St John the Baptist Catholic Church www.stjohntryon.com T H E L I T U RG I C A L W E E K MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, April 4 Holy Saturday Vigil of Easter 8:30pm - Priest s Intention Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord 8:30am - Priest s Intention 11:00am - For St. John Parishioners 12:30pm - Priest s Intention Monday, April 6 Monday within the 8:30am - Ann Gordon Peavy Tuesday, April 7 Tuesday within the 8:30am - Priest s Intention Wednesday, April 8 Wednesday within the 5:15pm - Mark Knight Thursday, April 9 Thursday within the 8:30am - Jay Tirre Friday, April 10 Friday within the CONFESSION *Mondays 7:30-8:15am Wednesdays 4:00-5:00pm *Fridays 7:30-8:15am Saturdays 3:30-4:15pm *No Confession April 6 & 10 DEVOTIONS *ADORATION Wednesday at 5:45pm *No Adoration April 8 MORNING PRAYER After Mass on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET After Morning Prayer on Monday THE SANCTUARY LIGHTS are lit this week in memory of John Lascoe 8:30am - Lois Tirre Saturday, April 11 Saturday within the 4:30pm - Patrick Nelson Sunday, April 12 Sunday of Divine Mercy 8:30am - Natalie Wassong 11:00am - Suzanne Boehm 12:30pm - For St. John Parishioners UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS! PRAYERS FOR OUR SICK & SHUT-INS Please remember the infirmed of our parish, especially those who, by request, have been placed on our parish prayer intention list. If you would like to be added to this list, please call the parish office. You may also call for a copy of the prayer list. APRIL 5, 2015
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD! S P I R I T UA L R E A D I N G & R E F L E C T I O N Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6 Dear Parishioners, The Lord is risen! Alleluia! Indeed He is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! My prayer for you is that your Lent has prepared you well for this 50-day feast of the Resurrection as we walk to Pentecost. How glorious that our Blessed Lord has triumphed over sin and Satan. His bodily resurrection is proof of His mastery over all life: He is God! Let us rejoice in the glory of the Lord. On another level, we know that we are called to rise from the graves of our former lives and live in the light having renewed our Baptismal promises. Our Lenten disciplines, with our Lord s grace, have prepared us to leave behind the shroud of our former lives we are free! We are children of the light following Christ, the Light of the world; we share this light with others as we invite them into Holy Church, into the place of light. One of the most beautiful ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church is the Easter Vigil. Last night as we blessed the new fire and lighted the Easter Candle, the whole Church rejoiced in the light which only Christ can shed on a darkened world. As He led the Hebrew people out of the bondage of Egypt, He has led us out of the bondage of Satan and freed us from our sins. With a good Confession, good Lenten disciplines and renewed hearts, we are ready today to profess the vows of our THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED! Baptism and make our Easter Communion! May our Lord grant you the choicest of His Easter blessings. Happy Easter! Thanks to all who made our Lent and then our Holy Week so profound. Our Stations of the Cross were so well attended each Friday. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for providing the Fish Frys every Friday of Lent. Our choir was very well prepared and so helpful to our worship to give glory to God. The Altar Boys, Knights of Columbus, lectors, and all who attended in the liturgies also assisted so well in that regard. We also thank those who saw to the cleaning and decoration of the Church and to the cleaning of the sacred vessels and the preparations for the liturgies. Today we have the opportunity in our second collection to help with the education of our Seminarians and Priests. Please be as generous as you can. I will be at meetings for the Eternal Life Apostolate in Bardstown, Ky. and the Institute for Religious Life in Chicago for the next two weeks. I am grateful to Monsignors Lehocky and Lathem for the kind assistance with Mass during my absence. May our Lord bless you and our Lady keep you in her tender care. With my prayers, Father Arnsparger PAGE 2
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH! PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS For sacramental emergencies, please call 828-859-9574, ext. 6 If you or anyone you know is homebound or hospitalized, even temporarily, please call the office so that we may arrange for them to be visited by one of our Extraordinary Ministers. DAILY MASS READINGS April 5 Sun Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 April 6 Mon Acts 2:14, 22-33/Mt 28:8-15 April 7 Tue Acts 2:36-41/Jn 20:11-18 April 8 Wed Acts 3:1-10/Lk 24:13-35 April 9 Thu Acts 3:11-26/Lk 24:35-48 April 10 Fri Acts 4:1-12/Jn 21:1-14 April 11 Sat Acts 4:13-21/Mk 16:9-15 April 12 Sun 2 nd Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday Acts 4:32-35/1 Jn 5:1-6/Jn 20:19-31 FINANCIAL FACTS This Week Y.T.D. Actual $9,062 $286,659 Budgeted $7,038 $274,500 Variance $2,024 $ 12,159 (unfavorable) This is the collection report for the Sunday Masses of March 28 & 29, 2015. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY Please join us on Sunday, April 12 th at 3:00pm to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. We will begin with Eucharistic Adoration, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Meditations, Litanies, and close with Benediction. All are w e l c o m e a n d e n c o u r a g e d t o participate. SEMINARY & PRIEST S CONTINUING EDUCATION EASTER SUNDAY The diocese sponsors workshops and programs to help keep our priests informed of developments in theology and pastoral practices, thereby enabling them to better serve the faithful. Our Seminarian Education Program is primarily funded through the DSA, the Friend to Seminarians Program, and the Second Collection held on Easter Sunday. Your generosity to this collection is an important part of educating our 18 seminarians. THE FOOD BANK COLLECTION has been moved to April 11 th & 12 th Please bring your canned goods and/or donate by way of the second collection at Masses. Items need this month: canned salmon, mustard, grits, flour & jello. Thank you from the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry. UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS! PAGE 3
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD! PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS THE E ASTER F LOWERS A RE I N L OVING M EMORY O F Walter & Rose Loughney Mr. & Mrs. Peter Schires Jay Tirre Joseph A. Williams, Jr. Manuel, Ligia, Vincent The Kempf, Kostrzewski & Kingsley Families Patricia A. Arner Wanda & DJ Lanahan Brenda M. Treva Dimond Mary Magner Stella Serdeezny Jean Lynn Eagan Roger Dimond Al Rolla Arthur & Doris Chassé Helen Bradley Joan Marie Mechensky Jim Kearney Edwina Brodzinski Donnie Lawrence Sandra Lucy Campo Robert L. Decker Hacker, Barbara & Mathew Jim Ball Stan & Mary Kochaniec Deceased Family & Friends of the Mazureks Maureen Hambly Thomas & Margaret Hughes Thomas Hunt, Sr. Patricia Hunt Richard & Louise Rowe Neil Barry Mrs. Jane Barry Jan Jones Al & Dorothy Tedrahn George & Colleta Lobas Alice Flynn Elizabeth & Nicholas Sutherland PARISH LIFE AT A GLANCE Mon Apr 6 9:00am Tue Apr 7 Wed Apr 8 Thur Apr 9 9:30am 5:15pm Fri Apr 10 Parish Office Closed Divine Mercy Chaplet No Schola Choir Rehearsal No RCIA No Mixed Sacramental Class No Faith Formation Classes Patriotic Rosary, Church Children s Choir Rehearsal, Church Sat Apr 11 9:15am K of C Meeting, Social Hall Fr. Arnsparger, Deacon Kingsley and the staff of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church wish you all a Joyous and Blessed Easter No Youth Group Sunday, April 5 th Happy Easter! THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED PAGE 4
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH! FAITH FORMATION RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS Easter Vigil, the most blessed of all nights, as proclaimed by the Exsultet, is the night the Church joyfully anticipates Christ s Resurrection. The elect receive all three Sacraments of Initiation and candidates for full communion receive Confirmation and /or the Eucharist. For the first time, the elect and the candidates are welcomed to the Lord s Table as full disciples of Christ. Following the Easter Vigil and the reception of the Easter Sacraments, the neophytes (newly initiated) continue their faith formation during the period of mystagogy (which means interpretation of mystery ). Mystagogy is the time of post-baptismal catechesis. It typically lasts for one year but can vary. This time allows the neophytes to reflect on their experience of the sacraments, Scripture, grow closer to Christ through the Eucharist and participate more frequently in the parish. The parish community is called to mentor the neophytes as they begin to live as Christian disciples and fulfill their baptismal vocation to evangelize. One way to support our newest brothers and sisters in Christ is to invite them to join a parish ministry or to dinner and continue to support them through prayer! Adapted from original article by Jeannine Marino Father of love and power, guide these elect and candidates in the days and weeks ahead: strengthen them in their vocation, build them into the kingdom of your Son, and seal them with the Spirit of your promise! "Help each other to live and to grow in the Christian faith so as to be valiant witnesses of the Lord. Be united, but not closed. Be humble, but not fearful. Be simple, but not naive. Be thoughtful, but not complicated. Enter into dialogue with others, but be yourselves." Pope Benedict XVI FAITH FORMATION NEWS May God bless you and your families at Easter, and keep you all year through. Wishing you a blessed and joyful Easter. No Faith Formation Classes Wednesday, April 8th. FF Classes will resume on Wednesday, April 15th. Sacramental Prep classes will resume on Wednesday, April 15th at 5:30 (those students who meet with Ms Mitzi, Ms Theresa and Ms. Pam at 5:30pm). Important Sacramental Information: Confirmation Retreat: April 19, 2015 at Immaculate Conception, Hendersonville. Time: 10:30am to 6:00pm. Rehearsal for First Holy Communion: Saturday, April 25th at 9:00am. First Holy Communion: Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 11:00am Mass. May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary: May 3, 2015 at the 11:00am Mass. Rehearsal for Sacrament of Confirmation: To be determined Sacrament of Confirmation: Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:00pm. TOTUS TUUS 2015 Sunday, July 26 th through Friday, July 31 st Grades 1 st 6 th Day Program Monday Friday Grades 7 th 12 th Evening Program Sunday Thursday Totus Tuus is a fun and energetic parish-based summer catechetical program a week-long parish mission for Catholic youth (1 st through 12 th ) led by college aged teams of two men and two women. Mark your calendars now! YOUTH GROUP Saturday, April 11 th Sunday, April 19 th Bishop s Youth Pilgrimage to Belmont Abbey Meet at Food Lion at 7:30am Youth Breakfast w/ Fr. Arnsparger 9:45am Parish Social Hall Any questions, contact Theresa in the parish office 828-859-9574 or at stjohnff@windstream.net. Registration will be announced in future bulletin notices. UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS! PAGE 5
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD! ANNOUNCEMENTS WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2015 Love Is Our Mission, The Family Fully Alive April 2015 All Love Bears Fruit September 22-27, 2015! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Families and individuals, called together from all over the world in faithful celebration of the family the sanctity of love and life Love is Our Mission Preparatory Catechesis Website: WorldMeeting2015.org Families can look forward to seeing and hearing Pope Francis, guest speakers, celebrations, kids activities, and prayer, all of which will bring renewal and transformation for you, your loved ones and the world. Not everyone is called to marriage. But every life is meant to be fertile. Every life has the power and the need to nurture new life if not through bearing and raising children, then through other vital forms of self-giving, building, and service. The Church is an extended family of different vocations, each distinct but each needing and supporting the others. Priesthood, religious life, and the celibate lay vocation enrich, and are enriched by, the witness of the married state. The different ways of being chaste and celibate outside of marriage are ways of donating one s life to God s service and the human community. Love is Our Mission 29 TH ANNUAL SPRING FLING FOR SENIORS Are you ready for a day filled with fun, excitement, fellowship and laughter? Catholic Charities Elder Ministry is excited to announce this year s Spring Fling for seniors. Registration is open for the following dates: April 30 th at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, N.C. (deadline is April 20 th ) and May 19 th at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, N.C. (deadline is May 11 th ). For more information contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or Sherill Beason at 704-370-3228. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church SAVE THE DATE April 6 April 12 April 22 May 2 May 3 May 24 May 25 Jul 3 Jul 26 31 Parish Office Closed Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration, 3pm Parish Office Closed, in-service day First Holy Communion May Crowning of Mary Pentecost Memorial Day - Parish Office Closed Parish Office Closed for Independence Day Totus Tuus Week THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED PAGE 6
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH! L ENT AND E ASTER WITH THE C HURCH F ATHERS EASTER AND THE OCTAVE OF EASTER EASTER RESURRECTION SUNDAY John Chrysostom, On the Resurrection, 3-5 Jesus has freed us from sin and from the power of death. He has joined what was separated by Adam and Original Sin. He redeemed the corrupt world through his Death on the Cross and he paid the ransom for us all through his Resurrection. He has reestablished the original order before handing everything over to the Father on the last day. MONDAY Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homily on Baptism (III), 5 After a sorrowful event that touches us closely, we all would love to wake up tomorrow as if it had just been a bad dream. Christ s Resurrection is that good awakening, the light that penetrates through the cracks in the window frames each morning, the dew that refreshes nature, and the divine reality that overcomes fear of death and becomes the last word. TUESDAY Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures XVIII, 6 For God all things are possible (Mt 19:26). From this statement, and through a special yes, the omnipotence of God became fully manifest to humanity. What nature is always telling us through the changing of the seasons and the planted seed that bears fruit, and what human imagination and genius show us through art, will finally become clear at the end of time. Doubting the Resurrection means doubting God: doubting the God for whom all things are possible. WEDNESDAY Cyril and John of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses II, 5 In the exchange of Christ for humanity, we only have to gain: his all for our nothing who would not call that a bargain? Yes, it s all strange and unimaginable, but who thinks they can know God s plans? Perhaps we do, who do not even really know who we truly are? Our task is to trust in him and to carry our cross, always looking to him. THURSDAY Dorotheus of Gaza, Directions on the Spiritual Life, XVI, 167 This is Dorotheus s explanation of some of St. Gregory s words, which are sung as a troparion for Easter. In the Byzantine Liturgy, a troparion is the main prayer repeated during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and at every Hour of the Divine Office. It is a sort of stanza that can be repeated either alone or as an element in a larger composition. We are called by St. Gregory and Dorotheus to joyfully give ourselves as an Easter offering in the manner of Christ, who rose for us. FRIDAY Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns, 6-14 Jesus makes all things new. In him everything acquires a new light and a new life. Men and women are configured to Christ, and the shadows of sin are dispelled and dissipated by the light of the Lamb of God. What was once veiled or hidden is now visible and manifest to us: it is the Truth that makes us free and turns us into credible witnesses. SATURDAY John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, 50, 2ff. At the school run by his pastor St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars a humble peasant f r o m A r s h a d learned to stop in the church before beginning his work and after he completed it. One day, when his fellow laborer did not see him arrive, he knew where to find him. He entered the church and found him absorbed in prayer. He asked him why he was late, and the peasant simply responded, I am looking at him, and he is looking at me as if to say, I am looking at him, Christ the Eucharist, and trying to understand myself in the light of his gaze. UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS! PAGE 7