March 2015 Saint Rose of Lima THIS ISSUE: Page two The Wise Men s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations Page three: United by Faith in Our Parish Family PAGE FOUR & Five: Knights of Columbus Grow in Faith, Fellowship and Service Page six: Journeying With Christ Through the Stations of the Cross PAGE SEVEN: Saint Rose of Lima Students Journey to Washington for Massive March 1601 North Tennessee Boulevard Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 893-1843 www.saintrose.org Our Parish Mission: A Time for Grace and Reconciliation There is no better way to fully engage in the observance of Lent and to prepare for the celebration of Christ s Resurrection at Easter, than by attending our Parish Mission Renewal in Christ Our Savior set for March 22-25. Come as you are, find a seat, and let it wash over you and listen to Christ speaking to you in the Eucharist, says Michael Lewis, Director of Religious Education. Each evening s session begins at 6:30 p.m. in the church with Fr. Ken Geraci of the Fathers of Mercy. There is no fee and no registration. Child care will be available. Show up as you can, and although it s best to participate in all of the sessions, if you can make only one night, that s great, Michael says. With the child care, parents can come and enjoy the fruits of the mission. Fr. Ken Geraci of the Fathers of Mercy The entire family is welcome, he continues. We encourage youth to come. If a child can sit through Mass, he or she can manage. The topics can get a little deep, but never too far that kids can t understand Christ is on the altar. Everyone of every age can enjoy the mission. And parents can continue the discussion at home with their children. Fr. Ken will speak each night on the various topics that will encompass Truth, God and Jesus Christ. There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction. Wednesday night will conclude the mission with Mass, and the topic for that evening will be preached as the homily. This is a great time to call someone back to the Church, Michael says. If you know someone, invite them back. This is a good time to reconcile with the Church. continued on back cover
The Wise Men s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations We experience great joy when we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany each year. For many of us, it is the completion of Christmas. Yet, the gifts offered by the Magi gold, frankincense and myrrh can be a guide for us as we plan our Lenten observances this year. It may seem strange to connect the joyful celebration of Epiphany with the penitential season of Lent. Yet, our spiritual life should not be divided into separate bits having no connection with each other. In the same way, the Church s liturgical year should also flow from one season to another. The different feasts and seasons certainly have different emphases, but they are intended to build on each other. So let s see if we can connect what the Magi gave Jesus with what we re going to offer Him this Lent. The basic ingredients for our Lenten rule normally come from what are termed the Three Notable Duties prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These in turn come from Jesus Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). How do we connect the wise men s gifts with the notable duties? Actually, what the gifts symbolize matches up surprisingly well. Frankincense is the basic ingredient in the incense used in the worship of God, in the ancient world and in the Church today. Offering it to Jesus points out His divine nature, and so it symbolizes prayer. Our Lenten rule needs to include prayer and worship. Of course, we are bound to worship at Sunday Mass yearround. Maybe during Lent, we might add a weekday Mass. Perhaps we can increase the time we devote to private prayer at home or at adoration. Devotional reading from the Bible or another appropriate book can be added. And don t forget the possibility of adding family devotions during Lent, so the whole family prays together. When we offer our gold to Christ to build His Church and to help His poor, we are engaged in almsgiving. While giving from the treasure God has entrusted to us is a duty throughout the whole year, maybe this Lent we can practice being a little more generous than usual. If our giving is a thankful response to the gift of eternal life that God has given us, we will find that the giving is indeed a means of grace. For centuries, myrrh has been associated with fasting. Although myrrh comes from the same family of plants as frankincense, it has a more pungent scent and bitter taste. In the ancient world, it was regularly used in embalming. Generations of theological writers have seen the gift of myrrh as a foreshadowing of Christ s sufferings. And fasting strengthens us in holiness and prepares us to come into God s presence after our own deaths. St. Thomas Aquinas himself linked myrrh with repentance and fasting when he wrote that myrrh represents the penance by which we preserve our souls from the corruption of sin. Fasting may be the most difficult of the three notable duties for modern Americans. After all, most of the advertising and many of the magazine articles we see are devoted to making us more, not less, comfortable. We usually think of fasting only under the heading of dieting to lose weight. Instead, try to think of fasting as a way to become more spiritually fit. Body and spirit affect each other. The whole sacramental system is built on the truth that we can receive spiritual grace through material things and physical actions. Our specific requirements of fasting are limited abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, and a reduction in the quantity of food we eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But discipline of our physical bodies for our spiritual well-being does not have to be limited to Lent! Gold, frankincense and myrrh were indeed valuable gifts for the wise men to present to the Child Jesus. When we look at their symbolism, we can see their relationship to the three notable duties of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. What gifts are we going to offer to Jesus this Lent?
A Letter From Our Parish Administrator United by Faith in Our Parish Family Dear Saint Rose of Lima Community, My name is Fr. Nicholas M. Allen and I am very excited to be here with you. I grew up in the Nashville area and went to St. Ignatius in Antioch. The high school youth program there use to do retreats with Saint Rose occasionally, so I first encountered Saint Rose as a teenager, and it has grown a lot since then. I am overjoyed to be a part of this community and looking forward to serving here as a priest. Before entering the seminary, I worked in a restaurant in Nashville called Florida Seafood Kitchen where I was the general manager. After a few years, I noticed something was missing in my life, and it was then that the opportunity to enter seminary presented itself to me. I grew up Catholic, but figured I would get married and have kids working with children has always been a passion of mine, and I looked forward to having my own. God had a little different plan in mind! When I first received God s call, I was a little reluctant to respond, but I also knew I was not satisfied in what I was doing. I eventually decided to give seminary a chance, and it was then that God surprised me with the gift of joy that is the priesthood. I spent the next 6 1/2 years at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, and after a lot of prayer and discernment, I decided that the priesthood was where I needed to be. I struggled to give up the idea of having my own personal family, but saw I was being offered a much larger family to be with. This is how I see each of the people I work with and serve. We are all connected by our one Baptism, by the blood shed for us by Christ on the Cross, and by the one faith we profess every Sunday. I have been privileged to work in the Catholic Youth Office, as Associate Pastor of St. Matthew, and Chaplain of Father Ryan High School. I always tell people I get the best of both worlds I get to work with students of all ages and still get to go home to a quiet house. Regardless of age, I enjoy working with people and walking with them on this journey of faith. We all come together to form the Church bringing the gifts our God has given us to build up the Kingdom of God here. God has given each of us gifts and uses those gifts in the vocation to which He calls us. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greek, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). We are all children of the Father, brothers/sisters of Christ, and sharers of the one Holy Spirit. Let us then work together, bringing the gift of faith, not to just those that we know, but to each person we encounter. Our faith unites us as a community and I look forward to working in the community of Saint Rose. In all things, may our Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you and prosper the work of your hands. Yours in Christ, Fr. Nicholas Allen
Knights of Columbus Grow in Faith, Fellowship and Service For decades, the Knights of Columbus have been well-known for the good work they do in the local community, across the nation and around the world. Founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney, the organization originally operated as Fraternal Benefits Organization to render financial aid to members, widows, and their families. Although they continue to offer life insurance, the Knights have since expanded their efforts to participate in and organize countless other service initiatives. Not only that the Knights of Columbus also serves as a way for men to grow in fellowship and fraternity with others who share their Catholic values. The Knights of Columbus is not just a men s club we do more than get together, have a beer and watch football games! says Grand Knight Bill Strebel. We re there to grow in faith, support our clergy, strengthen our Church and serve our community. Since its establishment in 1958, Saint Rose s Knights of Columbus council has grown to become one of the largest and most active councils in the state. The council numbers more than 300 members, including two of the original charter members, Jack Sant Amour and Joe Lynch. Any practicing Catholic male aged 18 and up is welcome to become a part of their local council, and they can choose their level of involvement. The Knights of Columbus has four principles that we rely on, and each principle is attached to the degrees of the Knights themselves, Bill says. For the first degree, the principle is charity. For the second degree, the principle is unity. For the third degree, the principle is fraternity. And the fourth degree the visible arm of the Knights of Columbus, who wear the Dress Regalia is patriotism. We encourage men to join even if they can attend only one event a year, he continues. The opportunity to serve more is always there, and we re also there to support each other. If a member of our council is ever in distress, we are there to help them. The Knights participate in programs in several different areas including church, community, council, family, pro-life, and youth. They also support organizations such as Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, and reach out to the local community. This past December, we had our 51st annual Christmas party at the county nursing home, Bill says. We purchase gifts for all the residents, and make gift bags for them. We come out to them with gifts, Santa Claus and the church choir, who sing Christmas carols. Some of the folks there don t have visitors the entire year, they are the only remaining family member or their family members have forgotten them. We re the only visitors they get, so that s very important. The council also works to support clergy and religious people. For example, we do two cleanups each year at the sisters house, we do spring and fall cleanups on the parish property, Bill says. We also always have a room ready in our house as a place to stay if a priest or seminarian is passing through. The Knights also organize several events to bring the parish family together in many ways. We have chili cook-offs, a fish fry on all of the Fridays of Lent, and special dinners throughout the year to raise funds for our charitable acts, and also to bring our community together, Bill says. It s not just about raising money, it s about bringing the folks together in places besides the Holy Mass to share in the community. Another thing we just started is a family movie night, for children and families to attend. continued on next page
Knights of Columbus continued from previous page Although the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Fraternal Service Organization, we welcome the involvement of families in much of what we do, he continues. The support and company of our wives and family makes everything we do more rewarding and worthwhile. We even have an offshoot organization made up of many of our wives and family members called the Awesome Bakers. They have been instrumental in not only baking desserts for our community events, but also assisting in raising funds for parish and community projects. We owe them a great deal of gratitude for their efforts and involvement. For Bill, who has been a Knight since 1983, participation in the Knights of Columbus is something that can positively influence every aspect of your life. Knights are also natural role models for Catholic youth Bill recalls how his grandfathers and father s involvement in the organization inspired him to join the Knights and become active in his faith. Both my grandfathers were officers in the Knights, and my dad became a Grand Knight the year before I was born, he says. I became a Knight when I was about 20, and have been a member for 32 years now. I got my father re-interested in it, and he is now very active with his Knights of Columbus council at his parish again. Being a Knight has helped Bill to prioritize his faith and to always be aware of ways he can serve others. I always saw the Knights as a way to become more involved in the parish and Church, he says. I saw that there was a benefit to hanging out with like-minded individuals. When you have an organization that s built on faith, it is stronger, and when you have like-minded individuals to gather together with, your friendships and relationships become much stronger. Most of my strongest relationships and true friendships are due to the Knights and my involvement with the church. It also strengthened my volunteer spirit, he continues. I got involved as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion, I m a lector, I m an usher, and I m involved with a program called That Man Is You, which is a men s faith class that meets during the spring and fall. It has made me more aware of how many needs there are at the church, how much there is to be done, and how there is always an opportunity for someone to get involved. Bill encourages the men of the parish to join the Knights of Columbus, especially the youth. We need youth, we need new ideas it s not an old men s organization, it s for all male members of our community, he says. Jesus was a servant and his apostles were servants, and that s what we re here to do to serve our Church and community. We are always welcoming new members! For more information, or to get involved, please visit the council s website at www.kofc4563.com, contact Membership Director Keith Tex Shellhart at 615-663-1744, or Bill Strebel at 615-804-1050. I always saw the Knights as a way to become more involved in the parish and Church. I saw that there was a benefit to hanging out with like-minded individuals. When you have an organization that s built on faith, it is stronger, and when you have like-minded individuals to gather together with, your friendships and relationships become much stronger. Most of my strongest relationships and true friendships are due to the Knights and my involvement with the church." Bill Strebel, Grand Knight
JOURNEYING WITH CHRIST For Roman Catholics throughout the world, the Stations of the Cross are synonymous with Lent, Holy Week and, especially, Good Friday. This devotion is also known as the Way of the Cross, the Via Crucis, and the Via Dolorosa. It commemorates 14 key events on the day of Christ s crucifixion. The Stations originated in medieval Europe, when wars prevented Christian pilgrims from visiting the Holy Land. Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the 14 stations currently found in almost every church. It was St. Francis of Assisi who devised the list of stations and started the tradition of reciting it as a type of devotional service. European artists created works depicting scenes of Christ s journey to Calvary. In 1761, St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote: The pious exercise of the Way of the Cross represents the sorrowful journey that Jesus Christ made with the cross on His shoulders, to die on Calvary for the love of us. We should, therefore, practice this devotion with the greatest possible fervor, placing ourselves in spirit beside our Savior as He walked this sorrowful way, uniting our tears with His, and offering to Him both our compassion and our gratitude. Praying the Stations of the Cross is one of the most popular devotions for Roman Catholics and is often performed in a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during His Passion. The object of the Stations is to help us make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ s sufferings and death. This devotion may be conducted personally, by making your way from one station to another and saying the prayers, or by having the celebrant move from station to station while the congregation make the responses. A plenary indulgence may be gained by praying the Stations of the Cross. If, for some reasonable cause, the Stations are interrupted, a partial indulgence may be gained for each station. Praying the Stations of the Cross For an online guide to praying the Stations below, visit www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php Opening Prayer Station 1 Jesus Is Condemned To Death Station 2 Jesus Carries His Cross Station 3 Jesus Falls The First Time Station 4 Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother Station 5 Simon Of Cyrene Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross Station 6 Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus Station 7 Jesus Falls The Second Time Station 8 Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem Station 9 Jesus Falls A Third Time Station 10 Jesus Is Stripped Of His Clothes Station 11 Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross Station 12 Jesus Dies On The Cross Station 13 The Body Of Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross Station 14 Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb Closing Prayer Through the Stations of the Cross
Saint Rose of Lima Students Journey to Washington for Massive March Imagine for a moment being completely surrounded by other people. Behind you, beside you, in front of you as far as you see in all directions, nothing but people. This is what half a million people looks like a massive gathering of souls all set out to accomplish the same objective. In January, teens from Saint Rose of Lima joined with nearly 200 other youth from the diocese to attend the annual March for Life held in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the country participate in this peaceful protest each year on the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states. As Diocese of Nashville Assistant Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Brandon Quigley reports, attending the march helps local youth to see the impact that a group of believers can have. The March for Life gets no media attention, Brandon says. Half a million people march on Washington and it s unbelievable that it sees nothing in the way of coverage. The kids can go and see how powerful and how large the pro-life movement is. The majority of people out there marching are teenagers with their youth groups. Many of them now in their third year attending the march, approximately 30 students from Saint Rose of Lima joined with other high school-aged students from throughout the diocese to fill 10 tour buses. Over the years, the experience of attending the march has grown to include a pre-march rally at the Verizon Center that Brandon says has grown to the point where 20,000 seats aren t enough. The kids are so awesome they get so fired up about it, Brandon recalls. They want to feel attached to something that s bigger, and through social media we can now share those experiences with everybody. Despite the lack of traditional media coverage, a quick look at Instagram shows nearly 26,000 posts with the hashtag #marchforlife, profiling the myriad of experiences had by young people present at the march. Last year, students from Saint Rose of Lima used a hashtag, #strosem4l, to capture their own memories in one digital place, including the massive influx of people all standing up for one thing. When you tell someone about it, if they haven t been there, it s really hard to imagine half a million people all around you, Brandon explains. It s really hard to for our youth to fathom how big it is and it s really a Catholic movement. We live in Tennessee where it s strong Southern Baptist, and for them to go, Wow, there s so many Catholics, it strengthens their faith and what it stands for. If you have a heart for the pro-life movement and want to help with next year s trek to our nation s capital, please contact Brandon Quigley at brandon.quigley@dioceseofnashville.com. Taking part in this year s March for Life, youth from Saint Rose of Lima are in the mix with hundreds of thousands of other pro-life supporters. As part of their attendance at the annual March for Life, youth from Saint Rose of Lima attended a pre-march rally held at Verizon Center
Saint Rose Church 1601 North Tennessee Boulevard Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 893-1843 www.saintrose.org NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lakeland, FL Permit No. 1 Return Service Requested LITURGY SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 8:30 & 11 a.m., 5 p.m. For Daily Mass schedule and Reconciliation schedule, see website: www.saintrose.org Our Parish Mission continued from front cover There will be confessions heard for 30 minutes before each session. After the session, Fr. Ken will return to hear confessions as long as there are those waiting, Michael says. Last year, the priest was there until at least 10:30 p.m., even 11 p.m., he says. He s here to minister to the people of Saint Rose, each night of the mission. Fr. Ken will also visit with the school children during the days of the mission. If someone would like extra time to talk with Fr. Ken, that also can be arranged. If someone has been away from the Church and feels reluctant to return, he or she will find an understanding ear in Fr. Ken. He was raised in a nominal Catholic family, and he left the faith for many years. He worked in advanced research and development and software testing, and later joined with several co-workers to form a $4.5 million Internet software company. During this time, he focused on money, fitness and success, leaving little room for God. However, God did not give up on him He presented Ken with challenges that eventually led to a series of conversions, years of struggle, study, and questioning. Fr. Ken found his way from agnosticism, to non-denomination protestant Christianity, and ultimately back to the Catholic Church. Fr. Ken joined the Fathers of Mercy in 2006 and was ordained in 2012. He served for two years as the associate pastor of a parish in Western Kentucky, and has recently been assigned to the Mission Band of the Fathers of Mercy. This is a great, grace-filled time for the parish, Michael says. The reason we hold our mission in Lent is that it s a great time to really enjoy the graces that are there. Michael says that parishioners have told him that previous missions held in Lent meant they were fully prepared for the Easter celebration. They were so much more ready, he says. They felt like they walked in the desert with Christ and had a new awakening. Anyone with questions about the mission is welcome to call Michael Lewis at the parish office, at 615-893-1843.