A Word from Your Pastor December 29 - Holy Family

Dear Parishioners:

The Solemnity of the Holy Family reminds us that God saves us through the life of a family.  We are not alone on our journey through this life and the journey to Life Eternal is also a shared experience.  Jesus, the Son of God, lived a human life that was ordinary in a small town.  His life in Nazareth was longer than His public ministry in Galilee and Judea.  This simple truth speaks volumes about how God sees our earthly life.

The Holy Family of Nazareth lived divine life humanly.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph loved one another with an intensity we can hardly imagine.  Yet, they did so in a way that did not draw attention.  The few stories we know of those years leave a mystery surrounding their daily life.  This mystery is shared with our own experience of family life.  Holiness is to be found in the daily routines, the activities of our lives that are ordinary and human.

As we observe the Feast of the Holy Family, it is our custom to offer a special blessing to individual families at the end of Mass.  This is a moment for each family to join together to accept the Church’s touch of grace to assist them in their witness as the Domestic Church – the Church alive in the home.  It is also a reminder that we are meant to live as the Holy Family of Nazareth, united in heart and mind.

May our parish, which is a family of families, grow in the life of grace and be ever more truly a witness of the power of the Gospel in family life.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!  

A Word from Your Pastor December 25 - Christmas

Dear Parishioners and Guests for Christmas:

We welcome all of you to St. Timothy Church for the celebration of Christmas!

This Feast highlights all that is best about our Faith as Catholics – We acknowledge and welcome the Word-made-flesh among us and we seek to renew our commitment to live as a family united by the grace poured out on us by the Father Who so loved the world that He sent His Son to be our Savior.  In a world that is more and more characterized by polarization and division, we seek to live in Unity with all human beings through the power of Jesus, Who has made us One with God.

In a particular way, this year, we call to mind all those who have died in the past year and all our loved ones whom we remember with fondness in the holiday season.  We pray that we may be true to the Faith that promises a reunion one day when the Christ Who is born for us at Christmas will come again in glory and majesty to establish the fullness of His Kingdom.

Blessings to you and to your family.

A Word from Your Pastor December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners:

The Fourth Sunday of Advent begins the week that opens to the Christmas Season.  Depending on the year and how Christmas falls, it can at times be given little attention.  This year, since Christmas falls on a Wednesday, it does get a bit more than the years when it is also Christmas Eve.  The readings already plunge us into the message of Christmas.  A Son is to be born Who is Emmanuel, God-with-us.

God has chosen to offer salvation to the world by way of our own human nature and in a human family.  This is very different from any other understanding of salvation offered by other philosophies and religions.  It makes all the difference that the grace of salvation comes from God, but flows through humanity.  We have a great responsibility for our brothers and sisters and for the whole world.

Each one of us has a “sphere of influence” where we can be the instrument of God giving His saving power to some aspect of the world.  As you prepare to welcome Jesus Christ anew in the celebration of Christmas, you must also ask how you are to share the salvation He has won for us with those in your portion of the world.

Do you realize that you are meant to be an expression of the Word of God with a unique message?  What aspect of the Christmas Story and of the whole Christ Event strikes you?  In that, you will begin to discover what is entrusted to you.

We are given the task of welcoming others to know Jesus Christ.  We speak His Word and become a living expression of the Word in our witness.  The Sacramental Life deepens our understanding and gives us strength to carry on.  Our Mission is to go out to all the world, to join the Angels in the proclamation of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Happy Advent! Merry Christmas!

A Word from Your Pastor December 15 - Third Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners:

The Holy Land comes to mind throughout the Church year, but especially during Advent and Christmas.  Anyone who has taken a pilgrimage there will be able to tell you — and probably has pictures to prove it! — that the Scriptures come alive in a powerful way after seeing the land where it all happened for yourself.  I have often suggested that if you ever have the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, take it.  Don’t hesitate.  You won’t regret it.

You don’t have to wait for a trip to the Holy Land, however, to be able to purchase souvenirs from the land of Christ’s birth.  As we have done annually for many years, this weekend we are hosting the Bethlehem Families, who are making available olive wood carvings from the Holy Land.  These are real treasures that will last for years to come.  I first encountered them on a trip to the Holy Land during my time in seminary.  Gifts I purchased at that time still serve to enhance the celebration of the Church’s Faith.  The Good Shepherd statue used by our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is an example of this.  Now it serves as a way to draw our children at St. Timothy’s Atrium into a realization of the Good Shepherd’s love for them.

Your purchase of these items from the families who still live in the Holy Land is also a way to help our brothers and sisters who are a minority in that land.  Their witness to Jesus in His own land is important for the world.  Peace will come through the grace and love of Jesus.

Next weekend, we will celebrate the Anointing of the Sick at all weekend Masses.  Please make arrangements to bring loved ones who would be comforted by the Sacrament to Mass with you.  The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick gives healing and strength in the face of illness and the burdens of aging.  Our weakness receive strength from Christ’s Sacramental touch.

A Word from Your Pastor December 8 - Second Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners:

Advent is a Marian Season.  We wait expectantly for our celebration of the Birth of Jesus, Son of Mary and the Son of God.  Joyful anticipation and hopeful acceptance of all the struggles that come from doing the Will of God form us to share in the act of offering Jesus to the world.

This week, a few different Marian Feasts remind us of aspects of the actions of God in the life of Mary.  The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated this year on Monday, December 9, since the 8^th fell on the Second Sunday of Advent.  God reveals His Providence in preparing the mother of His Son by preserving her from all stain of sin.

Pope Francis has put the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto in the general calendar on December 10.  Loreto has the shrine of the Home of the Holy Family, which was transported there from Nazareth.  This feast calls to mind the capacity of the human family to welcome the Presence of God among us.  Each family is able to welcome the Lord into its home, just as Mary and Joseph made a home for Jesus.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12.  The Blessed Virgin Mary came to the Americas to assist in the proclamation of the Gospel to the peoples native to this place.  She reminds us all that she is with us as a Mother, one who knows our needs and brings them to her Son.

We are called to be like Mary in our Faith and in the welcome to show to all the members of the Family of God.  May our hearts be ready to receive the Lord as He comes to dwell with us.

Next weekend, we will have the Bethlehem Families with us to share olive wood sculptures from the Holy Land which will be on sale after all Masses as part of our effort to reach out to our fellow Christians in the land of the Lord’s Birth.  The Fourth Sunday of Advent will bring the celebration of the Anointing of the Sick at all Masses, to bring healing and comfort to those who experience the burdens of illness and age.

A Word from Your Pastor December 1 - First Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners:

Happy Advent! With this weekend, we begin a new liturgical year and our preparation time for the Christmas celebrations.  In this season, we are invited to pay attention to our Faith’s assertion that Jesus Christ is Coming to us.  There are three aspects to the Coming of Christ.

The first is, of course, Christ’s Coming to us in history: Christmas proper is the Nativity of Jesus.  The Coming at the end of time is called His Second Coming, the manifestation of the glorious Christ at the end of time, His Coming in Majesty.

Between these two Comings, there is the continual Presence of the Lord through the Mystery we celebrate.  He is present most powerfully in the Eucharist, which is the ongoing Sign of Christ among us.  He is also present when two or three gather in His Name and when there is Mutual Love that opens to His grace.

We are invited to spend Advent in preparation for Christ to enter our lives.  Our Parish Penance Service will take place on Wednesday, December 4, at 7 p.m.  The children in our School and PSR will have the opportunity for Confession during their regular school day and class times.

May our hearts be ever ready to welcome Jesus when He comes to us. 

A Word from Your Pastor November 24 - Jesus Christ King of the Universe

Dear Parishioners:

The Solemnity of Christ the King is the closing to the Liturgical Year.  It is a time to renew our commitment to the Lord Jesus and to our Faith in Him as the Universal Savior.  In our time, it has become common to see Jesus as simply a great man, one among many, who have contributed to our civilization.  But our claim, the claim of the Catholic Faith cannot be reduced to that perspective.  Jesus is Someone More, Something Greater.  As Catholics, we acknowledge Him to be our Lord and our God.  He is the Melech HaOlam, that is, the King of the Universe.  If we believe anything less of Him, we do not do Him justice.

The transition between one Liturgical Year and another invites us to look toward Jesus at the end of time, as the One Who will gather all the nations for judgment. One year ends proclaiming Him as King; Advent begins with a glance toward His Second Coming, that is, His Coming in Glory at the end of the ages.  We are invited to hope for salvation for us and for the whole world.  In time, we are called to make ready the way of the Lord.

The Sacramental Life of the Church helps us to prepare our hearts.  This weekend, our Second Graders made their First Reconciliation.  They joyfully experienced the Sacrament of Mercy that forgives us our sins and fortifies us to fight the good fight against temptation.  Anointing of the Sick is another Sacrament that helps us in time of need.  It strengthens us in the face of illness and prepares us for our final meeting with the Lord when He comes to call us to Himself.  As a parish, we celebrate this Sacrament on one of the weekends of Advent (this year December 21-22).  It is always available at request when you or your loved ones are reaching the end of life’s journey.

May we stand together to witness our Faith in Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.  And may we celebrate the Sacramental Life that forms us into the Body of Christ that brings Him to the world.  To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

A Word from Your Pastor November 17

Dear Parishioners:

All good things come to an end. This is true for us in every aspect of our life - except the reality of Life itself.  Our earthly life is destined to open up to a new life in Eternity.  As people of Faith, we are called to face this “ultimate truth” with confidence and trust in the Living God, Who has promised to share with us His own Life.  The readings of these latter days of the year call us to keep our end in mind: “Lo, the Day is coming!”  Jesus calls us to perseverance in Faith.  It is by an intentional commitment to the Lord and a free choice to cooperate with His grace that we will be able to endure whatever is in prospect.

Our parish family has always managed to come together to support one another when times are difficult.  It has been heartening to see the support that the Steller family have had from the St. Timothy community in these past couple of weeks.  Many other such examples can be given.  Folks are drawn to us because of a sense of welcome and the family atmosphere.  We have been blessed by this through our history.

Nonetheless, we need to hear and respond to the call of the Gospel to be ready to face together other hardships that are inevitable.  Our community must learn to welcome both the new generations and those who are new to our family.  The enthusiasm and zeal that have been shown in the past must become patient endurance.  We must hold fast to the Faith by a living practice that grasps the inner meaning of God’s Word and the Sacramental Life we share.  The world is in darkness, but in Jesus Christ, we walk together in the Light.  “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”

The Collect for this weekend sums up the perspective we must take nicely:

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,

the constant gladness of being devoted to You,

for it is full and lasting happiness

to serve with constancy the Author of all that is good.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with You

in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

A Word from Your Pastor November 10

Dear Parishioners:

This week, I had the privilege of hosting five priests from around the United States who are affiliated with the Focolare Movement.  My annual retreat after Easter has been spent with this group over the past several years.  In the fall, we have the custom of traveling to one another’s parishes.  This allows us to get to know each other better and to support one another in our ministry.  I especially enjoyed having the priests at St. Timothy on Wednesday to join in the celebration of the all-School Mass and to meet the folks I work with every day.  It was a very rich experience for all of us.  The children and staff of the School and Parish Office were very welcoming.  I was so proud of you all!

The priests who visited were: Fr. Darryl D’Sousa, Fr. Peter Iorio, Fr. Stanislao Esposito, Fr. Clint Ressler, and Fr. Marian Babjak, who joined us after Mass.

Please keep us all in your prayers and be sure that we are praying for you as well.

A Word from Your Pastor November 3

Dear Parishioners:

November begins with the days of remembrance of the Communion of Saints.  We are the Church, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, sons and daughters of the Living God, empowered by the Spirit to live lives of holiness on a journey to the Kingdom.  We who live in hope of Eternal Life share a Communion of Life and Grace already with those who have gone before us, the Saints in Glory and the Holy Souls undergoing the final purification to enter into the Kingdom.

All Saints’ Day reminds us that there is a cloud of witnesses spurring us on to share the victory.  All Souls’ Day reminds us that we must continue to offer prayers and sacrifice for loved ones in Purgatory.  Each encounter with other members of the Church who are still on the journey of Faith reminds us that as followers of Jesus Christ we are entrusted to one another.  May we continue to seek Union with God and with all through Faith, Hope and Love.  Responding to the universal call to holiness, may we one day share the glory for which we are destined in Jesus Christ.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the first findings of our annual October Count.  I am happy to report that there was an increase in the numbers the last two weeks of the month.  We are still down from last year. Last year, we had an average of 537 persons at Sunday Masses each weekend.  This year, the average is 510.  This is down from 900 in 2008 and 1059 in 2000. Conversation with the other pastors of our Deanery suggests that nearly all parishes have had a decrease.  Our parish database, which may or may not be complete, indicates that we have around 600 households registered in the parish.

Numbers never tell the whole story.  However, we do have a responsibility to bring the Good News to the whole world.  Our task is to work together to find the best way to share it with the portion of the world entrusted to us: those who have chosen to throw in their lot with us by registering in the parish and those who live within our parish boundaries, whoever they may be.  All are candidates for unity.  May we be one in the Spirit and one in the Lord!

Stewardship Notes: Disciples as Stewards

Let us begin with being a disciple—a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. As members of the Church, Jesus calls us to be disciples. This has astonishing implications:

§  Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost.

§  Christian disciples experience conversion—life-shaping changes of mind and heart—and commit their very selves to the Lord. 

§  Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the   power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live.

Jesus' disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards.

 http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/

Focolare Word of Life for November 2019

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:15

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

A Word from Your Pastor October 27

Dear Parishioners:

In this bulletin, we publish our Fiscal Report for 2018-2019.  As you can tell, the Lord has provided for our needs for yet another year.  Please take the time to review it.  It becomes clear that the Lord works through generous hearts who are willing to share their resources with their brothers and sisters.

It may be helpful just to offer a couple of notes at this time.  A parish is a particular group of Christian Faithful who are entrusted to one another and who receive the responsibility to attend to the pastoral care of a territory or a group of people.  We have been given the task of attending to the needs of those who live in our parish boundaries and those who choose to ally themselves with us as official members of our parish.

Genesis reveals that God has made human beings stewards in His stead, responsible for taking care of the rest of creation.  The Catholic Church provides guidance as to what it means to be a steward.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has written about this topic.  It may be helpful to offer some insights from the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter on Stewardship.

"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Pt 4:10).

What identifies a steward? Safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly are one answer; so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure.  But being a Christian steward means more. As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/index.cfm

Stewardship includes a response on our part that comes from both Justice and Charity.  Our contribution to the needs of the parish to which we belong is a matter of justice.  When our community reaches beyond itself to the needs of others or to attend to the needs of those among us who do not have the resources they require, then we are responding in charity. 

Some confuse this, thinking it is a charity merely to put something into the collection basket.  Only the second collection is direct charity.  Up to a certain point, what we contribute to the first collection, either at Mass or through online contributions, is what we owe one another in justice.  It is like paying our mortgage or paying for utilities; it is part of being a member of a family.  We are truly grateful to all who meet their responsibility in this regard.  We are also grateful to and we rely upon those who reach beyond their due to help cover what other members are not able to.  Offering an annual report is an effort to be transparent about these matters.

Sincere thanks to all who fulfill the demands of justice and charity.  A gentle reminder and challenge to all of us to ensure that we respond to the Lord’s call to be generous with this world’s goods in order to build up our treasure in Heaven.

A Word from Your Pastor October 20

Dear Parishioners:

Our Second Graders have begun their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this weekend with a family workshop.  They will receive the Sacrament for the first time in November.  Their beginning is a good moment to offer a reminder to all that such a Sacrament is available to us to renew our relationship with God.

God is merciful.  As Pope Francis says, God never tires of giving us His Mercy.  We are the ones who get tired of asking for it.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary means of receiving the grace, the healing and the strength we need to overcome sin in our lives.  Mercy is available there in abundance.

This Sacrament is known by a variety of names: the Sacrament of Penance, Confession, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Each of the names points to an aspect of the Sacrament.  We do penance to show God and ourselves that we have made a commitment to change.  We confess our sins and our Faith in God’s Mercy.  And we are renewed in our relationship with God, made one with Him again after we have turned away from Him.

Let this be a reminder to us all that God is reaching out to us with His Mercy.  You may approach the Sacrament anytime there is a need for it.  Most parishes offer a time on Saturday afternoons before the evening Mass, as well as Penance Services for Advent and Lent.  A few have daily opportunities, especially those parishes that are staffed by religious priests.  You may always contact the priest of your choice to ask for the Mercy of God through the Sacrament.  God is Merciful.  Let us put our trust in Him!

A Word from Your Pastor October 13

Dear Parishioners:

We are in the midst of the annual “October Count.”  If our first weekend is any indication, we are headed for more sad news.  There were almost 50 fewer people present for the weekend Masses than we had last year.  Saturday’s count was up, but all the Sunday Masses had substantially fewer present. 

Even as I report this information, I will comment on a couple of things I find positive: There are more babies present at our Masses than there were in the past.  Younger families are finding a welcome at our parish.  Secondly, I notice that as I leave the church at the end of Mass, there are fewer folks rushing to leave ahead of me.  I find people still singing in the back pews. In years past, often the back half of the church was cleared out before the priest departed.  That suggests to me that more are willing to give God first dibs on their time on Sunday mornings.  People are choosing to stay, I hope, because they have a greater understanding of the full meaning of the Mass.  Welcome, Word, Sacrament and Mission are the four parts of the Mass.  Heading out before the Mission is given leaves us with just a bit less power as we go to share the gift we have received with the world.

As our ranks thin out, due to the pull of the world and a loss of understanding of the Faith, the ones who stay are better able to shine in the darkness because those who are still with us are persevering in the Faith by a real choice and not by mere habit.  Why are you here?  Because I choose to throw in my lot with Jesus Christ and His Church.  That choice has a real power to light up the world.

Faith truly has the power to save.  There is nothing beyond God’s grace, but hearts must be open for grace to be received.  This involves letting go of the reins.  When we learn to do things God’s way, we discover that the Faith that we have been taught is true.  Seeing it change us and strengthen us, the Faith becomes more attractive to the world.  Our hope is that especially those who have walked away will see this and choose to rediscover what they have lost.

Our culture is meant to be a Culture of Life, respecting life in this world from the first moment of conception and opening to Life Eternal through a sharing in the grace of Jesus Christ offered to us through the Sacraments.  May we come to believe ever more strongly and may our witness reveal to the nations God’s saving power.

A Word from Your Pastor October 6

Dear Parishioners:

In Sunday’s Gospel, we hear St. Paul’s invitation to our Patron St. Timothy to “stir into flame the Gift of God” that he has received through the Sacramental touch of the Church.  This call is fitting for us as well.  Through the Sacraments we have received, God has poured out many gifts on us.  All of us can recall the excitement and nervousness we felt when we came to church to receive the Sacraments along our journey of Faith.  Now we must renew our zeal and do all we can to put to use the power God’s Spirit unleashed in us.  The world is in need of a new outpouring of God’s gifts.

Year after year, we celebrate many Sacraments with our children.  Over the past couple of years, many children have brought their families back to Church and to practice of the Faith because they have learned about the Sacraments and asked to receive them for themselves.  In particular, time in the Atrium of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has opened up the mysteries of our Faith in such a way that our little ones know and understand what is happening in the Liturgy of the Church.  They can participate in the Mass more readily because they have learned the meaning of symbols and gestures used to express God’s gifts.

My prayer for you is that you and your family will “stir into flame” the gifts you have received in the Sacraments.  May you find again the joy that you experienced when you approached the Altar for the first time for the Eucharist.  May the Gift of the Spirit you received in Confirmation renew and strengthen your Faith so that you may share the Gospel with the world.  Let the zeal and enthusiasm of your children deepen your desire to put your Faith into practice.

God has given St. Timothy Parish a specific purpose that has been so from the first days of our creation as a parish: to assist young families in their task of raising their children in the ways of Faith.  When we keep this in mind, we discover that there is a clear plan being unfolded in what we are meant to do as a Parish that has a School.  The education of our children in the Catholic Faith must be central to the life of our community and to every family that belongs to our parish.  All other efforts in the life we share must serve this end.

May the Lord open your eyes to see His Plan and may your heart be ready to respond with generosity and zeal. 

A Word from Your Pastor September 29

Dear Parishioners:

This week, I will be away with my brother priests and with Bishop Robert Brennan, for some days of fraternity and planning for the future of the Diocese of Columbus.  I ask you to keep the presbyterate of Columbus – the priests and our Bishop – in your prayers during this important time.  It will serve to set the agenda for the next several months and years in our Diocese.  As you know, these are trying times for the Church.  We priests need to be sure that we are centered in prayer and are united in our vision so that we can serve the People of God entrusted to us.

The Church of Columbus is a diocese that covers 23 counties in the State of Ohio.  At present, we have less than 100 active priests serving the 105 parishes, with the help of retired priests, religious priests and priests of other dioceses who are assigned in the diocese for varied purposes, and our deacons.  There are about 279,000 Catholics in our diocese across the 23 counties.

As you can tell, we have our work cut out for us.  We rely on the support of the whole Church – clergy, religious and laity – all working together to build up the Kingdom of God. 

When we return from the Convocation, no doubt we will be able to share something of Bishop Brennan’s vision for our future.  He has shown such enthusiasm for all that is happening among us.  We have been blessed to have three visits of the Bishop to St. Timothy – once for the School Mass, a second time for my Mother’s funeral, and most recently for the Blue Mass.  Each time, he has expressed his gratitude for the experience and especially the sense of welcome he received.  Pray the he may have the strength and vision to help us to accomplish God’s Will for the Diocese of Columbus.

A Word from Your Pastor September 22

Dear Parishioners:

These days I find myself preaching more and more about the unique relationship God has with each one of us.  In times past, I have mentioned how, as I grew up in a family with 8 children on earth and a sister in Heaven, I became more and more amazed at the way my parents were able to be a different set of parents for each of us.  My parents worked with each of us according to our needs.  When we would complain about another sibling getting a “treat” and Mom, in particular, would just look at us and say, “Do you want us to treat you all the same?” and we would remember the special treatment we received at some point and then have to admit that we were happy being treated differently.

God looks at each one of us and loves us uniquely.  He has so arranged the world that we need one another.  Each one has gifts and talents that are meant for the whole earthly enterprise.  Learning how to cooperate with one another and how to put our unique gifts at the disposal of everyone, we are building up the Kingdom of God together.  The divisions and rivalries that are characteristic of these times are truly pointless.  We are not meant to be competitors or rivals, but rather brothers and sisters who help each other along the way to the Kingdom.

I want to thank all who have offered their gifts and talents for the good of our St. Timothy community.  We want to be sure that everyone is able to contribute.  God has a plan for us together and we can only accomplish that plan when we are all heading the same direction.  Let us work together to create a community that prays together, a family that cooperates and makes use of the gifts of all.  We can truly accomplish great things. 

A Word from your Pastor September 15

Dear Parishioners:

Many of you have perhaps had discussions with Catholics young and old who are not participating in the Sunday Mass even though they have grown up with the knowledge that it is an obligation both of the Catholic Church and from God Himself in the Ten Commandments.  The Third Commandment tells us to “Keep Holy the Sabbath.”  For us, that means very simply that we are obliged to attend and participate in the Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  When it is impossible, due to illness or some serious reason, obviously it loses the obligation.  But the reasons given by many have nothing to do with possibility.

“I don’t get anything out of it” seems to be the number one reason offered.  This is quite frankly the most ridiculous reason anyone can give.  Obligations and commitments are meant to be followed simply due to the fact that they are matters of obedience and the free choice to live in relationship with the one who has authority over us.  We fulfill something we are obligated to do because it is our duty, our responsibility, and because we have a love for the One Who requires it from us.

But even taking it at face value, here is an answer to the old canard “I don’t get anything out of it”:  “YES, you do!” 

Every Mass always gives you personally four things.  There is no Mass that does not have these given directly to any person of good will who is present. 

1. You always “get” a Welcome.   God is happy you are there.  Your parents and others who know you are pleased that you are there.  Friends and peers who see you – a member of their own age group – are strengthened by your presence and are actually harmed by your choice to be absent if you are not there.
   
   
2. You always “get” a Word.  On Sundays and Holy Days there are three readings and a responsorial psalm and many of the hymns have Scriptural sources.  The Lord has a Message for you personally that comes to you through the readings of the Mass, through the Homily, through the songs, and through the encounter you have with people who are present there.  You will always find that the Lord has something to say to you if your heart is open.  Often, you may discover that everything about that Mass seems like it was designed just for you.
   
   
3. You always “get” to be in the Sacramental Presence of Jesus Christ Himself.   You experience the greatest Miracle available to us on the face of the earth – the transformation of earthly things into the very Presence of God.  Jesus gives you Himself as Food and nourishment for your soul, a kind of Gift that you can “get” nowhere else except through the Mass.  You were so excited about this at your First Holy Communion.  Don’t you remember?  You always “get” to be with Jesus at Mass, even if you don’t receive Holy Communion because you haven’t been to Confession.
   
   
4. You always “get” a Mission from Jesus through the Mass.  The end of the Mass tells you to “Go in peace.”  This doesn’t mean “Go away.”  It means “Go out to share what you have experienced.”  So, if you do not go to Mass, there are others who do not “get” from you what God wants to pass through you to them.  You miss out on your Mission when you are not there.

So, when you hear people say that they don’t go to Mass because they don’t “get” anything out of it, you can tell them that Yes, in fact, they do “get” a Welcome, a Word, the Sacramental Presence of the Lord of Lords, and a personal Mission.  Then, you can share what you yourself “got” from the most recent Mass you have attended yourself.

Every prodigal son or daughter can remember that the Father has a home that is open and eager for his or her return.  The prodigal will always find that even from far off the Father will be there with arms open wide to offer a warm embrace and a welcome like no other.

Don’t argue.  Just tell the soul that has been away that there is always a Welcome, a Word, a Sacramental Presence and a Mission waiting at home.  You only “get” these if you open the door and come in.  We’ll leave the Light on for you.

A Word from Your Pastor September 8

Dear Parishioners:

When we learned to type back in the day (on a typewriter), there was a practice line that was very familiar: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party.”  This practice was first suggested in 1867, so google says, and the line may or may not have been uttered by the early American patriot Patrick Henry.  Whatever the truth of its origin, the sentiment expressed is certainly a reminder of the times in which we now live.

Now is truly the time for every human being to reclaim the fundamental reality of our unity.  The world around us is on a destructive course of division.  Wisdom makes known to us that this is not God’s intention for us.  We are called to be one with God and one with every son and daughter of God.  As brothers and sisters to one another in Christ, our purpose in the world is to live in such a way as to invite all people to come to know the richness of life in Christ.

There is no human circumstance that puts us beyond the reach of Wisdom.  The Scriptures and the life of the Church through the ages reveal to us the incredible truth that God can bring good out of evil and that we can cooperate with His Spirit to renew the face of the earth.  We can come to the aid of our party now through the practice of our Faith.

Practice of our Faith means being engaged, involved and committed to the common goal set for us by God.  God has set in motion through His grace and through the events of Salvation History all that is necessary for us to reach our goal.  But we have to get on the train!  We have the ticket – given to us at the moment of our creation in our mothers’ wombs and renewed an deepened at the moment of our recreation through Baptism.  If we don’t make use of the ticket by our own choice to be involved in practice of our Faith, we cannot hope to arrive where we are headed.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, said her “yes” to God, fulfilling the purpose for which she was created.   She continued her engagement throughout the life of Jesus and all the way to the end at the moment of His Passion.  She invites us to continue to the end of our journey by responding in word and deed to the grace offered to us, saying our own “yes” to God’s call.  May Wisdom help us to be attentive. 

A Word from Your Pastor September 1

Dear Parishioners:

Our observance of the secular holiday of Labor Day is a good occasion to note the Church’s esteem for the reality of work.  The Benedictines have a motto about their life, “Ora et labora,” which means “Pray and work.”  It suggests that in the pursuit of holiness, there needs to be a balance between the time set aside for communing with God and that given over to labor.

In this world, human beings express themselves through the work of their hands, that is, through anything they do using the talents and gifts that have been entrusted to them as persons.  There is an inherent dignity to work that comes from its association with human creativity and attention.

All too often, when we set our sights only on earthly achievements, work can become a greater burden.  When working conditions and payment for labor are poor, human dignity is wounded and work becomes nothing more than drudgery.  When, on the contrary, we give God His due, setting our sights on our Eternal destiny first, and choosing our work and performing our work in accord with God’s plan, something entirely different happens.

We also want to attend to the fact that there are many who do not manage to find work that is in harmony with their dignity and not a few who have great difficulty finding any meaningful work.  Persons who have been let go from jobs that they have had for many years due to downsizing or changes in technology are often at a loss as to how to move forward.  Fear of being without work can lead to poor decisions concerning lifestyle and to other troubles.

One suggestion that has been found helpful by many is to see time “between jobs” as a time to regroup and to rethink one’s life and livelihood.  Going to daily Mass, taking the opportunity for spiritual retreat and for personal reflection can be uplifting and often serve to open new doors.  God always has something in mind for us to do.  Our value comes not from our function, but rather from our relationship with the God Who loves us.  When we let go of control and put our trust in Him, great things happen.

Enjoy the rest and relaxation that Labor Day brings.  And, give your heart to the Lord Who as some special work for you to do to build up His Kingdom.

A Word from Your Pastor August 25

Dear Parishioners:

It was an irony that my column last weekend spoke about how deeply I have been affected by the deaths of so many of our pioneer parishioners and others who have contributed to our community heritage.  Sunday, August 18, was the day God chose to call my Mother, Elaine Rae Keeley Hayes to Himself.  My sister had contacted us the evening before to let us know that Mom had taken a turn for the worse and that she was worried about her.  I went over right away and was moved to offer my Mother the final rites of the Church.  I gave her the final absolution and the Apostolic Pardon.  Then I celebrated the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for both her and my Dad, in the presence of my sister Susan and my nephew Tyler.  I gave the Final Commendation, entrusting her to the Lord and His Mercy.  We started to pray a Rosary together until the arrival of the nurse from hospice.  I finished it quietly myself while the nurse did her assessment.  She was not optimistic on Mom’s prognosis but could not give a clear estimate of time.  After it appeared that Mom was resting (and my Dad had gone to bed), I returned to St. Timothy.  I stopped in church and lit a candle for my Mother and one for my sister who has taken such good care of her and our Father.

When I woke up Sunday morning, I received the message that Mom would be celebrating her birthday (August 31) with Jesus.  She had died peacefully in the early hours of the morning.  By the time I received word, I knew that I would not be able to make it home before celebrating the 8 a.m. Mass, so I chose to stay.  My nephew who had been there overnight prayed the prayers of the ritual for after death.  We contacted the funeral home and began the sad task of letting everyone know of Mom’s passing.  I celebrated the 8 a.m. Mass and then was surprised that my sister and nephew showed up for the 10 a.m. Mass.  They knew the need to be with the Church as we acknowledge one more soul among the “great cloud of witnesses.”

Our family moved into high gear and by mid-afternoon had made plans and began to make arrangements for two funeral celebrations – one here at St. Timothy this past Wednesday, and another in Pittsburgh, PA, where my parents have their burial plots.  So, as you can imagine, this past week has been a whirlwind for us all.  The fact that the funeral at St. Timothy was on the opening day of School and the funeral in Pittsburgh was taking place on my 6oth Birthday added to the intensity.

I want to offer heartfelt thanks to all for the condolences and many kindnesses that have been extended to me and my family.  The world is different without my earthly Mother.  But God is faithful and I am confident He will give us all the strength to continue on the journey of Faith.  Please continue to keep my Mother and all my family in your prayers. 

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.  May Elaine Rae Keeley Hayes rest in peace.  Amen.

May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

A Word from Your Pastor August 18

Dear Parishioners:

We have had so many funerals lately at St. Timothy that I am very aware of the “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us in the Kingdom.  It seems that one-by-one our most senior members, the founding members of our parish, are receiving their ticket.  There are others who are much younger who have also been called into the Mystery.  I am greatly affected by this.  Learning about each person whose funeral liturgy I celebrate, I become ever more aware of the rich heritage that belongs to us as St. Timothy Church.

I am noticing also two contrary “movements” that are happening in our gathering, especially at our Sunday Masses. 

Many of those who benefited from the work and sacrifice of the first generations of our parish are letting go of it without much thought.  They have not taken up the torch and plunged in to do their part to keep the community alive.  They are busy about many things – no doubt things that are important, at least to them – but they are allowing Faith and an active, cultivated relationship with God to disappear.  Some have chosen to go to other churches, for whatever reason.  But many simply stop participating in the “things” of the Catholic Faith.  They are no longer with us at our weekly gatherings, though they may keep in touch with us at social events.

At the same time, if you do come to Mass regularly at St. Timothy, you will notice that there are several young couples and young families who have found a place to call home among us.  They are not from the founding families, but they have discovered St. Timothy Church as a place where they feel comfortable.  While I am doing many funerals, I am also finding that there are many baptisms.  Something new is starting even as we say farewell to our founders and as their own families allow what they have had as a constant part of their lives to slip through their hands due to neglect.

The Spirit calls us to do what we can to renew and enliven the Faith of those who have drifted away.  We must also pray with and for those who have gone ahead of us in the ways of Faith.  But the larger task that is given to us is to take up the new responsibility we have to assist our newest members in their efforts to bring up their children in the ways of Faith.

Please look around you and offer your own welcome to the new members.  They will be the ones who keep the great tradition of St. Timothy alive.

A Word from Your Pastor August 11

Dear Parishioners:

We are called to be a people of Faith in a time of growing darkness.  We live in a society that has begun to operate on the foundation of division, explosive rhetoric and violence, both verbal and physical.  The mass-shootings that have happened in our country are a symptom of a deeper illness at work.  We can feel helpless to face this challenge and the many other burdens that our times place upon us.  But there is an answer and it is close to home.

While particular policies that are proposed on all sides of the political divide may or may not work to alleviate the possibility of specific events, nothing proposed at that level will solve the problem.  The true solution has to come from a deeper level.

We must all become more aware of the fact that we are responsible for one another.  When we play the “blame game,” we miss that all of us ought to be involved in the solution.  As long as we promote division, even at the level of ideas about how to proceed, we miss the mark.  If we don’t find a way to move forward as one, our children in particular will be the losers.

Our Faith teaches us that God’s Spirit is at work in us, transforming us into a People who are invited to share in the very Unity that is lived by the Trinity.  This is not just a pious theological concept.  It is practical.  We are a family invited to share the life of the Family Who created our world.  Love truly makes the world go around.

The Love being proposed is not a superficial “liking.”  Rather, it is sacrificial love, the kind of love that says we are willing to live and die for one another regardless of how we feel about one another’s ideas and actions.

Charity is the name for this kind of love.  Charity begins at home.  Parents need to relate to their children as persons, teaching, guiding and showing them how to live.  This is expressed in the promises made by parents and godparents at Baptism.

Practice of the Faith means participation in the life of the Church and taking the message received through Word and Sacrament out into the everyday world.

At the moment, we need to grieve with those who have suffered such tragic losses.  We need to reach out to those who are near to ensure that they do not experience the isolation and the hopelessness that led them to such violence and hatred.  We need to do all we can to preserve unity with our brothers and sisters, that is, with all who share the same Father.  We are called to live in Faith.