St. Benedict
Cathedral
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
The Good Stewardship and Continuing Care of Our Parish Buildings By FR. GODFREY MULLEN, OSB
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ver the summer, some noticed that the temperature in the church was a little too chilly at times. At other times, it was far too warm. Most of us think of air conditioning and heat working just like our homes do — if it’s too warm, knock the thermostat down a degree or two, and if too cool, the opposite. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for our buildings are far more complex and antiquated for such simple solutions! As a parish focused on stewardship as a way of life, our challenge is to live within our means while also taking care of the wonderful gifts that these old buildings are. The faithful pioneering vision of Fr. Martin Hoppenjans, OSB, and the early parishioners of St. Ben’s might animate us to have courage, to lean into our future, just as we did with the renovation of our beautiful church building, and as we did in the past few years with the replacement of inefficient fluorescent lighting throughout the school. Replacing fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs was predicted to yield a $1,000 per month savings in our electrical bill. As we incorporate efficiencies, we encounter savings. As you might imagine, the boilers and chillers for HVAC in our school buildings and church building are significantly inefficient, some equipment nearly 40 years old. The window unit air conditioners in the classrooms of St. Meinrad and St. Scholastica halls are noisy and inefficient as well.
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Inside
DECEMBER 2021
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Christmastime Stewardship How We Can Bring His Son to the World
3 The Central Reality of Our Catholic December 4 Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events: Preparing and Entering into a Meaningful Celebration 6 The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity Scene 7 The St. Vincent de Paul Society Serving Those Most in Need With Great Compassion
CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP
How We Can Bring His Son to the World I
t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way. Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world. What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us to go, and there are many places to which He 2
may never go unless we take Him to them.” How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship. We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well. Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.
A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector
The Central Reality of Our Catholic December My Fellow Parishioners:
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s the month of December unfolds, the goal for us is Christmas, isn’t it? And yet, the Church, in great wisdom, gives us other December celebrations to enhance our preparation for Christmas. We celebrate the season of Advent — joyful, immediate anticipation of the birth of the Christ-Child. Advent is also a reminder to remain hopeful even as the long nights threaten darkness — that’s why we wear violet, the dark days of December. But the light will shine upon us. The days will get longer and the star will shine above the crib. Advent also is the time of preparation, whether that’s purchasing gifts with gratitude and generosity in our hearts, decorating a tree, putting up lights during our dark days, or preparing parts of the delicious meal we’ll celebrate — it can all be appropriate preparation for Christ’s birth if we have a proper disposition in our hearts. Hope fulfilled! We celebrate St. Nicholas on Dec. 6, remembering the jolly saint with the generous heart. Many families still have the children place a shoe outside their bedroom door so that St. Nicholas can fill them with treats. Hope fulfilled! We also celebrate our Blessed Mother on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8 (a holy day of obligation; Masses at 9 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.) and on Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Mother Mary took very seriously her call to do the will of the Father, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.” And her
willingness to do God’s will has a profound impact on the salvation of all people. She’s doing her part to allow the Light to conquer darkness. Hope fulfilled! There are also the last days before Christmas, where at Evening Prayer the Church sings the “O Antiphons,” hailing the coming Christ in various terms: O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of the Nations, O God With Us. Miracle after miracle prepares God’s people for His fulfilled promise of making salvation available to His people. Hope fulfilled! All of these and many more pieces of the December life of the Church remind us to focus on the central reality of our Catholic December — the fulfillment of hopes that are generations on, the fulfillment of hopes that shine through darkness, the fulfillment of hopes that otherwise may never rise to our consciousness. The ChristChild, born in poverty for the sake of everyone else, He is our hope fulfilled. He is our dreams come true. He is our way, our truth, our life. He is the One whom we await. May God grant us all the joy of a very Merry Christmas! Peace,
Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB Cathedral Rector
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UPCOMING
Advent AND Christmas
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t. Benedict Cathedral Parish has a variety of events and activities planned to help us make a meaningful Advent journey, as well as a joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. Our Fun-Raising Committee invites us to welcome the season of waiting with a special Advent event on Nov. 28. “As always, we will continue our decades-old commitment to the poor through the Dove Tree Program,” Fr. Godfrey Mullen says. “Our generosity to those in need during the preparation for the birth of the Christ child helps us focus on what is so important — using the gifts God has given for the good of the needy.”
The doves have been placed in the church at the beginning of Advent. Parishioners who wish to take part take a dove labeled with items to purchase, purchase the items, wrap them (unless otherwise indicated), and return them to church by the deadline. The items then are distributed to the homes and agencies our parish assists. “Every year, we have a few parishioners who contribute cash for this program so that gifts that don’t get returned can be purchased,” Fr. Godfrey says. “While this project assists families in need, it also reminds us to seek out the needy Christ and to serve Him in the least of our brothers and sisters. “We also have opportunities for our students’ families to show their appreciation to our teachers, who have been so heroic in the past few years,” he says. As the celebration of Christmas approaches, some classes in our parish grade school will be offering a Christmas program on Dec. 7. More information on these programs will be forthcoming. Even as our schedules fill at this time of year, there are many opportunities we can embrace to bring joy to this season. Fr. Godfrey has the following Masses planned for the celebration of Christmas:
Friday, Dec. 24 9 a.m. — Weekday Mass 4:30 p.m. — Christmas Eve Children’s Mass 12 a.m. — Christmas Midnight Mass with choir prelude Saturday, Dec. 25 9 a.m. — Christmas Day Mass There is NO 4:30 p.m. Mass The main altar in the process of being decorated for the 2019 Christmas Masses
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Sunday, Dec. 26 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses
EVENTS:
Preparing and Entering into a Meaningful Celebration “Our world could surely use the joy of Christmas, now as much as ever,” Fr. Godfrey says. “I encourage all our parishioners to seek some time of peace even amid the hectic work of preparation. Find a ‘retreat hour’ or a ‘retreat 10 minutes’ once or twice during Advent. Reflect on the simple and elegant story of Christ’s birth as a sign of God’s undying love and let that be heard deeply by the ear of your hearts. Let every gift you give share in the gift God gives His people. Let every gift you receive be a reminder of the unending gift of mercy that God has always shown His people. And remember, it is right and just, always and everywhere, to give God thanks.”
Our Advent wreath as it was placed for the 2019 season
Fr. Godfrey advises us to watch the weekly bulletins for timely announcements.
The Good Stewardship and Continuing Care of Our Parish Buildings continued from front cover Even the newer systems in St. Benedict Hall date from 2004 but are already showing signs of reaching the end of their service. Because of the antiquated equipment and controls for each system, moving forward with the replacement of those systems will not only result in a more comfortable environment and more easily controlled temperatures indoors, but the efficiencies should have a rather dramatic effect on our monthly utility bills. Last year, the parish absorbed nearly $50,000 in unplanned expenses to maintain our two chillers and three working boilers (a fourth boiler in the boiler house was decommissioned several years ago). While these more invisible realities may not be known to most parishioners, what is known is the condition of our parking
lot. While we continue to try to keep it “safe enough,” patchwork is becoming less effective each year. For the safety of our parishioners coming to Mass and the students playing on the playground, this work cannot be easily delayed. Setting out on such monumental projects is not likely to happen through our operational budget. In fact, your generous giving has already absorbed the unplanned repair expenses. Soon, the parish will, pending diocesan approval, set out on another capital campaign. Realizing the success of our Giving God Thanks capital campaign, we all have reason to trust that the generosity of our parishioners will come through again. More information will be forthcoming. May God bless our beloved St. Benedict Cathedral parish! 5
The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity Scene
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ith all the commercialism surrounding Christmastime, it’s far too easy for us to lose sight of the true reason behind the season. Overwhelmed by our endless to-do lists and the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping, our focus quickly shifts away from the Christ Child’s birth. And yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back into time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth. Interestingly, it was circumstances much like our own today which first led St. Francis of Assisi to recreate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated with the growing materialism and greed that seemed to pervade 13th century Italy, St. Francis wanted a way to visually remind people of Christ’s humble beginnings — to show them that Christmas isn’t about pomp and circumstance or material goods, but rather about unselfish love. Describing the idea to his friend Giovanni, St. Francis wrote, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger...” And so St. Francis’ idea took form on Christmas
Eve in 1223. This original Nativity scene was a living one, even including live animals. Villagers were deeply moved by the silent display of humble beauty, and the Nativity tradition soon spread throughout Italy and surrounding Europe. It is a tradition that remains today in nearly every Christian church and in many homes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene somewhere. Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. Many families have a tradition of hiding the Infant Jesus, only placing Him in the crib on Christmas morning. This helps build anticipation during the Advent season as we anxiously await the Divine’s birth. Others go a step further, actually wrapping up the Christ Child to be opened as the very first gift of Christmas. Yet, whatever your family’s particular traditions, we hope that the Christmas Nativity continues to draw your heart heavenward this Christmas season — to center us all on the greatest gift ever given, our Incarnate Lord.
Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. 6
Members of the St. Benedict chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society gather for a recent meeting.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society:
Serving Those Most in Need With Great Compassion
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he COVID-19 pandemic has seemed to further divide those who have the means and those facing economic hardship. And, unfortunately, the pandemic has made it hard to safely serve those who need it. But thanks to the good work of the St. Benedict Cathedral Parish chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Society, and the many generous donors from the parish, those in need are still getting help. Our St. Benedict’s chapter is part of a district council of 17 other institutions of faith throughout the Evansville area. The SVdP Society provides direct service to those in need throughout the neighborhoods around St. Benedict’s. Normally, they visit people in their homes, but that part of the ministry is on hold right now due to the pandemic. All “visits” are handled via phone. Phil Gamble is our chapter president, working with 17 SVdP Society members at St. Benedict’s. He first got involved after helping his sisterin-law with a few visits. Phil appreciates the opportunity he has to witness and understand the struggles of those in need through the SVdP Society. For many in need, it’s not always as simple as just finding a job. Often, transportation
or health issues can be a barrier to employment. “Because of the generous benefactors at our parish, we can help,” Phil says. “These people are our neighbors in the St. Ben’s neighborhood. It makes me so happy to be able to help.” The SVdP Society provides assistance in any number of difficult situations — for instance, a single mom who is having her water and electricity shut off, or a family facing eviction. SVdP also provides clothing vouchers to shop at the SVdP Society Thrift Store. The Society can also help a family get beds for their children, or key items like pots and pans and dishes, to name a few. “Some of the situations are so heartwrenching,” Phil says. “I feel blessed to be able to help. Some people are so thankful for the help that they are moved to tears.” Most of the people impacted by the SVdP Society’s works are not members of our parish. But, as Christians, we are called to help all those around us. We are called to see Christ in everyone we meet. “We have a community, a St. Ben’s community,” Phil says. “It’s greater than just the parishioners.” continued on back cover
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1328 Lincoln Avenue | Evansville, IN 47714 (812) 425-3369 | www.saintbenedictcathedral.org
The St. Vincent de Paul Society Currently, Phil looks forward to returning to home visits when the threat of the pandemic wanes. But he is ever thankful to be helping, no matter the circumstances. He extends his gratitude to all those at St. Benedict’s who support this work. Each week, members meet at St. Benedict’s to vote on how to support a family or single person in need. They also help connect those in need to other agencies that can help. Phil asks everyone to find a way to support those in need — whether through prayer, financial
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gifts, or donating items to the SVdP Thrift Store. Even if the SVdP Society isn’t for you, consider other ways you can use your gifts to get involved at St. Benedict Cathedral Parish. Phil finds so much joy in serving, and he hopes that all parishioners experience that same type of joy, in whatever ways they may be serving. “We are brothers and sisters, and this is a community,” Phil says. “Ask yourself, ‘What is my talent? What will I not dread? What will I get excited about?’”
If you would like to get involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, or to learn more, contact Phil Gamble at 812-205-6164 or pagamble51@gmail.com.
LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. | Sunday: 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Daily Mass: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. Confessions: Tuesday through Friday 8:40 - 8:55 a.m., Saturday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. & 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.