Third Sunday of Lent-March 7, 2021

St. Anthony of Padua 3009 High Ridge Blvd. High Ridge, MO 63049 Business Hours Monday - Thursday 7:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Phone (636) 677-4868 Fax (636) 677-2781 Website www.stanthonyhr.org Pastor Father John Reiker

Parish Mission Statement Our mission is to be on fire with the love of Jesus Christ, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, to celebrate our community of faith in the Eucharist and to share God’s love and mercy with our neighbors through our ministries and evangelization. Mass Schedule Daily Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M Sunday Saturday 4:30 P.M. (indoors) Sunday 10:00 A.M. (indoors) Confessions Saturday 4:00-4:20 P.M. By appointment anytime

Marriages: Make arrangements with Rectory Office Religious Instruction Priest or Deacon of your choice no less Father John Reiker Parish School of Religion than six months prior to proposed Pastor ext. 102 Phone (636) 677-4868 ext 118 wedding date. [email protected] Grades (pre-K through 8) Mrs. Kathy Joslin Parish Help Line: St. Vincent de Paul Deacon Jim G’Sell [email protected] Society, 1-877-238-3228, ext. 3329 [email protected] 314-484-2055 Adults - RCIA New Parishioners: Welcome! Please contact: Please register by contacting the rectory Mrs. Rusalyne Ahlemeyer Fr. John Reiker Office Manager, ext. 104 during business hours [email protected] @ 677-4868 ext. 100

Secretary, ext. 100 Baptism Preparation Meeting: Infant Change of Address or Telephone: Paula Mari Willenbrink Baptisms require parental attendance Please call the rectory during business [email protected] at a meeting prior to baptism,with the hours. 677-4868 ext. 100 Pastor in the rectory. Call rectory office Cafeteria for information 636-677-4868, ext. 100. Parish website: Ext. 212 stanthonyhr.org

Bulletin Deadline Archdiocese of St .Louis Website: For submissions to our Facebook NO LATER than Monday 9:00 AM the www.archstl.org page, Website, or our Parish App please email Monica Becker at week you need it to be published in the Catholic Elementary School: [email protected] Please bulletin. Notices must be submitted in All of our parish children who wish to allow several days for submission to writing: email text to attend a catholic elementary school may be approved and posted. Thank You [email protected] do so at the school of their choice and

still remain parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua. Call rectory. St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge, MO Pastor’s Column Recorded Mass continues after Saturday Mass on our web- Saint of the Week page:www.stanthonyhr.org and Facebook Matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers (1905-1987)

Maria Kutschera, who was orphaned at seven, grew up with no interest in religion; for the “holy water girls” in her class, she felt Scrutinies and Presentations only scorn. Yet, while studying to be a teacher, she stepped Of Creed and Lord’s Prayer into a church one Palm Sunday and heard a sermon that changed her life. Opening her heart to God, she decided at once to become a nun. We celebrate the first of 3 Scrutinies and the Presenta- In 1924 she entered Nonnberg Abbey, where, despite her good tion of the Creed and Our Father with our RCIA candi- intentions, her lively personality raised eyebrows. Frequently dates. To fully understand the purpose of the scrutinies, she was reminded not to whistle in the cloister, or slide down it helps to have a little history. The three scrutinizes that banisters, or skip up the stairs. In 1926 the mother superior we celebrate within the Rite of Christian Initiation of tested her vocation by sending her to serve a spell as tutor to one of the seven children of a widowed naval commander, Adults are derived, in part, from the fourth century . In time, and with the blessing of her abbess, church’s practice of exorcism. The word “exorcism” sets she left the convent, married Georg, and bore three additional many on edge, but these are not the “exorcisms” of Hol- children. lywood movies, instead they can be understood more Their story inspired the popular musical — fully in the context of baptismal preparation. though with some poetic license. Yes, they fled Nazi rule in Austria, but there was no climb over the Alps; instead, a train to In a baptismal context, the unbaptized person is suscep- Italy and a boat to America. Maria consoled the children by tible to the temptations to evil that surround us every recalling the Holy Family’s flight from Herod to Egypt. After day. As baptized people, we are strengthened by the that, she felt that “Jesus was a member of the family.” After Georg’s death, Maria and three of her children became mis- grace of the sacraments to overcome temptations. The sionaries in Papua New Guinea. She died in Vermont on March unbaptized do not yet fully experience that sacramental 28, 1987. grace. So the scrutinies are used to strengthen the un- baptized elect on the final leg of their journey to initiation. “It will be very interesting one day to follow the pattern of our life as it is spread out like a beautiful tapestry...In looking back In today’s RCIA scrutinizes, the elect kneel and bow their we can discover how a red threat goes through the pattern of heads, while the words and actions of the exorcism are our life: the Will of God.” addressed to the Trinity. —Maria von Trapp

~~The first part of the exorcism is addressed the Father. Joke of the Week ~~The second part is a silent laying on of hands that is an invocation of the Holy Spirit. Higher Power ~~And the conclusion is addressed to Jesus.

A Sunday school teacher said to her children, “We have been There is evil in the world, and, as part of the human con- learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. dition, we are all injured and oppressed by it in some But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is? way. The scrutinizes are the church’s remedy for the wounds the elect have suffered and a means of their One child blurted out, ‘Aces!’ liberation from the evil that ensnares them:

Steve Cassady-sponsor: Randell Cassady

Elizabeth Peters-sponsor: Tori Rynders

James Stoeckel, Jr.-sponsor: Lacie Martin res them: Spread the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus and His St. Anthony Family A HOLY COMMUNITY THROUGH HOLY COMMUNION! Your brother in Jesus, March 7, 2021

Pastor’s Column

St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge, MO

“Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in his Word, in the sacraments and in our neighbor.” -Pope Francis

Dear Parish Family of St. Anthony,

During Lent our community will participate in CRS Rice Bowl, a faith-in-action program that invites us to en- counter our neighbor, as companions on the journey, through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

As we prepare for this holy season, it is especially meaningful to come together in prayer as a family. Reflect- ing on the crosses of hunger, poverty and war carried by our brothers and sisters forced to flee their homes, we have an opportunity to also reflect on our roles in caring for them as members of our human family.

Please take home a Rice Bowl and calendar (included inside) today and begin using this during Lent. We will collect your CRS Rice Bowl at the end of Lent.

Thank you for participating in CRS Rice Bowl with your family.

P.S. Did you know that CRS Rice Bowl has a web page specifically for families? Visit crsricebowl.org/ families for activities that will help your family grow in our Catholic faith this Lenten season.

Please consider these suggestions in your family’s Lenten plan: SUSTAINABILITY IN EL SALVADOR

Drought has become a big problem across El Salvador, ✞ Pray the booklet daily: 5 Minutes with the Word: making it difficult for farmers to produce enough crops Lent 2021. to support their families. But new farming techniques— and a new generation of young farmers—are making a ✞ Use your CRS Rice Bowl and Lenten Calendar difference. What would you do if your livelihood was daily to guide your prayer, fasting and almsgiv- threatened? How can you support young people in your ing. community and around the world? Visit crsrice- ✞ Read the Rice Bowl Stories of Hope and daily bowl.org. reflections to inspire your Lenten journey - and guide your Lenten almsgiving. ✞ Prepare simple, meatless meals on the Fridays of Lent to eat in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. ✞ Visit crsricebowl.org/stories to watch videos of the people and communities you support through your Lenten gifts to CRS Rice Bowl. March 7, 2021

Welcome to CRS Rice Bowl 2021! We are so happy you’re joining us on this Lenten journey to three countries, where we’ll learn how to help others through CRS Rice Bowl. When you donate to CRS Rice Bowl, you share your life and your abundance with our global family in need. Your generosity puts nutritious food on their tables and helps them lead healthy lives and reach their God-given potential!

A Story of Hope from El Salvador

New techniques and technology are changing the way farming is done to help restore the environment as well as reshaping the dreams of young people like Edwin Carlos. Some young people in Ahuachapan in eastern El Salvador think that being a farmer is a thing of the past. Their families have farmed for generations, but cli- mate change and soil erosion have caused harvests—and therefore, their incomes—to shrink considerably.

Edwin Carlos, a 17-year-old eager to support his parents and two little brothers, did not see farming in his future. How- ever, after a teacher told him about how new techniques and technology were changing the way farming was being done to help restore the environment, he changed his mind. Edwin Carlos decided to join a group of 220 students who are leaning skills like the importance of distancing when plowing and how burning harvest residue can harm the land and air.

Sadly, El Salvador has lost 75% of its rich land because of the large number of trees that have been cut down and harmful agricultural practices like the extensive use of fertilizers, making it one of the most food—insecure countries in the hemisphere. “He who knows has an obligation to act,” says Edwin Carlos, who now knows how to use water properly so that it is not wasted, and organic manure and other resources to provide nutrients to the soil to produce more—and healthier—crops.

Thanks to this school program, CRS’ Raices Ahuachapan, Edwin Carlos has learned how to grow vegetables at home—knowledge that was extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the days of the confinement, nearly 1,200 families started home vegetable gardens to grow nutritious foods like onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. They can eat what they harvest or sell the produce at their church or the local market for addi- tional income. Pope Francis reminds us that “young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a bet- ter future without thinking of the environmental crisis.” Thanks to programs like CRS’ Raices Ahuachapan, young people are becoming active agents of that change.

REFLECT

Why is caring for creation so important and what is the impact—locally and globally—when we don’t care for it?

Raices is a word in Spanish that means roots. Why do you think the program is called that?

St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge, MO TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — The law was given through Moses (Exodus 20:1-17 [1-3, 7-8, 12-17]) or Exodus 17:3-7. Welcome Psalm — Lord, you have the words of everlasting life (Psalm 19) or Psalm 95. To all our Guests, Second Reading — We proclaim Christ crucified; the Fr. John Reiker, Deacon Jim G’Sell, and All your sisters foolishness of God is greater than human wisdom (1 and brothers at St. Anthony’s Parish Family welcome you Corinthians 1:22-25) or Romans 5:1-2, 5-8. and hope that your time with us may be a moment of Gospel — Destroy this temple, and in three days I will spiritual experience. You are always welcome here and if raise it up (John 2:13-25) or John 4:5-42 [5-15, 19b-26, you would like to become a member of this parish or are 39a, 40-42]. thinking to become a Catholic, contact the Rectory office. Our phone is 636-677-4868 ext. 100. SUNDAY GOSPEL

TOTAL ALLEGIANCE Mass Intentions

Monday, March-8 In previous weeks we have seen how the theme of cove- 8:00 A.M. Rose Hill (Intention) nant—as a preparation for the baptismal covenant cele- Tuesday, March-9 brated at Easter—occupies an important place in our cy- 8:00 A.M. Sue Barton cle of Lenten readings. The notion of covenant as a rela- Wednesday, March-10 8:00 A.M. Lee Siebert tionship between two parties carries with it an expectation Thursday, March-11 of mutual accountability and fidelity to the terms of the 8:00 A.M. Our Beloved Who have Passed On covenant. When God forged the covenant with the Jewish Friday, March-12 people on Mt. Sinai, it was a pledge of God’s protection, 8:00 A.M. James Engemann and it would forever permit them familiar access as the Saturday, March-13 Chosen People. For their part, the Jewish people were to 4:30 p.m. Fran Stegman observe the dictates of the law, summarized most suc- Sunday, March-14-Fourth Sunday of Lent cinctly here in the form of the Ten Commandments. To be 10:00 A.M. The Parishioners of St. Anthony in a covenantal relationship with the Lord God requires an

exclusive relationship, just as discipleship with Jesus— ritualized in baptism—demands a total allegiance to him Ministry Schedule sheets are available in the sacristy to be and none other. picked up.

If you are unable to Lector or be a Eucharistic Minister during March, April or May; please contact the parish office: 636-677- READINGS FOR THE WEEK 4868 ext: 100 or Betty Livengood: 636-677-0359. Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30 Ministers for March 13 & 14, 2021 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6-7bc, 8-9; Eucharistic Liturgies Mt. 18:21-35 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9; Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Lector: #1 JoAnne Cooley Mt 5:17-19 Lector: #2 Gary C. Thursday: Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Lk 11:14-23 Eucharistic Minister (if needed): Tom B. Friday: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11ab, 14, 17; Servers: Nate & Betty Mk 12:28-34 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-21ab; Lk 18:9-14 Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Sunday: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Ps 137:1-6; Lector: #1 Pat A. Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21 Lector: #2 Judy H. Alternate readings (Year A): Eucharistic Minister (if needed): Molly 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23:1-6; Servers: Charlotte & Connor Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41[1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38] If anyone wants to be a Lector, Eucharistic Minister or Server, please call the parish office: 636-677-4868. Training will be provided. March 7, 2021

Activities This Week Blood Drive Help Save a Life; a family member, relative, friend, or a stranger-March 21st

Blood Drive on Sunday, March 21st from 9 am to 1 PM in the March 7, 2021 to March 14, 2021 cafeteria. A pint of blood could save up to 4 lives. Our goal SUNDAY - March-7-Third Sunday of Lent for this drive is at least 19 with 4 needed for double red dona- Jonah Prayer Teams after the 10 a.m. Mass tion. Blood is used for accident victims, surgeries, burns and (Church) Adult Faith Group-11:30 a.m. (Cafeteria) other diseases like cancer and many others. More people are PSR: 8th grade 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Aud) getting out so the possibility that someone could use blood is high. Please call to schedule an appointment. Contact Cla- MONDAY - March-8 rence Surmeier at 314-303-7415 or email him at

TUESDAY - March-9 [email protected] if you can donate or have questions. Quilters-9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Quilting room) A donation normally takes about 20-30 minutes. Because of RCIA -6:00 p.m. (Rectory) corvid-19 scheduled appointments must be made and cafeteria St. Vincent de Paul-6:30 p.m. (Zoom) Historic Sub Committee-6:30 p.m. ( Auditorium) will be setup accordingly. Please bring some form of ID and drink some fluids. If you are low on iron, eat some raisins, WEDNESDAY - March-10 grapes or green vegetables at least two days before donating. MOST-6:30 p.m. (Youth Group room) Thank you and God Bless! Men’s Faith Group-7 p.m. (Cafeteria)

THURSDAY– March-11 Lenten Guides FRIDAY - March-12 for Fasting & Abstinence Clean church after the 8 a.m. Mass Volunteers needed The Church teaches that Catholics in good health are to Stations of the Cross-7 p.m. (Church) All are wel- observe the following practices during Lent unless for some come serious reason they are unable to do so. Catholics between the SATURDAY - March-13 ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Catholic Women for Christ-Noon to 4:30 p.m. (Café) Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older

must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and SUNDAY - March –14-Fourth Sunday of Lent all the Fridays of Lent. Adult Faith Group-11:30 a. (Cafeteria) Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking

of only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the main meal. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat. The Easter fast must be kept sacred and should be celebrated eve- rywhere on Good Friday, and where possible should be pro- Food Pantry longed throughout Holy Saturday so that the faithful may attain the joys of Easter Sunday. We have continued to help the needy in our community throughout the entire pandemic. Due to the cancellation of the Boy Scout Drive in November, we are running low on canned goods. If anyone is in a posi- Jonah Prayer Ministry-March 6th & 7th tion to contribute, we need the following: chili, pork-n-beans, fruit, spaghetti sauce, pasta (ravioli, beefaroni, spaghetti O’s). We also need hamburger helper, shampoo and body On March 6th and 7th, members of the Jonah Prayer team will wash. The best time to bring these to the Food Pantry is on Thursday 2:00-4:30 p.m. To save time and trouble, a check once again be available after the 4:30 pm and 10 am works too. Make the check out to St. Anthony’s Food Pantry and send to the rectory or put in the collection box at Mass. Masses. The Jonah Prayer Ministers will be available in the THANK YOU!!! front of Church on the St. Joseph side if you would like a per- sonal prayer session (following social distancing guidelines and your privacy needs). As always you are welcome to place any written prayer petitions in the permanent wall box in back of A FRIENDLY REMINDER Church and before they leave the ministers will collect any peti-

If you need to put an announcement in the bulletin please let tions left in the box. Please feel free to call our coordinator, Paula Mari, the parish secretary, know by either phone: 677- Tom Bayer, any time at 636-677-5288 to provide any verbal 4868 or email: [email protected]. by 9 a.m. Mon- day. Thank you for your cooperation. requests for the Jonah Prayer Ministry group.

St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge, MO Prayer of the Week

A Prayer for Lent

O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also For Mary Patricia Marshall the mother of Cindy Carpenter the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that having curbed all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both For Robert Burgard the father of Amy Sundell thinking and doing everything to please You. For You, O Christ, our God, are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies; and to For the family and friends of Ralph Mecey You we render glory, together with Your eternal Father, and with Your all holy, life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and for- ever. Amen. Please Pray for the Sick

Ray Rodenbeck Marlene Jolliff, Mother of Rebecca Spicer Rosie Cooseman Shirley Caggiano Pat, Aunt of Candace Simpkins Ryan Heard Bob Hook Brad Hook Trudy Smith

If you would like for us to pray for someone please email the parish office & Fr. John and we will add them to the list. Reminder: Names will remain on the list for a month unless notified.

Time to Renew Your Subscription to our St. Louis Review Our Lady Queen of Peace Invitation

The St. Louis Review is an award-winning faith publication. The St. Louis Review is recognized for excellence in telling faith stories Now that 2020 is behind us, there has never been a better time through photojournalism, reporting, graphics and design. Our editorial staff, photojournalists and reporters are recognized among the best in for kids to play sports! The OLQP House Springs CYC Athletic the United States in telling the stories of our faith as it is lived in our Association would like to invite youth from St. Anthony’s Parish parishes and faith community. to participate in the OLQP Spring sports program. Spring sports teams available are baseball, softball, and tee-ball. Our mission is the same as yours. We are a people of faith sharing in the mission of the Gospel, Jesus with us. The stories and news from We have a great group of coaches that believe in fundamen- the St. Louis Review demonstrate faith lived in the Archdiocese of St. tals, teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, and most of all fun in Louis and beyond. a Catholic environment. We encourage your child to play and bring friends along to play The St. Louis Review is your Local, National and International Faith as well. All are welcome. News access. If you are Registration closes soon! To register, go to http:// not a parish subscriber, contact the parish office or make a parish olqops.website.sportssignup.com/ and click “Athletic Registra- contribution with your request to receive the St. Louis Review in your tion”. If you have problems signing up or questions, contact home. If you are a current parish subscriber, consider a contribution of Mike at [email protected] or 636-222-1569. $35 today.

With the parish subscription you have print and online access be- cause of your contributions. There is no expiration date with your parish subscription access as long as you make regular contributions Follow us on Facebook in your parish. Saint Anthony of Padua High Ridge Subscription Logo Link: https://www.archstl.org/st-louis-review/ And our Webpage subscribe Digital Access Link: http://www.archstl.org/st-louis-review Stanthonyhr.org Thank You-St. Anthony Family March 7, 2021

Our Beautiful Church Windows are now cleaned and fully Protected

God love you to our generous St. Anthony Church Family! We received over $26,000 in donations for the restoration of our beautiful church windows. They ended only costing $23,000! We thank the Frei Stained Glass Window Com- pany for their superb work done last autumn. We are fairly sure they created these artistic windows originally—they are the Cadillac (best) of Stained Glass companies.

The left over funds will be placed in our Parish Building Fund. Let us remember in our prayer and gratitude espe- cially: Richard/Rita Miller, Mary Schorr and Anita Franken with the windows dedicated to them.

Catholic Women for Christ is going virtual for 2021! The best part? This is available 100% free of charge! Join us on Satur- day March 13th to watch from home or share the experi- Parish Support ence with others from you parish. If you choose to do a group from home, please abide by Thank you for your Gifts to God the Covid-19 guidelines and keep your groups small. Contact your parish captain Tina Hartung 636-541-1435 and your Parish Family or [email protected] for details on what your parish is planning. Collection Get more information and register at www.catholicwomenforchrist.org February 27 & 28, 2021

General Fund $4,829.00 St. Vincent de Paul $20.00 Building Fund $195.00 Black & Indian Mission $45.00 Central & Eastern Europe $60.00 St. Louis Review $70.00 Easter Flowers $65.00

From February 22—28, 2021

General Fund $1,450.00 Building Fund $20.00 St. Vincent de Paul $120.00

God bless you for your generous contributions. We all appreciate your sacrifices and love of our St. Anthony Family! Are we in your will?

St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge, MO

Important Message Concerning Prevent and Protect (Safe Environment)

Thank you to everyone who has registered and completed the new requirements from the Safe Environment Office. As my audit dead- line is approaching I noticed several incomplete registered accounts. I’m asking everyone to please go into your account on preven- tandprotectstl.org and check and make sure you have completed all of your requirements. Once you have completed a requirement a check mark will be beside the requirement you have completed.

Many of you just need to fill out the information for the background check (remember YOU do not pay for this, St. Anthony’s does). A few still need to complete training (which is watching the video’s) and others still need to do the Code of Ethical Conduct. Until all training is completed you are not approved. If you have any questions or if you’re not sure of what you still need to complete, please contact Rusalyne during office hours: 7:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. at 636-677-4868 ext. 104 or by email: [email protected]. March 7, 2021