Parish Bible Studies:
What’s Inside: 2
A Wonderful Opportunity to Grow in Faith While Learning His Word
Prayer: Come to Know the Lord
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Start 2022 With a Clean Spiritual Slate
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Saint Houses: Inspiring Our Students through the Lives of His Saints
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The Importance of Loving God More Deeply at Mass
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Winter Music Program Brings Students Together Once Again for Joyful Performances
JAN 2022
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ore than 21 years ago, Karen Ordos wanted a way to get out of the house while homeschooling her six children. She was teaching and learning the faith with the kids, but she wanted an outlet to learn the faith with other adults. So, she attended a Bible study here at SMP for a few years. Eventually, she had the opportunity to begin leading the group. Karen has led a Tuesday morning Bible study group studying the Bible for 15 years and counting. Various people have come and gone from the group, but Karen has been consistent in the 9:30 a.m. start time. “I’ve had a lot of ‘aha’ moments throughout the years in Bible study,” she says. “The most fulfilling part is the discussion when you learn what other people took away from the week’s lesson. It is phenomenal.”
Karen Ordos’ Tuesday morning Bible study group
Karen has led Bible studies through various publishers, but she prefers the in-depth Scott Hahn studies. Each study is about 28 weeks and the meetings mostly follow the school calendar. During the 15 years of the group, Karen has had anywhere from eight to 20 people each session. The group meets for about two hours. Each week, the continued on back cover
Prayer: COME TO KNOW THE LORD
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e make constant reference to the “three Ts” of stewardship, recognizing that to truly live as a stewardship people, we must give God the first fruits of our time, talent, and treasure. It is easy for us to see the concrete reality of the latter two. If we are to give God our talents, we must first recognize with what talents He has blessed us, and then use those talents for His greater glory. And as we continue our stewardship path, we know very well that our money is something concrete. When we recognize it as a gift from God, we know that we are to give a certain amount back to Him. It is easy for many of us to understand what it means to give God our talent and our treasure. But what does it mean to give God a portion of our time? This idea is much harder to grasp, and yet giving to God the first fruits of our time is just as important as the other two. And if we understand this idea and implement it properly, our stewardship of time will serve as the very foundation from which our stewardship of talent and treasure bear fruit. When we talk about stewardship of time, we are referring to prayer time. Prayer is of the utmost importance in a disciple’s life, and in the Diocese of Wichita’s The Pillars of Parish Stewardship, it is also one of the four pillars of stewardship. Does this mean that in order to be true disciples, we should say the Our Father three times a day or pray a daily Rosary? Not particularly. Of course, we must not discount the merits of prayer, as the Church in her wondrous wisdom has given us certain prayers to help guide our lives. However, the disciple’s deep life of prayer involves even more. St. John Chrysostom explains, “You should not think of prayer as being a matter of words. It is a desire for God, an indescribable devotion … the gift of God’s grace” (Hom 6). That is, if we look at prayer as a mere regimen that we must follow every day, then we do not see to the heart of it. The reality is that prayer will take on different forms for every one of us. One person may have a deep
devotion to the Rosary, and in praying it, he is closely united to the Lord. Another person might feel deeply connected to Him through constant conversation – in the car on the way to work, before bed at night, or at other hours throughout the day. Meanwhile, for another person, a daily or weekly hour of silence before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration is the best place for him to offer the Lord his heart. No matter how we choose to pray, we must get to the root of it all. If we are to truly give God our time, it must be a gift of ourselves. It must come from the heart and not take the form of mere word repetition. If we offer an Our Father without meditating on the words, it can simply become recitation. The point of prayer is to get to know the Lord. If we are committed to living as His disciples, we must be on personal terms with Him. The first disciples didn’t know what it meant to pray the Rosary. And until the Lord taught them the Our Father, they couldn’t pray that either. But they were definitely true stewards of their time. They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and ate meals with Him. He was their best friend, and the more they got to know Him, the more they longed to serve Him. The same holds true for us today. We can walk with Him, talk with Him and sit with Him, just as they did. And He wants us to do this, too. St. John Chrysostom proclaims, there is nothing more worthwhile: “For prayer unites us to God as His companions” (Hom 6). How can we serve Him if we don’t know Him? If we truly desire to be a servant people, we must talk to Him whom we wish to serve. We must get to know Him. Then, most assuredly, we will fall in love with Him. We will undoubtedly desire nothing more than to serve Him. Recognize Jesus as your best friend and spend time with Him as such. He is the Lord, the Creator of the Universe, without whom we would cease to exist. Bring Him your cares and concerns, your excitement, your worry, your fears and your frustrations, and allow Him to comfort you. He is there, and He wants to speak with you.
No matter how we choose to pray, we must get to the root of it all. If we are to truly give God our time, it must be a gift of ourselves. It must come from the heart and not take the form of mere word repetition.
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A Letter From Our Pastor
Start 2022 With a Clean Spiritual Slate My dear sisters and brothers,
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lessings and peace to you as we enter into this new year of God’s grace, 2022. Did you know that the month of January got its name from Janus, the ancient Roman pagan god of doors and gates? His image was always carved or painted with two faces, one looking forward and the other backward. They reflected that you can go either in or out a door. From this very specific function, Janus’ role was generalized to include all beginnings and new endeavors as well as looking back and reflecting on what has happened. Unlike the ancient Romans and our present modern-day culture, the Catholic Church begins the calendar year with the beautiful feast of Mary the Mother of God, the new Eve, the one who bears new life in her womb. More on this later… Looking back and looking forward is something we often do especially after celebrating Christmas and preparing for New Year’s Day. The last week of the old year finds newspapers, magazines, TV programs and all sorts of social media platforms giving a glance back at the last year. “What were the 10 best, or worst movies, music, celebrities? Who are the most influential newsmakers? What were the biggest disasters, failures, etc.?” Then of course, there are all those predictions for the coming year. “What will the economy be like? Who is up or down in the polls? What about Covid?” Just like the secular world does – Janus like – we both look back at our own successes and failures, blessings and losses, happy events and sad ones during the last year, and look forward to this New Year as we make our resolutions. When we reflect on the blessings we received, are our hearts filled with gratitude, no matter how difficult this last year may have been? For most of us, there have been failures and failings that hopefully have led us to repentance and the Sacrament of Reconciliation allowing God to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). This gives us a new heart, a clean spiritual slate with which to begin a new year. As you move into this New Year, I invite you to include gratitude to God as you make and begin to live your resolutions. Will gratitude be your response to whatever might be? Will you trust that God is present in whatever circumstances you might face? Will you gratefully further your commitment of sharing your time in prayer by vowing to Make all Sundays Sacred (M. A. S. S.), by spending time in adoration, by praying with your spouse and your family on a daily basis? Will you gratefully resolve to get involved in some ministry by sharing your talent with the parish or the community? Will you gratefully decide to become more faithful in your financial stewardship if your commitment is less than it should be? Look forward to the New Year and bring Christ and His Church to the center of your resolutions and commitments. Then, see what a good year it will be, with God at the center! Place God first in all things. That is what Mary, the Mother of God did. Let us follow her example. In Christ, through the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio, I love you.
Fr. Jim
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Saint Houses:
Inspiring Our Students through
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be assemble of Saint Maximilian Kol Members of the House who would s ilie fam nity mu com 5 food baskets for over 3 ner. din ing giv nks not otherwise have a Tha
Members of the House of Saint Maximilian Kol be gather and sort food from the Thanksgiving drive.
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hanks to the Saint Houses at Saint Michael Parish School, our eighth-grade graduation ceremony is an extraordinary experience where each student feels loved, accepted, and encouraged by God’s love. “At graduation, every single student gets a plaque highlighting why they are so special, and what makes them such a unique disciple of Christ,” says Kathi Rafferty, Eighth ELA/Religion Teacher. “I am so glad we did away with only giving awards to some of the children because all of our kids are so great and try so hard. I believe this is one of the very best things we do — it has been one of the most transformative aspects of our Saint Houses program.” Truly, the moving graduation ceremony is only one of the countless ways in which the Saint Houses enrich our parish school family and beyond. Saint Houses are multi-grade groupings of students who share certain values with certain saints. They allow for a consistent, cohesive program that puts all students on a “level playing field.” According to their official mission statement, “The over-arching goal of Saint Houses is a greater sense of belonging to the Catholic Church, Saint Michael Parish School, and a smaller community that shares trust and affirmation.” Each house has a teacher advisor, as well as a very active student house leader who assumes a great deal of responsibility. “We feel that the advisory period and the Saint Houses can make a huge difference in the success of our middle school students,” Mrs. Rafferty says. Some of the many goals of the innovative program include ensuring that each student in the school is well known by at least one adult who is that student’s advisor; guaranteeing that every student is part of a peer group; helping every student find ways of being successful academically and socially; and foster unity, communication, community, and pastoral relationships among students and faculty. There are currently seven Saint Houses with 10 to 12 students each, from various grades. The advisors and the houses they lead are as follows: Mrs. Bishop, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Mr. Boyd, St. Therese of Lisieux; Principal Geraghty, St. Teresa of Calcutta; Mr. Hart, St. Vincent de Paul; Mrs. Graver, St. Francis of Assisi; Mrs. Rafferty, St. Maximilian Kolbe; Mrs. Swenson, St. Faustina. The students stay in their Saint House all throughout middle school.
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It is a huge honor to be a house leader. They serve as stewards of the school, and they take the younger kids under their wing. They help them navigate through their problems, and teach them how to bring God into each situation. It is such a great source of camaraderie and discipleship for both the leaders and the younger students they work with. — Kathi Rafferty, Eighth ELA/Religion Teacher
the Lives of His Saints During the year, each Saint House does a major charitable work together, bringing the stewardship vision to life. “My house did a Thanksgiving Food Drive this fall,” Mrs. Rafferty says. “Every Friday the students picked up the donations, counted all the food, wrote prayers on hearts to give to the families in need, and did the deliveries along with their parents. We have also continued to pray for these families throughout the year.” At the end of each school year, the eighth-grade students may apply to become a house leader the following year. “It is a huge honor to be a house leader,” Mrs. Rafferty says. “They serve as stewards of the school, and they take the younger kids under their wing. They help them navigate through their problems and teach them how to bring God into each situation. It is such a great source of camaraderie and discipleship for both the leaders and the younger students they work with.” Eighth-grade student Sammy Peterson first desired to become a student house leader because of a deeper desire that rests in her heart. “When I was little, I wanted to join Mother Teresa’s sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, and that inspired me to become a leader of the St. Teresa of Calcutta Saint House,” Sammy says. “I have really enjoyed it. I have made a few changes to how our house is structured, and I believe the changes have brought us all closer together. Overall, being a house leader has been a very valuable experience for me, and it has been really nice to bond with the other leaders and house members.” To someone thinking of applying to become a student house leader, Sammy has some helpful advice. “Go ahead and apply,” she says. “A lot of students doubt if they can do it or not, but you would never believe what could happen. There have been some leaders that have surprised me — I wasn’t sure if they could do it or not, but they really did a great job at it and turned it into their own thing!”
For more information about this beautiful educational outreach, please contact Kathi Rafferty at krafferty@stmikesolympia.org.
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The House of Saint Ter esa of Calcutta collected over 400 coats which will go to the parish Men’s She lter, and clients of the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society .
ta were of Saint Teresa of Calcut Members of the House d. nee in se tho of vice ser in happy to collect coats
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THE IMPORTANCE OF
LOVING GOD MORE DEEPLY AT MASS W
hen 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
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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? 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.
Winter Music Program Brings Students Together Once Again for Joyful Performances
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he students at Saint Michael Parish School were thrilled to have their winter music program back in person this Christmas. All of the students’ hard work was showcased in a special concert on Dec. 16. Erika Peterson, who teaches music at the school, was grateful for the students to have this opportunity again. “Coming together again and just celebrating helped kick off their vacation time together,” Mrs. Peterson says. The students celebrated the end of a semester and the beginning of a joyful Christmas break by performing sacred music in the sanctuary of the church. The sanctuary was the ideal setting to allow the children to be safely spaced during their performance. In turn, Mrs. Peterson chose music that would be reverent and a reminder of the sacred space they were in. Each class prepared a song, the middle school choir performed, followed by the fourth and fifth-grade band. A favorite feature of the show was the kindergarten portrayal of the Nativity story. The kindergarten class worked hard learning the story of Jesus’ birth and turning it into a play. “They came up with their own narrative,” Mrs. Peterson says. “What would Mary say if she met the angel? What would the star say to the Wise Men?” Since the students weren’t able to sing
together or gather to perform last year, Mrs. Peterson had each class learn a stanza of a poem. She recorded them and then gave the students an option to film themselves singing a song at home, which Mrs. Peterson edited together to make into a virtual choir. The kindergarten Nativity story was filmed in the classroom and Mrs. Peterson compiled it into a video to send to the families. Although everyone enjoyed these unique opportunities to be creative last year — the resulting video was a tribute to the students’ hard work — being able to really sing together was missed. “It’s really been wonderful this year to sing with the kids again,” Mrs. Peterson says. Since some students who attend the school are not parishioners, the concert was a wonderful opportunity to bring them and their families into the church and invite them back for the Christmas Masses. We hope that experiencing the church while their children were singing made them feel welcomed and at home. “It was a good evangelization opportunity for those families who don’t have a church home,” Mrs. Peterson says. After their performance, the students had a half-day of school before entering a restful Christmas break. “I think it put us into a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude for the church and the ‘Family of Families’ at Saint Michael,” Mrs. Peterson says.
“I think it put us into a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude for the church and the ‘Family of Families’ at Saint Michael.” — Erika Peterson 7
PO Box 766 | Olympia, WA 98507-0766 (360) 754-4667 | saintmichaelparish.org facebook.com/saintmichaelparish @smp.olympia saintmichaelparish youtube.com/c/saintmichaelparish
Parish Bible Studies continued from front cover lesson includes take-home work. “We move through the journey together,” Karen says. “It’s so fulfilling to grow together during the meetings.” SMP Steward for Evangelical Catholic, Small Groups, and Bible Studies Michaela Moreau recommends that everyone consider how they may grow in faith in 2022 through a Bible study. The studies are a fantastic way to be more formed in the faith. Learning is a lifelong process. It’s also a way to meet new people and make friends here at SMP. “Coming to know more about the Scriptures allows us to come to know Jesus, the living Word of God,” Michaela says. “Participating in studies about the faith helps us know what we believe and thus, we are better able to be a witness in the world. The more we know God, the more we love Him and desire to do His will in our lives.” Karen knows that without Bible studies being a part of her life all these years, she wouldn’t be where she is at in her faith life. “Bible studies have cemented a firm faith foundation
for me,” she says. “I now understand the whys and how it all fits together. I understand the background of the Bible and the bigger layers of meaning.” Karen says that through all her study of the Bible, she has learned more about why we believe what we believe as Catholics. “This encourages good habits of reading Scripture on your own,” says Karen. “It forces you to look at Scripture outside of Mass.” There are many different Bible study groups following a variety of themes and meeting at other times. This past fall, there were studies on everything from Catholic Social Teaching to the Gospel of John, to Humanae Vitae. There are both in-person and Zoom options. For more information, please contact Steward for Evangelical Catholic, Small Groups, and Bible Studies Michaela Moreau at 360-292-7104 or mmoreau@saintmichaelparish.org.
WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: Vigil 5pm | Sunday: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am & 5pm.