Newsletter - Our Lady of the Holy Cross Catholic Church
Transcription
Newsletter - Our Lady of the Holy Cross Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Holy Cross Newsletter Volume 24 No. 9 October, 2016 A Pastor’s Reflection Be Slow October It’s October, so I will share with you a small part of one of my favorite poems: “O hushed October, morning mild. Thy leaves are ripened for the fall. Tomorrow’s wind if it be strong should waste them all. The crows above the forest call. Tomorrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, begin the hours of this day slow. (Robert Frost) The poem is very encouraging, but every October I am left somewhat disappointed that autumn has come and gone too quickly. I always make it a point to get out more and enjoy the trees. I try to put less on my calendar, but it seems like there is always too much, whether there really is or not, especially in October. Pope Francis said in his encyclical, On the Care of the Earth, that we were not made to be surrounded by cement. How true, how true. The trees in October remind me of that fact. As I look out my window, the sight is awesome. There’s the combination of all the colors, together with the leaves falling and the wind blowing. There has to be something very healing in all of it. Just be, just be. Let it be. If I was going to write my own poem, I think I would name it “Just Be”. But of course, there is always the window of my soul from which to look out. I am not sure if it was by design or not, but there are some interesting saints celebrated in October. Some of these saints look like tall trees, in a sense. St. Francis of Assisi, celebrated on October 4, is one of them. His poem The Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon is one we can’t pass up. Here is a part of it: “Praise by You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair…” In the church of St. Francis in Assisi, the ceiling is completely painted with stars, and on the mountain where he and his companions would often gather, there is a statue of St. Francis laying on the ground with his arms behind his head, just gazing at the stars. But don’t forget St. Theresa the “Little Flower,” celebrated on October 1. She is not as little as we think. Also a poet at heart, she saw with great clarity the meaning of the beauty and charm of small special moments with respect to her spiritual journey. Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, is great October reading. And of course, don’t miss St. Luke who is celebrated on Oct 18. He is the most artistic of the Evangelists. He points out Jesus’ love of nature in Chapter 12: “Consider the Ravens . . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow . . . There is a lot to take in, a lot to enjoy during this incredibly spiritual and mystical season. Even if October moves by fast, and it always seems to, I am sure there will still be more than enough for us to take away. Father Vince Nyman Let me start by saying thank you for your loyalty and continued support of our Parish Family. With your help and support in the 2015-16 fiscal year we were able to reduce our deficit budget from $58,218 to $13,766. Since July we have begun a new fiscal year and we are right back at reducing our deficit budget, which is even greater, $62,929. We must begin now, picking up where we left off, to be able to reach our goal of a balanced budget for 2016-17. So . . . “PENNIES FROM HEAVEN” I know there are some of you who still remember a popular song “back in the day” . . . “Pennies from Heaven”. I remember my mom reminding us “money doesn’t grow on trees”. Then a day came when I came into the kitchen with the good news, “Mom, I found a ‘Dollar Tree’.” A new store appeared at the Northland Shopping Center. Dollar Trees are not that unusual, many gifts were given in a creative form of a dollar tree for special anniversaries, weddings, graduations, birthdays and retirement parties. You may have received one. I want to give a Dollar Tree gift to Our Lady of the Holy Cross here in the Baden area in thanksgiving and in remembrance of over 100 years of presence and service in the Baden Community. Think of the hundreds of people who served each other, the parishioners, the neighbors, the sisters and teachers in the school, the priests, the local businesses, the police and fire department, family and friends, the long standing service and outreach of our St. Vincent de Paul Society still helping people today. Our newsletter goes to 1500 people. I’ve been thinking . . . If 1000 people give $100 each, we would have $100,000; if 500 people give $100 each we would have $50,000; if 250 people give $100 each, we would have $25,000. I invite you all and challenge all to help me with my “Dollar Tree” of $100,000. I will give the first $100.00! I wrote this on the evening of September 19. The next morning, September 20, when I came to work at OLHC in time for the 8:00 a.m. Mass, I parked the car in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine. As I walked from the car to the rectory, not even three feet, here was a penny right in my path! “Ask and you shall receive,” I remember Jesus saying. If you wish to donate to the “Dollar Tree” in any way, you can make your check out to Our Lady of the Holy Cross (OLHC) and in the memo field indicate “Dollar Tree” drop it in the offertory basket or send it to the rectory office addressed as follows: “Dollar Tree” Our Lady of the Holy Cross 8115 Church Road Saint Louis, MO 63147 God’s blessings, Sr. Carlene Welker, D.C. Rest in the Peace of Christ Let us pray for those who have died, especially: Rita Russo - August 29 Robert Calcaterra - September 22 The RCIA and ongoing formation for our children and youth will be starting soon! This process is for those over the age of seven (7) who would like to be initiated into the Catholic church through Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Parents are an integral part of this process and families will meet throughout the year as we prepare for the initiation Sacraments. A parent meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 2, after the 10:30 a.m. Mass in the rectory. For more information or to begin the process, please call Sr. Carlene at 381-0323. tion on this day only to exhibit the relics of our saints, however, this year the relics will remain exhibited all month long. …Our parish has begun our participation in the Beyond Sunday Archdiocesan-wide campaign. You will receive a letter of explanation and be contacted by one of our committee members requesting that you make a pledge to this program. The Beyond Sunday Education Fund is designed to transform Catholic education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In addition to providing scholarships to middle-income families, the fund will provide resources to ensure the competitiveness of our Catholic education system by strengthening academic capacity and seeding innovation at the organizational level. Of all pledges made 60% of the money will be allocated to the program but 40% will come back to the parish (regardless if they have a school or not). Please pledge according to your heart and generosity. A big shout out to Matt Honich, who on Sunday, September 11, received the parish service appreciation award for his 35 years of service as an altar server. Way to go, Matt, and thank you for your service. OLHC CHRISTMAS CARDS are on sale in the back of church or by mail -$7.50 for 5 cards with different OLHC Christmas scenes; $9.50 for 5 cards for mail orders. Order forms are in this newsletter. See Joan Hanheide (Saturdays) or Rich Burgdorf (Sundays) after Mass or call the rectory office on 381-0323. A big thanks to Ann Cowper and her committee for the successful OLHC Yard Sale event last month. Proceeds from the event will go toward our fashion show fund raiser. GIVING WITNESS WHAT IS A SAINT? …SECOND ANNUAL OLHC FASHION SHOW - The date for our second annual OLHC Fashion Show has been set for Sunday, October 30, 2:306:00 p.m. This year we are having a basket/barrel of booze with all the trimmings as one of our raffle items. If you have any items to contribute to our basket just bring it to the rectory or should you need someone to pick it up, call the rectory to make arrangements, 381-0323. THANK YOU!!! … Our Scrip program continues to help reduce our financial deficit but still needs you. Here’s an update on our Scrip program. Our total earnings from scrip sales since inception is $1,152.66. Thank you to all who support this effort. To really take advantage of this program we need to increase our “regulars” and to add many new participants. Our Scrip program needs you. The proceeds from this program help reduce our sizable budget deficit without any cost to you or the parish! Tuesday, November 1, is the Feast of All Saints and also is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. in the rectory and 6:30 p.m. in church. It is our tradi- In our Catholic tradition we have honored the memory of good, holy, faithful people as saints. People who are models or heroes for us to reflect on their lives as they followed the Gospel of Jesus; who were examples of the commandment to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. During the year we will have a display of various saints and their good works and witness. It will be in the area near the Blessed Mother’s altar. In the Apostles’ Creed we pray, “We believe in the communion of saints . . .” Saints in the biblical sense of referring to followers of Jesus, the family of God, who has called all people in his love and mercy. Sr. Carlene Welker, D.C. STEWARDSHIP “Jesus asks us to forgive and to give. To be instruments of mercy because it was we who first received mercy from God. To be generous with others knowing that God showers his goodness upon us with immense generosity.” Pope Francis "One of the greatest acts of mercy is to invite people back to Church. This is the stewardship of our faith. Every act of mercy is an act of stewardship.” Archbishop Robert J. Carlson “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou 7:00 p.m. Parish Council Meeting 10 Columbus Day 3 MONDAY Ordinary Time 10:30 a.m. Mass 2:30-6:00 p.m. Fashion Show 30 Thirty-First Sunday in 10:30 a.m. Mass Ordinary Time 23 Thirtieth Sunday in 10:30 a.m. Mass Ordinary Time 31 24 St. Anthony Mary Claret 16 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in 17 St. Ignatius of Antioch 10:30 a.m. Mass in Ordinary Time 9 Twenty-Eighth Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by Blessing of Animals in Ordinary Time 2 Twenty-Seventh Sunday SUNDAY 26 8:00 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m. Scripture Study 10:30 a.m. Social Concerns 25 8:00 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m. Scripture Study 10:00 a.m. OLHC Senior Trip to Lachance Vineyards 6:00 p.m. Pastors Assembly 9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 p.m. 11:30 a.m. Hospitality Tuesday 1:00 p.m. The “Circle” 3:00 p.m. Perpetual Help Devotions and Benediction 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul 19 9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 p.m. 11:30 a.m. Hospitality Tuesday 1:00 p.m. The “Circle” 3:00 p.m. Perpetual Help Devotions and Benediction 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul 8:00 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m. Scripture Study 11:30 a.m. Liturgy Committee Meeting 18 St. Luke 12 9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 p.m. 11:30 a.m. Hospitality Tuesday 1:00 p.m. The “Circle” 3:00 p.m. Perpetual Help Devotions and Benediction 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul 8:00 Mass 9:00 a.m. Scripture Study 1:30 p.m. St. Monica’s Sodality 6:00 p.m. ROBA 11 St. John XXIII 5 9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 p.m. 11:30 a.m. Hospitality Tuesday 1:00 p.m. The “Circle” 3:00 p.m. Perpetual Help Devotions and Benediction WEDNESDAY 4 St. Francis of Assisi TUESDAY 27 20 St. Paul of the Cross 13 Blessed Marie Rose Durocher 6 St. Bruno THURSDAY October 2016 1:00 p.m. Preaching Partners 28 Sts. Simon and Jude 1:00 p.m. Preaching Partners 21 1:00 p.m. Preaching Partners 14 St. Callistus, I 1:00 p.m. Preaching Partners 7 Our Lady of the Rosary FRIDAY 8:15 a.m. SLACO Workshop 4:15 p.m. Confession 5:00 p.m. Mass 29 8:15 a.m. SLACO Outing 4:15 p.m. Confession 5:00 p.m. Mass 22 St. John Paul II 5:00 p.m. Mass 4:15 p.m. Confession 15 St. Teresa of Jesus Missouri Catholic Conference 4:15 p.m. Confession 5:00 p.m. Mass 8 5:00 p.m. Mass followed by Blessing of Animals 4:15 p.m. Confession 1 SATURDAY Our Lady of the Holy Cross Parish 8115 Church Road St. Louis, Mo. 63147 OCTOBER NEWSLETTER Address Service Requested NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit No., 388 25/25 Club Fund Winners September, 2016 September 1 James R. Weiskopf September 16 Dave & Cathy Thomasson September 2 Peter Sandknop September 17 Msgr. Mark Ullrich September 3 Msgr. Nicholas Schneider September 18 Vincent S. Parisi September 4 Fr. Patrick Hambrough September 19 James Weiskopf September 5 Debbie Love September 20 Jo Ann Grapperhaus September 6 Anna Deters September 21 The Will Family September 7 Sue Thomasson September 22 Shirley Keller September 8 Roland Amrhein September 23 Rose Klimkiewicz September 9 Kathy Carey September 24 Jane F. Bell September 10 Chris Burgdorf September 25 M. L. Becker September 11 Carolyn Humphrey September 26 Patricia Cierpiot September 12 Thomas E. Hilton September 27 Tim & Mary Jo Smith September 13 Stan & Rose Busken September 28 Patricia A. Moyers September 14 Ronald Brendel September 29 Jerry Baumann September 15 Jerry Baumann $$$ SEPTEMBER 30 - SHIRLEY GRILLO - $100 $$$ August 1 25/25 Club Fund Winners August, 2016 Bob & Peggy Malone August 16 I. C. Church August 2 Bob & Peggy McGartland August 17 Rich Ghirardi August 3 Rochelle Schneider August 18 Richard Rebori August 4 Marie Vogel August 19 Sherry Maher August 5 Marie Vogel August 20 Gary Seyfried August 6 Monica Vogel August 21 Eileen Murphy August 7 Matt Cobb August 22 Harrietta Addoh August 8 Cheryl M. Povich August 23 Lawrence Pezold August 9 Jim & Annie Blum August 24 Matt Honich August 10 Henry Boedefeld (Children) August 25 Patricia Hofer August 11 Don & Mary Lorenz August 26 George P. Brennan August 12 Mary Rose Stepnowski August 27 Madylin Cobb August 13 Gary Rottler August 28 Mary Ann Hamm August 14 Lawrence Pezold August 29 Albert Gettemeier August 15 Ann Barandvic August 30 Jim & Annie Blum $$$ AUGUST 31 - THOMAS E. HILTON - $100 $$$