A Word from Your Pastor July 15

Dear Parishioners:

Congratulations to all involved with our St. Timothy Festival on the Green!  Such an event is the result of lots of planning and cooperation among diverse groups and individuals.  Kudos to Joe Lorenz for all that he and his troop of captains accomplished this year.  Thanks, too, to all the workers and to all who come to enjoy food and fellowship.  St. Timothy Parish is known for being a welcoming place and the Festival is a real witness to this.

After the Miracle on the Green (the speed with which the Festival disappears overnight), we have our work cut out for us as a Parish family in many ways.  Now that we have had our fun, we have to put into practice even more the witness of Christian living.  Over the next several months, as we continue to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Parish, we must listen to the voice of God’s Spirit Who is speaking to our hearts.

Now that I have completed my first four years as Pastor, the equivalent of a College degree, it is time for some graduate level work.  We need to dig deep into our spirits and souls to discover and to show forth what we are really made of.  I want to invite you and your family to ask yourselves three questions:

            1.  How do we as a family witness that God is first in our lives?
            2.  What does St. Timothy Church mean for us?
            3.  What is missing at home and in the life of the Parish that we need to work on?

In the months ahead, we will discover together several areas of Parish life we need to work on.  Here are a few that I see right now: 

• We need to work on our capacity to welcome those who have joined us through RCIA and especially through our Parish School.
• We need to grow in our awareness of the diverse cultures represented among us.
• We need to reach out to those who are alienated and those who have set aside regular practice of the Catholic Faith.
• We need to renew our understanding of how to create a truly Catholic culture across the generations, through which families learn to pray together.
      

Can you see other areas for growth in our life together as a Catholic Parish?

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.  This installment completes our journey through this Letter.

So that you also may have news of me and of what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and trustworthy minister in the Lord, will tell you everything. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts.  Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality.  (Ephesians 6:21-24)

St. Paul concludes the letter on a personal note.  He entrusts a member of the Christian community with the responsibility of sharing all that has gone on in person.  This co-worker of St. Paul is sent to speak a word of comfort and to encourage the Ephesians.  Paul’s last words are Peace, Love, Faith and the acknowledgment of the relationship shared with the Father and the Son that is the source of communal life.  Grace, God’s active Gift of Himself in our hearts is offered to those who respond to the offer of relationship.

As we end our journey through the Letter to the Ephesians, we can see the enduring value of the message sent by St. Paul to the community where our Patron St. Timothy served as Bishop.  May we continue to grow in the depth of Love and the Communion of Life that is ours through Faith in Jesus Christ.

This Week in Our History:  July 15-22

1968:    Members of the parish with Father Winkler are involved in the preliminary work of setting up a parish council.

The guitar Mass is held again today at 10:45.  Last Sunday it was well attended.  It is very apparent that many people are interested in this type of Mass..  An announcement will be made when these Masses will be held again.

Banns of Matrimony are announced for the first time between Anthony Valentino of St. Christopher Parish, Columbus, and Debra Humphrey of St. Timothy.

1969:   Parish Council:  The Liturgy Commission met during the past week and formulated their goals.  Liturgy is defined as public worship.  It is the goal of the Liturgy Commission to a) promote an active participation by the members of the parish in all forms of worship, b) promote a deeper understanding of liturgical forms especially the celebration of the Eucharist, c) provide a variety of forms of liturgy in keeping with the directives set forth by the Second Vatican Council.

1974:   (Welcome) through the Sacrament of Baptism to Anthony Patrick Fabro, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Fabro.

1975:   A Note from Sister Sharon.

  My Friends,

  Thank you for your support, concern and care during the years I’ve been with you.  Special thanks for everything you did and gave me Wednesday evening.  I really appreciate all you’ve been and done individually as well as communally for me.  Since we moved when I was a child, I have not spent as many years in any other parish as I have here.  Be assured I will continue to pray for and care about “my parish”.   Pray for me, too.   Take care of each other and keep on growing in faith and love.

                                       Shalom, Your sister, Sharon

1976:   The servers at Mass will no longer be holding patens at Communion time.  This will allow everyone to come all the way up to the priest or lay distributor without fear of decapitation.

1977:   We still need people who would be interested in a dollhouse display for the festival.  We have now included anything collectable.  If you have a collection of unwanted children, antique teacups, socks without mates, old dolls, etc., please call Suzie McMichael.

1978:  Cheerio.

   Although I have only been here two years and have had my primary assignment at Watterson High School, I will always have a special place in my heart for this parish and all of you.

  You have opened both your hearts and homes to me and been truly hospitable.  I will always be grateful for that.

  During my stay here I have come to a deeper love of the parish ministry and look forward to take up that work when I hang up my hat as a priest in high school work.  I pray that God will bless you and your families and your best dreams.  Please pray for me in my ministry  as I shall remember all of you.

      Love and God bless,   Fr. Paul Enke

1980:   Banns of Matrimony announce between Charlene Kabealo of St. Timothy and Mark Potts.

1991:   Consider the many ways people can improve themselves.  Then pick a few of those ways and start on yourself.

  Why am I where I am and not in another part of the world?

  Why am  I who I am, and not a person of another race or belief?

  Why am I what I am, instead of being of another occupation or status?

  Because God appointed me to this time, this place, this work, this name.

  He gave me this body and this personality, this work to do and these things to do it with because He has chosen them as best for me.

  If the choosing had been mine, I would always wonder if it had been right.

  Since God chose, all I need to do is put it to work.

2000:   If you attended last weekend’s St. Timothy Festival, you know that its new location didn’t hinder attendance or the crowd’s ability to have a good time.  In fact, utilizing the lower parking lot created excitement and a closer-knit, even friendlier atmosphere.  We were lucky to have the greatest possible weather and folks were careful to stay clear of the construction areas.  No incidents of vandalism or unruly behavior were reported.

  Our biggest thank you goes out to Fr. Shonebarger for his undying faith that we could pull it off this year.  He never doubted that the parish could make a success out of a very questionable and sometimes dismal situation.  Jeff Price and crew  (Hobart Hatfield, Paul Boulware, Matt Teetor, and Pat Connor) did a great job preparing the grounds, cleaning up and fencing off potentially dangerous areas. We appreciate the extra effort and helpful attitude.

2003:   Congratulations to Emil (Mike) and Jane Mikolajcik on their 50^th wedding anniversary.

2006:   Congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Willis Hodges on their 60^th wedding anniversary.

2008:   We hope you enjoyed a great time at Father Tim’s Welcoming Party (St. Timothy Festival) last weekend.  We were blessed with great weather and attendance on Friday night. Saturday we were hit with sporadic rains, but the crowd already on the grounds did not seem to mind too much.

2009:   Thank you,

  After 15 years, we are stepping down as your Festival Chairs.  Please welcome and thank Joe Lorenz who has volunteered to serve as your new leader!  Help him in any way you can to insure that the festival continues to be the best around.

  Thanks again to everyone for all your love and support!

                                                         Janis and Rich Browning

Congratulations to Allison Bauerle and Nathan Dahlseng who were married this Saturday afternoon.