It is hard to believe that August is upon us.

Transcription

1 Saint Peter Catholic Church Inside 2 The Faith Journey of St. Genesius 3 Fair Helps Local Children Go Back to School 4 CYO Brings Faith And Sports Together 6 4th Annual St. Peter Parish Picnic 7 Sacred Silence in the Mass A Letter from Our Pastor The Mass is a Gift, to God and Our Parish Community My Fellow Parishioners: August 2014 It is hard to believe that August is upon us. It seems as if we were just looking forward to summer and all the pleasures associated with that time and now, we are approaching the returns to school, the completion of summer vacations, and the time when things here at our parish get busier again. We call them vacations, but the British call them holidays. It does not take a genius to see that the words holiday and holy day share the same roots. You may anticipate where I am going with this train of thought. There was a time when the only holidays people experienced were indeed holy days. That included Sunday, to be sure, but the reason people had these holy days was to celebrate religious times and occasions. An important facet of the concept of stewardship is our practice of the faith our commitment to fulfill what the Church views as our duties related to our beliefs. Most of us, as Catholics, are very familiar with the term Holy Day of Obligation. In fact, there is one this month Friday, Aug. 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A solemnity is a Feast Day of the highest rank in the Church. According to the Church s Code of Canon Law (1247), On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Note that what this actually says is that Sunday just like the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Christmas, Immaculate Conception and other holy days is in fact a Holy Day of Obligation. Do we really think of our weekly attendance at Mass in that way? Certainly, our parents and grandparents (and many of us as well) understood that we were supposed to go to Mass each Sunday, and there were other times during the Church year when we were expected to go to Mass the Holy Days of Obligation. Sometimes in our busy lives, we lose sight of how important this is. As I indicated earlier in this letter, these are holy continued on back cover St. Peter Parish is a Catholic community of faith bringing the light of Christ to all by serving others

2 St. Peter Catholic Church The Faith Journey of St. Genesius Being a performer and a comedian may sound like a fun way to make a living. St. Genesius, an outstanding actor, playwright and comedian in late Imperial Rome, certainly did have some fun for a while. But his career and life came to an abrupt end when his work ultimately led him to Christ. Genesius was a comedian of some renown, but in the fourth century, Christians were often discouraged from becoming actors because ancient Roman comedy was highly sexual, crude and offensive. In the year 303, Emperor Diocletian launched what would be the last great Roman persecution against the Christian Church. So, Genesius used the persecution as an opportunity to write a comedy about Christianity. He thought it might attract the attention of the Emperor, increase his fame, and make him some money in the process. Genesius approached leaders of the Christian community in Rome and presented himself as a catechumen seeking baptism. He was then invited into a period of instruction in the faith, in order to learn the beliefs of the Christians. He was particularly taken by the idea of baptism. But at the time, he had no plans to convert to the faith it was all just a part of his plan to research new material to use for his comedy. But a strange thing happened to Genesius as he began to work on his play, which was to be a comedy on baptism. As Genesius began teaching the other actors about baptism, he began to believe, and a desire to be baptized grew within his heart. The opening night of the play was a great success, with Emperor Diocletian in attendance. But at some point during the play, the Holy Spirit touched Genesius. He was no longer acting. You fools, I wish to die a Christian, Genesius said. When the other AUG. 25 SAINT GENESIUS actors asked him why, he said, All my life I have been a fugitive, and only today have I found God. Everyone, especially Emperor Diocletian, laughed as Genesius spoke. Genesius, standing in a pulpit designed to look like the goddess Venus, began to preach to the audience. He told the crowd how he once hated Christians and enjoyed insulting them. He told the crowd how he deserted his own family as a child because they were Christians. From there, Genesius addressed Diocletian, stating that he wrote the play to mock Christians, but had been converted on the spot during the course of the play, by the power of Holy Spirit. I now know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true God, the Light, the Truth and the Mercy of all who have received his gift of baptism, Genesius said. O great Emperor, believe in these mysteries! I will teach you, and you will know the Lord Jesus Christ is the true God. Diocletian was furious and stopped the play, having the troupe arrested and beaten, while Genesius was condemned to torture. Through all of his sufferings, he continued to confess that Jesus was God. When this failed to break his spirit, Diocletian ordered Genesius be beheaded. His final words were, Our Lord Jesus Christ is God and we shall have life in His name. St. Genesius is the patron of comedians and actors. His feast day is Aug

3 August 2014 Fair Helps Local Children Go Back to School This month, children in our community are going back to school, and the various schools in our area will be welcoming them to a new academic year. While this is an exciting time of year, it can also be a very busy, frustrating and expensive time, and many families find themselves unable to provide everything their children need to prepare for the start of a new school year. That s where the Back to School Help Fair comes in. The Help Fair serves as a one-stop shop to help prepare local children for the start of school, says Kathy Harman, parish nurse for St. Peter Catholic Church. It features free haircuts, physicals, dental exams, clothing and needed supplies all provided by volunteers and contributors who realize many financially strapped families can t afford all these things on their own. St. Peter is one of a number of local churches and several organizations involved in this annual event. Last year s participants included more than 15 local churches and such organizations as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, United Way, Transitions, Adams County Red Cross, Right to Life and more. Kathy heads up this ministry for our parish. It is very fulfilling to see the faces of the children receiving these items, Kathy says. It is also wonderful to see the people of the parish come together to help in whatever way they can. They can donate the many needed items clothing, shoes, and socks and underwear. They can help out with sorting all the donated items so that they can be easily gone through the day of the Fair, and many of our parishioners also help the day of the Fair. This year s Back to School Help Fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Most of the activities of the Fair will take place at First Baptist Church in Quincy, while all health-related programs, such as immunizations, physicals, lead screening, dental exams and more, will be held at the Adams County Health Department. The Fair begins with a prayer led by the Rev. Orville Jones of First Baptist Church. The children then choose a backpack from an assortment categorized by their grade level, and each backpack is filled with age-appropriate school supplies. Next, the kids can also pick out clothing and shoes on display and get their hair cut. They take a bus to the Health Department to complete whatever physical requirements are needed. Last year was Kathy s first time participating with the Back to School Help Fair, and it proved to have quite an impact. I have known about this event for a number of years, but was always too busy to set aside the time to help out or so I thought, Kathy says. After my first experience with the Back to School Help Fair, I find that s a pretty lame excuse. It is truly amazing to see the people of Quincy come together to make sure that our children have the necessary tools, including health care, to get them off to a good school year. While I have known for a long time that the parishioners of St. Peter s are a very caring and giving people, it is heartwarming to see them help out and donate the many needed items. For more information about the Back to School Help Fair or to get involved, please call Kathy Harman at It is truly amazing to see the people of Quincy come together to make sure that our children have the necessary tools, including health care, to get them off to a good school year. While I have known for a long time that the parishioners of St. Peter s are a very caring and giving people, it is heartwarming to see them help out and donate the many needed items. Kathy Harman 3

4 CYO BRINGS FAITH AND SPORTS TOGETHER Team sports can be a great blessing for kids of all ages. The Catholic Youth Organization, CYO, provides the youth of our community with the opportunity to participate in competitive team sports such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. I grew up playing sports and learned some great life lessons, says Karen Wolf, CYO sports coordinator for our parish. I believe that every child that wants to play sports should get the opportunity to play. It shouldn t matter if you are good or not. Plus, coaching for the last six years, there is nothing like seeing that smile on a kid s face who just made their first basket, got their serve over the net, made a great catch, or got a hit. Different sports are offered at various times throughout the school year. In the fall, CYO holds volleyball for girls in fifth through eighth grade, which starts with the beginning of the school year in August. Other programs offered during the year are basketball for boys and girls in third through eighth grade, football and baseball I believe that every child that wants to play sports should get the opportunity to play. It shouldn t matter if you are good or not. Plus, coaching for the last six years, there is nothing like seeing that smile on a kid s face who just made their first basket, got their serve over the net, made a great catch, or got a hit. Karen Wolf, CYO sports coordinator 4

5 for boys in fifth through eighth grade, and softball for girls in fifth through eighth grade. Between the fall and winter sports programs, hundreds of youth participate in CYO sports. The teams for each of the four Catholic schools in the area practice on their own and play games according to a schedule. The purpose is to bring Catholic youth together to socialize, learn fundamentals of the sports and to be competitive, all under the umbrella of the Catholic Church, Karen says. These programs have many benefits for the youth involved, beyond simply learning how to play a particular sport. Life skills are being taught to the children in a fun atmosphere, Karen says. Not only are they learning the fundamentals of the game, they are learning teamwork and sportsmanship. There are many ways that adults can get involved with CYO activities, including volunteering as coaches and assistant coaches. No experience is needed, and classes and assistance are offered as needed. Anyone can volunteer with CYO, whether already a parent of one of the kids on the team, or if simply looking to support the formation of our parish youth. All volunteers are required to attend a class called Protecting God s Children. CYO helps bring youth and adults together, and it fosters community in our parish. Kids are our future, Karen says. I just hope I have touched a few kids lives in a positive way, and that someday the kids I coached will want to come back and coach at St. Peter. Parishioners who would like more information, or would like to volunteer, are encouraged to CYO Sports Coordinator Karen Wolf at kswolf3@comcast.net. 5

6 Saturday, August 23, :00 pm 12:00.. am.. after 4:00 pm.. Mass Save the date for 4th Annual St. Peter Parish Picnic 2600 Maine Street Quincy, IL Behind the Church MAIN RAFFLE $4,500 in cash prizes 50/50, Silent Auction & Basket Raffle Live Entertainment Heidelberg Band 5:00-7:00 Eleven 7:30-12:00 A.M. P.M. Beer (Bud, Coors & Miller), Spirit Knob Winery, Soda, & more Food: Pork Tenderloin, Pulled Pork, Hamburgers, Brats, Hot Dogs, Onion Rings, & more Snacks: Nachos, Cotton Candy, Funnel Cakes, Walking Tacos, Popcorn, Shaved Ice, & more Games for all ages: Poker, TP Toss, Ring Toss, Hoopla, *NEW* Connect Four, Pop Capsule and Kids Zone Plan to join us! 6

7 August 2014 Sacred Silence in the Mass By Scott Fitzgerald We are a busy, noisy people. For many, silence, rather than being a solace or comfort, is downright fearful. In our homes, many people keep the TV on even though they are not watching it because they are uncomfortable in the silence. On radio and television, periods of silence are to be avoided at all cost. They call silence dead air. For others, however, silence is consoling, all-embracing, and pregnant with meaning. For them, silence is a companion that journeys along with them. We all spend time alone, but how do we handle silence in our lives? As a musician, I am ever aware of how important silence is to musical performance. If there were no silences in music, it would be one long tone of chaos. Musicians insert tiny bits of silence into the music so that the music itself can speak more prevalently. Silence punctuates the sound. The separation of notes gives the music lift and shape. We call it the musical phrase. The liturgy elevates this to a higher level. For Mass, we are supposed to have times of sacred silence. Remember, at worship we are in God s time kairos in Greek. This is a time of prayer, unconcerned and free of the outside world of busyness. Outside of worship, our time is called chronos. This is the time we mostly experience in our busy, daily lives. The General Instruction to the Roman Missal mentions silence in certain key moments during the Mass. The first place for silence may begin in the sacristy as the priest and other ministers vest and prepare themselves for the mysteries they are about to celebrate. In the time before Mass, silence is a key time for the faithful to prepare for Mass. There is a reason liturgical architects build gathering spaces also called a vestibule or a narthex into church design. The gathering space is the place to welcome each other. Choirs are encouraged to warm up and rehearse in another space than in the main church for the very reason of being respectful of the church nave and sanctuary as places of silence. During the Mass itself, one of the first places where silence is inserted is in the Opening Prayer said by the priest. When he says, Let us pray, we are supposed to take a moment in silence to do that very thing pray. After the brief silence, he then says the prayer. It is rightly called the collect because it collects our silent prayers into one. The priest s prayer is a summary of our prayers. The next opportunity for silence is in the Liturgy of the Word. After the readings, there should be a short time of silence to let the reading soak in, as it were. We silently reflect on the reading we just heard proclaimed. This should happen between all the readings. Finally, in the Liturgy of the Word, there should be a time for silence right after the priest or deacon s homily so that there can be another time for reflection. It can be said that the most important time for silence is the period after receiving Communion. It can be seated or kneeling, but this should be profound time of great inner silence and quiet prayer. The Prayer after Communion is the final time of programmed silence in the Mass. Once again, when the priest says, Let us pray, we should take that pause as a silent time to lend our prayers. Again, we have a collect, the prayer the priest says that collects our silent prayers and summarizes them into one. Sacred Silence is a powerful thing. You might consider taking some time out of your busy days to have a bit of silence, a bit of kairos in your life. A little silence goes a long way to a life of deeper serenity and greater focus in our busy, noisy lives. 7

8 St. Peter Catholic Church 2600 Maine Street Quincy, Illinois Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 105, Quincy, IL Return Service Requested Mass & Reconciliation Schedule Sunday Masses Saturday: 5 p.m., Sunday: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Weekday Masses Mon-Sat: 8:00 a.m., except for Wednesdays during the school year: 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation Saturday: 7:30-7:50 a.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment The Mass is a Gift continued from front cover days these are days (yes, including every Sunday) when we need to make the effort and commitment to participate in the Mass. The Code of Canon Law that I quoted earlier continues as follows: Moreover, they [that means you and me] are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord s Day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body (1247). Rendered to God means that our Mass attendance is a gift to God. Stewardship, of course, is how we take the gifts God has given us, use those gifts responsibly, and then return them and share them with the Lord and those around us. Although going to Mass is a gift to the Lord, it is also a gift to our community and to ourselves as well. We need that time to step back from our daily worries and concerns, and to look deeper into the meaning of living and of the importance of our relationship with God. I would like each of us to consider just how important it is to attend Mass. If we are really going to be committed to this concept of stewardship, we need to realize the significance of setting aside time each week, and on those other designated holy days (Aug. 15, for example) to be with the Lord and with our parish community at Mass. We must be committed to living out our Catholic faith properly and completely. Yours in Christ, Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow Pastor