Faith Fridays

There is no doubt that this is a time of change in the world, in our communities at large, and for our community at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. It can be easy to pine for things that were, blame others for circumstances, and resist what is out of our control.

But God says,

"Remember not the events of the past,

the things of long ago consider not;

See, I am doing something new!

Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

In the wilderness I make a way,

in the wasteland, rivers."

- Isaiah 43:18-19

This is a time to open our eyes and hearts to God in our midst, to live as the Easter people, that is, a people of hope, and to allow ourselves to be challenged and changed for the Good that God springs forth - through His doing of something new! If we humble ourselves to perceive it, we stand before the beauty of panoramic possibilities.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

“You-mill-ee-tay,” Queen Guinevere jousts with the arrogant Lancelot, using the French pronunciation of humility. Lancelot brags that he is the purest and most honorable of all knights. Guinevere rolls her eyes, astonished that he doesn’t see the glaring chink in his armor, his appalling lack of humility. (We won’t concern ourselves with where the rest of that story goes.)

The deeply humble person is, ironically, the favorite person in any room. I know many of them. These are the people who have accomplished that hardest of tasks, the ability to hear criticism, and then use it to mold their better selves. It takes such humility to accept criticism.

Sometimes I wonder if my humble friends just don’t know how brilliant, how kind, how lovable they are. Of course they do. Humility isn’t about not loving yourself, not giving yourself credit. It’s about loving and respecting everyone else, too.

That’s what makes them so attractive, of course. They are genuinely interested in, delighted in, every person. They have that God’s-eye view of the human race. It’s as if they are excited to learn what it is that God sees in each of us.

I remember a music composition teacher I had in college. He would transform our little compositions into these beautiful pieces, wholly by his own terrific piano skills. Then he would praise us and tell us how well we had done. And somehow we believed him! That’s the humble person, the one who points to the other. You never forget, as Maya Angelou might say, the way a humble person makes you feel.

God is found, the psalmist tells us, through a humble and contrite heart. O God, help us find you.

What professional or spiritual disciplines have formed you in humility?

Kathy McGovern©2022 www.thestoryandyou.com

Hi Kids!

I am grateful beyond words to everyone who made my farewell day so beautiful and joyful!

The Liturgy and reception was filled with light and reflected the pure spirit of our community! Each moment is imprinted on my heart.

So many people I want to thank - forgive me if I miss anyone (still recovering from Eddie's margaritas).

• Thank you to all music folks, especially Mary Frances and Kathy McGovern for my very own special song.
• Theresa, Tim T., Dolores, Marilen, Diane, and Dee for adding all the special touches for the liturgy.
• The crew for the reception worked so hard to make it so fun!!! Rick, Lori, Dan, Mary, Dee, Steve, Trey, Aidan and Abby and everyone that joined in the fun!
• Thank you to special guests Fr. Chrys, Marica, Fr. Mike Kerrigan, Dino and viking puppy who barked at the ideal time and made the day perfect.
• Each of you who took the time to write/give such beautiful thoughts in cards, letters, artwork and generous gifts; I treasure!
• Lastly, my partner in crime, Lisa who put it all together while trying to figure out all the complexities of the parish changes. Her generous heart and open spirit I will forever be connected to. The years of laughing, commiserating, challenging and crying together - how lucky that I had Lisa in my life!

My heart and prayers are with you all and won't stop just because I'm not hanging around. Sending you warm hugs wherever you may be.

Have fun!

- Lauretta

FOCUS missionaries have arrived and are meeting and praying daily in the rectory and church! It is a great blessing to see the life and vitality they bring into the space.

Frs. John and Richard are diving in with a very hands on and helpful approach to assuming roles and responsibilities for St. Elizabeth of Hungary. See "Introducing...!" below for their bios.

On site, there has been much organizing, culling, and moving of things throughout the church and rectory in an effort to preserve our history and our assets, and to make the available space in the church as usable as possible for continuing our work and our ministries.

To that end:

1. Old and mismatched chairs were removed from the choir loft, church pews were aligned, and a meeting space was created for 10 people on the south side of the loft. A Wall of History is planned for the old photographs and memorabilia that used to hang in the Rectory halls.

2. Green padded church chairs were allocated to St. Anthony's (north) Chapel for prayer and/or adoration, along with a folding table so meetings may be held on the ground floor.

3. The Working Sacristy has been cleaned and reorganized so it can now serve as a Music, Environment and Hospitality easy access storage area, as well as Copy/Work Room, Break Room, Grooms' Room and Small Meeting Room.

4. The Pantry off the main kitchen will be retained as a part of Sandwich Line operations, and has been repurposed as an office for the Safety Associate. Volunteer information, Department of Health protocols and logs as well as emergency supplies will be kept on hand in this office. It will serve as a landing spot for the Safety Associates, as well as an internal area from which they can stay visually connected with our guests in the alley.

5. The Bride's Room is a work in progress. Once the carpet is replaced, the cherry wood office furniture will outfit it. The room will remain the Bride's Room but also serve as the Liturgy Office and Resource Room, Accounting Station, Work Space, and small Meeting Room. This should be completed by month end.

6. Some Sacramental Records have been brought up to the Cathedral and the Business Office is in the process of packing up. Thankfully, more time was granted for this part of the move.

7. This past Sunday, parishioners were invited to come take from the items that we are leaving behind. These items were gathered in the Dining Room, Atrium and Kitchen. These rooms, in addition to the Fancy Table Room and Altar of Repose Room, have now been turned over to FOCUS for their use as they begin their outreach and ministry on campus. We wish them well.

We warmly welcome Fr John and Fr Richard to St. Elizabeth of Hungary who concelebrated Mass last Sunday. If you haven't already introduced yourselves, please do so on any upcoming Sunday. There is great enthusiasm, hope and a hands on work approach evident already.

Let's get to know them a little...

Fr. John Ignatius Ezratty, mc was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). He joined the Religious Order of Miles Christi at the time of its foundation. He studied Philosophy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 2002. He served as the Executive Secretary of the Order and as a Pastor of St. Helena Parish in Luján, Argentina.

After being Dean of Studies, Professor of Philosophy and Spiritual Director at the Miles Christi Seminary in Argentina, in 2010 he came to the United States and was assigned to the community of the Order in the Archdiocese of Detroit, MI. From there he traveled the country preaching spiritual retreats and offering spiritual direction.

Fr. John just arrived in Denver where he will work as a full time National Chaplain for FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and serve at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church at the Auraria Campus.

Fr. Richard Castro Huergo, MC, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 1, 1975. He is the oldest of five siblings, four boys and a girl. After high school, Fr. Richard felt moved to join the religious order Miles Christi and started his philosophical studies. Fr. Richard obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy in Argentina at the Colegio Maximo de San Miguel.

In 2002 his superiors sent him to the Miles Christi house in Michigan. There he earned a Masters in Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdioceses of Detroit. In December 9, 2006, he was ordained as a Priest for Miles Christi.

After ministering in Michigan for a while, Fr. Richard moved to San Diego where he was a high school chaplain, preached silent retreats and offered spiritual direction for about 14 years.

Fr. Richard enjoys going for walks and is very proficient in information technology. He currently has been assigned to St. Elizabeth of Hungary and is a chaplain to the Auraria Campus Catholic community.

The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) is a Catholic collegiate outreach whose mission is to share the hope and joy of the gospel with college and university students, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship and friendships in which they lead others to do the same.

Their approach is to win the hearts of college students, build them in the faith and send them to the world by:

• Encountering God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.
• Building genuine friendships, meeting students on a deeper level.
• Teaching students how to share the gospel, who in turn teach other students how to pass it on.

For more information: www.focus.org

An unfortunate report:

A significant amount of food inventory for our hungry and homeless guests has gone missing in the last few weeks. Reports of missing cheese, meat, sugar and spoons have made it back to the business office.

A formal report has been filed with the police regarding the theft, since the financial loss is adding up and safety is a concern. Additional security measures must now be taken to prevent it from happening again.

If anyone knows or suspects anything about this, you are invited to speak with Lisa McMahon, our Business Manager. Lisa is in the office Tuesday and Thursday mornings, as well as in the alley Saturday and Sunday mornings. You may also make first contact by email: lisa@stelizabethdenver.org

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Friday's Crew is in need of a new soup maker! If you have been wanting to hone your soup making skills, or want to show them off - now is your chance!

Please contact lisa@stelizabethdenver.org if you are interested and/or in need of more information.

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Have you heard something amusing or poignant on the line?

Share your experiences here!

Submit to lisa@stelizabethdenver.org

THANK YOU for ALL OF THE HELP through our transition. Many hands DO make light work!

Our maintenance staff, Trey Turner has been doing the heavy lifting to reinvent spaces so that we can continue to work, meet and find inspiration. There is still some more to do, but the progress is undeniable. Thank you for keeping up with all of this, Trey. You are the BEST!

Marilen Reimer has been instrumental in facilitating the movement of so many things from the rectory to the church and vice versa. She has dedicated many hours to help ease the burden of the logistical and detailed components of this transition.

Dolores Bachand and her granddaughter, Aliciana cleaned all of the pews, and put some elbow grease into cleaning both the sacristy and the working sacristy - which was a big help before we started to move everything. Thank you to Michael for assisting in cleaning the working sacristy as well.

Theresa Cox has helped sort through many liturgical resources that will leave us with a respectable resource library once the Bride's Room/Liturgy and Accounting Office/Small Meeting Room is set up. (We will need a new name for this room likely!) Tim Turley reorganized and downsized Altar Server robes and supplies to make room in this area as well.

Mary Frances Jaster and Susan Griebel took time to organize and downsize music ministry's belongings so that it could more easily fit into the reduced space in the working sacristy. Marilen Reimer organized and downsized the Environment Committee's inventory on hand in the working sacristy as well to make room for other supplies as this becomes a multi-use space.

Thanks to Ben and Quinn for moving all the chairs from the choir loft last Sunday!

A special thank you to Raymond who has both a physical and inner strength that is undeniable, and is quite capable of moving mountains.

And thanks to everyone for their understanding and flexibility as we shuffle things around.

Click the button bar below to see a snapshot of the financial health of St. Elizabeth of Hungary through June 2022.

The financial presentation to the community will be scheduled for October 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your Business Manager, Lisa McMahon: lisa@stelizabethdenver.org

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ONLINE: Start or increase contributions today through our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to set up a recurring giving plan. To learn more, go to NEW! Online Giving.

ON YOUR PHONE: Download the VANCO MOBILE app to your phone from your app store for easy and efficient Mobile Giving. Search for "St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church" - and set up your profile. Simple!

THROUGH TEXT: Just text the amount of your donation (whole numbers only) to 844.975.3611. You will get a link back to which you connect to complete your donation. Fast!

Business Manager - Lisa M. McMahon

On-Site T/Th: 9:30am - 2:30pm

NOTE: Staff (above) Meeting at Cathedral: Thursday from 1:15pm - 2:30pm

Maintenance - Trey Turner

On-Site Monday - Friday: 12pm - 2pm

Safety Associates on duty 9am -12pm:

Monday through Friday: Trey Turner

Saturday and Sunday: Lisa McMahon

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Everyone who receives this newsletter is invited to send in your own stories, pictures, anecdotes, or messages - or propose a new section for content. We would love to hear from you!

To register as a parishioner go to: https://connectnow.parishsoft.com/Denver

To make an online donation: click the blue Online Giving button at http://stelizabethdenver.org/

To add yourself to our newsletter distribution list, contact: lisa@stelizabethdenver.org

Email: lisa@stelizabethdenver.org
Website: www.stelizabethdenver.org
Location: 1060 St. Francis Way Denver, CO
Phone: 303 534 4014
Twitter: @stelizabethden

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