November 30, 2023
Christmas & New Year Mass Times
Attention Priests and Parish Administrators:
We're gathering a list of Christmas and New Year Masses to help the community, and we would appreciate your assistance. To simplify the process, we've created an online form for you to easily enter and submit your parish Mass times. After you finish, you'll receive a confirmation email that also lets you make additional edits if necessary. We kindly request that you submit your schedule by December 8, 2023. Thank you for your help!
Form link: https://fwdioc.org/christmas-mass-times
Retirement Fund for Religious
Special Collection December 9-10, 2023
The Diocese of Fort Worth is blessed with many religious priests, brothers and sisters. For most of their lives, elder religious worked for little to no pay. There were no 401(k) plans or pensions. Currently there are 24,005 religious past age 70 living in the United States. In 2022, the average annual cost for their care was roughly $55,500 per person; skilled nursing care averaged $82,700 per person. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious is $7,679, whereas the average lay US beneficiary receives $21,902. Please promote the Retirement Fund for Religious to help religious communities care for senior membership. Your parish may have already received bulletin inserts and posters. Please use the promotional materials found below and additional items such as videos on the box drive: bit.ly/2023SpecialCollections
Parish Information
Flyer
Volante
Mission Awareness Day 2023
Saturday, December 9, 2023
The Diocesan Mission Council cordially invites Parish Mission Councils, Lay Missionaries, Parishioners, and Parish Staff to attend Mission Awareness Day 2023 at Holy Family Parish in Fort Worth on December 9, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The keynote speakers will be Ms. Alixandra Holden from the National Office, Pontifical Mission Societies in New York, and Rev. Anto Vijayan Carloose, SAC, Pastor of St. John the Baptizer in Bridgeport, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Decatur, and St. Mary in Jacksboro.
The purpose of this event is to provide opportunities for the faithful of the Diocese of Fort Worth to exchange missionary ideas and experiences, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the missionary mandate of the Church through insightful presentations. Learn more!
Register through your parish office to be a part of this inspiring day!
View flyer
Basic Sign Language Course
Registration is open for classes starting Jan 9, 2024
The Deaf Ministry is offering a 12-week course that will give students’ an interactive experience in sign language including small group and hands on activities. Students will learn basic vocabulary, rules of grammar and cultural aspects of the deaf community and the history of American Sign Language. Classes start January 9 - March 26, 2024 from 7pm to 9pm. Registration Deadline: December 15, 2023.
Please contact at 817-945-9381, 817-591-0186 (VP) for more information.
Register now!
Men's Discernment Retreat
Friday, December 29, 2023
Join Fr. Brett Metzler, Vocation Director of the Diocese of Fort Worth, for the Men's Discernment Retreat at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat Center in Lake Dallas, Texas, on Friday, December 29, 23 from 8am to 3:30pm. This one-day retreat is open to men aged 16-25 and offers a unique opportunity to explore the call to priesthood.
The retreat includes time for prayer, spiritual conferences on discernment and vocations, and opportunities to engage with seminarians, priests, and others on their vocational journeys.
For more information or to register, please contact the Vocations Office at . Registration will close on Friday, December 22, 2023.
#iGiveCatholic #Giving Tuesday 2023
We can’t thank you enough for your generosity
Thanks be to God for the outpouring of stewardship during #iGiveCatholic. On November 28, $904,829 was donated to the participating parishes, schools and ministries of the Diocese of Fort Worth by 1,649 faithful givers on #iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday. Each gift made will have an incredible impact on these organizations as they use these resources to carry out the work of Christ in the Diocese of Fort Worth. A complete list of the participating organizations can be found at fortworth.iGiveCatholic.org. Save the date for #iGiveCatholic 2024 - December 3, 2024. For additional information, click here or contact or call 817-533-3178.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Uncover the secrets to a lasting, supportive, transformational marriage!
For more than 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has helped over 3.5 million couples in almost 100 countries unlock the power of their relationships with new ways to do the “I do.” The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply. There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be.
Information from Worldwide Marriage Encounter coordinators is available for parishes to inform couples of upcoming Encounter events. Feel free to include this valuable information in your bulletins.
December bulletin announcement
December bulletin flyers
WWME Logo
Advancing the Mission
November/December 2023
Don't let the year end without reading the recent issue of Advancing the Mission! There are many areas to make an impact in the Diocese such as, #GivingTuesday with #iGiveCatholic, an endowment for a parish or school and year-end giving opportunities. Come back to this issue on #Thanksgiving and share the thanksgiving stewardship prayer with family and friends. This and past issues can be found online at www.advancementfoundation.org/news-you-can-use
For your Bulletin: News you can use QR code
Crossroads Newsletter
October – November - December Edition Now Available
The latest issue of the quarterly Crossroads newsletter for pastors, parish and school business managers and finance council members is now available: Crossroads Newsletter. Please don’t miss this important issue with information such as an additional interest payment, Stewardship Sunday, Estate Planning Awareness week, and upcoming events such as Aging with Grace (English and Spanish) and #iGiveCatholic. Please complete the survey for the business managers meeting.
Refer back to this issue throughout the quarter for information or visit: www.advancementfoundation.org/parish-school-resources.
View flyer
Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House
"Behold, I make all things new." (Rev. 21:5). Come on retreat to grow in relationship with God, the source of the renewed peace and joy we all desire. Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House, on the shores of Lewisville Lake, in Lake Dallas, Texas wants to help you find the peace that surpasses understanding. Reserve a spot for one of our upcoming retreats today at www.montserratretreat.org! Spaces are limited due to COVID and are going fast!
Date | Retreat |
Jan. 5-7, 2024 | Men's Recovering Alcoholics Retreat |
Jan. 11-14, 2024 | Men's Retreat |
Jan. 25-28, 2024 | Women's Retreat |
Feb. 1-4, 2024 | Men's Retreat |
Feb. 3, 2024 | Saturday of Reflection |
Feb. 9-11, 2024 | Retiro para hombres, mujeres y parejas |
Feb. 16-18, 2024 | Young Adults Retreat |
Seminarian Daily Prayer List
We invite everyone to pray for our seminarians this year. Attached please find the 2023-2024 Seminarian Daily Prayer List. For any additional information please contact the .
Seminarian daily prayer list
Lista diaria de oración de seminarista
Danh sách cầu nguyện hàng ngày
Parish Stewardship Reflections
Winter-October-December 2023
Below please find General Intercessions and Bulletin/Website Announcements tied to the weekly readings in both English and Spanish. For additional Stewardship Resources for Parishes (including resources for prior quarters), please visit: fwdioc.app.box.com or contact at the Advancement Foundation or call 817-533-3178.
2023 Special Collection Calendar
2024 Revised September 13, 2023
Throughout the year, parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth take up special collections to support the work of Christ in our Diocese, in the United States and throughout the world. If you have any questions about special collections, please contact , CFRE, Director of Annual Giving and Grants of the Advancement Foundation at 817-382-4939, or visit fwdioc.org/special-collections.
Special collections calendar (2023) |
Colectas especiales (2023) |
Diocesan Employment Opportunities
To better serve potential candidates for diocesan jobs, the e-Bulletin “Diocesan Employment Opportunities” has been streamlined into two categories with links. Click on a category to view all available jobs.
Diocesan Calendar
El Calendario de la Diócesis
The Diocesan Electronic Calendar is a listing of major events and activities at the Diocese as well as in parishes and schools. Parishes and schools may submit information that may be of interest to individuals outside of a parish or school for inclusion on the diocesan electronic calendar with a hotlink to details if appropriate.
El Calendario Electrónico de la Diócesis es una lista de los principales eventos y actividades en la Diócesis, así como en las parroquias y las escuelas. Las parroquias y las escuelas podrán presentar información que pueda ser de interés para las personas fuera de la parroquia o de la escuela para que se pueda incluir en el calendario electrónico de la Diócesis con un enlace directo a la información, si procede.
Diocesan Calendar / Calendario Diocesano
The following outlines what is needed when submitting events to be added to the Diocesan website calendar. For complete details, please review the PDF document below.
Requisitos para publicar eventos en el Sitio de Internet Diocesano. Para información más detallada por favor revise el archivo PDF abajo.
For any questions or concerns about the e-Bulletin please contact the
Director of Communications, or .