Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

Transcription

1 Saints Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 902 East Ninth Street Hopkinsville, KY Established 1872 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County. Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor crmeredith@stsppchurch.org Rev. Fr. Al Bremer, Parochial Vicar frbremer@bellsouth.net Rev. Fr. Basilio Az Cuc, Parochial Vicar bazcuc@stsppchuch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) PARISH FAX: (270) PARISH WEBSITE: DIOCESAN WEBSITE: VATICAN WEBSITE: OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM - 5 PM Monday Friday (Closed Noon -1:00 pm Daily) SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) SCHOOL FAX: (270) SCHOOL WEBSITE: Tru h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening... 5:00 PM Sunday... 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday... 8:00 AM Wednesday... 5:30 PM Thursday MISA EN ESPAÑOL... 5:30 PM First Friday of each month... 6:00 PM MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register in the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish community are asked to inform us. Bulletin material deadline: Monday at noon in writing or . February 26, 2017 Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time

2 2 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY MINISTRY TO THE SICK Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing by calling the Parish Office, PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in taking hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament during the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required for evenings.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please contact Bill & Jenny Rush at , if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner. Available hours: 4 am Tuesdays, 1am Wednesdays, (7am Thursday needs prayer partner), 5 pm Thursdays, 11 pm Fridays, 3 am Saturdays. Parish Pastoral Council Robin Bilan, Vice-Chair, Education rcbilan@hotmail.com Jim Creighton, Spiritual Life creighton.jim@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate...ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Norma Folz, Worship...nbfolz@gmail.com Gary Harden, Family Life...garyharden@gmail.com Sarah Kranz, Principal...skranz@stsppschool.org Fran Marko, Secretary...franmarko@gmail.com Joe Mezzoni, Chair/Admin... joemezzoni216@att.net Margaret Nosbusch, Social Concerns...maggie_n@bellsouth.net PARISH STAFF Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)...director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org). Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)...pastoral Associate Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org) School Secretary Leigh Ann Johnson Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...maintenance Foreman Sarah Kranz (skranz@stsppschool.org)...school Principal Donna Pfeufer (dgpfeufer@gmail.com)...thrift Store Gen. Mgr. Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)...thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)...hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer (swassmer@stsppchurch.org)...parish Secretary Amy Watkins (awatkins@stsppchurch.org)...parish Music Director The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by any employee of the Catholic Church please call the Office of the Bishop in Owensboro at (270) The Safe Environment Program is now available at the Diocesan website SACRAMENTS Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (English and Spanish), Wednesday at 4:30 PM. (ENGLISH and SPANISH). Confessions will be heard any time by appointment. Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class is usually held the first Sunday of each month. Our next class is scheduled for March 12, 2017 at 4:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office. Registration is required. Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date. Save the Date! The Catholic Women s Conference for the Diocese of Owensboro will take place Friday evening on August 25 and all day Saturday, August 26, The conference will feature Cyndi Spivey, a Christian faith and fashion blogger, and Hallie Lord, Catholic blogger, speaker and author of On the Other Side of Fear: How I Found Peace. Bishop William F. Medley will preside over Saturday morning Mass. This conference is coordinated by St. Jerome Parish and is sponsored by the Diocese of Owensboro. More information will be coming.

3 FEBRUARY 26, Congratulations: As a parish we congratulate Danielle McNeill who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this past Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Danielle had been baptized and received First Eucharist in the Catholic Church as a youth and was seeking the sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Medley gave permission for her to be confirmed here at Saints Peter and Paul last Sunday surrounded by her family and friends. Danielle and her finance, Jared Smith, will be married here at Saints Peter and Paul later in June. Congratulations Danielle! Family: Fr. Larry Richards, one of the speakers at the Men s Conference held two Saturdays ago in Owensboro defined Family in a way that we wanted to share it with you. According to Fr. Larry, A faith filled Family should have the following aspects. F The first letter of the word Family he says is Forgiveness. If couples and members of the family excel in this virtue there is already peace. None of us are perfect. There is sure to be good times and bad times, sickness and health, in all these we learn to accept and forgive. The second letter A is for Affirmation. It s not me and mine but in a family it has to be we, us and ours. Each person has a role to play and learn to affirm and appreciate. M is to make Memories. Families should make memories by having fun. We don t have to have much to have laughter and fun. Your dining table at your home is the Altar in your home. Eat together - laugh together - share together. Don t make it a place to pass judgment. Make Memories I is intimacy. It is in the closeness of the family members, that we are able to know the struggles going on in the life of the members of the family. Stand beside each other. Get to know them well. L is the basis of everything which is Love. Y is you. The other person is more important than me. It s God - My spouse and Me. Learn to care for the other person. Family is the domestic Church. When there are good families the Church grows. Let us pray for struggling couples that they may forgive one another and come through their difficulties. Sympathy: As a parish let us keep in prayer Tom and Kathy Buehrle. Tom s nephew, Christopher Henry Buehrle, passed away on Sunday, February 19 th at the age of 49. Christopher is survived by his wife, Becky Buehrle and their children Amanda, Caleb and Casey Buehrle. The Funeral Mass was held on Friday, February 24 th at St. Alban Roe Catholic Church in Wildwood, Missouri with Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Buehrle Family Foundation in support of cancer research at We also keep in prayer Shannon and Michael Pape. Shannon s father, Sherm Allen Stream, passed away on Sunday, February 19 th in Glasgow, Kentucky at the age of 70. Sherm was well-recognized for his contributions in manufacturing design and management and was heavily sought after for his expertise working and living in many places throughout the U.S. including Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, California and finally retiring from UGN in Glasgow. Mr. Stream had many talents he was a singer and musician including playing the trumpet; was a quarterback and pitcher, a skeet shooter, enjoyed hunting and fishing, photography, was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed golf. Sherm was married to Gayle Peterson Stream for 50 years and had three children: Shawn, Sgt. Scott Stream and Shannon Pape. (Some may remember that Saints Peter and Paul held the Funeral Mass for Sgt. Scott Stream in March of 2009 after he was killed by a roadside bomb while serving our country in Afghanistan.) Sherm is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 2 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services are being planned in Creston, Iowa. As a parish, let us keep these families in our prayers this week as they mourn their loss and may we as a church pray: May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Palm for Ash Wednesday: Last call for your last year s blessed palm. On Tuesday, February 28 th after the 8:00 a.m. Mass we will burn these blessed palms so we can use the ashes for Ash Wednesday. You are welcome to come and be a part of this burning. Fat Tuesday Celebration: Our Fat Tuesday celebration will be at DaVinci s Restaurant located at 304 North Drive on Tuesday, February 28 th. Remember we meet at the Restaurant at 6:30 p.m Lent: As Catholics we take up the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving every year. These practices help us to remember the merciful love and compassion that God shows all people. Participating in these practices, we journey toward repentance with our community and God and toward the celebration of the Paschal Mystery of our Lord. We do not make this journey alone. The whole Church prepares for the celebration and together, along with those who are preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil, we try to live more faithfully to God s call to be merciful, loving, and compassionate to those around us. Our acts of love through sacrifice and prayer are a tangible witness of God s love to those around us.

4 4 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY A Story Worth Telling : The Ash Wednesday Collection on March 1 st will again be for our Sister Diocese of Mandeville Jamaica. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News! Our Diocese is in partnership with the Diocese of Mandeville Jamaica to make those words a reality. We have a 15 year history together in this wonderful work. Wednesday, March 1 st Ash Wednesday 8:00 AM Mass Altar Servers: School Students Cross Bearer: School Students Commentator: School Students Lectors School Students E.M. Deacon, Wendy Anderson, Arsha Battah, Jane Irwin Choir Loft: Vicki Luckey, Don McCowan Ushers: See Libby in the Sacristy Ministers of Ashes: Bill Sweet and Arsha Battah 12:05 PM Mass Altar Servers: Cross Bearer: Commentator: Lectors E.M. Choir Loft: Ushers: Minister of Ashes: 5:30 PM Mass Altar Servers: Cross Bearer: Commentator: Lectors E.M. Choir Loft: Ushers: Minister of Ashes: Masses Offered on Ash Wednesday Wednesday, March 1st at 8:00 a.m. - English Wednesday, March 1st at 12:05 p.m. - English Wednesday, March 1st at 5:30 p.m. - English Wednesday, March 1st at 7:00 p.m. in Spanish Ash Wednesday is a day of Fast and Abstinence School Students School Student Sue Wassmer Jim Creighton, Pam Sweet Joyce Wiedmer, Tim Nosbusch Maria Creighton, Pam Carlton JoAshley Hall, Lana Bastin See Libby in the Sacristy Libby Downs and Pam Carlton Roberto and Estafany Nicanor Jose Nicanor Mary Moehlman Mike Murray/Morgan Murray Patty Goode, Frank Raber, Vicky Barnes, Tim Barnes Tony Esposito, Bob Stites See Libby in the Sacristy Tim Barnes and Libby Downs Remember: Ash Wednesday is a day of Fasting and Abstinence. Abstinence Those who have completed their 14 th year are to abstain from meat. Fasting Those who have completed their 18 th year to the beginning of the 60 th year are to Fast. (The Church defines Fasting as one meal a day and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity.) American Red Cross Blood Drive You can save lives and support Saints Peter and Paul School: The Western Kentucky Blood Center will be at Saints Peter and Paul on Wednesday, March 1 st (Ash Wednesday) from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in our gym. Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center will donate $5.00 to Saints Peter and Paul School for each pint of donated blood while all donors will receive a free t-shirt and cholesterol screening. Our Little Black Books Are being offered again this year at Saints Peter and Paul! These are great prayer opportunities during the Season of Lent. We have a few Little Black Books still available. Don t forget to get yours to use each day during this Lenten season. Operation Rice Bowl: Saints Peter and Paul will support the valuable work of Catholic Relief Services through participation in Operation Rice Bowl. Rice Bowls are available now and gives each of us the choice of cutting back from our excess to donate these monies to Catholic Relief Services. Rice Bowl remains in your home during Lent and is brought to the Mass on Holy Thursday. Stations of the Cross: Saints Peter and Paul will offer Stations of the Cross each week at the following times: Thursdays in Spanish immediately following the 5:30 p.m. Mass Fridays in English at 6:00 p.m. Friday, March 3 rd First Friday Mass Stations - Friday, March 10 th, March 17 th, March 24 th, March 31 st. (We adore you O Christ and we praise you! Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world!) First Friday Mass: First Friday devotions among Catholics are related to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ. First Friday practices date to the last decades of the 17 th century, when Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and spoke to her of His Sacred Heart. Among the promises Our Lord revealed to St. Margaret Mary, the 12 th specifically referenced practices for Fridays: In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour. On Friday, March 3 rd we will be offering Mass at 6:00 p.m. rather than Stations of the Cross. Please come and join us and celebrate the Eucharistic. After Mass, we will move over to the gym for a Soup Supper. Soup Suppers: Want to help with Soup Suppers during Lent? They are scheduled for three Friday nights during

5 THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 6 Mon: Parish Council Mtg. 5:30 pm, OA Tues: Burning of Palm-9am Silver Streaks Depart 10:30 am, Heirloom Table Fat Tuesday Dinner-DaVinci s, 6:30 pm Wed: Rosary Makers-8:45 am, HFR Gym-Blood Drive, 3 pm-7 pm Choir Practice-6:30 pm Thur: Stations of The Cross (Spanish) 6:15 pm Women s Group-6:30 pm, OA RCIA-7 pm, Gym Fri: Education Counc.-Noon, OA Soup Supper-Gym, after Stations of the Cross Readings for the Week of February 26, 2017 Sunday: Is 49:14-15/Ps 62:2-3, 6-9/1 Cor 4:1-5/ Mt 6:24-34 Monday: Sir 17:20-24/Ps 32:1-2, 5-7/Mk 10:17-27 Tuesday: Sir 35:1-12/Ps 50:5-8, 14, 23/Mk 10:28-31 Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18/Ps 51:3-6ab, 12-14, 17/ 2 Cor 5:20--6:2/Mt 6:1-6, Thursday: Dt 30:15-20/Ps 1:1-4, 6/Lk 9:22-25 Friday: Is 58:1-9a/Ps 51:3-6ab, 18-19/Mt 9:14-15 Saturday: Is 58:9b-14/Ps 86:1-6/Lk 5:27-32 Next Sunday: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7/Ps 51:3-6, 12-13, 17/ Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19/Mt 4:1-11 Liturgical Publications Inc. Lent and take place immediately after we pray the Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m. This year s dates are: Fridays, March 3 rd, March 17 th and March 31 st. If you would like to help, call the parish office. FEBRUARY 26, 2017 EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Monday, February 27 8:00 AM BOB MARKO Tuesday, February 28 8:00 AM JOSEPH PARK & TERESA CHONG Wednesday, March 1 Ash Wednesday 8:00 AM ROCHELLE DICKERSON 12:05 PM FOR ALL PARISHIONERS 5:30 PM JEANE SOYARS 7:00 PM Spanish ELIZABETH BREMER Thursday, March 2 8:00 AM DINA MURRAY 5:30 PM Spanish JUANITA CAMPO LOPEZ Friday, March 3 8:00 AM EMMANUEL BATTAH 6:00 PM DEBBIE HARDEN Saturday, March 4 8:00 AM GASPERE AMARO 5:00 PM LEIGH ANN JOHNSON Sunday, February 26 First Sunday of Lent 8:00 AM GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR 10:30 AM TRI NGUYEN 2:00 PM Spanish FOR ALL PARISHIONERS 10:30 PM Spanish PABLO SORIANO Indicates Requiem Mass SANCTUARY LAMP Those Grieving The Loss Of a Loved One By The Nguyen s ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES Those Seeking the Sacraments of the Church at Easter 5 KC s Annual Lenten Fish Fries: Join the Monsignor James Willett Council #7847 of the Knights of Columbus for three Friday evenings during Lent for terrific food and fellowship March 10 th, March 24 th and April 7 th. Serving each night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with the menu including: Fried Catfish, Slaw, Hush Puppies, French Fries, Drink and Dessert. Stewardship News.. Stewards of the mysteries of God that s what St. Paul says we are in today s second reading. And the first requirement, he says, is that we be trustworthy. Entrusted with the gift of faith, do I share it as gratefully and as generously as I do my time, my talent, and my treasure? Budget News Weekly Parish Collection... $16, Weekly Parish Budget Needs... $17, Diocesan Assessment ($69,161.00) Collected In Full... $0 Weekly Capital Improvement Donations... $0 Capital Improvement Fund Balance... $16, Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pledge Payments... $1, Construction Loan-Borrowed from Diocese to date.$550, Stained Glass Window Donations... $10.00 Stained Glass Window Fund Balance... $414, St. Max Catholic Bookstore will be here at Saints Peter and Paul the weekend of March 18 th and 19 th after all Masses in the narthex. This would be a great time to get a spiritual book for Lent to read or items for Easter, First Communion, Confirmation and RCIA gifts. If you can be here at the church on Saturday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. to help Kelly unload her vehicle, please let Libby know. Parish Lenten Retreat: BE STILL Be still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10 Fellow parishioner, Michelle Carew-Bessette, will share various tools to assist in developing a practice of Contemplative Prayer. She will lead us in gentle body movement and breath awareness to relax the body and mind. She will offer and assist you in practicing Kenosis (self-emptying), Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina (meditative reading of scripture) and Taize Prayer (Christian chant). These "tools" will prepare your heart and spirit for silence and awareness of the Indwelling Presence of God's love. Our Lenten Retreat will be held on Saturday, March 18 th. We will begin with Mass at 8:00 a.m. and then move over to the gym for a light breakfast. The retreat will conclude with lunch at 12:00 - Noon. Cost is $15.00 per person. To register call Libby at (270) or her at ljdowns@stsppchurch.org. Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 15 th

6 6 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY In Need of Prayers Bradford Heights Rosalina Lopez, Pam Koob Covington Convalescent Marie Chandler, Pat Chesnut, Elizabeth Jones, Karen Logsdon, Teresa Mathieu Western State Nursing Facility- Arnold Borders, Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Friendship House- Christine Mills Others. Larry Alexander, Clarence & Helen Allard, Trudy Anhalt, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Andy Belland, Tammy Bellenger, Ron Benson, Garrett Blue, Norma Boyd, Helen Brown, Michael Burns, Scott Burnside, Kristen Cage, Francis Grace Cage, Alice Chuhralya, Richard Chuhralya, Sam Chesnut, Jimmy Cook, Pam Cox, Tommy Craft, Mary Curtsinger, Nevaeh Marie Davis, Angela Brockman DeAngelis, Wendy Doyon, Kandis Elia, Pat Esposito, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Gant Golladay, Jewel Claire Godot, Ron & Janice Godot, Scott & Stacey Godot, Jeff Goulet, Jim Gorman, Beth Hancock, Debbie Harden, Karyn Harden, Bonnie Harris, Bill Henney, Joy Moseley Housley, Carol Johnson, Anita Jones, Joe Kukral, Bob Labor, Larry Lytle, Helen Marshall, Rosie McCoy, Neil McGillivray, Lu Meacham, Margie Meredith, Carlo & Lucia Mereu, Joe Mezzoni, Sr., Theresa Mills, Eric Moran, Sandy Mueller, Bill Nichol, Dan Nicholson, Debbie Owens-Brown, Bobby Pawlawski, Juan Phillips, Nancy Polley, Judy Pound, Larry Puckett, Emily Pyle, Diana Quarles, Martha Reed, Bob & Cele Schade, Emma & Gabriela Schiller, Marianne Shaw, Kristian Shouse, Gina Simpson, MaryAnn Stahr, Mike & Marylyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Jerry Thomas, Rose Ann Tobin, Bev Todd, Hannelore Vanderklok, John Wells, Isaac Joseph Widener, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack Names will remain on list for 1 month. Now forming for Lent Small, Community Faith Groups Become inspired by the book Resisting Happiness. Explore materials of Bishop Robert Barron. Reflect and pray each day of the week. Take action in everyday life. As part of your Lent this year participate in one of the many small community groups now being formed. Sign-ups are currently taking place after all Sunday Masses. Don t miss this opportunity to prepare for the celebration of Jesus resurrection from the dead, deepen in faith, build new friendships, serve Christ and build-up the Kingdom of God. Weekly Food Donations: Again this year during the season of Lent, we will be targeting weekly food items that will be donated to the Aaron McNeil Center as they distribute food items to those in need in our community. The food item this week is peanut butter and jelly. All items can be placed in the barrel in the coat closet near the restrooms. Thank you so much for your generosity. LAY MINISTERS MARCH 4/5 EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers... Karenna Chaudoin, Carly Chaudoin Cross Bearer... Joey Chaudoin Commentator... Pam Sweet Lectors... Imelda Gorman, Dan Wilkinson Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Patty Goode,... Arsha Battah, Deana Holdman, Pam Carlton Choir Loft... Dana Nethery, JoAshley Hall Ushers... Todd Hall, Joe Mezzoni... Bill Chaudoin, Joe Chaudoin Vocational Cross... Jeff Goulet Family Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers... Harley France, Antha France Cross Bearer... Kylee Spurr Commentator... Diana France Lectors... Chuck Puckett, Heidi Wheeler Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Carolyn Spurr,... Libby Downs, Jim Creighton, Maria Creighton Choir Loft... Frank Raber, Tony Esposito Ushers... Chuck Spurr, Anthony France... Dick Dymek, Nic France Vocational Cross... Don Carrico Family Sunday 10:30 am Altar Servers... Roberto Nicanor, Jose Nicanor Cross Bearer... Estafany Nicanor Commentator... Michelle Sandheinrich Lectors... Russell Malone, Libby Downs Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Don McCowan,... Sue Wassmer, Cathy Smith, Jan Buckner Choir Loft... Nathan Tillman, Damian Sandheinrich Ushers... Chris Thomas, Pat Covington... Noah Thomas, Landry Thomas Vocational Cross... Ken Buckner Family Sunday 2:00 pm, Spanish Comentarista: Lupita Rosas 1-2 Lectura:...Evelia Ocampo y Sandra Torres Ministro E:.....Ana Ethridge, María Soriano Hospitalidad:...Erick Ginéz, Tomas Macario Monaguillos:..Michelle Salas, Irvin Juárez Silver Streaks: Our Silver Streaks next activity will be held on Tuesday, February 28 th. They will depart from Saints Peter and Paul Parking lot at 10:30 a.m. They will visit Heirloom Table downtown and then travel together to a nearby restaurant for lunch. If you need more information or want to join them, please let Julia Borders know by calling her at (270) You will enjoy this day for wherever the Silver Streaks go, fun follows. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action. Mother Teresa

7 FEBRUARY EIGHTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME Pastor s Greetings: February 2016, I spoke of our national situation of having millions of undocumented persons among us and the debate of all the issues surrounding the situation. To call the situation chaotic would be charitable. Some millions of persons and families live here, usually at peace among us, as families, neighbors, friends, and members of our churches and communities but without benefit of legal status. For us to be a constitutional republic at state and national levels and thus to have the rule of law with domestic tranquility requires the vast majority of people to have legal standing and, preferably, citizenship. We are the government, but the we must be known, accountable, and responsible. The goal from the outset of our national constitution has been to avoid the extremes of anarchy (with all its mob violence) and tyranny (with power concentrated in the few to the detriment of the many). The process of restoring the rule of law humanely, in a way worthy of us as a self-ruling people who espouse the values of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution will require us to uphold our moral and religious values, our critical thinking, our being as objectively informed as possible, and our involvement as responsible citizens. Here is what I said last February: A whole class of people, numbering in the millions, is being debated as punishable with wholesale removal. They are voiceless and without adequate recourse to due process of law, because they are among us in violation of immigration laws. But it is we ourselves who for years have been lawless. We have failed to govern immigration justly through our elected officials. We have failed the rule of law. We have allowed millions of undocumented people, whole families in the thousands, to be used and manipulated for economic and political purposes, even as they fled violence or sought liberty and a better life among us. Criminal motives also hide in the chaos. It still goes on unchecked. But we are more at fault than they if fault is to be assigned. The vast majority of them have been great blessings to us and to our communities. They have become family. No solution which fails to regard them with esteem for their human and family dignity or to discern the really innocent from the truly criminal is worthy of a free, self-governing people. We have made this shamble, this mess, by allowing an inhumane failure of the rule of law, but only by the rule of a humane law can we hope to redress the injustice of the present. Redress it we must if we are to uphold our shared human dignity and if we are to retain constitutional self-governance and the liberties of a free people. It is even more compelling if we hope to be true Christians, with rights and responsibilities recognized indeed by constitutional government but derived from God our Creator. From my understanding the vast majority of those living as families peaceably among us are not to be molested as their legal statuses are resolved. I am not aware, however, if that principle has been given any legal status or is anything more than something to be desired. I am certain that civility rather than mob action is more beneficial to a humane process of law. We citizens and our representatives in government are gravely derelict to have let those who have migrated among us in quest of our shared human goods to have done so at such jeopardy. Their safety and security through the rule of law and a just social order as well as that of the citizens is left ambiguous. All of us together are compelled by all that is right to establish just resolutions in compliance with constitutional self-rule. Secure borders and interior order serve domestic tranquility and allow the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. It is appropriate for us to communicate with our state and national representatives in the Kentucky General Assembly and in the US Congress, as well as with Governor Bevin and President Trump. For my part I will be sending this article to all of them and ask them to respond with respect to what they intend to do on behalf of us all, citizen and undocumented immigrant. May the Lord help us, for we are in this together. Fr. Richard Meredith The Rite of Sending and Election: Next weekend, we will celebrate the Rite of Sending at Mass for the men and women who have been preparing to join the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. During this brief ceremony, the parish community will affirm these individuals and send them to Bishop Medley for the Rite of Election at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro on this First Sunday of Lent. What is the Rite of Election? The Rite of Election is a celebration of God s call to each person who approaches the Easter sacraments. It is God who calls and chooses a people to be His own. The Church confirms and gives voice to this sacred reality for those seeking the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist through the initiation process. This rite stands out as an opportunity for the Christian community to name and affirm the work of God in its midst, as God forms a people for service to the mission of Christ. The Rite of Election is so important that the bishop presides over it. Election for the catechumen is the pivot of the whole initiation process. In the biblical tradition, the chosen people of Israel were marked to bear special witness to God s power, goodness and love. Today, the Christian community carries on this witness. The Rite of Election is an affirmation of the grace of God. The godparent and sponsor and their affirmation are of crucial importance. Without their testimony, the Church, in the person of the bishop, could not make this election. The election of the Church is based on the election of God, and the election of God is discerned by many who are involved in the formation of the catechumen. So, we ask for your continued prayer for those in our RCIA process. 7