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.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor December 18
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.
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.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor December 11
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.
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.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor December 4
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.
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.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor November 27
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.
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.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor November 20
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.
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.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor November 13
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.
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.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor November 6
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor October 30
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?
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?
Monday, October 24, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor October 23
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 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?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Day By Day on my Pilgrimage
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!
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!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor October 16
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?
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?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor October 9
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.
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.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor October 2
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?
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?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor September 25
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/
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.
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.
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