Saint Francis Solanus A P RI L/ M AY
2021
Honoring Mary by Following Her Example
A Look at How One Parish Mom Passes on the Gift of Faith D
Lori Vrajes (right) with her daughters Allie (center) and Mia (left).
uring 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 time 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. Parishioner Lori Vrajes was raised in a Catholic home here in Quincy with a family that provided her with many strong models of an active faith life. Her parents, Al and Sue Kapp, as well as her maternal grandparents and great-grandparents, were all married here at St. Francis Solanus. In turn, Lori also received the Sacrament of Matrimony in our parish. When she and her husband, Sam, had children of their own — daughters Allie, 14, and Mia, 11 — there was no question that they would raise them in the faith. Passing on the gift of faith to her daughters has always been a priority for Lori.
continued on page 2
Honoring Mary by Following Her Example continued from front cover “Sam and I both grew up goAllie is thankful for the strong ing to church and attending Catho- role that Lori has played in her faith lic schools, so it was important for life. us to bring up our kids that way,” “My mom has shown me what she says. “We wanted them to learn it’s like to be a Catholic and mother about the faith not just on Sundays, and wife, and she is there whenever but every day — to talk about it I need her,” Allie says. “She is kind and learn its importance. We hope of like my best friend. All of our that the girls carry the faith forward service activities, like helping at the with them when they go to college, food pantry, are better when we are that they keep it at the forefront together.” when they grow up and move out If she is one day called to the so that it will be an important part vocation of family life, Allie hopes of their lives with their future fami- to keep building on the tradition lies if that is their vocation.” of faith that has been passed down Inspired by her own mother’s through the generations. faith in St. Mary, Lori has often “Not only is it how I was raised, turned to the Blessed Mother for but I feel that the Catholic faith is her intercession as she experiences everything I know,” she says. “It’s both the blessings and challenges of who I am and how I want to raise motherhood. “My mom has always had a statue of Mary on her dress“As everyone always says, er,” she says. “So now I have one — one of the statues from motherhood is the best the people who carve them and hardest job you’ll from the wood in the Holy Land — and I love having it ever have. We can all find because my mom always had inspiration in Mary’s one as well. Being a mother, and even just being a woman, strength and patience. you pray to God and Jesus, but you also pray through None of us is perfect, but Mary. It’s very special.” she is that role model Following in the footsteps of their mother and grandthat we can all draw mother before them, both of on, remembering her Lori’s daughters live active discipleship. Allie and Mia acceptance of God’s will are students at our parish from the very beginning.” school, participate in Mass as altar servers, and volunteer — Lori Vrajes with their mom at the food pantry.
2
my kids. My parents did such a good job, and I want to continue that on.” Especially in 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! “As everyone always says, motherhood is the best and hardest job you’ll ever have,” Lori says. “We can all find inspiration in Mary’s strength and patience. None of us is perfect, but she is that role model that we can all draw on, remembering her acceptance of God’s will from the very beginning.”
St. Francis Solanus A Letter From Our Pastor
Remaining Loyal to My Commitments Dear Parishioners,
U
nderstanding loyalty seems to be part of understanding stewardship. A story told in William J. Bennett’s Book of Virtues helps to illustrate this. Reprinted from an old Boy Scout book and attributed to Walter MacPeek, it is titled, Loyalty to a Brother. During the Second World War, one of two brothers fighting in the same unit in France fell by an enemy bullet. The other brother, named Tom, escaped. He approached his officer asking permission to go and bring his brother in. “He is probably dead,” said the officer, “and there is no use in your risking your life to bring in his body.” But after further pleading, the officer consented. Just as the soldier reached the lines with his brother on his shoulders, the wounded man died. “There, you see,” said the officer, “you risked your life for nothing.” “No,” replied Tom. “I did what he expected of me, and I have my reward. When I crept up to him and took him in my arms, he said, “Tom, I knew you would come — I just felt you would come.” There you have the gift of it all — somebody expects something fine and noble and unselfish of us; someone expects us to be faithful. Within that last statement, I find an important insight into stewardship. Like Tom, I believe we do what God expects of us when we make a disciple’s response to stewardship. And like Tom, it begins with a decision on our part, followed by making a commitment, and then knowing that God — Who has already blessed us — will reward us even more in ways we can’t even describe. The story of the two brothers reminds me of our loyalty to God. We are reminded of His loyalty to us as we recall the passion, death and resurrection of God’s Son, as we have throughout Lent and now with Easter upon us this month. Because of my loyalty to Him, I willingly embrace aspects of stewardship. I am still convinced it is
what I need to do to be a faithful disciple. By participating in our annual Stewardship Renewal and filling out a commitment card in my name, I can express an intent to fulfill an expectation to do something fine, noble and unselfish. Part of being a good steward is taking some time to revisit the commitments I made to enhance my spiritual life. It helps to often remind myself of my commitment to use my time, talent and treasure to live the stewardship way of life. Renewing this commitment to embrace the ways of being a disciple can change your life. I encourage you to think about living the stewardship way of life. Revisit the commitments made in the past or think about making some new ones in the future. Throughout our history, the Church has always benefited from the commitment of its people. And the needs of the world are many. These are all opportunities to do something fine, noble and unselfish for God and others. The Easter Season is a perfect time to reflect on our commitment to being authentic disciples of the risen Christ. To reflect on God’s loyalty to us, through His Son, encourages us to renew our loyalty to God in being a true disciple. We are expected to do something fine, noble and unselfish. We are expected to be faithful. His invitation to be His disciple was first responded to at our Baptism. Our “initiation” into the faith was completed at our Confirmation. But the commitment is lived daily. And isn’t that what loyalty is all about? Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Steven Arisman Pastor
3
Finding Support and Strength through the M
arriage has its ups and downs, its storms and havens, and its joys and sorrows. No matter what life throws at your marriage, it is fantastic to know that you are not alone. Thanks to organizations like the Couples Prayer Group, married couples can rest assured that God “has their back.” “In an age where divorce continues to be prevalent, and marriage is regarded by some to be disposable, we need to honor the Sacrament of Marriage,” says Jamie Friye, who attends the Couples Prayer Group with her husband, Saleem Mamdani. “One very effective way to do this is to by getting together to prioritize prayer and fellowship. Meeting as a group also gives us a chance to draw closer to each other and pray for one another, sharing our
difficulties and celebrating our victories with each other.” The Couples Prayer Group usually meets every third Sunday of the month — except for during the summer — following the 11 a.m. Mass. They meet in various locations, such as our parish, members’ homes, or at community locations — such as a restaurant for the Christmas gathering. During their meetings, they share lunch and work through a reflective lesson together based on varying themes. “We are currently working our way through the lessons from Evenings for the Engaged as a refresher course since most of us went through the program prior to marriage,” Jamie says. “We always have a meal, whether carry-in or brought in by a specific
couple (assigned before the meeting), and we sometimes have childcare available. If not, children are still welcome to attend and play as a group. We conclude each meeting with shared prayer, which includes reflecting on the past week, making any special intentions known, and giving thanks for the good things we have received.” The couples enjoy learning from each other and sharing the wisdom they have gleaned. “I really enjoy hearing from the other group members when we do a reflective exercise together,” Jamie says. “Their insights are thought-provoking for me. Reflecting on things alongside one another helps us see that we are not alone in our struggles, and see things from a new perspective from time to time.”
“We are a fun, dynamic group and are welcoming to all. It doesn’t involve a large time commitment, and it is time well spent. Any couple of any age or stage in life, is welcome to join. You do not have to be a member of St. Francis Parish to do so. We have members with infants, members with school-age and adult children, and everything in between.” — Jamie Friye
4
Couples Prayer Group Ultimately, each couple finds that their marriage is enriched and blessed through the friendships they make at the Couples Prayer Group. “I also enjoy the additional thoughts and ideas we get from the group about ways to strengthen our relationship,” Saleem says. “Sometimes, it’s the homework assignment of doing something different for a date night, or perhaps the suggestion of topics of discussion to have as a couple. But having this group helps to be more intentional and nurturing of our relationship. That’s something that, especially for couples with young children, can be lost amidst the pressures of daily life.” Seeking God together creates a sense of camaraderie that is fulfilling and comforting. “It’s tempting to think of your struggles as unique,” Saleem says. “But hearing from peers that are going through substantially similar issues helps, not only because there is comfort in knowing that others are facing the same things, but also because sometimes knowing it is another person’s issue enables you to see a side of your conflict that you couldn’t see before.”
Recently, the Couples Prayer Group made some changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as meeting in the rectory yard to enjoy a picnic lunch together. “I anticipate that we will continue to meet outside, weather permitting, as long as we can,” Jamie says. “We will have to decide as a group what the meetings will look like once meeting outside is no longer a viable option. We may consider a socially distanced gathering or potentially use a platform like Zoom or Google Meet.”
New couples are encouraged and invited to join this wonderful group. “We are a fun, dynamic group and are welcoming to all. It doesn’t involve a large time commitment, and it is time well spent,” Jamie says. “Any couple of any age or stage in life is welcome to join. You do not have to be a member of St. Francis Parish to do so. We have members with infants, members with school-age and adult children, and everything in between.”
If you would like more information, please contact Emily Wellman at 217-257-3536, refer to future parish bulletins for more information, or visit the Couples Prayer Group Facebook page.
5
nt
ed
(continued)
Highlights of Our 2020 Stewardship Renewal Ta le nt
T
= Interested in Serving
(continued)
es (con inistriSt. rgical Mour his past Litu autumn, Francis Greeters Solanus parish leadership ce stan rancis Community Assi Readers ther SacristansStewardship ng Moms Toge conducted the 2020 Ushers Renewal. The Stewardship Renewal stries gave our parish community the Music Mini ters el Dus s tin’s Army opportunity to discern ician Mus and tors Can how we are wer Committee Funeral Choir ers talent Choir and neral Dinn using our gifts of 9time, a.m. Mass Parish Choir spitality Host/Hostess Mass Youth and a.m.parish 11 treasure in service to the in e dcar le Lambs Chil ram Prog rish Nursing return to God.School Ministries sary Makers nt & Pareshare This month, weare happy cis Schoolto St. Fran ease list below) ) Teacher Organization (PTO with you some of the highlights of the Solanus Saints School Landscaping Stewardship Renewal. tinued)
Ministries
And Catholic Organizations nity mmu Co were 423 commitment cards r Ou In es stri Mini
- There cy active received from 42 Birth percent right of Quinof Cursillo households. s Knights of Columbu
ee turgy Planning Committ astoral Council tewardship Committee
Ladi - There were 3,802 prayer commit Quest ms County Right to Life of Adaof time ments — the stewardship st (TEC) Teens Encounter Chri — from 94 percent participating se Retreats te Hou Whiof households.
ers Adult Funeral Mass Serv Altar Servers of Holy Extraordinary Ministers Communion of Holy Extraordinary Ministers Communion to the Sick Gift Bearers Group Good Samaritan Mass
Home Stewardship Starts at
ested in Serving = Currently Involved = Inter
(continued)
p Councils
Stewardship Starts at Home
es of Charity
St. Francis Solanus
mitment Card 2020 Stewardship Com First & Last Name Phone Email e
Spouse: First & Last Nam Spouse: Phone Spouse: Email
St. Francis Solanus
Address City
State
2020 Stewardship Renewal
ZIP
myParish Francis Solanu St. - There were 1,726Colle ministry commit62301 ge Avenue • Quincy, IL 1721 m us.co olan nciss l on next pane— (217) 222-2898 • stfra continued ments the stewardship of talent — from 85 percent of participating households. Of these, 313 were new ministry commitments, while 1,413 were re-commitments to parish ministries. s
- There were 329 offertory commitments — the stewardship of treasure — from 78 percent of participating households. The average pledge was $1,962.
We thank all those who participated in our Stewardship Renewal. If you did not have the opportunity to fill out and return a commitment card, we invite you to consider the ways you may share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the parish community!
6
Thank You
St. Francis Solanus Vacation Bible School Brings Jesus’ Message to Our Youngest Parishioners
Students enjoy the 2019 VBS program.
Each year, the week after Father’s Day is set aside for preschool to fifth-grade students to experience the joy and excitement of VBS in the Parish Center.
F
or children, summer offers the ultimate break time from school. And even though the season means kids have a chance to “recharge” for the upcoming school year, it doesn’t mean they have to stop learning! During the summer at St. Francis Solanus, our youth have a chance to learn about their faith while having plenty of fun at Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Each year, the week after Father’s Day is set aside for preschool to fifth-grade students to experience the joy and excitement of VBS in the Parish Center. The preschool and kindergarten programs run separately from the first to fifth grade, because the curriculum is a bit different. And, with the train theme “Rocky Railway — Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through,” students will experience stories and songs that relate to the Rocky Mountain Range. “The goals of our VBS program are to plant the seeds of Jesus’ love into the hearts of our very youngest participants, while at the same time providing a witness of Jesus’ unending and unconditional love to our youth and adult volunteers,” says Wendy Steinkamp, who helps plan the VBS program for our parish. In turn, as Wendy points out, the teen and adult volunteers usually end up being ministered to just as much as the VBS participants. Typically, there are 80 to 100 participants, along with 30 to 35 youth volunteers
During the summer at St. Francis Solanus, our youth have a chance to learn about their faith while having plenty of fun at Vacation Bible School (VBS).
and 10 to 12 adults that serve the program. During VBS, the kids move from station to station to learn the day’s Scripture, which falls under a theme. They have praise and worship music at the beginning and end of the session, play a game, participate in a Bible story, create an imagination station, watch videos of kids tackling faith themes and enjoy a snack. continued on back cover
7
St. Francis Solanus R O M AN
CATH O L IC
PA R IS H
1721 College Avenue Quincy, IL 62301 (217) 222-2898 stfrancissolanus.com
Vacation Bible School continued from page 7
Wendy enjoys watching the joy and enthusiasm when the kids are learning more about Jesus. She is also so thankful to all the volunteers who come back each year to assist with the very busy week. She says the program could not go on without people giving so generously of their time and talents. Also, she has seen several kids go on to help as volunteers and that is so rewarding to her. “The children are so sweet and open to His message,” she says. “Also, through the years, it has been very rewarding to watch our volunteers who come back each year as they grow in their own faith.”
Youth volunteers are asked to attend a couple of organizational and training meetings so that they are prepared to minister to the children. All adults 18 and over must have attended the “Protecting God’s Children” Safe Environment training. People who are interested in being a part of VBS as a volunteer may contact Wendy Steinkamp at 217-224-3949 or Mike Holbrook at 217-222-2898, ext. 108, for more information.
Liturgy Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. │ Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 a.m. Weekday Mass: Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. │ T, W, Th 8:35 a.m. (school children only) │ Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Confessions: 8:30 a.m., Saturday, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Holy Days of Obligation: Vigil 5:30 p.m.; Holy Day: 6:30 a.m., 8:35 a.m. on school days, 5:30 p.m.