St. Paul THE Apostle Parish

Fall 2016 – Issue #79

WELCOME TO THE LIGHT OF GOD’S MERCY

A Prayerful Celebration of Reconnecting and Renewal

in the Spirit of St. Mother Teresa

Sunday, October 23, 2016

“You [Christ] are the invisible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power

above all by forgiveness and mercy; let the Church be your visible face in the world,

its Lord risen and glorified.”

(From Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy)

In the spirit of the Year of Mercy, I want to invite everyone to come to a joyful celebration of God’s embrace of all

people in our beautiful parish church on the evening of October 23. This will be a service of a Liturgy of the Word

focusing on the need we all have to be open to the Flood of Mercy which the Father continuously pours out on all

humanity through his Son, Jesus Christ. It will be an evening for all parishioners and any others who wish to come. I

especially invite those who may no longer feel comfortable or welcome in the Catholic Church for whatever reason.

Some may remember hurts or have experienced condemnation directly or indirectly. Others may have simply lost the

habit of coming to church. This invitation is for everyone without exception. I ask parishioners and others who by

grace usually worship with us to invite friends and neighbors who are alienated or who may miss coming and just need a

little encouragement. This evening service will not be a Mass, but will be Eucharistic in tone because it will be a time of

thanksgiving for the chance to reconnect with each other and to renew our friendship with God and with our brothers

and sisters in Christ. I will preach a brief homily and Fr. Rod will sing a song he has written for the occasion.

We are humbly asking St. Teresa of Calcutta to be our special patron for this evening. She was perhaps the greatest

saint of our time. And yet she experienced a profound spiritual struggle in which she felt distant from God. In a recently

released collection of her personal letters entitled Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, she wrote “There is no God in me.”

Here is a woman whom many put on a pedestal as a living saint and as an almost perfect model of holiness. And yet

those who did this had no idea of what a saint is. Like all authentic and genuine Christians, St. Teresa of Calcutta keenly

felt the burden of her spiritual desolation and her moral failures. And yet she persisted in her faith even in the darkness

she confronted virtually every day of her life. This bleakness also helped her to understand the devastation of those

whom she served – primarily the absolutely destitute she encountered in the gutters of Calcutta, India. She writes in

one of her letters: “If I ever become a saint, I will surely be one of ‘darkness.’ I will continually be absent from heaven – to

be the light of those in darkness on earth.”

If we are honest, we will admit that each of us experiences something like what Mother Teresa is talking about here in

her letters. If we don’t face our darkness, we are fooling ourselves. If this extraordinary woman is dedicated to being

(Continued – Pastor’s Corner)

the light in our troubled lives, then she is the perfect patron for our evening of “Welcome to the Light of God’s Mercy.”

And her life is the reason for us to reach out to those in the darkness of estrangement from the church. This church by

grace continuously does the work of the Lord through its members by praying, evangelizing, and doing heroic works of

charity. And yet this all-too-human church has many reasons to do penance for its failure to be welcoming to a

multitude of men and women who have felt rejected. The evening of October 23 is an opportunity for us as the Catholic

community to be as open as possible to the light of mercy and to stretch out our hands to those whom the church has

left behind and/or who have left the church for whatever reason. This can be an embrace of mercy for such folks – and

also an embrace of apology for the suffering they may have endured at the hands of the church.

In the prayer of Pope Francis which I quoted on the first page and which is printed in its entirety below, he writes: “You

[Christ] are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God … [of] mercy." But remember that we are the Body of

Christ – we are Christ. And we have the sacred duty to be visible champions and practitioners of mercy which most

perfectly defines who God is. God is Mercy! The Christian God is paradoxically the real and most powerful God precisely

because of his unspeakable mercy.

I earnestly and respectfully ask that you make the sacrifice to be present for this service on October 23 and to make a

merciful sacrifice to invite someone who no longer feels comfortable to be in the midst of the church to come as well –

to take the risk of coming with you. Like St. Mother Teresa, please be the light to someone!

Sincerely in Christ the Good Shepherd,

Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Year of Mercy

ord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.

L

HAVE YOU MET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR ST. PAUL PARISH STAFF?

New Dean of Students/Assistant to the Principal In mid-May, Mr. John “Deke” Hocker was named as our Dean of Students/Assistant to the Principal. In this role Deke will be accountable for assisting in the leadership, coordination, supervision and management of St. Paul School, its programs, and safe operation. Additionally, he will be directly responsible for application of the code of student conduct, compliance with federal, state, and local mandates related to testing, and all special education programs. Previously Deke had served as our Health and Physical Education teacher for Grades 5-8. Before coming to St. Paul’s he taught at Bucyrus Secondary School, was an instructor for the Otterbein University Department of Health and Sport Science and football coach at Otterbein University and Western Kentucky University.

Presently he serves as the moderator for our St. Vincent DePaul Youth Conference and also coaches football at Buckeye Valley High School.

Deke earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health and Physical Education from Otterbein and is in the process of finishing his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Ohio Dominican University.

He and his wife Nandee are parishioners and reside in Lewis Center with their two children, Stella and Lilia. Please join us in congratulating Deke and wishing him much success as our newest school administrator.

New Director of Youth Ministry Named We welcome Virginia Braun as our new Director of Youth Ministry. Virginia will be responsible for our various middle school and high school youth ministry programs, the Pathways high school catechesis program, as well as the parish’s young adult Theology on Tap program.

Previously Virginia was an instructor and regular volunteer at Church of the Resurrection in New Albany. She taught and created curriculum for 4th grade and volunteered in their Youth Ministry and Confirmation programs. She also has experience working with young adults and youth in the Chicago area providing social services and academic support as a Manager of Student Services and an instructor and working with need-based organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of America and Catholic Relief Services.

Virginia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with minors in History and Comparative Religion from Miami University with focused studies in Biblical Archaeology. She also has a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Education with a concentration in Instructional Technology from the American InterContinental University.

Virginia and her husband Jesse are “Miami Mergers” and recently gave birth to their first child, son Paxton. Passionate about sharing her Catholic faith and providing opportunities for youth to become disciples of Christ, she has developed many new and exciting programs our Youth Ministry – be sure to check out the parish website! We are blessed to have Virginia on our staff!

Youth Ministry Intern Bradley (“Brad”) Romantic is our Youth Ministry Intern. A recent graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Brad earned

his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with a minor in Priestly Formation. While at Duquesne he lived in the seminary discerning the priesthood. After 2 ½ years in the seminary, he recognized that he was called to the married and family life. Presently Brad is working on his Masters in Theology at Ohio Dominican University.

Brad finds great joy in educating middle school and high school youth about their Catholic faith. The oldest of four, Brad learned at a young age how to be an effective leader and role model. He spent many years

volunteering in his hometown of Pittsburgh, participated in a mission trip to Preston County, West Virginia and volunteered at Camp Lambec Music Camp in Erie, Pennsylvania.

This past summer Brad travelled the Gospel Road to help direct our teens as they assisted families in the impoverished area of Cranks Creek, Kentucky. Brad brings energy and a passion for serving God to our parish. We are so very glad he is onboard!

All are invited – especially those who may no

longer feel welcome in the Catholic Church.

(Continued from previous page.)

New Pastoral Associate Named For the past 15 months, Jeff Adair served as Coordinator of Religious Education at St. Ladislas and Corpus Christi Catholic Churches in Columbus and for the past year as a contract chaplain for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Prior to relocating to Ohio, Jeff was the Lay Associate to the Pastor at St. Albert the Great parish in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin where he spent significant time visiting sick and homebound parishioners and leading adult catechesis sessions.

Jeff grew up in Central New Jersey, where he received a B.A. degree in Economics from Rutgers University in 1986. After spending more than 20 years in supply chain and logistics management, he earned his Master’s in Religious Education from Felician University. Over the years Jeff has especially enjoyed taking part in parish ministry, most particularly in adult faith groups and serving as a catechist for middle school and high school children.

In his role as Pastoral Associate his responsibilities will include the overall coordination and growth of our Small Church Communities. Jeff will also oversee our volunteer ministry to the sick and homebound within our parish community and manage the preparation for and orchestration of the Living Christ Retreat.

Jeff has three sons and lives in Delaware with his wife Lisa. Please consider taking the time to meet and welcome Jeff to our parish family!

New School Cafeteria Manager

Patricia (“Pat”) Bell joins our Parish Staff after having worked for the last eight years at St. Matthias School as the Assistant Manager in their school cafeteria. She was responsible for completing all of the necessary government paperwork including processing the free/reduced price lunch applications; handling much of the bookkeeping for the cafeteria; and assisting with the overall preparation, serving, and clean-up of the lunches. Pat likely learned many of these skills while raising her six children, now ages 21–32, all who are graduates of St. Matthias School and St. Francis DeSales High School. An Ohio native, Pat attended Corpus Christi School in Columbus, along with St. Mary and Fisher Catholic Schools in Lancaster. Upon graduation, she continued her education at Ohio Dominican University and earned a degree in Elementary Education. She worked at Grange Insurance during her summer breaks and was offered a full-time job when she graduated from ODU. After the birth of her

second child, Pat enjoyed her work as a very busy stay-at-home mom and somehow managed to find the time to also regularly volunteer at St. Matthias and St. Francis DeSales Schools. We are confident you will help Pat feel at home here!

New Facilities Manager Please join us in welcoming our new Facilities Manager, Michael (“Mike”) Larkins. Michael takes exceptional pride in being a man of strong Christian faith. He served in the United States Air Force for a six-year term and holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration, an Associate Degree in Building Construction Technology, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He also owned and operated a full janitorial service, lawn care and snow removal, and home improvement business for fifteen years. In addition to his impressive educational background, Michael brings a wealth of hands-on experience in the field of facility management having served as the Director of Facilities at Wilberforce University, the Director of Facilities at Wiley College, the Director of Facilities at World Harvest Church and Harvest Preparatory School in addition to the Facility Manager at Faith Life Church. Michael lives in Reynoldsburg with his wife of forty years and has one son and seven grandchildren. We are indeed blessed to have him on staff!

We were thrilled to welcome everyone back to a newly remodeled and updated learning environment early last month! This past summer we experienced a whirlwind of the sights and sounds of construction at its finest. It was a blessing to have a strong team who were dedicated to doing whatever it took to get our school ready for our students and families. We are most grateful to Corna Kokosing Construction Company; our Architect Scott Harper; Dana Forsythe, Parish Development Director; Chris Wilhelm, School Technology Coordinator; the entire administrative staff and the construction team for their steadfast commitment and hard work. This was a major undertaking and we could not have done it without such a strong, hardworking team of professionals.

Our new Learning Commons (formerly known simply as “the school library” or in recent years, the “Media Center”) is now complete! We are so very grateful to Miss Beverage and Mrs. Malinowski for all they did to put the Learning Commons in order while also attending to the needs of our students and staff during the first few weeks of school. It goes without saying that we continue to appreciate the dedication of our

St. Paul teachers and staff. In addition to all the usual beginning of school plans and preparation, they also had to move all of their teaching resources back into their classrooms. This entailed a lot of unpacking, organizing, and sometimes re-thinking the usage of their new space. We are most appreciative for their dedication, enthusiasm, and teamwork. Finally, I want to extend our sincere gratitude for the continued support from our parents and parish community for our Reaching for Tomorrow Campaign. We look forward to beginning the second phase of the campaign this fall that includes additional fundraising for the construction of the middle school upstairs wing. The recent renovation was a success and we made some major improvements that included 21st Century upgrades yet did not alleviate our need for more classroom space. Once the middle school wing is completed we will be able to move the third and first grade classrooms from their

temporary spaces in the MPR and former kindergarten area to their newly renovated classrooms. The new wing will provide us with enough classroom space to accommodate the instructional needs of middle school teachers who are now sharing rooms (on a cart). The new wing will include technology upgrades to our middle school science labs and classrooms that promote creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. It is an exciting time in our school’s history for all of us!

St. Paul School is indeed a special place. Through the collaboration of dedicated faculty, staff, and parents, we work to promote academic excellence by recognizing, respecting, and nurturing the unique God-given gifts of our students thereby enabling them to reach their full potential. Your generosity is making – and will continue to make, a difference in the lives of our students today, tomorrow, and in the future. Keep those pledges coming in! God bless!

Kathleen Norris, PhD Principal – St. Paul School

Dana F. Forsythe, CFRE Development Director dforsythe@stpaulk-8.org

s the largest elementary school and PSR program in the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, with a location in the 15th fastest growing county in the nation, we have reached a tipping point for which it is time to expand the St. Paul School building. Our

community has been wonderful stewards of a more than 50 year old school building and with the renovation that took place

this summer it is easy to see how much this was needed. The highlights of the renovation include:

Four new all-day kindergarten classrooms An open concept library and technology lab now known as the Learning Commons

A state-of-the-art classroom audio system Short throw projectors with interactive projection screens Enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity Updated fire alarm system, lighting and HVAC systems that will result in a 50% reduction in utility costs

As you will likely recall, this campaign includes two phases. So with the conclusion of the renovation, we must now look ahead to the continuation of our fundraising efforts to complete the expansion of the school with construction to build a second story for a dedicated middle school wing. This new construction will also include a much needed expansion to the main school offices and auxiliary offices. The glass breezeway between the school and Miller Hall will be expanded thereby creating desperately needed enhanced learning spaces, an enlarged gathering area on the first floor, and the installation of an elevator to make the building handicap accessible. Both our St. Paul School and PSR Programs are very important ministries in our parish and will continue to greatly benefit from this additional space.

The expansion is estimated to cost $5.7 million. Although we currently have $2.2 million raised, we still need to raise $3.5 million in pledges for this next phase in the Reaching for Tomorrow Campaign. To make Phase TWO Construction a reality, we want to stress the importance of receiving pledges at this time. There are more than

4,300 families registered here at St. Paul’s. If every family could consider a pledge of $3,600 or more payable over a three year period, we would be successful in meeting our fundraising goal. We thank all who have pledged

and invite many others to join. To be fully compliant with diocesan policy, one hundred percent of the project is needed in pledges and fifty percent in cash in order to move forward. Our hope is to have both phases completed by the end of the 2017-2018 school year. With your generous support, this can become a reality. Please earnestly pray, consider the suggested giving chart, and make a pledge from your heart. With a renewed spirit of faith and academic excellence, we can make our Reaching for Tomorrow Campaign a success. God bless and thank you!

A

For the youth of our parish in Grades 6-12

Virginia Braun, Director of Youth Ministry, 882-2537 stpaulyouthministry@yahoo.com

New Youth Ministry Programs What is Edge? Edge is a Catholic Youth Ministry program designed specifically for middle school youth (those in the 6th through 8th Grade.) It provides a safe, fun place for youth to find a solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith – and most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and

personal way. Edge resources speak to the physical, psychological, cognitive, relational, and spiritual maturation of middle school youth.

What is LIFE TEEN? LIFE TEEN is a comprehensive Youth Ministry program intended for Grades 9-12. Leading teens closer to Christ, connecting them to the life of our parish and infusing the surrounding community with the light of Christ is central to LIFE TEEN’s mission and movement. We are called to “go forth and love and serve the Lord and one another.” LIFE TEEN is a complete, comprehensive, and interactive model of religious formation. Grounded in the sacraments, high school youth are introduced

to a truly dynamic catechesis that removes the classroom desks and draws them into an interactive learning experience.

Clip and save! Plan now to join St. Paul’s Youth Ministry!

What is the Purpose of a Parish Mission?

A Parish Mission is a special opportunity held over several days that is intended to help parishioners deepen their personal relationship with Jesus. Our hearts, minds and spirits need to be nurtured and the Mission can strengthen and encourage our faith life. Mark your calendar now and please plan to join other parishioners on November 14, November 15 and November 16. There will be morning sessions (from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) as well as evening sessions (7:00 – 8:30 p.m.) on The Church of Mercy: The Life and Thought of Pope Francis. Fr. Frank Desiderio, a Paulist Priest from NYC, will lead us. His knowledge and experience on forgiveness will guide us in being merciful.

Our 2016 Parish Mission is focused on the Jubilee Year of Mercy because….. † In the year of Mercy one expects to learn and grow in ones capacity to forgive old hurts and

grudges. † In the year of Mercy discipleship demands that we become humble so that we fully appreciate

God’s unconditional love. † In the year of Mercy Pope Francis has encouraged all Christians (especially Catholics), to be

merciful citing the Corporal and Spiritual Acts of Mercy.

Meet Our Assistant Organist: Jonathan Casady

A native of Missouri, Jonathan received a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance at Missouri State University and was the

recipient of the largest scholarship in the keyboard department all four years of his studies.

Jonathan received his Master of Music Degree in Organ Performance with an emphasis in Church Music from the University of Florida. While there he had the opportunity to accompany the Florida Schola Cantorum on numerous occasions, including when the Schola was commissioned to sing in 2012 at the Church of the Epiphany in Miami for the first Solemn Pontifical High Mass held in Florida since the Second Vatican Council. The Mass, celebrated by the Archbishop of Miami, was for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called Candlemas.

Jonathan has been our Assistant Organist since May of last year. He especially enjoys accompanying our choir and reports that he feels blessed to pursue his vocation here at St. Paul’s.

We are grateful to have Jonathan in our Music Ministry.

Training For Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist

Training for those who are interested in serving as Extraordinary Ministers of the

Holy Eucharist will be held in the church on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. Ministers are required to attend training before being placed on the schedule; there is no need to register for the training session.

Custom Gift Baskets Available in the Marian Gift Shop

Gift baskets make great gifts for all occasions – and now our Marian Gift Shop will package them for you! Simply select your items or ask for their suggestions. A gift basket for someone who is ill might include a “Healing Prayers for Every Day” mediation book, “God Bless You” tissues, a soup bowl with a prayer of encouragement inscribed on it and a bedside angel figurine. Men might appreciate receiving a “Fishers of Men” glass mug, a “Man to Man, Dad to Dad” book, and a leather cross bracelet. Pair a “Handbook for Catholic Mom’s” with fragranced soap with Holy Water made by Benedictine Sisters and a special coffee mug for your mom. The possibilities are endless; the Marian Gift Shop truly has an array of unique items for all ages. Be sure to stop in!

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 16

Everyone is invited to tour our newly renovated school building after the 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 and 12:15 Masses!

HOPE AND DIGNITY FOR ALL

This summer we placed a small donation bin in the south end of the church parking lot. All the clothing, shoes, household items and small appliances that are generously donated will be sold; proceeds will be used to support the many programs for the needy that are provided by Catholic Social Services. Motivated by faith, Catholic Social Services helps poor and vulnerable seniors and families reach their potential. Catholic Social Services will periodically report the amount of money generated from our donation bin. If you have questions, need a tax receipt, or have a larger pick up (sorry no large furniture), please call 1-888-852-7523.