A Word from Your Pastor April 29

Dear Parishioners:

There is a Chaos Theory that suggests that when we find chaos in one part of the universe, there is order in another part of the universe that would not be possible without that chaos.  So, that would seem to indicate that someone somewhere must be very happy about our current situation because order is present in that realm as a corollary to what is going on around us!

Just look at the world around us.  The culture of our present-day society, locally and beyond, is in turmoil, denying age-old truths and justifying the most outlandish thoughts and ideas and behaviors in the name of what?   When we seek to defend so-called “traditional values,” we are looked upon as unenlightened or worse.  Chaos reigns.  So, we must seek the order that is its corollary.

The key to finding the order we seek is the Truth of our Catholic Faith that proclaims the Resurrection of Jesus.  This Divine Intervention into human affairs has put us in touch with an ultimate Order to the Universe that trumps all other chaos and disorder.  God is in charge, of this world and of life and death and New Life.  Everything in this world is destined to come to an end, but we human beings are given the capacity to engage in preparation for what comes next.

We have had many deaths and funerals of late in our community.  Over the past couple of weeks, I have personally attended to five families, including my own, who have experienced such a loss.   Each death has made me ever more aware of the fragility of our human condition and the brevity of life.  We must live each day in the awareness of the fact of our limitations.   We must also put our trust in the Lord Who leads us to the Order beyond the chaos of earthly life.

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.

 I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-4)

St. Paul accepts his own condition and circumstance as a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel, and he uses it to call the Ephesians to a way of life that incorporates Gospel values in their community life.  Unity and peace come from being centered on God. Love frees each member of the community to accept all others.  Hope is directed toward the fulfillment of God’s promises.  The Communion of Love, present within the community through the action of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit, is destined for all.

 

The encouragement Paul offers to the Ephesians in spite of his own difficult circumstances rings true for us today.  Where there might be a temptation to despair, given all that is occurring in the world around us, our Faith and the example of the generations who lived before us invite us to cling to Hope and to trust in the continuing action of God’s Spirit among us.

How well do you know Saint Timothy?

 At the St. Timothy Women’s Prayer Breakfast, there was a Quiz about our Patron Saint Timothy.  This week’s installment gives the final questions.  Next week you receive the final answers.

 What do the following have to do with St. Timothy?

Termoli, Molise, Italy

The Angel of the Church of Ephesus

A.D. 97

Answers to Last Week’s Questions:

The Second Missionary Journey of St. Paul was the occasion on which they met.

Katagonia is the pagan feast of the goddess Artemis on which St. Timothy was martyred.

Jubilee Church Directory

Church Directory: Sittings here at St. Tim's for pictures have ended, but we still want you to be part of parish family pictorial! Pictures of your family can be submitted for inclusion for just $10. Place a copy of the picture, with a note on the family members included in the picture, and your payment in an envelope labeled 'Directory picture" and drop this by the rectory or in the collection basket. Photos may be submitted through May 20th. There is still the opportunity to have your picture taken at another church and placed into our directory as well. Email Ryan & Terri Fisher at tcrjfisher@yahoo.com for assistance if you would like to explore this option.

This Week in Our History:   April 29-May 6

1964      The form for administering Holy Communion has been changed.  The priest will say CORPUS CHRISTI (Body of Christ), before each communicant.  The communicant will answer AMEN and then receive.  The new form is to be used immediately.

1965      Our First Communion Class receives their First Holy Communion this afternoon at two special Masses.  Our class this year numbers 87.  This is a great blessing for the parish and we ask that you please remember  them in your prayers today.

A multitude of new additions to the parish: Julie, daughter of M/M David Armour; Mark, son of M/M Joseph DiPietro; Julia, daughter of M/M Hugh Dorrian; Raymond, son of M/M Richard Murray; Keith Paul, son of M/M Donald Mains; David, son of M/M Douglas Wille.

1969                  We hope to start bingo in the parish by May 18.

1970                  “Raindrops keep falling on my head…” Not any more.  Thanks to the eight men from the Men’s Club who spent last weekend repairing the roof over the cafeteria and kitchen.  Their work, and the efforts of  the Finance and Building and Maintenance Committees saved the parish $2,000.  Many thanks from all of us.

1973                  As of June 1 a new schedule of Bingo Workers will go into effect.  Any woman who can give one Thursday or one Sunday evening a month please call Anne Mosey or Jane Horner.

1976   Saturday, May 2, 2:30   Wedding of Richard Keller and Beth Bubenchik.  Our congratulations and best wishes to them.

1980                  The beautiful new sanctuary chairs have finally arrived.  They are a gift from the family of Thomas J. Kondas, in his memory.  We are grateful and will surely be moved to remember Tommy in our prayers and liturgies.

The chairs for the choir also arrived this week.  Aren’t they nice!  They are the gift of Dr. Robert Lembach and family.  May God bless them!

 We congratulate the boys and girls who will make their First Holy Communion today at a special Mass:   Enrica Apollonio, Guillermo Arbona, Ana Claudia Bortolozzi, Ana Paula Bortolozzi, Angela Chickey, Maria Covarrubias, Daren Elosh, Michael Flanagan, Patrice Gillespie, Gregory Gilkerson, David Helms, William Morrisey, David Neal, Elizabeth  O’Flynn, Renee Rieser, Brady Roenker, Kerry Sacks, Michael Sherrow, Sara Smucker, Megan Standley, Sharif Tanagho, Lynn Tortorello, Marla Vrable.

1981                  Thank you.  In the early months of 1979, Mr. Len Immke donated 2,000 shares of stock in Wendy’s International to St. Timothy Parish.  That stock was sold during this past March for $47,2 50 (and applied as) payment on the parish debt.  The debt now stands at $87, 318.  The entire parish is grateful to Mr. Immke.  May God reward him for his generosity to our  parish.  May his generosity be an example to all in the parish.

A Note from Father Hanley…As I mentioned in my introduction at all Masses last Sunday, I am happy to be with you as pastor.  I look forward to a long and fruitful ministry in St. Timothy.  You were certainly reassuring as you greeted me so warmly after all the Masses.  …I ask God’s richest blessing on all of you each day at Mass and ask that you pray for me and for the entire parish in your daily prayers.  However, my head is swimming with new names …please be patient as I try to remember names and identify (them) with faces.

1983   The Banns of Matrimony are announced between Diana Geiser of St. Timothy and Mark Shumaker.

1984                  First Annual Derby Party…May 5 at 7:30 in the cafeteria, $10 per couple.  Beer, wine, mint juleps, soft drinks and popcorn will be provided.  Bring hors d’oeuvres – DJ for dancing.  Call Marcia Hanninen or Rita Flanagan for reservations.

1987                  Many thanks to Holly Whittaker, Michelle Reeb, and Melanie Collier and all who donated to or helped at our parish fix-up, clean-up.  Crowd estimates vary between 150 and 200, counting those in strollers.  Most seem to have had a good time and all worked very hard.  Father Thomas appears to have eaten the most hot dogs (5).

1990                  Plan to stay for refreshments after the Sunday morning Masses on May 6.  Our Deacon David Speers will be saying goodbye as he prepares to return to his native Arizona for ordination to the priesthood.  Come wish him well.

1993                  Women’s Club…”Day of Relaxing, Prayer, and Refreshment” Monday, May 3 10-2 in the rectory basement.  Jo Dickinson MA of the Wellness Program Management at the Elizabeth Blackwell Center will speak on “Creating Balance in Our Life”.  Call Debbie Wolf for info or if childcare is needed.

1994                  Special congratulations for Andrew Lewandowski, a St. Timothy School 2nd grader and Cub Scout Pack 324 member who was presented with the Light of Christ medal.  Fr. Hanley presented the award, unique to scouts of the Roman Catholic faith.  Andrew is the first scout to earn the award since the pack was reactivated 7-8 years ago.

2001   Next weekend will be Deacon Joseph O’Hara’s last one with us.  We will have a reception for him after all the Masses.   He will be ordained a priest June 2 in his home diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. We thank Deacon Joseph for his service here during his last year at the Josephinum

2003   Congratulations to Tara Theado and Stephen Blackstone who will be married on Saturday, May 10.   

2007  From the Pastor’s Desk…Marion Smithberger, who is preparing for ordination as a permanent deacon for our diocese, will become increasingly involved in parish life during the next several months.  This quarter his assignment is to observe sacramental preparation, RCIA, and adult education.  As he completes his responsibilities in his home parish of St. Peter, he will have more time to devote to our needs.  Having known Marion during my time at St. Peter, I am delighted that the diocese has assigned him to us for his internship.  The fact that both the Josephinum and the diocese consider St. Timothy to be a suitable environment in which future clergy can learn to minister says a great deal about the kind of community we are.

2011   Welcomed to the parish at the Easter Vigil:  Aaron Adkins, Rickey Collier, Mary Ann Hauenstein, Brigette Semler-Lucas, Michael Kachur,Sherri Poroski, Bill Arend, John Semler-Lucas, Mary Smolko Billy Arend, Aiden and Evan Semler-Lucas.