St.
Leos’
Parish Community
Inside JUNE 2021
THE PRAYER CHAIN : Reaching God’s
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Heart as a Stewardship Community
t’s comforting to know that there is a spiritual army of about 70 generous “prayer warriors” who have “got our back.” By dedicating their time to the Prayer Chain, they are fighting for our parish family, in a quiet but extraordinary way. “People thank us all the time, and they offer prayers of thanksgiving for the prayers we have offered for them,” says Beth Clemans, who coordinates the Prayer Chain at our parish. “This gives us a lot of encouragement. This ministry is so important because prayer is powerful!” The Prayer Chain accepts prayer requests of all kinds. Those who would like to submit a request contact Beth, who in turn, passes on the request to each of the 10 leaders of 10 smaller prayer chains. “We accept almost any kind of prayer request — anything that is on anyone’s heart or mind that they want prayer for, such as physical or mental health concerns,” Beth says. “Generally, the requests are communicated through email, but some are communicated by phone calls or through voicemail messages. In my voice mailbox, I have a message explaining that if someone has a prayer request they can leave a message. I appreciate it when they leave a voice mail for me. We try to get their recontinued on page 5
2 Don’t Take a Vacation From Stewardship This Summer 3
Redefining Love Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus
4 Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist Blessed to Offer the Body and Blood of Christ to Fellow Parishioners 6
Technology That Keeps Us Connected to Our Faith: There’s an App for That!
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Ladies of St. Leo’s Build Friendships While Serving the Faith Community
Stewardship
DON’T TAKE A VACATION FROM STEWARDSHIP THIS SUMMER
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veryone deserves a vacation. After nine busy months of school, kids get to enjoy the summer to relax and regroup before beginning a new grade. Employees, after diligently working long hours and dealing with stressful situations, deserve time away from the office to enjoy their favorite getaway. No one would argue that we need to mentally refresh our minds and bodies from time to time so that we can come back rejuvenated and ready to do our best. Taking a break from some things, however, is not a possibility. Take stewardship, for example. Imagine saying to yourself, “Well, this month I think I will not pray, I won’t share any of my talents with anyone in need, and I will hoard my treasure.” What would doing this accomplish? You certainly wouldn’t feel refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to be at your best. Instead, feelings of greed, selfishness and spiritual unrest may occur. Stepping back from being a good steward just doesn’t make sense. So, now that summer has arrived in full force and our leisure time each day has increased, how can we remain good stewards? It is likely that the regimented opportunities available during the school year are no longer available. Youth ministry and parish religious education formation may also be on summer break. So, where do you turn? How can you keep your faith alive? First and foremost, don’t stop praying. The slow-paced days of summer are a perfect time to quiet ourselves for a few moments and try to reconnect with God. Why not take a moment of your free time each day to read the Gospel or a spiri-
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tual reflection while lounging in a hammock? Next, try to participate in an outreach program over the summer. Think of the life of Christ — everything He did on Earth was an act of service. Now, think of the gifts God has bestowed on you. He wants you to share them with others like He did, and summer gives us the time to do just that. If you like working with kids, you can volunteer at the Vacation Bible School by helping to decorate, organize or being a team leader for the younger children. If you are handy with tools, you may call Habitat for Humanity to see how you can help build a home for a family in need. Or, if you are musically inclined, you might share your singing or instrumental gifts with a local nursing home. Maybe you are good in the kitchen — if so, you could offer your culinary skills to a local soup kitchen or food bank. If you are a strong student, you could offer tutoring services to neighborhood kids to help prepare them for the next school year. No matter what gift God has given you, there is a way to share it. Getting paid for volunteering sometimes happens. And, if you have a summer job while on break, you’ll get a paycheck for sure. Have you ever taken an opportunity to think about sharing the first fruits of your check? As a young adult, returning a portion of your paycheck to God is an important thing to consider. Giving a portion back to Him is a way to say “thanks.” Whatever you do this summer, don’t take a break from being a good steward. Remember that the time God gives you is a gift. What you do with it — whether on vacation or not — is meant to give Him glory.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Redefining Love
THROUGH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Dear Parishioners,
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ne of the great feasts of the Christian year will occur in June, but it is often overlooked. It doesn’t fall on a Sunday, and it isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation. I am referring to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which will be on June 11 this year. This wonderful feast provides a great way to begin the summer. However, despite widespread devotion and many parish dedications to the Sacred Heart, many Catholics have only a vague idea of what it’s all about. So, let me try to briefly fill in the picture. Often, when we think of the heart, we think of it as the seat of our emotions and feelings. The heart is often contrasted with the mind, as though our God-given reason were somehow evil or, at best, second-rate. But feelings come and go — we can’t really depend on our emotions to be reliable, steady guides. However, when classical theology refers to the heart, it is considering an aspect of human life that goes beyond our feelings. It includes our will, where we make decisions. The heart can be considered the center of our personhood. In explaining Christian teaching about human nature, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one’s being, where the person decides for or against God” (368). It is common to mistakenly label love as an emotion. Love often includes feelings, but true love is more than that. Real love is a settled attitude that wants the best for the person being loved. That’s why the Church’s teaching usually uses
the term “charity” — to distinguish the Christian virtue from the more superficial popular concept of love. The Catechism tells us, “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own ‘to the end,’ he makes manifest the Father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive” (CCC, 1822-1823). This sort of love, this charity — demonstrated by Jesus Christ and commanded to His followers — is no lightweight passing emotion. Feelings alone do not bring one to offer oneself to an agonizing death for the sake of someone else. No, that sort of sacrifice can only come from a considered and deliberate decision. Although we sometimes forget that fact, Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine. So, His human heart was involved in His sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, simply put, devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us of the basic fact that God loves us. It was a costly love, the ultimate act of charity, to give His life on our behalf. We know the kind of love Jesus has for us. What kind of loving response are you going to make? How will that affect your use of your time, talent and treasure? Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Donald A. Buhrman Pastor 3
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS BLESSED TO OFFER THE
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s Catholics, we are blessed with many ways in which laypeople may participate more fully in the Mass. Beginning at a young age, children may train to serve at the altar. Other parishioners enjoy helping with the Liturgy as sacristans, ushers, or lectors. Still, others choose to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist, offering the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ to their fellow parishioners at each Mass. St. Leo’s parishioner Dusty Hast has served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist for over 20 years. He and his wife, Diana, serve as the coordinators of this ministry for our parish. Anyone who has attended a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Leo’s is likely to have seen Dusty at the altar! “Over the years, I’ve gotten the comment from people asking if I am ever not serving as a Eucharistic Minister,” Dusty laughs. “Whenever someone is not there, I step up. My wife and I are both like that — when we make a commitment, we follow through until we’re not able to.” Those who serve as Extraordinary Ministers
“Years ago when my kids were younger, my wife and I and our older two all served as Eucharistic Ministers, and my youngest was an altar server for that Mass, so that was pretty cool. Then, when my aunt passed away in Iowa, they were looking for Eucharistic Ministers and I volunteered. It was nice being able to give Communion to my cousins in their time of need — that was really satisfying.” — DUSTY HAST 4
BODY AND
find that this participation in the Mass strengthens their relationship with the Lord and helps them to connect with their faith community. In addition to the closeness Dusty has experienced with his fellow parishioners by serving in this role, it has also presented him with the opportunity to connect with family members in a truly special way. “Years ago when my kids were younger, my wife and I and our older two all served as Eucharistic Ministers, and my youngest was an altar server for that Mass, so that was pretty cool,” he says. “Then, when my aunt passed away in Iowa, they were looking for Eucharistic Ministers and I volunteered. It was nice being able to give Communion to my cousins in their time of need — that was really satisfying.” While stepping up to share the Body and Blood of Christ may at first seem an overwhelming or even intimidating experience, Dusty ensures that new Extraordinary Ministers learn the ropes and feel comfortable in the role. “We do a training at the church,” he says. “We try to make the training fun but also stress the
OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
BLOOD OF CHRIST TO FELLOW PARISHIONERS reverence of what we’re doing. You don’t need to be a very outgoing person to be a Eucharistic Minister — I was not very outgoing when I started. I remember the first Mass I did with the Blood, I realized I was locking my knees. I had to remind myself to relax, but after that, I was able to just focus on serving the people.” Participating in the Mass as an Extraordinary Minister is a great way for even our busiest parishioners to get involved in parish life. Dusty has also found it to be a wonderful opportunity for our confirmed teenagers to stay active in
their faith through their high school years. Dusty enjoys being able to actively live out his faith and serve the Church as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist and would encourage any parishioner to prayerfully consider serving our parish in this role. “I had the opportunity to be a Eucharistic Minister and I’m able to do it, so I do,” he says. “It just goes back to serving the parish. It’s a needed activity. We can always use more Eucharistic Ministers.”
Are you interested in learning more about serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist? Please email ministry coordinator Dusty Hast at dusty4227@gmail.com.
THE PRAYER CHAIN
continued from front cover
quests out as quickly as we can.” Finally, those leaders give the request to each person on their list, who then pray for the intention. “The Prayer Chain members just pray the way they feel led to, such as by praying the Rosary,” Beth says. “There are no special rules!” Overall, the Prayer Chain has proven to be a wonderful way to build up our parish family and help each member feel God’s personal love for them. “It is a way for us to pray and show support for one another, and think about each other,” Beth says. “It is a great way to show our stewardship
of time. I think everyone on the Prayer Chain has an appreciation for prayer, as well as for other people.” Over time, the Prayer Chain has grown in popularity and the impact it has on our parish family is more apparent. “It has helped us become a pretty close prayer community,” Beth says. “We know the other people on the chain we are sending the requests to, and we enjoy including anyone who wants to be involved. Some parishioners use the Prayer Chain frequently, others use it infrequently, and some never do. But as the word gets out, we get new people requesting our prayers more and more.”
If you would like to reach God’s heart by serving on the Prayer Chain or submitting a prayer request, please call Beth Clemans at 308-379-4442, email her at Beth.clemans@gmail.com, or call the parish office at 308-382-4753. 5
TECHNOLOGY THAT KEEPS US CONNECTED TO OUR FAITH:
There’s an App for That!
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et the Church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven.” These words from Pope Francis weren’t delivered during a homily in St. Peter’s or in a speech from St. Peter’s Square — nor were they written in a papal bull or apostolic letter. Rather, they were delivered in an instant to millions of Catholics around the world through the pope’s very own Twitter account. The technology of communication has perhaps changed more in the past century than in the previous 20 combined. And with these developments, the Catholic Church — led by our Holy Fathers, from Pope St. John Paul II through Pope Francis — strongly encourages that the faithful adopt and adapt these resources for the all-important task of spreading the Gospel throughout the whole world. Just as St. Paul used every convenience at his disposal to spread the Gospel throughout the far reaches of the Roman empire, today’s evangelists are using every resource available to them. Examples of Catholic figures using the new media with great success abound. Only a few months into his pontificate, Pope Francis took the Vatican’s social media efforts to a whole new level. In spring 2013, the Vatican released The Pope App, which featured quotes, news, images and videos of all the Holy Father’s latest doings. Having since been relaunched as the Vatican News App, it continues to offer the latest news and information from Pope Francis and 6
the Holy See. Following the pope’s lead, bishops, priests and apologists have taken the technological gifts at their fingertips and are utilizing them to spread the Gospel throughout the world in a variety of ways. One great example is Bishop Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, whose Word On Fire Ministry has produced wildly popular YouTube videos discussing everything from controversial Church teachings to movie reviews from a Catholic perspective. Word On Fire also released the critically acclaimed Catholicism DVD documentary series. Independent Catholic bloggers and Web-based media are also widely established and provide their audiences and readership with Catholic news and cultural commentary. Throughout America, parishes, Catholic schools, dioceses, and even the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are utilizing these tools as well, creating first-rate websites, maintaining Twitter and Facebook accounts, and more. All of these resources are geared toward a wide variety of audiences, from the un-churched and fallen-away Catholics to active parishioners. Being knowledgeable of the new media tools available to us as Catholics is a great way to be more effective in our universal call to evangelization. Take some time to see what media resources our parish and diocese are using, and be sure to pass them along to those in your sphere of influence!
Ladies of St. Leo’ s BUILD FRIENDSHIPS WHILE SERVING THE FAITH COMMUNITY
Ladies of St. Leo’s members gather at a recent meeting.
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ometimes, it’s the little things that have the greatest impact. Like a welcome card in the mail from a stranger or a handmade blanket for a new baby’s Baptism. Here at St. Leo’s, we have a group of women working quietly behind the scenes to create special moments for our parish community — from our seminarians to the homebound, to families welcoming new babies. The Ladies of St. Leo’s is a service organization of which all women of our parish are automatically a part. Ruth Armatys has been a part of this group for many years and has become more active since her retirement. “To me, it’s just been a huge blessing to get to know the ladies involved in my church,” Ruth says. “When you work together on something, you get to know each other, instead of just being a face in the pew.” With an active group of about 30 women, the ladies offer their time, talent, and treasure to
ensure that everyone who enters the doors of St. Leo’s feels welcome and loved. They have a committee that makes hot meals for funerals, while another group sends cards to new members. “We want them to feel welcome,” Ruth says. “They receive information about all the parish ministries so they can feel welcome to use their talents for our parish.” The Newcomers Committee also sends cards to the homebound for Christmas. They send the seminarians holiday and birthday cards, and sometimes some spending money. “We want our seminarians to know we support them and we are here for them,” Ruth says. When Habitat for Humanity has a build day, the Ladies of St. Leo’s members make lunch and serve it at the site. They also hold a yearly appreciation lunch for parish staff. In addition, the group gives graduating seniors, the First Communicants, and Confirmation youth a small gift. continued on back cover
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2410 S. Blaine Street Grand Island, NE 68801 (308) 382-4753 | www.saintleos.org
Ladies of St. Leo’s
continued from page 7
The newly baptized babies of our parish receive a knitted or crocheted prayer blanket. The prayer blankets are also given out to those in our parish who are sick and in need of prayer. The group’s hospitality efforts also extend to coordinating the monthly Donut Sunday, which gives parishioners a chance to be together after Sunday Mass. They host a Sunday afternoon event of playing the dice game, Bunco, to help group members get to know one another better. “All of the little things add up to something big,” Ruth says. To support this work, the ladies do a poinsettia and Easter lily sale each year, and people give
$10 for a flower to be displayed in honor of someone. Ruth has stayed committed and involved with Ladies of St. Leo’s because she enjoys the friendship and service, and because her mother set an example as a longtime member of the Altar Society. Ruth values all the friends she has made in the Ladies of St. Leo’s. “Maybe before I became so involved, I didn’t take time to think about faith — I took it for granted,” Ruth says. “As I’ve gotten older, it’s meant more to me. This group is a community that has my back. That gives me a comfortable feeling.”
The Ladies of St. Leo’s meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Please contact Ruth Armatys for more information at 308-384-9884.
LITURGY SCHEDULE Daily Mass: 9 a.m., Saturday: 5 p.m., Sunday: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Confession: Saturday 4 - 4:30 p.m. Adoration: First Friday of the Month, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Abide Adoration: Fourth Sunday of the Month, 7 - 8 p.m.