DEC | 2021
CONTENT PAGE 2 Christmastime Stewardship
How We Can Bring His Son to the World
PAGE 3 A Time for Mercy and Tenderness PAGE 4 The Musicians of Our Parish: Elevating the
Liturgy and Fostering Active Participation
PAGE 6 What is the Immaculate Conception?
A Closer Look at this Important Feast Day — Dec. 8
PAGE 7 Meet Emily Kite: Sharing a Love for Service
and Stewardship in Quincy
The Advent Season: A
VALUABLE TIME TO PREPARE, REFLECT AND LISTEN
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“It’s a very neat book, very ith the pandemic doable, with just good reflections restrictions lifting, it for each day in Advent,” Gina appears that preparations says. “There are lines included for Christmas are ramping to write your thoughts. up with plans for decorating, “We can make a commitment baking, holiday parties, and gift to ourselves, our families, make shopping. Yet, throughout all of a verbal commitment,” she adds. this activity, are we taking the “One way to do it is to just make time to truly prepare for Christ’s the same time each day to be birth by observing Advent? still. With a lot of things coming Gina Bergman, Director of We are encouraging all parishioners back from the pandemic, things to reflect on Advent with a book that Religious Education, understands we are happy to offer, Advent Gospel being scheduled, we are finding the urge to jump into holiday Reflections, by Bishop Robert Barron. there now is way too much to preparation, but at the same time, do. Advent is a chance to take time and practice encourages us to walk into the journey of Advent. solitude and be still. Listen to what God wants “We’re encouraging all our parishioners to reflect on Advent with a book that we are giving you to do. I feel we are trying to catch up right away, Advent Gospel Reflections, by Bishop now, but it is important to realize that Advent Robert Barron,” she says. “We’re encouraging can be a time to give ourselves solitude so we all to do this, and particularly couples, to make can hear God’s voice. Advent Gospel Reflections will help that if we put it on ourselves to make a Advent a goal to do something in preparation.” The books are available for all in the church commitment.” There are additional opportunities here at narthex. continued on page 5
ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP How We Can Bring His Son to the World
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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 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
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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 PASTOR
A TIME FOR Dear Parishioners,
A
Mercy AND Tenderness
dvent and Christmas are upon us. It is a busy time for me, our parish, our priests, and for most of you, too. We all know that our homes, schools, offices, and churches will soon be overflowing with many holiday events, and our pews will be overflowing with all of those present for Christmas Masses. We all know why — there is something special about the Church and our faith during these holidays. First of all, you and I need to remember that fact — and we need to be grateful for it. For those of us here every Sunday, this is no time to resent those who fill our pews and our parking lots. Rather, it is a time to be the loving and welcoming people Christ calls us to be. Hospitality is an important part of being a good steward, and this is a perfect time to practice it. For those who may only come to Mass every once in a while, or only for these special occasions you are welcome here! We hope you like what you see, and we want you to know that you always have a home and family here, any time you need it. You may have heard of the term “the New Evangelization.” It is something Pope Francis has emphasized, in particular through his
exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. The pope’s letter, with a title that means “The Joy of the Gospel,” has advice for all Catholics relating to how we should all view and treat each other, as sons and daughters of God and members of the Church. The pope said, “There is a need for Christians who help show God’s mercy and tenderness toward every creature. We all know that today’s humanity is facing a deep crisis. This is why the new evangelization must necessarily use the language of mercy, which is more about gestures and attitudes than words.” As the Holy Father reminds us, this is a time for “mercy and tenderness.” This is a time for us to show love for everyone, to our brothers and sisters in the next pew or on the other side of the globe. This is a time to share the Good News of Emmanuel, God-with-us, with all we meet. May you and your families have a blessed Advent and Merry Christmas! In Christ, Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow
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ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Musicians of Our Parish:
ELEVATING THE LITURGY
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or Catholics, as we lift up our hearts in song and glory to God, music is a powerful expression of prayer and praise. As St. Jerome once said, “Music to me is a voice, my voice, it’s my way of expressing what colors can I bring in, what emotions, what feel. What ideas can I bring out from these instruments that would make this song come alive?” At St. Peter Church, our liturgies are enhanced with an abundance of beautiful music, and we are blessed with many musically gifted parishioners who can not only sing but play a wide variety of instruments — cello, flute, piano, percussion, wind instruments, and stringed instruments. Playing an instrument at Mass is a great commitment of one’s time and talent because a musician must be skilled enough
to learn the Mass parts as well as the hymns which change every week. While our choirs have weekly rehearsals, the instrumentalists practice and rehearse on their own time, usually only attending rehearsals before major Holy Days, feast days or special liturgies. Sharing their musical talents truly is a form of stewardship to the parish and to God. By sharing their gifts of time and talent, they are playing their music for the glory of God. “It really is about leading the congregation in sung prayer,” says Monica Scholz, who has served as Music Director at St. Peter for over 30 years. “The single most telling aspect of our work as parish musicians is if the congregation sings well and participates in the liturgy. And we have great participation at St. Peter’s.”
“It really is about leading the congregation in sung prayer. The single most telling aspect of our work as parish musicians is if the congregation sings well and participates in the liturgy. And we have great participation at St. Peter’s.” — MONICA SCHOLZ, MUSIC DIRECTOR 4
AND FOSTERING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION The Second Vatican Council called for full and active participation in the liturgy to receive the graces from the Mass, and well-executed liturgical music draws the congregation more fully into that active participation of the Mass. “We have wonderful volunteers who give hours of their time to elevate the liturgy and support the prayer of the people,” Monica says. “If the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics, it is important that we work hard to make sure that our liturgies are
beautiful, meaningful and prayerful as well.” Several of the parish’s instrumentalists include college students who play for special Masses. “We invite the college and grad students to come back and play during the Christmas and Easter seasons and over the summer,” Monica says. “The parish has watched these kids grow up and it is just so special to see them come back and continue sharing their talents with us. It is such a joy to have them.”
The parish is always looking to add more pianists and organists to their list of players. Any parishioners who would like to share their talents playing an instrument are encouraged to contact Monica Scholz at m.scholz@cospq.org or 217-214-0131.
The Advent Season
continued from front cover
St. Peter’s to prepare for the gift of Christ’s birth by giving Christ’s love to others through our Giving Wreath that is underway during Advent. This is one way we can open our hearts and make time for Christ. The students at St. Peter School are collecting baby items for their annual Advent tradition by having a “Baby Shower for Jesus”. The items collected will be donated to CareNet. The school is also starting the Advent season by going to a prayer service on Nov. 29th at 9:30 am.
“The rest of our community benefits from our taking time to put others in front of ourselves, shopping for the requests on the Giving Wreath, and bringing the gifts back,” Gina says. “It is amazing to see how generous our parish is and there is something to keep in mind — that is that even the smallest donation can go a long way. If you have a young family, show your kids how important it is to give time to others. Giving to others is an important part of life and it helps us grow closer to Jesus.”
For more information about the Giving Wreath, please call the parish office at 217-222-3155. *See back page for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses. 5
ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHAT IS THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION? A Closer Look at this Important Feast Day — Dec. 8
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hen it comes to Catholic trivia, there is one simple question that often evokes an incorrect response: “What is the Immaculate Conception?” More often than not, this term is believed to designate Christ’s conception within Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit. A good guess, no doubt. But that is incorrect! The term “Immaculate Conception” describes the state of Mary’s soul within the womb of her mother, St. Anne. It has nothing to do with a special type of generative conception by her parents — Mary’s body was formed in the usual manner by her mother and father. VInstead, the term “Immaculate Conception” describes how Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the first moment of her existence. Every person since Adam and Eve has been born with the stain of original sin, which can be washed away in the cleansing waters of Baptism. Yet, this fallen state never touched the soul of Mary, the new Eve. She was conceived with original sanctity and innocence, escaping all faults, depraved emotions and passions, and remained sinless. She was not exempt from the temporal penalties of Adam, however — including sorrow.
The belief in Mary’s Immaculate Conception has been held by the Church throughout history, though only officially declared a dogma in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. Highly devoted to the Blessed Virgin, Pius IX hoped the official definition would draw emphasis to the already existing belief, thereby inspiring deeper devotion to Mary. This dogma finds its roots in both Scripture and Tradition, and remains consistent with reason and the teachings of our early Church fathers. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year on Dec. 8 and is one of the few declared Holy Days of Obligation on the Church calendar. All Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on this day. Mass will be at 8:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Why not make this liturgical feast a special day of devotion? Arrange a little altar at home for your children to decorate, recite the Magnificat and/or discuss the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception. Once this beautiful feast is brought alive in our hearts and in our homes, we will never again mistakenly answer that “tricky” question, “What is the Immaculate Conception?”
THE MAGNIFICAT My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. 6
He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and His children for ever.
MEET
Emily Kite:
Sharing a Love for Service and Stewardship in Quincy
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mily Kite loves serving others, whether it’s through her job as a nurse at Blessing Hospital, as a volunteer with Teens Encountering Christ (TEC), or as an organizer of The Belonging young adult group. As a recent college graduate, Emily recognized that she was part of an age group that may not feel like they have a place at Catholic Churches. So, Emily helped cofound The Belonging Ministry, a young adult group, with a few friends. The group has been around for about two years. “We felt there was a gap there in building community,” Emily says. “We got a group of friends together and decided to create a place, together, with other people who have the same beliefs.” The group meets at the parish hall at St. Francis Solanus in the colder months and Upper Moorman Park when it’s warm out. Every month, they share in at least one activity from each of the Four Pillars of Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. The group is geared toward single people, but married couples are also welcome. Emily also enjoys serving by bringing Holy Communion to those in the hospital. “It’s really rewarding and humbling to bring people the Eucharist,” she says. “It’s beautiful to see the respect they have for the Eucharist. It’s amazing the faith they can have during a hard time.” This ministry pairs well with Emily’s career as a nurse. She had attended St. Peter Catholic School and Quincy Notre Dame. She went on to graduate from Quincy University and the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences. “I got into nursing because I thought it would be a great way to help continue to incorporate my love for service into my life,” Emily says. The Teens Encounter Christ program has also
Emily Kite with her brother, Ethan
been an important part of Emily’s faith journey. She attended as a teen and has done a lot of volunteering since. “The program has taught me a lot of things,” she says. “It has given me a community and has provided me with lifelong friends and people I call family.” It means a lot to Emily to be able to give back to the organizations and people who helped shape her life. It’s one of the reasons she stayed in Quincy after graduation. “I wanted to give back to those groups who continued on back cover
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2600 Maine Street Quincy, Illinois 62301 www.cospq.org
MEET EMILY KITE
continued from page 7
helped make me who I am and give that opportunity to others,” she says. Emily has a younger brother, Ethan, and parents, Kent and Karen. She enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Finley. She’s also a self-described Christmas and Hallmark movie “fanatic.” In her free time, she also likes walking, traveling and biking. But most of all, Emily has a love for service. “I find both community and service to be very important faith components,” she says. “I think this is why I love to be involved and to help serve in the church and Quincy community any way that I can.”
AS ADVENT ENDS WITH THE
joyous celebration
OF CHRISTMAS, SEVERAL MASS TIMES ARE OFFERED AT ST. PETER’S.
Christmas Eve Masses will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. Christmas Day Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
MASS SCHEDULE Weekend Masses Saturday: 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Weekday Masses Mon-Sat: 8:00 a.m., except for Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m.
Reconciliation Saturday: 7:30-7:50 a.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment