HOLY Family Catholic Church
Messenger
Top: The Young Adults Group at Holy Family has become a second home to those in their 20’s and 30’s. Read about Kaitlyn Stice’s experience with these Young Adult Masses and socials. p. 7 Bottom, Left: Room in the Inn brings joy and care to the homeless during the winter season. Read all about the work they do. p. 3 Bottom, Right: Holy Family has a lot going on in December. There are so many events, drives, and volunteer opportunities going on from Carols and Cocktails to the Penance Service, Christmas Baskets and more. Find them all listed in the Holy Family Messenger. p. 5 – 6
9100 Crockett Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027 December
www.holyfamilycc.com • @holyfamilycctn 2019
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Holy Family Newsletter
A Message from Father Joe Dear Parishioners of Holy Family: As I write to you, we are celebrating the Feast of All Saints on November 1. What makes this Feast so special is that we not only recognize the official saints of our Church but also the anonymous saints or perhaps those known only to each of us. This passage from the Letter of Hebrews says it best: “We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses,” to which I add, who are enthusiastically cheering us on as we make our way through life. This Feast of All Saints is followed by the Feast of All Souls on November 2, in which we recognize and pray for all who have died, especially our loved ones. Perhaps the Book of Wisdom best captures the spirit of the Feast: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God… They are in peace.” With these Feasts in mind, I share with you that work on the Columbarium is moving ahead. It is our hope that this will be completed by the first part of the calendar year. I truly believe it will be a beautiful and prayerful addition to our Holy Family Campus. Before we know it, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. Let us all take full advantage of this
gift, that even in the midst of our challenges, we may offer grateful prayers to the Lord for the blessings He has given us as individuals, as families, and as a country. We then begin the Season of Advent with a Parish Mission from December 4 – 6 followed by Carols & Cocktails on the evening of the sixth and Breakfast with Santa on the seventh. Then, closer to the Feast of Christmas, we will have our annual Christmas Basket project. What a great way to celebrate the Season of Advent with prayer, joy, and service. I look forward to sharing all of these great events with you, the parishioners of Holy Family. Father Joe
Table of Contents
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Contents Love Your Neighbor, Y’all
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Prison Ministry Update
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Holy Family Christmas
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A Testimony on the Young Adults Group
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The Church in the Modern World
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Parishioner Highlight: Meet Betty Lou Burnett
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Faith & Inspiration
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Fall At Holy Family
Back
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Room in the Inn
Love Your Neighbor, Ya’ll BY JUDY MESKELL
Father Joe has often expressed his wish to make Holy Family a second home for all our parishioners. Not only is Holy Family becoming that second home for our parishioners, it is also a “second home” for many of our homeless brothers in Nashville through our Room In The Inn (RITI) winter shelter program. Every Saturday evening and Sunday morning between November and March, the Holy Family Parish Activity Center (PAC) is transformed into a home for 14 gentlemen guests who are without a home of their own. Each weekend, approximately 45 volunteers and donors from the parish turn the PAC into a welcoming place by providing delicious food, warm beds, safe transportation, essential personal hygiene items, and, most importantly, loving hospitality. Last year, during the 2018-2019 season at Holy Family, our parishioners generously provided 284 shelter beds, served 568 meals, drove 600 miles, and donated 1120 volunteer hours. Beyond these material needs, we especially provide the human touch of Christ that every human being desires. Through the power of one listening ear, one conversation, one warm smile, and one volunteer learning a name and a story, we have an impact beyond the walls of Holy Family. Through our loving hospitality, we give our guests the hope and the renewed energy to face the challenges of being homeless. Our 2019-2020 season kicked off on November 2, with a big drop in the temperature and with many new and returning volunteers. Frank Fenton, a new church van driver, arrived early to gather the keys and directions for his first trip to the main RITI Campus in downtown Nashville. By the time he returned an hour later, he had made 14 new friends and stayed with them to share dinner. Frank told us that it was a great experience, and he would be returning again. Ann and Cliff Bowlds, new set up/kitchen help volunteers, jumped right in to learn the ropes of transforming classrooms into a bedroom, a dining room, and an entertainment center. Both agreed they would be back to volunteer after such a fun and rewarding opportunity. The dedication of our volunteers is inspiring, and we have many volunteers who return year after year to serve or donate. Jeremy Bisceglia, one of our experienced inn keepers, brought his 3 sons with him to host our guests overnight and to teach our next generation of inn keepers about what a difference they can make in the lives of others. And, Owen McGuinness, the other inn keeper, stayed on after spending the night to help the clean up volunteers put everything back in place. We could go on and on about the tireless service and kindness of our generous volunteers and donors, but, instead, we like to invite you to join us in this life-changing, life-saving program about the power of togetherness. Contact us at riti@hfccminstries.com or volunteer on the Holy Family website or through the Holy Family Weekly Announcements e-mail. Come and live the RITI motto to “Love Your Neighbor, Y’all.”
Writing Workshop: Summer Cousins
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Prison Ministry Update BY DEACON JAMES BOOTH
Holy Family Catholic Church Prison Ministry has as its compass this celebrated passage from Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” Our Prison Ministry people visit prisoners every week and in every state prison in the Nashville Diocese. Some of these are one-on-one meetings, others are Catholic services conducted in groups. We mentor men and women nearing release, hold services on Death Row, share our faith, give Communion, arrange for monthly Masses, and do regular Bible study with our imprisoned brothers and sisters. We participate in inter-faith projects, for example bringing Christmas joy to prisoners and presents for incarcerated moms to give to their children at the annual Women’s Prison Christmas party. We organize Advent and Easter Retreats across the Middle Tennessee prison system, allowing for a day of reflection and faith sharing between prisoners and Holy Family parishioners. Prison Ministry members attend vigils on the night of executions and join in faith-centered efforts to commute death sentences and to abolish the death penalty in Tennessee. Prison Ministry bears witness to the possibility of forgiveness, redemption, and change for which Christ died on the cross. In all of this, we never lose sight of the victims of crime. The terrible deeds that blighted or ended their lives, cry out for acknowledgment, compassion, and prayer. The Church reaches out to them in their suffering and loss. Prison Ministry goes out to the prisoners’ world, a world hidden from society by walls and wire. We go to them, sharing our faith and acknowledging our common humanity, certain that we all have failed and sinned, in ways great and small. That quiet act of recognition is transformative, not only for prisoners but for us as well. The walls that separate us from them turn out to be porous: they are our sisters and brothers, like us in struggling, failing, succeeding, and in always looking to God for forgiveness. Holy Family Prison Ministry works at the intersection of damage, change and restoration, of hope and loss. We pray that in some small way that work changes the lives of prisoners and survivors, as it most assuredly does ours.
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Holy Family Christmas Events
Holy Family Christmas Events
Women’s Club Gift Exchange
The Women’s Club Annual Gift Exchange takes place December 3, at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30) in the Gather Area to celebrate the holiday season with great friends and good cheer! There is a $25 gift limit. All women of the parish are welcome! Women’s Club membership is $30 for the year (Spring Fashion show not included) or $10 per event. Please bring ornaments and Christmas tree lights to be donated to the Mary Parrish Center.
A Night of Advent Reflection and Song
On December 4, from 7:15 – 9 pm Robert Feduccia, PJ Anderson, and Sarah Hart will present a night of Advent stories, reflection, and song. Join parishioners in the Parish Hall for drinks, light appetizers, and fellowship.
Penance Service
Above: Robert Feduccia, PJ Anderson, and Sarah Hart who will lead the Night of Advent Reflection and Song.
Please join Fr. Joe and Fr. Anthony and many other priests of the Diocese for Holy Family’s Advent Penance Service on December 5, starting at 7 pm in the Sanctuary.
Carols and Cocktails
On December 6, attend Holy Family’s second annual Carols & Cocktails from 7 – 9:30 pm in the Parish Hall! Bring friends to this casual sing-a-long of Christmas carols while sharing a few cocktails. Start looking for an ugly sweater as there will be a prize for the one deemed “ugliest!” Everyone over 21 welcome. Tickets are $10 and include an open bar. Tickets will be sold after all Masses this weekend and next weekend, or buy tickets online now by visiting holyfamilycc.com/carols. For questions, contact Donna Englert at 615-830-7320. Above: Patty Linder, winner of last year’s
Breakfast with Santa
Carols & Cocktails ugly sweater contest.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Holy Family, December 7, from 9 – 12 am in the Gym. Enjoy crafts, games, food, and a visit with Santa!
UNUM Christmas Party
Holy Family calls all single people – regardless of age, parish or denomination – to join a ministry for singles: UNUM! Their next event will be a Christmas Party on December 7, from 7 – 9 pm in the Learning Center Foyer. Please sign up at bit.ly/hfcc-unum to bring a dish for their potluck and also bring a $15 gift for the UNUM gift exchange!
Christmas Masses and Pageants
Above: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be coming back to Holy Family on December 7!
Christmas Eve Masses will take place at 4 pm in the Church, 4:30 pm in the Parish Hall, 6:30 pm in the Church, and 9 pm in the Church. Before the 4 pm Mass arrive early at 3:30 for the Children’s Christmas Pageant, Share the Good News. The Adult Christmas Pageant, Journey to Bethlehem, will take place on Christmas Eve as well at 8:10 pm, before the 9 pm Mass. Mass on Christmas Day will take place at 9 am.
Holy Family Christmas Volunteer and Giving
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Holy Family Christmas Volunteer and Giving Prison Ministry
Prison Ministry is requesting funds to help contribute to an annual Christmas gift bag project for inmates. Those who would like to contribute to this effort can make out checks to “Holy Family Catholic Church” with “Prison Ministry” shown in the memo, or send money online at bit.ly/_suave. Any amount will be appreciated. 100% of these funds will be applied to the purchase of bottles of Suave Lotion for the women’s gift bags.
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. It is a day after the shopping and chaos to give back to something you believe in. This year Holy Family is participating in Giving Tuesday in partnership with iGiveCatholic. Visit nashville.igivecatholic.org/organizations/holyfamilycctn to make a donation now until the end of Giving Tuesday on December 3.
Christmas Decorating
On December 21, from 9 am – 12 pm join the Decorating Committee in decorating Holy Family for Christmas! All middle school & high school students are invited for a great way to earn service hours.
Poinsettias dedications
Poinsettias may be given in honor or in memory of a loved one. Those interested in helping decorate the sanctuary with these flowers during Christmas may fill out and turn in the poinsettia form found in the weekly bulletin.
Christmas Baskets
Above: A section of the Church decorated by volunteers for Christmas.
The Men’s and Women’s Clubs would like to encourage all parishioners to give some time, talent, and treasure to help brighten the holidays for over 200 families who are not as fortunate. The Christmas Basket Program is a Holy Family tradition and is fun for the whole family. The program takes place from December 9 – 14, with nearly each day bringing more ways to be involved. On Monday, donations (new toys, play sets, bikes, baby items (diapers, wipes, clothes, etc.), clothes of any size (coats, sweatshirts, socks, gloves), teenage appropriate gifts (headphones, etc.)) will be collected at the Parish Hall throughout the day. Wednesday, parishioners of all ages will gather in the Parish Hall at 7 pm to wrap gifts. Wrapping paper will be provided. However, feel free to bring spare rolls of wrapping paper, tape, and scissors. On Thursday morning, grab a cup of coffee and join everyone at the Parish Hall at 8 am to unload the trucks of food and setup the boxes. On Friday night at 7 pm, parishioners of all ages will pack the food and gifts into the boxes with an amazing human assembly line. Lastly, on Saturday morning, parishioners will gather at 7:30 am for a prayer service, coffee and donuts, and the distribution of the boxes. 200 drivers are needed to deliver. For questions, contact Paul Murray at 615-973-6907.
Room in the Inn
Holy Family will be looking after their homeless brothers this holiday season. Many volunteers are still needed in the month of December to help host 14 homeless gentlemen guests, providing shelter, meals, personal hygiene items, and hospitality. Sign up for donations or volunteering is available at holyfamilycc.com/riti or contact Mary Word at 615-739-7584. Those interested in becoming an inn keeper or coordinator may contact riti@hfccministries.com. Easy training is available.
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A Testimony on the Young Adults Group
A testimony on the Young Adults Group BY KAITLYN STICE
My name is Kaitlin Stice. I am 24 years old, and I moved to Nashville for college 5 years ago. I grew up in a small farm town in Illinois, where I knew every single person I went to church with. I also grew up singing in my church choir from a very young age. Church was somewhere I felt at home with a community around me. My faith and music are two very important things in my life.
everyone who was there. I made immediate friends and was overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude for God answering my prayers. It still makes me emotional to this day. Since then, I have been invited onto the core team for the Young Adult Group, and I sing every Wednesday at Mass. I have watched this group grow so much over the past year, and it continues to inspire me every Wednesday to see it keep growing. After becoming so involved, this group has opened so many doors for me spiritually and musically. Holy Family Young Adults have given me a place that feels like home, when I felt so lost from a home since moving to Nashville. This group gave me some of the closest friends I have made here Nashville, people that I know I can turn to for anything. This group has given me memories already that will last a lifetime. I know I have a community and a family at Holy Family Young Adults.
When I moved to Nashville, I struggled finding a faith community, and I missed worshipping God through music. My faith took a toll during this time of feeling lost. I still went to a few different churches, but I had no fire in my faith. After four years of searching, I saw an advertisement about Holy Family Young Adults Mass with worship music.
“Holy Family Young Adults have given me a place that feels like home, when I felt so lost from a home since moving to Nashville.”
I have never felt more close to God, and my faith is alive. I feel so loved. My passion is to continue to help more people have an experience with this group like I did. I want people to know they are welcome here and to feel like they have a community with Holy Family Young Adults. I had been praying for God to guide me to where Coming into this can be intimidating, scary, and I was supposed to be. The first mass I went to, I uncomfortable, but I hope this can encourage faith immediately felt at peace. It was an amazing feeling to to overcome fear. I always turn to Phil 4:13 “I can do look around and see people my age enveloped in their everything through Christ who strengthens me.” Thank faith. I connected with the music during the mass and you Holy Family Young Adults for coming into my instantly wanted to be a part of everything. life, lighting a fire in my faith, and giving me such an At the social afterwards, I felt so welcomed by amazing experience.
Cathletics The Church in the Modern World
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The Church in the Modern World BY JOHN AND JACQUE CALZAVARA
On January 25, 1959, Pope John XXIII shocked the world by calling a council that would change the face of the Church forever. Pope John often used the term aggiornamento for what he had in mind for the council - an Italian word meaning bringing up to date. On December 8, 1965, the council, having finished its work, held a solemn closing in the piazza of St. Peter’s. It has been almost 55 years since the council closed and, in many ways, Catholics are still trying to understand exactly what happened at this event that changed not only the Catholic church but the understanding and attitudes toward religion around the world. On October 7, 2019, parishioners of Holy Family came together to gain a deeper understanding of some of the documents of Vatican II and dialogue about their meaning and far reaching implications, not only in the Church but also in their lives. The sessions have included an exploration of the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), an exploration of how the council affected the roles of the clergy and the laity, a session on women in the church and Mary, building community out of diversity, an exploration of the Vatican II document Sancrosanctum Concilium, and a closing session on how we can try to bring Christ into the world with a musical concert.
The spirit of the group is founded on the principle of empathetic dialogue with a deep respect for the opinions of others and a willingness to participate with fellow parishioners to advance formation in the faith. A sense of community has emerged in the group, and the participants have reacted to the presentation of the material and the discussions with enthusiasm. The informal atmosphere allows parishioners to get to know each other better and learn from one another. Jesuit theologian and prominent figure of Vatican II, Karl
Rahner, has said that, “knowing God is more important than knowing about God.” While it is important to have information regarding the church and its teachings, the group follows the advice of Fr. Rahner and seeks a
closer relationship with the God of all creation through the community of faith at Holy Family. All parishioners are invited to these sessions. It is not necessary to attend all of the sessions in a particular series as each presentation is structured to be independent but connected to the series. The next series will take place during Lent of 2020. Pope Francis
has said that, “The Church is not a relief organization, an enterprise or an NGO, but a community of people, animated by the Holy Spirit, who have lived and are living the wonder of the encounter with Jesus Christ and want to share this experience of deep joy, the message of salvation that the Lord gave us. It is the Holy Spirit who guides the Church in this path.” May all who attend these sessions experience this vision of our Pope at Holy Family Parish.
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Parishioner Highlight: Meet Betty Lou Burnett
Parishioner Highlight: Meet Betty Lou Burnett We know her best as the director of pastoral care here at Holy Family. That means she keeps Fr. Joe and Fr. Anthony on their toes! To most, if a question needs answering, Betty Lou Burnett is the one to ask. Her positive involvement in the many facets of life here at Holy Family is evidenced by all. One would not believe how much Betty Lou does behind the scene to make certain all activities and events go off well. She was recently named Catholic Business League’s 2019 Catholic Professional of the Year. President of the CBL, Steve Horvath, said that her commitment to her faith, family and community, and her success in business made her an outstanding choice for this honor. She was born and raised in the Nashville area and attended Christ the King and St. Bernard Academy High School. She graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville with a degree in accounting. She has been married to her husband Jim for thirty-six years, and they are the proud parents of three children, Anna, Jim, and William. The apple of her eye is granddaughter, Hayden, who turns one in December. Betty Lou and her family are avid fans of the Titans, Predators, and the Vols! They attend as many games as possible. Betty Lou began her career as an accountant in the public accounting firm of Deloitte. She then moved on to be a controller and chief financial officer of various Nashville companies. From here she went on to work in executive recruiting, and then helped manage a boutique recruiting firm. Then she came to Holy Family where she began as the Facilities Director and then moved to her current position. Betty Lou’s involvement in the community shows how much she desires to give back to the community. She has served on boards for the Institute for Internal Auditors, St. Bernard Home and School Association, Kiwanis International Board of Governors, the Father Ryan Board of Trustees and executive committee, president of the Father Ryan Band Boosters, and is a past president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. She is the recipient of the Kiwanis Ralph L. Brunson Spiritual Aims Award, “For her enthusiasm for life, her constant faith, and her servant’s heart.” She was a co-founder of the Catholic Business League in 2008 and served as president in 2014-2015. With her leadership the group has grown to more than 300 members. Horvath said, “Her insights and
leadership continue to make Middle Tennessee an outstanding business environment. And her work in the Catholic community and commitment and support of Catholic education make her a vital and visible force for our faith.” As if all the activities listed above are not enough to keep her busy, she has been very active for the last seven years on the board of the Advancement of Catholic Education advisory committee and was chosen by the Bishop to chair the committee this year. She helped start the annual ACE fundraising event which has brought in tens of thousands of dollars for Catholic education each year. She also helped plan, orchestrate, and execute the very complicated days long installment of Bishop Spalding, and it went off without a hitch! Parishioners and staff members of Holy Family can all agree that Betty Lou Burnett helps make the parish run like a well-oiled machine, and she has helped the parish to thrive.
Faith & Inspiration
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A Prayer for Christmas Eve Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. –Robert Louis Stevenson
A Christmas Basket Testimony
Each year Holy Family hosts the Christmas Basket program, a week-long event packed with tasks to ensure that less fortunate families in the Brentwood area receive a beautiful and generous Christmas. Holy Family’s parishioners gather together as one to help make this possible by packing boxes, wrapping presents, and even delivering those presents to the doors of these families. Holy Family parishioners, Cindy and Lonnie Younger participated in this program last year and had a remarkable experience. “As new parishioners we decided to volunteer for the Men’s Club Christmas Basket Project and wanted to share our experience as well as to pass on the gratitude of those we delivered to on Saturday. We came on Thursday morning to help unload the truck and get the boxes ready and then again on Saturday
morning to make deliveries. We picked two families to deliver the food/gifts. Even though you gave us a heads up that these families may want to visit with us, we never expected the outpouring of gratitude to us and HFCC. They needed to share their stories, to have someone listen, not judge why they were the recipients of such generosity. We gave hugs, shared laughs, and in the end we received more than we delivered. Thank you, Men’s Club. We were so impressed with how well organized everything was and the significant number of parishioners who volunteered their time and treasure. As Father Joe stated in this morning’s homily, this truly is a wonderful HFCC community project to help those in need and for us, it made our Christmas holy.”
Fall at Holy Family
Top: The Annual Golf Classic brought out a record number of golfers and sponsors, earning over $18,000 for Knights of Columbus charities. Left: This November Holy Family put out its first Book of Remembrance for parishioners to honor deceased loved ones during Mass. Right: The Holy Family Fall litter cleanup was a success! Thanks to Heather Tabor for bringing cookies to all the volunteers who showed up. Bottom: The Young Adults began hosting their own Bible Study groups on Thursday nights.
For more ways to stay connected with holy family: Text “HFCCTN� to 84576 to join the email list. @holyfamilycctn /holyfamilycctn www.holyfamilycc.com
