St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
April 5, 1998

Palm Sunday

On this Passion Sunday -- which we also call "Palm Sunday" -- we begin to bring our parish's "Mission of Reconciliation" to a close as we in a corporate way commemorate and make present the "self-emptying" of Christ and thereby identify within ourselves how to turn the scandal of the cross into the triumph of redemption.
We take ownership within our parish community of the same die-to-come-alive process that Jesus chose to change us from outcasts to heirs. How does this work?
Let's being by echoing the prayer of the "good thief" in the passion account used in the Gospel:
"Jesus, remember me when you enter upon your reign." This is our goal, our hope, our journey, our endeavor.
Jesus responds, "I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise." This message is for us too!
But how is this promise of Jesus fulfilled in us? We need to take to heart and put into practice the words of St. Paul, "You attitude must be Christ's: ...he emptied himself,
...obediently accepting even death, death on a cross." In other words, go and do likewise!
How? Through our persevering loyalty to the mind and teachings of the Church, modeling the words of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading about the Suffering Servant: "I have not rebelled, have not turned back."
Let's put it all together: We are assured of "paradise" (that is, resurrection, glory, heaven, the reign of God, the divine dominion in our lives) if we are willing to die to our own agendas and free ourselves from the enslavement of those old ways (habits, traditions, behaviors) that keep us from facing our corporate sin of omission (lack of liturgical participation, lack of initiatives of evangelization, lack of active volunteerism, and lack of welcoming respect).
We do this kind of dying when we choose the common good and embrace the mind of the Church and the heart of the Gospel.
This is a process of taking seriously (finally after 33 years!) the meaning and the implication of the Spirit-filled ecumenical council called Vatican II.
We want to live! To live we must die. To die we must let go of an image of St. Anthony's that is no longer meant to exist. In this year of the Spirit we are called to something new and wonderful and marvelous and fully alive! This is the triumph of the cross.
--Father Benet OFM

Offering

Envelopes $3,583.82
Loose Collection $ 299.11
Children's Envelopes $ 11.25
TOTAL: $3,894.18
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(3/29/98): (Week #39):
$ 5,453.06 $212,678.34
$ 3,894.18 $191,317.53
$-1,558.88 $-21,360.81
"Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Lk 22:23). Jesus is the greatest witness of stewardship. Jesus emptied himself for us. How are we following His example of sacrifice for our brothers and sisters?

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY..

About Suffering:
It is immensely easier to suffer in obedience to a human command than to suffer in the freedom of one's own responsible deep. It is immensely easier to suffer with others than to suffer alone. It is immensely easier to suffer openly and honorably than apart and in shame. It is immensely easier to suffer through commitment of the physical life than in the spirit. Christ suffered in freedom, alone, apart and in shame, in body and spirit, and since then many Christians have so suffered with him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM

NEWS ABOUT PARISHIONERS

CONGRATULATIONS to Richard and Marie Steger who celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the 4:30 Mass on Saturday, April 4.
RESTING IN PEACE: In your kindness please pray for Agnes C. Trigg, 86, buried March 30; Catherine E. Bergfeld, 85, buried March 30; and Georgia Mitchell, 79, buried on April 1.
SANCTUARY LAMPS This week one of the sanctuary lamps is lit in memory of Susan Meyer and the other remembers the Gyaky, Zarka, Wambach, Horvath, and Seper Families (MMG).
QUILT WINNER FOR MARCH 26: Mary Eichhorn of 3224 Osceola.
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Franciscan Mothers' Flea Market raffle:
Quilt: Mildred Rueter

Afghan: Jacobs Sisters Cash ($10): Carol Fusco
Groceries: Betty Rhode & Darline Rodner

Parish News

LADIES' SODALITY: St. Anthony's Ladies' Sodality will be present as a body at the 8:00am Mass on Palm Sunday, April 5, and will hold its annual Communion Breakfast afterwards.

ECUMENICAL PALM SUNDAY SERVICE AND PROCESSION: The Christian Churches of South St. Louis are together sponsoring a special Ecumenical Palm Sunday Service and Procession on Sunday, April 5, beginning at 9:15am at the Salvation Army (Arsenal and California) and moving toward the various churches. Come be part of this special celebration; call Br. Loyola for details.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: In these last days of Lent, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered at the following times for your convenience:
Monday, April 6: 8:30am after the last Mass
Tuesday, April 7: 8:30am after the last Mass
1:00pm at Chariton Apartments
7:00pm (enter church by the parking lot door)
Wednesday, April 8: 8:30am after the last Mass
3:00pm after the Stations of the Cross
(last chance for Confessions before Easter!)

SEDER SUPPER: In preparation for the Sacred Triduum, the Spiritual Development Commission will host a Seder Supper on Wednesday evening, April 8, at 7:00pm in the sacristy meeting room. If you want to come, call Georgia Berry (352-3680) or Larry Nolte (351-8423).

PARISH UNITY POTLUCK DINNER: On Holy Thursday evening, after the 6:00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper, we as a parish family will continue our celebration of the Eucharist by breaking bread together at table in a Parish Unity Potluck Supper in St. Anthony Hall. The meat will be provided, but you are asked to provide a free-will offering and the following:
Last Name: - Food Item:
"A" through "E" - Dessert
"F" through "K" - Salad
"L" through "Q" - Hot Vegetable
"R" through "Z" - Potato, Rice, or Pasta
Call Gerry at 353-7470 to place your reservation.

THE GOOD FRIDAY FISH FRY at St. Anthony's, on April 10 from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, is hosted by THE LADIES SODALITY (Flo Donovan, 845-9818). (Whoever bakes a cake is to bring it to the Meramec Cafeteria after 1:00pm.)

HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS

Sunday, 6:00pm, Evening Prayer, Friars' Choir
Monday, 6:00pm, Evening Prayer, Friars' Choir
NOTE: Enter through the friary because the church floors are being cleaned.
Wednesday, 2:15pm, Stations of the Cross with school children

THE SACRED TRIDUUM

Here are the special liturgical services of the Sacred Triduum:

HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 9:
8:00am Morning Prayer
6:00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
7:00pm Parish Unity Potluck Dinner
7:00pm Adoration: Franciscans (OFM & SFO)
8:00pm Adoration: Teens
8:30pm Adoration: Family Hour
9:30pm Adoration: Quiet Time
10:00pm Adoration: Ladies of the Parish
11:00pm Adoration: Men of the Parish

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 10:
8:00am Morning Prayer
3:00pm Liturgy of the Lord's Passion
7:00pm Stations of the Cross

HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 11:
8:00am Morning Prayer followed by
breakfast with the friars
9:00am Blessing of Easter Food

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12:
9:00pm (Saturday Evening) Easter
Vigil with Reception for Newcomers following
(Renewal of Baptismal Promises at all Masses)
6:00pm Solemn Ecumenical Evening Prayer

Easter Sunday

EASTER VIGIL: Make the sacrifice to come to the Easter Vigil the most important observance of Easter on Holy Saturday, April 11, at 9:00pm to experience the Resurrection anew and to welcome the new members of the Church.
EASTER COLLECTION: Since Easter is the second Sunday of the month, the second collection will be for the Building Fund to raise the $38,000 necessary to repair the upper windows before the painting can be finished. Please be generous to this special and particular cause.
EASTER VESPERS: Come join the other members of the Body of Christ from South St. Louis in commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord at a solemn, festive, ecumenical celebration of Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday, April 12, at 6:00pm.

Don't Forget!

ST. LOUIS METRO SINGERS will hold their annual lenten concert in our church on this Palm Sunday, April 5, at 3:00pm. The chorus will sing a contemporary setting of the Mass for the Dead by John Rutter in both Latin and English besides works of Brahams, Clausen, Berger, and Casals.

MISSALETTES: Those who have registered for personal copies of the missalettes can pick up the Holy Week and Easter editions.

PARISH SELF-STUDY: Five copies of the results of the parish-wide survey and of the self- study completed at the Parish Leadership Meeting are available in the church in three-ring binders for all of you to review, study, and comment upon.

CONFESSION GUIDE: Outside the two back confessionals we are providing for you copies of a booklet to guide you in your examination of conscience in preparation for your Easter celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please use it and return it for others to use. Please see Father Benet if you would like your own copy of this booklet.

EASTER FLOWERS: Use the envelope in your packet for your donation for Memorial Easter Flowers. A potted blooming plant is $10.00, and a large flower arrangement is $50.00. All other donations will be used for potted palms and other decorations. The donors and their intentions will be listed in the front of the church. One third of the money received will be used for Easter Sunday; the other two thirds will be used during the Easter Season. We also ask for specified special floral remembrances for First Communion (April 26), Ascension, and Pentecost.

MEETING WITH POLICE: Come participate in an important meeting regarding information and update sponsored by the Community Affairs Department of the First District of the St. Louis Police Department on Thursday, April 16, in our St. Anthony Hall at 7:00pm.

TRIVIA NIGHT, sponsored by St. Anthony of Padua's Home and School Association, will be held on Saturday, April 18; for more information call Patti (773-1061) or Maryanne (353-5925).

PARISH PICNIC will be Saturday, May 16. Any clever ideas for the parade?

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, April 6, Monday of Holy Week
6:30 Marie A. Fox
8:00 Scott Hoff
Tuesday, April 7, Tuesday of Holy Week
6:30 Katherine Hedwig & Paula Beckmann & Family
8:00 Mathilda M. Holdener
Wednesday, April 8, Wednesday of Holy Week
6:30 Steve Boliance, Jr.
8:00 Gansmann Family
Thursday, April 9, HOLY THURSDAY
6:00 Clara O'Connor
Sunday, April 12, EASTER SUNDAY
9:00 (Easter Vigil) Parishioners
6:00 Krutewicz & Cummings Family
8:00 William Chapman
10:30 Deceased of Struckhoff Family

Liturgical Assistants

Week of April 6-12

LECTORS:
Weekdays, April 6-8:
6:30 Alberta Stackle
8:00 Sister Virginia
Holy Thursday, April 9:
6:00 Alured McNulty, Laverne Duvall
Good Friday, April 10:
3:00 Bill Kamper, Pat Nieters
Easter Sunday, April 11-12:
9:00 (Easter Vigil) Steve & Sue Geldmacher, Philipa Krueger
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Bob & Karen Morgan
10:30 Ryan Crouch, Sandy Montgomery
Weekdays, April 13-18:
6:30 Tony Dresner
8:00 Georgia Berry
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
Holy Thursday, April 9:
6:00 Hosts: Br. Loyola, Br. Richard
Cups: Jackie Schmittgens, Dolores Buescher, Tony Minnick, Margaret Schodroski, Anne Weiss, Alberta Stackle, Mary Ann Schmidt*, Dorothy Schaefer
Easter Sunday, April 11-12:
9:00 (Easter Vigil)
Hosts: Valerie Geldmacher*, Pat Penrose
Cups: Rich Busiek, Alured McNulty, Gene Rombach, Janice Leicht, Pat Nieters, Ruth Brown, Julie Brown, Dave Bergfeld, Doris & Bill Kamper
6:00 Ken Dames
8:00 Hosts: Sister Virginia, Linda Kohne
Cups: Betty Marton, Marie Mergel, Debbie Williams, Marie Serafin
10:30 Hosts: Theresa Mayer*, Anne Weiss
Cups: Mary Ann Schmidt, Alberta Stackle, Dorothy Schafer, Doris Eagan, Steve & Gloria Derickson

This Coming Week

EASTER OCTAVE, APRIL 19
Coffee and Donuts after 8:00 Mass
9:00 a.m. - Mass at Chariton Apartments
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)
MONDAY, APRIL 20
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Information Meeting (W)
6:30 p.m. - Building Commission (L)
7:00 p.m. - Youth Commission (M)
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
6:30 p.m. - Bingo (L)
7:30 p.m. - Al-Anon Meeting (F)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Meeting (W)
12:30 p.m. - Wednesday Club (L)
7:00 p.m. - Pastoral Council Meeting (S)
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
8:00 p.m. - A.A. Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
10:30 a.m. - Chapman/Omyjoco Wedding
12:00 p.m. - Ladies' Sodality Spring Luncheon (L)
1:00 p.m. - Murphy/Andrew Wedding
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
9:00 a.m. - R.C.I.A. (S)
10:30 a.m. - FAMILY MASS & FIRST COMMUNION
2:00 p.m. - SFO Meeting

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin April 5, 1998