CATHOLIC DECEMBER 23, 2018 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT VOLUME 68:12 DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS TIMES HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS Catholic Times 2 December 23, 2018 Editor’s reflections by Doug Bean Ho, ho holy Christmas scenes from Lancaster artist Focusing “Somewhere along the way, it floor on the night before Christ- of the Apostles. on Advent became pretty obvious that Santa mas, in front of a fireplace with a The idea for that painting orig- and Christ- Claus had become the center of manger scene on the mantle. inated from singing Rudolph the mas in a church and Christmas,” Dr. Chris Santa’s Real Helper turned out Red-Nosed Reindeer during a car world con- Ryckman said in an interview to be one of his most popular ride with his family. “When we sumed by last week. “It wasn’t Christ any creations. Santa is kneeling in a were done, I said, ‘Can anyone commercialism can be a chal- more, it was Santa Claus. The de- pew praying before the taberna- name the disciples?’ Everyone lenge. Jesus truly is the reason partment stores were capitalizing cle at Lancaster St. Mary of the is silent. I started saying ‘Com- for the season, but images of the on Santa but weren’t mentioning Assumption Church, his family’s et, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen.’ I Christ Child are relegated mostly Christ. home parish. used to know the disciples. (The to the fringes in the secular world “I started painting Santa in His original intention was secularism) even worked on me. and replaced by Santa Claus, these various poses. I thought to paint the church because he It had sort of supplanted Jesus. reindeer, lavishly decorated trees, ‘I’ll protest this in my loved the architecture That’s when I did the painting of gifts, beautiful lights, sleigh rides own way and try to and the spirit of it. the Last Supper.” or snowy landscapes. send the message of “So I’m doing the Ryckman, a pulmonologist who That’s not to say those things Christ at Christmas.’” stained glass and all retired last October, began paint- aren’t festive or appropriate for Ryckman expressed these different things, ing in 1990 as a hobby and as an the celebration of Christmas. It his thoughts on can- and a light went off,” outlet from his stressful work as just seems that with each pass- vas through the years, he said. “Santa ended a doctor. ing year, the focus of Christmas and now they’re part up in the lower left “I saw a lot of very intense moves further away from the of his Santa’s True corner of the painting things,” he said. “Painting was commemoration of Christ’s birth. Heart gallery of oil as Santa before the sort of this time when you could For goodness sake, the word paintings, which tabernacle.” really get some deep enjoyment.” “Christmas” is derived from are on display at the The image eventu- His mother was a food editor Christ. How can anyone not Jubilee Museum, 57 ally wound up being for The Cincinnati Enquirer and acknowledge that fact? Thank S. Grubb St., Columbus, through seen far and wide. It landed on a talented artist in her own right God for the Knights of Colum- Jan. 6 as part of its annual cele- a magazine cover in Denver. He who encouraged him as a child. bus councils trying to spread that bration of Christmas. also put it on a Christmas card, His father was a longtime engi- message with their “Keep Christ The Norman Rockwell-esque and sales have reached 30,000. neering department head at the in Christmas” billboards. paintings are whimsical and poi- “I didn’t do it for monetary University of Dayton. Some years ago, a Lancaster gnant. Give Me Strength features gain,” he said. “I did it because He also was inspired by Pope doctor and artist was troubled by Santa (which Ryckman points of the message.” St. John Paul II’s call for artists how Christmas was being por- out means “holy” in Italian) Santa’s Last Supper, also avail- to paint beautiful things. trayed. Images unrelated to the sitting in a recliner on Dec. 24, able on a Christmas card, reflects Ryckman started taking draw- Savior were prevalent, and the relaxing with a crucifix in his the disordered prominence of ing lessons from the late Marvine focus of celebrating the mirac- right hand before embarking on Santa, who is pictured sitting in Triguba, an accomplished local ulous event shifted away from his annual journey. Night Watch Christ’s seat at the Last Supper, holiness and the sacred. shows a little girl sleeping on the surrounded by reindeer in place See REFLECTIONS, Page 16 Front Page photo: CATHOLIC Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, DD, PhD: President & Publisher Doug Bean: Editor ([email protected]) Vatican Christ- Tim Puet: Reporter ([email protected]) mas Nativity TIMES The Holy Family in a Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved. K. Colston-Woodruff: Graphic Designer ([email protected]) Nativity scene made Catholic Times (USPS 967-000) (ISSN 745-6050) is the official Mailing Address: 197 E. Gay St., Columbus OH 43215 newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. It is of sand in St. Peter’s Editorial/Advertising: (614) 224-5195 FAX (614) 241-2518 Square at the Vatican. published weekly 45 times per year with exception of every other week in June, July and August and the week following Christmas. Subscriptions: (614) 224-6530 FAX (614) 241-2573 CNS photo/Paul Haring Subscription rate: $25 per year, or call and make arrangements with your parish. Postage Paid at Columbus OH 43218. ([email protected]) Postmaster: Send address changes to Catholic Times, 197 E. Gay St., Columbus OH 43215. Please allow two to four weeks for change of address. December 23, 2018 Catholic Times 3 B ishop Camp b ell ’s 2018 Christmas message My dear friends, The secular calendar tells us that, with the Christmas holidays, the year is coming to an end. The manner in which we celebrate these days suggests that Christmas is the summation of all the year’s holidays, a time for looking back, adding up the past year’s sales, hoping that the Christmas flurry made this a bumper year, and storing up the good cheer of these holidays so as to face the challenge of the winter to come. Surely, Christians celebrate Christmas as a beginning rather than an end. Our Church’s calendar already began a month ago with Advent. If there is anything of an end in commemorating the birth of our Savior, it is the fulfillment of the long days of expectation for the arrival of a deliverer, so ardently hoped for by the prophets. But in this end is our beginning. Christians celebrate Christmas as the entrance of God Himself into our lives by taking on our human flesh and the reality of our earthly existence. The Child Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with- us, who by living a truly human life transforms every moment of it, changing the way we who celebrate the birth of the Savior live, move, and have our being. The celebration of Christmas is certainly a time of joy, generosity, hope, and the gift of peace, which like all gifts wait to be unwrapped. Christmas is therefore also a time of challenge. As we face the months to come, we commit ourselves to making the transformation of human existence through Christ the reality of our daily living. May the morning star, the sign of God’s presence among us, arise in your hearts and minds, enabling you to reflect its light to all around you. After all, even created nature joins us in this work of illumination, as daylight begins to expand. I wish you and your families and friends the choicest gifts of this season. A blessed Christmas to you all! Most Rev. Frederick F. Campbell, DD, PhD Bishop of Columbus Holy Day of Obligation Nativity of the Lord from all of us at December 25 Catholic Times! Check individual parishes Doug for schedule of Tim Holy Day Mass times Kimberly Catholic Times 4 December 23, 2018 Christmas Mass schedule for diocesan churches The following is a list of Mass times for the Vigil of Christmas, Monday, Dec. 24, and Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25, as provided to the Catholic Times by parishes. Call the parish for liturgical details about specific Masses. Ada Our Lady of Lourdes – Dec. Columbus St. Agnes – Dec. 24, 4:30 a.m., noon (incense at noon). Heath St. Leonard – Dec. 24, 4 and 24, 5 p.m.; Dec. 25, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Columbus St. Peter – Dec. 24, 8 p.m. (music at 3:30 and 7:30); Dec. Bremen St. Mary – Dec. 24, 9 p.m.; Columbus St. Aloysius – Dec. 24, 7 4:30 p.m., church; 4:30 p.m., McE- 25, 10 a.m. Dec. 25, 9 a.m. p.m.; Dec. 25, noon. wan Center (both in English); 7 p.m. Hilliard St. Brendan – Dec. 24, 4 Buckeye Lake Our Lady of Mount Columbus St. Andrew – Dec. 24, (English), 9 p.m. (Spanish), midnight p.m., church; 4 p.m., school multipur- Carmel – Dec. 24, 6 p.m., midnight; 4 p.m., church; 4 p.m., parish hall; 6 (English); Dec. 25, 10:30 a.m. (En- pose room; 6:30 p.m., church; 6:30 Dec. 25, 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., church; Dec, 25, 9 and glish), 4:30 p.m. (Spanish). p.m., multipurpose room; 10 p.m., Canal Winchester St.