A Word from Your Pastor - June 26

Dear Parishioners:

This past week, we celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Dr. William Steller, Sr., one of the patriarchs in our St. Timothy Family.  This celebration was truly a St. Timothy Moment that brought out the best of who we are.  As most of you know, the field to the east of our property is known as “Steller Field” in honor of a man who spent much time there as a coach and a supporter of our youth.  If you were on campus before the funeral, you may have seen a most unusual sight: a hearse making a once around the field before taking its place in front of the church.

 

(Photos Courtesy of Facebook)

This sight is certainly one for our archives.  At St. Joseph Cemetery, Bill Steller’s children had some earth from Steller field to place on his casket, so a piece of our land will be forever with him.  The visitation at the funeral home and the Mass and bereavement luncheon were all truly an “old home week” for our community.  It was awe-inspiring to see the St. Timothy family surrounding the Steller clan in their time of loss.  It was also so beautiful to see the shared joy of families across the generations who gathered to acknowledge what we hold in common: Faith, Family and the Hope of the Future.

We offer again our condolences to the Steller family and all who mourn the passing of “Doc” Steller.  May we continue to live the St. Timothy tradition of which he and his family and so many other families are a part.  May he and all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

To all who had a part in the celebration of the Funeral Liturgy and showed support in so many ways, be sure of my personal gratitude to you for all you do to minister to those who experience loss among us.  Your efforts are truly a sign of the best St. Timothy Church has to offer.  Let us continue to be the community of Love and Mercy we are called to be.

A Word from Your Pastor - June 19

Dear Parishioners:

When Jesus chose a word to express the intimacy of His Relationship with God in our shared human nature, He chose the word “Abba,” which is really a word that defies translation.  “Daddy, Papa, Dearest Father” are all efforts to share the depth of meaning.  The closest might be “Da Da,” the first acknowledgement of the baby of his or her father, which competes with “Mama” for being the first word uttered in recognition.  When He teaches us to pray, Jesus says, “When you pray, say ‘Abba.’”

On this day, we give recognition to our earthly fathers.  This reminds us of the promise that is given to us in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  We pray to Him every day in awareness that we are brothers and sisters: “Our Father, Who art in Heaven….”  The best way to honor our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and mentors on earth is to live in accord with the call of our Heavenly Father to love one another.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  We live in accord with Faith so that we may share the Eternal Life offered to us through Jesus Christ.

The program that many men of our parish and other parishes around the diocese have followed called “That Man Is You” reminds fathers that they are called to unite their families in prayer and worship, honoring our Heavenly Father and so giving example to their children.  It also points out that practice of the Faith by the next generation often depends upon the witness of the father in the family.  If Dad goes to church and prays, cooperating with Mom in the witness of Faith, it is more likely that the next generation will continue the tradition.  So Father’s Day is a call to all earthly fathers to collaborate with the grace of the Holy Spirit in leading us all to honor our Father in Heaven.

As summer opens before us, may we continue to grow as a community of believers united in mind and heart who strive together to promote the greater glory of God our Father.

A Word from Your Pastor - June 12

Dear Parishioners:

A great gift in our time is the simple fact that we can be in touch with people literally all over the world at the touch of a key.  There is something incredibly amazing about this reality of daily experience.  A phone call, an email or an instant message, a connection through Skype or Facetime or some other app on an electronic device can create the opportunity for an encounter with virtually every person on the planet.  Some of our elders have lived through the whole gamut of such devices: telephones with operators and party lines, radio, television, computers, cell phones, ipads, tablets, androids, iphones, etc., etc. etc.  Who knows what the next generations will see?

When we consider such advances in technology, we can come to understand more deeply by analogy the realities of our Faith that we have known through the centuries as Church.  Prayer puts us in communion with God, the Creator of the Universe, and with those who have gone before us into the mystery of the Communion of Saints.  We are able to pray now and to be in touch with the members of the Church in her three states: the Saints in Glory (the Church Triumphant), the Holy Souls of Purgatory (the Church Suffering), and the Saints in training all throughout the world (the Church Militant).

If we understand the Mass properly, we begin to realize that this is the “place” where the whole Church is present.  We one with the Saints in Glory in worship of the Living God.  In fact, Mass is our entry into the Mystery of Eternity in time.  The Light of Glory is present to us in our participation in the Mass.  We are in touch, too, with those who have gone before us in the Faith, our relatives and friends who are entrusted to God’s Mercy and whom we long to see again.  Various moments of silence, especially that which takes place right after reception of Holy Communion, are the closest we will be to them in this life.  The celebration of the same Liturgy of the Mass each day throughout the world reminds us that we are all destined for a glory that hidden from our eyes as we walk the journey of Faith.

May we all keep this in mind as we enter into the Summer months.  This may be a time of vacation from certain pursuits and activities, but it must not be a time away from the practice of our Faith.  Enjoy your Summer and keep the Faith alive in your family by continuing to worship together.  The family that prays together stays together!

A Word from Your Pastor - June 5

Dear Parishioners:

We wish heartfelt Congratulations to all our graduates at all levels and to their families who have supported them along the way. 

Our 8^th Grade will conclude their time in St. Timothy School this week.   Our PSR Students also are completing their days in elementary education.  High School Students in our parish are experiencing their Commencement ceremonies these days at various times and the parties are taking place.  College and University completions are occurring, as well as other higher-level degrees.  It is heartening to know that members of our community are taking on the world.  We know that the foundation they have received through their association with St. Timothy Parish and School is a solid foundation because it is based upon our Faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself tells us “Take courage, for I have conquered the world.”  (John 16:33)

Our School has a Mission Statement that really captures what we are trying to do for all our families:  “Live in Faith.  Love and Serve.  Learn for Life.” 

This fits nicely into our Parish Mission: “United in the Body of Christ, we strive to promote the greater glory of God through a spirit of welcome and willing service to our brothers and sisters.” 

The prayer that is engraved on the statue of our Patron Saint Timothy has begun to serve as a marker of our common experience of St. Timothy Church:  “To the King of Ages, the Invisible, the Immortal, the Only God, Be Honor and Glory forever and ever! Amen.”

These three items can serve all of us as we strive to make a difference in the world.  We are called to be a welcoming community who work together to show others by our lives that the Gospel is true because it is the center of our identity. 

Congratulations, Graduates!  Always remember who you are and who your teachers were!  May you never give away your dignity, but by your life show others their worth in Jesus Christ.  Blessings to all.  May your new adventures take you further than you ever dreamed you could go.  Know that St. Timothy Parish is always your home.