Sunday, August 26, 2012

A Word from Your Pastor August 26

Dear Parishioners:

By Baptism, we are pledged to God and to one another.  God has established a Covenant with us in Jesus Christ that unites us beyond all our divisions.  If we can learn to recall this, then the whole world opens to us in a different way.  We are responsible to God for one another. 
Whenever anyone of us is honored or recognized, all of us share in the glory.  Last Sunday, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women announced their choice for “Catholic Woman of the Year.”  It was our own Dr. Kathy Lutter.  As most of you know, Dr. Lutter has been involved in many aspects of the life of our parish, particularly in the education of our children in the ways of Faith.  Recently, she has stepped out in Faith to speak about the HHS Mandate and our efforts to preserve our Liberty to put into practice the values of our Catholic Faith and teachings.  She spoke at all the Masses one weekend at St. Timothy Church, and she has also addressed congregations in other parishes around Columbus.  We are proud of Dr. Kathy Lutter and of all who witness to our Faith in Jesus Christ and in His Church.

This week, we welcome back all our Children and our Staff to St. Timothy School.  We also look forward to the start of our Parish School of Religion (PSR) and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).  The task of Handing on our Faith to the next generation and sharing it with others is the responsibility of the whole community.  How do you respond to the charge to teach all nations and to baptize them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?

As we continue our Year of Jubilee, we remember all who have been part of our Parish Family in the past.  Are there some who need to hear an invitation to return?

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 V.--THE PRAISE OF UNITY.

For if I in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop--I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature--how much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may agree in unity! Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power, how much more that of the bishop and the whole Church ! He, therefore, that does not assemble with the Church, has even by this manifested his pride, and condemned himself. For it is written, "God resisteth the proud." Let us be careful, then, not to set ourselves in opposition to the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God.

Many in our time have the idea that they can have Christ in their lives, but leave aside the Church and the leaders of the Church.  This is a way of thinking that has been rejected since the first generations of Christianity.  St. Ignatius of Antioch reminds the Ephesians that they are not able to be one with Christ without being one with their Bishop.  He also states clearly that to pretend to celebrate the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, apart from the Bishop, (as he expresses it, “be not within the altar”) is to be deprived of the Bread of God, that is, Christ Himself.   Pride is at work when we try to shape the Church to our own way of thinking.  There is an order set by God to the Church and to His creation.  We disregard that order to our own peril.  To be obedient to the Church and her leaders is to be obedient to Christ and to be subject to God.

This Week in Our History:  August 26- September 2 Parish History

1964:   School will open on Wednesday for all children attending St. Timothy’s… Principal, Mrs. Herman Will; Grades 1, Mrs. Lucille Tayama and Sister Mary Thomasina; Grades 2, Mrs. Margaret Mooney and Mrs. Agnes Reed; Grades 3, Mrs. Mary Connor and Mrs. Mary Lou Dorsey; Grade 4, Mr. Patrick Mooney; Grade 5 Sister Mary (sic), PCJ; Grade 7, Mrs. Virginia VanCamp; Grade 8, Mrs. Jo Angelo.

1968:   Parish Camp-In, weekend of Sept. 13-15.  Members of the parish who enjoy camping can get together for fun and friendship.  A priest will say Mass at the camp site on Sunday.  For information, call Connie Barr or Kay Imber.

1969:   Father John Burkhart says “I sincerely thank all the people of St. Timothy for the wonderful farewell of last Sunday and for the very generous purse.  I am truly grateful for your kindness.  It was a delight to be with you at St.Timothy and I am sorry to leave.  I hope I have been of some help in leading you to God’s kingdom.”    His address is Wherle High School, 3639 Parsons Ave.

1970:  It has been decided that the altar boys need no longer wear cassocks and surplices when serving Mass.  Dress shirts and ties are expected to be worn for serving Sunday Masses…It will be up to the boys, and their parents, to see that suitable attire is chosen during the summer months.

1971:   Parish Festival Meeting:  Wednesday, 8:00 pm, Parish Hall.  Parish workers are needed for the 10th Anniversary Parish celebration.  PLEASE ATTEND.

1972:   Aloha from the Festival Committee!  Ticket sales of this year’s raffle prize of a 14-day Hawaiian vacation for two and $300 cash are going fine.  So keep up the good work.   Don’t deprive your neighbors, friends, or work associates of the chance for this wonderful prize.  Tickets do sell easily so exert a little effort to offer them.  Don’t forget, the seller of the winning ticket receives $100.

1975:    We welcome to the parish Sarah Marie Elosh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Elosh who was baptized last Sunday.

Women’s Club News:  On Tuesday, October 28, the annual card party and style show will be held.  Please mark your calendar and plan to make something to model for this event.  You have your choice of long skirts, pantsuits, dresses, and tops – “Easy to Make” or more involved fashions.  Call one of the following and volunteer to model your creation:  Bobbie Scholl, Barb Yaney, Collette Baggot.

1976:   Thank God!!!...for the absolutely perfect weather we had for the Parish Festival last weekend.  Thanks, too, to…Joe Hausberger…and Paul Bubenchik (co-chairmen) who worked very hard and did an outstanding job.

  Father DeVille, by the way, thinks he did a pretty fair job of drawing the prizes.  They all went to members of the parish:  $1000, Jean Price; $100, Laura Pardi; Microwave Oven, Joe Capuano; TV set, John Hilbish; Quilt, Wincy Tiberi.

  The CCD  program….needs a young married couple to assist with the High School group.  We would like this couple to be outstanding in wisdom and holiness of life and in knowledge of the Scriptures.  However, we will settle for ordinary human beings with a desire to make our religious education program effective and worthwhile on the high school level.

1977:  Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Dom Tiberi and Mr. and Mrs. James Ferraro on their 40th wedding anniversaries.

1979:   Banns of Matrimony are announced between Pam Willet of St. Andrew and Kirk Ernst of St. Timothy; Debra Hadley and Mitch Melfi op St. Timothy; Ruth Bigler of St. Timothy and James O’Connor of St. Agatha; Celia Guarasci of St. Timothy and F. Gregory Paniccia of St. Andrew.

1984:   Come to a Going Away Party.  Friends of Art and Joanne Williams are having a going away party for them today in the rectory basement.  Everyone is invited to come and say “good-bye”.
This Week’s Featured Group—Women’s Club.  We owe them our gratitude for; supplying over $1000 for altar linens and altar breads; funding the cheerleading program, the Sunday morning babysitting service, and the Brownie’s flower planting project….they sponsored an Ice Cream Social for the parish, a Newcomer’s Potluck, and a Day of Recollection on women in the Church….they provided over $250 for food baskets at Christmas, and awarded a $250 scholarship to a deserving 8th grade graduate….made possible through (funds from) the Blizzard Bash Dance…a bake sale, a Night at the Races, participation in a market research  survey…and members (who) paid $560 in dues.

1987:   Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Dom Tiberi who are celebrating 50 years of married life this weekend.

The Hartnett family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to our fellow parishioners for the innumerable prayers and offers of help for Katie Marie Hartnett and her parents.

1990:   Special thanks to the leadership of the Women’s Club, its members and supporters for the donation of $2,000 received this past week. This will be used for several charity type expenditures and for some special small needs not covered in the large parish budget—rebronzing our large paschal candle stand for example.

1991:   Choir members…please stop by after Mass Saturday and Sunday to look at robe samples.  We will measure for robes (at rehearsal on September 4)…and have refreshments.

1993:   Please remember in your prayers Helen Seiler of St. Timothy, who was buried from the parish church this past week.

1996:   Please remember in your prayers Robert Hall and Norman Daniel, members of St. Timothy, who died and were buried this past week.

1999:   Congratulations to Julie Dorrian and David Robinson who will be married Saturday, September 4.

“Thank You!!!”
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Timothy’s:
  Words cannot express my appreciation and gratitude to all of you who made my 30th anniversary of Ordination and birthday on the same day so very special.  So much work and time went into making it one of the most memorable days of my life; 51 members of my family came at your invitation and enjoyed the wonderful people of our parish and the beautiful weather as well.  The food was excellent; your gifts and notes that accompanied them were very special.  A special thanks to Father Ellifritz and all the people who called parishioners and family; those who worked to decorate and prepare for the party; the choir was superb.  But above all these wonderful things, I am particularly grateful for the love, support and encouragement you have given me.  I am very much indebted to each of you. May God bless you!
    With gratitude, Father Thomas Shonebarger

2001:   Wedding, Saturday at 2:30 pm, Allison DeTemple and Toren Hamre.

2003:    Labor Day is September 1.
  The Family Life Office asks you to stop a minute and reflect on what lessons you learned about work from your parents and grandparents…perhaps you learned about being a conscientious worker, about working up to your own standards—not just settling for what the market will bear…or perhaps you learned about…how important your coworkers are, how to treat clients and customers with respect, or the value of continuing to learn new skills.  Your kids are learning lessons from you.  During this week that includes Labor Day, share with them one positive belief you have about work.  So much of our life is spent working; tell them what value you find in what the Mass celebrates as the work of human hands.

2006:    David Henley, a long-time St. Timothy parishioner and 1985 graduate of St. Timothy School made his final oath as a Brother of Glenmary Home Missions on August 21, in Nazareth, Kentucky.  On Saturday, August 26, he affirms his vows at St. Sebastian Church in Pittsburg where Keith and Pat Henley (his parents) live.

We congratulate children who have been baptized (recently):  Michael Sena, son of Brian and Melissa; Patrick Dunn, son of Eric and Kathleen; Thomas Haley, son of Daniel and Brandy; Dorothy Oberling, daughter of Matthew and Stacey; Kaylin Cullinan, daughter of Christopher and Wendy; Riley Adkins, daughter of Aaron and Colleen; Anthony Merendo, son of Merico and Vicky; Matthew Palma, son of Anthony and Sheela; Emily Stickler, daughter of James and Megan.
Don’t let your worries get the best of you.  Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

2008:   Please remember in your prayers Johnny Randall, son of Julia and Matt Randall, who died on Sep.1, at the age of five years.  May he rest in peace and may his family find peace through the grace of God.  Johnny would have been a first grader at St. Timothy this year.

2009:   From your Pastor:
   Many thanks to all for the birthday greetings, cards and gifts that you have given me.  I am truly humbled and grateful.  May God bless you for your generous hearts.

  It is time to begin thinking about how we will celebrate our collective 50th Jubilee as we approach the time when our Parish proves it is Golden.  We were established as a Parish Family in 1961, so 2011 will be a special year in our life together.  Many of those who were among the founding families are still with us.  They have a story to tell and, no doubt, pictures to prove it.  Let’s gather these treasures now and be sure the generations to come will hear them.  (Still not too late!)

2010:   A Word from your Pastor:
….With the celebration of Labor Day, we acknowledge the importance of work.  It is through personal labor that we cooperate with God the Creator….Speaking of faithful workers, I want to thank those who have served at our daily Mass during the Summer months:  Bill Bringardner, Carl Connor, Maria Connor, Meghan Connors, Megan Davidson, Theresa Davidson, Claire DiOrio, Emma Foley, Pat Foley, Jim Reinmann, Joey Reinmann, Brayden Steller, Maya Steller and Steven Steigelman.  You are truly good and faithful servants of the Lord.  Thanks, too, to bill and Elaine James who have kept us supplied with the helpers we need.  Blessings on all our Servers at the Altar.

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