St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
January 18, 1998

Pastor's Column

For the next six weeks or so we are back in "Ordinary Time," that section of the liturgical year when we focus on putting into practice the particular mystery or event in Christ's life that we have just celebrated.
We have gone through the Christmas Season with its five major feasts: Christmas ("The Word became flesh"), Holy Family and Mary Mother of God ("and made his dwelling among us"), Epiphany ("and we have seen his glory"), and The Baptism of the Lord ("the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.")
Now it is time for us to take ownership of this great happening in our own lives ("Of his glory we have all had a share -- love following upon love") and to commit ourselves to enflesh or manifest or make plain-and-clear this Word to others.
On this second Sunday in Ordinary Time we focus our attention on the wedding feast at Cana to highlight the fact that the life and mission of married couples is one of the basic human ways for Christ to show the world how much he loves us.
St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians, "[Marriage] is a great foreshadowing: I mean that it refers to Christ and the Church" (5:32).
Matrimony is the call by God to reveal through the bonding of human love how Jesus Christ himself is relating with his people to form unity here and hereafter. So, the love between husband and wife -- in its sexual, relational, familial, and social dimensions -- is meant to be an image, a mirror, a model, a sacrament of how Christ interacts lovingly with his people.
This approach to matrimony to make God-with- us convincingly present and active to the world through human love doesn't happen automatically. It takes hard work and patient effort to fulfill a three-part promise: active participation in the Body of Christ; a persevering two-sided, other- centered love for one another; and a positive power to influence others by loving God and one another.
My thanks to all the married couples of the parish who day after day become this sacrament of matrimony and manifest the loving Christ to a world desperately in need of real love.
--Father Benet OFM

Offering

Envelopes $3,760.36
Loose Collection $ 642.50
Children's Envelopes $ 6.25
TOTAL: $4,409.11
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(1/11/98): (Week #28):
$ 5,453.06 $152,694.68
$ 4,409.11 $142,473.99
$-1,043.95 $-10,220.69
"There are different gifts but the same spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone" (1 Cor 12:4-6). We are each called individually by the same God, for the same purpose; to minister to each other. How does the spirit call you to best use your gifts?

Thanks

I again count my blessings as your pastor, and I express my gratitude in a special way to the many volunteers, both adults and children, who helped this week to dismantle and put away the Christmas decorations, and to the faithful contributors who added over $7,000 to the Building Fund since January 1st so that we can repair the upper windows in order to finish the painting and artwork.
--Father Benet OFM

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...

about "Ordinary Time"
The Christmas decorations have been put away for another year, the weather is cold and dreary, and we are settling into that time of the year that the Church calls "ordinary." Most people, when they hear the word "ordinary," may think of the words "plain," or "uneventful," but that's not what the Church has in mind when it uses the term "ordinary." "This time of year is, rather, a succession of Sundays counted in order. So, counted = ordered = ordinary." During this time our liturgical celebrations are centered around these Sundays, these "Days of the Lord," when we gather together to hear the Word of God, to celebrate the Paschal Mystery, and to support each other, as we take the gospel message of peace and reconciliation to all we meet during the coming week, only to return once again in the following Sunday, to worship and be reinvigorated for our task of spreading the Gospel.
(Sourcebook 1998)
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM

Parish News

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: The next morning group will meet on Tuesday, January 20, at 10:30am in the sacristy meeting room. For information, call Kate or Barb at 353-7470.

IMPORTANT PICNIC MEETING: The first planning meeting for the Parish Picnic will be held on Wednesday, January 21, at 7:00pm in St. Anthony Hall. Besides interested individuals, a representative of every parish organization is asked to attend. The success of this biggest fund-raiser of the year depends on YOU!

SCHEDULING A BAR-B-QUE: Any organization at St. Anthony's that in interested in sponsoring a Bar-B-Que during 1998 must attend a meeting on Monday, January 26 at 7:00pm in St. Anthony Hall. Failure to attend means forfeiture of a scheduled Bar-B-Que.

RETURN TO TEEN TOWN: The St. Anthony Youth Commission presents "Return to Teen Town" with Bob Kuban on Saturday, February 7, 1998, in the gym from 8:00am to midnight. Tickets: $15.00 per person. Beer and set-ups included. Must be 21 or over. Paid reservations only. For information and tickets call Jane or Mike Stone at 832-5235. This fund-raiser benefits the youth programs of the parish.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: A limited number of special prayer cards for Christian Unity are available at the entrances of the church. From January 18 to January 25 please offer a special prayer every day for unity in the Church, harmony in our Archdiocese, and cooperation and collaboration in our parish.

VIDEO ON FIRE AND REBUILDING is still available at the parish office ; call 353-7470.

PARISH MISSION

On the Thursdays of Lent, from March 5 to March 26, we will celebrate a Parish Mission at St. Anthony's with the Bishops of our Archdiocese: Archbishop Rigali, Bishop Braxton, Bishop Sheridan, and Bishop Naumann; the theme will be the Working of the Holy Spirit. There will be Mass and a special sermon each Thursday at 7:00pm. The mission will conclude with a communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation led by our Franciscan Vicar Provincial, Fr. John Doctor OFM, on Thursday, April 2, at 7:00pm. Mark your calendars for this special and historic event!

Respect Life

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in our country.

ARCHDIOCESAN OBSERVANCE: On Sunday, January 18, at 12 noon at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (New Cathedral) you are invited to join Catholics throughout the Archdiocese at a Mass to celebrate God's gift of life, "Adoption as Gift of Love." Archbishop Rigali will preside and preach at the Mass. A special invitation is extended to all those who have been involved in adoption -- those who have relinquished a child for adoption, those who have adopted a child, those who are adopted, and those who are waiting to adopt a child; they will receive special recognition and a special blessing by Archbishop Rigali.

MEMORIAL PRAYER AND MASS: On January 22 you are invited to a memorial ceremony and Mass, starting with the rosary at 7:00pm at the Memorial to the Unborn located in front of Bishop DuBourg High School, followed by a procession of several blocks to St. Gabriel Church, 6303 Notthingham, for a 7:30pm Mass with Fr. Charles Burgoon presiding and Msgr. Patrick J. Molloy preaching.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON: Two of our high school students -- Beth Morgan and Sandy Montgomery -- will travel to Washington, D.C., and represent our parish at the annual March on Washington to emphasize respect for life and to protest the Supreme Court's decision on abortion. Our prayers and our support go with them.

LIFELINE COALITION: Abortion on demand has resulted in the death of over 36 million unborn babies. In the midst of this holocaust against the unborn throughout this last quarter of a century, the loving and generous Catholic community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis has responded to women in crisis pregnancies through LifeLine Coalition, the organization of social service agencies who offer help in providing for the needs, maternity clothes, counseling, housing, education, employment, medical care, baby supplies, etc., of any woman who chooses life for her unborn baby rather than death by abortion. We ask for your support of this special work of the LifeLine Coalition. Place a donation in a plain envelope, mark it LifeLine Coalition, and drop it in next Sunday's collection.

NEWS ABOUT PARISHIONERS

RESTING IN PEACE: In your kindness please pray for Mable Hoffman, 84, who was buried on Jan. 6, 1998, and Joseph Becker, 89 who was buried on Jan. 14, 1998.
SANCTUARY LAMP: This week one sanctuary lamp is lit as a prayerful remembrance of the Gyaky, Zarka, Wambach, Horvath and Seper Families at the request of MMG; the other is lit for the Richard Steger Family.
QUILT WINNERS: For December 25, Bob Stehlin of 1678 Clover Court; for January 1, Bill Marstall of 9406 Sappington Grove; for January 8, Geri Kremer of 8422 Hampstead.

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

ST. LOUIS REVIEW: Today we ask the people of our parish to renew their annual subscriptions to the St. Louis Review. The Review keeps you in touch with the Church in St. Louis, across the nation, and around the world. You will receive 50 issues for the subscription price of $16.00. Please use the special envelope provided and return it in the Sunday collection or at the friary.
HUMAN RIGHTS LITURGY: The Archdiocesan Commission on Human Rights will hold its 22nd annual liturgy in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday, January 18, at 1:30pm in St. Francis Xavier (College) Church; Bishop Edward K. Braxton will preside and preach. If you want to go and have no ride, contact Brother Loyola.
AEROBICS, sponsored by Resurrection Women's Club will begin January 19. Classes will meet twice a week for one hour from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost is $37.50 for the entire eight-week session. Classes are instructed by a representative of Corporate Health Systems. Call Angie at 481-5662.
CHRISTIAN UNITY MASS: Join Archbishop Rigali to pray for Christian Unity at a special Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on Tuesday, January 20, at 12:05pm.
PARISH MISSION: Our Holy Redeemer Church in Webster Groves (17 Joy Avenue) is sponsoring a parish mission on February 15-19 at 7:00pm; the theme of the Redemptorist Fathers' presentations is "Treasures of the Heart" and is aimed at bringing about spiritual rediscovery and renewal. For information call 962-0038.
ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH CONFERENCE: All high school students are invited to Youth Conference '98 on Sunday, February 22 at St. Mary's High School. Join 700 other youth for a day of fun, friends, a concert, a Youth Mass, dinner, and a dance. For details call Greg Rohde at 371-0121.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, January 19, Mass for Christian Unity
6:30 Carlyne M. Ries
8:00 Dorothy & Mathilda Swehla
Tuesday, January 20, Mass for Christian Unity
6:30 Schwald & Kadlez Families
8:00 John Fugina
Wednesday, January 21, St. Agnes
6:30 Henrietta Gansmann
8:00 Patricia Palermo
Thursday, January 22, Mass for Christian Unity
6:30 Bob Crowe
8:00 Jennifer Metherd
Friday, January 23, Mass for Christian Unity
6:30 Josephine Garavaglia
8:00 Doris A. Miles
Saturday, January 24, St. Francis de Sales
6:30 Norbert Fleischmann
8:00 Dorothy Paulis
Sunday, January 25, 3RD IN ORDINARY TIME
4:30 (Saturday)
6:00 For the Parishioners
8:00 Henri Bouchard
10:30 Doris A. Miles

Liturgical Assistants

Week of January 19-25

LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Jan. 19-24: Alberta Stackle
8:00 Weekdays, Jan. 19-24: Joe Sestric
Sunday, January 24-25
4:30 Sandy Montgomery, Ed Meyer
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Marie Mergel, Bill Kamper
10:30 Catholic School Week
Lectors from School
6:30 Weekdays, Jan. 26-31: Georgia Berry
8:00 Weekdays, Jan. 26-31: Sr. Virginia
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Dolores Buescher, Pat Nieters
Cups: Alured McNulty, Jackie Schmittgens, Esther Ehlen, Joanie Medina
6:00 Rich Steger
8:00 Hosts: Marie Mergel, Sr. Virginia
Cups: Doris Kamper, Dave Bergfeld, Betty Marton, Valerie Geldmacher
10:30 Catholic School Week
Hosts: Pat Penrose, Brenda Boyer
Cups: Janice Leicht, Jerry & Phyllis Forchee, Rich Busiek, Robert Harre, Bev Ruzicka

The Coming Week

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)
10:30 a.m. - Scout Mass
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2
(Blessing of Candles during Mass)
6:30 p.m. - Building & Maintenance Commission (L)
7:00 p.m. - Liturgy Planning (F)
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
(Blessing of Throats only after Masses and at school at 1:30pm)
6:30 p.m. - Bingo (L)
7:30 p.m. - Al-Anon Meeting (F)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Meeting (W)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
7:00 p.m. - Ladies' Sodality (M)
8:00 p.m. - A.A. Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Bob Kuban Dance (G)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8
8:00 a.m. - Ladies' Sodality Mass
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin January 18, 1998