bulletin 8-28-16

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

ST. NICHOLAS PARISH From the Pastor’s Desk This past week our new school year started off quite well. There is an excitement in the air and a genuine eagerness to get to work. Our teachers and students have hit the ground running. The realignment of our buildings is working out very well and will prove to be a great benefit to Bishop Fenwick elementary and middle school students. Great things are happening. Last week I wrote in this column about the importance of growing in knowledge. Learning is a lifelong process. The refusal to learn more about life and the world cripples and causes our lives to stagnate. Coupled with this notion is the contemplation of this newly acquired knowledge. There is a need for pondering and contemplating that which we learn. This takes a great deal of time; time for which many claim that they do not have the luxury. We live in a very busy world and we find ourselves caught up in so many activities. Who has the time to think and contemplate the events of our daily lives much less the new knowledge we have acquired? No one seems to have the time to think. Rereading an old classic, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis was an occasion for such pondering. Lewis laid out a plan for the destruction of humanity. This destruction would come about by blinding humans to an awareness of the present and the eternal. This would come about by convincing humans to abandon reflective contemplation. A key element is to keep humans busy; so busy that they do not have time to think. Keep them busy to the point that the work becomes most important. Even if they are doing charitable work, this can be easily used to make work more important than reflective contemplation. Excessive activity will make reflective contemplation look like a waste of time. (Remember a few weeks ago the sisterly dispute between Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke.) A world so busy, filled with noise and chaos will in the end silence every heavenly voice as well as human sensitivity to the inner stirrings of conscience: The very place where God speaks quietly in the depths of the human person. We learn from the beginning of the book of Genesis that the human being is made in the image and likeness of God. There is something about the human person that images God. This image and likeness was tainted and distorted by Original Sin. However, if we look to the story of creation before the “Fall”, God created the earth and all that is in it and reflected at the end of the sixth day and said “It is very good.” On the seventh day God rested from all the work he had done in creation. If we are created in the image and likeness of God we mirror something of God but this becomes difficult because of our sinful condition. God “worked” and “rested”. The human is invited to share in this work and rest. Then after the “Fall” this invitation became distorted because of sin. There was an original balance of work and rest. To make a long story short, because of Original Sin we do not always have that balance between work and rest. Many times our work takes on such an importance that it runs into the seventh day and we do not take our rest for reflective contemplation. Because of the Original Sin the image and likeness of God is distorted and not recognized. Pressing the matter a little bit further in light of the fourth commandment… “Keep holy the Sabbath” becomes a nice platitude but ultimately less desirable. There was a passage from a book written by Thomas Merton that our college seminary spiritual director presented to us. He was doing a presentation on the necessity of quiet reflection for the spiritual life, inner peace and the apostolic work of the Church. During the 1970’s Merton was a popular spiritual writer and guide. He was a Trappist Monk; a contemplative who lived in Kentucky at the Abbey of Gethsemane. He had written many books on the contemplative life, prayer, and spiritual advice. Just the same, here is the short passage that was presented to us. I was caught by his use of the strong word “violence” in the spiritual life. Nevertheless here is the quote. “There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence, and that is activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of this innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to want to help

everyone and everything is to succumb to violence. The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace. It destroys our own inner capacity for peace because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.” Thomas Merton: “Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander”. 1966. (It reflects the absence of peace in Martha as she complains to Jesus about her sister Mary who was sitting and listening to Jesus as she was busy with the duties/work of hospitality.) The danger presented by Lewis and Merton is that of a world so full of work and activities of various kinds have a way of deadening our ability to hear the voice of God speaking quietly in the very depths of our being. Our pray life will take a negative hit with overwork and over-activity becoming more important than reflective contemplation. This presents a threat to humanity. This threat finds its roots in three contributing factors. There is a loss of the examined life, contemplative rest and a consciousness of the presence of God. The loss of these three factors has a way of eroding our lives, culture and humanity. This is the great danger of our increasingly secular society. When I consider these factors or influences, I see them from a particularly religious perspective. This does not mean that they do not have something important to say to the laity. The examined life is important in understanding oneself. It takes into consideration one’s spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical life. The examination of conscience is a part of this: taking an honest inventory of one’s soul. It is a calling into consciousness the influences of our lives: for example vice or virtue. This is usually the first thing to disappear from the daily life of any religious person who is overly busy and struggling spiritually. In the life of a very busy person the practice of a daily examination of conscience is not deemed all that important in comparison with all the work that is done and needs to be done. This is true for the religious; it is also true for the laity. When the practice of an examination of conscience is set aside it is a sign that life had become overly busy for such a practice. The spiritual life is stifled. Contemplative rest: the words of the Psalmist speak eloquently here. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. There are numerous references in the scriptures that refer to a silent watching and waiting for the Lord. God speaks intimately to us in the silence of our hearts. One must be silent in order to hear and discern the intimate voice of God. The posture is that of rest and not slumber. It is difficult to hear the voice of God when our lives are filled with all kinds of work and activities. It is when we deliberately stop and take on the posture of rest that we are able to receive that which we cannot earn: the Word of God and the grace of God. Lastly; we must consciously cultivate an awareness of God in our lives. This is done by prayer. We must pray privately as well as with the community of faith. Both are necessary and enhance each other. The one most important prayer that focuses on the presence of God is the Mass. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is all about the presence of God. God is profoundly present to us in Sacred Scripture as well as in the Holy Eucharist. How could we not avail ourselves to such a gift from God? Yet in such a busy world, filled with noise and chaos we have silenced every heavenly voice as well as our human sensitivity to the inner stirrings of conscience. When this is brought to our attention we push back and get defensive. We are not at peace because… the frenzy of our activism has neutralized our peace. It has destroyed our own inner capacity for peace because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful and gives us peace. The point; as the Catholic Christian Community we are blessed by God. However those blessings are of no avail without our openness, reception and thankfulness. We tend to have busy lives that leave no time for God. We tend not to examine our lives and our conscience. We rarely take the Sabbath seriously as a day of thankful resting in the Lord. We give little time to reflective contemplation in order to perceive, receive and enjoy God’s many blessings. And thus we tend not to have an awareness of God’s presence in our lives. Our prayer life suffers individually and communally. At the beginning a new academic year let us rest in reflective contemplation on our faith, our relationship with God and with

AUGUST 28, 2016 thankful hearts for the many blessings we have from God. May God’s blessings continue to strengthen our faith. Have a great week. Father Ralko

Church Support AUGUST 21, 2016 OFFERTORY $11,123.00 Diocesan Tax $ (650.00) Fenwick Subsidy $(3,060.00) Rosecrans subsidy $(290.00) Available for Parish Operations $7,123.00 Parish Operating Expenses $(8,200.00) Religious Education Expenses $(800.00) Other Income $2,300.00 Weekly deficit $423.00 May God bless you for supporting your parish This week we pray Week II of the Liturgy of the hours. ZANESVILLE CATHOLIC TEENS- COOKOUT AND WATER GAMES Sunday, August 28 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. St. Nicholas Teens Center. All High School and Middle School Grades 6-12 welcome. Students should be prepared to get wet! ST. NICHOLAS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Registration for all new and returning St. Nicholas Religious Education students will be in the church social hall after all the Masses on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. Parents-we are asking for you to consider volunteering with us this year, whether as a substitute teacher or helper in most of the grades. Please give us some thought and let us know. Classes for 2016-2017 year begin, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 at Bishop Fenwick School (St. Nicholas building). THE DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA INFORMATION NIGHT ON AUTISM September 13 at 6:30 p.m. the Daughters of Isabella will host an information night in the St. Nicholas Church basement social hall. Join us and guest speaker, Beth Johnston, as we explore autism and how we can support family, friends and neighbors who are experiencing the challenges associated with autism.

PRE JORDAN CLASS St. Nicholas will hold a Pre Jordan class for parents and godparents of infants or small children on Tuesday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Nicholas Parish Office Building. Please call Mary Lou Staker at 740-453-7141 to register.

WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP Last call for ordering a book for this year’s Women’s Spirituality Group. The Women’s Spirituality Group will resume meeting on Monday, September 26 at 3:30 p.m. This year we will be discussing Pope Francis’ book The Holy Year of Mercy. We are taking orders for the book until September 1. If you plan to participate and want us to order a book for you, or if you have any questions, please contact Judi Peterson at 740-453-5288.

PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN TRAINING SESSION If you are over 18 and out of high school and want to work with children and teens in the parish or school, you must attend a PGC training session. This includes working with youth through youth programs as well as any mission trips sponsored by the parish. The training session is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Bishop Fenwick School (St. Nicholas building). Preregistration is required at www.virtusonline.org. For questions or additional information, call Bishop Fenwick School at 740-454-9731. BISHOP ROSECRANS ATHLETIC BOOSTERS Booster mania will be held Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. You may purchase your numbers for the next year and enjoy food and drink compliments of the boosters. Any questions contact Marvin Paul at 453-4482. The Athletic Boosters mum sale forms are available at the Knights of Columbus Hall or at Bishop Rosecrans High School. Pick up will be Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Knights of Columbus beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call Marvin Paul at 453-4482 with questions.

RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are you in search of a deeper relationship with God? Are you interested in learning about Christian initiation, Christianity, the Catholic faith?  Have you been attending the Catholic Church, Mass, for years but just never ‘got around’ to joining?  Would you like to be baptized? RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is an opportunity to learn about the tradition and history of the Catholic Church, while experiencing our beliefs and worship. RCIA at St. Nicholas begins on Wed. September 14 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Office Building, 955 East Main St. (enter on the Silliman St. side.) Call Mary Lou Staker at 453-7141 for more information.  

MISSION APPEAL THANK YOU The Fathers of the Holy Spirit (the Spiritans) send their thanks for the encouraging response on the part of the parish to their appeal the weekend of Aug. 13-14 and for the kind reception given to Reverend Lazarus Langbiir, C.S.Sp., who was here on their behalf. Be assured of the prayers of the Spiritans worldwide for you, and for your intentions, and of their need for your continued prayers for them and for their ministries to God’s lowly and needy ones everywhere. Do please continue to keep the missions of the Church in your hearts, the work of the Holy Spirit Fathers in mind, and the never-ending need to proclaim and witness to the Gospel in your own lives. 86TH ANNUAL LABOR DAY HOMECOMING PICNIC St. Mary’s Fulda will hold their picnic on Monday, September 5. Our day starts with Mass at 9:00 a.m. Dinner will be served starting at 10:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Carry-out dinners are available. A refreshment stand will be available all afternoon.

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE It is your responsibility to find a substitute if needed. September 4, 2016- Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

What’s Happening in Our Parish MONDAY, August 29, The Passion of St. John the Baptist 8:00 a.m., Mass: Thomas Morosco, Church

Saturday, September 3 @ 5:15 p.m. Lector: Nancy Susa, Bill Sullivan Server: Christina Rozsa, Ted Lacy Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Erin Roush Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Ronald Davis, Don Susa Eucharistic Minister: Pauline Davis, Dottie Durant, Margaret Kronenbitter, Janis Maziar

TUESDAY, August 30 8:00 a.m., Mass: Emily Swierz, Church

WEDNESDAY, August 31 8:10 a.m., Mass: Doris Lake, anniversary, Church

Sunday, September 4 @7:30 a.m. Lector: Diane Hoffer, Stephanie Bridwell Server: David Eppley, Wesley Nestor Eucharistic Minister- Coord: Jeff Shawger Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Patrick Durant, Marvin Paul Eucharistic Minister: Philip Kocoloski

THURSDAY, September 1

Sunday, September 4@ 9:30 a.m. Lector: Rocky Rowe, Wendy Hart Server: Justin Hart, Nathan Hart Eucharistic Minister - Coord: John Haswell Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Chris Drake, Michael Drake Eucharistic Minister: Linda Haswell, Dan Sylvester, Judi Peterson, Cheryl Sylvester

SATURDAY, September 3, St. Gregory the Great

Sunday, September 4@ 11:30 a.m. Lector: Patti Logan, Bernard Budde Server: Victoria Hall, Scott Peterson Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Alan Burns Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Paula Peterson, Mary Mirgon Eucharistic Minister: Vicki Burns, Jim McKee, Carolyn Arnold, 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.

8:00 a.m., Mass: John Cletus Michel, Church

FRIDAY, September 2 8:00 a.m., Mass: Pastor’s intention, Church

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Confessions, Church 5:15 p.m., Mass: George & Edith Schramm, Church

SUNDAY, September 4 7:30 a.m., Mass: McKeown & Ryan families, Church 9:30 a.m., Mass: Camillus Sullivan, anniversary, Church 11:30 a.m., Mass: St. Nicholas Parishioners, Church

Readings for Week of August 29, 2016 Mon. . . . . . . . Tues. . . . . . . . Wed . . . . . . . . Thurs. . . . . . . . Fri. . . . . . . . . . Sat. . . . . . . . . . Sun . . . . . . . .

1 Cor 2:1-5 1 Cor 2:10b-16 1 Cor 3:1-9 1 Cor 3:18-23 1 Cor 4:1-5 1 Cor 4:6b-15 Wis 9:13-18b

Mk 6:17-29 Lk 4:31-37 Lk 4:38-44 Lk 5:1-11 Lk 5:33-39 Lk 6:1-5 Lk 14:25-33