St. Jude Thaddeus, Christ the King and St. Paul Catholic Churches Newsletter — Apr 2023

Readers Ministry Bringing Alive the Word and Treasures of Scripture

As Catholics, we are called to celebrate the Holy Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. The Holy Mass has many important parts, and one of those is the readings — as stated in the second chapter of the General Instruction of the Holy Missal , “In the readings, the table of God’s word is prepared before the faithful, and the riches of the Bible are opened to them” (57). Since the readings are a vital part of the Mass, the person proclaiming them has an essential task. Mary Jane Clark has been a member at St. Paul’s for about 50 years and has been a reader for 25 years. Because some people have moved and some have passed away, there are currently two readers at St. Paul’s. Sandy Thomas is the other Reader.

Mary Jane led the Interscholastic League, helping students learn prose and poetry. She is a retired home economics teacher, which has prepared her well for this ministry.

“I don’t mind doing this ministry, and I feel like since I have the skills for it, I should use them,” she says.

Mary Jane appreciates that she has some time to spend with the readings before Mass. The readers have a

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(From left) Mary Jane Clark and Sandy Thomas are readers at St. Paul’s.

“Everything takes on such a new meaning when you have a chance to prepare and get more context.”

MARY JANE CLARK

Stewardship of Treasure Giving to God First

Have you ever wondered why no one becomes uneasy when someone brings up the first two “Ts” of stewardship – giving of your time or talents – but when the third “T” comes up, many of us become uncomfortable?

That third “T” is treasure, and some people simply become so annoyed by the subject, they tune out the words from the pulpit.

Why is there seemingly such an adverse reaction?

Our finances are such a personal subject. Discussing money issues with others is not easy, and having someone tell us what to do with our finances is even worse. We earn the money, after all. So shouldn’t we decide what to do with it?

Of course, the answer is “yes” – we decide every day how to spend our hard-earned dollars. Indeed, the monetary choices we make will either keep our finances in check or put us into the red. The average American family has about $7,000 in credit card debt – so finances certainly represent a challenge to our current society. Tight budgets, trying to “keep up with the Joneses” or poor financial management may

be to blame for our tight resources. Does this mean we do not have anything left over for God?

Stewardship, at its roots, teaches that we are not supposed to give God our “leftovers.” We should instead strive to return to God a portion of our “first fruits” – giving to God first and then using the rest for our other needs. God gave us our talents that help us earn a living, after all. He should come first.

This idea can be worrisome for many. If our finances are already strained, how will we ever find enough to give back to God? Or, if we do try to give God our “first fruits,” will there be enough left over to cover our required expenses?

Taking the correct financial steps toward good stewardship simply boils down to trust – believing that God, who takes care of all of His creation, will take care of us. Trust that in giving to God first, we are both acknowledging that our multitude of blessings come from Him and that we are thankful He chose to give them to us. And finally, trust that if we give to Him first, all else will fall into place – because He is in ultimate control.

Stewardship, at its roots, teaches that we are not supposed to give God our “leftovers.” We should instead strive to return to God a portion of our “first fruits” – giving to God first and then using the rest for our other needs.

The Easter Message Is the Foundation of Our Stewardship

How do you feel at the end of the Palm Sunday Mass each year? Have you ever noticed the abrupt shift of tone during that liturgy? It begins with great joy, as we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the acclamation of the crowds. But then the mood swings to sorrow, despair even, when the passion Gospel is read, for we hear those same crowds shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” a few days later.

Palm Sunday, of course, begins Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian year. The confusion of conflicting moods is spread through the week, especially during the Easter Triduum from sundown Holy Thursday to sundown Easter Sunday.

Holy Thursday offers us the glorious Mass of the Lord’s Supper celebrating the institution of the Eucharist before we pass to the sadness of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The next day brings us the Good Friday Liturgy of the passion with our recognition of what our sins did to the Incarnate Son of God. Then, after a day of waiting as we mourn Jesus’ burial and repose in the tomb, we celebrate His victory over sin, Satan, and death at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night or at the Masses the next day. If we have participated in all the main services of the Triduum, we arrive at Sunday evening exhausted but joyful.

Our joy comes not only because Christ rose from the dead, but also because we benefit from it. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life” (654).

In other words, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our own future resurrection. St. Paul wrote about it to the Romans — “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

Eternal life in union with Christ — a hope for a

new life beginning now and extending on into heaven — is the result of Jesus’ Resurrection. What greater grounds for thanksgiving can there be than this Easter hope? We should sing with joy about this promise from God!

How do we show our joy and our gratitude to God for this amazing gift He has given us? We join in worship and praise God by word and song. We share the Good News of Jesus’ victory over death with our family, friends, and neighbors. And we offer back to the Lord a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He has entrusted to us. Yes, the Easter message that we share in the benefits of Christ’s Resurrection is the ultimate foundation for all Christian stewardship.

Your servant in Christ, Rev. Joseph Moreno, KHS Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Bring Spirit of Fellowship to Their Service

For 140 years, the Knights of Columbus have provided valuable assistance and support to those in need. Established in 1882 at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., Fr. Michael McGivney began the organization with a mission of charity, unity, and fraternity. There are councils across the world, serving their own communities and parishes in a range of capacities.

John Danks serves as Grand Knight of the council here in our parish community.

“We’re a fraternity that was originally founded to help support widows and orphans, especially during the industrial revolution when so many guys died in the factories and families were left destitute,” he says.

While living in Montana, John noticed the services the Knights provided in his parish community.

“I talked to the guys and they told me it was a worthwhile group,” he says. “I’ve always liked to do work in the parish, and I joined in 2001.”

The Knights of Columbus is an active organization in our own community. The Knights host fish frys during Lent, provide volunteer work when the parishes require repairs and help with requests as needed. They also regularly feed local college students and help with the Wednesday evening youth catechism classes. The Knights also work with other ministries in the parish community.

“We work with the Altar Society when we can, and they help us by supporting our fish frys,” John says. “They provide

the baked goods and we do the main meal.”

This spring, John hopes to generate interest in a Special Olympics event. He also wants to organize a clean-up for a local cemetery that has been long neglected. This past Christmas, the men also sought out widows of former Knights to ensure the women had an extra grocery basket and turkey. Some years, the men hand out roses to the women in our parishes on Mother’s Day, although that has not happened since the pandemic began.

“We work with what we’ve got for the number of people, funds available, and whatever the local community finds appropriate,” John says.

The Knights support religious vocations in our community, in particular the men in seminary and diaconate studies.

“They get a monthly check from us,” John says. “Usually we choose one from our diaconate and support him through his entire education. I was very grateful to our group because I have a daughter in the convent and they supported her the same way.”

John appreciates the opportunity to serve through the Knights of Columbus. He enjoys the camaraderie of the other men and acknowledges how the group motivates each other to work hard in our parish community.

“I like the fact that it doesn’t let me sit at home, I have to get out and do something,” he says. “It’s nice to have a regular group of guys to work with.”

The men meet twice a month, once for a planning meeting

COLUMBUS in Our Community

and for a general participation meeting. All men over the age of 18 are welcome to join. John encourages newcomers to consider joining this ministry. If someone would like to try joining for a year, they may do so without paying dues for the first year.

“My words of advice are, do something,” John says. “Don’t just sit. There’s a lot of work to be done and the Knights are a great way to get involved. We used to be a more ‘secret’ society. Catholics were harassed and we weren’t allowed in a lot of stores in Connecticut where it started — these days, it’s not so secret. We have opened the doors and we would love to have more people involved.”

Men of the three area parishes may contact John Danks at 940-232-6316 for more information on how to join the Knights of Columbus. For general information about the Knights, visit www.kofc.org.

Readers Ministry

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book they can use to prepare, which gives more context to the readings and makes them easier to understand.

“Everything takes on such a new meaning when you have a chance to prepare and get more context,” Mary Jane says.

Inevitably, her preparations for reading at the Mass help Mary Jane grow in her faith.

“I know people feel intimidated by this ministry, but I promise it isn’t hard or scary,” she says. “I firmly believe you don’t understand or learn something unless you do it.

If you step in and get involved in this ministry, it will be rewarding.”

In addition to reading, Mary Jane brings the Eucharist to homebound people through the Care Ministry. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to share the Eucharist with those who can’t attend Mass, and those receiving the Eucharist appreciate this ministry. Mary Jane also serves meals after funerals at St. Paul’s.

“This is a nice thing to offer people who have just lost a loved one,” she says. “It gives them the opportunity for fellowship.”

To get involved as a reader at our parishes, please call the parish office at 940-569-1222.

Our Parish Choir:

SHARING VOICES FOR ALL TO BRING PRAISE TO THE LORD

Music is a powerful and beautiful way to give praise to God. Within the celebration of Holy Mass, music can be used to enhance and elevate the liturgy. The choir at St. Jude Thaddeus is directed by Keith Rickard, and there are currently three members.

Keith believes that the purpose of the choir is to elevate music in the ritual. Some people feel connected with what the liturgy is saying, through the words that are spoken. However, other people understand more when the message comes to them in music.

“We didn’t have a choir, and I think it is important,” Keith says. “Music has always spoken to me and I am sure there are other people it speaks to, as well. I wanted a choir for myself, but I also wanted to share the beauty of music with the other parishioners.”

Keith began singing at Mass by himself and over the course of a few weeks was joined by the new members, including Anita Hunt. Music has always played a big part in Anita’s life. Her mother was a country-western singer, and Anita began singing in a choir back in junior high

school. She joined the choir here as soon as she found out about the group, and would love to see it grow.

“It doesn’t matter what voice you have,” Anita says. “It matters that you have the glory in your heart to sing His praises because when the time comes, He doesn’t care if you can carry a tune in a bucket — He wants to hear the purity of your heart. He wants to hear your gladness and joy.”

It can be a slow process to grow a choir. However, Keith believes that it is important, and is hopeful that more members will join.

“A choir is like the Church itself — an entity,” Keith says. “You have to have a feeder for it. You teach people to sing, and you bring in other people as you go along. You continue to grow.”

Singing in the choir is a wonderful way to share your time and talents with the Lord. You do not have to be a skilled singer to join — you just have to be willing to give praise and honor to God. The group is open to all members of the parish and simply involves a 45 to 60-minute rehearsal once a week.

If you are interested in joining the choir at St. Jude Thaddeus, contact Keith Rickard at 940-235-8475.

“It doesn’t matter what voice you have. It matters that you have the glory in your heart to sing His praises, because when the time comes, He doesn’t care if you can carry a tune in a bucket — He wants to hear the purity of your heart. He wants to hear your gladness and joy.” ANITA HUNT

The Importance of Loving God More Deeply at Mass

When young people see a person that intrigues them, that attraction becomes the topic of conversation at every opportunity. This attraction alters behavior so that we become enthralled with the other and desire to share our enthusiasm.

Imagine if we were more enthralled with the presence of Christ in our lives. Imagine if we fully recognized that Christ is truly present to us in His precious Body and Blood, and present as well in the proclamation of His Word and in the gathering of our community, praying and singing (see Sacrosanctum Concilium [Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy], para. 14). Recognizing the living Christ in all these ways would awaken in us the desire to be with the One who is the object of our most fundamental, pure, and holy attraction to our merciful, loving, and gracious Savior.

If we were to recognize the presence of Christ in these beautiful ways, wouldn’t our desire to be more completely in His presence increase? Surely our desire to be better stewards of our time with the Lord would grow. Our attention to the readings and other prayers of the Mass would bring about within us deeper communion with the One who suffered and died for us. If I recognized that God is the answer to all my pangs of

hunger, that Christ is my way to the Father, and that the Holy Spirit works to convert my heart and soul every day, would I not seek to fill that hunger at the banquet of the Lamb?

While active participation in Sunday Mass is an obligation for Catholics, we also will do well to see the lovely, motherly care the Church shows us in establishing that requirement. The Code of Canon Law states clearly in paragraph 1247, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” Sometimes, we might hear that as an overbearing rule. But it might more correctly be understood as our Mother, the Church, helping us learn what is best for us. At Mass, we hear the living Word of God proclaimed. He speaks to us. We receive as hungry, needy sinners, the precious Body and Blood of Christ. We encounter Christ’s living presence in our brothers and sisters worshiping God with us. If we truly understood that amazing truth, then how might it affect our lives? How might it affect our relationships? How might it impact our decision to bring our children along to Mass? How might it awaken within us a deeper attraction, fascination, desire for the Lord?

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Generally, when we find ourselves fascinated with someone, we do not decide to spend as little time as possible with them. We do not ration our time with them. We want to spend time with them, to see them, to listen to them, to get to know them, to develop a healthy, loving relationship with them.

The Importance of Loving God More Deeply at Mass

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Generally, when we find ourselves fascinated with someone, we do not decide to spend as little time as possible with them. We do not ration our time with them. We want to spend time with them, to see them, to listen to them, to get to know them, to develop a healthy, loving relationship with them.

Considering our reliance on the Lord of life and love, our fascination with His mercy, His goodness, His willingness to call us to Himself, maybe we should ask ourselves about what happens in us at Mass. As I prepare to come to Church, do I find my mind turning to a receptive welcome of the Lord, just as I’ll be welcomed at the door of Church? Have I dressed for the important weekly (or daily) moment of meeting my King? Do I expect some profound wisdom from God in the readings? Am I open to correction, to challenge, to affirmation in the readings of God’s Word? Do I intently pray along with the priest presider throughout the Mass? Do I make an offering of

my life, along with the bread and wine? Do I genuinely hunger for the Body and Blood of Christ? And do I long for that blessing that sends me on my way with the mission to build the Kingdom?

Instead of worrying about what “counts” when it comes to Sunday Mass, maybe we should work hard at fostering our love for the Eucharist, our desire for eternal life, our attraction to the Master who calls us into a life of active discipleship. Instead of a merely heavy-handed requirement, maybe we can see more clearly that being at Mass together helps nourish us for a whole week of building God’s Kingdom. Coming with those expectations, desires, and hopes, leaving early when unnecessary would disappear as a temptation instantly. Coming late because other things have taken priority would not typically happen, other obligations notwithstanding. Christ desires our company at Mass, from beginning to end. Let’s draw near to Him.