Scripture readings, reflection

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By Fr. Andrew Kelly
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH – DECEMBER 29, 2013
The worship space and sound is still filled with Christmas so enthralled is the believing community about the mystery of God made flesh in Jesus.  But in Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23) Jesus’ cross quickly overshadows the festivities.
Herod wants to kill the child. The community is warned that following Jesus means opposition and outright hostility that will lead to Jesus’ cross.
But Matthew’s story of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in flight fills the community with hope. God is protecting and leading the community just as God led Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The path is dangerous and unwelcome, but God never abandons the community in its journey of following Jesus all the way to the cross.
Joseph is the community’s model. Joseph listened to and believed in God’s word as spoken through the angel in dreams. Like Joseph, the community listens to and believes in God’s word as proclaimed in the Scriptures.
Joseph responded immediately in obedient faith to whereever God was leading. So the community goes forth in obedient faith. It leaves Christmas behind and follows Jesus to the cross fearing nothing just as Joseph feared nothing — so profound was Joseph’s trust in God’s word and promise.
(First published Dec. 27, 2007)
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)

Scripture Readings for Dec. 29 to Jan. 5
Sunday
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17
Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

Monday
1 Jn 2:12-17
Lk 2:36-40

Tuesday
1 Jn 2:18-21
Jn 1:1-18

Wednesday
Nm 6:22-27
Gal 4:4-7
Lk 2:16-21

Thursday
1 Jn 2:22-28
Jn 1:19-28

Friday
1 Jn 2:29-3:6
Jn 1:29-34

Saturday
1 Jn 3:7-10
Jn 1:35-42

Sunday
Is 60:1-6
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12

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Vatican II put emphasis on Sunday

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By Msgr. Drake Shafer

Bishop Martin Amos celebrates Mass at St. Ann Parish in Long Grove in this September photo. Also pictured is Msgr. Drake Shafer, right. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the first Vatican II document to be promulgated (Dec. 4, 1963) placed a strong emphasis on the primacy of the Lord’s Day.

The liturgical calendar has developed, evolved and changed over the last 2,000 years. Our Christian year has roots in the Jew­ish year and calendar as well as being affected by the dates of Greek, Roman and other European feasts. My first real awareness of the Church’s liturgical year came when I was in fifth grade and became sacristan at St. Alphonsus, my parish church, in Davenport. At the time there were four priests in my parish (six when the Redemptorist missionaries were home). This was before the Second Vatican Council. There were three altars in the church plus one in the monastery. There was no concelebration of the Mass. On a daily basis Mass could be offered at all the altars at the same time. It was my job as sacristan to prepare the altars with the appropriate Missals for that day and to set out vestments of the appropriate color. I had to know the liturgical calendar if I was to do that. Every Sunday had a name (in Latin) and some of them were interesting, such as “Quadragesimo.” There were various types of feast days from solemnities to commemorations with semi-doubles and doubles in between. Don’t go feeling too sorry for me as the truth is that at that time most daily Masses were Requiem Masses (for the dead) and it was one thin little Missal and black vestments.
Things did change in the calendar before Vatican II. Actually many of the changes people associate with Vatican II really began with Pope Pius XII. Most notable was the revision of Holy Week that took place in 1955. Also during that year most vigils of feasts were suppressed and the number of octaves (the period from the feast to its eighth day) was reduced from 15 to three (Christmas, Easter and Pentecost). Two classes from the ranking of feasts were also suppressed. One month before his death, Pope Pius XII issued an Instruction on Sacred Music which introduced broadly “Dialogue Mass­es” where the congregation would recite much of the Mass along with the priest in Latin. Lay commentators would read in the vernacular what the priest read in Latin.
Prior to the Council, from 1960-62, Blessed Pope John XXIII brought in other changes including the suppression of some feast days because they were either redundant or not “historical,” for example: The Finding of The Holy Cross and St. Peter’s Chains. In 1969 under Pope Paul VI the feasts of a number of saints were removed from the Church’s universal calendar and allowed to remain in local calendars where there was particular devotion to the saint. The most famous example of this is St. Christopher. He was not “de-sainted,” but was removed from the universal calendar because his “acts” (life story) were found to be mostly legendary. The legends may well be based on a real person, but the legend has taken on a life of its own.
On Dec. 4, 1963, Pope Paul VI formally promulgated The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium). There were three major goals in the Constitution: 1) full, conscious and active participation by all involved in the celebration of the liturgy; 2) structural revision of liturgical rites; 3) recognition that the liturgy is the work of Christ and that the Church is most fully realized when the Eucharist is celebrated. The fifth chapter of the Constitution is on the Liturgical Year and the instructions in this chapter encourage the realization of all three major goals. First and foremost is the strong emphasis on the primacy of the Lord’s Day (Sunday, or the Saturday vigil), in that each Sunday is a little Easter. We also celebrate the Lord’s resurrection once every year, together with his blessed passion at the Easter Triduum. The emphasis on “Sunday” and the Easter Triduum bring us to the roots of our Catholic liturgical tradition and to the source out of which all other liturgical seasons and feasts develop.
“In each liturgical year the Church unfolds the whole mystery of Christ from the incarnation and nativity to the ascension, to Pentecost and the expectation of the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord” (SC Chapter 5). In this way the Church invites us into the story of our salvation and through the celebration of liturgical seasons asks us to recall Christ’s saving deeds, to inculcate them into our own lives and to look to the full realization of the Kingdom of God in the “Supper of the Lamb.” In these last 50 years since the Constitution was promulgated I believe that most of us have a much better understanding and appreciation of our faith and its celebration through this emphasis on the Lord’s Day.
This focus on the Lord’s Day is further developed in the celebration of this annual cycle by feasts of the Blessed Mother who is “inseparably linked with her son’s saving work,” as well as in the celebration of the saints. In those days long ago when I was sacristan in my parish church the saints mostly seemed to be people who lived long ago and far away. Today in the renewed calendar and the encouragement of particular or local calendars we have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of American saints and saints who have lived in our own time and witnessed God’s love to us. I think particularly of soon-to-be saints Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.
Since the Council, I believe we have a deeper faith through our celebration of the liturgical seasons as they have been renewed. These celebrations naturally lead to pious practices for soul and body that strengthen our faith and bind us closer in the sacred mysteries.
My final reflection is that I am so grateful to the Council Fathers for the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. It has affected my life and faith as few other documents have. From those sacristan days until now as a priest and pastor I have grown closer to Christ through the ongoing renewal of the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and the reform of the liturgical year.
(Msgr. Shafer is pastor of St. Ann Parish in Long Grove.)

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Article misrepresented pope’s thoughts on Mary

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To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the article “Visions of Mary can lead people away from God” (The Catholic Messenger, Nov. 21).  I felt the article greatly misrepresented Pope Francis’ comments on visions of our Lady.
I do not believe the statements Pope Francis made inferred in any way that visions of Mary lead people away from God. This would not make sense, especially since he recently consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, inviting representatives from Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe and other Marian apparition sites. When our Lord sends his Mother to us, it is to draw us back to him, not to lead us away from him.
For example, the Lord sent his Mother to Juan Diego in Mexico, and 10 million Indians were converted.  She appeared at Lourdes and Fatima, and tens of thousands have grown in their faith. Also, millions have returned to the faith, the sacraments, prayer and a closer walk with Jesus after being inspired by Our Lady’s alleged apparitions in Medjugorje, which are still being investigated by the Church.
I believe the pope’s comments were referring to those who focus too much on every claimed message and vision of Mary, without using proper discernment. If the visions only stimulate our curiosity without drawing us into a deeper relationship with Jesus, it is better to avoid them. If, however, we discern that they are drawing people closer to Christ and his Church, and opening them up to the Holy Spirit, it may be to our benefit to pay attention to them.  Healings, vocations and callings which serve to build up the Church have often come from those who listen to Mary’s call to conversion.
As our Lord says in Matthew 7:16: “You shall know them by their fruits.”
Sandi Hansen
Davenport

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Diocesan year in review for 2013

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Bishop Martin Amos ordained 12 men as permanent deacons and two as transitional deacons July 13. This was the first permanent deacon class to be ordained since 2002.

By Anne Marie Amacher
The year 2013 marked many firsts in the diocesan and universal Church.  Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. Pope Francis was the first pope to be elected from the Americas.
Bishop Martin Amos was the first bishop of the Davenport Diocese to travel overseas to present the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. Another notable first for the diocese: the 12 members of Deacon Class VI were ordained to the permanent diaconate, the first class in 11 years.

Bishop Amos
Bishop Amos traveled to France to honor Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, an international federation of communities in which people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together. The bishop also presided at a follow-up event in Davenport, at Vanier’s request, to honor L’Arche in the United States. At the request of maximum security prisoners, Bishop Amos presided at Mass and ate lunch afterwards in the 174-year-old Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. He also visited the new prison, slated to open in March.

Priests
The year began with the incardination of Father Ron Hodges into the Diocese of Davenport. Father Jacob Greiner was ordained to the priesthood while Father Tom Parlette, Father Walter Helms, Father William Kaska and Father Michael Phillips retired. Father Paul Appel and Father Corey Close returned to duties in the diocese after finishing advanced studies.
Father Robert Harness was exonerated of an accusation of abuse. Accusations of abuse against Father John Stack remain under investigation. Father Joseph Nguyen received permission in December to leave the Davenport Diocese to pursue ministry elsewhere in the United States. The diocese said goodbye to three retired priests who passed away: Father Joe Rogers, Father Daniel Mannhardt and Father John Whalen.

Deacons
Twelve permanent deacons and two transitional deacons were ordained July 13 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. This was the first permanent deacon class ordained since 2002. Another deacon class is in the formation process.

Year of Faith
Bishop Amos presided at six deanery-wide Year of Faith celebrations in the diocese. The year began Oct. 11, 2012, and concluded Nov. 24, 2013. The Iowa City Deanery celebrated its event in December 2012, followed by the Grinnell Deanery in June, Keokuk Deanery in July, Davenport Deanery in September, Ottumwa Deanery in October and Clinton Deanery in November. The Catholic Messen­ger published profiles and produced videos of people from throughout the diocese sharing what the Year of Faith meant to them.

Parishes
St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt exceeded its “Faith in Our Future” capital campaign goal of $500,000. The money goes toward a variety of repairs, improvements and the rebuilding of a parish emergency fund to cover stabilization of the church subfloor.
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport dedicated its new east entrance, which is now handicapped accessible. Cost for the project was $700,000.
St. Mary Parish in Grinnell kicked off a five-year, $2.3 million campaign for a larger parish hall and religious education center.
St. Ann Parish in Long Grove kicked off a $1.5 million campus improvement campaign. By Advent the parish dedicated a new columbarium, reconciliation chapel, adoration chapel and many other improvements.
St. Mary Parish in Centerville celebrated 75 years of ministry provided by the Precious Blood priests.
St. James Parish in Washington made improvements that included new flooring, pews, eucharistic reservation area for adoration, baptistery and more. The project’s cost was $400,000.
St. James Parish in St. Paul celebrated 175 years as a parish. It is the second-oldest parish in the diocese.
St. Boniface Parish in Farmington celebrated 150 years as a parish.
A rare celebration of a Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the diocese was held Sept. 7 at St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction.
Parishes began participating in the Confirmation Prep Project, a national effort to enhance youths’ confirmation experience.
Representatives of St. Anne Parish in Welton said the parish will close in 2014.

Schools
Holy Trinity Catholic Schools in Lee County announced a $5 million “Century Strong” campaign. Money will be used for teacher benefits, tuition assistance, technology and capital improvements.
Seton Catholic School in Ottumwa expanded its preschool program and after-school program.
Notre Dame Middle/High School library underwent an update worth nearly $30,000. The project included new computers and modern furniture.
Keokuk Catholic School celebrated 160 years of Catholic education in Keokuk and announced plans to return the school’s name to St. Vincent’s Elementary during Catholic Schools Week in late January 2014.

St. Ambrose University
Plans to construct a 13,000-square-foot addition to the Health Sciences Center on the Genesis Health Systems campus were announced. The project’s estimated cost is $3.75 million. The existing building was dedicated in 2010.
Ambrose Hall underwent a $5 million exterior renovation. The work included new windows, brick repair or replacement, and efforts to restore the exterior to its appearance in 1885 and to restore each section to the original building.
The 1885 time capsule in Ambrose Hall was opened, but the items inside — mostly newspapers and the 1885 dedication program — had sustained significant water damage. A new time capsule was filled with memorabilia and sealed during homecoming weekend. The capsule was to be placed in the cornerstone with a plaque noting the capsule should be opened in 2082.
McCarthy Hall was dedicated Aug. 14. Formerly known as North Hall, it was named after alumnus Richard McCarthy.
St. Ambrose held its first international conference, on Bible and Justice, with about 100 people attending and speakers from around the world.

Other
The Congregation of the Humility of Mary offered a $100,000 matching grant to support Humility of Mary Shelter.
A new safe environment program for children, titled “Circle of Grace” was introduced.
The diocese hired Don Boucher as the new coordinator of youth/young adult ministry and Miguel Moreno as the coordinator of multicultural ministry.
Work has begun to restart Project Rachel, a post-abortion ministry.

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Returning home to the Church

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To the Editor:
After almost 50 years, I was able to come back. I feel I have always had the faith but was too weak to let go/forgive what had happened in the past. I let a few words from men cause me to leave the Catholic Church. I am thankful that God has always watched over me and taken care of me and my family. He has been my strength. He has given me faith, hope and love. I have had a blessed life. But I was missing something. My children asked me to go to Midnight Mass a couple of years ago and I realized what I was missing. It was the body of Christ. I needed to get back to be able to receive the Eucharist. I made my first confession in about 50 years. I left the confessional feeling like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I felt like I had come back. I have made a Cursillo thanks to Mike Maerz. All of this has made me realize that all this time God was waiting for me. All I had to do was make the move. He has always been there for me and always will be. Thank you dear Lord for waiting for me.
Dennis Otte
The Church of All Saints, Keokuk

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Giving proves ‘powerful’ for Regina students

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By Celine Klosterman

Katie Wick lights an Advent candle during a prayer service at the Regina Junior/Senior High School gym in Iowa City Dec. 20. The service celebrated the school’s annual Christmas Basket Project for area families in need.

IOWA CITY — Standing in front of 19 heaps of wrapped gifts, students at Regina Junior/Senior High School prayed for the recipients: Congolese refugees, single moms, children and immigrants whose families earn an average of $772 a month.
“There is no money for gifts — not this year,” senior Adam Ries said in the school gym during a Dec. 20 prayer service.
So Regina students had stepped in, collecting hundreds of donations including furniture, appliances, winter coats and baby toys for 19 local families in need. It was the 13th year the school had undertaken its Christmas Basket Project, designed not only to offer charity but to educate students about poverty, according to Kathy McCue, project coordinator and Regina campus minister.
The effort got rolling in November, when 60 seniors split into small groups that were matched with families served by the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. Students interviewed the families to make up Christmas wish lists. Each group of seniors then took a list back to one of the religion classes at the junior/senior high school. Every class worked to get items requested by its assigned family.
Local businesses and Regina families donated new and used items, and area parishioners gave money for the project after Masses one weekend. In mid-December, seniors used the money raised to buy gifts that weren’t donated. After the Dec. 20 morning prayer service, students delivered the presents.
For senior Grace Larew, meeting a family who lacked material possessions was eye-opening. “They had a mattress on the floor and no blankets. That night at home I saw six blankets on my bed, and I wasn’t even using all of them…. That was pretty powerful for me.”
Senior Michael Cooper recalled interviewing a 19-year-old woman who shared an apartment with babies and her Spanish-speaking parents. Their home had broken pots and pans and no beds. “You could tell she was pretty stressed out,” he said. “She was really thankful to us, but hesitant to ask for anything.”
Senior Oliva Gillitzer said she also interviewed recipients who “didn’t want to seem greedy,” despite lacking basic furnishings for their mobile home. During the prayer service, she described how the family’s five children under age 7 “got excited about us bringing them a table and chairs.”
To help students empathize with people in such need, McCue leads a poverty simulation in her peace and justice classes each year before Christmas. During the exercise, youths play the roles of people searching for affordable housing, child care and other necessities while battling obstacles like a job loss.
The education students receive during the Christmas Basket Project changes their perspective, senior Hannah Seaman learned from her older sister two years ago. “When we were actually able to meet people who didn’t have what we did, that made poverty seem more real,” Seaman said.
Though seniors must devote time to the project outside of school hours, it’s worth it, Cooper said. “You’re making people’s Christmas better. It’s so rewarding.”

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Give peace

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To the Editor:
Gift giving is the thing to do this time of year. With all the extra stress and demands on our time and in our families, taking a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and relax is a wonderful and free gift that can bring calm and strength – a “peace moment” if you will.  Give the gift of a “peace moment” to yourself as you anxiously wait in a long line at the department or grocery store, hoping to get home earlier rather than later. Pass the gift of a “peace moment” by simply pausing to listen to a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor.
Consider turning off the TV and other electronics for an hour and play a board game or read a Christmas story with your family.  Treat yourselves to one of the many free or low-cost activities or events in your community: e.g., taking a walk, playing in the snow, purchasing a one-day family pass at the YWCA or YMCA, ice skating, bowling and attending church services. St. Francis of Assisi extended the greeting of “Peace and all good” to each person he encountered.
May you have many “peace moments” in these times and notice the difference you make in our world.
Sr. Nancy Miller, OSF,
Co-coordinator, Center for Active Nonviolence & Peacemaking
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton

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