A Word from Your Pastor January 27

Dear Parishioners:

Each year, members of our St. Timothy Community are invited to join together in praying for one intention on the Feast of St. Timothy.  This was announced at the School Mass for the Feast Day, which this year was celebrated on Wednesday, January 23, and then again at the special Mass on Saturday, the actual Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus.

This year’s intention is:  That St. Timothy Families learn to practice the Faith together by praying for the needs of the world together.  Each family is invited also to consider a family intention and to pray for that intention through the year and to bring it with them in their prayer at Mass (or their own church service if the family is not Catholic) every Sunday.

The intention includes a couple of important notes:  Family Prayer is a necessity, both at home, as the Domestic Church, and at Mass on Sunday, with the universal Church.  The primary and most important duty of parents is to see to the spiritual welfare of their children by teaching them and raising them in the practice of the Faith, and by setting a good example through their own witness of the Faith.  The intention, in this Year of Faith,  is an invitation to families to fulfill their responsibility by uniting in prayer for the needs of the world and by joining together in worship at the weekly Sunday Mass to pray for their intention.  This offers another incentive for coming to Mass each week: the opportunity to pray for the intentions chosen by the family.  We gather to hear the Word, to experience the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and to pray for the needs of our community and for the world.

 

Intentions for the past several years, which are still in need of our prayerful remembrance, are as follows:

 

2009  We pray for all those who have wandered away from the practice of the Catholic Faith, that they may return.

2010  That we have someone from St. Timothy Parish become a priest for the Diocese of Columbus while Fr. Tim is Pastor here.

2011  Declaration of the Year of St. Timothy for St. Timothy Parish in preparation for the Parish Golden Jubilee.  That we may all come to know our Patron, St. Timothy, and that we might learn from him how to witness the Gospel.

2012  Parish Golden Jubilee Year - Grandparents’ Day in Catholic Schools Week:
In Thanksgiving to God and St. Timothy for Fifty Years of Faithfulness in the Community of St. Timothy Parish and School, and that God reveal to us individually and as a Parish and School Family what He wants us to be and to do in the years ahead.

 

St. Timothy, our Patron and our Friend, pray for us!

 

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

 

We continue our journey through the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

The Covenant with Noah        56 After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nations,” in other words, toward men grouped “in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations.”  (Genesis 10:5; cf. 9:9-10, 16; 10:20-31)

57 This state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social, and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity,  (Cf. Acts 17:26-27.) united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel.  (Cf. Wisdom 10:5; Genesis 11:4-6.) But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism.  (Cf. Romans 1:18-25.)

58 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel.  (Cf. Genesis 9:16; Luke 21:24; Dei Verbum 3.) The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchizedek—a figure of Christ—and the upright “Noah, Daniel, and Job.”  (Cf. Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:3; Ezekiel 14:14.) Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to “gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.”   (John 11:52.)

Comment:  The experience of division is common in our time.  Families are divided and blended in a variety of ways.  Husbands and wives find their relationship “put asunder” contrary to God’s plan for human beings.  Communities are divided in ways of thinking and there are many forms of discrimination and persecution against minorities and persons of Faith.  God’s will is for the unity of the Human Race in Jesus Christ.  How do you see the Spirit of Unity at work in bringing about the fulfillment of God’s Will for unity among us?  How do you cooperate with the Spirit in this effort?

 

This Week in Our History:  January 27 – February 3

Note:  This project was started in February 2012; we will continue it until a full year of review is completed.

1963:   Friday of this week is the First Friday of the month.  Mass in the Rectory Chapel at 6:30 am.

1964:   The Stations have been hung but are not canonically erected as yet, which means they have no indulgence attached to them.  This will be done on next Saturday.

Beginning on Monday, February 10^th, the High School Religion Classes will be held at St. Timothy’s School at 7:30 pm.  All students are to attend this Monday’s classes at the regular place.

1972:   The Catholic Times

Do we need a Catholic newspaper?  I’m sure many of you don’t think so, at least not the one we’ve got.  But this problem has been thoroughly studied for over a year…we (now) have “the total coverage plan.”  Every family on the parish list will get the paper, unless you specifically write us a note to the contrary this week.  The parish is billed for all these subscriptions at $2 per family.  We hope you will give us the $2, but we must pay it whether you do or not.

1982:   We ask your prayers for Mary Olsen, a member of our parish, who died and was buried from the parish church this past week.  May she rest in peace.

1983:   Remember in your prayers Mimi Lee, an eighth grade student at St. Timothy, who was buried this past week.

1987:   Congratulations to our Women’s Club and their members and assistants on another successful and enjoyable blizzard Bash Dance.  As always, it brought frigid weather to our area.

1988:   After all Masses on the 13^th and 14^th, Father Thomas will lead a short ceremony of renewal of marriage vows.  No reservations needed.  Just meet at the back of church after the last hymn.  Refreshments will be served to all parishioners after all the Masses.

1990:   Carl Connor’s new address - Box 429, Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130-0429

1994:   Rest in Peace.  Your prayers are requested for Larry McMichael, a member of this community who died and entered New Life this past week.

2002:   Congratulations to Bill and Mae Hartnett on their 50^th wedding anniversary.

2005:   Remember in your prayers Faithe Hooks and Bobby Fenlon who died.  May they rest in peace.

2008:   Thank you to Lou and Joyce Nobile for the beautiful set of Lectionary Books given to the parish in memory of Joyce’s parents, Dominic and Mary Iacoboni.  These books with the Sunday reading are a much needed replacement for those that were being used.  Our grateful prayers to Lou and Joyce.