A Word from Your Pastor - February 23

Dear Parishioners:

This weekend we are happy to welcome Bishop Frederick Campbell to St. Timothy for the Sacrament of Confirmation for our 8^th Graders.  Through the imposition of hands and the anointing with the Sacred Chrism, the Gift of the Holy Spirit is imparted to our young people as part of their initiation into the Life of Faith.  As fully initiated members of the Catholic Church, they are called to minister in the Church and in the world.  The Holy Spirit gives them a new strength for their service and empowers them to witness to the truth of the Gospel in the world.

The reception of Confirmation by our youth offers an opportunity to be reminded of who we are as Christians and of our responsibility in Christ.  Have you put into practice the promise of your own confirmation?

The Spirit comes to us bringing the best gifts God has to offer.  Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude (Courage), Piety (Reverence), and Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe in God’s Presence) are indwelling capacities that free us to give ourselves to God.  Faith, Hope and Love are increased because of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  We are equipped for ministry and witness.  God gives us all we need to be signs of His Love and His Presence in the world.

How do you respond to the Presence of the Spirit in your life?  The simplest prayer to acknowledge your desire for the help of the Spirit is “Come, Holy Spirit.”  The invitation given to the Spirit with this simple prayer is to lead you along the path that God wills for you.  The Spirit is an Advocate, a Companion, a Spring of Love that opens us to an experience of Life in relationship to God, a foretaste and promise of what is yet to be.

Spirit of wisdom and understanding, 

enlighten our minds to perceive

the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity.

Spirit of right judgment and courage,

guide us and make us firm

in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love.

Spirit of knowledge and reverence,

help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy

in our everyday dealings with one another.

May we respect life as we work to solve problems

of family and nation, economy and ecology.

Spirit of God,

spark our faith, hope and love into new action each day.
Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence

which penetrates all creation.
Amen.

Pray for our those to be confirmed and that our Parish Family may be renewed by the Spirit as we seek to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd.

A Word from Your Pastor - February 16

Dear Parishioners:

These days the world is watching human beings in a far off place stretch the limits of human capacity for strength, endurance and physical skills.  Nations take pride in one of their own going in for Gold, Silver or Bronze.  The “stuff” of dreams and legends is put on display for all to see.  Hopes and dreams are fulfilled in seconds and hundredths of seconds.  New hopes and dreams are created for some of those watching.  And, at the same time, the world’s best athletes experience the “agony of defeat” and the realization that some dreams are not meant to be.

As all of this is happening, we are invited to listen to the Word of God that tells us that we are created to strive for something greater than Gold and Silver and Bronze:  “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him . . . .”

Human beings have a destiny that is beyond this world.  We are called to live with this awareness even as we are engaged in what this world presents to us.  As we strive to reach our own hopes and dreams, as we choose goals to achieve in our lives, we must always keep in mind that there is more to come.  We were created to know, love and serve God in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.  Are we putting forth the effort to go for what is more valuable than Gold or Silver and more lasting than Bronze?

Often the media focuses in on the faces of the athletes who are waiting to see their numbers on the board or on their parents and family members as they watch their loved ones strive for victory.  How do the Saints in glory see us as we continue our earthly race for the Kingdom?  Do they see us striving for our best Time as we look toward Eternity?

Next weekend we will welcome Bishop Frederick F. Campbell for the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Noon Mass on Sunday.  Please keep our confirmands and their sponsors and families in your prayers.  May the Holy Spirit fill us all with zeal for the Kingdom!

A Word from Your Pastor - February 9

Dear Parishioners:

As I announced at the weekend Masses last week, Bishop Campbell has appointed me to a second six-year term as Pastor of St. Timothy Church.  The letter, dated January 29, 2013, and duly notarized by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Columbus, reads as follows:

Dear Father Hayes,

I appreciate your getting back to me on the matter of your appointment to a second term as Pastor of St. Timothy Church in Columbus. I am pleased to know that you will want to stay for another six-year term.

Since the assignment seems to be a good one for both yourself and the parish, I am happy to re-appoint you to a second six-year term as Pastor of St. Timothy Church in Columbus.

Wishing you and your parish all the best, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

[Signed]  +F.F. Campbell

Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell, D.D., Ph.D.
Bishop of Columbus

This means that we will be together as Pastor and Parish until 2020.  The current policy of the Diocese of Columbus is a maximum of two terms for Pastors.  I am grateful to know that we have this time to continue growing together in the Lord. 

We have celebrated and experienced much together in the past 5-1/2 years.  Some items of note are:

• the welcome of Deacon Marion Smithberger into diaconal ministry in the parish in 2008,
• the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Parish in 2011-2012,
• the Golden Jubilee of St. Timothy School (ongoing) in the present academic year 2013-2014,
• the establishment of an Annual Blue Mass, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 14345, at which Bishop Campbell presided in the past few years,
• the creation of a Rosary Prayer Garden (dedicated at the celebration of the parish Jubilee),
• two Pilgrimages which included a number of members of the parish (one in 2010, to the Holy Land, and one in 2011, in the Footsteps of our Patron St. Timothy to his see city of Ephesus, and other locations in Turkey and in Greece),
• collaboration with the Pontifical College Josephinum in service of the New Evangelization by creating an apostolic work program which includes visitation of homes in our neighborhood,
• the purchase of a new organ for the church and upgrading of the sound system,
• and the retirement of the parish debt to the Diocese for the building project undertaken in 2000. 

We look forward to moving ahead with the full implementation of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the parish and school, including the establishment of a Parish Catechetical Center.  Other initiatives to promote the New Evangelization are also in prospect.

Let’s continue to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd and to follow Him where He leads.

A Word from Your Pastor - February 2 Feast of the Presentation

Dear Parishioners:

The Feast of the Presentation is a celebration that offers us much to consider.  If we contemplate the scene of Mary and Joseph bringing the Baby Jesus to the Temple, we can discover some wonderful insights into God’s ways of working with human beings. 

In a moment of sheer delight and joy, a mother and father bring the Child entrusted to them to the Temple to present Him to the God Who sent Him.  They do so in order to fulfill the Law and to take the first step of expressing in a public way their acceptance of the responsibility to bring Him up in the traditions of their people.  Eight days after His birth, the Child was given the name Jesus and was circumcised, given the mark of the Covenant of God with His Chosen People.  Now, forty days after His birth, He is taken to the place of worship that unites the People in their witness to their God.

Some others observe what is happening:  Simeon and Anna, who are there for different reasons.  Simeon comes, prompted at the moment by the Holy Spirit.  Anna is there because she is always there.  Anna takes the message to the world, making the Child known to those who are among the Anawim, the poor in spirit who await the consolation promised to Israel.  Simeon speaks a prophetic word to the parents about what will be in the life of their Child, also noting the sorrow that will accompany the Light that is revealed.

If we can see our own lives through the perspective of the Presentation, we can make a new choice to cooperate with the grace that is given to us in our time to continue sharing the Message of Salvation.  Every detail of our lives has something to tell us about God’s ways.  We are given the capacity to respond, just as Mary and Joseph and Simeon and Ann did.  We are invited to present ourselves, our own human nature to God and to allow Him to shine His Light in us, just as He does in the Child Jesus.

As you may have heard, our School Mass with Bishop Campbell had to be cancelled this past week since School was out due to the freezing temperatures.  We will have to re-schedule sometime in the future.  Our School’s Jubilee will continue to be celebrated all the way to the end of the School Year.

Prayer for the Feast of St. Timothy 2014

 
Each Year on the Feast of St. Timothy (and St. Titus), the Children of our School and the whole Community of St. Timothy Church and School are invited to be united in praying for one petition.  In this, the year of St. Timothy School’s Golden Jubilee the petition is: 

That all the members and families of St. Timothy Church may listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him, and that we may share the Joy of the Gospel with everyone we meet along the Way

Focolare Word of Life for February 2014

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
http://www.focolare.org/en/news/category/parola-di-vita/