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. Last Year s First Holy Communion Class 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 April 29, 2018 Fifth Sunday of Easter

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 and 8 pm Mondays, Wednesday 1 am and 12 am and 3 am Saturdays. Need prayer partners Tuesdays 9am, 8am and 9 pm Saturdays 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 May 6, 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. Supporting your parish has never been easier. Sign up for EFT from Checking or Savings to fulfill your offertory or pledge commitment. Regular Collection Legacy Building Fund Pledge Stained Glass Window Fund AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL FROM CHECKING OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT I authorize Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church to process entries from my checking or savings as noted below. This authority will remain in effect until I give reasonable notification to terminate this authorization. Name Address City/State/Zip Daytime Phone Type of Account: (Circle One) Checking Account attach a voided check Savings Account attach savings deposit slip Starting Date: Continue envelopes? (circle) Yes No Enter the amount to be deducted from your Checking or Savings account: $ Semimonthly (Transferred on the 1 st and 15 th ) $ Monthly (The 1 st or 15 th )(Circle One) Signature Date

3 APRIL 29, 2018 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 3 First Holy Communion Sunday: This Sunday is a very important day in the lives of our students who have been preparing for the sacrament of First Holy Communion. There is a special 4:00 p.m. First Holy Communion Mass where they will receive the Body and Blood of Jesus for the first time with their family and friends. We wish to congratulate them and their families: May their joy and excitement lead all of us to a greater appreciation and enthusiasm for the wonderful gift that is ours in the Holy Eucharist. We give thanks to all those involved in helping these children learn more about Christ and His presence in the Body and Blood of Christ. First Holy Communion Children Include Matthew Baker, Jr. Xander Bashor Eli Craig Barrett Davis Fernando Ginez Rojas Charles Graves Emma Groves Nathalie Hernandez Colin Emerson Lewis Vickey Lopez Courtney Scott Madison Wyatt Isabella-Rose Jn Baptiste Valerie Bautista Karianis Diaz Rodriguez Nicholas Eastman Ozzy Goodin Georgia Gray Erick Hernandez-Colin Alayna King Gloria Lopez Trieu (Martin) Nguyen Peyton Tilley Katrina Yingling Prayer for First Communion Children Dear Lord: We ask You to bless our First Communicants who will receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, April 29 th. May You fill them with Your Grace and inspire them to imitate the saints in a time when their Catholic spirit is strongly needed in the world. May they be protected by Our Blessed Mother and be surrounded by legions of angels as they journey in their faith. Amen Sympathy: We offer our prayers to Laura and Dennis Folz at the death of Laura s dad, Larry Wayne Meacham who passed away on Monday, April 23 rd at the age of 70. Larry was a native of Chestnut, Illinois born on June 7, 1947, son of the late Hubert Rizo and Mary Fields Meacham. He was a farmer and a member of New Ebenezer Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Meacham, one son, James Walter (Allison) Meacham, one daughter, Laura Meacham (Dennis) Folz, one brother, Lonnie (Phyllis) Meacham, two sisters, Martha Meacham (William) Groves and Helen Meacham (Gene) Knight, 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild. His funeral service was held on Thursday, April 27 th at New Ebenezer Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. As a parish we also pray for our parishioner Maureen Langhi who passed away on Monday evening, April 23 rd at Vanderbilt Medical Center. We pray for Hector Buzz Langhi, her husband of 57 years. We pray for their children, John, Joe and Kathleen. A Memorial Mass was held on Friday, April 27 th here at Saints Peter ad Paul. At the time of the bulletin deadline, obituary information was not available. See the bulletin insert for more information. As a parish we offer our prayers to these families as we pray May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Thank You: We give thanks to all those who attended the Diocesan Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal Prayer Service led by Bishop Medley here at Saints Peter and Paul. We also give thanks to those who brought goodies for the reception that was held after the prayer service. May you be richly blessed. Upcoming Special Collections: This weekend, April 28 th and 29 th there is a Special Collection envelope in your packet for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. This appeal helps not only the Diocese of Owensboro but other mission dioceses throughout the country. Catholic Home Missions provides funding to the Archdiocese of the Military, so that our servicemen and women have the comfort of their faith away from home. Please be as generous as you can. Parish Council Election: The weekend of May 5 th and 6 th and 12 th and May 13 th all parishioners, 18 years of age and older, will have the opportunity to nominate one person to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council. As a courtesy, please ask the person you would like to nominate prior to placing their name on the ballot. There are two positions that will become available as of July 1 as Robin Bilan and Jim Creighton will rotate off. Positions on the Pastoral Council involve a 3-year term; thus every year, two members rotate off and two new members rotate on. After contacting all those who have been nominated, the names will be included in the bulletin. It is important to know that those nominated will be expected to: have a spirit of willingness to serve their parish faithfully and follow the guidelines given to us by our Diocese (Diocesan booklet will be provided). The first meeting of the Council is a retreat gathering in July where the state of the parish is discussed and outlined. Attendance is expected. During the weekend of May 26 th and 27 th (Memorial Day Weekend), the names of those nominated will be placed in two baskets -- one for men and one for women. Through prayer and the Holy Spirit, two names will be pulled. Their role as Pastoral Council Members will begin July 1, 2018.

4 4 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY Spiritual Adoption It has been one month March 25 th since The Annunciation of our Lord, the day the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would be the mother of Our Lord. Each of us here at Saints Peter and Paul Parish were given an opportunity to Spiritually Adopt a child at risk to be born. How is it going? Did you name your baby? Are you praying every day for this child? April Month One Developing Baby - Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active over the past month. Already your baby is 10,000 times bigger than at conception. Your baby has developed the foundations of her brain, spinal cord and nervous system by the 20 th day. Her heart began to beat on the 21 st day, pumping blood through its own circulatory system and the blood type can be different from her mother s. Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month of being aborted. Pray that the Lord of Life might move the heart of her mother to give her the most precious gift of all the gift of life. College Students: A number of our college students are in the midst of final papers and projects due as well as their upcoming final exams. Let us keep them in our prayers this week. High School Graduation Mass: We will honor our high school graduates here at Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday, May 27 th during our 10:30 a.m. Mass. We ask all graduates to gather Sunday, May 6 th after the 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Bishop s Room to plan for this Mass. The 2018 Graduates include the following: Alex Allard, Matt Berghammer, Maddy Craft, Cor lissia Cunningham, Mitchell Degenhardt, Olivia Folz, Zach Hale, Taylor Harton, Norma Jeronimo, Gabriel Johnson, Andrew King, Kolbe Langhi, Ariana Martinez, Emma Sunderhaus, and Ivan Viall If you have a high school graduate and his or her name does not appear on the list above, please let Libby know. Chattanooga on Saturday, May 5 th with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Integrated Studies. We pray God s blessing upon Mallory and the adventures he has in store for her. An Illustrated Guide to the Paschal Candle Why do we have that tall candle at the front during the Easter Season Congratulations Sarah Covington: We congratulate Sarah Covington, daughter of Pat and Lisa Covington and granddaughter of Bette Covington. Sarah received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy on Friday, April 20 th from the University of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Florida. For your information, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is a graduate institution that emphasizes health science education. It has campuses in San Marcos, California, St. Augustine, Florida, Miami, Florida and Austin, Texas. Sarah serves Saints Peter and Paul as a Minister of Holy Communion during Mass and we welcome her home. Congratulations Mallory Burman: We congratulate Mallory Meili Burman, daughter of Mike and Lisa Burman who will graduate from the University of Tennessee at

5 THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH APRIL 30-MAY 6 Mon: Parish Council- 6 pm, OA Tues: Hispanic Comm.- 6pm, OA Wed: Rosary Makers-8:45 am, HFR MS/HS Youth-5:30 pm Choir Practice: Spanish, 5 pm-english, 6:30 pm Thu: Women s Group 6:30 pm, OA RCIA-7 pm, MH Sat: Sun: Readings for the Week of April 29, 2018 Sunday: Acts 9:26-31/Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32/ 1 Jn 3:18-24/Jn 15:1-8 Monday: Acts 14:5-18/Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, / Jn 14:21-26 Tuesday: Acts 14:19-28/Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21/ Jn 14:27-31a Wednesday: Spring Recital 7 pm, Church Baptism Prep Class-4 pm, OA Parish Holy Hour-4 pm Acts 15:1-6/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5/ Jn 15:1-8 Thursday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 /Jn 14:6-14 Friday: Acts 15:22-31/Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12/ Jn 15:12-17 Saturday: Acts 16:1-10/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5/Jn 15:18-21 Liturgical Publications Inc 40 th Anniversary of the Priesthood: Fr. Richard will be celebrating his 40 th Anniversary of Priestly Service to the Diocese of Owensboro on Sunday, June 3 rd. We will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a Holy Hour with Vesper Prayers and Benediction with a meal to follow in Meredith Hall. Please place this date Sunday, June 3 rd - on your calendar and plan to join us. Know that a good number of people came to a planning meeting this week as we planned what this very special day will look like. Watch for more information in the bulletin next week. RCIA: RCIA continues this Thursday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in Meredith Hall. We have reached the 4 th period of the RCIA process, which is the stage of Mystagogy. This is a time for deepening the Christian experience, especially in appreciation for the sacramental life, for spiritual growth, and for entering more fully into the life and unity of the Catholic community. Our newly initiated members now share with Christ and His Body in the parish community, the intimate communion of the Eucharist. We, as a parish community, pledge our prayerful support and promise to help them grow and mature in the Catholic way of life. Sacrament of Matrimony: As a parish, we congratulate Deyse Milagro Garcia Perez and Ricardo Ernesto Alvarado who celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony here at Saints Peter and Paul last Saturday, April 21, May you know of our prayers for you as you begin your life as a married couple walking daily with Christ. APRIL 29, 2018 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Monday, April 30 Sts. Pius, Pope 8:00 AM PAT ESPOSITO Tuesday, May 1 St. Joseph the Worker 8:00 AM PEGGY KEMP Wednesday, May 2 St. Athanasius 8:00 AM SCOTT BURNSIDE 5:30 PM DAN GARDNER Thursday, May 3 Sts. Philip & James 8:00 AM KITTY & JIMMY O SULLIVAN 5:30 PM RENSO BRESOLIN Friday, May 4 8:00 AM STEVE CARLTON Saturday, May 5 8:00 AM LIBBY DOWNS 5:00 PM STEVEN & IRENE RINDOS Sunday, May 6 Fifth Sunday of Easter 8:00 AM SANDY MUELLER 10:30 AM BETH & PHILIP TILLMAN 2:00 PM Spanish ROSA CHAVEZ 10:30 PM Spanish FOR ALL PARISHIONERS Indicates Requiem Mass SANCTUARY LAMP In Memory of Marie Chandler ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES In Memory of Steve Carlton Stewardship Thoughts.. In today s Gospel, Jesus says that God is glorified when a disciple, grafted in Christ, produces abundantly and bears much fruit. The disciple must then be a good steward of that abundance. Budget News April 22 Envelopes Used: $7, Online Donations/EFT Participants : $ Loose Collection... $2, Total Weekly Parish Collection... $10, Weekly Parish Budget Needs... $17, Diocesan Assessment 17/18(Due $63,662) Pd.. $27, Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pldg. Payments... $9, A Legacy of Faith Fund Balance... $11, Monthly Payment due on the 15th-$35, Making donations online is easy and convenient: visit our webpage at and click on "Donate Now." With Easter Joy we are continuing our Weekly Food Donations to the Aaron McNeil Center. This week s food item is Canned green peas. All items can be placed in the barrel in the coat closet near the restrooms. Thank you so much for your generosity. 5

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, Christy Doepel, Donna Dunham, Franki Durbin, Tony Esposito, Jason Fanning, Glenn Finch, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Nancy Gilkey, Jim Gorman, Mike Grabner, Beth Hancock, Mary Jean Hester, Hannah Isom,, Doug Kahre, Joe Kukral, Carl Kupke, Buzz Langhi, Patricia Leamy, Christopher Lytle, Larry & Cathy Lytle, Mann & Adkins Families, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Eric Moran, Mason Nickles, Bill Nichol, Cecelia Omundson, Theresa Pazin, Oliver Ponder, Emily Thomas Pyle, Martha Reed, Faith Saupe, Emma & Gabriela Schiller, Kristian Shouse, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Jerry & Bernie Thomas, Carolyn Thorpe, Rose Ann Tobin, Erin Valenti, Gary Williams, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack. Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families Thomas Borders, Jeremy Chuhralya and Dom Piffko, Tiffany Sellers PSR (Parish School of Religion) Pre-School thru 5 th Grade: Our Religious Education program will not be held this Sunday, April 29 th as we celebrate First Communion Sunday. Our last class for the year will be held next Sunday, May 6th beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the School Building. April/May Schedule : April 29 No Class-First Communion May 6 th Last Class/Closing Celebration Youth Ministry Our Middle School and High School Youth classes continue this Wednesday, May 2 nd with Mass at 5:30 p.m., continue with dinner and class. Our program concludes at 8:00 p.m. May Schedule: May 2 Class May 16 Class May 9 Class- Confirmation Students Reminder: April is the time each Confirmation student has their interview with one of our priests. Students, if you have not made your appointment, please do so. Important Dates Confirmation Rehearsal: Wednesday, May 9 th at 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Celebration: Sunday, May 13 th at 4:00 p.m. LAY MINISTERS MAY 5/6 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers...Susanna Sargeant, Lena Jo Davis Cross Bearer... Ellie Groves Commentator... Mary Moehlman Lectors:... Donna Pfeufer, Mike Stocker Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Sandy Doyon,... Mary Ann Keel, Arsha Battah, Fran Marko Choir Loft... Tony Esposito, JoAshley Hall Ushers... Bob Marko, Gene Doyon... Todd Hall, Ivan Viall Vocational Cross... Pat Johnson Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers...Kylee Spurr, Eli Folz Cross Bearer... Triston Folz Commentator... Stephanie Blankenberger Lectors:... Ann Williams, Heidi Wheeler Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:...Jenny Rush,... Terri Means, Tom Folz, Julie Folz Choir Loft... Dan Gardner, Lori Gardner Ushers... Bill Rush, David Cotthoff... Rocky Spader, Dillon Folz Vocational Cross... Georgiann Svestka Sunday, 10:30 am Altar Servers... Ruben Quinonez, Anna Allard Cross Bearer... Peter Sunderhaus Commentator... Sue Wassmer Lectors:... Vicky Barnes, Imelda Gorman Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Wendy Anderson,... Libby Downs, Don McCowan, Kelly King Choir Loft... Deana Holdman, Vicky Lucky Ushers... Billy Garnett, Bruce Wilcox... Jerry Adams, Lucas Adams Vocational Cross... Corey Bingham Family Domingo, 2:00 pm Comentarista:... Pedro Rodríguez 1-2 Lectura:... Emanuel Ixcol, Evelia Ocampo Ministro E:... Roberto Cruz, Ana Ethridge Hospitalidad:... Victor Hernández, Tomas Macario Monaguillos:... Jackie Gines, Irvin Juarez Gasper River Catholic Retreat Summer Camps: A combination of Catholic faith, adventures and friends leads to a deeper understanding of our life-long relationship with God. Learn more; register online: gasperriverretreatcenter.org. or call (270) Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) - June 10-15: For Youth who want to learn skills in leadership, decision -making, communication, and organization to be a better leader in school, church, home, and life. (Grades 10th-12th). For registration information contact Libby. Registration deadline is May 14th.

7 APRIL 29, 2018 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 7 Pastor s Greetings: PERSONAL WITNESS Are you saying this for yourself or have others been telling you about me? Jesus asked Pilate during his interrogation. Pilate had asked Jesus if he were the King of the Jews. The exchange is only found in the Gospel according to John. It has struck me as peculiar. Jesus is seeking Pilate s personal thought and awareness. He is not defending himself. He does not even appear to be concerned about himself. Pilate is shocked, perhaps unnerved. He questions Jesus sanity. Do you not realize that I have power to release you and power to crucify you? Jesus responds, You would have no power over me at all unless it had been given you from above. That is why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin. Pilate is astonished. He does not answer Jesus question, although he does conclude that Jesus is innocent of the charges brought against him. The question troubles me. Just as it is addressed to Pilate, in a way it is also addressed to me. It is addressed to you. When I speak of Jesus, or of my faith, or of the Church, am I speaking of what I personally know or am I just repeating what I have been told? This question is very similar to the question Jesus posed to the Twelve at Caesarea-Philippi. After asking them what others had been saying about him, he asks, Who do you say that I am? To answer that question I had been prepared by many years of theological and historical studies, that is, until I heard the question posed to Pilate. Am I able to go beyond what I have learned from others and answer for myself? It happens that I truly do believe the Sacred Scriptures, I do profess the creed of the Church, and I do subscribe to the articles of faith as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I realize, however, that this does not get me off the hook. Am I merely a convinced reporter or am I a deeply informed witness? Can I be both? Is one more important that the other? Faithful witness by far is more important than reporting information. Given the historical truth of the Gospel I would be an unreliable witness without the benefit of the truth of our faith. Accurate information and faithful witness cannot be separated, but accurate personal witness is the calling of the faithful Christian. It is absolutely true that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. It is my witness that he has taken away my sins which I have confessed and has and is enabling me to forgive those who have sinned against me. It is true that he has conquered sin and death. It is personally true that he is conquering sin in me and I am walking with him that he may conquer death in my living and dying with him. As I was presiding at St. Joseph Church, Bowling Green, during a homily at a parish and school Mass one day, a second grader stood and asked me, How do you know that this is true? My immediate response was to point to my heart and say, I know that it is true here. It rings true here. Though completely surprised by the question, I answered honestly and the child seemed to be satisfied. That is witness. A homily is a faithfully informed personal witness to the Gospel truth of our Catholic faith. It is an act of witness while at worship, usually at Eucharist. The Lord is always asking me, Are you saying this from what you personally know to be true, or are you just saying what others have told you to say? Every witness of words is tested by the witness of life actions. I have to put my life, my actions, my time, my money, my things, my goings and comings, where my words of witness are. Otherwise I am bearing false witness against myself. My words about Jesus may be perfectly true, but if my life belies my words of witness, I betray the Lord and obscure the light he offers through the Gospel. The faithful, personal witness of each of us is needed for the Gospel to be proclaimed to the world today. The test and proof of the Gospel will not only be the truth which informs the message, but the authenticity of our lives, that we actually know the Lord Jesus Christ and can speak of what he has done for us as he walks among us. Fr. Richard Priests Anniversaries For May: Below you will find the names of those priests who have served here at Saints Peter and Paul or will serve here or are members of our parish family. We have also included their current mailing address in case you wish to send a card to them. Fr. Gerald Baker May 21, 1983; Catholic Pastoral Center, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY Bishop William Francis Medley May 22, 1982; McRaith Catholic Center, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY Fr. Al Bremer May 25, 2002; Saint Thomas More Parish, 5645 Blandville Road, Paducah, KY Fr. Richard Cash May 27, 1989, Chaplain, Carmel Home, 2501 Old Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY Fr. Carl McCarthy May 27, 1995; Saints Joseph & Paul Parish; 609 E. 4 th St., Owensboro, KY Fr. Basilio Az Cuc May 28, 2016; Saints Peter and Paul, Hopkinsville, Fr. John Thomas May 29, 1993; Holy Spirit Parish, 4754 Smallhouse Road, Bowling Green, KY Fr. Uwem Enoh May 29, 2010; Chaplain, U.S. Air Force Fr. Larry Hostetter May 30, 1987; Brescia University, 717 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY Fr. Daniel Dillard May 30, 2009; St. Mary Parish, P.O. Box 388, Franklin, KY Fr. Joshua McCarty May 30, 2009; St. Joseph Parish, 113 South 3 rd Street, Central City, KY Fr. Michael Charles Ajigo Abiero May 31, 2015; St. Mary of the Woods Parish, 1654 Hwy South 79, Hardinsburg, KY (here at Saints Peter and Paul in June of 2018)