A Word from Your Pastor August 12

Dear Parishioners:

This week the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation, but even more than that, it is a celebration that invites us to contemplate the wonderful Mystery of the Gift of Life in its fullness.  God has destined us for Eternal Life.  Our earthly journey is a journey to something utterly beyond our imagination.  Our Catholic Faith reminds us that God is truly at work in our world and that He wills the salvation of the whole human person.

Mary is one of us.  She is fully human.  The ancient world worshiped many goddesses.  Mary is not a goddess.  Rather, she is the first human being to respond so completely to the call of God to accept His grace that she is the first among us after her divine Son to share in the fullness of Life that He alone offers.

The Assumption also allows us to see that the ministry God begins in each unique human being continues beyond this life.  Mary’s maternal role in the earthly journey of her Son Jesus is now at work forming us to prepare us to join her in Heaven. 

Mary is our model.  What God has done in her, with her free consent, He does in us through the grace won for us by Jesus.  This will continue until the end of Time.

Mary is our Mother.  Jesus Himself has shared her with us and entrusted us to her loving heart, which He knew so well.  She is our advocate, interceding for us as we seek to follow her Son.

Through her cooperation with the grace at work in the humanity of Jesus, Mary shows us our own capacity to cooperate with the process of Redemption, sharing the fruits of Christ’s Life, Death and Resurrection with the world.

As we honor our Blessed Mother by coming to Mass and keeping her day holy, let us also share our hope with the world.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee:  Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

Up to now, we have concentrated our study on the Scriptures associated with Ephesus, since that was the diocese of which our Patron St. Timothy was the first Bishop.  We are now considering another Letter associated with that community, this time from one of the early bishops of the Church named Ignatius of Antioch.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, CHAPTER III.

--EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY.

I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for the name of Christ, I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as fellow-disciples with me. For it was needful for me to have been stirred up by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. But inasmuch as love suffers me not to be silent in regard to you, I have therefore taken upon me first to exhort you that ye would all run together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is the manifested will of the Father; as also bishops, settled everywhere to the utmost bounds of the earth, are so by the will of Jesus Christ.

Ignatius acknowledges the relationship he shares with the Ephesians as one that involves a fundamental equality as disciples of Christ.  He is aware of his own role as Bishop (of Antioch) and now as one soon to be a martyr in Rome.  He reminds the Ephesians of their call to unity with the hierarchy of the Church as the instruments of God’s will.  Obedience to God includes and is most evident to the world through unity of mind and heart with those entrusted with the task of leadership.  Just as Jesus obeyed the will of the Father, so the Ephesians and all disciples ought to obey the Bishops who manifest the will of the Father for the Church.  There is a mutuality in this relationship.  Ignatius sees his own journey to martyrdom as part of his responsibility for his own flock, and he experiences a sense of responsibility for the Ephesians and the other churches throughout the world.  He exhorts the Ephesians to live the unity for which Christ died, and for which he is also willing to lay down his life, having discerned the will of God in his own regard.

Franciscan Mission Appeal this Weekend.

Fr. REU JOSE C. GALOY, OFM, a member of the OFM Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista in the Philippines. He became full pledged Franciscan in 1996 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1997.

After his further studies in Chicago Theological Union he was elected as one of the Provincial Councilor of the OFM Philippine Province.

At present he is also serving as School President in Our Lady of the Angels Seminary (OLAS) Dean Graduate School (Theology) Department Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Quezon City; Director Human Resource Development Office San Pedro Bautista Province; and Resource Person/Lecturer at

• Our Lady of the Angels Seminary College and Theology Department
• Vincentian School Theology
• St Joseph’s College in Quezon City
• St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.

 This Week in Our History:  August 12-19

1964:   The banns of marriage are announced between Leona Mahan of St. Agnes Parish, Springfield Missouri, and Joseph Reinhard of St. Timothy.

1973:   CBS is rebroadcasting the pro-abortion segments of “Maude”—and the American Catholic Bishops are protesting it, and have asked for our support.  The Bishops claim they “are not engaged in censorship…There is room and need for serious discussion of controversial subjects on television.  That is not the issue.   The issue is advocacy of one side of the controversy, presented under the guise of situation comedy and aired at a time when children make up a substantial part of the viewing audience.”

  I (Rev. James Krause) am inclined to agree.  I think we have some responsibility to contribute to the moral climate of our community.  At least we have as much right to register our disapproval as do those who promote this kind of slanted propaganda against life.  If you agree, perhaps you will want to convey your sentiments to WNS-TV, or to the sponsors of the program.

1975:   In view of the plans of Watterson High School to inaugurate in September a bingo game four nights a week, including Thursday and Sunday, using key personnel from our team, the Parish Council voted to suspend our present bingo game.  In view of the anticipated loss of income, Father Grimes and Watterson have generously agreed to reimburse St. Timothy Parish for the coming year in the amount we last year received from our bingo.  Meanwhile, to our valiant crew, who have labored so hard and faithfully the past few years, our deep gratitude and blessings.  As a Parish, we shall now have to seek other means of supporting our enterprise.

    The Council also passed a motion to instate a $100 per family surcharge for all School families.  This is to meet the budget Council previously approved…if parish income from new or other sources exceeds the budget of $265,000 it will be returned.

1976:   Law and Order!!!  Anyone found on Church property at St. Timothy after dark, without a just cause, will be arrested and prosecuted.  (That’s better than being shot, isn’t it?)  In the past month, several hundred dollars in theft and damage have occurred, including the taking of the ambry door and the holy oils.  (Sob!  We have $100 deductible insurance.)

All you would-be Jack Nicklauses, Johnny Millers and Ralph Guarascis who are interested in trying out for the reserve or varsity golf teams at Watterson should attend a meeting August 19 at 7:30 pm.  Qualifying assignments will be given.  If you cannot attend, call Mr. Yuskewich.

1977:    Have you noticed the nifty new (entrance) ramp?  The Men’s Club is responsible for this.  Our special thanks to Steve Sova who designed it, and Hugo Dells Flora who implemented the design.  Thanks to the Men’s Club, also, for the new confession room.  The work was well done by Pete Moro.

The outlook for the current fiscal year is not so good.  Our projected budget for the school year approaching is $174,565.  The school income is “projected at $51,875.  This means we will have to subsidize the school in the amount of $122,690…Because of the prohibitive costs of running an eight-grade school, we are again negotiating with St. Agatha Parish about some sort of consolidation for the 1978-79 school year.  The parish councils of both parishes will have the final say about any merger.

1978:   (One half of this bulletin was dedicated to a biography of Pope Paul VI who died the previous Sunday, August 6.)  Elected...on June 21, 1963, he outlined…his goals:  to define more fully the notion of the Church, to renew the church, to restore church unity and to start a dialogue with modern men and women.

    As pope, he worked hard to implement the reforms begun by the (second Vatican) Council.  He traveled to every continent, wrote five encyclicals, preached constantly, reformed liturgical rites, promoted ecumenical harmony and retained his concern for social justice.

  His encyclicals:

   Ecclesiam Suam—1964—Paths of the Church

   Mysterium Fidei—1965—The Mystery of Faith

   Populorum Progressio—1967—The Development of Peoples

   Sacerdotalis Coelibatus—1967—Of Priestly Celibacy

   Humanae Vitae—1968—On Human Life

1979:   We are grateful to our Men’s Club for providing us with an enlarged parking area behind the rectory.  Our special thanks goes to Dan Kramer and K & R Paving for the large donation of time, expertise and equipment; and for filling in the area around the bridge.  It was a great job.   When you park behind the rectory, please park straight in, not on an angle.  Thanks.

We are very happy to announce that Mrs. Margaret Mooney has agreed to serve as our school principal this year.

1984:   A tremendous thank you to Keith Henley and his co-chair Elizabeth Palmer for heading up this year’s festival; to all the volunteers…to friends, parishioners and area businesses,…and to the four guys in sleeping bags who guarded the place over two nights.

1985:    To the Monday Morning Lay Distributors:

  “I deeply appreciate the faithful visits of the Eucharistic minister team, making the Holy Eucharist a possible privilege to me.  May they be blessed a hundred-fold.  I had felt I had lost touch with our Church in later years.  These people have renewed this for me.  They are delightful, charming disciples of our priceless faith.  GOD BLESS THEM!  With deepest gratitude that we belong to the greatest Church on earth.”

                                              --A Shut-In Parishioner—

1995:   Did you notice the new flowerbeds surrounding the Parish schedule sign and the entrance and exit arrow signs?  They were the Eagle Scout project of Nathan French, son of Mike and Mary French.  Thanks to Nate, his mother and father, his brothers and a number of Nate’s fellow scouts who did all the work during some of our hottest days this summer.  It’s great to have a high school student interested in making the parish property more attractive!

1996:   The Catholic cardinals of our country told President Clinton, “Your veto (of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, HR 1833) is beyond comprehension for those who hold human life sacred.  It will ensure the continued use of the most heinous act to kill a tiny infant just seconds from taking his or her first breath outside the womb.”  Today our parish will join with thousands of other parishes around the country in signing postcards urging Congress to override President Clinton’s shameful veto of HR 1833.  Please be sure to sign a postcard and leave it with our volunteers.  Thank you for speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves!

1998:   Please remember in your prayers Dorothy DeStefano who died this past week.  May she rest in peace.

2007:   St. Timothy School is hosting the first Patty Grady Memorial Dinner on August, 17 in the Parish Center.  All funds raised from this spaghetti and meatball dinner will be applied to the Tuition Assistance Fund at St. Timothy School…Patty was a tireless volunteer for St. Timothy School. Come help remember her in a manner in which she deserves—by supporting the school that she worked so hard for.  The Grady and Andracki families thank you for your support.

2009:   Please join the parish and our Knights of Columbus hosts in celebrating our pastor Fr. Tim’s 50th Birthday on Sunday, August 23 after the 10:00 am Mass in the cafeteria.  It’s not a secret: tell your friends to join us, too.

Fellow Parishioners,

  In advance of Fr. Tim’s first anniversary as pastor at St. Tim’s, it seemed to be a good time to assess the first year and perhaps learn a little more about our pastor.   Fr. Tim graciously…responded to what I originally planned to be about 10 brief questions and answers.  The Irish got a hold of me tongue, so this turned into 25 questions…so mine alone is any blame (for the extreme length of the interview which cannot be reproduced here).

  It is safe to say that he is enjoying his pastorship with us, but as always there is work to be done across all spectrums in doing God’s work and finding His ministry for each one of us as well as our parish family.

   In Christ,  --Jim Connors, Parish Council President

2011:    After forty satisfying and enjoyable years, I am retiring as Treasurer of the St. Timothy Men’s Club and as Chairman of their annual golf outing.  The golf outings were successful because of the dedication of a wonderful crew of workers and committee members and because of the generous donation of money, door prizes and hole sponsorships.  The outings have raised in excess of $140,000 over the years.  A special note of thanks to Jerry DeTemple who has worked untiringly for so many years in so many ways for the success of the tournament.  Thank you and God bless you all for your participation and assistance.

 Sincerely, Hugo Della Flora

  P. S. Support your St. Timothy Men’s Club