A Word from Your Pastor - April 20-27 Octave of Easter

Dear Parishioners and Guests:

Happy Easter to All!  We can now sing out Alleluia as we celebrate the awesome Gift of New Life in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our Lenten Journey has brought us through the remembrance of the suffering and death of the Lord and now we can proclaim boldly the Truth of truths that He is Risen from the dead.  Jesus Christ is Risen!  Alleluia!

The next several weeks of the Easter Season, lasting from now until Pentecost, invite us to contemplate the meaning of the Gift of Resurrection and to open our hearts and lives to the influence of the Holy Spirit Who has been poured out on us in Jesus Christ.  May we continue to grow in our gratitude for all that God has done for us, and may we share our Joy in the Resurrection with the world.

This Monday, April 21, our group of pilgrims will depart for an adventure of a lifetime: the visit to the Tomb of our Patron Saint Timothy in Termoli, Italy, and then the experience of Rome at the time of the Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.  I will share the day-by-day itinerary in the bulletins this week and next so you can follow us with your prayers.  Be sure you and all your concerns go with us as we journey together.

Day 1 –  Monday, April 21: Depart U.S.A. 

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 22: Arrive Rome / Termoli  After arrival in the "Eternal City", we will be met at the airport and board our motor coach for the drive to Termoli located on the beautiful Adriatic coast.

Day 3 ‐ Wednesday, April 23: Termoli  Today we will enjoy a tour of Termoli including visits to the Cathedral which contains the relics of St. Timothy, the Castle, the Old Town. 

Day 4 ‐ Thursday, April 24: Termoli / Lanciano / Manoppello / Termoli  This morning we will take an excursion to Lanciano, site of the 8th century Miracle of the Eucharist, where bread and wine became real flesh and blood. After Mass in Lanciano we will proceed to Manoppello where we will visit the Basilica of Volto Santo which contains an image on a thin veil which is known as the Holy Face of Manoppello and has been reputed to be the Veil of Veronica.

Day 5 ‐ Friday, April 25: Termoli / San Giovanni Rotondo / Termoli  Today we will take an excursion to the nearby town of San Giovanni Rotondo. We will spend the day touring this quaint 11th century town where the famous Padre spent most of his life. We will have the opportunity to visit the Shrine for Mitigating Suffering which he founded, the Capuchin Monastery where he lived, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church which was completed in 2004 and Padre Pio’s Tomb. Next drive up to Monte Sant’ Angelo for a breathtaking view of the Gargano Peninsula and a visit to the Grotto of Michael the Archangel.

Day 6 ‐ Saturday, April 26: Termoli / Rome  This morning we will depart for Rome. Upon arrival in Rome we will enjoy a walking tour including visits to the Trevi Fountain where a coin thrown over your shoulder will guarantee you another visit to Rome; the Pantheon; Piazza Navona with the famous Bernini's fountains; and Campo de' Fiori, one of the most colorful street markets in Rome.

Day 7 ‐ Sunday, April 27: Rome Today we will attend the canonization ceremony of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII.

Choose one or the other of these sites and do some research for yourself about the place we are visiting and the Saints associated with that place.  That way you can share in the graces of the pilgrimage a little more personally.  You’ll also be able to ask the pilgrims questions when we return.

Since I will be out of the Country next weekend, you get a preview of the bulletin for Divine Mercy Sunday with the continuing itinerary.

This week, the Pilgrimage continues with the Canonization Sunday and the experience of Rome in the days to follow.  Again, you can join us day by day in thought and prayers.
 
Day 7 ‐ Sunday, April 27: Rome Today we will attend the canonization ceremony of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII.

Day 8 ‐ Monday, April 28: Rome  Today a full day of exploring Rome begins with a visit to St. Peter's Basilica. Our guide then takes us through the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with its awesome frescoes painted by Michelangelo. In the afternoon our sightseeing includes visits to St. Mary Major Basilica, St. John Lateran, San Clemente, the Holy Stairs, the Old Appian Way and the St. Sebastian Catacombs.

Day 9 – Tuesday, April 29: Rome  This morning our sightseeing of "Ancient Rome" includes visits to the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, St. Peter in Chains featuring Michelangelo's "Moses" and St. Paul Outside the Walls, where Mass will be celebrated. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 10 ‐ Wednesday, April 30: Rome / U.S.A.

As we return, we will be getting ready for the many events of the month of May, including First Holy Communion on Saturday and the celebration of May Crownings for the PSR and for the School.

Friday evening, the Diocese of Columbus will ordain five young men to the diaconate.  They will serve as deacons for a year and then be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese.  As you know, I am personally eager for a young man from St. Timothy Church to join their ranks.  Do you notice any who show the marks of such a call to service?  Tell them you are praying for them to answer my prayer!

 

 

A Word from Your Pastor - April 13 Passion Sunday

Dear Parishioners:

We now enter into Holy Week.  The days ahead will unfold the Mystery of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, inviting us to contemplate all that He has done for us.  Since it is also a time of “break” for many people, the temptation before us is to let these days pass without much attention.  I invite you to do it differently this year.  Enter in.  Let each day of the week touch your heart.

Passion or Palm Sunday draws us into the scene of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  We process, carrying palms, reminding us of the cheering and welcoming crowd as Jesus came into the Holy City in fulfillment of many passages in the Prophets.  We also hear the whole story of the Passion and Death of the Lord as recounted by the Gospel of Matthew.  This gives us a glimpse of all the events we will be celebrating through the rest of the Week.

In the Diocese of Columbus, it has long been the custom to celebrate the Chrism Mass, which is properly a Mass of Holy Thursday morning, on Tuesday evening.  At this Mass, the Priests and Bishop renew their commitment to live the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Bishop blesses the three sacred oils that are used in the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the year: the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism.  One powerful experience is the fact that at the Chrism Mass the whole Diocese is present around the altar: Bishop, Priests, Deacons, Religious and Laity are all gathered together in one act of Divine Worship.  The Church is visible in her unity.  Whatever else may happen, we are gathered together as the full expression of Church.  The power of the Church’s prayer in unity cannot be forgotten.

Wednesday at St. Timothy Church, we have our weekly Adoration.  This is a time to open your heart to the Gift of the Eucharist by sitting silently in the Presence of the Lord Who is with us through the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with the Washing of feet and the Eucharistic Procession, is the solemn celebration of the Institution of the Priesthood, the Institution of the Eucharist, and the Call to Service.  We have had a tradition at St. Timothy for a number of years of including our Second Grade First Holy Communion class as an Honor Guard for the Eucharistic Procession that closes the Mass.  Adoration continues until Midnight.

Good Friday, we have two times for the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion – 3 and 7 p.m.   At Noon, the Stations of the Cross are prayed and then we hear a reflection on the Seven Last Words of Jesus during the time that He was on the Cross.

Holy Saturday, the Solemn Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 p.m. With the Service of Light, followed by the procession with the Easter Candle and the singing of the Exsultet.  The proclamation of the Scriptures of our Salvation History is followed by Blessing of the Easter Water and then a renewal of Baptismal Vows.  (This year we do not have anyone being initiated into the Catholic Church.)

Easter Sunday, we again renew our Baptismal Vows as we welcome many guests to rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord.

Come to all these events if you are able.  At least once in your life, you should!  This week reminds us of the journey we all will one day take into the Kingdom.  A Blessed Easter to all!

A Word from Your Pastor - April 6

Dear Parishioners:

Lent is moving right along.  This Sunday we hear of the promise of Life through the account of the resurrection of Lazarus.  On a couple of occasions, I have had the privilege of visiting the town of Bethany, where Lazarus lived with his sisters Mary and Martha.  There is now a parish church, which is attended by ordinary folks, Palestinian Catholics, who live in the shadow of Jerusalem.  Unfortunately, access to their town is now behind a wall that divides.  How ironic it is that the very place where Jesus showed that the great divide between earth and Eternity, death and Life is in His power, there is a reminder that we are separated from one another by walls of our own making.

The promise of Resurrection serves to put into proper relief all our earthly concerns.  It also invites us to invest ourselves more fully in this life, since the New Life shared with us comes from Jesus Christ, Who shares this life in its fullness with us.

If you have not had the opportunity to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter, I invite you to follow the example of Pope Francis.  He went to confession at St. Peter’s Basilica as a humble penitent.  If he is in need of Confession, no doubt all of us are as well.  As our children teach us, it is a joyful reality.  There are still a few local Penance services available in the neighborhood if you missed our celebration of the Sacrament this week and Confessions at St. Timothy are available on Saturday afternoons before the 5 p.m. Mass.

Let the Joy of Lent flow into the ecstatic Joy of Easter and New Life by planning to be part of the Easter Triduum.  These are the High Holy Days of our Catholic Faith.  Don’t let them pass you by. 

Plan to attend the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m. Holy Thursday, with the Eucharistic Procession and Adoration until Midnight to follow.  Good Friday, attend the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. and, if you wish, spend the time from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. reflecting on the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross.  Holy Saturday, the Solemn Easter Vigil begins at 8:30 p.m.  Since we don’t have anyone being initiated into the Church this year, it will be a journey through Salvation History with Renewal of Baptismal Promises.  Let this lead you into a deeper spirit of commitment to the Lord and to your Catholic Faith.  If you come to the Masses of Easter Sunday (8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.), come ready to welcome all who will join us for the Day of Days.  We are all called to be ministers of the Gospel.  Put on your Gospel shoes and get ready to work for the Lord of Life!