Connections. Mercy is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Msgr. David Funk. A Quarterly Newsletter for the St. Pius X Church and School Community

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1 February 2016 Volume II, No. 1 Connections A Quarterly Newsletter for the St. Pius X Church and School Community IN THIS ISSUE Test Results Confirm Academic Excellence... 2 The Power of Prayer... 3 How Do I Get Cooperation from my Preschool Child... 3 A Night in Green... 4 Stepping Stones on the Road to Self-Sufficiency National Catholic Youth Conference... 5 Parish Mission 2016: Life of Passion, Life of Love... 6 Kids Finding Faith... 7 Mercy is the Gospel of Jesus Christ Monsignor David Funk, Pastor Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy New Year 2016! May this new year be filled with many blessings and grace-filled moments for you all. In the last edition of Connections, the article that I wrote was tied to the Synod on the Family, which was taking place in Rome at the time. The church is still waiting for the release of the final document on the Synod by Pope Francis. In the meantime, the Holy Father has begun the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. The ordinary time cycle for a Holy Year to take place is every 25 years; thus, it would be 2025 before the next one would be expected to be scheduled. But Pope Francis made the decision to designate the year 2016 as an Extraordinary Holy Year, using the theme of his pontificate, Mercy. The Holy Father said in the document calling for the Holy Year, that Mercy is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and, that if there has ever been a time for the world to hear the call for mercy, forgiveness, and healing, it is now. Throughout this Holy Year of Mercy, we are called to make every effort to promote mercy, live mercy, and pray for mercy. I am enclosing with this article, the prayer that Pope Francis composed for this Holy Year. Please consider praying it daily and including it with your other prayers. Being conscious and aware of this theme will help us to be instruments of God s healing, mercy, and reconciliation in our homes, our schools, our businesses and work, and in our world. May God bless all of you with His Mercy. In Christ, Msgr. David Funk Pope Francis s Prayer of Mercy, Page 7

2 ST. PIUS X CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1051 S. Waggoner Road Reynoldsburg, Ohio Rectory (614) stpiusx@spxreynoldsburg.com PASTOR Monsignor David Funk BUSINESS MANAGER Brenda Brammer ASST BUSINESS MANAGER John Beyer MISSION STATEMENT Connections is the quarterly newsletter of the St. Pius X Church and School. The purpose is to support our community of believers who are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Tradition by providing information that will help enrich, inspire and connect us as we work together by sharing our time, talent and treasure so that God s Kingdom will continue to live and grow in our midst. PUBLICATION SCHEDULE Connections is published quarterly in February, May, August and November. We seek interesting stories or articles from our parishioners that will help us grow in faith together. Please consider sending a story or column idea for an upcoming issue to our Editor or our Parish Administrative Assistant. Your feedback is welcome and encouraged. EDITOR Carol A. McGlone carol.a.mcglone@gmail.com PARISH ADMINISTRATIVE ASST Michelle Carey MCarey@spxreynoldsburg.com LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Michelle Zuccarelli mzuccarelli@spxreynoldsburg.com Test Results Confirm Academic Excellence Carole Winkel, Interim Principal, St. Pius X School St. Pius X School has a long tradition of academic excellence. Throughout our history, our alumni have grown to become leaders in their faith as well as in the communities around them. Many of our teachers have or are working toward Master s Degrees in their field and continually increase the use of technology in their classrooms. Each October, students in grades 3-8 throughout the Diocese of Columbus take the Terra Nova tests. Students in 2nd grade at St. Pius X join the 3rd through 8th grade students in taking these tests. While these assessments are a snapshot of student progress, they do provide important data. Additionally, our teachers use this data to benefit our students with instruction based on the particular needs of their class. Terra Nova tests include assessments in the areas of reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies. The results from our 2015 Terra Nova Testing once again highlight the exceptional academics at St. Pius X School. The 2015 Objective Performance Summary shows that St. Pius X School far exceeds national averages in all content areas. Our median national percentiles show strong growth from year-to-year. The chart below illustrates that our students are working at a higher grade level than their counterparts on a national level. Reading Language Math Science Social Studies Composite Grade NA Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade We are proud of our students and celebrate their successes. As a faculty, we are committed to continual improvement and we will use these results throughout the second half of this school year in both short and long term planning. Strong academics and a lifelong commitment to our Catholic faith and service to others are the hallmarks of Catholic school education and are the focus of each day at St. Pius X School. While we have much to celebrate with the achievements of our students, we continue to plan for the future and to work to make St. Pius X School a continued example of academic excellence and strong faith. Registration for the school year at St. Pius X School for Kindergarten as well as new students in grades 1-8 is now open. St. Pius X School offers strong academics, math enrichment, weekly music, art, physical education, Spanish, and library classes, all in a setting focused on our faith. Students attend Mass each week. Student services include a guidance counselor, speech therapist, reading specialist and an intervention specialist. For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact the school office at (614) ext ST. PIUS X CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1051 S. WAGGONER ROAD REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO 43068

3 Connections February 2016 THE POWER OF PRAYER One of the definitions of prayer in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is Prayer is the raising of one s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God (CCC 2559). St. Teresa of Avila stated that prayer, in my opinion, is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends. We believe that God loves us. Through the communication of prayer, requests for His help can be made. God answers all prayers but in His own way and in His own time frame. In 2016, the PSR and School/PSR Sacrament Programs will be asking for the parish to add their voices to our prayers. 1. Before each PSR Class begins, we as a group are going to pray for peace in the world. We are asking the parish to join us in trying to bring peace to the world we live in. 2. This past January, the Confirmation students asked the parish to pray for their intentions by picking up their prayer intentions after Mass. If anyone wants an intention to pray for, please call the Religious Education Department. 3. The parish will have an opportunity to add their prayer intention links to a Prayer Chain for the First Communion candidates to be hung by the Religious Education Office until First Communion on April 30, The prayer link kits will be in the church lobby by mid-february Blessed Mother Teresa said it best, If you want to pray better, pray more. If we want to be capable of loving, we must pray. Please keep praying. Prayer is the most powerful tool that I know to change the world and our lives in a positive way. God Bless, De Ann Bukowski Coordinator of Religious Education Quotes taken from the YOUCAT Confirmation Book and Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCCC). How Do I Get Cooperation From My Preschool Child? You are over-the-moon excited to find out that you are going to have a sweet little baby; then, all of a sudden, he or she turns 3 through 5 years old and has a mind of his or her own! What happened to that sweet little child? How do you cope? How do you get your preschooler to co-operate? We would like to share what we have learned through our work at St. Pius X Preschool and through all of the continuing education classes that we have attended over the years. With a teaching staff who have over 160 years of combined early-childhood experience, we have come up with a few tricks of saying what you want in a different way that will help you gain your preschooler s cooperation. First of all, make sure that you say, Look at my eyes, so I know that you are listening. Then try wording your requests for cooperation by following the examples below. Instead of saying: Put on your jacket Try saying: Are you going to put on your jacket by the front door or in the kitchen? Instead of: Drink your milk. Try: Do you want half a glass of milk or a whole one today? Instead of: You have five minutes, and then we re leaving. Try: We re leaving in five minutes, do you want to go down the slide three more times, or go on the swing before we go? Instead of: You need to practice your piano. Try: What s going to work best for you practicing before or after dinner this evening? Instead of: Eat your green beans. Try, before sitting down: Do you want six beans or ten for dinner? Instead of: Oh, stop crying that didn t hurt. Try: That must have frightened you, you ll stop crying now let s get a cold cloth. Instead of: Stop jumping on the sofa! Try: Sofas are for sitting quietly. Make a good choice now, or the sofa will be closed to you today. These tricks do not work all of the time, but you can be spared of some moments of grief if you do think about wording what you want differently. Good Luck! Mary Benedict & Sharon Miller Co-Directors, St. Pius X Children s Center Registration is going on now for next year s Preschool & Pre-K classes. Please call (614) for information. (614) STPIUSX@SPXREYNOLDSBURG.COM 3

4 A Night in Green A Fund Raiser Supporting Our Faith, Our School, and Our Future Photos, clockwise: students working in the Science Lab with Chromebooks and new microscopes; 2nd grader using ipad to work in Accelerated Reader ; 8th graders working with their 1st grade buddies in the Science Lab; classroom renovations including storage, tables, chairs and lockers On March 5, 2016, the St. Pius X Home & School Association will be hosting its third annual A Night in Green. This fun-filled evening includes food, spirits, a live and a silent auction, and music. Each year this event brings together over 200 of our parents, grandparents, parishioners, faculty and staff from our St. Pius X community. It is the Home and School Association s largest fundraiser of the year and the funds raised will continue to help bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of providing the best opportunities for our St. Pius X students. FUNDS In the first two years, A Night in Green has raised over $90,000 to assist our school in adding educational tools and teacher development. In 2014, our inaugural year, funds from A Night in Green were utilized to create the foundation for which the technology and instructional programs could be enhanced at St. Pius X. Funds were donated towards wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi), nearly 60 i-pads, new religion textbooks for the upper grades, classroom renovations, and expansion of our teacher professional development program. In 2015, the donated funds assisted with the continued expansion of our technology footprint, classroom renovations, Chromebooks for the 6th-8th grades, and the creation of a Science Lab. The new Science Lab has and will be utilized by all students at St. Pius X. This hands-on learning will greatly advance our children s scientific and tactile learning experience. Funds raised at this year s March 5, 2016 event will be used to assist with the continued expansion of technology, the expansion of the art program, and updating libraries in our media center. HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT A NIGHT IN GREEN? There are many opportunities to help support A Night in Green. These opportunities include attending the event, volunteering for a committee, giving a donation to the auction, and sponsoring the event. Attendance Tickets to the event are available now and a form can be obtained by visiting our website at spxhomeandschool.com/a-night-in-green. Tickets will also be for sale after Masses on February 20 and February 21, Volunteers Please consider devoting just a small amount of your time, not only by attending the event but also by helping in its development. Donations By participating as a donor, you not only receive the benefit of contributing towards the success of this event, you also have the opportunity to receive recognition from those bidding on the auction items. The auction is made great by all of the wonderful items we receive. If you would like to make a donation to our event, please contact us at ANightInGreen@yahoo.com or call Kim Donnelly at (614) Event Sponsors Event Sponsorships help to underwrite the cost of the event. This includes the cost of decorations, food, and tickets, all of which add up quickly. We have a variety of sponsorship levels available to fit every budget. In addition to items or services, you may wish to make a financial donation. For your convenience, we have set up a PayPal donation button. We are grateful for everyone s contribution to the success of the event! If you have questions about the event, want to donate an auction item, have an idea for a potential corporate sponsor, or want to volunteer, please contact us! Kim Donnelly A Night in Green, Event Chair ANightInGreen@yahoo.com (614) ST. PIUS X CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1051 S. WAGGONER ROAD REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO 43068

5 Connections February 2016 Stepping Stones On the Road to Self-Sufficiency Joseph s Coat offers hope for a better life to the families and the children in our community, providing stepping stones on the road to self-sufficiency was a year of tremendous growth for us. We have approximately 85 active volunteers, not including Bishop Hartley High School students and various other youth groups. We have received tremendous support from our church communities and have not had to ask for clothing donations all year with the exception of winter clothes and coats for children, sizes We now support approximately 150 families per month which equates to 1,500 persons per month with clothing, coats, shoes, household goods, personal care items and furniture. This all takes place within the 10 hours per month we are open! It also includes the many hours when we are not open that volunteers work to provide the best experience for our clients. We are seeking new volunteers to help with sorting and to possibly add another shift. Our Cookie Sale at St. Pius X this past December, once again, was a huge success with over 7,500 cookies made by our St. Pius X families! We thank you for all your efforts that have resulted in just over $6,000 in total raised for Joseph s Coat; cookie sales at St. Pius X raised $4,162 of the total amount. The 2015 Golf Outing provided close to $5,000 in new funding for us. With the growing need in our community, we are still in need of additional funding and would appreciate your consideration of Joseph s Coat when giving back to your community. Donations may be sent to Joseph s Coat at 240C Outerbelt Drive, Columbus, Ohio or you may contribute through our website We have also recently opened our Facebook page at Joseph s Coat of Central Ohio. In 2016, we will make improvements to create a better experience for both our clients and for our volunteers. This includes upgrading our technology and improving policies and procedures. Please call Pat Lutz, Volunteer Coordinator, at (614) or me at pghgrl11@aol.com with any questions regarding the giving of your time and your talents. Patricia Lutz Volunteer Coordinator Joseph s Coat of Ohio 2015 National Catholic Youth Conference The 2015 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) was truly a life-changing experience. With the theme Here I am Lord, we learned how to be present to God and how to show Him how we are here to do His will. It was quite an experience seeing 25,000 people submit their lives to the Lord in one place. We are truly grateful for your prayers and support as well as your financial contributions made through our 'Max and Erma' and 'Flamingo flocking' fundraisers. All of these things enabled us to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for the conference. This pilgrimage has given us new friendships with people across the country, new ways to see our faith, and countless lasting memories. NCYC provided us with the privilege to hear many renowned speakers talking about what it takes to be a young, active, and courageous member of the Catholic Church. In addition to hearing these speakers, we had the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, go to daily Mass, and also to attend concerts and worship sessions. Truly the Holy Spirit was at work during the conference. On behalf of our youth ministry at St. Pius X, we want to thank all of you for making this trip happen. We are very excited to bring the fire of the Holy Spirit back here to our parish and community. Mary Berger Andrew Berger St. Pius X High School Youth Group Editor s Note: Mary and Andrew are cousins; they are sophomores at Bishop Hartley High School. t St. Pius X attendees at the 2015 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana (614) STPIUSX@SPXREYNOLDSBURG.COM 5

6 Parish Mission 2016: Life of Passion, Life of Love This year s Parish Mission will be held from Sunday evening March 13, 2016 to Tuesday evening March 15, The program will begin each evening at 7:00 PM in the church. Life of Passion, Life of Love will be the theme of the Parish Mission. Catholic speaker Adam Storey will show how a life of passion must be rooted in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus where we encounter the most passionate lover conceivable. It is in Jesus where we find fulfillment of our heart s deepest desires. Adam will explore the value of this relationship, common challenges to this relationship and he will offer practical and simple ways for everyone to grow in this most precious relationship with God. Sunday, March 13 FIRST NIGHT: PASSIONATE HEARTS The heart of the Christian life is about entering into a loving relationship with God, who first seeks us. During this first evening, Adam will explore why we must open our hearts to God, helping participants see that this is a passionate heart s deepest desire as it is in this relationship where we are most alive. Using the lives of the saints and personal stories, he will show that this relationship with God truly has the power to transform us. Monday, March 14 SECOND NIGHT: WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD It is easy to think that a vibrant relationship with Jesus is a gift only offered to a few. Not so. In this talk, Adam will show that developing and nurturing this relationship with Jesus is accessible to all of us. However there are challenges along the way. In this second evening, he will explore common challenges for the serious Catholic including struggling to find time, feeling awkward, and attempts to hide ourselves from God and what we can do about it. Tuesday, March 15 THIRD NIGHT: LET S GET REAL Every love story is different and so is every relationship with the Lord. However, there are small patterns of holiness every Christian can embark upon each day. In this final evening, Adam will offer five simple and concrete disciplines a disciple of the Lord Jesus can add to his or her day, growing in greater love with God and His Catholic Church. Adam Storey is the Director of the Marriage and Family Life Office for the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa. He desires to share the love of Christ and the beauty of the Catholic faith wherever he goes. He is a devoted husband to his wife Kara and father to their two children, Gabriel and Cecilia. Mark your calendars now for our annual Parish Mission. Leah Kelly Pastoral Minister Save the Date: Vacation Bible School 2016 June 27 - July 1, 2016 Mark your calendars for this year s Vacation Bible School, which is scheduled for June 27 July 1, 2016 at St. Pius X. Watch for more information in the Sunday bulletin and from our parish website. We need adult volunteers! If you are interested, please contact Susan Gilmore at spx.vbs@gmail.com or (614) Susan Gilmore Coordinator, St. Pius X Vacation Bible School LENTEN CALENDAR 2016 The Lenten Calendar 2016 for St. Pius X Parish will be published in the Sunday bulletins and posted on-line at as soon as it has been finalized. Ash Wednesday February 10, 2016 Easter Sunday March 27, ST. PIUS X CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1051 S. WAGGONER ROAD REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO 43068

7 KIDS FINDING FAITH Connections February 2016 Seek and find the names of Jesus Christ s twelve apostles hidden in the puzzle below. Their names may be found vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. They may also appear forward or backward. There is no hidden word included in this puzzle. Judy Cafmeyer THE TWELVE APOSTLES ANDREW BARTHOLOMEW JAMESTHEELDER JAMESTHEYOUNGER JOHN MATTHEW MATTHIAS PETER PHILIP SIMON THADDEUS THOMAS X X K K K G H Q M U K F R C K N C Y L Z G D B N N Z C E D Z W U E P R Q G U G B S L G E P J W E H T T A M B A K E N W W Y S G I A T H O M A S D U E D C O S L Q S Q A A T P J O M S G Z C I Q F A N D R E W Y O E R P S P M V R I G D T C E L Y O S G A Z O V A H O E N H O J C O V H N S N Q N T R U T H F V Z P V N L X G U H T R S T G V G S P X W N H P S N A E R B G B R E D L E E H T S E M A J W E R U X K B P T I G H A B Z W E M Y X N J W N Q C O J E Y A PRAYER FOR THE JUBILEE OF MERCY BY POPE FRANCIS Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: If you knew the gift of God! You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: Let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Logo Reprinted with Permission. Amen. (614) STPIUSX@SPXREYNOLDSBURG.COM 7

8 Editor s Note Welcome to the February 2016 edition of the St. Pius X s newsletter, Connections. Monsignor Funk s letter to the parish focuses on Mercy and reflects Pope Francis s designating 2016 as an Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. Monsignor has included the prayer that Pope Francis composed that asks for God s help in these troubled times. In this issue, you will find an article on the power of prayer by De Ann Bukowski and information about the upcoming Parish Mission, March 13, 2016 through March 15, I hope you enjoy all the other articles including those that focus on Joseph s Coat, the A Night in Green school fundraiser, and very helpful information from the co-directors of our Children s Center on how to more easily gain the cooperation of preschoolers. Mary Berger and Andrew Berger, who are cousins and members of our High School Youth Group, wrote about the group s participation in the 2015 National Catholic Youth Conference. As I read this issue, one common theme became clear to me. All of the articles reflect a call for all of us to continue to support our parish and school through donating our time, talents and prayers. Please consider writing an article for Connections. Are you involved in a particular ministry or project that you would like to shine a spotlight on? Articles can be submitted to Michelle Carey at the parish office or to me directly at carol.a.mcglone@gmail.com. Please continue to share your feedback with us! Carol McGlone