Bulletin Highlights:
09/05/10
Forward in Remembrance: A Combination Campaign - 04/3/2010 ` “Forward in Remembrance”
Amount Pledged $6,569,613.00
Amount Paid To Date $5,043,587.31
Parish Families Participating: 1439
Project Costs To Date $ 13,160,291.15
Click here for more information on how you can contribute to the 'Forward in Remembrance' Capital Campaign. Perpetual Adoration - Jeremiah 33:3 Project Eucharistic Adoration -  Pray in the Chapel 24 hours a day Monday through Friday. Please choose your hour. Contact David Klausmeyer at dklausmeyer@comcast.net or 713-872-8947. Learn more by joining the Jeremiahs 33:3 Program - Which one is your hour for intimate encounter with Jesus Christ in "Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration". We invite you to help us with our project called “Jeremiahs 33:3”. Its mission is to encourage people to sign-up for only three (3) hours of Eucharistic Adoration anytime from January 13 to February 14, 2010, and experience the many blessing received when we spend just one hour a week with Jesus. The objective is to fill all hours in the schedule for Perpetual Adoration, beginning with a individual commitment of 3 hours during this 33 days period. You can participate by downloading our file, picking your hour, filling in your name at the appropriate time in the spreadsheet, saving it, and then forwarding it as an attachment in your email to Jorge Cardenas at jcardenasrdz@sbcglobal.net. We really do need your help! Thank you! Confused about Health Care Reform? The U.S. Bishops (USCCB) have launched a website promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The site, www.usccb.org/healthcare, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress. The U.S. Bishops have long supported genuine health care reform that respects human life and dignity from conception till natural death, provides access to quality care for all with special concern for the poor and immigrants, respects pluralism and conscience rights, and shares costs equitably. Catholics are urged to voice their views to elected representatives before the final vote in the fall. St. Cecilia is located in Congressional District 7, represented by Congressman John Culberson, 1514 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington DC 20515. Ph: (202) 225-2571. Local office: 10000 Memorial Drive, Suite 620, Houston, TX 77024. Ph (713) 682-8828 Health Care Rationing and End-of-Life Care in Proposed Health Care Plan The Archdiocesan Respect Life Office advises that: “The health care bill proposal creates a government committee determining allowable benefits and treatments, and restricts enrollment in this plan of persons with special needs. The latter is an attempt to interface with health plans for those with special needs included under the Social Security Act, the outcome of which remains unclear. Hospitals will be penalized for government-deemed preventable readmissions. This constitutes rationing of care.” The Respect Life Office urges the faithful to express this message to Congress: “Please support amendments that (1) exclude abortion mandates, (2) prevent federal funding of abortion, (3) uphold state laws that regulate abortion, (4) protect the conscience rights of health care providers, and (5) protect the elderly, the infirm, and persons with disabilities from rationing as well as mandates impacting their end-of-life care.” Some Thoughts about Proper Attire at Church “Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of the moment when Christ becomes our guest.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1387b)
What we wear says a great deal about the importance of the event we are attending and what and who we value. The Mass is a very special occasion, “a great and holy moment,” and proper dress is evidence of our belief and reverence for our Lord’s presence in the Eucharist and respect for the assembly who gathers with us to pray. Simply put, beach wear, picnic and casual outdoor sports wear, lounge wear, etc. are not appropriate attire in Church. Even during the Summer season, we must dress in a way that is respectful of the sacredness of the Church and Liturgical Celebrations. BISHOPS URGE CATHOLICS TO OPPOSE EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCHThe U.S. Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities states that the National Institute of Health’s recently proposed guidelines for federally funded embryonic stem cell research “mark a new chapter in divorcing biomedical research from its necessary ethical foundation,” and advises that "the Catholic bishops ... will be writing to Congress and the Administration about the need to restore and maintain barriers against the mistreatment of human life in the name of science, and we urge other concerned citizens to do the same.” Learn more at www.usccb.org/stemcellcampaign or contact Regina Giovannini at giovannini@wt.net or 713-984-8972.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonDuring this recession when so many of our sisters and brothers - so many families – are hurting, please remember that Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues to serve those in need. Every day, every year, Catholic Charities’ staff and volunteers are helping where people are hurting. Should you need the assistance of Catholic Charities, please call 713-526-4611. If this is a time when you can help those in need, please contact Joanie Wentz, VP Development and Communications, at 713-874-6659 or send your gift to Catholic Charities Annual Fund, 2900 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77006.
Gabriel Project Gabriel Project: Help a pregnant mother in need! The Gabriel Project needs telephone volunteers to answer our central help line. You can do this at home for 3 - 4 hours per week. We will train you for this ministry of being the Good Samaritan. Bilingual volunteers especially needed. Please call Cathy McConn at 713-598-1675. Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America Catholic Charities USA urges Congress and the Administration to make decisions on programs based on the goal of reducing poverty. This must be done by investing more in social welfare policies that strengthen nutrition assistance programs, increase access to health care, promote greater economic security for the poor and vulnerable, and enable more people to get affordable housing. Visit the following website and learn more about the campaign to reduce poverty: www.catholicchartitiesusa.org. Prayer to Reduce Poverty
‘Good and Gracious God, we pray for your assistance in alleviating the pain and needless struggles of our brothers and sisters in need. Working together and with your grace, we know that each person deserves and should have affordable housing, adequate food, health care, and economic security. Loving God, we know that whatever we ask in your name it will be granted to us. So help us in trying to alleviate poverty, and may our efforts give You praise and be a sign of your Kingdom on earth. Amen.’ Sunday Mass for Homebound Catholics 9:00 a.m. every Sunday on KNWS Ch. 51. For cable/satellite - TV channel number, check listings for KNWS. Email: mail@heartofthenation.org or call 1-800-430-0930. More Service OpportunitiesGabriel Project: Help a pregnant mother in need! The Gabriel Project needs telephone volunteers to answer our central help line. You can do this at home for 3 - 4 hours per week. We will train you for this ministry of being the Good Samaritan. Bilingual volunteers especially needed. Please call Cathy McConn at 713-598-1675.
Birthright Birthright, a pro-life pregnancy support ministry, is in dire need of volunteers to assist women and girls to carry their babies to term. Our office is at 1200 Blalock and each volunteer works a 2 hour shift. It is wonderfully rewarding. We'd love to have you join us. Please call Louise Burns at 713-827-0566, Maria Grillo at 713-461-1146 or the Birthright office at 713-465-4058 for more information. Parish Service ProjectsSt. Cecilia Food Cart - Please do not forget the hungry. Bring one food item or a sack full of items to Mass with you each weekend and help us keep the food cart overflowing with food. Invest in a Child’s Future!
This past academic year, our parish adopted Woodview Elementary School. Several of us have been trained by SBISD to be Mentors for children in the 4th grade. As a Mentor, you give 45 minutes one day a week (lunch hour) to your Mentee. By investing your time once a week, you can create a bright future for a child who has never dreamed of one. You can help that child have hope for the future and you can inspire a child to set goals for high school and college. For more information, call 713-464-1511 or check out their website: www.springbranchisd.com and click on Be a Volunteer. You can also contact Lettie Gillespie at the Church office (lgillespie@saintcecilia.org.) Please pray about joining our St. Cecilia Team for Woodview…the children are waiting for you!
Parish Vocation Committee HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF SERVING THE LORD in the priesthood or religious life? Why not? If you are hesitant, shy or think yourself unworthy - why not speak to a parish priest or contact the diocesan Office of Vocations - 713-659-5461. Pastoral Care Pastoral Care Ministry: - Please contact Lettie Gillespie at the Church Office if you have a family member who is ill or in the hospital. The Pastoral Staff and Care Team are available for prayer and comfort. Call 713-465-3414 or lgillespie@saintcecilia.org. Please pray for those who are ill, especially...
Scott Eggleston é Rutty Keener
Grace Pittner Joan Murphy
Doris Ebanks Rev. David Noble
Sue Sablatora Dean Niola
Lee Drury Myra Drury
Joan Welling David Noe
Margaret Mary Kopenik Steve Hornberger
Peggy Nickerson Joan Coughlin
Chuck St. Laurent Thomas Tilotta
Mary Bohacs Steve McClintock
Charles Kupelian Carolyn Potter
Mary Schuster Mari Schoeffield-Payne
Bob Connolly Nancy Begnaud Diano
Dorothy Gall Robert Ginsbach
Liliana Krebs Joan Lucci
Judy Jax John Roorda
Jim Werner Victor Williams
Elizabeth Gonzalez Jim Moseley
Paul Rochna Nathan Rodriguez
Tony and Toni Slesinski
and all of our relatives and friends who are ill or experiencing difficulties in their lives... that they may know the healing presence of God. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Ministry of Prayer for the Sick, please contact Lettie Gillespie at 713-465-3414. We need individuals who will commit to praying the rosary once a day, once a week or once a month for the Sick Members of our Parish. Social Justice - Our Well in Uganda Currently, we are involved in the Drop in the Bucket program. See our write-up on the project at www.dropinthebucket.org. Our Well, Living Waters, is located in Uganda. There are 4 neighboring villages that the well is serving. (Kagavu, Kyankowe, Mawaga and Kasoozo) The school has 380 pupils, (220 boys and 160 girls) and 12 teachers. It is a community operated school built on land donated by a local man named Sserunjogi. This school has 20 orphans. The nearest source of safe drinking water before the well was 4 kms away. The school has had working pit latrine toilets that have been in operation for the last three years. Previously, the water source was a pond with contaminated water, so the school and local community are benefitting greatly from having a new safe water well. For more information and pictures, please visit www.dropinthebucket.org/wells/St_Cecilia_Well_SSERUNJOGI_Foundation Liturgy and Music Ministry Instituted Acolytes
Early last year, several men from our parish began the process of becoming Instituted Acolytes. Due to changes in the Liturgy Office, the documentation concerning those who were involved in the process needs to be reconstructed. If you were part of this process and are still interested in becoming an Acolyte, please call Andrew at 713-465-3414 or email him at ameinen@saintcecilia.org. We are very interested in helping those who have begun this process complete the installation and begin utilitizing our Acolytes at Mass. Volunteer Pianist Needed
The Music Ministry is looking for a volunteer accompanist for the Children’s choir. Commitment includes attendance at the choir rehearsals on Tuesday, February 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2, 9, and 23, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm, as well as accompanying the choir at the 9:00 am Mass on Easter Sunday. A minimum proficiency level is required. If you are interested, please call Andrew in the Parish Office, or email to ameinen@saintcecilia.org Peace and Justice St. Vincent de Paul News: "When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus." It is a remarkable fact that Jesus' disciples and friends had a certain difficulty in recognizing Him. With the first disciples, we share the difficulty of seeing Him clearly in the ordinary events of our lives. St. Vincent de Paul recommended that "when something unexpected happens to us in body or mind, good or bad, we are to accept it without fuss as from God's hand." Vincentian thought of the week: When in your life or ministry have you found the grace to say "It is the Lord"?
Respect LIFE Cardinal DiNardo to Lead Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo was elected chair of the USCCB;s Committee on Pro-Life Activities for a 3-year term at the U.S. Bishops’ Fall General Assembly. Cardinal DiNardo will lead the bishops’ efforts to teach respect for human life, from conception to natural death. The Pro-Life Committee provides guidance to the USCCB’s Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, coordinates educational and policy efforts concerning a range of issues, including life-affirming health care reform, stem cell research and capital punishment. Cardinal DiNardo stated that “With all that is happening in our country today, we must intensify our commitment to the human person, most especially toward those who are most vulnerable in our nation; the unborn, the disabled and theseriously ill. The right to life makes other rights possible; where that right is diminished or denied, the structure of our common life together as citizens is seriously wounded and distorted.”
Cardinal DiNardo: Senate Healthcare Bill “Enormous Disappointment”
In a USCCB letter to the Senate, Cardinal DiNardo, as chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called the Senate health care bill an “enormous disappointment” that creates new and unacceptable federal policy for funding and coverage of abortions and urged the Senate to make essential changes in the bill to keep in place federal law on abortion funding and conscience protection, protect access to health care for immigrants and include strong provisions for adequate affordability. Specific concerns include:
Abortion/Conscience Protections:
1) The bill seriously weakens the current nondiscrimination policy protecting providers who decline involvement in abortion, providing stronger protection for facilities that perform and promote abortion than for those which do not.
(2) The legislation requires each region of the insurance exchange to include at least one health plan with unlimited abortion, contrary to the policy of all other federal health programs.
(3) Finally, critically important conscience protections on issues beyond abortion have yet to be included in the bill. To take just one example, the bill fails to ensure that even religious institutions would retain the freedom to offer their own employees health insurance coverage that conforms to the institution’s teaching.
Affordability: The bishops encouraged expanding Medicaid eligibility for those living at 133 percent or lower of the federal poverty level. The Senate bill would still leave over 24 million people without health insurance.
Immigrants: The bishops urged an end to the five-year ban on legal immigrants accessing federal health benefits programs and said that undocumented persons should not be barred from purchasing insurance plans with their own money. Without such access, they stated, many immigrant families would be unable to receive primary care and be compelled to rely on emergency room care. The financial burden on the American public would be higher, as they would pay for uncompensated medical care through the federal budget or higher insurance rates. Read more at www.usccb.org/healthcare.
U.S. Bishops Urge Catholics to Contact Congress NOW Message to Senate: “Please adopt the House-approved Stupak Amendment that upholds longstanding policies against abortion funding, and please protect conscience rights in health care reform. Health care must be made more affordable and accessible to those in need and immigrants must not lose or be denied health coverage.”
Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510.
Ph: (202)224-2934/Fax (202)228-2856
Local Office: 5300 Memorial Dr, Ste. 980, Houston, TX 77007
Ph: (713)572-3337/Fax (713)572-3777
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510
Ph (202)224-5922/Fax (202)224-0776
Local office: 1919 Smith, Ste. 800, Houston, TX 77002
Ph: (713)653-3456/Fax (713)209-3459
Message to House: “I am pleased that the House-passed health care reform bill maintains the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion. Please work to ensure that this essential provision is included in any final bill sent to the President.”
St. Cecilia is located in Congressional District 7, represented by Congressman John Culberson, 1514 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington DC 20515. Ph: (202)225-2571. Local office: 10000 Memorial Dr., Ste. 620, Houston, TX 77024. Ph (713) 682-8828.
To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action Liturgy and Music Ministry Instituted Acolytes
Thank you to those who have come forward and expressed interest in continuing the process of becoming Instituted Acolytes. We are still in the process of reconstructing the list and collecting the required paperwork from all the men. We must do this before we can move forward with the Archdiocese. We can download the checklist and required paperwork from the Archdiocesan website http://archgh.org/Worship/Instituted-Acolyte/index.htm. If you have any questions, please call Andrew in the parish office. St. Cecilia Young Adults Group For April events, please click on the link to our Calendar page. We've got lots of exciting happenin's coming up! Please join us every Sunday at 5:00 pm Mass for worship. We sit in the second pew down the center aisle. Dinner in the area follows. Youth Ministry EDGE Spring Calendar:
The EDGE will meet from 6:00-8:30 pm on Friday, April 23, 2010. Open Gym for High School boys each Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Please join us for basketball in the school gym! Guitarists
Are you an accomplished electric guitar player with a heart for the Lord and The Eucharist? Are you proficient in effects and the settings necessary for worship, and not just power chords? Are you familiar with the work and music of Christian guitarists such as Kenny Butler, Daniel Carson, Josh Blakesley, Grae McCullough, Michael Guy Chislett, and Brooke Fraser? If so, please contact Dave Hall at 713-569-2323 for consideration as a potential member of our Life Teen Band. Thanks! St. Cecilia Bridge St. Cecilia Bridge meets Every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. in Room 201 of the Community Center. Come play duplicate and bring a partner. We are a very congenial group. For more information, call Laura Pickett 713-468-0029. Religious Education CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
C.C.E. - Classes for April will be on 18 and 25. Registration forms for the 8:45 and 10:45 sessions for next year will be emailed to parents this week. Please take advantage of early registration.
Children's Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated during the 9:00 a.m. Mass on April 25.
Celebration of First Communion:
May 8, 2010 (English), 11:00 am Mass. Last names A-J
May 8, 2010 (Spanish), 2:00 pm Mass. Last names A-M
and
May 15, 2010 (English), 11:00 am Mass. Last names K-Z
May 15, 2010 (Spanish), 2:00 pm Mass. Last names N-Z
Catechists, Catechist Aides and Hall Monitors are still needed for the upcoming CCE classes. Please consider volunteering in this rewarding ministry. Contact any of the CCE staff listed below for more information or to volunteer. CCE Coordinator for 8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Sessions: Mona Diaz mdiaz@saintcecilia.org or 713-465-3414 ext. 165. CCE Coordinator for 12:45 p.m. Session: Lorraine Sanche lsanche@saintcecilia.org or 713-722-7923. Formation Coordinator: Tonia Candelario tcandelario@saintcecilia.org or 713-465-3414 ext. 167. Rosemary Munoz: Director of Religious Education rmunoz@saintcecilia.org or 713-465-3414 ext. 174 The Gathering Place As our program has grown and prospered, the need for volunteers has also grown. Please consider joining this ministry. The Gathering Place meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. It provides a day of fun and fellowship for eighteen to twenty men and women and a day of respite for those who care for them. CAN YOU HELP by preparing food for lunch, serving as a greeter, or spending those four or five hours a month enriching the lives of our care partners? It's fun; it's easy; and it makes a difference! Please call Fran Serena today at 713-465-3414 or email her at fserena@saintcecilia.org. Parish Service ProjectsSt. Cecilia Food Cart - Please do not forget the hungry. Bring one food item or a sack full of items to Mass with you each weekend and help us keep the food cart overflowing with food. Invest in a Child’s Future!
This past academic year, our parish adopted Woodview Elementary School. Several of us have been trained by SBISD to be Mentors for children in the 4th grade. As a Mentor, you give 45 minutes one day a week (lunch hour) to your Mentee. By investing your time once a week, you can create a bright future for a child who has never dreamed of one. You can help that child have hope for the future and you can inspire a child to set goals for high school and college. For more information, call 713-464-1511 or check out their website: www.springbranchisd.com and click on Be a Volunteer. You can also contact Lettie Gillespie at the Church office (lgillespie@saintcecilia.org.) Please pray about joining our St. Cecilia Team for Woodview…the children are waiting for you!
Legion of Mary You are invited to join us. Thursday morning, 9:00a.m., room 203, in the Community Center. What is the Legion of Mary? The Legion of Mary was started in 1921 by Frank Duff, in Dublin, Ireland. It is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world with millions of active members in nearly every country in the world. In this worldwide organization, men and women offer their services to their pastor to aid him in performing spiritual works in the parish. Legion members grow spiritually using a balanced program of prayer, study, and action. By taking Mary as their model they endeavor to imitate her virtues. They help to spread devotion to Mary and perform apostolic works. Some of these include visiting the sick, the homebound, nursing homes, teaching in parish programs, promoting adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, family prayer, enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home, distributing Catholic literature, etc. Any practicing Catholic may join. For more information, please contact Mrs. Cheryl Taylor 281-556-8640 or join us on Thursday mornings. Knights of Columbus Council #13357 The St. Cecilia Knights of Columbus Council 13357 is open to all men 18 yrs of age and older who are practicing Catholics in union with the Holy See. Gentlemen who are interested in joining the Knights of Columbus Order should call Kevin Shaw 832-643-5233 for information or visit the website at www.kofc.org. Meetings are held on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month starting at 7:00 PM in the Community Center. Our Second meeting is a Social Meeting where we share a meal with Members, Family, Friends, and interested Candidates. Please join us! Holy Cross Chapel Do you work in downtown Houston? Did you know that Holy Cross Chapel is an “Oasis” in the Central business District? The Chapel is located at 905 Main Street at the Main Street Square Metro-Rail stop northbound.
• Masses: Monday - Friday, 11:35 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
• Communion service: 1:05 p.m.
• Confessions: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Except during Mass)
• Other Doctrine classes are available
Fr. Michael Barrett extends a special welcome to all. To be added to the Chapel’s mailing list, call them at 713-650-1323 or contact them at info@holycrosschapel.org.
Other St. Cecilia Community Activities may be found below:
Have a Blessed Week!
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