A Word from Your Pastor October 21

Dear Parishioners:

As Pastor, I have one primary goal for the Year of Faith: to ensure that every member of our community may learn to articulate the Faith clearly from the heart.  In order to do meet this goal, we want to identify and make available all the tools that are needed for each of us to learn the Faith and to deepen our understanding of its meaning so that we can live it.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is readily available in many forms, has a structure that suggests a way of organizing our response to the year of Faith.  There are four parts, each referring to an aspect of the Catholic Faith that all will recognize: The Creed, the Sacraments, the Beatitudes and the 10 Commandments, and Prayer.

We pray the Apostles’ Creed with the Rosary and the Nicene Creed every Sunday at Mass.  The Seven Sacraments and our experience of them in the Liturgy of the Church are the hallmark of Catholic practice of the Faith.  The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount offer, along with the Ten Commandments and the Two Great Commandments, a vision for the Moral Life and practice of the Virtues.  The Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, which all of us know by heart (or ought to!), serve as a model of Prayer.

If each of us would take time just to reflect on these four areas of the Faith and to speak about our Faith with them as a model, we could easily answer any questions others may ask about what we believe.   Let’s begin and see where it leads.

This weekend we observe World Mission Sunday.  We are reminded that all of us are called to participate in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.  The call to a New Evangelization has in mind those who have heard the Gospel and walked away from practice of the Faith and those who have never heard the Good News at all.  Our lives are meant to be a proclamation of the Gospel.  Who is waiting to hear the Word from you?

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 XIII.--EXHORTATION TO MEET TOGETHER FREQUENTLY FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD.

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.

The Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch was celebrated October 17th.  His exhortation to the Ephesians in the earliest centuries of the Church’s existence is as fresh today as ever.  The call to come together to celebrate the Mass “to give thanks to God,” is offered as the means to bring about peace and to end wars both in heaven and on earth.  The battles experienced by the Ephesians and their contemporaries are still going on, and the solution is still the same: to assemble for the Eucharist.

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

October 11, began the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be read before the start of Mass and will be included in the Bulletin.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

CHAPTER ONE        MAN’S CAPACITY FOR GOD

I.          The Desire for God

 

27      The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists, it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator. (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes #19)

Comment:  In times past, Catechisms tended to begin with questions and the answers that were memorized and then explained.  While this method is still useful and offers some clarity to the content of Faith, it is interesting to note that the Catechism of the Catholic Church begins instead with an acknowledgement of the longings and aspirations of the human heart, at the level of the “deepest questions” that human beings experience.

What are the desires and longings you experience?  How do these begin to open you to a relationship with God?  What is happiness?

 

This Week in Our History:  October 21-28

 

1965:   Newly baptized:  Renee Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Disabato

1966:   Sister Lolita reported late Saturday the Father Winkler’s condition is progressing quite satisfactorily.  Due to the seriousness of Father’s surgery, Sister advises NO VISITORS allowed.

This morning you are asked to remember all those in the parish who are ill.  We ask that you especially offer prayers for the recovery of Father Winkler, Mrs. John Reiffenberger, Mrs. Al Capuano and Mr. Walter Olsen.

Until Father Winkler returns to us, the 6:30 a.m. Mass will be discontinued.

This morning we are asking all parish members, if it is at all possible, to try to add $1.00 weekly to your donations.  The Sunday collection has fallen way below the pledged amount and the Finance Board reports that an additional $500 weekly is needed to meet the current expenses of the church and school.

1967:   Banns of Matrimony for the first time between Kathleen Ryan of this parish and Gilbert McGovern of Corpus Christi parish.

 

1980:   From the Vocations Office.

“Many parishioners may not be aware that the Diocese runs a fraternity house on Neil Avenue in Columbus.  Residents pay $100 per month for private rooms and complete board. To be eligible to live there, residents must be considering the diocesan priesthood as one possible option for their future, though no permanent commitments are necessary.  For further information, simply call the house or write Father Ted Thomas at Neil Avenue.”

1982:   Remember in your prayers, Thelma Higgins, a member of St. Timothy who was buried this week.

1982:   Thanks  Thanks  Thanks.

To Nick DeSantis and DeSantis Florists for the attractive green plants in the sanctuary.  They certainly improve the appearance.

 

To Mary Lou Sheaf, who purchased the hymnbook racks installed in every pew in church.  They were given in memory of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Louis Jentgen.

 

To Dan Kramer and K & R Paving for all the concrete parking blocks along the East side of the church parking lot.

To Joe and Elmer Reinhard for removing the old confessional and converting it into shelves for our new School Resource Room.  It was demanding work, but professionally done.

To Bobbie Scholl who gave the last few days of her vacation to satin and varnish the new shelves.

1983:   Special note to those who attend 9:00 daily Mass.  This Friday’s school Mass will be somewhat different than usual, and will probably take a little longer.  Father Pat Toner will be the guest celebrant.  He arouses interest in the scripture passages among the children by acting out some of the readings, sometimes in costume.  This can be a very special time for children, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea; thus this advance notice.  If you have reservations about this kind of thing, you might consider attending anyway just to see one more way in which it is possible to praise God and to help children understand the scriptures more.

 

1984:   This Week’s Featured Group…is the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Society is expressly for the purpose of aiding the poor in our community and deepening the Vincentian Spirit of members by way of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  Our Society…works throughout the month taking food to the hungry, visiting the sick and assisting with Mass at the county rest home.  Your generosity helped them provide large print bibles, give 1,300 dollars to breadlines in the city, distribute a thousand dollars worth of coats, and deliver 2,000 dollars worth of food.

1985:   Please stop after Mass today to purchase Wendy’s gift certificates and coupon books.  This will help the Men’s Club defray the cost of bleachers, play equipment, picnic tables, and landscaping for the area behind the back stop.

1986:   About the Weiner Roast…We all had a wonderful time and both the sun and the Son were shining on us.  If you missed it, start planning for next year (who wants to be n charge?).  Thanks to members of the households, groups and individuals who, either by choice being ITRPATRT* gave up important time to help, especially 1st grade Brownies and Boy Scout Troop 169 and all those hands without faces in the dark who stayed to the end to clean up.  Thanks to the rest of you who showed up and made it such a gratifying experience for the do-gooders by expressing happiness, appreciation and parish community.

(P.S.  If you happened to have discovered from this that you CAN sing after all, consider the choir!).

*In the right place at the right time.

1987:    Special thanks to the Large Group Activities Committee of RENEW for all their work in organizing this week’s Weiner Roast and 25th Anniversary Celebration.  Also, thanks to those who were moved to come and help or stay and help.  Finally, thanks to all who came to celebrate this special year for St. Timothy Church.

 

More special thanks to those who prepared the Anniversary liturgy and made such beautiful music for the congregation.

 

2006:   Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

 

2009:   This Sunday, October 25th, is Priesthood Sunday, a day set aside to honor priests worldwide for their dedication to Christ and to the people of God.  After the 10:00 a.m. Mass this Sunday, a light reception will be held in the cafeteria to give thank to Father Hayes for his vocation and dedication as our spiritual leader here at St. Timothy.  All members of our community are encouraged to come and show their appreciation.

Although he will not be here with us this weekend, we also would like to thank Fr. Dan Millisor, associate Pastor of St. Pius X, who has been assisting on the weekends for the past couple years.

 

Thanks go out from the Maintenance Committee to Matt Francescon for volunteering his talents to beautify our church.  St. Timothy’s outdoor cross that stands next to the bell has been cleaned, primed and painted a Bright White for all of us to look up to as we enter church each day.   Thank you Matt for all your work!

2010:     A Word from Your Pastor

The loss of any loved one is a painful experience.  The loss of one who is young is the hardest.  I am sure you have been aware of the loss of Dominic Gregory, one of our high school students, a 2009 graduate of St. Timothy School.  His funeral was celebrated this past Monday at St. Charles Prep High School.  The Principal, Dominic Cavello, graciously offered to host the funeral Mass knowing that our Church would not be able to accommodate the large number who wanted to participate.  Once again, I am personally grateful to all in the St. Timothy Parish family who have stepped up to work together to support members of our community who are facing tragedy.  I know that the Gregory Family is also thankful to the many who have reached out to them in their time of need…The precious gift of life is in our view when we experience loss.  Our Faith invites us to keep it in view at all times and to work to build up a culture around us that is also respectful of life.  Let us cherish one another.

2011:   Attention, Founding Families

Following is a working list of current St. Timothy families who attended Masses at Cranbrook School and in Fr. Gus Winkler’s basement in the formative days of the parish.  Please help us ensure completeness by reviewing these names and identifying any omissions.  Contact Linda O’Brien with your discoveries.

  

Wilma Amrine                                 Frank and Mary Ann Kabealo

Andy and Joann Andracki               Bill and Gloria Langdon

Constance Barr                                Joe and Mary Ann Marchese

Bill and Rosemary Bringardner      Mike and Jane Mikolajcik

Paul and Ann Bubenchik                Teresa Murphy

Jo Cusack                                        Nancy Quinlan

Jeannine Davis                                Sandra Rossetti

Hugo and Janice Della Flora           Mary Rybski

Hugh Dorrian                                  Nelly Salimbene

Dennis and Frances Doyle              John Schira

Marian Furno                                  John Sosnowski

Frank and Lea Guarasci                  Ann Standley

Kitty Hoessly                                  Luella Sullivan

Jody Holden                                    Herm and Peg Will

Charles and Kay Imber              

Jenice Jordan