St. Benedict
Cathedral
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Inside
Extraordinary Ministers of
MAY 2021
Holy Communion:
SHARING THE “SOURCE AND SUMMIT ” OF OUR FAITH
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s Catholics, one of the things that set us apart is our belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Perhaps more now than ever, after having experienced a time without in-person Mass, we have an awareness and appreciation for what a gift it is to receive our Lord — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — in Holy Communion. “Catholics take proper pride in our ancient tradition of belief that through the miracle of transubstantiation, Christ becomes truly present in the bread and wine, the Holy Spirit transforming them into the True Presence of Jesus Christ,” says Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB. And although some things about the distribution of Communion have changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the heart of the sacrament remains the same — our God humbles Himself in the form of bread and wine, and offers Himself to us. Here at St. Benedict Cathedral, our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) serve to assist our priests in the distribution of Holy Communion at both weekend and weekday Masses, as well as during visits to those who are homebound or in nursing homes. As the “source and summit” of our faith (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324), the Eucharist is God’s gift to us, which nourishes and strengthens us on the journey towards heaven. Priests, Deacons, and EMHCs have the role of giving this spiritual sustenance to their brothers and sisters in Christ. “As the fulfillment of our faith, receiving Holy Communion can always help us see through the clouds of this world to get a glimpse of what heaven has in store,” Fr. Godfrey says. “What a profound service to carry out!”
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2 The Bible The Textbook of Stewardship 3 Pentecost: The “Birth” of Stewardship 4 Mothers Embrace Mary’s Powerful Example While Sharing the Gift of Faith 6 The May Crowning Celebrating the Coronation of Mary 7
First Holy Communion Students Draw Closer to Jesus in Receiving Sacrament
The Bible H
ave you ever wished that life came with an instruction manual? What a valuable resource that would be! Whenever you find yourself running in circles, this instruction manual would give you step-by-step instructions on how to fix the problem and reroute your course. Well, here’s some good news. For those living a Christian life, there is such a manual — the Bible. Sometimes referred to as the “textbook of stewardship,” the Bible is a bountiful resource for the present-day Christian. Written by anointed prophets and sages, this collection of divinely inspired parables, poems and letters is full of testimonials that express the blessings that come from true discipleship, conveyed through lives of stewardship. Stewardship is not a new concept. The Bible gives proof to this claim through passages such as the 26th chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. We read Moses’ words, as he tells the Israelites to offer the choicest portions of their harvest to God: “When you have come into the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage, and have taken possession and settled in it, you shall take some first fruits of the various products of the soil which you harvest from the land the LORD, your God, is giving you; put them in a basket and go to the place which the LORD, your God, will choose as the dwelling place for his name… ‘Now, therefore, I have brought the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, LORD, have given me.’ You shall set them before the LORD, your God, and you shall bow down before the LORD, your God” (Dt 26:1-2, 10). St. Paul briefly touched on the essence of stewardship when he said, “In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Again, in St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we read about living a life of Christian stewardship: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already 2
The Textbook of
Stewardship
determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6-7). While this is well and good, what does it mean for the present-day Christian? Why should it matter that the Bible alludes to stewardship in various passages? It shows us that Christians and Jews have struggled with and benefitted from the concept of stewardship for thousands of years. It ties the message of stewardship to the role of a Christian disciple. It gives proof that stewardship and discipleship go handin-hand. It offers encouragement to us, that stewardship is in fact a foundational component of the Christian life, a way of life that one of the founding fathers of the Church — St. Paul — preached about and advocated. The Bible is indeed the textbook of stewardship. It lays out the steps we must take to become true disciples of Christ. Reading and meditating upon God’s Word is always a fruitful exercise. Those who regularly delve into Scripture often develop a deeper understanding of Who God is, how and why He loves us, and how we can show Him our love in return. As you strive to become a grateful steward and live the life of Christian discipleship, develop a love for Sacred Scripture. Allow God’s Word to nourish your soul regularly, and watch as stewardship changes from a foreign concept to an integral component of your daily life.
Sometimes referred to as
the “textbook of stewardship,” the Bible is a bountiful resource for the present-day Christian.
A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR
PENTECOST THE “BIRTH” OF STEWARDSHIP My Fellow Parishioners:
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s we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on May 23, which is one of the most significant events in the life of the Church, I can’t help but relate the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples as “the birth of stewardship.” As a stewardship parish, we have come to understand it in our personal lives and our parish life as the work of the Holy Spirit, active and inspiring us to be the disciples Jesus called us to be, just as He did those very first disciples. It just makes sense to realize again and acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in our decisions to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. As every parent knows, birth brings new life to every family, and the “birth of stewardship” here in our parish has brought new life to us, personally and communally, and continues to do so. We had a “Pentecost event” when the message of stewardship was first brought to our parish, and it hasn’t been the same since. Many curious people of our parish and from around the country ask the question, “How did all of this begin?” The only answer is, “moved by conversion, we knew stewardship was going to be the ‘plan’ for our future as disciples and as a parish.” It makes sense. For some, like me, it took a conversion of sorts to move us
from unbelievers to believers, and from fear or suspicion to courage and confidence in the values and ideals of stewardship. Reading the accounts of the Acts of the Apostles, it wasn’t much different for them. Their experience is our experience and continues to encourage us to be open to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. That “Spirit” renews the “Pentecost event” in each of us, as we practice discipleship as we know it through the stewardship way of life. Also, as with each new birth, the life that begins needs to be nourished, nurtured and loved. Through our understanding of the four pillars of parish stewardship — hospitality, prayer, formation and service —
we each are called to nourish, nurture and love our parish family with the gifts we bring to each other. And without ever really knowing how much of an impact we have on each other’s spiritual lives, we trust the Holy Spirit to continue the “good work of faithful stewardship” in each of us and to those around us. Isn’t that what the first Pentecost event started, and isn’t that what you see in our parish, especially since our own “birth of stewardship”? God has blessed our parish family and continues to do so, as the Holy Spirit continues to pour out gifts upon us and send us forth to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we grow and mature in our stewardship efforts, how fortunate we are that the stewardship way of life has become our way of life. May we always give thanks to God for the Holy Spirit’s gift to each of us — for, when we do, it seems only natural to be inspired to live discipleship as it was intended to be lived in the first disciples and in each of us. Peace,
Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB Cathedral Rector 3
Embrace M
MOTHERS
Adrienne Ford with her daughters, Charlotte (6) and Caroline (4)
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n the month of May, we celebrate all of our earthly mothers and mother figures, thanking them for the limitless love and sacrifices poured into their children. It is only natural, then, that we also take some time this month to venerate
our heavenly Mother in a special way, whether it is through an increased devotion to praying the Rosary, reading Scripture passages about Mary, or simply displaying an image of the Blessed Mother somewhere in the home. For the many mothers in our parish, honoring Mary may also take the form of following her example by raising and nurturing their own children in the faith. Kathy Wuertz and her daughter Adrienne Ford make up just one of the many mother-daughter pairs that can be found among our parishioners. Kathy and her husband, Bob, were both raised in St. Benedict Cathedral parish and attended school here as children. When they married and had children of their own — daughters Adrienne and Erika — there was no question that they would also go to St. Benedict Cathedral School. Passing on the gift of faith to her daughters has always been a priority for Kathy as a mother. “We were at Mass together every Sunday, we prayed at home, and we just lived the life of being Catholic,” she says. “I think the faith keeps you centered on what is important in life and on the right path. The faith is still very important to all of us.” In her own experiences of motherhood, Kathy has often turned to the Blessed Mother for her intercession. “Mary was usually the one that I prayed to —not just in difficult times, but also in thanksgiving for any blessings that we had,” Kathy says. “She was a constant in my prayer chain. For me, I think it is just her total buying into Jesus — she was going to continued on page 5
“Mary is such a wonderful example of grace. I reflect on her a lot when I don’t understand why things are going a certain way. She is a great reminder that our life here is to answer God’s call in all that we do. She sets an example for me, as a mother, on how to raise children.” 4
— Adrienne Ford
Mary's
Powerful Example While Sharing the Gift of Faith
be the mother of Jesus and she was told that she was bearing this savior, and she said, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’ If God chose her, I can choose her, too.” Today, Kathy’s daughter, Adrienne, has two daughters of her own. And, like their mother and grandmother before them, Charlotte, 6, and Caroline, 4, are students at the cathedral school. Thankful for the many ways in which her childhood centered on the Catholic faith and St. Benedict Parish, Adrienne strives to give her girls the same foundation. “My daily prayer for them is just that they are rooted in Christ,” she says. “I feel like if they are, then come what may, they’ll have something to help them navigate through those tough times. I know that true, lasting, unwavering happiness is going to come from a foundation in Christ. “St. Ben’s is my home,” Adrienne adds. “I grew up here and a lot of our present life circles around the church and the school. I’m so grateful for that centering point, spiritually and physically, and our friends. I’m grateful that my parents gave us that gift when we were young, and I hope that someday my kids will see it as a gift and treasure it as I do.” Reflecting on her relationship with her mother,
Adrienne realizes what an incredible example Kathy has been throughout her life. “Mary was very humble and just lived her life, and by living her life was an example to so many, and I see that in my mom, too,” Adrienne says. “She teaches my kids so much just by being an active volunteer in the church and just by being so kind and loving. She doesn’t just practice her faith — she lives it.” Especially in this month of May, it is fitting to take a moment to recognize how blessed we are by the many faithful mothers and mother figures in our parish — and how thankful we can all be, this month and always, for the truly amazing gift we have in our Blessed Mother! “Mary is such a wonderful example of grace,” Adrienne says. “I reflect on her a lot when I don’t understand why things are going a certain way. She is a great reminder that our life here is to answer God’s call in all that we do. She sets an example for me, as a mother, on how to raise children.” “She’s the mother of Jesus, and what greater honor can a woman have than to be the mother of the Savior?” Kathy says. “We need to celebrate and honor her.”
Kathy Wuertz (center) with her daughters, Adrienne (left) and Erika (right).
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The May
Crowning
Celebrating
F
the
Coronation
or many Catholics, May Crownings of statues or icons of the Blessed Mother have become rites of spring. Like flowers blooming or Mother’s Day, this annual Marian devotion reminds us that the cold of winter is behind us, and it ushers in a month during which the Catholic Church pays special homage to Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. Generally taking place during the first weekend of the month, May Crownings bring children — often, recent First Communicants — out in their Sunday best to participate in processions and adorn statues of the Blessed Mother with crowns of flowers or actual gold crowns. Additionally, the children often place roses at her feet, and Catholics carry out similar practices in their homes by placing roses around statues of the Blessed Virgin, or even adding ornamentation to images of Mary. But where did this practice come from, and how did it develop into the tradition that we currently know and love? The Coronation of Mary had been a popular subject in European art and literature for centuries, but the tradition of the May Crowning can be most accurately traced back to the late 16th century. Perhaps inspired by the practice of 6
of
Mary
adding ornamentation to Marian icons that had been carried out by some Eastern churches, Pope Clement VIII added two crowns to the icon of Mary with the Infant Jesus in the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The crowns were eventually lost, but were replaced by Gregory XVI in 1837 in a rite that was to become the standard practice for crowning. While the May Crowning is not an official liturgical celebration on the Church calendar, it is an important practice in honoring Mary as the Queen of the Universe, and its imagery is especially influential in the faith formation of children. As Liz Kelly writes in May Crowning, Mass, and Merton and Other Reasons I Love Being Catholic, “One of the defining aspects of being Catholic is devotion to Mary. I favor no Marian celebration more highly than May Crowning, the feast that recognizes Mary as queen of heaven and earth. To a person of any age, this is a mighty big title, but to a child of five or six or seven, it expands to enchanting, magical proportions. How many queens does one get a chance to meet in a lifetime, much less crown?” This year, make a special effort to honor the coronation of Mary through participation in a personal or public May Crowning devotion.
First Holy Communion Students Draw Closer
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to
Jesus
s adults, we might be tempted at times to take for granted the joy of receiving Holy Communion. When we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are brought near to the Lord in a unique and glorious way. Imagine, then, the excitement our second-grade students have been experiencing as they prepared for their First Holy Communion through the guidance of their parents and their teachers. Our First Holy Communion will be at 1 p.m. on May 2. The children have been spiritually prepared by learning prayers, understanding God’s goodness and mercy, and celebrating their First Confession. “Our second-grade teachers prepare the students for First Holy Communion as part of their regular religion class,” Fr. Godfrey says. “Usually, there is a retreat for the students, where they engage in activities, talks, and ‘tasting’ of unconsecrated hosts.” Although the children have been engaged with their teachers in preparing for their First Holy Communion, Fr. Godfrey can celebrate a broader view of the children’s faith journey. “As a pastor, I find great joy in celebrating the Baptism of infants,” he says. “The Church rejoices at the forgiveness of original sin and the incorporation of the infant into the household of Christ. In that sacrament, I say to the parents, ‘You are undertaking the responsibility of raising him/ her in the faith.’ When a child comes for First Holy Communion, I know that the parents are making good on this promise. Raising children in the faith is so important for the parents’ fundamental role — helping their children toward heaven.” Fr. Godfrey posed two questions to the children making their First Holy Communion. They were asked, “What do you most look forward to on the day of your First Holy Communion?” The second question
in
Receiving Sacrament
was “What do you think Jesus might help you do once you receive your First Holy Communion?” “The joy of the 7 or 8-year-olds receiving Holy Communion is beautiful and a reminder to all of us of the joy we should rightly encounter when we draw near to the Lord and He draws near to us,” Fr. Godfrey says. A sampling of their answers follows: “I am excited to experience what it is like to go up and have the opportunity to be with God,” Lainey says. “After my First Communion, I think God will help me talk to Him more through prayer.” “I am excited to be a good follower of Jesus,” Ashley says. “After my First Communion, I think God will help me make better decisions.” “I am excited to receive the Body and Blood of Christ and to come closer in His friendship,” Kenna says. “After my First Communion, I think God will help me to please Him and not to go away from Him in sin.” “I look forward to receiving the Body of Christ,” Juliann says. “I think Jesus will help me to be the best version of myself.” “I am excited to grow as a Catholic,” Mason says. “After my First Communion, I think God will help me understand and to listen to God.”
If you would like more information about Religious Education classes, please call the parish office at 812-425-3369. For information about enrolling a child in St. Benedict Cathedral School, please call 812-425-4596. 7
1328 Lincoln Avenue | Evansville, IN 47714 (812) 425-3369 | www.saintbenedictcathedral.org
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion According to Fr. Godfrey, not only is serving as an EMHC an opportunity for the minister to share God’s love with others through service, but the service is a profound gift for the minister, as well. “As ministers of Holy Communion, that we handle the ‘gifts of God for the people of God’ is an act of service for all, but a moment of grace for the minister,” Fr. Godfrey says. Fr. Godfrey shares some of the qualities that would make someone a good fit for the role of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, while also reminding us that none of us is worthy to hold and receive our Lord, but God chooses us anyway. “From the perspective of piety, someone who respects Christ Jesus and His brothers and sisters is best prepared for this ministry,” Fr. Godfrey says. “Practically, someone who shows up well-prepared — modest clothing, clean hands, etc. — for scheduled ministry is appreciated.”
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All parishioners are encouraged to pray and consider whether God may be inviting them to share His love with others in the Eucharist. “The most common objection I’ve heard when asking people to consider being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is, ‘I’m not worthy,’” Fr. Godfrey says. “My answer is always the same, ‘No one is.’ But if God only called the worthy, there would be no ministry, no priests, no apostles! God grants us the grace to serve His loved ones. He makes worthy our unworthy service — another reason for us, being received in such gracious divine hospitality, to be grateful.” If you would like more information about becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, please contact Fr. Godfrey Mullen at 812-425-3369 or gmullen@evdio.org.
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.