incent St. de Paul Thanksgiving is a day when we join our loved ones in celebrating Bins Are Welcoming Thanksgiving Food Donations November 2015

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1 incent St. de Paul CATHOLIC CHURCH November The Joy Needed to Rediscover and Make Fruitful the Mercy of God The Jubilee Year of Mercy 3 November: Time to Be Grateful 4 The Adult Christmas Dinner: Bringing our Parish Family Together 6 Advent: Preparing for the Coming of Christ 7 Study of Scripture Helps us to Become Disciples of Christ Bins Are Welcoming Thanksgiving Food Donations Thanksgiving is a day when we join our loved ones in celebrating and giving thanks for the food on our tables. It is also a time we can make sure our neighbors have food on their tables, as well. The ladies of the St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliary work to make sure no one goes hungry throughout the year, but especially on the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, the Auxiliary has put out the call for food donations that parishioners can place in the bins provided at each church entrance. Auxiliary member Janet Caudill says the group asks for and receives a large amount of groceries from St. Vincent de Paul Grade School, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and Archbishop Hoban High School. At Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the Holy Name Society is aware of the need in our parish families, Janet says. There are no names, but we are given the numbers for a family. For example, Number 67 would be a family with two adults and three kids, and they probably would get seven bags of groceries. Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliary, like Carol, have been busy gathering food for the Thanksgiving baskets. The Auxiliary members get together on the Friday before Thanksgiving and pack the food, and the Holy Name Society members deliver the food. The same routine is followed for Christmas. During the rest of the year, the Auxiliary each week collects the donated food left in the bins, and purchases what is needed to make up 12 specific items for each food bag. The members gather on Mondays to assemble the bags. continued on page 5 Our parishioners donate both food and money to make sure no family goes hungry, and members like Marcy help sort the donations. 164 WEST MARKET STREET AKRON, OH STVINCENTCHURCH.COM

2 St. Vincent de Paul CATHOLIC CHURCH The Joy Needed to Rediscover and Make Fruitful the Mercy of God The Jubilee Year of Mercy Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy, which will commence on Dec. 8, 2015 (the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) and culminate on Nov. 20, 2016 (Christ the King-Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe). Jubilee Years are not unique, as this will be the 29th such Jubilee Year since the first one in Our most recent Jubilee Years have been in 2000, 1983, and In the Catholic Church, the concept of the Jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon. In the Book of Leviticus, a Jubilee year is mentioned to occur every 50th year, in which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven, and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. However, this particular Jubilee is unique in many ways. As in the past, it involves the establishment of Holy Doors. These are doors located at the four major Basilicas in Rome St. Peter Basilica, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Usually, Catholics are invited to make a pilgrimage to Rome and to enter through these doors during the Holy Year. Christ identified Himself as the door. In his announcement, the Holy Father pointed out that the Holy Doors evoke the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish. Jesus is the one and absolute way to salvation. To pass through a Holy Door is to confess with firm conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lord, the Savior who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. Pope Francis encourages every Catholic to make a pilgrimage to a Holy Door. He has recognized that pilgrimages will be taken to Rome and to other chosen churches with Holy Doors spread around the world there are three others designated in the world, with the only one in North America in Quebec City s Basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec in Canada. Thus, in an unprecedented move, Pope Francis has directed that every diocese and archdiocese in the world specify a church or shrine with a Holy Door to encourage and make it easier for vast numbers of people to make pilgrimages in keeping with the Holy Year and to pass through a Holy Door. To put that in perspective, there are almost 6,000 dioceses and archdioceses in the world, and nearly 200 in the United States alone. Therefore, every Catholic has an opportunity to fulfill this pilgrimage and to pass through a Holy Door. The churches and shrines designated as having Holy Doors will be announced soon. Of course, there is much more involved in this Holy Year of Mercy. Each Catholic needs to strive to learn about the Jubilee Year and to fulfill its stipulations. As Pope Francis said in his Bull of Indiction, Doors speak to us of welcome, hospitality, openness. I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God. I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. His Holiness Pope Francis

3 A Letter From Our Pastor November: Time to Be Grateful Dear Members of our St. Vincent de Paul Parish Family, I thank God every day for my priesthood; I thank God every day for each one of you; I thank God when I say the Mass; I thank God for each and every day. There are so many ways that the Lord has blessed me that I cannot really mention them all. That is a lot of gratitude, I know, but it is that kind of attitude of appreciation for God s presence in our lives, and His many gifts to us, that we need to concentrate on not just this month when Thanksgiving is so much on our minds, but throughout the year. It has been said many times that people who are good stewards are grateful people and, as a result, are happy people. If we think about the good things in our lives no matter how many challenges and sorrows there may be and make them the center of our thoughts, it makes everything better. As Catholics, we are thankful people by nature. We share the Eucharist regularly, and this is a gift from God on which we should always unite. You are probably aware that the word Eucharist itself comes from the Greek word eucharistia, which means, quite simply, thanksgiving. As a faith family, we share this meal of thanksgiving often, and certainly at every Holy Mass. Thus, my thoughts of thanksgiving are not confined to one time of year, but every day of the year. That should be the goal for each of us. I heard someone say recently that our Thanksgiving holiday has Protestant roots, but there are Catholic roots to the tradition, as well. Were you aware that in years before the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving Spanish Catholic settlers and Native Americans celebrated a Thanksgiving at a Holy Mass in St. Augustine, Fla.? Thanksgiving is a way of life for us. Every time we gather to celebrate Mass, to pray, or to just enjoy one another s company, it is a time for that eternal gratitude. Everything we have is a gift from God. It may be something basic like fresh air and clean water. It may be food. It is certainly family, friends and our very parish. Let us thank God not just at this time of year, but always. You and I are blessed. Gratefully yours in Christ, Fr. Dennis McNeil Pastor

4 The Adult Chris Bringing our Parish We are often reminded of the value in sharing a family meal. Our 40th President, Ronald Reagan, understood and emphasized that value when he said, All great change in America begins at the dinner table. Traditional family meals certainly serve to strengthen the familial bond and help form hearts and minds for future greatness. In today s fast-paced world, family meals have become even more important as they provide an opportunity for families to set aside their hectic day and focus upon one another. By virtue of our Baptism, each one of us has become a son or daughter of Christ and together, we form one family. Thus, just as an earthly family must carve out time from its busy schedule for one another, it is also important that we as a spiritual family make time for Christian fellowship the time to enjoy a family meal where we can laugh, learn more about one another, and even meet new members. On Saturday, Dec. 5, following the 5 p.m. Mass, the St. Vincent de Paul Altar Society will host its annual Adult Christmas Dinner in Corrigan Hall, and the program is open to all adult parishioners. The purpose of the dinner is to bring the adults of the parish together, fostering a better sense of community within the parish. It s about coming together to have dinner, to have conversation, to get to know new parishioners, says Altar Society President Marcy McManis. I look at it as a great opportunity for fellowship and a way of just doing something nice for the parishioners. The evening includes a meal catered by parishioner Mary Margaret Roberts, as well as an open bar and musical entertainment. Helping folks get into the Christmas spirit, this year s entertainment will be the parish choir Canticum Novum, which will lead guests in Christmas carols. Although there is a small cost to help cover expenses, the Adult Christmas Dinner s purpose is community and not raising funds. We ve just always kind of went in with the attitude that we really aren t in this Christmas Dinner for the money, explains Karen Inman, Treasurer for the Altar Society. It s really there to get everyone together. In a large parish, it is easy to get caught up within our own lives and circle of friends, sometimes missing other people and those new to our community. The Christmas Dinner provides a great opportunity for us to get to know other parish members, while helping us to live out our call to hospitality. I see this as an opportunity for people to put names to faces and to discover their common ground, Karen says. We have a common bond by all being part of the Church. I think as we grow in our faith, it is so important that we welcome others into our groups and our parish to help them know that they are welcome to I see this as an opportunity for people to put names to faces and to discover their common ground. We have a common bond by all being part of the Church. I think as we grow in our faith, it is so important that we welcome others into our groups and our parish to help them know that they are welcome to come and be a part of the events that we will host throughout the year. Karen Inman, Altar Society Treasurer

5 tmas Dinner: Family Together come and be a part of the events that we will host throughout the year. The Christmas Dinner is also a way for the Altar Society members to share of their time and talent with the rest of the parish family. The members are involved in every aspect of the event from planning and organizing, to decorating and even sometimes performing. Karen notes that the element of service is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of hosting the event. Just being a part of an organization in Church, even in a small way, makes you more connected to the entire Church, she says. The Altar Society ladies hope many parishioners will attend this year s Adult Christmas Dinner, helping to create a more unified parish family. Ticket costs and locations for purchase will be advertised in the parish bulletin. Also, if you are a woman looking to become more involved within the parish, please consider contacting Marcy McManis about the St. Vincent de Paul Altar Society at mcmarcy@neo.rr.com. Thanksgiving Food Donations continued from front cover Ellen Dies takes the bags to the Good Samaritan Hunger Center, where they are passed out in the ongoing project we have, Janet says. While food donations certainly help with the effort, the Auxiliary also spends between $100 and $200 per week in order to purchase needed items. Funds for these purchases come partially from the Auxiliary s Bakeless Bake Sale held at the beginning of Lent. We send out letters soliciting donations, Janet says. This stems from when the women first started the food drives and when they had bake sales. These evolved to the Bakeless Bake Sale. We get very generous support from the parish. There are currently about 19 members in the Auxiliary. The women are very faithful to their obligation, Janet says. They come when they can. The Auxiliary has its origins in a mission from the 1970s, Janet says. At that time, there were nuns working in their mission in El Salvador. At least one of them was from the Akron area. The Auxiliary was providing groceries for the needy in the local area only during the holidays, while they raised money for the nuns mission. When three of the nuns were killed, the mission was closed. When that occurred, the Auxiliary decided to continue the holiday food drive that evolved to the weekly collection. There were always only 12 members at the time, Janet recalls. That was as many could fit around a dining room table for a meeting we meet at the school now. As the Auxiliary collects and packs the food, they are aware of the impact their work will have in the community both spiritually and physically. We have the satisfaction of knowing we are providing food for the hungry, Janet says. That s one of the Corporal Works of Mercy. That s why everyone is so faithful to the work people are hungry and this is what we can do to help. As Thanksgiving approaches, items that are needed include those that we associate with the holiday meal stuffing, beef broth, noodles and potato mixes. Anyone who would like to help with the food collection or is interested in joining the Auxiliary may call Janet Caudill at

6 St. Vincent de Paul CATHOLIC CHURCH Advent: Preparing for the Coming of Christ A s we proceed through this month of November, we note that we will begin celebrating Advent close to the end of this month, on Sunday, Nov. 29. So now is the perfect time to begin preparing for the Advent season, and to remind ourselves of the season s true purpose. There are six seasons in the liturgical year for Catholics. The first is and always will be Advent. Advent is a season unto itself it is not part of Christmas. The six seasons are, in order: Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time (which is divided into two sections, one from the end of Christmas time until the beginning of Lent, and one from the end of Easter time until Advent). The point for us as Catholics as we approach Advent is to realize that Advent is not Christmas, even though it is possible to get caught up in the Christmas feeling that is so prevalent during this important liturgical cycle. Advent stands alone, and we need to approach it in that way. The mystery of Christ unfolds to us throughout the Church year, and that disclosure begins with Advent. Each of us Catholics is most likely aware that the Church has spent centuries of prayer, thought and study, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to define and identify how we are to live out our faith. We have Canon Laws set down for us from Rome. Also, at the Vatican, in the Curia overseen by the pope, there is something called the The Mystery of Christ unfolds to us throughout the Church year, and that disclosure begins with Advent. Congregation for Divine Worship. It is this sector of the Church that has given us our calendar and the reasons for it. According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar issued by the Congregation, Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ s first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ s Second Coming at the end of time (39). We may think in terms of Advent being merely as a time to prepare for Christmas. Nevertheless, it is much more important than that, or at least it should be. The word Advent evolves from the Latin word adventus, which means coming. We all understand that Christ is coming; His first coming is celebrated on Christmas, and that is to what our Advent preparations may tend to lead. To really be prepared nonetheless involves also understanding the second reason for the Advent season to prime us for the Second Coming of Christ. Although this may seem to us not in keeping with the Christmas spirit, it is exactly what we need to remember to include in what we do during Advent. Just as Lent is a penitential time leading up to Easter, Advent should be a penitential time leading up to Christmas. It is important for us, as stewards of the Church, to understand and appreciate both aspects of Advent. And it is equally important as good stewards to live out those expectations.

7 Study of Scripture Helps us to Become Disciples of Christ For more information about the Bible Study, please contact Pierre Ferrer at or at We know that time is one of the three Ts of stewardship, but stewardship and discipleship are truly timeless. This is never more apparent than when we study the Sacred Scriptures by carefully reading and discussing the Bible, we are able to apply 2,000-year-old lessons to our everyday lives, and become present-day disciples of Christ. St. Jerome tells us that ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ, says parishioner Pierre Ferrer. God speaks to us in prayer, but also through His Word. That is how He teaches us His will, and how we learn His teachings and become His disciples. This month, Pierre is starting a Bible Study for the members of our parish family. Studies will range anywhere from six to 10 weeks, meeting one night a week and covering a variety of Biblical books and topics. This is the first time I ve done anything like this at St. Vincent, and I was inspired by what I ve learned over the past several years about our Catholic faith, he says. The fullness of our faith, and everything that Catholics practice, is found and supported in the Bible. I want to share that with others. I think that many Catholics, at some point in their lives, have wanted to read the Bible but they were not really sure how to start, Pierre continues. The Bible can be overwhelming, but a Bible study helps to direct us on how to read the Bible as God intended us to read. We also learn how to understand it, and how it applies to our lives. Jesus gave everything He had to those in need, and He calls us to do the same. If we are disciples of Christ, then we can make disciples of all nations, just as Jesus calls us to do. Pierre Ferrer The study will use two different programs Little Rock Scripture Study and the Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study and will focus on both the Old and New Testaments. These two programs cover different things, and I think they complement each other, Pierre says. The objective is to help parishioners understand how the New Testament is a fulfillment of God s plan for our salvation, from the very beginning of creation and how, after the fall of Adam and Eve, the Old Testament really foreshadowed everything in the New Testament. Through the Bible Study, participants will have an opportunity to really get to know and understand their faith and subsequently, to share it. I think a challenge for many of us as Catholics is that we practice our faith, but we re not as familiar with it as we should be, Pierre says. We want to give our parishioners not only the ability to live their faith, but also the ability and desire to share it with others. If we don t know or understand our faith, we become reluctant to share it. This way, if we re challenged or questioned, we ll know how to defend our faith. Jesus tells us in Scripture that we are the light of the world the Catholic Church is light to the world, and we give light to all, he adds. By knowing, sharing and practicing our faith, we can help others to see that light, so that they may be drawn to God in the fullness of truth. By growing and learning in faith, study participants can strive each day to be more like Jesus. This helps us to better understand the life of Jesus His example, and how He calls us to follow that example, Pierre says. This includes giving of our time, giving of our talent, and giving of our treasure. Jesus gave everything He had to those in need, and He calls us to do the same. If we are disciples of Christ, then we can make disciples of all nations, just as Jesus calls us to do.

8 St. Vincent de Paul CATHOLIC CHURCH NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE PERMIT NO. 3 Masses Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM Weekdays: 6:30 AM Holy Days: 6:30, 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM Confessions: Saturday: 11:00 to 12:00 Noon and Thursday before First Friday; 3:30-4:30 PM Upcoming Events CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE Sponsored by the Senior and Middle School Youth Group. The Christmas Giving Tree will be in the sanctuary for three weeks beginning Saturday, Nov. 14. Unwrapped gifts and/or gift cards should be returned no later than Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information, please contact Ellen Dies at , ext. 101 or ellendies588@gmail.com. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST November 15th from 7 a.m. 1 p.m. in Corrigan Hall. THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY OF ST. SEBASTIAN/ ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCHES Guided study and discussion of Pope Francis encyclical On Care of Our Common Home. First meeting Nov. 15 at Byrider Hall (St. Sebastian) from 10-10:50 a.m. Second meeting (repeated) Nov. 19 at Forest Lodge, 7 p.m. To read the entire encyclical, go to Laudatosi.com. For any questions, please contact Carolyn Varner at ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COMMUNITY COUNCIL Annual Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show Saturday, Nov. 21, in Corrigan Hall ALTAR SOCIETY ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in Corrigan Hall. Join us for appetizers, dinner, dessert, open fellowship, and entertainment. Please contact Marcy McManis for more information and tickets at or marcy.mcmanis@hotmail.com.