September 2003
Index
- Go and Do! by Fr. Bob Camuso
- Therese Kathleen Koval Donovan By Ann Trepus, St. Vincent de Paul
- SACRAMENTOR BOARD MEMBERS
- Annual Report from the Executive Director By Jeff Smith, Executive Director
- Training News By Bill Wiebe, Men's Senior Trainer
- SACRAMENTORS "FIRST EVER" PICNIC HELD By Frank Pease, Senior Parish Coordinator
- "CAN'T BE LIKE FORREST FOR THE TREES ... OR CAN I?" By Cyndie Ulrich, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
- August Sacramentum With Fr. Tom Suss by Rosie Scott, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Go and Do! by Fr. Bob Camuso
"The work an unknown good person has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, making the ground green. " - Thomas Carlyle
A friend of mine used to teach marketing classes to business executives. At the end of a long talk on the art of marketing he would hand each of the attendees a business-size card that read: "Go and Do!"
The point my friend was trying to make is that we can talk a great deal about something such as our faith in God, but if we never act on our faith, then all our talk amounts to nothing. The author of the Letter of James put it this way: "Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." 2:17
Another way to describe what I mean is the example of a mountain spring and the river that flows from it. The spring represents the spiritual refreshment that contemplation of God gives us. The river represents action, movement toward something greater and service along the way. Without the spring, the river dries up. Without contemplation of God through prayer and worship, our acts of service soon become lifeless. In the same way, without the river flowing from the spring, the spring would become stagnant, filled with algae, bugs and no longer pure. Our faith lives are like the spring and the river, always a balance between contemplation and action.
In the example of the spring and the river, the spring comes first. But I believe that when it comes to a balanced faith life, the river of action should come before contemplation. Because for most of us, we need to go and do something before we can fully contemplate the wonders of God from our works. I have seen too many of us who want to pray and read spiritual books and go to retreats and talks and little, if any, service to God follows. Now, to place service to God first does not mean that acceptance by God requires works on our part. God loves us unconditionally. We cannot earn God's love through works because God's love is freely given. But because God renews our hearts with grace, we want to respond to God's call to serve. I find that when I pray in the morning or evening, my prayer life is richer if I have done something first to serve God.
But just doing something for God is not enough. God wants our works to be done with love. Thomas a Kempis put it this way in his book, The Imitation of Christ:
"God considers more the measure of love with which a person works than the measure of the deed. Oftentimes a work may appear to be done out of love which is instead a work of the flesh, because some natural inclination, self-will, hope of reward and our own self-interest are motives seldom absent. Those who have true and perfect love seek themselves in nothing, but only desire in all things that the glory of God should be exalted." Book I , Chapter 15
Kempis adds this on the merits of serving God:
"0 service worthy to be desired, and ever to be chosen, by which the supreme good is won and everlasting joy and gladness attained that will abide without end." Book 3, Chapter 10
What a joy, indeed, it is to be chosen to serve God! As a SacraMentor brother or sister, you have been chosen. Your SacraMentor brothers and sisters have chosen you. But, more importantly, Jesus has chosen you:
"You did not choose Me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask Him in My name." Jn 15:16
We cannot bear fruit that lasts if we do not labor in the vineyard. There are vineyards in abundance in each of our lives. As SacraMentors, we find them in our families as we mentor our children to bring faith in Jesus Christ to them. We find vineyards at our parishes, where we act as mentors by serving as lectors, Eucharistic ministers and, most importantly, as good Christian examples of men and women by the way we live.
We bear fruit that lasts when we invite new members to join our SacraMentor Apostles Groups. Our group that meets weekly is not a cozy friendship group that we are afraid of ruining by inviting a new member to join. Jesus wants us to reach out and include others. And if the group becomes too big, then the group should divide and form two groups. But there should always be room at the inn for a guest, for we never know whether or not it is Jesus himself who is asking to join, disguised as that guest.
One of the best ways to bear fruit that will last is to get involved with the SacraMentors movement. I have said this many times: As a priest and pastor I have never seen as much conversion and change in men and women as I have during a SacraMentors series. That is why I continue to work and serve in this movement of the Holy Spirit. There are many ways you can get involved, such as being one of the presenters of the series; or helping to produce this newsletter; or by asking your pastor if the SacraMentors program can be presented again in your parish if it has not already been presented there. Call our executive
director, Jeff Smith, and he will be delighted to find something for you to "go and do" for God through the SacraMentors
movement.
Finally, if you are already doing too much for God, and I know some of you are, then maybe you need to balance the time you spend in action with more contemplation. Spend more time resting in God in prayer or reading Sacred Scripture. Go back to the source of your faith, to that mountain spring where God's grace will refresh your spirit and where your soul will find rest.
Therese Kathleen Koval Donovan By Ann Trepus, St. Vincent de Paul
Our dear SacraMentor sister, Therese Donovan, passed away July 10, 2003. Born in Missoula, Missouri, on January 31, 1945, Therese was the youngest of five children. Therese graduated as class Salutatorian from Cathedral High School in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1963 and then lived and worked in Spokane, WA, until she married her high school sweetheart, Dennis, in 1968. After living in Montana, California, and Ohio, Therese, Dennis, and their two children, Casey Jo and Marty, moved to Federal Way in 1980, where they became active parishioners in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Therese joined the women SacraMentors at St. Vincent de Paul in Federal Way in 2001. She was one of the original SacraMentor sisters and served as the Parish Coordinator for the women s Apostles Group. Therese will be remembered for being a humble, loving, and generous lady with a wonderful sense of humor She always put her family, friends, and others ahead of her own concerns.
Therese is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Dennis; her son, Marty Edwin Donovan; her daughter Casey Jo Donovan Shorten; and the "light of her life, " her granddaughter, Caitlan Shorten. Therese is deeply missed by all of her SacraMentor sisters, but we know she remains with us and that all is well, all is well.
SACRAMENTOR BOARD MEMBERS
Jeff Smith - Executive Director
Dean Manello - Expansion & Development
Ron Reierson - Financial Advisor
Bruce Jaeger - Series Coordinator
Frank Pease - Senior Parish Coordinator
Bill Wiebe & Mary Anne Reynolds - Senior Trainers
Spiritual Development Coordinator
Cyndie Ulrich - Marketing & Communications
Fr. Bob Camuso - Spiritual Advisor
MISSION STATEMENT
"To create in parishes small faith communities of men and of women committed to supporting each other in living a Christian life characterized by acts of love, kindness, appreciation, and forgiveness."
Annual Report from the Executive Director By Jeff Smith, Executive Director
After reading the title, some of you may have thought, "What? An annual report in September?" Well, the SacraMentors board has been in place one year and the SacraMentor series schedule parallels the school year (September to June), so I thought it was appropriate to make an annual report at this time. (Besides, Fr. Bob suggested it!).
SacraMentors Board. The year began on September 14, 2002, with our I st Annual Leadership Retreat at St. Charles Borromeo. Twenty-nine SacraMentors participated in a discernment process that selected the new and re-structured SacraMentors Board. As the year progressed, the board added two members: Cyndie Ulrich agreed to serve as Marketing and Communications Coordinator and MaryAnne Reynolds answered the call to serve as the Women's Senior Trainer.
Four-Week Long Spirituality Series. This past year was our busiest ever as we presented nine men's and four women's programs. This represented nearly a twofold increase over the number of programs presented the year before. As a result, we welcomed 176 new SacraMentor brothers and sisters. We now have 46 Apostles Groups in 25 different parishes stretching from Vancouver in the south to Bellingham in the north.
Trainers. With a significant increase in the number of series presented, there was a corresponding increase in the need for trainers. To meet that need, we held two Train the Trainers programs this past year, adding 27 trainers to our pool of trainers.
Spiritual Development. We held two Sacramentums this past year. In the spring, David Gedrose led a discussion of Thomas Merton's book, "New Seeds of Contemplation." Last month, Fr. Tom Suss presented a thought-provoking and entertaining examination of the Mass. This coming year, there will be at least one Sacramentum each quarter and a retreat in the spring.
Community Building. To foster a sense of community, we held two events. In January, we held a parish coordinators breakfast at St. Andrew in Sumner, where we not only enjoyed each other's company, but we also reviewed how to give a hands-on blessing. This past July, we held the first ever SacraMentors picnic, where we fellowshipped, discussed mentors in our lives and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
Publications and Other Materials. Some of our most significant growth occurred in the area of the publications and other materials we create and use. In the fall, we published women's editions of Book of Kindness I and Book of Kindness II. We also expanded the quarterly newsletter to eight pages and established a regular publication schedule (September, December, March and June). This past spring, we published a Study Guide for use during the fourweek long spirituality series. The guide contains an outline of each presentation and space for taking notes. The spring also saw the creation of a five-minute promotional video, part of which aired on the Northwest Catholic television program. We dedicated the summer to writing the 3rd edition of the Leader's Manual, which is now truly a manual for leaders at all levels of the SacraMentors movement. In addition to expanded presentation outlines and sample talks, the new manual contains updated information about the SacraMentors movement and organization, a more detailed explanation about how to promote and host a spirituality series, the series study guides and the Parish Coordinators Manual.
Finances. In February, the Internal Revenue Service recognized SacraMentors as a tax-exempt organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, retroactive to August 26, 2002. This not only means that contributions to SacraMentors are now fully tax-deductible, but we are also eligible to apply for and receive grants. In March, we initiated our firstever Stewardship Campaign. Thirteen percent of those receiving a pledge card made a financial commitment to SacraMentors, pledging a total of $17,579.00. As of the first of this month, we have received $10,271.00 of the amount pledged. Between our Stewardship Campaign and donations received from those attending a spirituality series, we raised over $16,000.00 this past year. Of that amount, we have spent just over $9,000.00, with the majority of that amount spent on printing the materials used during the spirituality series, publishing and mailing the quarterly newsletter, and speaker fees. Future expenses include this month's Leadership Retreat, hiring a part-time administrative assistant, printing the materials for this year's series, increasing the number of Spiritual Development programs and expanding SacraMentors both geographically and in terms of the programs we offer.
As you can see, under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, the SacraMentors movement accomplished a great deal during our "Year of Rejuvenation." However, much remains to be done. I would ask all of you to prayerfully consider what God is asking you to "go and do" this upcoming year to help each other fulfill our calling "to be a blessing and to bless."
God bless each of you,
Jeff
Training News By Bill Wiebe, Men's Senior Trainer
Eight men and women answered the call of the Holy Spirit and completed Train the Trainers Training (T3 for short) last month and are now SacraMentor trainers. Training was conducted by active trainers on August 2 and 9 at St. Charles Borromeo in Tacoma.
On August 2, everyone benefited from training on "Common Trainer Presentation Symptoms and Remedies, Training Techniques and some Do's & Don'ts." We all learned from a thorough review of each talk presented during the four-week long spirituality series as experienced trainers shared their teaching techniques and the main points of each presentation. August 9 was devoted to short presentations by the new trainers. The Holy Spirit was present as each of the new trainers gave a condensed version of one of the presentations from the series and described how the SacraMentor program has had a positive impact on their life. One of the greatest blessings was the opportunity for everyone to share their personal experiences. Everyone was able to learn from each other.
Congratulations to those completing the most recent T3. They are: Frank Frey, Patt Donich, Ann Trepus, Mary Clayville, Cheri Dusek, Mike and Cyndie Ulrich and Ron Reierson. Each new trainer will be used during the many four-part SacraMentors series that will be held between September 2003 and June 2004. For those of you interested in becoming a SacraMentor Trainer, there will be another T3 in February 2004.
On a different note, it is my privilege to announce that MaryAnne Reynolds has stepped forward and agreed to serve on the SacraMentors board as the Women's Senior Trainer. MaryAnne has been the glue of the ladies training program for more then a year and successfully led all of the ladies training efforts during the last training year. MaryAnne is a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo and an outstanding trainer who always touches those who hear her presentations with her many personal stories.
Finally, our goal is to have at least one men's and one women's training team in each of the ten deaneries within the Archdiocese. This will make each deanery self-sustaining in terms of its ability to present the four week long SacraMentors series. We ask that each of you pray that this can be accomplished soon so that the SacraMentor program can be provided to more men and women.
SACRAMENTORS "FIRST EVER" PICNIC HELD By Frank Pease, Senior Parish Coordinator
Sacra Mentors from far and near converged on the green grass and elusive shade of the old convent yard of St. Frances Cabrini (Lakewood) parish on Saturday, July 26, to celebrate the "first ever" SacraMentors outdoor food fest.
SacraMentor picnickers from as far as St. Brendan's (John Radoslovich of Bothell), and as near as St. Charles Borromeo (Ron and Patricia Reierson and a host of day campers from Tacoma), gathered to meet with new and old acquaintances from the program and share a meal, a laugh and a sunburn. A potpourri of salads, casseroles, meats, sandwiches, and exotic desserts for this potluck event graced the banquet tables arranged and decorated by our St. Frances hosts for the day, Pat and Lee Birnbaum.
Spouses, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, and one miniature pincer canine (Jose Floresca's from St. James), also turned out to join the festivities, and get a closer look at what this "SacraMentor" thing is all about. Just under 40 folks gathered to enjoy the leisure of that beautiful summer day.
The format of this early afternoon gala was a leisurely lunch within the walls of the nunnery garden, followed by a circling of chairs on the verdant lawn, where introductions were done "in the round" and each gatherer shared on teachers and mentors in their life. During the sharing, the sun methodically invaded the coveted shady spots in the circle, so that shade and sun worshippers gradually melted together.
Jeff Smith, our executive director, 26 days out of military retirement and sporting as many day's facial growth by then, brought us up to date on future SacraMentor events while Bill Wiebe, our senior trainer, put in a plug (as always) for more presenters for our full slate of upcoming SacraMentor series.
Capping off the day was some serious water balloon tossing, and seconds and thirds at the dessert table. Nita Kiibler (daughter of Joe, Sacred Heart, Lacey) and I were tossing buddies, and we were among the few to escape the ecstasy of a H2O globule bursting in our laps.
By 4 p.m. old Sol waned, and spent and drenched SacraMentors began drifting off to the towns and villages from whence they came. Harry and Gerry Waters (Holy Rosary, West Seattle) then spread out blankets for a short summer's nap and reading time, waiting for the bell to toll for the 5:30 p.m. apres picnic Mass at St. Frances.
It was our first effort for such a summer outing, and a good turnout in light of that. As part of the recruiting for the picnic, I was able to get a health check on how our small parish groups are doing, and was very encouraged by it. A couple of groups need to be replenished with some new SacraMentors, but by and large, the SacraMentor flame is glowing brightly in the parishes of Western Washington.
Once again, a special thanks to Pat and Lee Birnbaum of St. Frances Cabrini parish for all of their hard work in making this event a blessed occasion for us all!
"CAN'T BE LIKE FORREST FOR THE TREES ... OR CAN I?" By Cyndie Ulrich, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
My ego's name is TurboQuack -'TQ" for short. The name's quite appropriate. When my ego goes into hyperdrive attack mode, I'd better duck.
TQ and I have battled for years. Thankfully, my spiritual struggles have evolved to an understanding of the mechanisms the ego uses to destroy my sense of, and my right to, God's peace and happiness. Since I completed my SacraMentors training in March, I have a new spiritual arsenal - God's Love and the gift of blessing through Him.
Proclaimed by friends as a "gung-ho, rookie Catholic," I know I'm one of the most irritatingly impatient people in the world irritating to myself most of all! I see women of strength in my SacraMentor sisters and men of quiet dignity in my SacraMentor brothers. They each express such depth of understanding, faith and love. I want to be just like them. I want my spiritual growth yesterday. I want my peace and happiness now. Mea Culpa, but I can get really frustrated when it happens in God's time, not in mine.
Come on, Dear Heavenly Father, I've made the decision to grow, so when's it going to happen? Huh? When? Huh?
Changing my mind, my "perspective," is a challenge for me. Intellectually, it's a piece of cake to grasp how changing my perspective to one based in the Holy Trinity changes my world. But implementing that change of mind in the middle of Turbo Quack's TKO attacks seems beyond my capabilities.
I recently found encouraging the perspective in a sweet tale sent to me by a friend. It goes like this:
Seems Forrest Gump passes on and is standing at the Pearly Gates before none other than Saint Peter. Forrest notices the Gates are closed tight as he and the Gatekeeper greet one another. St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's so good to finally see you. We've heard a lot about you. I must tell you though, this place has been filling up very fast, and we've been administrating an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to be able to pass it in order to get into Heaven. "
Forrest says, "Well, it's sure good to be here, St. Peter, Sir. But no one ever told me about any entrance exam. Sure hope the test isn't too hard. Life was a hard enough test already."
St. Peter quickly assures Forrest saying, "Yes, I know Forrest, but the test is only three questions long. Don't worry. Your first question is: What two days o f the week begin with the letter "T"? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God's first name?"
Forrest leaves to go and think about the answers. He returns the next day and St. Peter greets him saying, "Now that you've had a chance to think over the questions, tell me your answers."
Forrest says, "Well, the first one, how many days o f the week begin with the
letter "T?" Shucks, Sir, that's an easy one. Today and tomorrow."
The Saint's eyes are open wide and he exclaims, "Well, that wasn't the answer I
was thinking of but I can see your point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you
credit for that one. How about the second one?"
Forrest replies, "Well, Shucks, Sir, that was an easy one, too. The answer is 12."
Astounded St. Peter exclaims, "Twelve? T-w-e-l-v-e? How in Heaven's name did you come up with the answer of 12 to the question of how many seconds are in a year?"
Forrest says, "Shucks, there's simply gotta be 12." He counts off on his fingers as he declares, 'January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... "
"Hold it, "St. Peter interrupts. "I see where you're going with this, and I see your point, though that wasn't quite what I had in mind, either. But I guess I'll give you credit for that one, too. Now let's go on with the last and final question. What is God's first name?"
"Sure!" Forrest replied with confidence befuddling the saintly gatekeeper. "It's Andy. "
"Andy?" cried out an exasperated Saint Peter. "Okay, I can see how you got my first two questions, but how in the world did you come up with the name 'Andy' for God's first name?"
"Shucks! Of all of 'em, that's the easiest one!" replied Forrest. "I learned it from the song everybody knows, " and Forrest begins to sing, "ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN..."
Without hesitation, St. Peter grins broadly, opens the Pearly Gates and gesturing Forrest in through the Pearly Gates says, "Run, Forrest, run!"
In the perspective department, it seems Forrest has a gift for me. The gift? Shucks, that's easy. Keep relaxed in the Love of the Lord, keep focused on blessing and keep it all very, very simple.
I do indeed have a choice of perspective in life. I can continue to spar with TurboQuack while hopelessly struggling to gain the ease and wise outlook of Forrest Gump. Or, I can beat TQ to the punch and greet her with great big hugs expressing even greater gratitude for her constant reminder to remain secure and loved within the now, staying secure in God's presence, peace and happiness. The perspective I need to choose is pretty clear to me now.
So, thanks, TQ, you're teaching me so much! You see, when I'm called home by my Father in Heaven, I want to have answers just like Forrest; I want St. Peter to open wide the Gates for me, gesture me into Heaven and say, "Run, Cyndie, run!"
Thank you for blessing SacraMentors when you use Amazon.com!
Remember SacraMentors benefits financially when you order from Amazon.com using the link from the SacraMentors website.
Visit www.sacramentors.org and click on "Link to Amazon.com". You'll be instantly connected and, at no extra cost to you, Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase directly to SacraMentors.
August Sacramentum With Fr. Tom Suss by Rosie Scott, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Where were you for the August Sacramentum with Fr. Tom Suss? Too tired, too busy, no sitter? If you weren't there you missed a great evening as Fr. Tom led us in a thought-provoking examination and discussion of the Mass. Although I was at the bottom of my energy level when the evening started, I was looking forward to the Sacramentum because I had heard Fr. Tom is a compelling speaker. That was certainly the case and by the end of the evening, the fifty-six of us who attended had a greater appreciation for the power and beauty of the Mass.
The evening started with an opening prayer by our Executive Director, Jeff Smith. Jeff mentioned how the "illusion of familiarity" can sneak into our approach to Mass and we can begin to not fully appreciate the gift of the Mass. Jeff then introduced Fr. Tom, who is the Chaplain for the McNeil Island Correction Center.
Father Tom also said we can become too familiar with the Mass, especially when we receive Jesus. Do you know you become a tabernacle for Jesus? Fr. Tom challenged us by asking, "Have any of you ever thought to yourself when receiving communion, `Should I take this into my mouth after all the things I've said lately?"'
We then participated in a game using a chart entitled, "Proclamation of Importance Chart for Mass." We had to name the twenty-five different parts of the Mass using the chart, which listed the first letter of each part as a clue. For instance, E_ S stood for "Entrance Song." Each of us attempted to complete the twenty-five lines on the form, which ended with C_ S . What's that? Easy right! This was the Mass made fun.
After we identified the twenty-five parts of the Mass, Fr. Tom led us in an insightful and entertaining discussion of each part. I found this particularly enlightening as it gave me a deeper understanding of why we do what we do at Mass. Fr. Tom then asked us to rate each part of the Mass in terms of its emotional impact and importance using a scale of 1 to 10. What part of the Mass would you rate a 10? Do you know the twenty-five parts of the Mass? If you don't, ask a friend who took the time to attend this Sacramentum.
Father ended this special look at the Mass with a great quotation: "Material things, when we don 't possess them, attract us. Material things, when we do possess them, leave us unfulfilled. Spiritual things, when we don't possess them, don't attract us. However, when we do possess them, they leave us FULL."
Even though I was blessed by God to be born in the Catholic faith and experienced thirteen years of Catholic schooling, I have never had the Mass explained so clearly and interestingly. Did you ever think that, "every Sunday is a little Easter?" Attending this Sacramentum left me spiritually enlightened while totally enjoying the evening.
P.S. Some of you may be wondering about the answer to the question "What part of the Mass is a 10?" It's the Great Amen that follows the Eucharistic Prayer. The Amen is the most powerful affirmation. AMEN!
Home | Blessings Newsletter | Events | Site Map
About Us | Contact Us | Converstions with Fr. Bob
Support Us | Library | Participating Parishes | Readings & Prayers
Our toll free message line is 877-585-5500
Questions about content:
Technical feedback:
