Courier
Volume 15 Issue 3
November 2012
A Journey to the Heart
of our Faith
by Carol-Ann Black
At midsummer Father Thanh began tantalizing the parish with a “special event”
coming in September. We were encouraged to mark our calendar for the evening
of September 13. Dinner would be available beforehand and babysitting would
also be available. It sounded pretty irresistible to a great number of parishioners
and we gathered on the thirteenth for the first installment of a video presentation
of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith. This series,
created by Father Robert Barron, SJ, has appeared nationally
over PBS and is being used in many parishes around the
country as a celebration of the Year of the Faith and a tool to
evangelize the faithful. Of course it is possible to rent the
series in the DVD format to enjoy at home. But without
question, one of the major benefits of viewing in community
is the quiet, reverent atmosphere of the church itself. No cell
phones. No door bells. No distraction. The concluding
question and answer period brought forward the impressions
gained by various viewers, and provided personal perspectives of fellow
parishioners.
The monthly Wednesday night dinner
moved smoothly to the Thursday and was
enjoyed by many who attended the
Catholicism program. As always, it proved to
be a delightful social hour to visit with
parishioners whom we don’t see regularly,
but can plan on seeing for the next several
months as we work our way through
Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith. In addition, a Thursday 10:00
a.m. showing has been added to the schedule to accommodate those who prefer
this daytime hour.
Inside this issue of Christ the King Courier:
Celiac Disease and the Eucharist
Faith: Mary, The Virgin Most Faithful
My Life on the Dump
page 5
page 6
page 8
Mission Trip
Be Above the Vote
Oh, Henry
page 13
page 25
page 26
Page 2
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Fa t h er Th a n h ’s Mes s ag e
Putting Faith into Action
As Catholics we received the gift of faith at our Baptism. What does
faith mean in our lives? How does faith change us, motivate us or inspire
us? How does faith help us to grow in our loving relationship with God
and with one another? How does faith enhance a strong sense of
community within us in this strong and individualistic society? How does
faith link with justice?
Pope Benedict’s apostolic letter, Porta Fidei (Door of faith), declared
this year to be a “Year of Faith.” In it he quotes St. James, “What good is
it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can
that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no
food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm
and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what
good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James
2:14-17).
In quoting this message of Saint James, the Pope is asking us to put
our faith into action. We need to start asking ourselves “What am I doing
with my faith?” We are challenged to live our faith through our actions.
We use His gifts and share His love and generosity with others in
many ways. Most of us began learning about giving when we were young.
Our parents asked us to share our toys, food, and attention with our
relatives and/or our friends. We have holidays dedicated to giving such as
Mother’s and Father’s Day, individual birthdays and anniversaries;
Christmas and Easter. Each of these holidays teaches the joy of giving to
others. We train by our example. Our children see us receive and give gifts
… we are the examples … the way we react or when we talk about or use
the gifts of giving and receiving they see, remember and emulate.
They also see how we, as adults, react to the world around us. They
see what we do to help people in our community and the poor here and
around the world. One practical way of putting our faith in action is by
practicing stewardship. Stewardship begins with God, with His gifts, with
His love and with His generosity.
God’s abundance is there in its fullness for each and every one of us
for the asking, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.” Since God is love and all of us are created in his image, so
we all have the gift of love. This special gift by its very nature demands
the sharing of life with others. By bringing our children to church and
exposing them to the ministries the church supports and by teaching them
how important and satisfying it is to help others we help them to live as
God wants them to. When we show respect and serve our community and
the poor in the spirit of stewardship way, they learn about loving everyone
regardless of race, color, religion, or class distinction.
Sometimes it is hard to practice unconditional love … Pope John Paul
II showed us by example when he went to the man who tried to kill him
and forgave him. We are never too old to learn by the example of others,
it is a lifelong process. Most of us don’t make the papers for what we do
but we can be sure that when people see us actively living our faith they
know that “what they see is what they get.”
All have the gift of time and are called to use it not only on themselves
but in the service of their community. We have asked the children in our
Catholic school to give service hours, but our school is not the only one.
Public schools are now asking children to serve their community as well.
The gift, no matter how small…is still a gift.
I heard a great story once about the Penny Jar. A mother and father
with four kids were very busy with their day to day activities. In fact lots
of times they were exhausted by the time they got home and were grateful
to climb into bed. One Sunday they were touched by the plea for help
through stewardship that they had heard while at Mass. It wasn’t that they
didn’t want to help but they were so stretched now with work
commitments, school responsibilities/activities, and sports activities with
Christ the
King Courier
742 N. Arlington Road
Jacksonville, FL 32211
Phone: (904) 724-0080
Email: [email protected]
Publisher:
Father Thanh Thai Nguyen
Managing Editor:
Carol-Ann Black
Associate Editor:
Mary Ann Sullivan
Photographers:
Bill Coppedge
Kevin Wolfe
their fund raisers.
What more could
they possibly do?
Yet they wanted
to do something.
The parents decided
to ask their children
for ideas at dinner
that evening. To
their surprise the
children came up
with several ideas.
One of the oldest
said, “We could
give some of our
clothes and games
to the church flea
market.” Another
added, “We could
give some of our
allowance to help
the poor or help
cook food for a
dinner
at
the
church.” And their
youngest,
not
wanting to be left
out, shouted, “We could have a Penny Jar!” The oldest scoffed at the idea
of a penny jar and the little girl defended her idea. “Pennies are welcome
to God! And 100 pennies still makes up one of your ole dollars!”
Can words of wisdom come out of the mouths of the young?
Sometimes we are so bogged down with day to day stresses that we miss
the little ways in which we can still reach out to help others. Just because
the amount isn’t a lot does not mean it isn’t welcome to God.
Do we talk of our faith to others even if they are not Catholic?
Standing up for our faith was an example that Jesus taught us. One of our
freedoms is the freedom of expression and it isn’t always easy. Even if
there aren’t prayers in the public sector, is there any reason not to give
thanks before we begin each meal; whether in our home or out in public?
People are so afraid to speak up for their rights of freedom or to actively
pursue them, is it any surprise that they are being taken away by those
who don’t care? We need to be aware of what is going on in our world so
we can protect ourselves and we must continually seek justice for all.
We all have the gift of God’s Word which is so precious and powerful
that we have no right to hide it. In fact, we are called to proclaim that good
news of Jesus Christ in our lives: “Go out into the entire world and preach
the good news and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.” In order to do this with confidence we must
continue to deepen our faith.
Putting God first is only the beginning…being an active
Christian…means that God is first, middle, and last. He is with us
throughout the entire day…He is there to guide us when making all our
decisions in life. Remember the question that people were wearing as
bracelets and necklaces…What would Jesus do? This isn’t just a
reminder for while we are in church. It is an all day…all night…everyday
thing. Prioritizing our life is a must. We have learned a lot by example.
What are others learning about being a Christian through knowing us?
Many have great artistic gifts (such as Michelangelo) and they have
been (are) called to use their gifts to beautify creation and to glorify God.
But all of us have gifts and talents, however small, however imperfect and
they can be joined to another’s for the sake of life and for the sake of
building up the community of faith and love. Each of us has a small voice,
but united we can sing God’s praises.
The mission of Christ the King Courier is to provide our Christ The King Family with information and news regarding our faith and
parish ministries. The goal is to share information, happenings, and stories that abound within the ministries of our parish in the hope
that people can use this information to bring them closer to God and our parish church family. Wisdom and enlightenment are two
of God's many gifts, and through Christ the King Courier parishioners can share in the joy, love, and fellowship of Christ the King
Parish. Our desire is to serve our God, share his message of love and hope with all, and to encourage others to spread the message
of the Gospel of Christ.
As the official publication of our parish family, Christ the King Courier sees the reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians as
exemplifying the content and character of this publication.
"As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom He loves, you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other if one of you has a complaint against another. The Lord has
forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, put on love, the perfect bond. And may the peace of Christ reign in
your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together in one body." Colossians 3:12-15.
The Christ the King Courier is a quarterly newspaper published by Christ the King Catholic Church. Publisher reserves the right to
refuse articles, poetry, advertisements, etc. contrary to paper's policy and standards. Publisher reserves the right to edit all materials
submitted for publication.
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Fa th er Th an h ’s Mes s age
continued from page 2
Each of us has talents and when joined with others who have talent we
can form a mosaic of beauty and truth.
I am reminded of this mosaic each time I serve at Mass. Looking out
at the congregation, watching each helper, be it an usher, an altar boy/girl,
Eucharistic minister, reader, or choir member…by themselves only makes
up a small part of our celebration but all together we create the Mass…a
most beautiful celebration in honor of God.
Our personal gifts given at Mass, be they meager or great, will be
joined with the gifts of others in order to build up our Christ the King
Community. Between your time, talent and treasures, we can reach people from all walks of life and show and teach them about Gods love and
mercy to all. We have a beautiful church, two social halls, a school, a
child care facility and church grounds that exemplify peace and tranquility and welcome all who enter. We are so blessed and will continue to be
an example as long as we each take responsibility for its prosperity.
There are members of our parish who have been actively involved in
our parish ministries this year; some have been active within this parish
for many years. You are our parish community’s life’s blood and we have
been able to help those in need by feeding them physically and spiritually. Thank you for your commitment. For those of you who have not been
involved, I take this opportunity to invite you to discern your gifts and
share your gifts to enrich our parish life as well as your personal
life. Remember it is only with your help that I as your pastor can do my
job and I believe this is what the Pope was thinking of when he made the
decision that this year’s theme would be “Faith In Action”.
I know that stewardship is not always a popular word. Many think
stewardship is just an appeal for more time, talent and treasure. But true
stewardship is a way of life. It is a spirituality that calls us to deepen our
relationship with God. It is a spirituality that guides us to truly live the
Gospel. It is a spirituality that helps us to set our priorities in order to keep
God continually in our lives. True stewardship is exactly the faith in
action that St. James wrote about and the Pope invites us to embrace this
year.
EPS Count
To date this year,
out of 85 abortion-minded women
coming to EPS,
60 changed their minds.
That’s 71% of babies
saved in 2012 so far!!
Courier Guidelines Notice
Readers, you may notice in this and other issues of the Courier certain inconsistencies in rules for capitalization regarding God, the
Bible, gospel quotes. The reason for this is that, when we use direct
quotes from other sources, we cannot make any changes. Therefore,
if His, He, Him referring to Jesus, God, or the Holy Spirit are not
capitalized in the original, we do not “correct” them.
Page 3
Editor’s Corner
November 2012
This has been a unique issue to
assemble. Early on we had no articles to work with. Really—-NO
articles. Then came the deluge and
what a scramble for the proofers
and layout folks. But as you can see
we have triumphed and I hope that
you find our stories and ads interesting and informative.
You will see that on the back
page we have welcomed Father
Amar to our parish and shared
some of the details of his life that
have brought him to this place—-in
his vocation and to Christ the King
for his three-year assignment.
Christ the King is very fortunate to
have him join us, and the Courier is
especially lucky. Father Amar is a
writer and he offered an article for
this issue. Be sure to check out
“Faith: Mary, the Virgin Most
Faithful, Our Model.”
We have several articles that
were inspired by the declaration of
The Year of Faith, which offer different perspectives on that topic.
Team them up with one about the
Blessed Mother, from Mickey
Kenny, and you will find plenty of
inspiration for the upcoming
Advent season.
This issue of the Courier features two “adventure” articles. The
first, “My Life on the Dump,” is by
Maryknoll father, Ken Moody. It
reads rather like fiction. One wonders how it is that this educated,
intelligent man has the strength of
character and patience to persist in
his mission to bring Jesus to those
who need Him. But given a little
thought, it becomes clear that it is
his very dedication to his God that
brings him through all difficulties.
The second “adventure” is not
nearly so dramatic, but totally relevant to Christ the King. Ten parish-
ioners went to Kingston, Jamaica to
volunteer with Missionaries of the
Poor. The article includes the
impressions of the trip from most
of the participants and pictures to
make it all more real to the reader.
Our Veteran’s Day article by
Paul Ghiotto tells us how our parish
friend, Henry Do, served his country of Vietnam. He offers a different perspective on our American
holiday. Then, to round out our
recent political season, Brian Stong
wrote for us “Be Above the Vote.”
He brings to our attention the transitory nature of human politics, and
reminds us that, “We as Catholics
pour way too much blood, sweat,
and tears into who is getting these
government
jobs
that
we
Americans pay for. Let’s…..get on
with our primary objective of
building
the
Kingdom
of
God…..Let us work for Him, not
merely vote for them.” This is
Brian’s first article for the Courier.
I am sure that you will enjoy it, and
we at the Courier certainly hope
that it is the first of many.
Our next issue will come out in
February. Therefore, on behalf of
the entire staff of Christ the King
Courier, I want to wish you all a
happy and blessed holiday season.
Be sure to enjoy the multitude of
Advent-Christmas-New
Year’s
events that are available to us right
here at Christ the King.
Eucharistic Congress 2013
March 8-9, 2013
Prime Osborn Convention Center
1000 Waters Street
A Eucharistic Congress is an opportunity for
Catholics to “rejoice in this presence with unique intensity.” A Congress gathers Catholics from all walks of
life, ethnicity, age and vocation for a moment to deepen
their understanding of the Eucharist, to take place in
this “thanksgiving” – the definition of Eucharist – and
to fellowship.
During the Congress, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a diocesan-wide procession,
attend Mass, participate in other devotional ceremonies
like Stations of the Cross, spend time in adoration, go to
reconciliation and listen to Catholic speakers who will
bring a new dimension to Catholic teaching and understanding – all while enjoying fellowship with other
Catholics.
Page 4
Christ the King Courier
Mary Leads to Jesus
by MickeyKenny
Our first child was our son and I have no difficulty accepting the
connection between mother and son from the very first moments and
continuing through death and beyond. At the foot of the cross Mary
received from her Son the dubious privilege of motherhood to all of
mankind. Mary, Mother of God Incarnate; Mary, Mother of the Church
God gave to us; Mary, our mother. When would her role as our mother
end? When would her gifts of love and encouragement end? Any mother
will understand there is no end to motherhood. Mary is uniquely bound to
all mankind through life, death, and beyond.
From the Catechism of the Catholic church we read
2677
Holy Mary, Mother of God: With Elizabeth we marvel, “And why is
this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
Because she gives us Jesus, her son, Mary is Mother of God and our
mother; we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for
us as she prayed for herself: “Let it be to me according to your word.”
By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the
will of God together with her: “Thy will be done.”
November 2012
Join us this year for our
Christ the King Christmas
Penance Service
Monday, December 17 at
7:00 p.m.
What better way to prepare
for the birth of our Lord?
Several priests will be available
for the sacrament of
reconciliation
Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death: By asking
Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners
and we address ourselves to the “Mother of Mercy,” the All-Holy
One. We give ourselves over to her now, in the today of our lives.
And our trust broadens further to surrender “the hour of our death”
wholly to her care. May she be there as she was at her son’s death
on the cross.
By her words, “Let it be to me according to your word,” she accepted
her role as our Mother and we read these beautiful words with faith and
hope: May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to
lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise. This is the role of Mary: she
welcome[s] us as our mother ... lead[s] us to her son, Jesus ...
Mary spoke very little as scripture describes, but a lifetime of
meditation and rule for living are contained in the words of Mary
(underlining is my own, MK):
l (Luke 1:38) Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done
to me according to your word.
l (Luke 1:46-55) The beautiful Magnificat, a canticle of praise to
God (see box)
l ( Luke 2:48-51) “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father
and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to
them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must
be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said
to them He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
l (John 2:1-3) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in
Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples
were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother
of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet
come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
The internet is full of articles on Mary and Marian apparitions. Use
any search engine and search “Marian Apparitions.” A warning is
probably in order—-search the Catholic articles because, in my research,
I bumbled into some unbelievable articles.
In the next few issues of the Courier I will try to tell some of the
stories from the 1500 apparitions reported just in modern times. In the
meantime, some sources of interest for you might be these references:
Catholic News Service
The internet, “Vatican publishes rules for verifying Marian
apparitions” and “Is seeing believing? How the church faces claims of
Marian Apparitions” both by Carol Glatz.
Dictionary of Mary; Catholic Book Publishing Co.; New York; 1985.
A Woman Clothed With the Sun
Edited by John J. Delaney; Image Books, A Division of Doubleday &
Company, Inc., New York; 1960.
The New American Bible
Revised Edition (NABRE); Released on March 9, 2011, the New
American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is the culmination of
nearly 20 years of work by a group of nearly 100 scholars and
theologians, including bishops, revisers and editors. The NABRE
includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament
(including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the
New Testament.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed
The Mighty One has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
Luke 1: 46-55
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 5
Year of Faith
by Yolanda Cerqueira
Is there anyone here at Christ the King Parish who has not yet heard
something about the Year of Faith that Pope Benedict proclaimed? It
began October 11, 2012 and will extend till November 24, 2013. But why,
you ask, do we need a Year of Faith anyhow, if we are observing
Catholics? You go to Mass on Sunday, participate in the Reconciliation
Services twice a year, send your kids to Catholic school or Religious
Education, financially support the parish, and give what you can to charity.
I must be in pretty good standing if I keep the laws of the church.
Right??? But is that all there is, or might there be more to learn about this
precious gift of faith that we receive at Baptism? Could God be calling me
to do more? Is there more that I could learn about our faith? Let’s do some
exploring.
Pope Benedict has given us this Year of Faith to help us appreciate this
marvelous gift of faith, deepen our relationship with God and strengthen
our commitment to share that faith with others. The pope recently said the
Year of Faith should give “renewed energy to the whole mission of the
church to lead men and women out of the desert they often are in and
toward the place of friendship with Christ who gives fulness of life.”
More of his intentions for this year were made known when he gave
us an apostolic letter entitled “Porta Fidei”—-“The Door of Faith.” In
addition, this Year of Faith coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vatican
Council II which opened the windows of the church. Could the Holy
Father be asking us to examine our own windows of faith?
What does the pope want me to do in this Year of Faith? Where do I
start? Pope Benedict said the focus and emphasis is on Jesus Christ
because “In him, all the anguish and all the longing of the human heart
finds fulfillment.”
We have been given some thought provoking recommendations such
as reading Scripture each day, studying our Catechism, getting to know
and understand the Nicene Creed, and acting as a volunteer in our parish.
Am I going to do all these things? Maybe, but probably not. But you
might pick one or two of those suggestions and focus on them the entire
year. You will learn more about your faith, grow deeper in love with God
and as a result will want to actively involve yourself in helping others
because one can not truly love God without loving your neighbor.
It is our faith that helps us recognize the face of Christ in those who
are suffering and “it is his love that impels us to assist him whenever he
becomes our neighbor along the journey of life.”
If you decide to truly enter into this Year of Faith then it must be far
more than just head knowledge. It is said that the longest journey is from
our head to our heart. You may be the most knowledgeable person about
your faith, know all the answers, but only when it is tucked securely into
your heart will you have the desire to give that faith to others.
Pope Benedict stated that Catholics need to be credible witnesses of
the faith by their actions in the world around them. We have to have people “enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable
of opening the hearts and minds of the many who desire for God and for
true life.”
People are still going to the well to fill up that big emptiness that we
have inside us. At some point we learn it is not the new car, the bigger
house, or the prestige that fills up that hole but only God satisfies those
inner needs. The problem is that many people don’t know what they are
looking for. The opportunity is there for you to bring the message of Jesus
to others. Many people are starving to hear about Jesus. Will you be the
one to feed them?
So, in the end it comes down to what you personally are going to do
to make the Year of Faith work for you? There is a myriad of opportunities at Christ the King as we are abundantly blessed.
Right off the top there is Adoration—-how fortunate for you that you
may drop in any weekday to have a personal visit with the Lord with no
interruptions. Here’s the perfect place to read and meditate on Scripture.
You will grow in grace and faith the more you find yourself in our peaceful and serene chapel.
There is the marvelously crafted series on Catholicism that will not
only give you knowledge of your faith but will inspire you to learn more.
What about the St. Vincent de Paul Society? There you will find a call
to arms to help your fellow man in a most fulfilling way and grow closer
to Jesus as well. In the poor you see the face of Jesus.
Are you a part of a Bible Study or do you participate in Why Catholic?
Not only will you learn more about your faith you will get to know and
love your fellow participants as you take this journey of faith together.
The suggestions above are just a few of what might be considered
right for that journey from the head to the heart. Jesus is personally inviting you to learn more about Him. He waits at the door. Will you answer
the call? Taking a chance and reaching out as a witness to others gives
you a personal stake in the renewal of the entire church.
Celiac Disease and the Eucharist
by Susan Riker
The Mayo Clinic defines celiac disease as a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in
bread, pasta, cookies, and many other foods containing wheat, barley or
rye etc. People with celiac disease who eat foods containing gluten experience an immune reaction in their small intestines, causing damage to the
inner surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to several complications such
as malnutrition, loss of calcium and bone density, several forms of cancer
or neurological complications. No treatment can cure celiac disease.
However you can effectively manage this disease by changing your diet.
Here at Christ the King Parish there are three individuals known to be
living with the dietary restrictions of this disease. They must avoid all
foods and drink containing gluten and make sure certain foods which are
‘gluten-free’ are processed in a facility that is free of wheat or other contaminating products. Due to the serious adverse effects of this disease,
special provisions must be made for these individuals to receive Holy
Communion as well.
The nuns of the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration in
Missouri make and ship ‘gluten-free’ altar bread to Christ the King Parish
as needed. Those individuals needing this special bread are given a small
supply and assume the responsibility of bringing the unblessed host with
them when coming to church. To avoid contact with the other hosts, and
therefore contamination, the special host is carried in the individual’s own
pyx which is given to the head sacristan or priest before Mass. The pyx is
opened and placed on the altar along with the ciborium and blessed during Mass. The priest himself must avoid contact with the host and therefore places the entire pyx in the ciborium at the time of distribution of
Communion to the faithful. Those receiving the ‘gluten-free’ blessed host
are instructed to be first in line on the choir side of the church during the
distribution of Communion. The priest will then simply hand the pyx to
the individual, who removes the host for himself as he receives Holy
Communion.
One of the individuals with celiac disease, and therefore needing these
special accommodations, is my own eight-year-old grandson who attends
Christ the King School and received his First Holy Communion last year.
It has been reassuring to know that his teachers and classmates and the
priests, sacristans and liturgist of the parish have been so understanding of
this disease and helpful with the special needs necessary to enable him to
receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion. If you know of someone
who might also have celiac disease, encourage them to speak to a priest
so that they too can receive the host when they receive the sacrament of
Holy Communion.
Page 6
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Faith:
Mary, the Virgin Most Faithful, Our Model
By Father Amar
October 11, 2012 marks the
beginning of the Year of Faith. The
Year of Faith is to renew the
Church’s faith. To do so, we need to
look to the one in whom faith was
brought to perfection, that is, to the
Virgin Mary. What is it to be
Faithful? When we say a person is
faithful, we generally mean that he
or she is true, loyal to a superior, to
a friend, to a cause, or truthful and
exact in fulfilling obligations.
Mary said, “Behold I am the
handmaid of the Lord, may it be
done to me according to your
word.” Then the angel departed
from her. (Luke: 1:38).
At Mary’s “yes,” her surrender
to the word of God, the angel left
her. And never returned to her. He
appeared to Joseph three times and
explained to him what to do. When
Jesus was tempted by the devil in
the desert angels came and
ministered to him. And when he
was in agony, in the garden of
Gethsemane shedding blood as
sweat, there was an angel from
heaven to strengthen him. But no
angel ever came to Mary again. In
fact there was no need for an angel
to come to her. Though she had to
face difficult situations throughout
her life, no angel came to her.
When Joseph doubted her, when
she had to flee with her newborn to
Egypt (it was only the second day
after she delivered), when her only
support, Joseph, left this world,
when the Son was in the hands of
the enemies, and at last when her
divine Son was crucified—-oh,
every moment of life was a
problem. Even at Calvary, when
she was in utter sorrow, when she
was thinking of her surrender to the
will of God, there was no sign of an
angel. There was no angel to
console her even at that point of
test, test of her patience, test her
faith, and test of her will. But she
stood firm in her faith. She
remained firm in the promise she
made to her God on her first
encounter with Him. If we are in
such a situation, if we are in pain, if
we are to face suffering, if we are
put to a test—-no exaggeration, but
we begin to curse God, we become
angry with Him, and even question
His existence. But Mary never said
a word against her God. She bore
everything in the silence of her
heart. She remained faithful to the
covenant she made with her
Almighty. The happiness that we
have on the day of Ordination, the
joy that we have on the day of
wedding, the pleasant moments that
we have on the day we build a new
house, may not come back. We may
not even find a good moment
afterwards, but we are called to
live. To live by the commitment we
make. Live by the covenant we
make on the first day. Live by the
memories of the faith in the
surrender we make.
I promise to be true to you in
good times and in bad, in sickness
and in health. I will love you and
honor you all the days of my life.
These are the promises we make at
the time of wedding. But when
there is a problem, when there is an
issue, if there is bitter experience,
we comfortably forget everything
and break up. Till the end of my life
I live in your service is the
commitment one makes at the time
of Ordination. In times of
difficulties, in times of struggles,
what happens to that commitment
and to that promise? It is here we
need to look at Mother Mary. She
becomes the model for all of us.
Her life becomes a lesson to be
learned. From the Annunciation to
the Cross, Mary always assented
with the same obedience of faith to
all revelation, to all the designs of
God. Mary lived, acted, and moved
always in the path of faith. And so
she is honored as “Blessed Virgin
Mary.”
Of course there are many (nonCatholics) now, who question the
virginity of Mary! That she has
other children too. And for this they
quote Mt 1:25 “He had no relations
with her until she bore a son.”
Taking this for the argument, they
would say, after the birth of Jesus
she had relations and she even had
other children. When the evangelist
says, “Until she bore a son: he is
concerned to emphasize that Joseph
was not responsible for the
conception of Jesus. The Greek
word translated until does not
imply normal marital conduct after
Jesus’ birth.” To those people we
should answer only through
another question from the scripture
itself. 2 Samuel 6:23 “Saul’s
daughter Michal was childless to
the day she died.” Does that mean
she had children after her death?
Can we say that?
Again, they say that Jesus had
brothers. John 20:17 the Risen
Jesus said to Mary of Magdala, “Go
to my brothers and tell them, I am
going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.” But in
the next verse we clearly read that
she went to the apostles of Jesus,
Father who sacrificed His only Son
for our sake.
Now the question can be about
the Church. What is this Church?
And what is the relation between
Church and Mary? We can never
separate the Church and Mother
Mary. If you deeply observe from
Good Friday to Easter Sunday i.e.
from the death of Jesus until his
resurrection the Church consisted
of only one person. And that one
person is none other than Mary. All
the disciples of Jesus scattered and
ran away at His death on the cross,
but Mary alone stood firm. True to
the word she gave to the angel, that
she will remain the handmaid of the
Lord. After that Jesus rose from the
dead, ascended into heaven and
sent the Holy Spirit to lead and
guide. Then on the day of Pentecost
the apostles, the holy mother, and
others received the Holy Spirit, and
preaching the good news of Jesus,
the savior of the world, began the
work of building the Church in the
name of the Holy Mother.
Mary’s faith is the model for
the Church. Just like Mary, the
Church has her own itinerary and
her own journey to travel. It is
Mary’s faith that will teach the
Church to be faithful, undivided,
persevering, and trustful in times of
glory and in times of suffering.
In these times, marked by a
spirit of unbelief, secularization,
and materialism, we need to ask the
Holy Spirit to give us the same faith
of Mary’s Heart, so as to be able to
stand with her at the foot of the
Cross in fidelity to her Son and His
teaching.
John 20:18 “She went and
announced to the disciples, I have
seen the Lord.” The apostles are the
brothers of Jesus, he means. In fact
Jesus himself said Mark 3:35
“whoever does the will of God are
my brothers and sisters.” St.
Augustine said, “Mary first
conceived in her heart by faith and
then in her womb.” The title the
Church attributes to the Virgin
Mary is that of Faithful Virgin.
Then there are some who question
why we should believe in the
Church and its teachings? What’s
happening in the Church? It’s all
scandals, abuses, discrimination,
politics and no holiness. It’s all
dirty, it’s all show, and it’s all false.
Why should we go to church at all,
when it doesn’t maintain its ——-Amen——sanctity?
In 2002, I went home from the
seminary for my yearly vacation. It
was after one long year I was going
Ministry of Hope’s
to see my parents. I wanted to
Annual
surprise them and so without any
information of my vacation
Christmas Naming
program I reached home. As I
reached home I saw my mother in
Service
the garden planting some rose
December 11
plants. And as she noticed me
coming in, she left all her work and
ran to me to embrace and kiss, with The Ministry of Hope invites all
all the mud and dirt from the garden
parishioners to remember loved
on her hands and clothes. Now tell
ones who have died during this
me, should I look at the dirt on her
past year.
and push her away saying, “Stay
away from me for you are dirty.”
At this special service, a
Or should I understand the love and
affection of my own dear mother?
personalized Christmas bulb
So also in the same way, even if
will be presented to the family
there are sinners in the Church, it
members to place on the
never becomes unholy. Even if it is
memorial tree.
with dirty hands and clothes, my
mother is always my mother and
her love is always the same for me If you have experienced the loss
being her child. Hence, do not look of a loved one and would like to
join us, please call the rectory
at the dirt and unholy things, but
and leave your name and the
look at the Cross that the Church
shows you. Look at the love of name and date of death of your
Jesus who suffered death on that
loved one.
Cross. Look at the generosity of the
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Fall Rosary
Procession
Photos of the Rosary Procession can be found on page 10 & 11
by Mary Ann Sullivan
The annual Rosary Procession and Mass took place on October 6 on
the Christ the King Campus. Altar servers carrying the crucifix began the
procession, followed by teens carrying the painting of Our Lady of the
Rosary of Pompeii, then the Knights of Columbus honor guard.
Parishioners followed the Vietnamese community carrying their banner.
Towards the end of the procession came the red, yellow and white floweradorned statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary which stopped periodically so
the children could bow to her and throw flower petals in the air around
her. The deacon and priests completed the procession. Various men of the
parish shared the honor of carrying the Blessed Mother throughout the
procession.
The international beauty of our parish was shown throughout the
Joyful Mysteries. The first decade, the Annunciation, was led in English
by Sister Nancy. Thien Nguyen led the second decade, the Visitation, in
Vietnamese. Fernando Rodriquez led the third mystery of the Nativity in
Spanish. What little Spanish I recalled from my high school years was the
Hail Mary (Dios te salve, Maria). The Presentation decade was recited in
Tagalog by Myrana Salud representing the Filipino community. The final
mystery decade, Finding Jesus in the Temple, was rounded out by George
Barletta in English.
Once into the church, the Vietnamese Children performed the flower
offering with the girls in their white gowns presenting their flowers and
the young boys raising their rosaries in a swaying dance. Readings were
given in French (Marie Janvier), Polish (Father Pawel), English (George
Barletta) and Telugu (Father Amar). The Christus Rex Ringers as well as
the Vietnamese choir, and of course, our wonderful music director, Tina
Harrell encouraged the congregation to participate with our voices. Father
Thanh gave his homily highlighting Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii.
After Mass, refreshments were served and friends gathered to enjoy a
lovely fall Saturday morning.
Page 7
Christ the King
Advent
Gift-Giving Trees
Select one or more
ornaments from the trees
and place with your
wrapped gift in the
Gathering Area
Proper Dress
Plan Your Own Mission Trip
by Frank Becht
It has come to my attention from various sources that people are not
too pleased with the way some of us are dressed when we come to Mass.
This is not something new; it has been happening for a long time.
It’s not just the fact we are experiencing hot and humid weather. It’s
about proper attire at Mass. It doesn’t mean you have to come dressed like
you will be laid out in a casket or dressed to meet the Queen of England.
Dress moderately.
These are my suggestions:
by Laurie Plotz
Four years ago, I participated in a social justice group called Just
Faith. The group consisted of 15 people including Father Thanh. The program lasted for 34 weeks and was very intensive. As a result, our group
decided to do a mission trip. After much prayer and research on different
locations and groups we settled on Missionaries of the Poor or MOP.
Father Thanh had visited them in Jamaica 20 years earlier and was
impressed with their dedication and of course their founder, Father Ho
Lung.
Finally, last October, eight of the original group set off for Jamaica on
a journey of faith. We planned the trip ourselves and until the moment we
found our bus driver we weren’t even sure we would have transportation.
The next five days were unbelievable for all of us. A spiritual experience
none of us could have foretold. We were so moved that we invited Father
Ho Lung to come to Christ the King and the rest is history.
This year we decided to expand our group in the hopes of getting
more groups to do their own mission trips, specifically the youth of the
parish. Once again our faith has been rewarded and our youth group will
be going to Jamaica in the spring.
If you have a group who would like to make a mission trip, please
contact me at [email protected]. I will be happy to give you all the
information needed to have a fruitful mission trip. You may also contact
any of our group members about leading your trip. Please note that small
groups (10) are ideal for this type of trip.
Do not wear shorts, tank tops, short skirts, or backless shirts that
do not cover the shoulders.
Do not wear plunging necklines, t-shirts with inappropriate sayings, clothes that bare your midriff, flip flops or caps to Mass.
We usually dress well when we do things that are important to us; this
might be the most important thing we do all week. The manner in which
we dress is part of the reverence we show to the Lord who is present in
the Eucharist.
Page 8
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
My Life on the Dump
Father Ken Moody Letter to Deacon Larry Hart of Jacksonville, patio of the community
coordinator for the Maryknoll Affiliates in the northeast Florida - center. They cleaned it,
decorated it, hired tables
introduction for My Life on the Dump
and chairs, and made it look
September 23, 2012
like a banquet hall. They
brought in the food and
Dear Larry,
chicha (the corn liquor of
These last six years have presented me with many challenges and the countryside). But the
tested me in many ways. As a young priest, I would not have been ready most celebratied element
for all this. In my attached article, I lay out my present situation in a blow- was the pride of the parents.
by-blow account. The toxic wastes are not what I am talking about; nor Perhaps because they
the breezes that blew them all in your face on that day you visited. What themselves can hardly read
I consider to be the most painful situation is my inability to relate to the or write, their pride
overflowed
more
people and an almost absolute incapacity to share the Good News.
K’ara K’ara might be the most difficult mission I have ever had, but abundantly than the chicha.
not to worry. It is far from the complicated and violent situation of Brazil For these parents their
in the 1960s, Argentina in the 70s, Salvador in the 80s, or Mexico in the daughter’s graduation was a
present day. While I was condemned here in K’ara K’ara by the political milestone. She was able to
honchos, I stayed on because I had the reasonable expectation that I could get a high school education!
That put her in the big time.
live my life to the full in spite of it all.
Her
parents felt they were
Let us remember each other in our painful moments... as well as all
better off on the dump than
the happy memories we have of the past.
they ever had been in the
countryside.
Ken
Let me just name a few
by Father Ken Moody, MM
of the more significant
elements that have changed in our lives over the last three years.
My life on the dump is turning around. While I never came here for
the “good life,” I think life is great here. For more than two years I never
liked anything about this place. Yet I have found happiness throughout the
process, as contradictory as that might seem. I came here believing firmly
that God would sustain me through it all; and I knew God would have Her
challenges in doing that. (Maryknollers, because of their deep
commitment and involvement with native cultures, will often refer to God
in the feminine... as “Her” or “She.” It is often the way of the people, to
view deity in either gender.) But I have been surprisingly happy here. To
be closer to the truth I ought to say, “I have been made miraculously
happy.”
K’ara K’ara is the name given to the area eight miles south of
Cochabamba which serves as the garbage dump for the city. When my
predecessor was thrown out of this area by the political honchos more
than three years ago, I assumed the pastoral responsibilities for these 13
barrios.
Twenty-five years ago only a handful of collectors and sorters of
garbage lived here. The more recent arrivals flocked to this desert-like
area of the dump like flies to a feast. “Why come here?” you might ask.
The answer is simple. In the interior of the country these people’s lives
were immeasurably worse. Here, near the dump, they have hopes of a
greater quality of life: education for their children; some basic human
services; and work for both mother and father, while the grandmother
stays home with the kids.
Let me give you an example of that greater quality of life some people
have found here. The family with whom I lived for almost four years –
just 140 yards from the dump – recently celebrated the high-school
graduation of their eldest daughter. And they celebrated regally! The
graduation seemed more like a wedding party. The family hired the dusty
Many of the leaders who condemned me have been replaced.
Recycling has come a long way. Now the new mayor contemplates an
industrial waste management plant to be built over the old dump. The
new plant will employ the old recyclers, who previous eked out a
meager living by collecting bottles and old scraps. Such new work
will free the scrap collectors from the methane gas fumes that left its
dizzying effect on them daily.
Volunteers are attracted to the K’ara K’ara apostolate. Perhaps they are
drawn by the publicity-making manifestations that kept the garbage
trucks out of the dump. Those manifestations made us infamous
among the people of Cochabamba when, because of our blockade,
their garbage bins overflowed everywhere into the streets of the city
leaving a wretched stench and sickening situation all over the city. So
many Cochabambinos are attracted to our area simply out of curiosity.
The old business adage sums up the popularity of our neighborhood:
location, location, location.
The Pinch of Politics
Never were the odors from the dump as noxious as were the local
politicians. I grant that they were duly elected by the people of our 13
communities. I also grant that they fulfill many other democratic
functions. But they rule with almost autocratic power, as one of the
leaders himself suggested to me. “The respect the people have for me,” he
said, “is sometimes frightening.”
The previous priest had been thrown out of this barrio because the
political honchos discovered he was working for the parish’s Justice and
Peace organization. That Church organization had attempted to close the
dump because of environmental issues. The local politicians, on the other
hand, were attempting to keep the dump open for political leverage. They
use it as a tool to get money for their community projects. One of honchos
said to me, “Do you see that dump, Padre? That’s a gold mine.” Another
had called it “a milk cow.” (God knows who else might be receiving that
money! But God has not told me as yet.)
A Pentecostal political honcho, abusing his autocratic power, turned
against me and the Church and condemned me in his community a few
months after I arrived. Then he engaged the other political honchos, who
did not know he had been a Pentecostal, and turned them against me as
well. So, shortly after taking on the pastoral responsibilities, I became the
object of suspicion. I was considered to be a sort of “secret agent” of the
parish’s Justice and Peace Center that had as its mission to close the
dump. The political honchos blackballed me. They suspended Masses.
They no longer allowed me to make announcements in their monthly
reunions. Yet, in spite of the condemnations, I always had the reasonable
expectation that I would not only survive in K’ara K’ara …..but live with
the fullness of life. So I stayed on in spite of it all. Now I have survived
that condemnation and am thriving more than ever before.
What is behind the conflict between the parish’s Justice and Peace
Center and our barrio’s political honchos? On the one hand, the people in
the Justice and Peace Center did not pick their battle carefully; nor did
they present it well to our people. They demanded of the mayor that he
establish a new garbage dump. That would be a humongous task. Then
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 9
My Life on the Dump
they told our people that
the whole sector in which
they lived ought to be
declared “a disaster area.”
That would demand that
the government demolish
all the houses, which horrified and infuriated the
people. I believe it was
poor judgment to demand
such sacrifices of a very
poor country.
Attitudes begin to
shift.
We finally had a new
crop of political leaders,
including a new mayor.
Things improved slowly in
spite of the fact that the
parish Justice and Peace Center was declared “the #1 enemy of the people” and all the priests of the parish were condemned for their opposition
to the dump. I simply had to remember the words of Bishop James E.
Walsh, one of our first missionaries to China, “You are to go where you
are not wanted but needed, and stay till you are wanted but not needed.”
Walsh’s faith kept me in K’ara K’ara and continues to motivate me.
The Apostolate around the Dump
Over the next year, I was invited to meetings with the new politicos
and to participate in the Carnival celebrations. Me a Gringo priest! I have
learned a lesson about Bolivian politics. I felt relieved that things were
finally turning around for me. Finally, the political winds were shifting
like the winds off the dump. Those winds carried away with them the
putrid stench of the political honchos of the past. For my first two and a
half years nothing I ever found was to my liking in this whole area, Now,
on the contrary, I would declare that life is great!
Considering my reputation as an outlaw, all I could do at first was
offer sacramental preparation. Now I consider my most valuable work is
calling local Bolivians to do mission here. Fortunately, I am in the right
place to attract others. That last statement might surprise you, considering
everything else I have said about K’ara K’ara. But there is one indubitable
fact about our community: it is infamous all over Cochabamba. When our
leaders stopped the garbage trucks from entering the dump, K’ara K’ara’s
infamy grew rapidly. Imagine the surplus of garbage strewn through the
city within only a week of such garbage-truck stoppages. Every
Cochabambino knew that it was all because of K’ara K’ara. We were infamous all around town.
Because of our “location, location, location,” many curiosity seekers
have come to see what we are all about. Some actually stayed to do some
work. I am amazed at the talent of the people currently working here.
Volunteers have organized the Good Friday processions over the last 3
years. Others have taught catechetics. Some have come to give gifts to the
children for Christmas. Two young adults took charge of the youth work
and organized a very successful talent contest. A small group of Bolivian
lay volunteers, who speak Qwishwa, are about to organize liturgies among
the older folk who do not understand Spanish. One woman taught some
of the ladies how to make beautiful greeting cards out of flower petals that
they could sell for a profit. A group of Qwishwa-speaking women from
the Charismatic Center now visit homes every Monday and invite people
to an afternoon prayer service. Artisans who create beautiful pieces of
apparel will be coming to the barrio next month to teach our women their
craft of crocheting and knitting. A university student has begun offering
help to students in an afterschool program of tutoring;
for the vacation, a guitar
teacher will give them lessons
I might be an outlaw in
K’ara K’ara and a misfit in
Bolivia. Like so many other
missionaries around the
world, we will never totally
“fit in” with our people and
their culture. I am working
within these limitations. By
inviting others who can
respond to the needs of their
own people, some good things
seem to be happening.
Religious Vocations
and priests. Sister Nancy also serves as Volunteer Coordinator, is on the
Extra-ordinary Ministry, and Visitation of the Sick committees. We need
There is a great need to foster vocations to the religious life for both a plan to help Sister Nancy. I suggest a committee to work with her to
the priesthood and sisterhood. Just to give an update on the tremendous accomplish our goal of increasing sisterhood vocations. Father Thanh diddecrease in vocations after Vatican II in the United States, please note the n’t accomplish the results on priestly vocations by himself, without the
advantage of the pulpit and many articles in the Courier.
following:
The tremendous loss of vocations to sisterhood has had a devastating
effect on the Church and families. Very few Catholic schools have sisters
1965
2011
as principals or teachers. This results in two heavy burdens to the Church
Total Priests
58,632
39,466
by way of increased costs to maintain schools and to families with the
Diocesan Priests
35,925
26,837
increased cost of tuition. The loss of visibility and influence of the nuns
Religious Priests
22,707
12,629
has compounded the loss of vocations.
Religious Brothers
12,271
4,606
As result of the loss of sisters after Vatican II, the numbers of Catholic
Religious Sisters
179,954
59,944
schools declined markedly.
In recent years the number of priestly vocations has been increasing
1975
2011
substantially so that there is great hope. The graduate level seminarians in
Catholic Elementary Schools
8,414
5,774
1965 was 8,325 and was on a decrease for several years, but has been on
Catholic Elementary Students
2,557,000
1,459,000
an increase since year 2000 at 3,474 to 3,608 in 2011. The Diocese of St.
Catholic Secondary Schools
1,624
1,206
Augustine has currently 18 seminarians with 3 from Christ the King for
Catholic Secondary Students
884,181
576,466
2012. Next year 12 more young men will go to the Seminary. For the
years of 2009-2010, there were 11 seminarians, an increase from 5 for the
So, to the plan:
prior 2 years.
Father Thanh has had a tremendous effect on the increase in seminarians in the last few years. He has pushed, preached and encouraged the Establish a plan to help people of Christ the King become informed about
the need and opportunities of a religious vocation.
young men of Christ the King yielding a continuing interest in the priestForm a committee consisting of members from the Christ the King School
hood. Thank you, Father Thanh.
and Women’s organizations such as: Altar Society,
Council of
Now let’s do the same for the young ladies of the parish. Currently, we
Catholic Women, Ministry of Hope, MOMS Ministry, and others
have only one young lady involved in sisterhood. In years past, there were
involving women of the parish.
several who joined the sisterhood. Sister Nancy Keane, SSJ is in charge
of promoting vocations to sisterhood, I’m told. This is a big job and she
Let’s not delay; we need sisters now!!
may well need the help of the women of the parish, the school personnel
by Frank Becht
Page10
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Fall Rosary
November 2012
Procession
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 11
Page12
Christ the King Courier
Christ the King
Council of Catholic Women
by Carol-Ann Black
Recently a friend challenged
me to explain why she should pay
dues again this year to be a member
of Christ the King Council of
Catholic Women. This meant that I
had to define the organization and
then sell it. National Council of
Catholic Women was established
nearly a hundred years ago, to tap
into the remarkable well of talent
and energy of Catholic women in
the United States. To put it very
simply, the bishops of the United
States needed the resource of these
women to help to deal with social
ills of the time and to encourage
them in their faith.
Our mission statement says that
we act through our members to
support, empower and educate all
Catholic women in spirituality,
leadership and service. Our
programs respond with Gospel
values to the needs of the Church
and society in the modern world.
The fact is that life at Christ the
King would be quite different
without the work of Christ the King
Council of Catholic Women. We
have several pet projects. To serve
our local community, we partner
with one of the neighborhood
schools every fall donating needed
items for the children and their
classroom. Each holiday season we
supply Christmas gifts to several
groups of migrant families. The
migrant workers’ food drive has
become an institution at Christ the
King, but it began as an outreach
for CKCCW. For several years we
have sent holiday items to an
orphanage/school for girls in
Ecuador. Each year, at the end of
our season we use whatever money
we have raised for a special project
for the parish. Probably
the
activity most visible to the parish
is our Christmas bake sale and
raffle. In addition we contribute
from our cash reserves to the
various Social Justice issues
sponsored by National Council of
Catholic Women. With additional
membership we would be able to
originate other activities that would
benefit the members of Council
and the parish as a whole.
Father Thanh is our spiritual
leader and encourages all of our
efforts and participates in them as
well. Our Living Rosary is an
annual event. We organized the
reception for the first Rosary
Procession and continue to do that
each time. Holy hours and rosaries
are part of the plan. A day of
recollection for our members will
be held in November at the
Carmelite monastery in Bunnell.
Christ the King Council of
Catholic Women is your one-stop,
do it all, organization for women of
the parish. If you have a new idea
for the women of the parish—bring it to CCW. Join a circle or
form a new one with some friends.
Remember that life changes
constantly. A few years ago we
were involved with MOMS
ministry or caring for an ailing
family member or working a fulltime job. But our needs and
interests continue to change and
grow. Consider and pray on the
possibility of your becoming more
directly active in the parish by way
of the Christ the King Council of
Catholic Women. We will make
you welcome.
In this Year of Faith become a
Woman of the Eucharist with your
friends of Christ the King Council
of Catholic Women.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Submitted by Charm I Saults
Lord, we thank thee for this place in
which we dwell;
For the love that unites us;
For the peace accorded us this day;
For the hope with which we expect the morrow;
For our health, our food, our work
and the wonders
Of each day that you bestow upon us to brighten our
days.
Thank thee, Lord, especially today for
our family and
Friends who are gathered with us this day.
Bestow a special blessing on all those who could not
Be here.
We bow our heads and give you thanks for the faith,
hope,
And love you have shown us.
November 2012
Fun and Prayer
A Celebration of All Hallows’ Eve
and All Saints’ Day
by Lucille Guzzone
Students
of
Religious
Education, along with their
teachers and families, gathered in
John XXIII Hall, Wednesday
evening, the 24th of October, to
celebrate Halloween and to honor
the saints. After opening prayers,
the children heard a lesson about
how All Saints’ Day came about
and its relationship to Halloween.
They were encouraged to ask
questions and to participate in the
discussion. Following the lesson,
the children, who were dressed as
saints, displayed their outfits to the
assembly. They summarized the
biographies of the saints, as well.
The original plan was to choose the
most unique and creative
presentation, but the decision was
so difficult, that the judges decided
that each child would receive a
small token gift of appreciation.
Finally, before adjourning, the
children were given goody-bags
prepared by the staff.
Many thanks go to Father
Pawel who opened the evening
with a blessing and to Father Amar
who summarized the event with a
few words about the significance
of honoring all saints on a special
day.
This event illustrated the
beginning of a three-month holiday
season which should be filled with
plenty of joyful fun and peaceful
prayer, as well.
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 13
Missionaries of the Poor, Jamaica 2012
by Carol-Ann Black
The Christ the King volunteers
heading to Kingston to work with
the Missionaries of the Poor departed Jacksonville International
Airport on September 26. We were
ten all together—-six veterans and
four newcomers. Our trip this year
included carrying lots of extra
things for the brothers and the residents of the various centers. This
meant a fair bit of finesse in the
packing of the suitcases and even
necessitated some repack activity at
the airport to comply with baggage
weight restrictions. Our travel was
completely uncomplicated and cus-
toms went smoothly once Father
Thanh was able to assure the
inspectors that we were visiting
Jamaica with our bursting suitcases
to do mission work, not to sell what
we were carrying.
Our drive into the city was also
completely uncomplicated. We
were blessed to have Noel, the
same driver we had last year. After
some quick shopping at a local grocery, we arrived at the convent/hostel, unpacked and enjoyed our dinner. Noel drove us each morning
and evening between the convent
and the mission centers and acted
as our guide and protector for the
entire trip. (He wouldn’t leave us
until he saw that the brothers were
on hand to guide us into our work
stations for the day.)
On a purely personal note the
greatest blessing of this trip (and
last year’s) was the daily Mass
offered by Father Thanh for us and
for the resident sisters who were
able to participate. The serene
atmosphere of the convent where
we stayed, and the selfless labors of
the brothers somehow combined
for me to produce a level of spiritual calm that I rarely experience. I
worked most comfortably with
the children—-which was true
last year also. We remembered
some of them from last year’s
visit, and one of us knew a particular child who had made major
progress in her growth and development—-not something we
would have predicted last year.
More than last year I was aware of
physical disabilities endured by the
children that go untreated.
Something as simple as club foot,
can be corrected surgically shortly
after birth, but it goes undone.
It was nice to see that all the
residents of the various centers had
new mattresses. This simple change
improved the atmosphere markedly. In general, things seemed clean-
er and in better repair. New tile had
been laid in areas that had been just
concrete, and in areas that were
often wet and therefore slippery,
tile with a gritty surface had been
installed. It was especially fun to
see several of the adult residents
recall, even by name, some of our
volunteers who had visited last
October. I would go on this mission
trip again, and would encourage
others to do the same. It is rewarding on so many different levels.
Impressions from others will
follow this article.
My Mission Trip to Jamaica
by Carol Warwin
I was interested to see what my
feelings were going to be with
going on the Jamaica Mission trip
for the second time. I was really
surprised to find that I felt the same
way as I did the first time. These
people are the poorest of the poor
for the most part; they can’t walk,
talk and some can’t even feed
themselves. It was hot and sweaty
and the smells are something you
can’t describe, yet I felt blessed to
be there to help and try to make a
difference for these the poorest of
the poor. At times I felt helpless
seeing all the things that needed to
be done and unsure of what to do.
The brothers were glad to see us
and were thankful for our help. I
went to the children’s home this
time. I saw things in the children’s
home that I thought I would never
see. I’ve seen pictures of disabled
children before but you don’t really
see. When you see such disabilities
and deformities firsthand, it rips
your heart right out of your chest.
Their little bones all twisted and all
they could do is lie in their beds and
look up at you, so helpless but yet
with a big smile when they saw you
smiling at them. It was very
painful to realize that these children
will never experience playing out-
side or riding a bicycle or chasing
the ice cream truck down the road
as our children have done. We are
really blessed to be born and to live
in the USA.
We went to the men’s home
which I visited last year. So many
of the men want to communicate
with you but the only way to do that
was through touch—-just holding
their hands or sitting next to them.
They would give you this huge big
smile and you just knew you were
doing the right thing. No words
needed. I never thought that by sitting next to someone that it would
make them so happy. Once again
we helped wash faces, clip nails,
put lotion on the leather-dried skin.
Some of the calluses are so bad no
amount of lotion will help. Father
Thanh and John Klinkenberg were
shaving the men. We changed bedding (this is not the bedding you
and I are accustomed to); we fed
them and washed dishes and prayed
with them. It seemed like things
were a little cleaner this
time…smells not so intense. I can
only say that I was the one blessed
to be with these men. They are
truly God’s children.
We did visit one new home for
the mentally challenged. This
home was all men and to my surprise we were able to have conver-
sations with these men, not all of outstanding. They always have a
them, but some. They loved you to smile and you never hear them
know their names. I helped feed complain. God bless each and
every one of them. They are a very
special gift.
The group that I went with is a
very special group of people
because of their loving, caring and
giving hearts. Each one of them
has given the poor something to
smile about and you know it
touched us to have some of the residents remember us from last year.
That really blew us away, and
some of those men but what I saw brought tears to our eyes. It was a
that day really touched me. Here moment that made you realize that
we were in this home handing out maybe we did make a difference.
If you have never been on a
lunch. (I was hungry myself but it
wasn’t something I thought my mission trip, I suggest you go. Both
stomach could handle.) Everyone times I came back with so much
was helping pass out lunch, even
the residents. There was one gentleman who would not eat until his
friend got fed. “First feed my
friend.” There was another man
whom John was trying to feed, but
he wanted one of the brothers to
feed him. John was patient with this
gentleman and was able to get him
to eat. I went to feed another gentleman who was having difficulty more than I could ever give. Father
eating. He would chew a little and Ho Lung and the brothers are doing
spit it back. Just like babies when wonderful things all over the world
they don’t want to eat. I found out and to be able to see it firsthand is a
later that the man could hardly joy. The supplies and monies we
swallow. You could see that he was give are put to work in wonderful
frail and was suffering and there ways. God bless them all and God
was little I could do to help him. I bless you all for your donations.
This Easter our youth will be
stood back and looked at Father
Thanh and all the others working, it going to Jamaica on their first misjust does something to your heart sion trip. After John Klinkenberg
when you see your Pastor feeding was able to see and be part of this
and cleaning the poor alongside his mission, he couldn’t wait to share it
flock. Trust me, the blessings were with the youth. Please keep all of
our youth and their leaders in your
all mine.
I could go on and on with these prayers. Give them whatever supstories as each place I visited port they need. This will be an
touched my heart but the real experience they will never forget.
heroes in this are the brothers of They will better understand the
Father Ho Lung. The brothers are poor and see the face of Jesus in
so young and what they do is just them.
Page 14
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
A Mission
by Tito Espejo
We are all called to be missionaries from the time we were baptized.
On September 26, 2012, a group of ten Christ the King (CTK)
parishioners, five men and five women answered the call and departed
Jacksonville for a mission trip to Father Richard Ho Lung’s Missionaries
of the Poor (MOP) facilities in Kingston, Jamaica. This was the second
CTK mission trip to this country and our group is composed of six
returning veterans from the first mission trip and four new members
(rookies), including me. Before the trip, we communicated mostly via email and had one meeting to discuss the dos and don’ts about the trip,
MOP wish lists, and other important information about Jamaica in
general. This mission trip, to me, was a humbling and inspiring
experience I will never forget.
In Jamaica, we stayed at the Immaculate Conception Convent, owned
and managed by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The nuns (sisters),
both active and retired, still reside in the convent and part of the building
is reserved for guests. It is a beautiful property with tennis courts, a large
swimming pool, and a scenic landscape; however, it is old and in need of
renovation. In addition, there are no air conditioners, televisions, and
radios in the rooms. The sisters were happy to see our group back,
especially Father Thanh because Mass would be celebrated every
morning after their daily prayers. The CTK group, together with the
sisters, attended Mass at 6:45 a.m. in the convent’s chapel. After Mass, we
had breakfast and immediately after, our driver/guide took us to our
assigned job site (MOP house) located in the middle of the slums of
Kingston.
We visited and worked at four houses which serve as homes for
destitute persons including the abandoned, sick, disabled, or dying men,
women, and children. The brothers manage and do the majority of the
work in these facilities. Lay volunteers like us helped these brothers in
doing various chores such as help feed, dress, clean up, and just visit with
the resident men, women, and children. We joined the brothers in their
daily prayers, normally before lunchtime, socialized with them, and
enjoyed the delicious lunch they prepared for us.
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Trip
After work, our guide/driver
took us back to the convent via
Devon House and grocery store for
some refreshments and shopping
for basic needs. At the convent, we
all gathered at 6:00 p.m. for dinner
and discussion thereafter to share
personal
experiences
that
transpired during the day.
During this trip, we were
privileged to watch and be guests
of Father Ho Lung and Friends in
their musical production of “THE
MESSIAH” which showed live at
the National Arena and will benefit
MOP around the world. On our last
day in Jamaica, we attended two
Masses, one at the convent, and the
other at the MOP Chapel. The Mass
at the Bethlehem House chapel was
concelebrated by Father Ambrose
and Father Thanh. It was attended
by the brothers, residents, and lay
volunteers from across the USA
and the Caribbean and celebrated
the Jamaican/Caribbean way of
evangelizing with lots of Christian
music. (Father Ho Lung creates the
music and lyrics for the Masses and
for
the
annual
musical
production.)The Mass lasted for
two hours and I did not see anyone
leave the chapel. The finale of our
visit to MOP was a luncheon with
all the lay volunteers hosted by
Father Ho Lung and the brothers at
their headquarters. Simple lunch,
chicken and rice, prepared by the
brothers, was enjoyed by everyone.
Our group was at the same table
with Father Ho Lung, so something
must be cooking between the two
priests and John Klinkenberg.
I thank my fellow CTK
missioners, especially the veterans,
who paved the way to making this
trip better and fun for all of us. I
was extremely inspired not only by
the total dedication of the MOP
priests and brothers for the
personal love and care they give to
the poorest of the poor, but also for
their vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience to do their job day in and
day out.
On a personal note, there are
three lessons I learned during this
trip that will always be
remembered: living a simple life
outside of one’s comfort zone, the
importance of daily prayers
especially the Mass in our daily
routine, and the importance of
family and community. I believe
that we accomplished our mission
on this trip which is to focus on
what we saw in the MOP in relation
to the Catholic social teachings and
to continue to come up with
innovative ideas on how to put
what we have experienced into
action.
Page 15
Page 16
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Reflections on Christ the King’s
Jamaican Mission Trip
September 2012
by Susan Riker
Having been part of the initial
team who visited Father Ho Lung
and the Missionaries of the Poor in
Kingston, Jamaica last year, I was
eager to make a return trip although
I realized it would be different in
some ways. With last year’s
experience I now had an idea of
what to expect and was, therefore,
looking forward to seeing and
serving many of the same people.
Since there were several new
members coming along this year, it
was an opportunity to share my
previous experience and help guide
them with our mission work.
Each person one encounters at
any of the centers we visited leaves
a story in your heart and so there is
much that could be shared.
However, there were definitely a
few incidents for me during this
trip which I will never forget.
Seeing a child with whom I
spent much time last year was
wonderful and left me feeling like I
had witnessed a miracle! Why?
Last year this child lay helplessly in
a crib, barely responding to a
simple touch. Never would I have
believed that I would see her
pulling herself up and standing in
her crib on this trip. Yet as the
brother
explained,
despite
becoming very ill and nearly dying
in March, she was doing so much
better - as I had witnessed. In fact,
if she continues doing well, the
brothers may send her to school to
see if she can begin to learn to
talk!! This truly is a testament to
the love and care she receives daily
from the Brothers who tend to her
needs so compassionately.
Visiting the men’s facility
provided me with another
humbling
and
memorable
experience. Since our group arrived
at the center before the brothers’
arrival, it was a little hectic for us.
Soon after we went about our
assigned tasks I heard another
worker calling my name and
signaling for me to come. When I
went over, she told me the
gentleman she was caring for
remembered me from last year (and
knew my name), “but when I
arrived, I walked right passed him
without saying a word.” When I
looked over to the gentleman, he
was sitting in his wheelchair with
his head down. My heart ached! In
all the time I spent working at the
men’s facility last year I introduced
myself and spoke with everyone I
encountered, but NEVER had
heard a word spoken by any one of
the men. Therefore, you can
imagine how shocked I was to
think at that moment, not only did
this man remember me a year later
but he remembered my name as
well…and all I appeared to have
done was to walk right past him.
The truth was, in all the confusion
of our arrival, I had not taken notice
of anyone in particular, although he
had noticed me. I could feel his
hurt and pain and could only go
over to him to kneel beside him and
offer my apology! It was amazing
to see his beautiful smile, from earto-ear, as I knelt there with my arm
around him and sharing a
conversation. He was absolutely
delighted when I told him I wanted
to get a picture of us together to
keep as a memory of my visit. It is
a moment I will never forget!
Our group this year also had the
experience of attending Father Ho
Lung’s musical production of the
Messiah. It was a re-enactment of
Jesus’ life from birth through the
Resurrection. Each scene was
magnificent and very moving.
Although it would be hard to say
which part I liked the best, I
thought the scene of the Last
Supper was wonderful. It just
became so much more “real” as
you listened to the conversation
between Jesus and the Apostles at
this eventful moment in time.
It was also nice to see some
much needed improvements such
as new beds/cribs in the
children’s
center,
new
sheets/mattresses in the adult
centers or new floor tiling at
some locations. All these things
made possible with the
contributions which were made
to Father Ho Lung and the
Missionaries of the Poor. It was
also a great feeling to see our
commitment to the mission
work in Kingston, Jamaica
growing with the new members
who joined our efforts this year.
And so, for me personally
the time spent in Jamaica turned
out to be a wonderful experience
again this year. Such a trip is a
constant reminder of how much we
have to be grateful for and how
much we can all do to help those
less fortunate. It is both a humbling
and gratifying experience for me
since, through my doing, I always
feel I have gained so much more! It
is a privilege to work side by side
with the missionaries who serve the
Lord daily as they care for the most
abandoned people of Jamaica. I
hope to be able to return again.
MOP Food Drive Coming in January
We will have a food drive in January to benefit Father Ho Lung’s Missionaries of the Poor. We will use the grocery bags just like we did
for the St. Vincent de Paul food drive. We will also need shipping boxes and donations for freight costs. Please start saving strong boxes
such as copy paper boxes so we can ship the food to Jamaica. Just in case you are wondering how these donations actually get to
Jamaica—-the mission organization, Food for the Poor, ships all over the world and will do the same for Father Ho Lung and the
Missionaries of the Poor. Our main expense will be getting things to Miami to Food for the Poor. Below is the list of food we would like
to send.
Rice
Flour
Sugar
Pasta
Macaroni/ spaghetti
Tuna
Spam canned meat
Canned beef
Oats
Cornflakes
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Kidney Beans
Cornmeal
Vegetable Oil
Chicken/Beef Noodle soup
Diapers: Medium & Large
Thank you in advance for your continued support of MOP!!!! Please email me at [email protected] if you
have any questions or would like to help.
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 17
Tim Talks
by Tim McClellan
We are entering the time of year dreaded by
many, celebrated by others, and unavoidable to all.
The Holidays are almost upon us as Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year’s are just around the corner. It is the time of year when we have an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, and to
reset our priorities in life.
Thanksgiving is always one of the great holidays of the season. It also brings about a bit of
dread for those of us who have a connection to the
retail world. Retailers have been preparing for the
Christmas season for months already, and the day
after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, is the Super
Bowl of shopaholics, and a moment of crazed consumerism that has us all racing out to the malls, or
shopping online to find those perfect gifts for
friends and family. It is also the time when those
working in retail are pulled from their families,
working extra hours, and dealing with the rude
and often careless shoppers who are determined to get the best deal possible, even if they
have to step over you to get it.
Black Friday is just the beginning, and the
frantic nature of the weeks between
Thanksgiving and Christmas are spent focused
on racing from store to store, dealing with the
holiday traffic around malls and large shopping areas, and the human traffic in retail
establishments.
We rarely take the time necessary to understand the meaning of the season, and that is by
design. Retailers have crafted a mindset where
the holiday is about the deal. They roll out
things people wouldn’t normally consider buying, but, in the spirit of the season, that festive
sweater with bells and candy canes attached to
it somehow has a place.
We have been trained to be good consumers following the orders of big box retail
operations. In doing so, we completely forget
that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Secularism has taken us to a point where
Christ is an afterthought for the majority, and
getting the perfect gift is the sole purpose.
Carve out some time this holiday season
between the food and football of
Thanksgiving, and Santa Claus and festive
holiday decorations of Christmas to remember
that we are renewing our relationship with
Christ, and particularly in this year, designated
by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops as
The Year of Faith.
Journal Update
on Nick
by Suzette Gagnon
taken from Caring Bridge website
October 31, 2012
Well, here we are nearly a
month later. I just picked up Nick
and Dad from the airport. It has
been an amazing five days.
First...Nick is officially six months
cancer free!!! Praise God.
He had a great time with Chef
Miles doing the National Public
Radio interview on Saturday. He
got to go to Chef Miles’ farm in
Mississippi. Dad and Nick got to
hang out there on Sunday. It was a
chilly 40 degrees in Tennessee even
while it was a balmy 70 degrees
here in Florida!!!
Chef Miles and Nick are working on some great surprises for his
Eagle Scout Ceremony on April 6,
so put the date on your
calendar...We will have an amazing
celebration of life and persistence
and courage!!!
Of course going back for his
visit, Nick got to visit with and hug
every amazing person who was a
part of his treatment and recovery.
He even got to see some of the
patients who were there when he
was getting his treatments. The
doctors are amazed with Nick’s
progress. Physical therapy was
very pleased as well, even though
he was warned not to do the floppy
leg thing!!! If you haven’t seen him
do it, you really don’t want
to...kinda gross! His strength is
building every day. He did not use
the wheelchair or crutches at all
while at the hospital!!! All the staff
was a little stunned to realize how
tall he really is, as they hadn’t seen
him standing up so much.
God answers prayers and we
are eternally thankful for His grace
in our lives. Thank you for all your
prayers and love and support. Look
forward to seeing you all in April
for Nick’s Eagle Scout Ceremony.
God bless.
Take some time to step away from the secular aspect of the holiday and give thanks for
friends and family. Give thanks for all of the
things we enjoy in our lives. Pray for those
who are not as fortunate as we are, and find
some way to give back to help the needy.
Our parish community offers so many
opportunities to recognize the holidays in a
way that reflects our Catholic faith. From the
Advent trees to the St. Vincent de Paul Society,
there are many ways we can give to our community to make it possible for those among us
who are less fortunate to enjoy the holiday.
Volunteer your time to help with one of our
ministries doing outreach. The rewards you
will receive for giving of yourself, your time,
or your treasure carries more significance than
the latest game system or fancy electronic
device.
In these difficult economic times, sometimes it is the smallest of gestures that carries
the most weight. Give back to your parish
community as you would your friends or family this year.
When you hit the trail with all of the holiday shoppers, let me give you some advice. A
simple gesture like a smile or a thank you to
the overworked, stressed out clerk helping you
with your purchase can have a wonderful
impact on those who are under the stress of
taking care of their customers. Spread the holiday spirit by living your faith, even if you are
in the middle of a scrum to get that $100 laptop.
Fall
by Charm I. Saults
Soon it will be fall
Where the trees change colors
To share their beauty with us all.
In the morning a light mist
With a soft covering of dew on the grass
Cooler air having a feeling of crispness.
As the leaves flutter to the ground
When we walk they make a rustling sound.
Squirrels scurry to find food to store
Each day finding more and more.
Flocks of birds overhead flying south
To winter’s end
Before heading north again.
Let your spirit be renewed with the changes
Of seasons.
This time of year brings
so many wonderful reasons.
Page 18
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
CTK Spirit Night
by Sue Pietrusza
Have you attended a Christ the
King Spirit Night? Well, if you are
looking for an evening of fabulous
company, a way to participate in a
fundraiser with little to no effort,
great food and just an all around
fun night, you should attend one.
Before you attend a Christ the
King Spirit Night, you might be
asking yourself, “What is Spirit is a sports themed restaurant. It is
Night?” Spirit Night is a Christ the owned and operated by the Joseph
family. The Joseph family has
owned the establishment since
1994 when George Joseph opened
The Mudville Grille St. Nicolas
located at 3105 Beach Boulevard.
The Monument Road location was
opened in 1999 by Louis Joseph
and Ronnie Burke. In 2000, this
duo purchased the St. Nicolas
location from Uncle George. The
King Catholic School Fundraiser. It two locations have a lot to offer
is very easy to participate. Spirit patrons. Both locations have Trivia
Night is held at The Mudville Grille on Thursdays, college football on
at 1301 Monument Road on the last Saturdays and currently offer NFL
Tuesday of every month from 5:00
p.m. until 9:00 p.m. On this night,
The Mudville Grille donates 10%
of the sales from patrons who
mention that they are there to
support Christ the King School
sports program. These funds do not
go to CKAA, but to the actual
school sports for our students:
Tickets on Sundays. If you are into
showing off your own talent, the
Monument location has Karaoke on
Friday nights! The St. Nicolas
location on Beach Boulevard offers
catering and has a private banquet
room that accommodates up to 110
people. This room is perfect for
basketball,
volleyball
and personal events such as graduation
parties, communion celebrations or
cheerleading to name a few.
family
gatherings. It also works
It only makes sense that the
funds are donated to our sports great for group-related events such
program since The Mudville Grille as church ministry gatherings or
celebrations or team parties. Last
year we celebrated our girls and
boys basketball teams and
cheerleaders and enjoyed a private
fantastic evening, with plenty of
room and great food! The
restaurants continue to be family
owned and operated.
The Joseph family have been
long time parishioners of Christ the
King. Laura Joseph Meehan, whose
children are currently attending the
school in third grade and
kindergarten, stated that she has
been a parishioner, “All my life!”
She attended Christ the King (class
of 1992) as did her siblings, Julie
(class of 1984) and Louis (class of
1998) and her husband, Mike
Meehan (class of 1990) as well as
her brothers and sisters-in-law,
nieces, nephews and numerous
cousins.
As I bring this article to an end,
I would like to ask parishioners,
families and ministry members to
try to join us on the last Tuesday of
the month at The Mudville Grille
on Monument Road for Spirit
Night anytime between 5:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m. Be sure to tell your
server that you are there to support
Christ the King! In doing this, you
allow us to not have to ask our
athletes to sell candy or magazines
or hold car washes to raise funds
for our sports program. Thanks to
The Mudville Grille, the Joseph
Family, and all families who
currently participate or plan to do
so in the future, we are able to ask
our athletes to invite their families
out for a nice evening of fabulous
company and great food as a way to
fundraise. As a Spirit Night
attendee myself, you really do have
a great time! If you would like
more information about private
parties, catering, a location to hold
your monthly meeting, or anything
else regarding what they can offer
you, contact Louis Joseph at 3984326 or check out the website at
www.themudvillegrill.com.
Meet Nino Struzzi
by Ellin Iselin
“I’m doing the best I can,” said
Nino Struzzi about his new role as
head of the Queens & Kings
ministry. And Nino is doing a lot not only for the ministry but also as
a volunteer for L’Arche Harbor
House where, as a self-described
joker, Nino enjoys making the
L’Arche Harbor House clients
laugh.
Likewise, he looks forward to
accompanying them to 11:00 a.m.
Mass whenever he can.
Nino first became a Christ The
King parishioner after moving
from Queens, New York in 1996.
At a singles’ dance, Nino met his
wife Pat. After marrying in 2003,
Nino and Pat lived on the southside
of Jacksonville near Beach
Boulevard and Parental Home
Road, and as a couple attended
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
“Strangely enough, with a twist
of fate and the powers upstairs,”
Nino explained, he found himself
extras). Drinks will be
Gospelaires of Ft. Caroline
back at Christ The King after Pat’s
Christian Church - back by
provided.
death in 2010. He currently lives in
popular demand!
Entertainment - The Vintage
an apartment complex across the January 13, 2013 - Adopt a
Players
Theatre
Troup,
street from Arlington Park
Nursing Home
Performing “Bits & Pieces”
Cemetery and Funeral Home,
Bring goodies for packages for
where Pat is buried.
nursing
home
residents. May 17, 2013 - Kentucky Derby
Party
About Queens & Kings, Christ
Suggested items would be
Be prepared to place your bet at
The King and his return to the
lotions, slipper socks, gum,
parish, Nino said, “The good Lord
candy, hairbrush, large print
the betting window for when
brought me back into the circle.”
books, lap blankets.
those horses are off & running.
Entertainment - Bruce Ford &
Refreshments - Mint Juleps,
Queens & Kings Calendar
Mountain Dulcimer
Cucumber Sandwiches, Burgoo
February 10, 2013 - Valentine’s
and
Kentucky Derby Pie
Wow! Look What We’ve Got
Day
Prize for Best Fascinator
Planned for You!!!
Bring desserts, fruits or finger
(hat)
food veggies.
December 9, 2012 - Catered
Entertainment
to
be June 10, 2013 - Movie Day
Christmas Party
announced.
Old Time Movie - to be
Bring a $5.00 creative gift to March 10, 2013 - Luck of the
announced
exchange.
Irish Bingo
Refreshments - Popcorn and
Catered by Glen - pork roast,
Lots of Prizes - Bring green
movie candy
finger foods.
stuffing, mashed potatoes,
Movie Game afterwards and
gravy, peas & carrots, Waldorf April 14, 2013 - Picnic in the
prizes for those who can
Park
salad and chocolate cake answer the movie trivia
Bring a boxed lunch to
RSVP’s and $15.00 by Nov. 30.
questions
exchange (and we will need 12
Entertainment
The
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Musical Musings...
by Tina Caiñas Harrell
In this wonderful and exciting
theme chosen by our Church: The
Year of Faith, I would like to take
you through a “journey of faith” in
song, and I hope that all of you will
attend our Third Annual St. Cecilia
Choral Festival.
During the Concert, you will
hear testimonies from your fellow
parishioners on what the Catholic
faith has meant to them in key and
sometimes challenging moments in
their lives. You will also hear music
that proclaims in word and melody,
and in various languages, the
richness of our Faith and how the
joyful singing of the truths
contained therein, is twice praying!
(as St. Augustine has said.)
Let me begin with an obvious
title for the Year of Faith: Faith
Of Our Fathers. This is originally
an Irish Catholic hymn which
refers to the teachings, of the
Apostles and Early Church Fathers,
handed down to us as our Faith,
(not the founding fathers of the
U.S.A.) Might you wonder who the
“next generation Apostles” or the
Early Church Fathers might be?
For
the
computer-minded
researchers, here’s the link:
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers.
And for those of you that wish
to relax and keep on reading, here’s
the list (only the more wellknown):
Saints
Ambrose,
Athanasius, Augustine of Hippo
(our Diocesan Patron Saint),
Barnabas (his Epistle), Basil the
Great, Clement of Alexandria,
Clement of Rome, Cyprian, Cyril
of Jerusalem, Ephraim the Syrian,
Eusebius, Pope Gregory the Great,
[HANG IN THERE…ALMOST
DONE], Hippolytus, Ignatius of
Antioch, Ireneus, Jerome, John
Chrysostom, Justin Martyr, Pope
Leo the Great, Methodius, Origen,
Polycarp, and Tertullian.
If you want to read any of their
writings, the link above will direct
you to those ancient documents and
it is good iPad or tablet reading in
your easy chair. Be warned: if you
get into reading these writings a bit
each day, you may find yourself
still in your easy chair when the
Year of Faith is officially over and
still not finished! Yes, one can do
the condensed and outline forms of
these documents, but that is much
like having an hors d’oeuvres
instead of the richness of a banquet.
In any case, let me give you a little
“taste” to perhaps whet your
appetite for more?
Here is an example of a quote
from an Early Church Father, St.
John Chrysostom (347- 407 A.D.)
on the Eucharist (the soul’s source
of sustenance for the Faith and the
center of our Catholic Faith), from
his Baptismal Instructions, the
Third Instruction: “If the devil
merely sees you returning from the
Master’s banquet, he flees faster
than any wind, as if he had seen a
lion breathing forth flames from his
mouth. If you show him a tongue
stained with the Precious Blood, he
will not be able to make a stand; if
you show him your mouth all
crimsoned and ruddy, cowardly
beast that he is, he will run
away…Today, will the devil not
check himself all the more if he
sees, not the blood of the type
smeared on the doors (referring to
the lamb’s blood on the doorposts
in Egypt), but the Blood of the
Truth smeared on the mouths of the
faithful, since these mouths have
become doors of a temple which
holds Christ?...But the symbols of
baptism and the mysteries come
from the side of Christ (water and
blood). It is from His side,
therefore, that Christ formed His
Church, just as He formed Eve
from the side of Adam.”
So, when singing “Faith of Our
Fathers,” the more you read of the
Early Church Fathers’ writings and
the more you use their written
prayers in your devotions, the
deeper in meaning this one hymn
will have for you. The traditional
Irish melody and Father W. Faber’s
original text was preserved in the
American Mount Mary Hymnal of
1937, but lost to us in subsequent
hymnals, including his original
verse dedicated to our Blessed
Mother. You can listen to a
fabulous Irish tenor (Frank
Patterson) sing it for you. Go to
YouTube.com, type the hymn name
in the search line and scroll down to
see the one by Frank Patterson.
Another hymn on Faith is
“Lead, Kindly Light”. This hymn
in our Concert will speak to the
heart of every convert to
Catholicism, and especially to
those of you who have sacrificed
much to “come home to Rome,” as
they say. “Lead, Kindly Light” was
written by Blessed Cardinal John
Henry Newman (1833) who
converted from the Anglican
Church of England. During his
soul-searching and deep prayers for
discernment, his heart-felt longings
came forth in song. “Lead, Kindly
Light, amid the encircling gloom,
lead Thou me on; The night is dark,
and I am far from home; lead Thou
me on. Keep Thou my feet; I do not
ask to see the distance scene; one
step enough for me.” So
often,
when confronted with the reality
that the fullness of Christianity
resides in the Catholic Church and
that in its teachings, one is led more
deeply to Jesus Christ, the Way, the
Truth, and the Life, then the
journey to leave behind all that has
been part of one’s spiritual identity
becomes a great challenge.
Sometimes too, one’s family
members and/or friends fail to
understand the necessity of such a
conversion and this can create
temporary
and
sometimes
Page 19
What’s in a Hymn?
permanent
rifts
in
these
relationships. Cradle Catholics who
inherit and embrace their Faith are
called to pray for and support those
in our R.C.I.A. programs and
befriend those who have come into
the fold of Christ the King to make
their transition from another faith
tradition easier and to ease the pain
of family or friends that have
turned away. Here is another link to
read more about Blessed (2nd stage
of canonization) Cardinal John
Henry Newman (and you might
also want to explore the many links
to his writings contained in this
site):
http://www.newmanfriendsinternational.org/newman/?
p=382 While reading, you can
listen to Frank Patterson singing
the original melody (be sure to wait
for his very last, most amazing
note!) Go to YouTube.com, type
the hymn name in the search line
and scroll down to see the one by
Frank Patterson.
Now let’s turn to a
contemporary hymn, “Be Not
Afraid” by Fr. Bob Dufford, S.J.,
a hymn that moves us in spirit to a
place of profound faith and trust in
God, especially evident when
we’ve heard it sung with reverent
enthusiasm here at Christ the King.
This hymn is full of hope, and
holds within its text the words of
Holy Scripture. Again as St.
Augustine said, “singing is twice
praying,” and when singing the
Word of God, it opens our minds
and hearts to our own Faith in such
a powerful way.
Let me take you through its text
and give you some scripture
passages so that you can continue
in your easy chair with yet more
reading. In this Year of Faith, the
Church encourages us to read more
of the Bible, so this might help:
Isaiah 43:1b-2 “Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by
name: you are mine. When you past
through the water, I will be with
you; in the rivers you shall not
drown. When you walk through
fire, you shall not be burned; the
flames shall not consume you.”
Another passage related to this
hymn: Hebrews 13:5-7 “Keep your
lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have,
because God has said, “Never will I
leave you; never will I forsake
you.”(Deut. 31:6) So we say with
confidence, “The Lord is my
helper; I will not be afraid. What
can mere mortals do to me?”(Psalm
118:6-7) Remember your leaders,
who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way
of life and imitate their faith.”
And another: Isaiah 41:10 “So
do not fear, for I am with you; do
not be dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you and help
you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.”
And
another: Isaiah 12:2 “Surely God is
my salvation; I will trust and not be
afraid. The LORD, the LORD
himself, is my strength and my
defense; he has become my
salvation.” Yet another: Luke
12:31-33 “But seek his kingdom,
and these things will be given to
you as well. Do not be afraid, little
flock, for your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom.”
One more: John 14:27; 16:33
“Peace I leave with you; my peace
I give you. I do not give to you as
the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid…” “I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.” Sorry, cannot
help myself! Have to give some
more passages on the theme of “Be
Not Afraid”…Psalm 31:24 “Be
strong and take heart, all you who
hope in the LORD.” And finally
(truly), 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on
your guard; stand firm in the faith;
be courageous; be strong.”
To “step out in faith” or take a
“leap of faith” (a phrase coined by
Teihard de Chardin in his book,
Phenomenon Of Man) takes a great
deal of courage. I myself wish I
could have the strength of faith
sometimes, to say as Blessed John
Henry Newman, “I do not ask to
see the distant scene, one step
enough for me.” I usually want to
see the whole picture and have the
ending to a particular chapter in my
life right away and in great detail. It
is not that I am cowardly by nature,
but in the day-to-day living out of
my faith, it is not just about
intellectual assent to the truths of
the Faith, but the surrendering of
my will and life to God and total
trust in His providence, and that
can be a bit scary. There is so much
to reflect on for this new Year of
Faith. The Catholicism Series gives
“food for thought”. Our Concert
perhaps might give some new
insights and inspiration through the
music and personal testimonies.
This article, I hope, might have
helped scratch the surface a little
deeper into how wonderful and
what a privilege it is to have the gift
of faith and the joy of being a
Catholic. I close with two
Scriptures: Hebrews 11-1 “Now
Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.” And Matthew 19:26 But
Jesus looked at them and said to
them, “With men this is impossible,
but with God all things are
possible.” So, let us all sing with
joy at Mass and listen with our
minds and hearts to the words of
each hymn, that our minds and
hearts be pointed more deeply
toward the mystery of the presence
of Jesus in the Eucharist, and that
our spirits may leave renewed and
refreshed in our Faith!
Page 20
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Knightly News
by Frank Becht, PGK
Resurrection Pastoral change
On Sunday, September 2,
Father Jason was no longer Pastor
of Resurrection Parish; he became
the new pastor of Elizabeth Ann
Seton Parish at Palm Coast. On that
same Sunday, Father Steven Zehler
was no longer parochial vicar at
Holy Family Parish at South
Jacksonville; he became the new
pastor of Resurrection parish. On
October 7, following the 8:30 a.m.
Mass, a special welcome breakfast
was held to welcome Father Steven
at The Resurrection Hall.
We Knights are sorry to lose
Father Jason, for we enjoyed
having him say our First Friday
Mass occasionally. At the same
time we, of Christ the King, look
forward
to
renewing
old
acquaintances with Father Steven
who was once Parochial Vicar at
Christ the King.
First Friday Mass
First Friday Mass on September
7 was not well attended; in fact for
the last two, this has been the case.
Many lay the blame on the fact that
no evening meal was provided.
Laura was out of town on both
occasions. We missed you, Laura!
Brotherly Care
After several months of
surviving without a program
chairman, Brotherly Care is now
under the able direction of Ramon
Day and his wife, Mary. Ramon
announced at the September 11
meeting that he was in hopes of
forming a committee to adopt some
specific ways in which to help our
sick and distressed. Brotherly Care
will continue to meet for Mass at
8:15 a.m. at Christ the King
followed by visitations.
Road Cleanup
Road Cleanup on Lone star
Road took place at 9:00 a.m. under
the direction of Past Grand Knight
Dennis Scobie.
K’Cees Installation
On September 25, the fourth
Tuesday, the K’Cees’ Installation of
Officers took place following the
family night dinner. The following
were installed: Shirley Mosley,
President; Virginia Moore, Vicepresident;
Darlene
O’Neal,
Treasurer; Susan Roche, Secretary.
It was a well-attended fun-filled
night.
Country Store
On October 12 and 13 and after
Masses on October 14, Charm
Saults and her committee
conducted a country store sale that
resulted in a profit of $5,743.40 for
the Christ the King School. The
Knights of Columbus Council 4727
cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, and
beans to support the effort on
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
HHS MANDATE
The Knights of Columbus filed
a formal complaint with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
services on June 19, calling on the
government to rethink the health
care mandate that seeks to force
many Catholic employers to
provide coverage of contraception
and other procedures that violate
Catholic teaching.
In sum, the letter urges that
“whatever the intent of the
mandate, and whatever form it
takes, it should not compel
religious individuals to pay for
what they believe is morally wrong.
It is time for this administration to
chart another course.”
Christ the King
School Honorees
On
Tuesday,
October 23, Council
4727 cooked a
delicious breakfast
in the Shirley David
Hall for the Christ
the King School
Honor students. There was a total of 55 Christ the King
students to make the Honor Roll. This is a tremendous
tribute to the students and the staff of Christ the King
School and Principal Stephanie Chinault.
40 Days For Life
Past Grand Knight Dennis
Scobie enlisted the Knights of
Columbus to stand in prayer and
protest against abortion on
University Boulevard at the new
Planned Parenthood site at Powers
Ave. Time assigned was 8:00 a.m.
to 10:00 a.m. on all Tuesdays in
October. Each Tuesday several
On Tuesday, October 9, Trudy
people from Christ the King pray
Prez-Poveda, Director of 40 Days
the Rosary.
for Life, held an impromptu
meeting with the Knights and the
K’Cees. There was an excellent
turnout supporting 40 Days for Life
efforts to oppose abortion and
Trudy expressed appreciation for
the efforts of the Knights of
Columbus.
On Friday, October 19, at 2:00
p.m., Father Pawel Duda led the
recital of the Rosary; at 2:30 p.m.,
Father Duda led the recital of the
Divine Mercy Chaplet for those in
attendance.
Military Scholarship Program
We previously wrote an article regarding the scholarship
program of the Knights of Columbus which is under the
direction of Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard, Past Grand
Knight of Council 4727, Past State Deputy of Florida and
numerous other State positions.
Dennis has recently informed us that he has been
traveling Asia and Europe instituting the Fourth Degree of the
Knights of Columbus. While on a stop in Kaiserslautern,
Germany visiting the Ramstein Air Force Base, he held a
Fourth Degree Exemplification on Saturday, October 13,
2012 for 120 of our active military members, Department of
Defense and civilian employees.
Three
of
the
candidates included His
Excellency Bishop F. Richard Spencer of the Archdiocese for Military Services, Rear Admiral John
Messerschmidt, USN and a young man who approached me when he heard them read my bio and found that I was
from Christ the King in Jacksonville.
“He came up to me and introduced himself as Michael Thanh Nguyen, a member of Christ the King and that
he was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Do. I told him how well Linda and I knew his family and how pleased I was
to Knight him during the ceremony.”
“We spoke for a short while and I advised him that I would seek to have an article in the Courier along with a
photo and that a photo would be given his grandparents.”
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 21
Knightly News
Holy Rosary Procession
The annual Holy Rosary March and Mass took
place at Christ the King on Saturday, October 6, at
8:00 a.m. A reception in the parish hall followed.
Our Christ the King Parish community and the
Knights of Columbus paid homage to our Blessed
Lady with a huge turnout.
Family
Putt
Putt
Golf
Tournament
On September 23, the first
attempt at a family mini-golf
tournament was held at Adventure
Landing in Jacksonville Beach.
The purpose was to bring families
together
including
parents,
grandparents, kids and grandkids
to an event they can share with
other families. Young and old came
together for a fun-filled event.
There was a good turnout and some
good photos taken.
Memorial Service
The Annual Memorial Service was held on
Friday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Council hall.
This included a Mass, followed by the Memorial
service and dinner. The Memorial service involves calling the name of each
deceased member of the council after which a candle is lit in his memory.
Relatives are encouraged to come forward to light the candle to honor their
deceased member. Names of deceased K’Cees were read and a candle lit in
their honor. This ceremony was under the direction of Past Grand
Knight/Financial Secretary Ralph Mosely. The attendance was excellent.
Wives Appreciation Night
On Saturday, August 18, the
annual Wives Appreciation Night was
held at Epping Forest Club. There
was a good attendance of 59
husbands and wives plus Father
Thanh, Father Jason and Father
Pawel. Following a sumptuous
dinner, a tour of the premises took
place. To the amazement of many
they learned of the history involving
the famous Dupont Foundation.
Page 22
Christ the King Courier
One More Saved!
Stories of Hope
by Carol-Ann Black
Emergency Pregnancy Services presented its annual
Stories of Hope celebration and dinner on October 13 at
the Southpoint Marriot. The Executive Director of EPS,
Suzanne Crittenden, bade us welcome and quickly
introduced Ms. Sapphira Smoak, who shared her story
of hope. Already a single mother of one child, holding
down a job to survive and nearly through her college
degree program, another baby would not be possible.
She thought. Then she met up with the counselors at
EPS and the ultrasound image of her new baby. The
counseling they provided and the support that they were
able to generate for her, changed her heart and changed
her decision. Sapphira’s little boy was born in
September, and she will continue on to become, later
this year, the first college graduate in her family.
After a delicious dinner, Alexandra Demetree, a
Jacksonville native and thriving Nashville recording
artist, sang three selections for us. It was easy to see
why she hasn’t stopped singing since the very beginning
of her musical career—-aged two, on top of the pool
table, singing Christmas carols for her grandmother’s
bridge group. Her God Bless America was a good segue
to the feature speaker of the evening, Rick Santorum.
Mr. Santorum was not only thought-provoking, but
entertaining as he spoke of his recent run for the
presidential nomination, his commitment to pro-life
issues, his family, his perspective on governance and
our God-given right to life and liberty. (The American
Revolution compared with the French Revolution: Godgiven rights vs. state-granted rights.) I believe that the
most interesting assertion he made was that it was okay
to be pro-life—- to check that box—-but for goodness
sake, don’t talk about it. It would be an “inconvenient
truth” and would doom you politically. And he spoke
with admiration and encouragement for Emergency
Pregnancy Services. The example provided by the
organization prompted people to think about the
mission of EPS and invite their support.
The evening finished with another musical selection
by Ms. Demetree and we all returned home having been
well fed, well informed, and wonderfully entertained.
Charlene
The proceeds of this benefit concert will go to Charlene
Montague who will undergo a second kidney transplant in the
near future. Charlene is a long-time parishioner and the
gracious and dedicated Mom of Christ the King’s favorite
violinist, Edward Latimer. Please, be generous.
November 2012
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Page 23
I Have No Purpose Anymore
by Jeanette Ghioto
Every life has a purpose. Sometimes it’s
really hard to see that purpose - the handicapped
person; the person who survives an accident,
maimed for life. Why? The child underwater for
10 minutes survives with no damage. The next
child is under for three minutes and dies? Why?
We don’t know. And because we don’t know, we
have to trust in God or our higher power that
there is purpose in everything - even suffering.
We don’t know. And because we don’t know, we
have to accept the cards we are dealt and play
them in faith until the last one.
A person who chooses to kill himself sends
ripples - just like the man in this article who
contemplates his death because he cannot see
further than his pain and suffering, and the pain
he is forcing upon others - unless he stops to
consider the impact of his death on other lives.
Our lives are a delicate and intricate web. Our
decisions have impact, just as in this imaginary
letter written by a father to his son who is
considering suicide.
Dear son,
Wow, I can see what you are going through
and I am so sad. Your pain is unbearable. I
know. The expenses are ridiculous. I know. I
took the same way out - thinking it would be the
best all around. But I didn’t have a clue. That
sweet nurse who came by my bed every
morning said that I was her reason to go on.
Four kids - no husband - bills out the wazoo, but
I inspired her. I didn’t believe her. I made the
same decision you are planning. When she
found me the next morning, it was more than she
could bear and she killed herself too. I not only
have the pain of my own death, but that of this
sweet young woman. Now those kids are
orphans and have been remanded to the state.
There was a plan for me - God’s plan. But I
thought I knew better - just like you think you
know better. But you are wrong. There is a time
and a purpose to everything. It’s true. Allow
your life to play out as God planned. You don’t
have to use extraordinary measures to prolong
your life. Let God come and get you. I wish I
had.
Love, Dad
Life is too precious - all life - even when
sense cannot be made of it. Our purpose is to
leave this world a better place and we cannot do
that when we choose to cut it short. We may
have more work to do - even from our death bed.
Editor’s Note: Jeanette Ghioto, is a former
member of Christ the King, a former staff
member of Catholic Charities - Jacksonville and
the Diocese of St. Augustine, and a former staff
member of the Sulzbacher Center. Currently she
is a member of San Juan Del Rio in Saint Johns,
Florida, where she is the Facilities & Safe
Environment Coordinator and Editor of the
Parish Newsletter, the Chronicles. Jeanette’s
article was written in response to an invitation
by the Times Union to present a counterpoint to
an article written in favor of euthanasia.
Religious Article Store
Don’t miss out on the big give-away on
November 18th.
Chances are only 25 cents.
Prizes:
Fruit Gift Basket worth $35.00
Christmas decoration value $20.00
Book of your choice value $18.00
Mantel Clock value $12.00
Child’s Gift Basket according to age.
Come in and sign up in the Religious Article
Store.
Also stop by to check all the specials.
We are going into the busy season.
Stop by and see Charm,
if you have a spare hour or two.
Or call 721-0927
L’Arche Harbor
House
Living Nativity
Christ the King
Friday: December 14, 2012
Prelude: 6:30 pm
Jacksonville Suzuki Strings
Living Nativity: 7:00 pm
Epiphany: Annual International Celebration
Prepare and share your favorite ethnic dish.
We need all nationalities’ cuisines.
Check your bulletin for date and time.
Page 24
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
The Cross is Near
by Dan Scanlan
It is the defining moment of the Crucifixion, when Jesus the man
leaves the human world behind and gives His all for us.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” then He breathes His last
on the cross on Golgotha.
It is also the moment that Savannah artist Carl Fourgerousse has
captured in the clay model of the figure that will hang from a 17-foot-tall
cross as the centerpiece of Christ the King Catholic Church’s Garden of
the Paschal Mystery.
Set to be unveiled after the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, March 16,
with Bishop Felipe J. Estévez conducting the official blessing, the cross
and figure upon it are well on their way to being cast in bronze. When
erected, it will be the main focus of a garden that dramatically displays the
final moment of the crucified Christ as well as the life-giving aspects of
that death and resurrection. The cross, bearing a 9-foot-tall figure of Jesus,
will stand tall in the center of a nautilus-shaped spiral. It will be visible
among a natural cathedral of oaks from the church’s front doors. And
seven lines of blue that flow from the rocky base of the cross will
represent the life-giving aspects of His death as they end at sculptures
representing the seven Sacraments.
“I think the parishioners will say ‘Wow!’ Then the moment of
reflection comes, and the discussion will follow,” said the Father Thanh
Thai Nguyen. “The Paschal Mystery is the cornerstone of our Christian
faith and the essence of our Sacrament, and it is so wonderful that we
celebrate the Year of Faith with the dedication of this Garden of Paschal
Mystery. It is necessary to connect not only to our human suffering but to
our Catholic faith and the seven sacraments, and also enhance the beauty
of our property.”
“We wanted it to be a catechetical mediation environment where those
who come there can experience the Paschal Mystery, to understand that
the living sacrifice of God’s only begotten son was His gift to mankind,”
added parish administrator Frank Japour. “In portraying the actual
suffering Christ, as opposed to the beatific Christ, the upraised and risen
Christ, we intentionally set out to create a suffering Christ, and link it at
the same time to the agape love between the Father and his son at the time
of surrender.”
The genesis of the garden can be traced back to July 12, 2010, when
the original wooden cross atop the white fountain collapsed due to rot and
insect damage. Desiring to make better use of the one-third-acre site,
Japour said the decision was made to assemble a cross-section of church
members and come up with a more interactive design.
Chaired by architectural illustrator, Ray Christian, in August 2010,
church member and architect Dennis McLaughlin was joined by
parishioners that included this writer to begin discussing how to use the
site. The hope was to have a design realized by Easter, 2011, the main
focus a cross whose Christ figure faced not only the church’s main doors
but also the altar and the sanctuary’s main cross inside.
Father Thanh said that he hoped the figure on the new cross would
“reflect our human condition, our human experience.” And it was a
sculpture that he saw at Orlando’s Holy Land Experience – sculptor
Brenda Angel’s 16-foot-tall “The Lamb of God” – that was his inspiration.
The powerful look of pain and giving on the face of Jesus and the attitude
of His body was something that went beyond more traditional crosses, he
said.
The cross wasn’t the only key part of the garden project.
“About seven years earlier, former Christ the King parochial vicar,
Neil Carr, SJ, had suggested something more be done with the current
fountain,” Father Thanh said. Along with Jesus on the cross, Father Carr
had suggested the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation,
Holy Communion, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick be
added to the fountain. When plans turned to renovating the entire site in
2010, Father Carr’s idea was revived - a central cross and fountain
connected to sacramental sculptures.
“He [Carr] thought it needed something because water is a symbol of
life giving, and a symbol of the essence of all the sacraments in our
Catholic teaching,” Japour said.
As the design neared completion, McLaughlin had to leave to deal
with illness in his family. Parish leaders were determined to continue, so
Christian suggested Chris Flagg. Flagg Design Studios has worked on
projects as varied as the new Friendship Fountain and the Episcopal
School’s Memorial Garden. The parishioners’ committee began focusing
on a nautilus-shaped walkway design with the cross at its center and blue
lines spraying outward to end at the sacraments. Flagg and Christian
sought sculptors to submit ideas, and three finalists had some great ideas
in February. When Fougerousse made his presentation, he had sculpted
Christ’s face and two small-scale maquettes (small models). He went a
life-size step further, showing he had a “clear view of the vision we had
submitted,” Japour said.
“This guy is just brilliant, artistically,” Japour remembered. “He
brought … a collapsible 17-foot replica wooden cross and a paper cutout
of an eight-foot corpus for site positioning, which showed that he had put
a lot of thought into his initial presentation.”
With a Masters in Fine Arts, a BA in Philosophy from Franciscan
University of Steubenville and time spent in Italy immersed in Italian
Renaissance and Baroque drawing and painting techniques, the man
behind Savannah’s Red Fern Stained Glass and Fine Arts Studio was the
final choice. Fougerousse said his inspiration for the design of the Christ
figure and some features, like the upward angled face and attitude of the
body, came from numerous historical art works he saw while in Italy.
“I was looking at a certain archetype of pathos that hearkens back to
antiquity, and I was looking at some examples like the ‘Laocoön and His
Sons’ [statue]. I looked at a lot of Michelangelo works, in particular ‘The
Slaves’ and the ‘Palestrina Pieta,’ one of his later works,” Fougerousse
said. “… I saw these just before I started with the sculpture, and had
already worked out the maquette. I wasn’t really looking at any other art
work, but I was so familiar with these other figures that it crept into my
process.”
Church members have seen the maquettes and face sculpture at small
fundraising meetings. Even that small-scale work showing Fougerousse’s
design had a “tradition that would reach the hearts and souls of our
parishioners,” Father Thanh said.
“Even in its abstraction, particularly the anatomical representation
was brilliant,” Japour remembered. “The positioning, the torque of the
head, made it readily apparent that Carl was going to be able to capture
what we were trying to portray. The parishioner response was one of great
excitement, and one of a buy-in, if you will. The financial support speaks
for itself.”
Committee members have taken trips to Savannah to watch
Fougerousse’s progress as he lay clay on a frame and sculpted it into a
muscular Christ figure. Seemingly pulling away from the cross that holds
him earthbound, the Christ
figure’s hands and a foot
have nails embedded in
them. A crown of thorns
wreathes His head as His
eyes look heavenward, a
look of sadness and
determination
on
the
bearded face. Scourge
marks are visible on His
back, while the gash made
by the Roman soldier’s
sword in His right side
looks like it just happened.
The close-to-final result took about six months, and as seen in early
October, left the committee “in awe,” Japour said.
“Every aspect of the presentation takes on a different dynamic every
time you look at it. It commands you to move; it makes you look around
the next corner to see what’s there,” he said. “We wanted something that’s
going to intrigue the mind and the eye and cause one to spend time on
what they are looking at.”
Father Thanh said the artist has the gift of “bringing forth the meaning
of the Paschal Mystery.” “That is death and suffering, but there is
something beyond that suffering that gives us the direction to cope with
the suffering in the human life,” he said. “The suffering is there, no doubt
about that. There is some sort of connection with God. … He is trying to
use the last-minute strength to reach to God.”
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
The Cross is Near
“When people see it in its completed state, it really allows me to see
the impact on those not so closely tied in,” he said. “The reactions have
been very overwhelming and humbling to me as an artist. I really see the
hand of God in this piece. It exceeds on some level my capabilities. I am
really appreciative of the opportunity and the guidance.”
Molds of the Christ figure and the cross were done in mid-October
and sent to the foundry in Sarasota. Fougerousse assisted the mold maker
when he came in from Atlanta. And as the 10 molds of the figure are done,
he said he will be there to help rebuild them into the whole.
“I will go down when the waxes are pulled for the lost wax process
and make sure it is the way I want it to blend and looks the way it did in
the clay piece,” he said. “They will cast all the parts in metal and weld
them together.”
“Once welded,” Fougerousse said, “I will be there to make sure the
welded seams have been smoothed. Then I will reintroduce the texture
that came from my tools and my hands.”
The finished works will be trucked to Jacksonville just before the
unveiling as the centerpiece of the first phase. The cross will be on a gentle rise at the center of a curving walkway that circles its base. The cross
will stand in a mound of weathered rounded rocks with water trickling
through crevices into a small circular pool, surrounded by a wider base of
rocks. Seven rays of blue tile or a blue glass-filled runnel will spray out
from its base to small sculptures of the seven sacraments, the cross as well
as smaller sculptures. Landscaping, seating and kneelers are also included in the first phase, which will cost $290,000. Most of that has been
raised already.
The second phase, estimated at $100,000, will relocate the existing
parking spaces immediately behind the rectory in the circular drive to a
new parking lot to be constructed in front of the rectory. The redesign will
include five handicap spaces and four open spaces as well as inclusion of
a ramp to provide handicap accessibility to the rectory and improved
handicap accessibility to the main church. This sorely needed initiative
will commence when Phase I is completed in the spring and as funding is
forthcoming. Future developments include a fire pit to burn year-old
Palm Sunday fronds for Ash Wednesday as well as curved rows of seating facing the cross within the curving walkway around it. A dramatic representation of Christ’s tomb is also planned on the base of the berm on the
cross’s east side.
Page 25
Be Above the Vote
by Brian Stong
Hopefully, the election has gone the way you wanted it to. This is
being written two weeks prior to the election, so I seek to write something
that will not seem dated, as most writing on political minutiae so often
does. (Ever try to work your way through an old Newsweek or National
Review at a doctor’s office and realize just how wrong everyone was,
how groundless their opinions were, etc.?)
And how better to transcend this petty season than with speaking of
the eternal and universal Church and our duty to her?
First off, I just want to note that elections come, and each one is
drummed up as the most important election of our lifetime, and we as
Catholics and good citizens often find ourselves swept up in the fervor to
put people in charge who will “push America forward!” and save everyone from any type of pain or hardship. These certainly seem like nice
goals for anyone to want, Catholics included.
By now the Romney/Obama thing is done. The important thing that
remains standing, and will always remain standing, is our mother Church.
And, thanks be to God, and to the centuries of wise and guided Church
leaders, the Church is apolitical. It does not endorse candidates. It brings
attention to issues that no Catholic in good conscience can support, but it
always stops short of endorsements.
Because the Church is above politics, it is above worldly power.
Christ gave us the powers of Truth and Love to transcend these. In the
recently published Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI explains these
concepts beautifully by pointing to Jesus and Pontius Pilate’s confrontation on power and truth. “Jesus defines as the essence of his kingship witness to the truth. Is truth a political category? Or has Jesus’ “kingdom”
nothing to do with politics? To which order does it belong? If Jesus bases
his concept of kingship and kingdom on truth as the fundamental category, then it is entirely understandable that the pragmatic Pilate asks him:
‘What is truth?’”
The Truth of Christ is very hard for political leaders, like Pilate, to
grasp. It has to do with kingdoms without armies, strength through humility, and basic earthly powerlessness. It has to do with dying on a cross
instead of receiving chants like Barabbas, the political militant. Votes, like
chants, are a form of earthly power. Truth does not receive votes.
Likewise, votes do not create Truth. The act of pushing a button on a
voting machine (or getting a hundred other people to push the same button) does not do anything hugely significant for building the kingdom of
God; the kingdom of Truth. In essence it is voting for someone else to
take care of our and other people’s problems, at best. At worst it is a vote
for terrible things like abortion and euthanasia and war. Is this the type of
radical love we are called to? Is this the type of radical love Jesus died
for? I don’t think so.
If we dramatize this act of voting to be so great, then it will make great
acts ring hollow and secondary in importance. Great acts like feeding the
hungry, helping pregnant mothers in need, forgoing a significant portion
of the fruits of your labors for charity, spending time with our Lord in
adoration, raising your children virtuously, heck, befriending the annoying person at work, not gossiping about him with the others, being a person of inner peace who can reflect, like a still pond, the radiance of God.
So even if you think voting is a great and noble thing to do, then
please move beyond it to do things that are infinitely greater and nobler
for our mother Church. We as Catholics pour way too much blood, sweat,
and tears into who is getting these government jobs that we Americans
pay for. Let’s not pay them any more money or attention than they
deserve, and get on with our primary objective of building the Kingdom
of God. Let us strive to be the Church as much as possible, following her
lead in being above politics and struggles for worldly power. Let us work
for Him, not merely vote for them.
Page 26
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
OH, HENRY!
by Paul Ghiotto
Surely everybody knows Henry Thanh Nguyen! Henry, 56, is the #2
man on the maintenance staff at Christ the King Church and School. You
can always tell the difference between Henry and the #1 man, Mike
Klima, because Mike usually wears shorts even on the coldest days and
Henry always wears long pants; that and the fact that Henry is Asian
(Vietnamese) (note: see inset picture) and Mike is not!
Henry is also the son-in-law of the ever present and hard-working duo
of Mr. Kim Do and Mrs. Hoa Do. EVERYBODY knows Mr. and Mrs.
Do!
Henry has been working at Christ the King since 1993. But how did
Henry get here and when? For, as they say in the American South, he
“ain’t from around heah!”
Hien (“Henry”) Nguyen is a native of the city of Thai Binh in the
northern part of Vietnam. He was born on June 5, 1954. Henry’s father
died when he was only six months old. Henry had only one brother who
died when he was less than a year old.
Henry and his mother, Boan Nguyen, moved south to Saigon in the
latter part of 1954. When some time later his mother remarried and moved
to Vung Tau, Henry stayed behind with an aunt in Saigon.
Henry attended a private school in Saigon through the eighth grade.
He remembers that, with warfare affecting the countryside outside
Saigon, danger was always present. For Henry, growing up in war-torn
Vietnam was a hard existence. Henry remembers working when not in
school in order to merely survive – a totally different lifestyle from what
the schoolchildren, like me, experienced growing up half a world away in
Jacksonville, Florida.
When he was 18 he joined the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) and
became a paratrooper in the 8th Airborne in which a cousin had
previously served. Henry was a proud “airborne” soldier whose unit was
constantly in action until the fall of Saigon to Communist forces in April,
1975. Fortunately for him, he was never wounded but witnessed some
horrific events during his time in uniform.
Shortly after Saigon’s fall Henry and many ARVN units moved south
through the jungle and waterways to Vung Tau on the coast where it was
learned that a cargo ship was boarding people for an escape trip to Guam.
Henry remembers vividly how he cried as the ship pulled away from his
native country since he never had imagined he would ever leave it.
Henry, his mother, and about 20 other family members spent about
three months in Guam before boarding a commercial flight from Guam to
a refugee resettlement center at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas.
Henry remembers spending about two months there before being sent
to a sponsor family in Long Island, NY under an arrangement made
through Lutheran Social services and the Catholic Relief Society. For a
time he helped out as a counselor and driver for new refugee families
before getting work in a lamp factory. Not being able to speak any English
he attended some English language classes when not working but said he
was mostly self-taught by listening to the radio and watching TV. (note:
Father Thanh sometimes jokes that he speaks “Boston-English”; can you
imagine trying to learn English in Arkansas and New York?!)
After five cold winters in Long Island, Henry headed south to the
warmer Vietnam-like climate of Pensacola, FL where an uncle of his had
resettled. It turns out that his uncle knew some people in Jacksonville –
the Do family – and Henry came to seek work as a machinist at a
promised job that never
materialized. During his
stay Henry met the Do’s
daughter, Nu.
It wasn’t too long
afterwards when events
occurred which led to
Henry and Nu getting to
know each other better
which led to their marriage
in Pensacola in June of
1980. Henry and Nu had
three boys born to them
while living in Pensacola.
They are Michael Thanh,
30, who now lives in
Germany where he is
serving in the U. S. Air
Force; Peter Thanh, 27,
who lives with his parents
in Jacksonville; and Paul
Thanh, 23 who lives in
Seattle. Each son is still
single.
Henry, Nu and the boys relocated to Jacksonville in 1993 when
Monsignor Danaher offered him the job he holds today. (note: Henry’s
mother died in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1996). Nu also got a position at
Christ the King School where she worked in the cafeteria as a cook for ten
years before moving on to a similar position at UNF.
In our conversation for this article I asked Henry if while growing up
in Vietnam he had ever heard of Florida or Jacksonville. He said that he
hadn’t – just like I had never heard of Vietnam while growing up in
Jacksonville and attending first Christ the King School and then Bishop
Kenny.
Henry says the best part of working at Christ the King is getting to
help others and meet so many nice people.
It’s of interest to note that Henry Nguyen is not the first refugee from
a war torn country who has worked in Christ the King’s maintenance
division. Long time Christ the King parishioners remember fondly the
school’s original custodian, Richard Schlinkman, who emigrated to the
U.S. with his wife after World War II from Germany and were fixtures in
the parish for many, many years.
Henry told me that he might want to return to Vietnam for a visit
someday but only if the Communist regime there is replaced and
conditions can return to what he knew.
This past summer Henry discovered that there was a former member
of the 6th Airborne ARVN, a captain, living in Jacksonville. They have
become good friends and traveled together to Columbus, GA where they
and about 70 other Vietnamese comrades visited The U.S. Army Infantry
Museum when it dedicated a monument to Vietnamese and U.S.
paratroopers. For the first time he plans to attend his old unit’s next
reunion to be held in Atlanta in 2013.
So there you have it readers. Henry Nguyen – airborne soldier; a true
Vietnam veteran right here at Christ the King!
Happy Thanksgiving
November 2012
Christ the King Catholic Church
Annual Christmas Play
by Stephanie Chinault
Christ the King School’s annual
Christmas play is currently in rehearsal and
looks to be one of the best to date. The Story
of Little Elf showcases fifth grader, Katherine
Richman, as Little Elf, one of Santa’s helpers
who does not know the true meaning of
Christmas. With help from her older and
wiser colleagues, Little Elf learns that the true
meaning of Christmas lies in our hearts and
that love is the driving force to all success.
All productions at Christ the King School
provide learning experiences for our students.
The entire school will be involved in this production. Students learn concepts of stage performance, as well as behind the scenes work. Students will be seen as
elves, soldiers, sheep, shepherds, angels, townspeople, magi and ballerina dolls. A large choir of students in grades three and four will provide
the music. Under the direction of music teacher, Mrs. Cindy Stillson, the
students are responsible for all aspects of this production, including monitoring dressing rooms and costumes, working behind the scenes in helping with set construction and decoration, as well as being apprentices to
Mr. Peter House in running the technical aspects of the show. The eighth
grade cheerleaders are also working on their own choreography as dancing elves.
The Story of Little Elf will be performed on Tuesday evening,
December 18, 2012 at 7:00p.m. in the Blessed Mother Kingdome. All are
welcomed to attend and support the arts program at the school.
Page 27
Bishop Kenny High School
1st Quarter Honor Roll
2012-2013
Grade Level 9
Grade Level 11
Harrison Abercrombie
Shelby Asher
Emily Duncan
Reem Farhat
Gabriella Holbrook
Alexandra Korkmaz
Christopher Luyando
Alexander Mann
Carolyn Morgan
Michael O’Connell
Andy Quach
Jennifer Saliba
Vanessa Sell
Asia Thorpe
Jennifer Vega
David Williams
Sydney Williams
Katherine Wnuk
Rhett Butler
Nate Caron
Brandon Diaz
Matthew Dinh
Rebecca Jones
Ezekiel Juego
Brendan McClellan
Ryan Mollenhour
William Morgan
Elizabeth O’Malley
Joseph Parker
Chelsea Pollett
Royce Reyes
Katie Smith
Kelsey Smith
Courtney Wildes
David Yarborough
Grade Level 10
Grade Level 12
John Ashley
Jeffrey Dela Cruz
Julia Eason
Rachel House
Cassidy Lewis
David Longenecker
Mathew Lynch
Cody McElveen
Paola Ramos
Daniel Sanford Jr.
Megan Schroder
Kelly Wolfe
Austin Asher
Christian Mikel Chan
Darby Clower
Palmer Frye
Stephanie Grochmal
Nicholas Johnson
Andrew Raesemann
Kaitlyn Tackett
Aleeza Tecson
JohnLuke Vega
Mark Wnuk
The Country Store
RCIA Update - 2012
by Darlene O’Neal
The “Year of Faith,” which began October 11, 2012, has brought some
new and exciting changes to the RCIA program. This year Father Thanh
is teaching at most of the sessions, along with Deacon James Scott and
George Barletta.
Father Thanh, Deacon James and George spent many months planning
each session for this year. George wrote the opening and closing prayers
to be said each week and the “Our Father” was permanently added to the
closing prayers.
New people have been added to the team and a new list of sponsors is
being compiled. Ideally, a roster of sponsors on a permanent list would
immediately provide someone to sponsor a candidate or catechumen
when the need arises. Sponsors must be committed to the RCIA process,
parish community and ministry. They are expected to be a spiritual companion who is willing and able to share their faith.
In the upcoming months there will be rites, scrutinies, special events or
functions, as well as a day for discernment. Additional RCIA updates
will be featured in future editions of the Courier.
Charm is proud to announce that the Country Store made $5,743.40
toward the iPads for the teachers at Christ the King School. We would like
to say Thank You to:
Larry Turner
Rob Cartwright
Barbara Dupuis
Rosemary Shami
Denise Smith
Janel Palomo
GiGi Reyes
Yolanda Cerqueira
Ed Wey
Miguel Suazo
Tom Thornton
Paul Ghiotto
JoAnn Wnuk
Laura Drozdrowski
Gregory Harden
Mary Ann Harden
Annie Sabatino
Kitty Kowalski
Stanley Moore
Gary Hunter
Diane Shami
Anne Shami
And for all the others who volunteered.
Thank you also to those who donated necessary supplies. We couldn’t
do this project without them.
Spring Country Store will be April 12, 13, and 14.
Page 28
Christ the King Courier
November 2012
Father Amar
by Frank Becht
His father was in business as a farm equipment contractor/distributor
in early life and then in the transport business. His mother has always
been a housewife.
Father Amar is 30 years of age with one older brother Anand and an
older sister Anuja. They were born in a village called Thimmarao Pet, St.
Peter’s Chair Parish. It is from this little village and church that 30 priests
and 50 religious sisters and nuns have come into God’s service. The
school, St. Theresa’s, was run by St. Ann’s of the Catechist Sisters.
His older brother is CEO of a software company called “Techno
Brain;” he recently moved to India from the United States along with his
family which includes two daughters aged six and three years. His older
sister and her husband are both government (public school) teachers
working in the Warangal district. They have one son, eight years of age.
After the fourth grade, Father Amar’s family moved to a small town
about 30 miles away known as Cathedral Parish of Fathima Nagar, which
is the main Catholic center of the Diocese. This move by the family was
the result of his father giving up his business and dedicating his life for
social service to become the Diocesan Youth Director for the Diocese of
Warangal in 2004. He is also actively involved in Cathedral Parish
activities. It was here that Father Amar continued his education from
grades five thru ten in St. Gabriel’s High School run by the Montfort
Brothers.
Father Amar was born as Ararnath Nagothu in Fathima Ngar
Warangal, Andhra, Pradeph, India. His parents are Balaswamy and Albina
Nagothu. They are an avid Catholic family whose grandfather’s sister was
a Catholic nun of the Order of St. Ann.
After the tenth grade, Father Amar entered the seminary, the
Missionary Congregation of MSFS (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales).
His seminary life of 12 years is broken down by him as follows:
vOne year of orientation.
vTwo years of finalizing grades 11 and 12 plus religious education.
vNovitiate - One year of formation after which the candidate is
initiated into religious life.
vPhilosophy- Three years of College and Philosophy.
vRegency- One year of community experience in religious order.
vTheology-Three years and 6 months.
vDeacon- Ordained Deacon on January 20, 2008; six months parish
duty.
vOrdination- Moment of his life! Ordained by Bishop Thumma Bala
of Warangal Diocese on April 20, 2009.
Following his ordination, he served the following assignments:
vApril 2009 - May 2010; Assistant Parish Priest, teaching staff and
Procurator, Mother of Compassion Church and SFS School,
Medipally.
vMay2010 - May 2011; Vocation Promoter of MSFS Visakhapatnam
Province; Procurator, Staff of MSFS Minor Seminary, and Teaching
Staff of SFS Junior College.
vMay 2011 - October, 2012 - High school teaching staff at St.
Aloysius Anglo Indian High school, Visakhapatnam.
vOctober 2012 -–To Date - Parochial Vicar, Christ the King Church.
vRetreats conducted:
Three-day retreat for Mission Parish of Mangalapalem.
Lenten retreat at Yanam Parish, Visakhapatnam Arch Diocese.
Lenten retreat at Divine Mercy Center, Hubsi Guda Hyderabad.
Heralds of good news seminarians, Nidadavole for three days –
December 2010.
Three-day retreat for Holy Cross sisters, Nidadavote in December
2010.
Every Wednesday personality development classes and counseling for
the Students of Holy Cross Community College, Nidadavole from
July 2010-11.
vParish retreats in:
Lourdu Matha Parish, Visakhapatnam, October 28-29, 2011.
St. Ann’s Co-cathedral Parish, Visakhapatnam, December 20-21,
2011.
Our Lady of Good Health Parish, Ballepali, Khammam March 14-16,
2012.
St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Kanchili, March 18-20, 2012.
Father Amar likes to read and write. His favorite book is Introduction
to Devout Life and Love of God by St, Francis de Sales. He has written
spiritual articles for a Telugu language (a local language) spiritual
magazine Visakhapuri Mary Matha published by the Ross Hill Shrine
managed by MSFS. He has special interests in providing education to the
poor and orphaned children, strengthening the bond of relations in
families by family counseling and family prayers. He also strives to
enlighten youth of their duties and responsibilities, and to become a
source of relief to the sick and elderly.
I am impressed with what Father Amar has accomplished in the three
short years since his ordination. The assignments he received indicate an
above average intellect and an above average ability to communicate with
others.
We can expect articles for the Courier, Alleluia!!!
Father Amar, we welcome you to Christ the King and look forward to
a long and good relationship with you.