Sunday, April 26, 2020: Third Sunday of Easter

FR. JARETT’S CATHOLIC Q & A

"Why is the priest called Father? Doesn’t Jesus say, “Call no man Father?” (Matt. 23:9)

All of scripture must be interpreted within the context of when, where, and to whom it was written. The Gospels are no different. What is the context of Jesus’ words and what is his meaning? In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” In this passage we understand that Jesus is making a point that all truth and authority should be rooted in God, not in man. These words of Jesus are not literal. If they were, then how many of us would be disobeying God’s command in calling the man who biologically cooperated in giving life to us father? If you read just one verse earlier, St. Matthew also says, “As for you, do not be called teacher. You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.” I’m pretty sure every one of us has broken that command at some point in our life if we take these verses literally.

No, the truth is that throughout scripture men are referred to as fathers and teachers and even those who have no biological connection to those to whom they speak. Even St. Paul referred to many of the early Christian communities as his spiritual children. Let’s look at St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians as one example. “I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (1 Cor. 4:14-15) One verse later, he says, “For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord.” If Jesus meant that we as Christians are to literally refrain from calling men father, then even St. Paul was in direct violation of that command as he wrote in more than one place in his letters. (See also: 1 Thess 2:11, 1 Tim 1:2, and Tit. 1:4)

In the same way St. Paul has just described, the priest is called father, because he is truly a spiritual father of all within his parish. He is called to guide, protect, and nourish his spiritual children with only what is spiritually good for their souls by preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments to them. Sadly, many of our priest’s spiritual children and your brothers and sisters in the Lord are starving or even choking on the spiritual garbage our world has to offer, and we do not concern ourselves, because we live in a world whose motto is “live and let live.” Let us pray that we may become better spiritual children while our priests and bishops throughout the Catholic Church become better spiritual fathers that we may grow together in becoming God’s family as Christ intends.

In Christ’s Loving Service Your Pastor, Fr. Jarett ([email protected])

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tithing: Your Gift to God Masses, Intentions & Services Fiscal Year: July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 Wed. April 29 7:00 a.m.+ Harold & Daryl Haselhorst Collection for the week of April 19 $ 7,520 Fri. May 1 7:00 a.m.+ Richard & Bertha Brown Weekly Collection to meet Fiscal Budget: $ 17,443 Fiscal Year Budgeted: $907,025 Collected Year to Date: $693,375 Mass Intentions will continue as scheduled. *Faith Direct collected twice a month.* Fr. Jarett will say them privately. Sunday, April 26, 2020: Third Sunday of Easter PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Due to COVID-19, the parish office is closed at Readings for Days in the Octave of Easter this time. If you need assistance, please call and Monday, April 27 leave a message. (785-628-1446) Acts 6:8-15 / Jn 6:22-29 Tuesday, April 28 (St. Peter Chanel & St. Louis Grignion de Montfort) Acts 7:51-8:1a / Jn 6:30-35 The K of C yard crosses will be picked Wednesday, April 29 (St. Catherine of Siena) up on Saturday, May 2. Acts 8:1b-8 / Jn 6:35-40 Thursday, April 30 (St. Pius V, Pope) Acts 8:26-40 / Jn 6:44-51 Friday, May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker) Here are some options to continue your financial Acts 9:1-20 / Jn 6:52-59 or Gn 1:26-2:3 or for the Memorial Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 / Mt 13:54-58 support to St. Nicholas of Myra. Saturday, May 2 (St. Athanasius)

Acts 9:31-42 / Jn 6:60-69 1. The Diocese has made available parish offertory Sunday, April 26 giving to your parish. Parishioners can tithe on-line Acts 2:14a, 36-41 / 1 Pt 2:20b-25 / Jn 10:1-10 without leaving your home. It is simple and easy to use on the diocesan website. Just go to salinadiocese.org/development/parish-offertory Songs for May 3 choose St. Nicholas of Myra – Hays complete the Entrance: # 187 Be Joyful Mary form and click ‘Donate’. Every Monday they will send Mass Parts: Mass of Renewal us a check with a list of donors so we can give you Responsorial Psalm Refrain: The Lord is my credit for your donation. You also have the option of shepherd, there is nothing I shall want paying by credit card. Presentation Song: # 457 Shepherd Me O God Communion Song: # 606 Like a Shepherd Recessional Song: # 564 The Strife is O'er 2. You can sign-up on Faith Direct. You can enroll on our website at https://stn-church.com/ or us eGiving with Faith Direct. To enroll securely online go to Support the Catholic www.faithdirect.net. Our parish code is KS870. Home Missions Appeal today! Right now over 40 % of dioceses in 3. If you do on-line bill pay, your bank will send a the United States are check to St. Nicholas of Myra for your tithe. considered mission territories because they 4. For those using tithing envelopes or donation, you are unable to fund can mail to 2901 E. 13th St. essential pastoral work Thank You! needed in their communities. Your Please check out our Website at support funds religious http://stn-church.com/. education, seminary formation, lay ministry training, and other programs that build vibrant faith communities right here in the United States. Please be generous. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/home-missions.

STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL FORMS: Has your form been returned? Presently 34% of the forms

have been returned.

Sunday, April 26, 2020: Third Sunday of Easter PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

St. Joseph Cemetery maintenance Outdoor Pantry Thank you to the staff will be preparing the cemetery parishioners who have generously for Memorial Day, beginning on donated, serving the needs of our Monday, May 4. We ask that you fellow brothers and sisters who are remove any floral arrangements or temporarily going through difficult decorations that you wish to keep, times. Are You Being Called to assist with the exception of those in containers or vases with our new pantry? There are many attached to the monument by Sunday, May 3. Items ways to do so: donate non-perishable not picked up which interfere with the mowing and food (be sure to mark through the bar code), or assist trimming will be removed and disposed of by the in the organization of food storage and volunteers. cemetery staff. Your cooperation will be appreciated! Contact Gracemary Melvin (785-259-6251) or any member of the Evangelization Commission for more information.

Parishioners Helping Parishioners Because God created and instructed us to serve one another: Purpose: to raise awareness of St. Nicholas parish families who are going through difficult times Donations: Will be distributed anonymously at the discretion of Fr. Jarett to a St. Nicholas family in need. Suggestions: Because it is sometimes difficult to Faith in Action! identify those in need, it is essential that members of

Listen to Divine Mercy Radio St. Nicholas of Myra assist in this process. We ask Spring Care-a-Thon that our entire parish community contribute in April 28 – May 1 making us aware of persons in need. Radio @ 88.1 – Phone app – Echo -- **Please utilize this “Parishioner Helping @dvmercy.com Parishioner” lock box for both donations and suggestions of those who may appreciate receiving of special interest to St. Nicholas of Myra: an anonymous donation. **Contact Gracemary Melvin, Evangelization Commission social Tuesday, April 28 awareness chair, (785-259-6251). 2 pm – Chad Meitner – TMP-Marian 4 pm – Fr. Donald Calloway – Do you want to be a part of St. Joseph for our Times our prayer chain or know of 5 pm – Fr. Jarett Konrade – someone who needs lifted up Personal Holiness in an Unholy World in prayer? St Nicholas’s prayer chain is currently being Wednesday, April 29 developed and expanded by the 8 am – Dr. Pat Castle – Becoming a Gate Voter prayer chain subcommittee of the Evangelization 9 am – Brian McCaffrey – Vocation & Deacon commission. Members of St Nicholas parish who are 2 pm – Rachel Wentling – Holy Family Elementary in need of prayers for themselves or their loved ones Thursday, April 30 should contact Ramona at St Nicholas during 8 am – George Toman – working hours, or Terri Braun, subcommittee chair, Driven into becoming an apologist at 785-650-2307 when the church office is closed. 10 am – Bishop Gerald Vincke – Anyone who is willing to be a part of this prayer chain How to Live like the Apostles and pray for God's will should contact Terri Braun at the same number. If you know anyone who needs Friday, May 1 prayed for or if you are in need of prayer please don’t 7 am – Cody Marintzer – The Domestic Church hesitate to call. The prayer chain members are ready and willing to assist. Sunday, April 26, 2020: Third Sunday of Easter SALINA DIOCESE ANNOUNCEMENTS SALINA DIOCESE ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal – Call to Share We Attention MEN! Mark your have already raised $33,726.67 in faithfully calendars for the 2020 Diocesan generous pledges to our appeal! 125 families have Men's Conference scheduled for joined us in making a pledge, and we are so grateful. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Immaculate Families have pledged at various levels, and we are Heart of Mary Parish in Hays. deeply grateful for each gift, no matter the size. Featured speakers will be Patrick Coffin former host of Catholic APRIL – “We are all called to combat every form of Answers Live, and current host of The Patrick Coffin slavery and build fraternity– all of us, each one Show (http://www.patrickcoffin.media/); and our very according to his or her own responsibility” (Pope own Fr. Andy Hammeke. It promises to be another Francis). Human trafficking demands our attention – great conference! Registration for the event will open let’s work together to end it. U.S. Catholic Sisters online May 1. Against Human Trafficking. (www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org). USCSAHT is a SCHOLARSHIPS 501© 3 organization. 2039 N Geyer Road, St. Louis, The following scholarship applications are now MO 63131 available through the parish office. Marymount Memorial Educational Trust Scholarship (new and CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE - During these renewal application available). Eligibility everchanging times it is more important than ever for requirements include being an active registered families to look to each other for comfort and support. member of a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Salina; There are an abundant number of resources must attend a Catholic college as fulltime student. available online to help you keep the faith at home. Monsignor Clement Kruse Scholarship Fund: This is a great opportunity to sign in to or register for applicant must be an active registered member of a your Formed.org account currently being offered for Catholic parish in the Diocese of Salina. Deadline for free to every parishioner at every Parish in the both scholarships is July 1. Diocese. Many parishes are also live streaming Masses on their webpages or Facebook accounts as well as offering additional resources. If you have not already joined in the Diocesan Study on the Eucharist, perhaps its impact will be even more significant during this time when we are unable to receive.

An invitation from Bishop Vinke: “Our Blessed Mother gave life to the One who is our Life.” She is our loving Mother who desires to help us in our needs. As the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salina, I would like to extend an invitation to all of our to parishioners to join me in a special statewide rosary crusade every Thursday to help us pass a human life Fr. Jarett amendment to the Kansas Constitution. This amendment will reverse the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision to grant a constitutional right to on abortion. I believe that our prayers have the power to change the hearts of our legislators and with the May 1st !!! help of the Blessed Mother, we will be able to overturn this ruling. I thank you for your willingness to participate and I encourage you to join me in praying for an end to abortion and respect for all life from conception to natural death.” To join the Rosary Crusade visit kansasrosarycrusade.org/.