Lay Witness Talk
On the weekend of August 9/10, 2008 lay
witnesses spoke during the homily of every Mass on how answering God’s call
through stewardship of time and talent has changed their lives. Below are
transcripts of their talks.
George
Vogt IV
Good evening. For those of you that know me, don’t
worry. When I agreed to speak this evening, one of the first things I was given
was a time limit. For those of you that do not know me, my name is George Vogt,
IV. I have been blessed to have served in several ministries and organizations
at Saint Francis during the past 3 years, and I am currently serving our Lord
and this parish as Faith Formation Commissioner.
On August 28, 2005 at about 4 AM, my wife Kendra, our
then 9 month old son Brandon, and I evacuated from our house in Arabi,
Louisiana. Arabi is a small
community in
St. Bernard Parish
which rests near the Mississippi River. You may not have heard of St. Bernard,
but you may be more familiar with our neighbors immediately to the west; the
“Lower 9th Ward” of New Orleans.
Escaping the path of Hurricane Katrina, we
took our dog Princess, a few changes of clothes, and some personal belongings
that we could fit in the car. Living in an area which is 13 feet below sea
level, it was not the first time that we had “run the drill” so to speak. In
fact, it wasn’t even the first time that we had evacuated that year. Somehow,
however, and I can’t quite explain it, this time just felt a little different.
Still, as we drove away, we did not realize that it would be the last time we
would call that place “home”.
We tried not to think about what could be in store for
Louisiana and other areas in the Gulf region, so when we weren’t praying, we
tried to keep the conversation light. We had gone to the Vigil Mass the evening
before, and we joked about the choice of the closing Hymn, “Rain Down”.
For much of the next week, from a Houston hotel room,
we watched the events which followed in the aftermath of Katrina. It was hard
to watch. It was really hard to watch. There were pictures of places that were
familiar to us our whole lives, now completely submerged by several feet of
water. There were pictures of rescues, some too late. There were images and
sounds of chaos, complete and utter chaos. There were scenes of people living
in subhuman conditions. While many organizations and agencies were able to get
in, it seemed no one was able to get out.
Some St. Bernard officials remained throughout the
storm and were posting updates on the internet. Their reports were even worse
than what we were seeing on television, and they gave a pretty dim prognosis for
the recovery of the area.
With all of these things and more in mind, we
discussed our options and prayed for guidance. After a couple of days, we
decided that we would not return, and that we would head to “Dallas” as we
previously referred to this area. My Godfather and his family have lived here
for several years, and we had just visited the area the year before.
Ironically, I remember that at the time we thought it might be a nice place to
live…”some day”. That hypothetical “some day” was now upon us, and while we
were uncertain about a great number of things such as housing, employment, and
little things like that, we were definitely at peace and comfortable with our
decision. We decided to let my parents know of our plans. My parents, as well
as most of my family, also lived in St. Bernard and had evacuated to Memphis.
As I placed the call, I was a little concerned about how my mom might respond to
us moving so far away. When she answered the cell phone, my mom said, “Hold
on. Your dad is on the phone with Paren. I think he’s talking about moving to
Dallas.”
On a temporary basis, we all rented a house in The
Colony. All of us; my mom, dad, Kendra, Brandon, I, and Princess too. As you
can imagine, that in itself presented its own challenges and situations.
Although we had made the move, “at peace” with the decision, the tensions and
pressures of various sorts began to mount. It was around that time that I read
these words from St. John Chrysostom. The waters have risen and severe
storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a
rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they
cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? We brought nothing into
this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. Though the waves and the
sea and the anger of princes are roused against me, they are less to me than a
spider’s web. For I always say “Lord, your will be done”; not what this fellow
or that would have me do, but what you want me to do. That is my strong tower,
my immovable rock, my staff that never gives way. If God wants something, let it
be done! If he wants me to stay here, I am grateful. But wherever he wants me
to be, I am no less grateful.
It was the weekend that followed that we found our way
to St. Francis. Although the church building itself was quite different than
what I was used to, many things seemed familiar and comforting. The Church, and
I am speaking of the people now, was very warm and friendly. The Homily message
that day was that conversion is not a one time event or emotional experience,
but a life-long process of allowing God to transform your life into His
likeness. And, of course, the choir closed us out with “Rain Down”.
Although I began this story with the events of
Hurricane Katrina, I think you should know something else about my life prior to
that. I attended Catholic schools from Kindergarten through High School. My
parents were involved in our Church and in the schools I attended. We never
missed Mass, and God was not a Sunday-only topic in our home. Despite those
things my own Faith formation still fell short and, suffice to say that
somewhere along the way I re-fashioned God to fit my own needs. It wasn’t
something I was conscious of, and I am fairly certain that it wasn’t evident to
others around me until I had made certain choices in my life and had closed
myself off to them or anyone else. By the time I was ready to admit to myself
that I had dug a pretty deep hole, it was already caving in. By my own actions,
I had separated myself from God, from His Church, and the Sacraments. I made a
few attempts during the following 10 years to “fix” things, but there were 2
huge problems. First, although I would never have admitted it to anyone else at
the time, I felt that I was too guilty and too far gone to be forgiven. Second,
by my own attempts to “fix” things I was still trying to be the one in control,
trying to fashion God into what I thought I needed. These things are not
uncommon but also reveal a lack of Faith formation. It wasn’t until I felt
completely broken and helpless that I finally asked God to do whatever He wanted
to do with my life. After a series of events, with the help of a few people
that cared, and a priest who gave me some much-needed guidance and counsel, I
began to allow God to carry me wherever He wanted to take me.
And so I am here, at least for now. I shared these
accounts with you because they are both significant to my being here and to our
discussion about what our parish is doing next week. There are nearly 100
ministries here at St. Francis. Each serves a special need in our parish or
community, and each requires volunteers. Next week, volunteers from these
ministries will be available to discuss with you what they do and how you can
help.
Now, you might be hesitant to become involved because
you feel that your schedule is overwhelming, and you truly believe that you do
not have the time to commit. I can understand that feeling. But by my
experiences of Hurricane Katrina, I also know that everything we think we are
sure of, everything familiar to us, everything that seems important to us can
change in an instant, revealing a different perspective on priorities and what
is truly important. The fact that you are here at Mass says that you may be
interested in and able to serve in one of our liturgical ministries.
You may also feel hesitant to become involved because
you believe that your own Faith or relationship with God could and should be
better. If this is the case, I have great news for you. You’re way ahead on
this one. As I alluded to earlier, we are all called to continued conversion, a
process which includes being formed in our Faith throughout the entirety of our
lives. Our Faith Formation ministries not only serve our school-aged children,
they serve little ones as young as 18 months and adults as well. I’ve had
several catechists tell me how much they learned about the Faith by their
involvement in Faith Formation. From my personal experience, I can tell you
that as an RCIA sponsor, I learned much more than I could have imagined. This
is a good point. It has been my experience that being involved in parish
ministry has been a personal Faith-building experience for me and rewarding in
ways that I did not expect when I became involved. Though there are many, I’ll
share just a few. While volunteering at a Special Olympics event with the
Knights of Columbus, I noticed the genuine care that the participants had for
each other and even for those of us there helping them along. One young runner,
concerned that my wife’s shirt did not have a participant’s number on it,
removed his own, and placed it on her. “You can have mine” he told her. My
participation with the Respect Life Ministry has revealed the pain, guilt, and
feelings of isolation or separation that many women suffer after choosing to
have an abortion. I also learned that there are many men who suffer as a result
of abortions, some because they influenced them and some because they lacked
influence over them after making the wrong choice initially. Being familiar
with these feelings, I empathize with these women and men, and pray that they
will experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, just as I did. My participation
as a children’s facilitator in our parish’s divorce support ministry for
families gave me a better understanding of why my three older children, now 22,
20, and 18, still suffer effects of my own divorce 14 years ago. This led to an
open discussion with them, improved relationships and better communication and
understanding between us. Also unexpected were the numerous friendships that
have grown through various ministries. Nearly all of my friends are
parishioners. My relationships with my business partner and both Godparents of
my 3 month old daughter Monica were forged in RCIA and strengthened in the
Respect Life Ministry and the Knights of Columbus.
There are many opportunities to serve, and many
opportunities to allow God to touch your life as He touches the lives of others
through you. Please prayerfully consider how you might respond to God’s call in
your own life, and take some time to visit with our ministries next week. Thank
you, and may God continue to bless you and your families.
Mauricio Frye
Good Morning!
First of all, I
would like to thank David Utsler, Kay Heller and the ACTS committee for allowing
me the honor of speaking before you today.
A lot of you know
who I am …if you don’t know me by name - and you have been in this parish for a
while, you have more then likely seen me around.
Before I announce
my name, I will shed some light on why you may recognize me, by listing a few of
the reasons. Hopefully when I have finished you will see why I was asked to
speak today as a Lay Witness and an example for our stewardship parish.
However, before I start that, I do want to clear up one misconception …I have
had many people thank or praise me for playing the guitar in the choir over the
years …sorry, but I am not - that guy in the choir! …as my wife would say, it’s
one of the things he hasn’t done around here.
If however, you are
one of those individuals who have greeted me somewhere around Frisco & said
“aren’t you an usher at St. Francis?” …you would be partially correct, as there
is more to the story. Some of the reasons you may recognize me? …For the last 3
years, I have coordinated the youth carnival portion of the Annual Mexican
Dinner, so you may have seen me there. This past spring, I started and
coordinated the 1st Annual St. Francis of
Assisi Fellowship Golf Tournament …I worked with & met many current
parishioners plus a few new parishioners as part of that event. Last month I
helped with the outreach summer lunch program.
If you have been
here the past five August’s, you are aware of a little event called Monte Carlo
Night, of which I was the president for the first two years. This was actually
the first BIG church-wide event started after we became an official parish. It
was an event I envisioned & presented to Msgr Duesman in hopes of promoting
parish-wide fellowship and secondarily - whose proceeds would go towards
the building fund. In the earlier days of this Parish I helped pack the van -
that carried the Mass stuff back from Curtsinger elementary to the 3rd
& Elm street building. I also still recall the very first thing I formally
helped with …I’d read a blurb in the bulletin for individuals to help build the
churches float entry, for the annual homecoming parade. That parade was an
important city wide event and Msgr Duesman would donate a long flat hay trailer
from his family’s farm, for us to decorate. When I called the office to
volunteer, they asked if I would coordinate it, which I ended up doing for
3-years. What else? You may have seen me taking pictures at breakfast
with St. Nick, cooking or serving at the KC Café Breakfast & Lenten Meager Meals
…as well as several RCIA dinners as a member of the Community Life Commission
and the Knights of Columbus.
Ah! The Knights of
Columbus …many of you will now say – that’s it – he’s a Knight!
Let me explain how
I became a Knight, after all that IS - how I started on my stewardship journey
…and I didn’t even know it at the time! But first a little background …as with
many of you, I was born a cradle Catholic & went through the proper steps at the
proper time …baptism, 1st communion and confirmation. The basic
sacraments they say all good Catholics need to have. You wouldn’t know it by my
last name, but I am Hispanic …I was born in Bogota, Colombia (South America) &
immigrated with my parents & one of my two sisters to the US, at 18 months. My
parents instilled the importance of praying to the Virgin Mary and attending
Mass regularly, in addition to going on Holy Days of Obligation and Midnight
Mass on Christmas Eve. Through my early years and as a teenager, I went to CCD
(for the most part) at St. Marks in Plano. However, it would not be an
understatement to say I fell short when it came to learning my Catholic faith.
In my senior year of High School I was able to achieve 100% attendance at CCD …quite
an accomplishment you say – not really. It was during my senior year that I
met a girl at Plano Sr. High, who was also Catholic, who also attended St. Marks
and low & behold went to CCD every Sunday! …so you see the connection for my
perfect attendance. Those of you who know me, even slightly, would never guess
that I was a skinny, tongue tied, wall flower – who never spoke to girls
…especially if they were good looking – which this one was! It
took me several weeks to build up the nerve to call this girl and ask her out
for a date …the first date ever of my life, I might
add. To make a long story short, I never had to ask another girl for a
date and next April we will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I
can sincerely tell you I don’t believe I would be up here today, if not for the
support and assistance of my wife Pam and her strong Catholic background &
Catholic Education. It was a desire of Pam and I to make sure our children had
a solid Catholic basis & although we had to watch our pennies as most young
couples - we were blessed enough so three of our four children were able to
attend St. Mark’s, Catholic School in Plano.
So here I was in my
mid-30’s, working long hours to make enough money to send my kids to a Catholic
school …trying to attend Mass as regular as I could – “to set a good example for
my kids.”
I made it a
point to never miss a sporting event that my kids had and to ensure I was
involved I helped coach them in several sports …but when they got old enough to
start making their sacraments, it was their mothers job …heck I barely made it
through CCD, no less pay real attention while I was there, so I knew I couldn’t
help them. It was in my late 30’s that I started a pattern of occasional
sleepless nights …my mind would race with various thoughts but mostly (back
then) about “Being Catholic” …there had to be more to being a good Catholic then
sending my kids to a Catholic school and going to church regularly. My wife
would tell me to “Turn it off! Stop thinking and go to sleep!” But being
Catholic began to sneak into my mind during my waking hours, over the weeks.
Then one Sunday (in the fall of 1987) after Mass, I saw a table with several men
standing around it wearing name badges and as I walked by – one of them asked if
I had ever heard of the Knights of Columbus …and could I spare 15 minutes to
learn more. Things that he said began to click with me and I had this urge to
learn more, so I agreed to go to a “These men called Knights” meeting. At the
meeting I saw a video explaining the KofC in more detail and what really
resonated with me was how they had activities related to the community, family,
youth and most importantly church. I was overcome with a feeling that I had to
become a Knight …I went to the first available ceremony and got my 1st
degree, with-in 30 days I had my 2nd & 3rd Degrees and at
a little over a year got my 4th Degree (back then you had to wait a
year, otherwise I would have gotten it sooner). However, getting degrees &
paying dues is not what makes you a Knight – it is getting involved, being
active and doing things – Anything – Regularly! - for as long as you are a
Knight! I volunteered for the youth and family committees at my first meeting,
then with the next fraternal year I chaired the family committee …I planned
family activities & outings but continued helping with other committees. My
wife would say and still says “you can’t do everything”. Looking back I now
realize my sleepless nights went away shortly after I became a Knight - but they
would be back. Several Knights were also on the parish council, and they asked
me to run for an open seat, so I did and got elected. For 3 years I was very
active in the Knights …so much so, that I earned Knight of the Year award for
council 6065.
We moved to Frisco
in 1991 but we continued to drive to St. Mark’s for Mass, Knights & School
activities until our 3rd child started attending school in Frisco.
Little by little & eventually I stopped driving to meetings and volunteering for
things at St. Mark’s, but I more then made up for it as a volunteer with various
High School booster clubs, as each child went through …including being the
president of one of them.
Shortly after it
was announced that St. Francis would become a parish, I heard from an old
friend, (Ken Franch), the man who actually spoke to me for those 15 minutes
about the Knights. They were going to start a new council here and did I want
to be a charter member …I told him I’d think about it (as I had sort of fallen
out of the habit of being active in the church.) I was enjoying sleeping late on
an occasional Sunday and then watching the Cowboy games. Well my sleepless
nights returned for several weeks and looking back now I realize (again) they
sort of stopped around the time I decided to get back into the Knights. I once
again jumped into the Knights with both feet running. Being an experienced
Knight I felt it was my responsibility to lead the way for all these new Knights
and I more often then not I lead by example. Being a new council our slate was
wide open for what we wanted to do …and I took full advantage of the opportunity
by establishing many things. As a way to bridge all of our parish communities, I
started handing out prayer cards in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe (every
December) so all parishioners know why she is so special. I also started the
yearly “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest to remind the parents and
enforce with the children, that Christ is the reason for the season. I
introduced our Council to corporate communions and established a yearly
scholarship program. I have sold passbooks and Mardi Gras Frisco tickets in the
narthex. For these and many more activities, I was honored with a second Knight
of the year award, but this time by my new council, 12480.
A few springs ago,
after Mass, Father Timothy walked up behind me and gave me a playful nudge and
asked me to follow him to his sacristy …this was about the time he was
instituting the commission structure and I was thinking, man what did we do
wrong now. I was surprised when he asked me to consider becoming the new
Community Life Commissioner …I asked him to give me until after Lent to think
about it. I was spending enough time up here with just Knights activities, plus
I wasn’t sure I wanted the headaches that might come with trying to shepherd 24+
Ministries. My wife teases me that I should put a bed at the church since I
spend so much time here …Lord knows what she would say when I told her I was
going to increase my time up here. Well my sleepless nights started up again.
During a building committee meeting (Yes I’m a member of that too) Father asked
us to read some papers he wrote on the building project and also to read some
books about the life of St. Francis. He also asked us to take some time and
discern about the building project and how it related to the life and actions of
St. Francis. Discern,
Discern …it was a word I had heard a few
times, but until he spoke on it, it never registered with me as to what it
really meant.
As I was reading
one of the books on St. Francis, during one of my sleepless night, at one of the
passages about God speaking to St. Francis, it suddenly became clear to me. Due
to my busy life during the day, my sleeplessness at night was Gods way of trying
to get me to discern on various topics …especially those important to him. Now
I am not comparing myself –OR- my life to a Saints and I am in no way saying
that God speaks to me, as he did with St. Francis. What I am saying, is that in
retrospect - at the times in my life when I have reached out to him and asked
for guidance in making a decision, he has done so at night when I am most apt to
listen and let him guide me. So after some discernment, I agreed to Father
Timothy’s request and once again my sleepless nights went away. Earlier this
year, I completed my term as the CLC Commissioner – which I enjoyed very much.
However, I am not going away, as I said before - I am on the building committee
and I will continue to server on the parish council as vice-chairmen, plus I’m
next in line for Grand Knight of our KC Council. For those of you who don’t
know me, my name is Mauricio Frye
and for those of you who thought you knew me, maybe I surprised you with a few
new pieces of information.
I’d like to leave
you with two points & “MY” ACTS motto to remember:
1st, I
didn’t list some of the things I do or have done to brag on myself …I
merely wish to show you that we are All Called To
Share to whatever capacity we are willing to allow ourselves to be!
I know I am at the
extreme end of the ACTS scale, but it is possible for anyone to find something
(big or small) they are interested in at this Parish & to make the time to do it
to whatever level they want to.
2nd,
Many of you are probably saying to yourself that my family has somehow been
neglected by everything I do. However I challenge anyone to talk with my
children and see what they say. Many of the activities I have been involved in,
they have helped with directly or indirectly. You will find my children
courteous and respectful of authority. My children know how to be ACTS members
of not just our parish but our civic community as well …because they have
witness it in me. They have also lived it by helping me at Senior Centers,
Special Olympic activities, etc. They are caring and compassionate of the
elderly, young, infirmed and those with special needs. In fact, both of my
daughters (Alyssa & Caitlyn) are very active with me in the Miracle League of
Frisco (another passion of mine) …Alyssa just finished co-teaching St. Francis
of Assisi’s first Special Needs Faith Formation class and helping prepare them
for the sacrament of 1st communion.
FINALLY for my
motto… Without a doubt, I believe that everyone at this parish can live by the
following motto, MY ACTS MOTTO. I would like for you to write it on a post-it
note when you get home and then place it on your bathroom mirror, so you see it
every morning and night.
The
motto comes
from a quote by St. Francis of Assisi...
"Start by doing what is necessary,
then what is possible,
and suddenly you are doing the
impossible."
Elaine
Smith
Good
Morning,
My name
is Elaine Smith-Poyourow. My family and I first came to Texas in 2002 where we
visited a number of parishes in Collin County. We came from the Catholic
Community of St. Mary’s in Rockville, Maryland and from schools that were very
sought after.
We first
made contact with DeeAnn Williams via e-mail who invited us to come for Easter
mass the weekend we would be in town. After visiting a number of parishes in
Collin County, we attended Easter mass and immediately felt a welcoming
community presence when we arrived. It would take us until 2004 to make the
move to Texas but we knew this was the parish community where we would build our
home. God led us here; it must be right.
It was
important to me, as a single mother that my sons go to church in the same
community where their school mates and teachers would attend and be in a state
with lots of in-state colleges! I was thrilled to hear my oldest come home from
school one day saying “I need to go over to church on Monday for a meeting”.
One of the Youth from the faith formation class also in his Math class had
extended an invitation to my son. “YES!” I said. My first real sign after
moving in, that we had made the right choice. There have been many other signs
that have followed since.
For me,
it took a little longer to find how I was going to serve God in Frisco. One day
Annelise approached me and said “You’d make a good EM, you should join us”. I
accepted that invitation and it has opened many other doors since. I have
assisted with brown bag Sunday, started Catholic Singles volunteering with the
guidance of Mauricio Frye and David Utsler, have participated in Monte Carlo
Night, Funeral Meals, the Acts Committee the Angel Tree Program and more.
If I may,
I’d like to take just a moment and tell you about how God, lots of faith and
this parish family helped this past Angel Tree season. For those who have not
taken part in our Angel Tree ministry in the past, it starts with planning in
August. During September we start taking requests for those in need. By October
we are gathering need requests from the Nursing Homes, AIDS homes and Frisco
Family Services, and coordinate their return dates to meet each facility’s
needs. Then we make our commitment, of what St. Francis’s Parish Family can do
for our brothers and sisters. This past year we committed to 1061 Angel Wishes,
up from 641 the year prior. Busy pulling together wish lists, preparing
volunteer lists, and the angels to be adopted I received news on Nov. 2nd
that I was laid off from my job. Angel Tree was two weeks away from starting;
it runs for 4 weeks and is a huge commitment. That afternoon while on the phone
with my mother in Michigan she asked “What are you going to do?” With out
hesitation I said “God is going to take care of me and I have to take care of
all his Angels and I guess he thinks I’ll need the time, it will all work out”.
The first
two weekends of Angel Tree went by and there were still almost 400 Angels to be
adopted. I kept all our volunteers and both Father and David Utsler up to date
and said “I know God will take care of us but I admit, it’s a lot with little
time” We prayed, we had faith.
The third
weekend came and all but 30 Angels were adopted. This was WONDERFUL. This same
weekend we also received various monetary donations from those who wanted to go
out and shop but just could not for one reason or another. This took care of
those 30 Angels and a few other requests that came in at the last minute. God
heard our prayers.
David
called me two days later and said, “Elaine, I just had a request, there is a
family, who is in need, do you think we can help” Yes of course was my answer.
With in 15 min, we had a request from a local sports team looking to adopt a
family, was it too late? “No, you’re right on time”. I said. This was God in
action, right there. Another family, another request to adopt, Meal Donations,
families in need, this went on for the rest of the last week. Every time we had
a need, it was met. Goose bumps, tingling, tears of joy, and prayers of thanks
with each yes we gave. This last year we saw many harder times for the
community. Those with no beds, no shoes, no jobs, little food and the very ill
doing without are just some examples.
The final
weekend, the receiving room overflowing with generosity, gifts from the heart,
and a parish community outpour of giving, we filled 1106 Angel Wishes, Thanks in
part to all of you. No gift was too big or too small. They were perfect,
everyone did what they could. The next day during the ten hour long
distribution, at about 5:15pm we were asked “Did you adopt them all out?” “Yes”
I answered, “Well let me know if you get anyone last minute” “will do” I
replied, At 5:30pm with one last Angel wish to be picked up, in came a person,
obviously upset, “I know it’s late, I hate to ask… It’s not for me but my
children…..” I replied, “We can help…..” Tears and prayers again, of Thanks
filled the room.
God knows
when people are in need and are needed. He puts us all in the right place at
the right time and gives us what is needed to do his work. The Time, The Talent
&/or the Treasure are the tools we are given to complete this. For me, in
January I went back to school and have tried starting a business. My family and
I are all doing fine. When people ask “How are you managing and are you OK?” We
say, “God hears our prayers, we have faith, he gives us what we need and tells
us through the Holy Spirit where we are needed. If you listen, he really does
talk to you”. This year Angel Tree will only be three weeks long starting mid
November. We know many of you will answer his call for help again.
Let God
help you reach out. Do what our family does, as we walk out the door in the
morning, we say “Here God… Catch!” He’ll take the rest of the day from there
and I promise each will be amazing.
Thank you.
Anthony
Cimo
Good
morning, my name is Anthony Cimo. I train St. Francis’ wonderful Altar Servers,
serve as a Eucharistic Minister, Mass Sacristan, a member of the Knights of
Columbus, and every once in a while have the pleasure to stand in for our
wonderful Deacons at mass so they can have some much needed time off. You might
say to yourself, “That’s quite a bit”, well I’ll get to that in just a bit.
First, I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself, and why I chose to speak
to you all today.
I’ll
start by reading a short story called “I’ll Take You” found at the beginning of
this book (hold up book) “Called to Serve” which we give to every one of our
Altar Servers here at St. Francis.
Lenny’s first day at the new
school had gone well – so far. But recess would really be the test. Lenny had
been in town for only three days. He didn’t know any of the kids.
Over by the ball diamond, a
group was gathering. They were choosing up sides for a quick softball game.
“They’ll never choose me!” Lenny thought to himself as he walked slowly toward
the playing field. “They don’t even know me.”
Lenny was only steps from the
small crowd when he heard one of the captains call out in his direction, “I’ll
take you – the new kid.” Lenny could hardly believe it. As he jogged over to
where the captain was standing, he tried to contain the smile on his face. He
felt terrific.
Like
Lenny, you have just been chosen. You’ve been asked to become a part of a very
special group of people: your parish’s altar servers. Perhaps it was one of the
parish priests who made the invitation to you. But keep this in mind: It was
God who made the call.
I tell
this story because we are all called into service to God and one another. Over
the past several years, we have heard some very extraordinary stories from our
lay witnesses and it is easy to see how they were called to ministry. However,
for some of us, the call can be much more subtle. When I was first
“volunteered” by my fellow Liturgy Commission members to speak today, I thought,
“I don’t have a very extraordinary story.” Nothing flashy or exciting, just a
cradle Catholic who has had a rollercoaster faith journey, but I realized that’s
pretty much true for all of us, so I agreed to speak.
My first
call to ministry was at age 8. We were living in South Texas at the
time. We made a trip to visit family in Maryland for a new cousin’s baptism
where my mother would be his Godmother. Well, because we have 2 priests in the
family, it wasn’t unusual for us to celebrate Mass at someone’s home when we had
a family gathering. In fact, we celebrated Mass and the baptism that weekend
right there in my uncle and aunt’s house. Better yet, despite being too young
to be an Altar Boy, I got my first opportunity. I loved it. I couldn’t wait to
get back home and become an Altar Boy when I was old enough. I had to wait a
full year, but that’s just what I did. For 6 years until I was a sophomore in
high school, I served just about every weekend and absolutely loved serving God
through the Mass.
By the
time I was in high school, I had my own crew, 4th – 6th
graders, who I trained and served alongside. I left most of the heavy lifting
during Mass to the younger guys. I figured I had earned it. But it was still
important to me to be on the Altar. During my time in the ministry, I even
spent a week one summer on a retreat at a minor seminary which left me thinking
about the priesthood.
Well,
between my sophomore and junior year of high school, we moved, and I never got
very involved in our new parish. By college and the early years following
college, I barely even attended Sunday Masses. My attendance at Sunday Mass
started to return when I met Sandy, who later become my wife. She had
reinvigorated my faith. However, we still didn’t attend regularly. We too
often let the busy world distract us from our “Sunday Obligation”. When we had
our first child, we made it more of a point to attend Masses, but we still
slipped here and there.
Three
years ago, at this very time, the call came again. It was Stewardship Sunday
here at St. Francis. I hadn’t gone to Mass yet and 6 pm was rolling around. I
might have missed Mass altogether had Sandy not asked me to stand at a table to
help recruit volunteers for her newly created Welcome Ministry. I begrudgingly
agreed to cover her table at the 6 pm Mass. This was a big deal for me because
being an introverted person, I don’t exactly feel comfortable talking to total
strangers like my super-extroverted wife can do so easily. Well I went. I have
to be honest, I’m not sure I talked to a single person who walked by the table,
some Welcome Committee I was. What did happen though was just over my left
shoulder was the Altar Server table. Over the years, my draw to the ministry
had always remained very subtly. I always seemed to notice the Altar Servers at
Mass. Well, I started talking to the woman who ran the ministry at the time and
learned that due to family reasons, she needed to step down and find a
replacement. I jumped at the chance to be involved in the Ministry again. Over
the next few days, I was talking to Annelise and later that week, I was
attending an Altar Server training session to understand how we celebrated
Mass. Within two weeks, I was responsible for the Altar Servers at St.
Francis. Through the Ministry, I have found a deepening of my faith that has me
here every Sunday and a yearning to grow even deeper in my faith. He never
stopped calling me over the years, but it took this one ministry to strengthen
my faith yet again. It has been an experience that has taught me much about our
faith as well as myself.
Over the
past three years, I’ve learned that when I used the gift God gave me in the form
of a love for the Liturgy and the Altar Server Ministry, the more I wanted to be
involved in other ways. Then, the more I got involved in other ways, I felt
like I could do more. It’s been never ending in some ways. That’s because what
I’ve learned is that God has given us all some sort of gift, and He is calling
us to use them. When we use them, He gives us more, and He calls us to use
them. He is always calling. He might be screaming at you through some major
life challenge. He may be tapping you on your left shoulder like he did to me
four years ago. He might just be whispering to you, but He is definitely
calling you. He always has been. So, next week, the Narthex is going to be
filled with tables and representatives from most if not all of the ministries
here at St. Francis. I guarantee there’s one for each and everyone one of you,
we have plenty to choose from. So, if you get nothing more out of this story
from your average “cradle” Catholic. Take a few minutes this week, as you lay
in bed drifting off to sleep or as you’re stuck in traffic driving to work, to
take a moment to stop and listen to how He’s calling you.
Eduardo & Imelda Ortiz
(E)- Hola,
nuestros nombres son:Eduardo Ortiz y mi esposa
(I).- Imelda
Ortiz ; Casados por la gracia de Dios por treinta años
(E).- tenemos
dos maravillosos hijos, Margarita Leticia Y Eduardo, somos originarios de Mexico
y tenemos dos años de radicar en Frisco y de acudir a esta parroquia.
(I).- Nos
presentamos ante ustedes para compartir nuestra experiencia como feligreses de
esta parroquia esperando que al escucharnos muchos de ustedes puedan
identificarse con nuestro sentir, nuestras inquietudes y nuestra vocacion por
ser mejores cristianos catolicos integrados a una familia que se mantiene unida.
(E.- Cuando
llegue a este país en el año 1975 fui reclutado por los Testigos de Jehová los
cuales me brindaron cariño apoyo y sobre todo un sentido de pertenencia, el poco
conocimiento de mi fe como católico se derrumbo cuando empecé a leer la doctrina
de esta secta la cual en ese momento me pareció ideal, perfecta y verdadera,
debo de confesar que en un momento dado pensé en renunciar a mis padres y
hermanos de sangre por unirme a lo que ellos llaman los salvos, los limpios, los
escogidos.
En realidad yo me
sentía emocionado de haber encontrado la « verdad » y entusiasmado me avoque a
prepararme para ser bautizado por ellos. pero dos semanas antes de que eso
sucediera me entro la inquietud y lo que yo considero la inspiracion del
Espiritu Santo al preguntarme, ¿SI YO YA SOY BAUTIZADO NECESITO BAUTIZARME OTRA
VEZ ? y decidí no hacerlo; Pero fue ahí donde nacio mi . . . inquietud por
conocer mas de mi fe catolica.
(I).- Cuándo
conocí a Eduardo me gusto mucho su actitud hacia la iglesia ya que siempre le
pedí a Dios me concediera un novio al cual no tuviera que motivar yo para ir a
misa y una sorpresa agradable que me lleve fue cuando él me pregunto ¿a qué
hora vas a misa?.
. Mi formación
en la fe fue bastante fuerte gracias al ejemplo de mi madre que asistía a misa
de 6 de la mañana todos los días y rezaba el rosario por las tardes. Por lo cual
al inicio de nuestro matrimonio la pareja camino bastante bien en la practica de
nuestra fe pues me gusto mucho el interés de mi esposo por conocer a fondo los
detalles de nuestro credo.
(E).- después de
doce años de casados Un día desperté amarrado a una cama de hospital y al ir
recobrando la conciencia me di cuenta que había tratado de suicidarme cortándome
las venas. Yo no sabia que la depresión asociada con el alcoholismo es una
enfermedad que puede llevar al suicidio si no se trata adecuadamente. La parte
fea de esta situación es que yo rechazaba cualquier expresión de cariño de mi
esposa, sumido en la enfermedad viví un verdadero infierno.
(I).- esos
fueron momentos de un gran reto a la vida y a la fe, de no haber sido por el
apoyo
de la
comunidad donde vivíamos en California y a la ayuda de un sacerdote muy amigo no
creo que
hubiéramos podido rescatar nuestro matrimonio, pero Dios es grande y él nos
manda a las personas adecuadas en el momento adecuado, en nosotros esta el
perseverar en la oración y ser activos en la vida religiosa pues los verdaderos
amigos los hemos conocido estando activos en la parroquia donde hemos vivido.
(E).-después de esa
experiencia nos fuimos a radicar a Colima México; Ahí instalamos un negocio el
cual nos daba para vivir no con lujos pero sí desahogadamente. Agobiado y
entregado completamente al trabajo empecé a descuidar mi vida matrimonial y al
mismo tiempo me empecé a alejar de la practica religiosa en otras palabras me
convertí en un católico “calientabancas” que solamente asistía a misa de carrera
y cuando “sentía las ganas”. Y como era de esperarse pronto me vi envuelto en la
“vida loca” de parrandas y obsesión de trabajo. Debo de decir que eso no me daba
la felicidad que tanto buscaba.
(I).-yo seguí con
mi fe activa aún sin mi esposo, inculcando a mis hijos el habito de asistir a
misa y para ellos era confusión que su papá no asistiera pero yo les insistía
que era nuestra oración la que lo regresaría a la practica de nuestra fe
católica y a la vida familiar que tanto habíamos disfrutado juntos. El dinero no
nos estaba dando la felicidad que deseábamos vivir, tan solo vino a separarnos.
Dentro de mi
corazón había mucha fe de que regresaríamos a ser la familia de antes y con
tenacidad rosarios y oración busque y encontré a un sacerdote hombre santo que
que se desvivía trabajando por su comunidad en un barrio muy humilde. Dios me
puso definitivamente a quien salvaría nuestro matrimonio.
(E).-Cuando mi
esposa me dijo que se venían a Estados Unidos yo me llene de coraje pues pensaba
que con todo el esfuerzo hacia para vivir cómodos no era suficiente me sentí
traicionado y decepcionado pues trabajando duro y sumido en el alcoholismo y la
ilusión de la vida disipada y de placeres me fue difícil ver que ya no teníamos
vida familiar, a esto puedo decir solamente una cosa, BENDITA LA HORA EN QUE
TOMARON ESA DECISIÓN.
(I).-Fue muy
difícil tomar esta decisión por que creo en el matrimonio, pero la dignidad que
es el regalo más grande que Dios nos entrega a cada hijo suyo debe ser cuidada y
rescatada por que es la herencia que nuestros hijos van a vivir, yo la viví como
hija en mi vida familiar y no acepte vivir diferente. El amor a mis hijos y
también a mí esposo me inyectaron el valor necesario para dar ese paso pues en
el fondo de mi corazón y con la confianza absoluta y plena en Dios yo sabia que
también rescataría a Eduardo.
(E).- y así es como
después de vivir en California nos mudamos a Frisco y a esta hermosa comunidad
de San Francisco de Asís. El estar activos en la parroquia y en nuestro
vecindario nos ha ayudado a mantenernos juntos en el amor de familia, crecemos
cada día en la experiencia del amor de Dios reafirmando nuestros lazos
interfamiliares y con nuestros hermanos de comunidad que son ustedes, pues hemos
descubierto y aprendido que como verdaderos amigos y hermanos estamos enlazados
por Cristo en un mismo credo y en un mismo interés que es amar a Dios y a
nuestro prójimo.
(I).- Créanme que
es más fácil vivir bien que vivir mal, lo hemos experimentado y gracias a Dios
lo que nos toco vivir lo hemos aprovechado para crecer y madurar como personas y
como pareja y padres de familia, estamos convencidos que la actividad parroquial
nos ayuda a crecer en nuestra fe para ser mas felices mantener una vida de
plenitud.
(E).-hay muchas
actividades en esta parroquia como por ejemplo: catequista, lectores, ujieres,
grupo juvenil, coro, movimiento familiar, grupo de oración, encuentro
matrimonial, guadalupanos, ministros de eucaristía, caballeros de colon,
monaguillos, justicia social, visita a los enfermos, etc. En fin hay para todos
los gustos y edades. El pertenecer a uno de estos grupos nos ayuda a crecer en
nuestra fe católica para que en un momento dado no nos confundan con otra
creencia.
(I).- somos
aproximadamente 2000 feligreses de habla hispana en esta comunidad y tan solo un
promedio de 80 personas trabajan activamente en la parroquia lo cual significa
el 3%, ¿se imaginan como seria esta comunidad si todos fuéramos activos
apóstoles de Cristo? ; En este domingo de ACTS es la invitación para que llegue
hasta ti la inquietud del servicio en algún ministerio.
Es nuestro deseo
que esta comunidad católica brille con la luz de Cristo para que a otros se les
antoje ser católicos pero no precisamente pasivos.
Katie
Rochelle |
