SEPTEMBER 2021
Our Lady of Lourdes CATHOLIC CHURCH
A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR
Introducing Our New Parish Stewardship Newsletter Dear Parishioners,
I
am pleased to present to you our new parish newsletter! This newsletter will help us learn how the stewardship way of life is a disciple’s response to the call to know, love, and follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Every month we will share stories that will help us better understand who we are as Catholics and individual members of God’s family. The upcoming newsletter issues will feature activities and events happening within the Our Lady of Lourdes community and how these help change hearts, minds, and lives as through them we grow closer to Christ and to each other. In each article, we will see how Christ is at work within us and our community as we more intentionally engage the stewardship way of life. I hope that this newsletter will be a meaningful way to continue learning more about our faith. As we learn more about our faith and how our fellow parishioners are living their faith out in our community, it will bear much fruit and inspire you to consider how you can be more involved in the life of our parish — for some, perhaps this will be an opportunity to try new things. This newsletter will help improve communication as we feature events coming up and share information with continued on back cover
The Old Testament is not the only place where we can find references to stewardship. Indeed, of the 36 parables in the New Testament, more than half of them deal with time, talent, possessions, or money. Therefore, if Jesus spoke of stewardship that much, it should be a very important part of our lives!
What Does
S EWARDSHIP
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hat comes to mind when you hear the word “stewardship”? Do you think of it as just another way to talk about money? Do you quickly dismiss it as a notion that has nothing to do with being Catholic? Stewardship is actually a concept that is Scripturally-based and is vital to our life as Catholics. God tells us, in the very first book of the Old Testament, “Be fertile and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all the living things that move on the earth” (Gen 1:28). What does that mean to us today? It simply means that God is telling us, “This is yours, so take care of it.” One of the first things God tells us to do is to be good stewards of the gifts He has entrusted to us! The Old Testament is not the only place where we can find references to stewardship. Indeed, of the 36 parables in the New Testament, more than half of them deal with time, talent, possessions, or money. Therefore, if Jesus spoke of stewardship that much, it should be a very important part of our lives! As Catholics, we refer to the 02
three facets of stewardship as “time, talent, and treasure.” Although these are three concrete ways to express and measure stewardship, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops tells us that stewardship is part of discipleship. Stewardship is a way of responding to God’s call in every aspect of our lives. The Scriptures and Church traditions teach us one important point that cannot be overstated — that stewardship is primarily based on our need to give in gratitude, not on the Church’s need to receive. Of course, both the Catholic Church and our particular parish will always need money. However, we are not asked to give simply to defray costs and fund charitable programs. We are instead asked to remember our need to gratefully return a portion of our time, talent, and treasure to God, recognizing all that He has given to us. It is important to remember that stewardship is a way of life, and not a program. True Catholic stewardship involves an ongoing call to live as followers of Christ. It takes time to find and define personal goals. You can begin by examining
Mean?
your commitments to Our Lady of Lourdes. How do you live your faith in your daily life with your family and friends? How much time do you spend in daily prayer, going to Mass, or being involved in parish ministries and activities? What percentage of your income should you give back to God every week? What talents do you have that could be used to strengthen our parish family? In the coming months, we will be increasing and intensifying our education and communication on stewardship. We will be developing a better understanding of how stewardship is a way of responding to God’s call to discipleship. And with God’s help, changes will occur in each of our hearts as we devote ourselves to a stewardship renewal within our parish. Examine how you are currently responding to God’s call to stewardship. If God called you home tomorrow, would He proclaim, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”?
Meet Our Interim Principal, Mr.
Chris Sutton
Facing the New School Year with Gratitude, Enthusiasm and Confidence
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hen the IHM Sisters were summoned back to Philadelphia, they left big shoes to fill at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. One position in particular — that of Principal — requires an extensive application and interview process, overseen by a search committee and accompanied by prayerful discernment. Finding just the right match isn’t easy, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made the search more difficult. For this reason, an in-house Interim Principal was chosen — Mr. Chris Sutton. “We have so many good people here and a wonderful Assistant Principal already in place,” Mr. Sutton says. “I was asked to take the reins for a bit and keep the ship straight this year. I am both humbled and excited.” This is not the first time the Lord surprised Mr. Sutton with a quick directional shift. Back in the 1990s, after graduating from Penn State with a finance and economics degree, he accepted a position as a stockbroker and financial consultant. The work left him unfulfilled. It was then that he received the call to the teaching profession. “The Lord put it on my heart and I truly believe that He wanted me to be a teacher,” Mr. Sutton says. “It was just the right fit.”
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Mr. Chris Sutton is serving as Interim Principal at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School.
While in graduate school at N.C. State, Mr. Sutton accepted his first position at Our Lady of Lourdes School as a part-time algebra teacher and recess monitor. Since then, his titles included social studies teacher, religion teacher, football coach, math teacher, and Assistant Principal. The educational institutions at which he has worked include N.C. State, St. Raphael’s, St. Francis, and Cardinal Gibbons, among others
Mr. Sutton’s academic and administrative depth, coupled with his most recent position as middle school math teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes, ensures a smooth transition into his role as Interim Principal. He looks forward to the challenge, recalling his favorite quote from St. John Paul II, “Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.” “We should aim to remember the past with gratitude as a country, a parish, and a school,” Mr. Sutton says. “All the ups and downs have made us into who we are and we are grateful. Scripture tells us to give thanks in all things. When we live the present with enthusiasm, we know it is time to make a joyful noise! We don’t have to go to school, we get to go to school. And finally, I look forward to the future with confidence because God has a plan for our school, just like he promised in Jeremiah 29:11 — a plan for us to prosper.” Thank you Mr. Sutton for your love for Catholic education, your willing heart to respond to God’s call to leadership, and your faith in the future of Our Lady of Lourdes School. It is with gratitude, enthusiasm, and confidence that we commence the 2021-22 school year!
We should aim to remember the past with gratitude as a country, a parish and a school. All the ups and downs have made us into who we are and we are grateful. Scripture tells us to give thanks in all things. When we live the present with enthusiasm, we know it is time to make a joyful noise! We don’t have to go to school, we get to go to school.
”
Mr. Chris Sutton 03
The Altar Guild:
MAKING OUR PARISH BEAU
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hen you walk into our parish around Christmastime, you can’t help but be inspired by the gorgeous decorations that surround you. Year by year, they not only remind you of the peace, joy, and glory of the holy season but also of the sanctity of the Christ Child. “We decorate the altar area for special feast days,” says Anita Nyberg, President of the Our Lady of Lourdes Altar Guild. “For Christmas, we order Christmas trees from the mountains in North Carolina and arrange them around the Nativity scene, and we adorn the altar with red and white poinsettias. We also hang wreaths on our parish doors. During Lent and Advent, we put up special wall hangings that go with the altar, as well.” Thankfully, lovely decorations are only some of the many blessings that Our Lady of Lourdes Altar Guild bestows on our parish family. This ministry consists of several committees which work to enrich the life of our parish in a variety of ways. These include the Altar Linen Committee; the Flower Committee; the Cleaning Committee; and a committee
that takes care of sending out “get well” and sympathy cards, such as to Altar Guild members or their families in time of need. “The Flower Committee gets new flowers each week, and we make arrangements with them to put around the altar or statues,” Anita says. “We also have a flower memorial program through which anyone can dedicate a floral arrangement to a loved one.” Furthermore, a group of Altar Guild members makes phone calls to parishioners to inform them of current Guild events and activities. Each Friday after Mass, Guild members clean our parish by carefully removing wax from the carpets, dusting, cleaning out the pews, and taking care of the candles. During the pandemic, Altar Guild members worked with other parish families to sanitize our church pews after every Mass. “They were very dedicated,” Anita says. “They did it for a year and a half, and we have 13 Masses every week! They are not doing the pews anymore, but they are still sanitizing door handles and other surfaces.”
Altar Guild ladies gather with Fr. Michael Schuetz. Each May, they attend a special Mass and then go out to lunch at a local restaurant, signaling the end of the guild year. Guild meetings resume in September.
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For the Easter season, the sanctuary is adorned by the efforts of the Altar Guild ladies. Azaleas and Easter lilies brighten the altar as we herald the Risen Christ!
TIFUL AND GROWING IN FELLOWSHIP To financially sustain their activities, the Altar Guild holds bake sales offering homemade goods each year before Thanksgiving and Easter, in our parish vestibule. Overall, the Altar Guild provides an uplifting way to embrace the gift of stewardship. “One of the main aspects I like about the Altar Guild is the fellowship it provides,” Anita says. “We have such a wonderful group of ladies, and we have all gotten to know each other so well. Being in the Guild provides you with a great opportunity to contribute to the betterment of the parish while experiencing spiritual and social growth as well.” The Altar Guild meets on the second Thursday of the month in the Fallon Center from 11:15 a.m. until about 1 p.m., except for during May and the
summer months. Meetings include socializing, a luncheon, and time to discuss upcoming Guild activities and business. Guest speakers are also invited to come to the meetings and speak on religious themes. DVDs on faith topics are shown as well. Furthermore, each May, members close their ministry year by attending a special Mass together and then going out to lunch at a local restaurant. Anita extends a warm invitation and encourages others to join the Altar Guild. “It is wonderful to be part of the Altar Guild!” she says. “I encourage new people to join because it allows you to enhance our altar and help our church community. The work we do adds to the beauty of our parish and enables people to pray in a beautiful church.”
If you would like more information about the Altar Guild, please contact Anita Nyberg at 919-522-7606 or see informational handouts located in the parish vestibule.
Guild ladies decorated the sanctuary with Fraser fir trees and red and white poinsettias for the Christmas season.
The Guild ladies have prepared the sanctuary for the season of Advent. A large Advent wreath and purple wall hangings adorn the altar.
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MEET OUR
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
C
harity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism are the four guiding principles of the Knights of Columbus. Everything that the Our Lady of Lourdes Knights do falls into one of these categories. Our Knights of Columbus Council 12025 currently meets in person at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the Bernadette Center. During the COVID-19 closures, the Knights continued to meet via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. It was important to both the Knights and Fr. Patrick Keane wanted to keep everything as normal as possible — they even held their popular fish fry fundraisers, albeit in a drive-through fashion. “We had the highest number of plates served over what we have ever had,” says Grand Knight Tom Dunham. “It was a blessing to see that much help. The parish came out to support us.”
Tom feels blessed to be a part of this organization — he has been an active Knight for about 24 years and transferred to Council 12025 about five years ago. He enjoys having the opportunity to meet men of faith from all age groups, as well as being able to support organizations in need and help with various maintenance projects at Our Lady of Lourdes. The Knights also assist with school projects when they are needed. In addition, they host a pancake breakfast when students, teachers, and staff return to school, as well as a Santa Claus breakfast around Christmastime. “We are here to help when we are needed,” Tom says. “Service is a big part of this organization. The council also uses various fundraisers to collect money for organizations like Coats for Kids, Divine Mercy Radio, Birth Choice, and
Knights of Columbus Council 12025 team helping the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary move from the convent
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BRINGING THE FAITH ALIVE THROUGH SERVICE AND FRATERNITY Special Olympics, to name a few. The Knights also support one or two seminarians a year with a stipend. In July, the council members hosted an event for seminarians of the diocese, called the Seminarians Ultimate Frisbee Invitational. This was an opportunity for the seminarians to pray, enjoy time together and have fun. The Knights do a shrimp boil for attendees. “Hands down, this is my favorite thing we do
each year,” Tom says. “It’s just a really fun event for these men and for us.” For Tom, helping others with his friends in the Knights of Columbus is truly a blessing. “I’ve made so many friendships,” Tom says. “There are guys I met 25 years ago and we are still friends. I’ve made lifelong friendships in the service of others. The Knights of Columbus is also just a great way to get engaged in our parish community.”
If you would like to get involved in the Knights of Columbus Council 12025, please contact Tom Dunham at 919-632-3465 or tsdunham1964@gmail.com.
Walt Jones at the yearly ultimate frisbee event
Working together during a fish fry in 2020
A Knights of Columbus fish fry in 2020
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2718 Overbrook Drive | Raleigh, North Carolina 27608 919-861-4600 | ourladyoflourdescc.org
Introducing Our New Parish Stewardship Newsletter continued from front cover you. But I also want to hear from you! In Spring 2022, we will be conducting a comprehensive parish survey. The survey will be mailed to each home — I ask you to take the time to complete the survey and return it as soon as possible. Your feedback is important to me and will help me and parish leadership better understand your thoughts about our parish. This survey will enable us to pave the way for our future. Another important step in our stewardship journey will be our Annual Stewardship Renewal that will happen this November. The Renewal is our annual chance to ask ourselves how we prioritize the way we use God’s gifts in the Church. We will make written commitments to ourselves and to God concerning how we will be more devoted with our use of time (using our time on earth wisely; making time for personal prayer, family prayer, and quality time with friends and loved ones); talent (using our God-given gifts to strengthen the Church through service to parish ministries and other activities), and treasure (the
wise and just management of our financial resources; giving a proportionate amount of my income to the parish). As we strive to develop stewardship as a way of life at Our Lady of Lourdes, the support and involvement of each individual parishioner are necessary to sustain the life of our parish. All of you have a place here, and all of you have a role to fill in the life of the parish as we live our lives as disciples of Christ. May the Holy Spirit renew and refresh all of us as we work together to build our parish family through the use of our time, talent, and treasure. Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us! In Christ,
Fr. Patrick Keane Pastor
Mass Times
SATURDAY VIGIL, 5:00 PM | SUNDAY, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM Spanish, 5:00 PM MONDAY, 8:00 AM | TUE — FRI, 8:30 AM | THURSDAY, 6:30 PM Spanish Confession Times: WEDNESDAY, 12:00 PM | SATURDAY, 3:00 PM