A Word from Your Pastor - July 21

Dear Parishioners:

This weekend we hear from a “son” of our parish who has taken up the call to evangelize, Jonathan Smith.  He is sharing some of his experiences at the weekend Masses this weekend and inviting any who wish to be part of his adventure through an organization called FOCUS, the “Fellowship Of Catholic University Students,”  which was founded in 1998, responding to Pope John Paul’s call to the New Evangelization.  Jonathan has heard that call and is working as a missionary to bring Catholic awareness to students on college campuses.  You can learn more about FOCUS at http://www.focus.org/.

A similar organization working in the Columbus area at Ohio State University and Ohio Dominican University is SPO, “St. Paul Outreach,” which also calls college students and others to an active participation in the New Evangelization.  You can find them online also at http://www.spoweb.org/  or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/spo.ohio.

The call to the New Evangelization invites us all to an active awareness of our Faith and a willingness to share it through a witness of intentional discipleship.  At St. Timothy Parish, there are quite a number of initiatives that are in motion in response to this call.  Are you ready to jump in?

Our Youth are part of a Revolution, growing in knowledge and practice and making plans for the Second Annual Summer Bible Camp next weekend.  Contact Kathy Lutter or Karen McGirty if you would like to be part of the Bible Camp or of the Youth Revolution.

The St. Timothy Men’s Club and the Knights of Columbus Council 14345 will be working together with men from the various parishes in our area to make use of a program called “That Man Is You,”  TMIY, to educate Catholic men concerning the Faith and their call to witness.  This program has been successful in several parishes around the Diocese of Columbus.

Pushkar Baum and some of his fellow seminarians at the Josephinum are members of the New Evangelization Club, which is collaborating with St. Timothy Parish to begin a Catholic Door-to-Door evangelization effort.  Their hope is to give Seminarians some practical experience talking with people about the Catholic Faith and to establish an ongoing Ministry of Evangelization in the parish.  If you feel called to be part of this, let Pushkar know and when he returns to the Josephinum in the Fall, he will be sure you are in touch with the New Evangelization Committee.

Anther possibility is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to introduce our children to the Faith through Scripture and the Liturgy.  See the inserts in the bulletin for further information about this or contact Rita Feige.

Even closer to home is your own daily encounter with people who have been away (inviting them to come home) or who have never been involved with a Church (inviting them to the RCIA).  The witness of the Faith is the fruit of your own practice, prayer, and a large dose of the zeal that comes from a heart open to respond to God’s Holy Spirit.  How are you being called to share the Faith of the Church?

 

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

We continue our journey through the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

ARTICLE 3     SACRED SCRIPTURE

IV. The Canon of Scripture

The Old Testament

121 The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value,  (Cf. Dei Verbum 14.) for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

122 Indeed, “the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of all men.”  (Dei Verbum 15.) “Even though they contain matters imperfect and provisional,” (Dei Verbum 15.) the books of the Old Testament bear witness to the whole divine pedagogy of God’s saving love: these writings “are a storehouse of sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way.” (Dei Verbum 15.)

123 Christians venerate the Old Testament as true Word of God. The Church has always vigorously opposed the idea of rejecting the Old Testament under the pretext that the New has rendered it void (Marcionism).

Comment: We cannot fully understand Christ without an understanding of the preparations God made through the ages among His chosen People.  The Jewish Scriptures invite us to learn the culture and customs and the hopes and longings of the Hebrew People through their complex history.  How well do you know the Books of the Old Testament?

Focolare Word of Life for July 2013:  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

http://www.focolare.org/en/news/category/parola-di-vita/

 

St. Tim's Festival 2013

For those who want to share the joy of this year's Festival, check out the pix on Shutterfly:

  Here are Festival pix: http://sttimothyfestivals.shutterfly.com/1868

A Word from Your Pastor - July 14

Dear Parishioners and Festival Friends:

This weekend is always a banner weekend in St. Timothy Parish and in the Diocese of Columbus.  We welcome all our visitors and friends who join us for the annual Festival.   Kudos go out to Joe Lorenz and his crew for all they have done to prepare for a wonderful experience.  Thanks too to all who have volunteered, donated, and spent money to help support our School and Parish through our major fund raiser.

As we celebrate our Festival, many parishes around the Diocese are welcoming new priests into their communities.  This year is a big year for moves and changes.  Our neighborhood in the Northwest Deanery is changing.  Here are a few of the changes you will see if you visit our neighboring parishes:

Fr. Mike Watson, formerly Pastor at St. Andrew’s, is now Pastor of St. Mary’s, Delaware.  He and Watterson High School are happy that his new parish is still a feeder School, so he will be around, though it will be a longer journey. 

Msgr. Steve Moloney, formerly Pastor at Immaculate Conception, and Vicar General for the Diocese of Columbus, takes up his duties as Pastor at St. Andrew’s.  Along with him will be the newly ordained Fr. Nick Droll as Associate Pastor.

Fr. Jim Black, formerly Pastor at St. Mary’s, Delaware, has been in our neighborhood since March, as Pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Powell.  He will be joined by the newly ordained Fr. Mike Gentry, who is replacing Fr. Jeff Tigyer, who is now at Kenton, Immaculate Conception, as Associate Pastor (also called Parochial Vicar).

Fr. Mark Summers, formerly Associate Pastor of St. Michael Church, and before that of St. Brigid of Kildare, Dublin, is now Pastor of St. Peter Parish.  Fr. Justin Reis has entered into retirement and will be taking up residence at St. Agatha.

St. Michael Parish, whose Pastor is Fr. Tony Dinovo (who once had a stint at St. Andrew as Associate Pastor) now has the services of the newly ordained Fr. Matt Morris.  Notice that the three priests newly ordained for the Diocese of Columbus in 2013 are experiencing their first years of priestly ministry among us.  Keep them in your prayers!

You will notice that there are a few priests in our neighborhood who are not making changes at this time.  Msgr.  Joe Hendricks and Fr. Ty Tomson remain at St. Brigid in Dublin.  Fr. Jeff Rimelspach remains at St. Margaret of Cortona.  Fr. Bob Penhallurick and Msgr. John Johnson remain at St. Brendan in Hilliard.  Fr. Dan Ochs remains at St. Agatha.  Msgr. Romano Ciotola remains at Our Lady of Victory.  Msgr. John K. Cody remains at St. Christopher. 

And, I am happy to say, Fr. Timothy Hayes, Pastor at St. Timothy Church, remains here.   As of July 8^th, I have entered into my sixth year at St. Timothy.  How time flies!

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

We continue our journey through the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

ARTICLE 3     SACRED SCRIPTURE

IV. The Canon of Scripture

120 It was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books.  (Cf. Dei Verbum 8 § 3.) This complete list is called the canon of Scripture. It includes 46 books for the Old Testament (45 if we count Jeremiah and Lamentations as one) and 27 for the New. (Cf. Council of Trent)

The Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, the Letter to the Hebrews, the Letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude, and Revelation (the Apocalypse).

Comment: The formal listing of all the Books in the Bible was codified at the Council of Trent, but this list, just as it appears here, has been the Canon of the Catholic Church from the earliest centuries.  The books listed in Bold Print above are the Deuterocanonical Books, the books contained in the Catholic Bible that were taken out of the list by the Jews (whose books they were!) and later by the Protestants.  Have you ever taken the time to get to know the names of the books of the Bible?  Have you read the books that are kept by the Catholic Church that others have left out?

Focolare Word of Life for July 2013:  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

http://www.focolare.org/en/news/category/parola-di-vita/

 

 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at St. Timothy Church

We are ready to launch a wonderful new way of drawing our children into the Mysteries of our Catholic Faith.  For those who are familiar with the Montessori Method of education, it should not be a surprise that there is a corresponding approach that allows our children to come to a profound understanding of the Catholic Faith as well.

Please see the insert in the bulletin this week and in the weeks ahead to learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  We will need to think creatively about our use of space in order to create an Atrium for each of the levels.  This new venture will be a transformation for all of us.  If you are interested in learning more or in being a part of this journey with the Good Shepherd, contact Rita Feige.

A Word from Your Pastor - July 7

Dear Parishioners:

The Festival is coming!  As you may recall, the very first weekend after my arrival as Pastor at St. Timothy Church five years ago was the Festival weekend.  So the 2013 Festival is my sixth with you (and I have pictures to prove it!).   I am amazed at how quickly the years have flown.  I am also in awe of how everything comes together.  We have a general chair and team leaders (thanks Joe Lorenz and company!) to oversee what happens, but it would not be possible without the response of everyone.  Parishioners and friends of St. Timothy come out of the woodwork to tend to the many details.  Everyone I speak to from outside the parish who comes to our Festival sings it praises.  The spirit of welcome shown in many other ways is also mentioned by many.  We can be thankful for the gift of our parish community.

It has been said that once you are part of St. Timothy’s family, you always have a home here.  At the Festival we will welcome home many alumni and friends from years past.  (The School’s Golden Jubilee will be observed 2013-2014.)  At the Saturday evening Mass at 5 p.m., we will welcome Deacon Vince Nguyen, who has been invited back by the Knights of Columbus Council #14345 as they inaugurate a new Seminarian Fund.  Deacon Vince was with us the summer of 2011.  We look forward to his ordination to the priesthood in 2014.

As another year begins with us bonded as Pastor and People, I see great things in store for us.  We are at a wonderful moment of grace.  God is calling us to growth in understanding of discipleship and a greater commitment to live as a witness to the Truth of the Gospel.  Responding to the call of the Church, we are putting out into the deep for a catch, entering with full zeal into the New Evangelization.  Are you ready to throw in your lot with us?  Come to the Festival.  Bring your friends and enemies, your neighbors and co-workers.  And then, invite them back to worship with us and to learn more about our Faith.

 

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

We continue our journey through the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

ARTICLE 3    SACRED SCRIPTURE  III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture

The senses of Scripture

115 According to an ancient tradition, one can distinguish between two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual, the latter being subdivided into the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses. The profound concordance of the four senses guarantees all its richness to the living reading of Scripture in the Church.

116 The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: “All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal.” (St. Thomas Aquinas )

117 The spiritual sense. Thanks to the unity of God’s plan, not only the text of Scripture but also the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs.

The allegorical sense. We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ’s victory and also of Christian Baptism.  (Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:2.)

1. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written “for our instruction.”  (1 Corinthians 10:11; cf. Heb 3-4:11.)
2. The anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, “leading”). We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem.  (Cf. Revelation 21:1-22:5.)

118 A medieval couplet summarizes the significance of the four senses:

The Letter speaks of deeds; Allegory to faith;
The Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny.

[Littera gesta docet, quid credas allegoria,
moralis quid agas, quo tendas anagogia.
(Augustine of Dacia, Rotulus pugillaris.)]

119 “It is the task of exegetes to work, according to these rules, toward a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture in order that their research may help the Church to form a firmer judgment. For, of course, all that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God.”  (Dei Verbum 12 § 3.)

But I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.  (St. Augustine)
 

Comment: It has been common in our time to focus on the literal sense of Scripture and then to argue about its truth or error.  Many Christians and others who read the Bible stop with that sense alone.  The Catholic Church – and, in fact, the Jewish interpreters who preceded Christianity – have always looked for a deeper sense, the spiritual meaning of the Bible.  Have you come to an understanding of Scripture that incorporates its deeper meaning?  How do you continue to grow in your understanding?