A Word from Your Pastor June 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.