St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
September 14, 1997

Pastor's Thoughts

Christ Jesus ... emptied himself ... obediently accepting even death (Phil 2:6ff).
This quote from this weekend's second reading brings me to reflect on the meaning of the triumph of the cross for our lives.
As Christians, we are called by baptism to take ownership of the Lord's teachings, example, life-style, and mission.
This is how we fulfill the words of Jesus:
"Anyone who loves me will be true to my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling place with him" (Jn 14:23).
This is "heaven," the "reign of God" where we are fully alive.
Our primary goal in life is to be fully alive; Jesus said, "I came that they might have life and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10).
We become fully alive when we choose, like Jesus himself, to carry the cross ("Whoever wishes to come after me must deny one's very self, take up the cross, and follow in my steps" [Mk 8:34]).
God does not give us crosses to carry. We choose by our own free will to "take up" the cross. What does this mean?
We choose to accomplish what Jesus did by dying on the cross. He put to death the power of death, and he overcame the strangling influence of evil in the world. He brought about new life by dying. We do the same thing.
Carrying the cross means turning those stumbling blocks to growth and development into stepping-stones for healthy living. This is triumph. This is victory.
For example, the triumph of the cross is leaving an abusive relationship. It is seeking reconciliation. It is admitting that an opinion must be changed in order to be up-to-date in Church or society. It is letting go of a grudge or a hurt feeling. It is consciously transforming the pain of illness or loss or tragedy or natural disaster into a graced moment of God's loving presence. It is working hard to find the silver lining in any dark cloud.
Carrying the cross is not an event in our life. It is process whereby we change negative events into victorious experiences of being fully alive.

--Father Benet OFM
I will be in Indiana September 15-19 for the annual meeting of SFO regional and provincial assistants.

Offering

Envelopes $5,003.64
Loose Collection 460.97
Children's Envelopes 4.60
TOTAL: 5,469.21
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week , Cumulative
(9/7/97): , (Week #10):
$5,453.06 , $54,530.60
$5,469.21 , $47,427.02
$ + 16.15 , $-7,103.58
"Whoever believes in Him, may have eternal life" (Jn 3:15). We express our belief in God, our faith through our actions. Stewardship is a lifestyle characterized by selfless acts of charity and service.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

About the Parish:
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM "...Whatever its size, [a parish] is not merely an association. It must be a home where the members of the Body of Christ gather together, open to meeting God the Father, full of love [for] ... his Son, incorporated into the Church by the Holy Spirit at the time of their Baptism, and ready to accept their brothers and sisters with fraternal love, whatever their condition or origins.
"The parish institution is meant to provide the church's great services: prayer in common and the reading of God's word, celebrations, especially that of the Eucharist, catechesis for children and the adult catechumenate, the ongoing formation of the faithful, communications designed to make the Christian message known, services of charity and solidarity and the local work of movements.
"In brief, the image of [the Church, with] the sanctuary as its visible sign, is a building to be erected together, a body to bring to life and develop together, a community where God's gifts are received and where the baptized generously make their response of faith, hope, and love to the call of the Gospel."
--John Paul II, "The Vocation of the Parish," January 25, 1997.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)
begins September 28. Contact Brother Richard at the Parish Office (353-7470) if you wish to help or want to participate.

Parish News

FRANCISCAN MOTHERS' CLUB AND AUXILIARY will hold its annual Fall Luncheon and Social on Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, beginning at 11:30am and ending at 3:30pm in the St. Anthony Hall of the parish (3114 Meramec). Please call Marge Gertz (481-7234) for reservations: donation $5.00.

JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT CONCERT AND PRAYER WALK:
Don't miss buying tickets for the John Michael Talbot Concert on October on sale after all Masses the weekends of September 20-21 and September 27-28. John Michael Talbot is a world- renowned Christian singer and composer; his Catholic roots are deep in the Franciscan tradition.
On Sunday, October 12, at 1:00pm everyone is invited to join John Michael on a silent walk through the neighborhood to prayer for peace. Mark your calendars and come along!
If you have any questions about the concert or the prayer walk on the October 12, call Tom Moran at 353-4791.

RESTING IN PEACE: John Fugina, Jr., 70, buried Sept. 12, 1997.

SANCTUARY LAMP: This week one of the sanctuary lamps will be for Ellen Shanahan, at the request of Mary Ellen Shanahan. The other one will be lit for Julianna Steger, a Special Intention requested by Rich & Marie Steger.

QUILT WINNER: Pat Williams of 3133 Pestalozzi

KIRCHENFEST

On Saturday, October 4, after the special 4:30 Mass honoring St. Francis of Assisi, gather in the parking lot for the revival of St. Anthony's KIRCHENFEST with brats and beer, potato pancakes and dessert, music by the Waterloo German Band, and friendly people wanting to build community.

Mark Your Calendar

Mark your calendars for the following UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday to Monday, SEPTEMBER 20-22, all day:
The Parking Lot at Meramec and Compton will be sealed (re-scheduled); DO NOT PARK THERE!
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 25, noon to 8:00pm:
Special day of Eucharistic Adoration: 3pm,
Eucharistic Procession from LaSalette; 4-7pm,
Adoration in our church; 7pm, special Mass
Sunday, SEPTEMBER 28, 1:00pm: Special Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Welcome

...to Catherine (Kate) Tansey who has recently joined the parish's support staff as a student social worker. She is currently in the process of finishing her graduate work at St. Louis University. She is available every Tuesday and Thursday for any kind of advocacy or referral (social, economic, psychological) which the parishioners and neighbors might need. She is in touch with multiple resources and has experience in many areas of care and concern.
...to Dr. Stephanie Moergen and Dr. Barbara Dripps, a team of psychologists who are now part of the parish's support staff to provide therapy and counseling for individuals and groups, to provide mediation and facilitation for families and organizations, and to furnish the resources necessary for mental health in our community (their fees are in accord with a person's financial status).
Contact Fr. Benet or Nurse Barb Salmo to get in touch with the social worker or psychologists.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

THE BOOK OF REVELATION: UNFOLDING THE MYSTERY St. Anthony's Spiritual Development Commission is co-hosting a fascinating seven-part video series exploring the Book of Revelation. Beginning on Thursday, September 25 and running six consecutive Thursdays through Thursday, November 6, we will come to discover what the Catholic Church teaches about revelation. Each session will start at 7:00pm and will be followed by refreshments and fellowship. The first session will take place at St. Pius, with subsequent sessions being held at St. Anthony's and Holy Family. Car-pooling will be available, so if you need a ride (or are willing to drive) and are interested in attending these faith-filled and informative meetings, please gather in the parish parking lot on Thursday, September 25, at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there! "HEART TO HEART" SCRIPTURE STUDY focusing on the action of the Holy Spirit as seen in the Acts of the Apostles and related letters of Paul, is available in the South County area at St. Catherine Laboure (9740 Sappington Rd.), beginning Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30pm. For pre-registration call 225-8308.

Volunteers Needed

"SLUCare," the Saint Louis University Hospital, is appealing for volunteers in two areas:
Volunteers with clerical skills to assist with filing, typing, data entry, and answering phones. Benefits include free parking, meals, and educational seminars. For information and qualifications, please call Volunteer Services at 577-8030.
Eucharistic Ministers to help the pastoral care department distribute Holy Communion to patients Sunday through Friday. For information, contact Fr. John Rausch OFM at our friary (353-7470) or at his office (577-8066).

Socials

1. ANNUAL HOMECOMING at St. John Nepomuk Church, Sunday, September 14, from noon to 6:00pm with Czech meals.

2. ANNUAL "GERMANFEST" of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish (Weingarten MO), Sunday, September 14, with pork sausage and kettle beef dinners from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

3. ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: St. Francis de Sales will celebrate 130 years as anchor for city families at the parish's Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, September 20, from noon to 10pm; call 771-3100 for more information.

3. CRAFT FAIR AND BAKE SALE at Nazareth Living Center to benefit the Sisters of St. Joseph, Saturday, September 20, 8:30am to 1:30pm. Lunch available.

4. QUILT SOCIAL, sponsored by St. Agatha's Ladies' Sodality, Sunday, October 5, beginning at 1:00pm at 9th and Utah Streets.

5. ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL of St. Peter's and Paul Church in Soulard, Sunday, October 5.

6. ANNUAL CARD PARTY sponsored by St. Simon of Cyrene Catholic Church (5076 Durant, 63115) on Sunday, October 5; call 385-0068 for information.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, September 15, Our Lady of Sorrows
6:30 Harold Holtz
8:00 Angie Mantia
Tuesday, September 16, Cornelius & Cyprian
6:30 Schwald & Kadlez Families
8:00 Robert A. Scahill
Wednesday, September 17, STIGMATA OF ST. FRANCIS
6:30 Magdalen Boliance
8:00 For Vocations
Thursday, September 18, Joseph Cupertino (OFM
6:30 Carl Hiller
8:00 Pauline McGee
Friday, September 19, Januarius
6:30 Hildegarde & Irvin DeMange & Families
8:00 Robert Borgers
10:30 Catherine Jacko
Saturday, September 20, Andrew Kim Taegon & Comp.
6:30 John & Josephine Garavaglia
8:00 Helen Winkelmann
Sunday, September 21, 25TH IN ORDINARY TIME
4:30 (Saturday) Irwin Yaeger
6:00 For the Parishioners
8:00 Henri Bouchard
10:30 Deceased of Struckhoff Family

Liturgical Assistants

Week of September 15-21, 1997

LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Sept. 15-20: Alberta Stackle
8:00 Weekdays, Sept. 15-20: Georgia Berry
Sunday, September 20-21
4:30 Philipa Krueger, Matt Halbauer
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Gene Rombach, Doris Eagen
10:30 Family Mass
6:30 Weekdays, Sept. 22-27: Alberta Stackle
8:00 Weekdays, Sept. 22-27: Joe Sestric
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Regina Buchheit, Hortense Moore
Cups: Audrey Sullivan, Dolores Buescher, Anne Weiss, Wanda Meyer
6:00 Jackie Kappler
8:00 Hosts: Valerie Geldmacher, Sue Geldmacher
Cups: Mike Mount, Marie Mergel, Joannie Medina, Debbie Williams
10:30 Hosts: Jerry Forchee, Phyllis Forchee
Cups: Janice Leicht, Robert Harre, Mary Ann Schmidt, Robert Donahue, Steve Derickson, Gloria Derickson

This Coming Week

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 26TH IN ORDINARY TIME
9:00 a.m. - RCIA (F)
10:30 a.m. - SFO Mass
1:00 p.m. - Mass & Anointing
2:00 p.m. - SFO Meeting
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
7:00 p.m. - AA Meeting (Spanish) (F)
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
6:30 p.m. - Bingo (L)
7:30 p.m. - Al-Alon Meeting (F)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
11:00 a.m. - AA Meeting (W)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
9:00 a.m. - Exercise (L)
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
7:30 p.m. - Ladies Sodality (M)
8:00 p.m. - AA Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS
1:00 p.m. - Felts/Schneider Wedding
4:30 p.m. - Solemn Mass
5:30 p.m. - KIRCHENFEST!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 27TH IN ORDINARY TIME
Franciscan Appreciation Weekend
10:30 a.m. - Scout Mass

Return to Catholic Community Forum

St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin September 14, 1997