St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
August 24, 1997

Pastor's Thoughts

From its earliest days St. Anthony of Padua Parish has been proud -- and rightly so -- of its school which has provided a quality education and has developed excellence in academics, conduct, and living skills for thousands of children for many decades.
The school has been a stabilizing cornerstone for family, for community, for the neighborhood.
Tomorrow we begin another school year -- the 127th consecutive year of quality education provided by St. Anthony of Padua School.
And as we do so, I want to bring to your attention a number of items about the school.
First of all, our principal, Ms. Joan Feldmann, in her capacity as "pastoral associate for education," will be chairing a new council this year: the education council. It will be a forum for ideas and communications and will meet at least quarterly. It will consist of a representative of the school's faculty, of the school parents, of Headstart, of the Pre-School, of Home and School, and the members of the School Board.
Also, we want to make it very clear that St. Anthony of Padua School is not just an elementary school for parishioners. It is a Catholic grade school, sponsored and operated by St. Anthony of Padua Parish, to provide quality education and superior moral training for all children -- parishioners or not, Catholic or not -- whose parents or guardians contract with the parish to attend our school. Maintaining our traditions but reading the signs of the times, our school will continually have a different face and a different personality.
Moreover, we emphasize that every child in the school already gets a tuition reduction because it costs about $2700 to educate each student, and the tuition for one student from the parish is only $2150 -- already a $550 discount, which is picked up by the parish through the generosity of all the parishioners. This discount escalates with additional children.
Education is expensive, but it's worth it! The lives of our children depend on it. So, all the more, we need the help of all of you.

--Father Benet OFM

Offering

Envelopes $3,941.84
Loose Collection 422.23
Children's Envelopes 5.45
Assumption: 1,261.65
TOTAL: 5,631.17
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(8/17/97): (Week #7):
$5,453.06 $38,171.42
$5,631.17 $32,894.40
$+ 177.11 $-5,277.02
"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 4:15). As heads of the households, we are responsible for setting the example and teaching our children about serving God. We serve God by meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters. Service is stewardship in action.

RETURNING GOD'S GIFTS

"What return shall I make to the Lord for his goodness to me?" (Ps 116:12).
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is beginning the new capital campaign entitled Returning God's Gifts, Sharing our Hope, which 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.
Twenty-seven percent of it -- fifteen million dollars -- will go to fund Catholic education in this way:
The earned interest on ten million dollars is intended to provide tuition assistance for Catholic school student attending archdiocesan, regional, and parochial high school and elementary schools.
The potential benefit for St. Anthony's is this: while the Archdiocese, through this fund, would be able to help Catholic families with tuition supplements, our parish scholarship fund can concentrate on assisting non-Catholic families as a way of Christian evangelization, moral formation, and superior academics for the neighborhood.
The interest from another five million will help take care of needs of facilities (buildings) and programs (resources) of high schools in the Archdiocese.
It's a worthwhile and wise investment in tomorrow's Catholic and tomorrow's Church.
--Father Benet OFM

Parish News

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): We will soon begin this wonderful journey of faith for those who want to join the Catholic Church or become full members of the Church. Would you serve as a catechist, sharing your knowledge of the faith with our inquirers? Perhaps you would like to be a parish sponsor, guiding a candidate through the process by offering your support, guidance, and encouragement. Or would you like to serve as a host or hostess for one or more of the sessions, sharing your culinary talents with candidates, sponsors, and catechists alike? If so, please contact Brother Richard at the Parish Office (353-7470), and you too will be part of this faith-filled experience.

RE-EVALUATION OF MASS IN FRIARS' CHOIR: On Thursday, August 28, we will conduct the final evaluation of daily Mass in the friars' choir after the 6:30 and 8:00 Masses. We welcome participation from both those who attend regularly and those with special interest in this concern. The dialogue will take place in the friars' choir.

THE PARISH LIBRARY: The Spiritual Development Commission has developed a parish library in the church's "bride's room." The parish library is "open for business" on Fridays from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, on Saturdays from 2:30pm to 5:30pm, and on Sundays between the morning Masses. Look around, browse the books, even check one out to take home and read.

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

MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Parishioner Laurie Fusco will marry Douglas S. Kunz on Saturday, September 6, at 1:00pm.
Parishioner Cathy Saranita will marry Jeff Erpelding on Saturday, September 13, at 1:00pm.

SANCTUARY LAMP: This week one of the sanctuary lamps will be lit to remember Joseph M. Mount. The other one will be lit for the Doug Potts Family.

QUILT WINNER: Rose Daly - 4249 Michigan

ALERT TO ALL PARISHIONERS:
Celebrate the opening of a new school year with a personal gift to the school, like paper (construction paper, one-side-used computer paper, looseleaf paper), pencils, markers, crayons, and the like. Take them directly to the school.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Part two on my thoughts about devotions...
The Church highly endorses popular devotions, "provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the Apostolic See." Regional or local devotions are also encouraged as well, provided they conform "to customs or books lawfully approved." (CSL, 13) While I hope that the never-fail novena to St. Jude found in church was approved by someone, somewhere, it's the rubrics that bother me.
As I mentioned last week, they sound similar to the directions of a chain letter to me. Do this and good fortune will come your way...break the chain - and watch out! And as we all know, chain letters are based on superstition and fear (and have been disavowed by the Church). What happens if the pray-er, by mistake, leaves only 8 copies one day in the church instead of the required 9? What if the person says the prayer 7 or 8 times a day instead of the required 6? Will God not answer their prayers because they did not follow the directions to the letter? "Oops! you didn't follow the directions -- Sorry, your prayers will not be answered." And what if the answer to their prayers is different than what they asked for? Will they then turn away from God in anger or despair? Or will they think that, at perhaps an emotionally stressful time, they may have messed-up the directions somehow, so whatever happened, or didn't happen, was their fault? Do you think God really cares more about the rubrics than about a person in need?
Continue to pray to God through the intercession of Jesus, Mary, and the saints using the prayers that are near and dear to your heart, but please, please, don't spend your hard-earned money xeroxing multiple copies of prayers. It is not necessary. God knows what is in your heart before you ask it -- and knows what is best. To quote from the directions of the novena: "Pray it with faith, all things are possible with God!!!"
- -Brother Richard OFM P.S. I still have a stack of novena prayers to St. Jude. If you would like them, just let me know.

ALUMNI ALERT!

Immaculate Heart of Mary Grade School (4070 Blow) is currently seeking graduates to form an Alumni Committee. If you are interested in joining the committee to have information on yourself or other alumni, call John Ruzicka ('72) at 353-4706.

HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

St. John the Baptist College Prep High School celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, beginning with a special Eucharist on Sunday, September 21, at 11:00am in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Reception and Open House to follow. Alumni, current students, families, present and former faculty are most welcome.

CELEBRATE ST. LOUIS' FEASTDAY

To honor St. Louis, patron of our city and our archdiocese, a special celebration will be held on Monday, August 25, as follows:
Noon Mass at St. Francis Xavier (College Church), Lindell & Grand
1-3pm Eucharistic Adoration at the College Church
3:00pm Public Procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (4431 Lindell Blvd.)
4-7pm Eucharistic Adoration at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
7:00pm Mass at the Cathedral Basilica
(Throughout this anniversary year in the Archdiocese, this schedule will be repeated on the 25th of each month in another location; in September the two places will be LaSalette Center on Broadway and our very own St. Anthony's.)

Socials

1. 22ND ANNUAL HOMECOMING of St. Hedwig Church, Sunday, August 31, Polish-American dinners served noon to 7:00pm. Please support our neighboring parish!
2. "SH-BOOM," PARENTS' BACK-TO-SCHOOL DANCE, sponsored by St. Mary's High School, Friday, September 12, 8:00pm to midnight; $13 in advance, $15 at door; call 481-8400 for details.
3. NIGHT AT BUSCH STADIUM, sponsored by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, Friday, September 12, at 7:05pm; purchase tickets before September 1 through Sister Madelene Reiners (240-3420).

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, August 25, ST. LOUIS OF FRANCE
6:30 Dorothy Paulis
8:15 John P. Kane
Tuesday, August 26, Weekday
6:30 Souls in Purgatory
8:15 Crescentia Jost
Wednesday, August 27, St. Monica
6:30 Victor Gutting
8:15 Pauline McGee
Thursday, August 28, St. Augustine
6:30 Charlotte Frickel
8:15 Ida Mantia
Friday, August 29, Martyrdom of St. John Baptist
6:30 Henri Bouchard
8:15 Carl & Kate Zaegel
10:30 Catherine Jacko
Saturday, August 30, BVM on Saturday
6:30 Franz Notheis
8:00 Delphine & Anthony Westman
Sunday, August 31, 22ND IN ORDINARY TIME
4:30 (Saturday) Charles & Anna Glatz
6:00 For the Parishioners
8:00 Knights of Columbus
10:30 Ben Parram

Liturgical Assistants

Sunday, August 30-31, 22nd in Ordinary Time
LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Aug. 25-30: Alberta Stackle
4:30 Alured McNulty, Jackie Young
6:00 Ken Dames
8:00 Bill Kamper, Dave Bergfeld
10:30 Mary Busiek, Alberta Stackle
6:30 Weekdays, Sept. 2-6: Georgia Berry
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Robert Donahue, Martha Eggers
Cups: Esther Ehlen, Phyllis and Jerry Forchee, Jackie Kappler
6:00 Rich Stegar
8:00 Hosts: Mike Mount, Gene Rombach
Cups: Debbie Williams, Regina Buchheit, Sr. Virginia Bieg, Rose Mary Beheiter
10:30 Hosts: Rich Busiek, Theresa Mayer
Cups: Robert Harre, Cheryl Degenhart, Brenda Boyer, Steve and Gloria Derickson, Janice Leicht

Date to be Corrected: September 7, 1997

This Coming Week

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 23RD IN ORDINARY TIME
10:30 a.m. - Scout Mass
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
7:00 p.m. - AA Meeting (Spanish) (F)
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
6:30 p.m. - Bingo (L)
7:30 p.m. - Al-Alon Meeting (F)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
11:00 a.m. - AA Meeting (W)
12:30 p.m. - Wednesday Club (L)
7:00 p.m. - Liturgy Commission Meeting (F)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
6:30 p.m. - School Board Meeting
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
9:00 a.m. - Exercise (L)
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
8:00 p.m. - AA Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
8:00-2:00 - LEADERSHIP DAY
1:00 p.m. - Saranita/Erpelding Wedding
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS
8:00 a.m. - Ladies' Sodality Mass
9:00 a.m. - ALL-PARISH MEETING (L)

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin August 24, 1997