&Joseph st. parish Nativity of the bvm parish
Sandy Piwkowski
Serving the parish community as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is a prime example of stewardship in action for parishioner Sandy Piwkowski — a way to give back to God and a St. Joseph parish community that has given her so much over the years.
“I remember when I had my kids, I had a longer stay because I had Caesareans,” Sandy says. “The Extraordinary Ministers would come to the hospital room and were available to give me Communion. Ten years ago, I had a mini-stroke. I was in the hospital for almost a week. It really felt good to know I could receive Communion when I was there. I wanted to give back.”
St. Joseph Parish 200 Saint Joseph Drive Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 988-2848 stjosephamherst.com
Nativity of the BVM Parish 333 South Lake Street South Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 986-7011
Serving as an Extraordinary Minister is one of the many ways Sandy serves at St. Joseph, both at Mass and for the homebound. Sandy and her husband, Rich, have been parishioners for 22 years and have been involved in many ministries.
“We had moved around a lot the first 10 years of our marriage, so it just felt like a good fit when we first started here,” Sandy says. “We started getting more involved as the years went through.”
When her two kids started PSR, Sandy was asked to volunteer as an aid in the classrooms.
Sandy has become more involved with different ministries and projects over the years. Presently, she’s involved with the Resurrection Choir, collection counting, the Funeral Luncheon Ministry, newsletter mailings, the Greeters Ministry, and is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
“So that’s what I did,” she says. “Then, about a month after I began helping as an aide, the teacher quit, so I took over the classroom. I did that for the next 10 years. I always wanted to be a teacher, but things didn’t always align. I went to work right out of high school, and I never went to college. This felt like something I could do, and I jumped into it.”
Sandy gradually became more involved with different ministries and projects over the years. Presently, in addition to serving
Parishioner Sandy Piwkowski
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as an Extraordinary Minister, she’s involved with the Resurrection Choir, collection counting, the Funeral Luncheon Ministry, the Bulk Mailing Ministry, and the Greeters Ministry.
“Being a greeter always appealed to me because you want to have that warmth, that welcoming to bring people in and have them not feel like they’re just another person in the church,” she says. “I try to do that, especially when I’m an Extraordinary Minister and we’re waiting at the back. I always say good morning to everybody who walks in the church.”
As a self-proclaimed introvert, serving in many ministries has helped Sandy come out of her comfort zone to help others. Her desire to help comes from following her father’s legacy.
“My dad was involved a lot when I was growing up,” she says. “I looked to him and saw all that he was involved with. He rarely said, ‘No, I can’t do this.’ He would always be going in and doing things, I’m carrying on his legacy.”
Sandy enjoys the sense of belonging to a community she has received from being an active member of our parish. She believes in the importance of creating a vibrant parish life where members actively share their time, talent, and treasure, and come together in community.
“A vibrant parish life is very important — it helps reach out to the parish community as a whole,” Sandy says.
“My dad was involved a lot when I was growing up. I looked to him and saw all that he was involved with. He rarely said, ‘No, I can’t do this.’ He would always be going in and doing things, I’m carrying on his legacy.”
— SANDY PIWKOWSKI
Piwkowski believes in creating a parish life that is vibrant, where members are coming together in community, such as by participating in simple ministries like the Bulk Mailing Ministry.
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A Time for Mercy and Tenderness
Advent and Christmas are upon us. We all know that our calendars will soon be overflowing with many holiday events, and our pews will be overflowing with all of those present for our Christmas Masses.
There is something special about the Church and about our faith during these holidays. And we are grateful for this holy and festive season. For those of us who are here for Mass every weekend, this is not a time to resent those who fill our pews and our parking lots. Rather, it is a time to be the loving and welcoming people Christ calls us to be. Hospitality is an important part of being a good steward, and this is a perfect time to practice it.
For those who may not have been with us for a while, we want you to
know that you are welcome here! We hope that you like what you see and experience, and we want you to know that you always have a home here and are part of our family.
The term “the new evangelization” is something Pope Francis has emphasized in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, which he issued in 2013. The pope’s letter, with the title that means “The Joy of the Gospel,” has advice for all Catholics about how we should view and treat each other as sons and daughters of God and members of His family, the Church.
Pope Francis writes: “There is a need for Christians who help show God’s mercy and tenderness toward every creature. We all know that today’s humanity is facing a deep crisis. This is why the new
evangelization must necessarily use the language of mercy, which is more about gestures and attitudes than words.”
As the Holy Father reminds us, this is a time for “mercy and tenderness.” This is a time for us to show love for everyone, to our brothers and sisters in the next pew or on the other side of the globe. This is a time to share the Good News of Emmanuel, God-with-us, with all the people we meet.
Yes, December is a time for mercy and tenderness. May you and all of the members of our St. Joseph and Nativity Parish families have a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!
Keeping Things in Perspective During the Christmas Season
The Christmas season has arrived. Garlands, poinsettias, lights, and Christmas trees are starting to pop up in homes and businesses. Cookies are being baked, holiday guests are arriving, and Christmas cards are flooding our mailboxes.
This joyous season is now upon us. But before we know it, in just a few short weeks, the Christmas cards will be replaced with holiday bills and statements reminding us of the money we spent on holiday gifts for our loved ones.
So how are you financially handling the holiday season thus far? Perhaps you are staying within your means by planning a detailed budget and remaining within its limits. You may be taking advantage of seasonal sales in order to purchase that otherwise expensive, sought-after item. Maybe you are simply overspending on unnecessary items, having been drawn in by the seasonal marketing campaigns.
The financial pressures of creating the perfect holiday scenario can be quite daunting, especially in America, where the “buy now, pay later” philosophy prevails.
Of course, we all want to provide a wonderful Christmas experience for our family and friends. But at what cost?
As good stewards of our financial resources, we are called to be responsible with our money throughout the entire year, even at Christmas.
Take a moment to remember last Christmas. Do you remember all the presents you received? Probably not. Instead, you probably remember the way a certain food tasted, or the smell of the Christmas tree, or how the beautiful lights glistened in the dark. You most likely remember the feelings of joy caused by sharing a special occasion with
loved ones. These are the memories that truly matter most, rather than what was packaged under the tree.
Though most of us believe this in our hearts, each year we find ourselves focusing on the material aspects of Christmas, sometimes forgetting the true reason for the season — the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. After all, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t buy nice presents for every person on our long gift list — or would it?
Perhaps, instead of just buying and spending, we could use our talents to share with others. Or, as busy as we are these days, maybe we could actually spend more time with those we love.
We could make a gingerbread house with our grandchildren, or brew up a cup of hot cocoa and watch It’s A Wonderful Life with our family at our side.
We are often so busy shopping that we don’t have time for sharing of ourselves. As good stewards, we are called to share our time and talent with others to glorify God, just as much as we are called to share our treasure. And even if we are fortunate enough to have the financial means to shower our friends and family with gifts, should we so recklessly spend our money? Aren’t there better places to utilize our God-given treasure?
Keeping our finances in perspective can be difficult, but asking God’s guidance as we make our financial decisions this holiday season is a perfect way to stay on track. Ask God to help you be a good steward. Ask God to give you the strength not to overspend as a result of guilt or a desire to “show off.” Indeed, true friends and family members will love you for your gesture, rather than the size of their gifts.
We find ourselves focusing on the material aspects of Christmas, sometimes forgetting the true reason for the season — the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. After all, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t buy nice presents for every person on our long gift list — or would it?
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Voices for Life:
Promoting Hope and Awareness of God’s Wonderful Gifts
You only need to read the news headlines today to see that our culture has forgotten how life is truly a gift.
When we forget that every breath we take is God’s gift of love to us, then we stop seeing one another as gifts. In this culture, life becomes burdensome and inconvenient. As Catholics, we must counter this message of death with hope. For those who don’t know God, our love will be their first encounter with His love.
Voices for Life is our parish’s answer to the needs of our culture. With emphases on education and service, Voices for Life seeks to be a voice for all those in need of an advocate and a source to connect those in need with available resources. Evelyn Caffarel, a parishioner at St. Joseph, leads Voices for Life and has many ideas for how the group can continue to grow and serve the community.
“There are many issues that we can address,” Evelyn says. “End-of-life decisions, human trafficking, physician-assisted suicides, and voter issues are some of them while providing help for parents, and setting up ways to show women with crisis pregnancies that they matter to us and they’re not alone.”
Voices for Life works with the local Right to Life group to raise funds through the Mother’s Day flower sale and the Baby Bottle collection. It is just one ministry within the parish that supports life in all of its stages. However, Evelyn has noticed that an essential piece is missing — a framework that connects needs to resources.
“What we lack is a way to directly connect people in need with information and people who can help,” Evelyn says. “This is the role of Voices for Life.”
For a mother in crisis, piecing together aid from numerous organizations and ministries is overwhelming. She might
not be aware of critical resources that could make a huge difference in her situation.
“Many people in need do not have access to those who can help, so developing that part of the program would be a big step in closing the gap,” Evelyn says. “With the parish opening up more, we should be able to establish a more welcoming and supportive mechanism for people in need.”
This wasn’t always Evelyn’s goal for Voices for Life — she had a moment of understanding while watching the prolife documentary, “The Matter of Life.”
“The film pointed out that Planned Parenthood does a great job of making themselves known, but they seem to offer only one choice, while those offering other choices are not well known even though churches support them,” Evelyn says.
For a critical ministry experiencing a moment of growth, dedicated volunteers are key to ensuring that this message of hope and life reaches as many people as possible. More than money, clothing, and food, the loving connection with a person is what will change hearts and minds.
If you would like to find out more about Voices for Life, or to get involved, please contact Evelyn Caffarel at 440-452-4361 or by email at ecaff809@gmail.com.
Advent and Christmas Activities
Our Faith Community Joyfully Prepares for the Coming of Christ
Just as expectant parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby by collecting necessary items, setting up the nursery, and having a baby shower, we spend the season of Advent preparing for the celebration of the birth of Christ. We clean and decorate our homes, prepare food and attend special activities. All of these physical preparations lend themselves to the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ. However, one aspect is often overlooked in the excitement and busyness of the season — the need to spiritually prepare for Christmas. Christ’s home is in our hearts and just as we prepare our homes for the celebration of Christmas, we must also prepare our hearts to welcome him.
There are several simple ways for us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. By having a simple daily devotional for the season, we can remember that each day, we must keep our focus on God. The parish offers several activities that will aid in this focus
on Christ. There are several choirs of all ages that will have concerts throughout the Advent season. The Christmas musical, Ha Seepoor, will be performed on Dec. 17 and 18 in the church at St. Joseph’s. Chronicling the love story of Mary and Joseph, this musical is written and directed by Christina Dupre, Liturgy and Worship Coordinator.
“This time is such a time of hope,” Christina says. “We are so busy and our world is so full of uncertainty. We forget the beauty and the simplicity of how Jesus came into this world. Then He rose in glory at Easter. When we focus on prayer and our involvement in the community at church, we can focus on service to others. We give of our time and talents to bless others. We feel so good when we have the joy of giving to others. When we participate in the liturgy and others experience that, they are moved by the beauty and experience God in another way.”
“When we focus on prayer and our involvement in the community at church, we can focus on service to others. We give of our time and talents to bless others. We feel so good when we have the joy of giving to others.”
Christina Dupre, Liturgy anD Worship CoorDinatorTina and Sophie Shand
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Advent and Christmas Activities
Another important aspect of the season is serving others and giving to those in need. Each parish has a Giving Tree that is put up during Advent. Parishioners are encouraged to take ornaments and return the gifts to be given to those in need. There are also service opportunities available through these ministries by helping to collect and deliver the gifts to the different organizations that they support. These organizations include BirthRight, Blessing House, Catholic Charities of Lorain, Genesis House, Neighborhood Alliance, WIC, and the Vincentians. Children from the school and PSR serve this ministry by creating and decorating the ornaments for the tree at St. Joseph’s.
Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is another important way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Just as we clean our homes to welcome guests, confession cleans our hearts to welcome Jesus. Confession takes place at St. Joseph’s on Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. All are encouraged to come and prepare for Christmas in this way.
“We prepare our hearts for the beauty of what happened that day, Jesus being born into a humble stable,” Christina says. “When we give time to others, serving, listening, and being compassionate is one of the most powerful things we can do.”
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Advent and Christmas Schedule
Dec. 8 — Feast of the Immaculate Conception
9:00 a.m. — St. Joseph, 12:00 p.m. — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:00 p.m. — St. Joseph
Dec. 11 — Holy Ground Youth Group Christmas Party Dec. 16 — School Christmas Concert, 7:00 p.m. Dec. 17-18 — “Ha Seepoor” Christmas Musical, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30 — Parish Choir Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Liturgies
Christmas Eve
4:00 p.m. — St. Joseph with Youth Choir
6:00 p.m. — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8:00 p.m. — St. Joseph with Choir and Orchestra
Christmas Day
8:30 a.m. — St. Joseph 10:00 a.m. — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 11:30 a.m. — St. Joseph
Confession times: Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Joseph Parish: Thursdays of Advent following the 7:00 p.m. Mass until 8:30 p.m. Also on Saturdays of Advent from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
There will be no Reconciliation on Christmas Eve.
Begin the Journey Home for Christmas
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a stable in Bethlehem, the Son of the poor Virgin Mary. This was by no means an accident. His birth was the culmination of salvation history, as it profoundly revealed the glory of God. Infinite power and wisdom took the form “of a servant, coming in human likeness” (Phil 2:7) — not as a warrior, but a poor and vulnerable babe.
Every aspect of Christ’s birth, from the three kings to the swaddling clothes, carries meaning. The proclamation of the angel, therefore, is also important: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). This message, meant to be for “all the people,” was announced to a group of shepherds in a field out in the middle of nowhere. Was this accidental? Not at all.
The shepherds, who received a personal invitation to greet Christ at the manger, reveal that God’s love extends beyond boundaries of distance and transcends social classes. Unlike persons of this world who yearn to gain recognition with those of influence, wealth or beauty, Christ cries out to the lowly in society — to the shepherds in the distance. He reaches out in love, desiring
a relationship with every single person, no matter their status. This is the “good news of great joy for all people ” — Christ was born for us all.
Christmas is the perfect time for distant shepherds to begin the journey home. The angel’s greeting extends to all those who feel estranged from the Church or numb to God’s love. Those who have fallen away from the faith can be comforted by these words: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).
Be not afraid. The Christ Child awaits your arrival. Begin the journey back to Christ by drawing near to His body, the Church. Through prayer and the sacraments, you will discover the great joy that accompanies a relationship with God. Take a moment to ask the Lord to bring peace to your heart and guide you in love towards Him. Please join our parish family for the final preparations of Advent, as well as the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses.
You have read this entire article and have received a personal invitation to begin the journey. Accidental? Not a chance.
Unlike persons of this world who yearn to gain recognition with those of influence, wealth or beauty, Christ cries out to the lowly in society — to the shepherds in the distance. He reaches out in love, desiring a relationship with every single person, no matter their status.
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To Discern a Call Within a Call
By NATHAN FRANKARTPeace of Christ to you!
I have much to say and not much space to say it, so I’ll get right to it!
You might have seen on Facebook this picture floating around. For those military families, this might look familiar to you, as it is a picture of my commissioning ceremony which took place at the seminary in late October of this year.
Don’t worry! I am not leaving seminary, and I am not leaving Cleveland. Rather, I am taking advantage of an opportunity offered through the Air Force to be what is known as a Chaplain Candidate. This is a program where during the summer, I get to have hands-on experience working with military chaplains and providing spiritual support to service members and their families. The purpose of this program is to discern whether or not future in the military as a chaplain will be something I do in my priesthood, (God-willing).
What does this mean now? It means that I am now considered a reservist for the Air Force, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. My next steps will be receiving training over the upcoming summer at Officer Training School in Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.
I’ve been working on this application in the background for about the last year, and I didn’t want it to take up the focus of what I am currently doing at seminary, at least in the application stage. It’s important that while, yes, I need to be thinking for the future, it is always most important to stay rooted in the moment, because that is where the relationship with Christ grows. I am not simply waiting until priesthood, nor waiting for this chance of military ministry. It is the here and now that matters. It is only now that I am stepping into something new, something that I hope will enrich my life, and lives of those I serve.
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AD SPACE
st. Joseph parish Nativity of the bvm parish
200 Saint Joseph Drive, Amherst, OH 44001
Fr. Tim O’Connor Serving Both Parishes
Mass: Monday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. - Nativity of the BVM Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - St. Joseph Friday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - St. Joseph 5:30 p.m. - Nativity of the BVM Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. - St. Joseph
Confession at St. Joseph:
Thursday - Individual Reconciliation 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Saturday - Individual Reconciliation 11:00 a.m. - noon
Eucharistic Adoration (Chapel) at Nativity of the BVM: Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Address Service Requested
Upcoming Activities and Events
Vincentian Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 1 and 15 — 9 a.m., Conference Room
First Saturday Rosary Saturday, Dec. 3 — 9 a.m., St. Joseph Church
Youth Group Meetings Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 — St. Joseph Social Hall, 6 p.m.
RCIA Meetings
Monday, Dec. 5, 12, 19 — 7 p.m., Nativity Parish Hall
Hospitality Tuesday
Tuesday, Dec. 6 — following the 8 a.m. Mass at Nativity Parish Hall
Parent Club Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 6 — 7 p.m., School
Faithfully Fit Yoga Classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dec. 6, 8, 13, 15 — 9:30 a.m., Nativity Parish Hall
Men’s Group
Tuesday Dec. 6 and 20 — 7 p.m., St. Joseph Social Hall
PSR Classes Wednesday, Dec. 7 and 14 — 5:30 p.m., School
First Reconciliation
Saturday, Dec. 10 — 1 p.m., St. Joseph Church
Wonderful Women Meeting
Monday, Dec. 12 — 7 p.m., St. Joseph Social Hall
Pre-Baptism Class
Wednesday, Dec. 14 — 7 p.m., St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School Christmas Concert
Friday, Dec. 16 — 7 p.m., St. Joseph Church
Ha Seepoor
Saturday, Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 18 — 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Church
No School — Christmas Break Wednesday, Dec. 21-Tuesday, Jan. 3
Parish Offices Closed Dec. 23, 26 and 30
St. Joseph Parish Choir Concert
Friday, Dec. 30 — 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Church