St.
Patrick’s P A R I SH m o n t h ly n e w s l e t t e r
Inside This Issue: 2 3 4 6 7
Formation Transformed Through Christ The Joy of Lent Meet Parishioners Dusty and Nancy Beahm Serving God, Serving Family Entering into Lent How We Can Make the Most of this Solemn, Sacred Season The Daily Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayer Group Sharing Grace, Growing in Faith and Camaraderie
M A RC H / A P R I L 2 0 2 2
The Mercy Associates:
Making Known the Merciful Heart of Jesus
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bout 20 years ago, Janice O’Brien and her family experienced tragedy, one that would impact her profoundly. “My personal story is that my youngest son and his wife were both homeless due to drug addiction and alcoholism, so I raised their three young children for 20 years,” Janice says. “They tried to get help with rehab, but it didn’t seem to work for them. In 2005, my daughter-in-law went missing, but they didn’t find her remains until 2009. She had been murdered in one of the homeless camps.” But Janice didn’t let tragedy drag her down or turn her away from God’s love. Instead, she allowed Christ to fill her heart with His mercy so that she could bring tremendous blessings to countless people in need out of this traumatic situation. “It has brought me to be very personally involved with helping the homeless in Nevada City and Grass Valley, as well as with the Mercy Associates,” Janice says. The Mercy Associates is a group of lay parishioners from St. Patrick Parish and St. Canice Catholic Church (in Nevada City) that serves Jesus through works of mercy toward the poor, the sick, and the uneducated. “The homeless people there really know me, and they trust me," Janice says. “I want them to get real help. I want them to find their purpose, to have jobs and belong somewhere that they are loved and cared for.” Janice helped establish Hospitality House, a local overnight shelter, and
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St.
Patrick’s P A R I SH
FORMATION
Transformed Through Christ “Jesus not only calls people to him but also forms them and sends them out in his service.” From Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response
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his month, we are emphasizing the third pillar of parish stewardship — formation. Formation is the process of studying Christ’s teachings and incorporating them deeply into our lives. It is a lifelong effort by which we “put on Christ” (Rom 13:14) and are “transformed by the renewal of our minds” (Rom 12:2). Above all, our formation should include studying Scripture and Church teaching. It should also include discussion with other Catholics and honest selfassessment. Its goal is to “discern the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2). Because formation helps us understand God’s will, it, therefore, leads naturally to good stewardship. When our minds are transformed through Christ, we become like Him — as Christ gave His life for us, so we give our lives to others. Formation is not just an individual task. Instead, it is a communal responsibility that, when applied, will further help St. Patrick's to grow as a stewardship parish. Each one of us has an inherent need to give — to move from “selfishness to selflessness,” as the Diocese of Wichita’s document The Pillars of Parish Stewardship aptly states.
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Formation is a process of spiritual growth, and it leads to a deeper understanding of loving others as God loves us. Naturally, then, our Catholic formation should not end upon celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation or turning 18 years old. Formation is a formidable task that we as Catholics should participate in for the duration of our lives. It involves “education of the mind and conversion of the heart” (The Pillars of Parish Stewardship), and helps us to lead the stewardship way of life rather than just understand it. This Lent, why not make formation a part of your penitential renewal to Christ? Start off by reading 10 minutes of Sacred Scripture a day, or by studying a chapter of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on a daily basis. Read a biography of your favorite saint for an example of an individual who lived as a disciple of Christ, and use this person as a role model when tending to your daily tasks. Keep an eye on our weekly parish bulletin for faith formation opportunities at the parish. Before long, your commitment to formation will lead you to naturally live the Catholic faith and understand stewardship in ways that you never imagined before.
Joy OF Lent
A L e t t e r F ro m F at h e r
THE Dear Family,
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ave you ever thought about the joy in sacrifice that Lent provides? Most of us don’t delight in sacrifice; in fact, in our daily lives, we often do our best to avoid challenges and practices that push us outside of our comfort zones. In Christianity, there is a beautiful irony between joy and sacrifice, and we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to embrace this uniquely during Lent. In one of his Lenten messages, Pope Francis shared, “Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.” While giving up sweets in favor of healthy snacks for Lent is a common and noble endeavor, the goal of Lent should not only be a spiritual excuse to lose weight! In choosing acts of selfdenial, we are saying “no” to things in order to get into the practice of saying “no” when inclined towards sin, ultimately deepening our faith and our relationship with the Lord. Victory can be found when we deny ourselves and pick up our crosses and hardships in order to grow closer to Christ! Therein lies the joy. When we grow closer to God by denying our will, we say “yes” to a life of abundance with Him. Our God is a benevolent God; He will not hold back His grace from those who honor Him and choose challenging things to grow and give Him glory. Christ even tells us Himself, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Without question, Lent is a time for conscious penitence and spiritual preparation for Easter. And it is important to remember that God
loves us whether we make Lenten changes or not. At the same time, Lent provides us an opportunity to make God a greater part of our life, and to take our faith to new levels. Stewardship is a Godcentered way of life — a spiritual way of living that, above all, acknowledges God’s presence in all we do. Lent is a time for every one of us to do more than simply deny ourselves; we need to welcome God into our lives in greater ways so that when we get to Holy Week and Easter, we have an even greater appreciation for the sacrifice the Lord made for us. Talk about pure joy! May you and your loved ones enjoy a holy and joyous Lenten journey. Your Father in Christ,
Fr. Estrella Pastor
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St.
Patrick’s P A R I SH MEET PARISHIONERS
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Dusty and Nancy Beahm
“The Church can really pull all of us together. It helps you to feel connected in this journey together. You’re not doing it alone.” — Nancy Beahm 4
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or parishioners Dusty and Nancy Beahm, being involved at St. Patrick comes naturally because they think of the parish as their family. “It’s like a second family,” Nancy says. “Not being here just doesn’t feel right.” Dusty and Nancy have been involved all over the parish, but they both have a particular passion and gift for education. With their backgrounds as teachers, it made sense to get involved with their school-age children in their early years at St. Patrick. Now, they’ve been teaching faith formation in one way or another for 37 years. “It gives you such a great sense of belonging and it strengthens your faith to be with other people who feel the same way you do,” Dusty says. “Christ wanted us to live in community and this is our community.” Before they met and married, Dusty and Nancy each discerned their vocations by entering the seminary and religious life. While these experiences grounded them in their faith, they both discerned that the religious life was not for them. They met as teachers in Nancy’s hometown of San Francisco. They took their teaching gifts to Brazil early in their marriage and returned to Grass Valley with their first daughter. As teachers, they wanted to provide their children and others with quality catechesis which led to them first getting involved at the parish. Over the years, Dusty and Nancy have offered their individual gifts to the parish in many ways. Nancy has contributed through the Children’s Choir, teaching First Communion classes, and by providing meals for both Helping Hands and Sierra Roots. The Beahms helped to start Children’s Liturgy of the Word and Dusty has stayed involved with this ministry and offers to help with any ministry that serves the children of the parish. “I sometimes think of myself as the apostle to the children at St. Patrick,” Dusty says. With four children and 10 grandchildren, Dusty and Nancy are invested in the future of the Church. While they haven’t been able to see all their
ty and Nancy Beahm
Serving God, Serving Family
grandchildren receive the sacraments, they have found great joy in fostering the faith in the children of their parish family. “I’m passionate about the kids,” Dusty says. “I’ll do anything and everything to get them involved because I feel they are our future.” As teachers, Dusty and Nancy have learned that they will never stop learning themselves. Teaching the faith has helped them continually grow their own faith. “I thought I knew my faith coming out of Catholic education and seminary,” Dusty says. “But all along the
way I’ve been learning and growing in my faith. I’ve been learning more about Scripture and reawakening my understanding of the Real Presence. I’ve learned and grown in my faith along with the children and been inspired by them.” The parish community has been key to Dusty and Nancy’s faith journey. Making this their family has given them support and purpose. “The Church can really pull all of us together,” Nancy says. “It helps you to feel connected in this journey together. You’re not doing it alone.”
The Mercy Associates
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Sierra Roots, a relationship-based outreach to the homeless. Furthermore, for the past 10 years, she has been working on plans to establish Safe Haven, a small and safe village community in which homeless persons can live responsibly, learn life skills, and work. “It will be a very beautiful, healthy, sustainable community — all of the things we want it to be,” she says. “Advocates will actively work with the community members in order to help them accomplish important life goals. We hope to employ the help of the Mercy Associates, and so far, they have been very supportive of what we are planning to do.” Actually, helping the homeless is near and dear to the hearts of the Mercy Associates. “We take on the charism of Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley, an Irish nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831,” says Janice, who leads the group. “We carry on her mission of caring for the poor and needy in a lot of different ways. For example, we offer meals at our parish, and we collect socks, coats, and toiletries for the homeless. We do whatever we can. Our philosophy is not just charity but solidarity. We
want to know their names and make them feel like they are human beings. It is all part of her philosophy — to bring the poor and the rich together as people of God.” By showing magnanimous love for God’s children in need, the Mercy Associates are able to follow in Venerable McAuley’s footsteps in a beautiful way. “Many of us are active in different ministries,” Janice says. “One member serves in the Catholic Women’s Relief Society, and other members are active at St. Canice Parish by singing in the choir and providing hospitality services for funerals. The children in our Faith Formation and Religious Education classes put on bake sales to raise money for the homeless, as well. They once solicited for shoes and raised $4,000! They also come to the lunches we put on for the homeless and meet them.” The Mercy Associates meet on the second Saturday of every month in the Parish Hall at 11:30 a.m. for a time of fellowship, sharing of faith testimonies, spiritual exercises, and prayer. “It is very powerful to come together in order to help each other continue our mission,” Janice says.
If you would like more information about how to shower Christ’s mercy on others through this ministry, or to donate to the Safe Haven project fund, please call Janice O’Brien at 530-263-2058, email her at jimjan1566@gmail.com, or speak with any one of the Mercy Associates.
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Patrick’s P A R I SH
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Entering into Lent How We Can Make the Most of this Solemn, Sacred Season
ow might we make the most of this solemn, sacred season? There are three main aspects to Lent in which the Church asks us to engage — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We don’t need to take on many things in order to make this season worthwhile, but it is important to consider how we might deepen our faith lives during this time of year. Perhaps we might be inspired to take each aspect of Lent to heart, and pick something we can do within each category, so to speak, in order to truly enter into this sacred season. Each one — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, provides us an opportunity to grow spiritually and prepare for Easter. Prayer Let us start with prayer. In order to grow our personal and communal prayer lives, we need not spend the entire day in the chapel. Rather, perhaps consider adding one new devotion to your prayer life. For example, if you aren’t already spending time each day in prayer, maybe it’s time to start spending five minutes each morning with the Lord while enjoying your breakfast and coffee. If you usually start your day by opening your computer and phone to check messages and emails, start instead with a morning prayer or Scripture, offering your day up for the Lord and whatever may come. If you already have a regular prayer routine, perhaps you might consider adding a daily Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m. during the hour of mercy, or a family Rosary after supper cleanup.
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Fasting While we often think of food when it comes to fasting, there are other ways we can fast during Lent. Fasting means abstaining from something in order to grow spiritually. This could mean giving up Facebook or cutting down on internet use. Perhaps you might consider fasting from watching your favorite TV series and instead watch daily Mass. Another idea of fasting is giving up takeout or delivery and instead using that extra money to give to the poor. Almsgiving Giving alms may be the less obvious of the three but is no less important for growing spiritually. Giving alms can mean a number of things. Perhaps this means giving a bit of extra money to charity during these 40 days. It might also mean visiting with a grieving friend, listening, and helping out those in need. You might also consider stepping out and helping in a new capacity, whether in a new ministry or volunteer effort. Lent affords us a wonderful opportunity to renew our spiritual lives. While it may not always seem so easy, it is necessary to use this time to prepare our hearts and lives for Easter. We might be tempted to simply look ahead to the joy of Easter without considering the sacrifice of Lent, but in that way, we would be missing out on the chance to grow, learn, give, and pray. We cannot have the Resurrection without the Cross. Lent is a reminder not to be filled with sadness and dread over our sacrifices, but to take up practices that help us engage in our spiritual lives, purify ourselves with God’s help and rejoice when Easter comes around.
THE DAILY ROSARY AND DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET PRAYER GROUP
Sharing Grace, Growing in Faith and Camaraderie
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rayer is extremely powerful, and the members of the Daily Rosary and Divine Mercy Prayer Group have been blessed to experience how these devotions have changed their lives. By praying together, group members not only grow in their own faith but also share the grace and love of Jesus’ Divine Mercy with others. The group meets every weekday before morning Mass, at 7:40 a.m. — they pray the Rosary daily, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet. On Wednesdays, they also pray the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and on Thursday they pray the Liturgy of the Hours. “The Rosary has been going on for decades, but the devotions all started when COVID hit and we weren’t able to attend Mass anymore,” says group member Steve Lolli. “We continued to be able to meet as a prayer group, and we would start praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet after the Rosary every day. Before that, we would only pray it once a week.” The Divine Mercy devotion has its origins in the story of St. Faustina. “Our Lord came to St. Faustina with this gift, and he said that this would be the last time He would come with His Divine Mercy — the next time would be with His Divine Justice,” Steve says. “In today’s world, boy do we need the Divine Mercy! We pray for reparations for sins committed against the most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the end of contraception, abortion, euthanasia; and for the protection of holy matrimony and our intentions as well as those of others. “I’ve personally had this devotion for the last 20 or so years,” he adds. “I heard the chaplet on
Catholic radio before it even became popular. Once I heard it prayed, I was instantly attracted to it.” Over time, the prayer group members have developed a special kind of camaraderie amongst themselves and have been able to grow in faith as individuals. “We’re in church, so there’s not a lot of conversation, but we’re very close as a group because we have the same devotions and the same realization that the world needs the Lord’s Divine Mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Mother,” Steve says. “Each person’s growth is something only they know, but the fact that everyone gets up extra early in the morning just for this purpose says a lot about how deep their devotion goes. I think that goes a long way with our Lord.”
All are welcome to the join the prayer group at 7:40 a.m. before the start of daily Mass on each weekday. If you would like more information, please contact Steve Lolli at 530-615-4139.
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St.
Patrick’s P A R I SH 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 (530) 273-2347 stpatrickgrassvalley.org
Join Us for Our Lenten Prayer Retreat Growing Closer to Christ Through Personal Prayer Please join us on Saturday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, for our Lenten Prayer Retreat. We will welcome Fr. Avram Brown, Pastor of St. Isidore Catholic Church, Yuba City, who will present Growing Closer to Christ Through Personal Prayer. The retreat will take place at St. Patrick’s. If you plan on attending, please RSVP with Traci Jagger at 530-273-2336, ext. 3204, or rcia@stpatrickgrassvalley.org, or on our website, stpatrickgrassvalley.org by March 5.
Fr. Avram Brown will lead our Lenten Prayer Retreat on March 12.
MASS SCHEDULE Monday-Saturday: Daily Mass at 8:30 a.m. | Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 p.m. | Sunday Mass: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish)
