A Word from Your Pastor May 15

Dear Parishioners:

The Season of Easter calls us to deepen our understanding of the Gift of the Resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. The month of May presents us with the figure of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, whose response in Faith to her own call opened us to the fullness of salvation won for us by her Divine Son. When we contemplate these wonderful aspects of our Faith, we begin to see something of the hope of our own role in God’s plan. We will live forever. Each unique soul, open to receive God through Love, makes a difference for all people.

This Sunday, we close our PSR year of catechesis with a May Crowning and with the closing Mass. This is the first of many “endings” that will take place in the days and months ahead. Summer will come, and for some, there is a temptation to “take a vacation from God.” Please don’t fall into that trap! Summer prayer can be the best prayer of the year. When you go on vacation, research the location and times for Catholic Mass and worship with a different community. Pick up a bulletin and bring it home for your Pastor. Who knows? You may find an idea that can be brought home.

Next weekend after all the Masses, there will be a Parish Ministry Fair, an invitation to be part of what is happening in the life of St. Timothy Church. Plan to stop by to support those who serve the parish.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

“We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

“Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.” (Colossians 1:1-12)

One surprise that we may experience when we read several of the letters of St. Paul is that he readily admits that he is not alone in his ministry and in the writing of his letters. He acknowledges to the Colosssians that his greetings are sent from himself and Timothy, and that the Gospel that has been preached was planted among them by another co-worker. The Apostolic authority that Paul has is a shared reality. Grace and Peace come from God and the preaching of the Gospel enlivens the community and encourages them to greater growth in the life of the Spirit.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

In the part of the Creed that expresses our Faith in the Holy Spirit, a few changes are to be noted. Although it does not appear more than once in the Latin, the Credo that governs the whole profession of Faith is repeated for the third time here. It will appear once more in the final section on the Church. Each believer is invited to unite his or her act of Faith with the Faith of the whole Church.

The term “qui,” “who,” is translated now each time it appears, linking the identity of the Holy Spirit closely with the Father and the Son. “Adoratur” is translated more literally as “is adored.” The English still misses some of the intensity of the Latin expression “simul adoratur et conglorificatur,” which would be very awkward if translated directly literally: “at the same time is adored and glorified together with.” The unity of the Trinity and the human response of adoration and glorification of the Three Divine Persons with the same intensity is the point emphasized.

Sunday, May 15, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today, we celebrate the 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Church around the world invites you pray for those you might know who are discerning, or people you think God may be calling to a priestly or religious vocation and would benefit from your prayers. As Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for today, “It is important to encourage and support those who show clear signs of a call to priestly life and religious consecration, and to enable them to feel the warmth of the whole community as they respond ‘yes’ to God and the Church.”

Welcome to our Summer Seminarian Intern Vincent Nguyen!



The Diocese of Columbus is trusting us with one of our most precious resources – a seminarian who is studying to become a priest of the Diocese of Columbus. Vince Nguyen has just completed his first year in Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He will be with us for ten weeks as part of his training for the priesthood. We are happy to welcome him to St. Timothy Parish. Be sure to say hi and let him know we are praying for him.

Calling all Cooks!

Meals are needed for the Rectory – Fr. Tim Hayes, Fr. Bill Faustner, and our Seminarian Vince Nguyen – during the weekdays. (They fend for themselves on weekends.)

A special “behind the scenes” ministry helps to keep our parish pastoral team in good health and free to serve. Sign up online with the Friends of Father Tim Online Community of Support. This community assists with supplying meals at the rectory and other forms of service as needs come to light.

http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/607122/

Many dates are open in May and through the Summer.

A Word from Your Pastor May 8

Dear Parishioners:

You may be surprised to learn that your Pastor had the opportunity to meet with the newly beatified Pope John Paul II many years ago. In 1983, when Bishop Griffin came to Rome for his first ad limina visit as Bishop of Columbus – the official visit bishops make every five years to the Holy See – he gave the seminarians and priests in Rome the opportunity to join him at the Vatican. Pope John Paul gave encouragement to all of us, and his comment about me to Bishop Griffin was “He’s young!” I was very happy to have a few pictures to commemorate the encounter, because I honestly did not see a thing about the room where we were or any other details except that we were really and truly in the presence of the Pope. I do recall asking for the Pope to pray for me and my classmates who were to be ordained Deacons the following May.

We have a great example of what it means to be a witness of Faith in Blessed Pope John Paul II. He was truly a servant of God and His People. His motto “Totus Tuus” – “wholly yours,” in reference to his commitment through Mary to her Son Jesus. May we all live with such Faith!

We congratulate our Second Graders on their reception of First Holy Communion this weekend. May they always know the Love of Jesus Who gives Himself to us as Food for Eternity. May all of us renew our Faith in the Real Presence of the Lord and may we be a living witness to the Truth of this Faith by our participation in the Liturgy.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus
who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:1-6)

“I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be heartened by hearing news of you. For I have no one comparable to him for genuine interest in whatever concerns you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel. He it is, then, whom I hope to send as soon as I see how things go with me, but I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.” (Philippians 2:19-24)

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an expression of great concern by the Apostle for the well-being of their Church community. His sense of gratitude for the relationship shared with them is powerfully expressed. He mentions Timothy in similar terms and points out the depth of Timothy’s interest in their welfare as well. The hallmark of the Gospel is genuine desire for the good of others, setting aside self-interest. Paul finds this quality in Timothy on behalf of the Philippians.

When we begin to minister for others in the name of the Gospel, we discover that the Lord places in our heart a genuine love and concern for them that cannot arise from merely natural circumstances. Sharing ministry adds a depth to relationship as well. Every minister of the Gospel finds that certain co-workers become true helpers and confidantes in the effort to build up those who are served. The love of God is embodied in the mutual love and concern of ministers for one another and for the People of God whom they serve. This makes it all the more important that we see ourselves as collaborators in service of God’s Kingdom. None of us can do it alone, and our sharing of the ministry entrusted to us is part of God’s Plan for his Family.


Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his Kingdom will have no end.

A few small changes in the Nicene Creed concerning the Incarnation and the Passion of Jesus represent once again a closer rendition of the text as it appears in Latin. The expressions being highlighted regard details that may seem slight but are very significant in developing a fuller understanding of the Mystery of Christ. “Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.”

The word “et,” “and,” was often left out in English, separating statements into different sentences (in accord with common English style). Re-introducing this conjunction helps to make clear the Catholic perspective that truth is to be found along the continuum of “both/and” rather than “either/or.” The Son of God came down from Heaven AND the Same Divine Person, through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He was not merely “born of Mary,” but took His very flesh from her, AND He became man in this precise manner. The Incarnation is brought about by full mutual cooperation of Heaven and Earth.

Likewise, the Paschal Mystery is expressed in Latin with a concatenation of statements: “Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas.” The expression “suffered death” is used to cover the Latin word “passus,” which literally means “suffered.” This has been used in the English form of the Liturgy everywhere but the United States since 1975. It is recognized that Jesus’ Passion was the full embracing of human mortality. The full Paschal Mystery includes the Resurrection, following suffering (death) and burial. Just as the Incarnation includes both Heaven and Earth, the Paschal Mystery includes the complete embracing of the reality of death and the New Life of the Resurrection. “In accordance with the Scriptures” is more accurate than “in fulfillment” as a translation of “secundum.”

A Word from Your Pastor May 1

Dear Parishioners:

One of the greatest moments of my life took place when I was a sophomore in College participating in a foreign study program in Rome. April 16, 1978, I was present in St. Peter’s Square when Pope John Paul II was announced as our new Holy Father after the untimely death of Pope John Paul I. I have vivid memories of that event, and they are renewed as we observe today the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Our celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at all the Masses of this weekend is a wonderful reminder of what Blessed Pope John Paul II’s ministry. He was a healer and a Pope who spoke words of Hope to all people. In his own life, he witnessed to an unswerving Faith that accepted whatever Providence allowed to happen. He trusted in God’s Mercy. He told us all “Be not afraid.” In everything he did, he said “May Jesus Christ be praised!” I can still hear his voice ringing in my ears: “Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!” to which the response was “Sempre sia lodato!” that is, “May he ever be praised!”

Blessed Pope John Paul II is a reminder to the world of the Gift of Jesus Christ to all nations. His life and teaching are truly a gift to our time to assist us to meet the challenges of the present day. May we hear the invitation to trust in Divine Mercy, and may our lives be a sign to the world of the Truth of the Gospel.


The Year of Prayer: LITANY TO THE DIVINE MERCY
THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE FLOWER - HIS MERCY IS THE FRUIT


"Let the doubting soul read these considerations on the Divine Mercy and become trusting."

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You

Divine Mercy, crown of all of God’s handiwork, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, only hope for despairing souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You

Eternal God, in whom mercy is unfathomable and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy, itself" (Diary 949).

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 1:1-2)

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no," but "yes" has been in him.” (II Corinthians 1:19)

The Christian community finds its unity in relationship to Jesus Christ, a relationship that is discovered with a vertical dimension that is always made real in the horizontal dimension. In other words, God’s relationship to us in Christ is embodied in a living relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul continues his correspondence to the Corinthians with a greeting of Grace and Peace and he acknowledges simply that this is a shared gift.

Paul also highlights the unity of mind and heart shared with all who preach the Truth about Jesus Christ. There is a unity of witness that the Corinthians, and all who read this letter, are invited to share. This kind of unity is much needed in our world today.

Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

As we profess our Faith, we make use of the Nicene Creed, which was formulated with precise language to express the doctrine of the Church concerning the Holy Trinity and the relationship of God to His People. The changes in the first part of the section on the Son are to help us to express more clearly some of the truths that are confessed by the Church. The Credo expressed at the beginning is repeated here in translation, whereas in the Latin text it is implied. The singular voice of the One Body of Christ speaks with the many voices of the Faithful joined together.

The former translation gave only a partial expression of the first term used to speak of the Son. “Unigenitum” is now given its full meaning “Only Begotten.” Similarly, we now have in English a more direct translation of the express “ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.” These expressions were melded together in the current version.

The use of the term “consubstantial” instead of the expression “One in Being” is meant to emphasize the sharing of Divine Being, rather than a “being in general.” All that is shares “being” with God. The Only-Begotten, Born before all ages Son of the Father shares Divine Substance with God the Father. His unity in Being is of a different level of reality. All the analogies used in the Creed are intended to highlight our Faith in the Divine Nature of the Son, made present to us in the Person of Jesus Christ.

A Word from Your Pastor April 24 Easter

Dear Parishioners:

Happy Easter!

We welcome all who come to St. Timothy for the Solemn Celebration of Easter. This glorious Feast is the very heart of our Catholic Faith. God has said a definitive YES to the human race in the action of raising Jesus from the dead. The Word made flesh lived our whole life, embracing even death, death on a Cross. This means that God Himself has not only created our life, but in the Person of Jesus Christ, He has lived it Himself. The value of human life is beyond price.

Even as we experience the Joy of Easter, a joy that can never be taken away, we must acknowledge at the same time that we are living the full Paschal Mystery, with death and suffering still present in our world for so many. Our knowledge of Christ can free us to address the problems and concerns of the world with the hope of making a real difference. We gather every weekend – and even daily – for Mass in order to hear the Word of God and to experience the touch of Sacramental grace in the Eucharist, so that we may have the strength to meet the problems that we encounter. There is no substitute for the Mass.

We are grateful to have so many present to enjoy the beauty of the Easter Liturgy and to praise God for what He has done for us in raising Jesus from the dead. It is truly a gift to have a full church as a witness to the power of God to gather His People. We encourage all who are “guests” today to come to the realization that you are invited to become “hosts” as well, joining us every Sunday in the celebration that acknowledges Easter as true for us throughout the year.

In this year of our 50th Jubilee, all who have been part of our history are invited to return for a visit if you live far away or to renew practice of the Faith we have shared with you if you are still in the neighborhood. Bishop Campbell will open our Jubilee with a special Mass November 26, 2011. Join us and keep in touch to hear about other events as we celebrate the Parish Golden Jubilee 2011-2012, and the School’s Jubilee 2013-2014.

The Year of Prayer:

Note that the Year of Prayer for St. Timothy Church has been observed since Divine Mercy Sunday last year and continues until Divine Mercy Sunday this year. All are invited to participate in the conclusion of the Year of Prayer with the Divine Mercy Devotion that will take place at St. Timothy Church next Sunday at 2 p.m.

Prayer of St. Faustina before the Eucharist

I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here You light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature.

O Christ, let my greatest delight be to see You loved and Your praise and glory proclaimed, especially the honor of Your mercy. O Christ, let me glorify Your goodness and mercy to the last moment of my life, with every drop of my blood and every beat of my heart. Would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You. When I find myself on my deathbed, may the last beat of my heart be a loving hymn glorifying Your unfathomable mercy. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.” (I Corinthians 4:17) “If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am. Therefore no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.” (I Corinthians 16:10-11)

From other texts, we know that Timothy was a younger companion of St. Paul. He has a special relationship with the Apostle and is a trusted co-worker in the Lord’s vineyard. From these texts in the First Letter to the Corinthians, we can also infer that Paul not only trusted Timothy at his side, but he felt he could entrust Timothy with special missions Paul’s call to the Corinthians was to treat Timothy as his own messenger and to cooperate with him in the common work of preaching the Gospel. Paul recognized that he could not do all that was asked of him; he shared the responsibility with a member of the next generation and created a sense of community among the workers in the vineyard.

This challenge of sharing the work and of receiving those who are sent in the name of the Church to be collaborators in our common task of evangelizing continues in our time. In our Parish, we can be grateful for all the “elders” who have worked so faithfully among us since our earliest days. We also note that the next several generations are being invited to assist in the labors and all are called to be welcoming and cooperative. May we find the Peace that comes from knowing that the Lord has called us together as brothers and sisters.

Reflections on the Liturgy: A new English translation for the Prayers of the Mass

As you have heard, the Catholic Church will begin using a new translation of the Liturgy in English beginning with Advent 2011. This means that the congregation and the clergy both will be learning new forms for expression of the Faith in the vernacular. For example, the People’s response to the greeting “The Lord be with you” will become “And with your spirit.” A number of other changes will be seen in the People’s parts of the Mass as well as in the prayers recited by the ministers.

Two primary reasons dictate this new translation. The new English version will be more faithful to the Latin original and will be sure that nothing is left out. Over the years, it has been acknowledged that the nuances of English have missed some important elements that are to be found in the Latin texts and the new translation will be an effort to bring those back into common awareness. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the new English translation will allow all to see more clearly that our Liturgical texts find their source and inspiration in Sacred Scripture. The words we say are derived often directly from specific Scriptural texts. The current translation has often obscured this origin by having a different sound and meaning from the texts of Sacred Scripture. The Catholic Church is the Biblical Church. Our Mass and all our Liturgies were the source of and the fruit of Scripture. The Mass texts will assist us to understand this wonderful truth.

All are invited to learn the new form and to deepen awareness of the Liturgy of the Church. Lex orandi, lex credendi – how we pray is how we believe.

A Word from Your Pastor April 17

Dear Parishioners:

Our journey through Lent is coming to its close. With Palm Sunday, we now enter into the “High Holy Days” of our Catholic Faith. The central Liturgy of the Catholic Church crosses over four days, from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday. The Triduum – counted as three days in the ancient Jewish way, from evening to evening – offers one great Liturgy that leads us deep into the Paschal Mystery.

At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, we celebrate the Gift of Priesthood, the Call to Serve and the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. Good Friday recalls the Passion of the Lord. Holy Saturday reminds us of the time of darkness before the dawn of Resurrection. The Solemn Easter Vigil carries us through the night to the new day of Eternal Life.

Our RCIA participants stand before us as a reminder of the truth and power of our Catholic Faith, entering into the life of grace through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Let us pray with them and for them as they join us for the first time at the Altar.

On Tuesday evening, the Diocese of Columbus also experiences the Chrism Mass, which is properly the Mass of Holy Thursday morning. At this Mass, the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils that will be used for the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the coming year. The Bishop and Priests of the Diocese also renew the promises of their ordination and ask for the prayer of the priestly people. If you have never had an opportunity to participate in this Mass, you are encouraged to do so, at St. Joseph Cathedral on April 19 at 6 p.m.

Let the Liturgical events of Holy Week and the Triduum enter into your awareness, whether you are able to attend or not. Easter is the most important expression of our Faith. Don’t miss it!


The Year of Prayer: Prayer Recalling the Passion & Resurrection of the Lord

Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection You brought life to the world. But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion. You laid down Your life willingly and gave up everything for us. Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross, Your clothing became the prize of soldiers, your blood ebbed slowly but surely away, and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple. Stretched out on the Cross, deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, You cried out to Your Father that the end had come. You had accomplished the work given You, and You committed into His hands, as a perfect gift, the little life that remained to You. Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions after the example You have given. Let me place my death in Yours and my weakness in Your abandonment, Take hold of me with Your love, that same foolish love that knew no limits, and let me offer myself to the Father with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my
relatives.” (Romans 16:21)

St. Paul gives credit where it is due and he does all he can to keep folks connected. This short greeting from the Letter to the Romans shows Paul’s interest in ensuring that the Gospel is understood as “a family affair.” Our Timothy is among those named as offering greetings and some of Paul’s own blood relatives are included as well. It is not certain whether any of these were already known to the Roman community or whether this note serves as an introduction. Paul himself had not yet been to Rome, though he had met a number of those who were from Italy in his travels through Greece.

The Gospel does not belong to individuals. It is always a communal reality. When a community hears and proclaims the Good News in words and in shared actions, including worship, the Gospel takes root. Families become larger by their opening to the others and drawing them in. The greetings offered are not superficial. They are a heart-felt welcome into the awareness of a mutual belonging. We are called to live this way.


Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

One change that occurs in the first section of the Nicene Creed is the return to the singular form for the translation of the word Credo, “I believe.” It is important to note that this is not meant to be a change in the meaning of the recitation of the Creed as a communal act of Faith. Rather, it is a direct translation of the word as it appears in Latin (Credo) and in the Greek original (Πιστεύω Pisteuo). The Church stands together as the One Body of Christ, united in the Act of Profession of Faith. Each unique person’s “I believe” is one with the voice of the One Bride of Christ, who says “I believe.” It is interesting to note that this unity is emphasized in the Churches of the East where the Sign of Peace is given by the clergy during the Creed: One Church, One Faith.

The decision to change “seen and unseen” to “visible and invisible” is perhaps an effort to stay close to the Latin text, since the words used have cognates in English. This particular article of the Creed is Scriptural: “For in him all things were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible.” (Colossians 1:16) The primary meaning of this is the fact that God is Creator of all that exists. The material and spiritual worlds are from one source, the All Good and Loving Creator.

A Word from Your Pastor April 10

Dear Parishioners:

Thirst, Light, and Life are the themes found in the heart of Lent with the Scriptures of the Samaritan Woman, the Man Born Blind, and the Raising of Lazarus. Our RCIA participants experience Scrutinies based on these themes, inviting them and all of us to reflect upon our deepest aspirations, our need for enlightenment and our hope of Eternal Life.

When we look at our lives with these in mind, we find that the world’s concerns are put in their proper perspective. What happens to us is not as important as how we respond to it. When our response comes from the deepest part of ourselves, we open up a place for growth in Faith, Hope and Love. We come to know God and ourselves better, and we are in touch with Reality instead of a world of our own creation. Imagination is given a capacity to be silent in the face of the Promises God makes to us in Jesus: Springs of Grace, True Understanding and a Capacity to Worship in Spirit and in Truth, and Resurrection into a Living Relationship with the Trinity.

The world is in need of witnesses, true examples of the power of Faith to transform and to shape us in the image of God. We must be witnesses if we are true to our identity as God’s People. Are you aware of the promise of God in your own life? Have you really given yourself over to the grace that is offered? Now is the time to search your heart, to scrutinize your spirit in order to discover where God is working in your soul. The Spirit has been sent into our hearts and is awaiting our welcome.


The Year of Prayer: An Act of Consecration in the Universal Call to Holiness

O Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Master, my Love,
I give myself entirely to You this day
in and act of offering to consecrate myself
—all that I am, all that You have given me—
in union with Your Sacrifice of the Cross.

Lord Jesus, I offer myself for the salvation of souls
and the consecration of all the world in Your holiness.
Accept me as a living victim of Your Lord,
so that Your Church may be transformed in Your holiness
to be a sign of salvation for all the world.

Master, I offer myself for Your Vicar on earth,
for all bishops, priests, deacons, religious
and for all Your faithful people,
so that we all may have hearts made only for Your Love.
As a member of Your Mystical Body,
grant that I may participate in Your Eucharistic Sacrifice
with even greater love and reverence.

Take me, Lord Jesus, and with me Your Church
and all the world in Your Love
to Your Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.


“As Paul was about to set sail [from Greece] for Syria, he decided to return by way of Macedonia. Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Beroea, accompanied him, as did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.” (Acts 20:3-4)

St. Timothy knew how to be with St. Paul in a small group. He also knew how to take his place in a crowd. No doubt Paul relied on him for many things. The diversity of types that were gathered together as followers of Christ were a sign of the universality of the message, the Good News of the Gospel. Flexibility of plans and a willingness to change when the need arose was also a sign of docility to the Spirit and to a concrete realism concerning human nature. Paul and Timothy sought to follow the Spirit’s lead and they acknowledged limitations.

We are all called to make room for people who act and think differently than we do. In seeking to do God’s will, we must be open to all the possible roads that lead where we want to go. The contributions of each soul are to be valued and we must learn how to cooperated with differing opinions and manners of operation.

Reflections on the Liturgy: AT THE GOSPEL

Deacon (or Priest): The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Deacon (or Priest): A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.


The People’s parts for the dialogue before the Gospel have minor changes: “And also with you” becomes “And with your spirit” as has already been discussed.

The response to the announcement of the Gospel has just the addition of the “O” before “Lord.” This change, interestingly enough, does not have a correspondence in the Latin. The Latin expression translated here is Gloria tibi, Domine. The word Domine is in the Vocative, that is, direct address. In English, this form does not often have any difference from the Subject form (Nominative), so the “O” is added to emphasize that it is speaking formally to God. It is true that we don’t tend to make use of the “O” in ordinary conversation, but we do find it in poetry and in expressions that are meant to be lofty and emphatic.

St. Timothy Debt Elimination – a real possibility!

A Challenge Donation for up to $50,000 toward repayment of the Parish Building Loan has been offered as an incentive to retire the parish debt. Our current debt is down to about $170,000. If we can reach donations or new pledges to meet the challenge donation, we will be well on our way to completing the Campaign for St. Timothy….

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our Golden Jubilee could also be a celebration of the “burning of the mortgage” in the life of St. Timothy Parish? There would be dancing on the tables!

Looking ahead to May and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal

A Word from Your Pastor April 3

Dear Parishioners:

The Gospel of the Man Born Blind offers the themes of light and darkness, sight and blindness, seeing and not seeing, to our spiritual understanding this weekend. We are invited to acknowledge that the world around us is not always as it seems and that the answers to our questions must come from a level different from that in which the problems arise. “Whose sin caused this?” is the wrong question. Fault and Blame are a pastime in which we often indulge, but it never succeeds in offering true peace.

The next time you are in an argument, try this on for size: “You get to be right this time” or “It’s my turn to be wrong.” Then what happens? Do you not find that you can go deeper once that disagreement is out of the way? “This happened so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” Forget that question, now watch this!

Someone should do a screenplay with this Gospel tale. It is truly funny when you get into the movement of things. The Man Born Blind is the only one who can see. Everyone else around him lacks insight into the way things really are. The people who saw him as the blind beggar every day are not sure it is the same man when he is able to see. His own parents won’t acknowledge more than that he is their son and they distance themselves from all the hubbub surrounding him. The religious leaders miss entirely the import of the miracle of his sight, and so, although they claim to see, they remain blind to Who Jesus IS.

We are called, in our time, to open our own eyes to the truth of things. Can we recognize and acknowledge that we are in need of Salvation? God alone is God. Only God can save. Jesus is the Word of Salvation, spoken in our very nature. Hearing that Word, we can open our eyes and our blindness is healed. What are you called to see?

As you know, we are now in the final months of preparation needed before our Parish Golden Jubilee. The first event has been set, with a special opening Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Frederick Campbell on November 26, 2011. (St. Timothy Parish was officially established November 29, 1961.) Plans for that evening will include Mass, a meal, and a presentation by one who knew our first Pastor, Fr. “Gus” Winkler. We also want to allow the year to unfold with other celebrations and events. Leadership is needed. If you are reading this, decide to be a part of something and bring ideas to your next group meeting. Be sure that it is on your agenda before summer arrives.


The Year of Prayer: Prayer for Guidance

O Holy Spirit of God, take me as Your disciple:
guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me.
Bind my hands that they may do no evil;
cover my eyes that they may see it no more;
sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me.
Be my God; be my guide.
Wherever You lead me, I will go;
whatever You forbid me, I will renounce;
and whatever You command me,
in Your strength, I will do.
Lead me, then, into the fullness of Your Truth. Amen.


Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.

“Then Paul sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia.” (Acts 19:22)

Putting trust in one’s co-workers is a sign of confidence that a vision is shared. St. Paul puts his trust in Timothy and Erastus and sends them ahead of him while he wraps up some business in Asia. They have successfully preached Jesus to a group of followers of John the Baptist, imparting the Holy Spirit to them. Trouble has begun to be stirred up by non-believers in the synagogue and by pagans worshiping the goddess Artemis. Paul makes his proclamation of the Gospel in the context of all this controversy. When it becomes clear that he has done all that he is able to do for the moment, he goes on to join the others in Macedonia. It is ironic to realize that our Timothy will return to Ephesus one day as its bishop. The troubles faced by Paul at this moment will not settle, and in fact, it will be in the effort to preach to the same hostility that Timothy will be martyred.

Who are the members of your circle of trust in matters of Faith? Do you share the tales of your struggles with others? Whose witness in the face of difficulties has enabled you to continue to proclaim the Faith in spite of obstacles?

Reflections on the Liturgy: GLORIA

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you,
we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Gloria has a few changes that come from the original text in Latin. As before, a number of these texts now relate more clearly to their source in Sacred Scripture. We are all familiar with the song of the Angelic Choir at Bethlehem. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” (Lk 2:14). The Vulgate (the Latin Bible) has this: “Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra, pax in hominibus bonae voluntatis.”

There is a lovely movement from the Hymn of Praise sung by the Angels, the Glory given in the highest, to the kind of praise that human beings have to offer. In order to give high praise from earth, we need to express it in multiple ways. “Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te….” – “We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you.”

Our current translation opted to simplify, leaving out several expressions and rearranging the order for some unknown reason. There is a “build-up” to the acknowledgement of Who God IS, with the titles “Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.” A three-fold expression is repeated using “glory” and addressing God as Lord and King and Father.

Similarly Jesus is addressed with distinct titles as Lord and Christ, Only-Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God and Son of the Father. The cry for mercy is restored to its three-fold pattern as in the Penitential Rite. Here the role of Jesus as God’s Lamb is brought out in great relief. This also comes from Scripture: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Parts that are not changed have Scriptural references that have not been obscured: Holy One -- “For you alone are holy” (Rev 15:4) and Most High - “Let them know that you alone, you whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:19)

We praise God with the highest praise, singing to Him in words of Scripture with titles that remind us of His exalted nature. Earth offers the Trinity tokens of praise and glory that draw us into the Communion of Life and Love shared by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That gives us Pax – Shalom: Peace and Wholeness in a Living Relationship with God as Church.