A message from Bishop Vásquez
Official appointment
Deacon Tony Pynes to St. Louis Parish in Austin, effective Nov. 1, 2013.
Reflection question
Gospel Meditation
Please consider using the following question for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov. 10):
The Sadducees, who do not believe in resurrection, challenge Jesus with an absurd situation hoping to trap him. He, in turn, responds with what is at the heart of their challenge — that the dead will rise and enjoy eternal life with God, for he is a God of the living. In what ways does your life show that you believe there is something more than life on earth? How do you accept the fact that you are a child of God?
Los Saduceos, quienes no creen en la resurrección, retan a Jesús con una situación absurda esperando que caiga en su trampa. Él, en cambio, responde con lo que está en el corazón de su reto -- que los muertos se alzarán y gozarán de vida eterna con Dios por que Él es un Dios de vivos ¿De qué manera su vida muestra que usted cree que hay algo más que la vida en la Tierra? ¿Cómo acepta el hecho de que usted es hijo de Dios?
Communications Office
Important church publications
“The most widely used communication tool in the Catholic church is the parish bulletin, followed by a diocesan newspaper or magazine – in print form – which one in four adult Catholics has read in the last three months, [Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate] reports,” Carol Zimmerman wrote for Catholic News Service on Oct. 14. This recent report by CARA highlights the value of the weekly bulletin and shows that parishioners are reading it and that it is one of the top two ways Catholic news and information gets into homes, said Christian R. González, Communications Director for the Diocese of Austin. Parishes are strongly encouraged to publish an attractive bulletin each week that includes regular features such as a note from the pastor, a financial report, a calendar of weekly activities/Mass schedule, confession times, a spiritual reflection and the daily Mass readings and more. Parishes should also consider mailing or delivering the weekly bulletin to the homebound who request it.
Stewardship and Development Office
Catholic Services Appeal
Commitment Weekend is Nov. 2-3. Bulletin announcements, pulpit announcements, prayers and more are available online in English and Spanish.
Special Collection: Archdiocese for the Military Services
Your parish may have received materials promoting a collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. The USCCB approved this collection to be taken up every three years. While the Military Archdiocese recommended taking it up in November, the Diocese of Austin decided to take it up on May 25, 2014, on Memorial Day weekend. Please hold your materials until that time.
Missions Office
Diocesan Missionary Cooperative Plan Mission Appeals
The assigned 2013 missionary appeals for parishes are near completion. Parishes that have had appeals but have not submitted the funds for the missionary group assigned to them are asked to submit checks to Lynn Johnson in the Finance Department or to Christina Krueger in the Missions Office. Thank you for participating in the Diocesan Missionary Cooperative Plan (MCP) and for generously supporting the missionaries and their mission work.
Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living Office
Organ Donation Awareness Weekend
November 15-17 is National Organ Donor Awareness Weekend. There are more than 120,000 people on the waiting list for a transplant. Prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to organ donation upon your death. Please talk with your family about your wishes. It is important that they understand your desires. For general information, contact Michelle Segovia, of the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, at (512) 459-4848.
‘Doonby’ coming to Austin and Waco
The pro-life movie Doonby, filmed in Smithville, will be screened in two Texas cities this November. Sam Doonby is a mysterious drifter who steps off a bus and quickly becomes the talk of a small Texas town and is always in the right place at the right time to prevent disasters from happening. “I am happy to endorse the motion picture Doonby. Thought provoking, the movie shows how one person can make an enormous difference in the lives of others,” said Bishop Joe Vásquez.
Reserve your ticket now:
Austin on Monday, November 4
Waco on Monday, November 4
THRiVE! Love that Satisfies
St. Louis Parish in Waco invites youth, from seventh through 12th grades, to come to an insightful evening that will educate and challenge them to engage and live a Christian life. Come share Matt Fradd’s personal story of sin, redemption and healing on Dec. 6 from 7-9 p.m. Visit ThriveTexas.org for more information and to RSVP.
Worship Office
Southwest Liturgical Conference
The Southwest Liturgical Conference (SwLC) is being hosted this year by the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas. Anyone working with any form of liturgy (the Mass, Sacraments, Liturgy of the Hours) will find the Study Week of interest and formative.
Diocesan Confirmation
The next Adult Confirmation Mass will be celebrated on Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at San José Parish in Austin. Complete this form to register your candidates.
Musicians Needed
Are you a singer, instrumentalist, or director of an instrumental ensemble looking for an opportunity to share your talent with our parishes? Music Directors are constantly looking for instrumentalists, singers and musicians, especially during the holidays. If you would like to add your information to our Musicians Referral Service, e-mail Andrea Ramos in the diocesan Worship Office with your or your ensemble’s name, your instrument or type of ensemble (e.g: string quartet, brass quintet, etc), and a brief biographical description including any degrees, years of experience, musical style (e.g: classical, contemporary, praise and worship, etc), and any experience you have with church music.
Weekly notes
Pope Francis’ prayer intention
Please consider Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for the month of November:
That priests who experience difficulties may find comfort in their suffering, support in their doubts, and confirmation in their fidelity …
Por que los sacerdotes que experimentan dificultades encuentren alivio en su sufrimiento, apoyo en sus dudas y confirmación en su fidelidad...
That as fruit of the continental mission, Latin American Churches may send missionaries to other Churches …
Que como fruto de la misión continental, las Iglesias de Latinoamérica envíen misioneros a otras Iglesias...
Bishop Vásquez’ prayer intention
Please consider Bishop Vásquez’ prayer intention for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov. 10):
May our work be a reflection of our human dignity and for all those who face daily hardships of underemployment or the burdens of oppressive work …
Por que nuestro trabajo sea un reflejo de nuestra dignidad humana, y por todos aquellos que a diario enfrentan las dificultades del sub-empleo o la carga del trabajo opresivo.
For the Blind
The Xavier Society for the Blind is the national Catholic press and lending library for the visually impaired. They make writings on religion and spirituality available to the blind, including current articles from Catholic periodicalsthat are available for download from their website. They also offer the prayers and readings for Mass, available by mail in Braille and on CDs. Large print versions are also available at their website for downloading. They manage a national Catholic lending library available in Braille and audio formats. Volunteers can assist in this mission by recording materials at home. Their telephone is (212) 473-7800.
Surplus equipment
St. William Parish in Round Rock has the following free surplus equipment available for any parish or Catholic school that needs it:
Kyocera Copystar 6030, B&W, multifunction copier, 825,000 copies
Kyocera Copystar 6030, B&W, multifunction copier, 1,869,000 copies
NEC IT 3530, B&W, copier, 424,000 copies
HP Color Laserjet 5550, prints up to 11” x 17”
Equipment must be picked up by Nov. 20. Contact Stacie Carter for more information.
Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM)
Upcoming EIM Basic and Refresher Workshops
EIM Basic and Refresher Workshops are scheduled on a quarterly basis by the EIM Office, coordinating with the EIM site administrator at parishes, schools and other diocesan agencies. Staff of any site wishing to host a workshop must coordinate with their EIM site administrator. The EIM site administrator should make all workshop requests on the Workshop Request Table. Additional workshops will not be added to the EIM workshop calendar unless the EIM office determines a particular need. EIM site administrators may direct inquiries about EIM workshop scheduling to Emily Hurlimann or Colleen Schiller in the EIM Office at (512) 949-2400.
For general information about EIM Basic or Refresher workshops, please click here.
Anyone needing an EIM workshop will sign up online through their EIM account. The sign-up process is explained once you access your EIM account; please contact your parish or Catholic school EIM site administrator if you need assistance or if you do not have Internet access.
Click here to login to your EIM account in order to find the schedule of EIM workshops and to sign up. Instructions are provided in case you do not recall how to login to your EIM account.
Department Categorization:
Communications Office