St. Benedict Cathedral Newsletter — Oct. 2022

Benedict Cathedral St.

As a parish, we are blessed to house a Catholic school within our walls. We not only have the opportunity to grow a parish community, but we also have the opportunity to support and grow the school community that educates and catechizes the children of our community. An education rooted in our Catholic faith is a tremendous gift to the children in our midst. It can sometimes be easy for the church community and the school community to feel separate in their roles, but it is so crucial for the health of the whole body of our church when they are joined as one.

There are many ways for parishioners to support the school but one of the most important things that a parishioner can do is volunteer within the school.

“We have volunteers that help with office work,” says Kari Ford, Principal. “Some help with our fundraisers and others help our teachers. Volunteers come in to help with field day or our children’s social. They answer phones, run copies and help put up bulletin boards. Our volunteers really do a little of everything!”

One of the most consistent volunteers within the school is Susan Jones. Susan taught at St. Benedict’s for 18 years and taught at Christ the King for 24 years before that. While helping another teacher, she saw a need for more assistance in the school office and she chose to step up and fill that need.

“For me, it is just one of those things that I know I can do and it is needed,”

6 Our Parish Choir:

7 to Know St. Luke, the Beloved Physician The Feast of St. Luke: Oct. 18

THE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER MINISTRY: Uniting Our Parish and School in Gifts of Stewardship the Ushers

Susan Jones and Ami Pitt working together in the school office

STEWARDSHIP:

What to do With a Windfall?

A businessman sells some property for a nice profit. A woman retires from a 20-year career at age 43. A high school student discovers he has an exceptional talent for playing the piano. What do they have in common?

Each person has recently received a windfall — an unusually large gain of money, time, or talent. Now each must answer a question what to do with this newfound gain?

The businessman, already somewhat financially successful, finds that the profit from the sale of rental property is unexpectedly large. For the first time, he feels an urge not to save it, but to share it. The next Sunday, even though he already contributes to his parish, he puts a larger sum in the offertory basket. He also knows of a local charity that supports low-income mothers, and mails them a generous donation.

After her retirement from the Air Force, a woman finds she has a large amount of time during the day. Her husband works full-time and her two children are in high school. She hears a quiet voice asking, “How can you give back for all that you have received?” She calls her pastor and explains that she has the time to play a significant role in a parish ministry. He asks her to re-invigorate their newcomer’s

ministry and visit each new family, to which she happily agrees.

In his high school music class, a 10thgrader discovers an amazing talent to play piano. After encouragement from family and friends, he joins the ensemble at the Sunday morning Mass. He even volunteers to play at special functions at the parish when needed.

In all three cases, the businessman, retiree and student have received something of value, and have made deliberate choices to share it with others, particularly within their parish.

Of course, it could have been different. The businessman could have taken an especially extravagant vacation. The woman could have done any number of things with her free time (couldn’t we all?). The young pianist could have used his talent to form a band or make a recording. And the truth is that they can still do all those things. But having received such wonderful gifts, their gratitude compels them to share a portion of them. After all, what do they lose by sharing what was already a gift to them from God?

We’re all gifted and are called to share on a daily basis. But when the big blessings come, let’s pray for the grace to be even more generous than ever.

Stewardship: A Remedy for Division

My Fellow Parishioners:

Jesus Christ wants everything! He wants us entirely and completely: with everything that we consider a weakness, with all our talents, with our sin and our virtue; He wants everything because He loves everything about us. When we hear Jesus talking about setting the world on fire and pitting families against each other and bringing division to the world (Lk 12:49-53), we’re not hearing from a different Jesus. These are not the words of sleepy Jesus or I’m-having-a-bad-day Jesus: these are the words that Jesus wants to say to us because just like He wants all of us, He also wants us to want all of Him.

This is the great division and the great fire that burns through us: God has given us everything — He is the source of the air we breathe, the reason we exist, and the final end that we are made for. And we choose something else. We choose to love the things God has made, but not God. We choose to use things not for their proper end, but because they give us some sort of fleeting joy. So, what can help us? What can save us from this uncomfortable tension between us and God?

I want to suggest one remedy: stewardship. Now, let me just say: this is not some backdoor way of getting you to fill out your stewardship commitment cards. Stewardship is the way that we bear in mind the source of every gift. It is the way that we are coresponsible with God for what we have and who we are. It is the way that we express our belonging to the Lord because of what He has done for us. Stewardship is not a program for parish development, it is a way of living in relationship with the One who is the source of everything. It’s not even about what the parish needs: it’s a way of offering oneself and one’s gifts as an expression of belonging.

This parish works only if everyone offers themselves for the glory of the Lord. It won’t work if we are doing

it because boilers are breaking or there are gaps to fill. It will work only if it comes out of us as an authentic desire to let the Lord be everything. And this is not easy. In fact, it’s not easy for me as your pastor. I want to be practical. And what I want to say is that you should volunteer because you’re supposed to, or you should give money because you’re supposed to. This is the way I was raised, but that’s not stewardship. I don’t want you to offer your talents to the Lord because there’s a need, I want you to do it because you want to give everything to Him! Because that will last!! If we are giving of our time, talent, and treasure simply because the priest is asking us to do it, then it will never last. You have to decide what you are capable of doing… more than that, you have to decide what you desire to do for the Lord.

So, what I am asking of us, for our own sake first, is to look at what we have been given. Look at how we have been blessed, beginning from the fact of our existence on this earth, which we had nothing to do with. We heard it clearly in that second reading: Consider how He endured such opposition from sinners, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. It was all for us…so that we can be free. So now that we are free, will we choose to belong to Him wholeheartedly? This is what He asks of us and it’s what the future of our parish hinges on. Let’s love the Lord with everything we have and let’s take seriously our commitment to this place where He calls us to Himself.

Peace, Fr. Alex Zenthoefer Cathedral Rector

MEET THE USHERS MINISTRY Serving

All have seen them, and many have met them.

Ushers are an integral part of parish life and are important contributors to the hospitality pillar of parish stewardship.

Parishioner Jeff Marx has been an usher at St. Benedict’s since he was in grade school.

“My dad was an usher and often when they needed more help, I would volunteer,” Jeff says. “I eventually joined the ministry and continued to usher every week throughout high school. Once I came back home from college and my children started going to St. Benedict’s School, I felt called to pick up ushering again.”

Ushers perform an array of services before, during, and after Sunday Mass. Typically before Mass, they greet people and develop relationships with parishioners and visitors. The goal is to

make everyone feel welcome.

As the church fills up, the ushers will help the last few attendees to find a seat, and once the Mass starts, they are prayerfully present and available to help those in need. This could include helping visitors find the restroom or even performing basic first aid if someone needs a band-aid.

One of the usher’s main tasks is to collect the offertory by going through the congregation with the baskets. Once the offertory is collected, the ushers take the tithes to a secure location so that the money is safe and properly stored.

After Mass, the ushers also help distribute the bulletins and continue to be a welcoming presence in the parish.

“The key to being a good usher is to be personable

the Faithful in Spirit of Hospitable Stewardship

Being an usher is a great way to get involved in parish life and serve the Church.

“Being rather busy with work and family life, ushering allows me to contribute to a valuable service for the parish with minimal time requirements,” Jeff says. “The ministry is simple, and I know my gifts are fit for the work.”

Typically, ushers are expected to be at the church about 15 minutes before Mass and stay for a few minutes after. The ushers are grouped into teams and each team is assigned a particular Mass. When you join the Ushers Ministry, you

will be assigned to one of the teams that serve at the Mass that you already typically attend.

The full commitment of an usher is to serve for about four months out of the year. There are three teams of ushers assigned for each weekend Mass who rotate each month. This means that if there was ever a time when you couldn’t make it to Mass, there would be plenty of people to cover for you.

“I highly suggest everyone join a ministry at St. Ben’s,” Jeff says. “Being an usher is especially convenient for parents with school-age children. Our parish and school do so much for us, it is only right for us to give back”

THE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER MINISTRY from front cover

she says. “The office is a place where many things need to be done and sometimes there just isn’t enough time or people to do it. From filing, helping kids when they come in, answering phones, or helping with attendance, there is always something to be done. Our office staff works incredibly hard and if I can assist them with other things that they need to have done, I am grateful to get to help them.”

The lower grade teachers appreciate it when parents or other parishioners come in and read to the kids or help with various activities. It is so good for the students to see the parishioners taking an interest in the school and giving of their

time and talents by helping them or spending time with them.

“The work the school volunteers do is something that you can’t really pay someone to do,” Susan says. “It makes it even more valuable. Being involved in this community is important and I am grateful that I get to continue to be a part of the school in this way.”

“We are so grateful for those who support our school by giving up their time and talent to help us,” Mrs. Ford says. “They are a very important part of our school and help keep things running smoothly!”

If you would like to volunteer within the school, you must complete the Youth Protection training. To get involved with the School Volunteer Ministry, please contact the school office at 812-425-4596.

OUR PARISH CHOIR:

Prayerfully Enhancing the Mass Experience in Words and Music

If you are someone who reads the Mass readings before coming to Mass, you have probably noticed that the music sung at Mass coordinates with the readings, enhancing your experience of the Liturgy of the Word.

Deepening everyone’s experience is the hope of Choir Director Jennifer Korba.

“The point of our choir is to enhance the service,” she says. “We try to find songs that speak to hearts, and hope that parishioners will hear the words and remember them, keeping the Word alive during the week.”

Jennifer says the scrutiny of going through the Mass readings and trying to figure out how to make them resonate with parishioners through the music choices of the choir has brought her closer to the Lord.

The choir sings a wide range of music, including Latin chants, spirituals, and contemporary pieces.

“We schedule a variety of pieces in order to reach the audience and to connect with more people,” Jennifer says.

In the nearly 20 years that Jennifer has been involved in the choir, it has grown to double in size and is always very open to new members joining.

“There’s a variety of music literacy in the choir,” she says. “Some people can read

music, some can’t. Some have experience being in choirs before, others don’t. There’s no expectation of music literacy from new members. Everyone is welcome and able to participate fully.”

As Jennifer emphasizes, choir is a community.

“Music comes second to fellowship,” she says. “During the pandemic, we took a hiatus, but stayed active through FaceTime and Zoom, sharing music and stories. We wanted people to continue to be connected to the church and to retain the fellowship. There’s a family bond. We made sure that everyone felt connected, seen and heard.”

The choir meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday, except during the summer, in order to rehearse for Sunday Mass. You can hear them sing every other week at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Though an adult choir, it is open to students in eighth grade and above.

“We’re all called to stewardship, and that includes time and talent,” Jennifer says. “What better way to share your talents with the parish than at Mass? It helps inspire people to sing along or allows them to sit and meditate on the music. It’s a dual role of meeting people where they are and helping them to worship.”

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, we read in the Gospel of Luke about the moment when the angel Gabriel reveals to the Blessed Virgin that she will soon bear the Messiah.

As we continue reading the Gospel of Luke, we also encounter the beauty of Mary’s soul when she sings the Magnificat with heartfelt praise. This Gospel also contains the one magnificently detailed description of Christ’s birth in all of Sacred Scripture, as well as all three Gospel canticles used in Catholic liturgical prayer.

Furthermore, St. Luke’s Gospel shows sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles. It is the only one of the four Gospels which includes the parable of the Good Samaritan — the account of Jesus praising the faith of Gentiles, such as the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (Lk. 4:25-27), and that of the one grateful leper who is a Samaritan (Lk. 17:11-19).

Thanks to St. Luke — the author of this Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles — we have an awe-inspiring vision of each one of these events, as well as countless others. What is it about the persona of St. Luke that allows him such piercing insight into the mysteries of Christ?

St. Luke, a physician by profession, has been identified with St. Paul’s “Luke, the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). He is known to have been a tender-hearted disciple genuinely concerned for the poor. He also respected women in a special way. Some theologians even refer to his Gospel as the “Gospel of the Poor.” He is one of the most extensive and competent writers of the New Testament.

Luke was born a Greek and Gentile. According to the early Church historian Eusebius, Luke was born at Antioch in Syria. He first appears in Scripture in the Acts at Troas, where he meets St. Paul and experiences a revelation in a vision. He then crosses over with St. Paul to Europe as an evangelist, landing at Neapolis, “being assured that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:10). He then continued

Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Getting to Know St. Luke, the Beloved Physician The Feast of St. Luke: Oct. 18 on back cover

1328 Lincoln Avenue | Evansville, IN 47714 (812) 425-3369 | www.saintbenedictcathedral.org

Getting to Know St. Luke continued from page 7

to faithfully serve God as an evangelist, bringing soul after soul towards the merciful heart of Christ, the newfound Messiah.

Ecclesiastical historian Nicephorus Callistus called Luke a “painter,” and a gorgeous picture of the Virgin in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, is ascribed to him.

St. Luke was, in all, a gifted disciple of Christ who is worthy of our imitation and invocation.

As Catholics, we belong to a vibrant Church that is alive with Christ-centered celebrations and festivities. Each day of the liturgical year brings a new grace into our walk with Christ and yet another reason to rejoice. Let us not be shy to bring this inspiring spirit of festivity into our homes and share it with our families. The upcoming feast of St. Luke on Oct. 18 is a perfect place to begin.

Each day of the liturgical year brings a new grace into our walk with Christ and yet another reason to rejoice. Let us not be shy to bring this inspiring spirit of festivity into our homes and share it with our families. The upcoming feast of St. Luke on Oct. 18 is a perfect place to begin.

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.