Fall `07 Olive Branch - Saint Patrick Parish

St. Patrick’s Church
1500 Vine Street
Hudson, WI 54016
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Hudson, WI 54016
Permit No. 5
Calendar of Events
We gratefully acknowledge Mr. Ron Gagnon’s generous contribution to cover newsletter mailing expenses.
Calendar
of Events
August
September
7
Knights of Columbus Meeting
9
Knights of Columbus
We gratefully
acknowledge Mr. Ron14-16
Gagnon’s
generous contribution to cover newsletter mailing expenses.
10
Solemn Profession as a
Fall Fest Weekend
AugustCarmelite for Sr. Sheryl Guzek
September
25
Pastoral Council Meeting
7
Knights Council
of Columbus
Meeting
9
Knights of Columbus
28
Pastoral
Meeting
10
Solemn Profession as a
14-16 Fall Fest Weekend
On JuneCarmelite
third, hundreds
and admirers
Bernadette
Kalscheur
for of
Sr.friends,
Sherylfamily,
Guzek
25 of Sr.Pastoral
Council
Meeting
gathered
at
St.
Patrick
Church
during
and
after
the
11:00
Mass,
to
honor
and
28
Pastoral Council Meeting
celebrate her seventieth anniversary as a School Sister of St. Francis (SSSF).
MC, John Knutson and a parade of guests shared jokes, memories & stories about
On June
third,
of Later,
friends,
admirers
Bernadette
Kalscheur
our
beloved
Sr. hundreds
Bernadette.
shefamily,
spokeand
briefly
about of
herSr.own
special memories
gathered
St.the
Patrick
Church
during
after She
the made
11:00 special
Mass, to
honor
of family,atand
life she
has led
beingand
a SSSF.
note
thatand
being the
celebrateMinister
her seventieth
anniversary
as first
a School
Sister
St. Francis
(SSSF).
Pastoral
at St. Patrick’s
is the
job she
everofchose.
A decision
we are most
MC,
John
andthe
a parade
of guests
jokes,
memories
about
grateful
for!Knutson
Following
festivities
in theshared
church,
guests
gathered&instories
the social
hall
ourabeloved
Sr. Bernadette.
Later, she spoke briefly about her own special memories
for
wonderful
meal.
of family, and the life she has led being a SSSF. She made special note that being the
Right:
Bernadette
with aislife
herself
and A
herdecision
portrait we
thatarewas
PastoralSr.
Minister
at St.poses
Patrick’s
thesize
firstcut
jobout
sheofever
chose.
most
taken
shortly
she joined
the Schoolin
Sisters
of St. Francis.
grateful
for! after
Following
the festivities
the church,
guests gathered in the social hall
for aRight:
wonderful
meal.
Far
Sr. Bernadette
waits as MC John Knutson introduces the next speaker.
Right: Sr. Bernadette poses with a life size cut out of herself and her portrait that was
taken shortly after she joined the School Sisters of St. Francis.
ELLNER’S
WindoW
TreaTmenTs
Far Right: Sr. Bernadette waits as MC John Knutson introduces the next speaker.
& cusTom closeTs
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Fall 2007
The Carmelite Sisters…
of Hudson, Sisters…
Wisconsin
The Carmelite
of Hudson, Wisconsin
By Mary Pat Finnegan
The Wisconsin/
Pennsylvania Connection
In the early 1960s the Carmelite monastery
in
Allentown,
Pennsylvania (Carmel of the
The
Wisconsin/
Little
Flower), was
home to approximately
Pennsylvania
Connection
thirty
nuns.
One
of
nuns, Sr.
Joseph
In the early 1960s thethose
Carmelite
monastery
Marie,
had cousins
in our diocese
near
in Allentown,
Pennsylvania
(Carmel
of the
Tomahawk.
fact,home
one of
second
Little Flower),Inwas
to her
approximately
cousins
was Fr.
Raymond
thirty nuns.
One
of thoseSchoone,
nuns, Sr. the
Joseph
bishop’s
secretary.
Sr.
Joseph
Marienear
wrote
Marie, had cousins in our diocese
to
her cousinIn
and
to Bishop
Hammes
Tomahawk.
fact,
one of her
secondto ask
if
they
would
welcome
a
Carmelite
cousins was Fr. Raymond Schoone, monasthe
tery
in this
area. The
supported
the
bishop’s
secretary.
Sr. Bishop
Joseph Marie
wrote
idea
and
believed
this
area
could
financially
to her cousin and to Bishop Hammes to ask
support
a monastery.
selected a monasnumber
if they would
welcomeHe
a Carmelite
of
possible
locations,
which
were
then
tery in this area. The Bishop supportedprethe
sented
tobelieved
the sisters.
chose financially
Hudson.
idea and
thisThey
area could
Money
the monastery
came from
many
supportfor
a monastery.
He selected
a number
sources:
$10,000
fromwhich
the Diocese
of Supeof possible
locations,
were then
prerior;
a generous
donation
benefactor
sented
to the sisters.
Theyfrom
chosea Hudson.
in
Allentown;
funds raised
St. Patrick
Money
for theand
monastery
came at
from
many
Parish—an
effort
spearheaded
by
Lawrence
sources: $10,000 from the Diocese of SupeGherty.
rior; a generous donation from a benefactor
in Allentown; and funds raised at St. Patrick
A
private residence
consisting of
buildParish—an
effort spearheaded
bytwo
Lawrence
ings
on
a
six-acre
lot
was
purchased
in
Gherty.
1963. On August 19, 1963, four Carmelite
sisters
andresidence
one candidate
madeofthe
A private
consisting
twojourney
buildfrom
their
monastery
in
Allentown
ings on a six-acre lot was purchased to
in the
new
monastery
in four
Hudson.
The
1963.Carmelite
On August
19, 1963,
Carmelite
monastery
was candidate
dedicated made
to the the
Sacred
sisters and one
journey
Heart
of Jesus
and is known
to this to
daythe
as
from their
monastery
in Allentown
Carmel
of
the
Sacred
Heart.
new Carmelite monastery in Hudson. The
monastery was dedicated to the Sacred
Carmel
of the
Heart
Heart of Jesus
andSacred
is known
to this day as
Currently
are sixHeart.
sisters who reside
Carmel of there
the Sacred
at the monastery: Sr. Sheryl Guzek, Sr.
Gemma
Jane Winkler,
CarmelAngelo,
of the Sr.
Sacred
Heart Sr. Mary
Currently there are six sisters who reside
at the monastery: Sr. Sheryl Guzek, Sr.
Gemma Angelo, Sr. Jane Winkler, Sr. Mary
By Mary Pat Finnegan
Front Row: Srs. Sheryl Guzek, Gemma Angelo, and Jane Winkler
Back Row: Srs. Mary O’Neill, Lucia LaMontagne, and Grace Rocha
O’Neill, Sr. Lucia LaMontagne, and Sr.
Grace Row:
Rocha.Srs.
Sr.Sheryl
Gemma
and Gemma
Sr. MaryAngelo, and Jane Winkler
Front
Guzek,
have been
the Mary
monastery
since
it was
Back
Row:atSrs.
O’Neill,
Lucia
LaMontagne, and Grace Rocha
founded.
Sr.
Lucia,
the
prioress,
arrived
O’Neill, Sr. Lucia LaMontagne, and Sr.
from
1964. and Sr. Mary
GraceAllentown
Rocha. Sr.inGemma
have been at the monastery since it was
Look For Information
Over
the forty
plus years
they have
lived
founded.
Sr. Lucia,
the prioress,
arrived
in
our
community,
they
have
seen
changes
from Allentown in 1964.
in Hudson and within the Church. The
changes
byyears
Vatican
meant
Look For Information
Over thewrought
forty plus
theyIIhave
lived
changes
for
the
Carmelites,
too.
The
methin our community, they have seen changes
ods
of renewal
religious
life focused
on
in Hudson
andfor
within
the Church.
The
achanges
return wrought
to the order’s
original
inspiration
by Vatican II meant
as
well asfor
anthe
adaptation
to present
circumchanges
Carmelites,
too. The
methstances.
As
a
result,
the
Carmelites
began
ods of renewal for religious life focused
on
to
engagetointhe
a lot
of study
of their
spirituala return
order’s
original
inspiration
ity
and as
tradition.
This was
an instance
of
as well
an adaptation
to present
circumhistory
repeating
itself
as
St.
Teresa
of
Avila
stances. As a result, the Carmelites began
In The
Next Issue
In TheAbout:
•Next
The PCCWIssue
Continued on page 3
to engage in a lot of study of their spirituality and tradition. This was an instance of
history repeating itself as St. Teresa of Avila
Continued on page 3
About:
• Father Fred
The PCCW
• Parish
Committees
Fred
• Father
New Lay
Ministers
• Parish
DeaconCommittees
Ken Schaffer
New Lay
Ministers
• DRE
Larry
Huiras
• Deacon Ken Schaffer
• DRE Larry Huiras
Parr for the Course…
Not many of us know how to speak Greek,
but we may be surprised to realize that we
do know a few Greek words. On occasion
at Mass we pray “Kyrie Eleison,” which is
Greek (not Latin!) and means “Lord have
mercy.” We may recall that the Greek word
for fish is “ichthos” and early Christians
used each letter as a way of proclaiming “Jesus the Christ, Son of God, Savior.” Often
as Catholics we have heard the Greek word
“metanoia,” which, in Mark’s Gospel, is the
first word spoken by Jesus. It means “change
of heart.”
At Saint Patrick Parish we use an English
word to describe the change of heart that is
the lifelong call and challenge of Christian
discipleship. We call that change of heart
‘stewardship.’ The good steward recognizes
that it is not what happens to him that is
of greatest importance, but rather what
happens in him. The good steward wants
gratitude to happen, and praise of God, and
generosity to God’s people.
Now and in the time to come, our parish
family is being invited to that change of
heart that happens when we not only name
Jesus as Lord but desire to live His Lordship. It is the change of heart that comes to
those who recognize that our lives are not
about us but about the Lord who lives in
us. It is the change of heart that recognizes
we are called not just to say great things but
also to do them.
Last fall all parishioners received the first of
what will be an annual stewardship mailing. The mailing asked all parishioners
to respond to God’s goodness by sharing
From The Principal’s Desk…
their gifts of mind and heart in service to
others and to offer their financial contributions as a response of love. I thank God for
those who offered their service to others as
a catechist or liturgical minister or electrician or one who promised to pray daily for
parish intentions. I thank God for all people
of faith who embrace opportunities to live
for others.
The call of stewardship is a Gospel call.
Christ the Good Steward wants to bring
forth from the storeroom of our hearts
miracles that can be realized only by acts
of faith in Him and sacrificial love for the
Church. May Christ, who is forever generous, bring all of us to that “metanoia” that
will make good stewards of us all.
Father John Parr
Who are the Carmelites?
By Mary Pat Finnegan
Carmelites are an ancient order. While
there is no precise date, it is widely held
that near the beginning of the 13th century,
a group of hermits who had traveled from
Europe began to dwell in solitary caves on
Mt. Carmel to follow the Gospel call to
pray always.
Mt. Carmel lies in present day Israel, near
the city of Haifa. It is mentioned several
times in the bible for its beauty (the name
Carmel means “orchard,” “vineyard” or
“the garden land”) but it is best known as
the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the
prophets of Baal, a pagan god whose cult
was widespread in ancient Phoenician and
Canaanite lands.
The hermits sought to emulate Elijah by
living in the presence of and bearing witness to God. They were also spiritually
attached to Mary, Mother of Jesus, whom
they honored as a model of complete devotion. Early on they petitioned St. Albert,
Patriarch of Jerusalem, to ask for a “formula
of life” to guide them.
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Around 1209 Albert gave them a Rule of
Life – The Carmelite Rule. The Carmelite
Rule of St. Albert is the shortest of all known
Rules, almost exclusively made up of biblical precepts. To this day it is a rich source
of inspiration for life. It has remained the
basis of all Carmelite life for almost eight
centuries.
After the Crusades it was no longer safe for
the Carmelite brothers to live on and near
Mt. Carmel. They brought the Carmelite
Rule to Cyprus. Eventually they also went
to Sicily, Italy, France, and by 1240, to
England. In Europe they lived much like
the Dominicans and the Franciscans.
Women joined the Carmelites in 1452.
This Second Order comprised of nuns, was
welcomed by the Blessed John Soreth, Prior
General of the Order.
Currently there are three women who are
Doctors of the Church (see side story). Two
of those women are Carmelite nuns, St.
Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux.
Summer, a time to relax, rejuvenate, and
refresh. It’s a time for family gatherings,
ballgames, bar-b-ques, graduations, weddings, and fun in the sun.
Take some time this summer for fun and
St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) is known
as “The Little Flower.” Her philosophy of
attending to everyone and everything well
and with love is described in her autobiography, Story of a Soul.
The Third Order is the Lay Carmelites.
It is an association of lay people who, in
response to a call from God, freely and
willingly promise to live the Gospel in the
spirit of the Carmelite Order and under its
guidance.
May God bless you.
Mary Piasecki
Principal
There are currently 33 proclaimed Doctors
of the Catholic Church. All of the Doctors
are saints (a prerequisite) who have shown
holiness and a type of spirituality that is
exemplary. The Pope is the only one with
the power to confer the title “Doctor” of
the Church. By his proclamation, the Holy
Father is acknowledging and honoring the
saintly individual for his or her message,
and or example that has and continues to
benefit all members of the Church.
1-St. Albert - proclaimed in 1932
by Pius XI
2-St. Alphonsus - proclaimed in 1871
by Pius IX
3-St. Ambrose - proclaimed in 1298
by Boniface VIII
4-St. Anselm - proclaimed in 1720
by Innocent XIII
5-St. Anthony - proclaimed in 1946
by Pius XII
6-St. Athanasius - proclaimed in 1568
by Pius V
7-St. Augustine - proclaimed in 1298
by Boniface VIII
8-St. Basil - proclaimed in 1568
by Pius V
9-St. Bede - proclaimed in 1899
by Leo XIII
10-St. Bernard - proclaimed in 1830
by Pius VIII
11-St. Bonaventure - proclaimed in 1588
by Sixtus V
12-St. Catherine - proclaimed in 1970
by Paul VI
13-St. Cyril of Alexandria - proclaimed
in 1882 by Leo XIII
14-St. Cyril of Jerusalem - proclaimed
in 1882 by Leo XIII
15-St. Ephraem - proclaimed in 1920
by Benedict XV
16-St. Francis de Sales - proclaimed in 1877
by Pius IX
17-St. Gregory - proclaimed in 1298
by Boniface VIII
18-St. Gregory Nazianzus - proclaimed in 1568
by Pius V
19-St. Hilary - proclaimed in 1851 by Pius IX
20-St. Isidore - proclaimed in 1722 by Clement XI
21-St. Jerome - proclaimed in 1298
by Boniface VIII
22-St. John Chrysostom - proclaimed in 1568
by Pius V
23-St. John of the Cross - proclaimed in 1926
by Benedict XV
24-St. John Damascene - proclaimed in 1890
by Leo XIII
25-St. Lawrence - proclaimed in 1959
by John XXIII
26-St. Leo - proclaimed in 1754 by Benedict XIV
27-St. Peter Canisius - proclaimed in 1925
by Pius XI
28-St. Peter Chrysologus - proclaimed in 1729
by Benedict XIII
29-St. Peter Damian - proclaimed in 1828
by Leo XII
30-St. Robert - proclaimed in 1931 by Pius XI
31-St. Teresa - proclaimed in 1970 by Paul VI
32-St. Therese - proclaimed in 1997
by John Paul II
33-St. Thomas - proclaimed in 1568 by Pius V
(Dates and proclamations by Stephen Banyra listed in the
“National Catholic Register” newspaper on 11/2/97)
The Olive Branch
Published by: Saint Patrick’s Church Editor: Mary Pat Finnegan
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In 2001 there were approximately 2,100
men in 25 provinces in the First Order, 700
enclosed nuns in 70 monasteries in the Second Order, and 13 affiliated congregations
and institutes. In addition, the Lay Carmelites count 25-30,000 members throughout
the world.*
*Wikipedia
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museum. Take a family bike ride. The possibilities are endless.
Doctors of the Catholic Church
Proclaimed Doctors of the Church in
Alphabetical Order
St. Teresa of Avila joined the Carmelites in
1535 in Spain. Her writing, The Way of
Perfection, is a simple guide that instructs
and inspires all those seeking a more perfect
way of life.
learning. Explore the public library and
read many books. Attend a daily Mass.
Make up games using math facts. Hike
in one of the great area parks. Go to an
outdoor (and often free) concert. Visit the
Minneapolis Institute of Arts or another art
Mike Keller
494 A County Road A • Hudson, WI 54016
Ph: (715) 386-5094 • Fax: (715) 386-5071
email: [email protected]
1631 Livingstone Road
Hudson, WI 54016
[email protected]
Phone: 715-386-5483
Fax: 715-386-5283
Cell: 715-554-0249
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1810 Crest View Dr.
(715) 377-9812
(877) 377-9812
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Time & Talent in Action
Editor’s note: There is a lot of ink in this
issue of the newsletter devoted to the concept
of stewardship. This is a story of stewardship in action. Dan Schwab was presented
with a parish need and he acted quickly and
decisively to plan and execute the completion
of the project. He acted so quickly, in fact,
that Father Parr did not know of the city’s request (and hence did not have to worry about
it) until Dan mentioned that the job was
completed. The men who worked with Mr.
Schwab stepped forward and generously shared
their time and talent. Our parish is literally
and figuratively richer due to the labors of this
hard-working group.
On August 14, 2006, the City of Hudson
sent a report to the church that 106 elm
trees in the St. Pat’s cemetery showed signs
of Dutch elm disease and would need to be
removed by August 30. The city could do
the removal, but the cost of $145 per tree
meant the parish was looking at an unexpected expense of over $15,000.
Fortunately, the report was addressed to
Dan Schwab, one of the co-chairs of the
building and grounds committee and an active member of the Knights of Columbus.
First, Dan negotiated an extension from the
city to buy more time. Then he spoke to
Norm Feyereisen, who graciously offered
to burn the wood at his farm. Next, Dan
called upon several parishioners and his fellow Knights for assistance. They responded
and set to work on August 21. The men
worked tirelessly to cut and haul away the
The Carmelite Sisters
diseased trees. But they did not stop with
the trees; they also cleared brush that had
grown unchecked in the cemetery.
Sisters Gemma Angelo and
Lucia La Montagne celebrated
50 years of profession on
June 24th of this year.
Twenty-nine days, 145 1⁄2 man-hours, 37
round-trips (18 pickup loads of wood and
19 pickup loads of brush) to Mr. Feyereisen’s farm, and 335 miles (on Dan’s truck)
later, the job was done.
Sister Sheryl Guzek will
pronounce her solemn (final)
vows on August 10th.
Men who worked on this project include:
Daniel Schwab, Harold Kaiser, Jerry Schnobrich, John Guldan, Bill Skaare, Mark
Sturino, Gene Tschumperlin, Jon Schiltgen,
Bob Schardin, Don McGinley, and Norm
Feyereisen. On behalf of the entire parish,
Thank You!
Have You
Returned Your
Discipleship
Response Card?
Continued from page 1
had four centuries earlier called for a return
to the tenets of the “Carmelite Rule.”
Although they are still considered a cloistered monastery, the rules of enclosure were
relaxed after a Vatican decree in 1969. The
purpose of enclosure had historically been
to protect silence and solitude, something
the sisters still value very much. With the
relaxation of the rules, the sisters could visit
family or venture out into the community.
Sr. Lucia recalled learning to drive in 1970.
At that time there were no traffic lights in
the city of Hudson.
The Carmelites are members of a contemplative Order. The sister’s website shows
their daily monastic schedule which “...is
geared and directed toward interspersing
prayer and manual labor for the needs of
today’s world.”
Sr. Bernadette and Father Parr are shown
with members of the 2006-2007 Rite of
Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) class
that were welcomed into our church during
the Easter vigil.
Front Row: Arlyn Schelpp, Amy May, Lisa
Dumont, Laura Becker, Kayla Dutter and
Pastoral Minister Sr. Bernadette Kalscheur.
Back Row: Scott Holmes, Patrick McDonell,
Joshua Young, John Kollofski and Father John
Parr.
Not Pictured: Juline Diers
6
The chapel on the ground floor of the monastery has undergone many changes. When
the sisters first arrived it was changed from
a living room and dining room into their
chapel. Several remodels later, it is today a
simple, spartan, light-filled area that opens
up to the beautiful grounds. Mass is usually
celebrated there six days a week by either Fr.
Dabruzzi or Fr. Virgil. Fr. Peter and Fr. Parr
have also celebrated Mass there.
Our parish community shares a close relationship with the Carmelites. Even though
they are cloistered, their prayers for the
people of St. Patrick Parish have been a constant since their arrival in Hudson. They
welcome guests to Masses at the monastery
which are usually held Monday - Friday at
11:30 (calling before to confirm mass time
is recommended). The PCCW helps support them through an annual donation, the
KC’s have been very good about supplying
firewood for their wood-burning furnace,
and Sr. Bernadette always brings the RCIA
candidates to visit the monastery. Of the
Carmelites Father John wrote:
By the witness of their lives the Carmelite
sisters proclaim to us the one thing that matters. By their devoted life of constant prayer,
they bring silent but sure strength to our
parish and to the church. In them our parish
has a treasure that is all the more remarkable
because without our noticing it, our lives are
enriched by their humility of spirit. May the
Lord bless them as He has blessed us through
them. – Father John Parr
In addition to the beautiful grounds and
gardens, the Carmelites maintain two
cottage hermitages on their property; lay
people and members of other religious
orders often use them. The cottages are
simple, comfortable spaces that offer peace
and solitude to those seeking time away to
rest, meditate, reflect and renew.
The sense of peace within the chapel at the
Carmelite monastery is palpable. The sisters
warmly welcome visitors that join them
for weekday services. When asked if there
is something she would like the people of
St. Patrick Parish to know about Carmel of
the Sacred Heart, Prioress Sr. Lucia replied,
“We’re here for them and we welcome
them. We are grateful for their help in years
past continuing to the present time.”
Last fall, every parish household on the
church’s current mailing list received a
booklet on Discipleship at St. Patrick
Parish. The mailing asks you “What can
I give to the Lord for all He has given
to me?” We hope to receive a response
from each and every adult member of
the parish on behalf of their family. If
you have not already done so, please
return your Time and Talent Response
Card and Financial Pledge Card as soon
as possible.
The Discipleship Committee will ensure that for any areas you indicate an
interest, your name will be referred to
those parish ministries who will welcome your inquiry and provide you
with all the information you need to
participate as you wish. Additionally,
your financial pledge card will be confidentially provided to the parish Finance
Committee who will thank you for your
ongoing support. If you did not receive
this important Discipleship mailing or
need another copy, please stop by the
parish office.
We will use your responses to update
our current parish mailing list. For this
reason, it is very important that you
return the response cards, even if you
choose to simply confirm your address
at this time and not commit to anything further. Thank you for taking the
time to respond! We look forward to
contacting many parishioners and extending an invitation to become more
closely involved in the life of St. Patrick
Parish.
3
Stewardship Reflection
“What Have You Done with
the Garden Entrusted to You?”
By Claire Zajac
Our faith informs us that stewardship is a way of life, grounded in
gratitude for the many gifts given by God. I find it easy to identify
areas of my life for which I am grateful, but it is not so easy for me
to consistently convert my feelings of thanksgiving into the Christian
responses of sharing and serving. In my busy life, and perhaps in yours,
there are too many items demanding my attention, too many priorities
I must juggle and too little time in the day to focus all my efforts on
following Jesus. I can clearly see the many blessings God has bestowed
on me, but I often struggle with the question: What should I be doing
to return those gifts gratefully to God? Perhaps you are like me, often
wondering: What are my responsibilities to my Creator, my family and
my community? What does my heavenly Father expect from me????
I find it helpful to spend my prayer time thinking about the wonderful blessings in my life and placing them in the context of what God
has planned for me. Gratitude motivates us to live a life of generosity
and is the cornerstone of stewardship. Bishop Robert Morneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Green Bay, writes and preaches in the area of stewardship and uses the image of a garden to ask each of us the question
– How are we tending to the gardens entrusted to us by God? The
garden is a wonderful representation for a special place that deserves
attention, nurturing, patience, and care. Plants need to be fertilized
and weeds need to be pulled. The seeds are just potential until they
find the welcoming soil and receive the proper care of the attentive
gardener. The garden yields a harvest not only as a reward for the efforts of the gardener but also provides many benefits to those invited
by the gardener to share in the bounty. These timeless activities of the
gardener are what inspired Bishop Morneau to look at stewardship in
terms of the “twelve gardens of Christian life.” Please allow me to use
his list of gardens and to share with you the questions I pose to myself
when reflecting on how well I am tending to and caring for the gardens
God has placed in my life.
The Garden of My Body
Do I take care of myself with proper nutrition, exercise, and
wholesome recreation?
Am I aware of my body’s need for rest? Do I use the Sabbath
to rejuvenate myself and give thanks to God for my health?
How can I avoid our society’s many tendencies toward
hedonism and overindulgence?
The Garden of Family and Friends
Have I said “I love you” today?
Have I made time to be present to the most important
people in my life?
Do I give thanks for my family, friends, neighbors,
co-workers and ministers?
Do I nurture relationships and strive to give more than I get?
The Garden of the Globe
Do I practice conservation of the precious resources provided
by God and respect nature as part of His creation?
Am I a hog of gas, water, food or electricity?
Do I take time to appreciate the natural wonders of the world
and see the handiwork of God all around me?
The Garden of Moral Choices
Do I make good choices in how I spend my time and money?
Do my priorities reflect the teachings of Jesus?
Do I do the right thing even when it is difficult or unpopular?
Do people view me as always acting with integrity?
The Garden of Emotions
Am I sensitive to the emotions of those around me and
seek to support them?
Do I recognize my own feelings and strive to keep my mind,
body and soul in healthy balance?
Do I work to display a good mood?
Discipleship Committee Brings Forth Stewardship Campaign
By Claire Zajac
The Discipleship Committee is hard at work getting the word out -- the word about stewardship as a way of life for Catholics to express their gratitude. Over the last year and a
half, a newly constituted Discipleship Committee has embarked on a journey to learn about
stewardship, teach about stewardship, and assist parishioners on their way to a conversion of
hearts. Under the direction of Fr. Parr, the Committee launched a Stewardship Campaign
to reach out and touch all parishioners with information about stewardship and invitations
to join with us in a lifetime commitment to change.
Chairperson Howard Cameron assembled a small group last year to look at the
status of stewardship in the parish, understand the value of stewardship, identify barriers
to greater participation, and suggest changes. The original committee consisted of Howard Cameron, Mark Matuga, Cathy Lange and Claire Zajac. Once this crew got rolling,
new members Norah Oehmke, Fr. Virgil Heinen, Larry Wolff and John Marnell cheerfully
joined in the journey. Fr. John gave committee members regular reading assignments on
the spirituality of stewardship and helped them understand the theology of responsibility
and accountability when receiving God’s gifts. The members read and discussed the U.S.
Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. Members researched
stewardship activities in other parishes and attended Diocesan
Stewardship Conferences to learn about encouraging each other to
fulfill our callings as faithful stewards. It was during this period of
study and learning that the committee decided to change its name
from the Stewardship Committee to the Discipleship Committee
to emphasize the comprehensive challenge of being a disciple of
Jesus.
The mantra during this journey has been “It’s not about
the money.” Howard Cameron repeated the mantra often, stating “stewardship involves identifying your time and talents, then
gratefully sharing them with your parish. If each and every person
feels invested in the parish, then the money will follow.” He is
quick to point out that there have been misunderstandings in the
past about stewardship. He recalls “as soon as you say stewardship,
everyone immediately thinks we are going to ask for money. But calling people to stewardship is not a gimmick or a one-shot fundraiser. It’s a way of life where we show our care and
concern for others as disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Stewardship is often summarized in the three “T’s” of time, talent and treasure.
The first aspect – time, is about spending time with the Lord in prayer and worship. Stewards nurture their relationship with God by having a deep prayer life. Cathy Lange uses
prayer to help her on her discipleship journey. She reflects, “What I do in my own prayer
life is to ask myself: How am I being called? I stop and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.”
At times, prayer will be about thanksgiving for all God has given us; at other times, we pray
for forgiveness and direction. Whether prayer is individual one-on-one time with God or
worship as a community, it is the foundation for a life of conversion. It is how we stay connected with God and discern his will. At St. Patrick, there are abundant opportunities for
prayer and worship, including daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, prayer chain, rosary and
retreats. Shut-ins especially are welcome to share with us in praying for parish intentions.
Fr. Parr developed a Stewardship Prayer for the parish and all parishioners are
asked to pray that we will live a life of gratitude and find the courage to live as disciples of
Jesus Christ. Parishioners are invited to take the Stewardship Prayer cards home and make
this prayer a special part of their conversations with the Lord.
In addition to spending time with the Lord in prayer, stewards are called to discern our God-given talents and share them. According to the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter,
stewards are called to do four things:
• Receive God’s gifts gratefully
• Nurture God’s gifts responsibly
• Share God’s gifts justly and charitably
• Return those gifts to God abundantly
Stewards express their gratitude to God by identifying and developing the gifts and talents
entrusted to them, then sharing them for the sake of the community. Ministries in the
church are one way to return God’s gifts to His people. At St. Patrick, there are numerous
ministries and opportunities to serve each other. The time and talent mailing last fall to all
parishioner households outlined some of the more common activities that allow us to express our gratitude through education, social justice, leadership, faith formation, liturgy and
hospitality. The preliminary results of that mailing are encouraging. Over 500 families took
the time to reflect on the Stewardship message and respond by sending in either a Time and
Talent Survey card or a Financial Pledge card, or both. The Committee was very encouraged
by this first round. The response cards are still welcome and additional booklets are available
in the parish office. The names of parishioners interested in becoming involved in ministries have been entered into a data base and sent to volunteers who will be reaching out and
contacting the respondents. These parish volunteers will be welcoming new participants
and providing information on how to get involved in our ministries. Those who returned
a Financial Pledge card received a thank you letter from Fr. John and an opportunity to use
direct deposit as a convenient means of contributing.
Committee member Claire Zajac reminds us, “There is a ministry for each and every person
here. Everyone has talent, and we are all called to share. Our job as parish leaders is to
extend a continuous and sincere invitation to all parishioners to
become more involved in the life of the parish.” Service for the
Christian steward means that we are not only doing things for
each other, but that Jesus is doing something to and through us.
In addition to the “T’s” of time and talent, good stewards
also focus on sharing treasure. How we earn and spend our
money is a good indication of what is a priority in our lives. As
Saint Matthew wrote: “For where your treasure is, there also will
your heart be.” Matthew 6:21. True stewards need to be generous people; the greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy in giving. In a recent Financial Report to the parish (October), it was
reported that 549 of the 1871 households that receive envelopes
at St. Patrick contributed nothing in their envelopes to the parish. Many do contribute as their financial situation allows and
for this we are grateful. Families are asked to reflect on their current level of support and
consider increasing what they give, no matter how small the increase. This suggestion is
made because giving is good for us. It is a demonstration of gratitude and an acknowledgment that our financial good fortune is not ours to keep, but is a gift from God to be shared.
Howard Cameron says with his trademark smile: “It’s not about the money, but we do need
the money so be sure to send lots...”
The three “T’s” of time, talent and treasure are a shorthand way to remind us to
look for all the gifts God has placed in our lives and to reflect on our responsibilities toward
those gifts. Committee Member Mark Matuga says it best: “I have five kids. I have a lot of
things to manage. When it comes to stewardship, I have to make it a priority. It isn’t easy,
but it is simply something you have to commit yourself to do.”
Stewardship is a lifelong journey of receiving gifts gratefully and returning gifts
joyfully. Through Jesus Christ, we have the perfect model of prayer, sacrifice, self-giving and
loving service. Everyone has a calling, and how we respond will be a very personal matter.
Hopefully the work of the Discipleship Committee will assist every member of St. Patrick
Parish in his or her journey.
The Garden of the City and Nation
Do I educate myself on the important civic affairs of the day and
use Church teachings to inform my political actions?
Do I vote? Do I support candidates who will wisely use their
authority to create a civil society consistent with Gospel values?
Do I pay my fair share of taxes?
Discipleship
The Garden of the “Chip”
Do I use technology as a tool to improve myself and my family?
Can I use the world wide web to deepen my faith life, to continue
my education and to seek opportunities for evangelization?
Are my behaviors of enjoying TV and technology a good example
to my children?
The Garden of History
Do I know the history of the people and places around me,
so that I can understand and appreciate differences in outlooks,
experience and expectations?
Do I use history as a springboard to healing wounds and
moving forward with hope?
Do I seek forgiveness for the wrongs in my history?
Do I truly forgive others?
The Garden of the Mind
Can I deepen my understanding of my faith by taking advantage
of the many faith enrichment activities at St. Patrick Parish?
Am I open to new ideas?
Do I think before I speak?
The Garden of Arts
Do I see the beauty of God’s handiwork in art, music, dance,
theater and poetry?
Do I look for the sacred in the artistic people who share their
creative talents in our community?
Do I make good choices in entertainment?
The Garden of Money
Do I return to the Lord and my needy brothers and sisters a
generous portion of the material goods God has bestowed on me?
Is financially supporting my parish an important priority
in my life?
Do I pass on to my children a tradition of sharing with the poor?
When God asks me what have I done with my money,
will I have a good answer?
Committee
The Garden of My Soul
What can I do today to improve my personal relationship
with God?
How can I pray and serve and share so that I become the
disciple Jesus calls me to be?
Is Eucharist an important part of my life?
Am I fully and cheerfully cooperating in God’s plan for me?
There are a million more questions and these questions will change over time,
as I succeed in some parts of my gardens and encounter difficulties elsewhere.
There will be times of drought, poor soil, and deer eating my lettuce. I hope
God will sustain me as I persevere. I pray the Holy Spirit will allow me to
nourish growth in all my gardens and reap the fruits God has in store for me.
What questions will you be asking about the gardens entrusted to you? Where
do you need to do some pruning and weeding? What should be your priorities?
Can you use this time to receive your gifts in gratitude and launch your season
of planting and harvesting? I hope reflecting on the twelve gardens of Christian life will lead you to a deeper understanding of your call to stewardship.
I hope you will find gratitude in many parts of your life. As for me, I am very
grateful and have some gardening to do...
If you would like further information about stewardship and stewardship opportunities at
St. Patrick, feel free to contact any member of the Discipleship Committee:
Howard Cameron 381-1861, Father Virgil Heinen 381-9778, John Marnell 386-1199,
Mark Matuga 246-0176, Joe Smrdel 426-9782,
Larry Wolf 549-6686, Claire Zajac 426-0220
A copy of the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter: Stewardship: A Disciples’ Response is available at
www.usccb.org/stewardship/disciplesresponse.pdf
Continued on next page
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