Dear Parishioners:
A Parish Retreat is meant to be a time of responding to a Message of Faith by a Community of Believers who want to share one Mind and Heart, namely, that of Christ. This week, we welcome Fr. Raphael Bonanno, O.F.M., to lead us in a time of prayer and reflection that will serve to bring us closer to the Lord and to one another as His People. Our whole Parish Family will grow in grace, especially if we do our best to share what we receive with everyone in some way.
Here is a charge: Make it a point to participate in the Retreat yourself. It runs Sunday through Wednesday. Can you set aside all that you “just have to do” to the end of the week or to next weekend, and go all in? Be here every evening. Listen. Pray. Renew your Commitment. I don’t want to let you off the hook for this, but even if you cannot come to the whole retreat, personally take part in some of it. Be there.
Bring a family member, a friend, someone you just met who seems interested in Faith. If you cannot bring someone else in person, then carry that person as a prayer partner. Jot down a few notes each time you attend and take the opportunity to share what you have heard with someone else – in person, on the phone, by e-mail, by texting or tweeting or any other form of communication you use daily. Just say, “I am attending a Parish Mission, and here’s an idea for you!” Carry the Message to the world. Preach the Gospel at all times and in any manner you can.
Today we also experience the Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election for our R.C.I.A. Class. We have a rather large “class” this year, with a full age spread. It is impressive to see how many are responding to the call to Faith. This is a sign of the Presence and action of the Holy Spirit among us. It is a tribute to 50 years of Faith as a Parish. Please keep our candidates and catechumens, and their sponsors and catechists in your prayers. Make plans to be present for the most glorious experience of Easter in 50 years!
We congratulate all the Women of our Parish who participated in the Women’s Conference this weekend and assure the Men who will attend the Men’s Conference next weekend of our continued prayers. May the Spirit move us to be mature Women and Men of Faith in these Challenging Times.
Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
We are looking at St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, since Ephesus was the see where St. Timothy served as Bishop. This may offer some perspectives on the Church and the Community among whom Timothy lived and ministered.
In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10)
God’s action for us depends not on our need, but on the riches of His Grace. We are redeemed, forgiven, and given knowledge of God’s ways in a world that cannot see Him. God has a plan for us and for all of Creation. That plan has been revealed to us in Christ. Our Faith puts us in a living relationship with Christ and so we can understand its meaning through Him. So many times, we try to grasp our Faith from the wrong perspective. It is not, in the end, the dogmas and the doctrines, the moral teachings and the pious practices that will get us to salvation. Rather, it is a living Faith in Christ Himself that will assist us to understand those practices and teachings for all they are worth. We have to be disposed to the movement of the Spirit, Who lavishes the Grace of God on us. Can we open our hearts to learn God’s plan?
How well do you know Saint Timothy?
At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy. Test your own knowledge about the Saint. Each week, a question or two will be put in the bulletin. You’ll have to come back next week to get the answer!
Fill in the Blanks:
St. Timothy is listed as co-author of seven letters in the New Testament Canon: ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________.
St. Timothy is named as the recipient of two letters: __________ and __________.
Answers to Last Week’s Fill in the Blanks:
Today, St. Timothy is known as the patron of __Stomach disorders_.
The major book of the New Testament that tells us about St. Timothy is __The Acts of the Apostles__.
St. Timothy is listed by name in 11 letters in the New Testament Canon:
Romans, I & II Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Philemon, and Hebrews .
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