blessings to you in christ our lord!...eucharist and the four marks of the church: one, holy,...

Newsletter Issue 12

“In the Eucharist we have Jesus, we have his redemptive sacrifice, we have his resurrection, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have adoration, obedience and love of the Father. Were we to disregard the Eucharist, how could we overcome our own deficiency? ” -St. Pope John Paul II

April - June 2019

Parish Staff Rev. Kyle Walterscheid Pastor [email protected] Julie Garrison Business Manager [email protected] Abigail Fuhrmann Faith Formation Director [email protected] Trey Alley Development Director [email protected] Jenny Lynn Pelzel UNT Campus Director [email protected] Parish Main Line (940) 566-0004

Fr. Kyle

Blessings to you in Christ our Lord!

students had to stand outside the doors of Goolsby Chapel to participate in Holy Thursday Mass and Good Friday services. The Easter Vigil Mass was a beautiful event as four students came into the Catholic Church; two of them were baptized as well! Each spring, Germanfest has been a great opportunity for our students to express their appreciation for all the local community does for them by helping run the Wursthaus booth. A huge thank you to all who labor each year behind the scenes to make this a great success including helping our students enjoy giving back. Lastly, I have an update on the construction of the church and pastoral center. A huge blessing was granted to us by our Lord as the foundational slab and parking lot was poured and finished on April 11th, just hours before a rain storm pounded three inches of water on the job site. Three months later, as I write to you, the building is 75% complete! In three short months we have seen so much progress. The outside of the building is near complete with only the front of the entrance way needing more work along with a few more windows to be installed and finally adding gutters and trim to finish it out. On the inside, all the walls have been taped and bedded and the inside of the church has already been painted as trim and moldings will be put on soon. The terrazzo flooring is being generously provided by a company owned by our parishioners, Gina and Barry Kemna. Installation of the flooring should start soon and be finished by the end of July. More work is needed in the kitchen area downstairs and the offices upstairs but it has been remarkable to see how quickly and professionally all this has been built. The construction team of FPI is to be commended for their hard work. Please keep them in prayer as they feel called by God to specifically build churches in the name of Christ our Lord for the salvation of souls. I thank them every day and I thank you for supporting a cause that is absolutely vital for the future of the Church; to be there for our student’s at the most critical time of their life as they go off to college. Please keep supporting us and hand this newsletter on to others who might enjoy it and support us as well.

As the Texas July heat fries up everything from pastures to the timberline, we nevertheless have much to be thankful for this past spring semester! This spring, we moved up our Thursday night Mass and meal with our students to an earlier time and lined up a host of weekly dynamic Catholic guest speakers. This change helped students build up both community and their faith while also allowing the students extra time to study. Our Bread of Life retreat had over 75 students attend from campuses throughout the diocese and we saw many conversions of heart that you can read about in the following

Articles not otherwise attributed were written by Trey Alley.

www.facebook.com/groups/jp2universitycatholics @jp2denton https://app.flocknote.com/stjohnpaul2

St. John Paul II University Parish • 1303 Eagle Drive Denton, TX 76201 • (940) 566-0004 • www.jp2denton.org 2

Article: Jenny Lynn Pelzel Photos: Kenneth Munyer

St. John Paul II University Parish’s annual spring retreat, The Bread of Life Retreat, is a beautiful opportunity for young adults to grow in knowledge of and devotion to the Eucharist. Seventy-five retreaters from four diocesan campus ministries gathered at Lone Oak Ranch and Retreat in Gainesville, TX, on March 29th-31st to spend a weekend away with Jesus, who was exposed in adoration throughout the retreat. The theme of the retreat was “The Eucharist Makes Us Church”. The talks over the weekend focused on exploring the connection between the Eucharist and the four marks of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Every speaker spoke about how the union we experience with God through reception of the Eucharist is meant to bring us into deeper union with others. Pope Paul VI wrote in Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World), “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass.” The Church is made holy by the graces received in the Eucharist and all her members are united as one in Christ for the common mission of building God’s kingdom on earth through evangelization. Jeff Hedglen, a campus minister at the University of Texas at Arlington, challenged retreaters in his talk on holiness to “be what you receive.” From the Eucharist, the Church draws her life and is given the grace and strength to more closely imitate Christ. By imitating Christ, our Church will be a Church that is not afraid to engage people where they are, that is charitable where charity is lacking, that cares enough about the salvation of souls to risk being rejected while sharing the Gospel with non-Christians, that does not compromise moral integrity for fleeting pleasures of the world, and that will be a light to many living in darkness. It is a high call, but it is one to which many students are dedicating their lives and through their “yes” to Jesus are bringing hope to their university campuses.

This retreat helped me really take the time to be with Jesus in the Eucharist and recognize how much He longs for me to come to Him. Every day, He's waiting for my "yes" to love Him and let Him love me. - Faith Ann Santucci

The Bread of Life Retreat gave me exactly what I needed – a beautiful, restful weekend away with Jesus. I felt both spiritually and mentally renewed and gained a greater excitement and deeper love for my Catholic faith and the Eucharist! - Rose Nagele

The Bread of Life Retreat stirred this aching in my heart that I knew existed, but could not pinpoint. This ache was a call to become closer to Jesus through the Eucharist. My heart and soul needs and desires a greater faith in the Eucharist. - Alexandra Harrel

The Bread of Life retreat made me realize I am a part of a unified Church, that we are all a part of the ONE body of Christ when we receive the Eucharist. Even when we all graduate and eventually have to leave the C community, we will still be with each other in the Eucharist. - Melissa Gonzalez



Since there is no consecration on Good Friday the Hosts to be distributed are reserved overnight, but they are not stored in the main tabernacle to symbolize Christ having left the temple. In what is possibly the longest procession to an altar of repose, we processed with Our Lord across campus on Holy Thursday.

The Paschal candle is processed into the chapel at the beginning of the Easter Vigil. Lumen Christi!

Molli Endres created a beautiful altar of repose in the main room of the Catholic Campus Center. Students and parishioners prayed in Adoration until midnight while Father Kyle heard confessions upstairs.

Five people came into full communion with the Church including two who were baptized that night. Anna Claire St. John Paul – Sponsor: AnaMarina Jarecke Bryson Sage Augustine Stevens – Sponsor: Evan Groom Vivian Lizette Our Lady Guadalupe Berreondo – Sponsor: Vilma Berreondo Jackson Reed John Sweet – Sponsor: Joseph Kane Collin David Christopher Sweet – Sponsor: Joseph Kane

Holy Week and Easter Sunday was solemn and beautiful and a joy for the whole community. This week contains some of the most complicated liturgical celebrations. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped things run smoothly!

Holy Thursday photos: Trey Alley

Easter Vigil photos: Kenneth Munyer www.kenmunyerphotography.com



Our Thursday Mass and Meal has gone through quite the transition in the last two years! In the fall of 2017, Mass and confession were moved from the Catholic Center to the UNT Union Building to accommodate the growth in attendance. After Mass, students walked over to the Catholic Center for a meal. In the fall of 2018, Mass and confession moved to Goolsby chapel while still serving the meal at the Catholic Center. In the spring of 2019, Mass and confession were moved to earlier in the evening to allow time for a talk after the meal. The goal of adding a talk to the community night was to help spark deeper conversations among the students about a variety of Catholic topics and give an opportunity for new people in the community to be evangelized.

Many wonderful speakers came to Mass and Meal throughout the semester, including Sr. Peter Marie, a Nashville Dominican sister; Jason Spoolstra, the diocescan director of campus ministry; Erin Scanlan, FOCUS regional director; Jeff Hedglen, University of Texas at Arlington campus minister; Audry Salvador, UNT and FOCUS missionary alum; Daniel and Ana Glaze, That Catholic Couple YouTube channel; Catherine Kluempers, FOCUS missionary at Texas A&M; Ali Hoffman and Allie Moroney, local youth ministers; Greg Brown, former youth minister, and our own parishioners Robert & Diane Schwind, Robert & Jacqueline Knox, and Rachel Zayas, FOCUS UNT team director. The last Mass and Meal of the spring semester was particularly special because graduating seniors were invited to share the impact of St. John Paul II University Parish on their lives. Many beautiful words were shared, especially how students led each other to encounter the love of Jesus and to grow in holiness as His disciples.

It will be a tremendous blessing to have Mass and Meal at the new parish building once it is completed this fall!

Article by: Jenny Lynn Pelzel Photos by: Kenneth Munyer

Thursday Night Speaker Series



The Servant Leadership Council was formed in the spring of 2017 to serve as the UNT student organization leaders and as an advisory council to the campus minister at St. John Paul II University Parish. The council members organize and participate in events on campus to promote visibility of Catholic campus ministry to other university students. They also ensure that the mission of Catholic Campus Ministry on campus is being carried out. The mission of the Servant Leadership Council is as follows: The Catholic Campus Ministry serve their fellow students by creating an environment in which students are able to “proclaim Christ by word and testimony of life” (CCC 905) together as a community. Through the Sacraments, prayer, service, intellectual formation, and community life, students can deepen their personal relationship with Christ and are equipped with the graces needed to share the fruits of that relationship with the greater UNT community and the world. We encourage all students at the University of North Texas to answer the call of Christ to “Come, follow Me” (Mt 19:21) and to trust that He “came that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). UNT Catholic Campus Ministry Constitutions The council members discuss how to improve ministry and strategize how to implement what is discussed as well as function as liaisons between leadership positions at the Catholic Center and the campus minister. Jenny Lynn Pelzel, UNT Campus Ministry Director, shares the impact being a member of this group has had on her. “The council has been invaluable to me, providing insight into how to better serve the student community and address issues that have arisen of which I may not be aware. I appreciate how much the council members desire our community to flourish and are committed to serving both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. I am grateful for all those who have served on the council thus far and I hope that this opportunity to take some ownership of ministry will form them into leaders equipped to lead in their future parishes after graduation.” The council members for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year, Karla Hernandez, Ozioma Ozigbo, Nohely Galindo, Julia Brashear, and Adam Berdych, are already eagerly working to ready our campus ministry to welcome incoming students to St. John Paul II University Parish.

Servant

Leadership

Council Article written by Jenny Lynn Pelzel

Photo by Kenneth Munyer

“The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and

uplifting, of working with Him in the building of the civilization of love.”

- Saint Pope John Paul II



The prime time for reaching out to freshman is during summer orientations and the week of freshman orientation right before classes start, which is known as Welcome Week at St. John Paul II University Parish. Welcome Week this year is August 18-24. We know that we will have approximately 8,000 Catholics at UNT and TWU, including 1,500 new Catholic freshmen. We also know that from PEW research studies, about 80% of these Catholics will lose their faith in college. That means only about 300 of those initial 1,500 freshman will remain practicing Catholics by the end of their senior year. Thus, we are excited to employ a new strategy this year to reach out to college freshman and ensure more of them will come to know Jesus Christ and find a home away from home at St. John Paul II University Parish.

Following the model that Jesus used to form disciples, St. John Paul II University Parish is committed to a relational approach to ministry: win them over, build them up, send them out. Jesus poured His life for three years into 12 men who carried out His mission to the ends of the earth. Thus, if each student is personally known, loved, and cared for, then friendship rooted in discipleship will convert hearts to a deeper faith and desire to live the Gospel. We have FOCUS missionaries and dozens of student disciple leaders ready to invite Catholic freshman into the community, recruit them into Bible studies, and equip them to be intentional disciples who will go share the Gospel on campus.

Investment of financial resources into fall outreach is vital for the success of our mission. We are thrilled to announce that we have already met our minimum goal of $3,200 to fund t-shirts for student leaders to advertise the Catholic Center on campus, food, marketing materials, promotional giveaways, and a speaker stipend. Donations are still accepted to increase the quality of our outreach so that we can win as many students as possible to be part of St. John Paul II University Parish at the start of their college career.

Thank you everyone who has or is planning to contribute to the success of Welcome Week Outreach through a donation, but most importantly, through your prayers for our students and leaders!

We had another successful event at the Germanfest in Muenster, TX this year! Germanfest was held the weekend after Easter Sunday and it was a beautiful weekend for a festival! Anna Braziel ran the Wurst Haus booth which served wonderful, homemade German food to the hungry crowds. People came for the delicious Fisher’s sausage, hot and cold sides, and new this year, strudels for dessert. Much of the food was lovingly donated including 500 lbs of Donna Biffle’s German potato salad, and Christel Vogel donated pickled beets. Many parishioners and benefactors came to support Saint John Paul II University Parish as the CDA of Muenster generously donates all the profits from the booth to help us in our mission to keep college students strong in their faith. This year we received $9,440.84 which was the result of many hours of hard work by the many volunteers it takes to cook and serve the food and set-up and tear down the booth. Thank you to everyone who donated their time, made food, and who visited the booth helping to make this a great fundraising event for Saint John Paul II University Parish!

Germanfest

Fall Outreach Article by Jenny Lynn Pelzel



My name is Emily Carroll. I graduated from University of North Texas with a degree in psychology and counseling. When I transferred to UNT my sophomore year, my life changed rapidly as soon as I stepped foot in the JPII Catholic center. I encountered friends and FOCUS missionaries who shared their lives with me in a way that I desired to imitate. I met some of my best friends through bible studies, discipleship and the community of JPII. These souls that I have encountered helped me run towards Christ and taught me to help others run towards Christ as well. The mission of FOCUS was like nothing I had ever experienced before and I knew this was the ministry I wanted to be a part of.

After a friend invited me into the JP2 community, I quickly became friends with the FOCUS missionaries there. I really admired the work that they did and sought to replicate that in my personal relationships. It wasn't until I went to SEEK 2019 where I had the privilege to lead a small group of guys from the community where I truly felt a calling to ministry on the college campus. Being able to share the Gospel and walk with fellow brothers in Christ was truly the most fulfilling and life-giving thing I had ever done. Now, by the grace of God, I'll be serving my first year with FOCUS at the University of North Florida and couldn't be more excited!

Emily Carroll Assigned to Towson University

Evan Groom: Assigned to University of North Florida

Three of our recent graduates decided to give back by devoting the next two years of their lives to be FOCUS missionaries. Here two of them share how the community at Saint John Paul II University Parish led them to recognize that calling and make that commitment.

Weddings April 27, 2019

John Douthit & Samantha Markley

May 18, 2019

Zack Kupper & Karen Flusche

June 01, 2019

Tyler Acuna & Adria Flusche



On June 8th, over 100 parishioners, benefactors, and students donned hardhats and toured the construction site of our new church and pastoral center. At The Big Reveal II event, visitors could now see the plans from the first Big Reveal event coming to fruition! During the tour, everyone was allowed to write directly on the foundation of the sanctuary floor. People signed their names, and wrote Bible verses and well wishes for the future of the parish, the Church, and the college students who will pass through the doors of this building. While waiting for their tour group to be called, attendees enjoyed a nice catered lunch from Rohmer’s Restaurant while watching videos play showing the construction progress from January through June, from sticks on the ground to “sticks in the ground”, and another video of a picture tour of the upstairs area. The new church and pastoral center is located in the lot adjacent to the backyard of the current Catholic Campus Center. It will be completed this fall so keep an eye out for our grand opening event when you will be invited to tour the completed building. The dedication Mass with the bishop will be later in the year depending on when the final altar will be completed and installed.

Hot off the presses! This photo was taken by Father Kyle Walterscheid on the day this newsletter was printed. Preparation for the rest of the parking lot is underway and it is scheduled to be poured later this July. The crosses on top of the building will likely be in place by the time you read this.

Big Reveal II and Building Update

People enjoyed writing on the foundation in the sanctuary during the Big Reveal II event. Special thanks to the construction crew for clearing the site of dust and debris and for permitting visitors during their workday.

This is the view of the sanctuary as it was during the Big Reveal II. The drywall is now in place and painting has begun.

Big Reveal II photos by Chalese Connors

blessings to you in christ our lord!...eucharist and the four marks of the church: one, holy,...

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