SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
ST. NICHOLAS PARISH From the Pastor’s Desk First off I would like to make an offer for anyone who might be interested in the poinsettias that were present in the church over the Christmas season. I know that some of you have “a green thumb” and love all kinds of flowers and plants. Well here is an opportunity for you. We have removed the poinsettias from the church and placed them in the church basement. If you would like them they are there for the taking. So feel free to take a trip down the steps and help yourself. This past week, for our morning masses, we have been reading from the Book of Genesis. As I have said before, the more I read the opening chapters, which seem so simple, the more I get out of them. We have in the first Chapters the two accounts of creation followed by the story of the Original Sin. Many people write these chapters off as mere fiction or myth. However, we believe that these stories are Divinely Inspired Stories. They reveal something about God and our human condition. In chapter 2, we read how God planted a garden in Eden. “Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It is not often that we notice that there were two trees in the garden. The Lord God said to the man, “You are free to eat from any of the tees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.” There was no prohibition against eating the fruit of the tree of life. (Could this be a vague illusion to the tree of life on Mount Calvary?) Just the same, the ultimate temptation seems to be for either death or life. Seems like a no brainer! The thing that I haven’t given much thought to was the “knowledge” of good and evil. We have often referred to this passage as Adam and Eve taking to them the power to decide what is good and what is evil. This is true. They gain the knowledge and they make the decisions. This rings true in all humanity. We gain the knowledge and we make the decisions. We want to decide what is for our own good without anyone telling us; much less God. It is to say that we “know” what is best for ourselves over God. Yet if we follow the story closely the man did not have the knowledge of good or the knowledge of evil yet. How could the man know? He was just created. The temptation placed before the man and woman later is the temptation to place themselves on an equal footing with God: to know what God knows. But here is the newer thought that came to me over the past week. It is the idea of “knowledge”: the knowledge of good and the knowledge of evil. In order to make good decisions we have to have knowledge. However, with knowledge comes responsibility. This is particularly important when it comes to the knowledge of good and evil. This also points to us that we have to make choices because we are also given Free Will. We are free to obey God or not to obey God. The beginning of the Book of Genesis tells us that all creation comes from God. That God is the source of all that is good. That God has given us free will. Without free will we are unable to truly be thankful to God and love God. The pattern of the Original Sin is important. Eve is tempted by the serpent. She looks at the fruit on the tree and saw it to be desirable for gaining knowledge. She ate and then gave it to Adam and he ate as well. In the act of taking and eating Adam and Eve obtained the knowledge of good and evil. Their eyes were opened. They were aware that they had done something
sinful because of the experience of shame. This act has set a pattern for all sinful activity. The act was freely performed and then the reasoning followed: the excuse. It is usually a twisting of the knowledge in one’s favor. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Evil/sinful deeds always need an excuse or someone else to blame. Good deeds never need to be explained. Ultimately, the temptation is for what I want now without much thought about the consequences. Knowledge is a good thing. Even the knowledge of evil is a good thing. This sounds odd, but how is it that we are to make good decisions? We can know about the business of lying, stealing, adultery, and murder. We can know about the details and dynamics involved in each. But we do not have to put them into action. We can say “no” to sin. This is also true of the knowledge of good. However, do we spend much time contemplating goodness in all of its manifestations? Do we read about and try to know and understand the spiritual life or the virtues? Why is it easier for us to contemplate and remember sinful stories, behavior or vices? I suppose that it is based on the irony that bad news is good news. Reporting bad things sells newspapers! Scandals sell! I remember years ago that part of our grade school religion classes was the study of the lives of the saints. The stories were age appropriate and we learned little details about their saintly lives from early on. The classes would be about a particular virtue and then there was a story about a saint that manifested that virtue. We learned that living a saintly life was hard work. It took prayer, thoughtfulness and a desire to do God’s will. Here’s the point: Knowledge is good. Knowledge also implies responsibility. There is a difference between good and evil. Just as God cannot make an evil good that goes for us as well. God is not capricious in that manner. Human beings however are a different story. At times we think that we can arbitrarily declare something evil to be good. This is a bold move in thinking that we can do something that God would not do. We are fools to think we can. What is important for us is to consider the things that we think about. Our knowing leads to our doing. Overly contemplating the possessions of another may well lead to stealing. Fabricating stories to shield oneself from responsibilities and blame can easily create the bad habit of lying and becoming a hard core liar. Spending hours filling one’s mind with fantasies of romance can easily lead to a vast array of sexual sins. The question is about the knowledge that we fill our minds with and how that knowledge affects our actions. It is the desire to know and contemplate the details of evil/sin that leads one into evil/sin. We act on what we know. Or in Adam and Eve’s case we try to justify what we want without fully knowing good and evil. God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden. It is there for our good. It is a subtle reminder to us that we cannot say “yes” to God if we are not able to say “no” to God. We are not robots. We all want knowledge because it is a good thing. The most important knowledge that we should be pursing with greater interest is the knowledge of good. Have a great week and read something good. Father Ralko One last reminder: I would like to remind you of our St. Vincent de Paul Society appeal for more volunteers. The next St. Vincent de Paul Society meeting is Monday February 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Office Building. You may be surprised at how you could be of help with the charitable work of St. Vincent de Paul. Even if you are hesitant, you have nothing to lose by coming to the next meeting. Please feel free to join us.
Church Support FEBRUARY 5, 2017 OFFERTORY Diocesan Tax Fenwick Subsidy Rosecrans subsidy Available for Parish Operations Parish Operating Expenses Religious Education Expenses Other Income Weekly surplus
$14,410.00 ($650.00) ($3,060.00) ($290.00) $10,410.00 ($8,200.00) ($800.00) $2,300.00 $3,710.00
FEBRUARY 12, 2017 Christmas poinsettias have been removed to the Church basement. Please feel free to take any of them you want home with you. Confirmation Mini Retreats For Confirmation Candidates, Parents, and Sponsors Teen Spirituality-Tuesday February 21, 2017 Ministry and Mission-Tuesday, March 7, 2017 6:00– 8:00 p.m. St. Nicholas Church Social Hall (Basement) Pizza will be served
May God bless you for supporting your parish
Thank you and God Bless. This week we pray Week II of the Liturgy of the hours.
We pray for the following who have died recently: Mary Jo Dooley ZANESVILLE CATHOLIC TEENS NEWS All are invited to join the students for breakfast, Sunday, February 12 in the St. Nicholas Church basement following all Masses. Students should arrive at 7:00 a.m. to help with set up.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA The next meeting is Tuesday, February 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Parish Office. Members will continue with the assembly of the Blessing Bags. Blessing Bags contain a variety of items including hats and gloves, soap, bottled water, razors and other basic necessities. The bags are delivered to the Methodist Church on Putnam for distribution to the homeless that they serve.
BEAUTIFUL (AND BRAVE) Sunday, February 26TH 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Girls ages 13to 18 are invited to an ALL GIRL RETREAT Guest Speakers Stephanie Bridwell and Anna Purkey Lunch is provided St. Nicholas Teen Center. The event is free; however students are encouraged to RSVP. Please call (740) 683-6450 to reserve your seat!
Bishop Rosecrans High School is currently seeking a Head Track Coach beginning the 2017 season. The candidate for this coaching position will develop a year round Track & Field program and possess working knowledge of all aspects of the sport. The candidate must have outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrate an ability to lead and foster a positive environment for BRHS student-athletes. This is a stipend position and the schedule is flexible. All coaches must have a BCI & FBI background check, attend Protecting God’s Children seminar, and meet all the requirements to obtain a coaching permit with the Ohio Department of Education. Please send a letter of interest to Mr. Tony Coury, Athletic Director at
[email protected] or Ms. Jennifer Mallett, Principal at
[email protected] by February 23, 2017.
10th Annual Columbus Catholic Women's Conference Courageous Faith Contagious Joy Over 3000 women from our diocese will gather together on Saturday, February 18th to pray, reflect, and be inspired. There is still room on the bus. Please call to reserve your seat (740) 453-5173. If you have reserved your seat on the bus, please remember to purchase your ticket. Bus leaves at 6:30 a.m. from St. Nicholas Church parking lot.
BISHOP ROSECRANS HIGH SCHOOL PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT For parents and students interested in being a part of and attending Bishop Rosecrans High School, there will be a Parent information Night, Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 6:00-7:0 p.m. Applications for enrollment and tuition assistance will be provided at this event. We will also be providing general information about attending Bishop Rosecrans. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jennifer Mallett, Principal or Mrs. Chelsea Tolliver, Academic and Admissions Counselor at 740452-7504.
On Sunday, February 19th 4-6 p.m. there will be a Middle School Event. All students in grades 6-8 are invited to join us as we explore Mary's role in the church. St. Nicholas Teen Center
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF 'ENCOUNTERED' COUPLES Registration is OPEN! 2017 Catholic Men's Conference - February 25, 2017 The Men’s Conference Theme is: “Into the Breach - Call to Battle“- The speakers will be: Deacon Harold Burke–Sivers, Father Jonathan Morris, Mr. Steve Bollman and Bishop Fredrick Campbell. The MC will be Doug Lessells To register, go to: http://www.catholicmensministry.com/
Take a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend, and you become part of a local network of “encountered” couples who meet regularly and hold special events that keep the joy of your weekend alive for years to come. The next two weekends are February 17-19 and April 21-23, both in central Ohio. For more information or to register, contact Paul & Marilou Clouse at 614-834-6880 or visit our website at www.wwmecolumbus.org
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME It is your responsibility to find a substitute if needed.
What’s Happening in Our Parish
February 19, 2017- Seventh Sunday in ordinary time
MONDAY, February 13
LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 18 @ 5:15 p.m. Lector: Nancy Susa, Bill Sullivan Server: Scott Peterson, Charles Peterson Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Don Susa Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Judi Peterson, Jim McKee Eucharistic Minister: Paula Peterson, Jeff Shawger, Ronald Davis, Pauline Davis Sunday, February 19 @ 7:30 a.m. Lector: Diane Hoffer Server: David Eppley, Nicholas Hoffer Eucharistic Minister – Coord: Philip Kocoloski Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Jim Pottmeyer, Nancy Thompson Eucharistic Minister: Patrick Durant Sunday, February 19 @ 9:30 a.m. Lector: Keena Hansel, Jim Gable Server: Mason Harmon, Wesley Nestor Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Jane Durant Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Janis Maziar, Michael Drake Eucharistic Minister: Chris Drake, Erin Roush, Dan Sylvester, Tom A. Durant Sunday, February 19 @ 11:30 a.m. Lector: Othello Repuyan, Patti Logan Server: Justin Hart, Nathan Hart Eucharistic Minister- Coord: John Haswell Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Karen Hardman, Dodi Sealock Eucharistic Minister: Larry Taylor, Linda Haswell, Judy Hamilton, Carolyn Arnold
Our thoughts and prayers remain with those serving our country at this time and with their loved ones at home. We pray for a safe homecoming and that the world may one day be at peace.
8:00 a.m., Mass: Marcella “Sally” Fleer, Church 5:30 p.m., Sign Language Class, Parish Office 7:00 p.m., St. Vincent DePaul meeting, Parish Office
TUESDAY, February 14, SS. Cyril and Methodius 8:00 a.m., Mass: Henry Sulens, Church 6:00 p.m., Daughters of Isabella meeting, Parish Office
WEDNESDAY, February 15 8:10 a.m., School Mass: Mary Nader, Church 7:00 p.m., R.C. I. A., Parish Office, lower level
THURSDAY, February 16 8:00 a.m., Mass: Laura Hemmer, Church
FRIDAY, February 17, The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order 8:00 a.m., Mass: George Rundag, Church
7th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SATURDAY, February 18 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Confessions, Church 5:15 p.m., Mass: John A. Rock, birthday, Church
SUNDAY, February 19 7:30 a.m., Mass: Carl Arnold, Jr., Church 9:30 a.m., Mass: St. Nicholas Parishioners, Church 9:45 a.m., Religious Education, School 11:30 a.m., Mass: Jennie Jalbrzowski, Church
Readings for Week of February 13, 2017 Mon. . . . . . . . Tues. . . . . . . . Wed . . . . . . . .
PLEASE REMEMBER ST. NICHOLAS PARISH IN YOUR WILL. CALL THE PARISH OFFICE AT 453-0597 FOR MORE DETAILS. Please join us each Monday at St. Nicholas Church at 2:00 P.M. as we gather to pray the Rosary asking Our Lady’s Intercession for the many needs of our nation, community, and parish.
Thurs. . . . . . . . Fri. . . . . . . . . . Sat. . . . . . . . . . Sun . . . . . . . .
Gn 4:1-15, 25 Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5,10 Gn 8:6-13, 20-22 Gn 9:1-13 Gn 11:1-9 Heb 11:1-7 Lv 19:1-2, 17-18
Mk 8:11-13 Mk 8:14-21 Mk 8:22-26 Mk 8:27-33 Mk 8:34-9:1 Mk 9:2-13 Mt 5:38-48
INCOME TAX If you would like to have a record of your donations to the Church for tax purposes, please fill in your envelope number, name and address or email and place it in the collection basket. A statement will be sent to you. Envelope No._____________________________ Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________or Email address____________________________
FEBRUARY 12, 2017