A Word from Your Pastor - May 11

Dear Parishioners:

As you may recall, we had plans in January to celebrate a special Mass for our School’s Golden Jubilee with Bishop Campbell in conjunction with the Feast of our Patron Saint Timothy (January 26^th).  You will also no doubt remember that our Winter experience included many Snow Days.  The Mass our Students had prepared for was cancelled because School was not in session.  Working with the Bishop’s secretary, our Principal Mr. George Mosholder came up with a new date for Mass – this Wednesday, May 14^th,  Bishop Campbell was happy with this date because it also happens to be his anniversary of ordination as a Bishop.  We were very pleased with this coincidence.

As it turns out, Divine Providence was at work concerning this date in another amazing way.  When the pilgrims from St. Timothy Parish arrived at Termoli to pay respects to the earthly remains of our Patron, who is honored there, we were told that the town of Termoli celebrates a special Feast of St. Timothy on May 11^th in honor of the fact that his relics were rediscovered in the crypt of the Cathedral of Termoli on May 11, 1945.  They were hidden there in the year 1239 to protect them from Invaders.  And then, they were forgotten for more than 700 years!  That means that this very week is a week of great importance to our Patron Saint.  How fitting it is for us to be able to celebrate our School’s Jubilee at the same time as the town where his relics are safeguarded is experiencing its Festival.

Since our own efforts to celebrate our Patron are so often deterred by January’s weather, it is nice to know we can celebrate him together in May when the weather is more conducive to such events.  There is another reason why May is a fitting time for St. Timothy.  He was the first Bishop of Ephesus, the town where St. John shared a home with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  So our Timothy was not only the first disciple and companion of St. Paul; he was also one who shared a home with Mary.

Learning about our Saint by visiting the places associated with him opens up new vistas for our own manner of giving him honor.  The town of Termoli recognizes a special bond with St. Timothy by having custody of his relics and they hear the call to evangelize.  As we come to the close of our Golden Jubilee celebrations, we too are hearing the invitation to follow the Good Shepherd where He leads and to proclaim the Gospel in practical ways.  May we make our Patron St. Timothy proud of us and join him in giving honor to God by the way we live.