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

Christ the King • St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Paul

YOUTH MINISTRY: A Place for Authentic Connections in Christ

There is no doubt our faith is meant to be lived in community. Jesus made it clear, as written in the Book of Matthew — “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Middle and high school students from our parishes have the opportunity to gather with other like-minded students to enjoy youth group. Youth group is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first, third, and fifth Wednesdays at St. Jude Thaddeus and on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Christ the King. All are welcome at both locations!

Angelica Ramos is one of the newly hired adult leaders for the ministry. She was involved in youth ministry as a teen, and it made a significant impact on her life. She wanted to pay that forward to other teens and young adults.

“When I was younger, I remember getting to a point when my head was full of questions about the Catholic faith,” Angelica says. “Youth nights is where I’d lay all the questions on the table, and they were some of the best conversations I’ve had.”

When Angelica heard about the

job opening for this ministry, she didn’t think twice before applying. She appreciates how being involved is helping her grow in faith — right alongside the youth.

Angelica looks forward to having similar conversations to what she had at that age with the youth here at our parishes. Each youth group event starts with an ice-breaker game, followed by a short discussion on the night’s topic. Then, attendees watch a video and break into small groups for discussion. They end with a conversation about the topic as a large group. Food is included at every event.

Youth Ministry doesn’t just offer a way to grow in

STEWARDSHIP E TALENT Bring Your Gifts to the Spotlight!

The word “talent” often conjures up images of stage performers in the spotlight, captivating awestruck audiences with their impeccable musical or acting skills.

While these talented performers are certainly deserving of applause, the majority of the population sits hidden in the shadows, staring on in amazement while feeling overlooked — and perhaps wishing to possess such talents themselves. But even when we feel overlooked and untalented, God knows better. As Christians, we are all called to dig deep and trust that we are uniquely blessed with valuable talents and abilities, even if our talents aren’t so obvious or don’t garner applause and accolades.

Along with “time” and “treasure,” “talent” is one of the “three Ts” of stewardship. Exploring our natural inclinations and preferences, especially when guided by the intricacies of our unique personalities, can unearth God-given talents.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit,” writes St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians. “There are different forms of service, but the same Lord.”

Some people have the gift of working peacefully with children. Equipped with patience and gentleness, they are able to guide young souls to the Lord. Yet, others shudder at the thought of a classroom

full of 5-year-olds, and instead seek the quiet solace of behind-the-scenes tasks — cleaning the church, sewing altar cloths or stuffing envelopes.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author of Life’s Little Instruction Book, once said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it is going to be forwards, backwards, or sideways.”

If our gifts of talent are not guided by the discipline of prayer, just like an octopus on roller skates, we will get nowhere fast! Yet, if we keep our eyes on the goal of heaven and serve the Lord with joyfulness, our efforts will produce a bountiful harvest. In the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.”

The next time you sit quietly in the shadows behind a glaring stage spotlight, rest assured that your talents are no less impressive in the eyes of God, and will always be “applauded” when directed to the service of His people.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God.

A New Year, New Challenges, New Opportunities

It is a new year, and it is my prayer for all of you — and for me, as well — that we can take new steps on our faith journeys and seek new ways to live out discipleship and stewardship.

Pope Francis once commented on his perspective of our modern approach to life. He said, “Certainly, possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want more, never satisfied. I have learned that the most important thing is to put on Christ in your life, place your trust in Him, and you will never be disappointed.”

As we pray for one another in this New Year, may we all ask the Lord to help us appreciate Pope Francis’ approach to life, his simple way of seeing things, and his very basic way of appreciating things. I would hope that we see this year as a time for opportunity, a time to deepen our relationship to Christ, and for that matter to one another.

If we wish to change our lives and the lives of others, there are two easy ways to do it. We are blessed with many opportunities in this parish to pray, but as much as we need to take advantage of those, we also need to develop a strong personal prayer life. Recall the young Samuel, who was not quite sure what to do with his life, or what direction to go. When he finally

settled on that one important prayer, “Speak, Lord, for I am listening,” Samuel gave us the hint as to what we need to do. Prayer is a two-way street, and part of that is taking the time to listen to God.

The second important way is to exude joy. Christ certainly called us to do that. Pope Francis has had much to say about joy, as well. The Holy Father says, “Joy cannot be held at heel; it must be let go. Joy is a pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks — walks on the path of life, that walks with Jesus… proclaiming joy, lengthens and widens that path.” We must seek that joy and then we need to share it. That is truly our call. Joy translates quite easily into “love your neighbor.”

Yes, there may be challenges ahead in 2023, but we must focus on the opportunities, and then exert the effort to benefit from those opportunities. Happy New Year!

Your servant in Christ, Rev. Joseph Moreno

Dear Parishioners,

A Letter From Father

First Saturday Devotion: DRAWING CLOSER TO

Devotion to Mary and the Rosary has a long history in the Church. On Dec. 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Lucia at Fatima detailing how devotion to her Immaculate Heart was to be practiced. In turn, the First Saturday Devotion has grown as Catholics seek to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart. While this devotion has been practiced by many of the faithful in our community for many years, thanks to the dedication of Fr. Khoi Tran, the Rosary Angels group of Christ the King has worked hard with Fr. Moreno to make the practice of this devotion as simple and easy to participate in as possible.

“Fr. Moreno came to us and asked us to put together all of the requirements necessary to complete this devotion into one format that would make it practical for those in our community to participate easily,” says Rosary Angels member Marilyn Putthoff. “The Rosary Angels took the information he gave us and put together a service that allows people to fulfill the requirements of the First Saturday Devotion in a way that is faithful and not overwhelmingly time-consuming,”

There are four requirements to fulfill the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart — to go to Confession, to receive Communion in a state of grace, to pray the Rosary, and spend 15 minutes in prayer while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary. All of these things must take place on the first Saturday, except one may go to Confession eight days before or eight days after.

To make this devotion simple to practice, on the first Saturday of each month, Fr. Moreno begins offering Confessions at Christ the King at 8 a.m. They begin praying the Rosary at about 8:40 a.m. and Mass is said immediately following the Rosary. After Mass, the monstrance is placed on the altar and adoration takes place for 15 minutes, during which a meditation is read for one of the mysteries of the Rosary. The Litany to Our Lady is prayed followed by the closing prayer. This service is usually wrapped up by 10 a.m.

For Mary Wilson, another member of the Rosary Angels, the practice of this devotion is a necessity.

“The world is in a precarious situation right now,” she says. “When we watch the news and look at the political situation we are in, we see so much turmoil and discord in

While the devotion only requires participation for five consecutive first Saturdays, those who take part in this devotion find it to be such a beautiful and fruitful experience that they continue to come as frequently as possible.

our country and the whole world. This devotion to make reparation for the sin in the world is a very practical and simple thing that we can do. It is much needed.”

While the devotion only requires participation for five consecutive first Saturdays, those who take part in this devotion find it to be such a beautiful and fruitful experience that they continue to come as frequently as possible.

TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

“The time goes by so quickly since we are actively doing prayers and meditations,” Marilyn says. “Many people think this is a lot of work, but it isn’t. It is an important opportunity to prioritize prayer and devotion to God and his Blessed Mother. Time with the Lord is never wasted. We encourage people to just make the time to come once

and see how your hearts may be opened.”

“We really need to think about our devotion to Our Lady,” Mary adds. “Our lives are so busy, but this is an opportunity to give of your time and place a priority on your faith. We can think about this as something to say to our Lord and His mother, ‘I can do this for you.’”

“It is an important opportunity to prioritize prayer and devotion to God and his Blessed Mother. Time with the Lord is never wasted. We encourage people to just make the time to come once and see how your hearts may be opened.”

MARILYN PUTTHOFF

First Saturday Devotion takes place at Christ the King. Confessions begin at 8 a.m., the Rosary, Mass, and Adoration take place from 8:40-10 a.m. All in the community are encouraged to join in this beautiful devotion.

YOUTH MINISTRY

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faith — it’s also a valuable opportunity to meet other Catholic youth striving for holiness.

“It’s not like sitting in a classroom and learning a lesson,” Angelica says. “The core team makes these nights so much fun while also teaching about our faith.”

Angelica loves seeing the youth engage with the night’s topic.

“It shows that they want to understand and learn about our faith, and it means that they are comfortable being able to ask questions,” she says.

Angelica hopes youth will step outside of their comfort zones and give youth group a try — you won’t be disappointed! She also asks parents to talk to their child about attending.

“When I was younger, I remember getting to a point when my head was full of questions about the Catholic faith. Youth nights is where I’d lay all the questions on the table, and they were some of the best conversations I’ve had.”

ANGELICA RAMOS

Middle and high school students — you are invited to check out youth group from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Wednesdays at St. Jude Thaddeus and on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Christ the King.

HOLY MOWERS: Sharing in Fellowship as Faithful Stewards of Our Parish Grounds

First impressions can have a lasting impact. For a church, the grounds are a key part of that first impression. Wellkept lawns and landscaping convey the important message that people care about the church, and are the first sense of welcome that visitors get as they approach.

Ron Morath coordinates a group of volunteers at Christ the King, known as the Holy Mowers. Divided into eight or nine teams, the volunteers take turns mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and keeping the parking lot free of weeds. Greg Leonard coordinates the teams for St. Jude Thaddeus.

“We maintain nice grounds and it draws people inside,” Ron says. “It gives them an opportunity to come in and then feel welcomed inside our doors. They’re greeted and made to feel at home.”

The teams are made up of all kinds of parishioners. Families, couples, and small groups all do their part to maintain the grounds. Some are retired and have a little extra time on their hands.

“But you never retire from being part of a parish!” Ron says.

The Holy Mowers began out of financial need but over the years has become a way for parishioners to give back to the parish with their talents and treasure.

“People can either give more money or do it themselves,” Ron says. “This is a way for people to get involved that are retired or working. We have some families who bring their boys. It gets the parishioners involved.”

The parish has all of the tools needed for the upkeep, including two riding lawnmowers. The Holy Mowers have a volunteer who maintains the lawnmowers. However, volunteers may bring their own equipment if they prefer. When new volunteers get involved, Ron or another member shows

them the ropes before they get assigned a shift.

Ron has found that being involved in this ministry has led to being more involved all around.

“That’s the thing about a small parish,” Ron says. “When you get involved in one thing, you get involved in a lot of things.”

The ministry has led to parishioners stepping up in other areas as well. A couple from Christ the King asked Ron if they could take over caring for the Marian grotto, including repainting the statue of Mary.

Ron enjoys the time he spends maintaining the grounds. What started as time that he wanted to give back to the parish turned into an opportunity for him to have some quiet time for prayer.

“When you’re out here mowing for a couple hours, it’s time to meditate and think about things,” Ron says. “It’s an opportunity to say a Rosary. You don’t have too many interruptions and the lawn mower is too loud for me to hear the phone.”

If you would like to volunteer with the Holy Mowers, you can fill out your commitment card or contact Ron Morath at 940-631-0290 for CTK or Greg Leonard at 940-447-6020 for SJT.

“We maintain nice grounds and it draws people inside. It gives them an opportunity to come in and then feel welcomed inside our doors. They’re greeted and made to feel at home.”

RON MORATH

The Sign of the Cross: A POWERFUL PRAYER TRADITION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Since we say and make the Sign of the Cross so often, it may easily become a rote, perhaps even thoughtless, action. However, it is important to remember that the Sign of the Cross is much more than a simple gesture. Even in its most basic form, the Sign of the Cross — accompanied by the spoken or unspoken words “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” — is a prayer, a creed stating our belief in the Holy Trinity, the dual nature of Jesus Christ, and the dependence of our salvation on His crucifixion and resurrection.

In addition, making the Sign of the Cross is an indication of a willingness to take up our own cross and suffering for the sake of Christ. The prayer is considered one of the greatest weapons against Satan and all demons, and an added strength against the temptations of the flesh.

In the Roman Catholic Church today, the Sign of the Cross is typically made with either three fingers or an open hand touching first the forehead, then the chest, followed by the left shoulder and then the right (in the Eastern Church, the right shoulder is touched before the left). The concept of making a sign, or “setting a seal,” upon the forehead of those who place their faith in the Lord appears in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible — see Ezek. 9:4 and Rev. 7:3, 9:4, and 14:1.

Early versions of the Sign of the Cross were traced on just the forehead, using the thumb and forefinger held together in the shape of a tiny cross. We still see this version of the blessing performed during Baptisms (with the cross traced on the infant’s forehead) and on Ash Wednesday (with the cross traced in ashes on the foreheads of the faithful). Similarly, when the Gospel is read during the Liturgy of the Word, the priest or deacon leads the congregation in forming this small cross on the forehead, mouth, and chest, indicating a willingness to keep the Word of

the Lord in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

There is no doubt that our early Church fathers were strong believers in the sanctifying power of the Sign of the Cross. A second-century ecclesiastical scholar, Tertullian, and a third century saint, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, both wrote about the necessity of performing the Sign of the Cross at one’s waking and one’s lying down, at entering and leaving a room, at mealtimes, and more. St. Augustine also referenced the importance of marking the cross on the faithful’s forehead during the administration of the sacraments.

It is likely that the sign transformed from the tiny cross on the forehead to the larger, full-body cross used today sometime in the fifth century, when heretics began questioning both the dual nature of Jesus Christ — fully human and fully divine — and the unity of the Holy Trinity. Believers in these crucial Church doctrines began forming the cross with three extended fingers (representing the Trinity), keeping the ring finger and little finger pressed down into the palm (representing Christ’s dual nature), and tracing a cross on their entire upper body so there could be no mistaking the gesture.

Today, the Sign of the Cross still figures predominantly in our prayer life as Roman Catholics. We commonly perform it upon entering a church; at the beginning and end of the Catholic Mass, a Benediction, or the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; when opening and closing our personal prayers; at mealtimes; and when passing by a Catholic Church (in recognition of Christ, present in the tabernacle). As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, the frequent, intentional use of the Sign of the Cross can help the faithful dedicate each day to the glory of God and provide strength in the face of trial and temptation (2157).

Christ the King • St. Jude Thaddeus • St. Paul

Thank you to all those that participated in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass this year at St. Paul. We hope to grow this tradition each year.

Gracias a todos los que participaron en la Misa de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe este año en St. Paul. Esperamos esta tradición crezca cada año.