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. Julio Barrera, Parochial Vicar jebarrera@stsppchurch.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: 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: MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH 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 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 . April 17, 2016 Fourth 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 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. These hours are available Monday 3 pm, and Tuesday 11 pm. Parish Pastoral Council Tim Barnes, Chair/Spiritual Life..tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Robin Bilan, Education......rcbilan@hotmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate..ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Robert Cruz, Family Life.rcruztirado@murraystate.edu JoAshley Hall, Worship... joashley7@yahoo.com Sarah Kranz, Principal...skranz@stsppschool.org Fran Marko, Secretary...franmarko@gmail.com Rose McClurg, Social Concerns.rose1963mcclurg@gmail.com Joe Mezzoni, Vice Chair/Administration joemezzoni216@att.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 Alex French (afrench@stsppchurch.org)...seminarian Intern Leigh Ann Johnson.Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...maintenance Foreman Vicki Kinnard (vkinnard@stsppschool.org)...school Secretary Sarah Kranz (skranz@stsppschool.org)...school Principal Donna Pfeufer (dgpfeufer@gmail.com)...thrift Store Gen. Mgr. Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)...thrift Store Mgr. Tana Shade (tshade@stsppschool.org)...extended Care Director 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 and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. Confessions will be heard any time by appointment. Confessions for Spanish speaking are 2nd, 4th & 5th Saturdays at 3:00 PM. Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class is usually held the first Sunday of each month. Our next class is scheduled for May 1, 2016 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 - Ordination to Holy Orders: As a Diocese, we will celebrate with our two seminarians, Basilio Az Cuc and Jamie Dennis as they are ordained to the priesthood. This celebration will be held on Saturday, May 28 th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen Cathedral. All are welcome to come and celebrate this wonderful occasion. Deacon Basilio Az Cuc Camp Registration has begun! Don t miss out on their biggest and best summer ever! Please go to to see their 2016 Schedule and to register online or download a form and send it in. If you have any questions, please contact the Gasper River Camp office at (270) Can t wait to see what this summer has in store for you. Brochures are available on the table in the narthex. Diocesan & Community News May 30-June 3 Eucharistic Life Camp (18+) June 5-10 Expedition I (5 th -6 th Graders) June 5-10 Quest I (7 th -8 th Graders) June Camp Life I (High School) June Explorer I (3 rd -4 th Graders) June Expedition II (5 th -6 th Graders) June Quest II (7 th -8 th Graders) June 26-July 1 Camp Life II (High School) June Made for More (High School Men) July 3-8 Camp Life III (High School) July Expedition III (5 th -6 th Graders July Explorer II (3 rd -4 th Graders) July Quest III (7 th -8 th Graders) July Expedition IV (5 th -6 th Graders) July Quest IV (7 th -8 th Graders) Deacon Jamie Dennis July 31-Aug 5 Camp Lolek (High School) July 31-Aug 3 Explorer III (3 rd -4 th Graders) Project Graduation: Would you like to make a donation to Project Graduation? Send your tax-deductible check payable to Project Graduation to P.O. Box 291, Hopkinsville, KY If you prefer to donate gifts or prizes, please contact Kim Graham at (270) or Mark Henderson at (270)

3 APRIL 17, World Day of Prayer for Vocations Good Shepherd Sunday Sunday, April 17, The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes. What are some things we can specifically for our priests. 1. Pray for Priests and Religious who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead. 2. Pray a rosary for Priests and Religious and for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to God s call. 3. Encourage your children, grandchildren, or other young people to consider a vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister. 4. Offer a Mass for Priests and Religious 5. Remember our Priests on the anniversary of their ordination. Pray the Rosary for the Priests in Your Life: When praying the rosary, offer the first decade for the priest who baptized you, the second decade for the priest who gave you first Communion, the third decade for the bishop who confirmed you, the fourth decade for the priest who witnessed your marriage or the bishop who ordained you (or will do so in the future), and the fifth decade for the priest who will anoint you at your death. Priests Anniversaries: 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. Carmelo Jimenez April 25, 1999, St. Michael Parish, P.O. Box 705, Sebree, KY Fr. Gerald Baker May 21, 1983; St. Mary of the Woods Parish, P.O. Box 1, Whitesville, KY Bishop William Francis Medley May 22, 1982; McRaith Catholic Center, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY Fr. Al Bremer May 25, 2002; Saints Peter and Paul, Hopkinsville as of June 14 th. (Currently at Saints Joseph & Paul Parish; 609 E. 4 th St., Owensboro, KY 42303) 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. Julio Barrera June 1, 2013, Saints Joseph & Paul Parish; 609 E. 4 th St., Owensboro, KY Fr. Richard Meredith June 3, 1978; Saints Peter and Paul, Hopkinsville Fr. Chrispin Oneko August 25, 1990; St. Charles Parish; 6922 State route 408, Bardwell, KY Fr. Anthoni Ottagan, HGN January 8, 2003; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, P.O. Box 447, Grand River, KY Fr. Shijo Vadakkumkara, HGN January 17, 2004; (Returned to India) St. Michael Church; Lady Jamshedji Road, Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Sympathy: We pray for the repose of the soul of Barbara Simmons Moseley. Barbara died on Monday, April 11 th at the age of 82 at Fairhope Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fairhope, Alabama. Barbara was a long time resident of Hopkinsville. At the death of her husband, Jim in 2011, she moved to this nursing facility located near one of her daughters. Barbara is survived by three daughters Carol of Hendersonville, Tennessee; Kimberly Dirmeyer of Daphne, Alabama and Connie Folz of Grandview, Indiana, (Connie is married to Darryl Folz, son of Charlie and Judy Folz.) one brother, Bill Simmons and 7 grandchildren. Her Funeral Mass was Friday, April 15 th at 1:00 p.m. here at Saints Peter and Paul. May we keep Barbara s entire family in our prayers this week as they mourn the loss of their mother and grandmother. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Upcoming Special Collections: The weekend of April 23 rd /24 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.

4 4 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY Saints Peter and Paul School 8 th Grade Bake Sale: The Saint Peter and Paul School 8 th Grade is sponsoring a bake sale THIS Weekend April 16 th and 17 th. Thank you for your support and don t forget to stop by and pick up a dessert for your Sunday meal! RCIA: RCIA continues this Thursday, April 21st h at 7:00 p.m. We have reached the 4 th period of the RCIA process, which is the stage of Mystagogy. Our topic this week is Moral Living. Eucharistic Adoration Hours Available: Hours that are now open and available for adoption include: Mondays - 3:00 p.m. Tuesdays - 11:00 p.m. The substitute list for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration has been updated, and a copy (if desired) can be picked up in the parish office. A list can also be viewed in the back of the Eucharistic Adoration sign in book. PSR (Parish School of Religion) Pre-School thru 5 th Grade Religious Education Classes continue this Sunday, April 17 th at 9:00 a.m. in the school building. April Schedule April 17 - Class April 24 No Class-First Communion May 1 Last class Important Dates First Holy Communion Prayer Day: Saturday, April 23 rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. First Communion Celebration: Sunday, April 24 th at 4:00 p.m. First Communion Prayer Day: On Saturday, April 23 rd we will have a Prayer Day for our children who will be receiving their First Holy Communion on Sunday, April 24 th. This will be a fun day filled with prayer, bread making, church search/tour, lunch and many other special opportunities. Parents we ask you to come and be with your child and help them along the way as they make bread, make their First Communion Banner and as they look for items in the church. This is an opportunity you don t want to miss. First Communion Prayer Day Needs: Our First Communion Prayer Day is a day of great fun for the child and their parents. This Prayer Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 23 rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. Could you help us? We will need helpers in the kitchen as well as food items which include (breakfast) muffins, juice and fruit and (lunch) sandwiches, chips, vegetables and drinks. There are typically about 100 people in attendance. Call Libby or Pam Carlton for more information. Youth Ministry Our Middle School and High School Youth programs continue classes this Wednesday, April 20 th beginning with Mass at 5:30 p.m. April Schedule: April 20 th Class April 27 th - Class May 4 th Class-Last Class Silver Streaks: Our Silver Streaks will be visiting the Fathers of Mercy on Tuesday, April 26 th. They will depart from the Saints Peter and Paul parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and travel together to South Union. Upon arrival, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered with Mass beginning at 10:00 a.m. Afterward they will head to lunch together. Because the Fathers of Mercy are making this a special offering to Saints Peter and Paul, we need to be able to give them a number of how many will be coming; therefore, if you plan on attending, please let Julia Borders know by Friday, April 22 nd. Her phone number is Calling all Green Thumbs!: Are you tired yet of the brown lawns and bare trees? Do you find yourself thumbing through your favorite seed catalog? Now imagine a flower bed that could grace the cover of Southern Living! Well let s get ready to clean and sharpen up our trowels and shovels and Adopt a Spot here at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. If you, your family, school or church group are interested in adopting a spot or need more information on what plants grow better in your spot, fertilizing concerns or a host of other Green Thumb ideas, please stop by their table in the narthex next weekend, April 23 rd and 24 th. Ways to Be Merciful: Practicing mercy in our lives actually does take practice! God, who is merciful, desires our mercy. Here are some ways for you to practice mercy. + Read John Paul II s Dives in Misericordia bit-by-bit through the year. + Create a short, end-of-day ritual to ask for (and extend) forgiveness with those you live with. do not let the sun set on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26) Year of Mercy Reflection: Jesus is all mercy, Jesus is all love: he is God made man. Each of us, each one of us, is that little lost lamb, the coin that was mislaid; each one of us is that son who has squandered his freedom on false idols, illusions of happiness, and has lost everything. But God does not forget us, the Father never abandons us. He is a patient father, always waiting for us! He respects our freedom, but he remains faithful forever. And when we come back to him, he welcomes us like children into his house, for he never ceases, not for one instant, to wait for us with love. And his heart rejoices over every child who returns. He is celebrating because he is joy. God has this joy. When one of us sinners goes to him and asks his forgiveness. Pope Francis.

5 THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH MARCH APRIL Wed: Rosary Makers, 8:45 am-hfr Choirs: Spanish, 5 pm-english 6:30 pm Thur: Children s Choir-2:30 pm Knights-6:30 pm, OA RCIA-7 pm, Gym Fri: Mom s Group, 9:30 am-oa SPP Assistance Oversight meeting-12:30 pm, OA Sat: First Communion Prayer Day-9am, Sun: Parish Council-5:30 pm, OA Readings for the Week of April 17, 2016 Sunday: Acts 13:14, 43-52/Ps 100:1-3, 5/Rv 7:9, 14b-17/Jn 10:27-30 Monday: Acts 11:1-18/Ps 42:2-3; 43:3-4/Jn 10:1-10 Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26/Ps 87:1-7/Jn 10:22-30 Wednesday: Acts 12:24--13:5a/Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8/ Jn 12:44-50 Thursday: Acts 13:13-25/Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27/ Jn 13:16-20 Friday: Acts 13:26-33/Ps 2:6-11/Jn 14:1-6 Saturday: Acts 13:44-52/Ps 98:1-4/Jn 14:7-14 Next Sunday: Acts 14:21-27/Ps 145:8-13/Rv 21:1-5a/ Jn 13:31-33a, Liturgical Publications Inc Ultreya: There will be an Ultreya gathering THIS Sunday, April 17 th at 2:00 p.m. in the Office Annex. Please begin praying for those who God will lead to take part in the upcoming Cursillo Weekends. APRIL 17, 2016 Monday, April 18 8:00 AM JACK RITTENBERRY Tuesday, April 19 8:00 AM DAVID SULLIVAN SR. Wednesday April 20 8:00 AM STACEY HIGHTOWER 5:30 PM BOB VIALL Thursday, April 21 St. Anselm 8:00 AM NANCI FRISING 5:30 PM Spanish POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY Friday, April 22 8:00 AM NO MASS Saturday, April 23 Sts. George & Adalbert 8:00 AM GEORGE & MARY MACIAS 5:00 PM KATHLEEN BARNES Sunday, April 24 Fifth Sunday of Easter 8:00 AM GEORGE & VICTORIA SPURR 10:30 AM OPAL HORTEN 2:00 PM Spanish ROSA MARIA DAVILA 4:00PM First Communion Mass FIRST COMMUNION CHILDREN AND PARENTS 10:30 PM Spanish FOR ALL PARISHIONERS Indicates Requiem Mass SANCTUARY LAMP In Memory of Martha Pacheco By Kim Coulombe 5 Upcoming Cursillo Weekends Men s Weekend: Thursday, June 9 th thru Sunday, June 12 th Women s Weekend: Thursday, June 16 thru Sunday, June 19 th For more information or Weekend Application call Mary Lee at STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE.. Paul and Barnabas encountered both violent rejection and joyful acceptance of the message that they preached. We, too, may meet with mixed reactions when we use our gifts in the service of God. But, the Gospel assures us, the reward for those who follow faithfully is eternal life. Budget News Weekly Parish Collection... $10, Weekly Parish Budget Needs... $15, Unpaid Diocesan Assessment... $37, Weekly Capital Improvement Donations... $ Capital Improvement Fund Balance... $17, Weekly A Legacy of Faith Fund Pledge Payments... $1, A Legacy of Faith Fund Balance... $972, Needed to Break Ground on New Building...Goal Reached Stained Glass Window Donations... $60.00 Stained Glass Window Fund Balance... $388, Upcoming Reception: Alex French, one of our Diocesan Seminarians studying for the priesthood, was assigned to Saints Peter and Paul this past September in what is called his Pastoral Year. Alex s last day with us here is Sunday, May 15 th, Pentecost Sunday. As a way to say thank you and goodbye we will be having receptions after all Masses in the narthex the weekend of May 14 th and 15 th. If you would be willing to assist with these receptions through set-up, clean-up, bringing of food items, please let Libby know. Mother s Day: Mother s Day is Sunday, May 8 th. Once again this year we are offering Mother s Day Spiritual Bouquet Mass Cards. The packet includes one card and envelope to be sent to your mother as we honor all mothers for their many blessings to our lives. The second envelope contained in this packet needs to be completed and sent to the church. Please include your loved one s name and your name and address. For your convenience, these Mother s Day Mass Cards will be available in the narthex after all weekend Masses. Mother s Day Pancake Breakfast: Our Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Mother s Day Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, May 8 th immediately after the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Moms come and let the Knights serve you delicious pancakes, sausage and all the fixins as we give honor to you and all you do.

6 6 SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY In Need of Prayers Covington Convalescent- Pat Chesnut, Elizabeth Jones, Karen Logsdon, Jean Soyars Western State Nursing Facility Arnold Borders, Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Friendship House- Christine Mills Others.Pat Abell, Adams Families, Mary Armstrong, Richard & Jeannie Arnold, James Arthur Adkins, Clarence & Helen Allard, Andy & Fran Belland, Norma Boyd, Bill Brown, Michael Burns, Scott Burnside, Kristen Cage, Francis Grace Cage, Fred Chapman, Bettie June Clark, Sam Chesnut, Pam Cox, Debbie Croley, Mary Dean, Angela Brockman DeAngelis, Gene Durbin, Pat Esposito, Theresa Ford, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Mary Gervais, Gant Golladay, Jewel Claire Godot, Lou Halburton, Beth Hancock, Bonnie Haney, Amanda Harden, Bonnie Harris, Marianne Harton, Mary Jean Hester, Bill Henney, Edward Hester, Carol Johnson, Anita Jones, Mark Kahre, Bill Keldermans, Bill Kemp, Joseph Kukral, Bob Labor, Helen Marshall, Diane McCoy, Marcella McCuiston, Joe Mezzoni, Sr., Margie Meredith, Theresa Mills, Deborah Morris, Mike Moseley, Sandy Mueller, Lilly Phillips, Brittany Pike, Larry Puckett, Martha Reed, Justina Roman, Bob & Cele Schade, MaryAnn Schurmann, Frank Selph, David Ray Shirley, Kristian Shouse, Doris Sholar, Gina Simpson, Cathy Smith, David Smith, Genevieve Spurr, MaryAnn Stahr, Stocker Family, Georgiann Svestka, Ken Swicicki, Patricia Tariol, Jerry Thomas, Rosie Thomas, Rose Ann Tobin, Donnie Tuminello, Gayle Tuminello, Susan Valentini, Hannelore Vanderklok, John & Eileen Wells, Widener Family, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack. Names remain on the list for one month. Please Pray for our Deployed Ace Crawford, Wesley Britt, Nicholas Burton, Scott Donohue, Louis Fay and Michael Larwa Saints Peter and Paul Assistance Coordinator Report: During the month of March, Saints Peter and Paul assisted 14 families and 34 people. Income and Expenses were: Beginning Balance 3/1/16 $1, Income: Parishioner donations $ Total Deposits $1, Expenses Rent and Lodging $ Utilities Medications 4.00 Total Expenses $ Ending Balance $ Alpha Alternative Pregnancy Care Center 25 th Annual Fundraising Dinner Past, Present, Future Monday, May 2 nd, 2016 at James E. Bruce Convention Center Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and Program 6:00-8:00 p.m. Adults Only Event For reservations call the parish office LAY MINISTERS APRIL 23/24 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers:... Rebecca Lee, Ivan Vial Cross Bearer:... Matt Shelton Commentator:... Fran Marko Lectors:... Dawn Ligibel, Christina Ligibel Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Vicky Barnes,... Robin Bilan, Mike Stocker, Tim Nosbusch Choir Loft... Patty Goode, Alex French Ushers... Laura Waldron, Bob Marko...Joe Mezzoni, Ivan Viall Vocational Cross... Greg Ligibel Family Sunday, 8:00 am Altar Servers:... Harley France, Antha France Cross Bearer:... Sam Wilkins Commentator:... Diana France Lectors:... Jerry Brockman, Lana Bastin Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Ann Williams,... Terri Means, Dan Gardner, Lori Gardner Choir Loft... Tom Folz, Terri Means Ushers... Alex French, Frank Raber... Anthony France, Nick France Vocational Cross... Jerry Brockman Family Sunday, 10:30 am Altar Servers:... Nic Luckey, Rayna Pound Cross Bearer:... Anna Allard Commentator:... Vicki Luckey Lectors:... Mike Murray, Judy Pound Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers:... Wendy Anderson,... Kelly King, Libby Downs, Nathan Tillman Choir Loft... Damian Sandheinrich, Alex French Ushers... Jerry Adams, Bill Harkins... Steve Kinnard, Bruce Wilcox Vocational Cross...Bruce Wilcox Family Sunday, 2:00 pm Spanish Mass Comentarista:.....Ángeles Hernández 1-2 Lectura: Tomasa Montiel, Lupita Rosas Ministro E:...Trinidad Soriano, Ana Ethridge Hospitalidad:. Víctor Hernández, Tomas Macario Monaguillos:..Alondra y Dayana Hernandez Guadalupana:.... Familia Vieyra Rosas Rachel s Vineyard Retreats Hurting from abortion? Know someone who is? Rachel s Vineyard offers post-abortion healing retreats for women and men suffering from the effects of abortion. Next Retreat: May 13-15, 2016 Location: Bethany House, Dickson, TN This retreat is absolutely confidential, and nobody is turned away due to lack of ability to pay for the costs related to this retreat. Contact Jennifer: (931) or her at: Jennifer@hopeafterabortionky.com Healing the trauma of abortion one weekend at a time

7 Pastor s Greeting: CREATION An essay from September, 2010 Cosmology is the study of the existence of the universe or cosmos its origins, its extent, its characteristics, its possible ends. This involves philosophy, astronomy, astro-physics, quantum-physics and a number of theoretical sciences. Metaphysics is the study of being and existence. It is more so strictly philosophical, but informed by cosmology and anthropology. All of these studies are of definite interest to Christian faith and foundational to Catholic theology. While I found the philosophical and theological aspects of these subjects intriguing, most students in the seminary with me seemed to deplore them. The subjects were not that attractive in modern philosophy either, that is until the advent of nuclear and theoretical physics. While I am not equipped to handle the math of theoretical physics, I do like to have at least a lay person s basic understanding of its ideas. Most people by now have heard of the big bang theory of the first moments of this universe. Drs. Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking popularized ideas of quantum physics, sub-atomic particles, effects of stellar gravity on light, the bending of space-time, and the quest for the GUT (grand unifying theory) to explain the interrelationship of all the forces known to physics. Science fiction has also had great fun imaginatively exploring the vistas opened before us by these ideas and observations. Many people of faith have even found suggested in this new science traces of the hand of God creating. The new physics, however, is also posing challenges to faith and theology. As I write, the cosmology of Dr. Stephen Hawking s most recent book The Grand Design, co-authored with Dr. Leonard Mlodinow, is making headline news. Hawking and Mlodinow assert quite pointedly that, given the mathematics of current cosmological theory, which they claim to be confirmed indirectly by observation, God is not necessary for matter, energy, or for the universe to arise from nothing. Their science, they claim, proves that God is not necessary for the existence of the cosmos. They do not assert that God does not exist, just that God is unnecessary for creation. I read Hawking s A Brief History of Time (1988) when it first came out and I also have read parts of his The Universe in a Nutshell (2001). It is clear to me that Dr. Hawking is a brilliant physicist and an elegant thinker. His work made me long for some competence in higher math, since I am not able to evaluate his technical work. But when he addresses issues related to God and speaks of God or creation, I am on my own ground and competent to analyze his thought in relationship to Catholic philosophical theology, i.e., metaphysics and metaphysical cosmology. Already in 1988 Dr. Hawking had this to say: The idea that space and time may form a closed surface without boundary also has profound implications for the role of God in the affairs of the universe. With the success of scientific theories in describing events, most people have come to believe that God allows the universe to evolve according to a set of laws and does not intervene in the universe to break these laws. However, the laws do not tell us what the universe APRIL 17, 2016 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER should have looked like when it started it would still be up to God to wind up the clockwork and choose how to start it off. So long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator. But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator? [BHOT ] In The Grand Design Dr. Hawking apparently concludes that the universe, and all possible universes, are so contained, thus God being rather pointless. But what Dr. Hawking means by creation is not what Catholic theology means. Creation for him appears to mean merely the initiating act within the causal series of events giving rise to the universe. It should really come as no surprise that a GUT, expressible in the equations of theoretical physics, and supported by indirect observations, would have no need of such a creating god. Our theology, however, understands God s creative act to encompass the entire giving of being and becoming to the cosmos, all its dynamism, energies, processes, and matter. While all of God the Creator is everywhere and at all times immanent to every facet of the cosmos in all its components, God the Creator per se is wholly transcendent to the cosmos and is not as God any part of it. (Even Incarnation and Grace fit into this view.) Divine causality is categorically different and distinct from any and all created, cosmic causality. Hawking s notion of God presumes a deist understanding, i.e., a god (cause) that sparks the process and is then uninvolved. According to Catholic faith, the uncreated and eternal Creator gives being continually to the whole of this and to any existent universe(s) and to all its processes. This avoids both the determinism which Hawking sees as necessary to his perspective and the pantheism which would subsume God and Cosmos into one overarching reality, i.e., the pantheism found in Hinduism. It will be wonderful to read The Grand Design for the extension of the equations and inferences of the brilliant physics of Hawking and Mlodinow. Their m theory may well be the GUT of science s quest. It is also necessary to read Design for the challenge these physicists pose to our faith. It is sad, however, that they believe themselves to understand the metaphysics of Christian doctrine and thus to have disposed of the necessity of God. Fr. Richard Remembering Mother Angelica ( ) Heaven is your real home. This is our testing ground, that s all. We were created by God to be with Him. That s why it s so important to say yes to God in everything. Let Him guide you. Ask Him to give you all you need to accept your way of life and to live it well. - Mother Mary Angelica, EWTN Foundress 7