Connection The
KING’S
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
BIDDING A FOND FAREWELL TO FR. PAUL PRABELL
Community Extends Gratitude for Years of Leadership and Service
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his month, the Cathedral of Christ the King parish community prepares to bid a fond and heartfelt farewell to Fr. Paul Prabell as he enters into retirement. Having twice served as our Cathedral Rector — first from 2002 to 2007, and then from 2015 to 2021 — our faith community was most certainly blessed with Fr. Paul’s faithful guidance, patience, empathy and compassion. Fr. Paul George Prabell was born in Bellevue, Ky. on July 2, 1946. He attended Newport Catholic High School in Newport, Ky. and went on to earn his bachelor’s in Philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary in Erlanger, Ky. He went on to earn his master’s in Theology at Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Norwood, Ohio, and his master’s in Guidance and Counseling from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. Ordained into the priesthood on
May 20, 1972, Fr. Paul began serving as Associate Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Ashland, Ky. From 1977 to 1982, he served as Associate Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish and the U of K Newman Center in Lexington, Ky. In 1982, he began serving as Pastor at St. Stephen the Martyr Parish and the EKU Newman Center in Richmond Ky. In 1988, Fr. Paul’s ministry took him to Topeka, Kan., where he served a fellowship at Menninger Clinic. The next year, Fr. Paul began serving in the Diocese of Lexington, as Director of Priest Personnel and Director of Continuing Formation of Priests. Fr. Paul would serve as Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Frankfort, Ky. from 1989 to 1992, Pastor of St. Patrick Church in Mt. Sterling, Ky. from 1992 to 1995, and Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church in Danville, Ky. continued on page 2
Inside JUNE 2021
3 Grateful to Serve in This Stewardship Community 4 Trail Life Ministry: Helping Boys Grow Into Young Men in Christ 6 Highlights of Our 2020 Stewardship Renewal 7 Marriage Ministry Helps to Build the Domestic Church and Fellowship in Our Community
Connection The
KING’S
BIDDING A FOND FAREWELL TO FR. PAUL PRABELL continued from front cover from 1995 to 2002. We first welcomed Fr. Paul as our Cathedral Rector in 2002, and he would serve in this role until 2007, when he served as Pastor of Jesus Our Savior Church in Morehead, Ky. But in 2015, we welcomed him once again as our Cathedral Rector, a role which he has faithfully served up through his retirement this year. As Cathedral of Christ the King looks back on Fr. Paul’s decades of ministry, parishioners have shared their reflections and memories of Fr. Paul’s years of service in our faith community.
The power of three — the Holy Trinity and three insights or points that Fr. Paul always presents in his homilies! He embodies clear thinking and humility. He is a true servant leader. — Vida Laureano
Fr. Paul embodies the serenity prayer. He leads in a quiet, highly effective manner that brings great peace to every situation. — Katie Sheppard
Fr. Paul is a humble, empathetic leader who always sees good in people. I do not recall ever hearing him say a negative or critical statement about anyone. His low-key sense of humor often relieves any tension present in those around him. He is an example of the Good Shepherd. — John Hinkel
It is hard to imagine a more important time at CTK when Fr. Paul stepped in and helped our parish TWICE overcome difficult situations. His patience and prayerful approach to leading our parish and his willingness to listen was the perfect recipe. His thoughtful weekly column inspired us. — Robert Kuhn At a Chrism Mass a few years ago, a reflection was noted that described qualities that a priest embodies. In thinking about the many priests who we have known through the years, Fr. Paul was the only one that I felt actually exhibited all of them. Truly a special man! — Catherine Nalli Fr. Paul has always reflected to me a sense of peace and serenity. I felt that he always led first with compassion and the spirit of Christ when dealing with issues and in his general demeanor. I felt this always brought a sense of calm to any situation. I will miss his presence at the Cathedral. — Jerry Felix Fr. Paul has a beautiful ability to bring calm and peace to frightened souls. From the scared second-grader asking if it’s okay to cry during first confession, to giving me Anointing of the Sick during a scary time, Fr. Paul is a vessel of Jesus’ peace. — Kristy Tucker
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I think what I most admire about Fr. Paul is his ability to stay focused on the task, and stay calm under pressure. As I’m sure many will note, he came back under difficult circumstances. Yet. he was able to guide the parish through difficult times and changes by staying calm. — Joe Dawahare
Fr. Paul has the patience of Job! Given that we all love the Cathedral and can sometimes get emotional regarding decisions made for the parish, I have witnessed Fr. Paul’s patience humbly guiding the parish to peaceful resolutions many times and am grateful to have worked for and learned from him. — Jennifer McKenna Thank you for your heartfelt commitment to CTK. Your leadership, guidance and positive attitude have helped our parish grow and flourish. — Andy Reynolds Thank you, Fr. Paul, for all your love and dedication to Christ the King. Your kindness and compassion for all is evident in everything you do. We appreciate all you give and will miss seeing you each day at CTK. We wish you an enjoyable retirement! — Paula Smith Thank you, Fr. Paul, for joining us for a meal in the Cafeteria. It was so good to see you with the children. You will be missed. — The Cafe Ladies We ask that all parishioners be sure to save two important dates — on June 26, we will be celebrating the Farewell Dinner for Fr. Paul, and on June 27, we will have the Family Day Farewell.
A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector
Grateful to Serve in This Stewardship Community Dear Brothers and Sisters:
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s this is the June issue of King’s Connection, this will be my last article as rector. King’s Connection was originally established to make sure that all our parishioners and those who love our parish would be able to stay connected with life here. King’s Connection has evolved as our concept of stewardship has grown. This monthly publication helps us to understand, appreciate and connect with our many ministries and facets of life here. King’s Connection is a monthly reminder that we are all called to a kind of discipleship which is generous not only with our financial support, but also with our with our prayers and volunteer efforts. As I write today, I am offering a personal gratitude list. 1. Our pastoral staff, with their range of personalities, specific talents, and dedication to Jesus and to the people and mission of our parish. We care for one another and we work together well. They trust me — and I trust them. 2. The priests I have lived with and served with. I have had some wonderful adventures serving with priests in their first assignments, with international priests, with Fr. Gino and his creative enthusiasm, and of course sharing faith and joy with Fr. Ray. 3. Bishop John. I am grateful for his confidence in me, his kindness and compassion for people who are hurting, his wisdom and courage as a prophetic leader, and his dedication to connect with the people of Christ the King — and with people in all our parishes. 4. The members of our councils and committees. Of course, we often encounter one another in meetings. I have attended many meetings over the years — many meetings. I believe real life and real ministry often take place at meetings because of the faith and wisdom of the good people gathered around the table. Much of our best ministry has begun within the context of a meeting. 5. I am grateful for the joy and enthusiasm of our children. Whether at a time like First Communions, Confirmation, or graduations, in special school programs, seeing the children on the playground,
or in summer Bible School, and in many other settings, our children have a way of lifting my spirits. 6. The media and in-person adjustments we have made during the time of the pandemic have touched many of you in ways our ordinary ministry might not have been able to achieve. We wanted to continue to minister during this very limited year — and with the help of volunteers and some creativity, we have been able to do so in ways that will continue once we return to normal. 7. I cannot say enough about my joy at the success of our Capital Campaign. I tried to stress that we are all called to do what we can to take care of our spiritual home and you responded generously. I have been amazed at and touched by the variety of ways we have been able to get the message out. I am proud to have been a member of our Capital Campaign team! 8. I believe that in these six years that I have served here, our parish has taken some significant steps to embrace our role as the cathedral of our diocese and to also draw from our potential to support and encourage the ministry which is taking place all over our diocese — and beyond. It is tempting to be a bit insular — thank you for thinking and living more expansively. 9. Part of life these days is an escalation of the gaps engendered by diversity and the challenge to honor and work together with those whose opinions are different than ours. We have many programs here; we have something for everyone; we try to respect everyone. 10. I am grateful for the many prayerful people here. Our weekday Masses are well attended; we seem to always have long confession lines; we have a strong cadre of people dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration; our weekend Masses are always beautiful and reverent; we have many prayer groups; and prayer is at the heart of what we do and who we are. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Paul Prabell, Rector 3
Connection The
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TRAIL LIFE
ithin our faith community, a growing group of boys and young men from Trail Life Troop KY-0068 proudly wear uniforms that remind them of Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said; ‘send me!’” “We remind the boys that as they grow into men, we are called to go forward and serve,” says Troopmaster Bryan Blair. “Trail Life’s vision is to be the premier national character development
Yukon Adventure in Wilmington, Ohio
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organization for young men which produces godly and responsible husbands, fathers and citizens.” Founded in 2013, Trail Life as an organization has a clear mission — to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. All boys from 5 years old to less than 18 years old are welcome. “We recommend American Heritage Girls (AHG) for girls ages 5 to about 18,” Bryan says. “Christ the King also charters an AHG Troop which meets at the same time as Trail Life so that families can come together on one night and participate in these great programs. We have held some joint events too.” While there are some similarities between Trail Life and Boy Scouts, namely components like outdoor adventure, Trail Life puts faith at the forefront. “Bible verses, prayers, and a Chaplain’s Minute are key components to every meeting,” Bryan says. “Our troop chaplain, Fr. David Wheeler, not only shares a brief story and verse at meetings, but has also attended events like indoor climbing and campouts.” Trail Life utilizes a combination of outdoor skills, life skills, and religious requirements to help challenge young men. Outdoor skills include knots, outdoor cooking, camping, and many others. “Whether it is planning a day hike, a campout, or a multi-night backpacking trip, the boys plan and prepare,” Bryan says. “It teaches them to make sure they have what they need and to check on the other boys in the troop. The boys lead themselves and learn from each other.” In addition to First Aid, Citizenship, and Personal Fitness, the life skills taught include skills like Family Man (helping around the house, chores, and repairs) and Personal Resources (budgeting, investing, insurance, and costs of borrowing). Religious activities span from simple prayers during opening ceremonies, to service, to larger
MINISTRY:
Helping Boys Grow Into Young Men in Christ commitments of Bible study and maintaining a prayer journal. “At each level, a boy can earn the Worthy Life Award, aimed at growing boys spiritually,” Bryan says. “This award includes some study, prayer and service.” The troop has participated in a wide range of activities together — from volunteering at the Catholic Action Center, to supporting the AHG’s Chili Cookoff, to serving food at Christ the King’s St. Nicholas Brunch. Together, they’ve hiked, fished, canoed, camped, backpacked, toured museums, visited the Newport Aquarium, and visited the state capital building. “One recent highlight was our very first Yukon Adventure, hosted by a troop in Ohio,” Bryan says. “The Yukon Adventure is a skills and sled competition. This year, it featured eight inches of snow on the ground and a finger-numbing five degrees Fahrenheit wake-up temperature. Despite the cold, the boys did well and won!” If any community member has a skill or interest to share with the boys, Bryan would love to hear from you. A doctor taught the boys First Aid, a member of the Humane Society visited with them, a Navy vet shared his experience, and a financial advisor helped the older boys with Personal Resources trail badge. “Is there something that you are passionate about that you’d like to teach to others?” Bryan says. “We can always use anyone who has a passion for helping boys grow into young men in Christ.”
Fire building followed up with roasted marshmallows on Cathedral of Christ the King property
Meeting outside on Cathedral of Christ the King property
Those interested in learning more about Trail Life should visit www.traillifeusa.com or reach out to Bryan Blair and consider attending a session or two. “We are grateful to Fr. Paul and the parish for helping to establish the first and currently only troop in Lexington!” Bryan says. If community members want information about our particular troop, they may reach out to Bryan at bblair_1999@yahoo.com.
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Connection The
KING’S
Highlights of Our 2020 Stewardship Renewal
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T THE KIN G 299 Colony Blvd . • Lexington, KY 40502 thedraparticipated lctk.org • (859) those ca who 268-2861
panel all We thank in our 2020 Stewardship Renewal. If you did not have the opportunity to fill out and return a commitment card, we invite you to consider the ways you may share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the parish community!
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DRA T H E C AT H E
G ST THE KIN L OF CHRI
Marriage Ministry
HELPS TO BUILD THE DOMESTIC CHURCH AND FELLOWSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY
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arriage is a beautiful sacrament — one that carries both joy and struggle. It can be a daily example to all those with whom we come in contact. And because a group at Cathedral of Christ the King recognized these joys and struggles many years ago, we have a beautiful ministry that promotes and upholds the vocation of marriage — the Marriage Ministry. John and Carrie Carlson have been married for 17 years and have helped co-lead this ministry for five years. There are five other couples who colead. As Carrie points out, we are called to build the “domestic church,” or the church in our homes. “The vocation of marriage is a sign of Christ and His Church,” Carrie says. “It is a means of evangelization, not just for each spouse, or for the children, if we are given them, but to the world.” Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marriage Ministry hosted many events to bring couples together. The ministry also used the Zoom videoconferencing platform to facilitate a speaker — Dr. Lesley Iwinski from Growing Peaceful Families spoke on the topic “Listening in Love.” One of the main events the Marriage Ministry hosts is the supper events on various Friday evenings. There is childcare, a meal and a game, movie, or other activities. During one such event, the ministry even hosted an introduction to ballroom dancing. The ministry has also hosted various studies and book groups. The Marriage Ministry team has hosted service events like a food drive, serving a meal to refugee families, and they have also helped with speakers at the Cathedral. For many, these events serve as a date night. After all, couples — especially those with young children — don’t always get the chance to enjoy a night together. John and Carrie are so thankful for all the friendships they have formed through the Marriage
Carrie and John Carlson and their three children. Carrie and John enjoy helping lead the Marriage Ministry at our parish.
Couples watch the Newlywed Game, with other parish couples as contestants.
continued on back cover
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Connection The
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299 Colony Blvd. | Lexington, KY 40502 cathedralctk.org | (859) 268-2861
Marriage Ministry Ministry. The friendships are another important part of this ministry — and while the Marriage Ministry serves as a valuable place for people to come together around faith and marriage, it also serves as a wonderful form of hospitality. “I have had multiple people tell me that through this ministry, they have felt more at home in the Church,” Carrie says. “By the grace of God, I think we have made people feel welcome.”
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The current leaders are always looking for more people to get involved to help lead the Marriage Ministry. They meet about once per month to plan activities. “I love making people feel at home in the Church,” Carrie says. “I love the fellowship, and I love helping to strengthen and enrich marriages. It brings me great joy to share the love of Christ and His Church by strengthening the domestic church.”
If you would like to learn more about the Marriage Ministry, simply request an invite to the Facebook page at “Marriage Ministry @ CTK” or send an email to ctkmmt@gmail.com. Information on events can be found on the Christ the King Facebook page, in parish emails and in the bulletin.
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.