NOVEMBER 2021
the phi lipian
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F S T . P H I L I P N E R I C AT H O L I C C H U R C H
THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Providing Essential Assistance for Those in Need
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he Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy of compassion and service began in France in 1833. Frederic Ozanam, a young law student, was challenged about what he and his fellow Catholic students were doing to help the poor. Within weeks, he and several other students had formed what was to become the St. Vincent de Paul Society. They placed their charitable group under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul because he was well known for his love and work with the poor. Only 12 years after the initial group had formed, its roots were also established in the United States. Now, nearly 200 years later, the Society consists of 81 conferences of Parishioner Dann charity, with over 3,000 members and over 6,000 volunteers. The mission of the St. Vincent Dunn is the president de Paul Society is not just to care for those in need — it is also to help their members grow of our St. Vincent de spiritually through providing these works of mercy for others. Paul conference. Dann Dunn, a parishioner at St. Philip Neri, is the president of the parish conference. “My mother is a member at her parish and has been for the last 30 years,” Dann says. So carrying on the torch with a leadership position is one way he has been able to give back. “Being a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society has most importantly helped keep my feet on the ground,” Dann says. “There are many less fortunate than us and I am blessed enough to get to help them.” With his new leadership, Dann shares that one of his goals is to increase membership, as well as bring in continued on back cover
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STEWARDSHIP
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Hannah, the Good Steward
hat should we do when our prayers are answered? Is there anything left to do after we have sincerely thanked God for His favors? If God were a human peer, we would probably try to reciprocate by granting Him a favor in return. But the truth is that God cannot be made greater by anything that we do for Him. Instead, God receives our thanks and tells us to “go and do likewise.” That is, He tells us to share with others the good that He has bestowed on us. And in doing so, we are really sharing God Himself. That is the definition of stewardship! The Old Testament Book of Samuel contains one of the most poignant examples of stewardship in the entire Bible. The first chapter teaches us of an unhappy, barren woman named Hannah. Desperate in her barrenness, Hannah prays that God will give her a son, vowing that she will raise him to be a man of God. Imagine Hannah’s elation when she was granted her prayer! When Samuel was born, her heart’s desire had come true! Imagine further the pang of motherly sorrow, as Hannah kept her promise to God by taking Samuel at a young age to be the servant of Eli, the high priest. The Book of Samuel tells us that once Samuel became Eli’s servant, Hannah saw her young son just once a year. Indeed, Hannah knew that Samuel was truly a gift from God – an answered prayer. Hannah’s response is that of the Good Steward – with an attitude of both gratitude and sacrifice, she gave up her son to honor God. One imagines that Hannah probably struggled with this sacrifice during those first years. She probably did not know what God had in store for her son. Yet, through her faithfulness, God used him as a gift to an entire nation. Samuel would, in time, become one of the greatest prophets of Jewish history. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the sacrifices we make in the name of stewardship, while the results may just be impossible to miss! However, He asks that we continue to be faithful in either case. God has undoubtedly bestowed gifts on all of us – at whatever the cost, we are to “go and do likewise.”
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A Letter From Our Pastor
Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Time
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he next several weeks are certainly a busy time for us as Catholics, good stewards, good citizens, and faithful members of the Church and our parish. There are celebrations and commemorations both inside and outside the Church that are momentous in terms of faith, citizenship, and living as people of thanksgiving and gratitude. We celebrate Veterans Day to honor and thank all those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces in one capacity or another. Indicative of the importance of this day, every year at 11 a.m. Eastern, the President of the United States lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. We all understand that Americans celebrate a day of Thanksgiving on Nov. 25. What more can we say about this? It is a day that was faith-based from its very beginnings, and it is an indication of how much we have to thank God for in terms of the gifts we have received — our lives, our families, our Church, our Lord and Savior — everything we are and everything we have. No sooner are Thanksgiving Day celebrations concluded, than we begin that glorious season called Advent on Sunday, Nov. 28. This prepares us for and leads to Christmas. Indeed, this is
both a busy and extraordinary time of year! There is, of course, much more on which we could focus and about which we could think, meditate and pray, but that is more than enough for us to consider and absorb. From a stewardship perspective, I would like you to not only participate and focus on all the particular things that are about to happen but also on one of our special gifts – the gift of time. The gift of time, which we all receive from God in equal amount, is precious because it is a non-renewable resource. Although some of our time is committed because of family responsibilities, work responsibilities, or simply personal needs, we have an element of freewill with how we spend a certain amount of it. We need to spend some of that time in prayer, in thanksgiving, in worship, and in works of mercy and ministry. Our time is perhaps more precious than any material gifts we receive from the Lord. How are we doing with that gift? Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Fabio Refosco, C.O.
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MEET PARISHIONERS
Tim and Kelly
Living Life
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For the Gunnels family, serving the community by being involved in the parish is part of their commitment to live their lives to the fullest.
or Tim and Kelly Gunnels, serving the community by being involved in the parish is part of their commitment to live their lives to the fullest. “Part of living life to the fullest is helping other people to the best of your ability,” Tim says. “To me, it’s one of the reasons we’re here on earth.” Tim and Kelly strive to live out the commandments of Jesus to love the Lord and love their neighbor by bringing their gifts to St. Philip Neri Parish. Parishioners since 2002, their life experience has taught them to value the time that they have and to use it well. By serving the parish, they have found new purpose. Kelly grew up Catholic in the Bible Belt of Mississippi. “It’s always been a very comfortable thing for me,” Kelly says. “But thank God for converts.” Tim was raised in a Bible church outside of New Orleans. Tim and Kelly married in 1989. When they started to raise their kids, Tim realized how important it would be for his whole family to attend church together. “It took some effort to convert,” Tim says. “But I thought it was most important to have my family going to the same church.” As their twins, Nathan and Aubrey, grew up and attended school, Tim and Kelly found more and more reasons to get involved. Nathan and Aubrey served on the altar, and the family helped with various events. For a while, their kids were Tim and Kelly’s primary reason to be involved in the parish. That changed for Tim in 2005, when he was diagnosed with a tumor on his pancreas. After fighting through that, Tim began to reprioritize his life.
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Gunnels:
to the Fullest, in Faith and Service
As their twins, Nathan and Aubrey, grew up and attended school, Tim and Kelly Gunnels found more and more reasons to get involved.
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“It was kind of a wake-up call,” he says. “I got heavily involved in a lot of things.” Tim joined a men’s club, became a Eucharistic Minister, and started a Toastmasters club in 2006. He sees Toastmasters as both a hobby and a ministry through which he can help others find their voice. “I have not regretted a minute of it,” Tim says. As for Kelly, she joined the Women’s Group and was a member on and off for about six years. She met role models that deeply influenced her. “They probably don’t know to this day that they really impacted my life,” Kelly says. “They were good people to be around.” Both Tim and Kelly have been involved with the Italian Festival for at least 12 years — Kelly helps run the silent auction. A strong sense of community and fundraising for a good cause always motivate Tim and Kelly to get involved. “We love the spirit of the parish and the energy that Fr. Fabio brings,” the couple says. As for most of us, Tim and Kelly’s involvement in the parish has changed throughout their lives and has been shaped by their life experiences. “Get involved with the right spirit,” Tim says. “Get involved with an attitude of service and community, and you won’t be sorry.”
Part of living life to the fullest is helping other people to the best of your ability. To me, it’s one of the reasons we’re here on earth.
Tim Gunnels
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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 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.
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The Thanksgiving Food Drive: Serving Those in Need with a Spirit of Faithful Stewardship
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ith Thanksgiving approaching, we can make sure that our neighbors struggling to feed their families can enjoy the holiday with a full table, thanks to the efforts of our Knights of Columbussponsored Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Parishioner Doug Wagner, a Second Degree Knight in Bishop Denis J. O’Connell Council 12366, is coordinating the food drive that will begin on Saturday, Nov. 20, and continue on Nov. 21. Over the past three years, the drive has collected over 35,000 pounds of food, and the need continues to grow. Food collection bags will be distributed to our parish before that weekend, and we are asked to bring canned foods in the bags for collection at the Masses on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21. “The food goes to the Fort Mill Care Center,” Doug says. “One of our parishioners runs the food pantry there. The clients are the same people who qualify at the poverty level. There are a lot more in Fort Mill than people know.” The clients will register to receive the food. Although our food drive does not include turkeys, the care center can distribute donated turkeys to the clients. After the food is collected at the church, a group of Knights will pack the items into boxes, and load them into a truck the following Monday. Doug is typically behind the wheel. “We fill it as full as we can,” Doug says of the truck. “We get help from our local Two Men and a Truck of Fort Mill. They’ve been donating a truck for us at least for three years. We really appreciate it. Last year, there were a lot of people moving and I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to get a truck. But they made sure we had a truck. That’s how generous they are.” Donating to the food drive is one way we can act in stewardship.
“I think a lot of times we believe stewardship is within the church, itself,” Doug says. “But you look at St. Philip and it goes beyond the congregation. We are playing a big part in helping the community. There really is no better way to give than to those in need. It is the ultimate stewardship — it is what Jesus did, taking care of the poor and hungry. This is what stewardship is about — there is no selfishness at all.” Doug and his fellow Knights are most appreciative of our parish’s generosity in donating the food. The food drive originally was operated by the parish Men’s Club, but when the group disbanded, the Knights of Columbus was asked to take over. Doug became the coordinator, in response to the Knights’ call to take on a project that one is passionate about. “This is what I am,” Doug says. “My high school collected food, and it’s something I feel strongly about. I had good mentors at school.”
Anyone who would like to help with the food drive may contact Doug Wagner at 765-716-1688.
St. Philip Neri
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID City, ST Permit #
C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 292 Munn Road East Fort Mill, SC 29715 803.548.7282 saintphilipneri.org
The St. Vincent de Paul Society: Providing Essential Assistance for Those in Need
THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
continued from front cover
more young members. “Right now, one of the current problems we face is that most of our members are retirees,” he says. “We need to start getting reinforcements from our younger population. We need younger people with new ideas to keep this going.” The St. Vincent de Paul Society helps those in need by providing financial assistance, helping to pay bills, providing resources, and assisting in many other ways. To seek help, one just has to call the hotline and leave a message — a Vincentian will return the call and determine what kind of help they can provide. “It can be embarrassing to ask for help,” Dann says. “But we have the resources and we have the
relationships with companies and landlords, and we are often able to find a solution if you need it.” With the Christmas season right around the corner, the group will continue with their annual Angel Tree Christmas Drive. Due to the implications of COVID, the gift requests will be posted online, just as they were last year. Please refer to the bulletin for more information about how to give to this great event. “The Angel Tree drive is very successful every year,” Dann says. “I think that parishioners like getting their families involved to help others who are not as fortunate as they are. “When someone finds it in their heart to help the less fortunate in the community, seek us out,” he adds.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Meetings take place in room 212 of the ministry building — Zoom links are available as well for those who are not able to meet in person.