My fourth experience of the St. Timothy Parish Festival on the Green is now history. I remember well coming into the wonderful chaos of the Festival the first year I arrived as Pastor in 2008. Each year, I am in awe of the manner in which our St. Timothy family comes together to create such fun, family and fellowship for all ages. Many guests tell me how welcome they feel. This year we were blessed with two nights of good weather. We can be truly grateful for this hallmark of our Parish life.
The Festival had everything, including Poobahs and Pirates!
To see pictures of our past four festivals online, go to:
http://sttimothyfestivals.shutterfly.com/
As we continue our journey to the celebration of our Golden Jubilee, we need to become more conscious of what God is asking of us at this time of our history. First and foremost, we must express our gratitude to God and to those who worked so hard to get us established. Who are the members of St. Timothy Parish and School past and present who have helped you? How are you responding to what has been given to you? Are you working to pass it on?
This past week, many of our young people were involved with Gospel Road, a program sponsored in the Diocese of Columbus to give a practical experience of living the Gospel. We are blessed to have had both our Youth Minister, Chris Valentine, and our Seminarian, Vince Nguyen, involved with many of our own young people from the St. Timothy Community. It is our hope that the energy and zeal they have shown will bring some new ventures in our own parish.
Seminarian Vince Nguyen on the Dunk Tank and Making Pizza
We do want to thank Vince Nguyen for all he has done for our parish this summer. Vince arrived at exactly the right time and has been invaluable working with us to address needs in our Service of the Altar with Server Training, and in the service of our Sick and Homebound, coordinating our Extraordinary Ministers, as we said farewell to Sr. Carolyn Thomas, SCN. We are certain that Vince will do great things in service of God and His People. Please keep him and all the seminarians in your prayers.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
Paul continues his advice concerning ministers of the Gospel.
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:8-13)
Deacons are servants, configured to Christ the Servant. Their role is to lead others to Christ and to help the Christian Community to fulfill the requirements of the Gospel. When a man is called to the Diaconate, he knows in himself a desire for a deeper communion with Christ and His Church, and a responsibility to draw others into service. As part of the clergy, Deacons are the public face of the Church. As family men, in most cases, they are also involved in the nitty-gritty, day-to-day grind. Thus, they act as a sort of a bridge between two facets of the life of the Church.
We can be very grateful to have the services of our own Deacon Marion Smithberger, who was assigned to us at St. Timothy after an internship in the parish. Perhaps some of our own members will hear the call to service. Now is the time to begin to discern and to act in accord with the dignity and freedom described as requirements by St. Paul and still held as pre-requisites in the present day. Let us continue to seek out those who are in good standing and with much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Reflections on the Liturgy: CONCLUDING RITES
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Deacon: Go and announce the gospel of the Lord.
Deacon: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
The last changes in the peoples’ parts for the Mass are found in the Concluding Rites. “And with your spirit” is now well understood as expressing the communion that has been experienced in the Liturgy and the source of the grace of the Mass.
The Deacon or Priest will bring the Liturgy to its close by the admonition to “go,” using one of three new translations expressing the import of the Latin “Ite, missa est.”
The Mission that flows from the time of Gathering, Hearing the Word, and Celebrating the Sacrament involves the completion of the act of Worship, the Proclamation of the Gospel, and giving God glory by living in accord with the Mystery that has been celebrated. Since one simple translation does not express the full import of the three Latin words, the Church has opted to allow for a variety of options. The simple meaning is, “we’re finished with this act here, now take it out into the world.”
Thus concludes our own journey through the changes in the Mass in the parts that belong to the Assembly.
Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
Places are still available for a once-in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.
This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.
Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.
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