St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
August 10, 1997

Pastor's Thoughts

Living organisms need nourishment to survive. Similarly, the living organism of the Body of Christ at St. Anthony of Padua Parish needs to be nourished by liturgical celebration, fellowship, and spiritual development if it is to maintain its identity and self-worth, if it is to provide a healthy system of support and accountability for the members of that body, if it is to make a meaningful contribution to the larger Church and to the neighborhood around us.
On the other hand, a body can die of starvation, and the "one body, one spirit in Christ" that we represent and make happen here at St. Anthony's can die a slow and painful death because of ignorance, mistaken ideas, and denial.
I've already spoken briefly about liturgy and community-building; so today I want to focus on spiritual development -- which is also called "ongoing formation" or "continuing education."
Spiritual development is an absolutely necessary component of a healthy parish. Without it we die. We weaken and wither as a parish if we do not renew our minds and our spirits with constant updating because this is one of the essential "food groups" of a healthy parish.
A change, therefore, we want to initiate during the next year is to provide for the members of the parish more and diverse programs of continuing education to interest more members of the parish.
Ordinarily we will use the 9:00am slot on Sundays mornings so that the parishioners from both the 8:00 and the 10:30 Masses would be more inclined to come, and the 4:30 and 6:00 people might want to return.
We will develop three types of programs: a focus on Sacred Scripture, an examination of what exactly the Church teaches through the Catechism, and special topics for particular interest groups (e.g., for those widowed, for senior citizens, for single parents, etc.).
We will also pay special attention to the preparation for the sacraments and to the RCIA program.
It is an ambitious program, but it's worth it to keep you healthy. Just make sure you come!
--Father Benet OFM

August 15-18 I will be conducting the pastoral visit of the SFO regional fraternity in Michigan.

Offering

Envelopes $3,531.19
Loose Collection 662.97
Children's Envelopes 6.25
TOTAL: 4,200.41
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(8/3/97): (Week #5):
$5,453.06 $27,265.30
4,200.41 21,669.29
-1,252.65 -5,596.01
"Be imitators of God as his beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us" (Eph 5:2). Jesus gave of His life. What are we willing to give to express our love for Jesus and our gratefulness?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: Has the St. Jude Novena item on the bulletin board [in the church] been approved for posting or did someone just put it up? (If not approved, it should be taken down as it sets a bad precedent: other's personal devotion items vs. parish items, church items, and neighborhood items.)
A: No, the novena prayers were put there by someone who did not receive permission from the pastoral staff. (The boards are clearly marked that such permission is needed.) The bulletin boards near the entrances of the church are to be used for exactly the items that you listed in your question. Permission is needed in order to assure that things posted fulfill this criteria, and are in accord with church teaching. Anything placed on bulletin boards, or anywhere else in the church, without permission is removed and discarded.
(Before the hate mail starts coming in, let me state that I am not saying novenas and other such personal devotions are not in accord with church teaching and tradition. What I AM saying is that they do not fulfill the above mentioned criteria. Personal devotions are just that - personal - and do not always meet the spiritual needs of everyone. And YES, you can still call yourself a good Catholic if you do not have these devotions as part of your personal prayer life.) To be continued next week...
--Brother Richard OFM

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

On Friday, August 15, the Church around the world celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day we commemorate that "the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body" Catechism of the Catholic Church, #974. For this great feastday our parish celebrations of the Eucharist will be on Thursday evening, August 14, at 7:00pm and on Friday, August 15, at 6:00am, 8:00am, and 11:00am (at Chariton Apartments).

Parish News

FEAST OF ST. CLARE: Everyone is invited to a special solemn Eucharist, sponsored by the Secular Franciscans, to celebrate the feast of St. Clare of Assisi, the companion and co-founder with St. Francis. The Mass will be Monday, August 11, at 7:00pm in the friars' choir.

A TRIBUTE TO LOU SCHAUM: At the 4:30 Mass on Saturday, August 23 the Choristers of years- gone-by will sing a Latin Mass as a tribute to Mr. Louis P. Schaum. Please join in the celebration. After Mass a buffet lunch will be offered in St. Anthony Hall at the cost of $5.00 per person. If you wish to join Lou for the lunch, please send a check to Virgil Cox, 4844 Viento Drive, 63129- 1642 no later than August 15. For more information, call Virgil at 892-3347.

JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT CONCERT: Call Tom Moran after 6:00pm at 353-4791 for tickets to the John Michael Talbot Concert on October 11.

SANCTUARY LAMPS: This week one of the sanctuary lamps will be lit to remember Leo and Carolyn Elliott at the request of Mary Elliott. The other one will be lit for the Doug Potts Family.

QUILT WINNER: Mrs. Alfred DePalma - 5203 Windsor Parkway. (CORRECTION: The 7/17 quilt was won by Sandy Phfistner of 6982 Penrod.)

STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES

PRIORITY #3

Here is the third priority formulated by the participants of the Leadership Day on June 21, 1997, with its action plans (the names in parentheses after each action plan are those responsible for developing a workable strategy):

In the next year we need to foster and support all of the educational needs of the parish by
3.1 re-initiating a youth ministry through an 8th-grade homecoming project (Georgia Berry and Patty Penrose)
3.2 having regular educational instruction from the pulpit or before Mass to explain changes in policy or practice (Bob Morgan and Rosemary McGill)
3.3 bolstering the school through recruiting more students and cultivating a mentoring program among seniors (Maryanne Halbauer and Ray Meuer)
3.4 developing a program for the parents of the newly baptized to foster family spirituality in the homes (Sister Ann Clarice and Cheryl Degenhart).

This priority deal with education on all levels in our parish, especially with children, youth, parents, and regular worshipers.
Regarding the children in the school, we want to build up our enrollment and our curriculum to make it as excellent and as competitive as possible. We also want to get our senior citizens more involved in this process.
Regarding the youth, have you noticed that there is hardly anyone in church between the ages of 15 and 30? We have to do something about this soon! We will start with the newly graduated 8th graders from last May.
Regarding parents, there needs to be fostered the building of a family spirituality from the very beginning; that is why the parents of newly baptized will be targeted.
Regarding our regular worshipers, we need to make clear the what and the why of any changes we initiate; so we plan to use on occasion the time before, during, or after Mass for some explanations.
--Father Benet OFM

RETURNING GOD'S GIFTS

"What return shall I make to the Lord for his goodness to me?" (Ps 116:12).
This weekend kicks off the new capital/endowment campaign of the Archdiocese of St. Louis entitled Returning God's Gifts, Sharing our Hope.
This campaign is designed to meet the future needs of Catholic families, individuals, and parishes.
This is an endowment campaign. The money raised will provide perpetual funding to address defined areas of need in the archdiocese -- 27% to fund Catholic education, 26% to ensure healthy parishes, 18% to support retired priests, 8% to maintain the seminary, 10% to benefit our own parish, 7% to take care of administrative costs, and 4% to strengthen the "mother church" (cathedral) of the archdiocese.
In this campaign only earned interest is spent; the principal remains untouched.
You will be hearing much more about this special way of supporting the local Church (parish and archdiocese) in the near future.

SOCIAL FUND RAISERS

1. 28TH ANNUAL CATHEDRALFETE of the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica, Saturday, August 16, 10am to 10pm, Lindell and Newstead, including the popular French Cafe and bakery.
2. POLISH AMERICAN CELEBRATION at the amphitheater of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Saturday, August 16, Social at 7:00pm, Liturgy at 7:30pm, Rosary at 8:30pm, Polka Music at 9:00pm; call 241-3400 for details.
3. TRIVIA NIGHT to benefit Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairment and Our Little Haven on Saturday, August 16, at DeSmet High School; donation $10.00 per person; call 481-6162 for details.
4. 154TH ANNUAL PICNIC of St. Mary of Victories Church (744 South Third) on Sunday, August 17; Hungarian food from noon on; music 6-10pm.
5. 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of Blessed Sacrament Church (5017 Northland Avenue, 63113: August 21 at 7:00pm, Mass and Benediction commemorating the first Mass; September 7 at 9:00am, Parish Mass and Picnic; September 13 at 5:00pm, Mass followed by cocktails and dinner at Bradley Hall; call 367-5244 for details.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, August 11, ST. CLARE OF ASSISI
6:30 Mary Markowski
8:15 Raymond Buchheit
7:00 Special SFO Mass
Tuesday, August 12, Weekday
6:30 Leo F. Schwald
8:15 William B. Schulte
Wednesday, August 13, SS. Pontian & Hippolytus
6:30 Dorothy Paulis
8:15 Walter Krutewicz, Jr. (Birthday)
Thursday, August 14, St. Maximilian Kolbe
6:30 Harold Holtz
8:15 Peter Szydlowski
Friday, August 15, ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM
7:00 (Thursday) Victor Gutting
6:30 For the Parishioners
8:00 Jan Krus
10:30 Catherine Jacko (Charless)
11:00 Dorothy & Mathilda Swehla (Chariton Apts.)
Saturday, August 16, St. Stephen of Hungary
6:30 Frank J. Cordes, Jr. & Family
8:00 Frank & Margaret Graf
Sunday, August 17, 20TH IN ORDINARY TIME
4:30 (Saturday) Deceased of Flynn Family
6:00 For the Parishioners
8:00 Marcella Doran
10:30 Deceased of Becker Family

Liturgical Assistants

August 14-15, FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
LECTORS:
7:00 (Thursday) Ed Meyer
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Bill Kamper
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
7:00 (Thursday) Pat Penrose
6:00 Marie Serafin
8:00 Betty Marton

Sunday, August 16-17, 20th in Ordinary Time LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Aug. 11-16: Alberta Stackle
4:30 Philipa Krueger, Sandy Montgomery
6:00 Ken Dames
8:00 Bob and Karen Morgan
10:30 George and Mary Ann Schmidt
6:30 Weekdays, Aug. 18-23: Georgia Berry
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Joannie Medina, Hortense Moore
Cups: Wanda & Ed Meyer, Anthony Minnick, Pat Nieters
6:00 Phyllis Morrison
8:00 Hosts: Marie Mergel, Mike Mount
Cups: Gene Rombach, Debbie Williams, Dave Bergfeld, Regina Buchheit
10:30 Hosts: Julie Brown, Brenda Boyer
Cups: Alberta Stackle, Mary Ann Schmidt, Janice Leight, Bev Ruzicka, Tom Moran, Pat Penrose

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin August 10, 1997