THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
ST. NICHOLAS PARISH From the Pastor’s Desk Believe it or not this week we will be celebrating Independence Day: the Fourth of July. We are half way through the year. Time is flying by. Nevertheless, to one and all, have a happy and safe Fourth of July. As we contemplate this holiday that celebrates our country’s birthday we are all too aware that we celebrate the liberties we enjoy in our great country. In short we celebrate our Freedom. Our thoughts should be particularly focused on the true understanding of freedom. It is so easy to take freedom, our personal liberty for granted. We often get it confused with the notion of license to do as we please. This is partly due to the fact that it was our forefathers who made the sacrifice to overcome oppression so that we can flourish as a country and as a people. They made the sacrifices and we enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice. Those who have made the sacrifice have a greater appreciation. Sadly, for those who have made little sacrifice tend to have less appreciation. It is a rather simple fact of human nature. Thus it is important for all of us who have not made great sacrifices for our freedoms to stop and invest our time and thought in considering this great gift we enjoy in our country: the God given gift of Freedom. In our country we cherish our freedom. However, we sometimes think of freedom as the goal, and that we merely have freedom for freedom’s sake. A quote from the late Pope St. John Paul II from his first encyclical letter fits here… “Nowadays it is sometimes held, though wrongly, that freedom is an end in itself, that each human being is free when he makes use of freedom as he wishes, and that this must be our aim in the lives of individual and societies. In reality, freedom is a great gift only when we know how to use it consciously for everything that is our true good, Christ teaches us that the best use of freedom is charity, which takes concrete form in self-giving and in service.” Redemptor Hominis. In the thought of the late Saint, freedom is a means to an end and not the end in itself. The purpose of freedom is for something, and that something is for Good (as opposed for evil). The Good has to be something that is objectively good and as opposed to merely a subjective good or personal whim. Freedom is to be used for personal growth in goodness and for the good of others. It is often thought that freedom is the same thing as personal license. “I am free to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and how I want.” The sole basis for this personal license is personal desire or whim. Just because something that is based on personal choice does not mean that it is a good choice. Objective standards of good and evil, moral and immoral, virtue and vice must be present. It is erroneous to think that there is no greater good then personal preference or personal fancy. Freedom can never be used for evil. Thus it is understood that freedom is intimately connected to morality. This notion of personal license is not true freedom. This leads to a second quote for the late Pope… “Freedom negates and destroys itself, and becomes a factor leading to the destruction of others, when it no longer recognizes and respects its essential link with the truth. When freedom, out of a desire to emancipate itself from all forms of tradition and authority, shuts out even the most obvious evidence of an objective and universal truth…then the person ends up by no longer taking as the sole and indisputable point of reference for his own choices the truth about good and evil, but only his subjective and changeable opinion or, indeed, his selfish interest and whim.” Evangelium Vitae. In essence the late Holy Father says that freedom can destroy itself if it is not rooted in truth
(objective norms) and genuine good. If freedom is used for something sinful, immoral or vicious, an individual person can easily become a slave to such evils. Bad habits and addictions all come from personal liberty. When it comes to personal liberty, personal preferences, people who freely choose evil and immoral things ultimately find themselves enslaved to their sinful choices. By becoming enslaved to their vices freedom is lost: it was misused and destroyed itself! Freedom has its limits. One must be responsible for the use of one’s freedom. Being responsible for one’s choices and actions has a serious limiting effect when consequences are considered. This is the thoughtful work of thinking morally. Consideration of consequences is also part of the moral standards forming a society that restricts another’s choices and actions. This serves to indicate that Freedom is for something. Because of its moral nature freedom is intended as a vehicle or a means to achieve true good: personal and communal. True Freedom must be oriented toward a True Good. As a Christian people we know that the true good is Jesus Christ: God. God gave us Free Will. In freedom we discern our choices in order to orient our lives. We seek fulfillment; perfection; the ultimate good that is happiness. In a word we seek God. The gift from God is intended for us to freely seek and find God. This is reminiscent of the question we had in the old Baltimore Catechism…” Why did God make me?” The answer: “To know, love and serve Him in this world so that we may be happy with him in the next.” By virtue of our Free Will we seek to know, love and serve God in this world. This is the highest use of our Free Will. This is the most noble of purposes. This is true freedom. When Jesus was asked by the rich young man in the Gospel how to achieve eternal life, Jesus indicated that he should follow the commandments (the moral order). Then he invited him to sell everything (freedom from the things that enslave) and simply said to him “Come follow me.” This is the invitation to genuine freedom. Jesus came to set us free. He conquered sin and death. This should tell us what true freedom is. Jesus set us free to live for God so that we may have life and have it to the full. We are not to use our freedom to make ourselves slaves again, as St. Paul reminds us, by choosing evil over good. If we do, we destroy the freedom that has been given to us. Whoever lives in sin is a slave to sin. We must consider this personally and communally. We have been given a great gift from God. We must appreciate it and use it well. In a sinful world there are many sacrifices needed to keep this precious gift. In a sinful world there has been many sacrifices made so that communities of people may enjoy this God given gift: Freedom. In our country we have freedom from all that would keep us from growing in greater goodness. The highest good is not the government or the state or some institution. These are all temporal and passing. The highest good is always God and His Kingdom. All things should be oriented and supported in achieving and attaining this great Good. If the Church understands and teaches freedom as a means to achieve genuine good, then it only makes sense that the Church has a very important contribution to make in the public discourse. In a just society it would be a terrible injustice and a huge moral loss to silence the Church in honest discourse. Tuesday July 4th morning mass will be at 8:00 a.m. St. Thomas will have mass at 9:00 a.m. It is a great way to celebrate the 241st Birthday of our country with the Eucharist. Have a great week and God Bless America. Father Ralko
JULY 2, 2017
Church Support JUNE 25, 2017 OFFERTORY $6,910.00 Diocesan Tax ($650.00) Fenwick Subsidy ($3,060.00) Rosecrans subsidy ($290.00) Available for Parish Operations $2,910.00 Parish Operating Expenses ($8,200.00) Religious Education Expenses ($800.00) Other Income $2,300.00 Weekly deficit (3,790.00) May God bless you for supporting your parish
Thank you and God Bless. This week we pray Week IV of the Liturgy of the hours.
We pray for those who have died recently: Joy Larson and Connie Batross Last Sunday we welcomed into the Church through Baptism, Weston Jack Rico, son of Mr. & Mrs. Clayton Rico Bishop Rosecrans High School is seeking host families for exchange students for the 2017-2018 school year. The host family is expected to provide a safe home environment, breakfast and dinner. Tuition and other expenses are paid by the student. Young, old, single or married may apply. A monthly stipend is provided. Contact Mark Dosch at 740-452-4762 or
[email protected] or Helen Brooks at 740-704-8681 or
[email protected] IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM ST. THOMAS CHURCH As we are all aware there will be changes at St. Thomas with the Dominican Fathers leaving the parish. Starting in July the weekday morning Mass will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, replacing the 8:00 a.m. and noon Masses. There will not be a Saturday morning mass. PARISHIONER HELP NEEDED It has been twelve years since St. Nicholas Church has had a new parish directory. This fall we are planning to change that. We need your help to update our records by making sure we have correct phone numbers for all families who want to be included in the directory. Please call the parish office at 453-0597 or email
[email protected] with your information. Thank you in advance.
Looking for ways you can help with your Stewardship? How about being a server for funerals. If interested in helping please call Ron Davis at 740-453-6637.
The parish office will be closed Tuesday, July 4 th. Have a safe and happy holiday!
CHINESE AUCTION ITEMS It is that time of the year when the Chinese Auction for St. Nicholas Parish Festival, asks for donations and help for the booth. We have placed the tags in the back of the church on a table to help get it started this year. Please purchase your new items and return them to the parish office by July 24, 2017. Please call 740-297-0823 with questions. Bishop Fenwick School, located at 1030 E. Main St., Zanesville, is hiring an intervention specialist to begin the 2017-2018 school year. Requirements:
Hold an appropriate Ohio teaching license (Intervention specialist; professional, provisional, permanent, or Resident Educator) or be eligible to obtain one before beginning to teach Current satisfactory BCI&I and FBI background checks Have attended or be willing to attend a VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children Safe Environment seminar Complete the online teaching application for the Diocese of Columbus.
Please contact Principal Mrs. Kelly Sagan by e-mailing resume and letter of interest to
[email protected]. Walking with Purpose presents: Retreat & Refresh- A Day of Renewal for a Woman’s Soul Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center Sunday, July 16-Monday, July 17, 2017 Monday, July 17 at 9:30am with Featured Speaker: Elizabeth Ficocelli “A Journey in Grace: My Conversion Story” “St. Therese of Lisieux: Master of Love” A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother by: Dr. Edward Sri ©2014 Ascension Press $75.00 Overnight semi-private room including breakfast and lunch $95.00 Overnight private room including breakfast and lunch $50.00 Day Retreat including breakfast and lunch RSVP by July 3, 2017: Glenda Reynolds (740) 974-7568 and email
[email protected]
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE It is your responsibility to find a substitute if needed. July 9, 2017- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Saturday, July 8 @ 5:15 p.m. Lector: Nancy Susa, Bill Sullivan Server: Rex Hankinson, Ronald Davis Eucharistic Minister – Coord: Don Susa Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Dottie Durant, Judi Peterson Eucharistic Minister: Jennifer Bernett, Janis Maziar, Laurie Harmon, Dodi Sealock Sunday, July 9 @7:30 a.m. Lector: Stephanie Bridwell, Susan Thompson Server: Justin Ewart, Wesley Wilson Eucharistic Minister- Coord: Alan Burns Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Margaret Kronenbitter, Vicki Burns Eucharistic Minister: Marvin Paul Sunday, July 9 @ 9:30 a.m. Lector: Wendy Hart, George Kopf Server: Justin Hart, Nathan Hart Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Chris Drake Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Michael Drake, Judy Hamilton Eucharistic Minister: Rosalyn Headington, Robert LaPrad, David Skrobot, Betsy Skrobot Sunday, July 9 @ 11:30 a.m. Lector: Paul Nestor, Patti Logan Server: Wesley Nestor, Christina Rozsa Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Carolyn Arnold Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Jim Pottmeyer, Corinne Musselman Eucharistic Minister: Mike Musselman, Jeff Shawger, Mary Mirgon, Karen Hardman
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. 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.
What’s Happening in Our Parish MONDAY, July 3, St. Thomas 8:00 a.m., Mass: Henry Sulens, Church
TUESDAY, July 4 Parish Office Closed Today 8:00 a.m., Mass: Deceased members of the Tran Family, Church
WEDNESDAY, July 5, St. Anthony Zaccaria 8:00 a.m., Mass: Joanne Burson, Church
THURSDAY, July 6, St. Maria Goretti 8:00 a.m., Mass: Blaine Kocoloski, Church
FRIDAY, July 7 Adoration until 4:00 p.m., Church 8:00 a.m., Mass: Barbara Miller, Church
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time SATURDAY, July 8 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., Confessions, Church 5:15 p.m., Mass: Paul Cherrington, Church
SUNDAY, July 9 7:30 a.m., Mass: St. Nicholas Parishioners, Church 9:30 a.m., Mass: Georgia Robinson, anniversary, Church 11:30 a.m., Mass: Harold Roessler, Church
Readings for Week of July 3, 2017 Mon. . . . . . . . Tues. . . . . . . . Wed . . . . . . . . Thurs. . . . . . . . Fri. . . . . . . . . . Sat. . . . . . . . . . Sun . . . . . . . .
Eph 2:19-22 Gn 19:15-29 Gn 212:5, 8-20a Gn 22:1b-19 Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 Gn 27:1-5, 1529 Zec 9:9-10
Jn 20:24-29 Mt 8:23-27 Mt 8:28-34 Mt 9:1-8 Mt 9:9-13 Mt 9:14-17 Mt 11:25-30
