BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH

meets its match poverty SEPTEMBER — OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 37 | NO. 5 2 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Bishop Michael F. Olson, STD, MA

BISHOP MICHAEL OLSON is the fourth bishop of the EXAMPLES, Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

NOT MODELS @BpOlsonFW

e have arrived at the time of the year when Such examples lead us to the second point for our we are reminded to be attentive to all that is consideration: the overarching goal of Catholic education required to go back to school. It’s prompted me to is to come to know and to love the fullness of the truth that consider the modern practices employed by many Jesus taught — the free love of God and neighbor. Jesus set an Wuniversities and other institutions of higher education to promote example for us in this regard by His consistently clear preaching, their schools as optimal choices for parents to make on behalf His compassionate healing through miracles, and His selfless of their children. For this purpose, many universities research and saving action on the cross culminating in His resurrection how their recent graduates and distant alumni are doing in their and ascension. He has taught us to go and do the same. This careers. They then synthesize the data along with contemporary overarching goal is our ultimate end and purpose in life and the values of their prospective students or their parents and develop measurement by which each of us assess our personal priorities models of what their ideal graduates and alumni look like. that are unique to us but also fused together by our As we begin our school year as Catholics either in Catholic human nature directed to common excellence and flourishing. schools or in other forms of education, we might consider two There is a particular challenge today for us entrusted with things in light of the practice that I have just described. The first the mission of authentic and Catholic education: to teach as Jesus point is that any model is not real and is limited in what it can taught. That challenge is the false presumption among many show us to inform our decisions. Models are synthesized ideals in our world today that the highest good to be obtained — the that are abstract and not real nor concrete. Models are entirely Summum Bonum, the overarching purpose of education — is up to our interpretation and so they can be presented in a way to not love of God and neighbor, but the attainment of an affluent coax a desired understanding on the part of the agent offering the lifestyle that affords a person an egocentric self-sufficiency in this model. world, with Catholic and religious faith as an afterthought or as In comparison with the conceptual design of a model, God the mere decoration of one’s private familial or cultural history. offers us examples. Examples are real people who teach us by how This affects many of us who are mothers and fathers of children they live and give witness when we engage them in conversation who are returning to school in pursuit of an education, and who or simply by observing them through our daily contact with them. feel pressure and anxiety for their children not to have enough of As Catholics we have the real examples of Christ, the Blessed this world’s goods to live but rather, to possess more than enough Mother, and the saints to serve as our guides in word and deed. material goods to be completely autonomous. We also have our educators, chief among them being our fathers The start of the new school year is a time for us to examine and mothers, older siblings, and our teachers — all of whom are again our value for education and our responsibility in this real people and not synthesized values and concepts. A quote apostolate as parents and educators to set a good example. It is a from Saint Thomas Aquinas seems particularly apt to clarify the time for us to ask God for clarity of mind and firmness of purpose importance of this distinction, “Better to illuminate than merely to set rightly ordered priorities directed to love of God and to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to neighbor and to courageously carry them out with trust in the contemplate.” real providence of the all-loving God.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 3 IN THIS ISSUE September - October 2021

16 WELCOME HOME Catholic Charities Fort Worth helps Afghani immigrants resettle.

20 LESSONS LEARNED What COVID taught us in parishes and schools the last 18 months.

26 ANNUAL APPEAL Donors help equip rural parishes to serve their communities.

32 SILVER ANNIVERSARY Msgr. James Hart celebrates 25 years as a priest in parishes big and small.

SCOUTING LIFE 42 36 Two local organizations offer UNTANGLING KNOTS scouting with a Catholic twist. Human capital is key to CCFW Padua Project’s success in untangling the knots of poverty

ON THE COVER Case managers and case workers of CCFW’s Padua team. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

FOLLOW US ONLINE Visit NorthTexasCatholic.org for photo galleries, videos, the digital version of the magazine, and web- only articles.

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Share it with us! Help us make sure your parish community is seen in the NTC online, in print, or on our quickly growing social media accounts. Submit your ideas and briefs to: [email protected]. 12 40 MEET THE BABY

4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g FROM THE EDITOR

Importance of a “Why”

n mid-August I finished reading two books about our Jewish brethren and their suffering during the IHolocaust. It was honestly some of the most painful reading I’ve done in my entire life. But buried in so many pages of suffering were some important lessons. The books, while hitting on the same subject and being written after surviving similarly tragic circumstances, differ broadly in their conclusions drawn and lessons learned. In Night, Elie Wiesel touches on the raw, boundless evil that swallowed up his world, his innocence, and his hope in humanity during his imprisonment at Auschwitz and Buchenwald. For Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning reflects back on his time Publisher Bishop Michael Olson in Auschwitz, where he, like Wiesel, suffered a torrent of communications Director pat Svacina torments, including losing his wife. Both books, in my estimation, are -reads. Editor Juan Guajardo Wiesel’s is an almost poetically written reminder — a associate Editor Susan Moses plea, even — that we must never let this horror happen again. Frankl’s points us to a truth summed up well by editorial Assistant rosa Rosales the words of Nietzsche: “He who has a Why to live for Web Designer chris Kastner can bear almost any How.” Indeed, both Wiesel and Frankl leaned heavily on Circulation Debbie Dowis their “whys” to overcome the immense odds stacked Social Media Manager annette Mendoza-Smith against their survival. Frankl especially leaned on his to avoid becoming dehumanized or morally deformed after Contributors Jillian Brearley | Jerry Circelli being pushed to his limits in the concentration camp. Jayme Donahue | Sandra Engelland So what is a “why?” Frankl defines it simply as our Joan Kurkowski-Gillen | Joy Kaiser “primary motivation in our lives” — the thing which Jenara Kocks-Burgess rodger Mallison | Susan McFarland gives our lives meaning or purpose. Of course, that differs Alice Murray | Lance Murray from person to person, from time to time, and there violeta Rocha | Alex Rosales may be more than one. But he suggests that if one wants michael Sherman | Mary Lou Seewoester a “why” that truly gives life meaning, that “why” must matthew Smith | Ben Torres point and be “directed to something, or someone, other than oneself...by giving [oneself] to a cause to serve or Translator yolanda Newcomb another person to love.” I submit to you that as Catholic Christians we are regular Columnists Jeff Hedglen | Ali Hoffman blessed and highly favored. We have something greater Fr. Pedro Martinez | Callie Nowlin than any other “why”: God “who so loved the world, that Walker Price | Fr. Tad Pacholczyk He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). To share eternal life Sean Wright with Him is our ultimate purpose. Editorial Office: 800 West Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108, Like with Frankl and Wiesel, our “Why” helps us 817-945-9424. overcome and stand against the mind-boggling evil that occurs on a daily basis in our world. Even when we’re the NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC Magazine (USPS 751-370) (ISSN 0899-7020) is published bi-monthly by the Most Rev. Michael F. Olson, Bishop of the direct victims of injustice or suffering, our Why doesn’t Diocese of Fort Worth. For those who are not registered parishioners in abandon us. He suffers with us, giving our pain purpose. the Diocese of Fort Worth, subscription rates are $18 for one year, $35 for Out of our deaths, He brings new life. Our Why isn’t only two years, $50 for three years. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Worth, a “why.” He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to North Texas Catholic, 800 W. Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108. The appearance of advertising in these pages does not imply endorsement of businesses, services, or products. Readers must exercise prudence in responding to advertising in all media. Juan GuajardoEditor For address changes, please contact Debbie Dowis, 817-533-3172.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 5 Christ Child Society member Anna Treadway distributed meals and activity kits to families of the Flower Mound Mobile Home Park on July 2. (NTC/Ben Torres) AROUND THE DIOCESE THE AROUND

Love is in the bag: mission of Christ Child Society grows

LEWISVILLE — In 2018, tutoring and mentoring. Fundraising begins for Patricia Gonzalez and her That’s where the mother planted the seeds for members started, but they new Dominican convent a local chapter of the Christ didn’t stop there. Through Child Society by holding prayer, brainstorming, and FORT WORTH — sisters to come work in an introductory meeting planning, the organization The Advancement the diocese. for interested people in her has added several other Foundation has started The new convent, living room. ongoing community service a capital campaign to measuring roughly In less than four years, programs, all to improve the raise $2.5 million to 11,000 square feet, will the apostolate has taken lives of children in need in build a new convent for include living quarters for root, grown, and is bearing the local community. the Dominican Sisters 14 and a small chapel. fruit for children in Denton The nonprofit brings of Mary Immaculate on Renée Underwood, County. healthy snacks to families the grounds of Nolan chief development officer The nonprofit, aligned at PediPlace, holds free Catholic High School in at the Advancement with St. Philip the Apostle summer book fairs, distrib- east Fort Worth. Foundation, said the Parish in Lewisville, has utes early literacy bags for Ground has been campaign is very grown from a handful of parents at Loreto House, broken and construction important for Catholic members to about 55 and and provides bags of comfort has begun on the new education. has expanded how it fulfills items to foster children. home for the sisters, “We’re really excited its mission to challenge pov- Along with growth in scheduled to open for the because this campaign erty, one child at a time. membership and service 2022-23 school year. has so many elements Christ Child Society has come growth in faith. It’s an undertaking that matter to faithful continues its core service, Gonzalez said, “We are that Bishop Michael Catholics. Those of us the Layettes and Literacy doing God’s work. We are Olson has identified as who were taught by nuns program which provides trying to spread the love of important in improving or sisters know that im- infant clothing, diapers, and the Christ Child.” the lives of the 10 sisters portance,” Underwood nursery items to newborn Plans are underway for who help educate the said. “It’s our opportuni- patients at PediPlace in its second major fundraiser, Catholic youth of the dio- ty to pay that back.” Lewisville. Plus, members the Christ Child Fiesta, to be cese. Currently, the sisters The sisters teach at of the Christ Child Society held Sept. 18. Funds raised live in an older facility on seven diocesan schools strengthen reading skills at that event will support the high school campus, and in parish ministries. of elementary students at the layette bags, the early and the new convent Central and Mill Street literacy bags, and the foster would help attract more – Lance Murray schools in Lewisville with care comfort bags.

6 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Seminarian Michael Marincel leads a Sacred Heart Seminarians grateful for enthronement prayer at a parishioner’s home on experiences in the field July 14 in Strawn. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

STRAWN — After not expose them to parish life seeing time in parishes last and other ministries. Knights show love, life summer due to the pan- The four seminarians demic, seminarians for the assigned to Fr. VJ’s parishes with ultrasound donation Diocese of Fort Worth are stayed busy running two grateful for the firsthand Vacation Bible Schools for ALEDO — A major fund- takes a team effort to elimi- lessons they experienced youth of the four churches; raiser of the Knights of nate abortion. this summer throughout the visiting homes of parish- Columbus Council 17196 According to Young, diocese. ioners to pray the Sacred got off with a bang. images of the baby at any For 40 days, four of Heart enthronement and The Knights based at stage are the most impact- those seminarians, Michael share a meal; and assisting Holy Redeemer Parish in ful way to encourage a Marincel, Peter Nguyen, at almost every liturgy in Aledo hosted a clay shoot- woman contemplating an Javier Escutia, and Jacob that span (about 50 by one ing tournament this spring. abortion to carry her baby Zimmerer, assisted Father seminarian’s estimate). They Funds raised from the to term. Vijaya “VJ” Mareedu, pas- also pitched in with odd jobs skeet shoot, plus donations She said, “We can tor of St. John in Strawn, St. around the church commu- from Knights of Columbus show families, ‘Look at Rita in Ranger, Holy Rosary nity, like doing landscape Council 7264 (St. Stephen what you have.’” in Cisco, and St. Francis work and feeding cattle. Parish in Weatherford), Flourishing Tree then Xavier in Eastland, in his “It was a really cool Council 4101 (St. Peter assists families with materi- day-to-day pastoral work. experience,” Marincel said the Apostle Parish in Fort al needs, and professionals “It was definitely an of paying pastoral visits to Worth), and seven other on staff provide education- eye-opening experience into families. “I was amazed at local and state councils will al, emotional, and spiritual the life of a priest,” Escutia how warmly the families purchase an ultrasound support to the parents. said. “That a priest doesn’t welcomed us. We would machine for Flourishing Jeff Jendel, a trustee have time to sit around, he show up on their doorsteps Tree Family Pregnancy for Council 17196, said is pretty active. Just seeing and it’s like we were family Resource Center in Aledo. raising funds for ultra- how Fr. VJ — a lot of his already.” The national Knights sound machines is an time is taken up with sick Last summer, semi- of Columbus Supreme important way for Knights calls, taking care of all the narians were appointed to Council matches their to support the Church’s pastoral needs of his parish- diocesan departments, such donation for the $42,700 pro-life initiatives. The ioners and parishes.” as the Chancery, Catechesis, machine. Knights of Columbus have During the summer or Vocations Office. Roxanna Young, donated more than 1,000 months, seminarians the executive director of ultrasound machines receive assignments that – Juan Guajardo Flourishing Tree, said it nationwide.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 7 AROUND THE DIOCESE THE AROUND Students dance during a worship song at the Northwest Deanery youth Northwest Deanery resumes and family night. (NTC/Jayme Donahue) youth and family nights

WINDTHORST — The for St. Boniface Church Sister Noelle Marie recent gathering of youth in Scotland and St. Mary from 11 Northwest Deanery Church in Windthorst, as professes first vows parishes for the first time well as youth and families since early 2020 had the feel present at the reunion Aug. FORT WORTH— Sister their lives, and begin to of a family reunion. 1, all expressed their joy in Noelle Marie Bethlehem build a new life for them- Gathering for the being able to finally have a Haley, daughter of David selves and their children. Northwest Deanery Youth large gathering in person and Lori Haley of St. Sr. Noelle entered and Family Worship Night, after the shutdown because Andrew Parish in Fort the Sisters of Life in teens and their families of COVID. Worth, professed her first September 2018, after greeted each other with “We’re used to having vows as a Sister of Life discerning religious smiles, hugs, and laughter monthly deanery Masses this summer at Sacred life while attending while enjoying lawn games, with fellowship. And in two Heart Church in Suffern, Augustine Institute in dinner, and music by praise years we haven’t been able New York, along Denver, where and worship band Veritas. to do that,” Schlumpf said. with four other she earned a “We decided to have Bryanna McRae, 17, women. master’s degree something where the her sister Mercedes McRae, Along with in leadership praise band could come 18, and Reina Quilodran, vows of pov- for the New together, and the kids could 17, said they all wanted erty, chastity, Evangelization. come together and just to attend the Northwest and obedience, Previously, she have fun. They could eat, Deanery Youth and Family Sisters of Life graduated from blow off some steam, and Worship Night because they profess a fourth Sr. Noelle Marie Duke University enjoy each other’s compa- haven’t been able to gather vow: to protect with a B.A. in ny before school started,” with Catholic teens from and enhance the sacred- psychology in 2016. said Cheyenne Marrinan, other parishes in the dean- ness of human life. Founded in New Coordinator of Youth and ery since COVID-19 hit. Following her first York in 1991, the reli- Young Adult Ministry at They all attend Holy Family profession of vows, Sr. gious women serve wom- Holy Family of Nazareth of Nazareth Church. Noelle spent the summer en who are vulnerable Church in Vernon, St. “It just felt good to go on a Holy Respite mis- to abortion, giving them Joseph Church in Crowell, back out again with all sion team in Manhattan. support and resources and St. Mary Church in these churches together,” The sisters invite women to be able to choose life Quanah. Quilodran said. who are pregnant to live for themselves and their Marrinan and Shelley alongside them, share in children. Schlumpf, youth minister – Jenara Kocks Burgess

8 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g The Knights of Columbus present Knights of Columbus gives Bishop Olson with funds for seminarian education and deaf clergy appreciation, funds ministry. (NTC/Ben Torres)

FORT WORTH — Fort despite COVID-19. Worth Diocese Knights of “The last 18 months Bishop Olson baptizes, Columbus members praised we’ve been able to more a return to togetherness Aug. readily pay attention to what confirms inmates 11 during their Religious God offers us,” Bishop Olson Appreciation Dinner at said. “The graces we have FORT WORTH — On Although Bishop Nolan Catholic High School, that we otherwise overlook, Sunday, August 1, Bishop Olson has visited the an annual event canceled last take for granted.” Michael Olson and prison previously, this was year because of COVID-19. Bishop Olson praised seminarian Ed Hopkins Hopkins’ first experience. Numerous priests, sem- priests in the diocese for celebrated Mass in two The seminarian observed, inarians, and other religious their role in the return of units of Federal Medical “Prison doesn’t change the joined the Knights in the in-person Mass in May 2020. Center - Carswell Prison effectiveness of the sacra- celebration. “They went to great lengths in Fort Worth. ments. The Holy Spirit is The Knights also pre- to celebrate the Eucharist, During the two just as powerful inside.” sented a check for $212,815 anoint the sick in adverse Masses, a total of five Hopkins remarked to Bishop Michael Olson. conditions, in hospitals that women were baptized and that the bishop could have The Knights surpassed would not be readily willing four women were con- delegated Confirmation to the $92,000 goal for the to allow them in. firmed. Approximately 60 the chaplain that regu- Diocese of Fort Worth, “Our priests, our reli- inmates attended. larly serves the prison, thanks in part from $147,000 gious, and leadership have Hopkins called it a but instead he spent most raised in Wichita Falls. stood up, and in no small “day of excitement, of of the day at the prison. Bishop Olson has desig- measure so have members of hope, of redemption” for After each Mass, Bishop nated those annual funds to the Knights.” the women who entered Olson blessed rosaries they seminarian education and Knights’ State Program the Church, and they brought for the inmates. the diocese’s Deaf Ministry Director Patrick Henz responded like anyone Hopkins, who just program. thinks an influx of Knights else coming into the began his pastoral year at Deaf Ministry Director would benefit contemporary Church, with tears of joy. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Connie Martin praised society. Receiving the sacraments Parish, concluded, “For Bishop Olson for setting “We need to be in the of initiation is “a beautiful me, it was affirming to see up livestream Mass feeds Church,” Henz said. “And thing to see, whether it’s that the Church is working with interpreters during the the Church needs to be in at St. Patrick Cathedral, in a lot of different ways in pandemic. us.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton the Diocese of Fort Worth. Bishop Olson spoke of [Parish in Keller], or at the God is working in places opportunities for gratefulness – Matthew Smith women’s prison,” he said. we don’t always think of.”

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 9 PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS BY MOST REV. MICHAEL F. OLSON

REV. LUIS GERARDO ARRAIZA, OFM Cap From outside the diocese, to Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Fort Worth, effective July 15.

REV. PEDRO GUTIERREZ, OFM Cap From Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, has been transferred outside of the diocese at the proposal of his superior, effective July 15.

REV. JESURAJ, SAC A Dominican nun takes notes during the Diocesan Convocation for Catholic Schools.

AROUND THE DIOCESE THE AROUND From outside the diocese, to Parochial (NTC/Juan Guajardo) Vicar of St. Michael Parish in Bedford, All-school assembly effective June 22.

KELLER — On August 11, when church were filled with teachers, teachers could have been sharpen- administrators, staff, and pastors ing pencils and labeling cubbyholes from the 17 Catholic schools in the in preparation for the first day of Diocese of Fort Worth. Catholic Charities school less than 24 hours away, they After the Mass, the faculty were assembled at St. Elizabeth Ann addressed by Bishop Olson and by names Plumlee CEO Seton Church for the Diocesan Mary Pat Donoghue, the executive Convocation of Catholic Schools. director of the Secretariat of Catholic FORT WORTH — Catholic Charities The annual event began with Education for the USCCB. Both of Fort Worth named Christopher Plumlee Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael them reflected on the importance of as President and Chief Executive Officer, Olson. The pews of the large Keller a classical Catholic education. effective September 7. Plumlee is currently the Chair of the Board at Catholic Charities Fort Who’s ready for school? Worth. Bishop Michael Olson said, “Christopher Plumlee holds a compas- Christopher sion and understanding Plumlee of how Catholic Charities Fort Worth serves God and our neighbor, a compassion and understanding he learned by accompanying his father’s work for Catholic Charities of Dallas and in his own experience as a board member and chair of Catholic Charities Fort Worth.” Plumlee has 25 years’ leadership experience with several major American corporations, including Bank of America, Hewlett Packard, and Dell. He also started a sales consultant firm and has served on corporate advisory boards. NTC/Jayme Donahue Deb McNamara, interim president and CEO, will take Plumlee’s board position for ARLINGTON — Ilia Lara raises her hand during the first day of school at a year to ensure a smooth transition. Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School August 12.

10 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g making a greater impact on students

Diocesan Learning Specialist Jennifer McNulty leads a workshop for principals on July 22 at Nolan Catholic High School. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

Grant supporting learning specialists in Catholic schools called “an investment in the future success of our students”

By Sandra Engelland

ore students in diocesan “We’re able to identify students that several schools in the diocese requested Catholic schools will receive have learning difficulties and want to pro- funds for learning support specialists, said the tools they need to succeed, vide appropriate learning support to meet Renée Underwood, Chief Development thanksM to a $176,000 grant from the their needs,” said Melissa Kasmeier, Interim Officer for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Advancement Foundation. Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Worth Advancement Foundation. The funds, which come from the Diocesan Learning Specialist Jennifer Underwood said she reached out Annual Diocesan Appeal, will hire two McNulty agreed, “Across the board — not to Kasmeier to see if the foundation’s new dyslexia therapists for the 2021-22 just in private schools but in public schools, resources could be pooled to impact more school year and will train six diocesan too — the identification of students with campuses. As it turned out, Kasmeier and teachers to help children with dyslexia learning differences has more than dou- McNulty were already working on getting — both part of a three-year plan to have bled in the last decade.” training for a group of diocesan teachers to trained dyslexia teachers on every campus In the most recent round of grant in the diocese. requests to the Advancement Foundation, Continued on Page 14

11 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 11 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 11 for the benefit of the faithful Bishop Michael Olson assures parishioners at St. Benedict that will continue

By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen r e g u l a r l y o ff e r e d i n t h e d i o c e s e . “I have the assurance of your pastor, arishioners of St. Benedict and from my own judgment as ascer- Church in Fort Worth may tained through my pastoral visits, that continue to celebrate the St. Benedict Parish ‘does not exclude the Extraordinary Form of the validity and legitimacy of the liturgical Mass, also known as the reform of the dictates of the Second traditional Latin Mass, in accordance Vatican Council and the Magisterium of withP the 1962 Roman . the Supreme Pontiffs,’” he said, authoriz- That assurance, offered by Bishop ing the celebration of the Mass using the Michael Olson during a given 1962 Missal of Pope Saint John XXIII. July 25 at the parish’s 11 a.m. Sunday The bishop also voiced support Mass, answered concerns arising from for Father Karl Pikus, of the Priestly Pope Francis’ newly imposed restrictions Fraternity of Saint Peter, who will con- on the Tridentine (Latin) Mass. In a tinue as St. Benedict’s pastor. Praising July 16 Apostolic Letter titled Traditionis Fr. Pikus’ pastoral charity and sense of Custodes (“Guardians of Tradition”), the ecclesial , Bishop Olson Holy Father made sweeping changes to deemed him suitable for the position of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 “Summorum pastor, citing the priest’s knowledge of Pontificum” decree allowing regular the Latin language that allows him to celebration of the Latin Mass. The new fully understand the rubrics and liturgical guidance gives bishops “exclusive com- texts of the . A member petence” to grant permission or refusal of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, Fr. for the traditional Latin Mass to continue Pikus serves on the bishop’s College of in their dioceses. Added oversight, and a Consultors. mandate to ensure groups attached to the “The pastoral leadership and service traditional liturgy don’t deny the validity of Fr. Pikus and the assistance of Father of Vatican II and its liturgical reforms, J. Peter Byrne, as members of the Priestly are also part of the document. Fraternity of Saint Peter, have protected The Diocese of Fort Worth is already you from the wolves of dissidence and compliant with many of the provisions chaos,” the bishop pointed out. “These articulated in Traditionis Custodes, Bishop good priests helped you grow as a parish Olson told the congregation. through the preaching of the authentic St. Benedict will serve as the designat- , the celebration of the Mass and ed location where the Latin Mass will be each of the sacraments with reverence,

12 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 12 12 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g A young woman prays during the Latin Mass on July 25, 2021 at St. Benedict Parish in Fort Worth. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

true piety, and love.” for the benefit of these faithful, I have “we can run the risk of succumbing to Established in 2015 by Bishop Olson carried out an appropriate assessment of the temptation not to recognize gratefully to serve the Latin Mass community, its actual usefulness for spiritual growth what God has given us in His Son and His St. Benedict started with 35 registered and judge it should be maintained and it Son’s presence in the celebration of the families at its founding and has grown to should flourish,” the bishop asserted. Mass both in the Usus Antiquior (the ancient 140 families today. All reside within the The leader of North Texas Catholics usage) and in the Form of the geographical territory of the diocese in asked parishioners to resort to prayer — Rite,” the bishop said. accordance with Canon Law, the bishop not social media — for comfort during In addition to mandating bishops stated. these challenging times. “As St. Benedict is canonically erected Prompted by fears and distractions, Continued on Page 15

13 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 13 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 13 From Page 11 become learning support coordinators and certified dyslexia therapists. “We realized we could make a greater impact for all our schools, not just a few,” Underwood said. The proposal to use funds for learning support coordinators and training current teachers received “an overwhelmingly positive response” from both the grant committee and the foundation board, Underwood said. “We’re using this money to invest in the future success of our students,” she said.

LEARNING SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE “A GAMECHANGER” While several diocesan schools have learning support specialists already on staff, 13 of 17 campuses still have a need for a dyslexia therapist, McNulty said. The grant will fund two additional dys- Ana Nieves, learning specialist at Nolan Catholic High School, helps a student with homework while lexia therapists to share between schools and sharing studying tips in this 2019 photo. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) will pay for six teachers to receive dyslexia training at Key School, a private school in Fort Worth with a mission to serve students ADHD. Working with Ana Nieves, Nolan’s teachers training in reading intervention with learning differences. The training is director of learning support and academic work with small groups, hire part-time or a two-year program to certify teachers as coach, was “a gamechanger,” Tovar said. full-time counselors to support the social dyslexia therapists. Nieves helped Matthew succeed at and emotional needs of students, and con- It’s estimated that one in five students Nolan and assisted him in locating similar tinue to develop and implement enrichment in the U.S. have learning and thinking dif- support services at Incarnate Word, where strategies for accelerated learners. ferences like dyslexia and ADHD, McNulty he is a freshman this fall. “We want to increase awareness and said. Adding more therapists is key, but Tovar also praised Nolan Principal identification of students who have a need,” training teachers to identify students with Leah Rios for her passion and vision in sup- Kasmeier said, “We also want to increase language-based challenges like dyslexia (pri- porting students with learning differences. the number of those who are equipped to marily reading) and dysgraphia (primarily help.” writing) is also of high importance, she said. A MULTI-YEAR PLAN The Advancement Foundation grants McNulty also wants to provide pro- Kasmeier said that the grant for learn- are fulfilling a critical need, McNulty said, as fessional development for teachers in the ing support services is part of a three-year tuition currently doesn’t cover the additional diocese to discover new ways to engage all plan to help all students reach their full learning support needs. students. potential in the classroom. Underwood said that the “How do we continue to help teachers In year two, the goal is to train four Advancement Foundation exists to support to grow and differentiate in the classroom?” reading intervention teachers, engage the parishes, schools, and ministries in the she said. “You can’t look at the classroom as teachers training as dyslexia therapists diocese and to raise funds in the Annual a whole. You have 20 to 25 individuals who to work practicum hours on campuses, Appeal for Bishop Michael Olson’s greatest all have different needs.” and hire learning support coordinators. priorities, which include supporting clergy Lisa Tovar said that having a learning Learning support coordinators will help and seminarians, serving the poor, and specialist available “made all the differ- children get the assistance they need, com- strengthening Catholic education. The ence in the world” for her son Matthew, municate with teachers and parents so they foundation manages endowments for who graduated from Nolan Catholic High can collaborate, and support professional parishes, schools, and ministries, along with School this year and is enrolled at the development and coaching. funds from the Annual Appeal. University of the Incarnate Word in San In year three, a grant would support “We want to carry out the mission of Antonio. the trained diocesan dyslexia therapists who Jesus Christ for the parishes in our 28 coun- Matthew deals with dyslexia and would be shared between schools, have the ties,” Underwood said.

14 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 14 14 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Bishop Olson reassures parishioners of St. Benedict Parish in Fort Worth during his homily July 25. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

From Page 13 ensure that faith communities celebrating the Latin Mass “do not deny” the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, the document prohibits the building of personal parishes or the use of parochial churches for Latin Mass groups, requires Scripture readings be proclaimed in the language, and instructs bishops to choose a delegate to oversee the pastoral care of Latin Mass participants. Priests ordained after July 16, 2021, must obtain permission from the Vatican to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and veteran priests must request authorization from their bishop to continue celebrating the Latin liturgy. The formation of new Latin Mass groups is prohibited. In a letter to bishops, Pope Francis A young woman uses her missal to follow along during the Latin Mass on July 25, 2021 at St. Benedict Parish in Fort Worth. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) said restrictions to the Latin Mass outlined in Traditionis Custodes were needed to restore unity of the Church. The pontiff’s The pope said it “pains and worries with diverse liturgical sensibilities, was decision was made after discussions me, confirming the need to intervene.” exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the with bishops around the world revealed “An opportunity offered by St. divergences, and encourage disagreements a situation of growing rejection of the John Paul II and, with even greater that injure the Church, block her path, and its ensuing magnanimity, by Benedict XVI, intended and expose her to the peril of division,” he liturgical reforms. to recover the unity of an ecclesial body wrote.

15 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 15 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 15 f l e e i n g f r o m

chaosCatholic Charities Fort Worth helps Afghan immigrants build new lives

By Susan Moses

lice Kigera appeared serene they are being evacuated because the protection in the United States.” and joyful, despite the whirl- Taliban is taking over,” said Kigera, In 2006, the U.S. Congress first wind of activity. who has worked for CCFW for 12 authorized a bipartisan humani- AThe program manager for years. tarian program to provide Special Refugee Resettlement Services These immigrants served Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, for for Catholic Charities Fort Worth, as contractors for U.S. troops in nationals from Afghanistan and Iraq Kigera had less than 24 hours’ Afghanistan. Already at personal that include resettlement services notice that an Afghan family of sev- risk, the Afghan allies face height- and legal permanent residence for en would be arriving at the airport. ened prospects for retaliation since the approved principal applicants, She and her team sped into the Taliban seized control of the their spouses, and children. action to get an apartment equipped, capital city of Kabul on August 15. Since the creation of the from furniture to toothbrushes. They The U.S. State Department said program, the U.S. Conference of hurried to put some groceries in the 20,000 Afghans who served as inter- Catholic Bishops’ Migration and refrigerator before picking them up preters, security officers, drivers, and Refugee Services has worked with at DFW Airport to welcome the other vital positions have applied for the U.S. Department of State, the immigrants to their new home. special immigrant visas. Office of Refugee Resettlement, and In August, Catholic Charities Bishop Michael Olson said he other nongovernmental organiza- Fort Worth saw a sharp uptick in the appreciates CCFW staff members tions to provide resettlement services need for refugee resettlement, when embracing their Christian call to to some of the more than 73,000 25 Afghans holding special immi- uphold the dignity of each and every Afghan SIV holders and their grant visas arrived from processing single person. families. in Fort Lee, Virginia. Having previ- “I’m grateful and proud that On July 14, the White House ously completed an extensive back- CCFW, as a nonprofit arm of the announced the emergency reloca- ground check and security screening Diocese of Fort Worth, is assisting tion of Afghan SIV applicants in in Afghanistan, the immigrants people in such a zealous and reason- their final stages of processing to received medical clearance at Fort able way,” he said. the United States. The first of that Lee and were assigned to Fort Worth Citing data from the group arrived in the United States where a friend or family member International Rescue Committee, July 30. already resided. a global nongovernmental human- Jeff Demers, the regional coordi- Plans are in place for CCFW to itarian relief agency, the New York nator/director for the North Texas receive at least 20 more immigrants, Times said more than 300,000 Office for Refugees for CCFW, and Kigera expects a steady stream Afghan civilians “have been affiliated anticipates that the initial Afghan to follow. with the American mission over its clients of CCFW will be special “We have a number of Afghans two-decade presence in the country who already had their visas but now ... but a minority qualify for refugee Continued on Page 18

16 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 16 16 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Lives on the Line

Special Immigrant Visa applicant Ayazudin Hilal poses with his daughter Armaghan, 4, at his home July 26, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ayazudin worked as a combat translator with the U.S. Army in Kunar province for three years on the front line. He received the Mission Essential Personnel Heart award after being shot by the Taliban while on patrol with coalition forces on October 14, 2010. Thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States government during its nearly 20-year war now fear for their safety as the U.S. withdraws its troops from the country. Many of these Afghans, who worked as interpreters and translators for U.S. intelligence agencies and military branches, have applied to come to the U.S. as part of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. (Getty Images/Paula Bronstein)

17 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 17 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 17 (Getty Images/Paula Bronstein)

Displaced Afghan families head into Kabul from the northern provinces desperately leaving their homes behind on August 10, 2021. The Taliban has since taken control of Kabul and all key cities following the United States’ accelerated withdrawal of its forces this year. (Getty Images/Paula Bronstein)

From Page 16 to prepare for previous resettlements, the served alongside our troops. There can be immigrants from Afghanistan are arriving no truer way to welcome the stranger than immigrant visa holders, and later Afghan with notification as short as several hours. in times like these.” refugees will arrive. In these situations, employers, indi- The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan A COMMUNITY EFFORT viduals, and faith communities across will be measured in years, not weeks and When it became clear that the Taliban the spectrum of religions step up to offer months. Demers, who has worked in was taking over Afghanistan very quickly, assistance. refugee resettlement for 23 years, said that capturing 26 out of 34 Afghan provincial Demers said, “We’ll see people of all the war in Iraq ended almost 10 years capitals in just 10 days, Kigera began to get different faiths, all different walks of life, ago, “and it’s dwindled way down, but we calls and emails from community members that will come together with the six reset- still see some Iraqi SIV clients that come who anticipated the arrival of Afghan tlement agencies and help however they through.” immigrants. can…. Fort Worth has always had a very He continued, “I think there’s going to Photos and news video of the chaos in welcoming community.” be a very focused effort to try to get some Afghanistan touched the hearts of Texans, The regional job market is very good, of the Afghan allies out quicker, so it may including Deb McNamara, interim and Kigera said employers have called with not be that long, but it may be over the president/CEO of CCFW. She said, “We job opportunities for the immigrants. course of several years to get out everyone are grieving with the people of Afghanistan Kigera said, “At six months, 100 who feels their lives are being threatened, as we continue to help each family who percent of Catholic Charities clients are at risk.” comes to us. We may never understand the working, unless they have health issues. At Demers, who communicates with the traumatic experience they faced getting four months, we have at least 85 percent of five other refugee resettlement agencies here but we are prepared to walk alongside them working.” in Texas, said that the situation with the them as they begin their journey here in “It’s a big challenge, but the Metroplex Afghan immigrants differs in its urgency. America. What a privilege to serve these is well ready for helping. We know the Where the agencies may have had weeks brave families, including so many that parishes will help in a tremendous way,”

18 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 18 18 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Shelter from the Storm

Dawlatt Naimati, 22, from Kunduz, stands outside the Herat Kabul Internet cafe where she is seeking help applying for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) on August 8, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. She is among thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States government during its nearly 20-year war and now fear for their safety

(Getty Images/Paula Bronstein) as the U.S. withdrew its troops from the country. It is Afghans like these that added Demers. everyone. She said, “We are people of faith Catholic Charities Fort Kigera said parishioners can help with serving people of need.” Worth is currently working donations of gently used furniture, kitchen Demers echoed the sentiment. “We love to help resettle in DFW. items, and clothing. Gift cards or donations of people because Jesus loves us, and Jesus loves new bedding, towels, and hygiene items are also people. People that know Jesus, love like Jesus.” appreciated. And although they anticipate their jobs will “Basically, it’s anything they would need to be quite busy for the foreseeable future, they are set up an apartment. They’ll come with, maybe, excited about the long-term potential. a suitcase apiece, or what they were able to grab Kigera said typically refugees arrive in a as they were leaving their home,” said Demers. state of panic, but within a few months the CCFW has a storage facility on its Fort children are in school and the parents are Worth campus, and Kigera said that furnishing employed, speak English, and have learned to an apartment is much easier if the “supply drive. depot” is stocked. Kigera said, “Getting their dignity back, In June, the U.S. Conference of Catholic and providing for their family — that is the most Bishops, anticipating an uptick in refugee reset- beautiful thing to see. The strength and resil- tlement, provided additional funding for CCFW ience of these people.” to hire two additional staff members, which Demers finds satisfaction in his work from Kigera said “has come in really handy.” the moment the immigrants arrive at the airport displaying a mixture of joy, fear, and exhaustion. A LABOR OF LOVE “It shows us how God created us so complex. Why invest so much time and effort into the You literally see every emotion come out on plight of someone from the other side of the their face, but it’s such a sweet, almost a holy world? moment. You get a glimpse into their heart. You Bishop Olson reiterated that, “As Catholics, have to hold that in such honor, because they we have the responsibility to love our neighbor. are so scared. . . . They’ve allowed you into this In each and every human person we see the special space, but they have to because they have dignity instilled in them simply on the basis that no one else that they can turn to.” humans are created in the image and likeness of God.” Kigera emphasized that Catholic social teaching honors the dignity and value of This article contains reporting from Catholic News Service

19 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 19 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 19 l e s s o n s Learned

A look back at what nearly 18 months of a global pandemic taught us about health, perseverance, and what is eternal

By Susan Moses

t’s not over yet, but we’ve learned a made the importance of the full celebra- never get back to normal.” The two little. Maybe a lot. tion of the Sunday Eucharist painfully viewed a livestream Mass every Sunday for The global COVID-19 clear. Father Jonathan Wallis, who serves 14 months. pandemic, declared nearly 18 three roles within the diocese: vicar After getting vaccinated, Rios and her months ago by the World Health general, director of seminarian formation, husband selected a Mass likely to have IOrganization, still affects how we work, go and chaplain and director of the Newman fewer people and returned to the congre- to school, and worship. Center at TCU, said, “Worship of God is gation in May, wearing masks for extra Although many of us (including me) essential to who we are as His creation.” protection. She admitted that after their thought this chapter might have ended by Jodie Rios, a parishioner at lengthy absence, worshipping with others now, diocesan schools and parish minis- Immaculate Conception Church in felt “weird and surreal.” tries including religious education begin Denton, experienced that firsthand when But, she said, it was “good to see the 2021-22 school year still impacted by she and her husband, a cancer survivor everyone again, and a joy to receive the heightened precautions to protect public with compromised lung function, shifted Eucharist. We really, really, really missed health. Fortunately, the difficult journey to participating in Mass via livestream. the Eucharist.” with the coronavirus has taught us lessons “We need to be really careful,” explained In the first weeks of the pandemic, that will be invaluable as schools and par- Rios on why they restructured their lives to when gatherings were limited to minimize ishes resume activities in person this month. avoid crowds. the transmission of the virus – at first to A longtime and Eucharistic 250 people, and later reduced to as few WHO WE ARE minister, Rios said, “Watching Mass on as 10 – Bishop Michael Olson and other Being deprived of the ability to attend television made me tear up just about diocesan officials wanted to make certain Mass, especially during the 2020 Triduum, every week at first – maybe for fear we’d Catholics in the Diocese of Fort Worth had

20 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 20 20 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g On March 19, 2020, Bishop Michael Olson ordained six men to the transitional diaconate in the diocese in a nearly empty St. MARCH 2020 Patrick Cathedral. The bishop called the occasion “a great event of hope in the midst of a pandemic.” (NTC/Ben Torres)

access to the sacraments while enacting of the Sick in hospitals by wearing person- reopening its doors to public worship, measures to protect the health and well-be- al protective equipment. both among Catholic dioceses and other ing of the community. One of the many decisions made in denominations. Amidst the unknowns that made the early days of the pandemic was to pro- Fr. Wallis said returning to public decision making a challenge, communi- ceed with the ordination of six men to the worship as soon as safety protocols were cation was key. Bishop Olson spoke with transitional diaconate on March 19, 2020, in place was a priority for the diocese the county judges of all 28 counties within in a nearly empty St. Patrick Cathedral. because Catholicism teaches: “The human the diocese as well as local health officials, Fr. Wallis said holding the ordination person is composed of body and soul, state government authorities, his brother demonstrated “this is an important act of both. We have real physical concerns, and bishops, and hospital administrators. He the Church, and it can happen safely.” we have spiritual concerns. And those kept his pastors informed about the rapidly The Church “has her own standing” two things always have to be taken into changing protocols with weekly virtual and partners with government to serve the account, together.” meetings. common good, but is not subservient to it, For six weeks, Mass was celebrated sine noted Fr. Wallis. A FAITHFUL RESPONSE populo, or without a congregation present, On the weekend of May 2-3, 2020, Like a business, parishes and schools and livestreamed via social media plat- which was the earliest opportunity, par- have regular bills due and employees to be forms and parish websites. Some parishes ishes in the diocese reopened for public paid. offered Reconciliation outdoors, and many celebration of the Mass. The Diocese priests were able to perform the Anointing of Fort Worth was on the vanguard of Continued on Page 22

21 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 21 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 21 Father Sojan George distributes the Holy Eucharist outside St. Francis of Assisi Church in Grapevine on March 21, 2020. “Stay- MARCH 2020 at-home” orders put a stop to the public distribution of the Eucharist the following week. (NTC/Joseph Barringhaus)

From Page 21 cooperative with the four main health packets for students to complete at home. measures enacted: mask wearing, hand Conferences and retreats were cancelled. The diocese did not apply for a sanitizing, social distancing, and Holy Throughout the pandemic, some paycheck protection program loan, and Communion in the hand. youth ministers got “really creative,” Bishop Olson requested that pastors Fr. Wallis noticed that decisions, recalled Victoria Ramon, associate and schools only apply for government both in their formation and their exe- director of youth and young adult minis- assistance if they had significant need in cution, have resulted in discussions and tries. Some managed to have scavenger the initial weeks when parishioners could disagreements, but not division, which he hunts, praise and worship music, or guest not attend Mass. A small subgroup of found encouraging. “It’s the response of speakers, all via Zoom. “They all, within individual parishes and schools requested us, together. Too, too, too often we have the means of their parish, did the best that a paycheck protection program loan, and people who like to put various groups in they could,” she said. some others took advantage of interest-free the Church in opposition to each other…. Still, attendance declined for religious loans that the diocese offered for short- The people of God is everyone. And I education and sacramental preparation term help. think that’s how, here in the diocese, we last year. But during 2020, parishes in the went through the pandemic — together.. . . Ramon said, “In a lot of places, those diocese experienced only a minimal drop What became very clear to me during this groups are a little bit smaller, so we’ve in contributions overall. The people of time was we need God, and we need each encouraged our parishes to gather them the diocese kept supporting the mission other.” back together, start to build that commu- of the Church monetarily, according to nity again. Don Wagner, chief financial officer for the CREATIVE COMMUNITY “For our young people who have Diocese of Fort Worth. In the fall of 2020, religious education been away from their school community, Pastors in the diocese observed that was taught by livestream, or for parishes or their sport community, or even their the faithful not only continued their in communities without reliable internet, own extended family for so long, it can go financial support, but they also were religious education directors provided from solitude to loneliness. We want to

22 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 22 22 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g encourage them and let them know, ‘You’re not alone, you’re not meant to be isolated. This Church is your fami- ly,’” she continued. Cassie Erazo, director of youth ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Wichita Falls, said when the diocese recommended youth activities return in person in April, planning took more time. She had to think of activities that would engage the students, keep them spaced apart, and have a catechetical component. A first step was to separate the middle and high school students, who previously participated in youth min- istry activities together. Erazo antici- pates maintaining the smaller groups through the fall. Her creative solutions have includ- ed exploring the devotion of the Sacred Heart through some unconventional means: cookie decorating, a painting night, and tie-dying t-shirts.

When Father Pedro Martinez was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM JUNE 2020 2020, sitting every other pew and wearing masks was the norm. (NTC/Juan Nancy Eder, diocesan school nurse Guajardo) consultant, anticipated coronavirus numbers would rise after July 4. She was right. In April 2021, the diocese encouraged parishes to resume in-person faith Now, she’s “cautiously optimistic” APRIL 2021 formation. Below, youth from the Northwest Deanery gather for a worship about resuming school and extracur- night on August 1. (NTC/Jayme Donahue) riculars. “We will try to resume activi- ties as much as possible,” she said. She has helped track coronavirus cases in schools and parishes throughout the pandemic, which is an ongoing task. Eder anticipates it may be another year before schools and parish activi- ties are completely “back to normal,” but she noted that the current situation differs greatly from a year ago. “We know how it looks now; we know how it acts now; and we’re grateful for vac- cines,” she explained. Reflecting back a year, when Eder worked with school administrators and diocesan officials to determine how to safely open, she “leaned on God. He was right beside me. He led me in the process to learn, to understand this disease. It was a journey. “We don’t have all the answers, but we ask and trust God to lead us in the

Continued on Page 24

23 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 23 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 23 SAFE ENVIRONMENT

To Report Misconduct: If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual misconduct by anyone who serves the Church, including clergy:

Call the Victim Assistance Hotline at 817-602-5119.

Call the Director of Safe Environment at 817-945-9334 and leave a message.

Call the Chancellor of the diocese at 817-945-9315.

To Report Abuse The mask mandate for all parishes in the diocese was lifted the first or Suspected Abuse: weekend in May. For rural parishes in counties with high rates of If you suspect abuse of a child, elder, MAY 2021 vaccination, such as St. Mary of the Assumption in Megargel, above, or vulnerable adult, or abuse has been masks became optional in April 2021. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) disclosed to you:

If someone is in immediate danger call 911. From Page 23 Fr. Wallis, in his role as TCU chaplain, observed college students were Call the Texas Department of right direction,” she said. confronted with profound truths they Family and Protective Services Fr. Wallis concurred. “At the time, may not have contemplated. He said, “In (CPS) at 800-252-5400. nobody had all the information; nobody an instant, especially the freshmen last had a clear road map.” year, their whole lives were turned upside Immediately report the alleged Last year, the policies enacted proved down. All of the things that it seemed abuse to your supervisor, priest, effective in mitigating the spread of coro- they would have, like senior prom, gradu- or principal and submit the navirus and other contagions in schools ation, all that was gone. Confidential Notice of Concern and parishes. Bishop Olson told diocesan “But for that moment, it became with CPS report information, teachers at the August 11 convocation, very clear, what can change and what’s contact information on all “Our protocols worked, even before the eternal. There was such an openness to concerned, description of abuse, development of the vaccines. This should [the realization that] God is eternal — to dates if known, and how you be a cause for our confidence…. We have build our lives on that.” learned of the abuse. science, we have experience, and we have That’s a lesson he hopes remains confident preparation.” with the college students and with the For more information about our abuse If an increase in COVID-19 cases greater Catholic community. prevention policies and programs, visit necessitates increased health precautions, “And so, I would say that we not fwdioc.org/safe-environment “We will be on familiar ground,” said become forgetful of that truth as things Fr. Wallis. “But the bishop has stated on begin to go back to normal, whatever several occasions, ‘We are not closing that means. That so much of what seems churches again.’ We need God.” permanent in this world isn’t, and for one moment we saw that,” Fr. Wallis BUILT ON ETERNAL TRUTH continued. “To not forget that things here Everyone has been affected by the change, but God never changes. And so pandemic. Everyone has been changed to never forget that a life built upon Him by it, for better or for worse. And is a life built for eternity. It’s a gateway everyone has learned from it, even if the to eternity if we build our lives on that lessons are painful. truth.”

24 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 24 24 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 25 far flung

outreachDonors to the Annual Diocesan Appeal lend help to rural parishes — but their gifts don’t stop there

By Matthew Smith

od’s call to all Catholics to employ weren’t distributing pieces of paper in person and their talents and generosity to couldn’t do the in-pew commitment brochure last the best of their abilities to help September.” those in need is a crucial part of The pandemic negatively compounded the discipleship,G of course. situation in another big way. As King Solomon said in Proverbs, “Whoever “Because even though support and giving is kind to the poor is lending to God who will to the Appeal decreased last year, the needs repay him the kindness done” (19:17). grew greater than ever especially, in many cases, Grants distributed through the Advancement because of the pandemic.” Foundation of the Diocese of Fort Worth, As the pandemic appears to be winding however, also provide concrete evidence of the down, parishioners are back in church and Annual Appeal’s numerous benefits and, for a return to normalcy is underway. In-pew many parishes, result in huge positive differences, brochures will be distributed this September, the effects of which often resound far beyond the Underwood said. Appeal term of any given year. But the needs are daunting as this year’s Both the needs and pluses of the Annual Appeal officially kicks off during the September Appeal are evident, but so too, especially this 18-19 weekend with a $3.5-million goal. year, are the challenges. “Mailers will be in mailboxes around Labor “Absolutely,” Advancement Foundation Day and parishioners will be approached in their Chief Development Officer Renée Underwood parishes to commit to the Appeal if they haven’t said. “We had record support, the best Appeal already,” Underwood said. “Each parish has a we’d had in our 37-year history for the 2020 goal toward reaching that $3.5 million. So, when Appeal, which ended June 30, 2020.” a person makes a recurring monthly gift to the Underwood continued, “But for last year’s Appeal or one-time donation, they are supporting Appeal, the one that ended June 2021, we saw the overall Appeal and helping their parish reach that support drop off significantly.” its goal.” The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 Appeal donations help support many pandemic complicated everything. diocesan ministries including formation and “Many people lost jobs, faced health issues,” education of seminarians and men discerning Underwood said. “One of the biggest things for the permanent diaconate as well as care for is that our parishes weren’t having in-person retired and infirm priests. Also benefitting are Masses for much of last year, and we certainly Catholic Charities Fort Worth, prison ministry,

26 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 26 26 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Marriage and Family Life ministries, cities. In a lot of parishes that we give schools in the diocese, and much more. grants to, the priest may serve several GIVING THANKS parish communities, almost like circuit Genesis Salvador prays during her FAR FLUNG OUTREACH riders. But them being shepherds to those Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Hillsboro July 10, 2021. Appeal funds also benefit the many communities is very vital to our faith and Thanks to funds from the Appeal, Our rural parishes dotting the diocese’s 28 diocese.” Lady of Mercy was able to afford a counties. Father John Perikomalayil Antony, support priest and payroll expenses “The lion’s share of money from the HGN, was assigned to Our Lady of Mercy for ministry staff. Appeal supports rural and struggling Parish in Hillsboro on July 1. Before (NTC/Ben Torres) parishes,” Underwood said. “Smaller that, he served at St. Joseph Parish in parishes needing support to pay their Rhineland. Both parishes received Appeal priest’s salary, utilities, maybe have a youth grants from the 2020 campaign. director, or just meet the basic needs that Our Lady of Mercy received $26,500 larger parish communities may take for to fund a support priest, operational granted. expenses, and payroll. St. Joseph received “It’s as important for our rural $30,600 to help with salaries for a parishes to spread the Gospel where many otherwise can’t get to Mass in the larger Continued on Page 28

27 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 27 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 27 MEETING THE GOAL Father Bose Jujuvarapu, HGN, high-fives Michael Lane’s son after Mass at Sacred Heart in Seymour Aug. 7. Since the inception of the Annual Appeal, Sacred Heart parishioners have always met their Appeal goal. (NTC/Ben Torres)

From Page 27 secretary/bookkeeper, youth minister, and director of religious education. Both grants made a difference. “It helps us stay afloat financially with payroll and monthly expenses,” Fr. Antony said. “Living in our socioeconomic areas, meeting those costs would be hard for both parishes without the Annual Appeal. We need the supplement and support of the diocese to operate.” The fruits of the grants have not gone unnoticed to parishioners of both churches, Fr. Antony added. “The grants help support our ministries and basic costs, which in turn helps us spread the word and build community,” Fr. Antony said. “Once the people heard about the grants, they became very excited, and I think that helps build their interest in supporting the Appeal to help others. “I will be pushing for more active participation in the Appeal this year in hopes that now that we have received grants, people will be more enthusiastic to participate.” The grants help in other ways as well. “They free us up to expand our outreach and ministries and increase our focus beyond the celebration of the sacraments,” Fr. Antony said. “It helps us to offer more to our youth and Janie Sykora counts out how many times to ring the church bell as Mass begins on Aug. 8 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Megargel, one of the parishes that was helped by the Annual to meet the growing demands of our Appeal. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) parish community. Another aspect is that it encourages parishioners to learn more about and see their duties of stewardship salaries, pastoral administration, and to how they love and dedicate their lives to in action.” faith formation projects. The Megargel God in their desire to live out the Gospel, Father Bose Jujuvarapu, HGN, serves parish saw 100 percent participation by in serving the Church and especially the at Sacred Heart Church in Seymour parishioners during last year’s Appeal. needs of our diocese. and St. Mary of the Assumption Church “I would say strong love for the Lord,” “That’s what I preach about on the in Megargel. Both received $35,000 Fr. Jujuvarapu answered when asked how in combined grants to assist with staff that was accomplished. “I think it’s witness Continued on Page 30

28 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 28 28 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Your Gifts in Action

This map of the diocese shows the 29 parishes that received operating grants from the Annual Appeal for fiscal year 2022. More than $840,000 of Appeal gifts went to these parishes to help with everything from subsidizing salaries of key staff members to supporting faith formation projects and providing ministry materials, retreats, and speakers.

• St. Mary, Dublin • St. Mary, Graham • St. Francis Xavier, Eastland • St. Mary, Henrietta • Jesus of Nazareth, Albany • Our Lady of Mercy, Hillsboro • St. Jerome, Bowie • St. Mary, Jacksboro • Sacred Heart of Jesus, Breckenridge • Santa Rosa, Knox City • Holy Rosary, Cisco • St. Mary of the Assumption, Megargel • Holy Angels, Clifton • Our Lady of Lourdes, Mineral Wells • Holy Cross, The Colony • Our Lady of Guadalupe, Morgan • Sacred Heart, Comanche • St. Theresa, Olney • Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Decatur • St. Rita, Ranger • Our Lady of Guadalupe, De Leon • St. Joseph, Rhineland • St. Thomas the Apostle, Fort Worth • Sacred Heart, Seymour • Holy Trinity, Azle • St. Brendan, Stephenville • St. John Paul II, Denton • St. John, Strawn • St. Mary, Gainesville

29 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 29 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 29 From Page 28 to do our share to contribute to that pool of SERVING IN STEPHENVILLE donations to help us and the diocese stay as Thanks to a grant Annual Appeal — that it’s for the love of God vibrant as possible.” from the Annual and the Church and helping to meet the needs Fr. Jujuvarapu and Dcn. Novak feel very Appeal, Tarleton State of the Church and the people.” blessed to have received the grants. University Students Jim Novak, who has served both Stephenville’s St. Brendan Parish, which like Daniel Jones (left) and Victoria Rodriguez parishes for 14 years, said both have met their operates as part of a four-parish cluster, (right) have the support Appeal goals for as long as he can remember. received funding for a second full-time of Nathan Mena, part- Sacred Heart has about 160 registered priest, part-time business manager, part-time time campus minister families while St. Mary with 13 is probably the administrative assistant, utilities, and a part- based at St. Brendan smallest parish in the diocese. Needless to say, time campus minister. The parish received Church. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) financial needs often pose a challenge. more — $44,300 more — than requested “But, while it’s been tough with in the grant because the Advancement COVID-19, we also try to do as much as any Foundation deemed it important to increase large parish,” Dcn. Novak said. campus ministry at nearby Tarleton State Such includes a heavy focus on youth University. Thanks to the grant, a staff ministry and other outreach programs. member, rather than a volunteer, is leading “For us it’s a case of supporting our Tarleton’s Catholic Campus Ministry for the diocese,” Dcn. Novak said of the robust first time in more than a decade. participation in the Appeal by members of St. Brendan, which dates from 1960, was both parishes. “Even though we are smaller in large part started to serve area students, parishes, sort of the little brothers to the bigger Father Matthew Sanka, SAC, said. brothers, we find thanksgiving through trying “The presence of students here is

30 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 30 30 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Let us give thanks TEAMWORK IN MEGARGEL Since the birth of the Annual Diocesan Appeal, 100 percent of This year’s Annual Diocesan Appeal has adult parishioners at St. Mary of the Assumption in Megargel have the goal of $3.5 million to help parishes contributed to the Appeal each year. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) and ministries across the diocese. To learn more or to participate, please visit: AdvancementFoundation.org

always a plus,” the pastor said. “But it’s also that vulnerable time for many as to retaining the faith. So, for us to have a campus minister fully dedicated is very appreciated. We also serve several smaller and spread-out communities and, without the generosity of the diocese and Advancement Foundation, much of what we’re able to do just wouldn’t happen.” St. Patrick Cathedral parishioner Stephanie Montero said she contributes to the Appeal mainly because of its support of Catholic Charities Fort Worth. Montero said she was unaware of the Appeal’s other benefactors including rural parishes. “Well, it does now,” Montero joked when asked if that information increases her desire to support the Appeal. “I’ve never associated the Annual Appeal with that, but I can see where it’s urgently important. Especially given the difficult couple of years we’ve all been through where so many more people are in need of more help.” Montero said the importance of good cloistered in the Monastery of the Most loving and we really need to focus on the stewardship has been instilled in her from Holy Trinity in Arlington will pray for many ways we’re blessed and thankful, and a young age when asked why she supports those intentions throughout the year. there are so many. the Appeal in general. “So in selecting this year’s theme, it’s “Just that need to reach out, help LET US GIVE THANKS a spirit of joyous, wonderful thanksgiving, others, and support the Church,” Montero The theme of this year’s Appeal is which is what lives of stewardship are. said. “So yes, that’s definitely something I “Let us give thanks” coupled with the “It’s also fair to say that, because of feel we all need to try harder to do.” spirit of looking back in gratitude for all everything everyone went through last Underwood urged parishioners to we’ve received from the Church and its year, we need to look out for and help one consider donating on a monthly basis ministries. another now more than ever, especially if possible and at any amount they “I think it’s safe to say COVID-19 those in need — and to support the Appeal can afford, and, whether they make a impacted all of us in some way,” in gratitude for God’s blessings and all the commitment or not, to submit prayer Underwood said. “But through it all incredible work He’s doing in the Diocese intentions. The Discalced Carmelite Nuns and forever, God is faithful, good, and of Fort Worth.”

31 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 31 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 31 SERVING CHRIST WITH Conviction Monsignor E. James Hart celebrates 25 years of Catholic priesthood

By Susan Moses executive heard the first whispers of a call examinations, Msgr. Hart’s request was to ordained ministry. granted. n his 25 years as a Catholic priest In his late 30s, he heeded the call and in the Diocese of Fort Worth, moved from his native California to enter SERVING HIS CHURCH Monsignor E. James Hart has seminary in Pennsylvania, and he was He remembers his presbyteral served in diverse assignments, from ordained an Episcopal priest in 1990. He ordination at St. Patrick Cathedral theI pastor of a congregation of 30 recent began ministry as the associate rector of on September 25, 1996, as “a bit converts from Anglicanism to the pastor St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort overwhelming.” During the sacrament of a parish with 6,000 families, plus two Worth. of Holy Orders he thought, “This is real. stints as the diocesan chancellor and But God still beckoned him onward. We’re not playing anymore.” moderator of the curia. His continued spiritual studies led him He continued to shepherd St. Regardless of the role, his character to writings of the early Church Fathers, Thomas More Parish for four years while and motivation are as resolute and especially regarding the Eucharist. In simultaneously serving as a parochial unchanging as his 4 a.m. alarm, which 1995, he resigned from the Episcopal vicar at St. Michael Parish in Bedford. summons him to prayer and spiritual priesthood with plans to enter the After four years, he was assigned to reading. He is a priest, compelled to serve . be the parochial administrator of St. God and His Church, because of “my Several like-minded parishioners Peter the Apostle Parish in Fort Worth, interior life. It’s my relationship with my sought him out, and for about a year and parishioners of St. Thomas More Lord. That’s just an integral part of my he pastored about 30 individuals in an assimilated into their local canonical priesthood. I can’t separate those two independent Anglican community. He parishes. Msgr. Hart explained, “The things,” he said. and 26 members of what eventually Pastoral Provision was always intended . became St. Thomas More Parish under . . to be transitional to help people make THE PATH TO THE the Pastoral Provision were accepted into that pilgrimage.” After a long spiritual journey, Msgr. full communion with the Catholic Church He served at St. Peter the Apostle Hart was ordained a Catholic priest on on August 18, 1996. until 2005, when he was appointed September 25, 1996. Baptized as an As a former Episcopal minister, chancellor and moderator of the curia infant into the Catholic faith, he was Msgr. Hart requested ordination as for the Diocese of Fort Worth under raised in an Assembly of God church. a Catholic priest under the Pastoral Bishop Kevin Vann, the current bishop of As a young adult, his prolific reading of Provision established by St. John Paul II. Orange, California. Those responsibilities Christian authors led him to enter the After months of waiting for a Vatican included overseeing and coordinating Episcopal Church, where the business indult, followed by written and oral diocesan administration under the

32 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 32 32 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Monsignor James Hart celebrates a wedding Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. (Courtesy/Tsafrir Melamed, PhotosTM.com)

authority of the bishop. of all, I’m a priest. So, the heart of my life One aptitude that has served Msgr. From 2010 – 2016 he was pastor is not chancellor and moderator of the Hart as pastor and diocesan administrator of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in curia, it’s being a priest. And that’s really is his ability to listen, according to Fr. Keller. A highlight during that span was confecting the Eucharist and preaching Smith. “He doesn’t simply hear what you receiving the papal honor of monsignor, and teaching, and so, quite frankly, I say, he listens. Truly listening involves the an ecclesiastical title conferred by Pope spend quite a bit of time in preparation mind, heart, and soul.” The retired priest Benedict XVI at the request of Bishop for Sunday . It’s at the heart of continued, “He’s a great treasure for the Vann. At the February 14, 2012 luncheon my ministry along with celebrating the diocese.” announcing the honor, the prelate noted Holy Sacrifice of the Mass…. That’s still Now, after 25 years as a Catholic that Msgr. Hart “has distinguished the driving force of my life.” priest and decades of early morning himself since becoming a Catholic Msgr. Hart celebrates the 7 a.m. Mass prayer and study, the spiritual journey priest and was an excellent diocesan on Sundays at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, continues for Msgr. Hart — but not administrator in my early tenure as along with daily Mass at the diocesan onward, just deeper. Especially deeper bishop. Now he is leader of the largest office. He also hears confessions at the into the Eucharist. diocesan parish and is ably guiding it,” Keller parish each week. “I think all of us need to really enter according to a March 2012 article in the Father Dennis Smith has known Msgr. into the worship of God through the Holy North Texas Catholic. Hart for more than 25 years and calls him Sacrifice and to do the best we can to In 2016, he was tapped once again an “esteemed colleague and true friend” understand Who we’re receiving under the to serve as chancellor and moderator of since they served together at St. Elizabeth appearances of bread and wine,” he said. the curia by Bishop Michael Olson, who Ann Seton. “A deeper appreciation for what is really had served with Msgr. Hart at St. Michael Fr. Smith said, “Since ordination, taking place, what we’re privileged to be a Parish and at the diocesan office in the he has proved to be a dedicated, tireless part of, would help draw us more deeply late 2000s when then-Father Olson was laborer in the vineyard. His priesthood is into that union with Christ, which can vicar general. fortified by a genuine love for the Church, be the foundation for the transformation Although he may be a skilled not just the Church as an institution, but of our lives and then the lives we touch, administrator, Msgr. Hart asserted, “First the Church as the people of God.” wherever God happens to put us.”

33 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 33 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 33 Fighting in a Different Way

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem carries on a tradition of support for Christians in the Holy Land

By Susan McFarland

hey began as knights convents, schools, higher education, and during medieval times and seminaries all with the underlying focus fought in the first religious of helping to promote the Catholic wars to recapture, protect, population’s presence in the area. andT guard the Church of the Holy “Many of the restrictions for Sepulchre. Today, instead of riding Christians there affect their ability to into battle on horseback to protect the make a living and support their families. sacred place where Christ was crucified Not only is our support enabling and was buried, the Knights and Dames them to remain in their native land, of the Equestrian Order of the Holy but most especially giving the Latin Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ) fight Patriarchate (the Catholic episcopal see in a different way. of Jerusalem) the ability to maintain the “Resources of the Order are no churches, build new facilities, educate longer weapons, but brotherly support the children, and serve the faithful in of the Christians in the Holy Land. In the Holy Land,” Tessy stated. spirit, we are still Knights of the Holy The funds benefit Christians in the Sepulchre,” said Bill Ross, who along Holy Land, and Muslims and Jews who with his wife, Tessy, serve as EOHSJ are serviced by the facilities. The Order section leaders for the Diocese of Fort has funded and supports the operation Worth. of 40 patriarchal schools in Israel, The origins of the EOHSJ date Palestine, and Jordan. back to 1096 during the First Crusade “Today over 19,000 students (1096-1099 AD). The primary mission attend these schools, and on average of the order is to support the Christian the student breakdown is 60 percent presence in the Holy Land through Christian (Catholic, Orthodox, etc.) prayer, presence, and purse. and 40 percent Muslim,” Bill said. “It Their work is crucial. In the Holy is hoped that these schools will generate Land, the Christian population has mutual respect and help to get people declined from 30 percent to less than of different races and religions used to two percent in the last 60 years. living in peace.” The Order’s work in the Holy Land Father Mel Bessellieu, pastor at St. helps to build and support churches, Ann Parish in Burleson, was inducted

3 4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 34 3 4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g The Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at the celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth 50th anniversary in 2019. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

into the EOHSJ in October 2019, at St. its work, but its work is not . investiture. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in “Any adult Catholic interested in “The Annual Meetings include Albuquerque, New Mexico. growing their faith and serving the awe-inspiring music, liturgies which are “I would like all Catholics to know Church and who is able to provide spiritually enriching, and the solemn rites just how important this Order is in financial support to our fellow Christians of knighthood. The processions include maintaining a vital presence in Jerusalem in the Holy Land ought to seriously our Grand Prior, Cardinal Daniel and other parts of the Holy Land,” consider participating in the work of the DiNardo, archbishops and bishops from Fr. Bessellieu said. “The number of Order,” he said. the Lieutenancy, and member priests Christians living in the Holy Land has Prospective members are nominated and , as well as the Knights and dwindled considerably, and the Order is by current members, pastors, or the Dames in full regalia,” Tessy said. making sure that there will always be a bishop and must be certified by their Tessy described their distinctive Christian presence in Palestine.” pastor and the local bishop. dress, “The Knights, regalia includes John M. Pritchett Sr., a parishioner Section leaders Bill and Tessy a white wool cape bearing the red at St. Patrick Cathedral and EOHSJ Ross were invested in October 1999 Jerusalem cross of the Order — a link member since 2009, was attracted to and have attained the rank of Knight to the Crusaders who wore a white the Order because of its fidelity to the and Dame Grand Cross. They have mantle with the Jerusalem cross. Knights Gospel, ancient traditions, and promotion served as section leaders since 2008 and wear a black velvet beret with a patch of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. were among 40 pilgrims who made a indicative of their rank within the Order. “Each member aspires to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2006 Those who have completed a Holy Land pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This is not with Bishop Kevin Vann. pilgrimage also wear a pilgrim shell always possible, but one of the charitable The Southwestern Lieutenancy, secured on the center of the Jerusalem works the Order does locally is to attend one of 52 lieutenancies worldwide, cross. the funeral masses of deceased members,” includes members from Texas, New “Dames wear black capes and cover Pritchett said. “The consolation it Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Every their heads with a mantilla, attire that provides to surviving family members, and fall, one of the dioceses within these was typical to dress approved for women the hope in the resurrection it expresses, four states hosts the Annual Meeting attending the Papal Court in the Vatican points to the ultimate pilgrimage we all and Investiture. This year in October, during the late 1800s when Pope Leo will make some day.” members of the Order from the Diocese XIII invited Dames into the Order,” she Pritchett said the Order is quiet about of Fort Worth will host the meeting and explained.

35 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 35 DIOCESE Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 35 American Heritage Girls and Troops of St. George offer faith-forward programs for Scout Life

By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen

s traditional scouting Her quest to find a group that AHG’s Stars and Stripes Award for programs face declining coupled fun activities with spiritu- her efforts refurbishing a flagpole and membership, more parents al development ended one Sunday surrounding landscape at the historic are seeking alternative ways after spotting an American Heritage Mount Gilead Cemetery in Keller. The Ato get youth involved in community Girls table set up in the church foyer. achievement is equivalent to earning service or outdoor activities. Founded by a network of Cincinnati, the rank of Eagle Scout. In the Diocese of Fort Worth, two Ohio, parents in 1995, the national “It took a lot of time to sand the organizations offer those opportunities, organization welcomes 5- to 18-year- pole, paint it, and replace the worn-out as well as character development and old girls and builds them into women ropes but I’m glad I stayed with it,” leadership skills within the magisterium of integrity through service to God, said 17-year-old Lauren, who spent 100 of the Catholic Church. family, community, and country. hours working on the project. “Being The American Heritage Girls Members earn badges, participate an American Heritage Girl showed and Troops of St. George for boys are in service projects, and experience me how to be a leader and become an Christ-centered, parish-based initiatives the outdoors with an emphasis on independent person.” that help youngsters grow spiritually Christian values and family involve- Celebrating its 26th year, AHG now and socially during their formative ment. Catholic girls receive added boasts more than 50,000 members in years. guidance and support from the AHG 15 different countries and all 50 states. National Catholic Committee and are Six parishes currently sponsor troops LOVING GOD, CHERISHING encouraged to earn faith awards and in the Diocese of Fort Worth: Good FAMILY, SERVING OTHERS patches. Shepherd, Immaculate Conception, Karen Wilde loved the responsi- The faith-based organization Sacred Heart in Wichita Falls, St. bility, leadership, and service opportu- checked all the boxes for Wilde, who Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Maria nities her son found in the Boy Scouts became an adult leader for Troop Goretti, and St. Philip the Apostle. and wanted her daughter, Lauren, to TX2012 at SEAS. “American Heritage Girls helped have the same experience. “It had all the things I was looking my daughters grow in faith and, at She considered the Girl Scouts. for, but with a Catholic focus,” the the same time, taught them differ- “But that didn’t work out,” mom said. “Lauren has been a member ent life skills and leadership,” said explained the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton ever since and that was five years ago.” Anne Bremer, who started a troop at (SEAS) parishioner, who wanted faith An incoming senior at Keller High St. Mary Parish in Temple in 2010 fully integrated into the program. School, Wilde’s daughter received the before moving to the DFW area. The

36 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 36 36 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Bishop Michael Olson celebrates an outdoor Mass with the Troops of St. George. (Courtesy/TSG Troop 5)

Coppell resident later co-wrote the curriculum for the national organization’s Catholic faith awards and badges. American Heritage Girls is interdenominational, and girls are encouraged to work toward awards that reflect their religious beliefs. Serving on a five-member committee charged with upgrading the Catholic faith guidebooks, Bremer wrote materials geared towards junior high students. “We wanted something a little more in-depth as far as apologetics and integrating the core points of the AHG creed with different virtues of the Catholic Church and saints who demonstrate these virtues,” Bremer explained. Requirements for a faith award advance as a girl gets older. “Some patriot level awards are really deep studies of encyclicals written by different popes,” she added. Now the shepherd (spiritual leader) of Troop TX1027, Bremer said American Heritage Girls rein- forces the values of loving God, cherishing family, and community service she wants to instill in her daughters, Hannah and Gianna. “For me, American Heritage Girls is a way of inte- grating faith through life skills,” she pointed out. “It teach- Lauren Wilde es them how to be the hands and feet of Christ on earth.” recently earned AHG’s Stars and Stripes Award. Continued on Page 38 (Courtesy/Karen Wilde)

37 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 37 FEATURE Se p t e m b e r / Oc tober 2021 37 Victor Hernandez and his sons on a TSG hike at a favorite location, Caprock Canyon. (Courtesy/Victor Hernandez)

of men and boys in the burgeoning Troops of St. George organization. A Catholic apostolate that combines outdoor adven- tures with faith formation, the organiza- tion was started in 2013 to develop strong, virtuous fathers and sons. Hernandez explained the “idea was to bring dads and their sons together for the primary purpose of growing in faith. That journey happens in the outdoors, [through] being self-sufficient and doing the things men and boys love to do.” Hiking, archery, fishing, and learning survival skills occur between morning and evening prayer, a daily Rosary, and heart- Campouts with the Troops of St. George felt discussions about the saints or living include praying the Rosary around a bonfire. the faith. (Courtesy/TSG 5) A MASS NOT TO BE MISSED The highlight of every campout is the Mass with a priest visiting the campsite, or From Page 37 Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner, describ- the troop traveling to a nearby church for ing the experience shared with other boys the Saturday vigil service. FORMING VIRTUOUS MEN, BOYS and their dads. “We stop everything we’re doing, get Years from now, when Victor “We say the Rosary for veneration of cleaned up as much as we can, and give Hernandez recalls his favorite memories Mother Mary, but we’re doing it in a very emphasis to what is the most important of fatherhood, he’ll reminisce about sitting masculine environment. We’re praying in thing — the Mass,” the spokesman said. around a glowing campfire with his four the dark and in the middle of the woods “There’s something to be said for experi- sons reciting the Rosary. The nighttime with a roaring fire. It’s amazing how mem- encing it in God’s creation versus a struc- ritual is always part of a weekend spent orable that is,” he said. ture made by man. It’s just special.” with the Troops of St. George. Hernandez is one of the founding A frequent Mass celebrant is “It was impactful,” said the St. members of Troop 5 — the largest group Monsignor E. James Hart, the diocesan

38 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 38 38 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g SAINT FRANCIS VILLAGE A GATED RETIREMENT (62+) COMMUNITY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE BENBROOK

COME SHARE OUR LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN

A community of strong Catholics, plus independent living and security Hannah Bremer and Ali Perez pray the Rosary at an American Heritage Girls event. (Courtesy/Angela Stambaugh) Daily Mass and weekly Confession Chancellor and Moderator of the bishops,” he explained. Curia, who serves as national chap- When promoting the apostolate, lain for the organization. the communications director stresses 250-acre Other North Texas Catholics on one point: It’s different from anything country living, the executive team include Dr. Jeremy out there. turkey and Lustig, the national director; David “We not only live the adventure of deer abound Fischer, board member; and Brian the outdoors in God’s creation, we’re Squibbs, national director of commu- doing it alongside our kids,” he said, nications and recruitment. noting it’s not a drop-off program. The organization has grown from A dad, uncle, grandfather, or older 11 troops a few years ago to just shy of sibling must accompany the Catholic 100 active troops today. youngster to the troops’ six or seven In addition to SEAS, the orga- events a year. nization has chapters at St. Philip in “I tell mothers they think they Lewisville and St. Martin de Porres in are sending boys out for an adventure Prosper. with the Troops of St. George, but “It’s not really about the numbers. they end up getting a better husband If we change one soul, we’ve done our and father back,” Squibbs continued. darnedest,” enthused Squibbs, who is “That’s what’s been absolutely crucial an at SEAS. for me — my family and my spiritual Approved as an apostolate in growth in the Catholic faith.” 2018 by Bishop Michael Olson after Fully and unapologetically a careful review of the curriculum Catholic, the organization’s mix of and field manuals, the Troops of St. learning how to light a fire along with George welcomed its first Canadian knowing how to be an troop recently. also benefits parishes. Squibbs credits the bishop’s “I always tell priests you’re going SaintFrancisVillage.com approval and the pandemic for surg- to get better families and better boys StFrancisVillageCatholicChapel.com ing interest in the organization. in the parish helping you,” the father 817-292-5786 “Being an outdoor activity of four pointed out. helped, as did Bishop Olson sharing “That’s what the Troops of St. information about us with his brother George bring.”

39 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 39 FEATURE Se p t e m b e r / Oc tober 2021 39 signs of LIFE Ultrasound technicians working at pro-life pregnancy centers brace the front lines of the battle to save lives

By Susan McFarland Sometimes they will choose life. Some leave and are not sure. Some call back. Either way, Ly continues s an ultrasound technician, Angela Ly prayers for the mother to see God’s love. assumed she would always work in a hos- “We continue to pray and hope something we said pital setting. In fact, she was hesitant when will get through to her heart. It’s a burden at times. pondering a job at her current clinic. Now, But it’s definitely a blessing to see a woman choose Atwo years into her role at Mother & Unborn Baby life,” she said. Care, she wouldn’t trade a thing. Seeing life in the womb is a special experience. “I have a chance to save souls,” Ly said. Hearing life is too. MUBC, a nonprofit organization, serves wom- Randy Bollig, president of Loreto House in en and their families in crisis pregnancies. Their Denton, said as a man, he isn’t allowed into the ultra- Pregnancy Options Center is located in the downtown sound room. hospital district of Fort Worth. “However, what’s beautiful is in the rest of the “We offer real hope and practical assistance to building we can hear that heartbeat coming through the woman who must decide under pressure whether the walls,” he said. “And you can hear the mom her unborn child will live or die. Her entire future life, laughing and saying, ‘My baby!’ We hear the joy… happiness, and destiny are at stake! Nothing is more That’s a pretty powerful thing. It gets loud, sometimes crucial at this time than making available to her the we hear laughter. It permeates through the building.” positive alternatives for life, as weighed against the Among more than 50 pro-life centers in the destruction of abortion,” the organization states on its boundaries of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Loreto website. House and Mother & Unborn Baby Care, along Ly, a parishioner at St. Maria Goretti Church in with Flourishing Tree of Life Family and Pregnancy Arlington, said faith is her motivation and what keeps Resource Center in Aledo, are the only Catholic-led her going as she tries to help save one soul at a time. pregnancy centers. They are also approved aposto- Even before the mother is brought to her to “meet the lates in the diocese. baby,” her silent prayers begin. Workers serve women in alignment with the “I try to do my best during that moment for her to teachings of the Catholic Church and offer resources see it is alive, a real baby,” she said. “The whole time I to help the mother during pregnancy and for several am praying, ‘Let them see what they need to see, and months after the baby is born. give me the words that I need to say.’ I try to rely on Pat Pelletier, a founder of MUBC, said approxi- the Holy Spirit.” mately 60 percent of women who visit the clinic are

40 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 40 40 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Angela Ly prays while she introduces expectant mothers to their babies via ultrasound at Mother & Unborn Baby Care. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

considering an abortion. friends to help them appreciate the reality the west side of Fort Worth, where Pelletier “The great majority will change their and sanctity of the life she carries within estimates about 500 abortions a month are mind once they see the baby and eliminate her. It also provides free sonograms, performed. the crisis, whether it is family pressures or guidance, support, and other provisions, “That’s why it’s important for us to be financial pressure,” Pelletier said. including financial help, rent, and paying next to this clinic,” Pelletier said. “If we are The center provides free, fast, and bills. next door, we will have a constant pres- accurate pregnancy testing; counseling MUBC is in the process of building a ence ... My prayer is to see at least half of to the troubled mom and her family; and new office, next to an abortion clinic on those women.”

41 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 41 FEATURE Se p t e m b e r / Oc tober 2021 41 a better way THE PADUA TEAM Led by Cindy Casey (middle row, far right), Padua’s staff of 30 includes 12 case managers and six case workers who currently serve 160 families. Since 2015, Padua has served 492 families. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

42 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 42 42 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g a better way

Catholic Charities Fort Worth’s Padua program is turning poverty on its head by using “what we know works”

By Mary Lou Seewoester

ince President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 “War on Poverty” when the national poverty rate was 19 percent, government assistance programs have dedicated trillions of dollars toward eliminating Spoverty. Yet, the U.S. Census Bureau reports a 2019 poverty rate of 10.5 percent, or 34 million Americans living in poverty. Catholic Charities Fort Worth, however, is quietly accomplishing what government assistance programs and traditional case management have been unable to do — guide people out of poverty for good — one family at a time. When CCFW introduced its Out of Poverty campaign in 2015, it set the bold goal of guiding 10,000 people out of poverty. With that goal, CCFW defined four financial benchmarks for someone to move out of poverty: earning a living wage, eliminating inappropriate debt, increasing savings and savings behavior, and being free from government assistance. In 2015, CCFW also launched Padua, a long-term case management model designed to help clients reach those out-of-poverty benchmarks. Padua provides case management that is holistic, relationship-based, client-led, and research-based. It is named for St. Anthony of Padua,

Continued on Page 44

43 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 43 COVER STORY Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 43 From Page 43 Then, during an event at her son’s high school, she who in addition to being patron half-heartedly stopped at one of lost items, also is a patron of the booths. It was a booth saint of poverty. for Padua, and it changed her Cindy Casey, director of life. Cobb was skeptical that CCFW client services/client Padua could help, but she strategies, says Padua goes applied anyway “just to see how far beyond food pantries and it goes.” emergency assistance. It went better than she “We’re able to take that could have imagined. Today, a step further by bringing in she receives no government professionals who can help with assistance, works full-time as long-term growth so we can take a licensed vocational nurse, the mission of the Church and has savings in the bank, and move it forward,” she said. recently purchased her first Casey explained how home. Padua works by first describing “My life changed and traditional case management, turned around completely,” ACHIEVING DREAMS which provides funds but does Cobb said. With the help of Padua not plan and problem solve with With her Padua team, and through her hard work, clients. Without planning, an a case manager and a case Sheritha Cobb recently achieved her dream of unemployed client may receive worker, Cobb set initial goals buying a house. (NTC/ money for back rent but still of having stable transportation, Jayme Donahue) needs work and rent money for a stable income, and making the following months. sure her children were safe and Padua provides the missing stable as well. She also set long- piece. With Padua, clients term goals of someday owning receive coaching to help them a home and taking a vacation plan, organize, and problem with her children, both of solve so that once they obtain which she has accomplished. financial stability, they can “Purchasing a house was maintain it, Casey said. one of my long-term dreams “Financial assistance is there but I didn’t think it would and available, but as a problem- happen,” she said. “With solving tool to help develop someone guiding you and problem-solving skills with the helping, you see that you can client,” Casey said. “It’s not just accomplish these goals by just a transactional payment of a taking little steps at a time.” bill.” No one told her to “just do this,” she added. “It was more A LIFE-CHANGING like, ‘you can do this. Let’s do CHOICE this together.’” Two years ago, Sheritha “When I got the point Cobb, a single mother of two where we did a budget — what teenagers, lived in a small a wakeup call,” Cobb said. apartment, worked part-time, “They gave me categories to went to school full-time, and look at [in the budget]. We received government assistance looked at everything — and to make ends meet. I mean everything. Writing “I was stuck,” she it down and seeing it really remembered. “Stuck in that helped, and I still use that mentality of ‘this is as good as today.” it’s going to get, so just make Cobb said her children also the best of it.’” have learned and benefited

44 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 44 44 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Cobb and her son, Devin, and daughter, Cydney, play from her Padua experience. “bigger, brighter future.” Then they board games at their home “I sat down with my children and use components built around financial in Cleburne on July 18, 2021. talked about budgeting,” she said. benchmarks to plan their own trajectory. (NTC/Jayme Donahue) “They’re not strangers to ‘we can’t get Padua is holistic and long term. that right now,’ or ‘we have to wait a little Clients stay with Padua from 12 months bit.’ My son said we needed a dog for the to as long as five years, but typically, house. So, he saved up and bought a dog.” clients are with Padua two to three For Cobb, who graduated Padua last years before reaching their financial summer, the most meaningful aspect of benchmarks. the program was her relationship with the “We are not telling people what to people on her Padua team. do,” Casey said. “We’ll show you the “I’m really shy and being able to open scenarios and you can choose. We’ll keep up to these wonderful individuals was you as well-informed as you need to be.” amazing,” she said. “I’m speechless and I Padua offers strategic and flexible cry thinking about my progress and how financial assistance. It does more than pay they helped me.” bills. It uses financial resources to help people set goals, put a plan in place, and UNIQUE ASPECTS OF PADUA hold themselves accountable to the plan. According to Casey, there are four Finally, Padua provides ongoing aspects of Padua that make it unique. support for its staff with training that is First, it’s directional, meaning that clients identify what they want for their Continued on Page 46

45 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 45 COVER STORY Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 45 Demetria Johnson, a Padua client, plays with her children on July 23, 2021 in Grand Prairie. (NTC/Jayme Donahue)

From Page 45 the ability to have strong relationships and manager asked her how a particular support systems and the ability to develop relationship would benefit her long-term frequent and ongoing. Casey said, “One executive function — to regulate emotions, — in a year or five years. of the things we’ve done exceedingly well plan, and problem solve.” “I said, ‘It’s not,’” Cobb recalled. “So with Padua is our training.” “People can obtain their financial that’s when I cut ties. And I was free … goals, but not maintain them if their I was able to let go of bad relationships FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL emotional resiliency is not firm,” Casey because they helped me see that those RESILIENCY explained. “So, we start working on relationships were not helping my All Padua clients commit to meet financial resiliency right off the bat, but we growth.” twice monthly with a case manager and also work on emotional resiliency — that case worker, Casey explained. Clients may foundation of well-being.” WHATEVER IT TAKES receive financial help for today’s needs, Cobb’s case manager nurtured that Casey noted that the tenets of Padua but coaching ensures there is a plan and foundation of well-being by helping her can be found in any social work textbook. process to meet tomorrow’s needs, thus look at not only her relationship with But in the real world, critics argue that disrupting the complex system of poverty. money but also her relationships with it’s too costly to execute and too time- “At its heart, Padua is a financial friends and co-workers. consuming for a traditional case manager coaching model based on a firm “We even talked about the people with 50 or 60 clients. So, in 2014, CCFW foundation of emotional resiliency,” Casey around me, which relationships were formed a “Whatever It Takes” committee said. positive, and which were negative, and with professionals from other agencies She said Padua helps clients “develop then how to release those negative nationwide, the cities of Fort Worth and a foundation of well-being — emotional relationships.” Arlington, clients, and staff, to answer the well-being, mental and physical health, She remembers the day her case question: If you could design “whatever

46 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 46 46 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Research reveals

Two years into a randomized controlled trial, the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities found Padua Monthly Participants Forty-three Families improvements in labor- participants earnings who were not percent starting Padua market outcomes for were 25% for Padua employed at of Padua without stable Padua participants. more likely to participants the beginning participants housing were Participant interviews at have full-time were 18% of the program reported 60% more 12 months and 24 months employment higher were 67% improved likely to obtain revealed that compared to more likely to health stable housing the control group: be employed full-time after 2 years

it takes” to help people move themselves out of poverty, what would that look like? “Over and over, we heard: ‘There’s never A RESILIENT FAMILY Demetria Johnson and her three enough time to do what we know works. We get so children, Adrian, Ta’tyanna, and caught up in connecting clients with resources for Kyanna. (NTC/Jayme Donahue) today that we can’t help them for tomorrow,’” Casey said. “So, we made a conscious decision to invest in clients by investing in our staff.” To that end, Padua limits caseloads to 25 clients per case manager, who is paired with a case worker. The case manager primarily helps clients build financial and emotional resiliency, and the case worker helps clients identify and access resources and funds such as assistance with rent, housing, employment, food, and childcare. Each case worker supports the clients of two case managers. “Every client who comes in the door gets a case worker and a case manager. That makes Padua very unique in giving clients more support,” Casey explained. “CCFW has allowed us the flexibility, and stakeholders have allowed us the funding, to do what everyone knows works,” she added. “So, we’ve been very blessed.” Padua’s staff of 30 includes 12 case managers and six case workers who currently serve 160 families. Since 2015, Padua has served 492 families and guided 69 families out of poverty. Jennifer Strand, CCFW director of research and evaluation, explained that many of the 492 Padua families made

Continued on Page 48

47 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 47 COVER STORY Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 47 From Page 47 money and on what it takes to Research reveals eventually own a home. significant progress and “were helped “Every month we go through greatly” but they did not feel a need financial planning and go over all my CCFW’s internal Research and to stay in Padua until they reached all expenses. When we broke it down Evaluation Team collected real four financial benchmarks for out-of- and wrote an entire list of bills, I time data from the 226 Padua poverty status. could see where I can save money participants who provided “But that doesn’t mean they are because I actually think about it now household financial information not moving their life toward their before I spend it,” Johnson explained. upon service completion. The bigger, brighter future,” Strand said. “They also showed me how to data showed that: remove things from my credit that are MORE THAN FINANCIAL HELP negative.” Demetria Johnson, a single In addition to financial coaching, 120 mother of three, had received her team offered emotional support families financial assistance from a variety with frequent communication about Increased their annual of agencies, but in May 2020, she her needs and well-being, supportive wages; the typical discovered Padua and found much text messages during stressful times, Padua family increased more than help with paying bills. and with counseling provided annual wages by She said, “A lot of people say through a CCFW partnership. $15,405.36 they want to help but they just give “I feel a strong bond between all you the information and then leave of us. They make me feel like they you to take care of it. But Padua is care about me,” Johnson said. “And right on top of it, and they will help they give you incentives to make you you to stay on top of it.” want to do better for yourself.” When Johnson started Padua, 79 she had been out of work for three PROVING PADUA WORKS families Increased savings; a months and had just gained full-time CCFW developed Padua with a typical Padua family’s employment with a temp agency commitment to long-term research doing insurance verification but to evaluate its effectiveness and savings increased by earning less than at her previous job. to understand how to continually $1,900. She said Padua “came at the improve it. To do that, Padua right time for me. I was stressed out partnered with the Wilson Sheehan trying to figure out how to catch up Lab for Economic Opportunities and pay my bills every month.” (LEO) at the University of Notre 26 Padua paid for groceries during Dame. LEO is conducting a families the February freeze when Johnson’s randomized controlled trial (RCT) Improved their debt- apartment lost power for a week and to measure the effectiveness of to-income ratio; a everything in her refrigerator spoiled. Padua’s long-term, comprehensive, typical Padua family Padua also helped pay for her last and individualized case management reduced negative debt semester of training in medical model. balance by $979. billing and coding and for the fee to LEO’s preliminary conclusions take the licensure test. show increased client self-sufficiency 120 “This program has helped me so and improved employment families much. I wouldn’t have been able to outcomes. Two years into the RCT, Improved their net finish school without it,” she said. participant interviews revealed income. Along with the financial help, her increases in full-time employment, Padua team guided her in making increased earnings, improved health, a manageable budget so she could and reduced use of government not only provide for her family but assistance. also begin saving — encouraging Collaboration with LEO her, for example, to save 30 percent prompted CCFW to start its own of her tax refund. They helped her research and evaluation team, complete an application for rental according to Strand, who heads the assistance from the State of Texas research team at CCFW. during the pandemic and found free workshops for her on managing Continued on Page 50

48 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 48 48 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 49 Dr. Jennifer Strand (right) is shown with her research and evaluation team at Catholic Charities Fort Worth. Left to Right: Bridget Hennessy, Sarah Dunham, and Trent Ormsbee-Hale. (NTC/Rodger Mallison)

From Page 48 FIND To learn more about Padua please visit: bit.ly/PaduaTeam. To get help, or to donate to Catholic Charities Fort Worth, “Research allows programs and OUT visit CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org. agencies to see what’s working and not MORE working on both a macro and micro level,” Strand said. She explained that LEO’s research addresses Padua’s big picture, evaluating the effectiveness of its foundational alleviate pressure and give clients the make the program work,” she said. components. mental and emotional capacity to do As director of CCFW client services/ “It takes a long time to gather that the work needed to move forward. But client strategies, Casey also sees the benefits data because it is longitudinal,” she said. research revealed that approach was not of continued internal research and LEO’s “But the internal research provides the helpful, so Padua tied financial assistance long-term research for the purpose of opportunity to refine actual services in a to planning and problem-solving. Funding offering clients the best and most effective more real-time manner.” became a tool for the long-term goal of path out of poverty. She reminds us that all “That helps us support clients better financial resiliency. work at CCFW is based on Catholic social and more efficiently and it helps us know “The problem wasn’t that [clients] teaching, “so we’re the hands and feet of where we need to put our resources, didn’t have capacity to think about it,” Christ out there.” time, and money and where we don’t,” Strand explained, “but they didn’t have “When you come in the door with Strand said. the tools to solve for it. So, using funding Padua, you can be homeless, a high school For example, she said Padua made to equip them with tools to find their own drop-out, or unable to work because of a significant change early on in how it solutions was a much better way.” illness but know you’ll be able to work in disburses financial assistance, based on “Without changing the big the future. As long as you will eventually be data from the Research and Evaluation components of what we believe works with able and willing to work 40 hours a week, team. She said Padua began with the Padua, we were able to refine and adapt you’re eligible for Padua and we’ll work for assumption that financial help would the methodology and mechanisms that you,” she said.

50 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 50 50 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g TAKE 5 WITH FATHER

Into God’s Hands

HE IS: Father Oscar Sanchez Olvera, CORC, pastor of TOGETHER AGAIN: About two decades after Fr. Álvarez invited Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Fort Worth for the past three him to the retreat, they served together at Immaculate Heart of years. Mary. Fr. Álvarez was pastor, and Fr. Sanchez the parochial vicar.

SOLID GROUND: The fifth of eight chil- AN ORDERED LIFE: Fr. Sanchez appreciates living in commu- dren, Oscar grew up in Querétaro, Mexico, nity with three other CORC priests in this diocese, who pray in a family with deep Catholic roots. and eat at least one meal together each day.

CALLED LIKE DAVID: In his late UNIVERSAL CHURCH, UNIVERSAL PARISH: teens, he felt a call from God, but he Fifteen of the sixteen scheduled Masses each week at the had concerns about how and where to south Fort Worth parish are in Spanish. The English Mass proceed. His aunt, a religious sister, attracts immigrants from Myanmar and Africa, which invited two of his older brothers to a pleases him. discernment retreat. They declined. His aunt and her friend Father JOY OF PRIESTHOOD: “To be with the people, Gildardo Álvarez Abonce, CORC, to share with the people the faith, to serve them in then invited Oscar, who had just ministry. It’s special because I am serving people graduated from high school. He and God at the same time.... I want people to said, “Yes, why not?” know the mercy of God, to know the love He entered seminary of God.” the next month. A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP: Fr. ORDAINED: After Sanchez is devoted to St. Joseph studying in Mexico because of “his mission to take and Spain, he was care of the Son of God ordained June and the Virgin Mary; 5, 2006 in the his silence, his Church of the humble life Fifth Apparition in obedience of Our Lady of to God’s word.” Guadalupe in Mexico IN YOUR HANDS: City. Since he was a seminarian, he med- itates on the prayer of abandonment of Blessed Charles de Foucauld with every decision.

GO WITH GOD: “In every event in my life, I’ll say, ‘This is not coincidence, it is God who is present in my life: the NTC/Juan Guajardo good events and the bad events.’”

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 51 GOOD NEWSMAKER MERCY mission

Every encounter with Dennis Schroeder of Windthorst includes a reminder of Jesus’ love

By Susan Moses give back,” he explained. Although he has attended almost Dennis Schroeder at his home in ennis Schroeder’s home is every game in every sport played by the Windthorst. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) filled with things he loves. Windthorst Trojans, including away games, More mounted deer heads that’s not where he finds his greatest joy. than you can count on your His purpose is to spread the news of hands.D Stacks of ballcaps for Windthorst God’s mercy to each person he encoun- High School sports teams. Enough rods ters by giving them a framed copy of the truck and gave her a framed portrait of and reels for a flotilla of fishing boats. Divine Mercy image for them to keep “for Jesus, with rays of red and white extending Paradoxically, what he has the most of inspiration.” from His heart. They talked a few minutes is the thing he gives away: framed photos of about Jesus and His love before they con- the Divine Mercy image. ONE BY ONE tinued their separate journeys. Schroeder has spent all his life in Cassie Erazo was traveling south on Windthorst. Baptized at St. Mary Parish, US-281 from her home in Wichita Falls to AN UNINTENTIONAL START the 76-year-old said he’s never missed visit her grandmother in Windthorst when Schroeder’s Divine Mercy ministry Sunday Mass, except for an occasional her car had a flat tire. came out of an ACTS retreat about six remote hunting trip or an illness. With her eight-year-old daughter in the years ago. The leadership team shared His father had a dairy farm, and he car and her husband out of town, Erazo stories about how their lives were changed and one of his brothers took over the thought, “The only one getting me out of by a deeper encounter with Christ and His day-to-day operations of the farm when this [predicament] was me.” Church. Schroeder was a teen. For 51 years, his But within a couple of minutes, two Although Schroeder was a regular at days were scheduled according to the cows’ motorists stopped to change the tire for her. Mass and prayed the Rosary daily, a habit needs, until he sold the farm to a nephew. One was Dennis Schroeder. instilled by his parents, he examined his life But it was in retirement that Schroeder “I felt like my guardian angel was and found that some habits and priorities discovered what he describes as his true watching out for me to put this humble needed to change. “I decided to go to the purpose. man in my path,” she recalled. Lord, to be with Him,” he said. It’s not hunting or fishing, even though When her car was roadworthy again, At the retreat, he also learned the he fries the catfish he catches for the local Schroeder told her, “I want to bless you Divine Mercy Chaplet. Two weeks later, he senior citizens. “I like to give it away and with something,” and he returned to his received a Divine Mercy image in the mail,

52 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g and he framed it and put it on his kitchen image will be displayed. I can do back for Him,” he said, his eyes table. “I give it anytime I meet people and tell brimming with tears. Schroeder explained why the image them, ‘This is what it means to me.’ I love His love for Jesus includes honoring that came to St. Faustina in a vision means giving that away. It’s inspiration ministry,” His mother. The retired dairyman begins so much to him. “I look at the nail marks he said. Most recipients respond positively each day praying the Divine Mercy in His hands and feet. He fell three times and often end the conversation by hugging Chaplet followed by the first of three daily when He was carrying the cross. Sure the him. His gift has been refused only twice. Rosaries. cross was heavy, but He was carrying all of A recent day began at a farmer’s mar- He serves as St. Mary’s team captain our sin. ket, where Schroeder gave one away to a for the annual Rosary Rally for America, “I look at the rays. I see the Passion vendor and four to fellow shoppers. Later, sponsored by America Needs Fatima. This and Easter, all in one. It’s everything He’s he went fishing at a local park and gave year, when St. Mary parishioners gather done for us,” Schroeder continued. three to other fishermen. In the afternoon, after the October 16 Mass to pray the A visitor admired the beautiful photo he gave two more to travelers who stopped Rosary, he hopes he’s joined by a group on his kitchen table, so Schroeder ordered to pray at the parish’s grotto. even larger than the 92 parishioners in five copies of the image, framed them, and Distributing 10 in a day is more than 2019. gave them to two friends and his three average, but he said he won’t pass a strand- Never one to miss an opportunity to daughters. ed motorist without stopping to help, then evangelize, Schroeder writes, “Pray the He thought of others whom he wanted sharing the gift that has helped him. Rosary” on each piece of mail he sends out. to bless and ordered 25 more. Then 50. Schroeder describes himself as shy but It’s a simple act, but it aligns with his Now he orders them 100 at a time, and he claims his ministry is easy. “I have found purpose. He said, “I want to spread His estimates he’s given away more than 1,000. my calling. The Lord does not ask much of word. When I meet St. Peter, I want to hear He places them in frames so the iconic us, but He does ask a little. This is the little him say three words, ‘Well done, Dennis.’”

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 53 GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN

A gift and grandparents

randparents rank among the best to receive the Eucharist. We learn not to at first, nudged by a parent’s prompting. gift-givers. grab out of greed; we wait with humility But over time we hope to cultivate natural G In our house, they are and patience — and joy awaits us. thanksgiving as a response of joy in return. legendary. Presents tumbling By definition, true gifts are Likewise the word “Eucharist” itself out of suitcases. Piles under good, never cruel or conniv- means thanksgiving — a reminder that the Christmas tree. Birthday ing. They are treasures, not gratitude is what we bring to God for packages on the doorstep with tricks. More than once I’ve grace that is unearned but overflowing. Sunday comics tucked inside as watched a child turn wide-eyed As an adult, I love to find reminders colorful cushions. to a grandparent and ask with of gifts my grandparents gave me decades Everyday moments are no delight and disbelief, “How did ago. An inscription in a Bible or a card exception. Extra cookies after you know I wanted this?”. Gifts tucked in a book brings back memories of dinner. Ice cream cones on a Laura Fanucci remind us that we are seen, their affection, the warmth of knowing I sunny afternoon. One more known and cherished. was beloved to them, even among many game of catch, one more round Gifts are meant to be cousins. of cribbage, one more push on the swing. enjoyed, not kept on a shelf gathering My husband and I laugh that each Grandparents love to give, and grand- dust. Every present has a purpose, even gathering of grandparents with grandkids children love to receive. Not every family (and especially) when it is the simple gift of convenes the mutual admiration society. knows this relationship, but wherever we presence. We as parents stand separate from see the outpouring of affection between My kids remember special days spent their delight and affection for each other, generations, we witness a gift of human with grandparents long after they leave pure and unburdened by the discipline love. favorite toys or books behind. Gifts draw (and drudgery) of daily parenting. But even Giving and receiving stand among together giver and receiver, just as we come this arrangement is wisely given by God, life’s greatest joys. closer to Christ in Communion. who knows we need to be seen and loved Each time we receive the Eucharist, we Gifts are unearned. They are not pay- by many people in different ways. participate in God’s generous gift-giving. ment for services rendered or conditional All of us are called to be gift for each Amid the latest debates about Communion loans based on good behavior. Gifts spring other. in the Church, I’ve watched my children from a place of selfless love. May we spend our lives in awe of the with their grandparents, wondering what At every Mass, we remember we can- gifts we’ve been given, seeking to share our families might teach us about a theolo- not control or earn God’s favor as a reward them with those in need. May we learn gy of gift-giving. but only accept what is offered as mystery: from young and old how to give and Gifts are freely offered. They are not “Lord, I am not worthy that you should receive in love, just as Jesus does for us. forced; they cannot be demanded. The enter under my roof, but only say the word way my children reach out their arms for and my soul shall be healed.” a hug or a treat from their grandparents Gifts invite gratitude. Saying or Laura Kelly Fanucci writes the “Faith at Home” mirrors how we open our hands or mouth writing a word of thanks might feel forced column for Catholic News Service.

5 4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Jimena Estrada, 15, shows off her vaccination card after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the vaccination site located at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Fort Worth July 17, 2021. (NTC/Ben Torres)

No matter the cause: CCFW is there to aid parish communities

By Alice Varela Murray “Anytime we can do events to help the to receive the vaccine at the clinic last community as the church — it’s a win-win month, Oberdorf said. “Half of our com- n what has been an unprecedented situation,” said Beverly Oberdorf, business munity is Hispanic, and that was encour- Iand challenging time in the past year manager at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish aging that they took part.” A Kaiser Family and a half, Catholic Charities Fort Worth in north Fort Worth. Foundation analysis from July 19, 2021, (CCFW) has remained vigilant throughout As of August 15, the Centers for shows 40 percent of Hispanics in Texas are the Diocese of Fort Worth by continuing to Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccinated compared to 44 percent of the meet its mission to “provide service to those website reports that in the United States white population and 65 percent of Asians. in need.” there have been 36,556,516 COVID cases Oberdorf said those who came to the Last month, CCFW and its Disaster with a total number of 618,591 deaths. clinic were happy to be there, as many said, Response Team closed an urgent five- The need for the vaccine in its own “they would not have gotten the vaccine if month effort to support families affected community at St. Thomas the Apostle [the parish] hadn’t offered it.” by Winter Storm Uri by providing services Parish was illustrated by “the results of a The effort to conduct the vaccination from financial and volunteer assistance parish survey from April 2021,” Oberdorf clinics started while the delta variant of the to collaborating with local and national said. COVID-19 virus was surging across the agencies in meeting individual needs of Of the survey respondents from St. country, making the vaccination effort even those families. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 39 percent were more important. Most recently, CCFW saw the need already vaccinated, and another 21 percent According to the CDC website, the and reached out to local parishes to assist had already been ill with COVID-19. That delta variant is “much more contagious than the COVID-19 vaccination effort to battle led to the decision to team up with CCFW past versions of the virus” and places with the devastating effects of the lingering to provide the clinic, Oberdorf said. low vaccination rates are experiencing the pandemic. “We had about 100 people” that came most cases and devastating results.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 55 CATHOLIC CHARITIES Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 55 THE DOMESTIC CHURCH One Family Together

ith family and business W ties on three continents, Jane-Mary and Jean-Patrice Tchatat began their marriage separated by 4,950 miles and seven time zones. In time, Jean-Patrice decided to take a step back from his career to move to Fort Worth. Pope Francis described actions like this in his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), which was issued five years ago. “As love matures, it also learns to ‘negotiate.’ Far from anything selfish or calculating, such negotiation is an exercise of mutual love, an interplay of give and take, for the good of the family,” wrote the Holy Father. Pope Francis has announced an “Amoris Laetitia Family” year to affirm the complexity and realities of family life and to share spiritual insights and practical wisdom. He said, “We are called to accompany, listen, and bless the journey of families.” For this “Amoris Laetitia Family” year, the NTC is expanding its regular feature The Domestic Church to explore how local families live daily struggles and joys.

5656 NNoo r r t t h hTTee x x a a s sCCatat h h o o l li c i c.o.o r rg g THE BEGINNING — Jane- was a stay-at-home dad for a year. A GREAT START — Jane-Mary Mary originates from northwest He has since resumed his work in said the family likes to start the Cameroon, where English is the IT. day with prayers of thanksgiving, primary language, and Jean- followed by prayers of blessing for Patrice is from west Cameroon and PARTICIPATE, DON’T their friends and family. “Then we grew up speaking French. SPECTATE — Jane-Mary is a thank Him for listening,” she said, After graduating from high lector, sacristan, and Eucharistic explaining that beginning the day school in London, Jane-Mary minister, and she has also served on this way helps promote gratitude moved to Fort Worth, where an the RCIA team; Maya is an usher; for what God has done for them. uncle was living, to continue her and Frederick is an altar server. education. She eventually went to “I want to give more to our ROOTED — Jane-Mary is part pharmacy school in Oklahoma, community and church,” said of a local organization of Catholic then returned to work in Fort Jane-Mary. Her devotion to the women from Africa that prays Worth. motivates her together and studies Catholic Jean-Patrice finished his edu- to participate as a sacristan and an teachings. “We build each other cation in Paris and worked in infor- Extraordinary Minister of Holy up; we pray the Rosary together mation technology for the banking Communion. “I like to set up the every week,” she said. industry in Paris and London. altar so I can be closer to Him,” A childhood friend of his intro- she said. STRONG FAITH, STRONG duced them when he was visiting When Mass was celebrated FAMILY — Jean-Patrice credits Fort Worth on business. without a congregation in April his faith with strengthening his 2020, “I couldn’t stand it,” Jane- marriage and his family. It helps EARLY MARRIAGE — They Mary recalled. After two weeks of him align his values with what is married in 2007 but continued to watching livestream from home, truly good, and it prevents him live an ocean apart. They would she thought, “I can’t take this from being corrupted by the values talk each day in the morning and anymore,” drove to the church and of the world. evening, and they were able to knocked on the door to see if “may- He said, “It helps you to see travel to visit each other about six be I could be the tenth person.” what is prohibited, what is not times a year. To her delight, they had enough good for society. It gives integrity The distance seemed even capacity to allow her inside. She for the family.” greater after the birth of their continued the practice until Mass He joked that without his oldest son, Frederick. Jean-Patrice resumed in person. Catholic faith, he might be remembers their son crying at the obsessed by “putting the George airport when he would leave, and MASS APPEAL — Jane-Mary Washingtons in my pocket,” refer- he worried about his wife being said attending Mass is “part and ring to the importance that society alone without any help. parcel of who I am. Wherever I am places on accumulating wealth. One day at lunch, Jean-Patrice on Sunday, I have to go to church.” “Faith brings together my fam- stepped away from his workplace in They hope to impart that love ily and my community,” he said. Paris to buy clothes for Frederick. to their children, that they “always When a co-worker learned what go to Mass no matter what, not SOURCE OF HOPE — Jane- he was doing, he told Jean-Patrice, because their parents take them.” Mary said faith gave her the “What are you doing here?” strength to get through hard times, Jean-Patrice explained, “I’m not SCHOOLED IN THE FAITH — like the early years of their mar- American, I’m French. It’s difficult Frederick and Zane go to Catholic riage when they lived apart, and to go there.” schools, and their parents reinforce when Zane was delivered early His co-worker responded, “No, those values at home with prayer because of health concerns. “At that’s not the reason. You need to and service. As a family, they those times, He had me in His go stay with your son. You cannot deliver food and items to homeless hands.” have your family living in another shelters. “We want to encourage “Faith gives me hope for a place.” them to see people, to remember better tomorrow every day. I take The truth stung. Shortly there- people who are in need,” said one day at a time. It’s a blessing,” after, he moved to Fort Worth and Jane-Mary. she said.”

THEY ARE: Jane-Mary and Jean-Patrice Tchatat, with their children Zane (left) and Frederick at St. Bartholomew Parish in Fort Worth. Daughter Maya is not pictured. (NTC/Ben Torres)

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 57 SEEKING GOD’S PATH EN CAMINO AL ENCUENTRO

It starts at Comienza en home casa

s a Hispanic immigrant priest in the United omo sacerdote migrante hispano en los Estados Unidos, States, I bring my personal experience of growing traigo mi propia experiencia personal de crecer en México A up in Mexico and moving to the U.S. I brought Cy desarrollarme en los Estados Unidos con fuertes valores with me strong Catholic values in which the Domestic católicos en los que la Iglesia doméstica jugó un papel importante. Church, the family, played an important role. My faith La práctica de mi fe católica en México no comprendió tanto la in Mexico was not primarily sacramental due to limiting vida sacramental debido a circunstancias que la limitaron; sino que, circumstances. Instead, it was mostly an experience of en cambio, se trataba de una experiencia de religiosidad popular community-based and family-based popular religiosity. en la que se enfatizaba la comunidad y la familia. Al mudarme a Moving to the U.S. when I was 14 was a multi- los Estados Unidos vivíamos en un ambiente multigeneracional generational and multicultural experience. But one thing y multicultural, pero cosa que se mantuvo igual fue la necesidad that remained the same was the need to continue fostering de seguir fomentando la expresión de nuestra fe en la Iglesia the expression of our faith in the Domestic Church. “In doméstica. Esto se debe a que “en esta especie de Iglesia doméstica it [the Domestic Church] parents should, by their word los padres deben ser para sus hijos los primeros predicadores de la and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their fe, mediante la palabra y el ejemplo, y deben fomentar la vocación children; they should encourage them in the vocation propia de cada uno, pero con un cuidado especial la vocación which is to each of them, fostering with special care sagrada.” (Lumen gentium, 11) vocation to a sacred state.” (Lumen Gentium 11) Como sacerdote recién ordenado, soy capaz de ver la As a newly ordained priest I can see the importance importancia de construir y formar la Iglesia doméstica. El hacer of building and forming the Domestic Church. Doing esto permite a la familia, junto con la guía de la Iglesia, perseverar so enables the family, along with the guidance of the en la fe y fomentar las vocaciones incluso en el bullicio de lo que Church, to persevere in the faith, fostering vocations parece un mundo que cambia y evoluciona rápidamente, pero

Father Pedro El Padre Pedro Martinez, with Martínez, con his parents sus padres y and family at familia en su his diaconate ordenación ordination in diaconal en 2019. (NTC/ 2019. (NTC/ Courtesy Foto de Photo) cortesía)

58 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g even in the midst of what aún debemos permanecer seems a rapidly changing fieles al mensaje y los valores and evolving world, and del Evangelio. Al crecer NTC FILMS PRESENTS remaining true to the Gospel en un pequeño pueblo en message and values. Guanajuato, México, pude Growing up in a small experimentar la religiosidad village in Guanajuato, popular y el papel activo Mexico, I was able to de la Iglesia doméstica, experience the popular en la cual se fomentó la Following religiosity and the active fe católica. Debido a que role of the Domestic nuestro sacerdote cubría una the Church in nurturing the cantidad significativa de área Catholic faith. Because rural con muchas iglesias, our priest would cover a podíamos tener Misa dos Good significant amount of rural veces al mes. La gente pudo area with many churches, mantener la fe mediante we were able to have Mass la popularidad religiosa Shepherd only twice a month. The con rosarios comunitarios, people maintained the faith procesiones, horas santas, A film about the largest priestly through communal Rosaries, devociones populares de ordination class in the history processions, holy hours, santos, clases de catecismo, y of the Diocese of Fort Worth popular saint devotions and muchas otras actividades que feast days, catechism classes, promovieron y fomentaron and many other activities su fe. La Iglesia doméstica, that promoted and fostered incluso con sus limitaciones, their faith. The Domestic fue capaz de mantener una Church even in its limitations expresión viva de la fe. was able to maintain and La familia como Iglesia nurture a lively expression of doméstica juega un papel their faith. importante en el fomento The family as a de las vocaciones, ya que es Domestic Church plays a en ellas que sus miembros se significant role in fostering comprometen al sacerdocio, committed vocations to la vida religiosa y el the priesthood, religious matrimonio. El testimonio life, and matrimony. The y el ejemplo de fe y vida Domestic Church’s witness de la Iglesia doméstica son and example of faith and esenciales para fomentar NorthTexasCatholic.org/video-gallery life becomes essential in las vocaciones. Mantenerse fostering vocations. Holding fiel al evangelio de true to the Gospel of Jesus Jesucristo en una población Christ in multigenerational multigeneracional y and multicultural families multicultural es crucial para is crucial for the expression la expresión y y la afirmación and affirmation of their de la fe católica proclamada proclaimed and lived faith y vivida, que lleva a las that enables people to be personas a transformarse y transformed and changed. cambiar.

Ordained to the priesthood in El Padre Pedro Martínez sirve 2020, Father Pedro Martinez como párroco de la Parroquia serves as Pastor at St. Peter the de San Pedro Apóstol de Fort Aposle Parish in Fort Worth and Worth y como Enlace vocacional as Vocations Liaison with the con la Oficina de Vocaciones. Vocations Office.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 59 La pandemia mundial de COVID-19 nos ha enseñado nuevas lecciones y nuevas LECCIONES formas de vida, pero Dios nunca cambia aprendidas Por Susan Moses

a pandemia mundial de COVID-19, que fue declarada hace casi 18 meses por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, todavía afecta la forma en que trabajamos, vamos a la escuelaL y celebramos nuestra fe en las iglesias. Aunque muchos de nosotros (incluyéndome a mí) pensamos que este capítulo podría haber terminado a estas alturas, las escuelas diocesanas y los ministerios parroquiales, incluida la educación religiosa, comienzan el año escolar del 2021-22 todavía afectados por las precauciones que se han de tomar para proteger la salud pública. Afortunadamente, la difícil jornada que hemos experimentado con el coronavirus nos ha enseñado lecciones que serán invaluables a medida que las escuelas y parroquias reanuden sus actividades en persona este mes.

Quiénes somos La privación de poder asistir a Misa, especialmente durante el Triduo del 2020, dejó dolorosamente clara la importancia de la celebración plena de la Eucaristía dominical. El Padre Jonathan Wallis, quien desempeña tres funciones dentro de la Diócesis como Vicario General, Director de Formación de los Seminaristas y Capellán y Director del Centro Newman de Texas Christian University, declaró: “La adoración de Dios es esencial para quienes somos como Su creación”. Jodie Ríos, feligrés de la Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción de Denton, experimentó eso personalmente cuando ella y su esposo, que es un sobreviviente de cáncer con una función pulmonar comprometida, comenzaron a participar de la Misa a través de una transmisión en línea. “Tenemos que tener mucho cuidado”, explicó Ríos al explicar el por qué reestructuraron sus vidas para evitar estar en contacto con grupos de mucha gente. Ríos, que es lectora en las Misas y Ministro de la Eucaristía, dijo que: “Ver la Misa en la televisión me hizo llorar casi todas las semanas al principio, tal vez, por temer que nunca íbamos a volver a la normalidad”. Los dos vieron la Misa en vivo en línea todos los domingos por catorce meses. Liturgia del Viernes Santo de la Pasión del Luego de vacunarse, Ríos y su esposo seleccionaron ABRIL 2020 Señor en la Iglesia de San Juan Apóstol en una Misa que probablemente tendría menos personas y North Richland establecida para ir vurtual. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

60 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 60 60 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g regresaron a Misa en persona en mayo, usando mascarillas para protegerse más. Reconoce que después de su prolongada ausencia, asistir a la celebración Eucarística en persona se sentía “extraño y surrealista”. LECCIONES No obstante, añadió que “fue bueno ver a todos de nuevo y sentimos una gran alegría al recibir la Eucaristía. Realmente, realmente, extrañamos mucho la Eucaristía”. En las primeras semanas de la pandemia, cuando las reuniones se limitaron para reducir al mínimo la transmisión del virus, la capacidad fue de 250 personas aprendidas y luego se redujeron a tan sólo 10 personas. El Obispo Michael Olson y otros funcionarios diocesanos querían que los católicos de la Diócesis de Fort Worth tuvieran acceso a los sacramentos, mientras se promulgaban medidas para proteger la salud y el bienestar de la comunidad. En medio de las incógnitas existentes la toma de decisiones fue un verdadero reto a veces y la comunicación fue clave. El Obispo Olson habló con los jueces del condado de los 28 condados dentro de la Diócesis, así como con los funcionarios de salud locales, las autoridades del gobierno estatal, sus hermanos Obispos y los administradores de hospitales. Mantuvo a sus párrocos informados acerca de los protocolos que cambiaban rápidamente mediante reuniones virtuales cada semana. Durante seis semanas, la Misa se celebró sine populo, es decir, sin una congregación presente, y se transmitió en vivo a través de las plataformas de las redes sociales y los sitios web parroquiales. Algunas parroquias ofrecieron el Sacramento de la Reconciliación al aire libre y muchos sacerdotes pudieron dar la Unción de los Enfermos en los hospitales usando equipo de protección personal. Una de las muchas decisiones que se tomaron en los primeros meses de la pandemia fue proceder con la ordenación de seis hombres al diaconado de transición el 19 de marzo del 2020 en la Catedral de San Patricio casi vacía. El Padre Wallis dijo que la celebración de la ordenación demostró que “éste es un acto importante de la Iglesia y puede llevarse a cabo de manera segura”. La Iglesia “tiene su propia posición” y se asocia con el gobierno para servir al bien común, pero no está subordinada al mismo, señaló el Padre Wallis. El fin de semana del 2 al 3 de mayo del 2020, a la primera oportunidad que se tuvo, las parroquias de la Diócesis reabrieron para la celebración pública de la Misa. La Diócesis de Fort Worth estuvo a la vanguardia de reabrir sus puertas al culto público, tanto entre las diócesis católicas y otras denominaciones religiosas. El Padre Wallis señaló que regresar al culto público tan pronto como se establecieron los protocolos de seguridad fue una prioridad para nuestra Diócesis porque el Catecismo nos enseña que: “La persona humana está compuesta de cuerpo y alma. Tenemos preocupaciones

Continúa en la Página 62

61 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 61 NOTICIAS Se p t i e m b r e / Oc t u b r e 2021 61 Imagen de la transmisión en vivo durante la ABRIL 2020 Misa del 28 de abril en la Parroquia de Todos los Santos de Fort . (NTC/Juan Guajardo) haciendo su aportación económica a sus parroquias, sino que también cooperaron con la implementación de las cuatro medidas de salud principales promulgadas: el uso de la mascarilla, la desinfección de las manos, el distanciamiento social y la distribución de la Sagrada Comunión en la mano. El Padre Wallis explicó que las decisiones, tanto al ser formuladas como en su ejecución, han dado lugar a discusiones y desacuerdos, pero no a divisiones, lo que encuentra alentador. “Es la respuesta de todos nosotros juntos. Con demasiada frecuencia tenemos personas a las que les gusta contraponer unos grupos de la Iglesia contra otros... El pueblo de Dios somos todos. Y creo que así fue cómo, aquí en nuestra Diócesis, pasamos la pandemia juntos... Lo que me quedó muy claro durante este tiempo fue que necesitamos a Dios y que nos necesitamos De la Página 61 unos a otros”. físicas reales y preocupaciones Comunidad creativa espirituales. Y esas dos cosas En el otoño del 2020 la educación siempre tienen que ser tomadas religiosa se impartió por transmisión en cuenta en conjunto”. en vivo en línea, o para las parroquias en comunidades sin Internet confiable, Una respuesta fiel los directores de educación religiosa Al igual que cualquier proporcionaron paquetes para que los empresa, las parroquias y estudiantes los completaran en casa. Todas las escuelas tienen facturas las charlas y retiros se cancelaron. pendientes y empleados que Durante la pandemia, algunos deben pagar. ministros de jóvenes se volvieron La Diócesis no solicitó ningún “realmente creativos”, recordó Victoria préstamo del Programa de Ramón, la Directora Asociada de la Protección de Cheques de Pago. Pastoral de Jóvenes y Adultos Jóvenes. El Obispo Olson le pidió a los Algunos lograron tener búsquedas de párrocos y a las escuelas que sólo tesoro, música de alabanza y adoración u solicitaran ayuda del gobierno si oradores invitados, todo a través de Zoom. tenían una gran necesidad en las “Todos, dentro de los medios disponibles primeras semanas de la pandemia MAYO 2020 de su parroquia, hicieron lo mejor que cuando los feligreses no podían pudieron”, comentó. asistir en persona a Misa. Un Los feligreses, guardando distancia y usando Aún así, la asistencia a la educación pequeño grupo de parroquias y mascarillas, se acercan al Padre Thu Nguyen para religiosa y a la preparación sacramental recibir la Sagrada Comunión en la Parroquia de San escuelas individuales solicitaron Judas de Mansfield. (NTC/Rodger Mallison) disminuyó el ano pasado. un préstamo del Programa Ramón dijo que: “En muchos lugares, de Protección de Cheques de merma mínima en las contribuciones esos grupos son un poco más pequeños, Pago, y algunas parroquias y escuelas recibidas. Los fieles de la Diócesis por lo que estamos animando a nuestras aprovecharon los préstamos sin intereses siguieron apoyando con sus aportaciones parroquias a reunirlos nuevamente y que la Diócesis ofreció para recibir monetarias la misión de la Iglesia, según comenzar a construir esa comunidad otra asistencia a corto plazo. lo afirmara Don Wagner, el Director de vez”. Sin embargo, durante el año del Finanzas de la Diócesis de Fort Worth. “Para nuestros jóvenes que han 2020 las parroquias de la Diócesis Los párrocos de la Diócesis observaron estado lejos de su comunidad escolar, de experimentaron en general sólo una que los fieles no solamente siguieron su comunidad deportiva, o incluso de su

62 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 62 62 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g propia familia extendida durante tanto tiempo, puede pasar de sentirse solos a una profunda soledad y aislamiento. Queremos animarlos y hacerles saber: ‘No estás solo, no estás destinado a estar aislado. Esta Iglesia es tu familia”’, prosiguió diciendo. Cassie Erazo, la Directora de la Pastoral Juvenil de la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Wichita Falls, dijo que cuando la Diócesis recomendó que las actividades juveniles regresaran en persona en abril de este año, la planificación tomó más tiempo. Tenía que pensar en actividades que involucraran a los estudiantes, los mantuvieran distanciados en una misma sala y que tuvieran un componente catequético. Un primer paso fue separar a los estudiantes de intermedia y preparatoria, quienes anteriormente participaban juntos Un grupo de profesoras rezan durante la Misa de en las actividades de la pastoral juvenil. AGOSTO 2021 Convocación del 11 de agosto. (NTC/Juan Guajardo) Erazo espera mantener los grupos más pequeños durante el otoño. Sus soluciones creativas comprenden abrir las escuelas de manera segura, ella se enfrentaban a verdades profundas explorar la devoción del Sagrado comenta que “se apoyó en Dios. Estaba que tal vez nunca habían contemplado Corazón a través de algunos medios poco justo a mi lado. Él me dirigió y condujo antes. Comentó que: “En un instante, convencionales: decoración de galletas, durante el proceso de aprender para especialmente para los estudiantes de una noche de pintura y teñir camisetas. entender esta enfermedad. Fue un viaje primer año del año pasado, sus vidas largo. No tenemos todas las respuestas, dieron un tremendo vuelco. Todas las Optimismo cauteloso pero pedimos y confiamos en que Dios nos cosas que parecía que iban a tener, Nancy Eder, la enfermera consultora guíe en la dirección correcta”, dijo. como el baile de la clase graduanda y la de las escuelas diocesanas, anticipó que El Padre Wallis estuvo de acuerdo. graduación, de repente todas se fueron”. los números de coronavirus aumentarían “En ese momento, nadie tenía toda la “En ese momento de sus vidas quedó después del 4 de julio. Tenía razón. información; nadie tenía una ruta clara muy claro qué puede cambiar y qué es Ella está “cautelosamente optimista” hacia dónde dirigirse”. eterno. Hubo una gran apertura a ver en estos momentos sobre la reanudación Según Eder, hemos aprendido más claramente que Dios es eterno, y que de la escuela presencial y las actividades actualmente lo que funciona mejor, cómo hemos de construir nuestras vidas sobre extracurriculares. “Intentaremos reanudar separar los escritorios de los estudiantes y esa verdad”. las actividades tanto como sea posible”, abrir las puertas y ventanas en las escuelas Ésa es una lección que el Padre Wallis dijo. Eder ha ayudado a rastrear los cuando sea posible. Si un aumento en los espera que permanezca con los estudiantes casos de coronavirus en las escuelas y las casos de COVID-19 requiere mayores universitarios y con la comunidad católica parroquias durante la pandemia. Ella sigue precauciones de salud, “estaremos en un en general. realizando esta importante tarea. terreno familiar”, dijo el Padre Wallis. “No “Entonces, yo diría que no nos Eder anticipa que podría pasar obstante, el Obispo ha dicho en varias olvidemos de esa verdad cuando las cosas otro año antes de que las escuelas y las ocasiones: ‘No cerraremos nuevamente las comiencen a volver a la normalidad, sea lo actividades parroquiales “vuelvan a la iglesias. Necesitamos a Dios’”. que sea que eso signifique. Que gran parte normalidad” por completo, pero señaló de lo que parece permanente en este mundo que la situación actual difiere mucho de Construido sobre la verdad eterna no lo es, y por un momento lo vimos”, el la que existía hace un año. “Sabemos las Todos se han visto afectados por la Padre Wallis añadió. “No nos olvidemos de señales que el virus muestra; sabemos pandemia. Todo el mundo ha cambiado, que las cosas aquí en nuestra vida terrenal cómo actúa ahora; y estamos agradecidos ya sea para bien o para mal. Todos hemos cambian, pero que Dios nunca cambia. de las vacunas”, explicó. aprendido de ello, incluso si las lecciones Que nunca se nos olvide que una vida Al reflexionar acerca de la situación adquiridas son dolorosas. construida sobre Él es una vida construida del año pasado, durante la cual Eder El Padre Wallis, en su papel de para la eternidad. Es una puerta de entrada trabajó con los administradores escolares y capellán de Texas Christian University, a la eternidad, si construimos nuestras vidas oficiales diocesanos para determinar cómo observó que los estudiantes universitarios sobre esa verdad”.

6 3 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 63 NOTICIAS Se p t i e m b r e / Oc t u b r e 2021 63 Ministerio florecienteplasma una Fe Celia Martínez decora el altar de la Parroquia de San Pedro Apóstol para una boda el 14 de agosto de 2021 en Fort Worth. Martínez ha servido fielmente a la parroquia a través de muchos ministerios, pero especialmente en la decoración del altar y la iglesia con flores a lo largo de los años. (NTC/Ben Torres)

Por Violeta Rocha belleza del altar y de su iglesia, a la que amor y creatividad” para arreglar las ama tanto. flores con hermosos diseños, agrega elia Martínez de Medina, “Me siento muy bendecida y alegre el Padre Martínez, brinda “el toque recuerda con orgullo los de poder ejercer este ministerio que me perfecto” para reflexionar, pues nos lleva tiempos que en la Parroquia ha dado la gracia de servir”, apunta a admirar en la naturaleza la misma de San Pedro Apóstol de Fort Martínez, quien ha trabajado con cientos creación de Dios, y nos llevan hacia Dios. WorthC se comenzaron a reunir firmas de flores y arreglos a los que dedica desde “Además, podemos disfrutar de su para iniciar una Misa en español hace 20 cinco horas hasta dos días en ciertas belleza”, dijo el padre. años. ocasiones. “Al ver los arreglos terminados En las solemnes celebraciones “Hoy día somos una comunidad muy frente al altar, siento alegría, y siento como Pascua, Corpus Christi, y los días bella y unida”, señala. que puedo ofrecerle a Dios ese arreglo de fiesta como el Día de la Virgen de Desde entonces, su vocación de y decirle ‘Es para ti, Señor, es para Tu Guadalupe y la fiesta de San Pedro y servicio la ha llevado a ser parte del Gloria, es para que tu casa se vea más San Pablo, Celia se ocupa de que con sus coro, lectora, ministro de Eucaristía y hermosa’”, resaltó. manos y su corazón la belleza de las flores otros ministerios en su parroquia. Sin “La señora Celia es un ejemplo de resalte la belleza de la iglesia. embargo, gracias a su don para hacer servicio desinteresado y dedicación fiel Como adolescente Celia trabajó arreglos florales, ha dedicado casi dos que le rendimos a Dios solamente”, en una floristería por dos años en su décadas utilizando su creatividad, fe y expresa el Padre Pedro Martínez, párroco natal Chihuahua, México. “Ahí aprendí amor a Dios para crear hermosos diseños de San Pedro Apóstol. los primeros pasos, pero aquí en mi de ramos y guirnaldas que resaltan la El don que Celia cultiva “con gran parroquia he podido desarrollar ese don.

6 4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 64 6 4 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Celia Martínez corta unas flores para el altar de la Parroquia de San Pedro Apóstol. AMBIENTE (NTC/Ben Torres) SEGURO Para Reportar Mala Conducta Sexual: Si usted o alguien que usted conoce es víctima de abuso sexual por parte de cualquiera que sirve a la Iglesia, puede:

Llamar a la Línea Directa de Asistencia a Víctimas: (817) 602-5119.

Llamar el Director Diocesano de Ambiente Seguro: (817) 945-9334 y dejar un mensaje.

Llamar al Canciller de la Diócesis: (817) 945-9315. Para Reportar Abuso o si Sospecha de Abuso: Si usted sospecha de abuso de un niño, anciano, o adulto vulnerable, o si abuso ha sido revelado a usted, Yo siento que el Espíritu Santo es quien en la parroquia el Día de la Virgen me ha guiado e inspirado, dándome ese de Guadalupe con la característica Si alguien está en peligro don para desarrollarlo en mi parroquia”, tradición hispana”. inmediato, llame al 911 señaló Celia. Desde esa primera festividad, “ella Vicky Tapia, feligrés de la misma se ofreció para hacer los arreglos de Llame al Departamento de parroquia desde hace 13 años, afirma flores”, narró León, “y desde entonces Servicios para la Familia y que llegar “junto a mi familia, a nuestra siempre recurrimos a ella para pedirle de Protección (DFPS) de parroquia y verla tan hermosa, llena de que nos ayude con los arreglos de Texas al (800) 252-5400. flores, significa algo muy espiritual. La flores. comunidad de San Pedro es muy bonita y “Ella está siempre dispuesta a Reporte inmediatamente el gracias a servidores humildes y dedicados ayudar, lo hace siempre por la fe, ella presunto abuso a su supervisor, como Celia nos sentimos muy bendecidos pone su lindo don a disposición de sacerdote o director, y presente de ser parte de ella”. Dios. Es algo maravilloso que la gente el Aviso Confidencial de Ella recuerda “lo bella que se veía la llegue y vea nuestra iglesia hermosa, Preocupación con la información iglesia en la fiesta de San Pedro y, sobre llena de flores, y que la gente se sienta requerida por DFPS. todo, el Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, acogida y bien recibida” León añadió. cuando la iglesia está completamente “Es importante dar. Mi familia Para más información sobre nuestros programas de prevención de abuso, llena de flores”. y yo hemos recibido tanto de Dios, y visite fwdioc.org/safe-environment “Se ve adornada de tantas flores que Nuestra Madre ha intercedido tanto uno se puede imaginar que así debe haber por nosotros que con más ganas y sido el momento del milagro cuando la con más amor ofrezco mi servicio, Virgen de Guadalupe dejo su imagen y si con flores puedo mostrar mi plasmada en la tilma de San Juan Diego”. agradecimiento, me siento feliz, Como Director del Ministerio concluyó diciendo Celia. “Pienso que Hispano, Ramón León asegura que alguna otra persona podría también “Celia se ha encargado de poner bella la hacerlo, por eso le doy gracias a Dios Iglesia desde que formamos la comunidad y a mi familia por su apoyo; y a los hispana en el 2001, aunque no fue hasta sacerdotes y a toda la comunidad por el 2005, que por primera vez, se celebró permitirme realizar este servicio”.

65 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 65 NOTICIAS Se p t i e m b r e / Oc t u b r e 2021 65 Ayuda con amplio alance

La Campaña Diocesana Anual 2021 beneficia a las parroquias rurales además de ayudar a otras obras en la Diócesis

Por Matthew Smith

n elemento esencial del discipulado es responder al llamado de Dios que nos urge a todos los católicos a que utilicemos nuestros talentos de la mejor manera posible y actuemos con generosidad para servir a los necesitados. UComo dijo el rey Salomón en Proverbios, “El que tiene compasión del pobre le presta a Yavé: éste sabrá pagar su deuda”. (19,17). Las subvenciones distribuidas a través de la Fundación de Avance de la Diócesis de Fort Worth también brindan evidencia concreta de los numerosos beneficios de la Campaña Anual. En muchas parroquias los fondos otorgados hacen una diferencia y producen resultados muy positivos, cuyos efectos a menudo resuenan mucho más allá del término de la campaña de un año en particular. Tanto las necesidades existentes como los beneficios de la Campaña Anual son evidentes, pero también lo son los desafíos, especialmente durante el pasado año. “Absolutamente”, dijo Renée Underwood, la Directora de Desarrollo de la Fundación de Avance. “Tuvimos un respaldo récord para la Campaña de Apelación del 2020, que finalizó el 30 de junio del año pasado. Fue la mejor campaña anual que hemos tenido en nuestros 37 años de historia”. “Sin embargo, para la Campaña de Apelación del año en curso, que terminó el 30 de junio del 2021, ese apoyo se redujo significativamente”, dijo Underwood. Los efectos continuos de la pandemia de COVID-19 lo complicaron todo. “Mucha gente perdió sus trabajos y otras muchas personas enfrentaron

66 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 66 66 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g De izquierda a derecha: Tadeo Vizcaíno, Alejandro Felipe, Olivia Olvera Rubio, Coordinadora de los jóvenes y Directora de la vida de familia, el Padre Eugene Nyong, Angela Fuentes y Aneida Huerta alfrente de la Parroquia de Santa María de Graham el 12 de agosto del 2021. (NTC/Ben Torres)

problemas de salud”, dijo Underwood. Las necesidades en la Diócesis son cuidado de los sacerdotes jubilados y “Una de las cosas más importantes es que abrumadoras. La Campaña de Apelación enfermos. Se benefician también la obra y nuestras parroquias no tuvieron Misas de este año comienza oficialmente los ministerios de Caridades Católicas de en persona durante gran parte del año durante el fin de semana del 18 al 19 de Fort Worth, el ministerio de confinados, pasado, y ciertamente, no estábamos septiembre con la meta de recaudar $3.5 los ministerios de matrimonio y vida distribuyendo ninguna hoja de papel en millones. familiar, las escuelas de la Diócesis y persona. El folleto del compromiso, que “Los sobres estarán en los buzones de muchas más obras de apostolado de la tradicionalmente se distribuye en los correo alrededor del Día del Trabajo y se Diócesis. bancos de las iglesias, no se pudo hacer en hará un acercamiento a los feligreses en septiembre del 2020”. sus parroquias para que se comprometan AMPLIO ALCANCE La pandemia agravó negativamente con la Campaña, si aún no lo han hecho”, Los fondos obtenidos mediante la situación de otra manera muy añadió Underwood. “Cada parroquia la Campaña de Apelación también importante. tiene la meta de ayudar a alcanzar esos benefician a las muchas parroquias “Pese a que el respaldo y las $3.5 millones. Es decir, cuando una rurales esparcidas entre los 28 condados donaciones a la Campaña Anual persona hace una donación mensual de la Diócesis. disminuyeron el año pasado, las recurrente a la Campaña o hace una sola “La mayor parte del dinero de la necesidades crecieron más que nunca donación, esa persona está apoyando la Campaña de Apelación apoya a las debido en muchos casos a la pandemia”. Campaña en general y está ayudando a parroquias rurales y a las parroquias que A medida que la pandemia parece que su parroquia alcance su objetivo”. enfrentan dificultades”, dijo Underwood. estar disminuyendo, los feligreses están Las donaciones a la Campaña de “Las parroquias más pequeñas necesitan regresando a la Iglesia y se puede palpar Apelación ayudan a respaldar muchos asistencia para pagar el sueldo de su un regreso a la normalidad. ministerios diocesanos, incluidos la sacerdote, los servicios públicos de Los folletos de la campaña anual se formación y educación de los seminaristas agua y luz, el salario de un director de distribuirán de nuevo en los bancos en y de los hombres que estudian para el septiembre, señaló Underwood. diaconado permanente, así como el Continúa en la Página 68

67 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 67 NOTICIAS Se p t i e m b r e / Oc t u b r e 2021 67 La Parroquia Santa Rita en Ranger cumplió más de 100 años en junio de 2019. Fondos de la Campaña Annal ayudaron con su reparacion después de las tormentas invernales en febrero de este año. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

De la Página 67 Padre Eugene Nyong. “Solíamos tener dinero recogido en las colectas fue muy una directora de jóvenes y familias de bajo”, dijo el Padre Mareedu. “Además, jóvenes, o simplemente para satisfacer las forma voluntaria, pero era demasiado nuestras parroquias sufrieron daños necesidades básicas que las comunidades para ella manejarlo. Ahora, con la debido al frío extremo y las tormentas parroquiales más grandes dan por subvención, esos ministerios están invernales ocurridas en febrero de este sentado. funcionando nuevamente y podemos año, especialmente en la Parroquia de “Es muy importante para nuestras llegar a las familias y, con suerte, hacer Santa Rita de Ranger. Sin la subvención parroquias rurales difundir el Evangelio, una gran diferencia en la vida de nuestra no hubiéramos podido hacer las ya que muchos de sus feligreses no comunidad parroquial”. reparaciones que se necesitaban y los podrían de otro modo asistir a Misa en “Los feligreses siguieron aportando costos de mantenimiento requeridos. las ciudades más grandes. El sacerdote durante la pandemia, pero la cantidad Hubiéramos tenido que posponerlas”. en muchas de las parroquias a las que era menos y fue difícil lograr esas “Más importante aún, usamos fondos damos subvenciones sirve a la vez en aportaciones”, el padre dijo. “Ése fue de la Campaña para los programas de varias comunidades parroquiales, casi uno de los desafíos del COVID-19, pero jóvenes y otros ministerios que podrían como solían hacer los predicadores de el poder y el amor de Dios aún nos insta hacer que nuestras parroquias sean más otros tiempos”, dijo Underwood. “Ser a seguir sirviendo y hay siempre muchas vibrantes”. los pastores de esas comunidades es necesidades que atender”. Se está también recaudando fondos, extremadamente vital para nuestra fe y El Padre Vijaya Mareedu, SAC, es el gracias a una subvención de desafío de las ovejas de toda la Diócesis”. párroco de la Parroquia de San Francisco la Fundación de Avance, para construir La Parroquia de Santa María de Javier de Eastland, y sirve además en las un centro familiar y juvenil que será Graham y la Parroquia de Santa Teresa parroquias de Cisco, Strawn y Ranger. compartido por las cuatro parroquias. de Olney comparten un director del Su parroquia en Eastland es mayormente El centro ofrecerá programación y ministerio de jóvenes y familias, gracias a hispana y todas las misas se celebran en actividades, y reunirá a los miembros de una subvención de $60,000 a través de la español. las cuatro parroquias, comentó el Padre Campaña Anual. “Las subvenciones han sido de Mareedu. “Somos una parroquia pequeña que gran ayuda para nosotros porque El Padre Mareedu dijo que las cuenta sólo con 300 feligreses”, dijo el durante el tiempo de COVID-19 el subvenciones hacen posible que

6 8 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 68 6 8 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g Un grupo de jóvenes, niños, seminaristas y el Padre Vijaya Raju Mareedu, SAC, frente a la Parroquia de Francisco Xavier de Eastland después de vacaciones escuela bíblica en julio 2021. (Cortesía/Carolina Ruth Boelter)

él y los feligreses se concentren en “El plan comprende cuatro fases, La Parroquia de St. Brendan fue proyectos parroquiales individuales no pero esperamos comenzar la primera en establecida en el 1960 para servir relacionados, incluidas las campañas diciembre”, señaló el Padre Mareedu. a los estudiantes del área, según el para recaudar fondos para renovar “Esto es lo que digo en estos momentos, Padre Matthew Sanka, SAC. “La los salones de reuniones de dos de las pero ya veremos qué pasa. Los precios de presencia de los estudiantes aquí es parroquias. la madera siguen siendo muy altos”. siempre una ventaja. No obstante, es “Cuando llegué a estas parroquias La comunidad de St. Brendan de también importante considerar que estaba preocupado y rezaba para Stephenville, que es parte de un grupo de éste es un momento en sus vidas en el encontrar la forma de poder ayudar cuatro parroquias, recibió fondos para un que muchos jóvenes son vulnerables a hacer una diferencia aquí para segundo sacerdote a tiempo completo, un respecto a mantener su fe. Por lo tanto, lograr que más católicos, no sólo de gerente de negocios a tiempo parcial, un apreciamos mucho que podamos tener las cuatro parroquias, sino también asistente administrativo a tiempo parcial, un ministro del campus universitario de las áreas circundantes, se unieran ayuda para el pago de los servicios dedicado completamente a atender los y se involucraran en su comunidad públicos de agua y luz y un ministro del estudiantes. Servimos también a varias parroquial”, el Padre Mareedu comentó. campus universitario a tiempo parcial. comunidades más pequeñas y dispersas “Pienso que la Fundación de Avance La parroquia recibió más dinero - y, sin la generosidad de la Diócesis y la escuchó lo que pensaba y les estoy muy $44,300 adicionales — de lo solicitado Fundación de Avance, gran parte de lo agradecido. Fueron lo suficientemente en la subvención porque la Fundación de que estamos haciendo simplemente no amables como para confiar en que, Avance consideró importante acrecentar sucedería”. bajo la guía de Dios, estas parroquias el ministerio del campus universitario de Stephanie Montero, feligrés de crecerán. Siento que han prestado la Universidad Estatal de Tarleton, que la Catedral de San Patricio, dijo que atención a la visión por la que estamos queda cerca de esta parroquia. Gracias a contribuye a la Campaña principalmente laborando día a día”. la subvención, un miembro del personal, por su apoyo a Caridades Católicas de Los planes para el centro familiar y en lugar de un voluntario, dirige el Fort Worth. Montero dijo que no sabía juvenil están todavía en su etapa inicial, Ministerio del Campus Universitario hasta ahora de los otros benefactores de pero ya varios donantes han ofrecido su Católico de Tarleton por primera vez en aportación, añadió el Padre Mareedu. más de una década. Continúa en la Página 70

69 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 69 NOTICIAS Se p t i e m b r e / Oc t u b r e 2021 69 Gracias a una subvención de la apelación anual, estudiantes de la Universidad Estatal de Tarleton como Daniel Jones (izquierda) y Victoria Rodriguez (derecha) tienen el apoyo de Nathan Mena, ministro de campus de medio tiempo basado en la Iglesia de San Brendan. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

De la Página 69 cantidad que puedan pagar. Ya sea que se “Creo que también es justo decir que, comprometan o no con la campaña, deben debido a lo que todos pasamos el año la Campaña, incluidas las parroquias enviar sus intenciones de oración. pasado, debemos cuidarnos y ayudarnos rurales. Las Monjas Carmelitas Descalzas unos a otros ahora más que nunca, “Bueno, ahora sí”, bromeó Montero enclaustradas en el Monasterio de la especialmente a los necesitados y apoyar la cuando se le preguntó si esa información Santísima Trinidad en Arlington orarán Campaña de Apelación en agradecimiento aumenta su deseo de respaldar la por esas intenciones durante todo el año. por las bendiciones de Dios y todas las Campaña de Apelación. “Nunca había obras increíbles que la Diócesis de Fort asociado la Campaña Anual con eso, pero DEMOS GRACIAS Worth está realizando”. puedo entender dónde hay una necesidad El tema de la campaña de este año más urgente. Sobre todo, luego de este es “Demos gracias”, entrelazado con el par de años difíciles que todos hemos espíritu de mirar hacia atrás con profunda pasado, donde muchas más personas gratitud por todo lo que hemos recibido de APOYA A LA CAMPAÑA necesitan más ayuda”. la Iglesia y sus ministerios. Al preguntársele la razón para “Creo que podemos decir con certeza apoyar la Campaña de Apelación que el COVID-19 nos afectó a todos de Montero dijo que la importancia de la alguna manera”, dijo Underwood. “Pero a Para más información o si corresponsabilidad y mayordomía se le pesar de todo y para siempre, Dios es fiel, desea donar, por favor visite: inculcó desde que ella era pequeña. bueno y amoroso, y realmente necesitamos Advancementfoundation.org/ “Se trata de la necesidad de extender enfocarnos en las muchas maneras en que annual-diocesan-appeal-donation. la mano, ayudar a otros y apoyar a la somos bendecidos y en ser agradecidos, ya Iglesia”, dijo Montero. “Así que sí, eso es que hemos recibido mucho. algo por lo que definitivamente siento que “Por eso, la inspiración para todos debemos esforzarnos más”. seleccionar el tema de la campaña de este Underwood instó a los feligreses a año fue el espíritu de acción de gracias considerar la posibilidad de hacer una gozosa y maravillosa, que constituye lo que donación cada mes, si es posible, y por la es vivir una vida de mayordomía.

70 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g May / Ju n e 2018 70 70 No r t hTe x a sCat h o l i c.o r g NUESTRO PASTOR HABLA Obispo Michael F. Olson, STD, MA REGRESO A LA ESCUELA:

OBISPO MICHAEL OLSON es el cuarto Obispo de la TIEMPO DE EJEMPLOS Diócesis de Fort Worth. ILUMINADORES, NO DE @BpOlsonFW MODELOS BRILLANTES

legamos a la época del año en la cómo dan testimonio cuando entablamos Hoy en día enfrentamos un desafío que se nos recuerda constantemente una conversación con ellos o simplemente particular, pues se nos ha confiado la Lque estemos atentos a todo lo que cuando los observamos en nuestro contacto misión de la educación auténtica y católica: se exige para prepararnos a volver a la diario con ellos. Como católicos tenemos enseñar como Jesús enseñó. Este desafío escuela. Esto me llevó a considerar las los ejemplos reales de Cristo, la Santísima es la presunción equivocada entre muchos prácticas modernas utilizadas por muchas Madre y los santos que nos sirven de guías en nuestro mundo actual de que el mayor universidades y otras instituciones de mediante su palabra y obra. Tenemos bien que se puede obtener, el Summum educación superior para promover sus además a nuestros educadores, entre los Bonum, es decir, el propósito primordial escuelas como las opciones óptimas que los cuales los principales ejemplos son nuestros de la educación, no es el amor a Dios y padres han de seleccionar en nombre de sus padres y madres, hermanos mayores y al prójimo, sino el logro de un estilo de hijos. Para este fin muchas universidades nuestros maestros, todos los cuales son vida próspero que le brinde a la persona investigan cómo les está yendo a sus recién personas reales, y no valores y conceptos una autosuficiencia egocéntrica en este graduados y demás exalumnos en sus sintetizados. Una cita de Santo Tomás de mundo, en la que la fe católica y religiosa carreras. Por consiguiente, sintetizan los Aquino parece particularmente apta para se trata como una ocurrencia secundaria datos junto con los valores contemporáneos aclarar la importancia de esta distinción: o como mera decoración de la propia de sus futuros estudiantes o sus padres, y “Es mejor iluminar que simplemente historia familiar o cultural privada. Esto desarrollan modelos de cómo serían sus brillar, es mejor ofrecer a los demás nos afecta a muchos de nosotros, que somos graduados y exalumnos ideales. verdades contempladas que simplemente madres y padres de niños que regresan a Al comenzar nuestro año escolar contemplar”. la escuela en busca de una educación, y como católicos, ya sea en nuestras Tales ejemplos nos llevan al segundo que no sólo sentimos la presión y el temor escuelas católicas o en otras formas de punto de nuestra reflexión: el objetivo de que los hijos no tengan los suficientes la educación, podríamos considerar dos general de la educación católica es llegar bienes de este mundo para vivir, sino el cosas a la luz de la práctica que acabo de a conocer y amar la plenitud de la Verdad anhelo de que posean más que suficientes describir. El primer punto es que cualquier que Jesús enseñó como el amor libre a Dios bienes materiales para ser completamente modelo no es real y está limitado con y al prójimo. Jesús nos dio un ejemplo a autónomos. respecto a lo que nos puede mostrar para este respecto por su predicación clara y El comienzo del nuevo año escolar que nuestras decisiones cuenten con la constante, su sanación compasiva a través es un momento para que examinemos información necesaria. Los modelos son de los milagros y Su acción desinteresada nuevamente cómo valorizamos la ideales sintetizados que son abstractos, y salvadora en la cruz, que culminó en Su educación y la responsabilidad que y que no son reales ni concretos. Los resurrección y ascensión. Nos enseñó a ir y tenemos en nuestro apostolado como modelos dependen totalmente de nuestra hacer lo mismo que Él hizo. Este objetivo padres y educadores de dar un buen interpretación y, por lo tanto, pueden general es nuestro fin último y nuestro ejemplo. Es un momento para pedirle presentarse de una manera que induzca a la propósito en la vida, y la medida por la a Dios claridad de mente y firmeza de interpretación deseada por parte del agente cual cada uno de nosotros evalúa nuestras propósito para establecer prioridades que que presenta el modelo. prioridades personales que son únicas estén correctamente ordenadas, dirigidas En contraste con el diseño conceptual para nosotros, pero que también están al amor a Dios y al prójimo, y llevarlas de un modelo, Dios nos ofrece ejemplos. fusionadas por nuestra naturaleza humana a cabo con valentía y confianza en la Los ejemplos son personas reales que nos común dirigida hacia la excelencia común y Providencia real del Dios que es todo enseñan mediante la forma en que viven y floreciente. amor.

Se p t e m b e r / Oc t o b e r 2021 71 The Official Publication of the Diocese of Fort Worth

800 West Loop 820 South Fort Worth, TX 76108