Pastoral Reflections

A Word From Your Pastor March 4

2012-03-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

It is Lent, so we have to face some rather serious matters. This past week, we have had a Parish Mission as a Retreat offered to any and all who were able to participate.

In the midst of the week, grace abounded. Many came to participate at the various events, choosing to make this a part of their Lent. It was recognized as a “time apart,” that is, as a special time given to God so that His Spirit could work on us. Most of us had to work to rearrange schedules and plans in order to take part. Some aspects of the week were “inconvenient intrusions” into our usual daily routine. But we accepted them as invitations to welcome God into our lives and as a way to deepen our commitment to Faith.

At the same time as grace abounded, the devil was also at work, seeking to undermine the work of grace. We are a welcoming community, but at times, comments made to visitors and newcomers fail to be as warm and friendly as they ought to be. We can hurt feelings by expressions of surprise or frustration. It is my sincere hope that any who experience such comments from our members not take them to heart and come to know how loved and valued they are. We are made richer as a community by every new soul who comes to share our Faith and to worship with us. I also hope that all of us will be careful to watch what we say that is potentially hurtful or unwelcoming.

The Pastor of my home parish when I was growing up used to tell us that whenever we were going to say anything about someone else, we should ask ourselves three questions: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If the answer to any one of the three questions was “no,” then we should not say what we were going to say. The walls have ears. Comments we think are private and personal are often given a power to be heard more loudly than we speak them. Jesus taught that we should watch our very thoughts. How much more should we attend to words we speak out loud. “Sapienti sat”: “a word to the wise is sufficient.” Let us speak only the words that will serve to build up the Kingdom and let us open our hearts to all whom God sends to us on our journey.

I want to offer a special word of thanks to all who have assisted in the Parish Mission in service of their brothers and sisters. Your reward will be great in Heaven and the Parish is grateful to you now.

Congratulations to all who participated in the Mission and in the Women’s and Men’s Conferences over the past couple of weekends. May we continue to follow the Spirit’s lead throughout the Season of Lent.

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

We are looking at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Our Parish Mission had this wonderful hymn in the Letter to the Ephesians as one of its guiding Scriptures. We are called to acknowledge the high destiny that is given to human beings in and through Jesus Christ. The praise of God’s glory is the very purpose of our existence. The Beauty of God is His Goodness and His Power. We are destined to share in that Reality through Faith. We have heard the Truth, we have believed in Christ, and we have been confirmed by the Holy Spirit through the Sacramental touch of Grace. We belong to God. This makes all the difference.

How well do you know Saint Timothy?

At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy. Test your own knowledge about the Saint. Each week, a question or two will be put in the bulletin. You’ll have to come back next week to get the answer!

Fill in the Blanks:

According to Tradition, St. Timothy was appointed the first Bishop of _______________.

That location was also the residence of two other famous figures in the New Testament:
_______________ and _______________.

Complete this prayer: To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God --

Where is it to be found on the property of St. Timothy Church?

Answers to Last Week’s Fill in the Blanks:

St. Timothy is listed as co-author of seven letters in the New Testament Canon: __Romans, II Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians and Philemon__.

St. Timothy is named as the recipient of two letters: ___I & II Timothy__.

More News from the History of St. Timothy Parish – Happenings in the month of February

1963 Installation of pews in the church

Banns of Matrimony: 1st, Vincent Edward Muelleo of St. Agatha and Teresa Fodey of St. Timothy; 2nd, William Harrison of Ft. Knox, KY and Margaret Mulholland of St. Timothy; 3rd, John Kurelic of St. Matthew and Mary Styrcula of St. Timothy

1969 The regular collection was $3578.00; for Debt Reduction-$502.50.
Due to contributions on the first Sunday of the month, $1000.00 has been paid on the debt.

Lenten “Discuss In” meeting to be held to gain understanding of recent Changes in the Church which have “been creating as many headlines as party Politics. Call Kitty Hoessly or Jen Jordan.

Due to lack of participation and support on the part of St. Timothy’s teens, the CYC meetings will be temporarily discontinued.

1976 Fr. James Kraus informs the parish that, after completing five years as pastor at St Timothy, he will be leaving.

Cafeteria workers:
Mon. Fran Doyle, Mary Rybski, Mary Ann Marchese
Tues. Mary Jo Leonard, Jeanne Tortorelli, CeCe Matyac
Weds. Leona Reinhardt, Nancy Quinlan, Mary Ann Davidson
Thurs. Pat Longo, Sandy Finley, Natalie Cannon
Fri. Annette Kanakkanatt, Jane Dixon, Joyce Nobile

Founding pastor, Fr. Gus Winkler dies suddenly on Feb. 3. He was Pastor at St. Timothy from its beginning in 1961 until 1970. Funeral services were held at Holy Name Church on Feb. 6.

Associate pastor Fr. Thomas Cadden was transferred for health reasons serve as Chaplain Pro-Tem at St. Raphael’s Home. Fr. Eugene Megyer from the Josephinium will assist Fr. DeVille on weekends.

1985 A handwritten note from Vladimir and Nada Jirik thanks the parish for aid and assistance in settling into their new home in Columbus. The Jirik’s are a refugee family adopted by St. Timothy.

Dennis Lloyd would like to retire as bingo treasurer and seeks a replacement.

1996 The parish voted on a mission statement. The winner, with 27% of the vote:

The members of St. Timothy Parish come together in prayer, worship and service to proclaim the word of Christ, strengthen our community through the love of God, and grow together in communion with God.

1998 Proceeds from sales of grocery certificates will be used for new carpeting in the church.

2000 Tiger Treasure raffle winner—Bill Steller, Sr.

2004 Msgr. James Nugent is looking for s Pentium II, or better, computer that is sitting idle. His computer is very old and your used one may serve him better.

2009 In his pastoral letter, Fr. Timothy Hayes informs the parish that, due to Bishop Campbell’s health concerns, he, as Pastor, has been delegated to confer the sacrament of Confirmation at St. Timothy parish this weekend in his place.

2010 Fr. Tim is on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Rev. Gregory Jones spoke at the weekend Masses as representative of Food for the Poor.

A Word From Your Pastor February 26

2012-03-04T05:13:00.002-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

A Parish Retreat is meant to be a time of responding to a Message of Faith by a Community of Believers who want to share one Mind and Heart, namely, that of Christ. This week, we welcome Fr. Raphael Bonanno, O.F.M., to lead us in a time of prayer and reflection that will serve to bring us closer to the Lord and to one another as His People. Our whole Parish Family will grow in grace, especially if we do our best to share what we receive with everyone in some way.

Here is a charge: Make it a point to participate in the Retreat yourself. It runs Sunday through Wednesday. Can you set aside all that you “just have to do” to the end of the week or to next weekend, and go all in? Be here every evening. Listen. Pray. Renew your Commitment. I don’t want to let you off the hook for this, but even if you cannot come to the whole retreat, personally take part in some of it. Be there.

Bring a family member, a friend, someone you just met who seems interested in Faith. If you cannot bring someone else in person, then carry that person as a prayer partner. Jot down a few notes each time you attend and take the opportunity to share what you have heard with someone else – in person, on the phone, by e-mail, by texting or tweeting or any other form of communication you use daily. Just say, “I am attending a Parish Mission, and here’s an idea for you!” Carry the Message to the world. Preach the Gospel at all times and in any manner you can.

Today we also experience the Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election for our R.C.I.A. Class. We have a rather large “class” this year, with a full age spread. It is impressive to see how many are responding to the call to Faith. This is a sign of the Presence and action of the Holy Spirit among us. It is a tribute to 50 years of Faith as a Parish. Please keep our candidates and catechumens, and their sponsors and catechists in your prayers. Make plans to be present for the most glorious experience of Easter in 50 years!

We congratulate all the Women of our Parish who participated in the Women’s Conference this weekend and assure the Men who will attend the Men’s Conference next weekend of our continued prayers. May the Spirit move us to be mature Women and Men of Faith in these Challenging Times.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

We are looking at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

God’s action for us depends not on our need, but on the riches of His Grace. We are redeemed, forgiven, and given knowledge of God’s ways in a world that cannot see Him. God has a plan for us and for all of Creation. That plan has been revealed to us in Christ. Our Faith puts us in a living relationship with Christ and so we can understand its meaning through Him. So many times, we try to grasp our Faith from the wrong perspective. It is not, in the end, the dogmas and the doctrines, the moral teachings and the pious practices that will get us to salvation. Rather, it is a living Faith in Christ Himself that will assist us to understand those practices and teachings for all they are worth. We have to be disposed to the movement of the Spirit, Who lavishes the Grace of God on us. Can we open our hearts to learn God’s plan?

How well do you know Saint Timothy?

At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy. Test your own knowledge about the Saint. Each week, a question or two will be put in the bulletin. You’ll have to come back next week to get the answer!

Fill in the Blanks:

St. Timothy is listed as co-author of seven letters in the New Testament Canon: ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________.

St. Timothy is named as the recipient of two letters: __________ and __________.

Answers to Last Week’s Fill in the Blanks:

Today, St. Timothy is known as the patron of __Stomach disorders_.

The major book of the New Testament that tells us about St. Timothy is __The Acts of the Apostles__.

St. Timothy is listed by name in 11 letters in the New Testament Canon:
Romans, I & II Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Philemon, and Hebrews .

A Word from Your Pastor February 19

2012-02-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Recently, I have participated in some meals that included special guests from our parish. At the Women’s Prayer Breakfast, where I shared my Journey in the Footsteps of St. Timothy, we were happy to see Sr. Carolyn Thomas, S.C.N., who was in for a visit from her Religious Community’s Motherhouse in Kentucky.

Sr. Carolyn used to take care of our Homebound Parishioners. Since her expertise is Scripture (especially St. Paul), it was nice to be able to share the story of my travels to the Lands of the Bible with her, as well as with all the Mothers and Daughters who gathered.

Last Friday, I was at the Catholic Men’s Luncheon at St. Patrick Church, where the Diocese honored Men who were nominated by their parishes as Catholic Man of the Year. Our own parish had Hugo Della Flora as a nominee and a good number of the Men of St. Timothy turned up to share the meal.

Hugo was proud to stand for a picture with St. Patrick and Bishop Campbell. We were happy to see the Bishop so soon after his travels to Rome for his Ad Limina Visit to Pope Benedict XVI.

We congratulate our newly Confirmed 8th Graders who made a wonderful impression on Bishop Campbell last weekend. We were all proud of them as they responded to his questions, and as they all remembered to say “Amen” and “And with your spirit” properly as they came forward to be confirmed. Congratulations to you and all your families! We look forward to the gifts you will bring to our parish as you follow the Spirit’s lead.

This week we begin Lent, with Ash Wednesday on February 22nd. Next week, starting on Sunday, February 26th, we will have a Parish Mission. Plan to take part Sunday through Wednesday, with the special evening sessions. Don’t miss your chance to get a good start to the Holy Season of Lent!

LENT BEGINS ASH WEDNESDAY

The following fast and abstinence regulations are observed: Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older. Fasting is observed on Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age to 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

We are looking at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Often, St. Paul bursts into a song of praise as he writes to the Christian Communities where he preached and taught. It is as if he is remembering the Liturgies and the Hymns they experienced together. Singing serves to teach in ways that go deeper than our minds. Songs speak to our heart. The opening verses of the Letter to the Ephesians give us a wonderful reminder of the Blessings that belong to us since we are in Christ.

The flow of blessing presented here points to the mystery of God’s choice of us before we ever came to be. It directs our attention to what is yet to become of us through our adoption into Christ by God’s own favor. We see that the glory we sing of in time will be ours in Eternity, as we grow in the grace of Christ Who is God’s Beloved Son. We hear the call to be holy as He is holy.

These words are worth meditating upon and repeating in our hearts. Can you see that our call is to discover who we are in Christ?

How well do you know Saint Timothy?

At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy. Test your own knowledge about the Saint. Each week, a question or two will be put in the bulletin. You’ll have to come back next week to get the answer!

Fill in the Blanks:

Today, St. Timothy is known as the patron of _______________.

The major book of the New Testament that tells us about St. Timothy is _____________.

St. Timothy is listed by name in 11 letters in the New Testament Canon: ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ___________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________.

Answers to Last Week’s Fill in the Blanks:

St. Timothy was born in __Lycia____ in modern day _Turkey_.

His father was _a Greek (name unknown)__ and his mother’s name was __Eunice_; his grandmother was __Lois_.

He became a companion of _St. Paul the Apostle_, who called Timothy his own beloved _child / son / brother_.

Do you Know the History of St. Timothy Parish? Mid-February in Years Past

1964: Women’s Club purchased a set of white solemn vestments. Men’s Club purchased a projector for the school. The Home and School Association purchased a piano.

1968: There is a Music Festival at Veteran’s Memorial on Sunday. “St. Timothy is doing an historical Choral Verse Reading with no other group to back them up.”

1969: Former St. Timothy parishioners, Michael Sullivan and his wife, are teaching in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa.

1972: Banns of Marriage: 1st time, Michael Murphy of St. Timothy and Hildegarde Freeman of Our Lady of Peace.

Council recommended to the Pastor:
o that the school should continue with eight grades,
o that tuition should be established at $300 for the first child and $100 for each additional child enrolled,
o that each school family should make a minimum church contribution of $500.
Chairman, Board of Finance Frank Gardner, Pastor Fr. DeVille

1983: Special Mass for high school students in the rectory basement at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Pizza to be served after the Mass. This is an opportunity to get to know Fr. Ted Thomas.

Confirmation date must be moved due to ceremonies welcoming the new bishop. Details to be forthcoming.

2001: The gym is open Mon.-Fri. at 6:00 am for those who would like to walk. Twenty times around the gym equals one mile and one mile burns 100 calories.

2000: Parishioners are asked to remember Henry Colson and Margaret Byrne who died.

2010: Remember Tamara Sullivan who died.

HHS Mandate Information Available Online

If you haven't already done so, please consider going to these websites which contain current information about the recent HHS ruling concerning the Catholic Church, and a link to sign a petition indicating support for the bishops’ position.

https://www.stophhs.com/stop_hhs_mandate/catholic-resistance-must-be-the-response-to-the-unjust-hhs-edict-to-violate-conscience/

http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm

A Word from Your Pastor February 12

2012-02-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

A Word from Your Pastor

Dear Parishioners:

As we continue our Parish Golden Jubilee, we are called to look more deeply into the reality of God’s plan for our community. Each year since I have been Pastor of St. Timothy Church, I have used the occasion of our Parish Feast Day, the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus on January 26th, to highlight a particular need for prayer. This year, we pray in thanksgiving for our first fifty years, and especially for the witness of the first families of our Parish community, and we ask God to reveal to us His Plan for our Parish in the years ahead.

This weekend, as we welcome Bishop Campbell to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our 8th Graders, we may intensify our prayer that the Gift of the Holy Spirit be poured out among us in order to lead us into the Plan God has in store for us. May our youth be confirmed in their Faith and in their commitment to God and His Church, and may our whole Parish Family be ever more united in our response to the call that brings us together as a community.

As we look to our history and to the deepening of our Faith, we are inspired at the same time to look outward to share with others the gifts we have received, both materially and spiritually. It is becoming ever more evident that God wants us to discover a way of being for others as a community. At the moment, it seems to me, we are being invited to consider how we may support very specific missions in the Church locally and more globally.

Our Parish Pastoral Council is studying a project that our community has been asked to think about in Haiti. While I was away, a priest from Food for the Poor was present to share the plight of our brothers and sisters who have experienced many losses due to nature. Many have personally responded to his plea for support. Could we as a Parish do more? See the note Fr. Glen Baptiste, C.R., wrote to me recently after his visit to our Parish and let members of the Parish Council hear your thoughts.

A member of our Parish, James Foley, has taken up a more local challenge, becoming President of the Cristo Rey High School to be established in the Diocese of Columbus in 2013. Since that year will also begin our School’s Golden Jubilee, it might be that we could support that venture as a Parish and as a School on the more local level. Read the information included below and let Jim Foley and the Parish Council hear your ideas as to how we might support this venture.

As Pastor, I try to listen to the voice of the Spirit to “hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.” It seems to me that we are being called to answer a call to look beyond ourselves, at home and abroad, in some very concrete ways. Do you hear the same call? How will you respond?

An Invitation to support our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti

Father Tim,

. . . I have to tell you that I enjoyed my short weekend at St. Tim's.....both the community and Bill......and Marion...... great community....the way a Parish ought to be! Thank you for the invite! And, thank you for forming that community so well!
I did, however, share much with your community at St. Timothy's, but with a great emphasis on the needs of our Haitian brothers and sisters. By the way, this week marks the two year anniversary of the quake in Haiti...... And, having just returned again, I can attest that there are still a remaining 600,000 plus people who continue to live in tent cities.....families who lost what little home they had in the experience of the quake..... its terrible...... bits and pieces of dry rotted, shredded tarpaulin strapped from one bush, to a tree, to a make shift pole........and these things are not water tight by any stretch of the imagination. Young families, Tim, with young kids lying on wet, soggy, mildewed mattresses inside these tents......its unbelievable!!!! Wish I could have shown you the photos in my phone......

We have built in excess of 2600 little concrete block homes with sanitation since the quake (we have been building them for 29 years there)....but, there are so many more families in need of getting out of those horrid tent city conditions......
Little homes are $3200...or $178 a month for 18 months (and a home will be built up front, not at the end of the 18 months)....... So, I encouraged / invited your community to give that some consideration....or groups within the Parish (K of C), etc., as a possible project......Would you kindly remind and encourage your community to remember to mail in their brochure and to participate to whatever capacity they are able?

I would also, however, like to gently ask if the Parish itself might have any interest in participating by way of building a home in the name of St. Timothy's Community? I would like to further ask, if you....and or a group from the Parish....may ever wish to visit Haiti (or one of the other Countries we serve) for a few days to see and experience. I (we) would be delighted to show you some of our projects in action.......Life altering experiences to see!!
At any rate....so much to share...perhaps you might, when you have a moment, visit foodforthepoor.org to see in greater detail the nature of our work.....the how, the where, the what, etc....... Again, thank you much for the invite, and giving me an opportunity to share with St. Tim's Parish Community!

With every best wish,
Glen

Reverend Glen P. Baptiste, C.R.
Food for the Poor, Inc.
6401 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
(954)427-2222 ext. 6419
(815) 451-8065 cell
gpb1042@comcast.net

A Letter from the Cristo Rey Columbus President
October 21st, 2011

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart

That St. Louis Jesuit hymn speaks to all of us at times in our lives. It spoke loudly to me one night as I was contemplating a decision to leave behind my law practice and apply to be President of Cristo Rey Columbus. I am humbled to have been given this opportunity to help make this wonderful dream a reality. I am also thankful for the tremendous work and support of the many people who have committed themselves to bring Cristo Rey to Columbus. While we still have work to do, this mission would never even have gotten off the ground without the sponsorship and strong encouragement of Bishop Campbell. Nor would we have made the great progress to date without the generous support of our donors and work-study employers, the leadership of our Board, the energy of our volunteers, and the tireless work of our Program Director, Barbara Brown. God has called us all. We can do nothing greater and nothing less than to answer that call.

All of us have much in common with the freshmen who will be coming through the doors of our school beginning in two years. We are on a journey that will require a lot of hard work and sacrifice, and may have bumps along the way. For us—just like those future freshmen—this school is an opportunity. Having opportunities is certainly better than not having them. But at the end of the day, it is about what we make of those opportunities. All of us—like our students—are going to have to work hard, to persevere, to overcome obstacles, and to give this effort our hearts and souls, our minds, and our hands.

I am confident that we will do everything that needs to be done. In Cristo Rey, we have an amazing model that has worked in 24 other high schools to bring a high quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to economically challenged students of all religious backgrounds. We will create an academically rigorous program, and give our students the tools to succeed in high school and college. The corporate work-study program will provide our students the opportunity to pay for most of their education. It will let them experience professional job settings they would never have had a chance to be part of. Through those jobs, our students will learn first-hand the value of the education they are receiving and the importance of obtaining a college degree. We will make “learning to work and working to learn” a reality in Columbus.

Indeed, we are already well on our way. We have identified our school building. We have received offers from many businesses to be part of our work-study program. We have made significant progress on our fundraising goals. Next year, we will be adding staff and reaching out to the community and our future students. Our Board, volunteers, and supporters will be hard at work to put the final pieces in place for our 2013 opening. In the end, I have faith and confidence that we will make real what our students could barely have dreamed of. We look forward to graduating and sending on to college the future leaders of our community. In doing this, each of us will be, like Mother Teresa, “a little pencil in the hand of God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

Thanks to all of you for your interest and support.

Jim Foley
President
Cristo Rey Columbus High School
(614) 395-1505
JimF@cristoreycolumbus.org

http://www.cristoreycolumbus.org/

http://www.facebook.com/cristoreycolumbus?v=wall#!/cristoreycolumbus?sk=info

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

We will begin a look at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1-2)

Scriptural Scholars have some questions about the authorship of Ephesians and, due to the fact that manuscripts are found that leave out the words “in Ephesus” in the opening address of the letter, they have doubts about the community of believers to whom the letter is addressed. This means, in short, that in the first instance, it might be that the letter was not done by Paul himself and it may not have been sent in the first place to the Ephesians. The opinion has been expressed that the author was a disciple of Paul and that the letter was sent to several different Church communities as a sort of “Circular Letter.”

Having said this, it is nonetheless possible to associate it with Ephesus, since at least some early copies “belonged” to the Church in Ephesus. The custom of sharing Paul’s Letters was clearly developed very early, since we have a Pauline Corpus, namely, the Letters attributed to Paul and the anonymous Letter to the Hebrews. Letters by Paul himself or by his disciples represent the earliest forms of writing among Christians about their Faith in Christ. Ephesus was one of the major centers of Christianity, associated with many figures familiar to us in the New Testament. Timothy’s Ephesus was Christian Community at its beginnings after the move from Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.

The first words of the Letter to the Ephesians (and to all Christian Faithful) place at the heart of the discussion God’s Call to discipleship, the Universal Call to Holiness, and the centrality of Faith in the formation of Community. Grace and Peace, that is, Covenantal Hesed and Shalom, are presented not simply as customary greetings, but as an expression of a living relationship with God in Christ. The Apostle is addressing the Community of Believers in order to speak to them of Faith and to invite them to grow in their understanding and commitment to the Gospel that they have been living for some time. We can easily accept what is written as addressed to us as well. We are called to live in Communion with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, pursuing a life of Holiness and Confident Faith as the Church alive in the world today.

How well do you know Saint Timothy?

At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy. Test your own knowledge about the Saint. Each week, a question or two will be put in the bulletin. You’ll have to come back next week to get the answer!

Fill in the Blanks:

St. Timothy was born in _______________ in modern day _________________.

His father was _______________ and his mother’s name was _______________;

his grandmother was _________________.

He became a companion of _______________, who called Timothy his own

beloved _______________.

A Word From Your Pastor February 5

2012-02-05T05:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Last weekend, as you know, the Parishes of the Diocese of Columbus and Catholic Parishes around the country shared an invitation to you to participate in the process of government by contacting your legislators about an issue of great importance, namely, the right to religious liberty and to live in accord with our conscience.

Our Constitution guarantees us the right to “free exercise” of our religion.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

We are called upon by our Bishops to respond through prayer and by the exercise of our duty as citizens. The Internet makes it possible to study the issue and to contact our civil officials very simply. Use thes web links:

For Bishop Campbell's Letter read at all the Masses last weekend:

http://www.colsdioc.org/Portals/0/Departments/COM/Documents/Bp.%20Campbell%20letter%201.29.12.pdf

For further information:

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/preventiveservicesbackgrounder-3.pdf

The U.S. Bishops' general website highlights the issues of importance:

http://www.usccb.org/.

Follow the links and you will be sending messages to those who can work to guard the Constitutional rights that are being ignored.

The Catholic Church in our time has highlighted in a particular way the responsibility of her Lay Members: the charge to take the Gospel to the Nations, that is, to make the secular holy. This means being in the world, but not of the world. It also means allowing the Church and her teaching authority to offer us insight into the Word of God and its application to the problems of our time.

All Men and Women of the Parish are invited to participate in the conferences that will be held in a few weeks to build up the Body of Christ. Fathers and Sons, Mothers and Daughters: join other members of the Church to hear the Lord’s Call.

The Women’s Conference will be February 25: http://www.columbuscatholicwomen.com/.

The Men’s Conference will be March 3: http://www.columbuscatholicmen.com/.

Our Parish will experience a Parish Lenten Mission in the intervening week, February 26-29. Mark your calendar now and keep this week free for a spiritual experience you won’t soon forget.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

We have completed a journey through the Scriptures of the New Testament that explicitly mention St. Timothy. This has given us a deeper understanding of our patron. Now we will begin to reflect on a few more Scriptures that may be implicitly associated with St. Timothy, although he is not mentioned by name. It is clear from Church Tradition that our Heavenly Patron was identified as the first Bishop of Ephesus. So, those Scriptures that mention Ephesus and the Ephesians can offer insight into the Community associated with St. Timothy.

The first of the Letters to the Seven Churches found in the Book of Revelation is to the Church of Ephesus.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this:

" 'The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:

"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

"Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God.' " (Revelation 2:1-7)

Some commentators suggest that the “angel” mentioned in each of the Letters is the local episkopos, or bishop, the one who is responsible for leadership in the Community addressed. In the case of Ephesus, tradition indicates that this would be Timothy.

John is writing the Letters and the Visions of the Book of Revelation from the Island of Patmos, where he has been exiled. In writing to Ephesus, he is writing to a community he knows very well, since he and the Mother of the Lord were residing there together before the Assumption. He will eventually be able to return there and to die there himself, and to have his first tomb there. (Later, his relics were taken to Constantinople and at the time of the Crusades to Rome.)

This message is to be taken in the context of the whole Book of Revelation, and along with the details of the letters to the other churches. It is an encouragement to perseverance and patient endurance under persecution. It is also a promise from the Risen Lord that the Gift of the Resurrection will bear fruit in the lives of those who hold fast to Faith.

At the same time, however, we may see the message as a personal appeal from the Lord through John to Timothy and his community. With that perspective, it brings into relief the fact that Timothy is now at an advanced age. He is no longer the young man who was charged by Paul not to let others look down on him because of his youth. Paul is gone, having been martyred in Rome. John, who himself was the youngest among the Apostles and now is an old man, is now in exile. In a short time, John will be restored to Ephesus, where he will die peacefully at home.

Timothy, perhaps inspired by this letter’s charge and remembering his mentor Paul’s efforts to proclaim Christ among the pagan Ephesians, will be martyred, being clubbed to death by revelers on the pagan feast of Katagonia, when he tries to turn the crowd from their raucous worship of the goddess Artemis. He hears the call of the Spirit to renew his youthful zeal and he joins the Apostles in their witness to Christ. Under St. Timothy’s patronage, we pray that we may also renew our zeal for the freedom that belongs to us in Christ.

A Word from Your Pastor January 29

2012-01-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

As you have heard, our former Pastor Fr. Thomas Shonebarger passed away January 6, 2012. He had experienced quite a number of years of poor health and was on dialysis three days a week. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend his funeral at St. Mary’s in Lancaster since I was away on vacation at the time. We will have a special Memorial Mass for Fr. Tom at St. Timothy Church on Monday, February 6, at 6:30 p.m. It is a tradition to remember our beloved dead the first month after their death in a Mass known as the “Month’s Mind.”

My own first assignment as a priest in the Diocese of Columbus was at St. Mary’s in Lancaster, which was Fr. Tom’s home parish. So I had the opportunity to get to know many of his family members of multiple generations.

Throughout the years of my priesthood, I have followed behind Fr. Tom in three different assignments: both Fr. Tom and I had the role of Diocesan Director of Vocations, and we both served as Pastor at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Newark, and at St. Timothy Church in Columbus. I got to know Fr. Tom both personally and by way of the fruits of his ministry in the various communities I also served.

There is one other detail worth noting: Fr. Tom Shonebarger and I had the same birthday (August 23rd). He had it before I did, of course. When I was Director of Vocations, Fr. Tom was still the Chaplain to the Columbus Serra Club downtown. The Serrans would host a picnic for the priests which took place on or around our common birthday. Fr. Tom would tell them it was my birthday, but he would not let me tell them it was his as well.

The Columbus Serrans will be present at the Memorial Mass. Perhaps some members of the parish would be interested in becoming Serrans in order to honor Fr. Tom and to pray for and to promote Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Greet Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Try to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you. (II Timothy 4:19-22)

As St. Paul ends his Second Letter to St. Timothy, his greetings and directions become very personal. The names of various Christians who worked with them in their mission of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean world are mentioned in a manner that suggests a real depth of communion.

The Erastus mentioned in Corinth was a likely the public official whose inscription can be read amid the ruins of old Corinth to the present day, indicating that Christianity appealed to members of every social class. Paul’s appeal to Timothy to visit him before winter also gives us a sense of his desire to see his younger companion.

The final words of the letter are familiar to all of us through their frequent use in the Liturgy. “The Lord be with you – And with your spirit!” is newly on our lips, pointing back across two thousand years of Christian history. “Grace be with all of you” likewise crosses the ages and invites us to acknowledge the grace of God at work in us forming us as a community of believers united in mind and heart.

A Word from Your Pastor January 22

2012-01-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

A day that lives in infamy! January 22, 1973, represents a date when our nation forgot itself and chose to relinquish its duty to protect innocent life in the womb. We have not yet awakened from this madness. There are no winners in this battle until our eyes are opened once again.

We are a Church of compassion, and all who have been affected by this unilateral decision by the Supreme Court to change the law of the land are in our prayers.

We remember the mothers whose lives have been forever changed by the loss of their children by this act of violence against them and their sons and daughters in the womb.
“In Ramah is heard the sound of sobbing, bitter weeping! Rachel mourns for her children, she refuses to be consoled for her children—they are no more!” (Jeremiah 31:15 – quoted in Matthew 2:18, at the death of the Holy Innocents in Bethlehem.) Healing is possible. God is a God of forgiveness and love and the Church reaches out in many ways to comfort them.

We remember the fathers of the children who are no more, especially those who had no voice in the fate of their little ones and those who were the coerced the act. We remember grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters, classmates and friends who never came to know their companions due to the world’s refusal to allow them to enter.

We remember all those who are confused by the world’s values and by their own blindness in the face of fear, greed or disrespect for the value of life itself. We hold all these, and our nation, in prayer, as we ask God for a way to overcome this evil in our world.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (II Timothy 4:17-18)

St. Paul acknowledges that his life and the life of every Christian involve a battle, a struggle with the world that rejects Christ. He notes also that the Lord is the source of his strength as he works to fulfill his own ministry of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles. Many times he faced the threat of death. At the moment he writes, he is aware of the fact that he will continue to face such a threat. He is confident that whatever the outcome, the Kingdom awaits him. The mention of the Heavenly Kingdom leads Paul to acclaim a doxology, a word of praise for God’s glory.

This is a model worth imitating. When we experience the trials and tribulations that are part of life, especially part of the life led in proclamation of the Gospel, we ought to keep our hearts fixed on the glory that lies ahead in the Kingdom.

The new English translation of the Mass has a reference to this text that may not be known because it is not heard by the people. When the priest receives the Host, he prays, “May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.” Similarly, when he receives from the Chalice, he says “May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.”

A Word from Your Pastor January 15

2012-01-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

This weekend, we once again welcome some priests from the Pontifical College Josephinum to assist with some of the Masses. We are grateful to them for their willingness to assist us in the parish in addition to their duties with the seminarians. They bring a richness of experience and their Faith serves to build us up.

The first Reading at Mass today highlights the call of Samuel the Prophet. He is a young boy when he first hears the call, but he does not yet understand that it is the Lord Who is speaking to him. This image is often all too apt for our own experience today. Have you taught your children to listen for the voice of the Lord as they discern their own vocation? Parents and others need to invite the next generation to know the Lord, and to give the answer that Samuel learns to give: “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.”

As we wind down from the Christmas Season, it is not too early to make plans for Lent, which will arrive February 22. Our Parish will be experiencing a Lenten Retreat, starting with the First Sunday of Lent, and going through Wednesday. So, please, mark the dates from February 25-29 on your calendar now. Watch the bulletin for details, but make sure not to plan any Parish or School events those days. There will be an evening session from Sunday to Wednesday. Our children will also be participating, both in the School and through PSR. This is our Jubilee Year. Let it be a year of growth in Faith for you and your family.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Try to join me soon, for Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! (II Timothy 4:9-16)

As St. Paul comes to the close of his letter to St. Timothy, he offers some rather mundane and practical comments. This indicates the sort of friendship he had with Timothy. They shared ministry with many fellow workers in the vineyard. Paul is ready to share his frustrations, even naming those who are the source of some of his current difficulties.

We ought not to judge those mentioned as “enemies” too harshly, since it is clear that Paul often patches up his disagreements with individuals as the years go on. The mention of Titus recalls the fact that Timothy and Titus now share a Feast day, January 26. Luke is, of course, the beloved physician of Gospel and Acts of the Apostles fame. Mark is likewise the Gospel writer, who was part of the disagreement that separated Paul from Barnabas in missionary journeys. Paul seems to have been a lot of trouble to folks in the trades of working with metals (especially precious metals), which were often used to create statues and shrines to the pagan deities he denounced. It is of interest to note Paul’s request for some practical items: his cloak, left in Troas, where he first heard the call to take the Gospel to the West, and papyrus documents and parchments, likely scrolls of the (Old Testament) texts used to proclaim the fulfillment of God’s plan through Jesus Christ. Timothy is obviously one whom Paul trusted to attend to such matters on his behalf. He is also a friend who could sympathize with Paul and pray with him about his difficulties. We who have Timothy as our patron would do well to be such friends to those who walk with us on the journey of Faith.

A Word from Your Pastor January 8

2012-01-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Since Advent had a full four weeks, this year our Season of Christmas has a quicker ending. The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord is usually the Sunday after Epiphany. Instead, this year, it is observed on Monday, January 9th. Some religious communities will hold onto Christmas until February 2, the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas, since candles may be blessed at Mass that day. I think it is a mercy of the Church Universal to give us at least a few weeks of Ordinary Time before we plunge into the next great cycle of Lent-Easter-Pentecost.

The Mysteries of Christ are so rich that we need to have time to “unpack” them. Today’s Solemnity of Epiphany actually has three moments of the Life of Jesus in view: the Coming of the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan by John, and the Wedding Feast of Cana, when Jesus performed the first of His Signs in the Miracle of water made wine. These moments have in common the revelation of the glory of Jesus.

The Magi remind us that Jesus is the Light of the Nations. The Baptism makes known that Jesus is the Son of God and the Bearer of the Spirit. And the Wedding Feast of Cana is the first hint of the Hour of Christ’s Glory, which will be manifested through His Cross and Resurrection. If we keep these Mysteries in mind in a glance of Faith from the Heart, we can come to realize Who Jesus Is.

As we return to Ordinary Time for a few weeks, we carry the Mysteries within us.

This week, both Fr. Bill Faustner and I are away for some vacation time. Fr. Jim Wehner, rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum, will be filling in for several Masses during the week and next Saturday. Show him the usual St. Timothy welcome, and be sure to introduce him to those who may have a vocation to priesthood. The next generation will have priests only if we teach our sons and grandsons how to hear God’s Call.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. (II Timothy 4:6-8)

St. Paul’s Second Letter to St. Timothy brings with it a sense of pathos, an acknowledgment that Paul is at the end of his earthly journey. He looks back over his “career” as an Apostle, and with humility, is able to note that he has stayed true to his course. As he anticipates his reward, there is also a sense that he knows that for Timothy and those under his leadership, the journey still continues. Paul wants his life, nearing its goal, to be an encouragement to them on their own journey. Longing for the Appearance of Christ, that is, His Second Coming in Majesty and Glory at the end of Time, is an attitude that can be shared by each generation.

As we observe our Golden Jubilee, we must also see that it is important for us to pass on the dream to the generations to come. Who we have been finds its true meaning in who we become as individuals on the path to glory, and who we are as a community of believers who share our Faith with others. The Parish remains ever young in the Faith, even as we mature in our capacity to put the Gospel into practice and to teach it to our children.

A Word from Your Pastor January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

A Blessed New Year to all! As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, we are invited to put God first in our lives as Mary did. When our priorities are straight, everything else falls into place. We may not realize this simple truth until we put it into effect, but it is written into our very bones. Mary is the model human being who puts her entire life, body, mind and spirit, heart and soul, at God’s disposal. “Let it be done to me according to Your Word” (Luke 1:38) is the attitude she lives. Her life is proof that God is trustworthy and faithful to His Promises, and that human beings become their best selves through free and willing cooperation with God’s grace. “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you….” (Luke 1:35) Let Mary’s example serve to call you to make a resolution to put God first in your life in the coming year and for your whole life.

As we move into a new calendar year, remember that we are still in the 50th Jubilee Year for St. Timothy Parish. When you have your first meetings of the year, look at your own calendar of events and see what can be highlighted as part of the Jubilee. Be sure to assign someone the responsibility of writing up a description of your organization and its history in the life of the parish for use in a Parish Jubilee Directory. Make up a comprehensive list of your past leaders and of members through the years. Honor those who are still with you from the earliest days of your group’s existence. Don’t let the year pass you by.

One resolution we can make as a parish is to live more truly our own Parish Mission:

“United in the Body of Christ, we strive to promote the greater glory of God
through a spirit of welcome and willing service to our brothers and sisters.”

(Adopted by the St. Timothy Parish Pastoral Council February 25, 2010.)

To help us on our way, we join together in our Parish Prayer:

To the King of ages, the immortal, the invisible, the only God
Be honor and glory, forever and ever! Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)

May 2012 be our best year ever!

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. (II Timothy 4:1-5)

St. Paul does not shrink from laying the burden he has carried on those who seek to follow his example. He writes to St. Timothy in his role as leader in the Christian Community in Ephesus, and he charges him do accomplish the task assigned to him with boldness and zeal. Proclamation of the Word, perseverance in the face of hardships, exhortation of others, and teaching the Truth are the duty of anyone who is sincere in the desire to follow the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks Gracias Merci Grazie Danke

Fr. Tim Hayes and Fr. Bill Faustner thank all who have sent cards and gifts and food items to us at the Rectory for Christmas. You show great hospitality to guests and take good care of your priests. We are most grateful for all that you do and are for us and for St. Timothy Church. May God bless you for your many kindnesses!

A Word from Your Pastor December 25

2011-12-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners and Guests for Christmas and to those in the Blogosphere:

The Lord be with you! And with your spirit!

This is the new language of the Liturgy for Catholics which you now hear at all the Masses. The most recent change was instituted the First Sunday of Advent 2011.

At St. Timothy Church, we were privileged to have Bishop Frederick Campbell with us for the first use of the new English form of the Mass on the occasion of the Opening of our Parish Golden Jubilee, at the Saturday evening Mass, November 26th. Now we are living in this special time of reminiscing and celebrating. The parish observance will continue throughout 2012. Our School will celebrate its Jubilee 2013-2014.

We are happy to have all of you with us as we experience our Jubilee Christmas. Your presence is a reminder to us that God is with us and that Salvation is for all. We hope you will feel at home at St. Timothy Church and know that we keep you in our prayers throughout the year. We invite you to a greater involvement in the life of our Parish and School. We have come a long way in our 50 years as a Parish and we can go further if we work together.

Blessings to you and your family for the Christmas Season and for the New Year!

Rev. Timothy M. Hayes, Pastor
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:14-17)

St. Paul’s Letters to St. Timothy are an invitation to all to discover what God can accomplish in a Christian Community when there is cooperation with His grace. In these verses, Paul reminds Timothy of the centrality of the Word of God in the life of the Christian. The Sacred Scriptures (in this case, the Jewish Scriptures) are available to assist in the proclamation of Christ and for exhortation to a holy way of life in accord with God’s call.

We who have both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospels, Paul’s Letters and all the other texts of the New Testament must be ever aware of the riches shared with us through the Bible. God has breathed His Word into the sacred texts in order to train us in the Way of the Gospel. “The Word became man and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)

The new version of the English Mass serves to help us see the connection of the whole Mass with Sacred Scripture. Every prayer is an outgrowth of Scripture. Many of the prayers in the new form can easily be recognized as a living use of the texts on our lips in the act of worship. We have been equipped by the Scriptures we read and prayer every good work that has been entrusted to us by God.

A Word from Your Pastor December 18

2011-12-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Christmas is coming! We have a full four weeks of Advent this year with Christmas on a Sunday. Let this be to your advantage. Live the time of anticipation and waiting to the full. Open your heart to the Lord and invite Him to make use of you and your family to reveal His Presence in the world. Take the time to think about the Reason for the Season. Read the accounts of Jesus’ Birth from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke as if you have never heard the Story before. Make plans to enter fully into Christmas next weekend.

Heartfelt thanks to all who participated in last week’s Penance Service. We had a good crop of sinners for the eight priests who worked with them. It was obvious that grace and mercy were flowing. Confession is good for the soul. It clears the spiritual pores and allows baptismal grace to do its work in us. I was truly a proud Pastor as I saw how many came, how many approached the Sacrament, and especially how many stayed to pray with and for their brothers and sisters until the prayer of thanksgiving and the final blessing. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” was sung with gusto.

I have one more favor to ask for the Season: Please fill up all the Masses of Christmas, especially those on Christmas Day. Many have the custom of participating in the first Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m., and then the number of attendees dwindles as the Mass times go on: 7:00 p.m. Vigil, 10:00 p.m. “Midnight” Mass, and 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Christmas morning. This year, we need the strong voices of our usual weekly Mass-goers to assist our annual guests with the new English responses. If you plan to attend the Vigil Mass, come again to at least one of the other Masses. For Christmas, you are able to receive Holy Communion again at a second Mass.

There are four distinct Masses of Christmas: the Vigil, Midnight, Dawn and Day, each with different prayers and readings. The Incarnation is celebrated by the Church’s Liturgy in high style. It is truly worthwhile to experience all that the Church has to offer at this special time. Let’s join the effort to put Christ and Mass back in Christ-mas.

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, persecutions that I endured. Yet from all these things the Lord delivered me. In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. (II Timothy 3:10-13)

St. Paul is not afraid to admit the struggles he experiences in his witness to Christ. He recalls them with emotion, but not with self-pity. Rather, he is able to see the action of the Lord in delivering him “from all these things.” He sees clearly, and reminds St. Timothy, that all who want to follow the Lord will have the same experience. There are two ways: the way of those who seek to follow Christ, and the way of the wicked.

Our life as a Parish Family is meant to be a living witness of the “teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,” that Paul and Timothy put into practice. When we undergo hardships, especially the persecutions and suffering that come from our efforts to put our Faith into practice, we are in good company. We can be sure that we are on the right track when we experience such struggles and we can put our trust in the God Who calls us.

CHRISTMAS MASSES AT ST. TIMOTHY CHURCH, COLUMBUS

Christmas Eve – December 24
5:00 & 7:00 p.m., Vigil Mass: Family Unity
10:00 p.m., Solemn Mass at Night: Light in Darkness
Christmas Day – December 25
8:00 a.m., Christmas Mass at Dawn: Let us go to Bethlehem
10:00 a.m., Christmas Day Mass: The Word Made Flesh

Note: No 12:00 p.m. Mass for Sunday, December 25, 2011

Feast of the Holy Family, Friday, December 30
9:00 a.m., Family Blessing after Mass

Solemnity of Mary, January 1, 2012

Usual weekend Schedule: Saturday, 5:00 p.m.;
Sunday, 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

A Word from Your Pastor December 11

2011-12-11T17:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

The readings of Advent are so rich! If we would only allow our hearts to be open to their message and to respond with the kind of Faith that witnesses to the Truth of God-with-us!

Can you hear St. Paul’s words to the Thessalonians as addressed to you personally?

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The One Who calls you is faithful,
and He will also accomplish it.
(I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

This past week, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which reminds us that God can get to the basic goodness that is in our human nature and allow it to shine forth. This coming week, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which reminds us that Heaven is concerned with our land and the Faith of little ones. Soon we will enter more profoundly into the Mystery of the Incarnation, the wondrous Gift of Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God Who takes our human nature to Himself.

Our Parish will experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week through a Penance Service on Wednesday, December 14. Now is the time to allow the Spirit of God to give you the Peace that only God can give. Will you embrace the holiness that is yours by right through your Baptism? Will you allow Jesus Christ to touch you with His Healing Mercy so that you may entirely, spirit, soul and body, become free from sin by the grace of the Sacramental Absolution available to you through Confession?

God is Faithful. He proves this again and again. He can make us faithful as well, but only if we respond to the invitation to grace. God is faithful to what He promises. He has said it and He will do it. Will you allow Him to do what only He can do?

We will have several priests with very compassionate hearts available to offer you the Mercy of God at the Penance Service on Wednesday. Please come and bring your friends and enemies. Children, bring your parents and grandparents. Promise them you will clean your room if they clean theirs!

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them.

For some of these slip into homes and make captives of women weighed down by sins, led by various desires, always trying to learn but never able to reach a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so they also oppose the truth--people of depraved mind, unqualified in the faith. But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be plain to all, as it was with those two. (II Timothy 3:1-9)

The “last days” began with the Incarnation and especially with the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. St. Paul reminds St. Timothy and his community that the struggles in the pagan world and the persecutions they are experiencing are all part of the terror of the last days. But something is more terrible than these outside troubles: sin that comes from a selfish and self-centered heart does more damage to souls than anything else

Paul’s list of attitudes and behaviors present in the last days makes a good “examination of conscience” for all of us: Are we “self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to our parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” and do we “make a pretense of religion but deny its power”? Can we see ourselves in those who opposed Moses, when he came to deliver his people from bondage in Egypt?

Sin is defeated by Faith. Putting Faith in God means being willing to be led to knowledge of Truth. The truth of ourselves as sinners in need of God’s Mercy is the most basic Truth of all.

A Word from Your Pastor December 4

2011-12-04T08:33:00.001-08:00

A Word from Your Pastor

Dear Parishioners:

We have arrived! Our Golden Jubilee has been the occasion for many wonderful encounters and announcements. The gathering last weekend was truly an experience that revealed the wonder of what God can do with willing hearts. Thanks go out to all who were part of the celebration and we look forward to all that will go on as the year unfolds.

One of the best bits of news that we were able to share last weekend is the fact that we have completed repayment of our Loan from the Diocesan Parish Aid Fund for our new facility and the upgrades to the church that took place in 2000. The “tearing up of our mortgage” (not a burning because it took place indoors!) allowed us to acknowledge that the Parish no longer owes an outside debt. In our 50th Year, “we owe nothing to anyone except the debt of Love.” The largest amount that we owed the Diocese at any one time was One Million, Nine Hundred, Sixty-Four Thousand, Five Hundred, Ninety One Dollars & 33 cents. As of September 30, 2011, we no longer have a loan from the Diocese.

A Large Check displays the largest amount of our Parish Debt

A Certificate from the Diocese of Columbus, signed by the Bishop
and by the Diocesan Director of Finance, acknowledges we are Paid in Full

The repayment of the debt was made possible this Fall by two major donations, one in the form of a challenge gift, along with the monthly Campaign envelopes, that covered the remaining principal. We still “owe ourselves” the funds that were used from “parish coffers” (the weekly stewardship collection and parish reserves) to cover the interest. So the campaign continues “in house” and the funds still being collected on the pledges made are still needed. As was mentioned, we still have some projects of building improvement that incoming funds will be used for. But the wonderful news we can delight in is that the mortgage is ended and for the second time in our parish history, we are free of outside obligations. Heartfelt thanks to all the benefactors who have made this possible. Special kudos are due to Msgr. John Johnson who saw to the most recent debt retirement efforts. May God bless him and all involved in the Campaign for St. Timothy!

Congratulations are also due to the People of St. Timothy Parish for their transition to the new Roman Missal and the new form of English used in our Liturgy. Bishop Campbell himself went on record in the Columbus Dispatch telling the world that we were well prepared. The enthusiastic “And with your Spirit” that met his Apostolic Greeting “Peace be with you” was a sign that we are where we need to be. In time, we will be as familiar with the new form as we have been with the one we have been using. Blessings to all of you!

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

In a large household there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for lofty and others for humble use. If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for lofty use, dedicated, beneficial to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart. Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed quarrels. A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to their senses out of the devil's snare, where they are entrapped by him, for his will. (II Timothy 2:20-26)

The call to be mature is given to all who seek to grow in Faith. St. Paul addresses Timothy and his community with the charge to set aside youthful ways of acting and to put into practice the virtues that go along with the Life in Christ: righteousness, faith, love, and peace. We are to be among those who call on the Lord in purity of heart. This reminder is fitting for our community as well as we enter into a new phase of our life as a Parish. We are a people of welcome, faithfulness, and service. This can deepen if we set our sights on the Truth that comes from God and the teachings of our Church.

A Word from Your Pastor November 27

2011-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Happy Golden Jubilee! Happy Advent!

We have reached a truly memorable time for our Parish. From this weekend onward we begin the celebration of 50 years as a community entrusted with the mission of living the Gospel together as a family. We are called to rediscover our roots and to renew our commitment to live as a witness to Jesus Christ in the world today. We welcome Bishop Frederick F. Campbell and all who join us this weekend to share in our joy.

The beginning of Advent invites us to look with joyful Hope toward the Coming of Christ in Glory at the end of the ages. Our celebration of the Rite of Welcome for the Catechumens and Candidates who are part of the R.C.I.A. is a reminder that we are a growing community and that our Faith is meant to be shared.

The start of the use of the English translation according to Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal calls us to deepen our understanding of the Mass and to pay closer attention to the depth and meaning of the Liturgy we celebrate as the Church.

As we attend to all that this weekend brings, let us renew our commitment to be the Family of Faith we are called to be. It is fitting to call to mind our Parish Mission Statement: “United in the Body of Christ, we strive to promote the greater glory of God through a spirit of welcome and willing service to our brothers and sisters.”
(Adopted by the St. Timothy Parish Pastoral Council February 25, 2010.)

May the years ahead continue to form us as a People open to God’s Love and ready to share it with the world. Blessings on all who have brought us to this day, and blessings to all who will be part of our life in the years to come!

Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation. Avoid profane, idle talk, for such people will become more and more godless, and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have deviated from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place and are upsetting the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription, ‘The Lord knows those who are his’; and, ‘Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord avoid evil.’” (II Timothy 2:14-19)

The Lord knows those who belong to Him. St. Paul does not hesitate to name names of those who, at the moment he is writing, are forgetful of their call. We can pray that Hymenaeus and Philetus and others whose names are immortalized as worthy of Paul’s wrath had a conversion of heart. St. Timothy and his community at Ephesus no doubt took to heart the warning and stood solid in their Faith and in they adherence to the teachings they had received.

The foundations upon which the Church is built are solid. As we enter into our Golden Jubilee, we acknowledge the pillars of Faith still among us. We also humbly thank God for the privilege of being members of a community of Faith entrusted with the task of proclaiming God’s invitation to belong to Him. May we always live in awareness of this relationship!

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The Mass is a tremendous gift that is often taken for granted. The change in the English version that we will experience at the beginning of Advent will challenge us to pay close attention to what we say. It is an opportunity to renew our understanding of the depth and meaning of the Liturgy. This effort to understand also serves to call us to a deeper attention to our prayer outside of the Mass.

All the forms of prayer that Christians experience must flow from and prepare for a worthy celebration of the Mass. It is important to realize that Mass is the highest form of prayer, because it is the prayer of Christ Himself. In these last weeks before we begin to make use of the new Roman Missal, we can prepare by looking into the forms of prayer that make up our daily lives.

There are four primary ways of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Supplication is the most familiar form of prayer. Perhaps the simplest expression of this prayer is one word: “Help!” It is the cry of the heart that knows we cannot accomplish anything without God. We look to our limitations and to God’s overflowing Goodness, and we ask for what we need.

There are two forms of supplication: personal requests for need, wants and desires, and intercessions for the sake of others. Either form puts the prayer in the form of an acknowledgment of some lack that we beg God to fill. Many of the prayers of the Mass are in the form of supplication.

In the presidential prayers (the prayers expressed by the priest who is presiding over the celebration of the Mass), particular graces and mercies are sought on behalf of the assembly. We are present at a certain moment and we express our desire that God be God for us, filling us with the gifts that are identified by the particular readings and prayers of the Mass being celebrated now. The General Intercessions, also called the Prayer of the Faithful, are prayers by the Body of Christ for the Church, the World and the particular community gathered at Mass.
This form of prayer is an exercise of the ministry of the priestly People who have the capacity to lift up the needs of our time and to ask for the salvation Christ won for us.

In our preparation for Mass, it is fitting to bring with us the awareness of the needs of those we live with and work with. Our prayers are the action of Christ on behalf of His People. The Liturgy of the Hours includes such prayers at Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Personal prayer is often focused on this form of prayer. In the Mass, all such prayer is united to the Heart of Christ, Who gave His Life on the Cross in supplication for humanity.

A Word from Your Pastor November 20

2011-11-20T05:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Next weekend will truly be a banner weekend in the life of our Parish Family. So many things are happening of great note for St. Timothy Church that it is hard to keep up with them!

The formal opening of our Golden Jubilee will take place as we welcome Bishop Frederick Campbell to our parish on Saturday evening. The dedication of our Rosary Prayer Garden, Mass, Dinner, and a look back on our Parish History will highlight the graces and blessings we have received in our 50 years.
The First Sunday of Advent will bring the promulgation and first use of the new English version of the Mass. With the new Liturgical Season, we will enter into a new Church Year.

We will also celebrate the Rite of Welcome for the members of our R.C.I.A. group, those who are preparing to become Catholic at Easter. This year’s group is overflowing. (Is anyone hearing God’s call to serve as a sponsor for a new Catholic? Contact Rita Feige – the need is great!)

This weekend, we are witnessing a step forward with our 8th Grade Students in our School and PSR, as they make their commitment to enter into the time of special preparation for their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

All of these events are a sign of the life and vitality of our Parish Community. As we experience them, we need to be sure that we are reaching out to all who are with us. Have you taken the time to welcome a new member? If there is someone you don’t know sitting near you in church, take the initiative and introduce yourself. Say, how long have you been at St. Tim’s? You may be meeting a long-time member (we still have many Founding Members among us) or someone new to the community.
As we welcome many guests next weekend, let us show them the renowned St. Timothy Parish hospitality. May our life together be a little taste of the Kingdom for all!

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (II Timothy 2:11-13)

The Paschal Mystery is the heart of the Christian Life. St. Paul reminds St. Timothy that the Gospel that he has heard is the Truth. Christ’s Life, Death and Resurrection belong to us. If we embrace the dying, we shall also receive the gift of living a New Life. Our cooperation with His Grace will lead us to the Kingdom, where we shall reign with Christ.

Paul makes clear that it is a matter of choice. Faithfulness to Christ means standing with Him in the face of a hostile world. Our fidelity will be rewarded, but it is always possible to lose our place by our failure. Nonetheless, Christ is ever faithful, claiming us as His own.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The Mass is a tremendous gift that is often taken for granted. The change in the English version that we will experience at the beginning of Advent will challenge us to pay close attention to what we say. It is an opportunity to renew our understanding of the depth and meaning of the Liturgy. This effort to understand also serves to call us to a deeper attention to our prayer outside of the Mass.

All the forms of prayer that Christians experience must flow from and prepare for a worthy celebration of the Mass. It is important to realize that Mass is the highest form of prayer, because it is the prayer of Christ Himself. In these last weeks before we begin to make use of the new Roman Missal, we can prepare by looking into the forms of prayer that make up our daily lives.

There are four primary ways of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Thanksgiving is the heart of the Mass. Eucharist means Thanksgiving. In the act of giving thanks, we acknowledge that all we have and are comes from God. We accept the gifts that we have received precisely as gifts, not as something we have earned. We turn to the Giver and enter fully into the relationship that is offered. The Communion that is established through the act of giving thanks opens us to a greater capacity to receive and to share freely what God has given to us.

The attitude of thankfulness is one of humility. It is part of a heart that is open, ready to be filled. Such an attitude must be cultivated. Every moment that leads up to the celebration of the Mass, and every moment that comes after the Mass is ended must be seen as preparing for the supreme act of Worship, Christ’s rendering Thanks to the Father, and as flowing from that one supreme act that unites Time and Eternity. In the Mass, this becomes one single reality and we are taken up to experience the Heavenly Liturgy with all the Saints and Angels, who give God thanks and glory.

A Word from Your Pastor November 13

2011-11-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

As time goes on, I hope to share some notes from my Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Timothy and St. Paul. This will be an ongoing part of our Parish Golden Jubilee.

The heart of the journey was some time at Ephesus. According to tradition, this ancient city was the location where much that we take for granted as our Christian heritage came to fruition. Many of the figures of the early Christian community spent some time there. Quite a number of our Scriptures seems to have originated from there. For us, the fact that our Patron St. Timothy was the first Bishop of Ephesus is significant. Tradition also tells us that St. John the Apostle and the Blessed Virgin Mary had a home there together.

Footsteps Pilgrims at the House of Mary in Ephesus

On the grounds of the House of Mary, there is a Franciscan monastery. Our pilgrim group had a lovely Mass there and all of you were held in prayer in a special way.

House of Mary and Statue in Monastery Chapel
Notice the St. Timothy Parish and School Directories
at the foot of our Blessed Mother

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. (II Timothy 2:7-10)

When many of us were young, we heard three words from the good Religious Sisters who taught us: “Offer it up.” They would give this advice in response to any situation where there was an experience of pain or suffering. St. Paul’s words to St. Timothy offer this model. Paul is able to acknowledge that there is a purpose and meaning to the hardships he experiences for the sake of the Gospel. He is confident that his sufferings are beneficial for those to whom he preaches.

Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, raised from the dead and a descendant of David, and yet, those who receive the Gospel also have a share in bringing salvation to others. We are called to remember this, especially when we feel constrained by the world around us. The Word of God is never contrained.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The Mass is a tremendous gift that is often taken for granted. The change in the English version that we will experience at the beginning of Advent will challenge us to pay close attention to what we say. It is an opportunity to renew our understanding of the depth and meaning of the Liturgy. This effort to understand also serves to call us to a deeper attention to our prayer outside of the Mass.

All the forms of prayer that Christians experience must flow from and prepare for a worthy celebration of the Mass. It is important to realize that Mass is the highest form of prayer, because it is the prayer of Christ Himself. In these last weeks before we begin to make use of the new Roman Missal, we can prepare by looking into the forms of prayer that make up our daily lives.

There are four primary ways of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Contrition is an attitude of realism concerning our own sinfulness. We are sorry for our sins, not for fear of punishment (that is attrition), but because we are aware of the harm our sins cause and because we love God and do not wan to offend Him.

In our worship, we must first express our sorrow for sin and ask for God’s Mercy. True worship of the Living God can only be given by a contrite heart. The Mass begins with an expression of sorrow.

The Confiteor is our confession of sin and our acknowledgement of our need for God to put us back in right relationship with Him and with the Church. Our cry of “Kyrie, eleison; Christe, eleison; Kyrie, eleison” is a call for Mercy. The expression of God’s Mercy by the priest is a reflection of what happens in the Sacrament of Penance through absolution.

“I am sorry” is an expression that is healing in human relationships. “Please forgive me” is said as an act of humility that creates room for growth and renewal among human beings who have hurt one another. This is also true in relationship to God.

An examination of conscience precedes confession of our guilt before we approach the Sacrament of Penance. We would do well to approach Mass with a similar self-examination, to discover our attitudes and to ensure that we are properly disposed toward this act of worship.

During Mass, there are moments of silence that invite us to recognize our need for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Before receiving Holy Communion, we ask the Lord “but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Opening our hearts to God, being truly contrite, we allow Him to bring us to the transformation that brings salvation and forgiveness of sin.

A Word from Your Pastor November 6

2011-11-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

We have entered into the month of November in full force. All Saints Day and All Souls Day at the start of the month remind us of our Communion with those who have entered into the Paschal Mystery and into the embrace of God. Thanksgiving and the Opening of our Golden Jubilee at the close of the month will remind us of our connections with our families and our parish community through the years. In all of these observances, we acknowledge one wonderful simple truth: we are not alone. We are never alone. God is with us, and, as a gift, He has invited us to share communion with one another.

Among the many insights that were part of my recent Pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece was the simple realization that we are all connected in surprising ways. As we were departing, news of the wild animals on the loose in Muskingham County was literally going world wide. The whole world, for a moment, had its eyes on central Ohio. We met many who remembered the story as we explained where we are from…. Similarly, the demonstrations and protests in Greece were in the headlines as we headed toward that part of the world. While we were in Turkey, on the West Coast, the Eastern part of Turkey experienced a devastating earthquake, giving concern to families and friends at home. (We were on the opposite end of the country and did not experience anything.) Facebook and the internet allowed for contact with folks all around the world to share our pilgrim journey and to let everyone know we were okay.

The gift of our Christian Faith with its awareness of Who God IS as the Holy Trinity, a Community of Persons united in Being and in Love, opens us to a dimension of Reality to us that allows us to see the unity that is possible among human beings across cultural divides. It offers us a sense of hope about the future and a confidence in God in the present moment, whatever our circumstances.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well. Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. To satisfy the one who recruited him, a soldier does not become entangled in the business affairs of life. Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner's crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crop. (II Timothy 2:1-6)

St. Paul’s love for St. Timothy is like that of a father for a son. He calls Timothy to be the best person he can be and to share with others what he has received from Paul. Grace is the gift of God’s own relationship with us, a source of strength and commitment that bears fruit the more we rely on it.

Paul’s images, taken from the reality of life in the first century, are still very familiar: from the military, from athletics and from farming. Keeping order in society, taking recreation and entering into competition, and providing food from the cultivation of the earth are all human activities that remain constant. God works through the ordinary, and so Paul is able to encourage Timothy by appealing to the ordinary experiences of the people of all ages. Bearing hardship (no pain, no gain), following the rules, and being rewarded for one’s labor point to the practical application of the Gospel. Paul invites Timothy to do what he himself has done. We too have the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel and teaching others to do the same.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The Mass is a tremendous gift that is often taken for granted. The change in the English version that we will experience at the beginning of Advent will challenge us to pay close attention to what we say. It is an opportunity to renew our understanding of the depth and meaning of the Liturgy. This effort to understand also serves to call us to a deeper attention to our prayer outside of the Mass.

All the forms of prayer that Christians experience must flow from and prepare for a worthy celebration of the Mass. It is important to realize that Mass is the highest form of prayer, because it is the prayer of Christ Himself. In these last weeks before we begin to make use of the new Roman Missal, we can prepare by looking into the forms of prayer that make up our daily lives.

There are four primary ways of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Adoration is prayer of praise. In our daily prayer, we ought to praise God for Who He IS. This form of prayer is the most unselfish. It is utterly directed toward God. We acknowledge God as God and focus our attention to Him for Himself, not for anything we may get from Him.

We express adoration through psalms of praise, through hymns and songs, and through shouts of joy. When we enter into praise, we are taken out of ourselves and our tendency to put our own needs and desires at the center of attention. To adore God means to give God His due, to glorify Him and to acknowledge that He is first in our priorities. Praise of God allows us to see that our relationship with God is at the heart of things.

In the Mass, we are part of the Sacrifice of Praise, through which Jesus Christ acknowledges His Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus lifts us up through His Risen and glorified Human Nature to share in the very Life of the Trinity. Our own prayer of praise disposes us to enter into this Movement.

The Mass has many expressions of praise: the hymns and songs that are present throughout the Mass, the Gloria, the Responsorial Psalm, the Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation, the Sanctus and the Doxology.

In our life of prayer, let us praise God for His Glory!

A Word from Your Pastor October 30

2011-11-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

As you celebrate the Masses of this weekend, my Pilgrim journey will be coming to its close. If all goes well, our group should arrive back Sunday evening. We will have a day that lasts more than 24 hours and will have negotiated two flights and the hassle of customs and return. But no doubt we will be able to take all of these in stride because our journey has been a Pilgrimage.

Do you know the difference between a Tourist and a Pilgrim? A Pilgrim can never complain. To whatever happens along the way, the Pilgrim says “Deo Gratias! – Thanks be to God!” and seeks to hear a message from God through the experience.

The Pilgrimage that I have been part of was created to serve as an “entry” into our time of Golden Jubilee, since it is “in the Footsteps of St. Timothy and St. Paul.” We are all under the patronage of St. Timothy, the companion of St. Paul.

The heart of the Pilgrimage was Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as First Bishop. Two Apostles lived and worked there, St. Paul and St. John. According to tradition, it was there that St. John also cared for Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The Community of Ephesus received several Letters from St. Paul, the Letter to the Ephesians, and I and II Timothy. Ephesus was also one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse to receive a Letter from the Risen Lord through St. John as he was in exile on the Island of Patmos. Our own parish family is called to put into practice the life that was shared by that first generation of Christians. We are a witness to the Truth of the Gospel in our time.

In the weeks ahead, I am sure that we will benefit from the experience of the Pilgrimage. May we continue to grow in our understanding of the life we share in Christ and may our witness serve to draw others to hear the call of the Gospel.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. You know that everyone in Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus because he often gave me new heart and was not ashamed of my chains. But when he came to Rome, he promptly searched for me and found me. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. And you know very well the services he rendered in Ephesus. (II Timothy 1:13-18)

St. Paul is a realist. He knows the score and the consequence of accepting the call to follow Christ. He also knows that what enables the disciple of Christ to persevere is the inward commitment to hold fast to the Truth and the discernment of those who are allies in the witness of Faith.

Paul charges Timothy and the members of the Church of Ephesus to live by his example and by what he taught of Christ when he was with them. He also shares with them, naming names, how some fellow disciples scored in the manner of support they showed for him in his hardships experienced on account of the Gospel. Some deserted him, but one went out of his way to be of help.

In the life of the Church today, we often hear of those who fail to live up to their responsibilities. We must also give credit where credit is due for those who are faithful witnesses and those who encourage us with their support. Who has helped you to live in fidelity to the call of the Gospel?

Reflections on the Liturgy:

As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.

The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.

The Sending Forth from the Mass is expressed in Closing Rites that are rather simple and straightforward. The Priest gathers the Community together for the Prayer after Communion. Announcements concerning the life of the Parish Family are made. The Final Blessing is given. Then, the Deacon or Priest call out the Dismissal. As the Ministers process out, a Closing Hymn is sung. Thus, the Mass is ended.

Just as the Collect or the Opening Prayer at the beginning of the Mass draws the Community into one spirit for worship, the Post-Communion Prayer summarizes the grace that has been received through the act of worship and allows the Community to stand in awareness of the Unity that has been experienced.

When Announcements are made, it is a reminder that the assembly newly confirmed in grace by the Eucharist now has a job to do. All that we do as Church flows from our Eucharistic Worship. The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Life in Christ. Some may find this moment tedious or somehow “unworthy” of the action we have experienced together. But in truth, it is the very consequence of the Incarnation we come to understand more deeply through the Eucharist. Christ is with us in the ordinary reality of our lives. We are now to put into practice the Mystery we have experienced in a way that brings Christ to the world.

The Final Blessing corresponds to the Sign of the Cross that began the Mass. On special occasions and in particular seasons and feasts, a Solemn Blessing or Prayer over the People may accompany the Priest’s Blessing. How sad it is that many tend to duck out before receiving the Blessing!

The Dismissal Proper is the very rite that gave the name to the Mass: “Ite, Missa est.” The Deacon or Priest at this moment is the voice of Christ, Who has sent His disciples into the world. This formal act is our commissioning to be Christ to the world and to carry away to those who are awaiting the Good News that we have heard and tasted in the Mass.

Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:

Do you take advantage of time after receiving Holy Communion for silent prayer and an act of thanksgiving? As the Presider prays Prayer after Communion, do you join in with the rest of the Congregation with a lifting of your mind and heart to God? Do you listen to the words being prayed and allow them to direct your own thoughts and reflections of the heart?

As the Announcements are being made, do you respond to the invitation to participate in the life of the Parish Community? Do you think about how your family can be involved or who else might benefit from the events and activities being described? Are you an active member of any of the Parish groups? Do you make sure that your own group or organization is in communication with the wider Parish?

When the Blessing is given, do you bow your head and do you make a “full-body Sign of the Cross”? Do you resolve to put into practice what you have received through the Mass?

Do you hear the Lord’s Call as the Dismissal is proclaimed? Do you and your family maintain an awareness of the fact that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, by allowing it to continue as a day of prayer and leisure, with true quality time as a family?

Are you called to be a member of any of the Parish groups or organizations that assist with the life of the Parish and School? Have you and your family chosen a group to which you will belong or that you will keep in your prayers? Do you have one “world concern” to which you devote time and prayer as an individual and as a family, serving as a leaven of the Gospel in the world? Does any major world crisis or problem move your heart to compassion and call for your involvement in the search for a solution? Are you and your family a living sign of the truth of the Word and Sacrament you have received?

A Word from Your Pastor October 23

2011-10-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

This week, I am continuing my journey on a Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Timothy and St. Paul. The day-by-day itinerary for this week is included for you to join us in spirit and in prayer.

Day 5: Sunday, October 23: Canakkale/Kusadasi
The most favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum. Christianity reached the city very early and the Church was praised for its forbearance during hard times. In Pergamum, Rome executed the first Christians. Towering 1,000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular Panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As we pass through the Royal Gates, we will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. We will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library, which once held 200 thousand parchment volumes. We will see the remains of the Temple of Trojan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium and the Health Center (Aesclepion). We will also catch a glimpse of a three-storey fountain built by Titus. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 6: Monday, October 24: Kusadasi – A Banner Day!
Our Visit to St. Timothy’s See Drive to nearby Ephesus to visit the site of the Temple of Artemis. Paul spent two years in Ephesus and it was to this community that he might have written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Paul implored the Ephesians to cease their worship of Artemis and to turn to Christianity. Saint Timothy accompanied Paul in the second and third journey and was with him during his first imprisonment. Paul left him as Bishop of Ephesus. We will see the great theater where Paul addressed the crowds and visit the site of the scene of the riot from which Paul escaped. Visit the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Visit the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Tomb of St. Luke. On August 18, 1961, Pope John XXII proclaimed the House of Mary at Ephesus to be sacred.

Day 7: Tuesday, October 25: Kusadasi/Patmos
Transfer to the pier at Kusadasi to embark on a three-day cruise of the beautiful Greek Isles. After setting sail from Kusadasi a few hours later, we will arrive at the island of Patmos, where St. John received the mystical Revelation, which forms the last book of the New Testament. You may wish to visit the island on your own or take an optional excursion to the Grotto of Revelation and the 11th century Monastery of St. John which houses the original script of the Gospel.
Day 8: Wednesday, October 26: Rhodes This morning, we will arrive at the island of Rhodes, which is characterized as the “Jewel” of the Dodecanese islands. It enjoys an exceptionally mild climate and receives by far the lion’s share of visitors. It combines all that is needed in a holiday island; beaches, nightlife, culture, scenery, greenery and comfort. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes have been declared a World Heritage Site.

Day 9: Thursday, October 27: Heraklion, Crete/Santorini –
A Visit to the See of St. Titus
This morning, we arrive in the port of Heraklion on the island of Crete, the southernmost of the Greek Isles and the legendary birthplace of the Greek god, Zeus. Heraklion, the capital of Crete and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations. After visiting Crete, we will set sail and arrive on the island of Santorini, one of the most beautiful islands on the Mediterranean. You’ll have your choice of several optional excursions, but, Santorini is easily done on your own. Take time to explore this gorgeous island and stroll through its quaint winding streets and whitewashed alleys and enjoy the local flavor of its many cafes and tavernas.

Day 10: Friday, October 28: Piraeus/Athens
This morning, we will dock in Piraeus and disembark from our cruise. Drive to nearby Athens and visit the world-renowned Acropolis and the ruins of the Parthenon and Ecrectheum. We will view Mars Hill where Paul was brought before the council so that they may hear more of the doctrine he preached. Then drive around the city of Athens to see the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Presidential Palace. Then head over to the National Archeological Museum for a guided tour of one of the world’s greatest museums. In the afternoon, we will drive along the scenic coastal road and follow fairly the same route that the St. Paul took to the ancient city of Corinth where he preached and lived for nearly two years. St. Timothy also came with Paul to Corinth to preach. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. We’ll celebrate Mass in Corinth before returning back to our hotel.

Day 11: Saturday, October 29: Athens
This morning will be free for personal activities. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive along the coastal road, which affords splendid views of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens’ most beautiful suburbs to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th Century B.C. Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day, you can see at least seven islands). This evening, there will be a special farewell dinner in one of the restaurants on the Plaka.

Day 12: Sunday, October 30: Athens/U.S.A.
Transfer to the airport to catch our return flight home.

Next weekend, as my pilgrim journey is ending, Fr. Bill Faustner will be assisted by Fr. G. William Fischer, OSFS, who is representing the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. This organization offers a concrete way to reach out to children an older adults around the world to help them experience a better life. Fr. Fischer will not be taking up a collection, but will make available materials that invite you to participate in the work of the Foundation.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to His own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher. On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. (II Timothy 1:6-12)
Faith is a gift from God. It is not something earned or won. It is pure gift. God is generous with this gift, but once it is received, it must be nurtured. St. Paul invites St. Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift he received. In this context, it is the gift of leadership bestowed on Timothy for the sake of the community, namely his ordination as priest and bishop, as well as his faith.

The Gospel brings hardship. Paul is clear that he is willing to bear his own troubles for the sake of the Gospel and he calls Timothy to take up his own burdens with a positive spirit and with trust in the strength that God supplies. Knowing his own place as Apostle, and his own experience of God’s grace and His faithfulness to those who proclaim the Gospel, Paul charges Timothy to be confident in his own response to the Lord.

As we become ever more aware of the Gospel in our own lives, we are invited to fan into flame the gift we have received and to put our trust in the Lord that He will strengthen us in our witness. Suffering and hardship are often our lot, but we know God has a purpose and that He will keep us safe. We know Him in Whom we have believed and we may be confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to us until the Day of the Lord.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.
The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.
The Holy Sacrifice, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, is the heart of the Mass. All that comes before leads up to it, and everything that follows flows from it. The Gathering and the Hearing of the Word are intended to prepare us to enter into the Sacred Mysteries. Through the Eucharist, we have a living experience of the Incarnation, the Presence of God among us, and of the Paschal Mystery, the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Risen Lord gives us Himself, under the species of bread and wine, and He leads us through His Passion to a taste of the Glory that is His in the Kingdom.

With the Preparation of the Gifts, we experience the presentation of our lives to the Lord, taking the form of the bread and wine brought forward along with the collection that represents our gift of self, our stewardship of the gifts we have received. We acknowledge the Sacrifice that takes place before us, our entry into the Mystery of Calvary through the Sacramental celebration that the Lord Himself established the night before He died.

The Preface Dialogue and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) carry us into the Heavenly Worship that includes the Angels and Saints, drawing us into the Tabernacle not made by human hands. The Eucharistic Prayer proclaims the action of the Holy Spirit and of Jesus Christ Himself, which unites us in one solemn act of Worship of the Father.
The very Mystery of Faith is enacted before us on the earthly altar and we are made present through Christ at the Altar in Heaven. An exchange takes place: earthly forms take on the very reality of Eternity. The Risen Lord gives us Himself as Food. The Eucharist is Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, that is, in the fullness of His Person made incarnate and risen and ascended into Glory.

The Communion Rite prepares us to receive the Eucharist. We pray the prayer our Savior taught us, daring to call God Abba, Our Father. We seek reconciliation and express our unity in the Sign of Peace. We acknowledge our reliance on God Himself to make us worthy to receive Him. Then, we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. Our Communion is a Communion in the Sacred Things. “Holy Things to the Holy!” Hymns of praise and meditation express the solemnity of the actions we perform at this moment. A time of silence allows us to unite our hearts, minds and souls to the Lord Who dwells in us through the Sacrament of Unity.

Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:

Do you fast for an hour before you receive Holy Communion? Do you examine your heart to discover whether there may be sins that need to be confessed and forgiven through the Sacrament of Penance before presenting yourself to the Lord in the Eucharist?
Do you show the Eucharistic Lord the reverence He is due by genuflecting toward the Tabernacle as you enter the church? Do you keep an attitude of silence in church, before, during and after the celebration of Mass, remembering that the church is God’s sanctuary?

Do you participate in the Eucharistic action by uniting yourself with the gifts that are brought forward? Are you and your family returning to the Lord a portion of the treasure you receive through the collection? Do you act as a steward of all you have received, your time, talent and financial possessions? Do your join in the songs and responses of the Liturgy of the Eucharist with full voice?
Are you attentive to the action that takes place on the Altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist? Do you unite yourself in spirit to the Lord Who sacrifices Himself for us, turning toward the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit, giving the Father praise and honor and glory? Are you caught up in awe by what the Lord accomplishes on the altar?

As you come forward to receive Holy Communion, do you ensure that your mouth is empty (no gum or candy or anything else being eaten)? Do you bow your head before receiving the Host or the Cup? If you receive the Host in the hand, do you create a throne and lift the Host reverently to your mouth?

Do you return to your seat and kneel or sit in the awareness that the Lord of Glory is now in your very body and in your fellow worshipers? Do you take the opportunity in silence to make an act of thanksgiving?

Are you or someone in your family called to become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass or in service of the Sick and Homebound? Would you be able to assist in the service of the Altar in some way, as Altar Server, Sacristan, or in the care and cleaning of the church? Do you feed the hungry in body and spirit in response to the Lord’s gift of Himself as spiritual Food for you?

Day By Day on my Pilgrimage

2011-10-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

Friends:

To join our Pilgrim Group day by day, check out this link:

http://www.sttimothyparish.net/Bulletins/Day%20by%20Day%20and%20Scriptures%20to%20read.pdf

Blessings on all pilgrims!

A Word from Your Pastor October 16

2011-10-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

This week I will be departing on a Pilgrimage that is, for me, a special part of my preparation for our Parish Golden Jubilee. As Pastor of St. Timothy Church, I am carrying you with me in heart and mind to the See of Timothy, Ephesus, and on a pilgrim journey to the places where Our Heavenly Patron exercised his ministry at the side of St. Paul as Christianity was first beginning.

Over the next couple of weeks, I am sharing with you the day-by-day itinerary of the pilgrimage so that you can join me and my fellow pilgrims in spirit. You may want to read through the Acts of the Apostles with the sections about Timothy and Paul’s travels. The Letters to the Ephesians and I & II Timothy and the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation might also be texts that send you in spirit where we will be visiting in person.

Day 1 Wednesday, Oct. 19: Depart U.S.A.
Our spiritual pilgrimage begins as we depart on our transatlantic flight to Istanbul. We will fly to New York and then directly to Istanbul.

Day 2 Thursday, Oct. 20: Istanbul
Upon arrival in Istanbul we will be met by our guide who will give us a brief orientation of the city before driving to our hotel.

Day 3 Friday, Oct. 21: Istanbul
Our morning begins with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This basilica dedicated to Divine Wisdom has a history dating back to the Fourth Century and we almost touch the birth of the Christian Church. Next visit the architecturally superb Sultan Ahmed’s famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Then in the afternoon visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, where we will view the Treasury and the world’s biggest emerald. Proceed to the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered market in the world where over 4,000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold.

Day 4 Saturday, Oct. 22: Istanbul / Canakkale
This morning we will visit some famous World War I sites along the Marmara Sea. We cross the Dardanelles and time permitting will visit ancient Troas or Troy. St. Timothy spent sometime here with Paul. Proceed to Canakkale for overnight.

Day 5 Sunday, Oct. 23: Canakkale / Kusadasi
The most favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum. Christianity reached the city very early and the church was praised for its forbearance during hard times. In Pergamum, Rome executed the first Christians. Towering 1,000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular Panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As we pass through the Royal Gates, we will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. We will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library, which once held 200 thousand parchment volumes. We will see the remains of the Temple of Trojan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium and the Health Center (Aesclepion). We will also catch a glimpse of a 3-storey fountain built by Titus. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Next weekend, in my absence, we welcome Fr. James Wehner, rector of the Josephinum to assist Fr. Bill Faustner with the weekend Masses. Be sure to give him a warm welcome, and don’t believe him if he tells you he is the new Pastor. Perhaps some of our young men from High School are ready to speak to him about the possibility of entering the Seminary for College. At least let him know that you are thinking about it!

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. (II Timothy 1:1-5)

Faith is best shared through the reality of family life. When we come to Faith through the witness of members of our own households, it is “written” into the very fibers of our being. As St. Paul opens his Second Letter to St. Timothy, he calls to mind the familial bonds that nurtured Timothy’s faith. Lois, his grandmother, and Eunice, his mother, were Jews who had opened to the understanding of Jesus as the Messiah, presumably through the preaching of St. Paul.

The affection Paul has for Timothy, and his touching account of the emotions shared when they were last together serve to offer a wonderful vision of the power of Faith to unite us as true members of a common family. Any who have ever been away from someone they love will recognize the longing Paul mentions. The sense of interior communion, expressed through the constant prayer, is a consolation during the time apart. The acknowledgment of shared Faith is also a source of solace. Hope for future opportunities to see one another in person provide a motivation to put Faith into practice.

The witness of Faith across the generations is needed in order for it to grow. Many families lack this cohesiveness. Note that Paul does not mention the Faith of Timothy’s father. From Acts of the Apostles, we know that Timothy’s father was Greek, that is, not Jewish. Whether he ever chose to embrace the Faith of his wife and son is not known. Nonetheless, the witness of Eunice and her mother Lois, along with the teaching and companionship of Paul, work together to give Timothy a solid foundation for his own Faith. Paul expresses his gratitude to God and claims Timothy as his own “dear child.”

Reflections on the Liturgy:

As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.

The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.

The Word of God is spoken to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Liturgy of the Word is our act of Worship, hearing the Word proclaimed so as to bear fruit in our lives. In the context of the Mass, the Word of God, taken from the Sacred Scriptures, is presented to us in order to enliven the response of Faith. We hear and so we are able to believe. Believing, then, we are now made capable of living the Word.

The First Reading is taken through most of the year from the Old Testament, at certain times and on some feasts, from Acts of the Apostles or the Book of Revelation. The text is selected in most cases for its connection to the Gospel. The Responsorial Psalm is an adequate response to God’s Word, because it is taken from God’s Word in the Book of Psalms. The Second Reading is from the Letters of the Apostles. The Gospel follows a three-year cycle, in a continuous reading over the Sundays of the year, covering most of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, with John filling in some Sundays and special feasts.

The Homily is meant to bring the hearers to an understanding of the Word proclaimed and to evoke an attitude of praise, preparing for the Eucharistic Worship. The Profession of Faith or the Creed is a common expression of the content of Faith as it has been formulated by the Church. It puts on the lips of those who have just listened to the Word the Faith that is shared by believers throughout the centuries and throughout the world. The General Intercession or Petitions then present the needs of the Church, the World and the local community to God, with confidence that God hears our prayer.

As we enter into the Liturgy of the Word, we are called to open our hearts to the Lord as He reveals Himself to us. This is at once a personal act and a communal act. There is power in the Proclamation of the Word at Mass that is different from a personal, private reading the Scripture texts. This moment calls for an awareness that we are One Church, united across the ages and through the world, as servants of the Word. The fact that all Catholics (and some Protestant communions who make use of the Common Lectionary) are hearing the same Scriptures is a powerful reminder that One Lord speaks to His Church.

An effective celebration of the Liturgy of the Word comes from an adequate preparation for hearing the Word. Reading the texts before Mass, listening attentively, interiorly expressing the Faith and entering into the prayers that are made in the name of the whole Church are all part of a true Hearing of the Word.

The Scripture Readings for Mass are available online for each day of the year at the U.S. Bishops’ Website: http://www.usccb.org/bible/index.cfm.

Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:

Do you prepare to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word by reading the Sunday Scriptures ahead of time? Do you discuss the readings that are proclaimed at Mass with your children and make sure that they understand?

How well do you and your family know the Scriptures? Do you make use of a personal Bible? Does your family have a formal Bible enthroned in a prominent in your home? Do you take time to pray with Scripture? Have you participated in a Bible Study?

At Mass, do you listen carefully to the Scriptures as they are proclaimed? Do you and your family make the responses and gestures that are assigned to the congregation? Have you explained to your children the significance and meaning of the liturgical gestures?

Do you listen to the Homily attentively? Are you able to keep your mind focused and receptive to the Lord’s message to you personally? Do say the Creed with understanding or is it only by rote? Do you bring your own needs and petitions to mind as the General Intercessions are read? Do you pray at home for the needs of the Church, the world and your own community?

Is God calling you or someone in your family serve as a Lector? Is it time for you to attend a Bible Study or to host a gathering of your fellow parishioners to read and share the Scripture together in your home? Is the Lord inviting you to be a Catechist in P.S.R. or R.C.I.A. to bring the Word of God to others?

A Word from Your Pastor October 9

2011-10-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The Gospel is not a solitary game. Right from the start, Jesus sent out His disciples two-by-two, and any who tried to do it on their own were bound to fail. Involvement in the life of the Community of Believers is not an option. Our current culture treats Faith as if it is a “do-it-yourself” construction. Inevitably, we end up creating only a house of cards that will not stand when troubles come.

Those who identify themselves as Catholic are a substantial minority in our society at large, nearly 25%. According to some, the largest group after that is made up of those who identify themselves as former (non-practicing or fallen-away) Catholics. What is the difference? It is simple: involvement in the life of the Parish Community. When folks are involved, they are more likely going to attend Mass. And they are more likely going to be willing to study the Faith.

Next weekend, our Parish will be holding a Ministries and Activities Fair. All the groups and organizations in the Parish and School have been invited to be present. As Pastor, I invite all of you to stop by and to claim your group. If you are already a member, an active participant, then stand by your group’s display and share what your involvement has meant to you. If you are not part of any of the groups or activities and want to be, then sign up. If it is not possible to join, then choose a group that is yours to support from sidelines.

One goal of this year will be to discern how we need to reach out beyond our Parish and School Community to assist others. Let the various Ministries and Activities we share among us lead us to a deeper knowledge and understanding of how we can make ourselves available in the name of the Lord. The responsibility of the Laity in the Church is to work to bring the Gospel into the secular world. We gather together to learn and then we are sent out to serve. How is the Lord calling you and your family to be involved in the work of the Kingdom?

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane babbling and the absurdities of so-called knowledge. By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith. Grace be with all of you. (I Timothy 6:20-11)

The close of the First Letter of Timothy is a reminder to guard the “deposit of Faith.” It is entrusted to us to hold onto in good conscience and to make it available to the world. The babbling and absurdities of the first century are still present in our modern world. Deviation from the Faith happens all to easily when we fail to see the worth of the treasure that has been given to us in our Catholic Faith. God’s grace can help us to persevere in the Faith and to deepen our knowledge of it.

As those under the patronage of St. Timothy, who was charged to guard the Faith, may we all see the gift that has been entrusted to us!

Reflections on the Liturgy:

As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.

The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.

The Gathering takes place as Mass begins. Ushers and Greeters are at the door, setting a tone of welcome. Ministers are signing in at the Sacristy so that we know that all the roles needed are covered. Altar Servers and Sacristans are seeing to the immediate preparation of the Altar and the credence table: the chalice and cups, bread, wine and water, and the other vessels needed, the candles and the books, etc., are all being placed where they belong. Musicians and Cantors are preparing to lead the Congregation in song.

The Assembly is gathering. The best way to attend to this part of the Liturgy is to arrive early. We have a habit of coming at the last minute or even five minutes to half an hour late. Although this may happen from time to time due to circumstances beyond our control, it ought not to be a weekly occurrence. The Gathering Rites are meant to form us as the People of God, united in mind and heart, ready for worship. The opening of Mass prepares us to receive the Word.

Entering the church, using Holy Water and making the Sign of the Cross, genuflecting toward the Tabernacle, and showing an attitude of welcome to “neighbors” in the pews are all acts that we can do consciously, rather than by rote.

The Opening Hymn expresses our unity as the Church, the Assembly called into being by God. The procession of the Priest and Ministers is our welcome to Christ in the various ministries and functions He Himself performs through us.

The Penitential Rite allows for an attitude of humility, acknowledgment of our awareness of our need for forgiveness and of the Lord’s Mercy. The Gloria, which is used on Sundays in Ordinary Time, Christmas and Easter, and on Feasts and Solemnities, is our joining with the Angels in their Eternal Song of Praise to the Holy Trinity. The Collect or the Opening Prayer allows for a moment of silence for the members of the Congregation to join their own spirits in the prayer of the whole Body, and then brings to expression the purpose and meaning of this particular Assembly.

Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:

How do you ensure that you are ready for the celebration of Mass? Are you regularly on time? Have you considered the possibility of arriving early and developing a readiness by reflecting on the needs of your family, the Church and the world for which you will pray during Mass?

Do you call to mind your Baptism when you make use of the Holy Water at the door? Do you help your little children make the Sign of the Cross? As you enter the pew, do you make a full genuflection (unless you are unable to do so)? Do you commune in spirit with the Lord, Who is present in the Tabernacle?

When others come into church, do you make it possible for them to join you in the pew if there is room by moving toward the center? As the Mass begins, do you sing the Opening Song and participate with your voice in the parts of the Mass that belong to the People?

Have you begun to learn the new responses that will be used when Advent arrives? Are you prepared to practice them at home with your children?

Is the Lord calling you or someone in your family to the ministry of Usher/Greeter?

Ministry and Activities Fair October 15-16

We need your help. St. Timothy’s is a warm and welcoming parish at least in part because of our army of volunteers (you may have seen the army in action at Festival Time) but we can be even better with your help. Stop in after Mass on October 15 or 16 and have a cup of coffee and see what it’s all about. Bring the kids too, we have donut holes. For most of the ministries and activities, the time commitment can fit even the most busy schedule.

A Word from Your Pastor October 2

2011-10-02T07:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

At the Wednesday School Masses, things seem to find their simplest expression. This past week, the readings taken from the feast for St. Wenceslaus included the admonition from the First Letter of Peter: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” (I Peter 3:15) Our efforts to educate our children in the ways of Faith are for this purpose: to enable them to give the reason for their hope so they may be sustained in the practice of the Faith in the days ahead.

What are the Catholic reasons for Hope? From God’s perspective, there are two: Christmas and Easter, that is the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery. From the Church’s perspective there are one and seven: The Word of God in Sacred Scripture and the Seven Sacraments.

Can you articulate your reason for Hope? God is with us and He enables us to get through all our struggles. The life we share through hearing God’s Word and through the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders, gives us the certainty of Faith that we have the means required to enter into the Kingdom.

Our children need to learn this in School and PSR. But even more, they need to see it lived out by their parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches and friends of all ages. This means that all of us need to get our priorities straight: God first, and all our other interests secondary to the practice of our Faith in God.

The cry of the heart I have heard most as a priest is that of grandparents whose adult children are not practicing their Faith. They wonder about their efforts to teach the Faith by sending them to Catholic School or CCD and all the sacrifices they made while their children were young. They are most concerned about their grandchildren, whose parents may be consenting to their attending a Catholic School or participation in PSR, but whose lives do not teach that God is first.

As a community of Faith, we need to find a way to invite those who are lax in their practice of the Faith to re-discover its meaning and truth. We also ought to be comfortable with speaking about our Faith to those who have never heard about Christ and His Church. How are you preparing yourself to give an explanation of the reasons for your hope?

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life. (I Timothy 6:17-19)

The world changes through the ages, but human nature remains rather constant. What is considered “wealth” has had different forms, but in every age, attachment to earthly possessions is a distraction from what is most real. We are certainly permitted to enjoy the good things of the world, but a generous spirit and a willingness to share has to be part of that enjoyment, or we have only this world in mind.

The life that is true life is the Life to Come, that is, the Kingdom of God, Life Eternal in the heart of the Trinity, but it is also a life that we can begin to live in Time. We are meant to be rich in our understanding of Who God IS and the treasure of Faith that is ours through the life of the Church.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.

The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.

Preparation before Mass begins starts at home and, in fact, during the week before. Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:

How do you plan your participation in the Mass? Are you obedient to God’s Command to worship Him every week (one of His Top Ten!) and the Church’s precept that you participate in the Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation (one of the Six Precepts of the Church). Do your children know that Mass is a serious obligation by how you commit to fulfilling your responsibility to attend? Do they realize that for a Catholic Family Sunday Mass is not “optional”?

Do you and your family have a “usual” Mass that you attend? Is your Sunday structured with God in mind first, or do you arrange your choice of Mass around your own schedule? Do you let someone else set your agenda for Sunday, or do you give God primary attention? What is your reason for coming to Mass?

A Word from Your Pastor September 25

2011-09-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Last weekend we had a lively visit from Fr. Jim Wehner, Rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum, here to assist while Fr. Bill Faustner was away for vacation. Although I did not hear his homily myself, I heard from a number of parishioners as I met them at the door after Mass that they found Fr. Wehner very easy to hear (just like Fr. Bill, who has no need of a microphone to get his message through). There was much the same reaction last summer to the presence of our Seminarian Intern Vince Nguyen.

I do hope that every member of the parish really got the message that I have been preaching and that Vince Nguyen shouted in word and action, and that Fr. Wehner repeated as an extra announcement: our Parish is due to make a return on the Church’s investment of priestly service among us. Fr. Wehner suggested that “all unmarried men over the age of 18 can sign up for the Seminary in the vestibule after Mass.” This may overstate the call just a bit, but it makes the point that we need to be supportive of the reality of vocational discernment. It was gratifying to see many stop to greet Fr. Wehner and I made it a point to introduce him to some of our high school students who are looking toward their College prospects.

The Pontifical College Josephinum is a real option to be considered. Some may have heard that a former religion teacher at Watterson, Shane Ball, is at the “P.C.J.” for Pre-Theology, and his position at the high school has been taken by Deacon Byron Phillips, who is on staff at the Josephinum as well. In other words, real people we know make this kind of a decision to “check it out.”

The Tuesday Morning Bible Study was speaking on the topic of Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life and St. Timothy Parish this week as well. We have come up with just two names of members of our parish who have responded to the call to Consecrated Life: Brother David Henley who is a member of Glenmary Missioners, and Tom Rea, who became a Deacon. Do you know either of these former parishioners or their families? Do you know of any others who have taken vows or been ordained who have roots in our Parish? We want to be sure to invite them to take part in our Jubilee and to assist in the effort to remind us all of our Call to Holiness in every Vocation.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen. (I Timothy 6:11-16)

The Call that comes from God is addressed to every human being. We who are Christian and Catholic have the privilege of having heard the Gospel and of being pledged to a witness of its truth and its power. Through Baptism and Confirmation, we have made “the noble confession” of our Faith. It is now our responsibility to hold onto what we have received and to do all we can to share the Gift of New Life in Christ with others.

Many have stood as witnesses for us: our godparents and sponsors, our parents and all who have walked the way of Faith before us. We are to serve as witnesses for others and to bring them to a knowledge of the truth.

St. Paul charges St. Timothy as a “man of God” and holds out before him and us the example of Jesus Christ. What we have learned from Christ we are to put into practice and to pass on to those who have yet to hear it.

In giving Timothy the charge, Paul is drawn into a hymn of praise to the God Who has made Himself known in Christ. When we respond to God’s Call and live our Noble Profession of Faith before the world, we too are caught up in an experience of this glory.
“To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.”

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/roman-missal/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/

Accommodation to New Conditions (Continued and Conclued)

14. Moved by the same desire and pastoral concern, the Second Vatican Council was able to give renewed consideration to what was established by Trent on Communion under both kinds. And indeed, since no one today calls into doubt in any way the doctrinal principles on the complete efficacy of Eucharistic Communion under the species of bread alone, the Council thus gave permission for the reception of Communion under both kinds on some occasions, because this clearer form of the sacramental sign offers a particular opportunity of deepening the understanding of the mystery in which the faithful take part. [Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 55.

15. In this manner the Church, while remaining faithful to her office as teacher of truth safeguarding "things old," that is, the deposit of tradition, fulfills at the same time another duty, that of examining and prudently bringing forth "things new" (cf. Mt 13:52).

Accordingly, a part of the new Missal directs the prayers of the Church in a more open way to the needs of our times, which is above all true of the Ritual Masses and the Masses for Various Needs, in which tradition and new elements are appropriately harmonized. Thus, while many expressions, drawn from the Church's most ancient tradition and familiar through the many editions of the Roman Missal, have remained unchanged, many other expressions have been accommodated to today's needs and circumstances. Still others, such as the prayers for the Church, the laity, the sanctification of human work, the community of all peoples, and certain needs proper to our era, have been newly composed, drawing on the thoughts and often the very phrasing of the recent documents of the Council.

Moreover, on account of the same attitude toward the new state of the present world, it seemed that in the use of texts from the most ancient tradition, so revered a treasure would in no way be harmed if some phrases were changed so that the style of language would be more in accord with the language of modern theology and would truly reflect the current discipline of the Church. Thus, not a few expressions bearing on the evaluation and use of the earthly goods of the earth have been changed, as have also not a few allusions to a certain form of outward penance belonging to past ages of the Church.

Finally, in this manner the liturgical norms of the Council of Trent have certainly been completed and perfected in many respects by those of the Second Vatican Council, which has brought to realization the efforts of the last four hundred years to bring the faithful closer to the Sacred Liturgy especially in recent times, and above all the zeal for the Liturgy promoted by Saint Pius X and his successors.

The General Instruction makes clear two central points: First, the Liturgy we celebrate is the Liturgy of the Church that is available to the People of God in every time and place. There is unity, continuity, and coherence of the Liturgy as it is celebrated in our time with the very same Liturgy celebrated in other times and cultures. The Councils of the Church do not invent a new reality. Secondly, each age in the life of the Church has its own shape and the Liturgy, as a divine reality expressed through human forms, can freely adapt itself to the time under the guidance of the Church.

Offering the Faithful the opportunity to eat and drink of the Eucharist under the form of bread and wine, is a fuller sign of a sharing that is permissible in our time. Deeper insight into the goodness of Creation and an awareness of modern ways of expression are also given consideration in the way prayers are formulated. This has truly been the custom of the Church and of the People of God from the earliest days.

Tradition is not merely a repetition of the past, but rather it is a forward movement of handing on the Faith with a real understanding. “Everything that is received is received according to the mode of the receiver.” Passing on the Faith means being able to express it and experience in forms that fit those who are today coming to know the truth of Christ and the Salvation He won for us through His Holy Sacrifice. The Sacred Liturgy is the most powerful moment of union with Christ our Savior this side of Eternity.

This completes our reading of the Introduction of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

A Word from Your Pastor September 18

2011-09-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Last weekend, I was away for a family wedding. It took me to the middle of Pennsylvania, and the return trip allowed for me to make a stop on September 11 at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA. As it turned out, I was there just as the President and his retinue were departing. I waited with many other Americans who chose to be there that day as the invited guests streamed out, wondering when we would be able to enter the grounds. Suddenly, we saw three helicopters lift up and depart and the guards stepped aside to allow us to go in.

Site of the Crash of Flight 93, Memorial Wall and Bells, Shanksville, PA

It was truly a moving experience to see the signs of honor given to those who lost their lives. An amazing number of media personnel were still on the grounds getting their pictures and giving their wrap-ups to what had gone on before. Americans of all backgrounds were also on the scene to show that we remember the sacrifice of those who have gone ahead of us.

This past week, we saw a gathering of St. Timothy Women for a potluck. As an honorary (dues-paying) member, I was able to stop in as things were wrapping up. It was clear that everyone had a good time. Although for several years now we have not had an active “Women’s Club” as such, it is clear that all the members are very active and involved. We owe a debt of gratitude to the women of St. Timothy Parish who keep us in business and who make sure that all that used to happen under the umbrella of the Women’s Club still happens. I am sure that the Holy Spirit will tap on someone’s shoulder to take up the task of leadership when the time is right. In the meantime, we thank those who led in the past and we invite those who are feeling the Spirit’s tug to take the risk of stepping forward. Remember, it was a woman who got us all started by her Yes to God when the angel asked her to be the mother of the Messiah.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.

Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. (I Timothy 6:7-10)

Radix malorum est cupiditas is a famous expression, here translated “the love of money is the root of all evils.” St. Paul gives his practical advice to St. Timothy and his coworkers not to set store on the material things of this world. Our current economic woes are the result of a failure to follow this advice at every level of society.

When we put God first in our lives and seek to live a rich interior spiritual life, then the attachments of this world are not as alluring as they used to be. When we see our material possessions as means to a higher end, then they lose their hold on us. Contentment with what we have when our basic needs are met is a real sign of our understanding who we are. Having St. Timothy as our patron, we ought to heed St. Paul’s advice.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Accommodation to New Conditions (Continued)

12. Therefore, when the Second Vatican Council convened in order to accommodate the Church to the requirements of her proper apostolic office precisely in these times, it examined thoroughly, as had Trent, the instructive and pastoral character of the Sacred Liturgy. [Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 33.] Since no Catholic would now deny the lawfulness and efficacy of a sacred rite celebrated in Latin, the Council was also able to grant that "the use of the vernacular language may frequently be of great advantage to the people" and gave the faculty for its use. [Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 36.]

The enthusiasm in response to this measure has been so great everywhere that it has led, under the leadership of the Bishops and the Apostolic See itself, to permission for all liturgical celebrations in which the people participate to be in the vernacular, for the sake of a better comprehension of the mystery being celebrated.

13. Indeed, since the use of the vernacular in the Sacred Liturgy may certainly be considered an important means for presenting more clearly the catechesis regarding the mystery that is inherent in the celebration itself, the Second Vatican Council also ordered that certain prescriptions of the Council of Trent that had not been followed everywhere be brought to fruition, such as the homily to be given on Sundays and holy days [Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 52.] and the faculty to interject certain explanations during the sacred rites themselves. [Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 35:3.]

Above all, the Second Vatican Council, which urged "that more perfect form of participation in the Mass by which the faithful, after the priest's Communion, receive the Lord's Body from the same Sacrifice," [Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 55.] called for another desire of the Fathers of Trent to be realized, namely that for the sake of a fuller participation in the holy Eucharist "the faithful present at each Mass should communicate not only by spiritual desire but also by sacramental reception of the Eucharist." [Ecumenical Council of Trent, Session 22, Doctrina de ss. Missae sacrificio, 17 September 1562, chapter 6]

The call of the Second Vatican Council for the People of God to have a greater awareness of the meaning of the Liturgy and to participate more fully has led to some changes that in an earlier age would have been misunderstood. When others are calling basic tenets of the Faith into question, it is natural to “batten down the hatches.” Hearing the Spirit’s call to the Church to be truly universal, changes now very familiar to us all were made involving the language used in the Liturgy and the People’s participation in the Sacraments more fully.

Prayers in English (our vernacular) and regular reception of Holy Communion are now commonplace for us. The call of the Spirit now is to renew our sense of awe and wonder and to deepen our understanding of the Liturgy. Changes necessary to bring this about are under the guidance and direction of the same Church that has led us through the centuries in other forms and expressions of the same Faith. We have to put our trust in the Spirit to draw us more profoundly into the Mystery we celebrate.

A Word from Your Pastor September 11

2011-09-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The Tenth Anniversary of “9-11” is a significant moment. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news about what was going on September 11, 2001? I recall vividly. The Secretary in the Parish Office at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Newark told me to turn on the television to see what had just happened: an airplane was going right into one of the Twin Towers in New York City. It became obvious very quickly that something of major import was in prospect. I realized that the only thing possible was to call the People to prayer.

I walked over to the Parish School to alert them as to the news, and an aide met me in the parking lot. I passed on to her that I wanted the School to assemble in the church, and we would have some time of Adoration and Prayer together. I sent out an invitation to the parishioners by e-mail and then went to get things arranged in the church. A parishioner who came in told me that the second tower had just collapsed.

The School Children came in and took their places. I exposed the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance and knelt down in front of our Eucharistic Lord. Then I started to lead the children in praying a Rosary. I realized that I was so full of emotion that I needed assistance in leading the prayer, and so I invited one grade at a time to join me in the first part of the Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s and Glory Be’s.

The voices of the children lifted me up and helped me to compose myself in that moment. I had the presence of mind just to say a few words of comfort to those in the church and I invited the children to remind their families that God is With Us. No matter what happens, God will be with us to help us to get through it.

As the day unfolded, I had to drive to visitations for two priests of the Diocese of Columbus who had died. At one point, I saw a lot of cars lined up by a gas station and I wondered what that was all about. It began to dawn on me just what kind of panic we could have. We all remember how some gas stations began to raise their prices right away. In the weeks following, the churches were full and we all talked about the fact that our world had changed forever.

Unfortunately, it seems, we have found our way back to a “normal” that did not hold onto some of the promise of those early days after “9-11.” God is being removed from public discourse, even at “Ground Zero.” We have a responsibility not to let this happen among us. Today of all days, pray for our Nation and for our World.

As we welcome Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of the Diocese of Fort Portal in Uganda, we acknowledge our solidarity with our fellow Christians in Africa and throughout the world. May our response be generous both materially and spiritually as we join in the effort to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Those who are under the yoke of slavery must regard their masters as worthy of full respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not suffer abuse. Those whose masters are believers must not take advantage of them because they are brothers but must give better service because those who will profit from their work are believers and are beloved.

Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain. (I Timothy 6:1- 6)

Our world has always been rather dysfunctional. The society in which we live has major flaws that are beyond our capacity to fix. This was so in ages past and will ever be so. And yet, the Church has an instinct for taking the first steps toward a healing of the breach between who we are now and who we ought to be.

St. Paul writes in many of his letters in ways that are somewhat surprising to us. Here, it is clear that he is not calling into question the social construct of his day which included slavery as part of its approach to human relationships. He accepted the “institution” of slavery, but at the same time encouraged both slaves and masters to behave in accord with the Gospel. This points to a falsehood that seems to underlie many modern approaches to religion. There are some who say that they will not commit to a particular church or denomination because they find all are hypocritical and fail to live the principles they teach. The right response to this is an admission that we are imperfect and caught up in the effects of sin, along with an invitation to be part of the solution rather than opting out.

Some slaves were freed in ages past by masters who came to accept them as brothers and sister in Christ. Eventually, this led to a realization that slavery is incompatible with human dignity. It took centuries for this to take root in society. Religion bears fruit when it is lived sincerely in spite of circumstances.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Accommodation to New Conditions

10. The new Missal, therefore, while bearing witness to the Roman Church's rule of prayer (lex orandi), also safeguards the deposit of faith handed down by the more recent Councils, and marks in its own right a step of great importance in liturgical tradition.

Indeed, when the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council reaffirmed the dogmatic pronouncements of the Council of Trent, they spoke at a far different time in world history, so that they were able to bring forward proposals and measures of a pastoral nature that could not have even been foreseen four centuries earlier.

11. The Council of Trent already recognized the great catechetical value contained in the celebration of Mass but was unable to bring out all its consequences in regard to actual practice. In fact, many were pressing for permission to use the vernacular in celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice; but the Council, weighing the conditions of that age, considered it a duty to answer this request with a reaffirmation of the Church's traditional teaching, according to which the Eucharistic Sacrifice is, first and foremost, the action of Christ himself, and therefore that its proper efficacy is unaffected by the manner in which the faithful take part in it. The Council for this reason stated in firm but measured words:, "Although the Mass contains much instruction for people of faith, nevertheless it did not seem expedient to the Fathers that it be celebrated everywhere in the vernacular." [Ecumenical Council of Trent, Session 22, Doctrina de ss. Missae sacrificio, 17 September 1562, chapter 8]

The Council accordingly anathematized anyone maintaining that "the rite of the Roman Church, in which part of the Canon and the words of consecration are spoken in a low voice, is to be condemned, or that the Mass must be celebrated only in the vernacular." [Doctrina de ss. Missae sacrificio, chapter 9]

Although on the one hand it prohibited the use of the vernacular in the Mass, nevertheless, on the other hand, the Council did direct pastors of souls to put appropriate catechesis in its place: "Lest Christ's flock go hungry . . . the Holy Synod commands pastors and all others having the care of souls to give frequent instructions during the celebration of Mass, either personally or through others, concerning what is read at Mass; among other things, they should include some explanation of the mystery of this most holy Sacrifice, especially on Sundays and holy days." [Doctrina de ss. Missae sacrificio, chapter 8]

The celebration of the Mass in the common language of the people, that is, in the language that most understood, was the norm for the first several hundred years after Christ. First in Hebrew or Aramaic, then in Greek, the Mass was celebrated for many centuries in Latin in the West. Many branches of the Church in the East celebrated in the language of the people. Latin was for a time known by everyone, then only by the learned and by clerics. The challenge at the time of the Council of Trent was the notion that the Mass had no effect if it were not completely understood. In our time, the change to the vernacular, that is the common language, was permitted gradually at first and then with remarkable speed after the Second Vatican Council. It has become clear that participation in and understanding of the Mass in enhanced by this renewed custom.

However, it must be noted that something of the solemnity and awe that were part of the Mass in Latin have been lost. The Church in our day is seeking to regain this while not losing any of the advantage of the use of the common language. We all need to know some of the Latin prayers, just as we still use some of the Hebrew/Aramaic and the Greek. Amen, Alleluia, Marana tha, and Kyrie Eleison, ought to have Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Pater Noster and Agnus Dei right beside them in common grasp of our tradition of Liturgy. Our manner of prayer in English ought to have a solemnity that is different from the everyday usage, so that we may be caught up in prayer and raised to new heights in our relationship with God and His Church. It is to be hoped that our move to a new English version of the Mass will help us in this challenge.

A Word from Your Pastor September 4

2011-09-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Labor Day weekend reminds us all of the importance of work in human life. We live now in times when many people are out of work due to the changes in the structure of society and the fluctuations of the economy. In centuries past, people lived “hand to mouth” because they depended on the weather and the success of crops to feed family and to supply needs. Now we find that many are one paycheck away from disaster or in debt beyond their means on account of their situation of employment or the unavailability of jobs in their areas of training where they live.

Another major difficulty for our time is the fact that we have been taught to identify with our work field so closely that we have hardly discovered any identity beyond our job. The first question we ask after “What’s your name?” is “What do you do?” expecting the answer to give us information to know who a person is. When someone is out of work or when retirement comes, many go through a great struggle of identity.

The Church has some rich teachings concerning human labor. Many documents of the Church in the area of Social Justice address this aspect of our lives. Pope John Paul II in particular called upon his own experience as one who worked at a stone quarry and offered many reflections on the value of work. Pope Paul VI also spoke with real concern for those who work for a living as he made his pilgrimage to Nazareth and considered the life of Joseph with Jesus and Mary. St. Paul speaks of his experience of working with his hands as a tentmaker. May 1 is observed as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker in order to emphasize the importance of labor.

The central approach made by the Church is to point to the dignity of the human person. Work is meant to be an expression of human creativity and involvement in the enterprise of building up a world of peace and harmony. If we look at things from this perspective, we see that we are not what we do, but rather what we do is a reflection of who we are. Our work, whatever the field may be, is intended to flow from our person. This is not simply a matter of likes and dislikes or even of skills. It is something deeper. You can be who you are no matter what you happen to do. The challenge is to find a kind of work that allows you to cultivate who you are at the deepest level.

For those who are “between jobs,” you may consider this time as an unplanned “retreat” allowed by God so you may renew your awareness of your personal dignity and worth. I invite you while you are doing your search to take the opportunity to deepen your spiritual life and your connection with the Lord. Come to daily Mass (9 a.m. Monday through Friday at St. Timothy Church). Stop in for an hour of adoration on Wednesdays. Read your Bible. Take up some spiritual reading or develop a daily devotion such as the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Volunteer with an organization that assists other in some way.

For those who find your present job unsatisfying, take a chance and reflect on a kind of work that allows you to put more of yourself and your Faith into it. Discover whether the Lord has another kind of work for you right where you are. Do you realize that your real “work” is to serve as a witness to the Gospel? Are there hearts and souls open to you among your co-workers? Can you invite others to learn more about the Catholic Faith by what you say and do where you are working?

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Some people's sins are public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed by their sins. Similarly, good works are also public; and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. (I Timothy 5:23-25)

Many people tend to think of the Bible as a book of rules and regulations that have little to do with the real world. Inevitably, these are folks who have not read much Scripture for themselves. On the contrary, the Scriptures show that God knows the full truth concerning His People, and God’s ministers also know the people they serve. In the present text, we see that St. Paul knows his friend Timothy well. The advice to have a little wine is a reminder to Timothy that the good health of the minister is something that benefits his people. A bit of wine in moderation is helpful to health. This text gives us the reason why our Patron Timothy is the patron saint for stomach disorders and illnesses.

Sin is the lot of every human being except Christ Himself and His Blessed Mother. Paul knows that sin is part of the human condition. Public sins and private sins alike take their toll on us and have an effect on our approach to Eternity. But leave it to Paul to point out at the same time that good works, both public and hidden, are worthy of our attention because they will make a difference in our approach to the Kingdom. “Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for their good works go with them.” (Revelation 14:13)

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

A Witness to Unbroken Tradition (continued)

8. Today, on the other hand, countless learned studies have shed light on the "norm of the holy Fathers" which the revisers of the Missal of Saint Pius V followed. For following the publication first of the Sacramentary known as the Gregorian in 1571, critical editions of other ancient Roman and Ambrosian Sacramentaries were published, often in book form, as were ancient Hispanic and Gallican liturgical books which brought to light numerous prayers of no slight spiritual excellence that had previously been unknown.

In a similar fashion, traditions dating back to the first centuries, before the formation of the rites of East and West, are better known today because of the discovery of so many liturgical documents.

Moreover, continuing progress in the study of the holy Fathers has also shed light upon the theology of the mystery of the Eucharist through the teachings of such illustrious Fathers of Christian antiquity as Saint Irenaeus, Saint Ambrose, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, and Saint John Chrysostom.

9. For this reason, the "norm of the holy Fathers" requires not only the preservation of what our immediate forebears have passed on to us, but also an understanding and a more profound study of the Church's entire past and of all the ways in which her one and only faith has been set forth in the quite diverse human and social forms prevailing in the Semitic, Greek, and Latin areas. Moreover, this broader view allows us to see how the Holy Spirit endows the People of God with a marvelous fidelity in preserving the unalterable deposit of faith, even amid a very great variety of prayers and rites.

The Church is the Church of all ages. At times, we can become rather narrow in our vision, seeing only what is in our own experience. The Liturgy we have is meant to encompass the richness of human response to our relationship with God, and the Church consciously appropriates all that is helpful in opening hearts to worship. Saints and liturgies of the past offer us a treasury of resources that lead us to a deeper understanding of the Mystery we celebrate. The human cultures that thrive today also have something to contribute to our “dialogue” with God, Who is the Creator of all and the source of all that is to be found in human nature. Body, mind and spirit, heart and soul, we are called to offer ourselves to God in union with the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The “great variety of prayers and rites” come from the One Spirit and the “unalterable deposit of Faith” is expressed through them under the guidance of the Church and her Liturgy.

ROSARY PRAYER GARDEN

The garden work is complete with the mosaic installation having been finished last Monday afternoon. All are invited to visit the garden and to enjoy a quiet moment after Mass and/or say to a prayer at other times.

The Garden Club thanks all those who contributed to building the prayer garden. Without their generous and enthusiastic support, both large and small, it would not have been possible to build the structure which we were able accomplish. A long-awaited dream has been fulfilled and thanks to Our Lady of the Rosary.

Many folks have been asking to buy bricks for the garden. There will be an announcement board display in the vestibule with an application form within the next few weeks. If you would like to have your memorial brick installed before the dedication of the garden by Bishop Campbell in November please complete and send in the request by the deadline indicated.

Our thanks are extended to Tony Kanakkanatt for his hard work and for his diligence and zeal for this project. It will be a sign to generations yet to come of the Faith of our first half century as a parish.

A Word from Your Pastor August 28

2011-08-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Thanks to all who have sent me greetings and cards on the occasion of my 52nd Birthday! Isn’t it amazing? We all get to receive accolades and good wishes just for the simple fact of existing in the world for another year. These days more people know the day (and even the precise age) due to Facebook and other social media. I have received birthday greetings as if it were Christmas. . . . In a flash, I glance across the whole spectrum of my life since people from every part of it are jumbled together in the messages sent my way.

It has been said that time passes more quickly the older you get. This seems to be true to me. On the other hand, Eternity and time also appear to intermingle more, which gives time a new quality even as it seems to pass by more quickly. Moments become ever more precious. Particular memories stand out with a new quality when they are seen from the perspective of all that has happened since they were created. Recalling childhood in middle age offers a greater enjoyment of the experiences that have made us who we are.

This past week was the beginning of the new school year. I recall with delight how each new year felt when I was in grade school myself. Mom would make sure we were all ready and Dad used to line us up on the front steps of our house for a picture. We would have new clothes and we looked forward to the new adventures and learning each year would bring. There was a sense of accomplishment as we moved to the next grade. I always wondered whether I would be able to keep up, sure that this next grade might be the one that proved too great a challenge.

At least once a year, early on, when I would make a trip to the lavatory, I would find myself walking back into the wrong classroom, going to the one I was in the previous year. The surprised look on the faces of the teacher and all the students of the grade behind me was no doubt mirrored by the look of horror and embarrassment on my face as I sheepishly closed the door and went to the right room, hoping that none of my classmates would hear about it.

The greatest joy that came from the experience of a Catholic education is the love of life-long learning. The unity of Faith and Reason is not just an abstract concept or an ideal. It is truly a reality in the web of relationships created by a Catholic School at every level. I am truly grateful to be part of a parish with a Catholic School and with a PSR program that has such a dynamic staff. May this year unfold all its promise as we return to the classroom and all the activities that are part of the education of our children.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing," and, "A worker deserves his pay." Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another's sins. Keep yourself pure. (I Timothy 5:17-22)

The challenge of leadership has many hazards. In St. Paul’s advice to St. Timothy, we can see that there are two primary struggles: the witness of a poor leader and the negative response of those who do not want to be led. Presbyters, that is the “elders” of the community, now called priests, have these same difficulties in every era of the life of the Church. As the chief shepherd of his community, Timothy is counseled to walk the fine line between these two situations. Affirmation (even with double pay!) of the good shepherds is encouraged in order to promote good preaching and teaching. Reprimand is to be given when there is good reason for the good of the flock. Discernment of the candidates for ordination is called for lest the chief shepherd bear responsibility for an unsuitable co-worker in the vineyard.

When we read these counsels, we can readily see that the Church has always dealt with the fallen world in which we live. Scandals occur and the Church has the means necessary to overcome them, namely living in accord with the rules set down by proper authorities in the name of Jesus Christ. Timothy serves as a model for us all in addressing the problems of our own time. We must keep ourselves pure that our witness may be clear.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

A Witness to Unbroken Tradition

6. In setting forth its instructions for the revision of the Order of Mass, the Second Vatican Council, using the same words as did Saint Pius V in the Apostolic Constitution Quo primum, by which the Missal of Trent was promulgated in 1570, also ordered, among other things, that some rites be restored "to the original norm of the holy Fathers." [Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 50.] From the fact that the same words are used it can be seen how both Roman Missals, although separated by four centuries, embrace one and the same tradition. Furthermore, if the inner elements of this tradition are reflected upon, it also becomes clear how outstandingly and felicitously the older Roman Missal is brought to fulfillment in the new.

7. In a difficult period when the Catholic faith on the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the ministerial priesthood, and the real and permanent presence of Christ under the eucharistic species were placed at risk, Saint Pius V was especially concerned with preserving the more recent tradition then unjustly being assailed, introducing only very slight changes into the sacred rite. In fact, the Missal of 1570 differs very little from the very first printed edition of 1474, which in turn faithfully follows the Missal used at the time of Pope Innocent III. Moreover, even though manuscripts in the Vatican Library provided material for the emendation of some expressions, they by no means made it possible to inquire into "ancient and approved authors" farther back than the liturgical commentaries of the Middle Ages.

It is suggested at times that “the changes” that have taken place in our Liturgy in the current era were an innovation that had no precedent in our history. On the contrary, as this passage points out, they represent the ongoing effort of the Church to be faithful to the witness of her whole history. Even the Council of Trent called for study of the earlier centuries of the practices of the Church in order to renew the Liturgy by a restoration of what was lost. Emphasis in the Missal of 1570 was on keeping intact the Liturgy that was being called into question by the leaders of the Protestant Reformation.

The resources needed for the study called for became available only after the passage of time, and so the Church some 400 years later was now in a position to fulfill the mandate given by Trent. Our Church thinks in centuries. The Tradition of the Church is kept intact not by a slavish adherence to forms of the past, but rather by an ever-new embracing of the truth expressed in the experience of celebrating the Mystery. Deeper insight that comes through prayer is meant to influence the life of the Church and is to be found in the Liturgy. Greater knowledge of the writings of the Fathers and of the Church in earlier times allows for an appropriation of the old and the new that enhances the life of Faith as expressed in the Liturgy. The current situation of a new translation of the Latin Liturgy continues the effort to be ever more faithful to the Tradition.

A Word from Your Pastor August 21

2011-08-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

According to a member of the Resurrection Choir who has been keeping count, I have now celebrated 70 funerals at St. Timothy Church. (The Resurrection Choir has sung for 392 funerals since its beginning.) Our recent loss of Martha Ellen “Marty” McLeod was my #70. That is a lot of funerals, given the fact that I have been here only three years! It was rather fitting to have this threshold crossed by someone who lived a life so fully and joyfully. At the age of 91, Marty was as ready as any of us can ever hope to be. Her death was on a Saturday, and the Funeral Mass took place on the day after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Those who knew her will remember her big smile and it was clear from the celebration that all were truly inspired by her faith and joy in life, and especially by her love for Jesus. I had the privilege of anointing Marty a few times, most recently just before I left for my family reunion and vacation.

It has occurred to me that this moment is a good time to share some thoughts with you about how to prepare for the “call to the Kingdom” that will come for all of us, and to offer a few pointers about the involvement of the Church in meeting the needs of that special time of grace.

“Remote preparation” is simple: do your duty to God and to other human beings. Come to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Go to Confession regularly, at least a few times a year. Live the Sacraments you have received that define your relationship to God and to His Church: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders. Heaven is offered to all who are open to receive it and who are willing to cooperate with the grace won for us by the action of Jesus Christ. The practice of our Faith does not win salvation, as if it were our own actions that get us there. However, the Sacramental life serves to prepare in our hearts the proper dispositions and attitudes for accepting the free gift of Life in Christ.

As you recognize that your time is near, whether through age (Scripture says life is “70 years or 80 for those who are strong”) or through illness, make arrangements to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as needed. In former times, this Sacrament was called “Extreme Unction” and it is generally what Catholics refer to when they speak of “Last Rites.” If you or a loved one are facing illness that is serious, or surgery, then don’t hesitate to request the Anointing.

There are special rites that are meant to be direct preparation for the journey to the Kingdom. The final Eucharist is very significant and it is called “Viaticum,” that is, “Food for the Journey.” This can be offered by a Priest, a Deacon or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who brings Communion to the Sick. The Priest alone may provide what Fr. Bill Faustner calls “the triple-A treatment”: Absolution, Apostolic Pardon, and Anointing. Absolution refers to the last Confession. The Apostolic Pardon is a special prayer that includes a Plenary Indulgence, a privilege offered as death approaches. The Last Anointing has prayers that speak of entrusting the soul about to die to the Creator and a welcome into the Kingdom.

Catholics pray to St. Joseph for a “Happy Death,” that is, a death that takes place with the final blessings of the Church and with loved ones present, as Jesus and Mary were there for the death of Joseph. In order for such a death to come, we need to be vigilant and to stay close to the Church.

If a priest has been called and anointing has taken place, you can be sure that you have done what you need to do for your loved one who has died. It is best to have this attended to at a time when the person facing death is still lucid and with other family members present. Be sure to tell your family that you want to see a priest. Let the Church know whenever you are facing surgery or some illness that may call for the Anointing of the Sick. I have often attended to this Sacrament after a weekend Mass for someone going into the hospital sometime that week. Fr. Bill Faustner does chaplaincy work at Riverside, O.S.U. Hospital and Mt. Carmel West. We are happy to assist you in time of need.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity.

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God. The real widow, who is all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she lives. Command this, so that they may be irreproachable. And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years old, married only once, with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work. But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry and will incur condemnation for breaking their first pledge. And furthermore, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies as well, talking about things that ought not to be mentioned. So I would like younger widows to marry, have children, and manage a home, so as to give the adversary no pretext for maligning us. For some have already turned away to follow Satan. If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows. (I Timothy 5:1-16)

Often in our day, the Church is accused of not acknowledging the ministry of those beyond the ordained ministry. Paul’s advice to Timothy here shows that there has always been a place for a diversity of ministries in interdependence with each other. Timothy, the Bishop, whose unique role is highlighted throughout the Letter, is advised to relate to elders with an attitude that acknowledges their wisdom. His relationships with people of any age or status are to be appropriate to the person as a brother or sister in Christ.

A special case in the ancient world is that of women who have lost their status in society due to the death of their husbands. In certain areas, these women were bereft of any protection whatsoever. Their standing in relation to the wider society was determined by familial bonds – husband, father or son. When there is no such relationship, they have no rights or privileges, no recourse to meet their needs. The advice Timothy receives is in regard to the Church’s sense of duty to those most in need.

Discernment of real need is the issue in question. At the same time, Paul highlights the responsibility of the parties who have need; they ought to be proactive in finding help before relying on the Church to take care of them. Those whose needs are met by the Church have a duty as well: to “set their hope on God” and to “continue in supplications and prayer night and day.” There is a reciprocal and interdependent responsibility.

Although circumstances and the structure of relationships in society differ in our day, our own community can learn from the principles implicit in Paul’s advice to Timothy. Each person has a place and a role for the good of the whole. When we allow

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

A Witness to Unchanged Faith (continued)

4. Further, the nature of the ministerial priesthood proper to a Bishop and a priest, who offer the Sacrifice in the person of Christ and who preside over the gathering of the holy people, is evident in the form of the rite itself, by reason of the more prominent place and office of the priest. The meaning of this office is enunciated and explained clearly and at greater length, in the Preface for the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, the day commemorating the institution of the priesthood. The Preface brings to light the conferral of the priestly power accomplished through the laying on of hands; and, by listing the various duties, it describes that power, which is the continuation of the power of Christ the High Priest of the New Testament.

5. In addition, the nature of the ministerial priesthood also puts into its proper light another reality, which must indeed be highly regarded, namely, the royal priesthood of the faithful, whose spiritual sacrifice is brought to completeness through the ministry of the Bishop and the priests in union with the sacrifice of Christ, the one and only Mediator. [Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum ordinis, no. 2.]

For the celebration of the Eucharist is an action of the whole Church, and in it each one should carry out solely but completely that which pertains to him or her, in virtue of the rank of each within the People of God. In this way greater consideration will also be given to some aspects of the celebration that have sometimes been accorded less attention in the course of time. For this people is the People of God, purchased by Christ's Blood, gathered together by the Lord, nourished by his word. It is a people called to bring to God the prayers of the entire human family, a people giving thanks in Christ for the mystery of salvation by offering his Sacrifice. Finally, it is a people made one by sharing in the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood. Though holy in its origin, this people nevertheless grows continually in holiness by its conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist. [Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 11.]

Conscious, active and fruitful participation in the Mystery of the Eucharist is the central reason for all the norms and regulations associated with the Mass. Acknowledgement of the actions proper to every participant and respect for the unique contribution of every member of the assembly establishes the unity of heart and mind that is necessary for a true act of worship. Christ the High Priest is present in the ministerial priest (the bishop or priest who celebrates the Mass) and in His People who are one in the royal priesthood that is theirs by Baptism. The Eucharist is the action of the whole Church, Christ in union with the members of His Mystical Body.

When each participant becomes aware of his or her role in the Mass, the celebration becomes far more effective. As the action of Christ Himself, the Mass always achieves it end, the worship of God in Spirit and in Truth, and the making present of the Sacrifice of Calvary, which won our salvation. As the action of His members in union with Christ the Head, the Mass also serves to bring forth the fruit of the Redemption for the whole world, bringing to God “the prayers of the entire human family.”

A Word from Your Pastor August 14

2011-08-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Being away is often far more difficult than being present. The effort to arrange for all eventualities while we are on vacation, attending to the preparation of details for the times we are not going to be around is not easy. At the moment, I am working on bulletin columns in advance in order to have things set for the time I am away. If all goes well, you should be seeing me back at church “as usual” the weekend this column appears.

For the week of August 7-12, I arranged for a circuit of visiting friends following my Keeley family reunion in St. Augustine. A number of folks I know from different times in my life have settled in central Florida. I chose to take advantage of the opportunity to see them again and have worked out a “plan” for travel just to touch base. Some of these I have not seen in many years. Facebook and the Internet have allowed for contact with friends from past days that I had lost track of. Travel offers the chance to see these folks in person and in the lives they have created for themselves since we last met.

When we connect with people who knew us at an earlier time of our lives, it is a little like an experience of “time travel.” Events and circumstances once shared come to life again in memories. We also carry in ourselves reminders to our friends and family of the truth of who we are. This experience is a taste of our Eternal nature.

Monday will bring the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which reminds us of the certainty of our Eternal destiny. Mary already shares, in anticipation of the rest of the Church, This year, since it falls on a Monday, it is not considered an Obligation Day. It is a Holy Day, indeed, a Solemnity, but the Bishops have dispensed the obligation. This means that when you choose to come, it is a free and special gift to our Heavenly Mother, not something you are doing because you have to…. We will have two Masses at St. Timothy for the Feast. Let your Mother know you care!

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate. Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone. Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. (I Timothy 4:12-16)

These words of encouragement from Paul to Timothy resonate with anyone who experiences being “in over his head” with tasks and responsibilities that are heavy to bear. Often youth have a wisdom that is beyond their years and just as often those around them who are older have a way of dismissing that wisdom. Of course, the reverse is also true. Brash youth can summarily reject the wisdom of those who came before them, many times to their own doom. A mark of the wise of any age is a capacity to listen to one another, for the ring of truth and the voice of experience. Paul and Timothy represent this mutuality of respect for the Wisdom that comes from God through human hearts. It is the elder Paul, teaching the younger Timothy, who has been appointed to the task of being an authoritative elder in the Christian community.

Paul encourages Timothy to continue his study and to take on the role entrusted to him through the imposition of hands, that is, through his ordination. The charge to attend to himself and to his responsibility is a charge that can be translated easily into any way of life.

Can we open our hearts to receive the wisdom of the generations among us – our elders and the youth and all those in between? Are we attentive to our own growth in knowledge and the exercise of the responsibility entrusted to us?

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

A Witness to Unchanged Faith (continued)

3. Moreover, the wondrous Mystery of the Lord's Real Presence under the Eucharistic Species, reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council [1] and other documents of the Church's Magisterium [2] in the same sense and with the same words that the Council of Trent had proposed as a matter of faith [3], is proclaimed in the celebration of Mass not only by means of the very words of consecration, by which Christ becomes present through transubstantiation, but also by that interior disposition and outward expression of supreme reverence and adoration in which the Eucharistic Liturgy is carried out. For the same reason the Christian people is drawn on Holy Thursday of the Lord's Supper, and on the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, to venerate this wonderful Sacrament by a special form of adoration.

[1] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, nos. 7, 47; Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum ordinis, nos. 5, 18.

[2] Cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Humani generis, 12 August 1950: Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Commentarium Officiale (Vatican City; hereafter, AAS), 42 (1950), pp. 570-571; Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Mysterium fidei, On the doctrine and worship of the Eucharist, 3 September 1965 : AAS 57(1965), pp. 762-769; Paul VI, Solemn Profession of Faith, 30 June 1968 , nos. 24-26: AAS 60 (1968), pp. 442-443; Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, On the worship of the Eucharist, 25 May 1967 , nos. 3f, 9: AAS 59 (1967), pp. 543, 547

[3] Cf. Council of Trent, session 13, Decretum de ss. Eucharistia, 11 October 1551

Some wonderful Catholic words that have been filled with meaning through the centuries serve to express the Faith of the Church in the Eucharist.

“Mystery” – that is, “wondrous Mystery” – points to the fact that what we are describing is beyond our understanding.

“Real Presence” reminds us that Eucharist is not a “what” but a “Who” – the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ in His Risen Glorious State. It is not a mere symbol, but a Reality that communicates us through a symbol.

The term “Eucharistic Species” allows for the experience of a symbol that has a deeper reality behind it. We acknowledge that the Eucharist we receive is met by our senses at one level, namely the “accidents” of bread and wine.

The “Consecration” is effected by the Lord’s own words “This is My Body” and “This is the Cup (Chalice) of My Blood.”

“Transubstantiation” is a word coined precisely to describe the Mystery of the Eucharist: there is a transformation at the level of substance. By the action of the Spirit through the instrumentality of the ordained priest of Jesus Christ, what used to be bread and wine now becomes the very Body and Blood of Christ. The Substance present is the Lord Himself, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, the Fullness of the Person of the Word of God. This term is not meant to take away the Mystery, but rather to point to the fact that no human words can ever fully express what occurs.

The “Eucharistic Liturgy” is the locus where the faithful may express their interior disposition of Faith by the very rites and rituals that show “supreme reverence and adoration.” The Mass is the highest expression of our devotion to the Lord and the very means by which we may continue to encounter Him.

As we adapt to new English words in the form of the Mass, we must keep these principles of Faith in mind. Now is a time of deepening our Faith in the Mystery we celebrate.

A Word from Your Pastor August 7

2011-08-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

One of the things I enjoy doing when I have “spare time” is to work on my family’s genealogy. It has been a while since I have had a sustained opportunity to work on this project, but through the years, I have managed to discover some interesting details concerning my family history. I have also met relatives literally all over the world and made friends with lots of cousins.

This weekend, I am away for a family reunion on my mother’s side of the family, the Keeley clan, all of whom are descended from one Irish ancestor named Lawrence Keeley. This custom of a family reunion for this clan started when a distant branch decided to send out invitations beyond their own branch. Now, we have a reunion every two or three years in a different part of the country. We started in Illinois, where Lawrence and his first wife settled in the 1860’s. From there, it has gone from coast to coast. We have had gatherings at Virginia Beach, in the state of Washington, at Colorado Springs, and at Gettysburg. One year, I hosted with my family in Newark, Ohio. This year, my brother and sister-in-law who live near Jacksonville, Florida, are hosting in St. Augustine.

As St. Timothy Parish arranges its Jubilee, now is the time to invite the family and friends who have gone out from here back for a visit. Why not make plans for your own clan to have a reunion sometime during our time of Jubilee? Invite them to share Mass with the parish and to have a family blessing. Bring them in for one of the great events of the Parish family – the Festival, the Dinner Auction, the Spaghetti Dinner, or any other event you can think of. So often, families gather only for funerals and comment that they should do this for a happy occasion. Let our Jubilee be your happy occasion.

This weekend, I am happy to welcome (in my absence) Fr. Paul Noble, the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Columbus. He is preaching at all the Masses to invite our younger members and the parish at large to realize that God’s Call is addressed to all of us. In particular, he is inviting St. Timothy Parish to promote awareness of the call to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Columbus. Can we offer him a prospect or two in gratitude for the more than 30 priests who have served our parish in the five decades of our existence?

A Word from Your Pastor July 31

2011-07-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

July 31 is the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This year, it is superseded by Sunday. However, it is worth giving Ignatius a note of recognition on his day. St. Ignatius has always been a favorite of mine due to his zeal for faith and study and for teaching the Truth in ways people can understand.

As Ignatius himself tells the story of his life, the first lesson was “discernment.” He had lived life for himself until he was wounded in a battle. During his convalescence, he read the lives of Saints and discovered that when he thought about following their example he experienced a real depth of joy that endured after his thoughts were passed, whereas when he thought about his previous pursuits, he enjoyed the reflections, but the sense of delight ended and left him dry. He noticed the difference and decided to commit himself to the Greater Glory of God (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam).

Ignatius also taught about prayer with Scripture, inviting those who follow his retreat to enter into the Scriptural accounts with imagination and feeling, as well as with thoughts. This form of prayer can make the Scripture passages you read more real and alive for you.

Many in our community have experienced the Jesuit method of teaching, an approach that allows for a rational study of our Faith. Those who use this approach are invited to reflect on the sources available to us to see how reasonable our act of Faith is: Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium, that is, the Bible, the writings of the Fathers and theologians through the ages, and the living teaching authority of the Church (our Pope and Bishops in communion with him).

As we prepare for our Jubilee, we are all invited to consider the roots of our Faith as a Parish Community. We need access to the sources of the life we share: those who were there in the beginning of the Parish, and the stories that have been told and passed down in families. We also need artifacts: the directories, parish rosters, and pictures of the way we were. All are asked to take some time looking through old boxes and albums and bring them to share. Let’s gather the story while we it is still fresh.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions through the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences. They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer.
(I Timothy 4:1-5)

The first Christians were very realistic about the cost of their Faith. They knew that there would always be trouble, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual, as they sought to put their Faith in Jesus into practice. We can see the prophecy recorded in this chapter of the First Letter to Timothy as being fulfilled in our own day. Many families experience the loss of Faith across the generations. The common beliefs of our day are often exactly the falsehoods mentioned here. Marriage is under attack on multiple fronts. The latest fads about what foods are to be eaten or avoided have more influence than the Church practices of discipline of our appetites. The only answer to this is prayer, giving God thanks and invoking the Spirit to make the world around us holy. We need to see the world around us through the eyes of Faith and with the insight given by the Spirit of Christ. The world and all that is in it belongs to God. We are to make use of the material and spiritual gifts we have received to give Glory to God.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.

The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

A Preamble sets the context.

Preamble

1. When he was about to celebrate with his disciples the Passover meal in which he instituted the sacrifice of his Body and Blood, Christ the Lord gave instructions that a large, furnished upper room should be prepared (Lk 22:12). The Church has always regarded this command as applying also to herself when she gives directions about the preparation of people's hearts and minds, and of the places, rites, and texts for the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist. The current norms, prescribed in keeping with the will of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, and the new Missal that the Church of the Roman Rite is to use from now on in the celebration of Mass are also evidence of the great concern of the Church, of her faith, and of her unchanged love for the great mystery of the Eucharist. They likewise bear witness to the Church's continuous and unbroken tradition, irrespective of the introduction of certain new features.

The Church speaks today with the authority of Christ Himself. When she exercises her authority, she is at once attentive to the responsibility to do what Jesus Himself commanded and, at the same time, to the need to apply it to the needs of the present day. Some items are kept the same across the generations because they are the will of the Lord for the Church through all time. Some items are conscientiously adapted to present circumstances and the needs of the Faithful in order to continue to be faithful to the Lord in the new situation.

A Word from Your Pastor July 24

2011-07-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Who is God for you? What does He ask of you? Answering these questions and living out the response are the heart of our journey of Faith. Who we are is established by God and we are revealed to ourselves not by discovering our own tastes and preferences, but rather by discovering and responding to the Will of God as He makes Himself known to us.

God reveals Himself to us in the midst of our lives and through the life and worship we share as the Church. Jesus asked His disciples to “take a stand” and to tell Him how they understood Him. As we recall, Peter was the first to speak the deepest truth: “You are the Messiah.” The disciples of Jesus are those who have discovered “the pearl of great price,” the most valuable reality available, that is, a living relationship with the Living God, the God Who reveals Himself in Jesus Christ.

When we are busy about all the tasks of our daily life and when we take time for recreation and relaxation, it is good to keep our minds and hearts fixed on our ultimate goal. Whether we are at home or on vacation, let us continue to remember the “pearl of great price” and stay close to God and His Church.

This weekend we will have a visit from members of the Focolare Movement, a world-wide community whose charism is Unity. They offer a spirituality centered on God’s Word and aware of the intimacy of relationship between God and His People. They remind us that God wills for the unity of all humanity, and that it is truly possible to live in response to God’s Word in very practical and concrete ways.

The Focolare Movement and the many new movements in the Church that draw God’s People together in a witness to hope are one of the “signs of the times” that lets us know that God is still concerned with us and active among us. How is the Spirit calling you to go deeper in your own commitment to life in Christ?

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. (I Timothy 3:14-16)

I Timothy 3:15 is a text that every Catholic Christian should know by heart. It speaks to the depth of understanding we have of the role of the Church in our lives. The Church of the Living God – that is the Church established by Christ Himself, which continues to exist in the world and is visible in the Roman Catholic Church – is “the pillar and foundation of truth.” This means that what underlies the proclamation of the Truth is the Church. Sacred Scripture comes from the Church. The authority acknowledge in Scripture is God’s authority, the very authority which is to be found in the Magisterium, along with Scripture and Tradition.

Paul writes to Timothy a text that itself becomes Sacred Scripture, acknowledged and identified as such by the Church. His personal visit which may or may not have happened due to circumstances in the life of Paul, was intended to be an exercise of Pastoral authority. The letter to Timothy conveys that authority in a different way, and St. Paul is moved to a song of praise for the Mystery that lies behind the exercise of authority. It is Christ Himself Who operates through His Spirit in the Church. The Glorious and Risen Lord is the Living Revelation of God.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

We have completed our first run through the changes that will directly affect the congregation when the new Roman Missal is put into effect in Advent 2011. Throughout the description of the new texts, it has become obvious that two particular principles were applied.

First, the effort to have a more faithful rendition of the Latin text, including all the details to be found in the Latin Missal, is meant to ensure that we are praying as the Church proposes in accord with Lex orandi, Lex credendi, that is, “how we pray is what we believe.” English tends to be rather simple in expression; Latin has a flourish. We needed a version of English that can communicate the flourish and the depth of what the Latin has to say.

Second, when we have a more direct and literal expression of the Latin text in English, we can see more clearly that virtually every part of the Liturgy is taken from the Scriptures. Over the past forty years or so, we have had two different ways of translating the same texts – the texts of Sacred Scripture and their use in the Liturgy. Now we can allow these two streams to flow together once more, so that Catholics can realize our Prayers come from Scripture and thus we are always Scriptural in our prayer. Our Church is the Church of the Bible, “the pillar and foundation of truth” (I Timothy 3:15). The Bible is a Church-based document and our Liturgy is Biblical in expression.

If we keep these principles in mind, I believe we will be able to adapt to the changes to come and come to a deeper understanding of our own life of prayer.

A Word from Your Pastor July 17

2011-07-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

My fourth experience of the St. Timothy Parish Festival on the Green is now history. I remember well coming into the wonderful chaos of the Festival the first year I arrived as Pastor in 2008. Each year, I am in awe of the manner in which our St. Timothy family comes together to create such fun, family and fellowship for all ages. Many guests tell me how welcome they feel. This year we were blessed with two nights of good weather. We can be truly grateful for this hallmark of our Parish life.

The Festival had everything, including Poobahs and Pirates!

To see pictures of our past four festivals online, go to:

http://sttimothyfestivals.shutterfly.com/

As we continue our journey to the celebration of our Golden Jubilee, we need to become more conscious of what God is asking of us at this time of our history. First and foremost, we must express our gratitude to God and to those who worked so hard to get us established. Who are the members of St. Timothy Parish and School past and present who have helped you? How are you responding to what has been given to you? Are you working to pass it on?

This past week, many of our young people were involved with Gospel Road, a program sponsored in the Diocese of Columbus to give a practical experience of living the Gospel. We are blessed to have had both our Youth Minister, Chris Valentine, and our Seminarian, Vince Nguyen, involved with many of our own young people from the St. Timothy Community. It is our hope that the energy and zeal they have shown will bring some new ventures in our own parish.

Seminarian Vince Nguyen on the Dunk Tank and Making Pizza

We do want to thank Vince Nguyen for all he has done for our parish this summer. Vince arrived at exactly the right time and has been invaluable working with us to address needs in our Service of the Altar with Server Training, and in the service of our Sick and Homebound, coordinating our Extraordinary Ministers, as we said farewell to Sr. Carolyn Thomas, SCN. We are certain that Vince will do great things in service of God and His People. Please keep him and all the seminarians in your prayers.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Paul continues his advice concerning ministers of the Gospel.

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:8-13)

Deacons are servants, configured to Christ the Servant. Their role is to lead others to Christ and to help the Christian Community to fulfill the requirements of the Gospel. When a man is called to the Diaconate, he knows in himself a desire for a deeper communion with Christ and His Church, and a responsibility to draw others into service. As part of the clergy, Deacons are the public face of the Church. As family men, in most cases, they are also involved in the nitty-gritty, day-to-day grind. Thus, they act as a sort of a bridge between two facets of the life of the Church.

We can be very grateful to have the services of our own Deacon Marion Smithberger, who was assigned to us at St. Timothy after an internship in the parish. Perhaps some of our own members will hear the call to service. Now is the time to begin to discern and to act in accord with the dignity and freedom described as requirements by St. Paul and still held as pre-requisites in the present day. Let us continue to seek out those who are in good standing and with much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reflections on the Liturgy: CONCLUDING RITES

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Deacon: Go and announce the gospel of the Lord.
Deacon: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

The last changes in the peoples’ parts for the Mass are found in the Concluding Rites. “And with your spirit” is now well understood as expressing the communion that has been experienced in the Liturgy and the source of the grace of the Mass.

The Deacon or Priest will bring the Liturgy to its close by the admonition to “go,” using one of three new translations expressing the import of the Latin “Ite, missa est.”

The Mission that flows from the time of Gathering, Hearing the Word, and Celebrating the Sacrament involves the completion of the act of Worship, the Proclamation of the Gospel, and giving God glory by living in accord with the Mystery that has been celebrated. Since one simple translation does not express the full import of the three Latin words, the Church has opted to allow for a variety of options. The simple meaning is, “we’re finished with this act here, now take it out into the world.”

Thus concludes our own journey through the changes in the Mass in the parts that belong to the Assembly.

Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible

Places are still available for a once-in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.

Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor July 10

2011-07-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Just as June is the month of the Sacred Heart, July is the month of the Precious Blood. In Scriptural terms, blood is the symbol of life and the heart is the seat of the human person’s choices and emotions. We acknowledge the infinite value of the Blood Jesus poured out for us and the fullness of life that He shares with us through His sacrifice on the Cross.

In our experience of the life of Faith, we also come to realize that God’s Love is mediated through our relationships and through the time we spend with others in all our adventures. The Parish Festival on the Green is one such adventure. We thank all who participated and made it possible. For any who happened to be away, we missed you! This is truly St. Timothy Parish and School Community at its best. Congratulations are due to Joe Lorenz and his hardy band of captains and all their volunteers. Adults and children, parishioners and friends all worked so hard to bring it about.

The Festival serves to mark endings and beginnings. We say farewell once more to a seminarian who has been with us through the summer. Our blessings and prayers go to Vince Nguyen, who has pitched right in since the first moment he arrived. He has worked very hard to help our servers and to attend to the needs of our homebound parishioners after the departure of Sr. Carolyn Thomas, SCN. We welcome the many new families who have chosen to become part of our community in parish and school. We look forward to many good times ahead.

As The Catholic Times reported, this Festival marks an informal beginning to our observance of our Parish Golden Jubilee. In the months ahead, we will have to make concrete our plans for the Parish celebration 2011-2012, and the School celebration 2013-2014. Any and all alumni of the Parish and School are invited to be part of all that we do.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

This saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God? He should not be a recent convert, so that he may not become conceited and thus incur the devil's punishment. He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, the devil's trap. (I Timothy 3:1-7)

Leadership is the most challenging and the most rewarding experience in human life. When one aspires to the task of leading others, two major things are necessary: a vision for where we are headed, and the zeal and stamina to push forward. St. Paul lets Timothy know that the primary requirement for leadership (the role of the bishop) in the early Christian community is a good life, lived in accord with the teachings of Christ, in full view of the wider community. The first bishops were men of their time, taken for ministry in the community from among those who were already leaders. To aspire to the episcopacy was not seen as a desire for a “career,” but rather as a willingness to put one’s gift of leadership at the service of the Gospel. Persecutions were already beginning. Leaders had to be of good reputation so as to promote the good name of the Gospel in a hostile world.

In our own community at St. Timothy, we are seeking leaders for the various needs that have been made known among us and in the world around us. Do you aspire to put your gifts at the service of your brothers and sisters? Are you willing to lead us in the direction of the Kingdom? Do you have the stamina and zeal, and the reputation of a life truly committed to Christ that is required?

Reflections on the Liturgy: ECCE AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called
to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

The invitation to adore the Lord in the Eucharist just before the Reception of Holy Communion has a number of changes. Again, two principles are at work: more accurate translation of the Latin and a greater clarity in the association of the text of the Liturgy with the Scriptures.

Behold, Ecce, in Latin, is a common Scriptural expression. The immediate context is a direct quote of John the Baptist from the Gospel of John. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” (John 1:29) This expression has been alluded to twice before, in the Gloria and in the Agnus Dei.

The Blessing is quoted from the Book of Revelation: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 19:9)

In the People’s part, Scripture is also referenced. “And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.’” (Luke 7:6-7)

The word translated “my soul” is anima mea. This term is often heard throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms.

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.” [Psalm 42:2]

“My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation.” [Psalm 62:2]

Psalm 130 explicitly expresses the fact that there is a waiting for God’s Word: “I wait with longing for the LORD, my soul waits for his word.” [Psalm 130:5]

Jesus expresses a longing for companionship as He waits referring to His own soul: Then "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me." [Matthew 26:38]

By using the expression “my soul,” there is also a subtle Marian dimension of receptivity implied. “And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’” [Luke 1:46]

In a few simple phrases, deeply Scriptural in background and orientation, we speak our desire to be healed by the Word of the Lord. Who gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.

Planning for Funerals

Funerals are truly for the living. Here is a humorous story that reminds us of the truth that the celebration of a funeral, while being prayer for and remembrance of our deceased loved ones, are truly for the consolation of those who gather.

The chocolate chip cookies

An elderly man lay dying in his bed, Suddenly death's agony was pushed aside as he smelled the aroma of his favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. Gathering his remaining strength, he lifted himself up from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with intense concentration, supported himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. In labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing wide-eyed into the kitchen.

There, spread out on the kitchen table were literally HUNDREDS of his favorite chocolate chip cookies!

Was it heaven? Or, was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture, one hand on the edge of the table. The aged and withered hand quiveringly made its way to a cookie near the edge of the table; feeling the warm soft dough actually made the pain of his bones subside for a moment. His parched lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth; seemingly bringing him back to life.

What, then, was this sudden stinging that caused his hand to recoil?

He looked to see his wife, still holding the spatula she had just used to smack his hand.

"Stay out of those!" she said, "they're for the funeral."

As you make plans for your summer holidays, why not think about your final destination as well? We now have a Bereavement Ministry that hopes to assist before, during and after the celebration of the Funeral. Begin to reflect on the things that matter. What celebration will be most consoling for your loved ones left behind? Have your made known some of your favorite church hymns and Scripture readings? Do you have a will? Are the institutions that were important to you in life remembered in your plans for bequests? Your alma mater, your parish, and other non-profit groups rely on the generosity of benefactors. Now is the time to attend to these matter, while you have the leisure and time!

A Word from Your Pastor July 3

2011-07-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

This past week, I have been offering a Retreat to the Deacon Candidates for the Diocese of Steubenville. This is the first class for Permanent Deacons for our sister Diocese. They have been studying along with the candidates from the Diocese of Columbus and were part of the course on the Pentateuch I taught last Fall.

Our guide for reflection has been the Post-Synodal Document Verbum Domini, written by Pope Benedict XVI following the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God that took place in 2008. This document is a rather comprehensive presentation on the Catholic Church’s understanding of the Word of God. It is not a quick read, but it is clear. If you want to get a good understanding of how the Catholic Church understands Scripture and its connection to the whole life of the Church and her members, it is worth your study.

The document is available online at the Vatican website. You can type out the text that follows or just do a search for “Verbum Domini” and you will be able to find it without any difficulty.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini_en.html

There is literally something for everybody. The structure of the text itself reminds us of the many dimensions of the Word of God:

Verbum Dei - The Word of God in the Triune God
Verbum in Ecclesia - The Word of God in the Church: Sacraments
Verbum Mundo - The Word of God in the World: Our Mission

This movement, from within God, through the Church and out into the world is the movement of Faith. We encounter God through His Word, in Creation, in the Scriptures, and in the life of the Church, and we are witnesses of God’s Gift of Salvation to the World.

Most of you have noticed that we have the Bible in the New American translation (which is the one used at Mass) available in every pew in the church, along with the songbooks. This is a reminder to all that we ought to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Scripture in order to nourish our life of Faith. Come early to Mass and read through a passage or two. Learn to pray with the Scriptures and you will always have a means of connecting with God in His own words.

Pray this week that our Parish Festival goes well. We really depend on it to help us meet our needs in the life of our Parish and School. All are invited to join us on Friday and Saturday evening, July 8 and 9.

Happy Fourth of July! Let us thank God for all our freedoms and let us be grateful to those who serve to keep us free, putting their lives on the line for us.

This week, our parish will be hosting a gathering of the seminarians of the Diocese of Columbus and the pastors of their summer assignments. Remember, we are praying that God will call some of our own members to be among this number soon!

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

When we read the Sacred Scriptures, we are often confronted with perspectives and ways of thinking that are very different from our own. The next section of the First Letter to St. Timothy takes up a theme that may cause us to bristle a bit. Nonetheless, we have to allow the Word of God to speak to our hearts through it.

Similarly, too, women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (I Timothy 2:9-15)

Paul’s advice concerning women in the assembly needs to be understood in context, both the context of the Scriptures and the context of the wider society.

In the context of the cosmopolitan Roman Empire, the relationship between men and women had a variety of models. The primary approach that seems to have been common in the ancient world was that of spheres of influence. Women ran the households, including the broad family unit, with servants and slaves, as well as children. Men were “at the city gates” and involved in all the public trappings of religion. There were also women in charge of the cults of goddesses and the like, and in service of temples to various pagan gods.

In the context of the Scriptures, note that Paul begins this section with the phrase “Similarly, too.” The discussion immediately preceding was about prayer for public officials by the members of the church. So, Paul is advising Timothy and his community about how things need to be arranged so that the witness of the Gospel is not compromised. The behaviors discussed were under consideration because of the volatility of the relationship between small church communities and the society at large. From the discussion of women in the church, Paul will move on to the roles of bishops and deacon.

In our time, the relationship between women and men, and between Church and Society has a different configuration. Given this difference, if St. Paul were writing now, he might well have a different approach. Nonetheless, the principles he would follow would be the same. The behavior of the Community as a whole, and of individuals, men and women, leaders and members, is to be determined by the common desire for an effective witness to Unity in the Gospel.

It is helpful to recall that the place of assembly at this time was a household, not a separate building. Thus “church” was held in the area that was usually the domain of the wife of the family. The overlap between spheres of influence, the exterior society and the inner chamber of a family dwelling caused the need for an accommodation. Men could be in charge here precisely because they had the role of opening the church to the world. Paul did make a point, however, that the women’s concerns were not to be overlooked. She could make them known and it was the husband’s responsibility to bring them to the assembly. So Paul is making a positive point: both spheres of influence are to be given there due, and the mutuality of relationship called for by the Gospel is to find a practical formulation for the good of the Church.

We can learn from even this part of Paul’s Letter-- in spite of the fact that our worldviews are so different. The proclamation of the Gospel without distraction and without dissension in the ranks is what we are all about.

Reflections on the Liturgy: SIGN OF PEACE

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And with your spirit.

The response of the People to the Priest’s greeting at the Sign of Peace is in line with the renewed translation of the Latin “et cum spiritu tuo.” What we have covered before about the more literal rendering that is common in languages other than English, and with regard to Scriptural references applies here. Moreover, there is a heightened impact of the mention of spirit in this context, since the Sign of Peace hearkens back to the encounter of the Apostles with the Lord Jesus after His Resurrection.

John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus said twice “Peace be with you” and then breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:19-23) Thus, offering the Peace of the Lord to one another, and responding with the mention of the spirit of the person offering the Peace in the name of the Lord, highlights our being infused with the Gift of the Spirit. As we prepare to receive the Eucharist, we enter into the Peace that the Risen Lord offers and we ensure that it is shared among us.

Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible

Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.

A presentation about this Pilgrimage will be held at St. Peter's Church at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12th, in the "Blue Room," which is a conference room in the church building. The address of St. Peter's Church is: 6899 Smoky Row Road, Columbus, OH 43235-1998.

Itinerary:

http://www.timothymhayes.net/In%20the%20Footsteps%20of%20St%20Timothy%202011%20Itinerary.pdf

Application:

http://www.timothymhayes.net/In%20the%20Footsteps%20of%20St%20Timothy%202011%20Application.pdf

Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor June 26

2011-06-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, calls us to renew our Faith in the Eucharist. Every Catholic learns that the Consecration of the Mass changes the bread and wine brought forward into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior. The term used to express this change is “transubstantiation,” which is meant to say that only the appearances of bread and wine remain, while the only Substance present is Jesus Christ Himself.

Polls taken from time to time indicate that Catholics can get a bit confused by what others have to say about their own celebrations of what they call “the Lord’s Supper.” For Christians of other denominations (except the Orthodox, who have the same faith as the Catholic Church), the claim is that the bread and wine remain bread and wine and only serve as a symbol. This is the heart of the difference between Catholics and other Christians concerning the Sacraments: the Sacraments create something new, a true sharing in divine life and power for Catholics; for others, they simply point to a reality beyond themselves.

The Eucharist is symbolic and real at the same time: res et sacramentum. In the Eucharist, it is the Lord Jesus Himself, through the action of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the validly ordained priest Who effects His own Gift of Himself. He becomes Food for us. He is present to us, hidden under the forms of bread and wine, in the full reality of His Person, with His divine nature and His risen and ascended glorified Humanity.

The only adequate response to the Gift of the Eucharist is adoration and worship, and to a full commitment of ourselves to live in accord with Jesus’ teachings as they are made known to us through His Church. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi thus calls us to renew our Faith in the Eucharist and to commit ourselves to witness to this wonderful Truth.

What does this mean practically? We must acknowledge Jesus in the Eucharist by our posture and attitude in church. We dress respectfully. We genuflect toward the Tabernacle, when we come into the church. We bow before the Altar. We kneel and remain silent in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance (on Wednesdays at St. Timothy Church.) We fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. We publicly share our Faith in the Real Presence and correct others when they have a mistaken understanding of the Catholic Faith. We commit ourselves to live as Temples of the Holy Spirit and earthen vessels of Heavenly Food.

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine; all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!

A Third or Fourth Century prayer to our Eucharistic Lord:

Today we have seen our Lord Jesus Christ on the altar. Today we have gained possessions of the burning coal in whose shadow the cherubim sing. Today we have heard a voice say, sweet and strong: This body burns the thorns of sin. This body gives light to the souls of all believers. This body the woman touched that had the flux of blood, and gone was her bitter anguish... See, children, what a body we have eaten, see what blood we have drunk, what a covenant we have made with our God. O to be proof against shame on the day of requital. We can sufficiently praise the mystery of your grace? We have been enabled to take our share of the gift; may we keep it safe to the end, that so we may come to hear the blessed voice, the sweet, the holy, saying: Come, you that have received a blessing from my Father; take possession of the kingdom that awaits you.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

We continue our reflections on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy.

First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)

St. Paul expresses to Timothy and his community how they (and we) are supposed to relate to the wider culture, even politics. Authority comes from God through a variety of intermediaries. God is the first Authority. Christ and His Church are the source of our knowledge of God’s will. In a pluralistic society, the Church must be a leaven. The primary means of action that the Church always has at her disposal is her life of Prayer. And so, the directive Timothy receives is to pray for all in authority. The reason for the supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings is to create room for a “quiet and tranquil life,” that is, a life lived with the possibility of communicating the Gospel to those who have not yet heard it. God wants all to come to knowledge of the Truth.

For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. (I Timothy 2:5-8)

The heart of the Gospel preached by St. Paul and entrusted to Timothy is the Truth about Jesus Christ: He is the Son of the One and only God, and He is the Mediator between God and the Human Race. Each person has a relationship with God through Christ. Paul knows his own role as Preacher and Apostle, Teacher of the Gentiles. He conforms his own wish with God’s, calling for prayer.

The vision presented by Paul in this section of the First Letter to Timothy suggests that the Church is able to participate in the wider society no matter what the situation may be. Her first unique contribution is her Prayer. The Christian community bears responsibility to pray for the world and especially for all leaders, those who exercise authority. Her purpose for this Prayer is to open up a hearing of the Gospel. Getting caught up in internal controversies would impede her duty in this matter.

At every Mass, we offer petitions and prayers for the nations of the world and their leaders. Catholics are called to be active in the world of politics so as to transform it into a form that promotes the values of the Gospel. Do we have our priorities straight in this regard?

Reflections on the Liturgy: MYSTERY OF FAITH (Currently called the Memorial Acclamation)

Priest: The mystery of faith

People: (A) We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

(B) When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.

(C) Save us, Savior of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free.

The changes in the response of the People following the Consecration may be experienced as the most dramatic.

Gone is the form “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” This option was never present in the Latin text; it was newly created an added when the English version was made. It is rather surprising that it was placed as the first option, so that English speakers often used this form without ever making use of the responses that are from Scripture.

The three options are newly translated in greater fidelity to the Latin text and to the Scriptures that underlie them.

The term Mystery of Faith is found in Scripture: “Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. [I Timothy 3:8-9]

The various forms of the acclamation primarily come from one text from St. Paul:

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” [I Corinthians 11:26]

The expressions used to address the Lord have many parallels in Scripture; a couple of examples will suffice:

And say, "Save us, O God, our savior, gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you." [I Chronicles 16:35]

The prayer was as follows: "Lord, Lord God, creator of all things, awesome and strong, just and merciful, the only king and benefactor, who alone are gracious, just, almighty, and eternal, Israel's savior from all evil, who chose our forefathers and sanctified them: accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and guard and sanctify your heritage." [II Maccabees 1:24-26]

A Word from Your Pastor June 19

2011-06-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Trinity Sunday calls us to acknowledge the most precious awareness we have in our Catholic Faith: that God is Triune, A Family of Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Who are One in a Communion of Love. As we celebrate this Feast, we seek to grow in our own capacity to be a Community united in mind and heart, open to others in the image of the Trinity.

During the next couple of weeks, I will be experiencing some interesting adventures. This week, I will be part of a gathering of those who have attended my seminary, the North American College. This Reunion travels from place to place since graduates come from throughout the United States. The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is hosting this year. A number of my seminary classmates from the Class of 1985 will get together. This is really our first effort to come together after our departure from the seminary. It will be 30 years since we first met as a group of men presenting ourselves for formation for the priesthood. For those of us who were ordained, it is around the 26th anniversary for most of us.

Next week, I will be giving a Retreat to the candidates for the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Steubenville. This is a real privilege, since they are the first such candidates for their Diocese. These men have studied along with the current class for the Diocese of Columbus, and I taught their course in the Pentateuch last Fall. I invite you to keep them and me in your prayers as we seek to open our hearts to the action of the Spirit.

Many will hardly miss me for these times away since I will be present at the weekend Masses. But I thought it would be a good idea to let you know what I am up to in case you call and don’t find me in. I am not hanging out at the swimming pool or lying at a beach. That will have to come later!

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)

Paul, caught up in the awareness of his gratitude for his Call turns to God with a cry to praise. This expression is inscribed on the plaque below our Parish Statue of Saint Timothy. It has become a prayer special to our community, both in the Parish and in our School:

To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God
--Be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We can keep this as a sign of our bond as members of the Community of St. Timothy.

I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you. Through them may you fight a good fight by having faith and a good conscience. Some, by rejecting conscience, have made a shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (I Timothy1:18-20)

The first chapter of the First Letter to Timothy concludes with Paul’s charge to Timothy to live up to his own Call. He points out that the Call was communicated to Timothy very directly by way of the Church, the prophetic words spoken about him in an assembly of believers. Paul reminds Timothy that the words spoken about him from on high can strengthen him for the trials that come in the life of Faith. Fighting the good fight with a good conscience means exercising strength of will and keeping the mind and heart in correspondence with the Truth of the Gospel.

Some counterexamples Paul mentions among his companions no doubt known to Timothy and his community are a reminder that believers must be vigilant. The battle is not merely fought at the human level. Powers at work in the world beyond us are subject to us only if we rely on Faith.

Reflections on the Liturgy: SANCTUS

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The only change in the Sanctus, the “Holy, Holy, Holy,” is the translation for Sabaoth.

Instead of a paraphrase “Lord God of Power and Might,” the simpler expression “Lord God of Hosts” is used. It is interesting to note that the Latin form kept the Hebrew term rather than offering a translation: “Dominus Deus Sabaoth.” It might have been a good idea to return to this expression instead, but the choice made does have the happy effect of reminding us of many texts of Scripture that use this name for God.

The first line of the Sanctus is almost directly from the Isaiah’s Vision in the Temple as the Seraphim sing: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" they cried one to the other. "All the earth is filled with his glory!" [Isaiah 6:3]

The same theme is picked up by the Book of Revelation: “The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.’ ”[Rev 4:8]

“LORD of Hosts” appears in the Old Testament at least 95 times, in Torah, the Prophets and especially in the Psalms.

The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [Psalm 46:4, 6, 12]

As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young, My home is by your altars, LORD of hosts, my king and my God! Happy are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you. [Psalm 84:4-5]

Elijah speaks to the God he encounters on Sinai: "I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts." [I Kings 19:10]

Jeremiah addresses God with this name: “When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” [Jer 15:16] Hosea does as well: “The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!” [Hosea 12:6]

Putting the expression “God of hosts” on our lips as worshipers in the Mass once again draws us into the line of the Prophets and the Prayers of the People of God through the ages.

A Word from Your Pastor June 12

2011-06-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Happy Pentecost! We pray together, "Come, Holy Spirit!"

For some pix of my ND Class Reunion last weekend visit this link:

ND Class of 1981 Reunion 2011

June is the month of the Sacred Heart. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the Friday after Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Feast of the Sacred Heart generally occurs in the month of June. Ironically, this year, since Easter was so late, it falls on July 1. Closely related to this Feast is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which falls on the Saturday following, this year July 2. Even though these celebrations are a few weeks away, it is a good idea to reflect on them now, to prepare our own spirits for the grace of these days.

Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary has been traditional among Catholics and it appears to be experiencing a renewal, as are many of the devotions of our childhood. Let us pray that it not be a passing fad like the current fascination with comic book heroes. Rather, let it be for all of us a true renewal of an understanding of the Love of God expressed in our human nature.

The human heart is a symbol full of complexity. The Heart of Jesus has the distinction of being the very Heart whose flow of Life and Love is responsible for all that exists. Jesus is the Word through Whom God made the universe. His human nature received the full Reality of His Person, and as He lived the whole of our life, He shares His Divine Life with us. When we contemplate His Heart, with its suffering and its flames of Love, we are confronted with the Truth that God has loved us concretely, in the very stuff of this world.

The heart of Mary was the source of her “fiat,” her “yes” to the action of God’s Spirit which brought about the Incarnation. We acknowledge her own share in the sufferings of her Son and her privileged first experience of the Salvation He won for us.

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart includes a special observance of Nine First Fridays. The Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary includes observance of Five First Saturdays. Both devotions point to a concrete commitment to a live open to the action of grace and to cooperation with the Holy Spirit in accomplishing God’s Will and establishing His Reign in our hearts.

I invite each family to consider putting into practice these devotions. Display the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in your home. Develop a practice of prayer that includes awareness of the devotion. As a child, my mother taught me and my siblings to say “All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” There are many such prayers that can become the mainstay of your family’s Faith.

The Catholic Times will be highlighting St. Timothy Parish in July. Features Editor Tim Puet will be at St. Timothy Church on Wednesday, June 15, after the 9 a.m. Mass to talk about the parish. If you have a story to share, be there about 10 a.m. or contact Tim at The Catholic Times tpuet@colsdioc.org

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. (I Timothy 1:8-11)

In many of his writings, St. Paul discusses the relationship of the Christian way of life to the Law or the Torah, that is, the teaching and legal system of the Jewish People. In this part of his First Letter to Timothy, he points out the contrast and highlights the fact that the Law does have a positive purpose. The Gospel, however, is acknowledged as having a higher authority than the Law. It is the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God, and it has been entrusted to Paul as a Minister. Paul expresses his gratitude for this call. This approach invites us to be sure that we put our Faith in the Gospel and not in external observance of customs and traditions that are meant to express our Faith, not to put the cart before the horse. Have we kept in mind the Mission entrusted to us?

I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. (I Timothy 1:12-16)

Reflecting on his Ministry, Paul is able to look back and see the Mercy of God. He also has the humility to note that God uses his “checkered past” for the sake of others. The aim is to open up the offer of Eternity to all who believe in Christ Jesus. Once again, we have to admire Paul for his freedom in the Gospel. He knows where he came from and where he is headed. Even if this may be written by a disciple, rather than Paul himself, it certainly captures Paul’s spirit and offers hope to us who are weak and who have failed to live in accord with the Gospel. Our Timothy has been with Paul in his journey and no doubt could attest personally both to the failing of the Apostle and to his strength and to his response to the Call of Mercy.

Reflections on the Liturgy: PREFACE DIALOGUE

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right and just.

The Preface Dialogue includes two relatively minor changes. The response “And with your spirit” has been discussed. It corresponds directly to the Latin and to Scriptural texts. The response “Dignum et iustum est” is likewise translated now more literally.

The response of the People just before the Eucharistic Sacrifice includes and implicit expression of the duty to live in accord with what is offered, not simply to perform a ritual. This simple expression calls to mind many texts of the Old Testament, including the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings:

• The LORD reflected: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him." [Genesis 18:17-19]

• Give ear, O heavens, while I speak; let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth! May my instruction soak in like the rain, and my discourse permeate like the dew, Like a downpour upon the grass, like a shower upon the crops. For I will sing the LORD'S renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock--how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is! [Deuteronomy 32:1-4]

• Happy those who do what is right, whose deeds are always just. [Psalm 106:3]

• The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence; May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest; That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. [Proverbs 1:1-4]

• To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. [Proverbs 21:3]

• Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. [Isaiah 56:1]

• Thus says the LORD: Do what is right and just. Rescue the victim from the hand of his oppressor. Do not wrong or oppress the resident alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. If you carry out these commands, kings who succeed to the throne of David will continue to enter the gates of this palace, riding in chariots or mounted on horses, with their ministers, and their people. [Jeremiah 22:3-4]

• Who says, "I will build myself a spacious house, with airy rooms," Who cuts out windows for it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermillion. Must you prove your rank among kings by competing with them in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink? He did what was right and just, and it went well with him. Because he dispensed justice to the weak and the poor, it went well with him. Is this not true knowledge of me? says the LORD. [Jeremiah 22:14-16]

• Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. [Jeremiah 23:5]

• The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The LORD our justice." [Jeremiah 33:14-16]

• For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous--if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous--he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 18:4-9; see also 18:18-27 and 33:14-19]

• Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just! Stop evicting my people! says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 45:9]

• In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud: "Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. [Daniel 3:25-27]

• Therefore, I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works are right and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. [Daniel 4:34]

A careful review of these texts serves as a charge in the Liturgy and on the lips of the People of God to imitate God in His righteousness and justice, putting into action what is accomplished through worship. It is far more than simply to “give Him thanks and praise.” These actions are meant to be the beginning of a new way of living in the Covenant relationship with God that is effected through Eucharist (giving thanks).

Opportunities for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible

Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.

Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor June 5

2011-06-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

How quickly the years fly by! As you read this message, I am at my 30-year College Reunion at the University of Notre Dame. Here’s me with my parents on campus on the occasion of my graduation and the famous Golden Lady.

The opportunity to visit the Golden Dome, Sacred Heart Basilica, and the Grotto, and to see some of my friends from across the years is a wonderful experience of renewal and encouragement. When we look back across the years, we are able to see the hand of Providence. God is with us each step of our journey. He is often hidden in the events and circumstances we are able to see at the moment, but when we have the benefit of hindsight, His hand is more evident. While I am away, we welcome Fr. Jim Wehner, the rector of the Pontifi cal College Josephinum, for some of the Parish Masses. Any of our young men who have questions about the road to priesthood should take the opportunity to meet Fr. Wehner. Remember the invitation to show our Parish’s gratitude to the Diocese of Columbus for all the priests who have been sent here by returning a Vocation to serve the Diocese? Fr. Wehner is here to collect!

Once again, we offer our congratulations to our Graduates of the Year 2011. May God bless you as you take the next step in life’s journey.

As you have heard, we have had to say farewell to Sr. Carolyn Thomas, S.C.N., as our Pastoral Minister. Her new address will be Nazareth Motherhouse (O’Connell Hall 211), Box 3000, Nazareth, Kentucky 40048. We wish her well and ask God to bless her on her own new journey.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Having completed our review of the mentions of St. Timothy in the Acts of the Apostles and in various letters of St. Paul, we can turn our attention to the Letters that bear the name of Timothy
as recipient. Over the next several months, we will reflect on the two Letters of St. Paul to Timothy. This week we begin with The First Letter to Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (I Timothy 1:1-2)

The form of greeting identifies the authority of the Letter as that of St. Paul, the Apostle, chosen by God in Christ. It addresses Timothy and expresses the relationship Paul shares with him, also indicating the unity they share in relationship to God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord. The greeting serves to acknowledge the affection Paul has for Timothy, which is an outcome of their sharing of Faith. It establishes the foundation that is needed in order to address the concerns about which the Letter was written. For Paul and the early Christian Community, it was evident that all they were about had to be founded on their common understanding of Christ.

I repeat the request I made of you when I was on my way to Macedonia, that you stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith. The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, wanting to be teachers of the law, but without understanding either what they are saying or what they assert with such assurance. (I Timothy 1:3-7)

After the greeting, we hear something of the occasion for the Letter to be written: that the Church of Ephesus may maintain a clear understanding of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ. The purpose is to allow for a living experience of the power of right Faith to enliven Love in the hearts of the members of the Community. The Apostle gives direction to his Co-worker who has been assigned to keep the Faith alive and pure in the hearts of the People entrusted to him. When scholars study the Letters of Timothy, they often raise questions about the direct authorship and the recipient. Comparing the concerns dealt with in the Letter to the earlier Letters of St. Paul, they tend to find such a different approach as to suggest that we are reading something that came from the next generation after Paul. If not, then the situation of the Church is already very different from how it was when Paul and his helpers first established communities of Faith. In any case, through these Letters (along with the Letter to Titus), we are given a genuine glimpse into the concerns of a Community that is adapting to a broader world of Christian involvement. No longer is it a small Jewish community, but now it is a Community whose identity is centered on Christ. The instruction given is meant to keep them on track, focusing on the Truth as it is proclaimed in the Gospel. This message is still valuable for us today.

Reflections on the Liturgy: SUSCIPIAT DOMINUS

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church. Many old-time Altar Boys will recall the days of having to memorize the Suscipiat in Latin. In the name of the People, they would recite this prayer: Suscìpiat Dòminus sacrificium de mànibus tuis ad laudem et glòriam nòminis sui, ad utilitàtem quoque nostrum totiùsque Ecclèsiae suae sanctae. If you ask a veteran server to say the Suscipiat, he will likely bow low and recite boldly this prayer. It was the prayer that separated the men from the boys. Failure to be able to say it was to lose any right to being a server. With the celebration of Mass since Vatican II, the prayer was returned to the People. The translation currently used left out the word “sanctae,” that is, “holy.” The new translation restores the “holy.” This can be a metaphor for the whole reason for the changes we will experience in Advent 2011. We are to be reminded of the Holy in the manner of celebration of the Mass. A change in posture that has already been implemented in our Diocese also accompanies this prayer: the Congregation are standing as they say it together. In Masses that include incensing the People after the Gifts and the Clergy, they are already standing. In other Masses, the People are to stand as the Celebrant says the “Orate Fratres,” “Pray, my brothers and sisters….”

Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
Pilgrimage “In the Footsteps of St. Timothy”:

Fr. Tim Hayes and Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece and Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy and St. Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes and others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed. For details, contact Judy Lorms at 614-670-8626 or judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor May 29

2011-05-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend we have some good news and bad news to share with everyone.

The good news is that, as of Saturday morning, we have two new priests for the Diocese of Columbus – Fathers Ty Tomson and Ryan Fisher – and that our own Priest-in-Residence, Fr. Bill Faustner is observing his 35th Anniversary of Ordination on Sunday. The gift of priestly ministry offers so much to the life of the Church. We are grateful to God for the Sacrament of Holy Orders and for the Spirit who makes men our shepherds in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We thank the Lord for the witness of generosity given by these men of God who share their lives with us in response to His Call.

The bad news for us is that Sr. Carolyn Thomas, SCN, will be leaving our Parish this week to return to her Motherhouse. This latter reality has come about suddenly due to health reasons. For the past few months, Sister has been experiencing some difficulties that have made it necessary for her to return to her Community. She has taken such loving care of our sick and homebound members, it is rather a shock to all of us to lose her, and we will miss her greatly. We are so grateful to Sister for all that she has done to bring Christ and His Love to our parishioners. Her witness of Religious Life and the loving concern of her own Community as they call her home where they can offer her the care she needs are a sign to us of God’s fidelity to those who follow Him.

As we say farewell to Sr. Carolyn, we are facing a number of transitions in the life of St. Timothy Parish. There is a need for some of our members to step forward in a number of different ministries. In the weeks and months ahead, we will have to work together to discern who among us has the gifts needed to keep us on the right track.

Providence has given us a rather energetic Seminarian, Vince Nguyen, to assist with things while he is here. Vince has plunged right into some of the tasks that will need to be done by others in the near future: Work with our homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes, training of our servers (5th graders are happy to get started right away!), and many other such activities as they turn up. My hope is that some of you will be inspired by Vince’s zeal and hear the Lord’s invitation to keep everything moving along. What is the Lord asking of you and your family?

This Memorial Day, we call to mind those who have sacrificed all in service of our nation and our freedoms. Let us work together to ensure that what they have won for us will continue.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater. Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure. This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.

“For it is surely just on God's part to repay with afflictions those who are afflicting you, and to grant rest along with us to you who are undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in blazing fire, inflicting punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed.

“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Thessalonians 1:1-12)

Paul writes again to the Church in Thessalonica as part of a community of leadership including Timothy and Silvanus. The Second Letter to the Thessalonians begins with encouragement that acknowledges trials experienced as the Gospel takes root in the community whom Paul is addressing. There is a great sense of interdependence and mutuality in support and in prayer. There is also an outpouring of emotion in such a way that shows the solidarity of Paul, Timothy and Silvanus with their fellow Christians.

As Paul addresses the Thessalonians, he is clear that there is a vision for Christian life that is directed toward Eternity. The sufferings of this world, once admitted, are given a purpose that points to glory. This provides for endurance and a witness that bears fruit among the Churches throughout the world. The whole perspective offered is far beyond the hope of individual personal salvation. Paul is clearly not teaching a “rapture” that will keep anyone from the experience of suffering. Rather, he is counseling a communion and a fellowship that glorifies Christ.

Reflections on the Liturgy: APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty; from there he will
come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

A little-used option for Masses with children allows for use of the Apostles’ Creed in place of the Nicene Creed. The translation of the Apostles’ Creed for Mass was slightly different from the more-familiar version used with the Rosary. The new English translation of the Mass has only few changes. Following the Latin more closely, “and” and “who” unite the expression of Faith in the Father and the Son. The phrase “by the power of” is replaced with “by” to translate the Latin word “de.”

Restored are two expressions that were conflated: “he descended into hell [Latin: ad inferna]; on the third day he rose again from the dead [Latin: a mortuis].” The current version says “He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.” The doctrine of Jesus’ Presence to the souls of the just who came before His Incarnation is the point being expressed. It is not an easy concept for modern sensibilities. The “hell” in question here is the Biblical “Sheol,” found often in the Psalms, that is, the abode of the dead without reference to Eternal Judgment. The dead are all who have died since Adam and Eve. Jesus’ Gift of Salvation is offered to all human generations.

The final changes are the inclusion of the Father’s designation as God and as almighty, and the translation of the expression “inde,” which is rendered “from there.” Once again, the concept of Christ’s “coming” from the realm of the Eternal “at the right hand of God the Father almighty” is not easy to express. It is something understood through Faith in Christ, Who promised that He would come again in glory.

Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
"In the Footsteps of St. Timothy"

Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.

Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor May 22

2011-05-22T06:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

If you are reading this, then it is likely we have missed a predicted end of the world. The news has been suggesting that May 21, 2011, would be the date that even Jesus did not know—that somehow someone else came up with through a form of Scriptural Bingo. We have lasted to serve another day. One of my Seminary professors spoke about this reality many years ago. People are always wondering if we are living in the “End Times.” The simple truth is that we are living in the “End Times” and that we have been doing so since the moment of the Resurrection of Jesus. The Resurrection of Jesus was the beginning of the End of the World.

The Easter Season continues. Just as we fasted for the 40 days of Lent, we are to feast for the 50 days of Easter. All are called to share the Banquet and it is our duty to serve as witnesses to the truths of our Faith.

This weekend, we experience a Ministry Fair, an opportunity to discover how the Parish community is responding together to serve one another and the larger world. We have invited every family to be part of some group or organization in the life of the Parish, or to take on one group or organization as a responsibility in prayer if you are not able to join. We are in this together. It is together as a Family of Faith that we are witnesses.

The RCIA Community has been experiencing a very interesting time of Mystagogia, that is, the time of instruction and reflection that follows Easter, a time of consideration of the Mysteries that have been celebrated at the Easter Vigil. One week, we introduced them to the wide variety of parish opportunities. Another week, they had a Reunion with past RCIA participants who shared what the Lord has been doing through the years since their own Easter initiation. Soon, they will conclude this part of their journey. We look ahead to the years to come. Do you know anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith? Now is the time to ask and to volunteer to walk with them as a sponsor. Every Catholic adult should experience the RCIA at least once.

Let us continue to rejoice in God’s Love and Mercy poured out upon us through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.” (I Thessalonians 1:1-10)

“We decided to remain alone in Athens and sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one be disturbed in these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For even when we were among you, we used to warn you in advance that we would undergo affliction, just as has happened, as you know. For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing. But just now Timothy has returned to us from you, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us and long to see us as we long to see you.

“Because of this, we have been reassured about you, brothers, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord. What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you, for all the joy we feel on your account before our God? Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith. Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.” (I Thessalonians 3:1-13)

The earliest of Paul’s letters, I Thessalonians, already shows our Timothy to be a valued co-worker who can fulfill aspects of the Ministry that Paul realizes he must share when he is unable to accomplish them himself. This collaboration with the next generation is the secret of Tradition. The purpose of Tradition is not to look to the past, but rather to pass on the treasures of one generation to the generations to come. Timothy serves Paul and the Thessalonians as one who bridges the questions of Faith, encouraging the growth of Faith of a community and letting Paul, the community’s founding father, know that his work has not been in vain.

We are experiencing a similar moment in the life of our Parish. Who among us are the leaders of the next generation who are being called forth? Who are the elders who need to be reassured that their work and Faith have not been in vain? Can we offer hope to one another and to the world?

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The changes in the last paragraph of the Creed are small, but again highlight fidelity to the Latin and to a personal and communal expression of Faith. The Credo from the first line is repeated to conform to the English grammar. Any student of Latin knows that one Latin verb can govern many subordinate clauses. The fact of punctuation and the need to keep the verb in view are the reason that “I believe” is repeated here. The Latin verbs “confiteor” and “expecto” are translated anew to give a more dynamic expression than the current “acknowledge” and “look for” that are in use now. “I confess” and “I look forward to” involve a more personal and committed response to the Faith that is professed.

Opportunities for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Jordan: Fr. Dan Millisor is offering a pilgrimage departing from Columbus on September 16, for 12 days including all major Catholic sites in Israel plus Petra & Ammon in Jordan. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

A number of parishioners followed this journey with Fr. Tim last February. It is an experience that will change your understanding of the Bible and the readings we hear at Mass.

Call Judy Lorms for details 614-670-8626 or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.

This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.

Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.

A Word from Your Pastor May 15

2011-05-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The Season of Easter calls us to deepen our understanding of the Gift of the Resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. The month of May presents us with the figure of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, whose response in Faith to her own call opened us to the fullness of salvation won for us by her Divine Son. When we contemplate these wonderful aspects of our Faith, we begin to see something of the hope of our own role in God’s plan. We will live forever. Each unique soul, open to receive God through Love, makes a difference for all people.

This Sunday, we close our PSR year of catechesis with a May Crowning and with the closing Mass. This is the first of many “endings” that will take place in the days and months ahead. Summer will come, and for some, there is a temptation to “take a vacation from God.” Please don’t fall into that trap! Summer prayer can be the best prayer of the year. When you go on vacation, research the location and times for Catholic Mass and worship with a different community. Pick up a bulletin and bring it home for your Pastor. Who knows? You may find an idea that can be brought home.

Next weekend after all the Masses, there will be a Parish Ministry Fair, an invitation to be part of what is happening in the life of St. Timothy Church. Plan to stop by to support those who serve the parish.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

“We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

“Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.” (Colossians 1:1-12)

One surprise that we may experience when we read several of the letters of St. Paul is that he readily admits that he is not alone in his ministry and in the writing of his letters. He acknowledges to the Colosssians that his greetings are sent from himself and Timothy, and that the Gospel that has been preached was planted among them by another co-worker. The Apostolic authority that Paul has is a shared reality. Grace and Peace come from God and the preaching of the Gospel enlivens the community and encourages them to greater growth in the life of the Spirit.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

In the part of the Creed that expresses our Faith in the Holy Spirit, a few changes are to be noted. Although it does not appear more than once in the Latin, the Credo that governs the whole profession of Faith is repeated for the third time here. It will appear once more in the final section on the Church. Each believer is invited to unite his or her act of Faith with the Faith of the whole Church.

The term “qui,” “who,” is translated now each time it appears, linking the identity of the Holy Spirit closely with the Father and the Son. “Adoratur” is translated more literally as “is adored.” The English still misses some of the intensity of the Latin expression “simul adoratur et conglorificatur,” which would be very awkward if translated directly literally: “at the same time is adored and glorified together with.” The unity of the Trinity and the human response of adoration and glorification of the Three Divine Persons with the same intensity is the point emphasized.

Sunday, May 15, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today, we celebrate the 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Church around the world invites you pray for those you might know who are discerning, or people you think God may be calling to a priestly or religious vocation and would benefit from your prayers. As Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for today, “It is important to encourage and support those who show clear signs of a call to priestly life and religious consecration, and to enable them to feel the warmth of the whole community as they respond ‘yes’ to God and the Church.”

Welcome to our Summer Seminarian Intern Vincent Nguyen!

The Diocese of Columbus is trusting us with one of our most precious resources – a seminarian who is studying to become a priest of the Diocese of Columbus. Vince Nguyen has just completed his first year in Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He will be with us for ten weeks as part of his training for the priesthood. We are happy to welcome him to St. Timothy Parish. Be sure to say hi and let him know we are praying for him.

Calling all Cooks!

Meals are needed for the Rectory – Fr. Tim Hayes, Fr. Bill Faustner, and our Seminarian Vince Nguyen – during the weekdays. (They fend for themselves on weekends.)

A special “behind the scenes” ministry helps to keep our parish pastoral team in good health and free to serve. Sign up online with the Friends of Father Tim Online Community of Support. This community assists with supplying meals at the rectory and other forms of service as needs come to light.

http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/607122/

Many dates are open in May and through the Summer.

A Word from Your Pastor May 8

2011-05-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

You may be surprised to learn that your Pastor had the opportunity to meet with the newly beatified Pope John Paul II many years ago. In 1983, when Bishop Griffin came to Rome for his first ad limina visit as Bishop of Columbus – the official visit bishops make every five years to the Holy See – he gave the seminarians and priests in Rome the opportunity to join him at the Vatican. Pope John Paul gave encouragement to all of us, and his comment about me to Bishop Griffin was “He’s young!” I was very happy to have a few pictures to commemorate the encounter, because I honestly did not see a thing about the room where we were or any other details except that we were really and truly in the presence of the Pope. I do recall asking for the Pope to pray for me and my classmates who were to be ordained Deacons the following May.

We have a great example of what it means to be a witness of Faith in Blessed Pope John Paul II. He was truly a servant of God and His People. His motto “Totus Tuus” – “wholly yours,” in reference to his commitment through Mary to her Son Jesus. May we all live with such Faith!

We congratulate our Second Graders on their reception of First Holy Communion this weekend. May they always know the Love of Jesus Who gives Himself to us as Food for Eternity. May all of us renew our Faith in the Real Presence of the Lord and may we be a living witness to the Truth of this Faith by our participation in the Liturgy.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus
who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:1-6)

“I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be heartened by hearing news of you. For I have no one comparable to him for genuine interest in whatever concerns you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel. He it is, then, whom I hope to send as soon as I see how things go with me, but I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.” (Philippians 2:19-24)

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an expression of great concern by the Apostle for the well-being of their Church community. His sense of gratitude for the relationship shared with them is powerfully expressed. He mentions Timothy in similar terms and points out the depth of Timothy’s interest in their welfare as well. The hallmark of the Gospel is genuine desire for the good of others, setting aside self-interest. Paul finds this quality in Timothy on behalf of the Philippians.

When we begin to minister for others in the name of the Gospel, we discover that the Lord places in our heart a genuine love and concern for them that cannot arise from merely natural circumstances. Sharing ministry adds a depth to relationship as well. Every minister of the Gospel finds that certain co-workers become true helpers and confidantes in the effort to build up those who are served. The love of God is embodied in the mutual love and concern of ministers for one another and for the People of God whom they serve. This makes it all the more important that we see ourselves as collaborators in service of God’s Kingdom. None of us can do it alone, and our sharing of the ministry entrusted to us is part of God’s Plan for his Family.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his Kingdom will have no end.

A few small changes in the Nicene Creed concerning the Incarnation and the Passion of Jesus represent once again a closer rendition of the text as it appears in Latin. The expressions being highlighted regard details that may seem slight but are very significant in developing a fuller understanding of the Mystery of Christ. “Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.”

The word “et,” “and,” was often left out in English, separating statements into different sentences (in accord with common English style). Re-introducing this conjunction helps to make clear the Catholic perspective that truth is to be found along the continuum of “both/and” rather than “either/or.” The Son of God came down from Heaven AND the Same Divine Person, through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He was not merely “born of Mary,” but took His very flesh from her, AND He became man in this precise manner. The Incarnation is brought about by full mutual cooperation of Heaven and Earth.

Likewise, the Paschal Mystery is expressed in Latin with a concatenation of statements: “Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas.” The expression “suffered death” is used to cover the Latin word “passus,” which literally means “suffered.” This has been used in the English form of the Liturgy everywhere but the United States since 1975. It is recognized that Jesus’ Passion was the full embracing of human mortality. The full Paschal Mystery includes the Resurrection, following suffering (death) and burial. Just as the Incarnation includes both Heaven and Earth, the Paschal Mystery includes the complete embracing of the reality of death and the New Life of the Resurrection. “In accordance with the Scriptures” is more accurate than “in fulfillment” as a translation of “secundum.”

A Word from Your Pastor May 1

2011-05-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

One of the greatest moments of my life took place when I was a sophomore in College participating in a foreign study program in Rome. April 16, 1978, I was present in St. Peter’s Square when Pope John Paul II was announced as our new Holy Father after the untimely death of Pope John Paul I. I have vivid memories of that event, and they are renewed as we observe today the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Our celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at all the Masses of this weekend is a wonderful reminder of what Blessed Pope John Paul II’s ministry. He was a healer and a Pope who spoke words of Hope to all people. In his own life, he witnessed to an unswerving Faith that accepted whatever Providence allowed to happen. He trusted in God’s Mercy. He told us all “Be not afraid.” In everything he did, he said “May Jesus Christ be praised!” I can still hear his voice ringing in my ears: “Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!” to which the response was “Sempre sia lodato!” that is, “May he ever be praised!”

Blessed Pope John Paul II is a reminder to the world of the Gift of Jesus Christ to all nations. His life and teaching are truly a gift to our time to assist us to meet the challenges of the present day. May we hear the invitation to trust in Divine Mercy, and may our lives be a sign to the world of the Truth of the Gospel.

The Year of Prayer: LITANY TO THE DIVINE MERCY
THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE FLOWER - HIS MERCY IS THE FRUIT

"Let the doubting soul read these considerations on the Divine Mercy and become trusting."

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, crown of all of God’s handiwork, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, only hope for despairing souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You

Eternal God, in whom mercy is unfathomable and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy, itself" (Diary 949).

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 1:1-2)

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no," but "yes" has been in him.” (II Corinthians 1:19)

The Christian community finds its unity in relationship to Jesus Christ, a relationship that is discovered with a vertical dimension that is always made real in the horizontal dimension. In other words, God’s relationship to us in Christ is embodied in a living relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul continues his correspondence to the Corinthians with a greeting of Grace and Peace and he acknowledges simply that this is a shared gift.

Paul also highlights the unity of mind and heart shared with all who preach the Truth about Jesus Christ. There is a unity of witness that the Corinthians, and all who read this letter, are invited to share. This kind of unity is much needed in our world today.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

As we profess our Faith, we make use of the Nicene Creed, which was formulated with precise language to express the doctrine of the Church concerning the Holy Trinity and the relationship of God to His People. The changes in the first part of the section on the Son are to help us to express more clearly some of the truths that are confessed by the Church. The Credo expressed at the beginning is repeated here in translation, whereas in the Latin text it is implied. The singular voice of the One Body of Christ speaks with the many voices of the Faithful joined together.

The former translation gave only a partial expression of the first term used to speak of the Son. “Unigenitum” is now given its full meaning “Only Begotten.” Similarly, we now have in English a more direct translation of the express “ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.” These expressions were melded together in the current version.

The use of the term “consubstantial” instead of the expression “One in Being” is meant to emphasize the sharing of Divine Being, rather than a “being in general.” All that is shares “being” with God. The Only-Begotten, Born before all ages Son of the Father shares Divine Substance with God the Father. His unity in Being is of a different level of reality. All the analogies used in the Creed are intended to highlight our Faith in the Divine Nature of the Son, made present to us in the Person of Jesus Christ.

A Word from Your Pastor April 24 Easter

2011-04-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Happy Easter!

We welcome all who come to St. Timothy for the Solemn Celebration of Easter. This glorious Feast is the very heart of our Catholic Faith. God has said a definitive YES to the human race in the action of raising Jesus from the dead. The Word made flesh lived our whole life, embracing even death, death on a Cross. This means that God Himself has not only created our life, but in the Person of Jesus Christ, He has lived it Himself. The value of human life is beyond price.

Even as we experience the Joy of Easter, a joy that can never be taken away, we must acknowledge at the same time that we are living the full Paschal Mystery, with death and suffering still present in our world for so many. Our knowledge of Christ can free us to address the problems and concerns of the world with the hope of making a real difference. We gather every weekend – and even daily – for Mass in order to hear the Word of God and to experience the touch of Sacramental grace in the Eucharist, so that we may have the strength to meet the problems that we encounter. There is no substitute for the Mass.

We are grateful to have so many present to enjoy the beauty of the Easter Liturgy and to praise God for what He has done for us in raising Jesus from the dead. It is truly a gift to have a full church as a witness to the power of God to gather His People. We encourage all who are “guests” today to come to the realization that you are invited to become “hosts” as well, joining us every Sunday in the celebration that acknowledges Easter as true for us throughout the year.

In this year of our 50th Jubilee, all who have been part of our history are invited to return for a visit if you live far away or to renew practice of the Faith we have shared with you if you are still in the neighborhood. Bishop Campbell will open our Jubilee with a special Mass November 26, 2011. Join us and keep in touch to hear about other events as we celebrate the Parish Golden Jubilee 2011-2012, and the School’s Jubilee 2013-2014.

The Year of Prayer:

Note that the Year of Prayer for St. Timothy Church has been observed since Divine Mercy Sunday last year and continues until Divine Mercy Sunday this year. All are invited to participate in the conclusion of the Year of Prayer with the Divine Mercy Devotion that will take place at St. Timothy Church next Sunday at 2 p.m.

Prayer of St. Faustina before the Eucharist

I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here You light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature.

O Christ, let my greatest delight be to see You loved and Your praise and glory proclaimed, especially the honor of Your mercy. O Christ, let me glorify Your goodness and mercy to the last moment of my life, with every drop of my blood and every beat of my heart. Would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You. When I find myself on my deathbed, may the last beat of my heart be a loving hymn glorifying Your unfathomable mercy. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.” (I Corinthians 4:17) “If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am. Therefore no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.” (I Corinthians 16:10-11)

From other texts, we know that Timothy was a younger companion of St. Paul. He has a special relationship with the Apostle and is a trusted co-worker in the Lord’s vineyard. From these texts in the First Letter to the Corinthians, we can also infer that Paul not only trusted Timothy at his side, but he felt he could entrust Timothy with special missions Paul’s call to the Corinthians was to treat Timothy as his own messenger and to cooperate with him in the common work of preaching the Gospel. Paul recognized that he could not do all that was asked of him; he shared the responsibility with a member of the next generation and created a sense of community among the workers in the vineyard.

This challenge of sharing the work and of receiving those who are sent in the name of the Church to be collaborators in our common task of evangelizing continues in our time. In our Parish, we can be grateful for all the “elders” who have worked so faithfully among us since our earliest days. We also note that the next several generations are being invited to assist in the labors and all are called to be welcoming and cooperative. May we find the Peace that comes from knowing that the Lord has called us together as brothers and sisters.

Reflections on the Liturgy: A new English translation for the Prayers of the Mass

As you have heard, the Catholic Church will begin using a new translation of the Liturgy in English beginning with Advent 2011. This means that the congregation and the clergy both will be learning new forms for expression of the Faith in the vernacular. For example, the People’s response to the greeting “The Lord be with you” will become “And with your spirit.” A number of other changes will be seen in the People’s parts of the Mass as well as in the prayers recited by the ministers.

Two primary reasons dictate this new translation. The new English version will be more faithful to the Latin original and will be sure that nothing is left out. Over the years, it has been acknowledged that the nuances of English have missed some important elements that are to be found in the Latin texts and the new translation will be an effort to bring those back into common awareness. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the new English translation will allow all to see more clearly that our Liturgical texts find their source and inspiration in Sacred Scripture. The words we say are derived often directly from specific Scriptural texts. The current translation has often obscured this origin by having a different sound and meaning from the texts of Sacred Scripture. The Catholic Church is the Biblical Church. Our Mass and all our Liturgies were the source of and the fruit of Scripture. The Mass texts will assist us to understand this wonderful truth.

All are invited to learn the new form and to deepen awareness of the Liturgy of the Church. Lex orandi, lex credendi – how we pray is how we believe.

A Word from Your Pastor April 17

2011-04-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Our journey through Lent is coming to its close. With Palm Sunday, we now enter into the “High Holy Days” of our Catholic Faith. The central Liturgy of the Catholic Church crosses over four days, from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday. The Triduum – counted as three days in the ancient Jewish way, from evening to evening – offers one great Liturgy that leads us deep into the Paschal Mystery.

At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, we celebrate the Gift of Priesthood, the Call to Serve and the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. Good Friday recalls the Passion of the Lord. Holy Saturday reminds us of the time of darkness before the dawn of Resurrection. The Solemn Easter Vigil carries us through the night to the new day of Eternal Life.

Our RCIA participants stand before us as a reminder of the truth and power of our Catholic Faith, entering into the life of grace through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Let us pray with them and for them as they join us for the first time at the Altar.

On Tuesday evening, the Diocese of Columbus also experiences the Chrism Mass, which is properly the Mass of Holy Thursday morning. At this Mass, the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils that will be used for the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the coming year. The Bishop and Priests of the Diocese also renew the promises of their ordination and ask for the prayer of the priestly people. If you have never had an opportunity to participate in this Mass, you are encouraged to do so, at St. Joseph Cathedral on April 19 at 6 p.m.

Let the Liturgical events of Holy Week and the Triduum enter into your awareness, whether you are able to attend or not. Easter is the most important expression of our Faith. Don’t miss it!

The Year of Prayer: Prayer Recalling the Passion & Resurrection of the Lord

Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection You brought life to the world. But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion. You laid down Your life willingly and gave up everything for us. Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross, Your clothing became the prize of soldiers, your blood ebbed slowly but surely away, and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple. Stretched out on the Cross, deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, You cried out to Your Father that the end had come. You had accomplished the work given You, and You committed into His hands, as a perfect gift, the little life that remained to You. Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions after the example You have given. Let me place my death in Yours and my weakness in Your abandonment, Take hold of me with Your love, that same foolish love that knew no limits, and let me offer myself to the Father with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my
relatives.” (Romans 16:21)

St. Paul gives credit where it is due and he does all he can to keep folks connected. This short greeting from the Letter to the Romans shows Paul’s interest in ensuring that the Gospel is understood as “a family affair.” Our Timothy is among those named as offering greetings and some of Paul’s own blood relatives are included as well. It is not certain whether any of these were already known to the Roman community or whether this note serves as an introduction. Paul himself had not yet been to Rome, though he had met a number of those who were from Italy in his travels through Greece.

The Gospel does not belong to individuals. It is always a communal reality. When a community hears and proclaims the Good News in words and in shared actions, including worship, the Gospel takes root. Families become larger by their opening to the others and drawing them in. The greetings offered are not superficial. They are a heart-felt welcome into the awareness of a mutual belonging. We are called to live this way.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

One change that occurs in the first section of the Nicene Creed is the return to the singular form for the translation of the word Credo, “I believe.” It is important to note that this is not meant to be a change in the meaning of the recitation of the Creed as a communal act of Faith. Rather, it is a direct translation of the word as it appears in Latin (Credo) and in the Greek original (Πιστεύω Pisteuo). The Church stands together as the One Body of Christ, united in the Act of Profession of Faith. Each unique person’s “I believe” is one with the voice of the One Bride of Christ, who says “I believe.” It is interesting to note that this unity is emphasized in the Churches of the East where the Sign of Peace is given by the clergy during the Creed: One Church, One Faith.

The decision to change “seen and unseen” to “visible and invisible” is perhaps an effort to stay close to the Latin text, since the words used have cognates in English. This particular article of the Creed is Scriptural: “For in him all things were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible.” (Colossians 1:16) The primary meaning of this is the fact that God is Creator of all that exists. The material and spiritual worlds are from one source, the All Good and Loving Creator.

A Word from Your Pastor April 10

2011-04-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

Thirst, Light, and Life are the themes found in the heart of Lent with the Scriptures of the Samaritan Woman, the Man Born Blind, and the Raising of Lazarus. Our RCIA participants experience Scrutinies based on these themes, inviting them and all of us to reflect upon our deepest aspirations, our need for enlightenment and our hope of Eternal Life.

When we look at our lives with these in mind, we find that the world’s concerns are put in their proper perspective. What happens to us is not as important as how we respond to it. When our response comes from the deepest part of ourselves, we open up a place for growth in Faith, Hope and Love. We come to know God and ourselves better, and we are in touch with Reality instead of a world of our own creation. Imagination is given a capacity to be silent in the face of the Promises God makes to us in Jesus: Springs of Grace, True Understanding and a Capacity to Worship in Spirit and in Truth, and Resurrection into a Living Relationship with the Trinity.

The world is in need of witnesses, true examples of the power of Faith to transform and to shape us in the image of God. We must be witnesses if we are true to our identity as God’s People. Are you aware of the promise of God in your own life? Have you really given yourself over to the grace that is offered? Now is the time to search your heart, to scrutinize your spirit in order to discover where God is working in your soul. The Spirit has been sent into our hearts and is awaiting our welcome.

The Year of Prayer: An Act of Consecration in the Universal Call to Holiness

O Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Master, my Love,
I give myself entirely to You this day
in and act of offering to consecrate myself
—all that I am, all that You have given me—
in union with Your Sacrifice of the Cross.

Lord Jesus, I offer myself for the salvation of souls
and the consecration of all the world in Your holiness.
Accept me as a living victim of Your Lord,
so that Your Church may be transformed in Your holiness
to be a sign of salvation for all the world.

Master, I offer myself for Your Vicar on earth,
for all bishops, priests, deacons, religious
and for all Your faithful people,
so that we all may have hearts made only for Your Love.
As a member of Your Mystical Body,
grant that I may participate in Your Eucharistic Sacrifice
with even greater love and reverence.

Take me, Lord Jesus, and with me Your Church
and all the world in Your Love
to Your Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“As Paul was about to set sail [from Greece] for Syria, he decided to return by way of Macedonia. Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Beroea, accompanied him, as did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.” (Acts 20:3-4)

St. Timothy knew how to be with St. Paul in a small group. He also knew how to take his place in a crowd. No doubt Paul relied on him for many things. The diversity of types that were gathered together as followers of Christ were a sign of the universality of the message, the Good News of the Gospel. Flexibility of plans and a willingness to change when the need arose was also a sign of docility to the Spirit and to a concrete realism concerning human nature. Paul and Timothy sought to follow the Spirit’s lead and they acknowledged limitations.

We are all called to make room for people who act and think differently than we do. In seeking to do God’s will, we must be open to all the possible roads that lead where we want to go. The contributions of each soul are to be valued and we must learn how to cooperated with differing opinions and manners of operation.

Reflections on the Liturgy: AT THE GOSPEL

Deacon (or Priest): The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Deacon (or Priest): A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.

The People’s parts for the dialogue before the Gospel have minor changes: “And also with you” becomes “And with your spirit” as has already been discussed.

The response to the announcement of the Gospel has just the addition of the “O” before “Lord.” This change, interestingly enough, does not have a correspondence in the Latin. The Latin expression translated here is Gloria tibi, Domine. The word Domine is in the Vocative, that is, direct address. In English, this form does not often have any difference from the Subject form (Nominative), so the “O” is added to emphasize that it is speaking formally to God. It is true that we don’t tend to make use of the “O” in ordinary conversation, but we do find it in poetry and in expressions that are meant to be lofty and emphatic.

St. Timothy Debt Elimination – a real possibility!

A Challenge Donation for up to $50,000 toward repayment of the Parish Building Loan has been offered as an incentive to retire the parish debt. Our current debt is down to about $170,000. If we can reach donations or new pledges to meet the challenge donation, we will be well on our way to completing the Campaign for St. Timothy….

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our Golden Jubilee could also be a celebration of the “burning of the mortgage” in the life of St. Timothy Parish? There would be dancing on the tables!

Looking ahead to May and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal

A Word from Your Pastor April 3

2011-04-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The Gospel of the Man Born Blind offers the themes of light and darkness, sight and blindness, seeing and not seeing, to our spiritual understanding this weekend. We are invited to acknowledge that the world around us is not always as it seems and that the answers to our questions must come from a level different from that in which the problems arise. “Whose sin caused this?” is the wrong question. Fault and Blame are a pastime in which we often indulge, but it never succeeds in offering true peace.

The next time you are in an argument, try this on for size: “You get to be right this time” or “It’s my turn to be wrong.” Then what happens? Do you not find that you can go deeper once that disagreement is out of the way? “This happened so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” Forget that question, now watch this!

Someone should do a screenplay with this Gospel tale. It is truly funny when you get into the movement of things. The Man Born Blind is the only one who can see. Everyone else around him lacks insight into the way things really are. The people who saw him as the blind beggar every day are not sure it is the same man when he is able to see. His own parents won’t acknowledge more than that he is their son and they distance themselves from all the hubbub surrounding him. The religious leaders miss entirely the import of the miracle of his sight, and so, although they claim to see, they remain blind to Who Jesus IS.

We are called, in our time, to open our own eyes to the truth of things. Can we recognize and acknowledge that we are in need of Salvation? God alone is God. Only God can save. Jesus is the Word of Salvation, spoken in our very nature. Hearing that Word, we can open our eyes and our blindness is healed. What are you called to see?

As you know, we are now in the final months of preparation needed before our Parish Golden Jubilee. The first event has been set, with a special opening Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Frederick Campbell on November 26, 2011. (St. Timothy Parish was officially established November 29, 1961.) Plans for that evening will include Mass, a meal, and a presentation by one who knew our first Pastor, Fr. “Gus” Winkler. We also want to allow the year to unfold with other celebrations and events. Leadership is needed. If you are reading this, decide to be a part of something and bring ideas to your next group meeting. Be sure that it is on your agenda before summer arrives.

The Year of Prayer: Prayer for Guidance

O Holy Spirit of God, take me as Your disciple:
guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me.
Bind my hands that they may do no evil;
cover my eyes that they may see it no more;
sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me.
Be my God; be my guide.
Wherever You lead me, I will go;
whatever You forbid me, I will renounce;
and whatever You command me,
in Your strength, I will do.
Lead me, then, into the fullness of Your Truth. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Then Paul sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia.” (Acts 19:22)

Putting trust in one’s co-workers is a sign of confidence that a vision is shared. St. Paul puts his trust in Timothy and Erastus and sends them ahead of him while he wraps up some business in Asia. They have successfully preached Jesus to a group of followers of John the Baptist, imparting the Holy Spirit to them. Trouble has begun to be stirred up by non-believers in the synagogue and by pagans worshiping the goddess Artemis. Paul makes his proclamation of the Gospel in the context of all this controversy. When it becomes clear that he has done all that he is able to do for the moment, he goes on to join the others in Macedonia. It is ironic to realize that our Timothy will return to Ephesus one day as its bishop. The troubles faced by Paul at this moment will not settle, and in fact, it will be in the effort to preach to the same hostility that Timothy will be martyred.

Who are the members of your circle of trust in matters of Faith? Do you share the tales of your struggles with others? Whose witness in the face of difficulties has enabled you to continue to proclaim the Faith in spite of obstacles?

Reflections on the Liturgy: GLORIA

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you,
we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Gloria has a few changes that come from the original text in Latin. As before, a number of these texts now relate more clearly to their source in Sacred Scripture. We are all familiar with the song of the Angelic Choir at Bethlehem. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” (Lk 2:14). The Vulgate (the Latin Bible) has this: “Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra, pax in hominibus bonae voluntatis.”

There is a lovely movement from the Hymn of Praise sung by the Angels, the Glory given in the highest, to the kind of praise that human beings have to offer. In order to give high praise from earth, we need to express it in multiple ways. “Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te….” – “We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you.”

Our current translation opted to simplify, leaving out several expressions and rearranging the order for some unknown reason. There is a “build-up” to the acknowledgement of Who God IS, with the titles “Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.” A three-fold expression is repeated using “glory” and addressing God as Lord and King and Father.

Similarly Jesus is addressed with distinct titles as Lord and Christ, Only-Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God and Son of the Father. The cry for mercy is restored to its three-fold pattern as in the Penitential Rite. Here the role of Jesus as God’s Lamb is brought out in great relief. This also comes from Scripture: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Parts that are not changed have Scriptural references that have not been obscured: Holy One -- “For you alone are holy” (Rev 15:4) and Most High - “Let them know that you alone, you whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:19)

We praise God with the highest praise, singing to Him in words of Scripture with titles that remind us of His exalted nature. Earth offers the Trinity tokens of praise and glory that draw us into the Communion of Life and Love shared by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That gives us Pax – Shalom: Peace and Wholeness in a Living Relationship with God as Church.

A Word from Your Pastor March 27

2011-03-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

All of us thirst for something. The Samaritan Woman was thirsty for water. Jesus’ thirst was for souls. The readings this weekend invite us to get in touch with the longings that are deep in our hearts. What is it that we really want? When we become aware of the deepest aspirations of our hearts, we are ready to enter into true dialogue with God.

The news we hear is not positive. The world is at war and battles are raging in ever new arenas. Natural disasters come upon nations and peoples across the globe. Families struggle in a volatile economy. The Church is in the news with reports of scandals that challenge our trust in one another. We are all so busy about many things and we easily set aside the means available to help us to meet these troubles. Can we renew our hearing of the Good News and our zeal for proclaiming it?

Jesus meets us where we are. He is truly our Savior and our Lord. When we open our hearts to Him, we discover that there is a strength that comes from within, a well that rises up supplying us with Living Water. We also find out that we have something more to offer one another. We are not left to meet life’s burdens on our own.

Can you find some time for Jesus to speak to your heart? This week, we had an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Did you take advantage of it? If you did, congratulations! Now, allow the grace and mercy you received to influence your encounters with others. If you missed the opportunity with the St. Timothy Parish Penance Service, then find another. Lent continues for several weeks and all the parishes in our neighborhood and beyond will have times for the Sacrament. Every Saturday at 4 p.m., our church is open and a priest is waiting for you.

Have you heard the invitation to meet Jesus in the Eucharist through Adoration on Wednesdays? He is on the Altar from the morning Mass until early evening. You will discover a Peace that the world cannot give if you sit in His Presence and pour out your heart to Him.

Do you have a Catholic friend or two with whom you can speak about your Faith? Jesus sent His disciples two by two for a reason. Two or three who gather in His Name make Him present to one another and to the world. If you have a friend like that or if you are part of a group of Catholics that speak at some depth, share your thirst. Tell someone what you are asking God for. Ask for support in your journey. If you don’t yet have a group, start one!

The Year of Prayer: Obsecro te Domine

I BESEECH Thee, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ,
that Thy Passion may be to me power
by which I may be strengthened, protected and defended.
May Thy wounds be to me food and drink
by which I may be nourished, inebriated, and delighted.
May the sprinkling of Thy Blood
be to me an ablution for all my sins.
May Thy death prove for me unfailing life,
and may Thy Cross be to me eternal glory.
In these be my refreshment, joy, health,
and delight of my heart:
Thou who livest and reignest forever. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to occupy himself
totally with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus.” (Acts 18:5) Timothy was a companion of Paul and because Paul was connected, he was able to put the young man in touch with others. In this text, we hear about Timothy’s association with Silas. We saw Silas and Timothy left behind in Macedonia while Paul was sent on to Athens to get out of some controversies.

By himself, Paul preached and tried to teach, but he did not have much of a response and he also had to fend for himself. When Silas and Timothy joined him, however, things started looking up. He was able to focus himself on the heart of his message: the long-awaited Messiah is Jesus. He was free to preach the Word without worrying about some more mundane matters. This is part of the gift of Community.

As a witness to St. Timothy’s role, we continue to work together to do what is necessary for all the members of our parish family. Each of us has a role to play. Can we discover our own unique gifts and contribute to the Mission of proclaiming God’s Word and revealing Who Jesus Is as the Christ?

Reflections on the Liturgy: PENITENTIAL ACT, Form B

Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
People: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
People: And grant us your salvation.

Baruch 3:2 is the source for the first part of this form of the Penitential Act:
“Hear, LORD, and have mercy, for you are a merciful God; have mercy on us, who have sinned against you.” This text is from the Greek Bible, the Septuagint, and it is the source for the form that still appears in the Mass: “Kyrie, eleison.”

The latter part comes from Psalm 85:8: “Show us, LORD, your mercy; grant us your salvation.” The word for mercy is hesed, often translated also as “love.” It is the covenant gift that enables us to respond to God as He relates to us.

Many other Scriptures include these expressions of a heart-felt cry for mercy.

Have mercy on us: II Maccabees 2:18; Matthew 9:27, 20:30-31; Luke 17:12-13.

We have sinned against you: Numbers 21:7; Nehemiah 1:5-7; Jeremiah 14:7, 20-21; Judith 7:30.

Show mercy: I Kings 8:50; Sirach 36:11.

Grant salvation: Psalm 118:25.

The new version of this form is a re-translation that does not change the text as the previous translation did. It is not employed very often. But the new translation makes clearer that it is an appropriation of Biblical prayer. God’s own Word supplies our expression of need for His mercy and salvation.

A Word from Your Pastor March 20

2011-03-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

As we enter into the next several weeks of Lent, we experience in the Liturgy themes that help us to focus our attention on the Paschal Mystery. This weekend, we hear the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This wonderful moment in the life of Jesus and His disciples Peter, James and John is a hint of the glory of the Resurrection that is given shortly before His suffering and death. It is a profound experience which reveals many things that can be discovered through a prayerful reflection on the texts.

Our human nature is destined for glory. Already, before the Resurrection, an experience of intense prayer allow an “overflow” of this glory that is seen by the three Apostles. Prayer puts us in touch with God and also with the Saints of every age. Jesus is seen with Moses and Elijah, speaking of what is to happen in Jerusalem. The experience of prayer is not able to be communicated fully from one person to another, and yet there is an aspect of sharing that is possible. The wisdom and insight that come from deep prayer are beyond words, but we can share that contemplative insight in a way that adds richness to the Faith of others. Prayer reveals the belovedness of each of us. Jesus is God’s Beloved Son and in Jesus, each an every one of us is also beloved of God.

The members of the RCIA – now properly called the Elect since the Bishop has called them to the Easter Sacraments – will continue to be held before us for prayer throughout the Lenten Season. This weekend, those baptized in other Christian Communions, Candidates for Full Communion in the Catholic Church, experience a Penitential Scrutiny. The next three weekends our attention will be on three Scrutinies for the Catechumens, the unbaptized. These rites call all of us to do an examination of our hearts to open to the grace God offers through Faith.

The Year of Prayer: A Lenten Prayer

Let me hold fast to You, Lord, whom the angels themselves yearn to look upon. Wherever You go, I will follow You. If You pass through fire, I will not flinch; I fear no evil when You are with me. You carry my griefs, because You grieve for my sake. You passed through the narrow doorway from death to life, to make it wide enough for all to follow. Nothing can ever now separate me from Your Love. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy

Timothy is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as a companion of Paul many times, often in passing. While the “real action” being told is what happens to Paul, we can attend to Timothy’s situation and get a glimpse into the formative influence of the Apostle on his young disciple. Acts Chapter 17 had Paul involved in a number of scrapes. He and several companions including Timothy are in Thessalonica, preaching the Gospel. Members of the local Jewish congregation stir up some trouble for Paul, so he is sent out of town with the hope that things will settle. They end up in Beroea, where Paul continues to preach to some effect. When the Thessalonicans who were stirring up trouble hear that Paul is there, they follow to create more controversy. Paul is sent off on his own to Athens, and we are told that Timothy and Silas are left behind.

This scenario suggests several things. First, Timothy is truly a companion in times of trouble. He is with Paul and others in the midst of difficulty. He knows the score because he sees it played out in front of him. He sees Paul’s perseverance and along with the other companions, he hangs in there with him. He apparently has some skills for keeping a level head when others around him are in turmoil. They don’t feel the need to send him away with Paul. Paul asks that Timothy and Silas join him to continue on with the journey. (Acts 17:14-15)

These reflections show us that even in his early days, our Patron was a rather good witness of Christian discipleship and brotherhood.

Reflections on the Liturgy: PENITENTIAL ACT, Form A Confiteor

There will be a few minor changes in the first formula for the Penitential Rite. The Confiteor, the “I confess” prayer has been retranslated and parts left out in the first translation have been added back in.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The two changes in this text come from Latin expressions that were simply left out in the translation we are currently familiar with. It was an effort to “simplify” in accord with the principle of “noble simplicity” that tends to characterize the Latin Rite. However, it left out the fact that often psychologically we need to hear something or say something more than once for emphasis and to penetrate our distractions.

“I have greatly sinned” was David’s response acknowledging his own sin against the Lord in I Chronicles 21:8 (parallel II Samuel 24:10). The threefold repetition happens often in the Liturgy and in Scripture. Consider the Holy, Holy, Holy of the Sanctus and the threefold question of Jesus to Peter: “Do you love me?” in John 21 corresponding to Peter’s threefold denial at the High Priests’ courtyard. We acknowledge our sin to God and to ourselves and so open to the Mercy offered.

A Word from Your Pastor March 13

2011-03-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Parishioners:

The First Sunday of Lent is a moment of Election – recognition of our status as God’s Chosen Ones. It is also an invitation to Choose God as First in our lives.

No doubt we all have the experience at one time or another in our lives of not being chosen. We do all we can to prepare for something, but then we are left at the mercy of others who select those who will be “in.” This is a humbling experience. When we happen to be among those who are chosen, we feel accepted. We belong. The team or the group that has invited us into membership is ours. We are “we” and no longer among “them,” that is, those who are outside. It is God’s plan to invite all who hear and accept the invitation to enter His Kingdom.

As members of the People of God, it is our responsibility to ensure that all are able to hear the invitation as addressed personally to them. Lent is a special time to acknowledge the wondrous mystery that we are among the chosen. It is a time to review the temptations that confront us. Jesus’ temptations remind us of what is in us that can turn inward: a tendency to self-sufficiency, a grasp for power and control, a failure to put God first.

Some in our world deny the existence of personal evil, the devil. One response to this is very simple, “then who tempted Jesus?” As the Son of God in the flesh, there is no evil in Him, so no source for temptation except from outside His Person. For most of us, the devil is content to watch us create our own falsehood and just to encourage us down false paths of our own making. For Jesus, the temptation has to be at the root and from beyond what is in Him. It is for our sake that He experiences these temptations and His overcoming of them is a reminder to us of the power of grace at work in our human nature.

The Year of Prayer: Act of Love

O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and asked pardon for all whom I have injured.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

Having offered an overview of what we can learn about St. Timothy from Scripture and Tradition, now we can delve a little more deeply into the Scriptures associated with him. Acts 15:36 – 18:22 gives us an account of St. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. It is in the context of this journey that St. Paul first encounters Timothy.

“Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. n account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1-3)

This encounter was a real boost for Paul. In the previous chapter, we hear that Paul had to “do battle” for the Gospel with the Apostles in Jerusalem, and then that he had a falling out with Barnabas over their traveling companion John Mark. It was a happy chance that Timothy came on the scene. The good report from other Christians was a plus. And the fact that he was ready and available to join Paul on the journey with Silas was encouraging.

Paul had the opportunity to show that he could compromise when there was good reason. His having Timothy follow the custom of circumcision was a sign that he was willing to work with the folks who felt that Jews should be Jews in practice even in their embrace of Christianity. Recall how hard he had fought to have Gentiles recognized as Gentiles and not constrained to Jewish practices first. Paul was all about freedom in Christ. Our Timothy was one who was willing to work with Paul from the start, even though it was a sacrifice for him personally!

Reflections on the Liturgy:

In the months ahead, we will be making preparations for the change to the new Missal for celebration of Mass. There will be changes in the English that is used both for the People’s parts and the parts said by the Celebrant and the other ministers.

Let’s first begin to take a look at the changes that will take place for the People. The Diocese of Columbus has created cards that will be available in the pews and the new missalettes and worship aids that will be used will include the changes as well.

One change that will be most evident will be the translation of the exchange between the Celebrant and the People that occurs rather often in our prayers. Old-timers will remember the Latin:

Dominus vobiscum.
– Et cum spiritu tuo.

OUR PRESENT RESPONSE
Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

OUR RESPONSE BEGINNING WITH SATURDAY EVENING MASS NOVEMBER 26 2011
Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.

There are two main reasons for this change. First, the new form of English better represents the response as it is in Latin and in virtually every other language among the vernacular translations of the Mass. (There are a few that are similar to the English form, but that is usually because they were translated from English and not from the original Latin.) When the Liturgy of the Latin Rite is celebrated, it is reasonable to expect the same meaning even though it is in different languages. That is the point of translation in the first place.

The second reason is that the Latin text is directly associated with Sacred Scripture. When different forms and meaning are expressed as an interpretation of the meaning of the original Latin, the connection with Scripture is lost.

In this case, “and with your spirit” comes directly from Scripture.

• St. Paul writes to the Galatians: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18)

• He says to the Philippians: “The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (Philippians 4:23)

• In his Second Letter to Timothy, he closes with: “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.” (II Timothy 4:22)

This text speaks to the unity of spirit between St. Paul and the fellow Christians whom he is addressing. When we use the formula in Mass and on other occasions, we are emphasizing the living relationship in the Spirit that we have that enables us to pray from our unity in Christ and to worship the Living God.

Some comment that they do not like the form “and with your spirit” because we do not ordinarily talk that way. But the text is Scripture and its meaning conveys more than a simple response: “yeah, with you too.” Even the formula “and also with you” is different from our daily form of speech. So it makes sense to be more literal in translation and hence more Scriptural, so we can acknowledge in our worship that we are speaking in direct line with those who gave us the Bible and with the Spirit Who inspired them and Who continues to infuse our worship with power.

A Word from Your Pastor March 6

2011-03-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

Lent begins Wednesday! We have had a long stretch of Ordinary Time and now we enter into the great cycle of the Paschal Mystery. This presents a bit of a challenge, given that the next couple of months are also a busy time of activities that draw our attention. I would like to invite all the members of our parish family to live the Mystery together in a profound way.

Let me offer three suggestions: First, please consider adding one practice of Prayer to your family routine. Take time each Wednesday to adore Jesus in the Eucharist by coming to church during the day. Bring your children and teach them how to pray in silence. Come for five minutes, then ten, then see if you can sped 15 minutes or a half an hour in silence, speaking to the Lord in your heart. If that is not possible, then pray a family Rosary or read from the Bible. This year would be a good year to read the Letters of Timothy. Consider learning to pray part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official Prayer of the Church.

Second, give up something that you enjoy just to express to the Lord that He is more important to you that your own pleasures.. Skip dessert or a favorite food or drink. Turn off the television. Cut out one activity that keeps you apart from your family and find a way to spend real quality time with one another.

Finally, find a form of charity, a way of giving alms, to a purpose or a need that addresses the world’s hunger for justice. Look for a practice that enables you to give of yourself, something that “costs” you for the Kingdom.

An Ideal Lenten Devotion: Christian Prayer, the Universal Prayer of the Church
You are invited to join other St. Timothy parishioners for one, some or all of five Thursdays during Lent 2011: March 10th, 17th and 31st; and April 7th and 14th. Using Shorter Christian Prayer books furnished by St. Timothy parish, we will collectively teach, learn and pray Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Contact Jeff Baker with questions via 370-5783 or faithful@insight.rr.com. otherwise, guided by the Holy Spirit, just show up at the MPR from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.

The Year of Prayer: Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

The Scriptures give an account of the beginnings of St. Timothy’s life as a Christian and show him to be a valued co-worker and companion of St. Paul. They also tell us that he spent some time in prison, likely for his witness of Christian Faith. The Letter to the Hebrews has a note as an appendix mentioning “that our brother Timothy has been set free.” (Hebrews 13:23) The Letters to Timothy also point to Timothy’s role as a Bishop, leading a particular church at a young age.

The end of Timothy’s life is not mentioned in the Scriptures. However, Tradition supplies details that are rather interesting. According to a work entitled the “Acts of St. Timothy,” St. Timothy was martyred in Ephesus. At the pagan feast of Katagogia, celebrated in honor of Diana, the goddess worshiped at Ephesus, Timothy was clubbed and stoned to death on January 22, 97, by revelers for his efforts to stop their idolatry. He was buried there and recognized as a martyr. His relics were later translated (moved) to Constantinople by the Emperor Constantine. At the time of the Crusades, they were once again removed and now reside in the Cathedral of Termoli, in Molise, Italy.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

Observance of the seasons and feasts of the Liturgical Calendar is a way for the Church to highlight aspects of the Mystery of Christ in order to lead us to a deeper understanding. The Seasons of Lent and Easter bring out over the course of more than 90 days the central mysteries of our Faith. We are called to live the Paschal Mystery and to recognize that our lives, including our suffering, are meant to be united to the life of Christ, especially in His Paschal Mystery, His suffering, death and Resurrection.

The Season of Lent invites us to pray, to fast and to give alms, in order to prepare ourselves to celebrate the glory of Easter.

LENT BEGINS ASH WEDNESDAY

The following fast and abstinence regulations are observed: Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older. Fasting is observed on Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age to 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

A Word from Your Pastor February 27

2011-02-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Parishioners:

We welcome Bishop Campbell to St. Timothy Church this weekend to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for 44 8th Graders in our School and PSR. Whenever the Bishop comes among us, we experience a taste of what it means to be the Church in her fullness. The primary locus for the experience of Church in relation to the world is the Diocese, that is, the Bishop, together with the Clergy, Religious and Laity, who are the local expression of the Body of Christ. As Church, we are called to witness to the truth of the Faith and to invite others to know Christ through Word and Sacrament.

Family life is the Domestic Church, that is the Church at Home. The experience of Faith in the family is the primary locus for the first knowledge of the Gospel. When families live with Christ at their center, their members are able to live their witness with a strong foundation.

The Parish celebration of Confirmation is a privileged moment which serves to remind all of us of our call. As the confirmands, their sponsors and their families and all who teach them gather with the Parish Community to welcome our local apostle, it is time for every member of the Parish Family to be renewed in zeal for the Faith. Let us commit to share Christ with the world, and let us ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to worship of the Father through His Word.

We offer our thanks to Bishop Campbell for the Gift of the Spirit and to all who have brought our 8th Graders to this joyful day.

The Year of Prayer: Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that You are One God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that Your Divine Son became man, and died for our sins and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

On many occasions, St. Paul the Apostle made an apostle also of St. Timothy by sending him on missions on behalf of the Gospel.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Paul “sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia.” (Acts 19:22) Paul tells the Thessalonians that he “sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” (I Thessalonians 3:2) To the Corinthians, he writes “For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.” (I Corinthians 4:17)
The Philippians are given word of Paul’s hope “in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be heartened by hearing news of you.” (Philippians 2:19)

The role of Timothy on these occasions was to promote the work of the Gospel by carrying a word of encouragement or by discovering the situation and needs of the communities to whom he was sent. He served as a connecting link between St. Paul and the communities he had founded. Paul rejoices after Timothy’s mission to the Thessalonians that “just now Timothy has returned to us from you, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us and long to see us
as we long to see you.” (I Thessalonians 3:6)

The task of building up the community of believers is a shared mission. Our patron Timothy shows us how to respond to this call in the Lord Jesus.

Reflections on the Liturgy:

The Church has always recognized that how she prays assists her to know the Faith. Lex orandi, lex credendi: the law of praying is the law of believing. For this reason, the language and form of the Liturgy is studied, purified, at times corrected, and always held to the norms and rubrics that the Church supplies. When all do what the Liturgy calls for, we become truly who we are as the Body of Christ and our prayer in common is the very worship of the Angels and Saints in glory. The current move to a revised translation of the Mass (which will take place on the First Sunday of Advent this year) is to be understood in this light. The Church is always being called to growth. As we pray and study the new form in the months ahead, let us ask the Spirit to help us to understand ever more profoundly the Mystery we celebrate.