This weekend we have some good news and bad news to share with everyone.
The good news is that, as of Saturday morning, we have two new priests for the Diocese of Columbus – Fathers Ty Tomson and Ryan Fisher – and that our own Priest-in-Residence, Fr. Bill Faustner is observing his 35th Anniversary of Ordination on Sunday. The gift of priestly ministry offers so much to the life of the Church. We are grateful to God for the Sacrament of Holy Orders and for the Spirit who makes men our shepherds in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We thank the Lord for the witness of generosity given by these men of God who share their lives with us in response to His Call.
The bad news for us is that Sr. Carolyn Thomas, SCN, will be leaving our Parish this week to return to her Motherhouse. This latter reality has come about suddenly due to health reasons. For the past few months, Sister has been experiencing some difficulties that have made it necessary for her to return to her Community. She has taken such loving care of our sick and homebound members, it is rather a shock to all of us to lose her, and we will miss her greatly. We are so grateful to Sister for all that she has done to bring Christ and His Love to our parishioners. Her witness of Religious Life and the loving concern of her own Community as they call her home where they can offer her the care she needs are a sign to us of God’s fidelity to those who follow Him.
As we say farewell to Sr. Carolyn, we are facing a number of transitions in the life of St. Timothy Parish. There is a need for some of our members to step forward in a number of different ministries. In the weeks and months ahead, we will have to work together to discern who among us has the gifts needed to keep us on the right track.
Providence has given us a rather energetic Seminarian, Vince Nguyen, to assist with things while he is here. Vince has plunged right into some of the tasks that will need to be done by others in the near future: Work with our homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes, training of our servers (5th graders are happy to get started right away!), and many other such activities as they turn up. My hope is that some of you will be inspired by Vince’s zeal and hear the Lord’s invitation to keep everything moving along. What is the Lord asking of you and your family?
This Memorial Day, we call to mind those who have sacrificed all in service of our nation and our freedoms. Let us work together to ensure that what they have won for us will continue.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater. Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure. This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.
“For it is surely just on God's part to repay with afflictions those who are afflicting you, and to grant rest along with us to you who are undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in blazing fire, inflicting punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed.
“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Thessalonians 1:1-12)
Paul writes again to the Church in Thessalonica as part of a community of leadership including Timothy and Silvanus. The Second Letter to the Thessalonians begins with encouragement that acknowledges trials experienced as the Gospel takes root in the community whom Paul is addressing. There is a great sense of interdependence and mutuality in support and in prayer. There is also an outpouring of emotion in such a way that shows the solidarity of Paul, Timothy and Silvanus with their fellow Christians.
As Paul addresses the Thessalonians, he is clear that there is a vision for Christian life that is directed toward Eternity. The sufferings of this world, once admitted, are given a purpose that points to glory. This provides for endurance and a witness that bears fruit among the Churches throughout the world. The whole perspective offered is far beyond the hope of individual personal salvation. Paul is clearly not teaching a “rapture” that will keep anyone from the experience of suffering. Rather, he is counseling a communion and a fellowship that glorifies Christ.
Reflections on the Liturgy: APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty; from there he will
come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
A little-used option for Masses with children allows for use of the Apostles’ Creed in place of the Nicene Creed. The translation of the Apostles’ Creed for Mass was slightly different from the more-familiar version used with the Rosary. The new English translation of the Mass has only few changes. Following the Latin more closely, “and” and “who” unite the expression of Faith in the Father and the Son. The phrase “by the power of” is replaced with “by” to translate the Latin word “de.”
Restored are two expressions that were conflated: “he descended into hell [Latin: ad inferna]; on the third day he rose again from the dead [Latin: a mortuis].” The current version says “He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.” The doctrine of Jesus’ Presence to the souls of the just who came before His Incarnation is the point being expressed. It is not an easy concept for modern sensibilities. The “hell” in question here is the Biblical “Sheol,” found often in the Psalms, that is, the abode of the dead without reference to Eternal Judgment. The dead are all who have died since Adam and Eve. Jesus’ Gift of Salvation is offered to all human generations.
The final changes are the inclusion of the Father’s designation as God and as almighty, and the translation of the expression “inde,” which is rendered “from there.” Once again, the concept of Christ’s “coming” from the realm of the Eternal “at the right hand of God the Father almighty” is not easy to express. It is something understood through Faith in Christ, Who promised that He would come again in glory.
Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
"In the Footsteps of St. Timothy"
Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.
This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.
Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.
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