A Word from Your Pastor April 17

Dear Parishioners:

Our journey through Lent is coming to its close. With Palm Sunday, we now enter into the “High Holy Days” of our Catholic Faith. The central Liturgy of the Catholic Church crosses over four days, from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday. The Triduum – counted as three days in the ancient Jewish way, from evening to evening – offers one great Liturgy that leads us deep into the Paschal Mystery.

At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, we celebrate the Gift of Priesthood, the Call to Serve and the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. Good Friday recalls the Passion of the Lord. Holy Saturday reminds us of the time of darkness before the dawn of Resurrection. The Solemn Easter Vigil carries us through the night to the new day of Eternal Life.

Our RCIA participants stand before us as a reminder of the truth and power of our Catholic Faith, entering into the life of grace through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Let us pray with them and for them as they join us for the first time at the Altar.

On Tuesday evening, the Diocese of Columbus also experiences the Chrism Mass, which is properly the Mass of Holy Thursday morning. At this Mass, the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils that will be used for the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the coming year. The Bishop and Priests of the Diocese also renew the promises of their ordination and ask for the prayer of the priestly people. If you have never had an opportunity to participate in this Mass, you are encouraged to do so, at St. Joseph Cathedral on April 19 at 6 p.m.

Let the Liturgical events of Holy Week and the Triduum enter into your awareness, whether you are able to attend or not. Easter is the most important expression of our Faith. Don’t miss it!


The Year of Prayer: Prayer Recalling the Passion & Resurrection of the Lord

Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection You brought life to the world. But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion. You laid down Your life willingly and gave up everything for us. Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross, Your clothing became the prize of soldiers, your blood ebbed slowly but surely away, and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple. Stretched out on the Cross, deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, You cried out to Your Father that the end had come. You had accomplished the work given You, and You committed into His hands, as a perfect gift, the little life that remained to You. Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions after the example You have given. Let me place my death in Yours and my weakness in Your abandonment, Take hold of me with Your love, that same foolish love that knew no limits, and let me offer myself to the Father with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my
relatives.” (Romans 16:21)

St. Paul gives credit where it is due and he does all he can to keep folks connected. This short greeting from the Letter to the Romans shows Paul’s interest in ensuring that the Gospel is understood as “a family affair.” Our Timothy is among those named as offering greetings and some of Paul’s own blood relatives are included as well. It is not certain whether any of these were already known to the Roman community or whether this note serves as an introduction. Paul himself had not yet been to Rome, though he had met a number of those who were from Italy in his travels through Greece.

The Gospel does not belong to individuals. It is always a communal reality. When a community hears and proclaims the Good News in words and in shared actions, including worship, the Gospel takes root. Families become larger by their opening to the others and drawing them in. The greetings offered are not superficial. They are a heart-felt welcome into the awareness of a mutual belonging. We are called to live this way.


Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

One change that occurs in the first section of the Nicene Creed is the return to the singular form for the translation of the word Credo, “I believe.” It is important to note that this is not meant to be a change in the meaning of the recitation of the Creed as a communal act of Faith. Rather, it is a direct translation of the word as it appears in Latin (Credo) and in the Greek original (Πιστεύω Pisteuo). The Church stands together as the One Body of Christ, united in the Act of Profession of Faith. Each unique person’s “I believe” is one with the voice of the One Bride of Christ, who says “I believe.” It is interesting to note that this unity is emphasized in the Churches of the East where the Sign of Peace is given by the clergy during the Creed: One Church, One Faith.

The decision to change “seen and unseen” to “visible and invisible” is perhaps an effort to stay close to the Latin text, since the words used have cognates in English. This particular article of the Creed is Scriptural: “For in him all things were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible.” (Colossians 1:16) The primary meaning of this is the fact that God is Creator of all that exists. The material and spiritual worlds are from one source, the All Good and Loving Creator.