St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Newsletter — October 2020

OCT

2020

“Coincidental” Stewardship PAGE 3

A Parish Family Tradition: Men’s Club Gears Up for Annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast PAGE 4 Understanding the Works and Service of Our Pastoral Council PAGE 6 October: A Month to Turn to Our Lady of the Rosary PAGE 7

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA An Inside Look at St. Dominic School’s Parent-Teacher Organization “Working Together for God’s Glory”

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here was great excitement in the air as St. Dominic School opened its doors to students when the new school year began on Aug. 17. As a faith community, we remain ever-grateful to the dedicated administrators, faculty and staff who continue to make St. Dominic a wonderful place to grow academically and spiritually. We are equally thankful for another group that works “behind the scenes” to make each and every school year the best that it can be — the St. Dominic Parent-Teacher Organization, or PTO. Penny Weiman, who has served on the PTO for five years, has witnessed firsthand the many ways in which this organization supports our school community.

“The PTO brings parents and teachers together to support the school,” Penny says. “We help to organize and fund many special programs for the school, as well as provide volunteers to support those programs. The PTO tries to have at least one event planned each month. Some of our most popular events are the Back to School Bash, Mighty Machine Night, Moms and Muffins and Dads and Donuts, Trunk or Treat, the faculty Christmas luncheon,

PTO-sponsored fun at the annual Mighty Machines event.

the Mother-Son and Father-Daughter Dance, Fish Fries, Academic Nights, and Scotties Fun Spot Skate nights.”

With the safety guidelines for COVID-19 changing many events in 2020, the PTO has been extra diligent this year, finding creative and flexible ways to offer some of the school’s most beloved events while respecting social distancing guidelines. As a result, our sense of community continues continued on page 2

Parent-Teacher Organization continued from front cover to be enriched by the PTO-sponsored gatherings and events that bring our parish and school together.

“The PTO is a wonderful group of women and men working together for our children,” Penny says. “Our group is absolutely the best group of hard-working individuals.”

In addition to strengthening the ties between our school and parish, parents who participate with the PTO often nurture a closer bond to the school, their fellow school families, and even their own children.

“Participating parents do feel more connected to and invested in the school community,” Penny says. “When our children help with service it makes our family strong. When COVID-19 hit and St. Dominic had to go to remote learning, my husband and children helped me make a sign on the school baseball fence that read ‘Trust God, Miss U.’ Working together for God’s glory keeps our family connected. And our PTO works as a large family group with everyone willing to help.”

After serving two years as Vice President and two years as President of our PTO, Penny is currently serving as Immediate Past President. She is excited about the talented group of officers leading the organization this year, with Holly Kasparie as President, Anna Benz as Vice President, Olivia Powell as Secretary, and Brooke Venvertloh as Treasurer.

Penny also hopes to see many new faces join the PTO this year and looks forward to seeing all the blessings this school year will continue to have in store for our faith community!

“I encourage all parents to become involved,” she says. “Building relationships by serving God together is amazing. It’s fun to work alongside others to get to know them. I truly love being involved and hosting events to bring families together for the glory of God. It is a blessing to our family to serve others for Christ. Pray about it, get involved, and watch how God will change your life!”

Each year, the St. Dominic School PTO sponsors a Mighty Machines event for parishioners and school families.

PTO Past President Penny Weiman, her husband Matt, and their children made a sign out of cups on the baseball field fence offering hope during the COVID-19 closures. The sign read, “Trust God, Miss U.”

“I encourage all parents to become involved. Building relationships by serving God together is amazing. It’s fun to work alongside others to get to know them. I truly love being involved and hosting events to bring families together for the glory of God. It is a blessing to our family to serve others for Christ. Pray about it, get involved, and watch how God will change your life!” — Penny Weiman

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ST. ANTHONY of PADUA a letter from our pastor

“Coincidental” Stewardship

Dear Parishioners,

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he famous author G.K. Chesterton once said, “Coincidences are God’s way of staying anonymous.”

Since fully embracing the stewardship way of life, coincidences have become cherished experiences for which I thank God — and rightly so! While God stays anonymous, coincidences are His way of interacting with the world He created.

Importantly, as we have been continually impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with many of our circumstances changing day-to-day, we can be grateful for His “coincidental” intervention.

As I continue to witness the grace-filled effects of the stewardship way of life on our parish, and in my own life, it is definitely God’s hand at work in our lives of faith. If some identify a coincidence as a “surprise blessing” that lifts the spirits and draws one closer to gratefulness to God, we cannot deny that in those circumstances that God is giving us the grace to live and celebrate our faith. So, let’s celebrate the coincidences!

Celebrate the coincidence that Chesterton himself converted to Catholicism late in his life, yet wrote book after book affirming and defending the Catholic faith long before his conversion. Four years after Chesterton joined the Catholic Church, he wrote a phenomenal book called The Catholic Church and Conversion. It is one of the best works on conversion to Catholicism, as well as a wonderful description of conversion to the stewardship way of life. The same experiences, or “coincidences,” apply when we find ourselves drawn into the understanding, practice and expression of discipleship, known to us as “stewardship.”

Chesterton describes conversion in three steps.

“The convert takes his first step rather unwittingly when he decides he’s going to be fair to the Catholic Church,” he wrote. The convert to stewardship must also dispel the “myths of stewardship” and give it a chance.

This first step of conversion then leads to a long and enjoyable second step, which is the utter fascination of learning what the Catholic Church really does teach. Chesterton says, “It is like discovering a new continent full of strange flowers and fantastic animals, which is at once wild and hospitable.”

For the stewardship convert, it is recognizing that stewardship is a practical way of living the Gospel. It makes sense, and others are doing it with joy and passion. What they have, the convert also wants.

Then, the convert to Catholicism suddenly realizes with a shock that he can no longer be detached and impartial about the Catholic Church.

The convert to the stewardship way of life realizes this is the way he or she wants to live — and makes the commitment to do so.

If this were not true of what Christ has called us to be, I would not be writing this today. If this were not true of our commitment to stewardship, you may not be reading this today. And, if this were not true of a stewardship parish such as ours, we would not be the faithful stewards we are today. Wouldn’t you also agree it is a “coincidence” to thank God for each day of our lives?

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Donovan Pastor

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A Parish Family Tradition:

Men’s Club Gears Up for Annual Pan I

t’s not often the people serving you a meal also fully prepared the meat — but the annual Men’s Society Pancake and Sausage Breakfast is one such occasion.

Each year in early December, about 80 volunteers gather to process 20 to 25 hogs, and the pork sausage ends up on plates at the breakfast. Even before the breakfast, people order sausage to enjoy at home. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6.

“It’s the best sausage in town,” says Men’s Society Vice President Kurtis Fischer. “It’s an old recipe. It’s a secret.”

This same recipe has been used for more than 50 years. The pancakes are also the product of a beloved recipe and are always a big hit at the breakfast. There are usually about 900 meals served at the Pancake and Sausage Breakfast.

Kurtis invites everyone to the Parish Hall for this year’s breakfast — not only for the good food but also for the chance to help out the Men’s Society. The group does so much to keep our parish looking good and working well.

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ST. ANTHONY of PADUA

ncake and Sausage Breakfast The Men’s Society takes care of all the parish maintenance — indoor and outdoor. Several crews that do the lawn care and snow removal.

They also make sure all the indoor equipment — from electrical to heating and air conditioning — is maintained.

“We take care of any oddball items, so no one at St. Anthony’s has to worry about it,” Kurtis says.

Thanks to whole families of volunteers, the Pancake and Sausage Breakfast is a successful event that helps the Men’s Society continue to take care of our parish upkeep. Kurtis credits the people of our parish for always stepping up to help. He says he’s never belonged to a parish with so many eager volunteers.

“This event has been going on for generations,” Kurtis says. “You wouldn’t believe the help we get. We get more volunteers than you can imagine.”

The chicken dinner, held at the end of September, is another larger fundraiser for the Men’s Society. Kurtis hopes parishioners continue their support of these events that help to help keep our parish and grounds in good shape.

“If we didn’t have fundraisers like this, we wouldn’t be able to keep up on the work at our parish,” he says. “All of that takes money.”

To order sausage prior to the breakfast, please call Bill Anderson at 217-257-2108 by early November.

For more info about the Men’s Society, please contact Kurtis Fischer at 217-316-2767.

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UNDERSTANDING THE

Works and Service

OF OUR PASTORAL COUNCIL

We will remember 2020 for many reasons. It is a time that we saw many changes to our daily lives, collaborations around the world to fight one cause, solidarity for a cause and social unrest. For some, their world came to a halt. For others, their world became more dangerous to carrying on with their lives. And, for some, their world stopped turning. As we continue with our “new normal,” the leaders of St. Anthony’s continue with the commitment to our parishioners to keep our faith alive and our parish moving forward. Though we have changed how we worship, how we do business on a daily basis and how we enhance the lives of our parishioners, our leadership has not wavered on their commitment to our parish. This month, we will be nominating candidates for our Parish Council.

Below is what the parishioners at St. Anthony’s can expect from the leaders on that council.

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ince they share responsibility and accountability, our pastor and the Pastoral Council will envision, plan, oversee, coordinate, communicate and evaluate all aspects of parish life.

Some responsibilities may include: 1. Serving in a consultative role to the pastor in assuring that all aspects of parish life reflect the mission and ministry of Jesus — as a community of faith to teach, pray and serve once another, especially those in need.

2. Concerning itself with those aspects of parish life that support wholeness and holiness. This includes but is not limited to — quality education, an understanding of faith, knowledge of Church teachings, quality of liturgical worship, a sense of belonging and bonding in the parish, special outreach and service to those in need.

3. Also, the Council assists the Finance Council in identifying building and grounds problems, identifying appropriate solutions, forming volunteer project teams to follow up, or identify appropriate contractors to do the work. The Finance Council determines whether there are adequate funds available for the project.

In keeping with the purpose of our mission, the Council strives: 1. To support the pastor in his role as Shepherd of the Parish.

2. To provide leadership, direction, education, resources and encouragement in accordance with ongoing changing goals of the parish, the diocese, and the Universal Church.

3. To be truly representative of all members of the parish in planning and decision making.

4. To foster unity in the parish, encouraging full participation of parishioners in parish life.

5. To assess the needs and strengths of our parish community.

6. To collaborate with neighboring parishes as appropriate to enhance the mission of the church.

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ST. ANTHONY of PADUA

OCTOBER:

A Month to Turn to Our Lady of the Rosary

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ay by day, our heavenly Father provides spiritual food and graces to His beloved children, nourishing us on our earthly pilgrimage. October brings us the grace of the Holy Rosary, a prayer buried deeply in the heart of the Church, as one of its most precious treasures.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which takes place Oct. 7, is a commemorative feast established by St. Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto. The victory was attributed to the help of the Mother of God, whose aid was invoked by praying the Rosary.

This victory revealed the power of the Holy Rosary more than ever. Catholics who were open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit took with deep resolve the Rosary as their link to God. Pope St. John Paul II, in his 2002 Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, writes: “The Church has always attributed particular efficacy to this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary ... the most difficult

problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our Lady of the Rosary was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation” (39).

Thus, not merely through the Rosary, but more significantly, through the woman behind the Rosary – the glorious Mother of our Savior, Christ the Lord – a wellspring of God’s love has been discovered.

Indeed, the Rosary is truly a way to discover Christ’s infinite love through the tender heart of His Mother.

“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 1).

A great number of saints, such as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who had a special concern for the preservation of the Christian family, sensed that its continued on back cover

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ST. ANTHONY of PADUA 2223 St. Anthony Rd. Quincy, IL 62305 217-222-5996

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October: A Month to Turn to Our Lady of the Rosary continued from page 7

salvation would be through the Holy Rosary. And as Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “Today I willingly entrust to the power of this prayer ... the cause of peace in the world and the cause of the family�

(Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 39). Our Lady of Fatima, who pleaded with families to pray the daily Rosary, would agree with him!

Let us entrust everything to the Rosary along with the saints. As our hearts burn with hope, let us give to the Mother of God every concern that we bear, each cross we carry, piece by piece, worry by worry. She will be there to offer everything to our Heavenly Father, Whose care for each one of His children reaches beyond anything we could ever imagine.

Let us entrust everything to the Rosary along with the saints. As our hearts burn with hope, let us give to the Mother of God every concern that we bear, each cross we carry, piece by piece, worry by worry. She will be there to offer everything to our Heavenly Father, Whose care for each one of His children reaches beyond anything we could ever imagine.

To learn more about stewardship at St. Anthony of Padua, please contact the Stewardship Committee at stewardship@stanthonypadua.org

Daily Mass: Mon, Tue, & Thu - 7:30 a.m. | Saturday, 4:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. | Sunday, 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Confessions: Saturday, 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.