bulletin 4-17-16

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

ST. NICHOLAS PARISH From the Pastor’s Desk Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday in the Easter Season. This has also been designated as World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Specifically we offer a prayer for the increase of Vocations to the Priesthood and Vowed Religious Life. We seek God’s blessing on our young people as they begin to consider their calling in life. It is in the grace of God, His loving presence, which sparks the desire to grow in knowing, loving and serving God in this life. One of the greatest temptations that our young people face today is the temptation to put oneself first. We live in a society that is becoming more and more self-indulgent. The idea of giving one’s life to God in service of the Kingdom is countercultural. It takes a great deal of maturity to begin to enter into a deeply personal relationship with God. Self-indulgence, self-centeredness, basically selfishness is the antithesis of this personal relationship and personal maturity. It is the effect of Original Sin that stifles this growth and maturity. It prevents real intimacy and most especially intimacy with God: which is essential for a religious vocation. In two weeks we will be celebrating with our second graders, and their families, as they receive their First Holy Communion. We pray for them as they prepare themselves to receive Jesus in this most wonderful way in the Holy Eucharist. This is the first in what we hope to be a long history of their growing in a deeply personal relationship with our Eucharistic Lord. The long journey of our Christian life begins with small steps that are profound steps. These steps are initial and profound moments that set in motion this long and at times difficult journey of Christian life. We pray that they will continue to receive the Lord in the Eucharist often and regularly throughout their lives. Times have definitely changed. As adults we can all say… “When I was a child.” When I was a child, I used to walk to church. That was true around here in the day. St. Nicholas was at the foot of “Catholic Hill.” When I was a child I was fortunate that the church was only a block away. I was also fortunate in that the neighborhood was also safe for children. It was not uncommon for me to get up in the morning and walk to morning mass, even during the summer. When I was an Altar Boy I got myself up and out the door to church. Nobody thought that this was out of the ordinary. It was what you had to do. Today things are much different. For one, our parish church is no longer the neighborhood church it once was. The majority of our parishioners do not live in the neighborhood. We do not have that many “walkers” if any at all. Our children, who are fewer, are more dependent on their parents to get them to church. In our religion classes we teach our children that Sunday Mass is very important and that they have a duty to go every Sunday. Yet for many families this is not the practice. There is a disparity between what the Church teaches and what Catholic families practice. People bemoan and long for the way it used to be but hardly fulfill the simple little practices that marked the good old days. The casual approach to the practice of the faith undermines the teaching of the Church. There are few things worse than causing confusion in the mind and hearts of our children in the matters of the faith. It also plants the seed that the teachings of the Church are not important for Christian living and can be ignored. During the past week, for our morning masses we have been reading from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John.

During the Easter Season we primarily read from St. John for our weekday Gospel. St. John can be difficult to understand and one has to stick with it. A continuous reading over the week helps to unpack the depth of its content. It takes a daily reading. Nevertheless, this past week we have been reading the Eucharistic Discourse. This is intense and powerful reading. When it comes to this chapter one can easily gloss over it, and many do just that. I do not understand various Christian denominations that do not take this chapter seriously. Some gloss over it by saying that Jesus is speaking in an analogous manner: figuratively. This chapter calls for great faith and spiritual maturity to advance to a fuller understanding and appreciation of what Jesus is teaching. The chapter begins with Jesus feeding the five-thousand. There is a large crowd in a somewhat deserted place. John tells us that the Passover is near. The Passover reference is to spark remembrance of the Exodus event and a framework for interpretation. In a deserted place St. John is hinting at the wandering in the desert when God fed his people with manna from heaven. This manna sustained the people as they journeyed to the Promised Land. We recall the manna that has come down from heaven as we now look deeper into a greater mystery of bread from heaven. “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.” Jesus is preparing his followers to raise their minds above merely physical food that sustains life in this world. He is going to give bread that gives life: eternal life. He presses them further to work for this bread that lasts to eternal life that only he provides. What is this work? “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” Put it simply, our work is to yield to the work of God within us and so believe in his Son and receive him as the source of eternal life. This is our faith in the one sent by God. Jesus reveals “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” The bread comes down from heaven, Jesus, does more than sustain us, he gives us life. He satisfies our deepest longing for eternal life. Having life in Christ fully satisfies the deepest longing of the heart. Jesus presses further into this mystery of the bread of life. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever east my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” This is serious business. It takes faith and spiritual maturity to plunge into this great gift of Jesus himself. We have no life without him. We believe and trust his word. Recall the beginning of St. John. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” The “Word” is central for all creation. “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.” All was created through the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is the Incarnation. He is the very “intersection” of the human and Divine. In the first and last analysis we owe our human life to God. We can say that we enter human life through Christ and we enter eternal life through Christ. However, in this life we have free will. We can say “yes’ or “no” to God. Eternal life through Christ is not automatic. We have to freely receive this gift from God: Christ himself. We can only enter into eternal life in and through Our Lord

APRIL 17, 2016 Jesus Christ. This is the reason why God sent his only begotten Son into the world. In turn Jesus gave himself to us on the cross and in the Eucharist. He is the Bread come down from heaven that gives eternal life. This is affirmed at the Last Supper when Jesus gave us the Eucharist and on the cross. The fullness of the work of God is found at the end of this chapter. “Many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’” A few lines later John tells us, “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” Jesus knew that this was a difficult teaching, but he did not back off. It takes a great deal of faith to trust the words of Jesus. Like Peter who responded to this situation he said, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” The Eucharist is Jesus’ personal gift to us: the most precious gift of himself. It is the gift that gives us life: eternal life. We do not have life within us without the Eucharist. Do not deny yourself this gift and most especially, parents, do not deny your child this gift of Jesus. Have a blessed week. Father Ralko

Church Support April 10, 2016 OFFERTORY Diocesan Tax Fenwick Subsidy Rosecrans subsidy Available for Parish Operations Parish Operating Expenses Religious Education Expenses Other Income Weekly deficit May God bless you for supporting your parish

$6,173.00 $ (650.00) $(3,060.00) ($290.00) $2,173.00 $(8,200.00) $(800.00) $2,300.00 $(4,527.00)

This week we pray Week IV of the Liturgy of the hours. We pray for the following who have died recently: Irene C. Dillon Donna L. Carpenter

Our Lady of Consolation Shrine, Carey, Ohio will offer a Mass for victims of cancer, their families, friends and caregivers on Friday, May 6th at 7:00 pm. We welcome all to come and pray together. Following Mass, visitors are invited to participate in special prayers for healing.

Bishop Fenwick School will be screening children who will attend kindergarten next fall on April 21 & 22. Please call the school office at 740-454-9731 for a screening appointment or a tour of the school. YOUTH GROUP Sunday, April 17, 2016 - Middle School Students Celebrate Spring with Game Night! Middle school students in grades 6, 7 & 8 are welcome. 4-6 p.m. St. Nicholas Parish Office, lower level (Teen Center). Neighbor Helping Neighbor - Sunday, April 24th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. High School Students will be available to help with spring projects and minor home repair. In the past our students have washed fences, painted, washed windows, and cleaned garages. If you have a job for our students, call Patty 453-5173. We will be happy to put you on the list. Strong! An all male retreat will be held Saturday April 30Sunday May 1.This all male overnight camping adventure requires registration with a fee of $15.00 per person. Students will meet at the St. Nicholas Teen Center on Saturday afternoon and travel to Coshocton where they will attend Mass followed by an outdoor adventure that includes preparing and cooking their own meals over the campfire, hear motivating talks, great music and make new friends. Guys ages 13-18 are invited! Contact Patty for more information (740) 453-5173.

WE CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION The following young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell, Bishop of Columbus, administered the sacrament to 30 young people from the St. Nicholas and St. Thomas parishes. Mary Josephine Andrews Emma Marie Barry Nicholas Robert Barry William Ryan Bernath Hayley Nicole Barker Valerie Irene Bjornstad Arlena Marie Dunkle Brayden Tyler Fete Mason Spencer Harmon Amber Jane Heil Maggie Lynn Hutcheson Blake Landon Lawrence Kathryn Marie Long Mara Elizabeth Long

Mia Constance McCarthy Lily Maree McLaughlin Melena Ann Moore Nicholas Tobin Nestor Adelaide Rose Pitcock Dillon Thomas Polk Elisabeth Mae Pratt Colten Evan Stotts Makenna Jane Susil Payton Noell Van Nort Joseph Falco Walsh Carter Thomas Winegardner Caleb Joseph Wooley Maggie Elizabeth Wright

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Hayley Rae Malenda

Kailey Jade Zemba

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE It is your responsibility to find a substitute if needed. April 24, 2016 Fourth Sunday of Easter Saturday, April 23 @ 5:15 p.m. Lector: Nichole Hannahs, Tom J. Pitcock Server: Luke Pratt, Mason Harmon Eucharistic Minister – Coord: Tom Durant Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Dottie Durant, Margaret Kronenbitter Eucharistic Minister: Larry Taylor, Karen Robinson, Mary Mirgon, Don Susa Sunday, April 24 @7:30 a.m. Lector: Susan Thompson, Stephanie Bridwell Server: David Eppley, Justin Ewart Eucharistic Minister- Coord: Judy Hamilton Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Carol Kohler, Nancy Thompson Eucharistic Minister: Philip Kocoloski Sunday, April 24 @ 9:30 a.m. Lector: Wendy Hart, Patty Barnes Server: Nathan Hart, Justin Hart Eucharistic Minister - Coord: John Haswell Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Mike Hoffer, Nancy Hoffer Eucharistic Minister: Linda Haswell, Michael Drake, Chris Drake, Carolyn Arnold Sunday, April 24 @ 11:30 a.m. Lector: Scott Peterson, Othello Repuyan Server: Christina Rozsa, Rex Hankinson Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Paula Peterson Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Rose Jones, Roger Jones Eucharistic Minister: Marianne Hall, Jim Pottmeyer, Vicki Burns, Alan Burns

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, April 18 8:00 a.m., Mass: Alonzo & Lucy Freese, Church 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sign Language Class, Parish Office 7:00 p.m., Catholic Divorce Survival Guide, Parish Office

TUESDAY, April 19 8:00 a.m., Mass: Carol A. Smith, Church

WEDNESDAY, April 20 8:10 a.m., School Mass: Richard G. Baum, Church

7:00 p.m., R.C.I.A., Parish Office, lower level THURSDAY, April 21, St. Anselm 8:00 a.m., Mass: Mary Hoffer, birthday, Church

FRIDAY, April 22 8:00 a.m., Mass: Hugh & Amelia Cox, Church

SATURDAY, April 23, Sts. George & Albert 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Confessions, Church

Fourth Sunday of Easter SATURDAY, April 23 5:15 a.m. Mass: Mr. & Mrs. Fred Sullivan, Anniversary, Church SUNDAY, April 24 7:30 a.m., Mass: Albert & Rita Crock, 70th Anniversary, Church 9:30 a.m., Mass: Martha Estadt, Church 9:45 a.m. Religious Education, School 11:30 a.m., Mass: St. Nicholas Parishioners, Church

Readings for Week of April 18, 2016 Mon. . . . . . . . Tues. . . . . . . . Wed . . . . . . . . Thurs. . . . . . . . Fri. . . . . . . . . . Sat. . . . . . . . . . Sun . . . . . . . .

Acts 11:1-18 Acts 11:19-26 Acts 12:2413:5a Acts 13:13-25 Acts 13:26-33 Acts 13:44-52 Acts 14:21-27

Jn 10:1-10 Jn 12:44-50 Jn 12:44-50 Jn 13:16-20 Jn 14:1-6 Jn 14:7-14 Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35