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Stmartincasestatement.Pdf OUR PARISH LEGACY St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church has served the people of Forney, Talty, Crandall, and surrounding areas since 1891. Throughout the 127-year history, the strong faith and selfless sacrifice of the parishioners has made St. Martin of Tours a special place that lifelong parishioners, newcomers, and visitors all find rare and uniquely inviting. Though a fire destroyed the original church in 1929, the parish quickly rebuilt and, only four and a half months later, constructed and dedicated the present church. Standing “like a monument on the prairie,” the “Church on The Ridge” serves as a legacy of the faith and perseverance of the many deeply-rooted families who contributed to what remains and flourishes today. Today, St. Martin of Tours thrives as a parish with over 600 registered households continuing to serve as a strong witness to the community . Unfortunately, our current facilities do not meet our needs, including the desire to worship under the single roof of a beautiful, traditional church and have a parish hall dedicated to forming families. A larger church is now necessary as we welcome new members and as we strive to be better disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we move forward with great ambition and enthusiasm for a comprehensive parish renewal campaign. Our new church will serve as the centerpiece and a visible sign of our parish mission: to unveil the Eucharistic Christ so that the faithful know their identity and live their purpose. It is now incumbent upon us to give sacrificially to sustain and build upon the remarkable legacy of St. Martin of Tours. CAMPAIGN PRAYER Heavenly Father, You are the Source of all beauty. Through the gift of Your Son, the Eucharistic Christ, our true identity as your beloved sons and daughters is unveiled for us. By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you sanctify our souls and enliven our families. May our Parish campaign embolden us to recognize in every aspect of parish life the opportunity to know, love, and serve You who are Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New. St. Martin of Tours, pray for us! “It is with great joy, as a descendent of some of the first parishioners of St. Martin that we work to help build a church to house the growth that God has blessed us with! If they were alive today, I believe they would be excited and 100 percent involved in this process! I will give it 110 percent in their memory!” Julie Shuler A MESSAGE FROM FR. JAMES DEAR FRIEND IN CHRIST, St. Martin of Tours is in an incredibly exciting time in our history. Our growth, while presenting challenges, also provides an abundance of opportunities and blessings. My conversations with countless parishioners regarding big-picture choices or new building decisions have led to a greater understanding of who we are and our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. We put the Word before the world, we empower families, we love the fullness of the Catholic faith, and we pursue nothing short of sainthood. As you may be aware, parish leadership has prayerfully discerned a unique opportunity to coordinate and combine the efforts to build a new church building with plans integrating all other areas of parish life that anticipate our needs in light of our growth. This parish renewal campaign is intended to help us achieve our mission to be a stronger body of believers – a family of faithful, well-formed and intentional disciples of Jesus Christ in all we do. Like a renewal of wedding vows, parish renewal in turn means an affirmation or re-commitment to our goals. Based on a quote from the Confessions of St. Augustine of Hippo, an early Father, and great Doctor of the Church, our parish renewal campaign theme – Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New – is steeped in a Catholic understanding of the attractive power of the truth. The timeless beauty of God, made ever new as we infuse the Gospel into our everyday culture, is a concept that is core to a reclamation and restoration of this culture by Christ. What begins at St. Martin of Tours as the culture of a holy family in Christ will transform the lives of those around us as others encounter the beauty of the faith in every facet of parish life. In every aspect of this renewal, we intend to honor and embrace our special history and the tremendous blessings it continues to bring us. Our renewal efforts are aimed at protecting and building on the values of our parish family during rapid economic development and swelling membership. As we take the next steps in the life of our parish and as we embark on a capital campaign for the construction of a new church, may we entrust ourselves to Divine Providence so that we may see in every blessing and every opportunity our God who is Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New. IN CHRIST, FR. JAMES YAMAUCHI PARISH RENEWAL CAMPAIGN ST. MARTIN OF TOURS' MISSION IS TO UNVEIL THE EUCHARISTIC CHRIST SO THAT THE FAITHFUL KNOW THEIR IDENTITY AND LIVE THEIR PURPOSE. Our vision for parish renewal builds upon this mission by fully embracing the ancient Sacred Tradition of the Church in the modern-day context of our baptismal duty as Christians. Our theme, Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New, is steeped in a Catholic understanding of the attractive power of the truth. The Chi Rho (XP) at the center of the logo is an ancient symbol for Christ, who is the center of our lives and our liturgy and is both the beginning and end – the source (alpha) and destination (omega) of all creation. The Holy Trinity is the beauty of the universe that is ever ancient, ever new, made personal and real in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the true vine and we are the branches, symbolized in the border. The rising smoke of incense symbolizes our communal celebration of the sacred liturgy that is our sacrifice of praise to give God glory and make us holy. This act grafts us to Christ as branches to the true vine, members of his mystical body. It is in this way that we bear fruit in the world, symbolized by grapes. The fruit of this vine becomes a part of our offering, the sacrifice we make of our hearts and our lives joined with the paschal mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection made present at the altar. This participation as members in his body finds its culmination in reception of the Holy Eucharist depicted as the crown of the image – the source and summit of our faith, and that which leads us into the divine life and love of the Holy Trinity in the eternity of heaven, symbolized by circular wreath and the peacocks. “I believe this Campaign is about more than a beautiful, proper worship space and cushioned kneelers. Fr. James has enfolded this project and all we do at our parish into a focus on serving the Eucharistic Christ. Plus, with the Holy Spirit in charge… hands inside the car, please.” Ray and Kathy Dulanski The new St. Martin of Tours church will serve as a continued beacon and Catholic witness to the community, inspiring with beauty and serving as an expression of the timeless truths of the faith. Designed to reflect our robust parish history and the vibrant tradition of Texas Catholicism as well as accommodate and anticipate the present and future needs of our growing parish, this new church will be one that embraces the opportunity to truly be sacramental. Every element within it is a potential encounter with Jesus Christ, so every architectural decision is also a theological WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE one. Designing a sacred building in this way is PARISH RENEWAL CAMPAIGN? what the Church understands as traditional – in keeping with the principles of a living tradition Campus and Building Planning that is at the same time both universal and Designing a new, traditional church, outdoor particularly reflective of a certain culture, time ministry space, parking and a master plan for and region. future campus growth. St. Martin of Tours will look to draw from and Capital Campaign and Stewardship build upon the inspiration of the rich heritage Fundraising for the building project and instilling of Texas Catholic architecture such as the work a culture of Christian stewardship of resources for of the late Nicholas Clayton, the Irish-American the ongoing support of the parish. architect credited with several of the state’s most beautiful churches including our own Cathedral Liturgy and Sacraments of the Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. We will Prioritizing excellent liturgical ministries, prioritize authenticity – preserving the best of this sacramental preparation and mystagogy to tradition in the present age, while also carefully cultivate a liturgical spirituality nourished by discerning where it can evolve and be adapted to personal piety and vibrant devotion. suit current requirements and future needs. Family and Faith Formation Alongside the work our leadership is engaged Fostering a strong family culture to nourish the in for planning the new church, the parish will true Christian spirit in all the baptized and equip collectively be formed through immersion in them to effectively spread the Good News. mystagogy, the language of signs and symbols that reveals the deeper hidden meaning of the Service, Healing and Pastoral Care liturgy and sacraments that is integral to church Integrating charity, works of mercy and crisis buildings. Understanding the ‘why’ behind each support into the fabric of parish life for every aesthetic decision offers an opportunity to member to serve wholly as the hands and feet deepen our understanding of and participation in of Christ in the world.” the work of Christ in the liturgy.
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