Ensuring All Feel Welcome in Christ’s Home
Justyna Creager helps with the schedul ing for hospitality ministries at St. John and Mindy Freeman helps with the scheduling at St. James — both have witnessed firsthand the impact that a warm, welcoming environment can have on guests and parishioners.
“Being an usher or greeter is an important, but simple commitment,” Justyna says. “You just help at the Mass that you usually attend. It can be a weekly or monthly commitment, or as needed for special Masses and events.”
Typically, greeters and ushers are asked to arrive shortly before Mass starts
Some of the responsibilities of the ushers and greeters include greeting people as they arrive, giving out any worship aids or candles, escorting people to their seats, handing out bulletins, sending people on their way after Mass, collecting the weekly offertory, and taking up the gifts of bread and wine during the presen tation of the gifts. They also help to straighten up the pews after Mass.
community of St. John & St. James
continued on page 5 SEPTEMBER 2022
Meet Our Greeters and Ushers
“To every person who walks in the doors of St. John Church, they are the face of Christ,” Justyna says. “Ushers and greeters are the first people seen, making parish ioners and guests feel welcome and at home. They can create a warm, well-orga nized environment from the moment you walk through the doors, helping to pre pare the person to enter more deeply into the beautiful sacrifice that is the Mass.”
A s a stewardship community, we recognize the Four Pillars of Stewardship — Hos pitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. It’s no accident that Hospitality is the first pillar — after all, we can’t live out stewardship as a faith community if we aren’t continually build ing a hospitable and welcoming environment. And that is what our greeters and ushers at St. John and St. James are here to do, serving pa rishioners and visitors as if they were Christ.
To find out more about the Stewardship Starts at Home book, visit www.stewardship-starts-at-home.company.site.
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Remember, the more fully you are formed, the better you will understand God’s calling for your family. Furthermore, the more you are formed in the faith the easier it will be to answer the call of discipleship. Being properly formed in our faith and listening to God’s call allows us to understand if we are on the right path or if we need to redirect. Being prayerful and well-formed are key to our following His plan for our lives instead of our own wishes and desires. Remember, as stewards, we strive to listen to God and use the gifts He has given us to serve those he places in our paths. Thankfully, it is easier now more than ever to form ourselves and our families. There is no need to search for faith-formation opportu nities. These options can be sent directly to our smartphones and tablets. Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ministry sends free daily readings along with a brief gospel reflection straight to our inboxes. Matthew Kelly’s Dynamic Catholic offers Lenten and Advent opportunities with free, reflective videos that also arrive via email. Blessed is She even provides an endearing fe male faith formation perspective — perfect for women young and old. Plus, if you want to form yourself specifically in Scrip ture, you can also opt for the free podcast, The Bible in a Year featuring the entertaining Fr. Mike Schmitz, from Ascension Presents. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Formation is the fuel that keeps your family moving for ward as stewards and in becoming all that Christ is calling you to be. Have confidence as you incorporate this ongoing learn ing into your daily routines.
The Importance of Catholic Faith Formation
T here are Four Pillars of Stewardship — Prayer, Hospitality, Formation, and Service. The third pillar — Formation — teaches us to know and love our God and our Accordingfaith. to the United States Confer ence of Catholic Bishops’ National Directory for Catechesis (2005, #20), there are six tasks of faith formation that constitute a unified whole by which faith formation seeks to achieve its objective. This primary objective is the forma tion of disciples of Jesus Christ. The six tasks of formation promote knowledge of the faith, promote knowledge of the meaning of the liturgy and the sacra ments, promote moral formation in Jesus Christ, teach us how to pray, prepare one to live in community, and participate actively in the life of the Church, and promote a missionary spirit that prepares one to be present as Christians in society. Take a moment to consider how fully you are currently formed. When is the last time you read a book about the Catholic faith? When is the last time you participated in a Bible study? When is the last time you read and reflected on the readings before Mass? Or looked up something in the Catechism?Frequently, the last faith formation parishioners receive dates back to when they completed their Confirmation prepa ration or attended their last religious formation class as a mid dle or high school student. This means decades may have gone by since parishioners and family members have experienced formation. If that is the last time that you have formed yourself or that members of your families have formed themselves, don’t panic. You are not alone. This realization is an opportunity for growth. A chance to dip your toe back in the water of faith formation and even to learn alongside the members of your family, including the youngest members who are also learning. Don’t ever feel embarrassed that you don’t know an answer to the faith questions asked to you by your children or grandchil dren. Instead, learn together!
Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from the 2022 book, Stewardship Starts at Home: Using God’s Gifts To Grow As Disciples Of Christ In Our Domestic Church, written by stewardship retreat leader Lisa McArdle and published by Catholic Stewardship Consultants. This excerpt is reprinted with permission from CSC.
There are even some unique ways to celebrate Mary’s birthday. You can make a special birthday cake for Mary and have it as a family dessert one night this month — and even light a candle on the cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Mary. Have your children or grandchildren make a birthday card for Mary — bring it to church and place it at the foot of Mary’s statue to show your love for the Mother of God. Decide to do a good deed or act of kindness and make that your special gift to Mary for her birthday. If you really want to make our Blessed Mother happy, gather for some family prayer time and pray a family Rosary as your gift to Mary. Here’s a novel idea, attend Mass on Mary’s Birthday, Thursday, Sept. 8. We have three opportunities — 7:00 a.m. at St. John, 8:30 a.m. at St. James, and 7:00 p.m. in Spanish at St. John. What a beautiful way for your family to celebrate. These are just some of the many ways we can honor our Blessed Mother and celebrate her birthday this month.
This Month, We Honor Our Blessed Mother on Her Birthday
B irthdays are always special occa sions we all enjoy celebrating. We send cards, give gifts, gather with fam ily and loved ones, sing “Happy Birth day,” and enjoy the traditional birthday cake. We make a big deal about birth days because they remind us how spe cial, precious and wonderful is the gift of life given to us by God.
On the Church’s calendar, we celebrate three important birthdays. On Dec. 25, we celebrate the Birthday of Jesus; on June 24, we celebrate the Birthday of St. John the Baptist; and on Sept. 8, we celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why do we celebrate Mary’s birth day on Sept. 8? The answer lies in an other very important feast day of Our Lady, and that is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Con ception on Dec. 8. The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Church, which states that Mary was preserved free from all stain of Original Sin from the very first moment of her conception (this grace also preserved Mary from all sin throughout her life). This was a special gift from God and a wonderful privilege bestowed upon the Blessed Mother as she would become the pure, holy vessel to carry in her womb Christ, the Son of God. So, since we celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, we celebrate her birthday exactly nine months later on Sept. 8!
Happy birthday, Blessed Mother Mary — we love you!
Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. John O’Neill Pastor Dear Parishioners,
A Letter From Our Pastor
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“It worked surprisingly well to have the meetings virtually,” Rita says. “And now we can offer this series to people who may not live near us. We start out the session all together for prayer and a little conversation. Then we
Grief Support Ministry PROVIDES LOVING COMFORT TO OUR
“You never ‘get over’ grief. It is always there. Life continues and it is there. This group has been so important for me. It isn’t that you ‘let go’ of a loved one, but this group and the series that we use gave me the tools to handle the grief.”
— RITA LOWRY
“Fr. John O’Neill started it with us and after the first session, he said he wanted it to continue but he was unable to lead the group,” Rita says. “So five of us ladies stepped up and continued leading the sessions. Since then we have had three men join our team as well.”
The group uses the series, Grieving with Great Hope , a Catholic-based series that helps provide tools to those who are experiencing grief. The group meets weekly for eight weeks. Even though the series is Catholic, anyone is welcome to attend.
he weight of grief is a heavy cross to bear. Compound ing this burden, those who grieve often feel very alone in their suffering. The Grief Support Ministry is here to welcome those who are grieving for any reason. The group’s mission is to comfort and support those who are mourning.During His missionary years, Christ surrounded Himself with His disciples and other followers. He had times when He went off to pray but ultimately, He lived and worked surrounded by this community. Similarly, our community is meant to support us in every season of life and that is why our parish and faith community is so vi tally important. Those involved in the Grief Support Min istry understand how important it is to have the support of your community during your journey.
Grief extends beyond the loss of a loved one. Many things can cause grief and the Grief Support Ministry is here to listen or just be with you in that pain.
At the onset of the pandemic, the group switched to meeting virtually. In-person meetings have resumed, but some people still attend virtually.
Rita has been a part of this group ever since it began in 2018.
“You never get over grief,” says Rita Lowry, one of the ministry members. “It is always there. Life continues and it is there. This group has been so important for me. It isn’t that you let go of a loved one, but this group and the series that we use gave me the tools to handle the grief.”
“I have watched this series many times through the different sessions that we have had,” Rita says. “As many times as I have seen the videos, something else comes out to me. It changes with where you are in the grieving pro cess and each time it is something different that hits me.”
Grief extends beyond the loss of a loved one. Many things can cause grief and this group is here to listen or just be with you in that pain.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MOURNING and to stay after to help clean up. The time commitment usually consists of about 20 minutes outside of Mass. This is also a ministry that families can get involved in together.“The Greeters Ministry is a wonder ful ministry for families to serve together, even with younger children,” Justyna says. “For example, they can assist with passing out bulletins after Mass and wishing ev eryone a good week. What a great way to get all your family involved and to teach the younger ones about sharing your time and talents with our parish community.”
“It’s okay to be open and ask for help,” Rita says. “It is humbling to do that and it was probably the hardest thing for me. But it is important to know that you are not alone and it is okay to ask for help.”
5 watch the video for that week. After that, one or two of us will take the laptop in the other conference room and lead the discussion with the virtual group while the others stay and have the discussion with the in-person group.”
“Not everyone in the group has lost a spouse like I have,” Rita says. “However, we are there for each other in a way that others who haven’t experienced grief in this way are not able to be. It helps knowing that they are there and you can talk to them if you want to share. This group has helped me get through some really hard times. Initially, I started coming because I lost my husband. Since then I have lost a sister and then I nearly lost my brother to COVID. They have helped me get through the hard things in life.”
It is a work of mercy to comfort the sorrowful and the Grief Support Ministry is here to do just that.
It typically takes 12-15 greeters and ushers to cover all the Masses each week end, with about two greeters and four ushers being present for each Mass. The number of volunteers needed is higher for special occasions such as Christmas, Eas ter, and Ash Wednesday as there are usu ally more people who attend. Greeters and Ushers continued from front cover
If you are interested in joining the Greeters or Ushers Ministries, please contact Justyna Creager at St. John’s, 210-792-5285 or justynkao@yahoo.com ; or Mindy Freeman at St. James, 918-335-0844 or secretary_stjms@sbcglobal.net .
The next Grief Support Ministry session starts on Sept. 8. If you have any questions, please contact Rita Lowry at 918-331-8984. To join the group virtually, please contact Jerrilynn Nakvinda at 918-695-8002.
Jesus spoke often about “the Kingdom of God,” and He taught us that it is already here — however, not in its perfect, final form. Christians receive the Kingdom at baptism, and they also build it inside themselves through the varied ways of work ing to grow in personal holiness. They also work to build the kingdom, just as Gregory did, by offering Christ-like service in all areas of their lives. Thus, in our own Christian lives, we con tinue the same work that St. Gregory performed, and to which all of us are called, in the building of the Kingdom of God.
St. Gregory was born in Rome around 540 to a wealthy family, with several family members noted for holiness of life. He was raised and educated during times of great trial, both for the Church in general, and for Rome, a city besieged by several waves of barbarians.
Gregory’s life produced fruit that would continue to mature for centuries to come — guidance for the care of souls, reforma tion of the liturgy, sending missionaries to spread faith abroad, and much more. He is arguably one of the greatest foundational supports of medieval Europe, and thus, of our own society today.
As Catholics, we can also celebrate Labor Day with a deeper Christian understanding of its purpose.
Americans celebrate Labor Day, the yearly tribute given to our country’s workers. The day’s purpose is to remind us of the real social and economic contributions made through the early Labor Movement, up to workers in the present day.
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St. Gregory the Great: Laboring for the Kingdom of God
Sept. 3 is the feast day of St. Gregory the Great. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Feast of St. Gregory also falls around the time when Americans make our national obser vance of Labor Day. While a shining example of Christian vir tue, St. Gregory the Great also sheds light on the fuller value and purpose of labor and human work.
Gregory was made prefect of Rome at a young age. He struggled with the call to give all in following Christ, but final ly chose a monastic life, donating his estates to the founding of monasteries. His three years of monastic seclusion were some of the most enjoyable of his life.
The death of Pope Pelagius II in 590 led to Gregory be ing immediately chosen by the clergy and people of Rome as the pope’s successor. Some sources suggest that Gregory was dragged from his bed, while others maintain that he fled from the city and hid for three days.
Despite his initial unwillingness to accept the burden of the papacy, Gregory spent the final 14 years of his life devoting all of his energy towards his work as pope.
Once Gregory was ordained as a deacon, he was sent to the Court of Byzantium as ambassador, where he struggled greatly with the court’s worldly atmosphere. Having provided, with some difficulty, six years of faithful service to the court, he was joyfully recalled to Rome. Gregory was appointed abbot of St. Andrew’s Monastery, which under his leadership, produced many monks who were later renowned for holiness of life. He was later chosen to be a missionary to England. This demon strates how highly regarded Gregory must have been by this time, for after he was sent away, an uprising immediately arose among the populace of Rome. A team of messengers was then dispatched to bring him back, which they successfully did.
Tamara Walker is the Music Director at St. James. She re calls how her time at the parish began in 2009 when she was in the process of becoming a new Catholic — she remembers providing the music while receiving the sacraments at the Eas ter Vigil in 2010. The parish had been looking for a new Music Director and she stepped in to fill in, which evolved into her current position.
“We get together to warm up our voices and focus our selves to spiritually serve during Mass,” Ashlee says. “We cover the songs that we’ll be singing that morning and go over the choirThesolo.”choir plays a key role by helping connect the congrega tion to the liturgy.
St. James has a pianist and cantor at the Vigil Mass, and the continued on back cover
The members of the St. James choir shared their talents at the Christmas morning Mass. Members of the St. John choir share their talents, elevating our prayerful worship during Mass.
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Our Parish Choirs:
In this position, one of her greatest roles is to organize and lead the choir.Currently, the choir at St. John consists of about 12 mem bers who sing at the English-speaking Masses on Saturday and Sunday. The group practices once a week at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday in the Youth Room.
The Mass is a prayer that facilitates the most intimate conversation between us and God. Our choirs help each mem ber of the body of Christ enter into that conversation. The hymns provide us with the words of praise that we justly give to God and the melody provides us with the cadence that prompts us to open ourselves to God and share our hearts with Him.
“Music has completely shaped who I am as a person,” Ashlee says. “All my prayer time is accompanied by worship music and many times when I’m needing to draw closer to Jesus, I will play and sing worship songs that I am connecting with. I feel like this helps me embody the person that God cre ated me to Ashleebe.”has been involved with the Music Ministry at St. John Before the Latin Gate for many years. After earning her master’s degree in music, she came back as the Music Director.
Music Director at St. John, Ashlee Elmore has immersed herself in the art of making music. From the age of 6, she started to develop her musical gifts and, at that time, applied them to her faith life by playing at Church.
“It provides beautiful vocal support that helps lead the Church into worship and encourages others to sing and engage in the Mass,” Ashlee says.
“Producing music vocally in groups of people is a perfect example of how we function as the body of Christ — individual parts making up a whole,” Ashlee says.
Leading the Faithful Into Deeper Communion With God
Ashlee recognizes how music can open one’s heart to God and keep one’s mind focused on Christ in prayer, which is why she encourages everyone to sing during Mass and even consid er joining the “Participatingchoir.at Mass by singing reminds people that music is such an important part of the worship process,” Ashlee says. “By producing music with your own voice, you are making yourself vulnerable before Christ in a way that can draw you closer to God.”
For St. James, contact Tamara Walker through the parish office at 918-335-0844.
choir sings at the Sunday Mass. The choir has around eight or nine regular members and others join in as they are available — espe cially when the kids are home from college to share their talents.
“The talents we possess have been given to us by God,” Ashlee says. “It is important to give back to God all of the gifts He has given us.”
ST. JOHN: Masses: Saturday: 5 p.m. | Sunday: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (en Español) | Tuesday: 7 a.m. | Wednesday: 5:15 p.m. Thursday: 7 a.m., 7 p.m. (en Español) | Friday: 8:15 a.m. (School Mass) Reconciliation: Saturday: 4-4:45 p.m. | Sunday: 12:30-1:15 p.m.
If you are interested in joining the choir at St. John, please find more information online by going to www.stjohn-bartlesville.org/music, or by contacting Ashlee Elmore at music@stjohn-bartlesville.org.
Saint John Before the Latin Gate 715 S. Johnstone Ave. Bartlesville, OK 74003 (918) www.stjohn-bartlesville.org336-4353
Saint James Catholic Church Douglas Ln. Bartlesville, OK 74006
Tamara’s favorite thing about being involved has been getting to know all the faithful and kind choir members that have become a second family. It is very special to also have such a talented accompanist, Lesa Steele, for the last few “Anyoneyears. is welcome to join us and share your gift no matter how big or small,” Tamara says. “When we all combine our talents to use for the Lord, I believe that we make a very joyfulAsnoise.”bothAshlee and Tamara agree, when you sing at Mass, you are not just adding to a resounding noise — rather, you are truly contributing to the Church’s sacrificial offering of worship.
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(918) www.saintjamescatholicparish.org335-0844
ST. JAMES: Masses: Saturday: 5:30 p.m. | Sunday: 9:30 a.m. | Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. | Thursday: 8:30 a.m. | Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday: 4:30-5:15 p.m.
MASS & CONFESSION TIMES
Our Parish Choirs continued from page 7
