Volume 5 • Number 01 • week OF January 12, 2017
The 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass and
Celebration will take place again at the Cathedral
of Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., on
January 16, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. with a prelude by the
Voices of St. Augustine. The theme is “Living the
Legacy of Peace and Justice.” The celebrant and
homilist is Most Rev. Martin D. Holley, Bishop of
Memphis. The choir is the Voices of St. Augustine with
Mr. Robert Clayborn, director and pianist. Liturgical
dancers are the St. Augustine Liturgical Dancers and
the Barbara Tyler drummers. Mrs. Bertha Gilmore,
director of Religious Education at St. Augustine
Church, will be the recipient of the Dr. James W.
Hose Evangelization Award. The Sister Thea Bowman
Service Awards go to Holy Spirit Church Lunch
Servers at Holy Names on Mondays and the St. Louis
Church Lunch Servers at Holy Names on Wednesdays.
All are invited to come.
The 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass and
Celebration will take place at the Cathedral of
Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., on
January 16, 2017.
Bishop Steib celebrates Mass for 50
years of priesthood
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 Most Reverend J. Terry
Steib, SVD, bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of
Memphis in Tennessee, celebrated the 50th anniversary
of his priestly ordination with the Eucharistic Liturgy
at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Memphis.
Bishop Emeritus Steib was ordained to the priesthood
on January 6, 1967, as a member of the Divine Word
Missionaries. During his priesthood, he served many
years in education as a teacher and assistant dean of
students at Divine Word Seminary in Bay St. Louis, as
well as serving as a professor at St. Stanislaus High
School. For his religious community, he was elected
as the youngest provincial superior of the Society of
Divine Word’s Southern Province, serving nearly three
terms. In addition he served as vice president of the
Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
On February 10, 1984, Bishop Steib was ordained
for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri by Archbishop
John L. May as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of
St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the archdiocese until
May 5, 1993 when, in the presence of the Most Reverend
Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, he was
(continued on page 2) More photos on page 2.
• CDOM
• Obituaries
• Lectionary
a digital Publication of the Diocese of Memphis
• Calendar
2 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Steib 50 years ...
(continued from page 1)
installed as the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese
of Memphis in Tennessee. His 23 years of service to the
Diocese were marked by strong outreach for people who
lack basic necessities and implementation of Vatican
II’s call for the laity to take an active role in the church
community.
Reflecting on his 50th anniversary to the priesthood,
Bishop Emeritus Steib said, “Looking back over the past
50 years, I am grateful to Almighty God for leading me
and guiding me in ministry to God’s people. I am grateful
to my SVD community, particularly the members of the
Southern Province, for their support and friendship over
the years. I am grateful to my family for keeping me
strong in the faith through their love for the Church. I am
grateful to the people of God in all the places I served
as pastor and shepherd. Worshipping and praising
God together, educating and being educated together,
serving each other and the poor together allowed us to
be the face of Jesus to each other, to our parishes and
neighborhood, to our nation and world.”
Week of January 12, 2017
First snow of 2017 and Calvary
Cemetery
Pat Posey, director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Memphis
Diocese
While many schools and businesses rightly closed
for safety reasons on Jan. 6, staff for the Historic
Calvary Catholic Cemetery braved the conditions
and went to work. Finding a blanket of white over
monuments and greenery, they took photos that
captured the light, blowing snow.
During 2017, Calvary Catholic Cemetery celebrates
150 years of its ministry, carrying out the corporal
works of mercy here in the Church of West Tennessee.
It would be an understatement to say that Memphis
and general society have gone through many changes
since the cemetery’s opening in 1867. When it was
founded, society, in general, encouraged families to
visit the graves of deceased relatives on a regular
basis. To enjoy the cemetery’s park-like atmosphere
of beautiful flowers, shrubbery and statues, cemetery
visitors often brought flowering plants to place on
the gravesite. They often packed a picnic lunch and
spent the afternoon. Public transportation offered in
the city provided access to the cemetery and made
Sunday afternoon visits easy.
Even though the practice of “making an afternoon”
of a cemetery visit has faded into a bygone age, the
cemetery still accommodates family and visitors
who come to remember. The cemetery was founded
for the sacred religious function of burial, and staff
members continue to take care of the resting places
of our faithfully departed brothers and sisters who are
buried on its sacred grounds.
For more on Catholic cemeteries of Memphis, go
to http://www.cdom.org/cemeteries, or call (901) 9481529.
3 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Catholic nun organizes national preinauguration event to foster peace
By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service
Sister Rita Petruziello said she could feel the
“contention and nastiness” in the air during the
presidential election campaign of the last year. Instead
of getting better as the process went along, it kept
getting worse.
“It didn’t matter who won,” she told Catholic News
Service Jan. 3. “There would be a lot of unrest, division
and hatred.”
But she couldn’t just sit without doing anything
about it and decided to find a way to counter all those
bad feelings she was seeing and hearing.
Sister Petruziello, a member of the Sisters of the
Congregation St. Joseph in Cleveland, has since put
together Circle the City with Love, an event that seeks
to gather people across cities in the United States on
Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, have them
join hands in their respective cities and, in silence,
meditate together as a means to foster peace.
The intention behind the event is to reduce the
acrimony around the country during and after the
presidential election. The title and format had been
used before during an event in Cleveland tied to the
opening of the Republican National Convention there
in July 2016. And it must have worked, she said,
because Cleveland did not experience the violence
many had feared during the convention.
Week of January 12, 2017
country – and world – praying for peace, mercy, and
justice as we begin this new chapter in history.”
“In the aftermath of a very divisive political
season, it is vital that we move forward with mercy
and compassion toward each other,” Clifton said in an
email interview with CNS. “This event provides the
perfect opportunity for each of us to stand united in
the work to bring mercy and justice to our world.”
What she and her organization seeks most is to
bring people together in the hope of peace and healing,
she said.
“Catholic Mobilizing Network hopes that this event
can serve as an example of nonviolence throughout
our country and promote a peaceful transition of
administrations,” she said.
While registering online, organizers asked
participants to pledge to a nonviolent and nonpartisan
half hour of silence “in the spirit of love around
the inauguration of the president-elect and all the
demonstrations being held throughout the week.”
Groups, such as Act Now to Stop War and End
Racism, known as ANSWER, are organizing protests
and events on or around Inauguration Day in
Washington to voice their opposition to the incoming
president. ANSWER has said it is gathering people for
a Protest at the Inauguration: Stand Against Trump,
War, Racism and Inequality march on the day of the
inauguration. On Jan. 21, the nation’s capital will host
the Million Woman March, an event organized largely
via Facebook.
Sister Petruziello said her event is not “religious,”
nor is it partisan, and is open to anyone who “wants to
bring that peace and love into the universe, because
we need it.”
MARRIAGE MOMENTS ©
By Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net
“We had been expecting riots and nothing
happened,” she said.
So now she wants to apply the concept nationally
and has asked people around the country to organize
local events that will result in harmony, not more
rancor, prior to the inauguration of Donald J. Trump
as the country’s 45th president on Jan. 20.
More than 40 groups in 17 cities, as well as a
group in Australia – whose participants will gather
at 4 a.m. local time – have agreed to participate.
More continued signing up in early January at www.
circlecitywithlove.com, Sister Petruziello said.
Karen Clifton, of Catholic Mobilizing Network in
Washington, said her group will participate, “to stand
in solidarity with our sisters and brothers across the
In these days of racial tension, Yes, black
lives matter. Yes, all lives matter. Presumably
you’ve had to figure out how to resolve
differences in your own marriage. Do you
have friends of a different race than your own?
Relationships matter. Make friends.
4 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Celebrating National Migration Week
Week of January 12, 2017
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Combatting Human Trafficking
Beginning Sunday, Jan. 8, the Catholic Church
in the United States marks National Migration Week.
The observance began more than 25 years ago as a
way to reflect upon the many ways immigrants and
refugees have contributed to our Church and our
nation. This year, we are invited to create a culture
of encounter where citizens old and new, alongside
immigrants recent and longstanding, can share with
one another their hopes for a better life. Jesus, Mary
and Joseph knew life as refugees, so let us also begin
this encounter within our very own families.
Migration is, more than anything, an act of great
hope. Our brothers and sisters who are forced to
migrate suffer devastating family separation and most
often face dire economic conditions to the point they
cannot maintain a very basic level of living. Refugees
flee their countries due to war and persecution which
inspires them to risk everything for an opportunity
to live in peace. As Catholics in the United States,
most of us can find stories in our own families of
parents, grandparents or great-grandparents leaving
the old country for the promise of America. Take time
this Migration Week to seek out those stories. Let us
remind ourselves of those moments when our loved
ones were forced to seek the mercy of others in a new
land.
Americans have a great national heritage of
welcoming the newcomer who is willing to help
build a greater society for all. Fear and intolerance
have occasionally tested that heritage. Whether
immigrating from Ireland, Italy or countless other
countries, previous generations faced bigotry. Thanks
be to God, our nation grew beyond those divisions to
find strength in unity and inclusion. We have kept dear
the words of scripture, “do not neglect hospitality, for
through it some have unknowingly entertained angels”
(HEB 13:2).
This National Migration Week is an opportunity
to embrace the important work of continuing to
secure the border, to welcome the stranger and serve
the most vulnerable – all components of a humane
immigration policy.
In partnership with the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) is launching the “Turn on the Light” campaign
to combat human trafficking, the modern-day form of
slavery that Pope Francis has called “an open wound
on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon
the body of Christ … a crime against humanity.”
The campaign coincides with Human Trafficking
Awareness Month in January and with Human
Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11.
“There are 21 million victims of human trafficking
worldwide today,” said Joan Rosenhauer, vice
president of U.S. Operations for CRS, which is the
official overseas humanitarian agency of the Catholic
community in the United States. “In some ways, that
means there are more people in slavery than at any
time in history.”
Launched under the umbrella of Catholics
Confront Global Poverty, Turn on the Light calls on
Catholics and people of goodwill across the U.S. to
spend their consumer dollars on ethically produced
and traded products while pressing government
leaders to strengthen and enforce anti-trafficking laws.
“Poverty alone does not necessarily create
vulnerability to trafficking, but when combined with
other factors – especially civil unrest, and there is so
much of that in the world today – there is a higher risk
for being trafficked,” said Rosenhauer. “The causes
of human trafficking are complex and interlinked, so
strategies to combat it must address both supply and
demand.”
“At CRS we have fought human trafficking and
helped its victims with more than 145 projects
worldwide since 2000. Our work connects us directly
to the lived realities of those we serve and acts as the
foundation for developing and supporting policies and
procedures to fight trafficking,” she added.
Bill O’Keefe, CRS’ vice president for government
relations and advocacy, pointed out that, worldwide,
human trafficking is a $150 billion enterprise.
“People are lured away from their homes and
families with false promises of legitimate work,” he
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(continued on page 14)
5 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Maternity leave: Why the pope
wants the church to be a loving
mother
Week of January 12, 2017
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
Mother’s Day came early this year at the Vatican.
A number of feast days over the Advent and
Christmas seasons gave Pope Francis a fresh
opportunity to pay homage to the world’s mothers
and insist further on how and why he wants the entire
church to become more maternal.
But who is this archetypal mother figure the pope
upholds? Pope Francis pointed to a few of his favorite
biblical heroines, praising the seemingly contradictory
qualities of each:
Like Mary, she is silently compliant to God’s will;
like Rachel, she weeps inconsolably, drawing God’s
and the world’s attention to a reality people would
rather ignore; and like the persistent widow, she
doesn’t let being a nobody stop her from speaking up
against injustice, making a fuss and pestering the one
who does have power to make things right.
So how and why does the church need to be this
loving, humble, hard-as-nails champion? Let’s count
the ways:
• A cold, careless, selfish world thirsts for a tender
warm home.
Speaking on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, Jan.
1, Pope Francis said it’s the maternal instinct to hold,
hope and help that make up the “strongest antidote”
to the selfishness, indifference and intolerance in the
world today.
He went on to say that God chose to be “knit” inside
and born of a woman, so that he could experience a
mother’s tenderness, hear the cries of and joys of their
people, and make everyone his brother and sister in
the faith who belong to a family.
• When times get tough, who are you going to
call? Everyone, especially the lost, forgotten and
marginalized, need a strong-willed, faithful advocate
on their side.
The pope said Jan. 1 that in his pastoral ministry,
he learned so much about the meaning of true
unconditional commitment from the mothers he met
whose kids were in jail, addicted to drugs or victims
of war. Neither cold nor heat nor rain, he said, could
stop these women from fighting for something better.
Much like the persistent widow, the mothers he met
were the ones who were able to offer love and support
to their suffering children “without wavering” through
thick and thin.
A statue of Mary and the Christ child is seen in 2015 inside
Jesus the Good Shepherd Church in Dunkirk, Md. (CNS photo/
Bob Roller)
Mary shows that humility and tenderness aren’t
virtues of the weak, he said, but of the strong, and
that we don’t have to mistreat others in order to feel
important and make a difference.
• To change the world, it starts at home.
Speaking on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Dec. 12, he again highlighted “those fighting mothers”
he knew back in Latin America.
Often alone and with no help, they were able to
raise their children right, he said. Mary is our “female
fighter” facing off a mistrustful, lazy, distracted world
• “a woman who fights to strengthen the joy of the
Gospel, give flesh to the Gospel” in the world.
• To help people, you must be in touch with a hard
reality.
In a letter to the world’s bishops marking the feast
of the Holy Innocents Dec. 28, the pope said they must
listen for the sobbing of today’s mothers because there
are so many new Herods today, killing the young with
their tyranny and “unbridled thirst for power.”
Listen to where the cries are coming from, he said;
they are not to be ignored or silenced. It’s going to
take courage to first acknowledge this difficult reality
and work to ensure “the bare minimum needed so
that their dignity as God’s children will not only be
respected but, above all, defended.”
(continued on page 16)
6 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
The Most Reverend Martin D. Holley
visits Immaculate Conception in
Union City
By Lillie Vallee
On Saturday January 7, The Most Reverend Martin
D. Holley, bishop of the Memphis Diocese, visited
Immaculate Conception Church in Union City, Tenn.
He celebrated our Vigil Mass for The Epiphany of
Our Lord. During the Mass, Bishop Holley received
a welcome package, including the Keys to the City,
from Mayor Terry Halley of Union City.
HISTORIC CALVARY
CATHOLIC CEMETERY
150
YEAR CHURCH TOURS
St. Peter Church
190 Adams Avenue at Third
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-8282
Founded 1840 – Dominican Friars
www.stpeterchurch.org
Free tours of the church are offered the first Saturday of
the month (1-4 p.m.), and upon request. For information/to
schedule tours call Jane Scharding Smedley (901) 527-8282,
ext. 15. Tours for school groups provide a wider architectural
scope, Tennessee history, and references to the neighboring
Magevney House, Shelby County Courthouse, as well as
the church and its St. Martin de Porres Shrine Chapel. To
arrange a school tour: (901) 484-2330.
Anniversary
SERVING THE CATHOLIC AND
SURROUNDING MEMPHIS COMMUNITY
FROM 1867 TO PRESENT
CATHOLIC CEMETERIES
THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS
IN TENNESSEE
7 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
Women giving homily?
By Father Kenneth Doyle, Catholic News Service
Q.
At Mass, after the Gospel has been read by a priest,
can the female parish life director give the homily? With
six priests sitting down? At one of our local parishes, this
happens regularly.
Rev. Enrique Garcia
Rev. Juan Romo-Romo
Rev. Richard Cortese
Rev. Jolly Sebastian
Jan. 14
Jan. 16
Jan. 27
Jan. 31
I have been to this church on occasion, and I feel guilty for
being there to witness it – but sometimes this is my only
option. (I’m afraid to talk to my own parish priest about
this, because he might think that I am being critical or
judgmental.) (Upstate New York)
A. The current guidelines of the Catholic Church on this
matter are quite clear. The Code of Canon Law says:
“Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part
of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is
pre-eminent” (No. 767).
Similarly, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal,
which serves as the church’s liturgical “rulebook,” says,
“The homily should ordinarily be given by the priest
celebrant himself or be entrusted by him to a concelebrating
priest, or from time to time and, if appropriate, to the deacon,
but never to a layperson” (No. 66).
(I should note that in August 2016, Pope Francis appointed
a commission of six men and six women to study the issue
of women deacons, with a particular focus on their ministry
in the early church.)
In certain areas of the U.S. where priests are not available to
celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday, services are guided
by a Vatican document called “Sunday Celebrations in the
Absence of a Priest.” In such settings, a layperson can be
delegated by the local bishop to offer an explanation and
reflection on the biblical readings for the service.
Interestingly, L’Osservatore Romano (the semi-official
Vatican newspaper) published in March 2016 a series of
essays that advocated that women be permitted to preach
from the pulpit at Mass and noted that this was a regular
practice during the first thousand years of Christianity.
PARENTING POINTERS ©
By Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net
Consider starting a new family prayer tradition this
year. Try this ancient prayer: “May God bless you
and keep you! May God’s face shine upon you and
be gracious to you! May God look upon you kindly
and give you peace!” (Numbers 6:22-27)
8 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Marguerite Bourgeoys
Feast January 12 - 1620-1700
Growing up in Troyes, France, Marguerite formed
a special relationship with Our Lady. She was
turned away by two religious communities, but
met the founder of Montreal, Canada, when he
returned to France to visit his sister. He invited
Marguerite to open a school in the New World;
she went, despite misgivings, after praying to
Mary. From that first school in an abandoned
stable, her ministry grew to include teaching
women crafts and founding the Sisters of the
Congregation of Notre Dame. She managed to
keep her sisters uncloistered, despite opposition
from the bishop, and served as superior for many
years. When Pope John Paul II canonized her in
1982, she became Canada’s first woman saint.
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UPCOMING RETREATS!
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RETREAT INFORMATION.
Week of January 12, 2017
9 - The West Tennessee Catholic
The Diocese of Memphis publishes obituaries provided by the
individual parishes. If you have a question concerning an obit
please contact the parish directly.
Obituaries
BREWER
A funeral home service was conducted Dec. 29 for
Elizabeth Brewer, 91, at Memorial Park Fireside Chapel
by Rev. Ernie DeBlasio. Burial was at Memorial Park
Cemetery. Survivors include daughters, Trish A.
Brewer, Linda C. Brewer and Deborah K. Brewer; three
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
BUCHHOLZ
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 3 for
Victor Walter Buchholz Sr., 77, at St. Mary’s Catholic
Church by Rev. David Graham, concelebrant, Rev. John B.
McArthur. Burial was at Ridgecrest Cemetery. Survivors
include spouse, Helen Buchholz; daughter, Angela
LaFont; sons, Victor Buchholz Jr. and Patrick Buchholz;
sister, Linda B. Schalk; brother, Walter Buchholz Jr.; and
seven grandchildren.
BUIE
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 6 for
Karen Frances Buie, 58, at Holy Rosary Church by Rev.
James J. Martell, assisted by Rev. Mr. Rich Quinton.
Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors include
sisters, Judy Teal, Paula Griggs and Monica Hingst;
brothers, William Buie Jr. and Peter Buie; mother, Joan
L. Buie.
CASTELLO
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 13 for
Brian White Castello, 53, at St. Francis of Assisi Church
by Rev. Rob Ballman. Survivors include mother, Ruth
Kimble; and stepbrother, Kenneth Kimble.
CERNOSEK
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 30 for
Teresa Messina Cernosek, 66, at St. Brigid Church by Rev.
R. Bruce Cinquegrani. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery.
Survivors include spouse, Anthony F. Cernosek; sisters,
Rose Vala and Mary M. Castro; brother, Rev. Samuel
Messina.
Week of January 12, 2017
DOTE
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 5 for Mary
Kristen Dote, 26, at St. Ann Church by Rev. David Orsak.
Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors include
mother and father, Hollie Bryant Dote and Mark Dote;
sisters, Whitney Dote and Amber Dote; grandfather,
Eddie Bryant; grandmother, Patricia Brewer; greatgrandmother, Helen Bryant.
GONZALEZ
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 3 for
Alicia Gonzalez, 65, at St. Michael Church by Rev.
Yoelvis A. Gonzalez. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery.
GRIVICH
A funeral home service was conducted Jan. 7 for Joseph
James Grivich, 71, at Elmwood Cemetery by Rev. James
J. Martell. Burial was at Elmwood Cemetery. Survivors
include daughter, Gina Grivich Farrar; sister, Cyndy
Grivich Tucker; and two grandchildren.
HAIE
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 20 for
Myra Sue La Haie, 83, at Church of the Resurrection by
Rev. Benjamin P. Bradshaw. Burial was at Memorial Park.
Survivors include daughters, Teresa La Haie, Jeanette
Wright, Catherine Ching, Diane Turner and Joan Wren;
son, Michael La Haie; 10 grandchildren.
MANN
A funeral home service was conducted Dec. 21 for
Pamela Kay Mann, 58, at Memphis Funeral Home by
Rev. James Martell. Survivors include spouse, Philip
Mann; daughters, Jessia Dean, Morgan Mann and
Haley Johnson; brother, John McKenzie; mother, Rita
McKenzie; and one grandchild.
McCARVER
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 28 for
Aida McCarver, 86, at Holy Rosary Church by Rev. Bryan
Timby, concelebrants, Rev. Msgr. Peter Buchignani,
Rev. Msgr. Val Handwerker, Rev. James Martell, Rev.
Gary Lamb, Rev. James Clark, Rev. Russ Harbaugh, Rev.
William Burke, assisted by Rev. Mr. James McBride and
Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Drzycimski. Burial was at Memorial Park
East. Survivors include spouse, Deacon Ken McCarver;
daughter, Penny McCarver Halley; sons, Dan McCarver,
Michael McCarver, Steve McCarver, John McCarver, Greg
McCarver and Jim McCarver; 23 grandchildren and 9
great-grandchildren.
(continued on page 11)
10 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Reflections
on Sunday’s Readings
By Jean Denton, Catholic News Service
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle A. Readings: (1) Isaiah 49:3, 5-6, Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
(2) 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (Gospel) John 1:29-34
I went to the sacrament of reconciliation for the first
time at age 33 and, as a convert to Catholicism, I was
surprised by a palpable sense of relief and gratitude for
God’s forgiveness.
Years later, I’m finally coming to the deeper
understanding that reconciliation through Christ means
he has paid the ransom to free me from my sinfulness.
But how does that work exactly, I’ve wondered.
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist calls us to take a
hard look when he says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world.”
Jesus’ sacrifice was for all humanity. I can see how it
plays out in real life, at least symbolically. Our sinful acts
are wiped away by Christ living in innocent victims of
violence, oppression or discrimination when they suffer
quietly and, whether through purity or willful love, harbor
no resentment or desire for retribution or reparation.
But Jesus’ sacrifice is personal, too.
In college, one of my journalism classmates had
cerebral palsy. I admired Rich’s perseverance and abilities
particularly as a reporter for our campus newspaper. He
was amazingly good at it despite his disability and never
seeking special accommodations. As a fellow staffer, I
occasionally advocated for him especially when he needed
to interview people who were uncomfortable with his
speech impediment.
But sometimes when Rich wasn’t around, I would
joke with other reporters about some of his behaviors and
difficulties caused by his condition. He likely sensed it all
around him, but Rich never let on that he was aware of
our thoughtless, shameful attitude.
To a fault, he was thoughtful and kind to me. He was
an innocent, loving young man who chose to see only
friendship.
In Rich, I now realize, I “behold” the Lamb of God,
Christ suffering as a ransom for my sin. The person of
Christ within him replaced the burden of my sin with his
gifts of love and friendship.
It’s futile to try to repay such a sacrifice. I have nothing
to offer that is equal to Christ. Besides, according to Psalm
40, the Lord doesn’t desire “sin-offerings.”
John suggests, He wants me to accept His gift and live
through the Spirit of Jesus that I’ve received.
Week of January 12, 2017
Lectionary Readings
Year C of the Sunday Cycle
January 15-21
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
READING 1 IS 49:3, 5-6
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
READING 2 1 COR 1:1-3
GOSPEL JN 1:29-34
MONDAY, JANUARY 16
READING 1 HEB5:1-10
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4
GOSPEL MK 2:18-22
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17
READING 1 HEB 6:10-20
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 111:1-2, 4-5, 9 AND 10C
GOSPEL MK 2:23-28
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18
READING 1 HEB 7:1-3, 15-17
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4
GOSPEL MK 3:1-6
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19
READING 1 HEB 7:25—8:6
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17
GOSPEL MK 3:7-12
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
READING 1 HEB 8:6-13
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 85:8 AND 10, 11-12, 13-14
GOSPEL MK 3:13-19
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21
READING 1 HEB 9:2-3, 11-14
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
GOSPEL MK 3:20-21
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11 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
Calendar JANUARY 2017
Annual Respect Life Breakfast. 9 a.m., Holy
Rosary Catholic Church, 4851 Park Avenue,
Memphis. Speakers: Most Reverend Martin David
Holley, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Memphis in
Tennessee; Glankler Brown, PLLC; Robert Hutton,
Attorney at Law; Kent Pruett, Stand for Life Rally;
Kathy Worthy, 40 Days for Life; Cathy Reineking.
Rachel’s Vineyard. Sponsored by Respect Life
Committee. Contact Information (901) 490-6435.
14
Charismatic Healing Mass, 10 a.m., St. Mary’s
Church in 1665 Highway 45 By-Pass Jackson.
Luncheon to follow the Mass. Fr. Richard Cortese,
Celebrant.
15
7th Annual Italian Winterfest. 5 p.m., Racquet
Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Avenue. Cuisine
from 15 restaurants. Wine and soft drinks. Italian tableside music and dancing to all the greats!
Bishop Emeritus Terry Steib and Mayor Jim Strickland will be honored. Tickets are $45 per person
or $450 per table of 10 if purchased by Dec. 31,
2016. After that tickets are $50 per person and
$500 per table for 10. To reserve contact Lisa Bell
at (901) 405-3791 or Janet Donato at (901) 3731221.
27-29 QUEST retreat. For 9th and 10th grade students.
Memphis Catholic High School. QUEST centers
around a “three circles of love” theme, calling
the young people to reflect on love of self, love
of neighbor and love of God. The deadline for
registration is two weeks prior to the QUEST
weekend. Please apply as early as possible. Upon
receipt of registration and closer to the weekend,
participants will be sent additional information
and instructions. Cost is $50 and should be sent
with the registration form, which can be obtained
at www.cdom.org. For questions or additional
information, please contact Dianne Dolan at (901)
373-1292 or [email protected].
28
Marian Cenacle with Mass. held by the Marian Movement of Priests (MMP) at the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, TN.
Priests and Deacons, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Priests
and Laity, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. For more information contact Fr. Cortese at (731) 668-2596 or
[email protected].
14
Tickets are now on sale for the 7th Annual Italian
Winterfest to be held Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at the
Racquet Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Avenue,
5 p.m. Cuisine from 15 restaurants. Wine and soft
drinks. Italian tableside music and dancing to all
the greats! Bishop Emeritus Terry Steib and Mayor
Jim Strickland will be honored. Tickets are $45 per
person or $450 per table of 10 if purchased by Dec.
31, 2016. After that tickets are $50 per person and
$500 per table for 10. To reserve contact Lisa Bell at
(901) 405-3791 or Janet Donato at (901) 373-1221.
12 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
McKAY
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 20 for
Jackie Kelly McKay, 88, at Sacred Heart Church by Rev.
David M. Knight, concelebrants, Rev. Pio Estepa, SVD;
Rev. Msgr. Valentine Handwerker; Rev. Simon Thoi
Hoang, SVD. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Survivors
include nieces, Kelly Hooper Burnham and Holly Hooper
Hall; and nephew, William Frederick Hooper.
STAGOSKI
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 10 for
Robert “Bob” Stanley Stagoski, 85, at Church of the Holy
Spirit by Rev. Mr. Michael Werkhoven. Burial was at
West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Survivors include
daughter, Laura Gurley; sons, Alex Stagoski, Andrew
Stagoski and Peter Stagoski; brother, Leonard Stagoski;
12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
MOORE
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 4 for John
N. Moore, 91, at Holy Rosary Church by Rev. James J.
Martell, assisted by Rev. Mr. Rich Quinton. Interment
was at Memorial Park Mausoleum. Survivors include
daughter, Linda Smith; three grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
TINH THE TRAN
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 3 for
Thanh Tinh The Tran, 68, at Resurrection Church by Rev.
Benjamin P. Bradshaw. Burial was at All Saints Cemetery.
O’LEARY
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 23 for
Maureen Hamilton O’Leary, 91, at St. Francis of Assisi
Church by Rev. Msgr. Peter Buchignani. Burial was at
Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis. Survivors include
daughters, Molly Lochbihler, Michele Lutz and Megan
Baker; sons, Skip O’Leary, Rick O’Leary and Sean
O’Leary; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
RICOSSA
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 21
for Raymond J. “Ray” Ricossa Sr., 80, at Holy Rosary
Catholic Church by Rev. James Martell, assisted by Rev.
Mr. Rich Quinton. Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include spouse, Marie Viviani Ricossa;
daughter, Cheryl Ricossa; son, Ray Ricossa Jr.; brother,
Louis Ricossa Jr.; and three grandchildren.
RILEY
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 22 for
Jimmy Riley, 47, at St. Paul the Apostle by Rev. Johnnie
B. Smith, concelebrants, Rev. Michael Werkhoven and
Rev. Cosmas Mabu. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery.
Survivors include spouse, Mary Ann Riley; daughter,
Sarah Jessica Riley; brothers, Jack, Eddie and Pete
Anthony Riley; and mother, Sarah Harley Riley.
ROBILIO
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 19 for
Lucille “Lucy” Fury Robilio, 72, at St. Francis of Assisi
Church by Rev. Msgr. Victor Ciaramitaro. Survivors
include daughters, Beth Fatchett and Angie Joyner; son,
Frank Robilio; brother, Lee Fury; six grandchildren and
two great-grandchildren.
VALENCIA
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 31
for Cruz Valencia, 83, at Resurrection Church by Rev.
Rito de Santiago. Survivors include daughters, Monica
Parra, Norma Parra and Sandra Parra; three sisters;
two brothers; seven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.
VILLATORO
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 5 for
Karla Parada Villatoro, 41, at St. Michael Church by Rev.
Yoelvis A. Gonzalez. Burial was at Elmwood Cemetery.
Survivors include daughter, Holly Parada; and son,
Joshua Parada.
WADLEY
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 29
for Tina Renee Wadley, 56, at Holy Rosary Church by
Rev. James Martell, assisted by Rev. Mr. Rich Quinton.
Survivors include daughter, Marissa Tiller; mother,
Barbara Reed; nephew, Jennie; mother-in-law, Sue
Wadley.
WALSH
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan 3, for
Joseph Roger Walsh Jr., 92, at Holy Rosary Catholic
Church by Rev. Robert W. Marshall, concelebrants,
Rev. Msgr. J. Edwin Creary, assisted by, Rev. Mr. Rich
Quinton. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Survivors
include spouse, Patricia S. Walsh; daughters, Bevery
W. Robertson, Teresa W. Davis and Angela M. Walsh;
son, Timothy L. Walsh; sisters, Catherine W. Breit and
Mary Agnes W. Berlin; brother, Vincent J. Walsh; three
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
13 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN
Natural Family
Planning
The Billings Ovulation
Method
Totally moral, healthy,
and steroid free.
March Class Series Begins
Saturday, January 28, 2017 10 a.m.
Catholic Center - Pre-Registration Required
Register online at www.cdom.org or
call (901) 373-1285.
Next class series begins Monday, Feb. 6, 2017.
Enrich your marriage as you plan your family,
come learn the Billings Ovulation Method of
Natural Family Planning. Totally healthy. Totally
moral. Totally free from chemical hormones that can
damage a woman’s fertility. The 3 part class series
begins Saturday, January 28 at 10 a.m. at The
Catholic Center, 5825 Shelby Oaks Dr. $75.00 per
couple. Pre-registration is required. www.cdom.org
for brochure/registration-form.
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Prices starting at $2,499 ~ with Airfare Included in this price
from anywhere in the USA
Several trips to different destinations: the Holy Land; Italy; France,
Portugal, & Spain; Poland; Medjugorje, Lourdes, & Fatima; Ireland &
Scotland; England; Austria, Germany, & Switzerland; Greece &
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We also specialize in custom trips for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
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508-340-9370
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Executive Director
In order to prevent abuse and the devastating consequences for all involved,
the Diocese of Memphis is providing
information for anyone who needs
help.
Tennessee Child Abuse Hot Line
1-877-237-0004
Where to get help in the Diocese of Memphis:
Shari Lee, LCSW, DCSW - Victim Assistance Coordinator
(901) 652-4066
14 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Week of January 12, 2017
Grounded in Faith. Elevated by Excellence.
Grounded in Faith.
Elevated by Excellence.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fill the Stands with Fans
Shadow Day
7th Grade Preview Day
Pre—High School Placement Test (7th grade)
Spring Fling
February 10
February 14
March 7
March 8
April 6
For more information or to register visit
sbaeagles.org/visitsba or call 260-2840
Mission Statement of The West Tennessee Catholic - Digital Edition
The West Tennessee Catholic is a digital news publication dedicated to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ primarily with the
people of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee and, secondarily, with the world at large. The West Tennessee Catholic focuses
on presenting material which instructs the faithful in church teaching as expressed by the Pope and the Conference of Catholic
Bishops, all in accord with the Magisterium. The goal is to teach, encourage, aid in faith formation and support Catholics who seek
the truth of Christ and are working toward personal sanctity. The message is shared in a positive, family-oriented, pro-life, nonpartisan and encouraging manner. In addition, news articles emphasize local events and interests specific to our schools, parishes
and diocese which show how Catholics are answering the call to be Good Samaritans in the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee.
15 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Human Trafficking ...
Week of January 12, 2017
(continued from page 4)
said. “They end up in mines, fields, factories, farms,
construction sites, homes, hotels, restaurants and
workrooms, with low or no pay, terrible conditions,
often unable to pay off dubious debts.”
“Many of the goods they produce are sold in the
U.S.,” O’Keefe added. “We want to raise awareness
of this and ask people to use their voices and their
purchasing power to combat it.”
The ‘Turn on the Light’ campaign urges people
to contact their Senators and Representatives to
advocate for key anti-trafficking legislation and to
purchase a “Turn on the Light” soy candle made by
women who have recently resettled in the U.S. from
refugee camps. Proceeds will support CRS’ work
combating human trafficking and promoting ethical
trade practices.
To take action and for information see these
websites:
http://www.crs.org/get-involved/learn/slavery-andhuman-trafficking
http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/
http://www.
confrontglobalpoverty.org/act/action-center/
http://www.prosperitycandle.com/products/crshuman-trafficking-candle
For a brochure with complete details please contact
Fr. Bryan Timby, Our Lady of Sorrows, 3700 Thomas Street, Memphis, TN 38127-5259.
Phone (901) 353-1530 x-101 - [email protected]
16 - The West Tennessee Catholic
Maternity ...
(continued from page 5)
• Sometimes the best answer is no answer.
Pope Francis again advocated the importance of using
the heart over the head, and the church’s need to be
more sensitive to another’s pain in order to bring God’s
hope and compassion.
During his general audience Jan. 4, he talked about
Rachel’s tears being seeds of hope and the futility of
trite or insensitive speeches. Rachel’s refusal to be
consoled shows how delicately one must approach a
person in pain, the pope said.
When people are hurting, “it is necessary to share
in their desperation. In order to dry the tears from
the face of those who suffer, we must join our weeping
with theirs. This is the only way our words may truly
be able to offer a bit of hope,” he said.
Often it’s only tears that can open one’s eyes to
the realities of life that need attention, he said.
When Pope Francis dedicated his audience talk
to mothers Jan. 7, 2015, the feast of the Nativity for
the Orthodox Church, he lamented how people had
plenty of poems and “beautiful things” to say about
moms, but at the end of the day “the mother is rarely
listened to or helped in daily life.”
Not only are they “rarely considered central to
society in her role,” he said, “the mother is not always
held in the right regard, she is barely heard” in the
church, too.
With his many reflections on motherhood, the
pope is trying to bring that maternal warmth back to
the church. But he has also called for the courage “to
knock at the door” like the persistent widow because
“the Lord himself says, ‘Everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will
be opened.’”
Week of January 12, 2017
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
St. Paul Grade School- Office Manager
This position will provide clerical and administrative
support to the school as directed by the school principal
and will act as a liaison between the community, the
school, and other internal and external stakeholders.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
• Provide clerical support to principal
• Perform general office duties such as answering
phone inquiries, filing, mail, spreadsheets and journal
entries on a daily basis
• Coordinate documents for communication between
school and stakeholders
• Maintain all records for students and staff
• Perform a variety of payroll, benefit, and school
funds transactions and recordkeeping, using computer
office applications and specialized software programs
Qualifications:
• High school diploma
• Clerical experience is preferred
• Effective organization and communication skills
• Ability to work cooperatively and professionally
with others
• Ability to multitask and work with frequent
interruptions
• Ability to maintain records with a high degree of
accuracy
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all circumstances
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office and Outlook,
as well as office equipment such as copy and fax
machines and phone systems
• Willingness to learn and utilize new technology
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Director of Human Resources
5825 Shelby Oaks Drive
Memphis, TN 38134