Dear Parishioners:
The Book of Revelation has a series of “Letters to the Churches,” each of which includes the line: “Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” We are living in a time where such listening is necessary. What is the Spirit saying to the Church in our time, and specifically, what is the Spirit saying to us at St. Timothy Church?
Our Parish Mission ended with an appeal from Fr. Bonanno to all of us to make a resolution. We are called to ensure that our Parish and the Church of Columbus have leadership in the future, and we are called to outreach, responding to the needs of others.
As Pastor, I can offer some possibilities for you to consider.
Regarding Leadership and Vocations:
Seek to learn and exercise leadership by joining a group or organization that calls you to leadership. In our parish, we are seeking someone to coordinate leadership among the various Women’s groups who are active and involved. Men can join the Knights of Columbus, which serves as a connection with the wider community as well as sponsoring events and activities locally. The Serra Club, which supports Vocations to priestly and religious life, has four Clubs in the Diocese of Columbus, two of which are in Columbus.
Find ways to encourage young people to consider priesthood or religious life. Tell stories that show them how you have been helped in your faith and life by priests and religious sisters and brothers. Let them know why you think they would be good examples for others if they were to be called to such vocations. Work to accomplish my personal goal: to have a man from our parish ordained for the Diocese of Columbus during my tenure as your Pastor.
Regarding Outreach:
Find a parishioner from St. Timothy Church who lives alone, and call or visit that person once a day just to make sure that he or she is okay. Offer to bring that person to Mass with your family. Learn something about Cristo Rey, a Catholic High School being organized under the leadership of our parishioner Jim Foley. Talk to members of the Parish Council about the idea of assisting a parish in Haiti or some other location in need in another country. As Laity, you are called to be holy and to lead others to an awareness of Who God IS and what He expects of us all. Your sphere of influence is the world at large. Political action, public affirmation of the principles that are made known to us through Faith, and above all service to the most vulnerable are all part of your vocation.
During our Year of Golden Jubilee, we will be seeking to reflect together on where we have been and where the Lord is leading us. Let us listen deeply to the Word that the Lord is speaking to us through His Spirit.
Celebrating our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.
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.
Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. (Ephesians 1:15-23)
We are given a hope that goes beyond anything this world offers. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that they may come to know God and all He has in store for us through Christ. The kind of knowledge referred to in this passage is not a mere intellectual understanding. Rather, it is an experience that involves the whole person. It is also a communal reality, not just an individual personal experience. The Church is the Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head of His Body, the Church. We, who are members of the Church, are given the capacity through Faith to know the Lord and His plans for us and for all creation.
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!
Answer the Following Questions:
What are two famous bits of advice given to St. Timothy by his mentor?
In Greek, the name Timothy means what?
Answers to Last Week’s Fill in the Blanks and Questions:
According to Tradition, St. Timothy was appointed the first Bishop of _Ephesus_.
That location was also the residence of two other famous figures in the New Testament:
_St. John, the Beloved Disciple, and the Blessed Mother, Mary, the Mother of Jesus_.
Complete this prayer: To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God --
Be Honor and Glory Forever and Ever. Amen.
Where is it to be found on the property of St. Timothy Church? On the Statue of St. Timothy in front of the Church and in the front hallway of St. Timothy School.
News from the History of St. Timothy Parish – Happenings in the first half of March
1963: Inquiries have been received about gifts to the new church. Here are listed some that might be considered; others will be listed later:
Tabernacle $1000 Taken Altar $560
Altar crucifix $200 Taken Sanctuary lamp bracket $175
Baptismal font $325 Taken Altar candlesticks $100/pr (3 pair)
Altar cards $120 Benediction candelabra $275 (1 pair)
Organ $2500 Stations of the Cross $800
Church windows $100 ea (24) Holy water fonts $35 ea
Homes for teenage Cuban students are urgently needed. If you feel that you can take a Cuban student into your home, please call Mr. J. Gibboney.
Mar. 3. This morning we hold Mass for the first time in our new church. Sunday Masses 8:00 – 9:30 – 11:00 – 12:30; 6:30 am weekdays and 8:00 Saturday morning.
1965: Mar. 7. There are significant changes which will take place in the liturgy of the Mass this morning. We hope that you will find the changes helpful both in understanding the Mass and in participating in it in a meaningful way. We will try to explain the changes this morning.
Mar. 14. The Chancery notifies us of the weekend of prayer, proclaimed by our Mayor for our country in light of conditions and events which took place in Alabama during this past week.
1966: The Ember Days which occur this week (Feb 28-Mar 6) are no longer of obligation.
Newly baptized – David Francis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kabealo.
1967: Mar 5. Collection last Sunday was $2667.42. It looks like February is a short month in more ways than one.
PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE ON THE BALL FIELD. THE GROUND IS TOO SOFT AND IS BEING DAMAGED.
1970: Announcement is officially made of the approaching ordination of Luciano Farina who has been serving as deacon in this parish on Sat. Mar. 21. He will offer his first Mass on Mar. 23 at 12:30 here at St. Timothy’s. Immediately following the Mass there will be a reception until 5:00. Father Farina has been the deacon every Sunday for the past year.
Mar. 15. (5th Sunday of Lent) With the changes in the liturgy, the statues in church are no longer draped.
1975: A fundraiser inviting parishioners to contribute $3 a month using their ‘Monthly Lottery’ envelope was initiated.
1977: The parish is planning to re-open bingo activities in March. Volunteers are needed to help run the program.
The cafeteria is in need of spoons and forks – don’t throw your mismatched ones away – send them to school.
1978: Feb. 26. HELP! We need $11,000 in the collection today or we will have to borrow…(in order to meet school payroll and other bills by Tuesday)...and so increase our debt of $359,000.
Mar. 6. We were able to get by this week by borrowing $5,000…(our debt is now $364,000).
Parish St. Vincent de Paul chapter is established.
1980: Thanks to Ralph Geiser, Dick Chapman and Ralph Swain for their work on relocating the organ speakers. “Don’t they look much better when you can’t see them?”
1983: The envelope for donation to the Catholic Times is added to the monthly packets.
1986: Tickets for the spaghetti dinner sold for $3.50/person, $10/family of three.
1987: The small-group faith sharing program RENEW has begun. It will focus on the Lenten season and our continued response to the Lord.
1988: A volunteer is needed to compile a 25- year history of the parish. Call Father Thomas.
1989: Mr. James Silcott was hired as principal of the school effective July 1. He replaces Margaret Mooney. He was chosen from several candidates by a committee consisting of Father Thomas as chair, Al Brehl, Judy Boyle, Judy Casey, Alice Colbert, Marsha Driscoll, Claudia Dusseau, Maureen Finn, Jim Foley, and Lois Stock.
1990: Congratulations to the Men’s and Women’s Clubs on a wonderful spaghetti dinner. Each item of service and each new menu item were handled expertly. Some liked the food so well that they were seen at two seatings.
1992: Remember in your prayers Mary Jane Sanese who recently died.
1993: Remember Florence Dreiling and Alice Weldon who recently died.
1995: Monsignor James Hanley announced his retirement from parish administration effective Dec. 1. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in December. He leaves after 44 years of service in the diocese.
1996: Remember Dr. Henry Wynsen who died.
Welcome to Mrs. Karen Yager-Beach as our new music director.
Youth Group is invited to a Good Friday walking Stations of the Cross being planned downtown.
2000: Please remember in your prayers Ralph Sanese who recently died.
We are in need of volunteers to clean the sanctuary weekly.
2001: Computer classes for the ‘senior’ crowd will be held in the new computer lab in the new building of St. Timothy School.
2003: Remember in your prayers Bob Holcomb, our organist for the 5:00 pm Saturday Mass, who recently died.
Congratulations to Lisa Abrams and Jan Neiger who were married on Mar. 8.
First Incredible Iacono’s fundraiser. On the second Monday of each month the Sawmill Iacono’s will donate to the parish 50% of sales over their average Monday net.
2004: The Vintage Club toured the Dale Chihuly glass exhibit at the Franklin Park Conservatory.
Congratulations to Lucy Hickey who received her 30-year Service Award from
Bishop Griffin at the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Dinner on Mar. 3.
2006: St. Timothy is now participating in a paper-recycling program. The collection bin is located on the west side of the parking lot.
Fr. Tim Hayes will escort a group to the Shrines of Italy June 17-25. Call Ann O’Neill for information.
2007: Remember in your prayers Yolanda “Lundie” Nelis, our Religious Education secretary, and Mary Ann Whitacre (daughter of Bruce and Edna) who died.
2008: Mar. 9. With regret, Bishop Campbell accepted the resignation of Monsignor John Johnson as pastor of St. Timoth Parish, effective mid July. “The silver lining is that there will be a long line of applicants…and your new pastor will be a champion.”
Mar. 16. The family of Bob Gardiner wishes to thank all our friends at St. Timothy for their generosity and friendship at the time of his Memorial Mass.
2009: Pastor Timothy Hayes offers his thanks to the parish for allowing him and his siblings to play host to a surprise 50th wedding anniversary celebration for their parents.
2010: The new Parish Mission Statement was published: 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.
Mar. 14. Remember in your prayers Art Coyle who died this past week.
2011: Engraved pavers may be ordered to help support construction of a Rosary Prayer Garden as part of our 50-year Jubilee celebration.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study begins study of Revelation.
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