Connection The
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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Charismatic
Prayer Group
A Catalyst for Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Service
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he Holy Spirit received at our Baptism and Confirmation leads us to a deeper loving knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ his son. The Charismatic Renewal movement exists in the Church as a current of grace to renew in us the workings of the Holy Spirit by 'Baptism with the Holy Spirit' as promised by Jesus. This renewed life in the Spirit fosters knowledge, love, and service. The members of our Charismatic Prayer Group, through their twicemonthly meetings, have found that their participation has opened the door to serving the Lord — and to a way of living in stewardship for our parish. Samuel Awuah, one of the group’s leaders, says that he and others in the group have experienced this
opportunity. The members have found that those taking part in the group reach out to serve our parish in many ways. “We have a lot who are active in the group leading RCIA, and Catholics Returning Home, as well as programs for catechism and teaching,” Samuel says. “I see the group more or less as a catalyst for evangelization within our Church. The stirring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit increases an understanding and passion to lay down our lives for the Church through our time, treasure, and resources the Lord has given us. It’s an opening for people to reach further into service of the Lord.” The Charismatic Prayer Group is holding hybrid meetings under the COVID-19 restrictions. The sessions are 6:30-8:15 p.m. on the first and third continued on page 2
Inside FEB 2021
3 A Letter From Our Rector Confirmation: A New Beginning and a Spiritual Milestone 4 The Lenten Mission An Essential Opportunity to Prioritize Your Faith 6 Celebrating the Miracle of St. Blaise Feast Day, Feb. 3 7 The Congolese Catholic Ministry and Swahili Mass Halfway Around the World from Home, a Special Opportunity to Connect
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Charismatic
Prayer Group
continued from front cover
Friday of each month. Currently, meetings are held at the Hehman Hall due to COVID-19 restrictions. Several members attend in person, while the others take part via the Zoom videoconference app. There are a total of 150 on the roster. Beginning in January, the Prayer Gatherings are now being live-streamed on the three Cathedral platforms (website, Facebook, and YouTube) so more of our people can be introduced to and experience the joy and power that comes from the Holy Spirit when we come together in prayer and worship. Livestream options can be found at www.cathedralctk.org/howtostream. Each meeting follows an agenda that recognizes that charismatic prayer is about the members’ encounter with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Everyone is welcomed as the meetings begin, followed by an opening prayer. A period of praise and worship comes next, followed by the prophetic time, when members strive to listen to God’s voice — not only to individuals but also to the group. The teaching segment is next, during which gathered members learn from the Word of God. They also pray for the needs of others. Members then share their testimonies comprising what God had done for them. A conscious way to give God praise and build faith among the audience. “We have people we have prayed for who have had breast cancer,” Samuel says. “We learn they are in remission. We have prayed for people who were in different stages of illness, and find they have been treated. “We’ve had a couple of ‘miracles, signs, and wonders’ through our gatherings and importantly a fervency to spread the Gospel.”
Taking part in the prayer group has led to a deepening of faith for the members, with the seeds of this deepening planted in 1975, when Pope Paul VI met with charismatic leaders from around the world. At that time, the pope said that the Church needed to have the miracle of Pentecost continue and that the Church and the world needed that miracle. “For me, and for others in the group, what happened at Pentecost enlivened the hearts of men and women,” Samuel says. “It drives people to have the desire to study the Word of God. It opens them to the signs and wonders of healing, which is what the Apostles did with Pentecost. Everyone can get involved. Each and every child of God can be a part of it. Pope Paul VI brought the focus on the charismatic revival — and how can it not be good for the Church and world?” As we look to begin our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday, the Charismatic Prayer Group seeks to have the guidance of the Holy Spirit during this time. “We are told in Luke's Gospel: 'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry,’” (Lk 4:1-2) Samuel says. “This is what the charismatic movement is about — how do we act on our relationship with the Holy Spirit? During Lent, we want to be led by the Spirit. If we want to do this as a choice, when we are led by the Spirit of God, we get into the will of God for our lives. A Lenten journey without a Spirit leading is just an obligation. When you open your hearts to the Holy Spirit, true repentance takes place and you are prepared for the Resurrection.”
Anyone is welcome to attend the sessions, either in person or via Zoom. For more information, please contact Patsy Bunnell at dpbunnell@yahoo.com. 2
A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector
Confirmation:
A NEW BEGINNING AND A SPIRITUAL MILESTONE
Dear Parishioners, ou may remember that because of the pandemic, the First Communion celebrations scheduled for two Masses on a weekend in the spring were changed to five special private Masses on weekends in September. Our Confirmation schedule has had a similar change. Confirmation for our eighthgrade students in our school and CCD will be a blitzkrieg. Bishop John will have private Confirmation Masses with our school students, their sponsors, and families in the evenings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Feb. 1-3, and with CCD students, sponsors, and families in the early afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 6. Our usual approach is to have Confirmation as one large celebration at a Saturday 5 p.m. Mass. But this school year, our Confirmation schedule is one more victim of the pandemic’s onslaught on our lives. We are very appreciative of the adaptations all are doing — the students, their families, their sponsors, their catechists, our music ministers, and especially Bishop John. But one mysterious and gracious
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constant in all this schedule juggling is the Holy Spirit. During these months of the pandemic, we have certainly needed to draw from the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom has guided us as we have sought to make good decisions to keep others and ourselves safe. Understanding has been necessary as we have faced the reality of the serious nature of the Coronavirus and the vulnerability that we all have. Knowledge and the application of that knowledge by pharmaceutical scientists have led to the development of vaccines. Courage has been manifested by the many healthcare workers who have extended themselves beyond their job descriptions. Prudence has been the gift used by those who patiently wait for the time when it will be safe to be in a large-group gathering. Reverence has been at the heart of our trust in God, but also our acknowledgment of the sacredness and dignity of every person. And wonder leads us to be awestruck by the creativity and resilience of the human spirit as we have found new ways to not
only cope but to live and give with joy during this challenging and dreadful time. Our youth will be receiving these Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit as they are confirmed. The Holy Spirit will stay with them and help them to draw from these gifts and other attitudinal gifts throughout their lives. Even though they will be graduating from grade school this year, they are not graduating from their religious formation. Confirmation is a spiritual milestone, not an ending — in many ways, it is a new beginning, an eye-opening Sacrament by which God’s Grace invites our youth to trust and draw from the Gifts of the Holy Spirit all through their lives in the diverse and unpredictable challenges that will inevitably emerge. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit’s Gifts conferred at Confirmation alert each person receiving this Sacrament to embrace the joy of giving and to live out their Christianity as a giver! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul Prabell, Rector 3
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THE LENTEN MISSION An Essential Opportunity to Prioritize Your Faith keeping the lord at the center
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21 ISSION 22| 70– 9 p.m. M N E T N ch 1, LE y | Feb. 28, Mar Tuesda Sunday through
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SUNDAY: Hehman Pizza & drinks in een Sunday Hall (Time: betw Mission) 5 p.m. Mass & the
TUESDAY: Lite reception in Hehman Hall
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or lifelong Catholics, there are probably many things that come to mind when thinking of the season of Lent — from ashes on your forehead, to fish on Fridays, to fasting and making other acts of penance. And while Lent this year will still be quite a bit different than usual, it is still an opportunity to step outside of our “normal” and take time to refocus on what truly matters — our relationship with Christ and His Church. This year, the Cathedral of Christ the King hopes to encourage parishioners in this endeavor with our Lenten mission, which will take place over three days at the end of February and beginning of March. “The Lenten mission is really a time to go back to the basics, asking ‘What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church?’ ‘What did Jesus do for us?’ and ‘What are we getting ready to celebrate at the Paschal Triduum?’” says Deacon Tim Weinmann, our Director of Faith Formation. “It’s stuff we already know and have heard, but Lent is that period the Church gives us, to step back from the busyness of life and go inward and reconnect with our Lord, and look at the parts of our lives that need to be looked at again. The Lenten mission is the time to do that.” continued on page 5
“In this time of pandemic, and hopefully coming out of the pandemic, I hope we can realign ourselves. Maybe the ‘old normal’ wasn’t actually all it was cracked up to be. Hopefully, it will be a good chance for people to reevaluate their whole outlook and how they prioritize their time and keeping the Lord at the center.” DEACON TIM WEINMANN 4
THE LENTEN MISSION
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If you would like more information on the parish Lenten mission — which will take place Feb. 28, March 1 and 2, at 7 p.m. each night — please refer to our website and bulletin, or contact the parish office at 859-268-2861. If you are unable to attend the Lenten mission in person, you’re still encouraged to check out the livestream of the events on our parish Facebook page and YouTube channel, linked on the website at www.cathedralctk.org. Our fourth Men in Black-themed mission will feature local priests Fr. Danny Taylor, Fr. John Moriarty, and our very own Fr. Damian Anumba, preaching on the theme of “I have called you by name and you are Mine!” “As a Catholic, it’s easy to sit there and say, ‘I’m one of a 1.3-billion-person church, I’m just one grain of sand on this huge beach,’ but that’s not how God thinks, of course,” says Deacon Tim, explaining the theme. “God says, ‘I created you for a purpose.’ Each one of us is created for a purpose, and another aspect of this Lenten mission is to reconnect with your purpose. God has us here for a reason.” The three nights will focus on different topics, including our purpose, how sin can distract or derail us in living that purpose, and how to discover and embrace the mission to which God calls us. There will also be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) on the second night. “I hope the Lenten mission is one of those times when we get woken up again and reconnect in the faith and reconnect with the Lord, and really get back to the Father’s love,” Deacon Tim says. “That’s what it’s about.” While life is still not “back to normal” for many of us, it can still be challenging to prioritize our faith in our everyday lives. The Church gives us the season of Lent as an intentional opportunity to step back and make changes, where necessary. “Our lives are still very different, but even in our time at home, did we take the opportunity to spend more time in prayer, spend more time reading Scripture, more time reading Catholic books?” Deacon Tim says. “We all have a different normal at this point, but whatever our normal life is at
any given time, it can tend to draw us away from things that are ultimately important. Lent is the time we’re challenged to step back from whatever normal is for us at that time and ask, ‘Am I focused on the things that are eternally important?’ and ‘If I’m not, what can I do about it?’ “In this time of pandemic, and hopefully coming out of the pandemic, I hope we can realign ourselves,” he adds. “Maybe the ‘old normal’ wasn’t actually all it was cracked up to be. Hopefully, it will be a good chance for people to reevaluate their whole outlook and how they prioritize their time and keeping the Lord at the center.” The parish Lenten mission is the perfect opportunity to refocus on your relationship with God at the start of the Lenten season, ensuring that you arrive at the celebration of Easter transformed in your spirituality compared to the beginning of Lent. “I think anybody from middle school to just outside the grave could get something out of this,” Deacon Tim says. “Also, wherever you are on that faith spectrum, I think there’s something for everybody. “I’ve had too many Lents that I get to Holy Week and I go, ‘Well, there was Lent — here’s Easter,’” he adds. “But Lent looked no different than the rest of my year, and that’s a sad thing to realize as you enter Holy Week. How do you not be in that position this Easter? How are you going to make Lent different this year than it’s ever been before? Get your calendar out, see what is happening at the parish, and ask, ‘What are you going to do differently — in your prayer, in your study of the faith?’ Be specific, before Lent gets started, about what are you going to do to make it different than the rest of your year.” 5
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CELEBRATING THE MIRACLE OF
St. Blaise
Feast Day, Feb. 3
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his month, we reflect on the life of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, who is one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers” — a group of Catholic saints whose intercession promises help those battling disease. Every year on Feb. 3, we celebrate the feast day of St. Blaise, during which parishes around the world bless the throats of the faithful. So, as we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, we may look toward St. Blaise’s example and pray for his intercession during these difficult times. Though we do not know much about the life of St. Blaise, tradition tells us that he was born to wealthy, saintly Catholic parents. Born in Armenia, he devoted his life to medicine and helping the sick. He was a physician until he was begged by the people to become their bishop. He was appointed by the Church as bishop of the Diocese of Sebaste. Around the year 313, when the Roman Emperor Licinius was persecuting the Church, Blaise lived as a hermit in the woods among animals that he befriended. One day, a group of hunters found Blaise and seized him. Upon their trip to the governor, they encountered a woman whose pig was being attacked by a wolf. Blaise commanded the wolf to leave the pig alone and, upon his command, the pig was freed unharmed. Blaise was then taken to prison, where he miraculously healed a boy who was choking to death on a fishbone. While Blaise remained in prison, the woman whose pig he had freed brought him two candles to serve as his light so that he could read the Scripture. It was from the miracle of saving the choking 6
boy that the custom of praying to St. Blaise to cure all ailments of the throat was born. And, so, after still refusing to recant his Christian beliefs, he was suspended from a tree and his flesh was torn with iron combs or rakes. Blaise was then thrown into a lake to drown. To the surprise of his persecutors, he surfaced and walked upon the water, and he invited his persecutors to join him. They should do this, he said, to show the power of their gods. The pagans took him up on his invitation, and ultimately they were drowned. Blaise was then told by an angel to return to dry land to receive martyrdom. He was beheaded on the shore and immediately went to heaven. Because of his prison experience and his great reputation as a healer, St. Blaise’s intercession is invoked for the healing of diseases affecting the throat. The candles that the clergy place upon our throats while blessing them symbolize the candles that enlightened St. Blaise’s cell as he studied Sacred Scripture — connecting his spiritual life to physical healing. Let us remember to invoke the intercession of this great healer upon any ailments that might be affecting us, either physical or spiritual — especially those of the throat. The blessing of the throats is done by the priest holding two blessed candles near the throat in the form of a cross. The priest says, “Through the merits and intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver thee from all diseases of the throat, and preserve thee from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The Congolese Catholic Ministry and Swahili Mass
Halfway Around the World from Home, a Special Opportunity to Connect
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alk into St. Peter Claver Catholic Church on the second or fourth Sunday afternoon of the month, and you will be greeted with a truly joyful noise — the sounds of drumming, hands clapping and voices singing in beautiful harmony. The music is traditional to the Congolese culture and a key component to the Swahili Mass that is hosted by our local Congolese Catholic Ministry. For many of the attendees, these Masses are both a time of worship and a precious reminder of their homeland. Together with other local parishes like St. Peter Claver, Christ the King is blessed by the presence of our Congolese Catholic Ministry. In recent years, participants in this ministry have benefited from the summer English classes offered at Christ the King. They have also worked together to help new refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo get settled in our area. Of course, one of the greatest blessings of this ministry is the twice-monthly Swahili Mass officiated by Fr. Anthony Muthu. Although Fr. Muthu is originally from India, he has traveled to Africa and speaks enough Swahili to celebrate the Mass. For our Congolese parishioners, hearing the liturgy in their native language helps keep their faith alive. “For me, going to the Swahili Mass here in Kentucky is a blessing because I would not have expected to have that here,” says Raymond Sunghura, who arrived in Kentucky four years ago. “When I got to this new place and I didn’t know the culture and language, the fear was that my way of praying — the Congolese way of praying or worshipping — would be diluted, and I would lose the opportunity to worship like I used to. The fear was even that my faith would be diluted because I wouldn’t understand much. “So I’m really thankful to have this chance to have the Swahili Mass,” he adds. “At the same time, I’m learning the American way of praying and of culture. But when we first get here and there is nothing in French or Swahili, I think it is hard for
Fr. Anthony Muthu offers a Mass in Swahili for our Congolese Catholic Ministry twice a month at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church.
those who don’t have the opportunity to get this kind of transition that we have in the Swahili Mass.” Isidor Claude has been in the United States for 15 years, but he still remembers the difficulties he faced as a new arrival. Like Raymond, he is thankful for the support that today’s newcomers find in the Congolese Catholic Ministry. “There were a lot of challenges [when I got here], especially with the language and getting a job,” Isidor says. “The Congolese Catholic Ministry is a community of Christians that comes together for the Mass and for some traditional parties and presentations on the culture. It takes a little time for everybody to learn the system, and this helps them stay connected and remember their home.” Remarkably, this ministry has also been the catalyst for some very unexpected reunions. As continued on back cover
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299 Colony Blvd. | Lexington, KY 40502 cathedralctk.org | (859) 268-2861
The Congolese Catholic Ministry yet another reminder that God always has a plan, many of the participants in our Congolese Catholic Ministry right here in Lexington have discovered old friends and acquaintances from halfway around the world. “Lots of Congolese here are coming from different places, like myself,” Raymond says. “And that is true of many of us here — we left [Congo] 10 or 20 years ago and went to live in refugee camps for many years. This is like a chance to gather again. I have a friend from high school that I hadn’t seen in 10 years, and we met again here.” With its abundantly joyful liturgy, the Swahili Mass is also enjoyed by local Catholics who do
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not speak the language. Indeed, all are welcome to come experience Mass with our Congolese Catholic Ministry! As a parish, we are grateful for the many ways this group continues to celebrate the rich diversity within our universal Church, right here in Lexington. “I believe it is very important for our community to give this space and opportunity for people to express their way of praying and for people to be encouraged,” Raymond says. “When you have the opportunity to express your culture and language and moral values, this really encourages you. This is an opportunity to meet and know each other and encourage each other.”
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.