Aging with Grace

Terri Schauf has been the Respect Life Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth since July of 2017. Prior to her role with the Diocese, she worked as the Education Coordinator for Texans for Life Coalition and the Catholic Pro-Life Community of North Texas. Believing that education is vital for building a Culture of Life, Terri’s pro-life work since 2001 has been primarily focused on teaching others why we are pro-life as Catholics and what it means to be pro-life. Prior to her pro-life work, Terri was a teacher. Terri and her husband, Tim, met at the North Texas March for Life in 2006, and they have two children.

As we age, we have more time to reflect on what we have learned – what God has taught us – about the real meaning and purpose of our lives. Yes, we may lose some of our physical strength and abilities, but we can gain new abilities to relate to the Lord and help others do so as well. Our Catholic faith helps us retain and even increase the things that can bring us satisfaction and happiness: Spiritual, Physical, Social and Intergenerational. In a separate session, Fr. Hathaway will also respond to your questions about Catholic teaching and the sacraments as they relate to aging, dying and death.

Rev. Keith Hathaway - Born in 1987 in Sioux Falls, SD, Rev. Keith Hathaway was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Worth on May 23, 2015 at St. Patrick Cathedral. Prior to his assignment at St. Rita in Fort Worth, he served as parochial vicar of St. Joseph in Arlington and Sacred Heart in Wichita Falls. Fr. Hathaway wanted to be a priest because of the witness he saw from the priests of his home parish. After seeing parish ministry through them, he began to see priesthood as a real possibility for himself. His experiences of parish ministry, in seminary formation and since his ordination, “have cemented this sense of calling within me,” he said. “I love being a Catholic priest and I am very grateful to be assigned to serve St. Rita Parish.”

Gain an overview of how our Catholic teaching informs us with respect to medical decisions and treatment. What are we obligated to do to preserve one’s health? How can medicine continue to care even when it cannot cure? Learn about Catholic advance directives and other resources that can guide us in our roles as patients and family members.

Deacon Brad Samuelson and his wife of 44 years, Liliana, have three adult children and six grandchildren, including one in heaven.

A retired cardiologist, he graduated from medical school at the Universidad Libre in Cali, Colombia, as well as the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and served the Wichita Falls community for 25 years as a solo practitioner. He was ordained as a permanent deacon by Bishop Michael Olson in 2020 and was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Wichita Falls, where he served for two years. He now serves at St. Rita Catholic Church in Fort Worth.

Deacon Samuelson attributes his spirituality to his wife, Liliana. He answered the call to join the Catholic Church, finishing RCIA in 2001. He desired to learn more about the Catholic faith and joined the St. John Paul II Institute in 2008. At the same time, Deacon Samuelson became involved with Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) at Sacred Heart Parish in Wichita Falls. He continued with CRHP outreach to St. Francis Cabrini in Granbury, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Wichita Falls, as well as English and Spanish outreach to St. John the Apostle in North Richland Hills.

Deacon Brad has a missionary heart working in the past with the Missionaries of Charity in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as well as the Mision Elias Profeta with the Carmelite Sisters in Patzun, Guatemala. He looks forward to working with adults in RCIA, marriage preparation and healing of marriages through Sanatio and Convalidation, and is a Tribunal Advocate.

This highly interactive session uses photographs, personal reflection and sharing to guide participants toward formally articulating their legacy. Resources will be provided to assist in continuing the conversation with family members and advisors.

Renée Underwood, CFRE has served in stewardship, development and Catholic foundation management roles for dioceses since 2009. She currently has responsibility for fund development for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, its parishes, schools and ministries as Chief Development Officer of the Advancement Foundation. Prior to her nonprofit career, she served in advertising, marketing and executive management roles. Ms. Underwood holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, an MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas and has completed additional graduate studies toward a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. Ms. Underwood is a widow, a mother and grandmother. She is a spiritual director, a Dame Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and president-elect of Fort Worth Serra Club.

An introduction to the basics of estate planning, including why it’s so important to make a plan, how to choose the right individuals to serve as your successor trustees and healthcare agents, planning for your blended family, and the delicate task of passing on your wealth to your children and grandchildren while also leaving a legacy for your parish or a favorite Catholic ministry.

MaryAnn Cavallin Jones - Having grown up in San Diego, MaryAnn Cavallin Jones attended UCLA for her undergraduate degree. During her junior year of college, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, where she developed her understanding of Spanish to fluency. Her mother is originally from Costa Rica, and Mrs. Jones often heard her speak to friends and family in Spanish.

After marrying her husband, a Navy man, they moved to Philadelphia where he attended medical school, and she attended law school at Temple University. The family moved around the country frequently due to her husband’s career as a military doctor, making it difficult for Mrs. Jones to practice law. She decided to focus on homeschooling their daughters until 2010 when they entered high school in Southlake. In 2018, once their youngest daughter graduated from high school and was heading to college, Mrs. Jones decided to take the Texas bar exam. Having passed on her first try, she has been enjoying practicing law ever since.

Mrs. Jones focuses her practice on probate work for the court, as well as probating wills, guardianship for children with special needs and working to protect the interests of adults who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. She is experienced with estate planning, including the drafting of wills, trusts and ancillary documents, such as powers of attorney and medical powers of attorney. She practices throughout the DFW area, seeking to help families with their legal needs.

MaryAnn Cavallin Jones and her husband are members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Colleyville.