Dear Parishioners:
A day that lives in infamy! January 22, 1973, represents a date when our nation forgot itself and chose to relinquish its duty to protect innocent life in the womb. We have not yet awakened from this madness. There are no winners in this battle until our eyes are opened once again.
We are a Church of compassion, and all who have been affected by this unilateral decision by the Supreme Court to change the law of the land are in our prayers.
We remember the mothers whose lives have been forever changed by the loss of their children by this act of violence against them and their sons and daughters in the womb.
“In Ramah is heard the sound of sobbing, bitter weeping! Rachel mourns for her children, she refuses to be consoled for her children—they are no more!” (Jeremiah 31:15 – quoted in Matthew 2:18, at the death of the Holy Innocents in Bethlehem.) Healing is possible. God is a God of forgiveness and love and the Church reaches out in many ways to comfort them.
We remember the fathers of the children who are no more, especially those who had no voice in the fate of their little ones and those who were the coerced the act. We remember grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters, classmates and friends who never came to know their companions due to the world’s refusal to allow them to enter.
We remember all those who are confused by the world’s values and by their own blindness in the face of fear, greed or disrespect for the value of life itself. We hold all these, and our nation, in prayer, as we ask God for a way to overcome this evil in our world.
Entering into our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (II Timothy 4:17-18)
St. Paul acknowledges that his life and the life of every Christian involve a battle, a struggle with the world that rejects Christ. He notes also that the Lord is the source of his strength as he works to fulfill his own ministry of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles. Many times he faced the threat of death. At the moment he writes, he is aware of the fact that he will continue to face such a threat. He is confident that whatever the outcome, the Kingdom awaits him. The mention of the Heavenly Kingdom leads Paul to acclaim a doxology, a word of praise for God’s glory.
This is a model worth imitating. When we experience the trials and tribulations that are part of life, especially part of the life led in proclamation of the Gospel, we ought to keep our hearts fixed on the glory that lies ahead in the Kingdom.
The new English translation of the Mass has a reference to this text that may not be known because it is not heard by the people. When the priest receives the Host, he prays, “May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.” Similarly, when he receives from the Chalice, he says “May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.”
Showing posts with label Respect Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Respect Life. Show all posts
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor January 23
Dear Parishioners:
As most of you have heard, we experienced a near disaster on Friday, January 14, with a fire in the heating system of the School Cafeteria. The experts suggest that it was actually caused by a dust ball catching fire. Who would have thought dust bunnies could be dangerous? In the end, mercifully, it was more smoke than flame. The Fire Department responded and took care of the matter rather quickly. They had been alerted by our alarm system. Thanks be to God!
Some of our Ski Club students and their families were in front of the School and the “Executive Committee” of the Men’s Club were in the Teachers’ Lounge. No one was hurt. The worst is the smell of smoke and the debris of ash that lingered on. Professionals have worked on that and time and use of the kitchen will eventually bring back the normal Cafeteria smells. We are most grateful to all who responded so quickly including Peg Crossin, Phil Hall, Mary Pat Boulware, George Cleary and George Mosholder, who were all on the scene along with all the Fire Personnel and Trucks. It was an adventure we hope never to repeat.
Your Pastor noted that we have been visited by three of the traditional Four Elements in the recent past: Air (the wind storm that took down several trees), Water (heavy rains, snow, ice and the various leaks), and now Fire (the smoky Cafeteria). All that remains is Earth (let us know if you hear a rumble or feel the ground move). We have been able to withstand all of these with the help of all our friends.
This Week, on Wednesday, January 26th, we will observe the Feast of our Patron Saint Timothy. All are welcome to join the children for the All School Mass. This year, we will begin an observance of “The Year of Saint Timothy” from the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus until our celebration of the same feast in our 50th Jubilee year. For a time, we will have both “The Year of Prayer” and “The Year of Saint Timothy” – just as Pope Benedict had a “Year for Priests” and “The Year of Saint Paul.” This will serve to lead us to a deeper knowledge of our Patron and our capacity to give witness to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world today. Let us pray with and for one another and for all God’s Family.
The Year of Prayer - Collect for the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus:
God our Father, You gave Your Saints Timothy and Titus the courage and wisdom of the apostles: may their prayers help us to live holy lives and lead us to heaven, our true home. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
As we prepare to celebrate St. Timothy Parish’s 50th Jubilee, watch the bulletin for details and suggestions. Our first effort will be to make sure we all know something about our Parish Patron, St. Timothy. Share this information with your family. Be ready to respond to questions about our patron at a moment’s notice.
Who was Saint Timothy?
St. Timothy was a companion of St. Paul who represents the third generation of Christians after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He lived in the first century A.D. He was born in the city of Lystra in Asia Minor.
Reflections on the Liturgy:
The goal of every “reform of the Liturgy” is to lead all of us to a deeper understanding of our Faith. The Church believes as she prays and prays as she believes. “Lex orandi, lex credendi.” When we are asked to pray in a certain form, the reason can always be traced to a need to assist the faithful to understand and practice a truth that has been neglected or misunderstood. The call is always to grow in faith and in understanding and practice of what we believe. In modern times, the first efforts at reform were to invite the faithful to pray together. Public prayer in common seemed to have become the privilege of a few or of only members of religious orders or those in ecclesial roles. Popes and others called for the faithful to come to a knowledge of the Liturgy and to pray together with an awareness of the meaning of the actions being performed.
As most of you have heard, we experienced a near disaster on Friday, January 14, with a fire in the heating system of the School Cafeteria. The experts suggest that it was actually caused by a dust ball catching fire. Who would have thought dust bunnies could be dangerous? In the end, mercifully, it was more smoke than flame. The Fire Department responded and took care of the matter rather quickly. They had been alerted by our alarm system. Thanks be to God!
Some of our Ski Club students and their families were in front of the School and the “Executive Committee” of the Men’s Club were in the Teachers’ Lounge. No one was hurt. The worst is the smell of smoke and the debris of ash that lingered on. Professionals have worked on that and time and use of the kitchen will eventually bring back the normal Cafeteria smells. We are most grateful to all who responded so quickly including Peg Crossin, Phil Hall, Mary Pat Boulware, George Cleary and George Mosholder, who were all on the scene along with all the Fire Personnel and Trucks. It was an adventure we hope never to repeat.
Your Pastor noted that we have been visited by three of the traditional Four Elements in the recent past: Air (the wind storm that took down several trees), Water (heavy rains, snow, ice and the various leaks), and now Fire (the smoky Cafeteria). All that remains is Earth (let us know if you hear a rumble or feel the ground move). We have been able to withstand all of these with the help of all our friends.
This Week, on Wednesday, January 26th, we will observe the Feast of our Patron Saint Timothy. All are welcome to join the children for the All School Mass. This year, we will begin an observance of “The Year of Saint Timothy” from the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus until our celebration of the same feast in our 50th Jubilee year. For a time, we will have both “The Year of Prayer” and “The Year of Saint Timothy” – just as Pope Benedict had a “Year for Priests” and “The Year of Saint Paul.” This will serve to lead us to a deeper knowledge of our Patron and our capacity to give witness to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world today. Let us pray with and for one another and for all God’s Family.
The Year of Prayer - Collect for the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus:
God our Father, You gave Your Saints Timothy and Titus the courage and wisdom of the apostles: may their prayers help us to live holy lives and lead us to heaven, our true home. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
As we prepare to celebrate St. Timothy Parish’s 50th Jubilee, watch the bulletin for details and suggestions. Our first effort will be to make sure we all know something about our Parish Patron, St. Timothy. Share this information with your family. Be ready to respond to questions about our patron at a moment’s notice.
Who was Saint Timothy?
St. Timothy was a companion of St. Paul who represents the third generation of Christians after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He lived in the first century A.D. He was born in the city of Lystra in Asia Minor.
Reflections on the Liturgy:
The goal of every “reform of the Liturgy” is to lead all of us to a deeper understanding of our Faith. The Church believes as she prays and prays as she believes. “Lex orandi, lex credendi.” When we are asked to pray in a certain form, the reason can always be traced to a need to assist the faithful to understand and practice a truth that has been neglected or misunderstood. The call is always to grow in faith and in understanding and practice of what we believe. In modern times, the first efforts at reform were to invite the faithful to pray together. Public prayer in common seemed to have become the privilege of a few or of only members of religious orders or those in ecclesial roles. Popes and others called for the faithful to come to a knowledge of the Liturgy and to pray together with an awareness of the meaning of the actions being performed.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Word from Your Pastor October 3
Dear Parishioners:
This weekend, we have a Parish Activities Fair. Don’t miss your opportunity to
respond to the Church’s call to put our Faith into practice. Every family and every individual Catholic should have at least one internal parish activity they make their own and one “big issue” that involves putting Faith into public view that is theirs as well. Faith is not a merely private matter. If it is truly Faith, it involves going out to all the world.
October is Respect Life Month. Each week our bulletin will include an insert designed by the U.S. Bishops Conference to highlight some aspect of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and worth of the human person. I want to emphasize two points for everyone to consider.
First, the teachings of the Church in this regard are not a patchwork quilt of disassociated topics. There is a consistency in the whole vision that the Church presents that starts with the dignity and value of every human person from the first moment of conception until the last breath before God’s call to Eternity. Every human being is worthy of respect because the human person is created in the image and likeness of God and will live forever. This is true even of the first moments of existence (all of us began as zygotes). This is true even of human persons who are no longer able to relate with others consciously (Alzheimer’s patients and those in so-called “persistent vegetative states”).
Second, it is of the utmost importance that members of the laity take seriously their responsibility to share this truth with the wider society. If you do not live it and share it, then the truth is not heard and understood by others. Priests and religious have their role to help all of us come to appreciate the truth revealed to us by God.
Laity have as their task the duty – imposed on them by God Himself through Baptism and Confirmation – to transform the secular sphere into a place where God is welcome. This is a vision that is incredibly powerful and empowering if you take it seriously. Your life is meant to help others make room for Christ. You cannot do so unless you allow His Truth to penetrate your heart and come to its fruition in your life.
If there is any part of the Church’s teaching that you have difficulty with, don’t start with the idea “I don’t believe it.” That will not get you anywhere. God “is found by those who test Him not, and He manifests Himself to those who do not disbelieve Him.” (Wisdom 1:1-2) Blessed John Newman said, “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt” (Apologia pro vita sua). We must allow the Church to form our consciences before we dare to rely on them. Formation of conscience requires a deepening of our understanding and an openness to truths beyond our experience. Let this month be a reminder to you to study more profoundly what the Church has to say in the issues you “disagree with” in practice or in mind. Perhaps God will open your heart to a greater experience of the truth of our Faith and life itself will become more precious in your eyes.
This weekend, we have a Parish Activities Fair. Don’t miss your opportunity to
respond to the Church’s call to put our Faith into practice. Every family and every individual Catholic should have at least one internal parish activity they make their own and one “big issue” that involves putting Faith into public view that is theirs as well. Faith is not a merely private matter. If it is truly Faith, it involves going out to all the world.
October is Respect Life Month. Each week our bulletin will include an insert designed by the U.S. Bishops Conference to highlight some aspect of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and worth of the human person. I want to emphasize two points for everyone to consider.
First, the teachings of the Church in this regard are not a patchwork quilt of disassociated topics. There is a consistency in the whole vision that the Church presents that starts with the dignity and value of every human person from the first moment of conception until the last breath before God’s call to Eternity. Every human being is worthy of respect because the human person is created in the image and likeness of God and will live forever. This is true even of the first moments of existence (all of us began as zygotes). This is true even of human persons who are no longer able to relate with others consciously (Alzheimer’s patients and those in so-called “persistent vegetative states”).
Second, it is of the utmost importance that members of the laity take seriously their responsibility to share this truth with the wider society. If you do not live it and share it, then the truth is not heard and understood by others. Priests and religious have their role to help all of us come to appreciate the truth revealed to us by God.
Laity have as their task the duty – imposed on them by God Himself through Baptism and Confirmation – to transform the secular sphere into a place where God is welcome. This is a vision that is incredibly powerful and empowering if you take it seriously. Your life is meant to help others make room for Christ. You cannot do so unless you allow His Truth to penetrate your heart and come to its fruition in your life.
If there is any part of the Church’s teaching that you have difficulty with, don’t start with the idea “I don’t believe it.” That will not get you anywhere. God “is found by those who test Him not, and He manifests Himself to those who do not disbelieve Him.” (Wisdom 1:1-2) Blessed John Newman said, “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt” (Apologia pro vita sua). We must allow the Church to form our consciences before we dare to rely on them. Formation of conscience requires a deepening of our understanding and an openness to truths beyond our experience. Let this month be a reminder to you to study more profoundly what the Church has to say in the issues you “disagree with” in practice or in mind. Perhaps God will open your heart to a greater experience of the truth of our Faith and life itself will become more precious in your eyes.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Word from Your Pastor September 12
A Word from Your Pastor
Dear Parishioners:
Our experience of the Blue Mass this year once again showed St. Timothy Parish’s gift of hospitality and our recognition of those who serve the wider community. Congratulations to the Knights of Columbus Council #14345 for their leadership in this effort! Let this be a call to all the men of the parish to consider adding participation in the Knights to their involvement in the Church. Since their founding in 1882, the Knights of Columbus have been concerned with the welfare of the family and they have served the Church throughout the world, promoting charity, unity fraternity, and patriotism. Those are principles to live by!
On Saturday, I spent the morning with another group of extraordinary men: candidates for the diaconate for the Diocese of Columbus and the Diocese of Steubenville. My privilege is to work with them in their study of the Scripture, in particular, the first part of the Bible: the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and the Earlier Prophets (Joshua, Judges, I-II Samuel and I-II Kings). These are among the first writings of the Old Testament to be acknowledged as Sacred Scripture. If you have not read through them for yourself, I invite you to do so over the next several months. Since I am teaching on this material two Saturdays a month through November, they will be fresh on my mind in case you have any questions while you are reading. I have taught this material to the last several Deacon classes for the Diocese of Columbus and to two years of students at the Pontifical College Josephinum. It is truly a fascinating experience to enter into the world of the Bible. I always find our Deacon Candidates to be enthusiastic students of the Scriptures. They are looking forward to preaching the Word of God, and so are zealous in their study.
A Pastoral Note that is timely: October is observed as Respect Life Month and we are in need of members of our parish community to work on promoting an understanding of the Church’s commitment in this regard. Many organizations ask for a parish liaison and at present we do not have someone taking on this role. Let me know if you are willing. We will be including information in the bulletin that can help, but the personal touch is always important.
When you are involved in any organization that promotes research and study for eradication of illnesses that attack human beings, please be sure that you become informed about the nature of the research. Unwittingly, some research that is done attacks the very human nature it is striving to heal. For example, it is never right to make use of embryonic stem cells for any kind of research. This is to be distinguished from use of adult stem cells. The type of research that uses embryonic stem cells directly kills human beings in the earliest stage of development and manipulates human life as if it is a product of human creativity alone. Adult stem cell research, on the other hand, fully respects human nature and, as a matter of fact, shows promising results. Please keep yourself informed, and when you promote fundraising for research, make it is clear to those you are helping that you are opposed to research involving embryonic or fetal stem cells. If you do not stand up for life at its beginning, your efforts to care for life at other stages is less likely to be successful in the long run.
Dear Parishioners:
Our experience of the Blue Mass this year once again showed St. Timothy Parish’s gift of hospitality and our recognition of those who serve the wider community. Congratulations to the Knights of Columbus Council #14345 for their leadership in this effort! Let this be a call to all the men of the parish to consider adding participation in the Knights to their involvement in the Church. Since their founding in 1882, the Knights of Columbus have been concerned with the welfare of the family and they have served the Church throughout the world, promoting charity, unity fraternity, and patriotism. Those are principles to live by!
On Saturday, I spent the morning with another group of extraordinary men: candidates for the diaconate for the Diocese of Columbus and the Diocese of Steubenville. My privilege is to work with them in their study of the Scripture, in particular, the first part of the Bible: the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and the Earlier Prophets (Joshua, Judges, I-II Samuel and I-II Kings). These are among the first writings of the Old Testament to be acknowledged as Sacred Scripture. If you have not read through them for yourself, I invite you to do so over the next several months. Since I am teaching on this material two Saturdays a month through November, they will be fresh on my mind in case you have any questions while you are reading. I have taught this material to the last several Deacon classes for the Diocese of Columbus and to two years of students at the Pontifical College Josephinum. It is truly a fascinating experience to enter into the world of the Bible. I always find our Deacon Candidates to be enthusiastic students of the Scriptures. They are looking forward to preaching the Word of God, and so are zealous in their study.
A Pastoral Note that is timely: October is observed as Respect Life Month and we are in need of members of our parish community to work on promoting an understanding of the Church’s commitment in this regard. Many organizations ask for a parish liaison and at present we do not have someone taking on this role. Let me know if you are willing. We will be including information in the bulletin that can help, but the personal touch is always important.
When you are involved in any organization that promotes research and study for eradication of illnesses that attack human beings, please be sure that you become informed about the nature of the research. Unwittingly, some research that is done attacks the very human nature it is striving to heal. For example, it is never right to make use of embryonic stem cells for any kind of research. This is to be distinguished from use of adult stem cells. The type of research that uses embryonic stem cells directly kills human beings in the earliest stage of development and manipulates human life as if it is a product of human creativity alone. Adult stem cell research, on the other hand, fully respects human nature and, as a matter of fact, shows promising results. Please keep yourself informed, and when you promote fundraising for research, make it is clear to those you are helping that you are opposed to research involving embryonic or fetal stem cells. If you do not stand up for life at its beginning, your efforts to care for life at other stages is less likely to be successful in the long run.
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