MARCH/APRIL 2021
New Faith Community Nurse Program Supports the Optimal Health of All Parishioners
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hen we think of nurses, we may likely think of those working at our local hospital or clinic. They are there to help us or a family member in their time of need. In fact, year after year, nurses are named as one of the most trusted professions in the United States. And here in our Families in Faith community, we are blessed Jeanette Walsh Joan Bauer Kaye Day with a new ministry through which nurses help and guide parishioners with holistic health needs. Jeanette Walsh, Joan Bauer, and Kaye Day are serving our three parishes as Faith Community Nurses, or parish nurses. All three women serve or have served as lay nurses and were recently trained online through the CHI Health Faith Community Health Network. The 45-hour training program was free through CHI Health, and the services the women offer are also free. Faith Community Nurses are recognized by the American Nurses Association, and they have access to a wide network of Faith Community Nurse support in Omaha. Jeanette recently retired from a long nursing career in Lincoln and had been dreaming of starting a ministry like this in her hometown of Greeley. As she researched, she asked her sister-in-law, Joan, to get involved. She also asked Kaye, so that each parish has a representative. Joan and Kaye both work in the nursing field. “We are blessed in our communities,” Jeanette says. “There is a good support system, and people are always happy to help. I want to make that more vibrant and help those who don’t know who to ask.” “We are very blessed to live in our rural communities,” Kaye says. “It is a beautiful moment to be able to witness all the good things we can do to help each other. Because our communities do not always have access to the opportunities in bigger cities, the Parish Nurse Network can be a good resource to help.” continued on page 5
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St. Theresa’s
St. Michael’s
Commitment Ca rd
A Letter From Our Pastor
A Month and Year to Honor Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
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ur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose to enter the world through the human family. He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human creatures who ever lived — Joseph and Mary. At a time when our world and our Church needs family and faithful disciples now more than ever, could there be a more fitting time to venerate the man who gave his life and his love to the Blessed Mother and the Son of God? Pope Francis has declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. Our pope said he established the year so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” As Christians, we are blessed to have Mary as our spiritual mother and Joseph as our spiritual father. Just as Mary guides us from heaven with loving devotion, St. Joseph also diligently provides for the needs of the family of God, the Holy Catholic Church. Because of his special role as foster-father of the Child Jesus, St. Joseph has merited singular privileges in heaven unmatched by any saint aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary. To give some modern-day perspective to the significance of this special year, Pope Francis has said the coronavirus pandemic heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus. “Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble,” the pope wrote. At the end of the First Vatican Council in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. He is also the patron of carpenters, workers, fathers, and a happy death because he died in the presence of Mary and Jesus. The title of Joseph’s March 19 feast day is “Husband of Mary.” Pope Pius XII later declared May 1 to be the feast of St. Joseph the Worker to counteract the Communist May Day holiday.
St. Joseph
As Catholics pray and reflect on the life of St. Joseph this year, they also have opportunities to gain a plenary indulgence or remission of all temporal punishment due to sin. An indulgence can be applied to oneself or to a soul in purgatory. An indulgence requires a specific act, defined by the Church, as well as sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the pope’s intentions, and full detachment from sin. Special indulgences during the Year of St. Joseph can be received through various prayers and actions, including praying for the unemployed, entrusting one’s daily work to St. Joseph, performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, or meditating for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer. As we devote 2021 to St. Joseph’s honor, we will undoubtedly unlock many special graces — not only for our parish, but for each of the faithful who increase their devotion to him during this special year. There is no greater model than St. Joseph from whom we can learn how to live virtuously in imitation of Jesus and Mary. Sincerely yours in Christ and His Mother,
Fr. Antony, Pastor To read more about Pope Francis’ declaration on the Church granting plenary indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph, visit www.bit.ly/StJoseph2021 Pope Francis’ Prayer to St. Joseph Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. 3
SAVANNAH AND AARON
Find Family
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or Savannah Short, St. Michael Parish has always been home. Growing up the oldest of five children, Savannah witnessed the strong faith life of her parents, Joe and Sharon Seamann, who have been lending a hand as active parishioners for decades. Today, the family tradition of stewardship lives on in Savannah and her husband, Aaron, as they help with various activities at the church. While Savannah has deep roots in Spalding, Aaron is a longtime traveler thanks to his work with the Lynch Carnival. The two met at the carnival one year and enjoyed getting to know each other over the following summers. Five years ago, Aaron and Savannah got married and bought a house near the fairgrounds. Since a small motel came with the property, they embarked on yet another adventure as owners of the Short Stay Inn. Life is certainly busy for the Shorts these days as Savannah teaches at Spalding Academy, Aaron continues to work with the carnival, and the couple runs the motel together. At the same time, the Shorts are enjoying their vocation to parenthood, having welcomed their third child in December! No matter how busy things get, the Shorts continue to make time for parish involvement. Savannah serves as a greeter, reader, and Eucharistic Minister at Mass. She also participates in the Catholic Daughters and the St. Anne’s Society and is a former member of the stewardship committee. “It’s just how we grew up,” she says of her parish involvement. “We still sit in the same pew where I sat with my parents and siblings. My parents have always been active in the church, and my grandparents as well.” “It’s really a family habit,” agrees Aaron. “I’ve never been to church here where a member of her family wasn’t doing something — singing or helping with Mass in some way.” Although Aaron is not Catholic, he attends 4
Savannah and Aaron Short with their children, Isaiah (4 months), Aariannah (4), and Josiah (2)
Mass with the family and finds many ways to pitch in at St. Michael. He has helped with the school carnival as well as church decoration and cleaning. For Aaron, participating in parish life has been a way to strengthen his ties to the area. “I get to meet people in the community,” he says. “I’m not an outgoing person, but this is a way to meet people and say ‘hi,’ and now everyone knows me at this point.” While the Catholic faith has always been a central part of Savannah’s life, she identifies the Going Bananas and Higher Ground retreats she attended in high school as experiences that really helped her develop a personal ownership of her faith. As an adult, Savannah has helped with both of these retreats and introduced Aaron to them as well. She loves witnessing the transformation that takes place in the young people who attend. “I know how big of a difference these retreats made in my life,” she says. “Higher Ground is a weeklong retreat. The kids come in saying, ‘I hate this, I don’t want to be here,’ and then on the last day we have to shove them out the door
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and Community at St. Michael Parish and they don’t want to leave because they love it. It’s great watching them grow. Even as an adult, I come home with something else each time, so I’m still growing, too.” Savannah also feels blessed to be a part of the faith formation of her third and fourthgrade students at Spalding Academy. She loves being able to bring God into the classroom as she helps shape the next generation. She also makes a point of encouraging the students to come to Mass on the weekends. Between their work responsibilities and home
life with Aariannah, 4, Josiah, 2, and baby Isaiah, there is never a dull moment for the Shorts! They are grateful for the support of many dear people in their life, including family, friends, bosses and colleagues, and the parish community at St. Michael. Savannah hopes that more young families will decide to make church life a priority and come to know the many blessings that come from living active discipleship. “To keep the community going, it takes a village,” she says. “Let’s keep the village together with God.”
Community Nurse Program “After I looked at this, I thought that Spalding has a very good support system for each other, and a lot of people that do things for each other,” Joan says. “It’s just the physical, though. It would be nice when someone helps someone, if they could say a prayer with them, to help in a spiritual way too.” Parish nurses can serve many important roles — from connecting parishioners with key health resources to hosting classes or spiritual activities. They can help find a volunteer to get groceries when someone is homebound or help give a mom a break from her new baby. As Jeanette points out, this ministry serves as more of a “big picture” resource. “We want people to know we are not replacing anyone, like home health nurses,” Jeanette says. “We are here as a resource and advocate, and to help with wellness activities at the parish.” Currently, a number of their efforts and initiatives will have to wait until after we have moved past the COVID-19 pandemic. One activity that
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Jeanette, Joan, and Kaye are planning is a virtual “Walk for the Cross” during Lent, which will include walking and spiritual activities. All three women hope to continue building this ministry, so they can support more parishioners throughout our faith community, and they look forward to helping all of our community members improve their health. “Parish nursing provides an extensive network of people working together to serve our communities,” Kaye says. “This network can be a great resource to help provide needed equipment or supplies, along with information.” “It’s OK to ask for help,” Jeanette says. “We want to help each parishioner reach optimal emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health. It’s not just one person — it takes buy-in from everyone so we can all support each other a little better.” “If you have a health-related question, feel free to ask,” Joan says. “We can figure out how to help and it is all kept confidential.”
To connect with Jeanette Walsh, Joan Bauer or Kaye Day, please email fifparishnurse@gmail.com or call the St. Michael parish office at 308-497-2662. 5
The Liturgy of the Hours
“Sanctifying the Day With Prayer”
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hat if the busy present moments that constitute our daily lives were consecrated to Christ? Each insignificant moment or mundane activity becomes another opportunity to glorify Him. The Liturgy of the Hours is a means of not only centering the day on Christ, but also sanctifying the day, offering these moments to Him. It is a prayerful, habitual practice of the clergy and religious — yet, in ever increasing numbers, the laity are also gravitating towards these daily prayers. Though it has undergone various developments over the years, the Liturgy of the Hours — also known as the Divine Office or the Breviary — has remained relatively the same since the 11th century. The Hours are divided into five parts of “canonical hours” — Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer. Each of the Hours includes readings of the psalms. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer include a Gospel canticle. The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops describes the prayers as “a meditative dialogue on the mystery of Christ.” Through Scripture, the Hours invite us into this dialogue, a prayerful conversation that can undergird our daily moments. From helpful instructional videos on YouTube, to written resources through EWTN and the USCCB, there is a wealth of resources for the laity on learning how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Many Catholic bookstores and even Amazon.com sell the four-volume book set that contains the complete Hours. And if using the actual four-volume set seems daunting, the website divineoffice.org offers the entire Liturgy of the Hours for free. An app is also available to download, therefore providing us with a means of keeping the prayers within reach throughout the day. Whether with a faith community or in solitary prayer, saying the Liturgy of the Hours situates us within a rich tradition of Catholic prayer and consecrates the present moments of our lives to Christ.
The Liturgy of the Hours is a means of not only centering the day on Christ, but also sanctifying the day, offering these moments to Him. 6
University of Nebraska at Kearney Newman Center:
Nurturing the Faith Through Community
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ollege can be a difficult time for some young people to practice and live out their faith. Of course, the college years are also an important time that sets the groundwork for the future. Addressing this essential spiritual need, the University of Nebraska at Kearney has an organization called the Newman Center, a Catholic youth ministry program that is popular across the United States. The Newman Center’s activities are rooted in four pillars — prayer, hospitality, formation, and service. Miranda Ketteler serves as Program Director and Kendall Grossnicklaus is the Director of Community Formation. Both are thankful for the opportunity to lead others to Jesus. “Our main goal of everything we do is to help students form a personal relationship with Jesus Christ — all else is secondary,” says Miranda. “The Newman Center serves as the Catholic parish for college students in Kearney,” Kendall says. “Our mission is to share Christ with all who enter.” The Newman Center provides events, community formation, friendship, and access to the sacraments. The Center includes a chapel, men’s house, women’s house, and office area. Up to ten women and ten men live in their respective houses. The doors are open for students to come to visit, play a game, or study. The mission of the Newman Center is “to follow the mission of Jesus Christ to draw all into union with God. We do this through our community gathered in celebration of the sacraments, study, prayer, social events, and service. The Gospel informs our daily actions and moves us to reach out to all those in need. We are missionary disciples, joyfully spreading the love of God in truth and charity to all we encounter.” “In today’s society, it can be really hard to connect with people,” Kendall says. “Social media and all the other technology makes it easy to hide
Students share a meal during a retreat.
Students gather at the community retreat called Koinonia.
behind a screen and only show the good things that are happening in your life. We weren’t created to live like that. We need other people. We need connection. We need community.” Part of the Newman Center mission is to have continued on back cover
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UNK Newman Center space for students to just spend time together. They also have activities like a weekly community meal, speakers on formation topics, community service opportunities, mission trips, retreats, sacraments, adoration, and Bible studies, to name a few. The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) Missionaries work with students in discipleship groups and lead multiple Bible studies. A student council and a resident program with student leaders also help plan events and are present in the houses. In short, there are many opportunities to experience and grow in the Catholic faith at the Newman Center. “Students who live and volunteer here are so
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servant-hearted and want nothing more than to lead their friends to Christ,” Miranda says. “They are striving to always live as disciples of the Lord and to be good stewards of the blessing this place is to them.” Miranda and Kendall both invite our support through prayer and financial gifts, if you are able. There is also a need for volunteers to cook the weekly community meal. “God is doing incredible things here, and prayers for continued openness to His plan are so beneficial,” Kendall says. “For our students, having a community to lean on when life gets hard, to celebrate the joys with, and to run toward heaven with makes all the difference.”
If you would like to donate to the UNK Newman Center, please visit www.lopercatholic.org and click on the “donate” tab in the upper right corner. You can also visit the UNK Newman Center website to learn more or contact the Newman Center.
Mass Schedule: 7 p.m. Saturday - St. Michael in Spalding│7 a.m. Sunday - St. Michael in Spalding 9 a.m. Sunday - Sacred Heart in Greeley│11 a.m. Sunday - St. Theresa in Ericson