A Word from Your Pastor April 22

We were all saddened by the news of the sudden death of Msgr. George Schlegel, who has been an exemplary priest of the Diocese of Columbus and has served the St. Timothy community in many ways.  As I shared at Mass last weekend, Msgr. Schlegel was my second-to-last pastor before I became a pastor myself.  I was assigned as Associate Pastor with him at St. Joan of Arc Church in Powell in July 1993.  From there, he went to his final parish at Sacred Heart, New Philadelphia. 

After his retirement from Sacred Heart in 2010, Msgr. Schlegel has helped in many parishes throughout the diocese.  We were grateful to him for filling in for me as Administrator while I was away on sabbatical.  He was also a regular at all our penance services and School confessions.  He joined us for the celebration of the Easter Triduum on many occasions.  It was clear that he enjoyed being with us at St. Timothy Church.  Of course, every parish he assisted felt the same.

At the School Mass this week, I invited the children and all who were in attendance to think about Msgr. Schlegel and to learn what his example means to them.  His Faith, his willingness to put his intelligence to use for the Church and his joyful ministry as a priest can remind us all of the gift of our Catholic Faith and the invitation to serve in the Lord’s vineyard.  We pray that Msgr. Schlegel may find Eternal Rest and that God’s Mercy shine on him as he enters into the mystery of the Kingdom.

Bishop Campbell mentioned that Msgr. Schlegel went to his death with an attitude of serenity and peace.  He knew the One in Whom he put his trust.  May each of us prepare well for the completion of our own life’s journey.  St. Stephen, the first martyr, approached his death in imitation of Jesus, saying “Lord, into Your hands, I comment my spirit.”  What do you want your own last words to be?  We must all begin now to live as we want our life to end.  Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

Today we will be acknowledging another kind of transition with a celebration with Fr. Bill Faustner of his retirement and move.  All are invited to join us as we hold a retirement reception (open house) for Fr. Bill this Sunday, April 22 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at St. Timothy's (after noon Mass).   Please plan to come to wish Father Bill the best and enjoy some food and refreshments provided by the Men's Club, Women's Club and several parishioners.

A Word from Your Pastor April 15

Last week at all the parish Masses on Divine Mercy Sunday, Fr. Bill Faustner announced his retirement from active priestly ministry, effective March 31, 2018.  Fr. Bill reached the age of 70 in January, the usual retirement age for priests in the Diocese of Columbus.  He was most recently active as chaplain to several area hospitals, with residence at St. Timothy.  We are grateful to him for the assistance he offered in the parish during the past 8 years of residence.

Fr. Bill let us know that he is moving into what he called “the St. Timothy Annex,” that is, the Forum at Knightsbridge.  Our diocese does not have a retirement home for priests, so each priest is free to find his own place to live.  Knowing that many of our parishioners are happy at the Forum – and that many Catholics at the Forum have found St. Timothy as a welcoming place for Mass on the weekends – Fr. Bill knew he would find a welcoming community there.  He will be among the youngest residents there and he has maintained his dark hair color (unlike your Pastor!), so it will be a place where he can feel young again.

As he described the upcoming move, Fr. Bill showed a sense of humor and got a laugh at all the Masses when he explained that his new residence will be on the first floor and that it has a straight shot to the dining room.  He promises that he will be around to assist with Masses and that he will continue to attend all the St. Timothy social events.  After 40+ years of ministry in the Diocese of Columbus, he is certainly ready for a rest.  We pray that he will experience the next phase of his journey as truly “Golden Years.”

The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday last weekend was a real joy.  So many came forward for Anointing of the Sick at all the Masses and the Divine Mercy Devotion was well attended in the afternoon.  God’s Love and Mercy were poured out in abundance.

May we continue our Easter journey with joy.  Remember that the Easter Season lasts a full 50 days, all the way to Pentecost.

A Word from Your Pastor April 8 - Divine Mercy Sunday

Easter continues with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.  This is a very powerful day of prayer for healing and Mercy for our world.  At our parish Masses, we celebrate the Anointing of the Sick, asking the Lord to take up the suffering and illness of our members into the power of His Paschal Mystery, helping them to persevere and allowing their plight to serve with His own Passion as redemptive for the world.

In the afternoon, we adore the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and take advantage of the graces promised to St. Faustina as we observe Divine Mercy Sunday and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy before the Image of Jesus.  May the rays of healing and hope that flow from the Risen Lord’s Heart touch us and all the world.

All are invited to continue to celebrate Easter in its fullness through the Feast of Pentecost.  The Easter Season lasts a full 50 days.  Let us pray for an outpouring of the Spirit on us and on the whole world.

Eternal Father, we offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

A Word from Your Pastor April 1 - Easter Sunday

A Blessed Easter to All!  Jesus Christ is Risen!  This is the heart of the Christian Message.  From this Good News flows all the rest.  Because Jesus rose, we know that what He said before He died is the Truth.  He is the Son of God.  He is the Savior of the World.  He is the Messiah whose gift of Himself opened to us the Salvation and Life God planned for us from the foundation of the world.

Christians gather around the world in great numbers on this day to share in the Joy of the Risen Lord.  We welcome all who are with us for the Easter Masses.  Thank you for your witness to us that the Resurrection of the Lord still has the power to bring us all together.  Know that you are with us in spirit and prayer throughout the year and that you are always welcome to share in our celebration of the Life of Jesus Christ as it takes place every Sunday of the Year.

In a particular way this year, we have experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit to prepare us for Easter.  Since the beginning of Lent, through our celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation with our 8^th Graders at the end of February, through the second season of Alpha which concluded last weekend, we have had a special sense of the Presence of the Spirit of Jesus in all that we do.  This Spirit is the first Gift of Jesus to His disciples after the Resurrection and the same Spirit is at work in us, enlivening us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the world.

As we enter now into the Season of Easter, we want to continue to open our hearts ever more to the Spirit.  Next weekend, we will celebrate anew the Mercy of God through the Divine Mercy Devotion.  All are invited to take part in this celebration.  Come to adore the Lord after the Noon Mass.  Approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Open your heart to the Mercy of God through the devotion taught to us by St. Faustina Kowalska and established for the Church by Pope Saint John Paul II.

Join us now and throughout the year to proclaim the Gospel: Jesus Christ is Risen, Alleluia! Alleluia!

A Word from Your Pastor March 25 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord is the high point of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week.  This week, we enter into our annual celebration of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Let this week be truly set apart from all other weeks in your life.

Today, we read the Passion, this year from the Gospel of Mark, as we welcome Jesus into Jerusalem through the Procession of Palms.

Tuesday evening, the Diocese of Columbus celebrates the Chrism Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral at 6 p.m.  This Mass includes the blessing of the sacred oils that are used for the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the coming year: the Oil of Catechumens, Sacred Chrism and the Oil of the Sick.  At this Mass, the Bishop and Priests renew their commitment to live out their priestly ministry in the one Priesthood of Jesus Christ.  The whole Diocese gathers together as a sign of our unity in the witness of the Gospel.

Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper includes the Washing of the Feet as we are reminded of the call to serve, and the institution of the Priethood and the Holy Eucharist.  At St. Timothy, our First Holy Communion class serve as an honor guard for the Eucharistic procession the concludes the Mass.  We then spend three hours in adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament to strengthen our hearts for the next events of the Holy Easter Triduum.

Good Friday brings a reading of the Passion according to John, Veneration of the Cross and Reception of Holy Communion consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper the night before.

Holy Saturday’s Solemn Easter Vigil welcomes among us the new members of our Catholic Community with the celebration of the Easter Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  This impressive ceremony includes the Service of Light, Readings of Salvation History and a joyful proclamation of the Resurrection.

Easter Sunday Masses allow us all to renew our Baptismal Promises and to sing out Alleluia as we proclaim the Risen Lord to all the world.

Don’t let this Holy Week pass you by!  Come to any and all the celebrations you are able.  These are the High Holy Days of our Catholic Faith!