Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Word from Your Pastor October 28

Dear Parishioners:

Over the past few weeks, we have been working diligently to establish a database for our 2012 Jubilee Directory for which the pictures were taken a few months ago.  The process of creating a document like this is intensive and takes quite a bit of time.  In advance, we will apologize for any mistakes made due to our error and we will do our best to correct them by the time the next directory is created. 

Many mistakes come about, however, due to the fact that folks move or change address and phone numbers without letting the Parish know about it.  Often, we discover the news by a returned piece of mail (the monthly envelopes) or by a phone call that doesn’t make it through.   Gathering correct e-mail addresses is also a difficult task and many messages are returned.  Our lists contain names of folks whose whereabouts in the world and in cyberspace are a mystery.  We do invite you to make sure the Parish Office has correct information for you and your family.

As you may have noticed, the Ushers and Greeters have an extra job through the month of October – namely, to take a count of all those who are in attendance at Mass each weekend in order to get an average attendance at each of the parish Masses.  This information is gathered by the Chancery from all the parishes in the Diocese and becomes part of the reports and plans for the upcoming year.  We have noticed that the numbers of attendees at Mass at St. Timothy has gone down in the first three weeks of the count.  Over these three weeks, we are down an average of 49 persons each weekend.  It is true that our count goes up and down with the schedule of ball games, but this is a significant number of persons who are away from our assembly.  We need to reach out to those who have been absent and to invite them back.

Both of these efforts affect something that we as Catholics need to be concerned about these days:  are we able to stand together as a witness of Faith before a skeptical world?  Who is with us?  Polls show that Catholic values are inculcated through participation in the worship and the activities we share.   Engagement in the practice of our Faith is not an optional part of being a Catholic.   The world is crying out for witnesses.

The witnesses who spur us on to victory are the Saints who have gone before us.  November 1 is the Solemnity of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation.  Just like on Sundays, all Catholics are expected to be in the number of those who gather for Mass.  If we want to be in that number when the Saints go marching into the Kingdom, we have got to start marching with them on earth.

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee:  Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

Up to now, we have concentrated our study on the Scriptures associated with Ephesus, since that was the diocese of which our Patron St. Timothy was the first Bishop.  We are now considering another Letter associated with that community, this time from one of the early bishops of the Church named Ignatius of Antioch.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, CHAPTER XIV.--EXHORTATIONS TO FAITH AND LOVE.

None of these things is hid from you, if ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. Now these two. being inseparably connected together, are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man truly making a profession of faith sinneth; nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.

It is amazing to note that the exhortation to practice of the Faith made by St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesian community is as applicable today as ever.  Faith and Love are the heart of our life together in Christ.  We are called to live a holy life.  Faith professed leads to an effort to avoid sin; Love turns away hate.  We hear from the Church of our own day the call not to a mere profession, but to a practice of Faith that endures to the end.

Year of Faith October 11, 2012November 24, 2013

October 11, began the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be read before the start of Mass and will be included in the Bulletin.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

28      In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behavior: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth. These forms of religious expression, despite the ambiguities they often bring with them, are so universal that one may well call man a religious being.

From one ancestor God made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:26-28)

29      But this “intimate and vital bond of man to God” can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man. (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes #19) Such attitudes can have different causes: revolt against evil in the world; religious ignorance or indifference; the cares and riches of this world; the scandal of bad example on the part of believers; currents of thought hostile to religion; finally, that attitude of sinful man which makes him hide from God out of fear and flee his call.

Comment:  It is clear that our present world in many ways battles against Faith.  What do you see as the primary causes for the world’s rejection of Faith?  How do you respond to this?  What helps you to stand firm in Faith before an unbelieving world?

This Week in Our History:  October 28-November 4

1963:   The average Mass attendance during October was 1188 and the number receiving Communion was 368.  The averages last October were 844 and 258.

Tuesday is Election Day.  You are reminded of your responsibility to exercise your right to vote.  The Bishop urges us to support the 1.5 mill levy to support the public child care program of Franklin County.  The tax is used exclusively for dependent and neglected children in the county.

1965:   Forty Hours Devotion:  These devotions honoring Our Lord in His Eucharistic presence on our altar will be observed Friday through Sunday.  Everyone in the parish should find opportunity to make a daily private visit and to attend the public devotions.

   Friday  9:00 a.m.  Opening Mass, Procession and Litany, Adoration throughout the day

               7:30 p.m.  Sermon and Benediction, Confessions

   Saturday   8:00 a.m.  Exposition and Mass – 9:15 Mass, Adoration throughout the day

                    7:30 p.m. Sermon and Benediction, Confessions

    Sunday   Regular Mass Schedule - 4:00 p.m.  Solemn Closing

Next Sunday the Prayer of the Faithful will be incorporated in the Mass.  This is a series of petitions priest and people offer together for their own needs, those of the parish and the entire church.  Explanation will be given next Sunday so that you can participate in a meaningful way.

1966:    Father Winkler is continuing to make improvement.  No visitors yet.  To the Parishioners of St. Timothy’s he sends this message:   “I want to thank you for your prayers.”

1970:   Attention Business Advertisers.  In January, 1971, we will initiate business ads in the Sunday bulletin.  Please contact Joe Marchese if interested in placing an ad.

1972:   Banns of Matrimony are announced for the first time between Robert Moriarty of Immaculate Conception Parish and Ellen Sullivan of St. Timothy.

1973:   Banns of Matrimony are announced between Peter McClernon of St. Timothy and Kathleen Cody of St. Michael Parish.

1974:    We welcome to the parish Jennifer Rich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Rich, and Marie DeSantis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nick DeSantis, who were baptized last week.

1975:   From Sister Sharon

  All is well in Rome!  After 5 days with a map and bus ticket I feel pretty well at home!  I live in a hostel run by Sisters and am located a 5-minute walk from the Colosseum and a 7-minute walk away from both St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran Basilicas.  I really couldn’t be more centrally located.

  Today I attended the Canonization of Oliver Plunkett (Irish Bishop and Martyr).  I was in the 23rd row and had a fantastic view, both of the ceremony and the 15,000 people behind me.  The Pope spoke in Gaelic and English and Irish flags silently waved the people’s affection.

  I’m sure there’ll be struggles ahead, so please keep me in your prayers.  Be assured that you, “my Parish,” are daily in mine.  I miss you and hope that this next 2 years will bring us closer in Christ – that we will grow deeper in LOVE and the FAITH we share.

             Shalom, my friends, Your Sister, Sharon

1979:   Please remember in your prayers Albert D’Amico who was buried this past week.

1980:   In your charity please prayer for the soul of Michael Dodd, Jr. whom we buried this past week.

From the Pastor’s Desk

All of us must be grateful for the wonderful new steps behind the school.  The old ones were a safety hazard.  Credit for the planning, and for many Saturdays of hard labor, goes to members of our Maintenance and Facilities Committee and to other Parishioners who assisted them.  May God bless them.

1984:   Special Report on Parish Buildings.

Many of you have been following the progress of the Listening Committee which has held four sessions to hear ideas about the need to expand or improve our physical facilities…Forty parishioners attended the sessions….two opinion trends did emerge:  that there is a need for more space to conduct activities in, and that we have to be fiscally responsible in choosing how to provide such space.  The Listening Committee continues to report to the Long Range Planning Committee of the Parish Council.

1985:  Watch the walls of the upstairs hall for a display of a proposed addition to our physical plant.  No decisions have been made on this proposal, and the parish will need YOUR opinions and viewpoints at open parish meetings on Nov. 21st and/or 24th.

1987:   Further developments in our meetings of the 18th and 19th.  It appears that so many of our parish families will be represented by just one member at these important meetings; so it would not be a good time to have a polka dance.  We will save this idea for another occasion, and merely provide refreshments and soft music.  Remember these gatherings start at 7:30 and are for a very important cause – the support of Catholic education in Columbus for years to come.  All around the Diocese, Catholics are visiting fellow parishioners in their homes to secure a three-year pledge to support the Bishop’s endowment drive.  Here at St. Timothy, we are attempting to get so many people to these volunteer training nights that there will be virtually no one left to visit.  Please come and make this effort a success in our parish.

1989:   Parish Council Notes.

…A majority of those contacted in the parish favor an examination of (the question of expanding our facilities) and also recommend caution in committing the parish to too great of an undertaking.  Father Thomas was asked to report back on some basic costs in constructing a large but plain building to be used for:  physical education classes, team practices, adult recreation and school and parish dramatics.  It was pointed out that if these needs could be taken care of in this fashion, then other parts of our buildings could be adapted to better use for other purposes.


1991:   Parish Council Minutes report that Linda Gelhaus, Mike McShane, and Joe Briski were welcomed as new members by Father Thomas, Mary Jo Leonard, Bill Shelley, Judy Henry, Pat Spence, Mary Fabro, Pat Sergio, and Tim Kelsey. 

1994:   We ask your prayers for Bernardine Patton, a member of the parish who died and was buried from the parish church this past week, and for Betty O’Shaughnessy Teegardin, a member of the parish who died this past week.

1995:   Goodbye and God Speed!  Dale Beaver, our parish Music Director, makes his final weekend effort in that position this weekend.  He has accepted the job as Music Director of our neighboring parish, Immaculate Conception.

Since 1978 dale has fulfilled a number of responsibilities in the program of sacred and secular music in our parish.  He began as part-time organist on weekends.  Since then he has gradually added many responsibilities to become head organist and music director.   He has also taught music in our parish school.

We shall miss him in our parish. We are grateful to him for his talent and dedication through the years.  May God bless him with success and happiness in his new position.

1999:   Ground Breaking “The Time Is Now”

This Sunday, October 31st, a ground breaking celebration will take place at 11:00 a.m.  All are welcome. Following a very short ceremony refreshments will be served in the cafeteria.

2005:   Congratulations to Frank Iezzi and Opal Peterson, who will be married next Saturday, November  5th.

2008:   A Word from Your Pastor

In a short time all the numbers will be in…Over the four weeks of October, four Masses each weekend, we had 3,599 people in attendance.  That means an average of 900 per Sunday.  The average in 2007 was 873; 2006 had 865.  So, unlike the economy, our involvement has had a steady rise over the past few years. 

Remember in your prayers Roseanne Bracaloni who died last week.  May she rest in eternal peace.

2010:   A Word from Your Pastor

We are in the midst of the annual season of “political spin.”…This is the only advice I will give regarding politics:

1.         Vote.  Exercise your civic responsibility.  If you failed to register in time for this round, then register now for the next round and say an extra prayer for those who are voting who will be deciding the course of things.

2.         Please show civility in your political discussions.  Remember, others do have the right to disagree and it is not your place or mine to demonize those who think differently.  Please show more decorum than the ads that we have been subject to for the past several months.

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