February 5, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
Today concludes Catholic Schools Week. I was so happy to have some of our students' parents share with you all about our St. John Neumann School at each of the Masses last weekend. As I have said to our School Council, NOW is the critical time to act to assure the continued success of our school on into next year and the years beyond. If you have a child of Pre-K to 6th grade age, please contact the school at 288-0580 , http://schools.dor.org/stjohnneumann/index.cfm for a tour or more information. We've been teaching on this site for almost 90 years, and we've got a multi-year Strategic Plan to keep us going strong for the years ahead. Tuition for next year is not going up, and the before-and-after school care is more affordable than getting a sitter! So PLEASE , think about beginning or transferring your child(ren) to St. John Neumann for 2012-13. It will not only be a support for the school, but will give your children a good foundation in their faith and in the other three R's as well. If you don't have children of school age, please consider a gift or pledge to support the school. The school was there for our generation long ago not because of what students' parents paid on their own but because the school was (as it continues to be) an important ministry of the parish supported by all. We're the last urban parochial Pre-K to 6 on the east side of the river (there used to be 20 other urban parochial schools on the east side alone—we don't want there to be 0). THANKS!
Today is also Scout Sunday. We are pleased that Scouting is so strong in our parish and wish all involved in this well for the year.
Today is also World Day for Consecrated Life, and it is such a blessing to have both Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St. Joseph resident in the parish. God's special blessings on you all for this day!
Today in the old calendar would have been Septuagesima Sunday (the Sunday within the 7th decade of days prior to Easter).
Today is also our monthly 2nd collection for our Buildings and Grounds needs. The twelve buildings on our 3 sites provide valuable locations for our ministry and/or sources of lease income to support all the ministry that takes place here. Thanks for your regular support.
Monday night is our Chili Supper at St. James. Hope 2CU there!
Tuesday, the Full “Snow” Moon occurs at 4:54 P.M., shortly before it sets. After it does, we have Liturgy Committee meeting at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose. The entire day is Charles Dickens' 200th!
Wednesday, how about stopping down to St. James Church Hall (any time between 7:00 and 9:00 P.M.) for our weekly Community Coffee Hour? Stay a minute or the whole two hours. Bring a board game and a friend if you like. A great way to spend this mid-week evening!
Thursday, it'll be only 2 weeks until our special Lent-Easter Season Thursday evening series on “Catholicism” (2/23– 5/3) begins!
Friday, thanks for prepping your weekend envelopes for church.
Next weekend, Sister Janet Korn, our diocese's Director of the Asian-Pacific Apostolate, will be with us. A blessed week to you all!
—Father Schrader
January 29, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
Today begins Catholic Schools Week. We are pleased to have a speaker from our St. John Neumann School at each Mass to share a few words about this important ministry of the parish.
By the way, I have been at rehearsals and the first three performances of Second Time Around this past week. This musical at Geva 's Nextstage is full of comedy, tunes and some very talented students from our Eastside St. John Neumann School as well as from the Westside parochial school at Holy Cross (the play is a fundraiser in support of these two remaining urban Catholic campuses in Rochester ). If you haven't seen it yet, there are two final performances this Friday (Feb. 3) and Saturday (Feb. 4), both at 7:30 P.M. Though tickets are no longer available here at the parish, you can get them online at http://www.gevatheatre.org/plays/nextstage/secondtimearound.php or at the box office downtown at 75 Woodbury Blvd. across from St. Mary's. Your presence alone will show our students your support!
Today is also the only day to purchase tickets (2:00 P.M. in St. John's hall) for our March 3rd Fruit of the Vine evening. Once they're gone, they're gone, so get there right at 2:00!
Monday, our Facilities Committee meets at 7:00 P.M. at St. John's to address all types of things that pop up around the parish each month related to buildings and grounds.
Tuesday is the last day of January. How did you do with your 2012 resolutions in the year's first month? It is also the 14th anniversary of the passing of Father Feeney who founded St. James in 1949. His anniversary will be the intention of the Monday, 7:45 am Liturgy at St. James.
Wednesday evening is our next Festival planning meeting. It will take place in the Parish Office in the Basement Meeting Room. If you're not on the Festival Committee, stop down at St. James during the weekly Community Coffee Hour at 7:00 P.M. Have you been to this weekly coffee hour (7-9 pm) lately? Stop down even if for only a moment some Wednesday—or bring a board game and a friend or two and stay the whole two hours!
Thursday is Candlemas Day (40 days from Christmas). Bring any candles from home that you would like blessed to church just before Mass (7:00 A.M. at St. John's or 9:15 A.M. at St. Ambrose) to have them blessed in the rite that takes place before Mass. (Tonight, by the way, is a special showing of Second Time Around at Geva . Fewer seats will be available since it is being video-taped and room is needed for the equipment—see Geva 's web site above for tickets.)
Friday is St. Blais é Day. Throats will be blessed at the 12:15 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose. Second Time Around is at 7:30 at Geva .
Saturday is the big finale of Second Time Around , also at 7:30 P.M. at Geva . Don't let this last chance pass you by!
Next Sunday is Scout Sunday, World Day for Consecrated Life, the first Sunday of the month for our buildings & grounds 2nd collection, the birthday of our business manager, Carmen J. Sanchez, and the old Septuagesima Sunday (only 2 ½ more weeks ‘til Lent). Pax!
—Father Schrader
January 22, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
Tonight our Web Site Committee meets. Hope you have a chance regularly to visit our site (http://www.peaceofchristparish.org) to see all that is going on (and pictures of what has been).
January 22nd is normally a Day of Penance for violations committed through acts of abortion. However, since that date falls on a Sunday, the Day of Penance is transferred to Monday. Perhaps we could find an opportunity on Monday to pray for those currently faced with such difficult decisions in their lives, that they may choose life for the sake of the child within. We may even find ourselves sometime in a position actually to counsel and assist someone in making this choice. And if choices have been made against life in the past, we might encourage ones so affected to seek reconciliation and healing for themselves through Project Rachel, a compassionate process of addressing and bringing closure to burdens carried sometimes for many years. Log on to http://www.projectrachelrochesterny.org/ or call 1-888-9RACHEL (1-888-972-2435) for more information.
Monday is also the Chinese New Year 4710. Also, our Parish Finance Council meets Monday evening to continue their vigilance over all our fiscal resources for ministry.
Tuesday, we are two dozen days into the new year. How are all those New Year's resolutions coming? It's not too late to get started, especially if we sensibly resolved to do something once or twice a month. Even that much can make a difference if the resolution had to do with bettering our spiritual or physical or mental health!
Wednesday brings to an end this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. May it have at least started us well into a year of exploring more what others believe for greater understanding and working for increased unity among us. Our Parish Staff meets this afternoon, and this night our School Council has its January meeting. Each time we gather, we look at what we are currently doing and what we now need to do in the months ahead regarding our marketing, our finances, our school's pastoral formation, various avenues of advancement for our school, and some very particular points of strategic planning. It is a meeting of myself with the co-chairs of each of these five committees, as well as with our principal, business manager and bookkeeper. Please, support our parish school in whatever ways you are most able.
Thursday, I will have been a Knight of Columbus for 19 years!
Friday is the big opening of Second Time Around . This is a musical play at Geva ($20) which is a fundraiser for our two remaining urban parochial schools: ours on the east side and Holy Cross on the west. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, please do so through Geva.
Saturday, Second Time Around will also be performed at 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M.
Sunday is the day (the only day) to purchase tickets (2:00 P.M. in St. John's Church Hall) for our March 3rd Fruit of the Vine evening. Peace!
—Father Schrader
January 15, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
Today is the 83rd anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assuredly, there will be many activities scheduled for this extended weekend, so be sure to plan some time either to participate personally or at least to ponder prayerfully what we might do of our own accord to achieve greater justice and equality for all.
Thank you for your special gifts in today's 3rd Sunday mid-winter collection for heating fuel for the parish. These collections are taken up only in November-February, and we can all be appreciative for the help that they provide. We can also be grateful that E. G. Otis in 1861 on this date secured a patent for elevator safety brakes. What an uplifting thought that we will not be unceremoniously let down while descending!
Monday is the Observed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Our Parish Office will be closed in observance.
Tuesday afternoon, our parish Men's Club gathers for their monthly meeting at 1:00 P.M. in the hall at St. John the Evangelist Church . Then, at 7:00 P.M. in the same place, our January Pastoral Council meeting takes place. After the Opening Prayer and Approval of the December Minutes and January Agenda, we'll have the Open Forum, Welcomes, Councilors' Concerns, the Youth Report, a School Update, a note about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service, a mid-year review of our Vision Statement, the Financial Update, an update on our council's Service Project at this year's Parish Festival, and a review of the Parish Covenant and the Nominating Committee for next year's new councilors. Should be a full meeting!
Wednesday, we welcome Bishop Matthew H. Clark as he comes to preside at a special 9:30 A.M. Mass for our St. John Neumann School . We hope you can join us. This day also begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme this year comes from I Corinthians 15:51-58: “We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thursday (which is the Orthodox Epiphany) brings our Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Mark's and St. John's Episcopal Church at 1245 Culver Road and Rosewood Terrace. It's always so nice to see so many of our Peace of Christ parishioners in attendance at this service each year. Sister Marlene will be the preacher at this service. Do join us if you can!
One year from Friday is Inauguration Day—if you're a member of the installee's immediate family (since it will be a Sunday, only a private ceremony will take place this day).
One year from Saturday (a Monday) will be the public's Inauguration Day. So be careful when you book your airline reservations!
Next Sunday is Welcome Weekend, there will be Coffee Hours after all Liturgies. In the evening, the Sr. High Youth Group will be having Movie Night and our Web Site Committee meets. Happy January to all!
—Father Schrader
January 8, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed and Mystical Epiphany to you all! This weekend is our last opportunity to get tickets ($20) after each Mass for Second Time Around —a musical fundraiser for our parish's St. John Neumann School (checks payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”). Shows are at Geva 's Nextstage on 1/27 @ 7:30 P.M., 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M., 2/3 @ 7:30 P.M., and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M. As I mentioned last week, I wrote part of this play myself, and some of our students from the school will be in it. No tickets will be available at the parish after this weekend, so don't wait: load up on tickets for you and family and friends TODAY! There are only two parish Pre-K-to-6 Catholic Schools left in the city (out of an original 35!): our St. John Neumann on the east side of the Genesee, and Holy Cross on the west. This play will help to keep Catholic Elementary Education alive for the generations yet to come. Thanks so much for your support. Now get ready to laugh, to tap your feet, and to be proud of our young ones who will join the regulars (from Catholic Schools of a few decades ago) up there on the stage!
Today also begins National Migration Week. Jesus himself had to migrate at a very early age just to stay alive; and today's feast tells of wondrous Magi who migrated from the East to come to pay him homage.
By the way, I myself have migrated these first two weeks of January to our nation's southwest. After this past week of visiting friends and National Parks and other sights along the way, today I travel with classmate Fr. John Gagnier to the Seton Hall International Winter Institute for Clergy Formation at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale , Arizona . Among the topics to be covered are “The Book of Revelation” as covered by Franciscan Father William Burton, the “Legacy of Pope John Paul II” as presented by Dr. George Weigel, and “Islam & Christian-Muslim Relations” which will be discussed by Dr. Scott Alexander. It's always fascinating at these conferences to network with the very diverse individuals who attend them. Be assured that amidst it all I will be keeping you all in my daily prayer.
Monday—with it's Full “Wolf” Moon at 2:30 A.M.—begins National Vocation Awareness Week. It also ends the Christmas Season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The Pastoral Council meeting which is normally on the 2nd Tuesday of the month will be next Tuesday after I return.
Wednesday is the 90th anniversary of the world's 1st insulin treatment administered right across the lake ( Toronto General Hospital ).
John Hancock of signature fame was born 275 yrs. ago Thursday.
Friday the 13th, the day I fly home, beware of Triskaidekaphobia!
Saturday, in preparing our envelopes for Mass, let's remember the one for the 3rd Sunday of winter months for our heating fuel. Thanks.
Next Sunday, Ordinary Time returns us to the green. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
January 1, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
A very Happy and Hopeful New Year to one and all! Also, many thanks to so many in the parish who worked so hard to decorate our churches for Christmastide and sing and play music and help in any other way to make these days so special. Thanks, too, to all who sent many greetings to all of us at the parish office. May our prayers at this end for you and for your intentions be a reply reaping many blessings throughout the new year ahead!
As we gather on this first Sunday of the year, it is the annual World Day of Prayer for Peace. Indeed, may the violence in our world (seemingly so prevalent both locally and globally at the end of last year) be conquered by the good that we will do all year round.
Any 2011 donations received this weekend for the parish or toward your CMA pledge should be able to be counted for your 2011 tax purposes. However, anything coming in later in the week will need to be counted for 2012. By the way, we only have a little over 8% of the way to go in additional pledges needed to reach our 2011-2012 CMA Goal, so thank you one and all for whatever you can do to get them in earlier rather than later so this Appeal does not have to go all the way to the end of May. Thanks, too, for gifts in today's monthly First Sunday 2nd collection for our buildings and grounds needs. Our regular support in this collection helps us keep up with repairs so as not to need major campaigns for longer intervals of time.
Sunday is the birthday of Peace of Christ Maintenance person, Chung Ma, and Monday is the birthday of Peace of Christ Pastoral Minister, Augie Misiurewicz. (In honor of the occasions [and for New Year's], the office is closed all day Sunday and Monday.)
Tuesday is our January Liturgy Committee meeting, a time to review Advent and Christmas and get ready for Lent and Easter.
Wednesday, we look even further down the line with the gathering of the Festival Committee. Hope you've got those dates (June 8th and 9th) written on your new Peace of Christ 2012 calendar. I can almost hear the dunking booth splashing away as “volunteers” get dunked with awesome repetitiveness.
Thursday is the feast of St. John Neumann, patron of our parish school. We are transferring the big celebration of the feast, however, until Wednesday, January 18th when Bishop Clark will be here to celebrate with us at 9:30 A.M. in St. Ambrose Church.
Friday is the feast of St. Andr é Bessette of Montreal —so close!
Next weekend (with Orthodox Christmas on Saturday and our feast of the Epiphany on Sunday) will be our last opportunity to get tickets ($20) after each Mass for Second Time Around —a fundraiser for our St. John Neumann School (checks payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”). Shows are at Geva 's Nextstage on 1/27 @ 7:30 P.M., 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M., 2/3 @ 7:30 P.M., and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M. I wrote part of it myself, and some of our students will be in it. No tickets will be available at the parish after next weekend. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
December 25, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A very Blessed and deeply Merry Christmas to one and all! I know this feast means many things to many people. May all of its happy and positive meanings rise to the top for us this year, and may any of the sadder or more difficult meanings be ones we will choose to face with someone else as this year winds down and the new one readies to dawn in but a week's time.
How far we've come in media development over the past century. It was just 80 years ago today that the Metropolitan Opera Company did its first radio broadcast of a live opera: Hansel and Gretel.
Monday, our parish office is closed for the Christmas holiday. Of course it is also Boxing Day, so get those needed exchanges back to the store in due order. It's also the first day of Kwanzaa, “A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.” Each day through New Year's has a different principle for one's pondering and imitation: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
Tuesday is the feast of the patron of one of Peace of Christ's three churches: St. John the Evangelist. This could be a good day to read Chapter One of his Gospel, for it contains the old Prologue which used to be read at the end of each Mass as “The Last Gospel.” It has much on which to dwell in these early days of the Christmas Season.
Wednesday is the 8th day of Hanukkah, We Christians have our own Octaves that we celebrate, one of which is right now: the Christmas Octave. It's always sad to see folks' Christmas trees and trimmings out by the curb on December 26th: The Christmas Season goes all the way to the Epiphany (January 8th), and the Baptism of the Lord (January 9th), so party away until then.
Thursday is the feast of St. Thomas Becket, the patron saint of our local college seminary program. We are delighted to have Jeff Chichester with us this year for his field assignment while he completes his time at Becket before going to the Major Seminary next Fall. Totally unrelated, Mary Tyler Moore today marks her 75th birthday.
Friday is the feast of the Holy Family. Normally, it falls on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's, but when there is no such Sunday, it falls on this Friday.
Next weekend, all Masses follow the normal Sunday schedule. Thank you ahead of time for gifts given this week to parish, diocese, or school, the last week for giving such if you wish them to be used related to your 2011 taxable income.
Next Sunday is New Year's Day, 2012. Be sure to take home a parish calendar if you haven't done so thus far. Also, remember that your last opportunity to get tickets ($20) for Second Time Around —a fundraiser for our St. John Neumann School —is after each Mass on the following weekend, January 7-8 (checks payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”). Shows are at Geva on 1/27 @ 7:30 P.M., 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M., 2/3 @ 7:30 P.M., and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
December 18, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
As we prepare for the show to go on, tickets ($20) for Second Time Around —a fundraiser for our St. John Neumann School as well as for Holy Cross School on the west side (the only two parochial Pre-K-to-6 urban Catholic schools still left in Rochester)—are available after each Mass today (checks payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”). Fifteen of our two schools' students appear on stage. Performances at Geva are 1/27 @ 7:30 P.M., 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M., 2/3 @ 7:30 P.M., and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M. Also, room is still available in the show's Playbill program for your ad as a patron or a sponsor ($25 for a single line up to $1,000 for a full page—also payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”). Ask ticket sellers for details. Last year when this show (part of which I wrote some 30 years ago) was performed at Geva for another cause, all performances were sold out. So don't wait to get your tickets or take out that ad. What a great stocking-stuffer!
Many thanks to all who made last weekend a wonderful celebration of the season: those who donated food or gifts or delivered them all to the 65 waiting families at their homes, and those who made the St. Lucy's Mass and Dinner a special occasion for all who attended.
Monday is our bishop's 49th anniversary of ordination. Here at the parish, our Finance Council meets on Monday evening. Many thanks to its members who keep vigil over all our fiscal resources.
Tuesday, the parish Men's Club has their Christmas meeting and party at 1:00 P.M. in the hall at St. John the Evangelist on Humboldt Street . Tuesday evening is our 2nd and final Advent Penance Service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose (no Confessions on Christmas Eve/Day).
Wednesday begins Hanukkah. Blessings to our Jewish neighbors!
Thursday, winter begins at 12:30 A.M. during our longest night.
Friday is the perfect day to take stock of our blessings and perhaps prepare our envelopes for year-end giving. We all receive many appeals in the mail at this time of year. Please, remember the one charity that is here for us 24/7 for hospital and anointing calls, plus all our family baptisms, weddings and funerals throughout the year, let alone our liturgies every weekend, our faith formation program and St. John Neumann School, and our many social events from weekly coffee hours to special annual happenings. CMA gifts now may also help your taxes. Thanks, too, for your support of the 200 Club . The Club recently gave the parish $2,000 from its proceeds to help with our new Roman Missals and other needs common to our three sites.
Saturday , there is no 4:30 Mass , but there are three 4:00 P.M. Masses , one at each church , plus an 8:00 P.M. Mass at St. James , an 11:00 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose (carols start at 10:30), and also a Midnight Mass at St. John the Evangelist (carols start at 11:30).
Next Sunday , Christmas, there are none of our regular Masses . Given the 6 Masses on Christmas Eve, there will only be an 8:30 A.M. Mass at St. James and a 10:30 A.M. Mass at St. Ambrose . Pax Noel!
—Father Schrader
December 11, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
We are pleased to have native son, Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, present with us this weekend to celebrate our annual St. Lucy's Mass at 4:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon. Many thanks to him and to all who are working so hard to orchestrate both the Mass and the magnificent dinner to follow in Dailey Hall. “Lucy” means “light,” and today is the Full “Cold” Moon which shall be totally eclipsed in some parts of the U.S. just before dawn. By the way, we are already at the earliest sunsets of the year (Dec. 4-14); the latest sunrises are later (Dec. 29-Jan. 8), and the shortest days are right in between (Dec. 20-22).
Sunday is Gaudete Sunday. Hope we're all in the pink. This night, we have a Web Committee meeting to keep our website rosy.
Monday is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of North America . A rosary would be in order. (Know where yours is?)
Tuesday (the actual Feast of St. Lucy) is our next Pastoral Council meeting from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at St. John's . After our 7:10 Open Forum, we will have a Youth Report, and then a time to reflect on “Church Past, Present and Future: Diocesan Trends and Possibilities” led by Karen Rinefierd, our parish's diocesan liaison. We'll also have our monthly finance report and a service project planning update.
100 yr. ago Ember Wednesday, Amundsen was 1st to the S. Pole!
Thursday is the 15th, a good mid-December day on which to plan out the last of our year-end giving for our tax purposes. Thanks for whatever special parish gifts, CMA pledges, and fuel collection offerings (next Sunday) may be possible at this time.
Friday begins the Filipino “Simbang Gabi” (the Mexican “Las Posadas”) traditions of the holidays. Look ‘em up. Give ‘em a try!
Saturday begins our use of the “O Antiphons” in Evening Prayer before & after the Magnificat & at Mass for the Gospel Acclamation: E mmanuel, R ex, O riens, C lavis, R adix, A donai, S apientia are the titles of the Lord that we use (also in O Come, O Come Emmanuel ). Taking the first letter of each, we have the Latin acrostic “ero cras,” or “I will come tomorrow.” Also on Saturday, we have two special liturgies. At 11am at St. Ambrose, we have a Memorial Mass for Father Raymond Quetchenbach (Sister Gertrude Erb's cousin) who died on November 19th (Fr. Ray has visited us every summer for many years—he will be deeply missed); and at 11am at St. James, we have our 1st Advent Penance Service (#2 is Tues., 12/20, 7pm, St. Amb.).
Lastly, next weekend, tickets will be available ($20, checks payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph”) for Second Time Around, a musical fundraiser for our eastside St. John Neumann School and the westside Holy Cross School . Fifteen of the students appear on stage. Performances at Geva are 1/27 @ 7:30 P.M., 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M., 2/3 @ 7:30 P.M., and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M. Room is still available in the show's Playbill program for your ad as a patron or a sponsor . Ask ticket sellers for details. Thanks, and have a blessed week!
—Father Schrader
December 4, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Thirty years ago, I was in my Priest Intern assignment at St. Monica's Church. While I was there, the staff worked with the youth of that quadrant of the city to produce musicals which they performed. This produced not only some funds for youth activities themselves, but also friendships that have lasted twice as long now as they had been alive at the time. Last year, they re-gathered (as a tribute to Fr. Edward Zimmer on the 10th anniversary of his death—he had been the pastor at St. Monica's 3 decades ago) to do a musical review of their earlier Thespian activity. They put Second Time Around on at Geva Theatre helping to raise funds for Geva's outreach to area youth.
This year, they are back—this time to do a fundraiser for the two urban parochial schools that remain open in Rochester : our own St. John Neumann School on the east side of the river, and Holy Cross on the west. I myself co-wrote one of the plays being reprised, and I am delighted that some of our current students from both schools will be in this winter's production, also at Geva, the last weekend of January (1/27 @ 7:30 P.M. and 1/28 @ 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.) and the first weekend of February (2/3 @ 7:30 P.M. and 2/4 @ 7:30 P.M.). Tickets ($20) will be on sale here December 17 & 18 after each weekend Mass. Geva's Nextstage has limited seating, so if you don't want to be waiting out in the lobby, be sure you get your tickets early. They'll make wonderful stocking stuffers (and if you have supper in the lobby café beforehand, you've got a whole night on the town). More info next week, but plan to get your tix on that weekend before Christmas.
Related to the above, there still is room in the Playbill program being printed for those performances for your ad as a patron or a sponsor . Prices range from $25 for a single line to $1,000 for a full page. See our web site for more specific information. Checks for either tickets or ads should be payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph ” for this two-school production and for related tax deductibility. Thanks.
Monday is when our parish gets its weekly Catholic Ministries Appeal update from the diocese. See inside this bulletin for the latest update. The next update will be Christmas Sunday. Pledges paid by the end of the month may be usable for 2011 tax deduction purposes.
Tuesday, St. Nicholas Day, join us for the Advent Soup Supper!
Wednesday is the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor !
Thursday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, our nation's patroness, is a Holy Day of Obligation . Masses are 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 7:00 P.M. at St. John's .
Friday is the 32nd anniversary of the death of our Bishop Sheen!
Saturday (the Full “Cold” Moon) brings our St. Lucy celebration. We are pleased to have native son, Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, as presider for the occasion.
Next Sunday is “Gaudete [Rejoice {Rose}] Sunday.” May our Advent be proceeding nicely on toward Christmas. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
November 27, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Happy New Year to you all! Today's First Sunday of Advent begins the 2012 church year, an excellent occasion to formulate with God's help some resolutions for our spiritual growth in the year to come. Perhaps it will be a plan to read a few pages of the Bible or of a spiritual book each week, or to go to a weekday Mass once a month, or to visit someone in a nursing home, write a letter, or make that call that has been put on hold for far too long. Whatever it is, it is between you and the Lord—but may it be something that makes you truly feel that you have given the Christ Child a gift when you come before the manger on Christmas Day.
This particular First Sunday of Advent, we in the United States begin using the new English translation of the Third Roman Missal . Some English-speaking countries (particularly in the Southern Hemisphere) have been using the new translation for several months already. It is up to each of the bishops' conferences in the world's English-speaking countries as to when the new missal's use is to begin. The U.S. conference as well as several others (including Canada ) opted for today. I believe the entire English-speaking world is now using the new text. As we begin its use here, may this be a time of patience as we adjust to newness, of grace as we let the new words speak to our souls and move our minds to explore with greater depth the meaning behind all that we profess, and charity as we bid adieu to the Sacramentary that has been our prayer partner for 4 decades and welcome the infant new Missal which will test us like any child until we pass its trying toddler days and it becomes just one of us again.
Monday, our Facilities Committee gathers for its next meeting. We can be ever grateful for their vigilance over all our buildings and grounds and their keeping them in good shape to house the ministries which are ours at Peace of Christ Parish.
Monday is the 50th anniversary of Enos, the first chimp to orbit earth. And hasn't life been more fun than a barrel of monkeys ever since!
Wednesday evening, we have our November School Council meeting. While we celebrate our success this year in re-establishing our Pre-K and in keeping our 6th grade, and in receiving back the St. John Neumann School itself to oversight by the parish, we are already looking to the year ahead. We'll be taking part in a musical at Geva in late January, early February called Second Time Around. Perhaps you'd like to be a sponsor in the program for those performances. You certainly want to get a ticket for one of the shows. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities for such support. And, if you've got a young one at any of our grade levels, how about signing them up for next year. Tuition assistance is available.
Thursday, we are 6 months from the end of this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . Of course we can end it sooner by pledging today.
\ Friday, thanks for prepping your envelopes for the weekend.
Saturday, we're one week from our St. Lucy's Mass & dinner!
Next Sunday, it'll be 36 years since Bp. McCafferty installed me in the Ministry of Reader. And I've been reading ever since! Pax!
—Father Schrader
November 20, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today is our annual “In-Pew Sunday” for this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. Thus far, we have had our early reception for initial givers, our kick-off Sunday with CMA speakers, our pledge cards mailed to our homes, and a follow-up letter from the diocese. So that we don't get this far and then just drag on with weekly appeal messages from the pastor through the end of May, we can end our appealing (which would be very appealing) by simply filling out the In-Pew pledge card and dropping it in today's collection. Just indicate the amount you intend to give by next May 31st. No money is needed today, just the pledge. With Thanksgiving this very week, please, help us reach our goal by then by making your pledge today. Thanks!
This being the 3rd Sunday of November, we have our seasonal fuel collection which we do in the months of November-February. Thanks so much for whatever extra can be given to help with these enormous costs that occur at this time of year.
The other day (on Friday), we began a novena to pray that our new missal will help us in prayer when we begin to use it this coming weekend. Though we only printed enough copies for use after our weekday Masses, you can view the novena in its entirety at the USCCB site: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/AppC-Novena.pdf .
Monday evening, the Parish Finance Council meets. Again, I am grateful for their vigilance over our parish fiscal resources.
Tuesday, let's get ecumenical! The annual Thanksgiving Service for all of our area Christian churches together will be held at 7:00 P.M. at the Laurelton United Presbyterian Church at the corner of Empire Boulevard and Helendale Road . This may be especially helpful for those families who will not be able to attend our parish Thanksgiving Day Mass on Thursday due to travel or other plans. Hope to see you at Laurelton (bring a canned good, please— thanks! ).
Wednesday is the 90th anniversary of President Harding barring doctors from prescribing beer. Every era has its health plan.
Thursday is Thanksgiving. I hope it will not be fraught with bad weather, upset travel arrangements, burnt turkey, or any other type of holiday disaster. Indeed, why not start the day right by coming with your family and friends to our 9:00 A.M. Thanksgiving Day Mass! This year, it is at St. John the Evangelist on Humboldt Street , and we will look forward to celebrating with all of whomever may be able to attend (please, bring a canned good, and an item from your own table to be blessed). Though there are certainly plenty of things to cause concern in the world at this time, there is also a great deal (hopefully, much more) about which to pause and give thanks. Let our thanks be not only to God, but to those who are so close to us that we may often take them for granted. May it be a blessed holiday for us all!
Friday is one month until Christmas!
Saturday is Islamic New Year 1433. Sana sa'eedah! Or as they say in the old country: “ ??? ????? ”
Next Sunday is the first use in the U.S. of the English translation of the Third Roman Missal . May it aid our prayer at Mass! Peace!
—Father Schrader
November 13, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
Welcome! This is our annual “Welcome Home Weekend” and we are delighted to have any and all visitors who are with us today. We hope you feel at home. Please, introduce yourself at the reception or coffee hour after whichever Mass you may be attending, and feel free to ask about anything at all. We also invite you to visit our parish school, St. John Neumann School , which is open for inspection and tours between 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. today, Sunday the 13th.
We are mindful at our Masses this weekend of all victims of the current prolonged drought & famine gripping parts of Africa . We pray for them, and Bishop Clark has asked us to take up a special 2nd collection to help alleviate some of their suffering. In this month of abundant Thanksgiving gatherings, how can we not be mindful! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and care!
Today is also National Donor Sabbath when we can give a part of ourselves once we have passed on so that others may live healthily the lives they have been given. Information and donor cards are available in the vestibules of each of our three churches.
This afternoon at 2:30 P.M., those of our young people who received the sacrament of Confirmation at Sacred Heart Cathedral last Monday evening will have one final gathering as a group at St. James Church. You all would have been so proud of them had you been there at the cathedral! With this sacrament being more “initiation” than “graduation,” we look forward to this final gathering as we begin now actually to live this faith in which we are now fully confirmed!
Tonight, our Web Site Committee has their monthly meeting as we continue to update our parish web site and make it the best it can be. Have you checked it out lately? See the web address at the bottom of the column to the left and check it out for yourself!
Monday, our CMA Committee ( Catholic Ministries Appeal ) will meet at 3:00 P.M. Once again, on behalf of the diocese which provides services to all of us parishes in its 12-county area, thank you for your pledges and gifts to this year's Appeal: The Power of Many...Stronger as One . As mentioned last week, it is our earnest hope that by Thanksgiving Day (which is only a week from this Thursday!) we will have reached our goal of $107,438. Already 2/3 of the way there, we can certainly achieve this...but ONLY if we take the few moments it takes to fill in either the pledge card we received in the mail or one of the ones available in the church vestibule or parish office. Thanks so much! May Thanksgiving be joyous for us all!
Also, Monday morning brings our next three drawings for the 200 Club. A gift membership would be a great Thanksgiving-Christmas gift! Monday evening is our monthly Liturgy Committee meeting.
Tuesday evening, all liturgical ministers (communion, lectors, ushers, sacristans, etc.) are asked to meet at St. James at 7:00 P.M.
Wednesday, come to Coffee Hour at St. James, 7:00-9:00 P.M.
Thursday is El-al-Adha, remembering Abraham's gift of his son.
Friday, we begin a Novena that our new Missal will help us in prayer.
Next weekend is the 1st of four (November-February) 3rd Sunday special collections for winter heating bills. Warm thanks to all!
—Father Schrader
November 6, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
How nice to get an extra hour's sleep this weekend—either in bed or in the pew if you forgot to turn your clock back. The clocks in Wonderland will be at “2 o'clock” if you arrive on time for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at St. James this afternoon. Meanwhile, over at St. Ambrose, this is a day of Pre-Cana for couples preparing for their marriages in the upcoming months. Many thanks to all on the Team for your pastoral care of these many young couples. A special blessing will be given these couples at our 5:00 P.M. Mass this afternoon.
Regarding temporal matters, thank you for your support of the parish each week in the collection. These funds are very much needed to support the services and programs of the parish, and to pay all the mundane expenses that you all have in your own homes: gas, electric, water, phone, etc. (except multiplied exponentially for all our facilities). Thanks, too, for your support on these first Sundays of the month in the second collection for Buildings and Grounds. Whether for mowing, raking, plowing, repairing or just general upkeep, these extra funds help close a gap that seems always to be there.
On behalf of the diocese which provides services to all of the parishes in its 12-county area, thank you, too, for your pledges and gifts to the Catholic Ministries Appeal, The Power of Many...Stronger as One . The diocese will be doing a mailing this week to all remaining prospective donors. This used to be called the “Thanks Giving Appeal” and it is my earnest hope that by Thanksgiving Day (which is only 2 weeks from this Thursday!) we will have reached our goal of $107,438. We're already about 2/3 of the way there, so we can certainly achieve this...but ONLY if we take the few moments it takes to fill in either the pledge card we received in the mail or one of the ones available in the church vestibule or parish office. Thanks so much!
Monday morning, we do the next three drawings for the 200 Club. Be sure to get your registration in if you haven't already. Then, Monday evening, those of our young ones who have been preparing for it will receive Confirmation at the Cathedral. God's blessings to all!
Tuesday is Election Day. Be sure to vote. Tuesday evening's Pastoral Council meeting will be in St. James Resource Room due to the polls at St. John's . See inside this bulletin for the agenda.
Wednesday is always our weekly Community Coffee Hour from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. in St. James Hall. Come sip, play a board game....
Thursday, I'll be doing a Norway travelogue at Lunch Bunch. Right afterward, we have the Full “Beaver” Moon at 3:16 P.M., although it won't even rise until about an hour after that.
Friday is Veterans' Day, 11/11/11; it's also our Vicki Iannettone's birthday.
Saturday brings “Indian Summer” according to my almanac (we'll see). It's also the 10th anniversary of Congress passing the “Stamp Out Domestic Violence Act” and it begins “Welcome Home Weekend.” Please, invite a neighbor or friend to come with you to church!
Next Sunday, our St. John Neumann School will offer tours from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Bishop Clark also asks us to have a 2nd collection to assist victims of African drought & famine. Many thanks.
—Father Schrader
October 30, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This afternoon is our first “State of the School” report at 2:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall. We encourage as many as possible to attend. It will be a time to hear how we're doing in our first year as a reverted parish school, AND to voice your own suggestions to assure the strongest future for the school. Opportunities for involvement on one of our School Council's 5 dynamic committees also exist! We were delighted to receive news last week that we will remain Pre-K to 6 !!!
Today is also Priesthood Sunday (see www.priestsunday.org for further details). For me, it is a day to be mindful of all of you who form the Body of Christ among whom I am currently sent to serve. When we priests think of our priesthood and reminisce as the years go by, it is you the people who come first to our minds as we reflect back on the people of parish X, our first assignment, and parish Z, our current assignment—and, of course, all the parish Y's in between. May we always be mutual in our prayerful support of one another on our common mission to do God's work here and then get to Heaven!
Tomorrow, the 5th Monday of October, we will do all the October drawings for this year's “200 Club.” Since we usually do 3 drawings each Monday morning, tomorrow we will do 15 (we wait until October's end so folks have enough time to get in their dues). So, we will draw 5 $25 prizes, 5 $15 prizes, and 5 $10 prizes at 10:00 A.M. Be sure to get your registration form and at least part of your dues in by then to be eligible. Dues are $1 a week ($40 total), and those who are fully paid up by the end of next Spring get to come to the dinner and big drawings (up to $500) next September.
Tuesday is All Saints Day , a Holy Day of Obligation . Masses are at 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose (our St. John Neumann School children will join us for this liturgy), and 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist Church on Humboldt Street .
Wednesday, our fabulous Festival Committee will gather at 7:00 P.M. in the parish offices to continue planning for Festival 2012. You would be surprised how many months this event takes to plan—but they do it so well! Coffee Hour Wednesday night is at St. James, 7-9.
Thursday, it will have been a month and a day since we first heard about this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . The appeal pays for all those services utilized by all parishes around the diocese. It would be impractical and enormously costly for each parish to have its own Tribunal and Catholic Charities Office and other such common need services. We are just over half-way to our goal of $107,438. We can reach the second half this week in a very easy way: if you haven't yet made your pledge, please use the form mailed to your home (or one found in the church vestibule or at the parish office) to indicate what you intend to give by next May 31. Thanks for doing so today!
Friday, as you prep your envelopes for Sunday, thanks for remembering the monthly Buildings & Grounds offering—it is so needed!
Saturday is our Mass of Remembrance at 10:00 A.M. at St. Ambrose for all who died this past year. It's also Roy Rogers' 100th.
Next Sunday, set your clocks back one hour before coming to church—or just sit there and wait an hour if the church is empty ? !
—Father Schrader
October 23, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today is World Mission Sunday. Thank you for the support of the missions in your prayers and in your special offerings in today's annual second collection for their care!
Today is also World Youth Day in the U.S. Our youth are very important to us for they are not just the future of the Church but its very present already.
This afternoon, Joan Workmaster—who had been the director of our diocesan liturgy office, and who has worked even on the national level over these past two years in getting us ready for the new Roman Missal—will be here at St. Ambrose from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. to do an overview of the missal's development and how we can be best prepared. This meeting is for all our parish liturgical ministers and for anyone from our parish or any of our neighboring parishes. I suggest arriving early for purposes of parking.
This evening, our Web Site Committee is meeting. They really do incredible work. Always feel free to drop them a note by way of suggestion, query, or thanks. By the way, each of the Roman Missal inserts that are in the bulletin these nine weeks leading up to its implementation are posted on our web site for your future reference or for sharing with others electronically elsewhere.
Monday is United Nations Day. It is also the 150th anniversary of the first transcontinental telegraph message from California to Washington DC (if they had invented texting first, think of how much wire they would have saved!). And as for that Singer sewing machine at home in the back of your closet: its inventor (Isaac Singer) was born 200 years ago today!
Two years from Tuesday is a Square-Prime Sandwich Day (when two consecutive prime numbers ‘sandwich' the square of the first prime's position in the list of prime numbers): 11/25/13 (thanks, John & Kathy McQueen!); and only 2 months from Tuesday is Christmas.
Wednesday is St. John Neumann School 's Open House at 6:00 P.M. As the only urban parish school east of the river, come tour it, especially if you have a pre-schooler or kindergartner for 2012-2013.
Thursday, happy birthday to Peace of Christ's Jeff Carter!
Friday, blessings on all our parish women going on retreat!
Saturday, thank you for prepping your envelopes and Catholic Ministries Appeal pledges/gifts for the weekend. Each cent is needed!
Next Sunday is our first “State of the School” report at 2:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall. We encourage as many as possible to attend. It will be a time to hear how we're doing in our first year as a reverted parish school, AND to voice your own suggestions to assure the strongest future for the school. Opportunities for involvement on one of our School Council's 5 dynamic committees also exist! Together—especially with our “5-year plan”—we can keep it strong!
Lastly, next Monday (10/31) we have the first 15 drawings (for the 5 weeks of October) for this year's “200 Club” ($250 in all). I had errantly given the date as 10/24 last week. After the 31st, we'll have 3 drawings each Monday and the big one next year at the banquet. Sign up by 10:00 A.M. on 10/31. It's a great group! Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
October 16, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
One month ago today, we had our wonderful 200 Club Banquet at the Burgundy Basin Inn. This is always a very enjoyable occasion, made all the more so this year because it was the 30th anniversary of the club. The club raises funds for the parish all year as members join the club: it's only $1 a week for 40 weeks—although most pay in less frequent larger installments or all at once. Then at the banquet we all gather for a festive evening of dinner and prizes.
Well, the prizes are not just given at the banquet, but every week of the year from late October through early summer. In fact, the first weekly drawings ($25, $15, and $10) will take place early Monday morning, October 24th at which time we will draw the first five weeks' winners (15) for the month of October (thereafter, we draw the winners each Monday morning at the office). SO, I encourage all who were members last year and all new folks who wish to be so this year to sign up right away if you want to be in on the first 15 prizes (39 weeks of 3 prizes per week plus the big ones at the banquet means over 120 prizes through the year; and, win or lose, all dues-paid members come to the banquet for free! Such a deal!). Application forms are in the vestibule of each of our 3 churches and also at the office.
This afternoon, we have our third and final Anointing Service for 2011. It will be at 2:00 P.M. at St. James. The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered to all who seek its spiritual (and, often, physical) healing; plus a blessing for caregivers will be given as well.
Monday is National Boss Day. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone in the front office is reading this bulletin. Also, our Parish Finance Council has its October meeting at 7:00 P.M. in the parish offices. I am grateful each month for their guidance and oversight of our temporal resources which emanate from the charity of us all!
Tuesday is the October Men's Club meeting at 7:00 P.M. in St. James hall. They will be putting the final touches on their planning for next week's Sports Steak Dinner with guest speaker Doug Miller of the Rochester Lancers. We'd welcome new members to join us!
Wednesday is the feast of some of the closest martyrs to us: St. John de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues and their companions. Isaac was martyred in 1646 in Auriesville, right down our modern Thruway near Albany ; John was martyred 3 years later north of us in Canada . Wednesday night is our weekly Community Coffee Hour in St. James hall from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Why not stop down to visit, play a board game (bring one of yours if you like), and have a light refreshment!
Thursday is Shemini Atzeret. Investigate its pleasant meaning!
Friday begins the annual Men's Retreat at Notre Dame Retreat House. Sign up quickly to spend these special days with God!
Saturday as you prepare your envelopes for the weekend, thank you for your special gift for World Mission Sunday, and for getting your CMA pledge and/or gift in within the month of October!
Next Sunday, Joan Workmaster will give an overview of the new Roman Missal, 2:00-4:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose. This is for anyone from any parish, but especially liturgical ministers. Our Web Site Committee then meets at 6:00 P.M. in the parish office. Pax!
—Father Schrader
October 9, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you to all who have already made your pledges and/or gifts to this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . Those received as of this bulletin going to press are listed in this issue. We know from last year that we do have the capacity to reach our goal. So if everyone who gave last year (or contributed in the year-end special collection to make up the difference we then had) pledged today, we could reach our goal right now and be able to stop our weekly requesting on behalf of the Appeal. Even if you can't make the gift until the Spring, your pledge will count toward reaching our goal. Thanks!
Today is National Children's Day. May it be a day to appreciate our youth—and our youths as well. Blessings, too, on all who care for them and educate them in the ways of Faith.
Monday, Happy Holidays! To ourselves for Columbus Day: May the spirit of respectful adventure weave a thread ‘twixt the hearts of us all. To our neighbors to the north for Thanksgiving Day: May the bounty of our continent be cherished and be a sufficiency for all!
Tuesday, is our Pastoral Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. in the hall of St. John the Evangelist Church . We'll be finalizing our vision statement for 2011-2012, have a CMA update, a Youth update, and the monthly financial report. We'll discuss the service project that the Council would like to do for the parish, have an update on the school, discuss our approaching annual Welcome Home Sunday (Nov. 13th), and get an update on the Roman Missal implementation taking place in all U.S. Roman Catholic churches on the last week of November. When we get home from Council, we can set up our lawn chairs in the back yard to await the Full “Hunter's” Moon at 10:06 P.M. Tuesday, by the way, is also the 8th anniversary of the issuing in Denver of a first class stamp entitled “Stop Family Violence” designed by an 8-year old girl. (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.)
Wednesday evening brings the 3rd part of the 3-sessions of preparation for the incoming Roman Missal; the gathering is at 7:00 P.M. in the hall at St. John the Evangelist Church . Each week also brings us the Community Coffee Hour, Wednesdays, 7-9 P.M. in the hall at St. James Church, an opportunity to get together with friends, bring down some board games, have some coffee, and stay for a few minutes or the full two hours. Thank you to Michael Driscoll and his dad, John, for coordinating this weekly gathering for all who drop down.
Thursday brings two birthdays here on Peace of Christ staff: Janet Andrychuk-Tedesco in our music ministry and Laura Gleeson in our faith formation ministry. Happy Birthday to you both, and many happy and blessed returns!
Friday brings yet another staff birthday, that of Laurie Maier from our pastoral staff. All the best! It is also the 34th anniversary of my becoming a deacon (along with now- Fr. Bob Werth and several others) at Corpus Christi Church on Main Street . Tempus fugit!
Saturday, I head back to Auburn for the day to do a wedding of a St. Mary's parishioner. I haven't been back in several months, and it is always nice to visit old acquaintances when I return for such events.
Next Sunday will bring us another bulletin. Have a blessed week!
—Father Schrader
October 2, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend, we kick off our parish-wide participation in this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . The theme this year is “The Power of Many...Stronger as One.” This annual appeal supports services provided by the diocese to all parishes in our 12 county area. By saving parishes tons of money that they would have to spend for these services if they were to provide them individually, the power of us (the many) shows that when we pool our resources (as one), we truly are stronger for the doing so. Thanks for your generous support!
At Mass today, we will hear a little more about this year's appeal from the following: Joe Carney at the 4:30 and 8:00 Masses at St. James, Bill McDonald at the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses at St. John the Evangelist, the Jeremy and Jennifer Case family at the 9:45 Mass at St. Ambrose, and Chi Chi Ng at the 5:00 Mass at St. Ambrose. I am grateful for their witness to us all. We will also see the brief CMA video which will highlight more about the appeal. We just made our goal near the end of last year's campaign in late May, but now we have it within our grasp to reach our goal much earlier—and thereby end the need for repeated appeals for the appeal. How wonderful it was last year to receive a check (for half of the parish's overage) instead of a bill for the distance to the goal. THANKS so much for pledging early, even if you can't pay the pledge until sometime into the new year. Everyone's gift counts toward the goal. Let's reach it today!
This is also Respect Life Sunday in Respect Life Month. It is a time to reflect on how we value life from the womb to the tomb. Our respect of life can be by way of prayer for those facing life decisions, contributing funds or baby clothes to Birthright, becoming involved in stopping (and helping others in escaping) domestic violence, and supporting hospices that take care of those about to die.
Be sure to check out today's insert on the Roman Missal. It's an education in itself. Our last-chance missal prep for everyone is this Monday & Thursday (& next Wednesday), 7-9 pm in St. John's Church Hall.
Today, we also include others of the animal kingdom in our respect for all life as we bless our pets. The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is this week (October 4th) and it is a time to appreciate and pray for these pets. We will bless them at 1:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall, the St. John Neumann School Gym at our St. Ambrose campus. It is very important to be on time, as late arrivals sometimes stir up the animals we have already peacefully assembled. It is also important to sit with your pet in the circle of chairs we will have set up. DO NOT SIT BEHIND THE CIRCLE. This causes the assembled animals to try to see who is behind them and they get all riled up. (Let me tell you, I didn't learn any of this in the seminary. My animal psychology education did not begin until I arrived at Peace of Christ. Just trust me on this). Facilities Committee on Monday (in the Sullivan Center at 7 pm), Liturgy Committee on Tuesday (at St. Ambrose in the POC offices), the 225th anniversary of the Pumpkin Flood on Wednesday, Bishop Hickey's 12th anniversary of passing on Thursday, feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on Friday (why not say one!), Yom Kippur on Saturday , and Children's Day next Sunday (where was this when I was a kid?).
—Father Schrader
September 25, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend, Bishop Clark has asked us to have a special second collection for the parishes and schools in the Southern Tier of our diocese where great devastation occurred in this past month from the flooding caused by Hurricanes Irene and Lee. In some cases, school could not start until just a few days ago. Thank you for your prayerful and financial support for our brothers and sisters in Tioga County , etc.
This is also the first weekend for Joel Morehouse as our full-time music director for St. John's and the 4:30 Mass on Saturday at St. James. We welcome Joel, and we are also grateful for retired letter-carrier, Bill Iman, who has filled in over the past year at St. James and numerous other liturgies at all three of our sites. Some from his old route have been heard to say, “Hey, that's my old mailman playing the organ/piano!” (Some postal workers are truly enveloped with multiple talents, specially stamped by the Maker for us all!) Thanks, Bill, and we'll enjoy hearing you again at points along the way!
Beginning today and for these nine weeks leading up to Advent, we will have a weekly insert in the bulletin explaining various facets about the new missal we'll begin using on the last weekend of November when Advent itself begins. As these weeks transpire, we'll be introduced to various new music settings for our new words in the Mass. Though most of the change is that which is required of the presider at the altar, may we all use this period of transition as a time to focus more intently on the prayers of the Mass. Even these holy words can easily become rote without much concentration, so let this be a period of more deeply appreciating each phrase we utter to God.
As time marches on, we are already beginning this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. After a brief kick-off this afternoon, we should receive in the mail our pledge cards sometime this week. Last year for the first time since we became Peace of Christ, we actually made our goal—but it wasn't until the eleventh hour in last May. We can reach this year's goal next week if we simply put on the pledge card what we intend to give (even if we don't actually do the giving until next May) and then drop it in the collection or the mail this coming week. The card you receive should indicate what you gave last year. Simply put that (or whatever amount adjusted for inflation that you can) on the card, and then we won't have to continue weekly requests. Thanks so much, and please keep this year's appeal in your prayers!
Fifty years ago Monday, Roger Maris tied a Babe Ruth record.
Tuesday, it's 60 days until we begin using our new Missal!
Wednesday evening, our St. John Neumann School Council meets at 6:30 and the 2012 Festival Committee meets at 7:00. Thank you to both of these groups for all your work throughout the year!
Thursday is Rosh Hashanah (New Year's) for all our Jewish neighbors. Happy 5772 to you all!
Friday, the RPO's new conductor, Norwegian Arild Remmereit, has his inaugural concert at the Eastman. Velkommen til Rochester !
Saturday and Sunday, we will learn more about this year's CMA.
Sunday at 1:00 P.M. is our annual pet blessing in Dailey Hall. It is also Respect Life Sunday: from womb to tomb, respect and protect .
—Father Schrader
September 18, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today is Catechetical Sunday. Here at Peace of Christ Parish, we are grateful for all on our Adult Faith Formation Committee and our Family Faith/Youth Ministry Advisory Committee who collaborate with Laura Gleeson, our Director of Faith Formation, to provide programs and occasions for parishioners of all ages to growing in their knowledge of their faith and their experience of God in their lives. Collectively, the above are truly “Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization,” the theme of today's commemoration. A significant part of the “New Evangelization” relates to the Mass, and so over the next nine weeks, we will find in our bulletins (starting next week) a weekly insert related in some way to the new missal all Roman Catholic churches in the United States will begin to use on the First Sunday of Advent in November. May this be a time of focus on the Mass which gathers us each week as we worship our God.
Today is also “Human Development Sunday.” The Catholic Campaign for Human Development was mandated by the U.S. bishops to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and
transformative education. Thank you for your support both in prayer and in today's second collection.
Last Sunday was our annual Parish Picnic, and before I go further through the events of this coming week, I just want to thank all who made the day such a success: those who coordinated the Picnic, those who set up, the Scouts who so beautifully commemorated Patriot Day, the musicians who led us in our praise, everyone who brought a dish to pass, the cooks, the ponies, the face-painters, the game organizers, the musicians at dessert time, all who helped clean up, all who attended—and God, Who held off the rain until we were wrapping up to go home!
Monday of this week, we welcome Joel Morehouse to our staff. Joel has been filling in directing our music at St. John the Evangelist for the past several months and will now do so in a permanent full time fashion. I am grateful to all who provided input for this hire and all who participated in the interview committee. Joel's first ministry will be as he accompanies our singing at the weekly 10:00 A.M. Monday morning Mass at Cedarwood Towers .
Monday evening, our Finance Council has its monthly meeting in continuing vigilance over our parish's fiscal resources.
Tuesday, the Men's Club gathers at 7:00 P.M. in St. James Church Hall.
Ember Wednesday is the Feast of St. Matthew, Bishop Clark's final feast day before his retirement which is next July. Why not come down to Coffee Hour (7:00-9:00 P.M. at St. James)—the bishop is not expected, but we can toast him with a decaf nonetheless.
Thursday is our last full day of Summer. Relish it!
Ember Friday, Autumn begins at 5:05 A.M.
Ember Saturday, I'll be at my 40th Year Becket Hall Reunion.
Bishop Clark has asked that we have a special collection next week for the parishes in our diocese's Southern Tier so devastated by Irene and Lee. Thanks for your generosity as they continue to dig out.
—Father Schrader
September 11, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Patriot Day. In 2001, our calendars did not have that day indicated upon them. Because of 2001, they now do. Being a patriot is a good thing, especially when it indicates appreciation of our country, its freedoms, its resources, and its people. We have much for which to be grateful. On this 10th anniversary of the tragic acts of terrorism that occurred in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, let us remember those who died; commit to a responsible living of our own citizenship (Vote!); and strive to bring about increased understanding, respect, and acceptance of all our sister and brother human beings on this little round globe we call Earth—and which we all call “home.”
Today is also our Parish Picnic. Due to the date, we have asked representatives of our parish in Scouting to lead us in a patriotic tribute at the beginning of our 11:30 A.M. Mass in Ellison Park .
It is also Grandparents Day today. Congratulations and blessings on all who occupy that role in life!
Monday brings us the Full “Harvest” Moon at 5:27 A.M., so the last hour and nine minutes before it sets at 6:36 A.M. should give us a particularly bright start of the day.
Tuesday is our first Pastoral Council meeting of the season. We will be looking at the year to come, setting goals, establishing leadership for various tasks, and spending some time in prayer for you, the parishioners of Peace of Christ Parish. A very serious part of the Council's mission is to pray regularly for the people of the parish and for our collective responding to the needs of the world and the mission of the Church in that world. Pray for us as well that we may faithfully execute our objectives this year for the good of us all!
On Wednesday evening, music people from choirs and staffs all over the diocese will convene at the Cathedral for a Sing-Along. This is in preparation for the introduction of the English Translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal on November 27. More missal details will be forthcoming locally in the parish by way of the bulletin, the pulpit, and special presentations which you may wish to attend.
Thursday is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary was as human as each of us, and thus understands our pains and our struggles as a peer unto ourselves. This feast comes on the Octave of the Feast of the Birth of Mary. May we find in Mary someone to whom we can turn—and who can intervene for us when we are in need.
Friday is a happy day because “The 200 Club” members will gather out at Burgundy Basin Inn to celebrate the conclusion of another successful year of parish support. Father Robert Bradler began this club 30 years ago and he will emcee this Pearl anniversary. I always look forward to this annual evening for us to gather. This past year, we had over 200 members, so it was particularly successful. Friday is also my 35th (Jade) anniversary of receiving the Rite of Candidacy, an early formal step toward priesthood—ah, to be jaded!
Saturday's Feast of St. Robert is also important for both Father Bradler and me...and Father Werth and Robert Redford and ….
Next Sunday is Catechetical Sunday and Human Development Sunday. The 2nd collection will benefit self-help service to the poor.
—Father Schrader
September 4, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today—as on the first Sunday of every month—we have a 2nd collection for Buildings and Grounds. Whether you use this envelope to pay off your pledge to the 5-year POC Campaign of 2008 or simply to help support the ongoing maintenance needs of the parish, know that your generosity is always appreciated. Last Monday at our Facilities Committee meeting, all of the following items were discussed as needing attention: sidewalk repair, organ repair, light replacement, gutter repair, flooding window wells, handrail needs, storm drainage, roof inspection, tree removal, coffee urn replacement, security needs, drapery replacement, and covers for air conditioners. Each month, there is a similar list. Only with your ongoing contributions for these needs can we keep our facilities up to snuff for everyone. Thanks!
Monday is Labor Day, and our offices will be closed. Besides our regular 7:45 A.M. Mass at St. James and our 10:00 A.M. Mass at Cedarwood, there will be our special 9:00 A.M. holiday Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden at St. John the Evangelist (in case of rain, it is moved inside the church). Father Tim Brown will preside and this will be his first Mass in the Garden here at Peace of Christ. Bring a lawn chair. Refreshments will follow the Mass.
Tuesday, our parish Liturgy Committee will meet. We will look at our liturgy calendar for the 2011-2012 year, continue our preparations for the introduction of the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal only 82 days from this day, and review our liturgies of these recent summer months. By the way, there are all kinds of resources out there for preparing for the new missal. Just by going to our own parish web site ( www.peaceofchristparish.org ) and hitting the “Roman Missal” button at the left side of the opening page you have access to a number of parish and national resources to help your understanding and readiness for November 27th.
Wednesday—the 250th day of the year—several of us on staff will go out to Cherry Ridge in Webster (at Sister Gertrude Erb's invitation) to visit with our many Peace of Christ parishioners who have moved to this facility. I look forward to chatting with them and am grateful to Sister Gertrude for arranging this visitation.
Thursday is the feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother. It was nine months ago today that we celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception, so it only stands to order that today would be her birthday. Perhaps an extra Hail Mary—or even a rosary (the Luminous Mysteries)—would be a good way to honor her on her special day!
Friday is the feast of St. Peter Claver, a 17th century Jesuit who became the “Apostle of the Slaves” who were arriving in the New World in Cartegena. Let us pray for all whose freedom is not secure.
Saturday, thanks so much for preparing your envelopes for the weekend, especially any “Vacation Make-up” envelopes. It's nice when we can get away for a break, but our bills at the parish never take a break. Thanks so much for your faithfulness of support!
Next Sunday, Patriot Day, is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It's also our Parish Mass (11:30 A.M.) and Picnic in Ellison Park . Scouts from our parish will commemorate 9/11/01 at the Mass. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
August 28, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Every now and then, a milestone is reached which is worthy of holding up for celebration by all. Today, Dennis and Bertha Ryan are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! Being regular 11:00 A.M. Mass attendants, a special prayer will be said for them at that time. Bertha and Dennis, we congratulate you, extend best wishes to you both, and ask God's blessings upon your witness of loving commitment as the graces of your Sacrament of Matrimony continue to flow in your lives and then outward among all whom your lives may touch!
Monday evening, our parish Facilities Committee meets. We've normally met on the first Monday of the month, but in looking at the calendar for the year to come, the meetings will often be on different dates. So, just keep an eye on the bulletin (if you're a member of the committee, you would already have a list of these dates—or, if not, just let us know at tonight's meeting). And may we all be grateful for all that the members of this committee do throughout the year in addressing the many nuts-and-bolts issues of our parish. If you ever have any comments, suggestions (or words of appreciation), please be encouraged to send them along to the office and we'll be sure they get to the committee members at their next meeting. Thanks.
Tuesday evening, our St. John Neumann School Council has its next meeting (where did the summer go?!?!?!). We've been working on all kinds of things for this new school year: a comprehensive strategic plan, a marketing strategy that will keep our school in the forefront of people's attention, a responsible budget for this “new” parish component, outreaches via plays and grants and alumni support to assure our presence for the long haul, and a connectedness to all the other urban parishes east of the river as we now jointly look to St. John Neumann as the last remaining (of 21) urban school on this side of the city. Our school actually has an urban-suburban identity in that though the building actually sits in suburban Irondequoit, since it is now a parish school and the parish office is technically in Rochester, it qualifies as an eastside urban school. The other 20 eastside urban schools that have closed over the years (some long ago) are: Annunciation, Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, Holy Redeemer, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Victory, St. Andrew's, St. Anne's, St. Boniface, St. Bridget's, St. Francis Xavier, St. George's, St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph, St. Mary's, St. Michael's, St. Philip Neri, St. Stanislaus, and St. Theresa's.
Wednesday, we look forward to the end of the school year when our Parish Festival occurs. The Festival Committee meets this evening to continue their remote planning. It's never too early!
Thursday is the first day of the last month of the 1st quarter of our parish fiscal year (July-June). Thanks for your regular support!
Friday, thanks for preparing your envelopes for the weekend, especially for any Vacation Make-Up offerings that may be given.
Saturday, it's already a month since my vacation began. Go back!
Sunday is the 2-year anniversary of a 127-pound cabbage winning the prize at the Alaska State Fair. So, there you have it!
—Father Schrader
August 21, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Many college students are now (or soon will be) heading off to school. If you are one of them, know that we keep you in prayer all year round. Please, remember us as well when you have moments of prayer or gather with your peers for Mass each week at the college chapel or Newman Center . (Yes, that Newman is spelled differently from our own.) Check our web site from afar. One of our soon-to-depart students has played percussion in our contemporary music ensemble at the 9:00 A.M. Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church for several years: D.J. O'Keefe. You may have seen him in the paper as well since he has played with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO). We are grateful for the gift of his music today in assisting us to pray, and wish him well in the academic year ahead!
Monday is the feast of the Queenship of Mary. This feast falls on the octave of the feast of the Assumption of Mary—just as Mary's Coronation follows as the Fifth Glorious Mystery right after Mary's Assumption being the Fourth. Perhaps this would be a good day to say a rosary (but use the Joyful Mysteries because it's Monday).
Tuesday is the 60th birthday of Queen Noor of Jordan who was born on this date, August 23rd—in Washington , D.C. Interesting question: having been born in our nation's very capital, would she be eligible to run for President of the United States if she ever desired to do so? Well, as one who has been so involved in global peace building and conflict recovery, she certainly would be a worthy candidate just on those scores alone. Happy Birthday, Queen Noor!
Wednesday brings us to the 62nd anniversary of the incorporation of our St. James Church. That makes it just 138 days younger than myself!
Thursday, look at your calendars: there are just 4 months left until Christmas! I'm sure by this point in some stores there are decorations already beginning to appear. The Halloween stuff was on the shelves right after the Fourth of July. Which brings me to a thought about the Seasons. Now, there are holiday seasons which always seem to be preceded by much anticipation and preparation. And there are climatological seasons which always find us ready with a rake or shovel or hoe or mower. Should not our liturgical seasons arouse in us the same type of eager forward-pondering so that we are spiritually ready to meet them and greet them and celebrate them to the full? Though we are currently in the middle of the longest Church Season, Ordinary Time, there has been for over a year now a focus on the Advent that will commence on November 27th of this year. On that day, we will begin to use the Third Roman Missal (the first one came out in 1570 and the second one came out in 1962—the pace of change seems to have accelerated). We've shared quite a bit recently about this new missal, but until we enter the final phase of preparation next month, why not anticipate it all by checking out the “Roman Missal” button on our parish web site as mentioned in last Sunday's column. Before you know it, the Easter Peeps will be upon us.
Friday, thank you for preparing your envelopes for the weekend. Summer always takes a toll. Any make-up offerings are so helpful!
Saturday is the 101st anniversary of Blessed Mother Teresa's birth.
Next Sunday begins the last full week before Labor Day. Yikes!
—Father Schrader
August 14, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Birthday to one of our maintenance crew, Helmut “Herm” Wunderlich. Many happy returns!
Monday is the feast of the Assumption of Mary, but because it falls on a Monday, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Thus, our parish Mass schedule is simply the regular Monday schedule: 7:45 A.M. at St. James. There will also be the regular Monday Mass at Cedarwood Towers at 10:00 A.M. as well, barring any funerals that may come in for that morning. This would also be a day to keep the youth of the world in prayer, as it is the beginning of World Youth Day (August 15-21) in Madrid , Spain . Although I am not aware of any local participation in that event, you may wish to check out whatever coverage may be on EWTN on cable television and/or on AM 1460 available on all our radios.
Tuesday, our parish Men's Club will meet at 7:00 P.M. in St. James Church hall. This longstanding parish group has just come off its successful annual Bocce Tournament, and now is making ready for its annual Sports Night. God's blessings on them all as they carry on traditions special to so many!
Wednesday, it will be 42 years since the concluding day of Woodstock . Many musical styles have come and gone since then (and modes of listening to music—anybody seen my 8-track?).
Thursday night, I'll wander wearily home from vacation to thaw out from my preview of what will face us all again in just a few months. God's world is a beautiful one, and since I was ten and traveled with my family across country by car to visit my aunt in California , I have found travel itself to be one of the best modes of education. Indeed, whether near or far, long or short, I hope that everyone will have been able to go somewhere by year's end just to see something new of God's creation to be admired, appreciated and applauded!
Friday brings us to 100 days and counting until the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal begins being used in all Roman Catholic parishes of the United States . Last February, we had a series of homilies on each part of the Mass as part of our remote preparation. Recently, our summer liturgy series on three Tuesday evenings introduced us more specifically to what we can expect once we get to Advent and our new missal. Catechetical Sunday (September 18th) focuses our attention on the Mass which itself is really one of the best catechetical tools that we have. From the Sunday following that through the Sunday before Advent itself, we will have a series of bulletin articles helping us to ponder more deeply the way we pray at Mass and how our praying's evolution will touch us when we arrive at November 27th, the First Sunday of Advent. We can all be grateful to our Parish Missal Implementation Committee for their work in helping us to be ready for the New Church Year when it goes into effect. Indeed, feel free to read more yourself by checking out the “Roman Missal” button on the front page of our parish web site. You may also wish to listen to some of the new simple chants that are coming as well: www.npm.org/Chants/ .
Saturday, is a Memorial Mass at St. Louis for my former seminary rector, Lou Hohman. May he rest in peace.
Next Sunday, D.J. O'Keefe's music will assist our worship at the 9:00 A.M. Mass before he heads off to Ithaca College . Time passes!
—Father Schrader
August 7, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend, we were to welcome Father Nestor B. Watin as our 2011 missionary for the annual Missionary Cooperation Plan collection. Sadly, Father Watin's mother died last week and he has returned for the funeral in his home Diocese of Romblon in the Philippines which he had been going to represent when he came here. Therefore, the mission talk and appeal will not take place this weekend as had been previously announced. Please, keep Fr. Watin and his family in your prayers. The 2nd collection today, therefore, will simply be for our normal first-Sunday-of-the-month “Buildings and Grounds” offerings and envelopes. We are sealing all our parking lots this summer—and it ain't cheap! Thanks so much for your generous support!
Monday is Civic Holiday for our neighbors to the north. I remember once checking into a hotel in Ontario on that day and asking what the holiday was about, and the person at the desk did not know. Upon Googling it, it seems that what it means depends on where you are in Canada —and some parts don't celebrate it at all. From what I can figure, it was put where it is so there would be a Monday in August not to work. Then again, from what I've seen in many establishments on either side of the border, that might describe most Mondays throughout the year. But, alas, I digress. Happy Civic Day, Canada !
Tuesday is the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). The Vatican web site has quite the write-up about her found at
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/litrugy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19981011-edith_stein_en.html so be sure to check it out.
Wednesday, it will be a week since I departed with my classmate, Fr. John Gagnier of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Greece , on another expedition “vacation” (I put it in quotes because I usually need another one when I get home from these). This time—to balance out our trek in January of 2009 south of the Antarctic Circle—we are plodding north of the Arctic Circle in Norway . (Some have said this will now officially make us bi-polar.) Today, we will reach the North Cape and be less than 19 ° of latitude from the North Pole. We're both hoping that this will be a relief from the recent bout with near-100 ° temperatures we were having before our departure from Rochester . We return home a week from tomorrow. Just look for the two popsicles getting off the plane with Viking hats on!
Thursday is the birthday of Fr. Bob Werth. Though now at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, he remains the Co-Chair of our St. John Neumann School Council's Pastoral Committee, and we wish him well as another year rolls around.
Friday is the feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Though many of our prayer books have her feast on December 12th, when that day was declared the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas , her feast was moved to August 12th.
Saturday brings us the Full “Sturgeon” Moon at 2:57 P.M., though you'll have to wait several hours for it to rise around here so you can see it.
Next Sunday is the 76th anniversary of the Social Security Act being signed into law. A prayer on occasion for all the various rights and securities we have in this land would be very much in order. Pax!
—Father Schrader
August 1, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy New Month to you all! Hope your summer is progressing nicely and that it is filled with opportunities for renewal and reunion. I had mentioned in an earlier bulletin that a special musical is being produced as a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Father Ed Zimmer who lived at the rectory at our St. John the Evangelist site until his death on January 7, 2001. Originally, it was going to be performed this October. However, when the contract finally got all put together, the actual dates will now be January 14 and 15, 2011, much closer to the actual anniversary. It will be put on at Geva and will be a benefit for their youth education program. Many of the originals from the casts of the musicals being reprised in this new musical production are returning to town to star in it again, some 30 years after Fr. Zimmer's hiring Tony Falzano to be St. Monica's youth minister and writer of these musicals. All involved so far have found this to be quite the production. One actor is even flying in from Los Angeles to be a part of the cast. So, for now, just re -mark your calendars for what promises to be an enjoyable, memorable, and beneficially helpful spectacle on this local downtown stage. More later.
Monday, we begin Summer Session for our youth in religious education. God's blessings on all of them and their teachers.
Tuesday—now that the vevuzelas of the World Cup have silenced there—Dane Noble-Rosema of our pastoral music ministry returns home to South Africa for a visit with his family. We wish him a safe trip, a pleasant reunion with his kin, and a speedy return to the parish.
Wednesday (being the first one of the month), our Bereavement Ministry meets at the parish office. This is for all who have recently experienced a loss among their family or friends to come together with those of a similar focus to meet with a facilitator who can help in the addressing of the various stages of grief that are experienced whenever a death occurs. Pass the word to any so confronted.
Thursday is the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome . Most folks know of St. Peter's Basilica, but there are actually four major basilicas in this holy city. This particular one is dedicated to the Blessed Mother. There is also St. Paul 's Outside the Walls and St. John Lateran which is the pope's cathedral.
Friday, it is already 2 weeks since our annual Garage Sale. I'd like to thank all who worked so hard to assure its success, all who donated treasures, and all who came to purchase them. Many thanks!
Next weekend it will already be over a month since my time of vacation. Many have asked me about it. Briefly, the things I treasured most are these: the driving over 3,982.6 miles of beautiful back roads and seashores, visiting with friends in Albany and in Caribou ME, Acadia National Park (Jenna Bush was there the same day, and the Obamas were there 3 weeks after me), stunning Nova Scotia, the lush Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland where I stayed in Cow Head, the stark rockiness of Labrador with whales just off the coast, the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island and then the Green Gables House there in Cavendish, sharing Moncton, New Brunswick with Regis and Kelly on the same night, and the mammoth moose bidding me farewell along a Maine road on the last day. Ahh! God is good and I am so grateful! May such respites be yours as well!
—Father Schrader
July 24, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
As this last full week of July begins, our annual parish Garage Sale today ends: 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. is the final opportunity to scour our treasures and make them your own. Come to Dailey Hall at our St. Ambrose site—and thanks to the many who have contributed to it, worked it, and/or patronized it over these past few days!
Monday is the feast of St. James, the patron of one of our three worship sites. Perhaps attending the 7:45 A.M. Mass on this morning at St. James would be a nice way to celebrate it. Then in the evening, our Facilities Committee has its summer meeting at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist in the church hall. I am grateful to those who indicated this committee on their Time-Talent-Treasure forms recently as an area where they might be of assistance. With twelve buildings on three sites, the collaboration of us all has proven the best way to proceed.
Tuesday evening at 7:00 P.M. brings us to the 2nd of three sessions of our Summer Liturgy Series. Fr. Brian Carpenter is walking us through the various new things we can expect when the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal goes into effect on November 27th, the First Sunday of Advent. This series is one of the main preparation programs we will be offering as we approach the above date, so I hope you can make these sessions or at least as many of them as you can.
Wednesday is the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Father Francis Feeney, the first pastor of St. James Church. Again, a good way to commemorate this would be to attend the 7:45 A.M. Mass at St. James itself. It's unusual to have both the saint's feast and the founder's birthday on the two weekdays when we just happen to have weekday Mass at St. James, so let's celebrate them both while we can.
Thursday, as we all prepare our envelopes for the weekend, thank you for your faithful support of your parish throughout the year. As you can imagine, just as costs escalate each year with your own home or business, the costs of providing our various ministries and maintaining the facilities that house many of them grow each year as well. In this first month of our parish's new fiscal year, our annual giving adjustment helps so much!
Friday, I will say Mass at Camp Stella Maris as I do once each summer. A number of our parishioners attend this camp as campers or work there as counselors each year.
Saturday, your Parish Pastoral Council will be gathered for their annual summer 3-hour period of prayer, repast, and dialogue. You will be in their prayers. Remember them as well. This day is also the birthday of Fr. Ray Quetchenbach, SVD who is with us this week and next. Many happy returns, Fr. Ray!
Next Sunday ends July and begins the 2nd half of Ordinary Time. May these summer months be renewing for us all!
—Father Schrader
July 17, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
As we are now one-quarter of the way through summer, let me take this opportunity to thank all who have been supportive of the parish by way of your weekly offerings, gifts to the Peace of Christ Campaign (now in its 4th year as a number of our 5-year pledges are being paid off), and generosity toward our newly acquired responsibility for the school (POC/SJN [Peace of Christ/St. John Neumann]) throughout the year. Your support in these and in so many other ways is vital to our health as a parish serving this sector of Rochester , Irondequoit and portions of Brighton and Lord knows what else. Adjusting our regular giving by even a few percent each July as the new Fiscal Year begins helps greatly by the time each year concludes the following June. Thanks (on behalf of you all) to everyone who has or will make such a kind adjustment for us all!
Monday is the 200th birthday of writer William Makepeace Thackeray who satirized upper middle-class Victorian London and received a posthumous tribute from Charles Dickens. By the way, as you wander about your home and review your many treasures of life—from the best of times and from the worst of times—please know that Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. is the last opportunity to drop any of them off at Dailey Hall (the school gym at our St. Ambrose site) for this coming weekend's annual Garage Sale. Thanks!
Tuesday, we catapult from the 19th century to the 21st as our Summer Liturgy Series begins at 7:00 P.M. in the Church Hall at St. John the Evangelist. Fr. Brian Carpenter will cover in these next few Tuesdays the background of the upcoming implementation of the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. Some English-speaking countries have already implemented it, but here we will be doing so with the arrival of the new Church Year upon the First Sunday of Advent on November 27, 2011. May these sessions assist our readiness!
Wednesday is July 20th, the day we landed on the Moon back in 1969—less than a month before Woodstock !
Thursday evening, some of our School Council representatives will be meeting with reps from Holy Cross School (our school's counterpart on the West side of the city) to continue to plan for our joint venture this coming January in producing a play at Geva Theatre as a fundraiser for our urban Catholic schools. We'll keep you posted as we move along.
Friday through Sunday of next weekend, we have our annual Peace of Christ Garage Sale. Details are elsewhere in the bulletin, but do try to stop by in Dailey Hall at our St. Ambrose site to scout out our wares—and support the parish in the process.
Lastly, a one-liner on “Patience” (which for most quandaries recently brought to me may be the very remedy): “The difficult things take a long time—the impossible take a little longer.”
—Father Schrader
July 10, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend, our 2nd collection is the annual one for “Emerging Churches.” This certainly has an interesting name, but most significantly it refers to support for our Church in countries where Catholicism is in the minority, yet where there is a lively faith striving to survive and thrive among the Catholic people who reside there. We ourselves would have been an “emerging Church” for most of the early portion of our nation's history. Thank you for assisting those who believe and just need a helping hand from outside to keep them standing upright.
This afternoon (Sunday, July 10th), we have our annual summer Anointing Service at 2:00 P.M. in St. Ambrose Church. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be administered for all who are ailing or growing weary under the burden of their years. A blessing for caregivers will also be a part of this service. Please, spread the word and/or bring a friend.
Monday begins our annual Vacation Bible Camp, with this year's theme being “Panda Mania.” Sessions are Monday-Friday, 9:00 A.M. –12:00 Noon. Thank you to all who are donating your time and talent in staffing or otherwise supporting this special week of fun faith formation for our little ones.
Also during this week, several of us are taking a mini-course each evening, Monday-Thursday, out at Nazareth College on The Roman Missal . Input from these sessions will help us in putting the finishing touches on our own parish orientation to the changes that will be upcoming this Advent. In fact, one of the first opportunities to learn more in a group setting right here at Peace of Christ Parish will begin next week (July 19th) when a new Tuesday evening mini-series will focus on the missal and the changes on the horizon. This will be our Summer Liturgy Series for 2011. Watch the bulletin and join us if at all possible.
This Friday (July 15th) is the 74th birthday of our diocesan pastoral leader, Bishop Matthew H. Clark, who is currently in his 33rd year as our bishop. So special is this birthday which kicks off what is anticipated to be Bishop Clark's final year as our bishop that we will have the Full “Buck” Moon on this very day (at 2:40 A.M.): bright lights by day and by night! Bishop, we wish you well and ask that God's many blessings will be yours throughout the year ahead!
Lastly, I'll share with you a suggestion for summer reading. Living at God's Speed, Healing in God's Time by Charles W. Sidoti (a lay Roman Catholic hospital pastoral care director) and Rabbi Akiva Feinstein (his trusted friend), Twenty-Third Publications, New London CT: 2011, $14.95, 218 pp., ISBN 978-1-58595-831-3. A good read to put things in perspective! Peace!
—Father Schrader
July 3, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Welcome to Peace of Christ Parish, Father Tim Brown ! This past Tuesday was your arrival here, and we look forward to meeting you this weekend at St. James, next weekend at St. Ambrose, and the following weekend (July 17th) at St. John the Evangelist. Just as the sun is today at its aphelion, so too we hope now to grow closer to you with the passing of each day as we together share our journeying to our God and the everlasting home prepared for us all!
Quick request to all: if you ever attended one of the Catholic Schools of our parish, please fill in the alumni/ae form in the pew and drop it in the collection or at the office. Great things are ahead for all our alums!
Monday is Independence Day. The parish offices will be closed, and our Masses for this holiday are the regular Monday 7:45 A.M. Mass at St. James, the special 9:00 A.M. Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden at our St. John the Evangelist site (bring a lawn chair, and stay for refreshments—we'll be in the church if it rains), and our regular weekly 10:00 A.M. Mass at Cedarwood Towers on Main Street.
Tuesday will be a good day after the non-stop pace of June and the transition of certain presbyteral personnel and the holiday rush and fireworks of the weekend simply to pause and give thanks. Many, many thanks to all who turned out on June 25th to do the annual gardening and clean-up around the buildings on our St. John the Evangelist campus; to all involved in the marvelous send-off celebration on June 26th for Father Bob Werth; and to our stalwart souls who brought together once again the annual Men's Club Bocce Tournament on June 28th. None of these things happens by itself, but only when many very busy people are willing to be even more busy for the duration of each event. Thank you, one and all. You truly are the Peace of Christ for one another!
Wednesday brings us to a dozen dozen days and counting until we begin using the new English translation of the Third Roman Missal when we gather for Mass. As shared in last week's bulletin, while everyone has personal tastes as to what words better give lift to our prayers, in just a sampling of some of the new texts, a richer and more inclusive experience will be clearly noted. Another example:
OLD TEXT (Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time III): We see your infinite power in your loving plan of salvation. You came to our rescue by your power as God, but you wanted us to be saved by one like us. Man refused your friendship, but man was himself to restore it through Jesus Christ our Lord.
NEW TEXT: For we know it belongs to your boundless glory that you came to the aid of mortals with your divinity and provided for us a healing remedy out of mortality itself by turning the nature that led to our downfall into the means of our salvation, through Christ our Lord.
Thursday brings us to the end of the first week of our new Fiscal Year. Hopefully, all “Time-Talent-Treasure” cards are now in. This will greatly help our planning for this year now begun. Thanks, too, for whatever adjustment you may have made in your weekly offering.
Friday, it's 11 months until Festival 2012. Thanks again for 2011!
Saturday is the feast of St. Augustine Zhao Rong & Companions. These 120 lay and cleric martyrs were canonized October 1, 2000. Pray for the Church in China especially on this day.
Next Sunday's Anointing Service is at 2:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose.
— Father Schrader
June 26, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
This afternoon, please be sure to stop by at Dailey Hall (St. John Neumann School gym on our St. Ambrose campus) 2-5 P.M. to wish farewell to Father Bob Werth as he prepares for his move this Tuesday to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish to our west. I first met Fr. Bob back in 1975 at St. Bernard's Seminary. While we were both there, we co-wrote a weekly column in the school newsletter, The Emanon , called “The Integrated Ego Award.” Each student in the seminary at the time received this award at some time during the year, and our column showed why each candidate deserved it. As I reflect on this now, isn't it a good thing always to look for the good in others? It's there somewhere, and sometimes just naming it makes all the difference in each person's day.
On October 14, 1977, both of us were ordained deacons along with several other seminarians over at Corpus Christi Church on Main Street , one of the sites of Fr. Bob's new parish. After our priesthood ordinations, my first assignment was to St. Monica's from which Fr. Bob came here in 2004, and Fr. Bob's first assignment was to St. Mary's in Auburn from which I came here in 2004. These past seven years have gone by ever so fast, and he shall be greatly missed. God's many blessings, Robert, as you move westward to your new home!
Monday brings us to 5 months and counting until we begin using the new English translation of the Third Roman Missal when we gather for Mass. While everyone has personal tastes as to what words better give lift to our prayers, in just a sampling of some of the new texts, a richer and more inclusive experience will be clearly noted. One example:
OLD TEXT (Christmas Day Opening Prayer): Lord God, we praise you for creating man, and still more for restoring him in Christ. Your Son shared our weakness: may we share his glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
NEW TEXT: O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday, we welcome Father Tim Brown who joins our staff here at Peace of Christ. Ordained in 1988, Fr. Tim brings a whole array of gifts to us all his own. Enjoy meeting him over these next three weeks as he celebrates at each site. Tonight is our Men's Club Bocce Tournament!
Wednesday evening is June's awesome School Council meeting!
Thursday, our Fiscal Year ends. If all “Time-Talent-Treasure” cards can be into the office by then, this will greatly help our planning for the year ahead. Thanks, too, for whatever adjustment can be made starting this coming Sunday with our weekly offering: 3%? more? less? Thanks!
Friday is Canada Day. England 's latest royal couple will be north of the border for a visit. It's also the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Saturday is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary—a good day to pray a rosary for all our mutual needs. I'll say one for you !
Next Sunday, the Dog Days of summer begin. This has nothing to do with your canine, but is the time when the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in the sky at the same time as the sun. Since this time (July 3-August 11) is usually the hottest time of the year, the name of these days usually connotes a period of great heat and dryness. May they be kind to us all!
—Father Schrader
June 19, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Father 's Day to all who occupy this role, and blessings on all our fathers already in the next life. My own Dad, ironically, died 27 years ago today. Coincidentally, in the Orthodox Church, today is All Saints Day commemorating all who have already gone before us (just as we do on November 1st). Today, on our own feast of the Holy Trinity, we can place all of our fathers, both living and deceased, in the loving care of our Triune God, a God big enough to embrace everyone of us forever.
Happy Birthday, too, to our Director of Youth Ministry, Alison LeChase. Many happy returns!
Our Pastoral Council met this past week. Members for the year ahead (besides Fr. Tim Brown, Fr. Brian Carpenter and myself along with Pastoral Personnel Laurie Maier, Augie Misiurewicz, and Sister Marlene Vigna) include the following: David Battaglia, Bob Crego, Jason Dusett, Carol Fuchs, Bess Johnson, Dan Kellogg, Karin Kellogg, Doug Nordquist, Dave O'Keefe, Kay Reagan, Eleanor Santo, Chris Tanner, and youth delegates, Mo Elliott and Joseph Tanner. Doug Nordquist was elected Chair for 2011-2012 and Bob Crego was elected Vice-Chair. Goldie Rogers is our scribe, and Karen Rinefierd our diocesan liaison. Thank you to all candidates who were willing to serve!
Monday is our final Finance Council of the fiscal year. I am grateful to all six of our members for their monthly vigilance of our parish's temporal resources.
Tuesday brings us to the arrival of Summer at 1:16 P.M. While it is the longest day and the sun is the highest over our heads that it will be, we actually enjoyed the earliest sunrises of the year June 11-18, and we won't have our latest sunsets until June 24-30. Go figure!
Wednesday evening, St. John Neumann School has its final moving-up ceremony as a diocesan school. Next year, this will take place as a parish school of Peace of Christ. God's blessings on all our students, teachers and staff through the summer season ahead!
Thursday brings us to only one week until the end of Fiscal 2011-2012 for the parish. Thank you to all for your regularity of support throughout the year. If any last-minute donations need to be made to reach each of our “treasure” stewardship commitments for either weekly giving or special campaigns, we still have this one more week to make them. Thanks, too, for all time and talent offerings indicated on your Sacrificial Giving Program card. We are clearly strongest for one another when we all activate what God has planted in us. If you still have your card, please return it by month's end. Thanks!
Friday brings us to the anniversary of John Cabot arriving in Newfoundland in 1497. It seems like just yesterday!
Saturday, June 25th means it's only 6 months ‘til Christmas!
Next Sunday , please be sure to stop by at Dailey Hall (St. John Neumann School gym on our St. Ambrose campus) 2-5 P.M. to wish farewell to Father Bob Werth as he prepares for his June 28th move to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish to our west. See you there!
—Father Schrader
June 12, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Pentecost Sunday (be sure to keep your Whits about you)! Hope you wore red to church. If you didn't, know that I'm just glad you're in church (but when you go home, put red on for the rest of the day). Today, we draw names for our new members of the Parish Pastoral Council. Thank you to all our nominees for your willingness to serve!
Thank you, too, to all who worked at or attended Festival 2011 this weekend in the parish. This annual event supports greatly the ministries of Peace of Christ—and does so in a fun-loving way. May its spirit reside in all of us the whole year round!
Late word was received just before my departure for the priests' retreat last weekend after typing this column that St. James' 3rd pastor, Fr. John Lynch, born 4/18/34, died on Saturday, June 4th, the 51st anniversary of his ordination to priesthood. May he rest in peace!
Monday of this week, we return to Ordinary Time, although since it is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua (through whose intercession we all pray when we've misplaced an item) we won't return (liturgically) to the wearing of the green until Tuesday. Monday evening is our Liturgy Committee picnic to celebrate the end of another year of planning and look to the upcoming year of much liturgical focus for us all. Monday is also the 64th anniversary of the ordination of former Peace of Christ Parish resident, Father Edward Anthony Zimmer (“EZ”), whom we remember each Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day as we celebrate Mass in his Peace Garden . By the way, EZ used to play the clarinet and, ironically, today is the 25th anniversary of the death of Benny Goodman—which means that he died on EZ's 39th anniversary, thirty-nine being the proverbial perpetual age of Jack Benny whose last name is the same as Goodman's first. STOP!!
Tuesday is Flag Day, and we have our final Pastoral Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist Church Hall. For our new Council members, it will be their first meeting (members' names will be in next week's bulletin). On our agenda this night will be the Open Forum at 7:15, followed by Councilors' Concerns, a Youth Ministry Report, a School Update, a report by our diocesan liaison, Karen Rinefierd, a review of this past Council year, a preliminary financial report for this coming year, and elections of Council leadership for 2011-12.
Ember Wednesday is the Full “Strawberry” Moon at 4:14 P.M.
Thursday is the 100th anniversary of a meteorite causing damage to a barn in Kilbourn , Wisconsin .
Not to be outdone, Ember Friday is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Icelander J ó n Sigur d sson.
Midway between those two monumental occasions, Ember Saturday is the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the 1st fly casting tournament in the United States right in good old Utica, New York! See, there's always something to commemorate!
Next Sunday brings us to Father's Day, the birthday of our Director of Youth Ministry, Alison LeChase, Trinity Sunday, and Orthodox All Saints Day. May we find in each and every day a reason (and an opportunity) to pause and reflect!
—Father Schrader
June 5, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
As we begin the month of our longest days, I do so very grateful for so many people and events of recent weeks. The Volunteer Appreciation Party last month brought together a great cross-section of those individuals, a whole hall-full of so many of our Peace of Christ parishioners who volunteer so regularly for so many projects, ministries and programs. May we always be grateful for those around us who do so much that we can so easily take for granted! Be assured, all will be warmly remembered during this, on Priests' Retreat week.
Monday, Fr. Brian Carpenter (who already went on retreat and so will be around the parish for your pastoral needs) celebrates his 2nd anniversary as a priest. Ad multos annos —and welcome to his family who have come here from Indiana to help him celebrate!
Tuesday brings us to the end of the first full week of June. A week ago this day was the end of the 2010-2011 Catholic Ministries Appeal . We can all be very pleased that—for the first time in a number of years—we had just the day before exceeded our $115,168 goal in pledges and, thanks to the generosity of some very kind donors, exceeded our required payments as well. Thank you everyone!
Wednesday is the Jewish feast of Shavuot. This feast commemorates the giving of the Torah to the entire Jewish community assembled around Mount Sinai . It is also called the Feast of Weeks, and since it occurs 50 days after Passover (as our Pentecost is 50 days after Easter), it is also called their Pentecost.
Thursday, the Priests' Retreat ends, and in the evening is the Bishop's Dinner at St. Patrick's in Victor for aspiring priesthood candidates who have been identified by the parishioners or staff of their parishes around the diocese. As a result of these relatively recent gatherings, the number for our diocese in the seminary has been steadily on the increase: though there is no ordination next year, from 2013 onward, there are several each year to help replenish the local presbyterate. Our most recent formal contact with this group has been Dominic Marini of Becket Hall who this Fall heads off to Theological College in Washington . May we keep him and his classmates in our prayers in these years ahead.
Friday, the 78th anniversary of our late Father Feeney's ordination, begins Festival 2011! Be sure to stop by, 6:00-11:00 P.M., for food, fun, and friendship. Thanks to all who have volunteered!
Saturday, the 62nd anniversary of our late Father Dailey's ordination, brings the ordination of Fr. Scott Caton. It also brings the final day of Festival 2011 from 5:00 to 10:00 P.M. Hope to see you here!
Lastly, next weekend is our Catholic Pentecost Sunday, also called Whit Sunday by some. Remember to wear red! Remember, too, that two weeks from next Sunday (on Sunday, June 26th), there is our Farewell Party for Father Bob Werth from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall at our St. Ambrose site. A blessed week to you all!
—Father Schrader
May 29, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today is Rogation Sunday when we “ask” (rogate) God's blessing on our Spring planting. Perhaps we could be particularly mindful of those whose crops have suffered so much this year already because of the great flooding in our country's mid-section.
Monday is Memorial Day, both in Waterloo and everywhere else since it falls this year right on the 30th. We will have our traditional 9:00 A.M. Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden over at St. John the Evangelist Church . In the event of rain, the Mass and refreshments afterwards will be moved inside the church itself. The normal Monday Masses (7:45 A.M. at St. James and 10:00 A.M. at Cedarwood Towers ) will also take place today.
Tuesday is the last day of May, and the very last day on which to pay pledges and make special gifts to the 2010-2011 Catholic Ministries Appeal . A great thrust toward the goal was made last weekend in the special 2nd collection, and I am truly hopeful that by today the goal will be reached. Any contributions received by Noon today will be taken out to the diocesan offices. Any contributions received by us after Noon today will be counted toward next year's appeal. Thanks so much for all you've done so far by way of response!
Wednesday, Oscar the Grouch is 42 years old!
Thursday is the Ascension, a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION . Masses are at 6:30 A.M. at St. James , 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose , and at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist .
Friday brings us to one week and counting until Festival 2011 ! Please, be sure to mark your calendars for the 10th from 6:00 to 11:00 P.M. and the 11th from 5:00 to 10:00 P.M. This is our big community fun and fund builder for the year, so come on out with your family and friends and neighbors for an enjoyable time for all.
Saturday brings us to the first weekend of the last month of the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year for Peace of Christ Parish. Everyone has been most generous and conscientious about your support of the Church and its programs and its outreach in the community. These next four weekends will be our final chance to address the variance for this year that appears each week on page 3 of the bulletin. Many have already turned in their Time-Talent-Treasure forms by way of a renewed Stewardship of personal and financial resources for the 2011-2012 year ahead. It is only when we all pitch in to do our best that the needs of the whole are able to be met. Thanks so very much. And if you are ever on the “needing” side of the equation, give us a call and we'll do our best to plug you into the resources at our disposal.
Lastly, three weeks from next Sunday (on Sunday, June 26th), there will be a Farewell Party for Father Bob Werth from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall at our St. Ambrose site. See the note inside this bulletin about the details—and about how you can help out if you are able. Meanwhile, God's blessings and have a pleasant week!
—Father Schrader
May 22, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Once again, congratulations and God's many blessings to all of our young ones receiving their First Eucharist today. As with those who received theirs last weekend, may your reception of Jesus in the Eucharist now be a weekly event that sustains you for years to come!
Tonight, our Web Site Committee has its May meeting. Have you checked out your parish web site of late? If not, log on and go to http://www.peaceofchristparish.org to see all the info that is there: Mass schedules, presider schedules, staff contact information, a virtual tour of each church, information on our various Councils and Committees, a list of links to other key Catholic and related web sites, all the bulletins of the past year, homily recordings so you won't miss our pearls of wisdom when you're away from home, maps of how to get here, information about St. John Neumann School, a way to send us comments, the parish calendar, pictures of recent parish events, recommended reading, and information on the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal which goes into effect on the First Weekend of Advent, November 26-27 of this year. If you ever have any suggestions regarding updates you may like to see, please send us a note and we'll address it at one of our Web Site Committee meetings coming up.
Monday is Victoria Day for our neighbors to the north. They get one week's head start on a long weekend to kick off the summer.
Tuesday, pastoral staff members from all over the diocese will gather for the 2011 Ministerium at the Doubletree in Henrietta. This year's presenter is John J. Allen, Jr., the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and a Vatican analyst for CNN and for National Public Radio. He is the author of The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church ( Doubleday , New York : 2009, $28.00, 456 pp., ISBN 978-0-385-52038-6). He is extremely insightful and examines each trend from many different angles and with a great sense of neutrality (in other words, he's not lobbying for any particular direction, but showing where we've come from and where we will be, given these current trends which he treats). His 10 trends are: A World Church, Evangelical Catholicism, Islam, The New Demography, Expanding Lay Roles, The Biotech Revolution, Globalization, Ecology, Multipolarism, and Pentecostalism. It's well worth the read if you're looking for a little continuing education.
Wednesday is the ordination anniversary of our Fr. Bob Werth, and also our May School Council meeting in the evening.
Thursday, Happy Birthday, Sister Marlene Vigna!
Friday, thanks for prepping your envelopes for the weekend—the last one on which gifts can be given toward the 2010-2011 CMA.
Saturday is the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Mars 3 orbiter and lander ( My Favorite Martian was already off the air 5 years).
Next Sunday is Rogation Sunday—let's get out there and rogate!
—Father Schrader
May 15, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Congratulations and God's many blessings to all of our young ones receiving their First Eucharist this weekend and next. They have been preparing for this day remotely every time they came up the aisle with their families and received only a blessing. They have been preparing for this day proximately by their study and recent conversation with one of us on the parish staff. May their reception of Jesus in the Eucharist now be a weekly event that sustains them for years to come!
Today is also the 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations—quite fittingly so, as today is also called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Gospel that is read at Mass. Pope Benedict XVI set the theme for this year's day as “Proposing Vocations in the Local Church” due to the local origins of every vocation: it is we at the parish level who first plant the seeds of priesthood and religious life vocations by encouraging those whom we discern as possibly having a vocation to check it out with further prayer and consultation. Indeed, helpful hints can be gotten in this regard at www.foryourvocation.org in English or at www.PorTuVocacion.org in Spanish. We have been delighted to have Dominic Marini with us this year from Becket Hall, and now he will go on to Theological College at Catholic University in Washington , DC this coming Fall for seminary.
Monday is the birthday of our incoming parochial vicar, Fr. Tim Brown. I won't go into his age, but let's just say he's got 14 years less on the odometer than the model we're trading in!
Tuesday brings us to this year's Volunteer Appreciation Party, and I look forward to seeing all our parish volunteers who have signed up for this event that evening for a delightful dinner. Of course, being also the day of the Full “Flower” Moon (at 7:09 A.M.)—how fitting that it falls in the middle of the Lilac Festival week—it's anybody's guess as to what the entertainment will be!
Two weeks from Wednesday will be too late for any payments toward the 2010-2011 Catholic Ministries Appeal. Any gifts received after that date will count toward next year's CMA. Thanks for getting all gifts in by next week! If we make our goal by then, we will not have a special 2nd collection next weekend. Otherwise, we'll need to.
Thursday is 475 years since the beheading of Anne Boleyn.
Friday, thank you so much for taking time to prepare your envelopes for the weekend. Your recent Easter offerings helped to lessen the negative variance posted in the bulletin. Thank you for all your sacrifices made in so many ways in support of your parish!
Saturday is Armed Forces Day. Blessings on all those serving our country in harm's way on a daily basis. Also on Saturday I'll be in Geneva in the morning for the 2nd of 4 preparatory sessions for the new music portions of the upcoming 3 rd Edition of the Roman Missal.
Next Sunday, we continue with First Communions, and our Web Site Committee has its May meeting. A grace-filled week to you all!
—Father Schrader
May 8, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A very blessed Mother's Day to all whose mission in life this is! One of those who is on our staff, Colleen Griffith, also celebrates her birthday today: double wishes of happiness and grace! Also, it was 116 years ago today that our 6th bishop, Fulton J. Sheen, was born—and he, I'm sure, today would say, “God love you!” to us all.
Monday marks the 75th anniversary of the Hindenburg completing its first flight to the United States . Let us pray for safety for all travelers in these busy travel months ahead.
Tuesday is our May Pastoral Council meeting—our first since the night before Ash Wednesday since we do not meet during Lent. Our agenda is printed on page 7 in this bulletin for your review. Also, note that we are in the time of the nominating process for new members. See further details about that process elsewhere in this bulletin. By the way, the Lord truly shone down brightly a week ago Saturday for this year's Community Outreach Day: competing with garage sales and so much more, thank you to all who participated to make this outreach of help for others possible once again.
Wednesday, I formally meet for the first time with our Peace of Christ Parish St. John Neumann School Staff as we continue this transition period from diocesan oversight this year to parish oversight as of July 1st. Our school's Council and 5 Committees have been working overtime to assure a strong school not only for next year but for years to come in the future. Much of our planning has been about events and activities in the Fall and beyond, but we will keep you well posted here in the bulletin about all that lies ahead. One of the strongest things that they have wanted me to be sure to convey to you, though, is that St. John Neumann School will very much be a ministry of the parish—just as all three of our parish's former schools used to be years ago when they were special ministries of St. Ambrose Parish and St. James Parish and St. John the Evangelist Parish. Whether or not you currently have children in the school, it's one of our ministries. And just as parishioners of old—whether they had children of their own in the school or not at any one particular point on the spectrum of parish time—took the school under their wing by way of support, so too St. John Neumann School will be strongest from this point forward when each and every one of us can find some way to be actively supportive. Thank you to all who already are, and welcome to all others!
Thursday, thank you for prepping your envelopes for the weekend—and for those late CMA gifts needed by months end!
Friday, it was 30 years since now Blessed John Paul II was shot.
Next weekend brings Stewardship Day on Saturday in the diocese, and First Communions here in the parish both on Saturday at 4:30 P.M. at St. James and on Sunday at 9:45 A.M. at St. Ambrose! First Communions take place at St. John's on Sunday, May 22!
—Father Schrader
May 1, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday to you all. It was on this feast in 2007 that Bishop Clark said Mass here and then blessed our new Peace of Christ offices. Indeed, if that is not reason enough to celebrate, today is also Fr. Brian's birthday. We priests retire at 70, and let's just say he'll now be on the downward slope to that milestone.
On a related note, I wish to express a personal thanks to all who sent me notes for my anniversary and my birthday in April. Your thoughtfulness is very appreciated. Thanks, too, to all who made Easter so special by way of your cards and prayers to us on the staff, to our newly initiated members of the faith, and by way of your participation in the sacraments of Holy Week and Easter. Whether you decorated or sang or transported others or ministered at Mass or simply participated in the pew, may the graces of these days sustain you through all that may lie ahead in the weeks and months to come.
A special thank you to all who participated in our Community Outreach Day for 2011 on Saturday of this weekend. Many people helped many others to experience the Peace of Christ first hand.
Today, we have the 2011 CROP Walk for Hunger, and St. Ambrose will once again be a watering station along the walker's way. Thanks for whatever participation or sponsorship may have been yours. Tonight is our Web Site Committee's May meeting. We are grateful to them for keeping our web site user-friendly for us all.
Today, there are two 2nd collection envelopes: The Catholic Home Missions Appeal (which supports many of the poorer parishes in our country in Appalachia, the distant Arctic North, and other areas of great poverty) and our Buildings and Maintenance envelope for May (with 12 buildings, there's always something that needs fixing). Just put all such envelopes in the 2nd collection when it comes around—and thanks so much for your generosity.
Monday, our Facilities Committee meets to look at some of those items needing fixing. We should all be grateful for their vigilance.
Tuesday (actually Monday-Wednesday), I will be with Fathers Werth and Carpenter down in Corning for the annual Convocation of all our diocese's priests and pastoral administrators with Bishop Clark as we together learn from liturgist Fr. Paul Turner about the new Roman Missal that will come into use this coming Advent. As announced last week, next year Fr. Werth will be attending this Convocation from St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (more in the weeks to come).
Wednesday evening, our Liturgy Committee meets at St. Ambrose and our 2011 Festival Captains meet at St. James.
Thursday is a National Day of Prayer—much needed by us all!
Friday, is First Friday. Let's pray for one another.
Saturday, conversations with our First Eucharist candidates begin.
Next Sunday is Mother's Day. May it be a blessed one for all!
—Father Schrader
April 24, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Easter to one and all! If you are visiting us this weekend, we welcome you, and hope that you will always consider us your home whenever you are in town. If you live nearby, we invite you to become a member of Peace of Christ. We are now four years old as a parish and would welcome your presence among us. Each person has unique gifts. Please, accept ours, and feel free to share your own!
On this holiest of days in our Christian year, we can be thankful sevenfold—seven being a Biblical number denoting sacred blessing.
Sacraments —We welcome today Jesse Greco, Lillian Greco, Sarah McLellan, Jerry Owens, Woodrow Simpson, and Theodore Walnig—six individuals who have journeyed this past year with a 7th (Jesus) and received their sacraments of initiation at our Easter Vigil this weekend becoming full members of the parish and of our Church!
School —We have been blessed this year in being given St. John Neumann School which is being transferred from diocesan to parish oversight effective this September. In our local history, there were at one time 20 different parish Catholic Schools (Pre-K to 6 or 8) serving those residing within the city east of the river. Now, we are the only one left. Registration is currently in process (and is ahead of last year), BUT this Friday ( April 29th ) is the last day to register for next year and be eligible for tuition aid . Most of our students qualify, but all aid will be allocated at the end of the month. SO, please be encouraged to give the school a call (288-0580) and register a new or transferred student this week . Don't let there be 0 city-east schools!
Sacrifices —Thanks so much for special gifts given in so many ways: in today's collection (please note the negative variance on page 3 that we need to make up), in honoring or making your CMA pledge (see roster inside—we still have $10,000+ to go by next month), in your faithfulness to our own parish campaign for the upkeep of our buildings, and by way of bequests in your wills. Every now and then, we receive a surprise bequest which closes gaps miraculously. If everyone were to remember the parish as one of your will's heirs, we would be much more assured of being here for Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings, Funerals—and Easters—for years to come!
Service —This Saturday (April 30th) is our Community Outreach Day. See inside the bulletin for how to be Peace of Christ for others.
Socializing —Our annual Festival (June 10-11) is only sevenfold weeks away. Give us a call if you can give us a hand, even for a bit!
Sacred Triduum —Thank you to all sacristans, singers, servers, and ministers of every type for making these holy days so special!
Spring —Though it's been slow in coming (and has come violently elsewhere), it brings us the only time in any of our lives that Easter has been on this date (and not again until 2095); it also brings the birthday this Tuesday of John Griffith on our staff. Blessings, all!
—Father Schrader
April 17, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Our holiest week of the year! As we gather on this Palm Sunday, there are many needs that each of us have: in ourselves, in our wider circle of family and friends, and even wider still in our community and our world. This week, may we bring all of these needs to the Lord whose kingship over us we proclaim by the waving of the palms we receive at Mass today.
Profound thanks to all who have been working so ardently to prepare for the liturgical events of this week, from today's proclamation of the Passion to those who have been helping to prepare our catechumens and candidate for their Easter sacraments next weekend.
Monday, we have an Ecumenical Tenebrae Service at 7:30 P.M. at St. Ambrose. Ministers from area Christian churches will join us in this special Holy Week service where the lights are gradually dimmed and all that is left for our Light is Christ himself.
Tuesday, the beautiful Chrism Mass (during which Bishop Clark will bless the oils we will use for our sacraments for the year to come) will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 7:30 P.M. Also, here in Peace of Christ Parish at St. Ambrose, the Passion Mime will take place at 8:00 P.M. Choose one to attend—and bring someone along!
Wednesday, is a quiet day around the parish. Perhaps attend one of our final two Masses for Lent (7:45 A.M. at St. James or 12:10 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist). Then, enjoy the quiet evening to prepare yourselves for the three important days ahead.
Thursday, with Lent now behind us, we being the special three-day period of extra holy days called the Paschal Triduum. Tonight, our Mass of the Lord's Supper is at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Immediately following this Mass, the Eucharist will be in Repositories at all three of our parish church sites (by 8:30 P.M. for St. Ambrose and St. James). It is traditional to visit 3 churches during this repository time on this night. The repository time will close with Night Prayer celebrated at 10:30 P.M. at St. James, at 11:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and at 11:30 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist.
Friday, our services are at St. James: Stations of the Cross at 12:00 Noon, a Taiz é Prayer Service at 1:00 P.M., and Good Friday Service (Passion, Veneration of the Cross, and Communion) at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday's Passion Mime then repeats at 8:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose.
Saturday, we rejoice as Jesse Greco, Lillian Greco, Sarah McLellan, Jerry Owens, Woodrow Simpson, and Theodore Walnig join us in Faith at the beautiful 3-hour 8:00 P.M. Easter Vigil at St. Ambrose.
Easter Sunday, our Masses are at 8:00 A.M. at St. James, 9:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist (Confessions beforehand 8:15-8:45), 9:45 A.M. at St. Ambrose, 11:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist, 11:30 A.M. at St. James, and 5:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose (Confessions beforehand 4:15-4:45). May this be a most blessed week for us all!
—Father Schrader
Dear Parishioners,
Today, we rejoice because those in our 2010-2011 RCIA process (Jesse Greco, Lillian Greco, Sarah McLellan, Jerry Owens, and Woodrow Simpson) receive their Third Scrutiny at the 11 A.M. Mass. They, together with Theodore Walnig who is already baptized, will receive their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil in just 2 more weeks. Let us keep all of them in our prayers!
This Fifth Sunday of Lent used to begin the old 2-week season of Passiontide with the covering of statues as a sign that we are really getting close to the serious days of Lent. About the only thing which remains is a special Preface for use during this week's Masses only and another special Preface for use in the 6th week. In any case, we still have these two final weeks before Easter to give our Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving one final push.
Monday brings a reality time check: it was 50 years ago this day that folk singer Bob Dylan made his first public appearance. It was in Greenwich Village . Yet, I guess for some he'll be— Forever Young !
Tuesday evening concludes our parish Lenten program. We will gather at St. John the Evangelist at 7:00 P.M. in the church for a Scriptural Rosary. This will be followed in St. John's Hall by our final discussion of Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe's book, Why Go To Church . Whether you've been to any of the early discussions or not, do stop down for some good conversation on a topic which may help you to be able to help someone else make the right choice. This day is also the Sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War.
Wednesday would have been Thomas Jefferson's 268th birthday! Come to our Community Coffee Hour this night (7:00-9:00 P.M. in St. James Church Hall) to help us celebrate!
Thursday is your last chance for the 7 A.M. Mass in Lent, and it brings the 1st of 2 Lenten Penance Services. It will be at 7 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist Church , and will be followed by Stations of the Cross led by participants in our 20's-30's Ministry. All are welcome.
Friday, April 15th, is normally “Income Tax Day.” However, since April 16th in the District of Columbia is Emancipation Day and its observance is transferred to the 15th because it falls on a Saturday, we all get until the next business day (Monday the 18th) to pay our Federal taxes. (NYS Tax is due on 4/15/11). Today is also the first of three Passion Mime presentations. It will be in St. Ambrose at 12:00 Noon—note, the 12:15 P.M Mass will be cancelled on this date. Also, please note that 2 weeks from this day is the final day for registering your child at St. John Neumann School if aid is desired. Don't delay on this one! Much aid is there.
Saturday, the second of two Lenten Penance Services is at 11:00 A.M. at St. James. The only other pre-Easter Confession times are today's and tomorrow's regular times listed in the column to the left.
Next Sunday is the Full “Pink” Moon at 10:44 P.M. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
April 3, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Today is Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday. It takes its name from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for today's Mass. The lighter rose vesture for the day denotes our happiness at being more than halfway through Lent to Easter.
We also rejoice today because those in our 2010-2011 RCIA process (Jesse Greco, Lillian Greco, Sarah McLellan, Jerry Owens, and Woodrow Simpson) receive their Second Scrutiny at the 11 A.M. Mass this morning. They, together with Theodore Walnig who is already baptized, will receive their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil in just 3 more weeks. Let us keep all of them in our prayers!
Today's 2nd collection will receive envelopes and donations for both our monthly Buildings and Grounds offering and for the annual Catholic Relief Services offering by which the Church assists those in disaster zones such as Japan and Haiti with relief. Thanks for your generosity to these as well as to our weekly needs 1st collection.
Our School Council and its five very active Committees have been working overtime to bolster registration at St. John Neumann and secure needed support. PLEASE, encourage anyone you know (Pre-K to 6th) to register for next year during April if they want eligibility for available financial aid. Also, check out our web site for a Coca Cola contest that can benefit the school during this month of April. Thanks so much for everything all of you do for our school!
Monday, those in our parish Faith Formation program have their Family Gathering at 5:30 P.M in Dailey Hall. These sessions are so key to the faith development of our parish youth. If you can't make Monday, join the Family Gathering on Tuesday at 5:30 P.M. in the Church Hall at St. John . Thanks to all (staff, parents and volunteers) who make them possible each month.
Tuesday also brings our weekly Lenten gathering. This week it is at St. James. We will have Benediction this night, including a Litany devoted to St. Vincent Ferrer whose feast it is. Following this service, we will adjourn to St. James' Church Hall for continued discussion of Timothy Radcliffe's Why Go To Church. Whether you've been reading this book during Lent or not, highlighted quotes will be available at each table for discussion. The discussions have been very lively to date, and even if you haven't attended any of the previous ones, please be encouraged to attend this one.
Wednesday, come join us for Community Coffee Hour, 7-9 P.M. at St. James. Come for coffee, for conversation, or bring a board game and have some fun. It's free, it's friendly, it's for you!
Thursday, the MOMS group meets at St. John's , 7-9 P.M.
Friday is a biggy: the 100th anniversary of the National Squash Tennis Association's 1st tournament right in old New York ! Whoa!
Saturday, thanks for prepping your envelopes for the weekend—and for sending in CMA gifts to help us close out this year's appeal.
Next Sunday is the 100th day of the year. Tempus fugit , indeed!
—Father Schrader
March 27, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
All parishes of the diocese have been asked to take up a special collection for the people of Japan who have recently been displaced by the recent earthquake, tsunami, and meltdown crisis in that country. Today's 2nd collection here at Peace of Christ will be for that purpose. As was mentioned in last week's bulletin before we received word of this collection, you may also help out at this time or in the weeks and months to come by sending donations through the Internet via http://crs.org/japan/ or by phone at 1-800-736-3467 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. or by mail with check or money order payable to Catholic Relief Services , P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 (Memo portion of the check: “Japan emergency” ) or by just being extra generous in the annual (coincidentally, its on April 3rd [next week] this year) Catholic Relief Services envelope in your envelope packets. On behalf of those who cannot thank you in person, profound thanks!
Today, those in our 2010-2011 RCIA process (Jesse Greco, Lillian Greco, Sarah McLellan, Jerry Owens, Woodrow Simpson, and Theodore Walnig) receive their First Scrutiny at the 11:00 A.M. Mass. Please, keep them in your prayers all the way to the Easter Vigil and beyond. Also, tonight our Web Site Committee will meet.
Monday brings us to the March meeting of our School Council. At these monthly meetings, the co-chairs of our active Advancement, Finance, Marketing, Pastoral, and Strategic Planning Committees meet with our Principal, our Parish Business Manager and myself to coordinate our various efforts on behalf of St. John Neumann School . Thank you exceedingly for all of your own promotion of—and prayerful and financial support of—the school as a ministry of the parish. As the only one of formerly 21 urban Catholic elementary schools on the east side of the river still to be open, we welcome the involvement and support of all eastern urban Catholic alumni-alumnae to assure the continued availability of Catholic schooling on our side of the city—as does Holy Cross as the only one of formerly 14 urban Catholic elementary parish schools on the river's west side.
Tuesday, we have a Soup Supper at 6:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall and are delighted to have Bishop Clark with us for our 7:00 P.M. Tuesday Lenten program in St. Ambrose Church. Bishop Clark will speak on “ Rome , Rochester , and Retirement.”
Wednesday as you prepare your Buildings and Grounds envelope for next week, be mindful of sound system repairs at St. John's , gutter repairs at St. James, and lighting repairs at St. Ambrose. Thanks.
Thursday (end of quarter #1) gives us only 2 months to finish reaching our CMA goal for the year. Thanks for pledges made/paid!
Friday, don't be a Fool!
Saturday, welcome First Penitents!
Next Sunday is Laetare Sunday. Hope everyone's in the pink!
—Father Schrader
March 20, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Since our last bulletin was printed, we have been watching daily the events in Japan , from the earthquake to the tsunami to the meltdowns, each of which has caused great devastation, loss of life, and a situation that is just barely possible for the human mind to comprehend. To help out, please be encouraged to make any donations via http://crs.org/japan/ or by phone at 1-800-736-3467 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. or by mail with check or money order payable to Catholic Relief Services , P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 (Memo portion of the check: “Japan emergency” ), or just be extra generous in the April 3rd Catholic Relief Services envelope in your packet.
While we welcome Spring this evening at 7:21 p.m., it is interesting to note that if that moment's Vernal Equinox had occurred just 29 hours and 21 minutes earlier (that is, prior to yesterday's 2:10 p.m. Full “Worm” Moon), today would have been Easter Sunday. As it is, we now must wait until April 24th, so don't touch those bonnets or Peeps for another five weeks—and hands off that chocolate bunny!
Monday is a good day to take stock of those Lenten resolutions to see how we're doing: Prayer (have we been reading our black books and/or attending any of our Tuesday evening sessions, and/or getting to at least one weekday Mass each week?—I'm pushing for the Thursday 7:00 a.m. Mass at St. John's for those on their way to work or school or just on another day of retirement or vacation); Fasting (have we been doing something to rid ourselves of bad habits or attitudes, let alone been keeping the food fast and abstinence required in each Lent?); Almsgiving (we are still trying to close out this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal , so if you have not yet made your pledge, just go to http://www.dor.org/index.cfm/stewardship/give-online/ in order to contribute online by May —by the way, the “ Parish Number ” that is asked for is “ 348 ”—or call us at 288-5000 to do so by phone).
Tuesday, we have Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. at St. James followed immediately by our continued discussion of “Why Go To Church” by Timothy Radcliffe (no book required for these Tuesdays).
Wednesday evening, our parish Finance Council meets to continue its monthly oversight of our parish resources.
Thursday is our BIG Open House at St. John Neumann School , 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you have not yet done anything for our newly reverted school, please tell someone with school age children (Pre-K through 6th grade) about this Open House. NOW is registration time. Indeed, registrations should be in by April 1st to guarantee busing for your child, and by May 1st to be eligible for financial aid.
Friday, being the Solemnity of the Annunciation, we are dispensed by Canon 1251 from the requirement to abstain from meat.
Saturday, those preparing for First Penance will have their First Penance Conversations at St. James in the morning.
Next Sunday, our Elect and Candidates for Full Communion receive their First Scrutiny—and Web Site Committee is at 6:00 p.m.!
—Father Schrader
March 13, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
If as you were entering church today you noticed that most of the people were leaving , please realize that you forgot to Spring your clocks ahead one hour last night before going to bed. Welcome to Daylight Savings Time, and be sure to check the bulletin for the time and place of the next Mass—if you just missed our 5:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon Mass, know that there is a 6:00 P.M. Mass right up the street at Annunciation (take Culver and Waring north, turn left on Norton and the church is on the right).
We congratulate our RCIA candidates who today have their Rite of Sending at the 11:00 A.M. Mass at St. John's, and who tonight will receive the Rite of Election from Bishop Clark at Sacred Heart Cathedral as they are formally received into their final weeks of preparation for their Sacraments of Initiation at our Easter Vigil on April 23rd.
In the Orthodox Church, today is the Sunday of Orthodoxy. It is the celebration of the victory of the iconodules over the iconoclasts by the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, according to one online authority. So now you know.
As we enter the first full week of Lent, please be encouraged for your own Lenten observance to try to get to at least one weekday Mass a week until Easter. That's only 7 Masses during these 40 days: quite doable, indeed!
Monday evening, our School Council will continue dialogue about the Vision Statement for St. John Neumann School once it reverts to the parish this July 1st. Pray for our inspiration.
Tuesday, our Peace of Christ Men's Club meets at 1:00 P.M in St. John's Church Hall, and Tuesday evening I will celebrate a Teaching Mass at 7:00 P.M. upstairs in St. John the Evangelist Church .
Wednesday (as this Friday and Saturday as well) are the Spring Ember Days. Pray for a good growing season for this year's crops.
Thursday, the feast of St. Patrick, is our annual Irish Cultural Celebration. The Mass at 5:00 P.M. in St. James Church is open to all and will have as its presider Father Timothy E. Horan who is currently at the St. Margaret Mary site of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish in northern Irondequoit (Fr. Tim was ordained a deacon in the same ceremony as were Fr. Bob Werth and myself back in 1977). We are delighted to have him here with us this for our celebration this year. If you bought a ticket to join us for the dinner which follows in St. James Church Hall, you'll have a chance to tell him personally how much you think of his two classmates.
Friday, we welcome all CYO teens and their coaches and families to our annual CYO banquet in Dailey Hall. It is always a delight to see so much youth activity in the parish throughout the year.
Saturday, the Feast of St. Joseph, we have the Full “Worm” Moon at 2:10 P.M. Watch where you step!
Next Sunday, the Jewish feast of Purim (celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman the Agagite), we welcome Spring with the Vernal Equinox at 7:21 P.M. Farewell, Winter!!!
—Father Schrader
March 6, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Quinquagesima Sunday (the Sunday within the 5th decade of days before Easter) is today. This completes the 3-Sunday mini-season that used to precede Lent. By now, our Lenten intentions should be fairly well formulated since Lent begins this Wednesday . Hopefully, everyone will plan on being with us on the Tuesday evenings of Lent for our seasonal preparation for Easter. Also, I continue heartily to encourage attendance at weekday Mass, at least once a week, as part of your Lenten observance. As I wrote last week, our little weekly community at the Thursday morning 7:00 A.M. Mass at St. John the Evangelist would be overjoyed to have you join us as you start that day before going on to work or to whatever your Thursdays entail. And to deepen your personal spiritual journey through this season in an additional significant way, please consider joining (or forming anew) one of our Small Christian Communities. Give Sister Marlene a call at the office (288-5000, ext. 123) for info on this.
Congratulations, by the way, to all who are working so diligently in these late winter weeks on such projects as last night's annual Wine Tasting event and on the upcoming Irish Cultural celebration on the 17th. These things do not happen automatically, but when they do happen, they touch the hearts of so many who enjoy them richly.
Monday (the 100th anniversary of the coin-operated locker), we have Facilities Committee in the evening to tend to our buildings and grounds needs (supported by your gifts in that monthly collection) and to continue to implement our 5-year plan of capital improvements. This day is also known as “Pure Monday,” the beginning of Lent (with the leaving behind of the uncleanness of one's sins) for some of our Eastern Churches (Maronite Catholic receive their ashes today ).
Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras. It's also called Pancake Day, and after ours at supper, we'll go outside to burn last year's palms to make ashes for tomorrow.
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. We have Masses at which you can receive ashes morning, noon, and night: 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. PLEASE NOTE : Ashes are distributed in the middle of the Mass immediately following the homily. Also, please remember that this is a day of FASTING (no eating between meals for ages 18-59) and of ABSTINENCE (no meat for those 14 and older).
Thursday, why not start Lent by finishing off this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal by way of making a pledge. We have been stuck at 95% of the way to our goal for the past month. If everyone who has not yet made his or her pledge would do so, we'll be there! Thanks.
Friday is also a day of ABSTINENCE, and we have a Taiz é prayer service for all in the evening at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose.
Next weekend begins Daylight Savings Time. Be sure to spring your clocks AHEAD one hour Saturday night before you go to bed so you'll be on time for Mass Sunday morning. Also, see our web site for those 4 bulletin inserts of last month on the Roman Missal. Peace!
—Father Schrader
February 27, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Sexagesima Sunday (the Sunday within the 6th decade of days before Easter) is today. Again, though today is no longer called by that title, we continue to be in proximate preparation for Lent as the day originally signified. Our Lenten intentions should now at least be drafted in our hearts. As I wrote last week, I encourage as many as possible to plan on being with us on the Tuesday evenings of Lent for our seasonal preparation for Easter. Also, I would heartily encourage attendance at weekday Mass, at least once a week, as part of your Lenten observance (our small community at the Thursday morning 7:00 am Mass at St. John the Evangelist would be overjoyed to have you join us by starting your day with us on your way to work). Small Christian Communities are also forming for the Lenten Season. Give Sister Marlene a call at the office (288-5000, ext. 123) for info. Also, the Web Site Committee will meet this evening after 5 pm Mass.
We welcome folks back home today from Winter Break. I hope it was a restful one for you. I also thank once again all those whose names are listed in our bulletin today as having already made your Catholic Ministries Appeal pledge for 2010-2011. For the past few weeks, we seem to have been stuck around the 95% level of completion. While this is better than we've been at this point in the season in recent years, please remember that if we do not reach our goal by May, the parish will be billed for the remainder. That means less money available for the programs and ministries of the parish itself. If you pledged but don't see your name, be sure to let us know so we can check with the diocese to make sure your pledge was credited to the correct parish. Thanks for addressing these Appeal needs today!
Monday is our first Early Bird Drawing from your Festival tickets already returned to the office. Be sure to get yours in by 4 pm to be eligible. Also, today we have Family Gathering for a 5:30 pm teaching Mass and a supper meeting. Our School Council meets at 6:30.
Tuesday, our monthly Blossom Nursing Home Mass on Blossom Road takes place at 10:30 am. Choir participants are welcome. In the evening, our Liturgy Committee gathers at our Parish Offices to plan our beautiful liturgies of Spring: Lent, Holy Week, Easter.
Wednesday, the monthly Bereavement Group meets at 7 pm in our Parish Offices, and the Festival Committee has its Booth Captains Meeting for 2011 at St. James: we are 100 days from Festival ‘11 !
Thursday, the Mom's Group meets at St. John's .
Friday would be a good day to review the latest Missal info on our web site: http://www.dor.org/index.cfm/ministries/liturgy/ to see Bishop Clark, http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/ to see the actual new texts, and then see our local parish implementation plan at http://www.peaceofchristparish.org . The sesquicentennial of Abe Lincoln's inauguration is today as well.
Saturday, welcome all who are attending the yearly Wine Tasting!
Sunday, please note that the Jr. High Gathering has been postponed and moved to Sunday, March 13th. God bless us all during this time of Lenten preparation!
—Father Schrader
February 20, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Septuagesima Sunday (the Sunday within the 7th decade of days before Easter) today begins carnival season (Shrovetide) which ends on Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday. (Fittingly, our own parish Festival Committee meets right after the 9:45 Mass today in continuing preparation for Peace of Christ's annual festivities that will take place this year on June 10-11, which is Pentecost weekend, the end of the Easter Season—hopefully, you've all received your Festival raffle tickets in the mail and have gotten them back to us in time for next week's first Early Bird drawing). Back to liturgy, though today is no longer called by the above name, we are in proximate preparation for Lent as the day originally signified: it's not too early to start forming our Lenten intentions. I encourage as many as possible to plan on being with us on the Tuesday evenings of Lent for our seasonal preparation for Easter. Also, I would heartily encourage attendance at weekday Mass, at least once a week, as part of your Lenten observance (our small community at the Thursday morning 7:00 A.M. Mass at St. John the Evangelist would be overjoyed to have you join us by starting your day with us on your way to work).
Monday is Presidents' Day. Our parish office will be closed.
Tuesday is Washington's Birthday and the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter—a day for our first President and our first Pope!
Wednesday is the quasquicentennial of the invention of Wear-Ever pots by Charles M. Hall. (Can you tell we're digging deep?)
Thursday, get out your old storybooks: it's the 225th anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Grimm.
Friday is the last school day off for this break week. However, the work of promoting our soon-to-be-reverted St. John Neumann School is ongoing. I am grateful to our School Council's five very active Committees (Advancement, Finance, Marketing, Pastoral, and Strategic Planning) for all the work they are currently doing to promote the school, adequate funding streams for its support, a responsible and achievable budget, advertisements for early registration, connectedness with our parish and larger Church mission, and a 5-year plan to keep us strong for the future. A few months ago, individuals indicated on yellow cards in the pews their intentions to support the school financially at various intervals and levels. We will be begin to invite the honoring of those intentions (and the reception of additional intentions to assist them) in this month to come. Only by ALL of us pulling together will our success be achieved. Thanks so much for keeping urban Catholic schooling alive east of the Genesee !
Saturday's my 35th anniversary of being installed by Bishop Hickey in the ministry of Acolyte. May he be resting in peace !
Next Sunday will conclude our month-long focus on the Mass at the Mass. Watch http://www.dor.org/index.cfm/ministries/liturgy/ to see Bishop Clark and others give aview of forthcoming changes. Click “Sample Texts” at http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/ to see the actual new texts. These links can also be reached through the Peace of Christ website. God bless us all during this time of preparation!
—Father Schrader
February 13, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Those who received the sacrament of Confirmation on January 31st will gather this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. Though this may be the final time you assemble as a group unto yourselves, the sacrament of Confirmation which you received empowers you now as fully initiated Roman Catholic Christians so that you can now pick up the torch and carry your faith forth into your worlds of home and school and work. Confirmation—being “initiation” (or “beginning”) rather than “graduation” (or “ending”)—is rightly considered a transitional sacrament: instead of always being on the receiving end of your faith, as newly confirmed you are now on the giving end as you take the lived message of the Gospel into the circles of your lives where they intersect the lives of others in great need of direction, comfort, hope, healing, and promise. God's blessings on you all, and on those who have ministered so well in our Confirmation preparation program.
Congratulations to all married couples in our congregation on this “World Marriage Day!” Your witness of love for one another, for your family, and for the wider community is an example of graces alive and available for all who are open to them.
Monday, though formally the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, is also St. Valentine's Day. Though his feast is not in the current liturgical calendar, the prayer from his Mass when it was is still a beautiful one to pray: “O Almighty God, today we are celebrating the birthday of your blessed martyr Valentine. Hear his prayers and rescue us from all dangers that threaten us.” Sounds like a fulltime job!
Tuesday, is a very important day for St. John Neumann School. At 6:30 P.M. in the school, there will be an information session for all who may be seeking information on our Kindergarten and newly re-established Pre-K for this coming school year. How successful we are in registering new incoming students for these grades will largely determine the long-range health of the school as a whole. So what can we all do? Encourage all and everyone who has 3-5 year-olds at least to come to the information session. Financial aid is available for students in all grades K-6, and our Pre-K (especially the 5-day, all-day program with wrap-around available 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.) is the best bargain you'll find in the whole county! If you have a child who will be in grades Pre-K through 6 this coming year, be encouraged to “ Center your children at Neumann!”
Wednesday, our parish Finance Council meets to continue its monitoring of all our fiscal resources.
Thursday—before you pack for Winter Break— please, remember to send in your envelope to help us keep our variance on page 3 from growing any larger in the negative. Thanks so much for remembering!
Friday, we have the Full “Snow” Moon at 3:36 A.M. Somebody, tell me how it was.
Saturday begins School Winter Break Week. Safe travels, all!
Next weekend, Septuagesima Sunday, our Festival Committee meets right after the 9:45 Mass. Raffle tickets have been mailed! Pax!
—Father Schrader
February 6, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Alphabetically: birthdays, missal, Pre-Cana, religious, school, scouts, and Super Bowl are all focuses for this weekend.
Happy Birthday to both Eunice Leone, our parish bookkeeper, and to Carmen J. Sanchez, our business manager, who celebrate birthdays during this first week of February. Today is also the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late President Ronald Reagan.
As part of our diocese's preparation for the introduction of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal this coming Advent, all parishes will experience homiletic reflections on the 4 major sections of the Mass during the weekend Masses of these 4 weekends of February. A special bulletin insert will appear in each week's bulletin as well. Today we begin with the Introductory Rites (everything up to the First Reading). Hopefully, this will provide enriching reflection on the meaning of the Mass itself—a meaning which is not changing with the coming of this new edition of the missal.
We are very grateful for the members of our Pre-Cana Team for their valuable service in preparing our engaged couples for marriage. They are meeting all day today, and the couples will be specially blessed at today's 5 o'clock Mass.
Today is World Day for Consecrated Life. We are so blessed to have Sisters of Mercy (St. James Convent) and Sisters of St. Joseph (St. Ambrose Convent) resident in the parish, and to have a number of priests, brothers and sisters of other religious orders and congregations active in the Church and claiming our parish as theirs of origin!
Catholic Schools Week formally ends today. The continued success of our own St. John Neumann School is now dependent on us all. Years ago, Catholic schooling was seemingly free, but it only existed with being underwritten by the parishes who hosted the schools. Similarly, today tuition only pays a part of the cost. Our school only continues to exist by being underwritten with the support of us all. This is largely through the regular Sunday collection—which, as you may have noticed, has taken quite a hit due to a series of weekends of inclement weather. Thanks for whatever make-up offerings can be given! ALSO, see p. 3 about our approaching New K & Pre-K Parent Info Meeting. PLEASE, encourage such families to check us out.
Congratulations to all our parishioners in Scouting on this annual Scout Sunday here in the parish. What a great program for our kids!
And, of course, it's Super Bowl Sunday. Everyone, be civil! ?
As to the rest of the week: hope to see you on Monday for our chili supper at St. James (6-8pm). Tuesday is Pastoral Council and we'll be addressing Young Adult Ministry, our annual Parish Covenant updating, and other updates on the school, the missal, and our Vision Statement. Wednesday , join us for Community Coffee Hour (7-9pm) at St. James (board games welcome!). On Thursday , Sister Beth LeValley will present on the Charter of Compassion (St. Ambrose at 7pm). Friday is World Day of the Sick. Saturday is Lincoln 's Birthday. Next Sunday is World Marriage Day. Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
January 30, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Catholic Schools Week begins today. This year, this particular week takes on special significance for us here at Peace of Christ Parish: St. John Neumann School which we have merely hosted for the Monroe Co. Catholic School System will now be totally ours as a parish. Last Tuesday evening, our new School Council met to continue their incredible work on this transition and to prepare for this week itself. Registration for the 2011-2012 school year begins this week. Parents of current students received registration materials this past Thursday evening, and open registration for all now begins this week.
If you have school age children who will be in grades Pre-K-6 next year, please be encouraged to explore St. John Neumann as an option for three very good reasons. First, we were found to be the #1 Catholic School in Monroe County for “Parent Satisfaction” in a Center For Governmental Research Survey conducted this past year. Second, we have the lowest tuition rates among all Catholic Schools in the county (where else can you send your pre-schooler Monday-Friday from 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. for $4,545 a year?—plus, financial aid is available for most of our families for grades K-6 inclusive!). Third, we have a geographical centrality which puts us 5 miles or less from all Catholic High Schools and Junior High in the county. At the very least, give the school a call (288-0580) to take a tour of the school and get more information, for yourself or a family near you. Only when we ALL take responsibility for promoting this mission of our parish which we are honored to be able to provide as the city's only Catholic parish school east of the river will we be most assured of success for the long haul. Indeed, even apart from having your own children in the school, you may have some other talents or gifts which may be able to assist our School Council's 5 committees. For more info on these committees and how to help out, see the web:
http://www.peaceofchristparish.org/St.JohnNeumann/Description_SchoolCouncil.pdf
Monday evening, congratulations to all of this year's candidates for Confirmation as you receive this sacrament at Sacred Heart Cathedral. May God bless the continued development of your loving faith!
Tuesday, our Liturgy Committee gathers to continue their very busy year of planning and coordination of all things liturgical.
Wednesday is not only Groundhog Day, but also in our Church it is the feast of the Presentation (40 days after Christmas). It is also called Candlemas Day because at the beginning of our regular daily Masses that day (7:45 A.M. at St. James and 12:10 P.M. at St. John's ) we have the blessing of candles. Bring your own from home, but be there early as this happens right at Mass's beginning. Also, that evening, our Festival Committee meets to continue its creative planning!
Thursday (Chinese New Year 4709) is St. Blaise Day. Throats will be blessed at our daily 9:15 A.M. Mass at St. Ambrose.
Friday, it was 89 years since the 1st Winter Olympics (L. Placid).
Saturday, thanks for prepping your weekend envelopes for Mass.
Next Sunday is World Day for Consecrated Life. God's blessings!
—Father Schrader
January 23, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
Sixty-five years ago today, the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to a chaplain was given to Rev. Timothy O'Callahan in Cambridge , Massachusetts . Let us be mindful of all those who tend to the pastoral needs of our women and men in the service.
Monday, we have our annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service for the congregations of our area. This year, it will commence at 6:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist Church hall ( 553 Humboldt Street ) with a soup supper and light table discussion regarding our various beliefs. We will then proceed upstairs to the church for our prayer service. Do join us if you can.
Tuesday evening, our new St. John Neumann School Council will have its 2nd meeting as we get ready for registration for next year and for Catholic Schools Week which is next week. The School Council, by the way, consists of pastor, principal, business manager, and the co-chairs of each of the Council's five committees. Official roster:
Pastor : Fr. Robert Schrader
Principal : Marie Arcuri
Business Manager : Carmen J. Sanchez
Finance co-Chairs: Andy Zona & Dan Costello
Strategic Planning co-Chairs: Sue Murty & Chad Scoma
Marketing co-Chairs: Rena LaBue & Mary Warth
Advancement co-Chairs: Shannon O'Brien & Kelly Walsh
Pastoral co-Chairs: Frs. Robert Werth & Brian Carpenter
For more info on these committees and how to follow-up, see web at:
http://www.peaceofchristparish.org/St.JohnNeumann/Description_SchoolCouncil.pdf
Wednesday, in the middle of this final full week of January, I wish to thank you all for the prayerful and financial support you have for the health and success of your parish and all of its ministries: from the Masses provided each weekend to all the baptisms, first communions and confessions, weddings and funerals provided throughout the year; from the many offerings of faith formation opportunities both for our children and for all adults to the new parish ministry of our school; and from the many social offerings which strive to build up community (cultural Mass-and-Meal celebrations, the annual parish picnic, the Volunteer Appreciation Party, etc.) to the fun fund-raising activities (Wine-Tasting, Festival, 200 Club, etc.). Keeping our Sunday collection regular and being faithful to our campaign pledges (we only need the last 5 ½ % of our parishioners to reach our CMA goal!) will keep us fiscally healthy for it all!
Thursday evening is Registration Night for current St. John Neumann students. Info is being sent home to St. John Neumann School parents. Early registration and bringing in new families is the best path to our success.
Friday is the 25th anniversary of the space shuttle fatality of teacher Christa McAuliffe and 6 others. May they rest in peace!
Saturday, musicians gather in Geneva to ready for Missal III.
Next Sunday is Web Site Committee and Catholic Schools Week!
—Father Schrader
January 16, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
It was in 1882 on this date that the first Knights of Columbus meeting took place in St. Mary's Church in New Haven , Connecticut . The Knights helped many poor workers to have enough insurance for their families in those early days, and today help not only with insurance for families but with support for vocations, church building projects for parishes, and rebuilding needs after major catastrophes.
Monday is the national observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Local observances abound. Our parish offices will be closed all day. The Finance Council will, however, meet on Monday evening.
Tuesday, our Pastoral Council will meet at 7:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist church hall. We will look at how our Vision Statement objectives are playing out now that the 2010-2011 year is half expired and we will also have a youth report, a young adult ministry discussion, and an update on our parish Covenant, finances and the school reversion process. Tuesday also begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year's theme is from Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” This is the 104th such annual week. May we pray ardently for healing of all divisions among all believers.
Wednesday is Orthodox Epiphany. Also, 4:21 P.M. will bring the
Full “Wolf” Moon—although it won't rise until about a half hour later which will give you time to get ready to howl.
Thursday, it will have been one-half century since the inaugural address (“Ask not what your country can do for you…”) of John F. Kennedy. In the wake of last week's violence in Tucson , let us pray for all of our public officials: for their safety, their wisdom, their service of the common good.
Friday, as you make ready your envelopes for the weekend, thank you ahead of time for your caring generosity. Our collective support of the ministries of Peace of Christ Parish—which now includes St. John Neumann amongst its family of saints, along with St. Ambrose of Milan, St. James the Greater, and St. John the Evangelist—will assure that we can provide an ongoing presence in the neighborhoods of our community for the pastoral and spiritual needs of us all.
Saturday is a Day of Penance for violations to the dignity of the human person. It was on this date that Roe vs. Wade took place. The weak and powerless among us—whether pre-born, near-death, or at any stage between—have no one to speak and pray and work for their rights even to exist. We may be the only ones who are able to supply this need. Let us be mindful of them, prayerful for them, and acknowledging of our relationship to them in all that we are about on a daily basis, not just once a year.
Next Sunday is the 30th anniversary of the death of composer Samuel Barber who wrote, among many other things, Adagio for Strings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMz8fKkG2g). Leave some room for beautiful music in your life each day, and every day will then be beautiful unto itself. A blessed week to you all!
—Father Schrader
January 9, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
As we come now to the last day of the Christmas Season, I wish to thank so many people for so much generosity, both to us on the staff and to the parish in general. First, let me say that a large number of cards and treats arrived at the parish office over the holidays, and though they may have become separated from envelopes or packages with return address labels, I do want to let you all know that both the greets and the sweets were very much appreciated by one and all.
Secondly, I wish to thank and congratulate all who have helped us to reach a significant milestone here in the middle of our fiscal year. You may have noticed two weeks ago in the bulletin that we had a negative variance to our budgeted income in the amount of $23,376. As you look at page three in today's bulletin, you'll notice that the generosity of a great many people at year's end has now produced a positive variance to our budgeted income in the amount of $1,348. While that figure can turn negative in one week's time, for right now let us give praise to God for blessings so shared! How nice it would be if all of us could be sure to be very regular in our giving and to throw in an extra dollar or two a few times each month to keep us on the positive side as much as possible. Again, thanks—and may our New Year's resolutions include at least one for the fiscal health and welfare of our parish which we always want to be ready for our family baptisms, first communions, weddings and funerals!
Today is also the beginning of National Vocation Awareness Week. Please, know that in addition to being employed, retired, or just in-between jobs, we each have a “vocation,” a calling from God, as well. What is yours? Is it a call to serve in a special way in the Church for and with your peer believers? Or perhaps to serve your own family or our school or the wider community in some special way? Let's thank God for our individual vocations and ask God to call enough for each area of need to accomplish great things for all!
Tomorrow is Plough Monday.
Tuesday would normally be our Pastoral Council meeting, but this month that meeting will be on the 3rd Tuesday instead.
Wednesday evening at 6:30 P.M. is the first meeting of our new School Council's working Committees: Finance, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Advancement and Pastoral. Check inside the bulletin for further details. Hopefully, not only all who attended December 13th's Town Meeting on St. John Neumann School will be present, but any and all who were not able to be with us on that snowy night. It's “all hands on deck” to assure that St. John Neumann is proactively ready for registration later this month and for the year(s) ahead!! We'll begin our meeting in St. Ambrose Church and break off to school classrooms from there. Welcome, one and all!
Thursday is the 40th anniversary of the debut of All in the Family !
Friday (7:30 pm) and Saturday (2:00 & 7:30 pm), join us at Geva for Second Time Around , a tenth year tribute to Fr. Edward Zimmer ( 1/7/01 ) and a benefit for Geva's educational outreach to area youth.
—Father Schrader
January 2, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
A Happy and Blessed New Year's Weekend to you all! This is the first bulletin of the second decade of the third millennium!
Today is the feast of the Epiphany, “Little Christmas,” as it were. Gifts were presented to the Christ Child by the Magi. In the traveling of the Magi and the following travel of the Holy Family in flight to Egypt and then back to Nazareth, those who are today's migrants in the world have some ancient holy ones as models for their existence. Today begins National Migration Week. Let us be prayerful for and supportive of all who move from place to place as part of their daily lives—and all who would like to: let us keep our own Dane Noble-Rosema in prayer that he will soon be granted his visa to return to us and be part of our music ministry here at Peace of Christ Parish in this new year now begun (and as early on in that year as possible!).
Monday brings the relatively recently re-instated feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. It is also the last day the parish can receive donations to be credited to 2010 (CMA or otherwise). On this evening, our Facilities Committee will meet to plot out whatever tasks need tending in this new year to keep our facilities right up to snuff for the ministries that they house. It seems like we are constantly battling the environment and its effects. We had very challenging weather on the east coast this past week, and hope that all travelers this weekend will arrive safely at their destinations. Ironically, it was 90 years ago today that the first radio weather forecast was broadcast (on station 9XM from the University of Wisconsin in Madison ). Could they ever have imagined how that would evolve into The Weather Channel doing nothing but ?!
Tuesday is the feast of the first native American saint, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. On this evening, our parish Liturgy Committee will gather to continue preparation for Lent, Holy Week, and 2011's introduction of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal this coming Advent.
Wednesday is the feast of St. John Neumann, patron of our parish's recently reverted Catholic School . We have been very busy getting ready for this transition. A week ago this night, a newly formed School Council met for the first time. A week from this night, that Council's five action committees will gather for the first time to plan out the securest pathway for all of us to keep the school healthy and viable for years to come. Thanks for all willing to get involved!
Thursday is the feast of the newly canonized Saint Andr é Bessette of Montreal . May he intercede for the needs of us all!
Friday is Orthodox Christmas—and one week before the opening of Second Time Around, the musical at Geva which is a tribute to Fr. Zimmer and a benefit for Geva's educational programming for youth. I co-wrote one of the musicals being reprised. Tickets ($20) via Geva.
Saturday, Confirmation conversations (which began 7-9pm Friday evening at St. Ambrose) conclude at St. James (9am-12N)
Next Sunday brings the Baptism of the Lord and the beginning of Ordinary Time and National Vocations Awareness Week. Pax to all!
—Father Schrader
December 24-26, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Christmas Eve, Day or Weekend to you all! By way of update, I re-visit two themes I wrote of two weeks ago in this column.
Challenge —If we are not challenged by God's word to go out and become better than we have been in the past, then something is missed. The big challenge on our plates these past few weeks has related to how we as Peace Christ Parish can most successfully manage St. John Neumann School now that it has been reverted from the diocese to parish oversight (as all our parochial schools had been years ago). Many thanks to all who braved the elements on Monday, December 13th to come to a Town Meeting to share questions, ideas, and commitments so that we could collectively allow this school to continue for a long time to come in being the #1 Catholic School in Monroe County pertaining to parent satisfaction. The results of that night convinced our Pastoral Council on Tuesday, December 14th to call for a collaborative effort on the part of us all in keeping this school as a valid option and a valuable centerpiece of our Catholic education ministry for ourselves as a parish and for the wider community whom we serve. Then, our Finance Council took up that call on Wednesday, December 15th by calling for benchmarks for the newly forming School Board council to meet as we put the ideas voiced at the Town Meeting into action over the coming years. Now, we look forward to registering as many students as possible in the months ahead and to attending to all the recommendations that have been made to assure success. Whether you are an alumnus or alumna of St. John Neumann School or of its predecessor schools at St. Ambrose, St. James or St. John the Evangelist, or if you have not had any association with those schools at all, please be encouraged to lend your support in these months ahead. Indeed, even in honoring all parish and diocesan campaign commitments (especially now at year's end when tax benefits can accrue to you), we help the school by helping the parish itself.
Comfort —As was also mentioned two weeks ago, we also need to be comforted so as not only to be stretched by challenge. On Jan. 14 (7:30 P.M.) and Jan. 15 (2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.), Second Time Around will be performed at Geva Theatre. It is a tribute to Father Ed Zimmer (“EZ”) who died 10 years ago this January, is a benefit for Geva's educational programs for children in our community, is a reprise of musicals written for Fr. EZ's youth group 30 years ago (including one co-written by this writer), is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, is directed by Peace of Christ's own Ken Klamm, and much more. Only a handful of tickets remain ($20, Geva box office).
Sunday begins Kwanzaa. Monday is St. John the Evangelist's feast. Tuesday, Iowa is 164! Wednesday is the feast of St. Thomas Becket, home of our assigned seminarian, Dominic Marini. Thursday is a good day to do those year-end gifts to the parish. Friday's New Year's Eve Mass is 5:30 P.M. (St. Ambrose). Saturday's New Year's Day Mass is at 9:00 A.M. ( St. John's ), though it is not a holy day of obligation. Next weekend's Masses are normal times. Peace to all! —Father Schrader
December 19, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Advent comes soon to a close. It is a season of hope, preparation, joy and love (the names of its wreath's four candles). Our faith in God gives us hope that things can always be better in our world and in our personal lives. This certainly has been a season of external preparation for Christmas: hopefully, the internal sphere has also received our attention. The traditions and reunions of the season bring a special annual joy to us amidst whatever stresses may also be present in our lives. And love will compel us to do all that is required for our world, our families, and the communities of our neighborhoods, our parish and our school. As this bulletin is being transmitted to the publisher for printing, we are still in the midst of addressing all the facets of our parish's receiving a school in reversion. Let's be sure to ask the Christ Child at the manger this coming week for all the wisdom and fortitude that is needed to tend to what is in our own stable today.
Monday is the sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the first southern state ( South Carolina ) seceding from the union ( Tennessee was the eleventh and final one on June 8th of the following year.) Monday night is your last opportunity before Christmas to enable sin to secede from your soul as we have our third and final Advent Penance Service at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist.
Tuesday brings us to the convergence of several very special events for us all. At 2:40 A.M. (as the monks at the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard are praying their daily Office of Vigils), there will be a total eclipse of the moon. At 3:13 A.M. (as the monks begin to bake their bread), we will have the Full “Cold” Moon, and at 6:38 P.M. (as the monks gather for their Compline [Night Prayer] before going to bed), Winter will arrive on this shortest day of the year.
Wednesday brings us to the year's final ten days. All of us are deluged at this time of year with request for year-end gifts to all the wonderful charities that do so much for so many people. In 2010's final days, I ask that you please remember your parish in a special way. The ability to run and staff all of our ministries (sacraments, education, social outreach for those in need, etc.) is made possible only by the regular generous support of each and everyone of us. So, whether it will be by way of a little extra in the Christmas collection this year, or the paying of our Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) pledge, or the next payment to the Peace of Christ (POC) Campaign, all of that will be most helpful. For all of you: thanks so very much!
Thursday is the 35th anniversary of Congress's “Metric Conversion Act.” (Give then a centimeter and they'll take a kilometer!)
Friday is Christmas Eve. Masses are 4 pm at all 3 churches, 8 pm at St. James, 11 pm at St. Ambrose and 12 midnight at St. John's . (Need a last minute gift: run to Geva for a ticket to Second Time Around for Jan. 14 or 15, a benefit tribute to Fr. Edward A. Zimmer.)
Saturday's Christmas Masses are at 8:30 am at St. James and 10:30 am at St. John's . No 3:45 pm confessions or 4:30 pm Mass at St. James next Saturday afternoon. A Blessed Christmas to all!
—Father Schrader
December 12, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Whenever I preach, I try to convey two things from the readings: Challenge and Comfort. Today, this column has both as well.
Challenge —As was shared last weekend, St. John Neumann School is being reverted to Peace of Christ Parish as of September of 2011. There is a major difference between what is being received this year from the diocese to support the school (over $800,000) and what will be received next year, and we now need to close that gap by how we economize on expenditures, capitalize on creative revenue raising, and promote registration. Our parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council met with the School Advisory Council on November 30th to review the situation and begin generating what is truly possible for us in order to keep our school's presence strong in the parish and the community we serve. Unlike non-urban reverted schools, the diocese will continue to provide $500,000 (plus some first-year start up funds), and we may now even re-open our Pre-School which would provide a good feeder for the Kindergarten in years to come.
SO, our one chance to “do something about it” will be tomorrow, Monday evening, December 13th at 7:00 P.M. when we have a Town Meeting in St. Ambrose Church to go over all possibilities and hear your input. We do have quite a gem in St. John Neumann with regard to the mission of Catholic School Education: we were voted #1 in Monroe County among Catholic Schools in a Center for Governmental Research survey of parent satisfaction. Once Monday's Town Meeting is over, our Pastoral Council is meeting on Tuesday for a full digestion of the issue, and then our Finance Council is meeting on this Wednesday to bring some final focus to whatever is going to be most possible by way of supporting our school. Whether you can attend on Monday or not, please be sure to fill out one of the comment cards found in the pews today. Only working together will bring success.
Comfort —In times of challenge and seasons of stress, entertainment is a wonderful release. On January 14 (7:30 P.M.) and January 15 (2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.), Second Time Around will be performed at Geva Theatre downtown. Father Ed Zimmer (“EZ”), who resided here at Peace of Christ in his retirement, had co-hired Tony Falzano back in the 1970's to be the Director of Youth Ministry for St. Monica's and St. Augustine 's parishes. Tony wrote musicals for the kids to perform, including the score for Spare Me the Flight which was co-written with Eric Falla by me. Now, Tony has reprised the best songs of those musicals into Second Time Around , and the youth from back in the 1970's have returned (some from as far away as Los Angeles) to star in this new revue (directed, I might add, by Peace of Christ's own Ken Klamm). The show is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph and it is a benefit for Geva's educational programs for children in our community. Tickets are on sale here at the parish today ONLY . They are $20. After today, all sales are via Geva's box office. Listings in the program are available for Patrons from $25 for a single line to $1,000 for a full page—see me by December 15th. Pax!
—Father Schrader
December 5, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
“If you had told us, we could have done something about it.” Those were the words of school parents here back in 2004 when the announcement was made that St. John the Evangelist School was closing. Well, now the Diocese has announced that it is necessary to “revert” St. John Neumann School which is at our St. Ambrose site to Peace of Christ Parish. What this means in dollars and cents is that we need to find a way either to run the school next year on $317,000 less than this year or to make up this difference by how we economize on the expenditures and capitalize on revenue raising.
Our parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council met with the School Advisory Council last Tuesday evening to review the situation and generate possible ways to enable us to continue to have a Catholic School here in the parish—one of the last ones for the whole City of Rochester. The diocese will continue to provide $500,000 (plus some first-year start up funds) but that is down from its current $817,000. One of the reasons for the decrease is that significant subsidies for urban students in need are not going to be any longer available.
SO, our one chance to “do something about it” will be on Monday evening, December 13th at 7:00 P.M. when we have a Town Meeting in St. Ambrose Church to go over all possibilities and hear your input. If you are currently involved in the school community or have recently taken any tours of the facility, you know what a gem we have right here in our parish with regard to the mission of Catholic School Education. Once the Town Meeting is over, our Pastoral Council is meeting the following night for a last digestion of the issue, and our Finance Council is meeting on that Wednesday evening to bring some finality to whatever decision is to be made with regard to the school.
As to this week, be sure to come to Judy Brawley's retirement reception in St. John's Church Hall today, Sun. 12/5, 12:30-2:30 pm, to wish her well after all these years at the parish. Also, tonight is our next Web Site Committee meeting. Be sure to check out our web site regularly (see bottom of column to the left for the web address).
Monday, Happy St. Nicholas Day! Also, our next Facilities Committee meeting is this night at St. John's at 7:00 P.M.
Tuesday is the feast of St. Ambrose, one of our patrons. Liturgy Committee meets this night at the parish office at 7:00 P.M. Be sure, too, to observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day as well.
Wednesday is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION . Masses are at 6:30 am at St. James, 12:10 pm at St. Ambrose, 7:00 pm at St. John's .
Thursday is the 31st anniversary of the death of Bishop Sheen.
Friday, come to the Taize' Prayer experience at St. James at 7 pm.
Saturday is our St. Lucy's Mass in Italian at 4 pm at St. Ambrose.
Next Sunday is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. The sun sets one minute later. Confirmation students now have 50 days left to prepare. And all of us have only 26 days left for any contributions (to parish, to the POC Campaign or to Catholic Ministries Appeal ) to be counted as deductions for our 2010 income taxes. Thanks for your kindness!
—Father Schrader
November 28, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Thanksgiving Weekend to you all—and safe journeys home to all who are traveling. Congratulations also to all our Confirmation candidates who were blessed last weekend or today at the 9:00 A.M. Mass. God's blessings be upon you as you prepare for your reception of that sacrament at the cathedral on January 31st.
Happy New Year to one and all as well! Yes, today is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Church's year. Some reflection point about the Mass itself will be shared in the homilies of each Sunday of this year now beginning. Sometimes, we can take for granted the things we do so regularly: it is good to pause and have such reflection, especially on that one event in the course of each week that draws a greater number of participants than any other event we could schedule here at church.
One year from this weekend, a new missal will be introduced in all English-speaking churches of the Roman Catholic world. By the time that date comes, we hope to be the best prepared of anyone to greet it and celebrate with it in the most engaging way possible.
Monday, ironically, is the 46th anniversary of the Mass going from Latin into English in those same English-speaking countries of our planet. We survived the much bigger adjustments made back then. Surely, whatever is coming our way in late 2011 will be doable for us as well.
Tuesday brings us to the last day of November: one more month for any contributions to the parish, to our Peace of Christ campaign pledges made in 2008, and to our Catholic Ministries Appeal pledges made this year to be counted as deductions for our 2010 income taxes. Thanks so much for whatever can be done on each of these scores.
Wednesday evening, we have a meeting of the 2011 Festival Committee. Can it be that we are now already halfway between our last parish Festival and our next one?! A big thanks to all who are already working so diligently in preparation for Festival 2011!
Thursday, we wish a Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish neighbors. And in the evening, the Women of the Well do a wonderful presentation at St. Ambrose that I hope you can be present for as a part of your Advent preparation for Christmas.
Friday, as you prepare your envelopes for the weekend, thank you as always for remembering that special 1st Sunday of the month second collection for our ever-present Buildings and Grounds needs. There are always things to be fixed around our many buildings: just review your own home repairs and multiply accordingly. Thanks!
Saturday brings us to the earliest sunsets of the year. They will continue just as early each day through December 13th, the feast of St. Lucy (whose name means “light”).
Lastly, next Sunday, we have a special Retirement Reception for Judy Brawley in St. John the Evangelist Church Hall from 12:30 to 2:30 P.M. Be sure to stop down to wish her well for this new phase of her life! Peace to you all in this holy season of new beginnings!
—Father Schrader
November 21, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Today is “In-Pew Sunday” for our Catholic Ministries Appeal for 2010-2011. Many of you have already made your pledge for this year's appeal, and as of this typing on the Monday before you are reading this we are 61% of the way to our parish goal of $115,168. The purpose of today is to offer a convenient method for all who have not yet made a pledge to do so. History has shown that we do not reach our goal until the majority (well over 50%) of parishioners make a pledge. Though we are 3/5 of the way to the dollar amount needed, we are right now only a little over 1/4 of the way by way of parishioner participation. The appeal funds the many offices and services that we as a parish (and all parishes of the diocese) use in common. It is our profound hope to conclude this year's appeal before the holidays, and we can do so today even before this week's Thanksgiving just by filling out the pledge card in the pew and dropping it in the collection when the basket comes around. No money is needed today. You can even wait until after Christmas or bonus time or tax return time to pay the pledge. We have until May 31st to do so. BUT we do need the pledges themselves to end the asking part of the campaign. So, thanks for whatever you can do today to make this year's appeal a success—and to keep us from having to use your parish savings to pay any balance that would remain if the goal is not reached!
Today, we also bless our young people who are preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation on January 31st. We will do so at the Saturday 4:30 Mass and the Sunday 9:45 Mass this weekend.
This being the 3rd weekend of November, thank you for whatever may be given in the seasonal Fuel Collection today. This is only taken up November-February on the 3rd weekends. Warm thanks!
Monday is the 56th anniversary of the Humane Society.
Tuesday is our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Mark's & St. John's Episcopal Church on Culver Road at Rosewood Terrace. Bring a can of soup for our area food cupboard.
Wednesday, our parish office closes at 3:00 P.M. for the Thanksgiving weekend. May it be a blessed one for you all!
Thursday, our parish Thanksgiving Day Mass will be at 9:00 A.M. This year, it is at St. Ambrose. Hope you can come.
Friday, our parish office remains closed for the Thanksgiving weekend. Safe driving to all out on the shopping circuit!
Saturday is the 100th anniversary of the opening of New York 's Penn Station as the largest train station in the world.
Next Sunday, we conclude the blessing of our Confirmation candidates at the 9:00 A.M. Mass. It will also be the beginning of the new Church Year with the First Sunday of Advent when we begin a year-long teaching about the Mass itself. Don't miss a single Sunday!
Lastly, Judy Brawley is retiring on December 3rd. We will have a special Retirement Reception for her in St. John the Evangelist Church hall on Sunday, December 5th from 12:30 to 2:30 P.M. Be sure to stop down to wish her well for this new phase of her life! Pax!
—Father Schrader
November 14, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Welcome Home! We say this today not only to those who may have been away on a trip, but to everyone present: to those who are here every week: this truly IS your home; to those who may have not been present among us for some time: we WELCOME you back; and to those who have never been among us: we hope you will consider this your home for any Sunday, holyday and special occasion along the sacramental journey of your life.
Peace of Christ Parish has consisted of the combination of St. Ambrose Church, St. James Church, and St. John the Evangelist Church on Humboldt Street ever since May 17, 2007. Our parish covers all residences from Norton Street to I-490 between Irondequoit Bay & Creek and Culver Road (with a few exceptions in the various corners of that rectangular chunk of this sector of Monroe County ). Indeed, parts of our parish are in Rochester , Irondequoit and Brighton .
In our parish, we have programs for mothers, children, youth, those in their 20's and 30's, adults of any age, and seniors. We have a Catholic School (St. John Neumann) which is having an open house today, 11am-1pm, at 31 Empire Boulevard (see the new playground). And we have prep for Baptisms, First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation and Matrimony. We do anointings of the sick and have vocation opportunities for considering a life in service to the people of the Church as a priest, deacon, sister, brother or committed layperson.
If you're visiting today, please be encouraged to wear a nametag so we can properly greet you, and do come to our coffee hour or refreshments right after the service. There are little cards in the pews that you can use to leave us comments or a desire for a follow-up call. Thanksgiving is coming up on November 25th. We hope you'll join us for our special Mass at 9:00 A.M. at St. Ambrose on that day.
Coincidentally, that Sunday (November 28th) is the beginning of the new Church Year with the First Sunday of Advent. One year from that Sunday, the entire Roman Catholic Church throughout the world will begin to use a new prayer book at Mass. In preparation, we will begin on this Nov. 28th a year-long teaching about the Mass with a few additional insights being shared each weekend. Of all the years you'll want to be sure not to miss a single weekend Mass, this is it!
Today is also National Donor Sabbath. Have you designated any organ donations yet? Tonight is Web Site Committee. If you're new, check out our site listed at the bottom of the column to the left. Monday, we'll do the anointing of the sick at our weekly 10:00 A.M. Mass at Cedarwood Tower “A”. Tuesday is the birthday of our Pastoral Associate, Judy Brawley. Many happy returns! Wednesday, we have Staff meeting in the afternoon and Finance Council at night. Thursday (the 50th anniversary of the discontinuation of the Desoto!), be sure to see Damian Zynda at St. John's for a continuation of the story of Oscar Romero. Friday, please discern what your CMA pledge can be for In-Pew Weekend. Confirmation candidates get blessed Sat. at 4:30 Mass and Sun. at 9:45 Mass. This is an active place! Welcome!!
—Father Schrader
November 7, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Hopefully, all remembered to “fall back” an hour Saturday night before going to bed. If not and you're sitting in the church all alone reading this bulletin, just wait an hour and we'll be there for Mass.
This being the first weekend of the month, we have our monthly second collection for buildings and grounds. This past month alone, we had to hire professionals to remove tree branches from electric lines along St. John the Evangelist's parking lot, to replace a sunken section of the sidewalk along the side of St. James Church, and to make a boiler repair at St. Ambrose so we would have heat on the weekend. Your gifts in this second collection enable us to stay on top of things like this. Thanks for your sacrificial giving!
Monday come to St. Ambrose Daily Mass Chapel, 7:00-8:30 P.M. for “Encountering God in Prayer, Reading , Poetry and Music!”
Tuesday evening is the Pastoral Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist Church Hall. Open Forum is at 7:10 P.M. We will also be discussing our final preparation for next week's Welcome Home Weekend, do a long-term historical review of our attendance, look at the monthly finance statement, have a youth ministry update, and cover other general parish and school matters.
Wednesday, why not come down to the Community Coffee Hour in St. James Church Hall anytime between 7:00 and 9:00 P.M. Bring a board game or a deck of cards, enjoy some refreshments and great conversation, and catch up on all the news going on around the parish.
Thursday is Veterans Day (Remembrance Day in Canada ). Let's be sure to say a prayer for all our Veterans being remembered—and to thank those we may meet along our day's way. It is also the birthday of our office's Vicki Iannettone. Many happy returns and God's blessings in abundance for the year ahead!
Friday (according to my trusty almanac) brings Indian Summer. Also, as you prepare your envelope for next weekend, please note on page three of the bulletin the “Year-To-Date Variance.” By dividing that number by the “Year-To-Date Budgeted Income” we get the percentage that we are under, currently a little over 8%. I'm not aware of any “fluff” in our budget, so what that means is that we can keep the deficit from growing by adding just 8 ¢ to each dollar of our contributions. And since we right now still have two thirds of our fiscal year left, we can actually make up that first third's deficit by simply adding an additional 4 ¢ . SO, if those giving $1.00 were to give $1.12 each week (and similarly for each additional dollar), the deficit would be back to $0 by the end of June. Thanks for whatever can be done in such stewardship: just a little correction now prevents troubles later!
Next week is Welcome Home Weekend. Please, bring a neighbor to church with you next weekend. On that Sunday, tours of St. John Neumann School will be offered (11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.) as well. And our Web Site Committee will also meet in the evening following the 5:00 P.M. Mass. It's also National Donor Sabbath.
And a week from next weekend (Nov. 20-21) will be In-Pew Sunday for our CMA Campaign. We're halfway there, but still have halfway to go. PLEASE , discern your pledge by that weekend. Thanks!
— Father Schrader
October 31, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend, we welcome Terry Mulhern (4:30, 8:00 & 9:45 Masses) and John Curran (9:00, 11:00 & 5:00 Masses) as they share with us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities ' service to the people of our community and beyond. Although there is no special collection related to this milestone, please know that your pledge to the current Catholic Ministries Appeal will go a long way toward assuring that the needs of our neighbors (and sometimes even our own parishioners by way of marriage and family counseling, budget management, etc.) will continue to be met for the next hundred years as well. If you haven't yet made your pledge to this year's appeal, please , by all means, send in your pledge this week. Thanksgiving is approaching, and we'd like to have all our pledges in by that day. We still have a ways to go, and everyone's pledge is important. Even if you can't pay it until after the 1st of the year or at bonus time or tax return time, making your pledge NOW is important. Thanks so much, and let's all pray mightily that all will respond in a timely way.
Today is also the annual Priesthood Sunday . For info on this, see: http://www.nfpc.org/THIS_WEEK/week_398/events.html#06
Locally, it is an historical day in African American sports history. An almanac entry (regarding an event of 60 years ago today —when yours truly was 1 ) records: “Eric Lloyd becomes the 1st black ever to play in an NBA game—for Wash. Capitals at Rochester, N.Y. 1950.”
And, of course, today is Halloween as well. The day's name comes from a compound word composed of the Old English word “Hallow” (meaning holy, as used in the Our Father ) plus “E'en'” (a contraction for “Evening”): it is the Holy Eve of All Saints Day.
The next day is that Feast, but it is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year since it falls on Monday. Also, there is no Facilities Committee meeting Monday night either. Why not stay home and Google your patron saints to learn more about them!
Tuesday is All Souls Day . We remember the Faithful Departed, pray for them, and know that they now intercede for us in the beyond. It is also Election Day . Last Sunday's bulletin stated the Church's position on various issues, and last Sunday's Democrat and Chronicle had an “Issues Survey” which, once you completed it, would point the way to who stood most for your values. So, educate yourself, and then get out there and vote!
Somewhere around Wednesday, everyone in 14609 and 14610 should receive an invitation to our November 13-14 Welcome Home Weekend . When you get yours, know your neighbors got theirs. That's your cue to go personally invite them to join you that day.
Damian Zynda will be with us Thursday evening for a reflection on Archbishop Romero. A soup supper (5:30 P.M.) precedes her presentation at 7:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist Church Hall.
Friday is Dane Noble-Rosema's birthday . Blessings!
Saturday at St. John's is our Mass of Remembrance at 10:00 A.M. for all who died this past year. May they rest in God's peace!
Next Sunday I speak on “Heaven and Hell” to those in our RCIA and then on “Readiness” to those in Pre Cana . Pray that I not get mixed up! And let none of us get mixed up with the clock: fall back !
—Father Schrader
October 24, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Today is World Missions Sunday. It is the one Sunday each year when we foster a special remembrance (in our prayers and in our contributions in the second collection) of those members of our Church who live in mission areas of the world. They are not able to be and do all that being and doing Church are about on their own, and so they turn to us to help them. Thanks for your generosity—of prayers and of whatever donations can be given—on their behalf! It is also National World Youth Day. May God bless all our youth as they grow daily in their knowledge, skills, wisdom and grace. The women of our parish are also on retreat this weekend at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua. May they experience God's presence and God's voice in a very special way!
Monday brings us to only 1 month until Thanksgiving and 2 months until Christmas Day! (Just a little Reality Check !)
Tuesday night is very busy around the parish with the Social Ministry Committee at St. Ambrose, the Men's Club Annual Sports Night at St. James, and the Faith Formation Family Gathering at St. John's . See the bulletin for details, and be grateful for so much life!
Wednesday morning, ministry personnel from our local ecumenical association will gather for our regular sharing of information and ideas. Wednesday is also the birthday of Peace of Christ/St. John Neumann maintenance person, Jeff Carter. All the very best, Jeff, and many happy returns!
Thursday as you prepare your envelopes for the weekend, please be encouraged to number among them the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) envelope mailed to your home (extras are available near the entrances of the church). Our goal of $115,168 is a formidable one, and yet it is less than last year and we do seem to be making progress forward. My classmate, Fr. John Gagnier, called me the other day to share that his parish, Holy Name of Jesus in Greece , had just gone over their goal on October 11th. My hope (and there is no reason that it can't become fact) is that we will have reached our goal here at least by Thanksgiving Day. While that may seem a long way off, it is now only 4 weeks away. As was stated earlier, even if you cannot give anything toward your pledge until the holidays, or bonus time, or tax return time, please be encouraged at least to make your pledge itself. By all of us doing our part, we can easily reach our goal in that timeframe—but we've got to do our part. There are so many services the diocese provides us as a parish. May we all do our best to offer this support back to them, especially for their outreach to the poor.
Friday evening we have a special movie presentation on the late martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero (see bulletin for details). This is in preparation for a presentation on him by Damian Zynda next Thursday evening, November 4th. If you've never seen this movie, why not stop down. It's one you'll long remember!
Saturday brings us to the weekend on which we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities' service to the Church. Terry Mulhern (4:30, 8:00 & 9:45) and John Curran (9:00, 11:00 & 5:00) will share with us some more. There's no special collection, but know that your CMA pledge helps greatly to keep their service going.
Next Sunday is All Hallows' Eve. A holy (and happy) one to all!
— Father Schrader
October 17, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Wow! This morning (Columbus Day as I am typing) when I logged on my computer, I received an e-mail from the diocese telling me that we were already 29% of the way to reaching our Catholic Ministries Appeal goal for 2010-2011, that is, $115,168. Since we were only 10% of the way there the week before, that is a great leap. My hope is that by Thanksgiving we will have reached 100% of the pledges that we need. Even if you cannot pay your pledge until Christmas or bonus time or tax return time in the Spring, your pledge alone will assure us that we will make it. Please use the envelope that was mailed to you or one from the vestibule of the church to drop yours off at the office or in the collection today. On behalf of all whose voices will never be heard, thank you for your support!
This afternoon (Sunday the 17th) is the Anointing of the Sick at St. James Church at 2:00 P.M.—how fitting on this day of Brother Andre's canonization (which Dan & Pauline Walsh of St. James are attending). Also, men from our parish are on retreat at Notre Dame Retreat House this weekend. Pray for them! Women, this coming weekend is your turn: sign up by calling Mary Iman at 288-4811 or logging on to www.ndretreat.org today! Today also there are “ 200 Club ” registration forms in the pews. The first drawings will begin soon, and the very pleasant banquet at the end of the season (next September) is included for all members!
Monday, I will go with Fr. Kevin McKenna of the Cathedral and several other priests to a special workshop about the upcoming Third Edition of the Roman Missal that we will start using a year from next month. The workshop in Saratoga Springs is the only one in New York State being offered by the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), and I'll look forward to seeing what suggestions they have to share ( and to seeing some old friends from the Diocese of Albany whom I have come to know along the way). I'll keep you posted as we proceed along.
Tuesday, speaking of the Capital District, is the feast of the North American Martyrs who gave their lives at Auriesville right within the Diocese of Albany itself. Pray for all who suffer for their faith.
Wednesday evening is our weekly Community Coffee Hour from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. in St. James Church Hall. Why not stop downstairs for some refreshments. Bring a board game and a friend, or just stop down between your busy evening's stops. This social networking long preceded Facebook—and you needn't strain your fingers Twittering to the person right across the table from you.
Thursday—though not honored in our liturgical calendar— is the feast of St. Fintan of Taghmon, the son of Talchan of the Irish O'Neill clan. If you see anyone who seems closely enough related to warrant congratulations, please give them my best.
Friday at 9:37 P.M. is the Full “Hunter's Moon.” Set your alarm!
Saturday, get ready to Square Dance from 7:30 to 10:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist Church Hall. It's FREE! Just sign up here in church today. This will also be the day that the swallows depart from Capistrano until next St. Joseph's Day.
Next Sunday is World Missions Sunday. Thanks for whatever donations can be given in that day's annual 2nd collection. It's also National World Youth Day. May God bless all our youth as they grow daily in their knowledge, skills, wisdom and grace.
A blessed week to one and all!
—Father Schrader
October 10, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today is National Children's Day. God bless our young ones. May they grow safely and healthily to adulthood in the Church and in the community! Today also members of our Pastoral Council will be present at each Mass to receive suggestions or questions from you, our parishioners and also to register anyone who wishes formally to join the parish.
Tonight, our Web Site Committee meets at 6:00 P.M. at our parish offices (immediately after the 5:00 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose). One of the very tech-y traits of this day is that (once on the morning and once in the evening) it will be 10:10:10 on 10/10/10. Veterans' Day next year will be the next time this happens, one integer upward.
Tomorrow is Columbus Day here in the States and Thanksgiving Day for our neighbors to the North. As it is, I am attending a Thanksgiving dinner with some visiting Canadians on this holiday weekend. Note that the parish office is closed on Monday the 11th.
Tuesday, our Pastoral Council will be meeting at 7:00 P.M. After opening prayer and approval of minutes and the agenda, we have Open Forum at 7:10 and then Councilor's Concerns at 7:20. Items that will be discussed as the meeting progresses include the New Parishioner Welcome Process, Welcome Home Weekend on November 13-14, the monthly financial report, an update on our parish tithing, parish interrelationship with the school, long-term attendance data, our Vision Statement's goals and objectives, and the Youth Ministry report by our two youth delegates.
Wednesday is a busy day around the parish. First, it is the birthday of staff members Janet Andrychuk-Tedesco and Laura Morehead Gleeson. All the very best to them! We also have our October Staff meeting during the day and our October Finance Council meeting during the evening.
Thursday brings staff member Laurie Maier's birthday. All the best to you as well, and God's many blessings to all our October births! It is also the 33rd anniversary of the deacon ordinations of Fr. Bob Werth and myself and several other classmates. Gosh, we have now been deacons as long as Jesus had been alive!
Friday is National Boss Day. A good way to celebrate is to get a Sticky Lips dinner as part of the fundraiser to get enough for the playground for the kids between the church and the school. Details are inside the bulletin—all dinners pre-ordered.
Saturday as you prepare your envelopes for next week, please be mindful that there is only one collection next weekend. All this month, we are very conscious of this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. The theme this year is “Let Your Light Shine.” We got 10% of the way to our goal of $115,168 two weeks ago at our kick-off reception. Thanks so much for getting us going—and for keeping the momentum going! Please be encouraged to pledge right now even if you can't actually give until Christmas or New Year's or Bonus Time or Tax Returns. We do want to reach our goal sooner rather than later. If you need a pledge card, ones are available in the vestibule of the church. Thanks greatly!
Next Sunday is the Anointing of the Sick at St. James Church at 2:00 P.M. Also, men from our parish will be on retreat at Notre Dame Retreat House. Pray for them! Women, last chance to sign up for the following weekend: call Bill or Mary Iman at 288-4811 or log on www.ndretreat.org today! A great week to you all!
—Father Schrader
October 3, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today is Respect Life Sunday. Life is precious from the womb to the tomb. Abortion, murder, capital punishment, euthanasia are all the extremes of lack of respect for life. Supporting those in awkward pregnancies, those who have lost a loved one to violent crime, those who are on death row, and those who struggle with end-of-life issues are ways to reach out in respect of life in sensitive moments and circumstances. How is Jesus calling you to respect life today?
Today we also kick off this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. The theme this year is “Let Your Light Shine.” It is an apt title: there is so much darkness out there that the Church and we as individual members try to dispel it with the light of hope which the Gospel holds. We are happy to share with you at liturgy today both a personal witness talk by one of our parishioners and the new CMA video for this year. Present at our Masses will be Joe Carney at the 4:30 and 11:00, Rena LaBue at the 8:00, Eileen Aman at the 9:00, Cathy Buyer at the 9:45, and Chi Chi Ng at the 5:00. I am grateful for their willingness to be a part of this year's kick-off. Our goal this year is $115,168 (which, fortunately, is $3,562 less than last year). Inside today's bulletin is the first Roster of Appreciation noting early gifts received to get us going. Please, be encouraged to pledge early, even if you cannot pay toward your pledge until next month or Christmas or bonus time or even your tax return in the spring. We do want to reach our goal sooner rather than later. If you need a pledge card, ones are available in the vestibule of the church. Thanks greatly!
Today also you may notice a new playground at St. John Neumann School. This is the result of generous gifts given specifically for this project, and we can be grateful to a number of our hardworking school parents for really getting this off the ground for the kids.
Monday is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The annual Pet Blessing will take place in Dailey Hall at St. Ambrose at 6:00 P.M. Please arrive in time to begin right at 6:00 P.M. It's a relatively short but beautiful service. We are happy to be joined by the pastors from our neighboring Episcopal, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. May God bless all of us in God's Creation as we share this beautiful planet.
Tuesday we have our monthly Liturgy Committee meeting. We on the committee are reading Why Go To Church? The Drama of the Eucharist by Timothy Radcliffe OP, Continuum, London: 2008, $16.95, 214 pp., ISBN 978-0-8264-9956-1. It's a great book filled with both deeply spiritual reflections and the humor of our human condition. Hope you will read it, too. By the way, the answer to the quiz under Tuesday in this column last week is St. Stephen.
Wednesday marks 10 years since CSI hit the airwaves. Why not come down to Yay at Community Coffee Hour at St. James, 7-9 pm!
Thursday, I will have been a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus for 15 years. Google “Father McGivney” to learn more about the K of C.
Friday, we will be only 1 week until the annual men's retreat and only 2 weeks until the annual women's retreat at Notre Dame Retreat House. If you haven't yet registered, call Bill or Mary Iman at 288-4811 or log on www.ndretreat.org today!
Saturday as you ready your envelopes— thanks for all you do!
Next Sunday during 9:45 Mass, it will be 10:10:10 on 10/10/10!
—Father Schrader
September 26, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A triple thanks for events of last weekend! On Friday the 17th, a larger number than usual gathered at the Country Party House for the annual 200 Club Dinner . This group was formed by Fr. Robert Bradler a number of years ago as a fundraising arm of the parish: a dollar a week for 40 weeks got one a chance to win numerous prizes throughout the year (200 individuals were needed to belong to make it be profitable for the church, thus the name). However, the very pleasant social occasion of this annual dinner to which one automatically was invited to attend just by belonging to The 200 Club has really become a community building event to which many look forward each September. Many thanks to all who sign up for The 200 Club each year, and to Marion Roth and Rita Lee who help organize it all year round. By the way, you can now sign up for 2010-2011.
On Saturday the 18th, I came back from a committal at the cemetery midday to find a crew of hardworking shovelers and lifters and carriers working ardently next to St. John Neumann School putting in the groundwork for a new playground being installed for the young ones. This is not easy work, and we can all be grateful to them who have pulled this project together with such diligence.
Then on Sunday the 19th, it was so wonderful to have the clouds part right at 11:30 A.M. as our Mass in Ellison Park began. This kicked off our annual Parish Picnic . Thank you so very much to all who helped set up, assist with the liturgy, cook, run the games, play the music, and clean up afterwards.
Monday, if you haven't yet registered for your retreat experience at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, it is now only about three weeks away: October 15-17 (men) and October 22-24 (women). Call Bill or Mary Iman at 288-4811 or log on www.ndretreat.org today!
Tuesday is the feast of Good King Wenceslaus. QUIZ: On whose feast will he be looking down?
Wednesday, the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, why not come down to our weekly Community Coffee Hour in St. James Church Hall? Bring a friend and a board game, and enjoy one another's company, conversation, and some Heavenly Coffee.
Thursday is Shemini Atzeret for our Jewish neighbors: the 8th day of assembly following Sukkot, the feast of the harvest.
Friday is the Jewish feast of Simchat Torah celebrating the annual cycle of Torah readings. This would be similar to the First Sunday of Advent for us when our cycle of liturgical readings changes each year. Say, are those Bibles of ours at home collecting dust?
Next weekend brings the feast of the Guardian Angels on Saturday and Respect Life Day on Sunday. May we be specially mindful of our most innocent ones and those who have gone prematurely to God.
We will also hear some personal testimonies next weekend regarding the important services and ministries which are able to exist in our parishes and in our diocese because of our generosity each year in the Catholic Ministries Appeal . The theme for this year's appeal is “Let Your Light Shine!” There is so much darkness in our world—some in our community, perhaps some in ourselves. This year, may our support be both by way of pledges of financial gifts and by way of our personal prayerful intercession. Thanks for whatever generous response can be made when you receive your info in the mail. Peace!
—Father Schrader
September 19, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A Blessed Catechetical Sunday to you all! On this day, we bless all who volunteer in our Faith Formation programs and committees to help bring the faith home to our parishioners. Thanks so much for all you do for all of us!
We also pray for the poor on this Human Development Sunday and remember them in our intercessions and in the 2nd Collection.
Our annual Parish Picnic Mass at Ellison Park is at 11:30 A.M. this morning followed by a super picnic for us all. Hope to see you there!
While we are tending to all that is listed above, know that John Henry Cardinal Newman will be beatified in England by Pope Benedict XVI. Our own Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B. has produced a brief video presentation about Newman for his Canadian Salt and Light Television Network. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p47RO96APE&feature=player_embedded
Monday, if you haven't yet registered for your retreat experience at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, it is now only one month away: October 15-17 (men) and October 22-24 (women). Call Bill or Mary Iman at 288-4811 or log on www.ndretreat.org today!
Tuesday is the Feast of St. Matthew, our bishop's patron. It's a good day to say a prayer for him and perhaps to read some of Matthew's gospel as well.
Wednesday, our very summery summer comes to an end with the arrival of autumn at 11:09 P.M. I shall not wait up to greet it—unless our Finance Council meeting this night goes really overtime.
Thursday, the Full “Harvest” Moon arrives at 5:17 A.M., and that I shall be arisen to greet. Thursday is also the fairly new feast of Padre Pio. Father Dominic Baffour- Akowuah from Ghana , an old friend to many here, will preside at the 9:15 A.M. Mass that morning at St. Ambrose.
Friday, as you prepare your envelopes for the weekend, thank you for whatever special gifts you can give at month's end to help keep our variance in check. Thanks, too, for using any of those “Vacation Make-Up” envelopes in your packet. Our bills kept coming in all summer long even if you may have been blessed with an ability to get away for a weekend or two. Thanks, and be thankful to one another for such sacrifices made to take care of the bills of us all as Peace of Christ Parish!
Saturday is the Neighborhood Arts Festival. Why not spend some time walking our beautiful parish streets and seeing all the arts and crafts that will be on display.
Next Sunday some will gather for a special kick-off of this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . The theme this year is “Let Your Light Shine” and we are hopeful that if enough of us do just that, there'll be adequate light to find the way for everyone!
A blessed transition-of-seasons week to you all!
—Father Schrader
September 12, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Grandparents Day to all who are so designated. May you be blessed in your grandchildren and your grandchildren in you!
Last weekend, Redemptorist Father Mike Sergi, CSsR from Notre Dame Retreat House spoke about this year's Men's Retreat scheduled for October 15-17 and about this year's Women's Retreat scheduled for October 22-24. A number of you signed up last week right away. There still is time to do so. These weekends are specifically scheduled for Peace of Christ parishioners as well as for those of only a few other parishes. See inside today's bulletin for more details.
As for tomorrow, aren't we lucky that Friday the 13th comes on a Monday this month!
Tuesday brings our first Pastoral Council meeting of the season. We can all be grateful to those willing to serve. They are:
David Battaglia
Janine Costello (Youth Delegate)
Bob Crego
Joanne Insull (Chair)
Bess Johnson
Dan Kellogg
Karin Kellogg
Rena LaBue (V-Chair)
Grace Neylan (Youth Delegate)
Doug Nordquist
Dave O'Keefe
Janice Plummer
Kay Reagan
Chris Tanner
These are joined each month by our three pastoral associates and the three of us priests on the staff. In addition, Goldie Rogers has been providing wonderfully appreciated services as a Recording Secretary for the Council, and Karen Rinefierd has been the Diocesan Liaison assigned to Peace of Christ Parish. Our meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. by the way, will be held in the Resource Room in St. James School . Primary Day voting in St. John the Evangelist Church hall causes us thus to re-locate for this month's meeting. A 10-minute Open Forum is at 7:10 P.M. for anyone having any particular concerns. Any concerns needing longer than that 10-minute period will be considered by the Council's Executive Committee for a regular upcoming agenda item. Other items on this Tuesday's agenda include the New Parishioner Welcome Process, our Vision Statement review, the monthly Financial Report, a Youth Ministry Report, and updates on our Young Adult Ministry outreach and St. John Neumann School .
Wednesday is our monthly Staff meeting. It's also the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (on the Octave of the feast of Mary's Birth).
Thursday as you ready your envelopes for the weekend, please remember your Human Development one in assistance to the poor.
Friday is the feast of St. Robert—very special in our rectory!
Saturday is Yom Kippur , the Jewish Day of Atonement. Prayers!
Next Sunday is our 11:30 A.M. Picnic Mass at Ellison Park . Pax!
—Father Schrader
September 5, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We are happy to welcome among us today Redemptorist Father Mike Sergi, CSsR from Notre Dame Retreat House. A number of you attend the annual retreat week designated for Peace of Christ Parish each year at the retreat facility in Canandaigua. As you know, the facility itself is beautiful, and the view from it overlooking Canandaigua Lake is awesome—like looking out over the Sea of Galilee . This year, our Men's Retreat is scheduled for October 15-17 and our Women's Retreat is scheduled for October 22-24. Father Mike I'm sure will tell us more about the theme for this year, but whether you're a regular retreatant or you've never gone before, why not mark down those dates for an appointment with the Lord. Your time will not be better spent for that Friday evening through midday Sunday and will surely help to prep you for whatever lies in the months ahead.
Last week, I shared the dollars and cents of how we've used the funds from our Peace of Christ Capital Campaign and today we have an article on page 4 describing what we've done in more descriptive detail. Thanks again both for your pledges made and for your payment on them. By the way, pledges may continue to be made at any time, and there is still room left on our Trees of Life at each site for major gifts commemorated by a leaf or a rock. I also explained last week the dollars and cents about other common repairs around our parish as funded by the First Sunday of the Month 2nd Collection such as we are taking up this weekend for September. Thank you so much for your regular generosity to this monthly plea for such funds.
Monday is Labor Day. Our annual Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden at St. John the Evangelist is at 9:00 A.M. Please, remember to bring your lawn chair. Refreshments follow. Rain place is in the church.
Tuesday, Father Bob Werth begins his two-year term as the representative of the priests of Northeast Monroe County on the Diocesan Presbyteral Council which meets in Shortsville. God's blessings on this group which gathers monthly to advise Bishop Clark.
Wednesday, St. John Neumann School once again opens its doors to our students. Pray for them, their teachers, their parents, the school's administrators, and all who support Catholic education.
Thursday is Rosh Hashanah. It is the Jewish New Year 5771. May we pray for our Jewish neighbors who celebrate this new beginning.
Friday, September 10th, is the date I had written on my calendar for Dane Noble-Rosema's return to work here at Peace of Christ Parish following his trip home to see his family and renew his visa. As you know from last week, things are still up in the air and continue to be at this writing. But please know that your response was most overwhelming with your 1,048 signatures placed upon the petition for this being granted his visa. These were delivered to Louise Slaughter's office on Monday. Pray that she be successful in obtaining it for him.
Saturday is the 9th anniversary of the events of 9/11 at the World Trade Center , the Pentagon, and in Shanksville , Pennsylvania . Much tension exists today between good Islamic congregants and others because of association by way of their religion alone. Pray for healing and respect for all people of good faith.
Next Sunday is the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Donna lashing 130 m.p.h. winds against Rhode Island . May God protect all folks along these storms' tracks in this busy hurricane season!
—Father Schrader
August 29, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We are happy to announce today that we have identified a new Faith Formation Director for Peace of Christ Parish. Laura Morehead Gleeson began with us in that position this past Monday, August 23rd. Please, welcome her as you may meet her in the weeks ahead. I am very grateful to all those on our Faith Formation Committee and to those on our interview team and staff who worked so diligently in our collaborative process of identifying Pat Lawlor's successor. God's many blessings on Laura's ministry among us in the years ahead!
Each month at this time, we who made pledges to our Peace of Christ Campaign two years ago either make our next payment (or receive a reminder to do so) for the next installment. Over these past 24 months, we have made much progress with what has been donated, and I give here a summary of what we've been able to do thus far:
$28,725 St. James Convent windows
$49,929 St. Ambrose Convent boiler
$18,444 St. James parking lot
$60,510 St. Ambrose parking lot
$33,127 St. John the Evangelist parking lot
$ 335 St. James School awning
$75,354 St. Ambrose Dailey Hall roof
$29,800 St. James Convent boiler
$ 6,800 St. John the Evangelist basement windows
$ 3,300 St. Ambrose Convent back entrance paving
$ 3,900 New signage for all three church sites
$ 1,368 St. John the Evangelist front Church steps caulking
$19,684 St. James roof for garage and house
$ 180 St. James house environmental air testing
$97,740 St. Ambrose Church high roof
$21,000 St. John the Evangelist Rectory flat roof
$ 180 St. John the Evangelist Rectory environmental air test
+ $50,172 St. Ambrose Church low roof
$500,548 Peace of Christ Campaign project expenses thus far
As you can see, we have done many of the big-ticket items outlined in the campaign brochure in the first two years. We still have three years of projects to fund with the remaining funds that have been given or are yet to be paid. So thank you for all pledges that have been paid so far, and please continue to support the campaign with your monthly, quarterly or annual payments in the remaining 3 years. Indeed, new pledges are always welcome—and leaves and rocks are still available at the “Trees of Life” in each of our three churches.
Related to the above are the non-campaign buildings and grounds expenses funded by your regular envelopes and/or the special first Sunday of the month collection for such expenses. July ‘09-June ‘10:
$ 8,249 St. Ambrose entrance repair after-insurance expenses
$ 9,134 St. John / St. Ambrose Schools plumbing/boiler repairs
$ 1,940 St. Ambrose babysitting room
$14,702 St. John the Evangelist School asbestos emergency
$ 7,209 St. James/St. John snowblowers; appliances for all 3
$ 1,225 St. John the Evangelist School roof leak
$ 8,031 St. John the Evangelist Church piano balance
$ 1,790 Door repairs (garage and church) at all 3 sites
$ 3,618 St. John the Evangelist choir chairs
+$25,275 HVAC & sound system repairs at all 3 sites
$82,242 Total such expenses for 2009-2010 Thanks!
—Father Schrader
August 22, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Late August greetings, and welcome to any who may be visiting us today as we begin the last full week of the month. Though the season passes quickly, we'll surely remember it for its persevering heat and humidity—a great summer to have gone to camp or the mountains or anywhere in the more northerly latitudes.
In the Farmer's Almanac, there is a little verse for Monday of this week: “A lizard on a cushion will still seek leaves.” I'm not sure why they chose that verse for this particular day, but it does give one something to ponder. I suppose if we do a comparative analogy, we could say that “A person with many comforts will still seek nutrients.” If we further proceed to spiritualize this little quip, I'd surmise that we would do so with “A Christian in a state of peace will still seek further fulfillment.” How have we been doing in furthering our own spiritual development, perhaps by some religious reading in these summer months? As we are on the precipice of Fall, might our joining (or forming) a Small Christian Community be the way to go for the year ahead. Sr. Marlene is coordinating the start-up and continuation of these now for this approaching year, so give her a call here at the office if that spiritual cushion of yours is getting a little too cushy—or if those spiritually nutritious leaves are calling out a little more loudly than in the past for a nibble.
Tuesday is the Full “Sturgeon” Moon—at 1:05 P.M. Why not go outside and have a fish sandwich at lunchtime to celebrate! Of course, you'll have to wait several hours for the moon itself to rise, but fish is supposed to be good for you.
Wednesday, our Staff has its summer meeting to set our eyes on the months ahead, especially as everything cranks into high gear over these next few weeks.
Thursday is the 90th anniversary of the certification (by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby) of the adoption of the 19th Amendment granting the right to vote regardless of one's gender.
Friday night is our annual parish outing to Frontier Stadium to see the Rochester Red Wings and the fireworks display which follows. I look forward to this event—and my annual supply of roasted peanuts and Dippin' Dots.
On Saturday, our incoming and continuing Pastoral Council members will meet for their annual pre-season day of prayer, meal and dialog in preparation for our year ahead. This yearly day has proven to be a meaningful and fruitful time for us to gather before starting to deal with standard agenda items at our regular meetings. We get to know each other better and do some blue-skying for the year ahead. Know that you will be in our prayers that day. Please remember us as well. Thanks.
Next Sunday begins the last week of summer before Labor Day. May these waning days of the season (before we have to deal with rakes, and then shovels) be ones of renewal for us all!
—Father Schrader
August 15, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today is the Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. Though it's usually a Holy Day of Obligation even when it doesn't fall on a Sunday, it certainly is today being on a Sunday. Our Holy Days of Obligation certainly form an interesting part of our Roman Catholic ritual traditions. For example—though this was not always true—some of them (including this one) are not obligatory if they fall on Saturday or Monday, placing them immediately before or after a Sunday (which is always obligatory, whether observed at the Saturday vigil Mass or on Sunday itself). This applies to January 1st (the Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God) and November 1st (the Solemnity of All Saints) as well. In the United States, there are three other Holy Days of Obligation: the Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter (the Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord—although this is transferred to the following Sunday in most of the United States except in the ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha and Philadelphia), December 8th (the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—which, as our national patroness, never is not obligatory), and December 25th (the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord—which is always obligatory no matter on what day of the week it may fall). Now, to add to the intrigue, today's celebration of Mary's Assumption was never a Holy Day of Obligation in Canada . However, January 6th (the Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord) did used to be obligatory there but not here in the United States . Further, there are other feasts which are (or used to be) Holy Days of Obligation in other countries: March 19th (the Solemnity of Joseph, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Scotland), the Thursday following Trinity Sunday (the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland), and June 29th (the Solemnity of Peter and Paul, Apostles—England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland). All ten of the above Holy Days would also have been observed as obligatory in Rome and some other countries as well—and March 17th traditionally had been obligatory in Ireland . So it really was up to your latitude and longitude as to whether you sinned or not by not observing the above feasts. Always carry a compass through life, I say—AND a sextant!
Monday evening, I will be at the Nazareth Arts Center —not for a play but for a Community Discussion on Catholic Education (I hope there's an intermission and refreshments).
Tuesday evening is our Men's Club meeting at St. James. There will be an intermission and refreshments, and I will share with them a brief travelogue on my recent expedition to Maine and the Maritimes.
Wednesday, I drive to DC for a meeting of the Board of the USCCB's National Advisory Council to put together the Council's agenda for my final meeting of that body in September. Back Friday.
Thursday, my Dad would have been 90. May he rest in peace!
Friday is the feast of St. Bernard. Bishop Clark will say a special Mass at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry for us alums.
Saturday, it will have been a dozen years since the first robot airplane flight from St. John's Newfoundland to Scotland . You forgot ?
Sunday would have been the Queenship of Mary, but it's Sunday .
—Father Schrader
August 8, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On February 1, 2006, Pat Lawlor came to us as our new Director of Faith Formation. At the time, as you may remember, we were still three separate parishes in an informal arrangement known as the “Winton-Culver Catholic Community.” Since that time, Pat has helped to bring together the Faith Formation processes found at each of those three parishes into one coordinated process for the entirety of what (since May 17, 2007) has become Peace of Christ Parish. As she now completes her time among us in that capacity, we wish her well in her new position doing spiritual direction and programming at the Mercy Prayer Center on Highland Avenue . Please, join us in wishing her well at a farewell reception in the gathering space at St. Ambrose Church today immediately following the 5:00 P.M. Mass.
Monday is the relatively new feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: Edith Stein. Learn more about her at this site: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19981011_edith_stein_en.html
Tuesday, our 2010-2011 Catholic Ministries Appeal Committee will meet with all other parishes' CMA committees to receive materials for this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. This annual request for our kind gifts funds the many ministries and services provided to all parishes by the central diocesan offices and departments. We can be grateful to the following for their willingness to serve our parish for this important endeavor: Ron Bess and Joe Ryan at our St. Ambrose site, Tom and Nickie Coughlin at our St. James site, Eileen Aman and Kay Kurz at our St. John the Evangelist site, and Colleen Griffith (parish secretary) and Carmen J. Sanchez (business manager) at our central parish office. Please, pray for God's blessings on all.
Wednesday is the birthday of our senior parochial vicar, Fr. Bob Werth. God's many blessings be upon him throughout the year ahead!
Thursday brings us to another interesting feast: St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Her feast day is listed in most prayerbooks and missals as December 12th. However, because that date is now the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas , her feast is perpetually transferred in the United States to August 12th.
Friday the 13th is the 100th anniversary of the death of Florence Nightingale. Let us pray for all in the nursing profession and for all whom they most diligently serve each day.
Saturday is the birthday of Peace of Christ maintenance worker, Helmut “Herm” Wunderlich. Best wishes and God's many blessings!
Next Sunday is the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. May she intercede for us in all things great and small!
—Father Schrader
August 1, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy New Month to you all! Hope your summer is progressing nicely and that it is filled with opportunities for renewal and reunion. I had mentioned in an earlier bulletin that a special musical is being produced as a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Father Ed Zimmer who lived at the rectory at our St. John the Evangelist site until his death on January 7, 2001. Originally, it was going to be performed this October. However, when the contract finally got all put together, the actual dates will now be January 14 and 15, 2011, much closer to the actual anniversary. It will be put on at Geva and will be a benefit for their youth education program. Many of the originals from the casts of the musicals being reprised in this new musical production are returning to town to star in it again, some 30 years after Fr. Zimmer's hiring Tony Falzano to be St. Monica's youth minister and writer of these musicals. All involved so far have found this to be quite the production. One actor is even flying in from Los Angeles to be a part of the cast. So, for now, just re -mark your calendars for what promises to be an enjoyable, memorable, and beneficially helpful spectacle on this local downtown stage. More later.
Monday, we begin Summer Session for our youth in religious education. God's blessings on all of them and their teachers.
Tuesday—now that the vevuzelas of the World Cup have silenced there—Dane Noble-Rosema of our pastoral music ministry returns home to South Africa for a visit with his family. We wish him a safe trip, a pleasant reunion with his kin, and a speedy return to the parish.
Wednesday (being the first one of the month), our Bereavement Ministry meets at the parish office. This is for all who have recently experienced a loss among their family or friends to come together with those of a similar focus to meet with a facilitator who can help in the addressing of the various stages of grief that are experienced whenever a death occurs. Pass the word to any so confronted.
Thursday is the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome . Most folks know of St. Peter's Basilica, but there are actually four major basilicas in this holy city. This particular one is dedicated to the Blessed Mother. There is also St. Paul 's Outside the Walls and St. John Lateran which is the pope's cathedral.
Friday, it is already 2 weeks since our annual Garage Sale. I'd like to thank all who worked so hard to assure its success, all who donated treasures, and all who came to purchase them. Many thanks!
Next weekend it will already be over a month since my time of vacation. Many have asked me about it. Briefly, the things I treasured most are these: the driving over 3,982.6 miles of beautiful back roads and seashores, visiting with friends in Albany and in Caribou ME, Acadia National Park (Jenna Bush was there the same day, and the Obamas were there 3 weeks after me), stunning Nova Scotia, the lush Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland where I stayed in Cow Head, the stark rockiness of Labrador with whales just off the coast, the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island and then the Green Gables House there in Cavendish, sharing Moncton, New Brunswick with Regis and Kelly on the same night, and the mammoth moose bidding me farewell along a Maine road on the last day. Ahh! God is good and I am so grateful! May such respites be yours as well!
—Father Schrader
July 25, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Good final Sunday of July to you all! Can summer really be half over ] I guess so, and so can our annual Garage Sale. Half price day is today from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Anyone who can help take down things afterward will also be greatly appreciated.
We welcome Passionist Father Philip Paxton who is with us at the 9:45 A.M. Mass today while home visiting family members. Divine Word Father Ray Quetchenbach is also with us at the 8:00 A.M. Mass today before he heads over to the Erb Family Reunion later in the morning.
Today is also the Full “Buck” Moon (at 9:37 P.M.). Be careful not to hit any. On my trip recently up north, I didn't see a buck, but I did see two moose, one in Newfoundland and one in Maine . They certainly are much larger than a buck—and, fortunately, I did not hit them either. I also saw a whale as the ferry was transporting my car and me from Labrador back down to Newfoundland proper—and, fortunately again, the ferry did not hit him either.
Monday is the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. Some folks make a special novena of prayers before this feast. Father Ray's late uncle, Father Charlie Erb, led the St. Anne's Novena at Holy Family where I was stationed in 1977 during my first summer right out of the seminary, and I remember the throngs of people who attended, how hot the church was, and how energized Fr. Charlie was amidst it all.
I noticed when I returned home from vacation that St. John the Evangelist Church is now (like St. Ambrose and St. James churches) air conditioned—seemingly just in time for the heat wave of early summer. This, by the way, is a result of gifts that were given some time ago to the Partners in Faith campaign that took place before I ever arrived in the parish six years ago. As we reviewed the original list of reasons for which the parish's portion of those funds was raised, we noted that the AC had not yet been tended to and that we did now have the funds to accomplish it. As a matter of fact, since we already had AC in the hall, the bringing of the cooler air upstairs was much more economically accomplished. May it serve to help us at our Masses, funerals and weddings in these hotter months of summer.
I was also happy to see that the sidewalk into the Peace Garden had been completed in time for the Independence Day Mass. Access to this site is now much easier for all who attend.
Upon my arrival home, we had flooding in many of our buildings in the storm of Tuesday, July 13th and power outages later in the week which caused computer and AC shutdown in our parish offices. All is now restored, and we are so grateful.
Pat Lawlor, our Director of Catechetical Programs, has been blessed in attaining a position which she has dearly sought, and we certainly wish her well in her pursuits. She will be with us through Summer Session in August, and the diocese is now screening applicants for us to interview as we strive to fill this position at this time. Please, keep all involved on both sides of the equation in your prayers.
As we approach August, make sure by way of plans that summer will not end without your having a protected interval of time for renewal through prayer, rest, recreation and time with good friends!
—Father Schrader
July 18, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Good to be back with you this week, and now Father Werth will be away for a well-deserved vacation for these next two weeks. While he is gone, we are blessed to have visiting us again this year Father Raymond Quetchenbach, a Divine Word Missionary who is cousin to Sister Gertrude Erb. The big annual Erb Family Reunion is next Sunday, so Father Ray annually comes from headquarters in Techny , Illinois to be present to his kin.
Whenever, he comes here, it is always the week of our annual Garage Sale. This will take place in Dailey Hall at our St. Ambrose campus on next weekend (see inside the bulletin for details). There are three main needs that pop up with this event each year. First, the need for donations of good, useable items (clothing, furniture, appliances, books, CDs, etc.) so we have enough to appeal to everyone. Second, we need helpers to do the set-up beforehand and/or the tear-down afterwards. Many hands make light work, and this is done in the days leading up to (and the hours following upon) the actual event next weekend. Third, we need folks to come and shop. If one person's cast-offs are another person's treasure, we will have a treasure-house of valuables for everyone on your list.
During these summer months, it is a good time to do some reading while school is not in session, or while you are heading (but not driving) to your vacation destinations, or just while you are waiting for an appointment in your doctor's waiting room. I mentioned one book last week in my column. I mention here a few other good reads that I have finished since this past January:
Becoming Human by Jean Vanier, Paulist Press [2008 edition], Mahwah NJ : 1998, $12.95), 163 pp., ISBN 978-0-8091-4587-4. The author is the founder of L'ARCHE, an international network of communities for people with intellectual disabilities. He explains at the outset that “This book is about the liberation of the human heart from the tentacles of chaos and loneliness, and from those fears that provoke us to exclude and reject others” (p. 5). He gives 5 principles that have helped him, 7 aspects of love necessary for the transformation of the heart, 3 elements common in all conflicts, and several great insights for Penance services (pp. 135-142). A great spiritual treasure!
Prayerfulness: Awakening to the Fullness of Life by Robert J. Wicks, Sorin Books, Notre Dame IN: 2009, $20.00, 167 pp., ISBN 978-1-933495-20-0. The author quotes our local former Abbot John Eudes Bamberger from the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard (pp. 109 ff) amidst an outline for a 30-day retreat, and provides a Spiritual Mindfulness Questionnaire for Discovering Your Own Prayerfulness Profile (pp. 145 ff). A super book for personal reflection, retreat reading or work with a group.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, Back Bay Books, New York : 2007, $15.99, 286 pp., ISBN 978-0-316-01066-5. This is not a spiritual book in the strict sense, but when we realize how much God enables us to accomplish (even unconsciously) in the blink of an eye, it causes one to have ever greater respect for the One who made us all. Good reading everyone!
—Father Schrader
July 11, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Last week, I mentioned some of the work being done in the Father Zimmer Peace Garden . The new sidewalk was being installed, and hopefully served everyone well for the Independence Day Weekend Mass on July 5th. But I also wanted to mention that many people help take care of the gardens and properties at each of our three campuses. The paid maintenance staff takes care of mowing and raking the lawn in each appropriate season. But the actual gardening is taken care of by many volunteers. At St. Ambrose, each Monday evening volunteers tend to various parts of the property to keep the flowers fresh and the weeds in check. At St. James, various volunteers tend to the plants along the perimeter of the church. At St. John the Evangelist, a group of volunteers tends to the Peace Garden at least one evening a week and the remainder of the property receives special attention on one or two key days each year for major trimming, weeding, planting and the like. If any of you would be able to assist, please call. And many, many thanks to all who worked so hard to get our grounds in such good shape just before the Fourth of July! You have no idea how much that is appreciated!
This week, we have Vacation Bible Camp beginning on Monday for those who pre-registered. May it be a blessed week for all.
By Tuesday, I should be home from my northern trek and ready to thaw out in our Rochester summer sun (the high temps for some of the places I am headed are in the 40 ° s!).
Wednesday evening, we have a Festival Follow-up meeting for all Booth Captains. It will be a time to celebrate our accomplishments at Festival 2010, evaluate what worked best and what could benefit from some adjustment, and identify the leadership for the next Festival or two. We have such good people on whose energies and creativity to draw, we can all be appreciative for this blessing!
Thursday is Bishop Clark's birthday. May he have a blessed one!
Friday is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Perhaps if we are free we can attend the 12:15 Mass that day in honor of Our Lady and of those who have graced our parish from the former local church of that name over the past few years.
Saturday, we have the Teddy Bear Picnic for the parents of all those who had babies baptized here in the past year. These young couples are a rich resource for the parish. Perhaps some may even be moved to help prepare other parents for the Baptism of their children, or even help to prepare parish couples for the sacrament of Matrimony as part of the parish Pre-Cana Team. Such preparation is best done peer-to-peer rather than just us on staff to you in the pew.
Last week, I gave a description of one of my “typical” days and mentioned going out on calls. This includes hospital calls, nursing home calls, and visits to the classroom. Just a call is all it takes to arrange such visitation by any of us on staff. I also spoke of spiritual reading. One book I recently read was The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, SJ (ISBN 978-0-06-143268-2). If you liked his My Life With The Saints , you'll love this one as well.
—Father Schrader
July 4, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Independence Day to you all! May we be mindful of and prayerfully grateful for our freedoms as we celebrate this Fourth of July. Our holiday Mass in the Father Zimmer Peace Garden will be tomorrow, Monday, at 9:00 A.M. As I type this, work is being done on installing a sidewalk that should be much more handicapped-accessible from the parking lot to the interior of the garden itself. It is everyone's donations via our regular Sunday envelopes, and to the first Sunday of the month Building and Maintenance collection, and toward the payment of our pledges to the Peace of Christ Campaign that make such improvements and upkeep possible. Thanks so much!
As you read this, I am on vacation in Newfoundland . Last year, I had driven to Saskatchewan to see the prairies. This year, I thought I'd drive to the Maritimes to see another part of our neighbor to the north that I had not yet seen. Both of these trips mean many hours in the car, but for me that is the vacation: not the getting there, but the travel along the highway and seeing all that lies between here and the furthest destination. Newfoundland is strangely 1 ½ hours ahead of Rochester , so this will be a challenge to stay on time for ferry boats and the like as I travel about. I'll get back next week during Vacation Bible Camp, so catch a few restful moments yourselves as well.
This is the first Sunday of my 2nd 6-year term as pastor of Peace of Christ. It is so hard to believe such time has already passed. You have supported me so much by your presence and your prayers through these years of many challenges and many milestones, and I look forward to these next six years as well.
In addition, we have a good house here in which to live. Fathers Werth and Carpenter are fascinating housemates, and their presence is augmented by Fr. Chuck Latus (pastor of St. Rita's) and Fr. Stan Kacprzak (pastor of St. Paul's) and (on his first weekend with us in the house) Fr. Samuel Batsa (parochial vicar of St. Rita's—Fr. Hoan Dinh just moved from that position to parochial vicar of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Geneva). Some have wondered from time to time what a typical day for us might be like. Well, I am usually the first one up. I try to get out for a 3-mile run a few days each week and enjoy seeing the paper-deliverers, the dog-walkers, and various squirrels, rabbits, and even occasional deer along the way. Back at the rectory, I'll cool down while having breakfast and reading the paper, and then adjourn to our prayer room for an hour before the Blessed Sacrament. That usually is filled with praying the Liturgy of the Hours, saying the rosary, doing some spiritual reading, some journaling, and some quiet contemplation as I hear the rest of the house come to life. After making ready for the day, I then head for whatever Mass I am assigned, do some deskwork at the office, meet with appointments, go out on calls, and sometimes attend various daytime meetings in the parish or around the diocese—a few committees recently took me quarterly to New York and semi-annually to Baltimore, but those will be all done by early September. Back at the house, a few days a week we have Evening Prayer and dinner together before heading out to evening meetings. At 10 o'clock, we watch the News and then it's lights out for another day! Whatever your days are like, peace to you!
—Father Schrader
June 27, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Each year, each parish of the diocese has a mission assigned to it by way of what is known as the “Mission Co-Op Program.” A visitor from the assigned mission speaks, prayers are said for the people served by that mission, and a collection is taken up to help support the mission. This weekend, we welcome Mrs. Kathy Velekkakan who will speak on behalf of the Medical Missionaries of Mary . A lay volunteer nurse from Ireland by the name of Mary Martin founded this congregation while serving in Nigeria in 1937. Now, there are about 370 sisters working throughout Africa as well as in Central and South America, Europe, and even parts of the United States . Their mission is to the health of both the body and the soul of those in the poorest and most remote areas of the world. Though the last Sunday of June is also the Peter's Pence collection for the charities under the care of the Holy Father, we'd ask this year that the Peter's Pence envelope be placed with all other envelopes in the first collection. There is no special envelope for the Mission Co-Op collection, but please place all cash and check donations for the Medical Missionaries of Mary in the second collection. If you forgot this was Mission Co-Op Sunday, feel free to mark specially any intended donations next week and we'll send them on with all gifts given today. Thanks so much.
Tonight, is our annual Strawberry Social (Sunday at 6:00 P.M.) in Dailey Hall. Be sure to stop by for this special treat: the strawberries are particularly good this year.
Monday is the Feast of St. Irenaeus (although the Orthodox celebrate it on August 23rd). He was Bishop of Lyons in the 2nd Century, a disciple of St. Polycarp who himself was a disciple of St. John the Apostle. Irenaeus is a martyr. Lord, be with all who suffer unjustly!
Tuesday is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul , martyrs as well. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in Rome , England , Australia and other parts of the world—but not here. Let us remember them who were so important in the roots of our Christian tradition.
Wednesday is the end of the first half of 2010 . Being so, it ends our parish fiscal year as well. Thank you to all who have sacrificially supported the church over the past 12 months. This would also be the final day to get any donations into our parish office if you wish them to count toward your 2009-2010 “treasure” commitment to the parish's ministries and to help minimize any remaining Year-To-Date (Y-T-D) Variance as listed in the bulletin. Thanks so much for all you do!
Thursday is Canada Day . Kind wishes and “Welcome!” to all who may be visiting us from our neighbor to the north.
Friday as you prepare your envelopes for next weekend, thank you for making your annual adjustment of your “treasure” amount for the weekly collection so that Fiscal Year 2010-11 can start off well.
Saturday is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. May our prayers be with the newly configured parish in upper Irondequoit beginning now its new arrangement.
Next Sunday's the 4th! Our Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden will be on Monday, the 5th at 9:00 A.M. As I type this, the new handicapped-accessible sidewalk into the garden should be complete by that liturgy. A blessed and peaceful week to you all!
—Father Schrader
June 20, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Father's Day to all fathers in our midst—and may we be mindful of those who have passed and now dwell with Our Father in Heaven! Congratulations, too, to our 2 big Festival Raffle winners : to Annette Stenglein who won the First Prize of the $12,500, and to Jennifer Brooker who won the $500 Gift Certificate from Wegmans. Indeed, thanks to all who worked or supported Festival 2010 in any way: it was great to see so many happy faces—many of them painted.
Summer begins officially at 7:28 A.M. on Monday, the year's longest day—although the earliest sunrises ended last Friday and the latest sunsets do not commence until this Thursday. Hey, I don't understand it, but it gives us three special days instead of just one!
Tuesday is the feast of St. John Fisher, the patron of the Diocese of Rochester. In honor of it, Bishop Clark invited Archbishop Dolan from New York to come celebrate a special 10:30 A.M. Mass at the Cathedral, and all are invited. At that Mass, we'll honor our diocese's priest jubilarians, both Silver (Frs. Bradshaw, Flores, Kacprzak & Ogorzoly) and Golden (Frs. Cylwicki CSB, Fraats, Graf & Lynch)who have served us for so long—300 years among the 8 of them!
Wednesday is over-the-hump day for the week. It's always a good day to pause midway through the current seven days on the calendar to say thanks for blessings experienced so far, and ask for graces for the remaining days that lie ahead.
Thursday is the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist . It is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but is held by many (especially in Canada ) to be of special significance: John made straight the paths for the Lord to walk. Can we do any less in our daily living as we create an environment for the Word to take root and find a home!
Friday, as we get ready for our worship on the weekend, please take a moment if you haven't already to fill out your Time-Talent-Treasure commitment for next year (that is, for July 1-June 30). Each year, we are given this opportunity to review what we have given by way of our time and talent in the past year and either to re-commit to those ministries and volunteer activities that have meant so much or to sign-up anew for some yet-untried channel of using our energies for the Lord and for one another in the year ahead. Likewise, we can also adjust the commitment amount of our weekly/monthly/annual gifts for the Sunday collection. If that is still the same as years ago when costs have risen so regularly, perhaps we can adjust accordingly for the benefit of us all. Many thanks for all commitments!
Saturday brings the final weekend of our fiscal year, our last chance to make up any missed collections. It is also (at 7:30 A.M.) the Full “Strawberry” Moon . So, in honor of that, next Sunday is our annual Strawberry Social in Dailey Hall at 6:00 P.M. I hear it's berry good! Next weekend will also be our annual Mission Co-Op weekend, and we'll welcome Mrs. Kathy Velekkakan of the Medical Missionaries of Mary . Thanks for all special 2nd collection gifts (put Peter's Pence and make-up envelopes in 1st collection). Peace!
—Father Schrader
June 13, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Many, many thanks to all who worked so hard on Festival 2010 . This annual event is not only a fundraiser for the parish, it is also a time for community for all who attend, a rite of passage of sorts for a number of our young people who now have become workers at this event, and a time simply to enjoy life with our neighbors who come to join us. God's blessings on all who invested so much time and energy to this year's Festival!
Today would also have been the 63rd ordination anniversary of Father Edward Zimmer who lived at our St. John the Evangelist site in his retirement. Many of you know the connections of Father Bob Werth and myself to “EZ” from earlier in our priesthood: I was stationed with him for my intern assignment at St. Monica's right out of seminary, Fr. Werth was stationed with him for his intern assignment at St. Mary's in Auburn, Fr. Werth then became a successor of EZ as pastor of St. Monica's and I became a successor of EZ as pastor of St. Mary's in Auburn, and we both came to live here where EZ lived in his final years. Hard to believe, this coming winter will be the 10th anniversary of Father Zimmer's passing. In honor of him, the youth minister from 30 years ago at St. Monica's, Tony Falzano, who wrote musicals for the youth to put on has written a reprise of the best of those musicals, and it is titled “ Second Time Around .” It will be put on at Geva as a benefit for Geva's education outreach to youth in the Greater Rochester area. Many of the youth of 30 years ago are re-assembling from all over the country to star once again in the singing of these wonderful songs. I myself co-wrote the script for one of the musicals, and it has been my honor to help in producing this newest offering. The benefit shows are November 19 at 7:30 P.M. and November 20 at 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M. Tickets won't be available for a little while yet, but I share those dates at this time in the event you may wish to place them in your calendars. It will be a hoot!
Monday is Flag Day . Fly ‘em high! It is also a novena of days since the ordination of two Peace of Christ-related individuals to the diaconate: Mark Bovenzi and Scott Caton. Congratulations to both!
Tuesday is Pastoral Council . Outgoing members, continuing members, and incoming members will be present for a review of our work of the year, some sharing about next year, and elections.
Wednesday is Finance Council . We'll be fine-tuning next year's budget (July-June) and doing our best in managing our resources.
Thursday, Grade 6 of St. John Neumann will have its Closing Ceremony . These students were just entering 1st Grade at St. John the Evangelist School and St. Ambrose School and a few others when we first arrived here in 2004—a significant passage for them and us!
Friday as we prepare our envelopes for the weekend, please remember: making up just 1 missed weekend can negate our variance.
Saturday, happy birthday to Alison LeChase , Director of Youth Ministry here at Peace of Christ!
Next Sunday is Father's Day . ‘Til then, a good week to all!
—Father Schrader
June 6, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today's Solemnity of the Most Holy Body an Blood of Christ is the last Sunday for the wearing of the white for a while (only three more in 2010: August 15, November 21, and December 26. As mentioned last week, today is also Fr. Brian Carpenter's 1st anniversary of ordination to priesthood, and it is the 66th anniversary of D-Day , a day for important memories of many things.
Sunday evening, Fathers Werth and Carpenter and I will head to Notre Dame Retreat House for the annual Priests' Retreat Week. Our director this year is Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh . The theme for the week is the Cur é of Ars: “Jean Marie Vianney: A Man from A Little Bit of Nothing.” Be assured we will keep you all in our prayers while we are on this retreat, and I ask that you remember us in yours as well. While we are gone, Fr. Bob Bradler will cover any funerals that may arise. Judy Brawley, Laurie Maier, Augie Misiurewicz and Sister Marlene Vigna will conduct Communion Services during our normal weekday Mass times through Thursday.
Monday Noon is the absolute last moment for any gifts to count toward the 2009-2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA ) . Checks would have to be dated May 31st or earlier, and we will need to take them out to the Diocesan Offices before close of their business day. Many thanks for everyone's help in getting the parish as close to goal as possible.
Tuesday, though several of us are away on retreat, work continues back in the parish on accomplishing the objectives of our 5-year facilities plan by way of updating and maintenance. We have already accomplished so much (boilers, roofs and paving), and by your faithful monthly/quarterly/annual payments on your pledges to our Peace of Christ (PoC) Campaign begun in 2008, the remaining items on the plan's list will also be accomplished: accessibility issues at St. Ambrose, lights/doors/chimes upkeep at St. James, masonry and air circulation matters at St. John the Evangelist, and much more. Leaves are still available on our Trees of Life for any significant new gifts yet to be received. Many thanks for everyone's faithful support!
Wednesday, we have only 3 weeks left in June and in our current fiscal year. Remember that if everyone were just to make up for that one weekend's missed envelope, our negative variance would vanish!
Thursday would have been Father Francis Feeney 's 77th anniversary of ordination. May he rest in peace and intercede for us all.
Friday, our earliest sunrises begin. Also, FESTIVAL 2010 opens at 6:00 P.M. on the grounds of St. Ambrose. Have a great supper, fun games, and enjoyable company while supporting the parish as well.
Saturday, Bishop Clark will open the final day of FESTIVAL 2010 with a prayer at 5:00 P.M. He'll also sign a few copies of his new book, Forward in Hope , for the auction and perhaps a few that Festival attendees may wish to buy. Come welcome Bishop Clark to Peace of Christ for Festival 2010!
Next Sunday is the Catholic Communications collection. Peace!
—Father Schrader
May 30, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A Blessed Holy Trinity Sunday ! At our Masses today, we will ritually bring our diocesan 3-year “Spirit Alive” process to an end. Reps from our parish attended a special ritual last Sunday at the Cathedral, and today will lead us here in celebrating this spiritual milestone.
Thank you to all who have been able to get last-minute CMA ( Catholic Ministry Appeal ) checks in to us by the end of this month of May (tomorrow) so we can hopefully reach our goal for this year.
Tomorrow, of course, is Memorial Day . May we all pause to remember those who have given their lives in service of their country. A special Mass in the Father Edward Zimmer Peace Garden at St. John the Evangelist at 9:00 A.M. will celebrate this holiday spiritually. We can be truly grateful to members of EZ's family who helped greatly to fund the many flowers you will see in the garden—and to all our wonderful gardeners who have worked until the last glimmer of twilight on many evenings to plant those flowers as you see them.
Tuesday, our Liturgy Committee gathers to continue to attend to matters liturgical for our weekly worship and annual celebrations.
Wednesday is the 55th anniversary of my graduating from Kindergarten. Ah, the sounds of “Lavender Blue” still echo from when I stood with the baton to conduct our famed Kindergarten Orchestra!
Thursday, I'll travel to New York for my final PCNY (Priests' Council of New York) meeting with the reps from the Presbyteral Councils of the other seven dioceses of the state. These meetings over the past several years have been great opportunities to share ideas and work collaboratively on common issues across the state.
Friday, we are just one week from Festival 2010 ! Be sure to get your raffle tickets so you're ready for the big drawings—and bring a friend to enjoy some fine food, games and company June 11 & 12.
Saturday, it will be one week since we drew names for Pastoral Council. Twenty-one individuals volunteered to be nominees this year—a real record! Those who were selected for 3-year terms were David Battaglia, Bess Johnson, Dan Kellogg, and Chris Tanner. The other 17 stay in the hat for a year in case we need someone to fill out another's term. They are: Eileen Aman, Katie Bess, Patricia Carley, Shirley Colin, Carolyn Conrow, Jason Dusett, Karl Ebert, Mary Hasenauer, Ann Holstrom, Joanne Lachiusa-Rondash, Mary Ellen Lansing, Stephanie Neder, Chi Chi Wai Ng, Bernadette Piccininni, Goldie Rogers, Wally Ruehle, and Cathy Witner. In addition, two youth representatives were chosen: Janine Costello& Grace Neylan. Congratu- lations to all, and thank you for your willingness to serve!
Next Sunday is Fr. Brian's 1st anniversary as a priest. Ad multos annos! It is also the 66th anniversary of D-Day. May all rest in peace who perished for ours! Lastly, it will be the first Sunday of June. Our Year-To-Date variance (p. 3) being less than a Sunday's collection, if any who missed a Sunday this year were just to make it up in June—on a single Sunday or spread out over four—we'd be right where we should be with no variance at all. God's peace to all!
—Father Schrader
May 23, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A Blessed Pentecost Sunday to you all! Our third and final year of Spirit Alive is now concluding. You may remember that in the first year of this Spiritual Renewal process implemented by the diocese for use in the parishes, we focused on “ Deepening Our Relationship with Jesus Christ.” Special Lenten programs helped us look at how our being a Christ ian makes a difference in our personal life and then, because of that, in the world. Then, in the second year, our focus was on “Deepening Our Knowledge of the Word.” Many Bible groups sprang up to look at the Holy Book, and a number in our parish managed to read the entire Bible which was highlighted (one book at a time) each week in our parish bulletin. Finally, in this current year, we have homed in on “Deepening Our Understanding of Discipleship and Stewardship.” What wonderful examples of these traits we had as we looked this Lent at modern day saints and participated in a number of new Small Christian Communities to help us in our pondering. To celebrate the conclusion of this process, several parishioners will attend the 5:00 P.M. Mass this afternoon at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Next weekend on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, these same individuals will be present at each of our Masses here at Peace of Christ Parish to lead us also in partaking of this milestone on our collective spiritual journey.
Monday marks our Catholic Ministry Appeal's one-week-and-counting deadline. As was mentioned last week, we need to reach our $118,729 goal by then or we will need to dip into needed savings (for our ministry programs and personnel here at the parish) to pay the difference. SO, if anyone who has not yet paid their pledge or made a donation to the 2009-2010 appeal (or even those who have ) could make a contribution by the end of the week , it will help us immensely to reach our quota. Thanks for whatever you can do!!!
Tuesday is the 31st anniversary of the priesthood ordination of the other Father Bob . Congratulations, and ad multos annos !
Wednesday is a special decade anniversary of the birth of Pastoral Associate Sister Marlene Vigna . May the decade ahead be blessed!
Thursday brings us to the Full “Flower” Moon at 7:07 P.M.—but don't ask me to remember that next Volunteer Appreciation Day!
Friday, we are just 2 weeks ‘til Festival 2010 ! This past week, all the Festival captains gathered to go over the details of their part at the Festival. We have some new games and some new booths which should make for a great event with some surprises for all. By the way, if you haven't yet gotten your raffle ticket for the car, etc., by all means send yours in today—or stop by the office to pick one up. Special prices apply to multiple tickets. Then, save Friday, June 11th (6:00-11:00 P.M.) and Saturday, June 12th (5:00-10:00 P.M.) for the big event. May Peace of Christ be truly blessed by your presence!
Saturday (as Wednesday and Friday of this week as well) is an Ember Day . May God's blessings be abundant upon us this summer!
Next Sunday, join us in our local Spirit Alive finale at each Mass!
—Father Schrader
May 16, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Lilac Festival ! Hopefully, this past week's brief return to winter will have freeze-dried at least a few of the blossoms on the trees. Happy Diocesan Missions Sunday as well. Our 2nd collection today supports our Sisters of Mercy & St. Joseph in South America .
Tonight, our Web Site Committee meets to review and update our parish web site as needed. If you have any comments or suggestions, just go to the web site (see bottom of the column to the left of this one) and click on “Comments” to send any input (hopefully by 6:00 P.M. this evening—or anytime for any of our future meetings).
Monday, it is 3 years since our officially (canonically and legally) becoming “Peace of Christ Roman Catholic Parish of Rochester NY”.
Tuesday, is the final Presbyteral Council meeting for the 2009-10 season, and it will be the final one of the past two years that I chair. It has been an honor to do so, but since this also involved chairing a bloc meeting the day before each council meeting in order to get input from the priests and pastoral administrators of the region and then chairing a meeting of the council's officers on the day after each council meeting in order to prepare for the following month, I will look forward to more time next year for the daily hustle and bustle of Peace of Christ Parish itself. Fathers Werth and/or Carpenter have been most gracious in covering activities here during each month's council week since Fall of 2008, and I am truly grateful.
Wednesday evening, our parish Finance Council will meet to continue planning for next year's budget, review all the current leases of our buildings which are not needed for parish functions, and continue to analyze the best investment of parish savings for the good of the parish as a whole. We can all be appreciative of their hard work and due diligence in caring for fiscal resources which fund our ministries. Also on this night, three of our parishioners will receive their certificate in spiritual direction at the Mercy Prayer Center : Karen Francati, Patricia Lawlor, and Melissa Rice. Congratulations to you all, and may the fruits of your ministry be enriching for many!
Thursday, if any of us haven't returned our Time-Talent-Treasure responses yet by way of our own stewardship commitments for next year, please take a moment to fill out the items mailed to us all so we can bring them to church this weekend. Thanks so much!
Friday, we have only 10 more days until the close of the 2009-2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal . As of this typing, we are still $17,165.25 short of our goal and will lose this from our ministry and facility savings if gifts are not received by May 31st. Thanks for whatever you can do to help us end the appeal successfully .
Saturday, as we each prep our envelopes for the weekend, please know that the current Year-to-Date Variance (see box on page 3) is less than one week's collection amount. If all were to double up just one Sunday by the end of June, that would be more than erased!
Next Sunday is Pentecost (red). Representatives from the parish will be at Spirit Alive 's closing at the cathedral at 5 P.M. Pax to all!
—Father Schrader
May 9, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Mother's Day to all who fill that role! And may all
mothers already gone back to God be warmly remembered! Congratulations
also to all First Communicants this weekend (see p. 2)!
Thank you to all who sponsored us CROP Walk ers last Sunday.
The rains held off—indeed, we should have left our umbrellas home
and taken our sunscreen. More than $600 was raised through Peace
of Christ donations toward the CROP Walk total of $4300+. Thanks,
too, to all who were part of Sr. Helen Prejean 's presentations. To
follow-up, please visit www.ncadp.org regularly (and actively ).
Monday is Volunteer Appreciation Day here at Peace of Christ.
Doors open for our annual dinner in Dailey Hall at St. John Neumann
School on our St. Ambrose site at 6:30 P.M. As we gather, may we
all be appreciative of one another's service in so many ways.
Tuesday is Pastoral Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. in the hall at
St. John the Evangelist. The monthly Open Forum is from 7:15 to
7:25 P.M. Other items on the agenda include updates on the implementation
of our Vision Statement, a review of our Community Outreach
Day, a report on our Small Christian Communities, and some
brainstorming regarding our focus and ideas for the year to come.
Wednesday, a number of our pastoral staff members will attend
the diocese's annual Ministerium . This year's theme is “What On
Earth Is Discipleship?” and the presenter is Fr. Anthony J. Gittens,
CSSp, Ph.D., Professor of Theology and Culture from the Catholic
Theological Union in Chicago . St. James' Coffee Hour is 7-9 P.M.
Thursday is a Holy Day of Obligation : Ascension Thursday .
Masses are at 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and
7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Can 40 days have passed already
since Easter Sunday!
Friday is the feast of St. Matthias , the 13th apostle (chosen to
replace Judas). You can read about his selection in Acts 1:15-26.
Saturday brings us to Armed Forces Day . May we be mindful of
those who serve our nation around the world in protection of our
country and in the defense of our freedom.
Next Sunday, our Web Site Committee will gather at 6:00 P.M.
following the 5:00 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose. Check out our web site
at http://www.peaceofchristparish.org and if you have any input for
us, send it via the “Comments” feature on the web site itself.
As May (almost 1/3 over!) marches on, it does so thus with holy
days, holidays, special days and multiple events. Such activity is a
sign of life and Spring, and we can all be grateful that our parish and
our faith life is so rich. Thank you to all our volunteers (“ministers”
in so many ways) who really ARE the Peace of Christ for so many in
our community. Thank you to all who have set a whole variety of
personal goals by way of offering your Time and T alent and Treasure
to support the parish's outreach in the year ahead. And thanks to all
who are able now to finalize your gifts to the 2009-1010 Catholic
Ministries Appeal ($24,000+ still needed) which ends May 31st. Pax!
—Father Schrader
May 2, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Thank you so much to all who made last weekend one to remember here at Peace of Christ. Many volunteers participated in Community Outreach projects in a wonderful use of their Time. Our musicians attended the annual diocesan dinner with the bishop for all pastoral musicians in a great recognition of their Talent. And many made pledges of their Treasure for the year to come. Our Stewardship in all of these areas has been most meaningful and significant for all.
Today, a number of us from the parish will walk in the CROP Walk for Hunger. It's hard for me even to remember when I was ever hungry and not able to do something about it. I can't even fathom what it is like not to eat for several days or weeks at a time. Walking for the hungry (that they may not only be given food but be shown how to grow it) is such a minor inconvenience to endure on their behalf. Thanks to all who sponsored us in this endeavor.
Tomorrow, Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking, will reflect with us at 1:00 and 7:00 P.M. about how the journey continues in working for an end to taking anyone's life for any thing. Your presence with us at St. John the Evangelist will be time well spent. May God bless Sister and all that she does on behalf of the cause of life, the respect for which must be part of the seamless garment that amplifies our faith.
Tuesday, our Liturgy Committee has its first meeting since before Lent. We can be grateful for their special care for the ways in which we worship the one God in whom we believe.
Wednesday is a complex midweek day on which the Sacraments of Initiation are front and center. It was 53 years ago this day that I made my First Eucharist, and now we are getting ready for the many who will receive First Eucharist this coming Sunday or the week afterward. Their names will be in the bulletins of the next two weeks. Then, this evening itself, our Confirmation candidates will receive Confirmation at Sacred Heart Cathedral. How much they have grown since their First Communions! Their names are on page three. This is also Cinco de Mayo which commemorates a day of freedom (1862) for those with Mexican lineage. For those with French lineage, this is the day (in 1921) that Chanel No. 5 was first marketed to the public (being so on the 5th day of the 5th month—and the octave of the feast of St. Peter Chanel, not that that's related).
Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. See their web site at http://nationaldayofprayer.org/ for more information about this day.
Friday, as you make ready for coming to church next weekend, please remember to fill out your Time-Talent-Treasure forms and return them to church next weekend. At the annual Stewardship Day last weekend, we learned that Protestants support church at 2.2% of their income; Catholics are at 1.1%—if we were at their level, it would mean $7 Billion more annually nationwide! Ponder.
Saturday, happy birthday Colleen Griffith in our parish offices!
Next Sunday is Rogation Sunday and Mother's Day. Pax to all!
—Father Schrader
April 25, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Time. Talent. Treasure. Each of these is a key ingredient to a parish being vibrant, serving, and able not only to survive but thrive ! Last week in this column we saw how “ Stewardship” is important in all that we do and in how we share our time, talent and treasure for one another. Each year, we are called to pray and discern what calling God is extending to us for the year ahead with regard to how we portion out our time, our talent, and our treasure. We are so pleased this weekend to have among us some who will extend an invitation to heed this call and respond accordingly when we each receive in the mail this week our annual “Stewardship Opportunities” form for our Time and our Talent, and our annual “Sacrificial Giving Program” commitment card for our Treasure. The John Driscoll family will be at the 4:30 P.M. Saturday Mass this weekend, Bob Crego will be at the 8:00 A.M. Sunday Mass, Eileen Aman will be at the 9:00 A.M. Sunday Mass, the Chad Scoma family will be at the 9:45 A.M. Mass, Tom Kubus will be at the 11:00 A.M. Mass, and Peter and Doreen Pellittieri will be at the 5:00 P.M. Mass. I am grateful to each of them for their care for the parish and its spiritual & fiscal health for the year ahead. (Thanks, too, to all on today's CMA pages—1 month to go!)
Indeed, when you receive your letter in the mail, please be encouraged to fill out the enclosures and drop them in the collection basket next weekend. This will help us in our planning for the year to come. If you are volunteering (or re-volunteering) your time or talent for some program or project, please indicate it on the form; and please pray over what may be possible by way of increased giving for the year to come (July 2010—June 2011) and indicate it on the card. In fact, I encourage you to look at the tithing chart on the back of the card you will receive to see if any of those levels may be possible for the year. Those who've made this level of treasure commitment have found it very rewarding, for themselves and the parish as a whole.
By way of what we are doing for you in this week ahead:
—Sunday afternoon (today) at 2:00 P.M., we have our Anointing Service at St. John the Evangelist for all in need of God's healing grace;
—Monday (John Griffith's birthday), we have the pot luck dinner and BINGO over at St. James, 6:00-8:00 P.M.;
—Tuesday is the 130th anniversary of the patenting of the first electric hearing aid—let's be grateful for God's gift of senses to us all;
—Wednesday (Full “Pink” Moon), we're having a gathering (at 7 PM at St. Ambrose) for those still Between Jobs because of the economy;
—Thursday is fairly quiet, so maybe we could take a moment to fill in our time, talent and treasure commitments to bring with us next week;
—Friday (Arbor Day) we'll show Dead Man Walking at 7 PM in St. John's hall for any adults coming to see Sr. Helen Prejean next week;
—Saturday is not only May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, it is also the birthday of one, Fr. Brian Carpenter. All the best to you!
—Next Sunday, we'll be sharing our time to walk for CROP.
May God bless each one of us in being good stewards of our gifts!
—Father Schrader
April 18, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Stewardship. It means many things. In our Mass readings today, good stewardship for the apostles in the 1st reading meant that they were found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of Jesus' name. For the angels in the 2nd reading, it meant the ability simply to offer worship. For Peter in the Gospel, it meant feeding Jesus' lambs, and tending and feeding his sheep.
For most of us, stewardship means using our gifts to the fullest. Fifty years ago today, Dr. William M. Chardack implanted the first pacemaker (which he invented) in a human being. The health of millions since then has been given a 2nd chance because he used his talents for the good of humanity as a whole. What gifts are ours? How are we maximizing them for the good of all? What more can we do?
Monday is the 5th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI being elected as the leader on earth of our Church. Though coming under fire recently for not using present-day protocols for dealing with legal and moral issues of a generation ago (when he was following the protocols of his present day then ), evidence of his stewardship for Christ's Body on Earth is abundant. What roles of leadership have we been willing to bear for others? What callings to involvement do we hear in the ear of our heart coming from the needs of those around us?
Tuesday is 200 years since Venezuela declared freedom from Spain . How have we been good stewards of our independence here in the U.S. ? Do we vote on primary/election days? Do we get involved in public meetings (see page 8 for two neighborhood ones happening this week right here in the community served by Peace of Christ)?
Wednesday is Administrative Professionals Day. Those who labor so fiercely right in our parish's front office form the front line that stewards us so well whenever we call or stop by. Kudos to them!
Thursday is Earth Day. Unless we are all good stewards of our planet's resources, they will dwindle away and not be there for our descendants. Have any of us been meaning to learn more about the current possibilities (and requirements) of re-cycling? Is there perhaps something more that we can do that we are not presently doing?
Friday is the 31st anniversary of our own Bishop Clark being asked to be Bishop of Rochester. The challenges of stewarding the local Bark of Peter have been many over the past three decades and continue even today. How might we support him more in our prayer?
Saturday is “Community Outreach Day.” This is one concrete way that we can put action behind our words and actually do something by way of good stewardship for needs in our parish. Our Social Ministries Committee has identified several projects for our participation. See inside the bulletin and, please, fill out one of the sign-up sheets to participate next week. We'll all convene at 8:30 A.M. at St. Ambrose before heading out to our projects. Thanks!
Next Sunday (in addition to being Fr. Schramel's 30th jubilee, and being our Anointing Service at 2:00 P.M. at St. John's ) is also our Stewardship Sunday. We'll hear more next weekend. God's peace! —Father Schrader
April 11, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday to you all! It was on this feast 3 years ago that Bishop Clark came to Peace of Christ to bless our newly consolidated offices. We'll officially be 3 years old on May 17th, the date in that same year (2007) that our formerly separate three parish corporate bodies were officially amalgamated into one—that year, it also happened to be Ascension Thursday.
Monday, Fathers Werth and Carpenter and I will go to the 2010 Convocation of Priests and Pastoral Administrators with Bishop Clark. We will be gathered until midday Wednesday, and our presenter will be Father Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I. who will present on the topic of the “Biblical Invitation to Deeper Spirituality.” It should be an engaging few days. While we are gone, our Pastoral staff (Judy Brawley, Laurie Maier, and Sister Marlene Vigna) will lead communion services on Tuesday and Wednesday at our normal Mass times. Priest coverage will be on stand-by for funerals. Just call the main number (288-5000) and leave a message.
Tuesday is Thomas Jefferson's birthday—he was born in 1743.
Wednesday evening is our monthly Finance Council meeting. It is also the 98th anniversary of Newfoundland 's hearing the first distress calls from the Titanic—hopefully, the two of these events are not related.
Thursday is Income Tax Day. Hopefully, too, you didn't procrastinate until this day yourself. May you be blessed with a refund—and then spend/share it with wisdom!
Friday is the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court's rejection of the death sentence appeal by Dalton Prejean.
Next weekend as we prepare our weekly offerings before coming to church, may we all do so with grateful hearts for all that we have received and a desire to give back to God whatever fitting portion we may discern to be most appropriate. Thank you for your outpouring of generosity last week on Easter! If we somehow can do long-term planning for the greatest consistency in our offerings throughout the year, this will help greatly in meeting our obligations (which are very regular throughout the year). Relatedly, we are nearing the end of our diocese's 2009-2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal . Our assigned goal for this year has been $118,729. Thus far, we have collectively pledged $92,376.75, and can be very grateful to one another for this spirit of support for those services which are provided to us in our parish (and in all parishes) each day by the diocese. That said, we still need to come up with the other $26,352.25 by the end of May or this will have to come out of other parish funds which are already designated for other purposes. Thanks for whatever you can do! Also, at the parish level, our POC Campaign has been most successful in dealing with our big-ticket maintenance items (roofs, boilers, parking lots), and we are most grateful for all pledge payments being received.
As I write this column on the day after Easter, let me say once again: it has been an honor to celebrate these holy days with you all!
—Father Schrader
April 4, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A Blessed Easter Welcome to all! “Seven” in the Bible is key. I share with you reflections—7 spiritual and 7 temporal—for Easter.
Spiritual :
—Easter is so significant to what we are about as Christians. Without Jesus' rising from the dead, we would have a much less hope-filled message to offer a world needing so much salvation.
—This year, we are united with our Orthodox sisters and brothers whose Easter falls on the same date. Why would our dates ever be different? Google the calculation of Easter and find out.
—We are also in synch with our Jewish sisters and brothers who are in the middle of their Passover week, a date also tied to the moon.
—A very big Congratulations to our new fully-initiated Catholic members: Caroline Cecelia Rhoads, Tara Marie Gianna Amico, Brian Joseph Davis, and Nancy Bernardina Anna Langenbahn!
—A very big “ Thank You !” to all who in any way were involved in making Holy Week and Easter so beautiful by way of your liturgical, poetic, decorating or otherwise supportive involvement!
—Easter, like Passover, is a feast that lasts a whole octave of days. It concludes next week on “Divine Mercy Sunday.” Easter also goes on as a season all the way to Pentecost (this year: May 23rd).
—Next weekend is also “Holocaust Remembrance Day.” By God's Divine Mercy, may such never be possible anywhere again.
Temporal :
—Easter is the 1st Sunday of the 4th quarter of our parish's fiscal year. As we note by the “ Variance ” at the bottom of page 3, our hard economic times touch the parish as well. Thank you for whatever special gift you can give today to help bring the variance back to $0.
—One way to keep that variance at $0 is to be as regular as possible in our support (our creditors, utilities and other providers of service are very regular in sending us their monthly bills). By checking out our automatic ways of giving electronically , the stream of needed income will remain constant. Call us at 288-5000 to learn how.
—Our Facilities Committee still implements the 5-year plan which all have supported so strongly since 2008 ( POC Campaign ). Thank you for payment on your pledges as is possible each month.
—We near the end of the 2009-2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal and will need to tap parish savings next month for over $20,000 if we do not meet our goal by then. Thanks for your annual pledge and gift!
—In a few weeks, we will have our annual Time-Talent-Treasure inquiry for the next fiscal year. Please ponder the practice of “ tithing” all three to assure your parish's soundness for the future.
—The month after next is our annual parish Festival . One fun way to help is by volunteering (288-5000) to lend a hand. Thanks!
—Being evangelizers by inviting friends to join you at church and/or to register their children at St. John Neumann School is one sure way to help assure our long-term stability. Each one bring one!
Sevenfold blessing to you and yours at Easter and all year round!
—Father Schrader
March 28, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today, we begin our holiest week of the year as Christians. Indeed, may we give focus to this final phase of Lent in the same way as we did at its beginning with the three hallmarks of this holy season:
Prayer — Even if we have not done anything extra liturgically thus far this Lent, perhaps this week a concerted effort could be made to enter as fully as possible (as “community”—word for the week) into the very special liturgies of each day. This being Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion , may the palms we take home be a daily reminder of Jesus as our King: may he rule our hearts with love and wise compassion in all our relating with one another through the year! Many thanks to our church environment volunteers, our liturgical ministers, and our Passion Proclaimers and narrators and speakers. Monday (Full “Worm” Moon), is our Ecumenical Tenebrae service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose, a quietly prayerful way to end this first weekday of Holy Week. On Tuesday , we have the Passion Mime at 12:00 Noon at St. Ambrose, and then perhaps you could motor over to the Cathedral for the Chrism Mass at 7:30 P.M. (if you do, though, go early). Wednesday are our final Masses of “Lent” at 7:45 A.M. at St. James and 12:10 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Thursday-Saturday is the “Sacred Triduum” with special Morning Prayer services each day of those days at 9:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Thursday evening, we have the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. The Eucharist will then be present at repositories in all three of our parish's churches until Night Prayer at 10:30 P.M. at St. James, 11:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 11:30 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Friday (at St. James), we have Stations at 12:00 Noon, The Seven Last Words at 1:00 P.M., and the Good Friday Service (The Passion from John's Gospel, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion) at 2:00 P.M. In the evening (at St. Ambrose) we have the Passion Mime once again. Saturday , the beautiful Easter Vigil is at 7:30 P.M. at St. Ambrose, including the 4 components of the Blessing of the Fire, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Note that there is no 4:30 P.M. Mass this day. Sunday , of course, is Easter. The Mass schedule is as normal except there is one additional Mass at 11:30 A.M. at St. James to make up for the 4:30 Saturday Mass that did not take place.
Fasting — Remember that Good Friday is a day of Fasting for those 18-59, and of Abstinence from meat for those 14 and up.
Almsgiving — In addition to those special modes of financial sacrifice outlined earlier in Lent, please be encouraged to consider a special gift in the regular Easter collection (sometimes our weekly giving gets behind—our bills from the gas, electric, phone, and water utilities, however, do not). Also, if you have not yet made your gift to this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal (see inside), we still need over $26,000 to meet the May deadline. Lastly, payments of our 2007 pledges to the Peace of Christ Campaign are also needed to pay for all the work on our facilities. Thanks, and a Blessed Holy Week to all!
—Father Schrader
March 21, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today begins the last two weeks before Easter. In the olden days, this was a separate sub-season of Lent called “Passiontide.” Though it doesn't retain that title, it still does retain some of its specialness in the Ordo , the book which governs liturgically the various feasts and seasons of our Church. The bottom line for us is: if we still haven't grappled purposefully with Lent's threefold challenge regarding prayer, fasting and almsgiving in helping us to put our lives most in line with the Gospel, this is our final chance to do so before Easter.
We are privileged to have so many gifted folks around the parish to help us be best in the spirit of these days. One of these, Rodney Magee, has written a number of poems over the years on religious topics. On these three Sundays which encompass Passiontide, we will share one of these poems each weekend in the bulletin. Today's, on page 4, is entitled “God Calls.” Indeed, God calls us to much in the days of these next two weeks. May we be open and responsive to these calls so as to draw closer to the one who died and rose for us all!
Monday, 6:30 P.M., is a Combined Choir Rehearsal for Tenebrae. Though Tenebrae itself will be the Monday evening of Holy Week at St. Ambrose, this rehearsal is at St. John's , and is for all the choirs of all the Christian churches of our area whose pastoral staff will be participating in this beautiful service. Thanks to all who are working so hard to prepare for this ecumenical component of our Holy Week!
Tuesday, 7:00 P.M., is our Lent Penance Service at St. James.
Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 P.M., is “Arts Night” at Urban Choice Charter School located on St. John's campus. They invite us to attend. If you haven't yet seen their fine program (or how they've updated our buildings), you may wish to drop in and take a look around.
Thursday, 7:00 P.M., is our Lent Penance Service at St. Ambrose.
Friday evening is our parish CYO banquet. Thanks to all who have been a part of this large and active youth program in our parish.
Saturday, 11:00 A.M. is our Lent Penance Service at St. John's .
Next weekend, the Passion according to St. Luke is the gospel for Palm Sunday. In a desire to provide some choice regarding its proclamation, St. James' Saturday 4:30 P.M. Mass will have it proclaimed (in order of participation) as we have had in the past few years by heart by Don Webster, Jennifer Case, Mark Figura, Gloria Ulterino, Lisa Fahy, myself, Mary Jo Cook and Rodney Magee. St. John the Evangelist's Sunday 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Masses will have it proclaimed by heart by Michael Tuohey, Judy Joy Weidenborner, Carol Reed, Carol Fuchs, Eli Van Orman, Fr. Bob Werth, Brett Costello and Rodney Magee/Ken Klamm. St. Ambrose's 9:45 A.M. Mass will have it proclaimed by heart by Joyce McAndrew, Tom Greiner, Mark Figura, Gloria Ulterino, Karen Francati, myself, Ann Holstrom and Allen Gefell. St. James' 8:00 A.M. Mass and St. Ambrose 5:00 P.M. Mass on Sunday will have it proclaimed by a narrator, a speaker, Fr. Brian Carpenter as celebrant, and congregation from the missalette or Worship hymnal. Profound “Gratitude” (this week's word) to all !
—Father Schrader
March 14, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
If it's Sunday morning as you read this and you just walked into church and wondered why everyone was walking out, it is because you forgot to spring your clock ahead one hour last night before you went to bed. It is also Laetare (“Rejoice”) Sunday, thus the rose color vesture. The 2nd collection today is the annual one for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Your gifts to CRS will benefit greatly their ongoing care not only for Haiti , but Chile as well (and any other spot on our globe touched by natural disaster where people need assistance). This evening, our Web Site Committee meets to continue its care for our parish web site. Be sure to check it, especially in the weeks ahead for all our special Holy Week services.
Monday, beware the Ides of March! Why? Google it and see.
Tuesday is our final 5:30 P.M. Lenten Mass and saints reflection followed by soup supper—this week at St. John's . Do join us, please!
Wednesday is our Irish Cultural Celebration. Mass at 5:00 P.M. in St. James will be celebrated by Jesuit Father James J. Coughlin, Principal of McQuaid, and son of parishioners Tom and Nickie Coughlin. The traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner follows in the church hall. Be sure to get your tickets today as you leave church. This year, they're only $11. Hope to see you there.
Thursday each week, we get a special Weekend section in the morning newspaper. It's not a bad day for us to make ready for the weekend spiritually as well. What do we need to do to adjust our calendar to assure that we and our family can get to one of our six Masses sometime on the weekend? Indeed, do we need to get to Confession for the Sacrament of Penance? The schedule is in the column to the left of this one. Have we read over the readings ahead of time at home (the following week's readings are cited in each week's bulletin on page 2) so we will be able to get the most out of our weekly worship? If you're in one of our Small Christian Communities, you automatically do this, AND have an opportunity to discuss these with one another. Lastly, are you up to where you want to be in your stewardship regarding your support of the parish and its ministries? No matter what comes in the collection each week, the parish always gets its bills regularly from the electric company, the phone company, the gas company, the water authority, etc. Thank you for whatever you can do in staying faithful to a regular contribution amount— and for your faithfulness in pledge redemption toward both the parish's “Peace of Christ Campaign” which is caring for the parish infrastructure and the diocese's “Catholic Ministries Appeal” which supports services to us in the parish.
Friday is the Feast of St. Joseph. Sanctify it in some way.
Saturday, Spring begins at 1:32 P.M.!
Next Sunday, we'll be only one week from Holy Week. Note that the Passion on Palm Sunday (March 27-28) will be acted out as in the past few years for the Gospel of our Mass, but only at the 4:30, 9:00, 9:45 and 11:00 Masses. The 8:00 and 5:00 will simply have it read.
—Father Schrader
March 7, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Before I go into items for this week, I simply have a few reflections
on the week gone by (I'm writing this on Tuesday morning, the
2nd of March). It is always amazing to witness so much life going on
around our very vibrant parish. The wonderful first of the four Lenten
soup suppers (at St. James), the awesome Fruit of the Vine event (at
St. John's ), and the dedicated Festival Committee already meeting in
preparation for this coming June (at St. Ambrose) revealed many ardent
volunteers working side-by-side from all three of our sites for all
three of our sites and the many activities that are so much a part of our
communal life as a parish. May we spend at least a few moments of
our daily Lenten prayer in the “Thank You” mode giving praise to our
God for so much divine vigilance over (and camaraderie in) all we are
about here at Peace of Christ!
Today at our 9:00 and 11:00 Masses, we will be blessed to hear
the first notes of a new (to us) piano for our liturgical use. Over the
past several months, a group has been raising funds for this instrument
by way of doing concerts and accumulating donations. When this
current Mason & Hamlin piano became available, those funds together
with monies in a parish budget line designated for such use
were identified for addressing this liturgical improvement. Indeed,
over the years we have striven to keep all of our instruments (organs,
pianos and sound equipment—all three sites have hearing assistance
now available) in good stead and properly maintained. Many thanks
to all who play a part in these matters so caringly for us all!
Monday is the birthday of David Tedesche who is one of our diocesan
seminarians studying over in Rome and who worked with us
here at Peace of Christ Parish doing pastoral work just a few years
ago. Keep him in your prayers, and if you e-mail any greetings for
him to our parish e-mail address (rpeace@dor.org), we'll be happy to
forward them on for you.
Tuesday brings us to our next special 5:30 P.M. Lenten weekday
Mass and Soup Supper. This one is at St. John's . Three more modern
saints will be our focus (Isaac Jogues, Kateri Tekakwitha, Pedro Arrupe)
and the word for this entire week is “Vigilance.”
Wednesday is the 100th anniversary of Film Director D. W. Griffith's
finding the perfect place for making movies. It was a little town
known as Hollywood , California . And the rest is history! Why not
celebrate (in a reserved Lenten way) by coming to our weekly Community
Coffee Hour in St. James Church Hall, anytime between 7:00
and 9:00 P.M. Bring a board game or puzzle and enjoy a great crosssection
of people who participate each week.
Thursday would have been Bishop Hogan's birthday. May he rest
in peace!
Friday as you make your envelopes ready for the weekend, remember
the 2nd collection of Catholic Relief Services who are working
so diligently now in helping the people of Haiti , Chile , and more.
Next weekend, don't forget to spring ahead one hour for D.S.T.!
—Father Schrader
February 28, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On this 2nd Sunday of Lent (as our 2nd month of the year winds to a close), we can take comfort that Spring is right around the corner—and Easter not far behind. Many gyms and health clubs now have people working very hard to shed those post-holiday pounds in preparation for the warmer months. In a spiritual sense, that is what we do internally during this season of Lent. The entire month of March falls within that season, so even if we haven't yet begun a meaningful Lenten discipline, let it begin today as we focus on Lent's traditional three themes:
Prayer —Many of us have personal prayers we may say during Lent, such as the Stations of the Cross. As a parish, we are offering a new opportunity for a more communal observance this year, especially for those for whom a morning or daytime Mass is just not possible. Every Tuesday through March 16th, we have a 5:30 P.M. Mass with a focus on more recent saints and followed by a Soup Supper. Just think: dinner is included! Also, a different “word” is key for each of these weeks of Lent as well. Last week (as you may remember) the word was “Desire.” This week, it is “ Transfiguration !” Say it, share it, see it happen again! Plus many are in our new (and old) Small Christian Communities as well.
Fasting —Of course, there is the traditional fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for those 18-59 and the abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent for those 14 and up; but it is even more important to identify those habits and attitudes that have crept into our lives from which we should fast regularly. Confessions are every weekend (see column to left) and Penance Services are the week of March 22nd.
Almsgiving —Our care for those less fortunate is so very important (placing ourselves in their position would certainly give us a new perspective). Many opportunities were outlined in the bulletin 2 weeks ago: our “Aid to the Starving” envelopes which support local food cupboards; our Operation Rice Bowls to help the hungry both domestically and abroad; the Birthday Kit Project so that local children in indigent families can at least have a happy birthday; Church World Service Hygiene Kits to help in disaster areas like Haiti; H.O.P.E. to help Haiti specifically through local connections; our regular parish envelopes to assure ongoing ministry for our parishioners; the Catholic Ministries Appeal to fund diocesan initiatives which assist us; and the payment of our Peace of Christ Parish campaign pledges, especially at tax return or bonus time.
A blessed Lent to all—may we stay in prayer for each other!
—Father Schrader
February 21, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today, we have the Rite of Sending at the 9:45 am Mass for Caroline Rhoads, Tara Amico, Brian Davis and Nancy Langenbahn who will then receive the Rite of Election at the Cathedral this evening from Bishop Clark. Let us keep them in our prayers from now through Easter when they will receive their Sacraments of Initiation at the Vigil Service on Holy Saturday.
Today, also, thank you for your regular contributions for the needs of the parish in the first collection, as well as for your gifts via your final “ Fuel Collection” envelope for the season (last month's was displaced by the Haiti collection) and for the annual 1st Sunday of Lent “Black, Native American, and Hispanic ” collection for those special ministries right here in our own country—these latter two envelopes and any loose offerings may be placed together in today's 2nd collection.
Monday is a day of remembrance of both our first Pope (the feast of the Chair of St. Peter) and our first President George Washington's 279th birthday. Let us pray for issues of both church and state.
Tuesday is the first in the series of our Lenten Program on the Saints. At St. James, we will have Mass at 5:30 P.M. with a homily on Pope John XXIII, Padre Pio, and St. Katherine Drexel. This will be followed by a soup supper afterwards in the Church Hall. Why not plan to make Tuesdays your special Lenten day of prayer for the duration of this holy season!
Wednesday is the first of this week's traditional Spring Ember Days which always fall on the Wednesday/Friday/Saturday after Ash Wednesday. Their threefold purpose has been to be days on which to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach us to use them wisely, and to assist the needy. In addition, ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood were normally celebrated on Ember Saturdays. At present, we do not have any particular liturgies for the Ember Days, but their spirit is worth honoring for it focuses our energies on some very basic Christian goals: gratitude, wisdom, and charity.
Thursday brings us to only 10 months left 'til Christmas! Are you ready?
Friday once again is a day of Abstinence : no meat for those of us 14 years of age and older. As this helps us actually to feel penitential, may our self-sacrifice also be translated into action by implementing the three hallmarks of Lent of which we heard in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday:
—Prayer: Even a few moments of quiet reflection counts.
—Fasting: Focus on those sins from which to fast forever.
—Almsgiving: Parish campaign/diocesan appeal/weekly offering.
Saturday is our annual Wine Tasting event. Even if you didn't get a ticket, you can participate in the fun and help it be a success by way of the raffle tickets still available at this typing for the Entertainment Package (42” Plasma HDTV, Blu-ray, installation…$10 or 3 for $20).
Next Sunday is our next CMA Roster of Appreciation listing all gifts received through to date. It is also the Jewish feast of Purim, and the Full “Snow” Moon (on the close of the Olympics). Peace to all!
—Father Schrader
February 14, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Indeed, may everyone be as loving as possible toward one another all year round!
More formally, it is also “ World Marriage Day. ” We are blessed here in the parish with a wonderful Pre-Cana Team that prepares our young couples not only for their wedding days but for their entire married lives together. Their most recent meeting was last weekend, and those at the 5:00 P.M. Mass were blessed to witness the latest batch of engaged couples as they asked blessings upon their fiancé(e)s. The team is always looking for other young married couples to join them in this ministry of preparing our engaged couples for the sacrament of Matrimony. If you can help, give me a call for more info and I'll tell you all about it. The next Pre-Cana meeting isn't until the Fall, and there are only two per year. All orientation is provided.
Today is also Chinese New Year 4708 . God's many blessings upon all of our Asian parishioners and all with relatives or friends in or from our ever-shrinking globe's Orient.
Monday is Presidents' Day . It is both a holiday and the beginning of a whole week off for the school due to Winter Break. The Parish Office is CLOSED this day as well, though Mass will still be at 7:45 A.M. at St. James.
Shrove Tuesday brings us to our Mardi Gras celebration, 6:00-8:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall at St. John Neumann School on the St. Ambrose campus. For all who signed up at church or at the office, we'll have the traditional Pancake Supper with activities for the kids, a Mardi Gras Parade, an intro to the parish “Rice Bowl” project for Lent, and then at 7:30 P.M. the grand finale in the parking lot as we burn last year's palms (which hopefully you brought to church today) in order to make the ashes we will use tomorrow for the start of Lent,
and then a Prayer Service in the Church.
Ash Wednesday , our Masses are at 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Ashes are distributed in the middle of the Mass immediately after the homily. Please, remember that today (similar to Good Friday) is a day of Fasting (one or two smaller meals may be taken on those days, but may not total one full meal, and the required fast does not allow eating anything between meals—this applies to all Catholics who are between their 18th and 59th birthdays) AND Abstinence (no meat for anyone 14 and older).
Thursday is the 80th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto —which was a planet until August 24, 2006.
Friday (as with all Fridays of Lent) is a day of Abstinence just as Ash Wednesday was: again, no meat for anyone 14 and older.
Next weekend, as we prepare our envelopes for the collection, thank you in advance for your regular contributions (hopefully, we can get our “Variance” [on page 3] back on to the positive side), your gifts to our final “ Fuel Collection” envelope for the season (last month's was displaced by the Haiti collection), and all gifts to the annual 1st Sunday of Lent “Black, Native American, and Hispanic ” collection for these special ministries right here in our own country. These last two will be collected together in the 2nd collection. Pax!
—Father Schrader
February 7, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today is World Day for Consecrated Life. Let us be mindful especially of the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St. Joseph who reside in our very parish buildings, and of the Basilians and Jesuits (and all others) who have roots in our parish. Indeed, may we pray for all in religious life both in our diocese and in the wider world as we celebrate this day dedicated to them. May God bless them in their current vocations and in those that will be forthcoming from amongst the people (yourselves!) in the years to come!
Also, though most readers of this column may not be professed religious, we can be there for one another spiritually by participating in one of the Small Christian Communities that are forming this Lent. A number of such groups have been around, even for more than 15 or 20 years, so there's got to be something that is working right among them. This weekend is the deadline for turning in your form to register for one of these groups. Please, be sure to leave your form at church today to give this goal a try.
Today also ends Catholic Schools Week. The future of our Catholic Schools depends on ourselves. If you have any school age children, please at least contact St. John Neumann or one of the Catholic Middle or High Schools in the area to see what might be possible for your child this coming year.
Monday is the actual 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting (both Boys and Girls) has been an important part of the life of a number of our young parishioners through the years. May the values to which they aspire (patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values) serve them (and all whose lives theirs intersects) well!
Tuesday, Happy Birthday to Pat Lawlor, our Director of Faith Formation! This day also brings us to February's Pastoral Council meeting, during which we'll have updates on the Youth Group, our Welcome Home Weekend initiative, and our Vision Statement Goals' implementation; a financial report; a review of the Covenant; a report by Karen Rinefierd of the diocese's Pastoral Planning Office on Urban Ministry objectives; and a Nominating Committee report.
Wednesday, we have February's Finance Council meeting. With Lent coming up next week, neither the Pastoral Council nor the Finance Council will be meeting after this week until April.
Thursday is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Fittingly so, it is also designated World Day of the Sick. May we be mindful of all who are infirm, whether in hospitals, nursing facilities, or home—and of all who care for them physically, psychologically, and spiritually!
Friday is Lincoln 's birthday. He would have been 201! This is a good day to pray for our current civic leaders and all who are willing to serve the public interest.
Next weekend, thanks ahead of time for your regular and Maintenance offerings, for payments on your Peace of Christ Campaign pledges, and for your gifts to the Catholic Ministries Appeal . Pax!
—Father Schrader
January 31, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
In the Church of the youth of many of us, last weekend would have been the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany bringing an end to the time of the liturgical year focused on the Incarnation (there was no “Ordinary Time” back then), and today would have been “Septuagesima” Sunday beginning the time of the liturgical year focused on the Resurrection. The word itself means “70 days” just as next Sunday's old moniker, “Sexagesima,” means “60 days,” and the next one just before Ash Wednesday, “Quinquagesima,” means “50 days”—all referring to the length of time remaining before Easter. Now, we know that a week is not 10 days long. “Septuagesima” would more properly be referenced as “the Sunday within the 7th decade of days [61-70] before Easter,” and so on with “Sexagesima” being within the 6th decade of days [51-60] and “Quinquagesima” being within the 5th [41-50]. To be precise, they are exactly 63, 56, and 49 days before Easter respectively. As of this Sunday, we would have started to wear purple vestments, and both “Alleluia” and the Gloria would have been banished until Easter. The liturgies of these three pre-Lenten Sundays would have focused on our sinfulness—the very reason for the need of our Redemption on that first Easter—and their tone would have been dour, to say the least.
In the Church of our present youthfulness (aren't I diplomatic ? ), we are focusing our hopes for Lent (and beyond) on the possibilities that Small Christian Communities might afford us. Please, consider joining (or forming) one by signing up on the forms in the pews and getting them back to us (in the collection or at the office) by the end of this week. These weekly times to reflect on the following Sunday's readings will provide a wealth of insight for all involved.
Monday begins Catholic Schools Week. The theme for the week is “Dividends for Life: Faith, Knowledge, Morals, Discipline.” There will be a 9:00 A.M. prayer service in St. John Neumann's Dailey Hall.
Tuesday is Candlemas Day, the Feast of the Presentation. Candles will be blessed at the beginning of the 9:45 Mass at St. Ambrose. Feel free to bring your candles from home to receive this blessing. In the evening, our Liturgy Committee will gather to plan.
Wednesday is St. Blaise Day. Throats will be blessed at St. James' 7:45 A.M. Mass and at St. John 's 12:10 P.M. Mass. In the evening, Stewardship Committee meets at coffee hour.
Thursday, as you prepare for the weekend, please remember any payments toward your pledges to our Peace of Christ Campaign, and any pledges toward the diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal (at this typing, we still need about $27,000 to be pledged toward our goal by May or we will lose that amount from our savings to pay this quota).
Friday, happy b-day to our Business Manager, Carmen Sanchez!
Saturday, as we assemble our gifts for the weekend, let us remember our February offering and our envelope for the 1st Sunday's monthly “Buildings and Maintenance” 2nd collection. Many thanks.
Lastly, next Sunday is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and World Day for Consecrated Life. God's blessings to all!
—Father Schrader
January 24, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
News about Haiti 's earthquake reached us just as last week's bulletin was going to press. As you know, last weekend a special second collection replaced our normal January Fuel Collection so that we could help the people of Haiti to begin the long and arduous job of rebuilding their lives. Through your generosity, we were able to send $7,387.46 thus far to this effort. I had also put an address, phone number, and web link in my column for those who wished to donate directly to Catholic Relief Services, and further information is in this bulletin. Thank you for your kindness in this matter. May we continue to be supportive of the people of Haiti for a long time to come!
Congratulations today to Jack Carroll and to Joseph Carroll and to Marissa Domicello who make their First Communion at our 9:45 A.M. Mass. May the Lord in the Eucharist always keep you strong!
Tomorrow is the end of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity . Ironically, one comment that was in last Monday's paper was about how all religions merged into one in Haiti on that first Sunday since the earthquake: people of all denominations prayed together in the streets to the one God who is over us all.
On Tuesday of this week, our staff will step aside for a day of prayer. We are grateful for our hearty volunteers who will staff the office that day so we can have this once-a-year opportunity to go to an out-of-the-way place together to spend some special time with the Lord. You will be in our prayers that day; please, keep us in yours!
On Wednesday, I will be covering weekday Mass over at St. Thomas More. Indeed, in this month of January alone, Fr. Werth and Fr. Carpenter and I are covering Masses at over 15 different places . Many priests go away during this month, and being one of the only parishes in the diocese with three priests, we do get tapped for coverage during this period. Among the places we are covering besides our own St. Ambrose, St. James and St. John the Evangelist on Humboldt Street, are Cedarwood Towers, Blossom Nursing Home, St. Thomas More, Our Lady Queen of Peace, the Monroe County Jail, the Mercy Motherhouse, St. Christopher's in Chili, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Michael's in Lyons, St. Patrick's in Savannah, St. John the Evangelist in Clyde, St. Rita in Webster, and the U of R. It is always interesting to experience other communities, but then it is always good to come home as well.
Thursday concludes the 4th week of the year. How are those resolutions coming?
Friday as you prepare your envelopes for next Sunday, please remember that that Sunday is the last day of January. Thank you for your monthly contributions which enable us to pay our bills and support all the ministries we provide on a daily basis.
Saturday we'll have the Full “Wolf” Moon at 1:18 A.M. Let me know how it was.
Next Sunday is the 12th anniversary of the death of Father Feeney , first pastor of St. James. May he rest in peace! —Father Schrader
January 17, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Hopefully, this will be a less snowy and warmer weekend for us all. Thank you ahead of time for whatever you may be able to give in the 2nd passing of the basket today for the Fuel Collection (this is a seasonal collection on the 3rd Sundays of November-February).
Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day . As a holiday, the office is closed . May it be a day to remember Dr. King's legacy and do something proactive to honor his passion for equality and justice. Father Bob Werth is one of the key organizers of the day's events beginning down at the Eastman Theater. Perhaps you could attend by way of solidarity and support. Meanwhile, our neighbors to the north are celebrating this being the 93rd anniversary of Yellowknife becoming the capital of the Northwest Territories . Way to go, eh!
Tuesday evening, please, gather with us at the Laurelton United Presbyterian Church on the corner of Helendale Road and Empire Boulevard at 7:00 P.M. for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service . The theme this year is “Witnessing To Christ Today” and members of our own staff will participate in the service. Of course, Tuesday is also the 170th anniversary of Charles Wilkes' discovery of Antarctica as a continent, so we can pray in thanks as well!
Wednesday, we have our monthly Finance Council meeting. We can all be grateful to Ron Bess and Chad Scoma of St. Ambrose, Ray Brecker and Andy Zona of St. James, and Tom Kubus and Gary Smith of St. John the Evangelist for their collaborative vigilance over the finances of Peace of Christ Parish. In our own outward vigilance, any who can make a donation to help the people in HAITI , please do so via Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore MD 21203, or 1-800-736-3467 (8am-11pm), or http://crs.org/ on the web.
Thursday is the 220th anniversary of the demonstration by Dr. Joseph Guillotin of his cutting-edge invention in Paris , France (just a little slice of history for you).
Friday is the annual Day of Penance for our church in the United States : as the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Decision Roe vs. Wade , it is a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. Please, spend some moments in prayer this day for all who are facing such a decision, that they may choose life; and for all who may have chosen against life in the past, that they may seek restoration of themselves through Project Rachel ( www.hopeafterabortion.com or by phone at 1-888-9RACHEL ).
Saturday, we have First Eucharist conversations with those preparing for their First Communion next Sunday. Let's pray for them all!
Next Sunday brings us to the last Sunday before the old Season of Septuagesima—in other words, Lent is getting close. We have mentioned by both bulletin and pulpit the opportunity that will be afforded us all to try out a Small Christian Community during Lent: gathering to reflect on the following Sunday's readings and forming an action plan. Please, think about this for yourself in these next weeks!
—Father Schrader
January 10, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings to a conclusion the Christmas Season of this liturgical year. On behalf of all of us at the office and the rectory, I wish to thank those who may have sent over any gifts (mostly edible) during this holiday season. Though I believe we have formally thanked everyone for whom we had a name and address, I do know that a few came anonymously or separated from any initial tag that may have been originally attached to them. Thank you one and all, and may we all stay mutually in prayer during 2010 and all that its many weeks and months will bring.
The Catholic Church in the United States begins today to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, January 10-16 : "This week provides the opportunity for parishes across the country to promote vocations through prayer and education," said Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston , chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. "It is our responsibility to encourage young people to be generous in their response as they discern the possibility of a call to service in the Church. We must also ask parents, families and our parish communities to assist with this work; vocations are everyone's business. As we pray for an increased number of seminarians and candidates for religious life, we recognize the importance of safeguarding the gift of vocations."
In our own Diocese of Rochester, we celebrate with Bishop Clark the publication of his new book, Forward in Hope: Saying Amen to Lay Ecclesial Ministry . In his book, our bishop speaks beautifully of the gift that dedicated lay women and men in ministry have been to our diocese.
Please take this valuable opportunity during National Vocation Awareness Week to speak about and celebrate all the holy vocations among us - married life, lay ministry, ordained, and consecrated life - and to pray together that young people will generously discern God's call to serve our local Church.
Monday begins Ordinary Time . Back to the green!
Tuesday, we have Pastoral Council at 7:00 P.M. in the church hall at St. John the Evangelist. After the Open Forum at 7:15 P.M., we will discuss Councilors' Concerns, receive a report from our Faith Formation Committee, go over the latest financial report on the parish, do the annual review of the Parish Covenant (viewable on our web site under the Pastoral Council button), have updates on recent parishioner registration and on our Vision Statement implementation (viewable on our web site under “Envisioning the Future” and then “Goals and Objectives” at the bottom of that page), and hear Youth Concerns and a CYO update.
Wednesday, we finalize plans for our 1/19 Week of Prayer event.
Thursday, Benedict Arnold would have been 269!
Friday is Martin Luther King, Jr. 's 81st anniversary of birth.
Next weekend is our January Fuel Collection . Thanks for your generosity, not only in this but in all of your parish support. Peace! —Father Schrader
January 3, 2010
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On this long New Year's Weekend, we wish a happy birthday both to Chung Ma (1/1) of our maintenance staff at St. John the Evangelist, and to Augie Misiurewicz (1/2), our Parish Visitor.
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, when the magi came bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Infant Savior. As such, it also begins National Migration Week when we are particularly mindful of all who move among the countries of our globe providing labor in the fields and/or seeking asylum, security and peace. If you really want to do some self-development in this issue, I would heartily recommend a reading of This Flowing Toward Me: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers (ISBN 978-1-59471-197-8). I had mentioned it before as a good Advent book, but it is even more appropriate at this time and can be ordered right through our web site (see bottom of column to the left of this) by clicking the button on the opening screen labeled “Recommended Reading” (or just go directly to http://www.peaceofchristparish.org/books.php and you'll be right there). The Foreword to this book is written by Sister Helen Prejean ( Dead Man Walking ) who will be our parish speaker here on Monday, May 3rd. Let us also be mindful in this week of all the migrant workers who come each year to work the farms of our area so that their crops are harvested before they would rot where they grow.
Monday is a good day to make sure that all last-minute donations have reached our parish office if you wish them to be counted toward your charitable giving for your 2009 tax year. All checks dated December 31st or earlier that reach us no later than this Wednesday Noon will be accepted as 2009 donations. Any donations dated January 1st or later, or that reach us after Noon on this Wednesday, will be counted as 2010 donations. This applies to all of our regular parish contributions, payments toward our “Peace of Christ Campaign” pledges made last year, or payments toward the current 2009-2010 diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal . Dropping all these off today instead of waiting until Wednesday, though, would be most helpful.
Tuesday is the feast of St. John Neumann, the patron of the Catholic School here at our parish. That same night, our Liturgy Committee will meet to get working on Lent, Holy Week and beyond.
Wednesday is the feast of Brother Andr é who is now a Blessed. He is most associated with St. Joseph Oratory on Montreal 's hilltop.
Thursday, we wish a Merry Christmas to all our Orthodox friends.
Friday is the 358th anniversary of the death of Galilieo.
Saturday, our latest sunrises of the year (which have been the same since December 29th) begin to yield as our solar star rises ever earlier each day all the way to the summer solstice next June.
Next Sunday brings us to the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord which ends the Christmas Season. As it concludes, I want to thank all who worked so hard on all the liturgies, giving trees, food baskets, poinsettia deliveries, etc. of the season to make it so special for so many. May 2010 be a peaceful and prosperous year for us all!
—Father Schrader
December 27, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Welcome! Many of our parishioners' family members visit us this time of year. Welcome to you all, and be encouraged to check in on us occasionally at http://www.peaceofchristparish.org from afar.
The Bible has occupied the opening portion of this column since the beginning of August back in 2008. Each week, we have taken one of the 73 books found in the Catholic Bible and given an overview and some background on the book of the week. Parishioners have been invited to read a book a week and spread the reading out over the past 17 months. Last week, we finished with the Book of Revelation. If any of our readers have actually stayed with this project all these many months, I'd love it if you would contact me to let me know how it went for you. Most people have a Bible somewhere on their bookshelves for occasional reference, but the feat of having actually read the Bible in its entirety is not a common one, at least for Catholics. By the way, even if you weren't able to be a part of this most recent read-through, there is never a bad time to start reading the holy book. In fact, with the new year at our doorstep, what a wonderful New Year's resolution to make: to spend some time with God's Word on a daily basis. I do know that one of the reasons people give up on reading the whole Bible is because they get weighed down with all the heaviness of the Old Testament. One remedy for that is to read one of the Bibles that are themselves laid out to be read in a year's time. They usually present the Bible in daily chunks of both Old and New Testament so that one not only can read the entire book but receive some spiritual guidance by way of how such editors connect the Old and New Testament passages of each day—and it doesn't really matter which date of the year you start on; you just go to that section and begin, and pick up the parts earlier in the book at the beginning of the next calendar year. One such Catholic Bible is My Daily Catholic Bible: 20-Minute Daily Readings published by Our Sunday Visitor, ISBN # 978-1-59276-067-1 listing for $21.95, though I have seen used copies as low as $6.91 on amazon.com. By the way, if any of my book-by-book introductions that appeared here over the past 17 months may be helpful, you can find them on our parish web site at http://www.peaceofchristparish.org/Pastor%20Column/Bible_Summaries.php ready for referral.
As this year draws to a close, thank you to all who are able to make year-end contributions to “Peace of Christ Parish,” or to the “Peace of Christ Campaign” which is funding the current 5 years' worth of needed maintenance issues so we can properly house our ministries, or to the Catholic Ministries Appeal of the diocese which funds needed services used by all parishes. I know that economic times have been difficult for many, and this usually also means for the Church as well. So thanks for whatever can be done this week.
Masses for New Year's, a Holy Day of Obligation, are on the Eve (with its Full “Long Night's” Moon) at 5:30 PM at St. Ambrose, and on the Day at 9 AM at St. James and 11 AM at St. John's . Peace!
—Father Schrader
December 20, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Revelation brings us to the 73rd and final book of the Bible. We have been using Timothy P. Schehr's The Bible Made Easy: A Book-by-Book Introduction to help us on our journey through each book of the Bible, and he sums up well this final book on this 17-month pilgrimage we have been on: “As the title suggests, this book reveals. It reveals the overpowering majesty of God, from the victory of Jesus over sin and death, across the wide expanse of time, all the way down to the end of the ages. Its purpose is to encourage us to remain faithful to the Lord. If we do so, we will share in God's final victory and enjoy eternal life in the kingdom of heaven” (p. 237). This final book was written at a time of great difficulty for the Church, so it should have relevance for most folks in most years of their lives because all of us have our share of challenges. It conveys its message in a series of images whose meaning is well worth pondering: letters to 7 churches, a scroll with 7 seals, the sounding of 7 trumpets, 7 bowls of judgment, the Lamb, a woman clothed with the sun, the Dragon, the Archangel Michael, and much more. In the book's pages, we read how John, the author, is on Patmos (ch. 1), we find references to Philadelphia and to the familiar image of Christ knocking at the door (ch. 3), we hear of horses of 4 different hues (ch. 6), we encounter the 144,000 saints (ch. 7), we are told of a star named Wormwood (ch. 8), we meet up with scorpions one more time before the Bible's end (ch. 9), we meet up with the famed “666” beast (ch. 13) [6=1 less than 7, the perfect number; so 666=triple imperfection], and we encounter once again the Tree of Life which had been off limits since the first book of the Bible (ch. 22). When you finish this book, you will have read 73 (100%) of the 73 books of the Bible, and 1,334 (100%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
One revelation that had come unto me a week ago concerned the very members who make up our Peace of Christ Parish. It was Saturday, December 12th. The day began with numerous volunteers gathering to deliver Christmas baskets and gifts given by numerous other parishioners so that yet others in our parish area could experience a bit of Christmas joy. The large amount to be transported was a testimony to your generosity at such times of need, and the large number volunteering to pack and to transport another such testimony as well. Then, that evening, numerous parishioners and friends gathered for our annual St. Lucy's celebration. The Mass and the dinner came together only because of such overwhelming generosity on the part of so many. Indeed, some worked on both projects of that day and went to bed very tired that night. On behalf of so many, thank you to all who helped in any way that weekend to put the gospel into practice and to celebrate such an important part of the tradition of our saints!
Our final Penance Service is Monday 12/21 at 7 PM at St. John's . For our schedule of Christmas Masses , see page 3 . Many thanks for all year-end donations to Peace of Christ Parish or the Catholic Ministries Appeal! God's many and abundant blessings to you and yours!
—Father Schrader
December 13, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Jude is the 72nd book in our Bibles. Jude is very much concerned with keeping his readers focused on Jesus and not being led astray by others. The author, though probably not the apostle by that name, may have been a relative of Jesus, such as the brother of James of Jerusalem. This book probably comes from the last decade of the 1st century since II Peter (believed to be the latest book of the New Testament) quotes it. Jude claims to have fought hard for the faith. Further, he is certain of punishment for the false teachers of his day, and encourages his readers to build themselves in the foundation of their faith. Many strong and straightforward images will be found in Jude's verses describing those who had become askew. He even quotes the apocryphal Book of Enoch in describing the punishment that will be theirs. When you finish this book, you will have read 72 (98.6%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,312 (98.4%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
We welcome Father Edison Tayag from the Cathedral parish as he presides in Italian at our St. Lucy's Mass this weekend. Father just returned this year from his seminary and post-ordination studies at the North American College in Rome where all his courses would have been taught in Italian. We are joyful to have him on this Rejoice Sunday, formerly called Gaudete (Gow-DAY-tay) Sunday. Gaudete means “Rejoice” and is the first word in the Latin translation of the opening antiphon for the Mass of this Sunday. Rose is the more joyful color for the candle and vesture of this 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Monday is not only the 210th anniversary of the death of George Washington, it is also the evening for our Finance Council meeting. We can all be grateful for the diligence these six members of our parish provide in watching over our fiscal resources. Indeed, in that regard, please remember there are ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS for making contributions (either to the parish, or toward your Peace of Christ Campaign pledge payments, or toward your diocesan Catholic Ministry Appeal pledge payments) that you wish to have a possible positive effect upon your taxes for the 2009 calendar year. Thanks!
Tuesday our staff gathers to meet and then to celebrate the holidays—keep these hard-working parish ministers daily in your prayers!
Wednesday begins Las Posadas and Simbang Gabi, special pre-Christmas novenas in Latino and Filipino cultures.
Thursday begins the Church's “O Antiphons” in Evening Prayer (also used for the Gospel Acclamations of the weekday Masses). They recount 7 titles of Jesus, the first letters of which in Latin when placed in backwards order form a reverse acrostic spelling “Ero cras” (Tomorrow I will come). Our first of three Penance Services is Thursday night at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose.
Friday (like Wednesday and Saturday) is a winter Ember Day. Friday is also the Islamic New Year's Day (1431).
Saturday, our 2nd Penance Service is at 11:00 A.M. at St. James (the 3rd one is Monday, 12/21 at 7:00 P.M. at St. John's ). Pax to all!
—Father Schrader
December 6, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
III John is our 71st book of the Bible. It is the third of three letters in the New Testament attributed to John, and is another which is only one chapter long. In this third Johannine letter, John's joy continues as he points to the example of one named Gaius who welcomes missionaries into his house. This is as opposed to another named Diotrephes who is not so hospitably oriented. While John is concerned that Gaius not be negatively influenced by Diotrephes, he is also confident that when he himself (John) is on the scene, even Diotrephes' approach can be addressed. John does vouch for one named Demetrius, though, as a missionary who can be trusted. When you finish this book, you will have read 71 (97.3%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,310 (98.3%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
This is a week of many markings. Today is the traditional feast of St. Nicholas from whom the tradition of Santa Claus derived. Indeed, there are a number of signs of the approaching birthday of the Light of the World. Not only is this the feast day of Old St. Nick, there is also the lighting of one more candle on the Advent Wreath, and nature itself will begin to stay brighter at the end of each day in very short order: the earliest sunsets of the year began this past Friday and will stay at the same time until next Sunday, the feast of St. Lucy (whose name means “light”) when one more minute of sunshine will be added to our afternoon. On an unrelated note, today is the quasquicentennial anniversary of the completion of the Washington Monument which shines a light out in the middle of the great mall in our nation's capital midway between the Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial.
Monday of this week is the feast of one of our three patrons, St. Ambrose of Milan . It is also Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Our Facilities Committee will have their final meeting of 2009 as well.
Tuesday is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, our national feast day—and a Holy Day of Obligation . Masses are at 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist—an abbreviated December Pastoral Council will follow with time for Youth Items of Concern and an Urban Ministry discussion with our diocesan liaison, Karen Rinefierd.
Wednesday is the 30th anniversary of the death of our 6th diocesan bishop, Fulton J. Sheen. May he rest in peace.
Thursday brings us to the 10th of the month. We have only 3 weeks left if we wish to take advantage of possible 2009 tax savings by making a contribution to Peace of Christ Parish, or our Peace of Christ Campaign, or to the Catholic Ministries Appeal.
Friday brings the 100th anniversary of the first demonstration of color motion picture film. It was in New York City in 1909.
Saturday is the 1st Day of Hanukkah (best wishes to our Jewish neighbors) and our St. Lucy's Mass and Dinner.
And next Sunday is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be at 3:00 P.M. at Saint Anne's on Mount Hope with local dignitaries such as WXXI's John Andres.
—Father Schrader
November 29, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
II John brings us to the 70th book in our Bible. It is the second of three letters in the New Testament attributed to John, and is one of the few books of the Bible (1 in the Old Testament and 4 in the New) that is only one chapter long. In this second Johannine letter, John has found the joy he was looking for in the first. In its verses, we find that the letter is addressed from “the Elder” to “a Lady who is elect and to her children” although we do not know how many communities this may refer to. He calls the letter's recipient(s) to love one another and to obey the commandments, and he warns against antichrists who will try to be deceptive and misleading. He closes sending greetings from the children of the recipient's “elect Sister,” that is, another community. When you finish this book, you will have read 70 (95.9%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,310 (98.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
A very Happy New Year to you all! Indeed, being the First Sunday of Advent in liturgical “Year C,” it is now the year in which we will listen to Luke's gospel at Mass on most Sundays. Luke's gospel has many favorite passages not found in any of the others: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of the Baptist, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Finding of Jesus in the Temple (which is the only story of him between his infancy and his adulthood), the Widow's Son at Nain, the Good Samaritan, Mary & Martha, the Friend at Midnight, The Prodigal Son, the Healing of the Ten Lepers, the story of Zacchaeus, the Healing of the High Priest's Servant's Ear, the Road to Emmaus, and the Ascension among others. As we begin this New Church Year of ours, we are very happy to give you all today a 2010 Parish Calendar, compliments of Crawford Funeral Home, Inc. at 495 North Winton Road and The John M. Hedges Funeral Home at 1717 Portland Avenue . Please, share a copy with any homebound family members or friends as well.
Thank you for all Catholic Ministries Appeal pledges received last weekend on the “In-Pew Sunday” of this annual campaign. Due to the holiday bulletin printing scheduled, this bulletin may not reflect all gifts given last weekend. But please know that all pledges received by early-to-mid December will be reflected in our year-end Roster of Appreciation that will appear in the bulletin at the end of next month. Indeed, if you pledged and do not see your name there, please give a call so we can track down the parish to which your gift was mistakenly credited. We do have to make up the difference between whatever is raised and this year's $118,729 goal, so thank you for whatever special sacrifice can be made in this regard!
Happy Birthday this weekend to Rita Lee whose family surprised her a fortnight ago for her very special milestone. Tuesday is Liturgy Committee, AND the 50th anniversary of The Antarctic Treaty (read its 14 articles at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/anttrty.jsp ). Wednesday is the Full “Cold” Moon, and Friday our earliest sunset. Saturday, blessings on our young ones making First Penance. Peace!
— Father Schrader
November 22, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I John is our 69th book of the Bible. It is the first of three letters in the New Testament attributed to John. In this first of these, John really wants us to know that he personally witnessed the Lord, and now he wants through his words to invite each of his readers to do the same. John emphasizes the need for a right relationship with the Lord, and refers to this as “fellowship” with the Lord. He names a number of things which we shall find on this letter's pages to help us strengthen that bond between the Lord and ourselves. By the time of his writing, some in the community had begun to deny that God had indeed become one like them in the person of Jesus. These were sometimes referred to as “antichrists” whose very stance kept them from realizing that they themselves were privileged to be children of God. To counteract this, John is very repetitive in conveying that, as God's children, we are to love one another. The book is believed to have been authored around the end of the 1st century. In this book's pages, we read that John wants the letter's recipients to share what has been seen and heard, that God is light, that no darkness abides in God, and that we must acknowledge the Son in order to be forgiven (ch. 1), that Christ is our Advocate with the Father, that we will know Christ if we obey the Commandments, and that we must be detached in order to live forever (ch. 2), that we are God's children and the reason we are not acknowledged is because the world never acknowledged God, that the reason for Jesus' appearing was to undo the work of the devil, and that we are to love one another (ch. 3), that there will be false prophets (so we should test the spirits), that we should love God because love is of God Who loved us first, and that we can't love God without loving our brothers and sisters (ch. 4), and that our faith will bring victory over the world, that there are 3 witnesses (the Spirit, water, and blood), that if we know that God listens to us then we will have what we ask, and that not all sin leads to death (ch. 5). When you finish this book, you will have read 69 (94.5%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,309 (98.1%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Today is “In-Pew Sunday” for this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal. Our goal this year is $118,729 and we have just passed the halfway mark. Acknowledging that this year is a challenging one for some, please make a pledge today in whatever amount may be most possible simply by filling out the card in the pew. No funds are needed today, just an indication of what you can intend to give between now and May. Any shortfall will need to come out of parish operating funds, so thank you ahead of time for pledging today!
End the Year of Mark by hearing our parish gospel proclaimers proclaim the gospel by heart at Sacred Heart Cathedral today at 1:30 P.M. On Tuesday , join us at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , 1000 N. Winton Road , at 7:00 P.M. for an ecumenical Thanksgiving service—our Fr. Brian Carpenter will preach. Then on Thursday , our parish Thanksgiving Mass will be at St. James at 9:00 A.M. A very Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!
— Father Schrader
November 15, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
II Peter is the 68th book in our Bible. At the time of the author's writing it, the belief was that the day of the Lord was approaching. Peter wanted to be sure everyone was ready, and thus the focus of this book. There was a false teaching going around in his day that persuaded some to cling to the things of this world and deny the life to come. Yet Peter's conveyance of his concern is tempered with the same patience that the Lord once had to have toward him when Peter thrice denied even knowing the Lord at all. By this book's conclusion, we are convinced that Peter is ready for his own personal day with the Lord. While this book would have had to have been written by 65 A.D. in order to have Peter as its author, there is also other evidence that it may have been the latest of the New Testament books to have been written (around 100 A.D.) and, therefore, was “merely” attributed to Peter. In this book, we learn that God gave us all we need, that the divine nature has been shared with us, that we are to support our faith with 7 qualities, that our body is like a tent [not meant to last], and about the Transfiguration (ch. 1); that there will be fake prophets, that God punishes angels and men as appropriate yet saves the good, that some people have an insatiable capacity for sin, and that it is better not to know rather than to know and yet to desert the known (ch. 2); and that scoffers will come, that there will be a Day of Judgment, and yet that a day is like a thousand years: it will be slow to come, the Lord is patient, we must be saintly (ch. 3). This last chapter also contains the first reference in the Bible to part of the New Testament itself as being part of the Bible (see 3:15-16). When you finish this book, you will have read 68 (93.2%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,304 (97.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
At the 11:00 A.M. Mass today, we bless the youth and staff (Fr. Brian Carpenter and Alison LeChase) going to the National Catholic Youth Convention this week in Kansas City . Bishop Clark will also be present there. May the Lord bless them all! Monday, Happy Birthday to Judy Brawley! Thursday evening, Urban Choice Charter School in the old St. John the Evangelist School and Sullivan Center buildings will be holding an open house from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M.—parking is at #28 School down the street with shuttle service provided. On Friday at 7:30 P.M., the Diocese of Rochester and the Rochester Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians cordially invite us all to Sacred Heart Cathedral for the annual evening of prayer and music in honor of the Feast of St. Cecilia, patroness of church musicians. This year, the concert is dedicated to Sr. Margaret Caufield, RSM and Sr Josepha Kennedy, SSJ both of whom died this past year. Next weekend, an opportunity will be afforded at each of our Masses to make a pledge to this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal for those who have not yet had a chance. Lastly, come to the Cathedral again next Sunday (1:30-4:30 P.M.) to hear our Peace of Christ ensemble (including Fr. Bob Werth and myself) present The Gospel of Mark one final time (many thanks to Gloria Ulterino & Ken Klamm).
— Father Schrader
November 8, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I Peter is our 67th book of the Bible. It is the second of the seven “catholic,” or universally addressed, epistles found in the New Testament. Peter assures his hearers in a world that was rejecting them that they had a home, and it was among those who held true to their convictions, no matter what the cost. They were simply to be encouraged not to backslide into the sinful ways of their world, and he offers practical advice for every member of the household. Timothy Schehr points out that parts of this brief book are quoted in Tuesday Night Prayer ( like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around ) and among the Prefaces of Mass ( you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation… ). It contains the only scriptural reference to Rome being the site of Peter's martyrdom. The context points to the author's composition being from the time of Nero, about 65 A.D., shortly before Peter's death. In this book's pages, we read that even without seeing the Lord we can love him and believe in him, and that we have a call to holy living (ch. 1), that we should be without criticizing, drink milk, be “living stones” (in the words of the pastoral letter by our former diocesan leader, Bishop Hogan) (ch. 2), that there are proper ways for Christian spouses to treat one another (ch. 3), that suffering alleviates sin, that the end is near, that love covers a multitude of sins, that we are to be good stewards, and that we are to give thanks if we are judged worthy of suffering for being a Christian (ch. 4), and that we are to give a shepherd's care, be humble, unload our burdens on God, and stay sober and alert (ch. 5). When you finish this book, you will have read 67 (91.8%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,301 (97.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Some have asked what we are doing about the H1N1 virus. At this typing the basic rule is common sense: if you are ill, stay home; you are excused from your Sunday obligation. If you are present and don't feel up to par (or feel that some around you are not), please refrain from drinking from the cup, and from shaking or holding hands—and if someone near you does not offer a hand, please understand and honor their discerned decision. Updates as warranted.
Tomorrow is the feast of the dedication of the pope's cathedral, the Lateran Basilica. Tuesday is Pastoral Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. in St. John's Church hall (open forum is at 7:15 P.M., and we'll also discuss more on our web site, our finances and our vision statement). Wednesday is Veteran's Day. Our Men's Club President, George Perrotta, was one who went last weekend on an Honor Flight to Washington . Thursday brings “Indian Summer.” Friday fetes our 1st American saint, Frances Xavier Cabrini. Saturday we have First Penance conversations. Next Sunday, thanks for bringing in all remaining Catholic Ministry Appeal pledges to help wrap up everything by Thanksgiving. Be sure also to check our web site (Recommended Reading) for a super book for Advent to help experience the Lord's coming via new and unexpected people in our lives: This Flowing Toward Me by Marilyn Lacey, a Sister of Mercy. God's peace to all!
— Father Schrader
November 1, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
James is the 66th book found in our Bibles. It is the first of the seven “catholic” epistles found in the New Testament. That is, since they by and large were not addressed to specific communities, they were judged to have been addressed to the entire (universal, that is, “catholic”) Church. James identifies for all his readers four examples of faith which he holds up as ones that can help them (us) on our journey of faith: putting our faith into action, making good use of the power of speech, being detached from the things of this world, and asking for the gift of patience with our brothers and sisters. James the brother (cousin) of Jesus and leader of the Church in Jerusalem is said to be the author of this book. In its pages, we will read that our trials should lead to perseverance, that we should pray with confidence, that temptation is from the self and not from God, and that we are to act on the Word (ch. 1), that there is to be no partiality for the rich, that mercy trumps judgment, and that faith without works is deadly (ch. 2), that one must tame the tongue as one would a horse's bit, a boat's rudder, a flame, or a pest (ch. 3), that if we do not have that for which we ask from God it must be because we have asked wrongly, that when we give in to God the devil leaves, that we must think twice before passing judgment on another, and that we are each like naught but a fleeting mist (ch. 4), and that we must be patient like the farmer awaiting his crop's growth, that we should say Yes for yes and No for no and not need anything further, that the power of anointing is ours and we should get into the practice of confessing, and that a return to the faith will serve to cover many sins (ch. 5). When you finish this book, you will have read 66 (90.4%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,296 (97.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
This weekend we remember Fr. Jack Dugan, C.S.B., who had helped at St. Ambrose when I first arrived. He would have been 80 on Saturday (10/31). Sunday, if you're sitting in church wondering where everyone is, you probably forgot to wind your clock back last night. Sunday is All Saints Day. It is also the last day of Jim Whitaker's presence with us as Music Coordinator at St. John the Evangelist. Jim leaves this month to work for Princess Cruises on their Caribbean circuit. Jim, we wish you well! Come extend your own wishes in St. John's hall after the 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Masses. Sunday evening, our Web Site Committee meets. Monday is the Full “Beaver” Moon (at 2:14 P.M.) and our parish Catholic Ministries Appeal Team meets in the afternoon. Thank you to all who have already made a pledge to this year's campaign. All who have not yet done so will receive a letter from the diocese later this week. Our goal is $217,000 and we must pay it either by pledges or a withdrawal from our operating funds. Thanks for whatever pledge you can send in by mid-week ! Facilities Committee and Liturgy Committee meets (Sally Krowl is or new chair) meets Monday evening. Tuesday is Election Day. Happy birthday Thursday to Dane Noble-Rosema. Mass of Remembrance on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at St. James! Pax!
— Father Schrader
October 25, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Hebrews brings us to our 65th book of the Bible. Timothy P. Schehr's The Bible Made Easy: A Book-by-Book Introduction (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2) states in his opening lines on Hebrews : “If you are looking for a boost in your spiritual life, you will find it in this book! The author of Hebrews wants to light a fire in our hearts. He knows our struggles; he knows some of us may even be on the verge of giving up altogether. His advice to us all: Stay focused on the Lord because the Lord is the perfect mediator between God and humanity” (p. 214). We learn in Hebrews' pages that Jesus is above the angels and, like Moses' Passover, his offers life instead of death. Jesus is seen as the perfect priest whose single sacrifice of himself surpasses all other sacrifices ever to be made. While this letter is found with Paul's letters on a 2nd century manuscript, modern scholarship leans away from Pauline authorship. The book seems to pre-date the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. since it does not mention that event. Due to its content for believers facing great difficulty, it probably comes from the time of the ruler Nero (54-68 A.D.). In Hebrews' pages we read of Jesus being higher than the angels (ch. 1), of how Jesus' sufferings enable him to identify with and help others (ch. 2), of how one's refusal to believe will be the cause of one's lack of entry to the kingdom (ch. 3), of how it's never too late to change and we need to stay in the Now (ch. 4), of our need to get to consuming spiritually solid food (ch. 5), of how “hope” can be our anchor (ch. 6), of how priests themselves are called to tithe (ch. 7), of how Jesus mediates a new covenant—and we read the longest Old Testament quote (Jeremiah 31:31-34) in the New Testament (ch. 8:8-12), of earthly and heavenly sanctuaries and the descent to the dead (ch. 9), of how we should not skip church and how sin leads to hopelessness (ch. 10), of how faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen, of the Assumption of Enoch, and of our real home not being our origin but our goal (ch. 11), of the benefit of keeping our eyes on Jesus and the loving reason why we are disciplined (ch. 12) and of the need for us to welcome strangers, for in doing so we may be honoring angels from God (ch. 13). When you finish this book, you will have read 65 (89.0%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,291 (96.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Thanks once again for sponsoring Sr. Marlene, Fr. Brian, and any others for today's Mercy Bowl-a-thon. Today is also the Priesthood Sunday within the Year For Priests ( www.priestsunday.org/ ). Tuesday, happy birthday to Jeff Carter of our Peace of Christ maintenance staff. Wednesday would have been the birthdays of Bishop Kearney (125) and Bishop Hickey (95). May they rest in peace. The market crashed 80 years ago Thursday. Friday, thanks for making out your CMA pledge for the weekend. Wind your clocks back Saturday night. Nov. 1 is Jim Whitaker's final Sunday with us—reception following 9:00 & 11:00 A.M. Masses. We wish him well as he begins his new job with Princess Cruises in the Caribbean ! Peace to all!
— Father Schrader
October 18, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Philemon is the 64th book in our Bibles. It is the first 1-chapter book we have encountered since Obadiah in last April 19th's bulletin. This letter of Paul is really about the size of a letter we might write, and is written in Paul's own hand. Paul writes to Philemon who is in Colossae (which is in modern day Turkey ). Somehow, Philemon's slave, Onesimus (whose name means “useful”) had escaped and wound up with Paul in prison. While together with Paul, Onesimus was baptized, and now Paul tries to be the peacemaker pleading with Philemon (whose name means “loving”) to welcome Onesimus back as a brother in faith. We don't know for sure where Paul was when he wrote the letter, but some posit it was Ephesus , making the date of its composition somewhere in the mid 50's A.D. In its verses, Paul gives thanks as he usually does in his salutations; he also asks Philemon to prepare a room for him, and sends greetings not only from himself but from 5 others as well. When you finish this book, you will have read 64 (87.7%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,278 (95.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Today is World Mission Sunday. The gifts of our prayers and special offerings today will help the missionaries of our Church to continue to take the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. Indeed, we have two missionaries of sorts present among us this weekend. Fr. Brian Cool, Chaplain of the University of Rochester, will preside and preach at the 8:00 A.M. Mass today and Fr. Raymond Booth, retired and in residence at St. Louis in Pittsford, will preside and preach at the 9:45 A.M. Mass today. They are here (and we are very grateful for their presence) because of overlapping flight schedules: Fr. Brian Carpenter went to Indiana last Tuesday for a home visit and won't be back until tomorrow, and my own annual professional development opportunity this year is in October instead of the summer and requires an early Sunday departure with Father Kevin McKenna of the cathedral for Edmonton, Alberta. (As I'm typing this on last weekend, my brother just called from Rawlins, Wyoming where he and his wife are stranded because of snow as they drive back home from a wedding in Portland, Oregon—Lord knows what type of weather Fr. Kevin and I will experience 1,027 miles north of Rawlins!)
Tomorrow is the localized feast of Ss. John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions who were martyred right down the Thruway in Auriesville. Tuesday marks the 65th anniversary of the return of General MacArthur to the Philippines as promised. Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Guggenheim in New York . In 1836 on Thursday's October 22nd, Sam Houston became President of Texas. On Friday (feast of St. John of Capistrano), the swallows leave Capistrano , California until March 19. Saturday is Pele's birthday (when the Olympics come to his Brazil in 2016, he will be 75). Next Sunday is the Mercy Bowl-A-Thon. Thank you for sponsoring Sister Marlene and Fr. Brian or any other bowler. Thanks, too, for all CMA pledges being sent in. God bless all that we are about!
— Father Schrader
October 11, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Titus brings us to our 63rd book of the Bible. It is the third of the “Pastoral Letters” in the New Testament, and, as the letters to Timothy were written to the one Paul left in charge at Ephesus , Titus is written to the one he left in charge on Crete . Paul pleads with Titus to lead by good example, as that more than anything else will help to lead those to whom he is sent to the Truth and away from those things that initially occupied the bulk of their attention, that is, their more selfish passions and pleasures. Eternal life is a much more lofty goal on which to focus. If this letter is indeed from Paul's own hand, then it is written after his house arrest in Rome (after 63 A.D.) since he is available to meet with Titus in Nicopolis (see 3:12). In the verses of this book, we read about the coming-into-focus of church offices that are familiar to us (such as bishops) and we learn of the qualifications required of ones to occupy those offices (ch. 1), the types of behavior that those who are older in the community should display and the fact that God's grace is to save all of humanity and not just a certain people (ch. 2), and a call to be obedient to authority, to be gentle, to be kind and to be realistic: if after two times others choose to persist in their sinful ways, just move on (ch. 3). When you finish this book, you will have read 63 (86.3%) of the 73 books of the Bible (only 10 more to go!), yet 1,274 (95.7%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Major tragedies in Samoa and Indonesia of recent days have taken a severe toll on surviving citizens of those jurisdictions. To aid in the recovery, donations may be directed to Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington St. , Baltimore , Maryland 21201-3413 (888-277-7575) http://www.crs.org . For those who can not thank you, thanks!
Today is National Children's Day. God's blessings on our kids! Blessings, too, on our elderly and infirm: the Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at St. James. Fr. Brian Carpenter and Fr. Hoan Dinh (two priest interns of our diocese) will administer this holy anointing. Speaking of oil, it was 50 years ago today that I was confirmed. I'm still smarting from the smack on the cheek! Tomorrow is Columbus Day (and Happy Thanksgiving to our neighbors to the north). Tuesday—in addition to having Staff and Pastoral Council meetings (with Open Forum for your concerns at 7:15 P.M.)—is the birthday of Janet Andrychuk-Tedesco of our Peace of Christ music ministry. Wednesday—in addition to having Finance Council—is the birthday of Laurie Maier of our Peace of Christ pastoral staff. Thursday, be sure to check out the Women of the Well presentation at St. John the Evangelist at 7:00 P.M. We have so much to offer right here at home, may we avail ourselves of these treasures and grow in spiritual depth as well. Friday is National Boss Day.
Thank you to all who have already made a pledge (via mail or the Sunday collection basket) to our Catholic Ministries Appeal for 2009. As we saw in the materials, so much of what we do as a parish is supported by these funds. Looking outward, next week is World Mission Sunday . May our support help in taking the Gospel to the world! Pax!
— Father Schrader
October 4, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
II Timothy is the 62nd book in our Bible. It is the second of the “Pastoral Letters” in the New Testament and yet it is the last that Paul would write before his death around 67 A.D. in Rome . He writes this time to Timothy to buoy up his spirits. It appears that Timothy (in his diligence to proclaim the gospel authentically) had gotten into an argument with two individuals named Hymenaeus and Philetus. Paul rather encourages Timothy to come to see him so that both can gain from mutual support while they are still on this side of eternity. Such writing gives one pause to reflect on our use of letter-writing to bolster one another along our ways through life: How many of us even still write letters? Those that do, what content fills their pages: is it focused on stories about me, or inquiries and concern about the other? How might some form of meaningful communication beyond a mere “tweet” make for more purposeful presence of ourselves to the other? In the pages of this book, we read of Paul's recalling Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (ones whom Paul obviously knew sufficiently by name) and an admonition by Paul that Timothy fan into flames his gift (a good prescription for ourselves as well) (ch. 1); Paul's mention of sports, of farming, and of keeping the gospel unchained, as well as of godless philosophy, gangrene, and being gentle (ch. 2); Paul's assessment of the dangers of the last days and of the necessity to be less self-centered, and of his knowledge of the names of Pharoah's magicians in Moses' day, Jannes and Jambres (names with a non-Biblical etymology) and of the usefulness of all inspired Scripture (ch. 3); and Paul's call to proclaim the gospel whether welcome or not, to fight the good fight, to run the race, and to bring his coat and books from the lost-and-found in Troas (ch. 4). When you finish this book, you will have read 62 (84.9%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,274 (95.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
By this time, we all should have received our 2009-2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal information in the mail. Indeed, the first “Roster of Appreciation” is found in this bulletin in gratitude with the first pledges already received. Information is provided at today's Masses along with this year's DVD explaining very musically how our CMA gifts are put to good and necessary use year-round. Thanks for whatever pledges you can give this week even if the funds themselves will be later forthcoming.
If today were not a Sunday, we would be celebrating the Mass for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi . We are, however, having a Pet Blessing at 1:00 P.M. in Dailey Hall at St. Ambrose. God bless all our furry (and non-furry) friends! Today is also the Full “Harvest” Moon (at 2:10 A.M. for those desiring to see it at its fullest). God bless all farm laborers working beneath its rays! It is also Respect Life Sunday. May all we do be in respect for each person from womb to tomb. Meetings this week, among others: Facilities on Monday, Liturgy on Tuesday, and Stewardship on Wednesday. Next Sunday is the Anointing of the Sick at 2:00 P.M. at St. James. Blessings, all!
— Father Schrader
September 27, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I Timothy brings us to the 61st book in our Bible. It is the first of the “Pastoral Letters” in the New Testament and addresses Timothy who had accompanied Paul on his journeys to Corinth and Thessa-lonica. Timothy was now pastoring the flock at Ephesus , a port on the western coast of Asia Minor . Paul here addresses distortions to the gospel that had come about and writes to Timothy as one pastor to another. Paul addresses many practical matters, even what to wear in the small house churches of that area so as not to distract from the One who is the focus of the liturgy. It is felt that this letter was written sometime in or after 63 A.D. after Paul's imprisonment in Rome and probably from him in Macedonia . In this letter, we hear Paul: instruct Timothy to stay in Ephesus and work against the false teachers in that area and that Jesus came to save sinners of whom Paul self-identifies as one of the greatest (ch. 1); offer a liturgical prayer and give instruction on proper liturgy by way of offering petitions, lifting hands up, and being silent at times (ch. 2); give qualifications for anyone who is a bishop (be husband of one wife and not a new convert) or a deacon (ch. 3); condemn false asceticism and tout the usefulness of religion and warn folks not to reject Timothy because of his youthful age (ch. 4); teach how to speak to elders and to care for relatives living with you and to treat widows and to drink a little wine for the stomach (ch. 5); and give a few words on slavery, the usefulness of religion, and on love of money being the root of all evil (ch. 6). When you finish this book, you will have read 61 (83.6%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,270 (95.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Sometime this past week, we all should have received our CMA (Catholic Ministries Appeal) letter and pledge card from the diocese. Our goal this year is $118,730, it is less than last year and more in keeping with our overall actual membership and resources. The theme is “Keeping the Spirit Alive” and the campaign does, indeed, strive to keep many of the ministries and services used by the parish alive and available throughout the year. This is all spelled out in the materials mailed to each of us and will be reviewed next weekend at church. Early pledges will be included in our first weekly Roster of Appreciation in the October 4th bulletin next weekend. Thank you, one and all, for your prayerful and financial support of these endeavors!
Tomorrow, on Yom Kippur, may we keep our Jewish sisters and brothers in prayer on this high holy day of theirs. Tuesday, all diocesan priests are invited to spend a day with our bishop to reflect on our vocations as served out in this diocese over the past many years and decades. Wednesday, our staff has its September meeting. Pray for these hard workers as they daily minister so faithfully for us all. Thursday begins October and the final quarter of the year. Thank you for your regular generosity in supporting the parish, as well as your ongoing care in redeeming all pledges toward last year's capital campaign. Our facilities are now truly in good shape because of it. Friday is Guardian Angels day. Next Sunday we bless pets at 1:00 P.M.
— Father Schrader
September 20, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
II Thessalonians is the 60th book of our Bible. [Last week, by the way, this column began by referring to “Colossians” which had been the subject the previous week. The book actually addressed last week was I Thessalonians —pardon the error, though know that it appears correctly in the web site summary of all these columns at http://www.peaceofchristparish.org/Pastor%20Column/Bible_Summaries.php which is updated weekly.] This second letter to the people of Thessalonica according to the Bible introductory book by our friend, Timothy P. Schehr (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2), finds just as much energy as in I Thessalonians but this time it is Paul's and not the people's. Theirs had waned as the time went on, and Paul here tries to re-motivate them. When they had heard about the Second Coming of the Lord from Paul earlier, in their understanding of it as being about to happen at any moment, some of them had given up expending energy of any type but rather chose simply to wait for the end's arrival. In this second letter, he counsels that they will experience various challenges to their beliefs and must be ready to endure hardship because of these. Paul holds himself up as an example for them to follow: he was a hard worker and expects them to be such as well. In this letter (written perhaps a year after the preceding one), we'll hear Paul's opening of thanks for the Thessalonians and their faith, a faith he tries to buoy up for the future (ch. 1), Paul's admonition not to be deceived by alarmists' false prophesying about the end time, and then a word of further thanks (ch. 2), and a plea by Paul for prayers to be preserved from bigoted people, and a call not to be idle (ch. 3). When you finish this book, you will have read 60 (82.2%—over 4/5!) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,264 (94.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
On this Catechetical Sunday , we are grateful for all the many volunteers who labor throughout the year to help the Christian Formation of our youth and families. This is how our faith is passed on from generation to generation. Today is also Human Development Sunday . Sister Beth LeValley of our St. Ambrose Convent mentioned the other day that the Credit Union where she works received this year a grant from last year's Human Development collection. So, please know that our own neighborhood benefits from these funds which will be used locally. Indeed, some of our own parishioners are customers of that Credit Union and yet others have devoted countless hours toward its success for the good of our whole community. So thanks much for your support. Also today is our Parish Picnic . I look forward to seeing as many of you as may be able to attend on this final weekend of the summer. Monday is our bishop's feast day. Tuesday, autumn begins (at 5:19 P.M.). Wednesday is Padre Pio's feast day. Thursday is the 75th anniversary of Babe Ruth's last game. By Friday, we all should have received our annual letter inviting us to participate in this year's Catholic Ministries Appeal . These funds help us in the parish in many ways which will be shared with you on October 3-4. Thank you for all early pledges to make this a success!
— Father Schrader
September 13, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Colossians brings us to the 59th book in our Bible. Though it is almost midway amongst the 27 books of the New Testament, it is actually the earliest of those books to be written. One commentator describes it as being more like one-half of a telephone conversation than like any type of theological book, because it is penned by Paul from Corinth around the year 50 in his care and concern for the people of Thessalonica among whom he had previously spent time preaching the good news. They and Paul are decidedly excited, for at the time they felt that the Second Coming of the Lord would imminently be upon them. Still, Paul himself does not know exactly when this will occur, so he simply advises that they constantly live according to gospel values in order to be in a continuous state of readiness for the Lord's return. The book is written less than 20 years after the Lord's resurrection, and it seems Paul is correcting some who had come along trying to make profit off of the gospel. He also calms those concerned because some of their loved ones had died already before the Lord's return. In these pages he builds up the Thessalonians as he congratulates them for their faith and example (ch. 1); he reminds them that God gave them courage for times of opposition, and he refers to himself in the role of mother and in the role of father toward them (ch. 2); we hear how Paul had sent Timothy to look in on them and how Paul was grateful for the report he received back from Timothy about them (ch. 3); he tells them that they are doing good, but that there is always room for improvement, and we also find an often used funeral reading here, one which some link with Revelations 20:4 to posit a Rapture beginning a 1000-year Reign of Christ (ch. 4); and Paul closes out this book with a reference to the “Day of the Lord”, the admonition to be always ready for the Lord's return even should it come at night, a call to respect their spiritual leaders and always be joyful, and a warning not to stifle the Spirit (ch. 5). When you finish this book, you will have read 59 (80.8%—over 4/5!) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,261 (94.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Happy Grandparents Day to all who are grand ones! See Fr. Brian and Youth Ministry Director Alison LeChase play soccer at the Rhinos' stadium at Noon today on behalf of our youth! Monday, our Joint Facilities Committee meets (much to talk about these days). Tuesday is the 60th anniversary of the Lone Ranger hitting our little Black and White TV screens. Wednesday is a Fall Ember Day as well as the next meeting of our Finance Council (on their behalf, I thank you for your sacrificial giving each Sunday as well as for any Vacation Make-up offerings you may have made, and for your ongoing payment of pledges to last year's Capital Campaign which is enabling all our repairs to be made even as I type). Thursday is the feast of St. Robert!! Friday is the 200 Club Dinner. Saturday is Jewish New Year 5770. Next Sunday, our Parish Picnic Mass at Ellison Park is at 11:30 A.M. (no 11:00 A.M. Mass at St. John 's next week). Peace!
— Father Schrader
September 6, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Colossians is the 58th book of the Bible. Though it is thought that Paul wrote this from his house arrest in Rome back to the people of Colossae, some have argued (from the vocabulary that is used) that it may actually have been written after his death and ascribed to him as being in keeping with what he would have written. In either case, it is filled with a number of vivid images which help to convey his message. For Colossians' author, Christ was the image of the unseen God: to look at Jesus and observe his actions was to see God's own self, and Paul was there to bring this message to the Gentile converts as Peter had brought it to the Jewish converts (ch. 1); in Paul's concern for the Colossian's faith, he told them to “Beware of Philosophy” as he was particularly concerned with various cosmic ones that were prevalent at that time, and he referred to Baptism as the “Christian Circumcision” and also advised that folks “Beware of Angels” and “Beware of Visions”—there was much to beware of in those days (ch. 2); he warned the Colossians regarding uncontrolled passion, spoke of “greed” as being against the 1st Commandment (worshiping wealth as a false god), then went on (in what is a common wedding passage) to describe what spiritual clothes to wear (a fitting image since Colossae was the heart of a thriving clothing industry in its day), wrote of the “peace of Christ” in the only verse of the Bible to use the name of our parish (3:15), wrote again regarding kind family relationships, and encouraged that whatever our work is in life we should put our heart into it (ch. 3); then he ends this book with a call to perseverance and to pray for himself, an encouragement to add a little salty wit to our speech with one another, a mention of Onesimus (to be encountered again in the Book of Philemon), a mention of house churches, an invitation to the Colossians to share this letter with the Laodiceans (Ephesians?) and exchange it with theirs, and an assurance that this is by his own hand—it is certainly in his own spirit (ch. 4). When you finish this book, you will have read 58 (79.4%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,256 (94.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Tomorrow is our Labor Day 9:00 A.M. Mass in the Father Zimmer Peace Garden at St. John's (in the church in case of rain)—though there will be the normal 7:45 A.M. Mass at St. James and a Communion Service at Cedarwood at 10:00 A.M. as well. Tuesday is our first Pastoral Council meeting of the year (7:00 P.M. at St. John's) and after its 7:15 P.M. “Open Forum,” we'll cover our new parishioner welcome process, our campaign and finances update, our committee report form, the Vision Statement implementation, and more. Wednesday, our ecumenical neighboring clergy gather for discussion/planning. Thursday is Arnold Palmer's 80th! Friday (9/11) is Patriot Day, and the 9:15 St. John Neumann School Opening Mass at St. Ambrose. Saturday is the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson heading up the river. Next Sunday is Faith Futbol (see p. 2). Spirit Alive Year 3 Bible reading of “Acts” begins this week ( " p. 6, col. 1).
Thanks for all “Campaign” and “Vacation Make-Up” gifts! Pax!
— Father Schrader
August 30, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Philippians brings us to the 57th book in our Bibles. This brief letter (only 4 chapters) packs quite a bit in its verses. It is obvious that Paul is writing to a community he had come to love and had been very supportive of his ministry, but he is probably writing it from his prison cell of house arrest in Rome near the end of his life. Paul writes a wish (found in today's ordination rite for deacons) that the one who began God's work in them will bring it to completion in them, and he also expresses to them that it matters not whether he himself lives or dies, for Christ will be proclaimed through him in either case (ch. 1); Paul strives mightily for the Philippians' unity among themselves in focusing on one another's needs rather than on each of their own, and he also utters a prayer which captures the very kenosis (complete emptying) of Jesus for us on the cross (indeed, this has been set to music and was one of the scriptural passages used at my priesthood ordination back in 1978): we are to shine like stars amidst all of such self-emptying among ourselves (ch. 2); Paul speaks of the true way of Christian salvation in one's breaking with the past as it may hold one back, and he even posts the only “Beware of the Dogs” sign in the Bible as he warns against those “dogs” insisting on practices no longer required to be numbered among God's People—in fact he goes so far as to point to himself as the reformed example that they should follow, and one section of his letter is often used at funerals as it identifies our true homeland as being heaven (ch. 3); and finally he closes with a “Don't Worry, Be Happy” outlook as he thanks his readers for their donations in the past and sends greetings from Caesar's household [which is his imprisoning “host”] (ch. 4). When you finish this book, you will have read 57 (78.1%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,252 (93.9%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
This week we mourn the death of the fourth pastor of St. Ambrose Church, James J. Marvin (1971-1995) who died last Sunday morning. Throughout my priesthood I have known him as one who has given his all to whatever he was about, whether it be to his pastoring, his work in and for the diocese, his family or his friends. May he rest in peace, and may we now carry on such practice of commitment as his!
Today, we welcome Basilian Father Thomas Rosica to our 9:45 Mass. Fr. Tom (at whose First Mass then-Pastor Jim Marvin had preached here at St. Ambrose on April 20, 1986) currently ministers in Toronto both on the General Council of the Basilian Fathers and as Chief Executive Officer of Canada's Salt & Light Catholic Television Network. He very graciously hosted me a couple weeks ago in Toronto , and we are grateful for his presence now with us today here in Rochester . Monday is 12 years since Princess Di's death. Tuesday re-starts our Liturgy Committee for the year. Wednesday is the 40th anniversary of the ATM machine in the U.S. (gee, Moon Walk, Woodstock , and ATM all in 1969!). Thursday is Flag Day in Australia . Friday is the Full “Corn” Moon. Safe Labor Day next weekend!
— Father Schrader
August 23, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Ephesians is the 56th book of the Bible. Timothy P. Schehr in his The Bible Made Easy (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2) sees the two main divisions of this book as being “God's loving plan” (chapters 1-3) and “Our loving response” (chapters 4-6). He also points out that the letter is not specifically addressed to the church at Ephesus, but rather seems to have been directed to the wider area of western Turkey, Ephesus being where one might best send a letter in that day for such broad dispersal. Paul stayed in Ephesus for several years (54-57 A.D.) and it is felt that he probably wrote this letter back to the church of this area from the time of his house arrest in Rome (61-63 A.D.), though some believe it may have even been sent from the hand of one of Paul's disciples sometime after Paul's own death in 67 A.D. In the words of this letter, we find a much kinder salutation than had been sent to the Galatians and also the message that those addressed were chosen (before the world began) to be holy as adopted ones of God sealed by the Holy Spirit (ch. 1), an assurance that they were saved not by things they did to “earn” salvation but by God's own good grace and, further, that they were aliens no longer but were now one with those who had formerly been the only ones to be considered as God's chosen people (ch. 2), a description of Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and a prayer by Paul for his Ephesian readers (ch. 3), a call to unity that is often read during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and a list of rules for the new life now to be lived [including the beautiful one which calls us never to end the day angry with another] (ch. 4), a prescription to take God as our pattern, to avoid foul behavior and speech, to be of the light, and to ascribe to certain morals in the home [Paul gets himself into trouble with many modern readers when he gets to the parts about submission] (ch. 5), and a call to children to be obedient especially since the 4th commandment is the 1st one to come with a promise [which will sound familiar to Star Trek fans of the Vulcan Spock: “Live long and prosper”] (ch. 6:3)—he also goes on to call for a new wardrobe for the believer: wear the armor of God and shoes of eagerness (ch. 6). When you finish this book, you will have read 56 (76.7%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,248 (93.6%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
For 2 Sundays, we are covering the 8:30 A.M. Mass in Sodus Point—Fr. Carpenter will be there this week, Fr. Werth next. Monday is the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of St. James Parish. Tuesday, our staff has its summer meeting. Wednesday brings the 89th anniversary of Women's Right to Vote. Thursday would have been Mother Teresa's 99th birthday. Friday, Peace of Christ will be well represented at the Red Wings game (watch their scoreboard throughout the evening). Saturday, our Pastoral Council gathers for a time of prayer for all of you in the parish and for all their work in the year to come (it will also have been 4 years since Hurricane Katrina). Next Sunday, welcome Basilian Father Tom Rosica at our 9:45 Mass. Pax!
— Father Schrader
August 16, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Galatians brings us to the 55th book in our Bible. Some believe that Paul wrote this letter at the completion of his first missionary journey, around the year 50 A.D., which could make this the earliest written book in the New Testament; but that distinction usually goes to I Thessalonians. A strong belief, rather, is that this was written during the period when Paul settled in Ephesus for a few years in the mid-50's A.D. since the nature of the writing is to correct a few communities where folks had started (after Paul departed them) to believe counter-beliefs brought to them by others of questionable credentials. We will see a great deal of emotion in Paul's words here because he is truly upset. In Galatians' pages, we'll read an opening to a book by Paul that is not all prayerful and supportive as most of his letters begin, but rather one that goes so far as to say that even if an angel shall appear with a contrary message, that being shall be cursed [one can find these words within the sanctuary of the Roman Catholic cathedral in Salt Lake City] (ch. 1), an account of how Paul stood up to Peter himself in Antioch when Peter changed his own behavior among the Gentile converts whenever Jewish converts were present instead of honoring the properness of the Gentiles' customs which were not guided by the Law but by their Faith in Jesus (ch. 2), the most accusatory opening of a chapter in the Bible where Paul writes, “You stupid Galatians!” because they could not see that Abraham, the Father of those of the Jewish faith, himself was found acceptable to God—and he was 430 years before the Law ever came via Moses to the people [one wonders whether Paul ever had a beer with the Galatians afterwards to apologize for his choice of words] (ch. 3), Paul's insistence that God is crying out a self-identity of “Abba, Father” even to the Gentiles, and Paul's feeling that he has wasted time in his ministering among the Galatians and that they all need to be re-born (ch. 4), Paul's going so far as to wish self-castration on some who have led in the wrong direction, and his insistence that freedom is not for license but rather to love [he goes on to list 15 works of the flesh to avoid in using one's freedom, and 9 fruits of the Spirit for which to strive] (ch. 5), and his seemingly calmer ending in the final chapter [after he blew off all his steam] calling for correcting gently, helping to carry burdens, and a note referencing his penmanship which seems to have given itself over to a large script in the surge of emotions pouring forth from his quill (ch. 6). When you finish this book, you will have read 55 (75.3%—over 3/4!) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,242 (93.1%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
As you read this, I am in the middle of a brief respite to visit some old acquaintances in the Midwest . By this weekend, I'll have driven northward and be in Manitoba and Saskatchewan . After a drive back east over the top of the Great Lakes , I'll be back home Friday evening. Be assured of remembrance in my prayers along the highway this week. May these final weeks of summer be kind to us all! Pax!
— Father Schrader
August 9, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
II Corinthians is our 54th book of the Bible. Written as much as a year after I Corinthians (and after yet another letter mentioned in II Cor 2:4), it appears that some other apostolic-type persons had visited Corinth in the interlude with great boasts about their credentials. Paul in this letter shows great concern as a shepherd for the young Corinthian church and lays out for them what boasts should really most concern them. Indeed, the word “boast” appears more than 20 times in this letter (depending on the translation you are using). See if you can find them (or their equivalent if your translation uses a different word) as you read, for they may be things about which WE might look to boast as well. You will encounter a much more emotional Paul in this letter than in the preceding one. He is so because of his great passion for the authentic Gospel message and because of his love for those in the Corinthian Church . In this second biblical letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we find that Jesus is not “Yes” one minute and “No” the next but always “Yes” for us and our needs (ch. 1), that some passages of Scripture can almost be smelled (ch. 2), that letters of recommendation sometimes come in human form (ch. 3), that wonderful funeral readings can be found among Paul's words (ch. 4), that ambassadors are not only found in embassies (ch. 5), that resolute perseverance finally does pay off (ch. 6), that there is some “distress” or “grievance” that is good for us (ch. 7), that we should be encouraged to be generous (ch. 8), that if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly (ch. 9), that Paul was able to defend himself (ch. 10), that Paul was a little like Robin Hood (ch. 11:8), that though we may have a thorn in our life, God's grace is enough for us (ch. 12), and that witnesses are important when charges are made (ch. 13). When you finish this book, you will have read 54 (74.0%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,236 (92.7%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Thank you ever so much to all who planned, staffed, or attended this past week's Summer Session . This week, there are several important birthdays and feasts. Monday, Herbert Hoover would have been 133. Tuesday, our own Fr. Werth will be less than half that age. Wednesday is the feast of St. Hippolytus who is credited with the Second Eucharistic Prayer which we use at Mass. Thursday is the 351st birthday of NYC's men in blue as the first American police force. Friday, we wish a Happy Birthday to Herm Wunderlich of our Peace of Christ Maintenance Division. Saturday is the solemnity (feast) of Mary's Assumption; since it falls on a Saturday, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation; however, we will have a Mass that morning at 9:00 A.M. at St. Ambrose to celebrate it. And next Sunday is the 110th anniversary of the birth of the inventor of the Bunsen Burner.
Please note that during this month, all our parking lots are being paved and roof work is being done as well. Funerals are being scheduled for whichever churches are most accessible during this period. Thanks for understanding as this seasonal work is being done.
— Father Schrader
August 2, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I Corinthians ( St. Paul 's first letter to the people of Corinth ) is the 53rd book in our Bible. Paul spent some 18 months in Corinth spanning from 49 to 51 A.D., and would have been able to support himself by his trade as a tentmaker from all the commerce in the area which was quite substantial because of the two main ports that served it. Even before How To Win Friends and Influence People, Paul knew that the best way to begin his writing was to compliment his readers on their strengths, and then to motivate them to get even stronger (an Olympian thought!) by nourishing their spiritual gifts. Yet he did have to admonish his readers to keep their focus on Jesus and not on God's instruments (himself, Apollos, etc.), to resolve their disputes among themselves rather than resorting to secular courts, to be willing to sacrifice for the greater and more-lasting values of heaven, and to cherish their giftedness in the Lord. Paul wrote to this church in Corinth about 5 years after his stay there. Apparently (from I Cor. 5:9) there was a letter which preceded I Corinthians; this next letter was written to Corinth from Ephesus, and one of its motivating factors was the weakening of the church of Corinth since Paul's departure. In this book's pages, we hear of Paul calling for no factions, admitting that his own preaching seemed a “folly” for some (ch. 1), of the power of assessing things by the mind of the spiritual person (ch. 2), of the divisions which had developed within the Church of Corinth (ch. 3), of stewardship, being a fool for Christ, and Paul's self-description of himself in the roll of “father” [4:15: Greek pateras as opposed to Aramaic Abba used in Matthew 23:9] (ch. 4), of incest, yeast and judgment (ch. 5), of judging angels, a theology of the body, and all being permitted (ch. 6), of marriage, the Pauline Privilege, and pre-marital matters (ch. 7), of idol food and scandal causes (ch. 8), of Paul's compulsion to preach and of his days as a boxer (ch. 9), of never being tested beyond one's strength (ch. 10), of the oldest record of the Last Supper [even before the gospels] (ch. 11), of spiritual gifts, being one body with many parts, and our being the Body of Christ (ch. 12), of the ranking of spiritual gifts and a nuptial passage used at almost every wedding (ch. 13), of prophets and tongues and women of silence (ch 14), of Paul being abnormal, like Popeye [“I am what I am”], and teaching that bad company corrupts (ch. 15), and of a collection sent from the missionary country back to the sending church of Jerusalem (ch. 16). When you finish this book, you will have read 53 (72.6%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,223 (91.7%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible. [Note: Genesis was 1 year ago this weekend!]
Thank you ever so much to all who organized, worked, or patronized last weekend's 2009 Garage Sale . Its success is truly a blessing for our parish! Monday brings Summer Session ; Tuesday is the feast of St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests; Wednesday we have the Full “Sturgeon” Moon (eclipsed as it sets); Friday, Fr. Brian closes Summer Session with a “Teaching Mass” at 2:00 P.M. Peace to all!
— Father Schrader
July 26, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Romans is our 52nd book of the Bible. As Timothy P. Schehr notes in The Bible Made Easy (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2), “The letters of the New Testament apply the gospel to daily life in much the same way the wisdom books apply the message of the Old Testament to daily life” (p. 169). First amongst these we have the letters attributed to St. Paul , some written to communities to address problems and some written to individuals. Then comes the Letter to the Hebrews, and finally the “catholic epistles” (those with a wider range than Paul's letters) such as James; I, II, and III John; I & II Peter; and Jude. The letters of Paul are not arranged chronologically. Rather, the oldest known manuscript (3rd century) arranges the first 8 of them according to length, thus Romans is first. In Romans, Paul is not trying to correct any abuses, but rather to lay out the basic teaching of the gospel: that Jesus came to die for all, Jew and Greek, that they may be saved. Paul wrote this letter around 58 A.D., but did not finally get to Rome until 61 A.D. In Romans' pages, we'll find the power of the gospel to offset the guilt of us all (ch. 1), the powerlessness of the Law or of circumcision to save one apart from one's being a person of the Law (ch. 2), the justification of us all by God's good grace (ch. 3), the ancestry of Abraham being for Jew and Gentile alike (ch. 4), the posturing of Adam and Jesus (ch. 5), the wages of sin being death (ch. 6), the difficulty in doing the good we desire to do (ch. 7), the confidence of the believer in that, if God is for us, who can be against us? (ch. 8), God's election of Israel (ch. 9), our justification by faith (ch. 10), the ability to be grafted back on to God after sinning (ch. 11), our being one Body with many parts (ch, 12), a call to stay alert (ch. 13), an admonition against causing scandal (ch. 14), the sharing of Paul's plans to reach Rome (ch. 15), and a recounting of Epaenetus, Asia's first convert (ch. 16). When you finish this book, you will have read 52 (71.2%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,207 (90.5%—less than 10% left for all the rest of 2009) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Many thanks to all who have worked so diligently on our parish Garage Sale this weekend. Be sure to check it out in Dailey Hall today, Sunday, 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.. Monday is the 101st anniversary of Father Feeney's birth. Tuesday is the 141st anniversary of the passage of the 14th Amendment (now go find out what it is). Wednesday is the Feast of St. Martha: let us be busy about many things. Thursday is the 55th anniversary of Elvis Presley's first appearance in Memphis and the 34th anniversary of Jimmy Hoffa's dis appearance. On Friday, I'll say Mass at Camp Stella Maris (as Fr. Carpenter did on July 17th and Fr. Werth will on August 21st). Saturday is the Teddy Bear Picnic for families of children baptized this past year. Sunday, it's been 100 years since Lincoln 's head first appeared on our pennies. Spend yours wise ly ! Midsummer peace to you all!
— Father Schrader
July 19, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Book of Acts of the Apostles is the 51st book in our Bible. It is really Part 2 of the Gospel of Luke, since it has the same author. Indeed, similar to the gospel, Acts begins with an Infancy Narrative of sorts—however, here we are talking about our birth as a Church: the Holy Spirit continues a very active presence as in Part 1 (Luke's gospel account) and all that transpires in these early years of the Church does so only under such divine tutelage. Besides the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (like a reversal of Genesis 11 where all were struck with an inability to understand one another at Babel because of their trying to act as their own gods rather than as the one God would have them do), we have the choice of Matthias to replace Judas (ch. 1), the conversion of 3,000 people and the start of “daily Mass” (ch. 2), Peter healing as Jesus had done (ch. 3), a rocking house (ch. 4), a healing shadow (ch. 5), the first 7 deacons now that the gospel was to go to Gentile as well as to Jew (ch. 6), the intro of Saul who would be Paul (ch. 7), an attempt to buy the Holy Spirit (ch. 8), the conversion of Saul [1st of 3 such accounts] (ch. 9), angelic appearances (ch. 10), people called “Christians” for the first time (ch. 11), Rhoda (ch. 12), Saul becoming Paul (ch. 13), 2 “apostles” called “gods” (ch. 14), the 1st Council of the Church (ch. 15), a quaking jail (ch. 16), the identification of the Unknown God (ch. 17), a haircut (ch. 18), the calming job of the Town Clerk (ch. 19), a sermon much longer (and more tragic—poor Eustychus!) than any you'll ever hear at Peace of Christ (ch. 20), the reappearance from chapter 11 of the prophet Agabus (ch. 21), Paul saved by his citizenship (ch. 22), Paul taken to the top cat, Felix (ch. 23), a pre-Gunsmoke Festus (ch. 24), Paul's appeal to Caesar to save him (ch. 25), Paul's deferred release because of his appeal to Caesar (ch. 26), a Nor'easter striking Paul (he would have loved Rochester!) en route to Caesar (ch. 27), and the revelation that Syracuse was on the way to Rome just as it is for us on the Thruway (ch. 28). When you finish this book, you will have read 51 (69.9%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,179 (88.4%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Congratulations today to Sister Mary Ann Brunett, SSJ, who celebrates her 50th Jubilee at the 9:45 A.M. Mass. Monday, we welcome Father Ray Quetchenbach back with us for 2 weeks. Tuesday, the moon is the closest it will be to us all year—but you won't see it because it's a New Moon (and you won't see the sun either if you go to India because the New Moon there is eclipsing it). It was 389 years ago Wednesday that the Puritans left for America . And it was 162 years ago Thursday that the Mormons reached Salt Lake City . Friday, our Garage Sale Wine & Cheese Party ($5) begins at 7:00 P.M.. Saturday, come to the Garage Sale itself in Dailey Hall (9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.), and again on Sunday (11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.). Peace to all!
— Father Schrader
July 12, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
John is the 50th book in our Bible. John, as the non-synoptic gospel account, is not rooted in Mark and the “Quelle” source for its basis. As the Beloved Disciple, John has much first person credibility on his own. Unlike Matthew and Luke, John's account does not begin with an Infancy Narrative. But there is an interesting point that I have noted in my own reading of the 4 gospel accounts. Though scholars differ, one very dependable one, Passionist Father Carroll Stuhlmueller, posits that the gospel accounts were written in this order: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and then John. It seems that the importance of Jesus in the history of salvation is able to be seen earlier and earlier in time as the post-resurrection years add up. That is, Mark begins his reference to Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist; Matthew traces Jesus' roots back to Abraham; Luke traces them all the way back to Adam; and John goes the furthest of all: “In the beginning was the Word.” The longer we ponder the mysteries of life, the more we too can connect all the dots right back to the earliest of connections with Jesus and all that is truly foundationally important in the world. Just a thought. As for the structure of John's account (dated back to the last decade of the first century A.D.), our dear friend, Timothy P. Schehr in his The Bible Made Easy (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2), labels the structure in this way: first is “The Word” which used to form the old “Last Gospel” read in Latin at the end of the old Mass (ch. 1); then the “Book of Signs” which relates the miracles of Jesus pointing to his glory (ch. 2-12); third is the “Book of Glory” which details Jesus' “Hour” of his fulfilling the Father's saving plan (ch. 13-20); and, fourthly, the “Faithful Responses” from Jesus' post-resurrection appearances (ch. 21). In chapter 3, we have the first “Nick-at-Nite” with Nicodemus approaching Jesus nocturnally to find out what it means to be “born again;” yet he speaks by day in Jesus' defense in chapter 7—and is the one in chapter 19 who comes to the tomb with oil to anoint Jesus' body after his death. What strikes you as you read? When you finish this book, you will have read 50 (68.5%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,163 (87.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Our summer communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick is this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose. Tomorrow, Vacation Bible Camp begins. May it be a week of holy refreshment for our campers! Tuesday is Bastille Day. Wednesday is Bishop Clark's birthday, and it's also the traditional St. Swithin's Day—pray that it doesn't rain, or we'll be soggy for 40 days! Thursday evening is the special bi-lingual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mass at 7:15 P.M. at St. Ambrose. Friday is 50 years since Billie Holiday's passing.
As we live this summer's days, may each one be an occasion of experiencing God in some unique way: in the places we see, in the books we read, in the people we encounter. God be with us all today !
— Father Schrader
July 5, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Luke brings us to our 49th book of the Bible. Luke depends for much of his information on Mark's gospel account. For other sections, he and Matthew draw from a different source known simply as “Q” (for the German Quelle meaning “source”); and for yet other sections, Luke draws on a source wholly his own: Luke, for example, is the only gospel account to contain the stories of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, Zaccheus, the Good Thief, and the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. Luke was reportedly a physician, so healing and forgiveness are strong components in his account. Luke is also very balanced in his story-telling: whenever he tells a faith story involving a man, he also tells one of a woman. The Holy Spirit is also important in his writing, and we see this both in his gospel account and in The Acts of the Apostles which is the 2nd part of his Biblical offerings. Like Matthew, Luke's account begins with an Infancy Narrative, but unlike Matthew's, Luke's is less interested in showing the events of Jesus' early life as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies than he is in showing that his life story was no threat to the Roman Empire into which he was born. We also see much more about Mary (Annunciation, Visitation, Presentation, Finding of Jesus in the Temple ) than we do of Joseph through whose Jewish lineage Matthew traced Jesus' roots. Interesting note: In Luke, John the Baptist is arrested before Jesus is baptized; Luke's account does not say who baptized Jesus (it's surprising what you find when you read slowly!). At the end of Luke's account, Jesus ascends to heaven—which is where Luke's Part 2 ( Acts ) begins. When you finish this book, you will have read 49 (67.1%—that's over 2/3 of the Bible, and the last 24 books average only 8 chapters each: 1 for each day [and a bonus one for each Sunday] for the rest of the year) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,142 (85.6%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
This is the first weekend in our new program-and-fiscal year. Thank you very much for honoring all Time-Talent-Treasure commitments. It is only with such regular stewardship that the pastoral needs of all the parish can be dependably met and the facilities for our ministries can be responsibly cared for. In that regard, our Facilities Committee meets tomorrow (Monday) evening to continue monitoring and planning all work to be done in the summer with the funds generated in our capital campaign (you'll be seeing roofing, paving, and plumbing trucks on the grounds over the next few months). Tuesday is the Full “Buck” Moon at 5:21 A.M. Wednesday, our neighbor ecumenical ministers will gather for conversation. Thursday is the relatively new feast of St. August Zhao Rong & Conpanions. Friday, our new Pastoral Council Executive Committee meets. Saturday, Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities is 150 years old. Next Sunday, our Anointing Service is at 2:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose. God's peace to all!
— Father Schrader
June 28, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Mark is the 48th book in our Bible. [In my reference to it last week, I meant to say that it is the earliest recorded Gospel account, but errantly wrote that it was the oldest New Testament book. The “oldest” is I Thessalonians. Sorry for the inaccuracy!] It was written sometime in the 60's A.D., as Mark speaks of the Fall of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) as a future predicted event. Also, if Matthew and Luke based so much of their accounts on Mark, then Mark's account cannot be later than this. Mark is painfully aware of the slowness of the disciples to grasp all that Jesus had proclaimed: he is the only evangelist to tell the parable of the seed and its slow growth, and the only one to depict Jesus having to touch the blind man's eyes twice in order for full clarity to be restored. Mark is also known for the “Messianic Secret” theme which has Jesus' identity as the Messiah only gradually grasped, lest a too-easy grasping lead people to follow Jesus for the wrong reason—that is, what they can get out of such a relationship for themselves. Rather than beginning with an Infancy Narrative, Mark begins his gospel account with reference to John the Baptist and Jesus being the fulfillment of John's prophecy. Mark's gospel is then less developed theologically than Matthew's: it is, rather, developed geographically with Jesus' Galilean Ministry coming first, then his Journeys Outside Galilee, and then his Jerusalem Ministry. As with the other three gospel accounts, Mark's concludes with a Passion and Resurrection narrative, though there are several “endings” found in chapter 16 (be sure to read your footnotes carefully for this chapter). Some have posited that the man who ran off naked in 14:52 when Jesus was arrested was the author, Mark himself. When you finish this book, you will have read 48 (65.8%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,118 (83.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Today, we have our annual Strawberry Social following the 5:00 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose. Monday concludes the Year of St. Paul (on the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul ) with a special service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Paul 's in Webster for our Northeast Monroe County Region of the diocese. Hope you can come (turn left off Rte 104 at Hard Road ). That night is also the 5th anniversary of the arrival of Fr. Bob Werth and myself here in the parish. Tuesday, Fr. Brian Carpenter begins here at Peace of Christ—though don't look for him on site that night as he'll be at a Rhinos' game. Wednesday, brings July and Canada Day—congratulations to our neighbors to the North! Safe driving Thursday as you may head out of town for the holiday weekend. Friday, the “dog days of summer” begin. Saturday, meet Fr. Brian in the Fr. Edward Zimmer Peace Garden as he presides at our Independence Day Mass at 9:00 A.M. (bring a lawn chair). Check out our graduates on page 6 today—kudos to all! A blessed week to everyone!
— Father Schrader
June 21, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Matthew is the 47th book in our Bible, and the first of our New Testament. Though it appears first in the New Testament, it is not the oldest New Testament book: rather, Mark is. However, the oldest textual fragment of a synoptic gospel (that is, of Matthew, Mark or Luke—much of their writing comes from the same source, and so it is labeled “with one eye” [= syn-optic ]) is a segment of 24 lines of chapter 26 of Matthew. That fragment which was found around the year 200 A.D. is called “Papyrus 64” and if you go to the Magdalen College Library in England , you will find it there. By tradition, this gospel was recorded by the apostle/tax-agent named Matthew sometime in the 80s A.D. So it is written by a Jewish author with a message for the Jewish community that the prophecies they believed had come true in Jesus. Unlike the rest of the New Testament which was written in Greek, Matthew's original was in Aramaic, the common language of Jewish people of his day. Matthew relies heavily on Mark's gospel, but also on a 2nd source called “Q” (for Quelle , which is German for “source”) as does Luke. Matthew is more structured than Mark, and in using Mark and Q and some of Matthew's own material constructs this first gospel in the New Testament in seven books. First is the Infancy Narrative (ch. 1-2) with a genealogy tracing Jesus roots back to Abraham. Next are five discourses of Jesus, each led up to by narratives of Jesus' activity: the Jerusalem Bible labels these as “The Kingdom of Heaven Proclaimed” (ch. 3—7), “The Kingdom of Heaven is Preached” (ch. 8-10), “The Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven” (ch. 11-13:52), “The Church, the First-Fruits of the Kingdom of Heaven” (ch. 13:53-18), and “The Approaching Advent of the Kingdom of Heaven” (ch. 19-25). Finally, we have the account of Jesus' Passion and Resurrection. When you finish this book, you will have read 47 (64.4%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,102 (82.6%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
A Blessed Fathers Day and First Day of Summer to all! Monday is the patronal feast of our diocese, that of St. John Fisher who became bishop of Rochester , England in 1504. Tuesday is the annual Men's Club Bocce Tournament on the lawn at St. James (register to play today if you haven't already); our Liturgy Committee also gathers for picnic and meeting as well. Wednesday, staff has its last meeting of the season. Thursday, we're 6 Months ‘Til Christmas! Friday is Bishop Clark's 30th anniversary of his installation as our bishop. Saturday is the birthday of our Volunteer Party emcee—one can only wish for great surprises in his life all year round! Next Sunday is our annual Strawberry Social immediately following the 5:00 P.M. Mass at St. Ambrose. In this summer, may we each take time to rest, read and reflect—before autumn returns and we're off to the races again!
— Father Schrader
June 14, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Malachi is the 46th book in our Bible, and the final book of our Old Testament. There are 3 or 4 chapters in this book, depending on which edition of the Bible you are reading (some end with 3:24; others end chapter 3 with verse 18 and the remaining verses are numbered as chapter 4:1-6)—we're counting 3 chapters toward our 1,334 total. Malachi is a good one to end the Old Testament and lead into the New Testament because his writings look forward to a time when God's messenger will come to prepare the way for the promised one. The author's writings are dialogues between God and God's People. In Malachi's pages, we read of the corruption of the people who do not offer proper sacrifices (ch. 1); we also hear some pretty strong language about God's displeasure with their human obstinacy (ch. 2); finally, we hear of the coming messenger, and there is final mention of Moses and Elijah who will appear in the opening books of the New Testament in the scene of the Transfiguration (ch. 3-4). When you finish this book, you will have read 46 (63.0%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,074 (80.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
A profound thanks to all who worked or attended Festival this weekend. This longstanding tradition not only supports the parish but builds it as well, as “community” simply happens! In Church, today is the Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord (for the Orthodox, it is All Saints Day). In our nation, it is Flag Day. May the Lord bless both religious and patriotic spheres of our lives.
Monday evening at St. James at 7:00 P.M. , we have a very special event for anyone whose household has been affected by job loss in our current economy. We'll have multiple resources (people and handouts) available related to consumer credit counseling, credit unions, resume writing, financial planning, refinancing mortgages, health care for low income households, psychological fallout experienced by families in economic crisis, networking with others at such times, successful interviewing, affordable food sources, and placement agency information. Spread the word! This is tomorrow only !
Tuesday, St. John Neumann 6th graders are on retreat. Prayers! Wednesday, we have everything from Kindergarten graduation to Finance Council. Thursday, St. John Neumann's 6th graders graduate. Kudos! Friday, happy birthday to our Director of Youth Ministry, Alison LeChase; and it is the opening of “The Year of the Priest” (see http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/index.shtml for more details).
Congratulations to Bob Crego, Karin Kellogg, Doug Nordquist, Dave O'Keefe, Kay Reagan and Shannon Wollschleger who join Pastoral Council; and to our new chair and vice-chair, Joanne Insull and Rena LaBue (full roster to be printed later). Many thanks to all who have served so faithfully, both outgoing and continuing members. A blessed week to all!
— Father Schrader
June 7, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Zechariah is the 45th book in our Bible. After this one, we have only one more book until we reach the New Testament. This book is tied with Amos (14 chapters) as the longest of the twelve minor prophets on this final single scroll of the Old Testament. During Zechariah's prophesying, Darius the Great was ruling Persia (522-486 B.C.). Zechariah has great expectations for God's people, but these will not be realized until the people themselves have a change of heart from their evil ways. His book is filled with vivid imagery: many horses of various hues, a golden lampstand, and even a scroll flying through the air. As Timothy P. Schehr explains in The Bible Made Easy (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2, pp. 138-140), the riders represent God's ministers patrolling the earth, the lampstand denotes God's guidance, and the flying scroll is the Word of God flying over all the earth. In his pages, we'll encounter a summons for Israel's conversion, a two-way Divine-Human commitment, and the 1st of 8 visions (ch. 1), a 2nd and 3rd vision (ch. 2, although in some Bibles the 2nd vision is at the end of ch. 1), a 4th vision involving Joshua's investiture and Satan (ch. 3), a 5th vision with the lampstand and some olive trees (ch. 4), the 6th and 7th visions with the flying scroll and a basket headed for exile in Babylon (ch. 5), an 8th vision of 4 chariots with different colored horses (ch. 6), a chastisement for hypocritical fasting, rejecting God's commands, and applying the law unfairly (ch. 7), God's covenantal promises to Jerusalem (ch. 8), the Old Testament roots of one of our Palm Sunday readings (ch. 9), the restoration of Judah and Israel and God's anger at the shepherds (ch. 10), the roots of Judas' 30 pieces of silver (ch. 11), a spiritual hernia (ch. 12:3), the roots of the shepherd being struck and the sheep being scattered for Mark 14:27 (ch. 13:7-9), and, once again, the Day of the Lord (ch. 14). When you finish this book, you will have read 45 (61.6%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,071 (80.3%—that's over 4/5) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Today, we welcome Fr. Casimir Mahimbo who is this year's preacher for the annual Mission Co-op Weekend. Father Casimir will speak about his native Diocese of Tanga in Tanzania and our 2nd collection today will be for this mission Church. Thanks for whatever you can do! (Please, place any regular 1st Sunday “Building & Maintenance” offerings in the 1st collection with our normal weekly envelopes.) Our support for the missions will make today's Full “Strawberry” Moon all the brighter clear around the world!
This Tuesday is our final Pastoral Council meeting of the season at 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist in the church hall. Open Forum is at 7:15 P.M. We'll also do Vision Statement follow-up and election of 2009-2010 officers.
Remember, FESTIVAL is this Friday and Saturday. Come one and all! Lastly, the evening for individuals/families impacted by the economy and unexpected joblessness is Monday, June 15th. Peace!
— Father Schrader
May 31, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Haggai brings us to the 44th book of our Bibles. Haggai wrote in the year 520 B.C. and his book is only 2 chapters long. He points out the failure on the part of the people and their need to shape up spiritually if they want their lives and their world to change for the better. His main challenge to the people is to rebuild the temple (both the physical building and the interior disposition within each of them). He points out that they had sown, eaten, drunk, clothed, and earned, but gotten little by way of return: the temple rebuilding will help to rectify this situation (ch. 1); he then focuses on the future glory of that temple, consults the priests, and promises great agricultural prosperity—a timely prophecy, as he was speaking thus during the growing season of the local region (ch. 2). When you finish this book, you will have read 44 (60.3%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,057 (79.2%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
On this Pentecost weekend, we identify 5 new members for our Pastoral Council. Indeed, may the Spirit bless all our nominees!
Beginning this evening, Father Bob Werth and I will be on our canonically required annual Priests Retreat. Please, pray for us through this Thursday, and be assured that you will be in our prayers as well. During these days, Communion Services will replace our weekday Masses (Monday through Thursday), and several priests who will not be on retreat have been identified for our parish office to contact in the event of a funeral during these days.
Summer Ember Days are this Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Next weekend, two important events are on our doorstep. At 10:30 A.M. on Saturday (June 6th), Brian Carpenter will be ordained a priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral . You may remember him from when he spent the summer of 2005 with us as a seminarian. We are delighted now to be receiving him back here for his 3-year priest intern appointment. Brian hopes we'll all come to the ordination. Also, next weekend (June 6-7) is the annual Mission Co-op Weekend. Fr. Casimir Mahimbo of the Diocese of Tanga in Tanzania will preach at all Masses, and our prayers and 2nd collection will be for this mission Church. Thanks for whatever you can do! (We can place any regular 1st Sunday “Building & Maintenance” offerings in the 1st collection next week with our normal weekly envelopes.)
Remember, Festival approaches, June 12-13. Then on Monday, June 15th, we have a special evening for families of ones out of work.
Lastly, some have asked about the once-every-ten-years Passion Play produced in Oberammergau , Germany . While I myself will not be leading a tour, Fr. Michael Schramel (formerly at St. Ambrose) will be, August 2-14, 2010. Having gone on this pilgrimage with Fr. Mike in 1990, I know that those who accompany him will not be disappointed—and you'll not find a better priced trip to this holy event anywhere! Contact him (247-4322 or schramel@dor.org) soon! Pax!
— Father Schrader
May 24, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Zephaniah is the 43rd book in our Bibles. Zephaniah prophesied in the late 7th-early 6th century time period. Since his book identifies itself as being during the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.), his would have been just before the prophecy of Jeremiah. When pictured, this prophet usually has a lantern in his hand. In 1:12, we see him exploring Jerusalem with lamps, seeking out those who had become too complacent about things in life. He speaks of the Day of the Lord—not the Sabbath, but a time of judgment on the peoples for not being guided by God's command (ch. 1); then, Zephaniah warns Israel's enemies: they should not think of themselves as being all perfect just because the Divine Being is using them as a corrective measure against God's people (ch. 2)—you'll get a hoot out of 2:14; finally, all ends on a positive note with a Song of Joy and the return of the exiles (ch. 3). When you finish this book, you will have read 43 (58.9%) of the 73 books of the Bible (only 30 more to go!), yet 1,055 (79.1%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
On Memorial Day Weekend, we recall those who gave their lives in service of their nation and continue to pray for our women and men in the service now, that God keep them safe from harm. We also mourn locally the death of Eric Wunderlich, son of Peace of Christ maintenance worker, Helmut “Herm” Wunderlich, and his wife, Lynda. God's peace to them and their family at this time of such loss.
Tomorrow, we have our annual Memorial Day Mass in the Father Zimmer Peace Garden at our St. John the Evangelist site. This year is special, as it is the actual 30th Anniversary of the Ordination of our own Father Bob Werth who will preside at this 9:00 A.M. celebration—bring your lawn chair. Refreshments are served afterwards. If it rains, all is moved to the church. A Blessed “ Pearl Jubilee,” Father Bob. Shucks, may the oysters of your life yield you 30 more!
Then Tuesday is the birthday of Sr. Marlene Vigna , and Wednesday is the Pearl Jubilee of Bishop Clark becoming a bishop. Those who were present for our Volunteer Appreciation Party last week got an early opportunity to sing Happy Anniversary to him (and to Fr. Werth), as the bishop was a special mystery guest. Many thanks to John Driscoll for orchestrating this surprise for all our volunteers! Thursday is the feast of the Ascension for our Orthodox sisters and brothers, and Friday is the feast of Shavuot for our Jewish sisters and brothers (commemorating God's giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai ). Friday would also have been the 92nd birthday of President Kennedy. Time passages! Then Saturday is the birthday of Peace of Christ Music Minister, Jim Whitaker . Also in the music world, that day would have been the 100th birthday of Benny Goodman, so when you come to church next week, Sing, Sing, Sing! Next Sunday is Pentecost, so keep your Whits about you.
Finally, remember that Brian Carpenter will be ordained a priest on June 6th at 10:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Cathedral . Come1&all!
— Father Schrader
May 1 7, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Habakkuk brings us to the 42nd book in our Bible. The name is pronounced with the accent on the 2nd syllable: Ha-BAK-kuk. His time of concern in the Old Testament would involve the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Fall of Jerusalem in the early part of the 6th Century B.C. We already met Habakkuk back in the Book of Daniel where he appeared in the last chapter with a meal prepared for the people working in the fields; he also gives food to Daniel in the lion's den. Habakkuk utters the cry that perhaps many of us have also made from time to time: O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not listen?” (ch. 1). Though he admits that the people may deserve some correction, he ponders why God might allow an enemy (the Chaldeans) to make life so difficult for the people who—for the most part—are more righteous, and he gets his answer in the realization that the upright will survive by way of their faithfulness to God (ch. 2). He also gains an awareness that the timeline is God's to work out and ours to accept, and so he prays for deliverance and is given a theophany (a vision) of God's approach; we also encounter an ancient name for God, Eloah, in the final chapter (ch. 3). When you finish this book, you will have read 42 (57.5%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,049 (78.9%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Brian Kumar Carpenter will be ordained a priest 2 weeks from this Saturday (that is, on June 6th ) at 10:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Cathedral . Brian invites all of you to attend. As shared earlier, he has no relatives in Rochester and is the only one being ordained. So that he doesn't have an empty cathedral, please plan on attending if at all possible, especially if you've never witnessed an ordination. Given our bishop's retirement in 2012 and there being no ordinations in the pipeline until 2013, this will be Bishop Clark's final ordination for the Diocese of Rochester. Father Mike Schramel would have been in Bishop Clark's first ordination class in 1980. So, do put it on your calendar. This will be a special occasion on many levels.
Today is Diocesan Missions Sunday. Our prayers and 2nd collection are for the missions in Brazil and Chile staffed by our Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St. Joseph. Today is also the final day for names for Pastoral Council: five new members will be selected at the Masses of Pentecost Sunday two weeks from today. Tuesday evening is our 2009 Volunteer Appreciation Party. The doors open on Dailey Hall at St. Ambrose at 6:30 P.M. (and not a moment sooner—so don't come early); it should be a fun and memorable night for all! (A week from Tuesday is the 2nd Early Bird Festival drawing!) Wednesday, our Finance Council meets to try to finish the draft of our 2009-2010 parish budget. This Thursday is the feast of the Ascension , a Holy Day of Obligation: Masses are 6:30 A.M. at St. James, 12:10 P.M. at St. Ambrose, and 7:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist. Lastly, thanks for all Time-Talent-Treasure forms turned in to date. The year ahead will be as engaging and peer-ministering as we choose! Peace to all!
— Father Schrader
May 10 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Nahum is the 41st book of our Bibles. It begins the second half of the 12 Minor Prophets whose writings are all on one scroll and conclude the Old Testament. Nahum is a 7th Century B.C. prophet whose prophecy concerns the period between the fall of Thebes to Assyria in 663 B.C. and the fall of Nineveh to Babylon in 612 B.C. He has good news for the People of God: they will once again be free from fear and oppression, for God's power will overcome the human weakness of their day. The first seven verses of the book start out alphabetically like a number of the psalms had (that is, with each succeeding verse's first word beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet), and in those verses we learn that God is a jealous God, yet at the same time mercifully slow to anger (ch. 1). Then we hear the familiar and comforting phrase regarding how on the mountains are the feet of one who brings glad tidings (ch. 2). Both Thebes and Nineveh are then mentioned (ch. 3) as the book's message of hope comes to its conclusion. When you finish this book, you will have read 41 (56.2%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,049 (78.6%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
A very Blessed Mother's Day this Sunday to all mothers in our parish! May God's blessings be yours in abundance on this day and throughout the year ahead!
Last Sunday's proclamation of Mark's Gospel by heart was most moving for all who were able to attend. Many thanks to Gloria Ulterino and Ken Klamm who worked so hard with their 14 co-proclaimers since last Thanksgiving to help make this presentation possible. This 2nd year of the diocese's 3-year Spirit Alive spiritual renewal process has truly been alive here in Peace of Christ Parish, and hopefully will continue to reap graces for all who crack open the Holy Book's pages in our churches and homes alike!
Tuesday is Pastoral Council at 7:00 P.M. in the church hall at St. John the Evangelist. Open Forum is at 7:15 P.M. Then our main item will be follow-up to yesterday's day-long session on our parish Vision Statement. Please, give councilors any input as you see them at Mass today. By the way, we are seeking nominees for 5 council seats that need to be filled. Please, drop your nomination in the basket at collection time so we can contact all possible nominees before the May 31st selection. Thanks. Wednesday is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. I would like to gather with any who are available to have some prayer for all those affected by our economy. We'll gather at 7:00 P.M. in St. James Church. Your ideas on what might be most helpful by way of a parish response to this issue will also be most welcome as we plan a special evening for early June. Such input can be shared at the Wednesday evening coffee hour after our prayer. Lastly, the final campaign roster will be in the bulletin in early June. CMA-related gifts for 2008-09 must be in by May 31. Many thanks for sacrifices so lovingly made to date (see pages 6-8). Peace to all!
— Father Schrader
May 3 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Micah is the 40th book in our Bible. Its seven chapters give one-per-day for those reading a book a week. If Micah were to be made into a TV special, it would appear as an 8th Century B.C. courtroom drama. In chapters 1-2, there is a summons to the trial: Jerusalem is nicknamed “the sin of the House of Israel” and Judah experiences “no cure for wounds by the Lord”—the people have been unfaithful to the One who is always faithful (ch. 1); then we hear the specific social evils denounced, a prophecy of misfortune, and yet the possibility of restoration (ch. 2). In chapters 3-4, the charges are leveled: the wicked rulers and prophets have skinned and flayed the people, chopped them up and eaten them—ouch! (ch. 3); and they are then told that peace and security will come only through obedience, that their swords must be beaten into plowshares (just as in Isaiah 2:2-4), and that restoration (post-exile) will then be possible (ch. 4). In the next chapter, we have the Christmas promise that a future ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem (ch. 5). Finally, we have God's decision in the case: after a Good Friday lamentation (“My People, what have I done to you!”), we hear that passage Jimmy Carter used in his inaugural address regarding what God wants of them—indeed, of us (“to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God”) (ch. 6); and then we hear a call to penitence and trust to God, followed finally by the post-exilic restoration (ch. 7). When you finish this book, you will have read 40 (54.8%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,046 (78.4%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Much going on these days! Today, Mark's Gospel will be proclaimed in its entirety by heart in St. Ambrose Church starting at 1:30 P.M. At the same time in Dailey Hall, this year's CROP Walk for hunger commences. Today is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations and I am delighted to share with you that Brian Carpenter (to be ordained a priest on June 6th) will join us on staff on June 30th. More later on that, but it is truly a tribute to Peace of Christ Parish itself that Bishop Clark would send us the diocese's only ordination of the year—indeed, the final ordination of Bishop Clark before he retires in 2012. Today is also Stewardship Sunday. Thank you for dropping your Time-Talent-Treasure responses in the collection with your regular offering today. Today's economy has affected us all. But it is obvious (reinforced by the bishop's assignment of Brian here) that we have much worth supporting in our pastoral program. Monday evening, our Joint Facilities Committee will meet at 7:00 at St. John's to continue monitoring the application of last Fall's capital campaign funds to our ongoing physical plant needs. Tuesday night, Liturgy Committee meets at St. Ambrose; and Wednesday night, Stewardship Committee meets at St. James. Thursday is the 58th annual National Day of Prayer. Happy Birthday, Friday, to our Office Manager, Colleen Griffith. Saturday's Full “Flower” Moon brings a day for Vision Statement development, and next Sunday is Mother's Day. Pax to all!
— Father Schrader
April 26 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Jonah is our 39th book in the Bible. Four times longer than the previous book of Obadiah, it has four whole chapters! The story of Jonah is set about seven centuries before Christ, though it may well have been written a few centuries later. Jonah is not one who was thrilled with his prophetic mission. The first chapter tells us right off that, when sent by God to Nineveh (a city in the heart of Israel 's enemy, Assyria ), he ran the other way. Stowing away aboard a ship, the vessel is tossed about in a storm until the sailors determine that it is because of Jonah's running from God that the storm is upon them. They throw him overboard, and the sea is calmed (and they pray to Jonah's God as a result). Jonah is also saved, sings a psalm of thanksgiving, and is spewed upon the shores of Nineveh 's country by the large fish that had swallowed him, all in chapter two. Then, in chapter three, much to Jonah's surprise (and apparent disappointment), the people of Nineveh turn from their evil ways when Jonah prophesies (he had actually wished that the Lord would have cause to follow through with divine punishment instead). Though all of these would have provided lessons enough for us to ponder (unnecessary fear while doing God's will, the inability to run permanently from God, the inevitability of God's will being carried out whether we agree with it or not, and the very nature of God's forgiving heart), it seems the chief lesson of the book lies in the fourth and final chapter: that we mustn't be upset if God is more merciful than we are. Indeed, if Jonah can be upset about the qiqayon plant (which he had nothing to do with growing) that withers, can we expect God not to be concerned about a whole city of people who realize their errors and return with contrite hearts? Certainly there is much for our attention in this brief book! When you finish this book, you will have read 39 (53.4%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,039 (77.9%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
We wish John Griffith of St. James maintenance staff a very happy birthday today. This Sunday afternoon, we have an Anointing of the Sick service at St. John the Evangelist at 2:00 P.M. Monday evening is Eastertime Lessons and Carols at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose. Also on Monday the annual Time-Talent-Treasure mailing will go out to all registered parishioners. Last year, we assured the fiscal ability to support the infrastructure of our three-site parish by way of the capital campaign. Now, we have the opportunity to show how we are going to support the ministry to be carried out at those three sites and show how we are going to staff (by employees and ourselves as volunteers) these ministries. Please, review the mailing and drop your response forms in next week's collection if you would, please. Thursday, our Festival Captains meet at 7:00 P.M., and next Sunday we have the CROP Walk outside and the presentation of Mark's Gospel inside, both at St. Ambrose. What a wonderful way to celebrate this year's focus on Mark: hear the whole gospel in one day!
— Father Schrader
April 19 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Obadiah is the 38th book in our Bibles. It is also one of the shortest (tied with four books in the New Testament) at only one chapter in length. For those reading a book a week, this week you'll only have to read three verses a day! Obadiah writes from over 500 years before Christ. His name means “Servant of God,” and he is such by taking the people of Edom to task for forgetting their ties to the people of Judah going way back to the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca: the Edomites descended from Esau, the Israelites from Jacob. When Jerusalem fell in 587 B.C., the Edomites mistreated the people of Judah . Obadiah points out in verses 12-14 eight things the people of Edom should not have done, and he tries to break the cycle of violence by prophesying what lies in store for them if they have no change of heart. In sort of a backward golden rule, he writes in verse 15 that “as you have done, so will be done to you.” As with many of the other prophets, Obadiah writes of the Day of Yahweh (verses 16-18), and then speaks more hopefully of a New Israel. Timothy P. Schehr, author of The Bible Made Easy which has been quoted a few times earlier (ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2), shares three spiritual lessons from Obadiah: “This world is a gift from God to be enjoyed. Human plans should be in accord with the plans of God. The misfortunes of others should stir up within us feelings of compassion” (p. 125). When you finish this book, you will have read 38 (52.1%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,035 (77.6%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Today is the end of the Easter Octave, it is Low Sunday, it is Divine Mercy Sunday, it is Orthodox Easter, and it is the 4th anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict XVI. It was on this feast two years ago that Bishop Clark blessed our new Peace of Christ Offices. Tomorrow, Monday the 20th, Father Bob Werth and I will be going to the annual Convocation with Bishop Clark. This year, it is in Ithaca , and we shall be there until Wednesday afternoon. Our weekday liturgies on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will, therefore, be Communion Services, and I am grateful to our Pastoral Staff for providing these in our absence. May we pray for one another during these days. Tuesday itself is also Holocaust Remembrance Day: let us be mindful of all who suffer abuse in any way. Wednesday is both Earth Day and Administrative Professionals Day. Thursday is the 30th anniversary of Bishop Clark being asked to be our bishop. Friday is National Arbor Day: be sure to take a tree to lunch! Saturday is the Feast of St. Mark. There is a group of parishioners who (one novena of days from St. Mark's Feast) will proclaim the entire Gospel of Mark by heart. Do plan to witness this unique presentation in St. Ambrose Church at 1:30 P.M. on Sunday, May 3rd. And next Sunday, we have the first of three annual Peace of Christ Services of the Anointing of the Sick at 2:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist Church . May this week be truly blessed for all.
— Father Schrader
April 12 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Amos is the 37th (and, therefore, the middle) book we meet in our Catholic Bibles. Further—for those who have been reading a book a week—since the books in the first half of the Bible are longer (containing over 3/4 of the chapters of the Bible), we have yet to read less than 1/3 of the amount we've already read until we get to the end! Amos is the 3rd to be found on the single scroll of the 12 Minor Prophets who complete the Old Testament. Amos is an 8th century B.C. prophet from Judea in the South, yet he prophesies to the people of Israel in the North—just as Hosea (who himself was from the North) did earlier on this scroll. The first 6 chapters are a warning of judgment that shall come upon the people because they should have known better; the last 3 chapters are the judgment carried out. In Amos' prophecy, we read of the judgment that will come upon Damascus, Gaza, Philistia, Tyre, Phoenicia, Edom, and Ammon (ch. 1); then we move on to the judgment for Judah and Israel themselves (ch. 2); we hear how those who are comfy on their divans in Damascus will not be spared (ch. 3); Amos then does not exactly make points with the women of Samaria whom he likens to the “cows of Bashan” (ch. 4); we then hear several important passages: a lament for Israel, the fact that there is no salvation without repentance, the reminder that we are to seek good and not evil, a preview of the Day of Yahweh, an encounter with a lion and a bear and then a snake, and the guideline that it is justice and not sacrifice that God desires most (ch. 5); we are told that complacent self-indulgence (more lying on divans) will be punished (ch. 6); we witness 3 visions: one of locusts, one of a drought, and one of a plumb-line (just as such a tool tells the builder that the wall is straight, so too was Amos to Israel regarding its moral straightness before the Lord) (ch. 7); then we have a 4th vision, one of a basket of fruit (ch. 8); and finally a 5th vision, one of the destruction of the sanctuary and of Israel when one will not be safe even in heaven or hell from the judgment of the Lord (ch. 9). When you finish this book, you will have read 37 (50.7%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,034 (77.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
A Blessed Easter to all parishioners and guests with us this day, many thanks to all who have made our liturgies of Holy Week so profound, and congratulations to all who were fully initiated into our Faith at the Easter Vigil (see p. 2)! Per the above paragraph, we have been focusing on the Bible in this 2nd year of the 3-year diocesan Spirit Alive spiritual renewal process, and this column has been commenting on a book of the Bible each week since last August and will complete its Scriptural journey at the end of this December. See our web site for all the summaries (a new book is added each week.)
This week in the parish we have Pastoral Council at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday at St. John the Evangelist in the Church Hall. Our main focus will be on our Vision Statement and on our Nominating Committee. Wednesday, Finance Council meets. Peace of Christ to you all!
— Father Schrader
April 5 , 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Joel is the 36th book of our Bibles. It is one of the briefer Old Testament books being only four chapters long. The name Joel itself means “The Lord is God.” The first two chapters deal with a famine—it is a spiritual famine in that the people were not too good at remembering that the Lord was their one and only God. The last two chapters deal with a time of plenty—when we do remember that the Lord is our God, we do not have want. The prophecy dates from the 6th century B.C., and is a good one for our reflection at any time of the year. In Joel's pages, we will read of a lament over the ruin of the country and a call to repentance and prayer (ch. 1), the inevitable “Day of the Lord/Yahweh” that appears in all these Old Testament prophecies, and the familiar refrain from one of the Weston Priory hymns of decades gone by: “Come back to me with all your heart” (ch. 2), an outpouring of the Spirit that saves the day and a prophecy that Peter will quote in chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles (ch. 3, which is the end of ch. 2 in some Bible translations), and a passage about the judgment of the nations and ploughshares becoming swords (ch. 4, which is ch. 3 in some Bible translations—for our purposes, I am counting 4 as the number of chapters when I tally up the 1,334 chapters at the end of each of these Bible paragraphs). When you finish this book, you will have read 36 (49.3%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,025 (76.8%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
It was great to share with you last weekend the pictures and memorabilia of Antarctica . At this point, anyone can watch these pictures via a link on our parish website that will take you to Kodak's gallery for that travelogue. Just be patient when you click it. After about 30 seconds of a mostly black screen, the travelogue comes up. When the map of Antarctica appears a few moments after that, just hit the arrow for the 408 pictures at about 5 seconds each. Enjoy!
I am truly grateful to Gloria Ulterino and Ken Klamm for their help in working with all of our proclaimers of the Passion for this Palm Sunday's liturgies. It has been a religious experience for all involved to learn the entire Passion by heart, and hopefully our religious experience will become yours as the story of Christ's Passion is told once again. Monday evening, we have an ecumenical Tenebrae service at St. Ambrose at 7:00 P.M. Then on Tuesday, we have our final Tuesday Lenten series program with soup at 6:00 and Stations at 7:00 at St. James. Wednesday evening, our RCIA catechumens and candidates will be making final preparations for the Easter Vigil. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Morning Prayer will be celebrated at St. John's at 9:00 A.M. Thursday evening (Full “Pink” Moon), our Mass is at 7:00 at St. John's with solemn adoration afterwards at all three sites. Good Friday, we'll be at St. James from Noon to 3:00. The Easter Vigil Saturday is at St. Ambrose at 7:30 P.M., and on Easter Sunday there is an extra Mass at 11:30 A.M. at St. James. May this week ahead be our holiest all year. A very blessed one to you all!
— Father Schrader
March 29, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Hosea is the 35th book in our Bible, and technically it begins the final scroll of the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament. The last 12 books of this first of two Testaments in our Christian Bible are those of the Minor Prophets, and all are found on one scroll in the Hebrew Bible, unlike the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) each of whom was on a separate scroll. All of these final twelve, similar to the other four, move in their message from challenge to promise. Hosea is married to Gomer, and her unfaithfulness is a sign of Israel 's unfaithfulness to her God. Similarly, just as Gomer comes back to Hosea, so too Israel 's people to God. Hosea is an 8th Century B.C. prophet, and, according to commentator Timothy P. Schehr cited in earlier book summaries, three spiritual lessons found in Hosea that are paramount (and useful for ourselves) are: “No matter where we have strayed we can always come home to God. Nothing is more valuable than a relationship with God. Faith can transform a desert into a garden.” [ISBN 978-0-86716-598-2, p. 119] In Hosea's pages, we will read of Hosea and Gomer's 3 children each of whom had a name signifying something about God's relationship with Israel's people: God Make Fruitful, She Is Not Pitied, Not My People (ch.1); we see elements of punishment and redemption, good Lenten themes (ch. 2); we see how love of raisin cakes is right up there with idolatry (ch. 3); we journey to Beth-Aven [House of Evil] (ch. 4); we see the effects of stubbornness (ch. 5); we read a wonderful passage as we prepare for our own personal times of Penance celebration (ch. 6); we encounter conspiracy (ch. 7), apostasy (ch. 8), futility (ch. 9), and captivity (ch. 10); fortunately, we also witness God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (ch. 11); we meet rebellion and perversity (ch. 12), judgment and ruin (ch. 13), but finally repentance and conversion (ch. 14). When you finish this book, you will have read 35 (47.9%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,007 (76.5%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Many thanks to all whose names appear on the Roster of Appreciation (either specifically or by way of “Anonymous”), for your gifts in our capital campaign are enabling our continued presence in each of our three neighborhoods by allowing us to maintain our facilities in good stead for all. Indeed, on Monday evening, we have our Joint Facilities Committee meeting to gather the write-ups of the most urgent work to be done so we can bid it out and get it started by this summer. Tuesday brings our 1st of three Lent Penance Services, this one at 7 pm at St. John the Evangelist. Wednesday evening, why not celebrate April Fools day by stopping down at Coffee Hour (7-9 pm at St. James)! Thursday is our 2nd Penance Service at 7 pm at St. James. Friday, though not celebrated liturgically, is the feast of St. Richard (of Chichester ). Saturday is our 3rd Penance Service at 11 am at St. Ambrose. Next weekend is Palm Sunday. Final opportunities for Penance are “Confessions” as listed in column to left. Peace!
— Father Schrader
March 22, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Daniel brings us to the 34th book of the Bible. It is about the days of the Israelites exile in the Babylonian Empire in the 6th century B.C., yet it is written in the 2nd century B.C. during the Maccabean Revolt. That way, the author could give hope to those being persecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes in that later revolt without fear of retribution by Antiochus because he would think it was being written about the earlier Nebuchadnezzar—it was sort of like writing in code. The name Daniel itself means “God is my judge” and that is what Daniel was trying to convey, that divine protection was for more than Daniel and those in the story being read; it was for all who were doing the reading. In Daniel's pages, we'll hear the story of the four young Israelites (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) whom we know better by the names given them in Babylon (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) and who did better on vegetables than those who ate meat that had been sacrificed to false gods (ch. 1); we'll hear about Daniel's ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams (ch. 2) and we'll read a section that was originally written in Aramaic ( 2:4b-7:28) except for one part that was written in Greek (3:24-91a); we'll read a very long chapter that tells of a failed attempt to burn the three young men in the furnace and then relates two songs which are very prayerful (ch. 3); we'll then read of Belshazzar profaning the stolen vessels of the Temple and of the writing that is on the wall for him (ch, 5); we read of how Daniel is one of three Presidents over the satraps of Greece, and yet of how he is thrown into the Lion's Den (ch. 6); we have the vision of the four beasts (ch. 7); we encounter Gabriel interpreting for Daniel just as Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar (ch. 8); Archangel Michael reenters the scene (ch. 10); then Antiochus Epiphanes is met (ch, 11), and we encounter a pre-Christ notion of Resurrection of the dead (ch. 12); chapters 13 and 14 are in the Greek but not the Hebrew Bible, and there we'll read the beautiful story of Susanna, a woman of virtue (ch. 13); and finally, Daniel kills a dragon and Habakkuk stews (ch. 14). When you finish this book, you will have read 34 (46.6%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 1,007 (75.5%—over 3/4) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Many thanks to all who made last Tuesday's Irish Cultural Celebration such a success! Also, congratulations to Peace of Christ's own Joseph Lobozzo who was honored at Catholic Family Center 's annual Gala this past Friday! While I am in Baltimore this weekend for the Spring session of the National Advisory Council, I am grateful to Fr. Robert Bradler for covering Masses for me here in the parish. Today is Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday. It's also our annual Daffodil Sunday and the Catholic Relief Services collection as well. Join us Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. at St. Ambrose for the Scriptural Rosary. Lastly, a number have asked to see the pictures I captured of Antarctica , so this coming Saturday, March 28th , I'll do a 1-hour Travelogue at 2:00 P.M. in St. John the Evangelist church hall . All are welcome!
— Father Schrader
March 15, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Ezekiel is the 33rd book in our Bibles. In this prophet's text, we will find themes of judgment and restoration regarding God's people. It recounts events of the 6th century B.C. (the First Deportation to Babylon in 598, the Fall of Jerusalem in 587, and the End of the Exile in 537). The author is among the exiles along the rivers of Babylon . While God seems distanced by the people's turning to idols (leading to their subsequent defeat), we find God very much present to them by the end of the story. In Ezekiel's pages, we'll encounter a powerful vision at the very beginning, the public reading of which was restricted by the rabbis of old (ch. 1), scorpions and the eating of a scroll (ch. 2), a wonderful Penance preparation reading (ch. 3), calls for no tossing or turning (ch. 4), more cannibal themes (ch. 5), some doom-ish passages that are not uplifting (ch. 7), the Glory of God leaving Jerusalem (ch. 10), folks in a stew (ch. 11), a new teaching of Individual Responsibility and a warning about 4 particular scourges [sword/famine/wild beasts/plagues] (ch. 14), a parable of The Useless Vine (ch. 15), another great Penance preparation chapter (ch. 18), an allegorical history of Jerusalem itself—and a few notes about Egyptians I can't repeat here because this is a family publication (ch. 23), a revelation that it was God's own self Who put the sword into the hand of the king of Babylon (ch. 30), the familiar tenet that the bigger they are the harder they fall (ch. 31), the assurance that God is our true Shepherd (ch. 34), the exchange of hearts of flesh for hearts of stone (ch. 36), a powerful Old Testament vision of resurrection [story of the dry bones] (ch. 37), the bellybutton of the world (ch. 38), a pre-Eucharistic eating of flesh and drinking of blood (ch. 39), the use of vestments (ch. 42), the return of Divine Glory to the Temple (ch. 43), sweating (ch. 44), weighing (ch. 45), exiting (ch. 46), flowing (ch. 47), and God's future name (ch. 48). When you finish this book, you will have read 33 (45.2%) of the 73 books of the Bible, yet 993 (74.4%) of the 1,334 chapters of the Bible.
Many thanks to those who gave to the special second collection last weekend to aid our poorest urban children in our school. Today's is the 2nd of two such special second collections for that purpose in case you were unprepared last weekend. Tuesday is St. Patrick's Day. I look forward to being with you for a Teaching Mass at 5:00 P.M. at St. James followed by the Irish Cultural Celebration on which so many have worked so hard (coordinated by Fr. O'Werth). Friday brings Spring (at 7:44 A.M.). Lastly, a repeated thanks to all who have supported our parish capital campaign. You'll see work commencing soon at each of our three sites. The monthly updated roster of appreciation will next appear in the bulletin on March 29th. Please, remember to make all checks payable to “POC Campaign” (if you make it payable to Peace of Christ Parish, we'll presume you intend it simply for the regular collection). Using the special envelopes at each church will also direct it correctly, and save us billing costs. Thanks!
— Father Schrader
March 8, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Baruch brings us to the 32nd book of our Bibles. With only 5 chapters last week in Lamentations and now only 6 chapters in Baruch, for those of you who have been reading a book of the Bible each week si