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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Christ the King Welcomes New Members of the Church at Our Easter Vigil Mass
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ne of the most beautiful traditions in the Catholic Church is the Easter Vigil liturgy. Following the solemnity and simplicity of Lent, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday, this Mass represents the reawakening of hope and light as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. It is also the Mass that allows us, as parishioners, to welcome older children and adults in our parish who are receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Each year, Christ the King is blessed with the arrival of new and returning Catholics who enter fully into the Church through our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process or RCIA. This year, about 20 people have been meeting weekly to learn and grow in the Catholic faith in preparation for receiving the Sacraments of Initiation! Deacon Tim Weinmann is in his sixth year of facilitating our RCIA process, and he enjoys every minute of it. Beginning last March, the group had to move their meetings from in-person to online, though the original format has been maintained. The candidates and catechumen watch the 9 a.m. Mass livestream each Sunday. Following the homily, the catechumens meet over the Zoom videoconference platform for Breaking Open the Word — a time for discussion and reflection on the readings and Gospels. Once the Mass has ended, all catechumens, candidates, and their sponsors join the virtual meeting. Symbolon materials and presentations by our parish priests and deacons provide the basis for group discussions. continued on page 4
Inside APRIL 2021
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Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Feeding the Spiritually Hungry and Sharing the Real Presence of Christ
3 The Year Was 1946: A Wonderful Church 6 Children’s Liturgy of the Word Brings Young Parishioners into Jesus’ Kingdom 7 The Well: Faith Formation and Community Building a Deeper Relationship with Christ
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EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: Feeding the Spiritually Hungry and Sharing the Real Presence of Christ
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he statistics are startling — nearly time during Mass and it’s the part of 800 million people in the world Mass that is most alive for me.” do not have adequate nutrition. You EMHCs attend training, which helps don’t have to leave the TV on for long them embrace the heart of the ministry, before you’re encouraged to sponsor a as well as to understand the practical child, whether in a different country details of how the ministry functions. or here in the United States. People For Lori, there is something truly are starving, and today — more than unique about being able to serve her ever — we all recognize this essential community by literally sharing Christ need. with others. And yet, as important as it is to “I enjoy it the most when you can help those in need of food around the make eye contact for just a second — world, there is another kind of hunger Parishioner Lori Angel loves in that moment, you’re handing them that is often ignored or unrecognized. serving our parish community Christ to strengthen them,” Lori says. It is the hunger of loneliness, the as an Extraordinary Minister “I pray that by receiving His Body and of Holy Communion. feeling of worthlessness, anger, Blood, it does touch their hearts and bitterness, and hurt. But these examples indicate a give them the presence of Christ. I hope that it gives hunger that cannot be satisfied by any natural food. them peace, comfort, joy, and hope for that day, for This is spiritual hunger, and it can only be satisfied that coming week.” by spiritual food. Not only has serving as an EMHC allowed Lori to Along with priests and deacons, laypeople serve others, but it has also strengthened her own within our parish serve as Eucharistic Ministers, faith and devotion to the Eucharist. or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion “When I started doing it, I thought of it a little (EMHCs). Recognizing the spiritual hunger in their more as bread and wine, and now I think of it as truly community, they choose to serve the parish by Body and Blood,” Lori says. “When I’m receiving, I say helping to bring nourishment to those in need of the a little prayer of thankfulness. When I’m serving, it’s Eucharist, the “Bread of Life.” humbling that God would allow me to share Him with Parishioner Lori Angel has served as an EMHC others. I hope others see Christ live through me. for the past several years, along with her husband “It’s a very humbling experience to be able to share and youngest daughter. that moment with others,” she adds. “I wanted to be a little more active within the Lori encourages other parishioners to consider church, and had a desire to be closer to that part of serving the parish as an EMHC. the Mass,” Lori says. “The Eucharist is what gives “Just pray and ask, ‘Is this is the right ministry me strength through the week and makes Christ for me?’” she says. “’Is this something I’d like to present in my life. do?’ Watch the bulletin and watch for the training “I really feel like it is a special thing to be able to sessions. If it’s something you’re interested in, just share that with others,” she adds. “It is my favorite reach out. There is always a need.”
If you would like more information on becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or to learn about upcoming training sessions, please contact the parish office at 859-268-2861. 2
A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector
THE YEAR WAS 1946:
A Wonderful Church Dear Brothers and Sisters: eventy-five years ago in 1946, the UK men’s basketball team, coached by Adolph Rupp and featuring Wah Wah Jones and Ralph Beard went 28-2, won the SEC championship, and were the champions of the National Invitational Tournament. This was his first national championship. Seventy-five years later, we can only imagine the joy that championship brought to our state. The World War had ended. In 1946, the League of Nations met for the first time and it eventually developed into the United Nations and began its important work for international justice and peace. We can only imagine the variety of feelings beleaguered world leaders had as they worked for the good of their country and the good of the world at the same time. In 1942, the actor James Stewart had enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private and within three years had risen to the rank of Colonel, guiding many bombing missions during the war. In 1946, that veteran soldier, having returned from the horrors of war, was once again a movie actor and James Stewart brought an impassioned intensity to the role of George Bailey, full of ambiguity regarding the meaning of his life, in the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. In 1946, the people of Christ the King Parish and their Pastor, Fr. Richard O’Neill, realized that it would be years before they would be able to have the magnificent church of which they were dreaming. So, as a priest of the Diocese of Covington and as a priest who had once served in that area, Fr. O’Neill drew from his contacts and was able to obtain the pre-fabricated church which had once housed the nascent congregation of St. Agnes Church in Park Hills, just outside Covington. It was a time when many buildings were prefabricated and could be ordered through companies such as Sears and Roebuck. Fr. O’Neill affectionately referred to the small church as “St.
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Sears and Roebuck.” So far, no records can be found which tell how it was transported to Lexington in those preInterstate days — but we can be sure that when it arrived at Colony and Providence in the spring of 1946, there was some assemblage needed. We can assume that there was a 1946 equivalent of Joe Sandfort who organized a group of volunteers to either rebuild the church and/or put the parts together. There would be a group working inside the church to put the pews or chairs in place and to make sure everything was clean and stable. A group of parishioners was involved with the environment, placing statues and stations and other inspirational art, in addition to flowers. A 1946 version of Robert Whitaker had a keyboard of some kind, began practicing with the choir, and made sure that the acoustics and electrical power could work. Good Church ladies led by a Katie Sheppard-type dynamo offered helpful tips which added extra touches. An early Tina Troiano or Karen Rood was making sure that the server boys had vestments and that they knew their prayers. It was not yet a wonderful church building, but it was a wonderful Church. A document stating when the pre-fab church arrived has not yet been found. We know that there were two subsequent additions to the church and that it served the parish for 22 years. And we can trust that the parishioners’ stewardship of time and talent prepared the church for the first wonder-filled Mass in a church on the grounds of Christ the King on May 12, 1946! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul Prabell, Rector 3
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Christ the King Welcomes New Members of the Church continued from front cover
As always, this year’s candidates and catechumens come from all walks of life. Traci Cornett is a mother of three who was first introduced to the Catholic faith by one of her daughters. Having attended nondenominational churches in the past, the Cornetts had become frustrated in recent years by the lack of consistency and the disagreements between churches. Two years ago, Traci’s daughter, Molly Katherine, then 16, was hoping to go to the March for Life, and the only group she could find to travel with was a Catholic youth group. Returning from the trip, Molly Katherine wanted to understand more about the Catholic faith so that she was better able to defend Protestantism against it. She enrolled in our RCIA process and unexpectedly fell in love with the faith. Traci began coming with Molly Katherine to the sessions and found herself finding comfort and stability Traci Cornett in the long history and consistency of the Church. Molly Katherine was confirmed in the Church last July, and Traci and another daughter, Claire, 14, were received into the Church on Nov. 1. Traci’s husband, Alan, is currently enrolled in our RCIA process. “I have loved the RCIA process, and one of the things I like best about it are all the backgrounds of people in it,” Traci says. “It’s very enriching to see how we’re presented with the same material, but everyone’s thought process is a little different, and you can see how God is touching that person.” Since joining the Catholic Church, Traci has discovered a deepened sense of peace and grace. “When I was in the Protestant faith, I felt in communion with God,” she says. “But when I was confirmed and I understood that Confirmation was being in full communion and having access to Christ in the true presence of the Eucharist and full access to the gifts of the Spirit, it is different. I feel a peacefulness now that I’ve never felt before and I think, ‘Oh that’s what it is — that’s the Holy Spirit.’ I will always think about this year as a good year because it brought me to the Church.” Although Christian Cole was never baptized, God has always been a presence in his life, and he attended Christian schools as a child. A few years ago, he began dating a Catholic and attended a Mass for the first time. From there, he began going to Mass regularly and even took a trip to Rome, where he fell even more in love with the history and the ritual behind the Catholic faith. He began the RCIA process last summer and looks forward to an active life in the Church. “My experience in RCIA has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Christian says. “Deacon Tim has been an absolute blessing in my life. He’s a very kind man. All the people have been so supportive and have just welcomed me with open arms. It’s been one of the better experiences Christian Cole I’ve had in my life. I’d been looking for something to fill the hole in my continued on page 5
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Christ the King Welcomes New Members of the Church continued from page 4
heart for years, and now I’m closer to God than I’ve ever been.” Kim Parsons did not grow up in a church-going family. However, she has always had an interest in different faiths and, as an adult, has attended the services of various Christian denominations. While Kim can’t quite put her finger on what it was that first prompted her to come to Christ the King, the sense of peace she feels in the cathedral keeps bringing her back. “RCIA has really filled a gap of immersion that I needed with people and the Scripture and the faith that I’d never really found at another church,” Kim says. “It’s just been a really good experience. Catholicism has that rich tradition and, now more than ever, I think I need something that I can count on that won’t change with the shifting sands. I feel a softening of myself now. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I feel Kim Parsons a little more at peace, and I’m trying to rest more in my faith.” Ashley Wettstain is a dental school student who was raised as a non-denominational Protestant. Growing up, she never felt that she truly understood God or had a true connection with Him. When she started dating her boyfriend, Nick DiMeo, she saw a life of faith in action. “Nick is a cradle Catholic and just a great example of a Christian,” Ashley says. “He definitely doesn’t just leave his faith at church on Sundays. I started going to Mass with him at the Newman Center because I knew it was important to him. What I didn’t know was that my life was about to be changed.” When the world suddenly slowed its pace last spring, Ashley found herself spending more and more time reading and researching the Catholic faith. Like so many others, she began seriously asking the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Becoming more and more interested in the Catholic Church, she accepted Angie DiMeo’s offer to be her RCIA sponsor. “I love RCIA so much,” Ashley says. “It’s a group of people who make you feel so welcomed. I look forward to it every week and will be sad when it ends, so I want to get involved with the parish, for sure. It has all been truly amazing. I feel like I’m not just surviving anymore, I’m thriving.” We invite everyone at Christ the King to join us in extending a warm welcome to all of the candidates and catechumens being received fully into the Church at this year’s Easter Vigil! What a wonderful reminder they give us of the beauty and wonder of our faith — and our call to continue bringing the light of Christ to others. “For me, working with RCIA has been a great blessing and reminder of what the Church is really all about — a reminder that Christ is present in the Church, waiting for people like us to bring people in and Ashley Wettstain experience what we get to experience every day as Catholics,” Deacon with Nick DiMeo Tim says.
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Children’s Liturgy of the Word Brings Young Parishioners into Jesus’ Kingdom
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hildren hold a special place in Jesus’ kingdom. In the Gospel of Matthew, people bring their children to Jesus for healing — “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). This is why at the Cathedral of Christ the King we have the Children’s Liturgy of the Word program — CLOW — which takes place during the beginning of the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. This program helps our children to hear the same message as the rest of the congregation but in a simpler and ageappropriate way. CLOW coordinator Jennifer O’Bryan says that this program exists because people are passionate about children at our parish. “We strive to introduce children to the liturgical structure and worship, so they can grow in understanding and love God,” she says. While the ministry is currently on a break in adherence to COVID-19 precautions, CLOW is normally offered during the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass for children ages 4-8 who have not received their first Holy Communion. The program runs yearly from September to Pentecost Sunday. Jennifer hopes to add more volunteers so a session can also be offered during 11:15 a.m. Mass. For her, seeing the children learn the faith through CLOW is the highlight of her Sunday. “I truly feel blessed to be a part of this beautiful ministry,” she says. “The children of our parish bring our Scriptures to life with their descriptions and smiling faces.” The overall goal of this program is that children learn to live like Jesus. The sessions are interactive with opportunities for questions
Jennifer O’Bryan with her husband, Chris, and kids, Colleen and Connor.
and answers. Jennifer hopes the children come home and discuss what they have learned with family members. “This allows our children to see the relevance of the reading in their lives and experiences,” she says. Jennifer is thankful for all the friends she has made through CLOW. Her involvement in this ministry has also been a blessing, as it has allowed her to learn more about her faith and the Bible.
Anyone in eighth grade and older may volunteer to lead our children in CLOW. Adults wishing to volunteer must watch a short diocesan video. The entire curriculum is provided and requires no preparation outside of Mass. If you would like more information, please send Jennifer O’Bryan a message at ctkclow@gmail.com. 6
The Well: Faith Formation and Community Building a Deeper Relationship with Christ
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articipants in The Well, an adults’ faith formation program here at Cathedral of Christ the King enjoy camaraderie and the joys of stewardship as they devote time to study, prayer, and community. But most of all, they grow in a deeper relationship with Christ, no matter the subject or topic for a particular week of study. COVID-19 restrictions prevented the group from meeting last year, but they are looking forward to resuming their weekly meetings when they can, on Mondays from 6:30-8 p.m. in Parish Life Center Room A. Their schedule has been from September and to May with a long break between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Adults of all ages are welcome. During the meetings, the group follows a schedule of six-to-eight weeks of studies on an array of topics. “We have studied a variety of topics,” says Michele Ferguson, who coordinates The Well. “Many of the studies, like the Lectio series, are offered on the FORMED.org website offered free to parishioners. We’ve also done several DVD series offered by great Catholic theologians such as Bishop Robert Barron, Dr. Tim Gray, Scott Hahn, Brant Pitre, and others. We have done studies on Jesus,
Mary, Catholicism, the Mass, and saints. We’ve also done topics like conversion and Divine Mercy, and completed a 30-day consecration to Mary one summer.” The format involves watching a video series and then answering questions in a study guide. When the group meets each week, it meets in small groups to discuss the questions related to the previous week’s video. Then, the group watches the next video. If someone must miss a week, many programs are on FORMED.org and are available for viewing the video on one’s own, and answering the questions. The study guides can also be downloaded for many of the programs if a participant doesn’t want to purchase one. The study guides are usually $20-25. Throughout the weeks of the program, the participants can deepen their understanding of our Catholic faith, as well as grow in understanding of the Mass. “Those have both been big topics in our studies,” Michele says. “We’ve done several studies on the Mass, and yet, we always learn something new. And each speaker’s program looked at the Mass from a different angle. Whether we were connecting continued on back cover
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299 Colony Blvd. | Lexington, KY 40502 cathedralctk.org | (859) 268-2861
The Well Offers Faith Formation and Community continued from page 7 each part of the Mass to Scripture or viewing it through saints’ eyes or focusing specifically on the Eucharist, there was always more to know and appreciate about how we worship as Catholics. And when you learn why we do what we do, it has even more meaning when we see it in the Mass. We don’t just attend Mass, we participate in Mass.” The ultimate benefit of the program, however, is that the participants grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus. “Everything we study leads us to a deeper relationship with Jesus because it’s all about Him — how we know Him, worship Him, learn from Him, serve Him, and love Him,” Michele
says. “And our Mary studies drew me closer to her and her Son, which, of course, is what Mary always does. What a gift! The theologians we have learned from have such deep faiths and genuine relationships with Jesus, and you can’t listen to them and not grow closer to Jesus, too.” The atmosphere of the group is casual, and if someone hasn’t had the opportunity to complete the study questions, their input during the group discussions is welcomed. During the last night of a study, the members enjoy a potluck supper. “We have some great cooks in our group!” Michele says. “No one misses the last night of a study!”
If you would like more information about The Well meeting schedule, please call the parish office at 859-268-2861.
LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil - 5:00 p.m.|Sunday - 7:30 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Daily (Monday to Saturday) - 8:00 a.m.|(Monday to Friday) - 5:30 p.m. Reconciliation: Wednesday 4:45 - 5:20 p.m., Saturday 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. | First Sunday of the month 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.