In so many ways, November is special to us

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1 Saint Peter Catholic Church Inside 2 The Thanksgiving Spirit Doesn t Have to End at Thanksgiving 3 Knights of Columbus Provide Active Service to the Community 4 hospital Communion Ministry Provides to Patients in Need 6 advent: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ s Arrival 7 St. Peter Volunteers Help With an Eye-Opening Need A Letter from Our Pastor Dear Parishioners, A Time of Hope and Giving Thanks November 2014 In so many ways, November is special to us as Catholics, and also to us as Americans. It begins with All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and closes with the First Sunday of Advent on Nov. 30. Of course, the fourth Thursday of the month is Thanksgiving Day. When it comes to the Solemnity of All Saints, we have always recognized the connection with those who have died and joined the Lord in heaven. All Saints Day was instituted to honor all saints, known and unknown. The unknown has always left me enthralled. How many saints have each of us known among our friends and family, in our parish and our neighborhoods? To me, a saint might be someone who has provided an example of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Thus, we begin the month by paying tribute and recollecting all those in our lives who showed us what it meant to be a good Christian. Thanksgiving Day also gives me time to remember. It is a day to reflect on the ways in which God has so richly blessed us. Every day and every week should be a time of thanksgiving for us as good stewards. Appreciating that God is the source of all our blessings is at the heart of stewardship. Just a few days after Thanksgiving, our Church launches our new year with Advent a time of expectation of the coming of Christ, and a time when we begin the whole process of thanking God for the blessings we have received. As part of his Advent message last year, Pope Francis said, For the great human family, it is necessary to renew always the common horizon toward which we are journeying. The horizon of hope! This month should renew our hope, from honoring the saints we have known to our expectation of the coming of Christ. We join the Holy Father in recognizing the journey may God continue to bless you and keep you on your own journey. Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow Pastor 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 Thanksgiving Spirit Doesn t Have to End at Thanksgiving The origin of the first Thanksgiving feast is a matter of some debate among historians. But since 1863, Americans have annually set aside the fourth or fifth Thursday of November to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest. The holiday became a matter of federal law in 1941, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint congressional resolution to observe Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. Even as our society has become less agrarian, families continue to gather each November to give thanks to God for each other, and for the many blessings they ve received throughout the year. Most people associate this spirit of Thanksgiving with the fall holiday and its many recognizable symbols brisk weather, cornucopias, family gatherings and plenty of delicious food. But giving thanks to God in gratitude for the gifts we have received isn t an attitude we should save for this annual holiday alone. When we live lives of stewardship sharing of our time, talents and treasure in thanks to God and at the service of others we can sustain life in the Thanksgiving spirit throughout the year. The Church teaches that this daily response of gratitude is an important element of living the life of a Christian disciple. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, Indeed, in the work of salvation, Christ sets creation free from sin and death to consecrate it anew and make it return to the Father, for his glory. The thanksgiving of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head (CCC 2637). And how can we express this spirit of thanks? We can serve others, living the virtue of charity by reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need through acts of kindness. We can give back to God from our first fruits, sharing of our treasure in thanksgiving and recognition of the need to return a portion of our gifts to God. We can utilize our unique talents to make our parish and local communities better places. And, as the Catechism also points out, we can even express thanks through prayerfully offering up our daily activities to God: Every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving (CCC 2638). This Thanksgiving, take a moment to think of ways that you can live in the spirit of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, and every other day throughout the year. Living the stewardship way of life may not always involve a precisely-carved turkey, decorations or a family viewing of It s a Wonderful Life but it will provide lifelong fulfillment and joy rooted in an attitude of perpetual thanksgiving. Giving thanks to God in gratitude for the gifts we have received isn t an attitude we should save for this annual holiday alone. When we live lives of stewardship sharing of our time, talents and treasure in thanks to God and at the service of others we can sustain life in the Thanksgiving spirit throughout the year. 2

3 November 2014 Knights of Columbus Provide Active Service to the Community The Knights of Columbus provide a wonderful example to follow for almost any Catholic parish. The organization s members are collectively dedicated to serving their Church, their parish, their community, and their country in a number of ways. We have a lot of people who belong to the Knights that are Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, or sing in the choir, says Alan Mitten, Fourth Degree Knight and Comptroller for the Fourth Degree Assembly. They jump in and do whatever is needed. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men s fraternal organization that supports our parishes, priests and local communities. Council 583 of the Knights of Columbus, our local council, hosts many activities and conducts various fundraisers throughout the year to benefit groups in our parish and community. In August, they held their annual Quincy Knights of Columbus Barbecue, which included carnival rides for kids. Next month, the Knights will host their Christmas event called Christmas Cheer, where they buy and give out Christmas presents to children of the Knights. Some of the other events they host throughout the year include a weekly breakfast, held every Sunday from September through March at the Knights of Columbus Club. The Fourth Degree Assembly also runs a TV Mass, broadcasting the weekly Mass on Sunday mornings on KHQA for those who are unable to attend Mass in person. One of the things that Knights do when you become a Knight, you get a rosary, Alan says. We like to pray the Rosary as often as we can, especially for sick people. And we visit sick people, who may or may not be Knights, in the hospital. I personally volunteer at Blessing Hospital in the surgical intensive care unit as a greeter, greeting people whose loved ones are having surgery that day, and getting them set up near a phone so they can get updates about their loved one in surgery. The Knights also contribute to the efforts of a number of charity organizations. They work with the Family Life program, and they oversee a program in which they give $500 scholarships to local families to send their children to Quincy Notre Dame High School. In September, the Knights began their annual Tootsie Roll Campaign to benefit intellectually handicapped children. During this campaign, members of the Knights of Columbus stand in front of retail stores and on sidewalks, handing out Tootsie Rolls and accepting donations. The Knights of Columbus organization not only provides its members with the opportunity to serve, but it also builds a sense of camaraderie and unity among the men in the community while enhancing their faith. It s because they are doing the right thing, Alan says. They are helping other people, being ready to assist where needed. It s the knowledge that as a Knight, you can make a difference. The Knights of Columbus is open for all Catholic men 18 and older. For more information about Knights of Columbus, please call Alan Mitten at

4 St. Peter Catholic Church Hospital Communion Ministry Provides to Patients in Need The Hospital Communion Ministry serves a very important role bringing Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass regularly on their own due to a stay at Blessing Hospital. This beautiful ministry blesses both the volunteers and the parishioners they serve. I believe that prayer is very powerful, and when you re ill or have a health issue going on, I think that prayer is very helpful and comforting and gives you added strength, says Kathy Harman, our parish nurse who has been a parishioner at St. Peter since To receive daily Communion when possible gives Catholic patients that added support and strength to help them through whatever crisis or health issues they may be going through. Each day, two Eucharistic Ministers from parishes all over the area volunteer to bring Communion to Catholic patients at Blessing Hospital. The hospital staff coordinates the ministry, and each volunteer is given their assigned days each month based on availability and preference. When a Eucharistic Minister visits a patient, they give Communion, Kathy says. But it s also a time for a little bit of prayer and reflection. Hopefully, it gives the patient some hope that their illness will improve and they will get back to normal life. It s a big part of life for people there. I try to make daily rounds to the hospital to visit parishioners. I just go for prayer, a visit and companionship, and they tell me how much they look very forward to daily Communion. There are 35 volunteer Eucharistic Ministers who participate in this ministry, from parishes all over the area. The patients are also from many Eucharistic Minister Mary Brahler 4

5 November 2014 Hospital Communion Ministry continued from page 4 different parishes. Of those 35 volunteers, 17 are parishioners here at St. Peter. There is a fairly large list of volunteers from St. Peter s, and others that come in from the Catholic churches in the surrounding areas, Kathy says. Some do it once a month, and some do it the same day each week. I think it s nice that they are coming from all the parishes, because I just think it s important that everyone take part in such a wonderful ministry. While working to provide a welcome and much-needed service, volunteers are often surprised to build meaningful and lasting friendships with the parishioners they visit. Patients often enjoy having the volunteers stay and chat, and they are happy to know that someone from the parish is there for them, even when they can t get to Mass. This ministry is very enriching for me, Kathy says. You re doing something very special. You re praying with them and visiting with them, and it creates a very special connection between you and that person in the hospital at that time. If it s one of our parishioners, it helps me get to know them better and it s a nice connection to have. I would imagine that all the Eucharistic Ministers feel that same way. You re doing God s work and being God s hands here on earth, while providing a very special ministry to people that need it in that time. For more information on the Hospital Communion Ministry, or to volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Services department at Blessing Hospital at , ext Eucharistic Minister Mary Oakley When a Eucharistic Minister visits a patient, they give Communion. But it s also a time for a little bit of prayer and reflection. Hopefully, it gives the patient some hope that their illness will improve and they will get back to normal life. It s a big part of life for people there. Kathy Harman 5

6 St. Peter Catholic Church Advent: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ s Arrival There are countless references to preparation throughout Scripture: A voice cries out: prepare the way of the Lord... Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed (Is 40:3-5). Indeed, much of our Christian life is spent in preparation. As disciples of Christ, we are called to remain ever-ready, prepared and alert for His return. We educate our souls, through Scripture study and faith formation, to prepare our minds and spirits for the Lord s entrance into our lives. Predestined arrival demands preparation, and as we wait throughout the day, week, ecclesiastical year, and our lives for Christ s arrival, we further conform ourselves to His image. Advent, which begins this year on Nov. 30, is a time of joyful anticipation before the Lord s coming, and it capitalizes on this notion of preparation. The four Sundays before Christmas signify the penance and prayerful reflection needed to adequately prepare our hearts for Christ s arrival. Advent, in and of itself, proclaims the royalty and majesty of Christ. Much like John the Baptist s joyful exclamation, One mightier than I is coming. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire, Advent promises the arrival of divinity. As stewards of our Catholic faith, we must reflect upon the reality of Christ s coming during Advent. In the words of Christ Himself, I came so that they might have life, and have it more abundantly ( Jn 10:10). A wonderful promise, but the redemptive nature of Christ s words disguises the sacrificial theme embedded in our Lord s message. Throughout Advent, we must search our hearts, laying all evil and worldly indulgences upon the Cross. We can then offer Christ our purified souls, as we patiently wait to welcome Him into the world. Although we officially celebrate Advent only once a year, our entire lives should function in a preparatory state. We should expect, at any moment, for Christ to take us up with Him to heaven, so that we may sit beneath the Father s feet in eternal paradise. As a stewardship parish, we have professed ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ; through gifts of time, talent and treasure, we can prepare ourselves for Christ s return. We give of our hearts this Advent through alms of prayer. Thus, we spend our time with Christ in conversation and contemplation. Our talents, gifts in and of themselves, glorify God when used to build His kingdom. Our treasure, made possible by the talents God paired us with during creation, reflects the love and admiration we possess for our Heavenly Father. Consider our entire earthly lives as Advent periods of preparation. As we await Christ s return, especially during the upcoming Christmas season, consider how our parish family can, together, prepare a holy welcome for our Lord and Savior.

7 November 2014 St. Peter Volunteers Help With an Eye-Opening Need When we think of poverty, it s easy to think of it as something remote. We picture poverty as something that happens in a far-off place, and which we can do little about. The sad fact is that poverty is often where we least expect it sitting next to us on the bus, or standing in line behind us at the grocery store. It s right here in Quincy, and a group of parishioners are doing what they can to respond to it through the Horizons Soup Kitchen. We re in a small town and most people in our parish probably have no idea how many people are in need, says volunteer coordinator Kris Reuter. Run by Horizons Social Services of Adams County, the soup kitchen serves just less than 130 men, women and children from the Quincy area on a typical day. When St. Peter initially became involved in 2009, members of the parish were helping prepare a nutritious lunch at the soup kitchen three days a month. But as volunteer response grew Kris says approximately 60 parishioners now participate a fourth day was added. This overwhelming response has allowed the parish to respond to the soup kitchen s needs and to deliver a message that does more than just satisfy hunger. When the soup kitchen started, the gentleman that started it was a pastor, and his goal was to staff it with all the local churches, and that s what he s done, Kris says. Everyone that volunteers is involved with the different churches in town. The mission is not only to give people a meal, but also to witness to them and to be able to sit down and talk with them. For parishioner and volunteer Helen Cornell, spending time at Horizons has offered her a life-changing experience. I wasn t even aware of the need, she says. It was a real eye-opener to find out there was such a need in a community our size. What I learned was so many of the people that are taking advantage of this opportunity are working people. They work and still it s not enough to provide for their nourishment. It s so broad-based and in areas you d never expect. High school students helping to serve a meal at Horizons Soup Kitchen. Helen notes that volunteering sometimes with her husband, John, and son, Jack has been such a personally fulfilling thing. It s great to give money but this is an opportunity to give back to my community in a hands-on way, she says. Horizons does that in a very dignified manner. Members of the parish help out at Horizons on the first, third and fifth Monday and the fourth Friday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Each volunteer takes a shift and is assigned a job based on the time they are able serve. Tasks range from cutting and prepping food at the start of the day, to helping serve the food, and then finally helping the Horizons staff clean up at the end. You serve the people, Kris says. They re appreciative, and it s just a great experience. While the volunteer roster is full at the moment, Kris says those who are interested should watch the bulletin for openings. It was a real eye-opener to find out there was such a need in a community our size. What I learned was so many of the people that are taking advantage of this opportunity are working people. They work and still it s not enough to provide for their nourishment. It s so broad-based and in areas you d never expect. Helen Cornell 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 Spotlight on Ministries The Stewardship Committee is hosting a Spotlight on Ministries event during Donut Sundays on November 3 Join us after Mass in the cafeteria. It s a great opportunity to visit with leaders in our parish and find out how these ministries serve our community. Mark Your Calendars! November 3