Words of Praise Lives of Praise

...recognizing our gifts of time, talent and treasureSpring 2012reflections...a newsletter from the Stewardshipand Development OfficeWords of Praise, Lives of PraiseWE URGE YOU TO PRAISE GOD. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TELLING EACH OTHER WHEN WE SAY‘ALLELUIA.’ SEE THAT YOUR PRAISE COMES FROM YOUR WHOLE BEING . . . NOT WITH YOURLIPS AND VOICES ALONE, BUT WITH YOUR MINDS, YOUR LIVES, AND ALL YOUR ACTIONS.–ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPOWe, the Diocese of Austin, the Catholic Church ofCentral Texas through the Word and Eucharist, prayer,formation and education, social ministries and advocacy,embrace diverse cultures throughout the diocese so thattogether, as the Catholic Church, we may continue themission of Christ in the world today.Stewardship andDevelopment OfficeDiocese of Austin6225 Highway 290 E.Austin, TX 78723(512) 949-2400Most Rev. Joe S. VásquezBishop of AustinScott WhitakerDirector of Stewardship and DevelopmentBob VallileeAssociate Director of Stewardship and DevelopmentJean BondyAssociate Director of Catholic School DevelopmentEmily Powers EnderExecutive AssistantThe Catholic Dioceseof AustinThe music of the Easter Season is filled with the joyful proclamation, “Alleluia,” whichmeans, “Praise the Lord.” As St. Augustine reminds us, this most joyful liturgical seasoninvites us to praise God in every aspect of our lives. This is the spirituality of stewardship— and it finds profound expression in the Easter season.MystagogyAS EACH HAS RECEIVED A GIFT, EMPLOY IT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OFGOD’S VARIED GRACE . . . SO THAT IN EVERYTHING GOD MAY BE GLORIFIEDTHROUGH JESUS CHRIST. –1 PT 4:10-11Anyone who has been involved in the RCIA process has probably heard the word “mystagogy”in reference to the period of formation offered after Easter to the newly initiatedmembers of the Church. It is a time of extended, grateful reflection on what Christ hasdone for them in the Sacraments of Initiation.This is also a time for all of us to help these new Catholics become more fully involved inthe various ministries of the parish community. We encourage them to share their personalgifts in carrying out the mission of the Church.GiftednessMUCH IS REQUIRED FROM THE PERSON TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN. –LK 12:48Easter is also a time for each of us to choose to live as faithful members of the Body of Christ.The spirituality of stewardship teaches us that all that we have and all that we are comesfrom God. We thank God for the gifts and personal talents He has given us and seek to multiply,develop, and return these blessings with increase to the Lord. {continued on page 2}

{continued from page 1}In this Easter season, we celebrate the fact that much has indeed been given to everyone of us through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As good stewards, weseek to respond to that gift with gratitude and generous service.VocationTHOSE WHO ACCEPTED [PETER’S] MESSAGE WERE BAPTIZED . . . THEY DEVOTED THEM-SELVES TO THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES AND TO THE COMMUNAL LIFE,TO THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND TO THE PRAYERS. –ACTS 2:41-42The Easter season is a time for all members of the Church to dedicate ourselves tobeing good stewards of our own baptismal vocation. With thanksgiving, we make aconscious choice to live out our vocation joyfully and generously, and to nurture itcarefully throughout our lives.During Easter, the first reading in Mass is taken from the Acts of the Apostles, whichtraces the growth of the early Church as it became organized and expanded to newlands. Our Catholic Church of today is the same Church that was established byJesus Christ on the foundation of His Apostles, and which has been passed on to usthrough 2,000 years of unbroken historical continuity.This same Church is in need of our personal energies and talents today. The HolySpirit continues to build up the Church through the initiation of new members andthrough engagement of the talents of all of us. As with each generation, we are calledto take responsibility for the Church and help it to grow.Through our words and actions, our lives and all that we do, may God be praised!Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!Msgr. Michael J. Sis is the Vicar General for the Diocese of Austin.UPCOMING DIOCESAN EVENTSApril 13April 14May 9Catholic Charities Luncheon www.ccctx.orgDiocesan Pro-Life Gala www.austindiocese.orgAssembly of Catholic Professionals Luncheonwww.austindiocese.org/acpis online!Visit www.austindiocese.org/donate for moreinformation on stewardship and the Diocese of Austin.(1030–1079)BISHOP AND MARTYRFEAST DAY – APRIL 11The patron saint of Poland, St. Stanislaus was bornnear Krakow and educated in Paris. Returning to hishomeland, he gained a reputation as a preacher andwas in great demand as a spiritual director. In 1072,he became the Bishop of Krakow.Meanwhile, King Boleslaus II of Poland had won afamous victory over the Russians and gained greatpower, but he was morally corrupt. St. Stanislauspublicly rebuked the king’s immoral behavior and,when he refused to change, excommunicated him.The king then ordered the assassination of St. Stanislaus.When his soldiers failed to carry out his order,King Boleslaus himself killed St. Stanislaus while thesaint was saying Mass.Moral courage and an uncompromising devotion tothe truth brought martyrdom to St. Stanislaus. Maywe, too, be courageous stewards of the gift of faith!Adapted from Sharon Hueckel, Steward Saints for Every Day,Copyright © 1999, the National Catholic Stewardship Council,Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.2diocese of austin SPRING 2012

STEWARDSHIP and Your BudgetAs Christians, we understand that our lives are notour own. Our decisions over that for which we areresponsible must be in line with Christ’s teachingsand our call to service.Stewardship is this application of our faith throughout ourlives and our world. It is not an isolated moment of kindness or generosity butrather a perpetual responsibility toward everything entrusted to us.This responsibility extends to our personal fi nances. How and what we spend ourmoney on should be a clear picture of our priorities and consequently a refl ectionof our stewardship. A challenging question to ask yourself is whether or not yourbudget refl ects your faith accurately. If you don’t have a budget, then it’s time tocreate one.When creating or reviewing a budget, it’s important to understand that a budget isa journey, not a destination. Your budget will and should change over time — notnecessarily with every whim but with the changing circumstances of your life.Every expense should have a purpose that is in line with your faith. Some expenses,such as tithing, will have a clear purpose that refl ects your commitmentto stewardship. Other expenses, such as paying down debt, could be part of alarger goal to free up money better served in other endeavors.Remember, your budget isn’t a fi nancial diet. It is simply to provide a faithful purposeto your spending as a good steward. Prioritize your budget based on yourfaith and your goals.There are two other key elements of financial stewardship, notquite as tactile as a budget, but nevertheless just as important— time and thanksgiving.Some key events that merit atweak to your budget are:A change of income. Maybe youreceived a raise or your job has reducedyour hours. Modifying your budget isdefi nitely in order.Unexpected expenses. Sometimesa trip to the urgent care in your neighborhoodcan set you back a few hundreddollars. You’ll need to budget the repaymentof your medical costs.The accomplishment of a financialgoal — such as paying a debt infull, contributing to a building fund, orsaving up for a trip. Once you achievethese goals, your budget should accommodatethe change.Being consistently over or underbudget. Clearly, if you are overyour budget a change is necessary.However, being under budget cancause some problems if you have notplanned what to do withthe surplus.Time is invaluable. It’s true that you’re not paid for every minute of the day.However, how you spend your time can have a tremendous impact on yourhealth, your relationships, and the world around you. In many cases this impactwill manifest itself as expense or income, turmoil or peace. Make sure you investyour time wisely.Thanksgiving is possibly the most effective spiritual and fi nancial skill to possess,but it may take a lifetime to master. Thanking the Lord for the life He’s providedyou and the gifts with which He’s entrusted you can be your best guardagainst compulsive decisions and purchases. Sometimes all a budget needs is alittle bit of gratitude.Joseph F. Barrero is the CEO of Cornerstone Financial Education in Austin.THANK YOU . . .for your ongoing support and generosityto the Our Faith ~ Our Legacy campaign.To date, more than $16.5 millionhas been returned to parishes.4diocese of austin SPRING 2012

Lord,When DidWe See Youin Prison?Criminal justice ministry in the Diocese of Austin is like any other ministry tovulnerable persons. Grounded in the Church’s teaching on human dignity andthe biblical imperative to love one’s neighbor, criminal justice ministry seeks tohelp incarcerated and recently released persons, as well as their families, realizetheir own human dignity, show respect for others’ dignity, and develop healthy,stable lives.Criminal justice ministry comprises several distinct, but interconnected, areas ofemphasis, including direct assistance, prevention, and advocacy.One of the main components of direct assistance is spiritual support to the incarcerated.Priests and parish-based prison ministry groups provide sacramentallife, prayer, and catechesis to the men, women, and youths in the 39 detentioncenters within the Diocese of Austin. According to Deacon Doots Dufour, theDiocese of Austin’s Director of Criminal Justice Ministry, one of the biggest challengesis making sure the sacraments are regularly available at every detentioncenter. Central Texas Catholics can join a prison ministry group, but they can alsohelp by encouraging their pastors to assist in covering the detention center(s)in their area.In addition to parish-based efforts, there is also a diocesan prison ministryteam that conducts one-day retreats similar to the renewal movement,Cursillo. Retreat teams focus on helping inmates address fi ve spiritual goals:Finding out who God is to them; moving toward right relationships withGod and with others; discovering self-giving as a path to a rich, full life;forgiveness; and building community.Direct assistance is not confi ned to the spiritual. Some former offenders whoapproach the Church for assistance need food, clothing, and shelter during thevital transition from incarceration to a stable life within society. Others needhelp fi nding a job or staying sober. With nearly 74% of returning offendersexperiencing problems with drugs or alcohol, giving the recently released thesupport they need to stay sober and get on their feet is critical to reducingre-entry into the prison system.Parishes also provide material support to the families of the currently and formerlyincarcerated. This is where direct assistance meets prevention. Familiesof the incarcerated, especially children, are uniquely vulnerable to entering theprison system themselves. Providing food, clothing, and shelter helps familiesachieve stability, while outreach, education, and after-school programs helpchildren stay in school — and out of trouble.One of the challenges facing such families, says Dufour, is that people who feelunwelcome don’t ask for help. Parishioners can address this issue by creatinga welcoming environment for those who do seek assistance. Removing thestigma associated with having a family member in prison breaks down this criticalbarrier while also acknowledging the human dignity of all involved.A third area of emphasis within criminal justice ministry is advocacy. ThroughoutTexas’ 15 dioceses, Catholic Correctional Ministers like Deacon Dufour actas liaisons and advisors to government and other agencies seeking to reducetrauma, re-entry, and the sheer numbers of those in the prison system. In 2013,the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will undergo a “sunset review” by legislatorsand public members, including Deacon Dufour, which aims to determineareas of improvement within the criminal justice system.According to Dufour, these areas of improvement are many, but there is reasonto hope. Texas is among a handful of national leaders in reducing the number ofpeople in prison through treatment programs and incarceration alternatives.Quite simply, says Dufour, “criminal justice ministry in Texas is working.”Criminal Justice Ministry is supported in part by theCatholic Services Appeal.5diocese of austin SPRING 2012

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGEPAIDAUSTIN, TEXASPERMIT NO. 1504Stewardship and Development OfficeDiocese of Austin6225 Highway 290 E.Austin, TX 78723RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDLEAVINGA LEGACYR E M E M B E R I N G Y O U R C H U R C HBILL AND MARLENE GLADEare graduates of the University of Texas, whereMarlene received a BS in sociology and educationand Bill received a doctorate in economics. Priorto their marriage, Bill and Marlene attended St.Austin Parish, where Bill was baptized into theCatholic faith. In July 1954, the Glades weremarried at St. Mary Cathedral.The Glades’ academic careers have takenthem to such diverse places as Maryland,where Bill taught at the University of Marylandand later worked at the Smithsonian andthe United States Information Agency; andMadison, Wisconsin, where Bill taught business,economics, and Ibero-American Studies andMarlene attended graduate school.Bill and Marlene ultimately returned to Austin and have been activesupporters of the Church in Central Texas. Bill served as diocesan coordinatorfor the Bicentennial Celebration under BishopHarris and has also served on the DiocesanFine Arts Council. In 2010, he was namedPresident of the Volunteers of the SetonMedical Center of Austin.Marlene worked with two groups toestablish fi rst St. Michael’s Catholic Academyand later St. Gabriel’s Catholic School. She hasalso been active in supporting Cathedral Schoolof St. Mary and San Juan Diego Catholic HighSchool and currently serves on the diocesanCelebrating Catholic Schools committee.Members of St. John Neumann Parish,the Glades serve as Eucharistic Ministers,received the Lumen Gentium award in 2010,and belong to the Equestrian Order of the HolySepulchre of Jerusalem. They have four children and eight grandchildren.Bill and Marlene have included the Catholic Church in their will.