.
Postcard Campaign on FOCA
The Diocese of Austin will be participating in a national postcard campaign the weekend of Jan. 24-25 to make known our opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). FOCA goes far beyond the Roe v. Wade decision to make abortion an entitlement that the government must fund and promote. This bill would override state regulation of abortion, remove a parent’s right to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision and require states to allow partial-birth abortion and other late-term abortions. Please take the time to educate yourself further on this legislation by visiting the link provided below. The letters provided, both in English and Spanish, are designed to be read at Masses or provided in the bulletin the weekend of Jan. 24-25.
Daily e-mail from the Pastoral Center
On weekdays, a short piece of Scripture, prayer or an uplifting quote is e-mailed to all diocesan staff. “God’s Word for the Catholic Church of Central Texas” is now open to anyone who wishes to subscribe. To subscribe, visit the diocesan home page linked below and look on the right-hand side of the page for "God’s Word for the Catholic Church of Central Texas." Enter your e-mail address and click on "Sign up!"
Year of St. Paul Mass and Pro-Life Mass
The annual Pro-Life Mass on Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at San José Parish in Austin will include a special message in honor of St. Paul as we celebrate the Pauline Year designated by Pope Benedict XVI.
I join the Office of Pro-Life Activities in inviting all Catholics of the diocese to prayerfully unite on behalf of greater respect for all human life at the annual Diocesan Pro-Life Mass scheduled for Jan. 24 at San José Parish in Austin. This Mass will also be a diocesan Mass in honor of St. Paul. A schedule of events follows:
• Prayer Vigil: Participants will gather at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of San José and caravan to Planned Parenthood of South Austin where the rosary will be prayed. The caravan will then return to San José.
• Rosary and Mass for Life: A Rosary for Life will begin at 10 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:30 a.m. All priests of the diocese are invited to concelebrate. A meal (for a nominal fee) will be served in the parish hall following the Mass. I have the honor to preside at this Mass.
• March and Rally for Life: The Texas Alliance for Life will host the annual march and rally at the Capitol following Mass. The march up Congress begins at 1:30 p.m. at Fourth and Guadalupe streets followed by the Rally for Life on the south steps of the Capitol from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Party for Life: Immediately after the rally, Catholics of all ages are invited to a Party for Life at the UT Catholic Center on 2010 University Ave. The Catholic Longhorns for Life and the Office of Pro-Life Activities invite all to tour the UT Catholic Center, to meet our diocesan seminarians and enjoy refreshments, fun and fellowship from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP for this event by calling (512) 949-2487.
For more information about any of these events, call the Office of Pro-Life Activities at (512) 949-2487 or e-mail Marie Seale at the address below.
Prayers requested
• Msgr. Dokupil who has terminal cancer and is in hospice care.
• Msgr. George Tydlacka who had heart surgery.
• Msgr. John Frizelle who was moved to a nursing home.
• Msgr. Oliver Johnson who is moving to the John Paul II Residence for Priests.
• Msgr. Ben Mazurkiewicz who has been diagnosed with bone cancer. He is currently undergoing medical tests.
• Father Matt Iwuji, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Austin, whose second recent surgery went well. He is recovering in ICU at Brackenridge Hospital.
• Msgr. Arthur Michalka and his family. Msgr. Michalka died Tuesday morning.
Year of the Family
Resources updated
New resources have been posted to the Year of the Family Web page including three podcasts produced by the Family Counseling and Family Life Office. These podcasts are on family prayer and nurturing the marriage while raising young children. Also included on the site is a registration flyer for the Region X Meeting of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM). This meeting, which will be held at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center Feb. 16-18, is open to all persons in ministry with families and will focus on the theme, "Ministering to the Changing Catholic Family."
Reflection question
Please consider using the following reflection question for the Gospel reading on the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time:
• Parents, do you teach your children the Gospel with authority? Children, how do you respect your parent's authority?
• ¿Padres, enseñan a sus hijos el Evangelio con autoridad? ¿Hijos, como respetan la autoridad de sus padres?
Other resources for the Year of the Family, in English and Spanish, are available at the link below.
Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living
Life Times
The current edition of the quarterly Life Times newsletter is available at the link below.
Office of Worship
Meet and greet
The Office of Worship has a new director and a new look. Music ministers are invited to visit the new Pastoral Center and meet Cheryl Maxwell on Feb. 5 from 1 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments, sheet music, tapes and CDs will be offered. See the flyer linked below for more information.
Rite of Election
The Austin Diocese will celebrate the Rite of Election and Call to the Easter Sacraments on the following dates:
• March 1 at San José Parish in Austin at 4:30 p.m.
• March 2 at Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove at 7 p.m.
• March 3 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in College Station at 7 p.m.
This Rite is for the Catechumens (non-baptized adults) who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and for the Candidates (uncatechized adults) who are already baptized and are preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist in the Catholic Church.
In order to prepare for Rite of Election all participating parishes are asked to fill out and return the electronic Parish Participation Form along with an Excel spreadsheet containing the names of the Candidates and Catechumens by Feb. 2, 2009. The form can be found on the Worship Office Resource page of the Diocesan Web site or by contacting the Office of Worship at (512) 949-2429. Use the link below to see this Web page. Any forms returned after the due date may not be honored due to space constraints.
Baptized Catholic Adults preparing for Confirmation only are a different group and should not attend this Rite. They should be preparing for the diocesan Adult Confirmation to be celebrated on May 28.
Facilities Planning Office
Free furniture
The recent consolidation of the Diocese of Austin offices to the new Pastoral Center has resulted in a large supply of used office furniture, which is now stored in an Austin warehouse. This furniture consists of desks, credenzas, file cabinets, tables, chairs, bookshelves, etc… These items are being offered first to the parishes and ministries of the diocese. If you are interested in inspecting the available items, please contact David Devine at (512) 970-8584 to schedule an appointment during the week of Jan. 19. The warehouse will be available for furniture pick up Jan. 22-24. The furniture is being offered at no cost to parishes. You will need to provide your own transportation. Any furniture that remains after Jan. 24 will be given to charities. To see some of the furniture, visit the Web site linked below.
Family Counseling and Family Life
Together in God’s Image training
All priests, deacons, sponsor couples and marriage preparation volunteers are invited to facilitator training on using the diocesan marriage preparation program, Together in God’s Image, on the following dates:
• Jan. 31 at the new diocesan Pastoral Center at 6225 Highway 290 East
• Feb. 21 at St. Joseph Parish, 600 26th St. in Bryan
The workshops will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both dates. Lunch is on your own.
The Together in God’s Image Marriage Preparation Program covers all the new guidelines of the U.S. Bishops for marriage preparation, is available in English and Spanish, offers an easy-to-use DVD and facilitated discussion/activity format and allows couples to waive their $60 marriage license fee.
To register, call Lynda DeGroot at (512) 949-2495 or e-mail her at the address below.
Finance
Special collection money due
Please send funds collected for the Propagation of the Faith/World Mission Sunday Special Collection (taken up Oct. 18-19) to the diocesan Finance Office as soon as possible.
Catholic Schools
St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School
St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, in northwest Austin, is now accepting enrollment for the ninth and 10th grades for the 2009-2010 school year. Please click on the link below to download three new school flyers (Faith, Scholarship, and Witness) and the recent Catholic Spirit insert.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Tactics for Tough Times workshop
People who have recently lost their job, had their hours cut back or who are worried about making their rent or house payments because of the recent economic downturn are encouraged to attend the Tactics for Tough Times workshop on Jan. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at St. Albert the Great Parish. The workshop is free and open to the public. To register, call (512) 651-6100 or (866) 464-9494.
BREAD Workshops
The following are the Project: BREAD (Bringing Respect, Empowerment, Advocacy, Dignity )Workshops for January 2009:
• Una Charla de Asuntos Inmigrantes, in Spanish, Cristo Rey Parish, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., free
• Budgeting/Money Matters, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, in English, Jan. 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., free
• Borrowing/Understanding Your Credit, Catholic Charities, in English, Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m. to noon, free
Weekly notes
Bishop Aymond's prayer intention
Please consider Bishop Aymond’s prayer intention for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time:
• For all newly inaugurated officials, that they will be responsive to God’s spirit and guidance in their governance …
• Por todas las nuevas autoridades gubernamentales, para que sean receptivas al espíritu de Dios y una guía en su gobierno ...
Blessings and congratulations …
To the following priests on the anniversary of their priestly ordination:
Very Rev. James Olnhausen, Jan. 24, 1970, and Rev. Gilber Ibarguen Gomez, Jan. 29, 1994.
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 1½ 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.