Dear Parishioners:
Freedom is the hallmark of our Nation these United States of America. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are the core values of such freedom. This week as we celebrate the anniversary of our Nation’s birth, we are invited as members of this society to exercise our right to worship through a special time of prayer that our liberty to practice our Faith be respected by this Nation. We are praying that the Nation may not seek to put into practice mandates that are unjust and immoral and that fail to respect life and liberty.
The Fortnight of Prayer for Liberty concludes with the Fourth of July. On Sunday, July 1, at 7 p.m., the churches of the Northwest Deanery in the Diocese of Columbus will hold Evening Prayer in common at St. Andrew Church. Our own Dr. Kathy Lutter has been invited to speak on this occasion. All are invited to gather in solidarity with members of the other churches of our deanery: St. Andrew, St. Agatha, St. Brigid of Kildare, St. Joan of Arc, St. Peter, St. Brendan, St. Christopher, Our Lady of Victory and St. Margaret of Cortona. As we gather together, we acknowledge and celebrate our unity with the Diocese of Columbus, and, through our Bishop Frederick Campbell, with the Church throughout the world.
As Americans, we have the right and responsibility to practice and share our Faith. The principles and values we learn from our Faith are truly good for the Nation. We often discover that these truths are the very foundation upon which the freedoms we cherish as a Nation and a society are built. It is truly a privilege to be American and to share the Catholic Faith. God bless America! Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above!
Happy 4th of July!
Celebrating our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.
We are looking at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
The imagery of warfare is traditional within Sacred Scripture. St. Paul is writing to the Ephesians during a time when the only warfare officially permitted was that of the Roman State against its enemies and in the efforts to control populaces already under its jurisdiction. When many were fomenting a violent sort of revolution, Paul was inviting a revolution of another kind. Truth, righteousness, and readiness to walk in the way of the Gospel of Peace are the armor of God. Standing fast with this sort of armor is an exercise of Faith. Realizing that we are still in the same war, in the “struggle not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens,” we are invited to continue to hold fast to Faith.
This Week in Our History: July 1-8
1963: To date, five lay teachers have been signed to contracts for next year to teach in our school.
1969: The (newly formed) Liturgy Commission will hold its second meeting on Wednesday in the parish hall.
1971: This week’s bulletin included a lengthy letter from Fathers Stanton and Kraus dealing with the issues of Catholic school education and the total education program at St. Timothy in response to the Supreme Court decision regarding aid to parochial schools. An excerpt:
We urge our people to press our case for our children with our legislators.
…We note almost with relief that once more we Catholics, or some of us at least, find ourselves at odds with the world we live in. In many areas on many issues: abortion, education, perhaps war, or capital punishment, or euthanasia, or sex, etc., we are in danger of becoming completely conformed to the world we live in and that is at least dangerous. It is to be expected that we have a different viewpoint, and maybe ours is not always totally right and theirs totally wrong, but hopefully ours will be closer to the truth of Christ. And if we are different, we can expect to have to pay for that difference. Christ promised as much. Without getting a persecution complex we can expect and we are getting what can legitimately be called persecution for our belief in the importance of the religious element in education. While we fight for what we believe is our right, let us not refuse to carry the burden of our beliefs, but do so willingly and cheerfully.
1972: Kevin William James, son of Mr. and Mrs. William James, was baptized during the 12:30 Mass last Sunday.
1974: The United Farm Workers called again to remind us of the importance at this time of their supporters remaining faithful to the boycott of head lettuce and table grapes. This cause was fully investigated and recommended by our Bishops.
1976: July 4th. On this memorable day St. Timothy salutes and celebrates the Nation on her 200th birthday, and the arrival of our new Pastor, Fr. William DeVille. Let the fireworks begin!
1977: We still need someone to do the shopping and prepare an evening meal two or three days a week. Come on, Olivia (Newton-John)! Call us!
1978: Bishop Herrmann…sent us one more check for $10,000, thus enabling us to pay our bills. He stated that this was the last loan he would approve for operational deficits. Obviously, it is now up to us to solve our financial problems. These are some of the things we are going to do:
1. Tuition will be raised to $400 per family.
2. We are asking every family to make a minimum pledge to the parish of $500.
3. We will conduct a professional fund-raising drive for debt reduction in the Fall.
4. We will expand our bingo game to two nights a week.
All of us should be including petitions for the success of these projects in our daily prayers.
1979: Congratulations to Mrs. Virginia Colson of our parish who recently received the National Catholic Women’s Honor Society faith and service award for her services to children. Mrs. Colson is the executive director of the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies.
1989: Congratulations to Eagle Scouts Jason Nickoloff, Lyle Brown, Matt VanPelt, Eric Hendrickson, and Chad Dorrell. These boys received Scouting’s highest award at special ceremonies conducted by Troop 169. The troop is sponsored by the St. Timothy Men’s Club.
1994: Please remember in your prayers Agnes Reed, Joseph Tortorello, and Irene Deibel who died and were buried from the parish church this past week.
Director of Religious Education
We happily welcome to our parish staff as a full-time employee Margaret Gercke, our new Director of Religious Education….Peg has a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies and a wealth of experience …We know that you will welcome her and give assistance and cooperation as she begins this important ministry in our parish.
1996: The weekend of July 6-7, Fr. Bill Arnold will be saying farewell to St. Timothy and will leave to begin his new assignment as pastor of Dover St. Joseph. We will be having a reception for him after all the Masses.
1997: We welcome through Baptism Carla Ann Auber, daughter of James and Tina; Thomas Anthony Cooper, son of Matthew and Barbara; Andrew McGuire Moore, son of Michael and Kimberly; Molly Ann Quinn, daughter of Stephen and Kelly.
2000: Please remember in your prayers James Smurr who died this past week.
2003: Remember in your prayers Lois Stock (long time parishioner and St. Timothy School first grade teacher for 25 years; children and grandchildren at St. Tim’s) who died this past week. Our sympathy to her family and may she rest in peace.
Reception for Fr. Jim. Please join us after the 10:00 am Mass on Sunday, July 3, for an appreciation gathering to bid Fr. Jim Coleman farewell. Fr. Jim has served St. Timothy for four years and has recently been reassigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Worthington. All are welcome to join us in thanking Fr. Jim for his tireless service and dedication to St. Timothy.
2006: Farewell Gathering Today. St. Timothy bids farewell to Fr. Dave Gwinner, who will leave for his assignment at St. Paul in Westerville. Please join our community in wishing Fr. Dave all the best as we join for a simple gathering today from 1:00-3:00 pm in the cafeteria.
2007: From the Pastor’s Desk; You may have forgotten that there’s been a water problem in the Rectory basement…I remind you about it, principally, to tell you about the generosity of the Christ Child society. Its members work in the basement, preparing layettes for the poor. ..They presented me with a check for $3,000 to assist us with the repairs. If you know any members of the Christ Child Society, you may wish to thank them for their thoughtfulness.
2008: Reception for Fr. John. All parishioners are invited to stop by the cafeteria Saturday, July 5, after Mass, to wish Fr. John (Johnson) God’s blessing as he begins a new assignment and to thank him for his help, guidance and spiritual ministry to the parishioners while here at St. Timothy.
From the Pastor’s Desk:
“They say that all good things must end someday.” This is my final weekend as your pastor, and the time has come for me to say “Farewell!”…”Thank you” for the warm welcome and unstinting support you have given me. This is a friendly family, a community committed to our common mission…It has been a privilege to work among you…and I thank God for making it possible…My main consolation is that your new pastor is definitely ‘the pick of the litter.” ..( Father Tim ‘s) love and foresight will…help you become even more vibrantly faith-filled than you are. I shall be begging God’s blessings on both him and you, but with confidence that both he and you will thrive together. I hope that you will pray for me that God may help me serve effectively the people to whom God is now sending me. ..May God fill your future with delight.
With heartfelt love, Fr. John
2011: Remember in your prayers Hobart Hatfield (much-loved custodian of St. Timothy School) of our parish, who passed away. May he rest in peace.
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