St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
March 8, 1998

Second Sunday of Lent

On this Second Sunday of Lent we continue to make happen our special Lenten "Mission of Reconciliation" as we hear the Word of God and make it applicable to our lives.
The process of reconciliation we are trying to achieve involves a number of movements happening one upon the other:
First, we acknowledge that God is inviting us to a more abundant life.

Secondly, we admit our sinfulness and name what is blocking or detouring our experience of oneness.
Thirdly, we affirm our decision to change by concrete behavior modifications and definitive new attitudes.
Finally, we accept the healing power of God which places us once again in union with God, in harmony with others, in integrity with ourselves, in kinship with creation.
How do we see this happening in the light of the readings on this Second Sunday of Lent?
We come in touch with God's invitation to a deeper and more abundant relationship with him by recognizing his "transfiguration" (Gospel) in our world; that is, the glory of his love and mercy in the middle of a world riddled with crime and fear and lack of respect, the excitement of his presence in the hum-drum of our ordinary work-a-day existence. This we do primarily through Word and Sacrament, personal prayer, and the support of community.
To get in touch with this glory and this excitement, we remove the burdens that hold us back, the weights that tie us down, the chains that enslave us, the blinders that narrow our vision, the choices that limit us, the sins that detour our striving for holiness. This we do by confessing not just the "what" of our sinful behavior but the "why" of its happening in our lives.
Then, as Abraham did in the first reading, we make our act of faith and sacrifice of obedience to God by choosing to change our lives. This we do by making step-by-step concrete improvements in our attitudes and actions.
The result of this process is the realization that Christ "will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of his glorified body" (second reading). This is the healing power of God that we accept here and now without doubt and is the experience of reconciliation.

--Father Benet OFM

Offering
Envelopes $4,800.76
Loose Collection $ 296.39
Children's Envelopes $ 6.05
TOTAL: $5,103.20
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:
This Week Cumulative
(3/01/98): (Week #35):
$ 5,453.06 $190,866.10
$ 5,103.20 $174,263.70
$- 349.86 $-16,602.40
"Our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil 3:20). Stewardship calls us to be less possessed by what we possess and to realize the value of our life is reflected through our works of love and charity. These are the elements that bring us closer to our home in heaven.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...
about Lenten Practices
Lent is the perfect time to take a journey within, a transforming pilgrimage into our inmost spirit. We often talk of penance during Lent. The biblical word for "penance" means "personal conversion." Prayer, fasting and alms giving are the traditional disciplines, or forms of penance, that characterize the observance of Lent. These practices are in no way meant to be an exercise in self-punishment or self-improvement. Rather they should be a part of every Christian life in every season of the year. At this time of the year, they are meant to lead those who are already members of the church back to the fervor that should flow continually from the grace of baptism. The celebration of the Eucharist during Lent highlights the journey to live out our baptismal commitments and is not preoccupied with the suffering and death of Jesus, as are most popular Lenten devotions, until Holy Week. Sourcebook 1998, et al.
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM

NEW A.A. MEETING:

Every Monday at 11:00am in the West Meeting Room there will be an newcomers' open information meeting for Alcoholics Anonymous. Anyone is welcome to come and ask questions.

SOUTH CITY YOUTH CELEBRATION on Sunday, March 15, at 6:30pm at St. Stephen's with Mass followed by food and fun till 9:30pm. Come, and bring a friend!

Parish News

SECOND COLLECTION: This weekend's second collection will be for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Bishops' arm of charitable outreach to assist the poor and disadvantaged and traumatized throughout the world for the alleviation of suffering, the promotion of human development, and the fostering of charity and justice. These services -- and the support by people like you -- have been going since 1943.

COME HOME FOR LENT! If you are Catholic and have been married outside the Church, come get your marriage "fixed up" (validated) this Lent by calling Father Benet, the pastor, at 353-7470.

PASTORAL COUNCIL RENEWAL: Beginning this weekend, March 7-8, and concluding with an all-parish assembly on March 29, we as a parish will begin a process to renew the membership of the pastoral council. The start of the process will be the gathering of nominations for positions from the parishioners at the weekend Masses on March 7-8.

BAR-B-QUE: The Cub Scouts will sponsor a bar-b-que on Saturday, March 14, from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION, sponsored by the Franciscan Mothers Club & Auxiliary will be given by Fr. Jim Cormack CM on Tuesday, March 24, in St. Anthony Hall beginning at 9:30 and concluding with Mass in church at 2:00pm. For reservations call 752-9939 or 351-0926.

GOOD GRIEF!!! The next Good Grief Group will meet in the sacristy on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30pm. Call our social worker Kate or our parish nurse Barb (353-7470) for details.

FLEA MARKET, sponsored by the Franciscan Mothers Club & Auxiliary, will be held on Saturday, March 28, in St. Anthony Hall from 8:30am to 2:30pm. For tables call 481-7234 or 752-4793.

WITNESS TO YOUR FAITH: How is the Spirit of God working in your life? We are looking for persons to give testimony before Sunday Masses to what God is doing in their lives. For more information call Marie Mergel (894-3348) or Joetta Kern (771-1194).

MISSION OF RECONCILIATION

SPECIAL MISSION ON "THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" with Bishop Braxton celebrating Eucharist and preaching on "The Holy Spirit and Evangelization," on Thursday, March 12, at 7:00pm.

LENTEN HOME MASSES on Tuesday, March 10, at 7:00pm. Hosts are Marge Gleiforst (4338 Oregon Street, 481-7320) and Rose Hughes (4238 Minnesota, Apt. D; 351-0778). Please come, but call before coming.

LENTEN HOLY HOUR: At the Friday Holy Hour of Adoration at 3:00 pm on March 13 we will focus on the Holy Spirit's gift of Counsel, and we will pray for better Cooperation in our Parish. Come pray with us!

LENTEN FISH FRY: St. Anthony's sponsors a Fish Fry on every Friday of Lent from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Each one is hosted by a parish organization. The host group and the responsible person for Friday, March 13, are BOY SCOUTS (Karen Trigg, 481-8196). (Anyone who wants to bake a cake for one of the fish fries is to bring it to the Meramec Cafeteria any time after 1:00pm.)

LENTEN FOOD PANTRY GIFT: Each week of Lent you are asked to bring a particular food item for the Food Pantry as a lenten sacrifice. Place it on the steps of the St. Joseph Shrine on the east side of the church. For the Third Sunday of Lent (March 15) the food item will be:
jelly, peanut butter,
canned meats

LENTEN DEVOTIONS: Our Parish's "Mission of Reconciliation" includes:

Sundays, 6:00pm, Evening Prayer, Friars' Choir
Mondays, 6:00pm, Evening Prayer, Friars' Choir
Tuesdays, 7:00pm, Mass in Parishioners' Homes
Wednesdays, 2:15pm, Stations of the Cross with school children in church Fridays, 7:00pm, Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in church Saturdays, 5:30pm, "Soup 'n' Scripture" (studying and reflecting on the Bible), sacristy
(We ask each parishioner to choose at least ONE of these above activities every week besides the Mission Mass on Thursdays.

NEWS ABOUT PARISHIONERS

SANCTUARY LAMP: This week one of the sanctuary lamps is lit in memory of Frank Claeys by Florence Claeys, and the other as a prayerful remembrance of the Gyaky, Zarka, Wambach, Horvath, and Seper Families (MMG).
QUILT WINNER FOR FEBRUARY 26: Marie Kraus of 4333 Nebraska.

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER, sponsored by the Altar Society of St. Vincent De Paul Church, Sunday, March 8, 11:00am to 6:30pm.
SPRING FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS, sponsored by the Pro-Life Committee of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, St. Charles, Saturday, March 14, 9:00am to 3:00pm; call 946-6164 for information.
ST. PAT'S HOMECOMING CELEBRATION at St. Pius V Church, Saturday, March 14, with corned beef and ham dinners available from noon to 7:00pm.
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR, sponsored by the Spirit of St. Francis Drill Team, Saturday, March 21, 9:00am to 3:30pm, at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Center.
THE 13TH ANNUAL MANE EVENT DINNER AUCTION of St. John the Baptist College Prep High School will be held Saturday, March 28; call Peggy at 752-7901 for information and reservations.
INDOOR FLEA MARKET at Mary Queen of the Universe, Union at Ripa Saturday, April 4, 7:00am to 1:00pm; for reservations call 631-4683.
QUILT SOCIAL, sponsored by St. Agatha's Ladies Sodality, Sunday, April 5, beginning at 1:00pm.

Holy Week Schedule

Mark your calendars now for the special liturgical services of Holy Week:
Confessions: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (April 6, 7, & 8) after the 8:00am Mass, Tuesday evening (April 7) at 6:00pm, Wednesday afternoon (April 8) at 3:00pm.
Holy Thursday, April 9: Morning Prayer at 8:00am, Mass of the Lord's Supper at 6:00pm, Community Dinner at 7:00pm, Adoration until midnight
Good Friday, April 10: Morning Prayer at 8:00am, Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at 3:00pm, Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm
Holy Saturday, April 11: Morning Prayer at 8:00am followed by breakfast with the friars, Blessing of Food at 9:00am, Easter Vigil at 9:00pm

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, March 9, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Helen & Herman Hartlieb
8:00 John Folk
Tuesday, March 10, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Schwald & Kadlez Families
8:00 Steve Boliance, Jr.
Wednesday, March 11, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Marie A. Fox
8:00 Magdalen Boliance
Thursday, March 12, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Henrietta Gansmann
8:00 Mathilda M. Holdener
Friday, March 13, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Helen & Herman Hartlieb
8:00 Mr. Feldman
Saturday, March 14, Lenten Weekday
6:30 Helen & Herman Hartlieb
8:00 Fr. Goellner
Sunday, March 15, 3RD SUNDAY OF LENT
4:30 (Saturday) Mathilda Kohlberg
6:00 Parishioners
8:00 Harold Holtz
10:30 Helen & Herman Hartlieb

Liturgical Assistants

Week of March 9-15

LECTORS:
Weekdays, March 9-14:
6:30 Alberta Stackle
8:00 Joe Sestric
Mission Mass, March 12:
7:00 Steve Geldmacher
Sunday, March 14-15:
4:30 Sandy Montgomery, Ed Meyer
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Gene Rombach, Margaret Schodroski
10:30 Family Mass
Weekdays, March 16-21:
6:30 Georgia Berry
8:00 Sister Virginia
Mission Mass, March 19:
7:00 Alured McNulty

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
Mission Mass, March 12:
7:00 Hosts: Brother Loyola
Cups: Dolores Buescher, Alured McNulty, Anthony Minnick, Rosemary Beheiter, Valerie & Sue Geldmacher
Sunday, March 14-15
4:30 Hosts: Wanda Meyer, Ann Weiss
Cups: Jackie Schmittgens, Dolores Buescher, Tony Minnick, Pat Nieters*
6:00 Ken Dames
8:00 Hosts: Rosemary Beheiter, Debbie Williams
Cups: Betty Marton, Marie Mergel, Sr. Virginia, Mike Mount
10:30 Hosts: Jerry & Phyllis Forchee
Cups: Pat Penrose*, Gloria & Steve Derickson, Rich Busiek, Robert Harre, Janice Leicht
Mission Mass, March 19:
7:00 Hosts: Brother Richard
Cups: Pat Nieters, Linda Kohne, Sr. Virginia, Betty Marton, Theresa Mayer, Jackie Schmittgens

This Coming Week

SUNDAY, MARCH 22
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)
10:30 a.m. - SFO Mass
2:00 p.m. - SFO Meeting
6:00 p.m. - Lenten Evening Prayer
MONDAY, MARCH 23
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Information Meeting (W)
6:00 p.m. - Lenten Evening Prayer
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
9am-3pm - Day of Recollection, Franciscan Mothers' Club & Auxiliary (L)
6:30 p.m. - Bingo (L)
7:00 p.m. - Lenten Home Masses
7:30 p.m. - Al-Anon Meeting (F)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, ANNUNCIATION
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Meeting (W)
12:30 p.m. - Wednesday Club (L)
2:15 p.m. - Stations of the Cross
7:00 p.m. - Pastoral Council Meeting (S)
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
7:00 p.m. - PARISH MISSION MASS
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
3:30-6:30p - Fish Fry (M)
7:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross & Benediction
8:00 p.m. - A.A. Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
8am - 4pm - Flea Market (L)
5:30 p.m. - Soup 'n' Scripture
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
9:00 a.m. - ALL PARISH ASSEMBLY: CONFIRMATION OF PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL (L)
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)
6:00 p.m. - Lenten Evening Prayer

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin March 8, 1998