Saints 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. Basilio Az Cuc, Parochial Vicar bazcuc@stsppchuch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz rcruz@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Schlueter tschlueter@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) PARISH FAX: (270) PARISH WEBSITE: DIOCESAN WEBSITE: VATICAN WEBSITE: PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM - 5 PM Monday Friday Closed Noon -1:00 pm, Monday-Friday SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) SCHOOL FAX: (270) SCHOOL WEBSITE: Tru h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio) Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish community are asked to inform us. 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 June 3, 2018 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

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.) 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: 2 am Mondays, 1 am and 4 am Wednesdays, 12 am (midnight), 3 am and 8 pm Saturdays. Need prayer partners Tuesdays 9am, Saturdays 8am and 9 pm Parish Pastoral Council Robin Bilan, Chair, Education......rcbilan@hotmail.com Jim Creighton, Administration..creighton.jim@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate.ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Norma Folz, Worship.. nbfolz@gmail.com Gary Harden, Assistant Chair, Family Life garyharden@gmail.com Hilda Linares, Social Concern linareshilda@hotmail.com Fran Marko, Secretary...franmarko@gmail.com Morgan Murray, Spiritual Life...morgan.c.murray.1@vanderbilt.edu Katie Wyatt, Principal...kwyatt@stsppschool.org 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 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 Dan Wilkinson(dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)...Parish Music Director Katie Wyatt (kwyatt@stsppschool.org)...school Principal 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 June 10, 2018 at 4:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office as registration is required. Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date. Applications: Saints Peter and Paul School is currently accepting applications for the School year. For more information call the school office at or stop by the school office. Donor Tree: The Donor Tree, located in the entrance of the school, has been created to recognize special people and occasions in our lives. It will provide a beautiful and lasting memory of your loved ones. For more information, contact Sarah Kranz at skranz311@bellsouth.net or pick up a brochure in the parish office. Outstanding Teacher of the Year: Nominate your favorite Catholic School Teacher to receive the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award through the Catholic Schools Office and Principals Association. Visit owensborodiocese.org/educator-award for an online nomination form and complete details. Deadline to submit a nomination is July 1, RESPECT LIFE Sister Agnes Walsh, a Daughter of Charity, is remembered for her heroism in France during World War II. In 1943, when France was occupied by German Nazis, the search for Jews began. In the face of grave peril, Sister Agnes convinced her mother superior to open their convent and offer refuge to a Jewish family. The sisters did the right, but very challenging, thing when many would have told them to take the easy way out. Most of us won't face the extreme circumstances these women faced, but we all have our own challenges. What do I do if my boss gives me a task I believe is wrong? How do I make ethical decisions about medical treatment in times of serious illness? In the life of following Jesus Christ, both great heroes and ordinary saints alike need the same thing: a wellformed conscience. - USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

3 JUNE 3, 2018 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 3 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi ) originated in France in 1246 and extended to the entire Church by Pope Urban IV in This Feast is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and is a Holy Day of Obligation. In the United States, this Feast is celebrated one week after Trinity Sunday. (Every Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation.) The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ calls us to focus on two manifestations of the Body of Christ: the Holy Eucharist and the Church, as the Body of Christ. At every Mass our attention is called to the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ in it. The secondary focus of this feast is upon the Body of Christ as it is presence in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion that Jesus shares with his disciples. He expresses this in the Gospels by using the metaphor of a body in which He is the head. This image helps keep in focus both the unity and the diversity of the Church. St. Thomas Aquinas composed the official prayers for this Feast day at the request of Pope Urban IV. These prayers are considered among the most beautiful in the traditional Roman Breviary (the official prayer book of the Divine Office). This is also the source of two of our most beloved Eucharistic hymns: Pange Lingua Gloriosi and Tantum Ergo Sacramentum. High School Graduates: Our High School Graduates pose for a group picture after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 27 th as we honor this achievement in their lives. Front Row: Zach Hale, Taelor Duncan, Mitchell Degenhardt, Zoe Brayboy and Gabe Johnson: Second Row: Emma Sunderhaus, Cor lissia Cunningham and Alex Allard and Third Row: Ivan Viall. A luncheon for these graduates and their families continued in Meredith Hall. We give thanks to those who helped with this luncheon and decorating for it. These include: Helen Brown, Pam Carlton, Jim and Maria Creighton, Deana Holdman, Angie Phillips, Sherry Viall and Libby. Thank you Christe Westfall for your example and dedication for teaching for twenty-eight years for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School. What a mark you have left on our school and in the lives of the many students you have had in your classroom! On Saturday evening, May 26 th at the 5:00 p.m. Mass, Fr. Richard presented to Christe an Apostolic Blessing from our Holy Father as well as the presence of past and present teachers and principals. We thank former principals : Mary Ann Keel, Pat Johnson, Sarah Kranz and our present principal, Katie Wyatt. Teachers present include: Mary Lee, Rochelle Dickerson, Stephanie Blankenberger, Thomas Gibson, Lynn Hensley. We also are grateful to those who provided items for the reception: Fran Marko, Pat Puckett, Karen Thomas, Pam Sweet, Bobbi Goulet, JoAshley Hall, Vicky Barnes, Jennifer Groves and Libby Downs. Birthday: Shh Mums the Word! We have two parishioners who will be celebrating significant birthdays on Tuesday, June 5 th. Gertrude Flood will be celebrating her 98 th birthday and Lillian Cotthoff will be celebrating her 92 nd birthday. Don t forget to tell them Happy Birthday! If you would like to send them birthday cards their addresses are: Gertrude Flood, 234 Oxford Street, Hopkinsville, KY Lillian Cotthoff, 3249 Circle Drive, Hopkinsville, KY Card Received: We wanted to share this letter we received with you all. Dear Saints Peter and Paul, As anyone can tell by looking at me, I ve been blessed abundantly. After being born in Michigan 90 years ago, then, after marriage moving to New Jersey and then Maryland while raising our 8 children, who would have guessed that Hopkinsville, Kentucky would be the place where I d find Heaven on Earth. I ve lived here nearly 43 years, and the friends (known and unknown) that I ve made at Sts. Peter & Paul Church are dear to my heart. I am so grateful for all the lovely birthday cards I received, and the personal messages made them all the more special. My gratitude is boundless. Imelda Gorman Congratulations: Our parishioner, Linda West, wanted to share with us that her granddaughter, Kaya Dickerson-Wyatt, is an honor graduate from Hopkinsville High School. She graduated on Friday, May 25 th and will be attending the University of Kentucky (Continued on page 4)

4 4 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY this fall majoring in Pre-Pharmacy. She received the William C. Parker and Provost Scholarship from the University of Kentucky. Congratulations Kaya. Father s Day Cards: Next Sunday is Father s Day! Have you sent your Dad a Father s Day Spiritual Bouquet Mass Card? There are cards still available on the tables in the narthex. Remember the packets include one card and envelope to be sent to your father, while the second envelope contained in this packet needs to be completed and brought to the church. Please include your loved one s name and your name and address. These cards are placed in the lamb below the altar and at each Mass their intentions are remembered. First Communion Pictures: If your child received their First Holy Communion this past April, their certificates and pictures are available to be picked up after all Masses in the sacristy. The pictures are precious! Confirmation Pictures: If your young person received the Sacrament of Confirmation this past May, their certificates and pictures are available to the picked up after all Masses in the sacristy. Ministers of Holy Communion Needed: Have you ever considered serving your parish and your fellow parishioners as a Eucharistic Minister? Serving as a Ministers of Holy Communion is an amazing and humbling experience. A training session will be held on Tuesday, June 12th at Noon, in the Church. Eucharistic Ministers must be Confirmed and in good standing of the Catholic Church (free of all canonical impediments). If you feel you may be interested or need more information see Libby. We welcome new Ministers of Holy Communion for any Mass, but there is a special need for Eucharistic Ministers for the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Holy Matrimony: We congratulate Hizareth Linares and Gantulga Gana Bayarmaa who were united in the Sacrament of Matrimony here at Saints Peter and Paul on Saturday, May 19 th. May Christ be the center of their married life. June Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus On Friday, June 8 th the Catholic Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Solemnity is celebrated every year on the Friday after the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This devotion has a life outside of the liturgy as well: the nine Fridays and the twelve promises made by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque are still familiar to many Catholics. On repeated occasions, Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, and during these apparitions He explained to her the devotion to His Sacred Heart as He wanted people to practice it. He asked to be honored in the symbol of His Heart of flesh, for acts of reparation, for frequent Communion, Communion on the First Friday of the month, and the keeping of the Holy Hour. On Friday, June 8 th, here at Saints Peter and Paul, we will be offering Mass on this Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to come and honor the Sacred Heart the compassion and love of Christ. To learn more go to Saints Peter and Paul Parish Assistance Bake Sale: Just what you have been waiting for!!! The Saints Peter and Paul Parish Assistance Ministry is sponsoring a bake sale after all Masses the weekend, June 23 rd and 24 th. Anyone wishing to donate baked items can drop them off before Mass on either Saturday evening or Sunday morning. Thank you for your support and don t forget to stop by and pick up a dessert for Sunday s dinner. Vacation: Please remember that, when going on vacation, the obligation to be in Church for Mass remains. Locating a Catholic Church and becoming familiar with its schedule is just as important as all the other preparations that go into a trip that takes us out of town. God first! Check out the website to help you locate a church for your vacation destination.) Adorers, remember to alert your Hourly Captain and Bill and Jenny Rush of when you will be away for vacation and who is covering your Holy Hour. This way, if we have weather issues, we know who to contact if we need to suspend adoration. You can them at rush3004@bellsouth.net. Don t leave our Lord unattended. Vatican News Canonization: Pope Francis has chosen the date for the ceremony that will see the Catholic Church officially recognize the sainthood of Pope Paul VI and Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who was martyred as he was celebrating Mass. They will be canonized on October 14, 2018 in Rome. On Saturday, May 19 th, the announcement was made (Continued on page 5)

5 JUNE 3, 2018 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH JUNE 3-10 Sun: Parish Holy Hour-4 pm Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Priesthood- Fr. Meredith, following 4 pm Holy Hour-MH Wed: Rosary Makers-8:45 am, HFR Choir Practice: Spanish, 5 pm-english, 6:30 pm Thu: Fri: Sun: Readings for the Week of June 3, 2018 Sunday: Ex 24:3-8/Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18/ Heb 9:11-15/Mk 14:12-16, Monday: 2 Pt 1:2-7/Ps 91:1-2, 14-15b, 15c-16/ Mk 12:1-12 Tuesday: 2 Pt 3:12-15a, 17-18/Ps 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 Wednesday: Women s Group6:30 pm, OA Summer Craft Day for Children 9am, Gym Education Council-11:30 am, OA Worship Comm-12:30 pm, OA Mass-Sacred Heart of Jesus-6 pm Parish Holy Hour-4 pm Baptism Class-4 pm, HFR and 16 /Mk 12: Tm 1: /Ps 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef/ Mk 12:18-27 Thursday: 2 Tm 2:8-15/Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14/ Mk 12:28-34 Friday: Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6/Eph 3:8-12, 14-19/Jn 19:31-37 Saturday: 2 Tm 4:1-8/Ps 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22 / Lk 2:41-51 Liturgical Publications Inc Monday, June 4 8:00 AM CHARLES & MARY ANN KEEL Tuesday, June 5 St. Boniface 8:00 AM OPAL HORTON Wednesday, June 6 St. Norbert 8:00 AM EMMANUEL BATTAH 5:30 PM MARY ANNE WALDRON Thursday, June 7 8:00 AM CHRISTY SOLDO 5:30 PM DAN & CHARLES WILSON Friday, June 8 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 8:00 AM MARY CECIL DAVIS 6:00 PM MARY DEAN Saturday, June 9 The Immaculate Heart of The Blessed Virgin Mary 8:00 AM SCOTT BURNSIDE 5:00 PM HELEN BERNICE JORDAN 5:00 PM BOB & FRAN MARKO Sunday, June 10 Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR 8:00 AM FRED GARNETT 10:30 AM BETH CHILDERS 10:30 AM LIBBY DOWNS 2:00 PM Spanish FOR ALL PARISHIONERS 2:00 PM Spanish BARBARA DOWNS 10:30 PM Spanish ANA LOPEZ 5 during an ordinary public consistory, meaning a meeting of the pope, cardinals and the promoters of sainthood causes. The sainthood causes of four other people two Italian priests and two women founders of religious orders, one German and one Spanish, were also approved on Saturday. This summer, maybe your prayer group, your Bible study group might consider learning more about these two Holy men. Know that we do have a video entitled Oscar Romero in the parish office if you would like to borrow to show. (Please, this movie is not made for children as there is much violence and injustice.) Weeping Virgin Mary: Have you been following this story taking place in Hobbs, New Mexico? The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces New Mexico is investigating reports that a bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at a southeastern New Mexico church is weeping. The Hobbs News-Sun reports the investigation comes after alleged witness accounts of tears coming down the eyes of a bronze statue. The first occurrence was during the noon Mass earlier this month and then again last week. Visitors from throughout New Mexico and Texas flocked to Hobbs for a visit. Indicates Requiem Mass SANCTUARY LAMP In Honor of Father Richard Meredith ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES In Thanksgiving for Father Richard s 40 years of Priestly Service Budget News May 27, 2018 Envelopes Used: $6, Online Donations/EFT Participants : $ Loose Collection... $3, Total Weekly Parish Collection... $9, Weekly Parish Budget Needs... $17, Diocesan Assessment 17/18(Due $63,662) Pd.. $30, Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pldg. Payments... $1, A Legacy of Faith Fund Participants: A Legacy of Faith Fund Balance... $6, Monthly Payment due on the 15th-$35, Summer vacation time is upon us! Please don't let your donations to the church take a vacation as well. Have you tried donating online yet? Click the "Donate Now" button on our website, to make a onetime donation or set up recurring donations from your bank account or credit card.

6 6 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY In Need of Prayers Bradford Heights Melnora Altshuler, Carriage Way Assisted Living- Eleanor Rogers, Albert Weakly Covington Convalescent Pat Chesnut, Karen Logsdon, Western State Nursing Facility- Arnold Borders, Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Ruth Britt, Alice Chuhralya, Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Friendship House- Christine Mills Others.. Vonnie Adams, Clarence & Helen Allard, Kara Alsup, Betty Aberle, Fred Anderson, Trudy Anhalt, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Diane Bailey, Jean Baker, Norma Boyd, Madison Boren, Helen Brown, Sam Chesnut, Michele Clark, Cipriana Cuc, Ken & Peggy Cunningham, Hugh Davenport, Carol DePalma, Christy Doepel, Donna Dunham, Franki Durbin, Tony Esposito, Jason Fanning, Glenn Finch, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Nancy Gilkey, Caiti Louanne Godot, Jim Gorman, Mike Grabner, Beth Hancock, Hannah Isom, Jenna Jones, Doug Kahre, Joe Kukral, Carl Kupke, Buzz Langhi, Patricia Leamy, Christopher Lytle, Larry & Cathy Lytle, James McGillivray, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Eric Moran, Mason Nickles, Bill Nichol, Gabriella Olivera, Cecelia Omundson, Theresa Pazin, Ann Perry, Oliver Ponder, Emily Thomas Pyle, Zoe Raber, Martha Reed, Nell Ritzheimer, Faith Saupe, Emma & Gabriela Schiller, Kristian Shouse, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Jerry & Bernie Thomas, Carolyn Thorpe, Rose Ann Tobin, Erin Valenti, Wilma Villinger, Gary Williams, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack. Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families Thomas Borders, Jeremy Chuhralya, Jeremy Crawford, Trey Johnston, John O Conner, Dom Pifko and Tiffany Sellers Parish Council: We give thanks to Robin Bilan and Jim Creighton who will be leaving our Parish Pastoral Council at the end of this month as they have completed their three year terms. So we thank Robin and Jim for their service to our parish. We welcome Mike Hughson and Dee Dailey who will be joining the Parish Pastoral Council as of July 1 st. We welcome and thank them for their commitment and example of stewardship here at Saints Peter and Paul. If for some reason someone on the council cannot complete their term the alternate Parish Pastoral Council representatives are as follows in order: Vicky Barnes, Jan Buckner and Carolyn Spurr. Studying Abroad in Europe: Emily Pape, daughter of Mike and Shannon Pape is studying abroad in Spain. Emily is a former student of St. Peter and Paul and UHA and is currently a student at the Murray State University with a double major of Spanish and Theatre. Emily will be taking four classes to finish her Spanish major. She left on Tuesday, May 29 th for Madrid and then will study in Segovia for June and July. In August she will do some traveling including a couple weeks in Paris with family friends. Let us keep Emily and her family in our prayers while she is away. What a wonderful opportunity. LAY MINISTERS JUNE 9/10 TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers... Susanna Sargeant, Ellie Groves Cross Bearer... Josh Groves Commentator... Will Groves Lectors... Jennifer Groves, Jane Irwin Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Pam Sweet,... Patty Goode, Regina Combs, Earl Combs Choir Loft... Tim Nosbusch, Dana Nethery Ushers....Julie Tiell, Ken Tiell... Pat Puckett, Bobbie Goulet Vocational Cross... Alice Hester Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers... Ashleigh Stevens, Patrick Stevens Cross Bearer... Cole Stevens Commentator... Diana France Lectors:... Chuck Puckett, Ann Williams Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Carolyn Spurr,... Jenny Rush, Lori Gardner, Libby Downs Choir Loft... Frank Raber, Dan Gardner Ushers... Chuck Spurr, Anthony France... Dennis Folz, David Folz Vocational Cross... Chuck Spurr Family Sunday, 10:30 am Altar Servers... Ruben Quiñonez, Gage Kessler Cross Bearer... Anna Allard Commentator... Imelda Gorman Lectors:... Dee Dailey, Alex Allard Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Wendy Anderson,...Rossella Cincotti, Donna Dunham, Deana Holdman Choir Loft... Sarah Covington, Theresa Garnett Ushers... Billy Garnett, James Long... Franco Cincotti, John Soldo Vocational Cross... Fred Anderson Family Domingo, 2:00 pm Comentarista:... Carla Arangure 1-2 Lectura:... Carmen Huerta, Trinidad Soriano Ministro E:... Roberto Cruz, Trinidad Soriano Hospitalidad:... Tomás Macario, Víctor Hernández Monaguillos:... Michelle Salas, Alondra Hernández Parish Office Summer Hours: Please be aware that during the summer months (when school is not in session) the parish office hours will be: Monday thru Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch from 12:00 1:00 p.m.) Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00-Noon. These hours are in effect thru Friday, August 3 rd Picnic Schedule June 9 St. Pius Tenth- 4 PM June 15 Our Lady of Lourdes 3 PM June 30 St. Mary Magdalene 4 PM July 14 St. Alphonsus- 4 PM July 21 St. Peter of Alcantara 4 PM Aug. 4 Blessed Sacrament 12-3:30 PM Aug. 7 St. Martin- (Drive through only) 4 PM

7 JUNE 3, 2018 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 7 Pastor s Greetings: THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST I was ordained to the ministerial priesthood at Saint Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro, on Saturday, June 3, My first Sunday as a priest was in ordinary time (green vestments). Corpus Christi was the preceding Sunday that year. My first time to preside at a Sunday Mass was forty years ago today at St. Joseph Church, Leitchfield, June 4, It was a joy to preside that day and has been ever since, largely because it was not about me. The focus was and is all on Jesus. Then and now, to be a priest at Mass is to disappear into the liturgy so that the Lord may be present to his people. A bit later it dawned on me that at Mass my role is something like that of the best man at a wedding. I serve at Mass so that the Groom and the Bride may meet in their covenant. It is actually similar to my role as a minister at a wedding. So enough about me; I want to reflect on our meeting the Lord Jesus Christ today in his nuptial gift of himself. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus et Sanguinis Christi) is a return to the Holy Thursday evening of the Paschal Triduum from the perspective of Easter and Pentecost. We return to the table of the Lord which offers us a participation in the Paschal sacrifice of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Assembling for the Mass, we bring ourselves as oblations to become part of Christ s own oblation to the Father. He gives us a participation, a communion, in himself and takes us in himself to the Father. Christ and the Father together unite us in the very life of God by pouring out the Holy Spirit into our hearts. This sets us up for a Christian life: a one Body union in Christ and a vital sharing in the Holy Spirit of God. God draws us into the Trinity even now, leading us step by step to eternal life. The deepest motive for our coming to the Eucharist is our being drawn or summoned to Jesus Christ by the Father. The attitude of a Catholic going to Mass is that of a disciple of Jesus being summoned to God. We bring ourselves to Sunday Mass so that Jesus Christ will convey us through his own prayer and sacrifice to the Father in himself as he surrendered himself once and for all on Calvary. Daily life in Christ is that way too. I give my day to and present myself before God in Christ. My prayer is, Here I am. Equip me and send me as you wish. In that attitude then I am open to accepting the moment by moment gifts of the Holy Spirit as a fruitful branch on the Vine who is Jesus Christ. One who loves acts on behalf of the good and the truth of the beloved. Love is not self-seeking. It is true that we are needy, dependent people. As Jesus says, the Father knows what we need even before we pray asking for God s help. The Lord s instruction is that we should seek God s Kingdom first and that our needs will then be met by God. It is necessary that we confront the motive of seeking to have our needs met first. If I have come to Mass to have my needs met I may not be seeking God s Kingdom first and will likely miss the gift and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Selfseeking, since it is the opposite of love, is also the opposite of worship. Going to church primarily to meet my own needs would be like using God as a vendor of my personal happiness. So, although I am in need, I come to give myself to God. No human being likes to be used and most rebel against it. But when a human being is loved, she or he tends to respond by spontaneous return-giving in love. There are some similarities here with God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit do indeed offer the gift of themselves to us. God is, after all, love. But God s gift would draw each of us out of self rather than fill the list of our self -determined needs. It is only in giving of ourselves after the example of God, such as we see modeled in Jesus, that we are even open to the gifts God has in store for us. Here s the paradox: in order to receive any new gift from God it is necessary to present ourselves as gifts to God after the example and measure of Jesus Christ. If I am bereft, empty, poor, and wretched, I give or present myself bereft, empty, poor, and wretched to God in Christ and I am able to receive the gift of God within. It is how I begin to seek the Kingdom of God. If you notice, this is the very language of the prayers of the Mass. Listen for the word oblation. It refers to the Lord s self-sacrifice and to ours in him. The Catholic comes to Mass as a gift or oblation to God in Christ. From Communion in faith, word, and sacrament, the Catholic Christian becomes both gift from God and gifted by God. I grant that you and I are beggarly gifts of ourselves and our needs are great to the extreme. Those needs go unmet except you and I offer our paltry selves, needs, sins, and weaknesses to God as we are in Christ. Then in Christ, the Father accepts us and equips us for life in Christ. I see all that I am and do as a response and gift to God in Christ. I am grateful for all that God has entrusted to me in Christ, all of which I gratefully return to God in Christ at Mass. This distinguishes two attitudes: For me and For Christ. Jesus himself taught that whoever seeks self first will lose everything, but the one who seeks Christ or God s Kingdom first will find everything. The one who loves is fulfilled as the indirect, not as the direct, object of the love. The risen Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is the real pledge of God s faithful love, whole now and to be completed eternally. Fr. Richard SUMMER TIME CRAFT DAY Friday, June 8, :00 a.m. to 12:00 - Noon Saints Peter and Paul Gym Open to all children Preschool through 5 th Grade Fun Activities for all Kids Lunch Served - 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP to Libby by Monday, June 4, 2018 at or at ljdowns@stsppchurch.org.