St. John the Baptist. When Fr. Kevin Butler first discerned. Celebrating Fr. Kevin Butler s Installation as Our Pastor

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1 CATHOLIC CHURCH In this Issue: Pray, Smile, and Make the World a Better Place Seminarian James Linkenheld Open to Discernment The Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Rooted in Faith and Stewardship: The Wegener Family It Is a Humbling Experience to Be a Pastor Celebrating Fr. Kevin Butler s Installation as Our Pastor When Fr. Kevin Butler first discerned becoming a priest, his sense of being unworthy nearly kept him from entering the seminary. He had a strong desire, however, to serve others and to make a difference in the world. With that in mind, he quit his job at Motorola, gave his car to his sister, and entered the seminary. Being ordained a priest, I once again didn t feel worthy, and it is the same for leading a parish, for being pastor, Fr. Butler says. I am humbled by the way the Lord works through me to bless others, to be present to others, to make a difference in the lives of others. On Aug. 6, Bishop David Malloy celebrated Fr. Butler s installation Mass, and a church full of faith community members gathered for the ceremony marking Fr. Butler s transition from serving as the parish s parochial Fr. Kevin Butler s installation Mass as Pastor of administrator to becoming the pastor of. In many ways, these two positions are similar since they entail comparable responsibilities on the parish level, including administering to the parish in terms of spiritual matters and business concerns. The duties stay the same, Fr. Butler says. I am here to serve the continued on page 2

2 Celebrating Fr. Kevin Butler s Installation as Our Pastor continued from front cover faithful entrusted to me, to help them encounter Jesus, to help them grow in their knowledge and love of their Catholic faith, and to help make Jesus present to them. One difference between the two positions is that parochial administrator is a temporary position that does not necessarily lead to becoming the pastor of a parish. As pastor, Fr. Butler was canonically installed for a six-year term that can be renewed for another six years. There is a little more authority as a pastor because it is made clear that the bishop intends to leave me here to serve and lead this parish for a while, Fr. Butler says. It tells me that the bishop believes in me and my abilities to entrust to me canonically the parish. At his installation Mass, Fr. Butler was humbled by the many parishioners, family and friends who filled the church, and who rose to give a standing ovation when the bishop presented him to the parish. It was an amazing experience to have the bishop present to me my parish staff, Pastoral Council and Finance Council, Fr. Butler says. I truly felt their support. It reiterated the importance of working as a team to do God s will in leading the parish. As Fr. Butler and the bishop signed the official documents that entrusted the parish to Fr. Butler s care, he felt in a certain way that the Holy Spirit will be present guiding him in ministering to the faith community of. It is a humbling experience to be a priest and now a pastor, Fr. Butler says. As your pastor, I am committed to serving you and ministering to you and bringing you to Jesus. I am always available for you. Fr. Kevin Butler s installation Mass as Pastor of Fr. Kevin Butler s parents and uncle celebrating the installation Mass It is a humbling experience to be a priest and now a pastor. As your pastor, I am committed to serving you and ministering to you and bringing you to Jesus. I am always available for you. Fr. Kevin Butler 2

3 A Letter From Our Pastor Pray, Smile, and Make the World a Better Place Dear Parishioners, At times in the Church, we speak about new beginnings. We probably are more accustomed to using this expression to describe springtime. But, I would maintain that the fall season that we are entering into is a time for new beginnings for so many of us also. Just think about all the things in our lives and in those of our families that have begun or begun again in the past several weeks. The kids are back in school. Religious Education is starting up again. However, two other thoughts come to mind. The first thought is prayer. Jesus certainly provides for us both an example and encouragement to have rich prayer lives. This would be a great time for a personal spiritual renewal, both for us individually and for our families. As we start up different things, why don t we reboot or tune-up our prayer lives? Schedule more time for personal prayer on a consistent basis. Even better, if you have a family, try to pray together as a family regularly. Say the Rosary together each day or at least once a week. Make a commitment to come to Eucharistic adoration and make a Holy hour. Make a commitment to coming to Mass. Go on a retreat. We have a few of them coming up this month. Engage your heart. Your shared prayer can enrich your life so much, and often it is something that stays with children forever. My second thought goes back to the theme often stated by Jesus to love one another. Were you aware that studies done by healthcare groups have shown that people who try to be kind to others have less pain, less depression, and less stress in their lives? That is exactly what the Lord tells us will happen if we do even small things to demonstrate our love for one another. That can begin with something as simple as a smile. Smiles certainly make others feel better, and they tend to help us, as well. Mother Teresa, who was canonized a saint on Sept. 4, was fond of saying, Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. So, it is important for us to smile. That act of kindness is the least we can do. Another way to show kindness is to get involved in ministries and activities. By committing ourselves to ministry and to being volunteers in a variety of ways, we are actually making the idea of being kind, routine and normal. Look for ways you can do things that match and fulfill your talents and interests. Those two thoughts, although seemingly small, can make a huge difference in our lives, not to mention the lives of those around us. First, pray more on a fixed schedule. Second, smile and be kind. It is amazing how those two aspects of our lives can be fulfilled and fulfilling. In Christ, Fr. Butler, Pastor As we start up different things, why don t we reboot or tune-up our prayer lives? Schedule more time for personal prayer on a consistent basis. Even better, if you have a family, try to pray together as a family regularly Your shared prayer can enrich your life so much, and often it is something that stays with your children forever. 3

4 4 Seminarian Jam Open to D Never underestimate the power of a good Bible study be- those intense feelings concerning would lead a Bible study, and when cause, as incredible as it sounds, that is exactly where seminarian James Linkenheld first felt a calling to the priesthood. It was the summer between his sophomore and junior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he describes it as a conversion that started him on the road to discernment. That summer, I went back home and led a Bible study at my parish for young adults and it was through that experience that the Lord started moving my heart, James says. I realized I had a passion for leading others to a deeper understanding of God s Merciful Love, poured out on us in Christ through the Holy Spirit. It was about then that when Seminarian James Linkenheld (second from left) serving with his brother seminarians at an Ordination Mass for three priests this past June the priesthood once again returned, he spoke with a priest who gave him the exact advice almost word for word that his pastor had given him a few months earlier. James had arrived at a crossroad, and knowing where to go next wasn t easy. In fact, the next couple of months were some of the darkest of his life. James was lonely, he was upset with God for not being clear, he was struggling in prayer, and he had pressure from old friends trying to get him to fall back into a life incompatible with Christ. The turning point occurred when James stopped trying to figure it all out. I surrendered, James says. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I I attended Mass I would wonder what I would say in a homily, or what I would look like behind the altar, or what priests even did Monday through Friday. These new thoughts and ideas were confusing for James. When he was a little boy, he briefly considered the idea and even mentioned it to his parents but this was the first time that he seriously considered the priesthood as a vocation. To try and figure out what he was feeling, James broke up with his girlfriend of seven months and he talked to his pastor, who advised him to pray the Rosary every day, spend time in daily prayer, go to daily Mass if possible, and attend Confession once or twice a month. It was good advice, but it all still seemed vague. As a result, once James returned to college for his junior year, he tried to shove all those feelings aside and poured all his energies into his job as an assistant on the football staff. But then the Newman Center asked if he started praying, God, I ll do whatever you want, just please tell me and make it clear because you know I m ignorant and hard-headed. I think God really values those prayers of trustful abandon and used that opening to demonstrate His love and prepare me to receive His grace. A couple of weeks later, I felt Him speak to my soul, You are called. And from there, things fell into place. James met with the vocation director of the diocese, sent in his application over winter break of his junior year, found out he was accepted over spring break and, with his parents blessing, made the decision to forgo his senior year and begin seminary that fall. If there is one thing we can learn from James vocation story, it s that discerning God s will doesn t mean sitting back and waiting for something to happen. It takes work. In addition to being very specific with his prayers God, what do you want me to do?

5 es Linkenheld iscernment James also attended Mass as often as possible, went to Confession at least once a month, and prayed the Rosary asking for Mary s intercession. Without a strong relationship with the Lord, built with prayer on the foundation of the sacraments, no vocation can make us into the saints we are meant to be, James says. Discernment is not a treasure hunt rather, discernment is the building of our relationship so that the Holy Spirit can form us into the image of Jesus that we are called to be. We listen to the desires of our heart, our gifts, and what the Lord has been telling us in our prayer, and then we boldly step toward one of those specific vocations. And after discerning, how do you know you ve made the right decision? I worked for a Big Ten football team, was on the fast track toward becoming a coach or scout, was dating a beautiful, wonderful girl, and was going to be a senior at one of the biggest party schools in the nation, James says. But after all that, entering the seminary was the best decision of my life. There is so much peace and fulfillment in doing the Lord s will, and that is what really makes you happy. Today, James has just started his fourth and final year of college seminary at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb. and in December will find out where he will be attending major seminary. While he is looking forward to continuing his formation, for now he is enjoying life in the seminary. And in case you re wondering what that s like, James says it s similar to a college experience, with classes, homework, sports, video games, and naps. But there is one major difference prayer life is a little more intense. In addition to having a spiritual director and a formation advisor, seminarians pray together as a community and are expected to do an hour of prayer on their own. In the end, while James wasn t called to the priesthood until he was in college, he acknowledges that the groundwork was set in childhood by his parents who not only gave him the gift of faith, but who also taught their son to be open to anything God would call him to be. In looking back, I realized that I am able to live out my faith well because of their examples of selfless and sacrificial love, James says. My dad has taught me how to give and work hard to provide for those you love, and my mom has shown me how to be gentle and trusting in the Lord. Most of all, they prepared me to be open, which is huge for discernment. When I was younger and told them I wanted to be a priest, they didn t squash it or tell me to think about something else. That is something I am grateful for they just let the Holy Spirit work on me and their openness prepared me to respond similarly. James Linkenheld by a statue of St. Therese of Lisieux, his favorite saint. The photo was taken two years ago at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb. It was the day he received his cassock. James Linkenheld (right) with Rockford classmate, Miles Monaco, playing hockey on the pond behind the seminary this past January 5

6 THE PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Human Dignity Human dignity is the fundamental principle within the Church s teaching on social justice. A firm understanding of this principle is required so that the rest of Catholic Social Teaching can be viewed from the appropriate perspective. God created us in His image and likeness, so we all are worthy of respect. Respect for Human Life Whether unborn or seconds away from death, no life deserves to be prematurely ended. The Church sees this principle as crucial to the health of any society. What makes being Catholic, well, Catholic? Things like the Mass, the Rosary and the Seven Sacraments come to mind. But there is also an element of Church teaching that s often overlooked and sometimes misunderstood Catholic Social Teaching. Catholic Social Teaching guides Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and lays the framework for the Church s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Catholic Social Teaching can be explained with 10 key points. These 10 principles demonstrate the depth of the Church s teaching on social justice, and they call Catholics to take an active role in shaping the world in which we live. Catholic Social Teaching, when taken to heart, can become the catalyst that causes positive change in a world that desperately needs it. Consider these principles and strive to apply them in your own life. Association Association holds that social relationships must be developed so that all people may reach their fullest potential. The Church teaches that the family is the basic unit upon which all other elements of society rest. We must uphold the sacredness of the family, and foster the growth of other societal organizations that preserve the well-being of all people. Participation All people deserve the right to work and to participate in God s creation. The joy of accomplishing a task and performing honest labor should be made available to all people. Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable Society exists in a balance between those with power, and those without it. The vulnerable those with disabilities and the poor must be protected from those with power who choose to wield it in an unjust manner. Solidarity Love your neighbor as yourself this commandment extends beyond the boundaries of any town, state or country. The principle of solidarity encourages all people to reach out to their brothers and sisters in need and to help them, even if they live halfway around the world. Stewardship Everything we have even our own lives is a gift from God. Our talents, our time and our financial resources are not our own, but God s. The same goes for the natural resources we so often take for granted. Responsibilities and Limits of Government Governments, while created for the common good, sometimes overstep their boundaries. The Church teaches that all governments should seek to operate at the lowest level of organization possible striving to solve problems at the source, with those who understand them best, and not through oppressive force. Human Equality God made all humans equal, including those of different ethnicity and race, and in different stages of life. No one person is of more value than another. Common Good It is especially important in our society to promote the common good the social well-being and development of the human group. If we consider the entire human race as one family, the common good urges us to support our brothers and sisters so that they may reach their full potential. 6

7 Rooted in Faith and Stewardship: The Wegener Family It s your average Tuesday evening and even though there is a lot going on at the Wegener household, there is a good chance you will find Nick and Kelly at the parish Holy Hour with their children, Nate, Nolan, and Emily. For these parents, taking part in Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation together is an important aspect of family life. We do it as a family, Kelly says. I like the children to see that we go to Reconciliation and how it s important to us. And it s just a weight lifted off a great feeling after you ve gone. Nick also notices a distinct difference in how he thinks and feels after participating in the Tuesday Holy Hour. The increased focus on his faith life that the service brings stays with him throughout the week. I can really tell a difference in my life when I attend that, and I can also tell a difference when I stop going, he affirms. You walk into church and there is just a feeling of peace, a quiet and a calm, even if you just sit there and you have your thoughts to yourself. It s really very powerful. I don t make it there every week, but there is a huge difference in my life that I notice when I go I m not as pleasant when I don t attend. Nick, who also serves as an usher and helps with Symbolon, credits his parents for cultivating in him the desire to be involved in parish life. As one of 10 children, Nick was raised in a family that put faith and stewardship at the forefront of everyday life. Nick and Kelly Wegener with their children, Nathan, Nolan and Emily I have nine brothers and sisters, and our family is very close knit and tight, he says. We have our separate opinions, but what is central in our family is forgiveness, and it s a real peace in the family when you can have that. We re quick to ask for forgiveness and to be forgiving, and that is something our parents instilled in us. I thank my folks all the time for raising us in the faith and pointing us in the right direction. Thanks in large part to his parents example, Nick and Kelly both strive to serve as strong role models in the faith for their own children. continued on back cover No amount of money or fancy things from the store can bring the peace and joy in your heart that is given to you by God for free. Every opportunity you have to go and receive that grace is just a real peace. Nick Wegener 7

8 320 S. Depot Street PO Box 276 Somonauk, IL Phone: Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Somonauk, IL Permit No. 25 Return Service Requested Mass Times Saturdays 5:00 PM Sundays 8:00 and 10:30 AM Weekdays: Tuesdays 6:30 PM M, W, Th, F 7:00 AM Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesdays 5:00 PM Saturdays 4:00 PM or by appointment Adoration Tuesdays 5-6 PM and First Fridays 7:30 AM-7:00 PM with Benediction 7:00 PM The Wegener Family continued from page 7 That is something that I hope and pray that I can pass on to my children, because no amount of money or fancy things from the store can bring the peace and joy in your heart that is given to you by God for free, Nick says. Every opportunity you have to go and receive that grace is just a real peace. I feel the same way, Kelly agrees. When Nick and I were married, I would go to church with him, and five years into our marriage, I joined the Church. I love that we are together in that and can bring our children up in the Catholic family. Hand in hand with the example of faith they hope to pass to their children is a dedication to service and parish involvement. And following their parents lead, all three of their children are active in the parish as altar servers. Nolan also enjoys participating in the YDisciple group. I think what it s all about is helping others, doing what you can for people and your family, and being an example for our children, Kelly says. Despite how busy life can be with work, school and extracurricular schedules, the Wegeners strive to spend as much time as possible serving the parish and nurturing their family s faith life. We try to help out as much as possible, and I m sure there is much more we could do, Nick says. My wife takes the time and allows me to go help with Symbolon while I m doing that, Kelly is home holding down the fort or shuttling kids back and forth. I m excited when I get back and we can talk about it and sometimes our kids are catching that talk so I hope even those little things that they see on the side will benefit them in the future. It s all definitely a team effort. By working as a team and leading by example, Nick and Kelly are instilling in their children a strong understanding of the graces received from a life rooted in faith and stewardship. What a blessing for the Church to witness a family s love and service for God as it is passed on from generation to generation!