St. Mary of the Woods Parish Established 1845

Mass Sunday 9:00 AM Parish Office:

Livestream Only Phone 270-233-4196

Fax 270-233-5557 St. Mary of the Woods will live stream www.stmaryofthewoodswhitesville.com Mass on Sunday’s at 9:00AM from our Face Book Page and our YouTube Chan- Rectory: nel. Please follow us/subscribe and join us 270-233-4529 as we celebrate these Holy Days. The links can be found for both on our website, St. Mary School: www.stmaryofthewoodswhitesville.com Phone 270-233-5253 www.stmarywoods.com Confessions: Monday 8:30am, Saturday Trinity High School: 2:00pm, 3:00 pm, or anytime by appointment Phone 270-233-5533 Marriage: Contact Fr. Brian Roby at the www.trinityhs.com parish office one year before the wedding date. Horn Community Center:

Baptisms: Contact the office 270-233-5405

Mission Statement St. Mary of the Woods is a family of , committed to Catholic values, centered in the Holy Eucharist and dedicated to serving the needs of the universal with compassion and care. 3rd Sunday of Easter PARISH STAFF April 26, 2020 Pastor Fr. Brian J. Roby [email protected] Administrative Assistant Debbie Aud [email protected] Pastoral Associate Joe Bland [email protected] Director of Youth & Young Adult Jessy Bennett [email protected] Ministry Director of Music David Morris [email protected] Business Manager Seth Dant [email protected] Director of Maintenance Emett Barnett Jr [email protected] Custodians Carolyn Rogers & Shelly Aull CATHOLIC SCHOOLS STAFF Principal Emily Hernandez [email protected] Assistant Principals Jill Payne [email protected] Nathan West [email protected] Director of Advancement & Anna McDaniel [email protected] Admissions Fundraising Coordinator Andrea Aud [email protected] Guidance Counselor Heather Howard [email protected] Bookkeeper Christina Huff [email protected] Administrative Assistant - Ashley Fulkerson [email protected] St Mary of the Woods School Administrative Assistant - Sue Howe [email protected] Trinity High School Athletic Director Christina Rhodes [email protected] Cafeteria Manager Davida Wright [email protected] Custodians Hope Brey & Shelly Aull HORN COMMUNITY CENTER STAFF Director of Horn Community Center Chris Tyson [email protected] Caretaker Stacey Roberts [email protected] PARISH COUNCIL Terra Knight Chair [email protected] Tara Kirkpatrick Vice Chair [email protected] Jessica Morris Secretary [email protected] Mark Dorth Worship/Spiritual Life [email protected] Chris Coomes Finance; Building & Grounds [email protected] Emily Payne Education/Formation [email protected] Sheila Nash Social Justice/Outreach [email protected] Chad Mills Stewardship [email protected] Jordan Bittel Family & Spiritual Life [email protected]

Vatican3rd Sunday City, Aprof Easter 19, 2020 / 07:00 am MT (CNA).- Here is the full text of Pope Francis' homily April 26,on Divine2020 Sunday, delivered April 19 at Santo Spirito in Sassia, .

Last Sunday we celebrated the Lord’s resurrection; today we witness the resurrection of his disciple. It has already been a week, a week since the disciples had seen the Risen Lord, but in spite of this, they remained fearful, cringing behind “closed doors” (Jn 20:26), unable even to convince Thomas, the only one absent, of the resurrection. What does Jesus do in the face of this timorous lack of belief? He returns and, standing in the same place, “in the midst” of the disciples, he repeats his greeting: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19, 26). He starts all over. The resurrection of his disciple begins here, from this faithful and patient mercy, from the discovery that God never tires of reaching out to lift us up when we fall. He wants us to see him, not as a taskmaster with whom we have to settle accounts, but as our Father who always raises us up. In life we go forward tentatively, uncertainly, like a toddler who takes a few steps and falls; a few steps more and falls again, yet each time his father puts him back on his feet. The hand that always puts us back on our feet is mercy: God knows that without mercy we will remain on the ground, that in order to keep walking, we need to be put back on our feet.

You may object: “But I keep falling!”. The Lord knows this and he is always ready to raise you up. He does not want us to keep thinking about our failings; rather, he wants us to look to him. For when we fall, he sees children needing to be put back on their feet; in our failings he sees children in need of his merciful love. Today, in this church that has become a shrine of mercy in Rome, and on this Sunday that Saint John Paul II dedicated to twenty years ago, we confidently welcome this message. Jesus said to Saint Faustina: “I am love and mercy itself; there is no human misery that could measure up to my mercy” (Diary, 14 September 1937). At one time, the Saint, with satisfaction, told Jesus that she had offered him all of her life and all that she had. But Jesus’ answer stunned her: “You have not offered me the thing is truly yours”. What had that holy nun kept for herself? Jesus said to her with kindness: “My daughter, give me your failings” (10 October 1937). We too can ask ourselves: “Have I given my failings to the Lord? Have I let him see me fall so that he can raise me up?” Or is there something I still keep inside me? A sin, a regret from the past, a wound that I have inside, a grudge against someone, an idea about a particular person... The Lord waits for us to offer him our failings so that he can help us experience his mercy.

Let us go back to the disciples. They had abandoned the Lord at his Passion and felt guilty. But meeting them, Jesus did not give a long sermon. To them, who were wounded within, he shows his own wounds. Thomas can now touch them and know of Jesus’ love and how much Jesus had suffered for him, even though he had aban- doned him. In those wounds, he touches with his hands God’s tender closeness. Thomas arrived late, but once he received mercy, he overtook the other disciples: he believed not only in the resurrection, but in the boundless love of God. And he makes the most simple and beautiful profession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28). Here is the resurrection of the disciple: it is accomplished when his frail and wounded humanity enters into that of Jesus. There, every doubt is resolved; there, God becomes my God; there, we begin to accept ourselves and to love life as it is.

Dear brothers and sisters, in the time of trial that we are presently undergoing, we too, like Thomas, with our fears and our doubts, have experienced our frailty. We need the Lord, who sees beyond that frailty an irrepressible beauty. With him we rediscover how precious we are even in our vulnerability. We discover that we are like beautiful crystals, fragile and at the same time precious. And if, like crystal, we are transparent before him, his light – the light of mercy – will shine in us and through us in the world. As the Letter of Peter said, this is a reason for being “filled with joy, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials” (1 Pt 1:6).

On this feast of Divine Mercy, the most beautiful message comes from Thomas, the disciple who arrived late; he was the only one missing. But the Lord waited for Thomas. Mercy does not abandon those who stay behind. Now, while we are looking forward to a slow and arduous recovery from the pandemic, there is a danger that we will forget those who are left behind. The risk is that we may then be struck by an even worse virus, that of selfish indifference. A virus spread by the thought that life is better if it is better for me, and that everything will be fine if it is fine for me. It begins there and ends up selecting one person over another, discarding the Continued on next page…...

3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020

Continued from previous page poor, and sacrificing those left behind on the altar of progress. The present pandemic, however, reminds us that there are no differences or borders between those who suffer. We are all frail, all equal, all precious. May we be profoundly shaken by what is happening all around us: the time has come to eliminate inequalities, to heal the injustice that is undermining the health of the entire human family! Let us learn from the early Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles. It received mercy and lived with mercy: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45). This is not some ideology: it is Christianity.

In that community, after the resurrection of Jesus, only one was left behind and the others waited for him. Today the opposite seems to be the case: a small part of the human family has moved ahead, while the majority has remained behind. Each of us could say: “These are complex problems, it is not my job to take care of the needy, others have to be concerned with it!”. Saint Faustina, after meeting Jesus, wrote: “In a soul that is suffering we should see Jesus on the cross, not a parasite and a burden... [Lord] you give us the chance to practice deeds of mercy, and we practice making judgements” (Diary, 6 September 1937). Yet she herself complained one day to Jesus that, in being merciful, one is thought to be naive. She said, “Lord, they often abuse my goodness”. And Jesus replied: “Never mind, don’t let it bother you, just be merciful to everyone always” (24 December 1937). To everyone: let us not think only of our interests, our vested interests. Let us welcome this time of trial as an opportunity to prepare for our collective future. Because without an all-embracing vision, there will be no future for anyone.

Today the simple and disarming love of Jesus revives the heart of his disciple. Like the apostle Thomas, let us accept mercy, the salvation of the world. And let us show mercy to those who are most vulnerable; for only in this way will we build a new world. Sunday Connection On most Sundays during the Easter season in Cycle A, our Gospel is taken from the Gospel of John. This week’s Gospel, however, is taken from the Gospel of Luke. As in last week’s Gospel, today’s Gospel shows us how the first community of disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. In these stories we gain insight into how the community of the Church came to be formed. When we read today’s Gospel, we may be surprised to learn that these friends of Jesus could walk and converse with him at some length yet not recognize him. Again we discover that the risen Jesus is not always easily recognized. Cleopas and the other disciple walk with a person whom they believe to be a stranger; only later do they discover that the stranger is Jesus. We learn that the first community met and recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, just as we meet Jesus in the Eucharist. We can imagine the feelings of the two disciples in today’s reading. They are leaving their community in Jerusalem. Their friend Jesus has been crucified. Their hope is gone. They are trying to make sense of what has occurred, so that they can put the experience behind them. Jesus himself approaches the two men, but they take him for a stranger. Jesus asks them what they are discussing. He invites them to share their experience and interpretation of the events surrounding his crucifixion and death. When the two disciples have done so, Jesus offers his own interpretation of his crucifixion and resurrection, citing Jewish Scripture. In that encounter we find the model for our Liturgy of the Word—what we do each time we gather as a community for the Eucharist. We reflect upon our life experiences and interpret them in light of Scripture. We gather together to break open the Word of God. In the next part of the story, we find a model for our Liturgy of the Eucharist. The disciples invite the stranger (Jesus) to stay with them. During the meal in which they share in the breaking of the bread, the disciples’ eyes are opened; they recognize the stranger as Jesus. In the Eucharist too we share in the breaking of the bread and discover Jesus in our midst. Just as the disciples returned to Jerusalem to recount their experience to the other disciples, we too are sent from our Eucharistic gathering. Our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist compels us to share the story with others.

3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020 Horn Community Center Closed With the advice of medical professionals and state officials we will be temporally closing due to Covid-19. As of 3-18-2020 we have Sat 25 8:00am †Ann Denise Ward locked all key cards and fobs. 4:00pm †Mike Barnard Month to Month member payments are put Sun 26 7:00am †Jim Hagan on hold. We will announce when payments 9:00am †Jay Aud resume. Year payments will be extended the 11:00am †Jake Coomes length of time we are closed. 8:00pm †M C & †Barbara Roberts If you have any questions please email Mon 27 8:00am †Kate Wedding [email protected] Tues 28 8:00am †Porter & †Anna Rogers Thanks HCC STAFF Wed 29 8:00am L/D Jay & Hazel Aud Readings For The Week Family Monday: Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, Thurs 30 8:00am †Gerald Howard 29-30; Jn 6:22-29 Fri 1 8:00am †Dwight Beyke Tuesday: Acts 7:51 — 8:1a; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, Sat 2 8:00am †Mary Joe Higdon 7b, 8a, 17, 21ab; Jn 6:30-35 4:00pm Bob & Doris Howard 68th Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 66:1-3a, 4-7a; Wedding Anniversary Jn 6:35-40 Sun 3 7:00am †Carlos Kassinger Thursday: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 9:00am †Mary Ann Howard 20; Jn 6:44-51 11:00am †Joe Pike Friday: Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1bc, 2; 8:00pm †Terry Roby Jn 6:52-59, Saturday: Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116:12-17; To Make a Prayer Request Jn 6:60-69 On the Parish Telephone Prayer Chain Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:1-6; Call one of the following: 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10 Norma Kaelin 270-315-8642 Alice Howard 270-233-5941/270-314-7675 Youth & Young Adult Ministry Katie Christian 270-233-5081 Sunday Night Schedule: 9-12th Grades Vacation Bible School (VBS)

April 26 5-6 PM, via Zoom Dates: June 29-July 2 May 3 5-6 PM, via Zoom Since Kentucky’s borders are closed, the ROCKY RAILWAY will not be making it to St Mary of **Until further notice, Sunday Night Youth the Woods this summer. But don’t despair as we still plan on having VBS (as of now). It may be Gatherings will meet on-line via Zoom from simpler and make us use our imaginations more, 5-6 PM. Due to safety concerns, we cannot but we'll be together to celebrate our common publically publish the Zoom Meeting Room faith. Even though it says Rocky Railway, you can number and Password. Please contact still sign up for VBS at : [email protected] if you vbspro.events/p/stmarywhitesville . would like the meeting information, OR follow us on Instagram @st_mary_ym. Volunteers can sign up through the same portal! We will need lots of volunteers to help make our Since our profile is marked “private” VBS a success. If you would be willing to help, information for Zoom meetings will be put please sign up or contact up each Sunday. Until we meet again! [email protected].

3rd Sunday of Easter William Millay, Stephanie Mattingly, Amy Onstott Bailey, April Gabby 26, 2020Roby, Abram Turner, Bruce Howard, Thomas Wathen, Jeff Boarman, Ellis Edge, Lou/Martine Boarman, Sheri Clark, Augie Cecil, Charles D Payne, Easton Pedley, Ashley Johnson, Angela Ramirez, Donna Allen, Tim Harley, Aggie Davneport, Arthur Clark, Cliff Burden, Doris Hagan, John “Stub” Morris, Gerald Rhodes, Bud/Mildred Boarman Please call the office when names should be added or removed. In order to keep the list current, names may be removed at the Pastor or editors discretion. Our American Men & Women who serve our country in all parts of the world. Keep them safe O Lord & bring them home soon. Casey Brey, Tony Burch, Greg Roby, David Stiff, Adam Roberts, Michelle Roberts, James S. Hunt, Phillip Mills, Todd Jump, Michael Bickwermert, Vanessa Clark, Robbylyn Young, Chris Young, Kathryn Dezember, Jared Ransome, Ezekiel Roberts, Brandon Johnson, Beau Knott, Briar Roberts Homebound receiving visits from the parish. Tony/Bernadine Dean, Ellen Roby, Dick/Genevieve Boarman, Ruth Anderson, Mary Ann Wright, Mary C Roby, Anselm Bickett, Bill Rhoades, Donna McKinley, Bud/Mildred Boarman

Nursing Homes: Cecelia Lafern Ling, Margaret Beyke, Marcella Schepers, Edith Payne, Martha Rose Hagan, Dorothy Higdon, Edna Lucille Payne, James Cecil, Sherry Johnson, Eugene Mayfield, David Bohr Altar Care May Bulletin Sponsor of the Week Jackie Howard, Geralyn Boyle, St Mary of the Woods would like to say Karen Hamilton Thank You to one of our Bulletin Sponsors - Larry O’Bryan, CPA, CWA® Landscaping Weeding May Financial Advisor Robert W Baird & Co Inc 270-297-3510 Week of May 4th – Matthew Brant Family Week of May 11th – Deanna Isbill Perpetual Adoration Week of May 18th – Dwayne Mattingly Overall Coordinator Week of May 25th – Janice Mattingly Majella Mills 929-7060 Quarterly Division Leaders: Any questions contact Seth Dant at the office. Sandy Merritt 233-4009 Midnight - 6AM Hope Brey 314-1638 6AM - Noon Flower Memorial Sharon Boarman 233-9697 Noon - 6PM Anyone wishing to put flowers in the front Dottie Pogue 233-4943 6PM - Midnight of the altar in Honor or In Memory of someone the following dates are available: Baptismal Prep

2021:Jan 16/17, 23/24; April 17/18; May 1/2, Contact the office to begin Baptismal Prep 8/9, 15/16, 22/23, 29/30 for you and your Child. Parents and Godparents are asked to prepare for this Cost $50. Call Debbie at the Parish Office to important step in the faith of our schedule 270-233-4196. children. ST. MARY OF THE WOODS 10534 Main Cross Street, Whitesville, KY 42378 Phone 1-270-233-4196 Fax 1-270-233-5557 Catholic Radio WJOR 95.5

Find us on Facebook at St Mary of the Woods Catholic Church Online Giving - go to website www.stmaryofthewoodswhitesville.com and click Online Parish Giving !

3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020 A Prayer to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic Spiritual Communion Most Merciful and Triune God, My Jesus, I believe that You are present We come to You in our weakness. in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You We come to You in our fear. We come to You with trust. above all things, and I desire to receive For You alone are our hope. You into my soul. Since I cannot at this We place before You the disease present in our world. moment receive You sacramentally, We turn to You in our time of need. come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already Bring wisdom to doctors. there and unite myself wholly to You. Give understanding to scientists. Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity. Never permit me to be separated from Bring healing to those who are ill. You. Amen. Protect those who are most at risk. Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one. Ministry Spotlight Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home. A friendly reminder about the Meal Train Ministry that we offer. A lot of Stabilize our communities. people don't know this great ministry Unite us in our compassion. Remove all fear from our hearts. exists, and this is separate from our Fill us with confidence in Your care. funeral dinner ministry. This ministry is for those that have had a life Jesus, I trust in You. experience and are in need of meals Jesus, I trust in You. (new baby, sickness, etc). For more Jesus, I trust in You. information on this great ministry please contact Jordan Bittel or Father Brian. Amen. Picnic News - Update St Mary of the Woods Spring Picnic Sunday May 24 Unfortunately we will not be permitted to have our normal picnic this May, however we will have drive-thru meat sales and our raffle. We will provide additional information as we get closer!

Raffle Tickets: Tickets can be picked up, and dropped off at the parish office or in the collection basket at church. You can also purchase tickets by mailing a check to the Parish office and we will fill the tickets out for you. Please remember how important this raffle is to Tuition Assistance and our Parish.

Volunteers Needed Masks Needed: We will need masks for our picnic workers if any of our sewers would like to make some! The Parish will provide gloves for the picnic workers.

Burgoo Barn: We need help to prepare burgoo for the picnic. Saturday, May 23 at 9:00 AM, we will be peeling and cutting potatoes. Please bring a pan and a knife. At 5:00 PM on May 23th, we will be de-boning meat. Please bring a pan. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Drive-Thru Meat and Raffle Tickets: Volunteers will be needed Sunday, May 24th for set up, to sell BBQ, Burgoo and Raffle Tickets, to direct traffic, and for clean up.

3rdCharitable Sunday of EasterDonation Information BUDGET NEWS April 26, 2020 The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Checking Balance: $161,045.67

Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted on Build it Now Balance Due: $174,815.00 March 27, 2020. In order to encourage charitable contributions in 2020 (for any charitable We now have a drop box located outside purpose, not just contributions to charities the Parish office doors! related to the COVID-19 crisis) the CARES Act increases the maximum 60% of AGI charitable St. Mary’s Offers Online Giving contribution limit to 100% of AGI limit for Electronic giving offers church members a 2020. This means that you can get a charitable convenient, safe and simple way to make regular contribution deduction for the full amount of church offerings without the need to write your Adjusted Gross Income. Charitable checks, carry cash, or prepare envelopes. contributions in excess of this amount can be carried forward for five years subject to the 60% NEW - we have added Tuition Assistance to our of AGI limit in those years. The higher 100% of online giving! AGI limit applies to cash contributions made directly to charitable organizations, not to How do I sign up for Online Giving? contributions to donor advised funds, supporting There are two options: organizations or private foundations, if you  Go to our parish website at itemize your contributions. Individuals will be www.stmaryofthewoodswhitesville.com able to claim a $300 above-the-line deduction and click on “Sign up today for Online Parish for cash contributions made, generally, to public Giving!” and complete the online registration charities in 2020. This rule effectively allows a form. Select the donations and the amount limited charitable deduction to taxpayers you would like to donate along with your claiming the standard deduction. checking or savings account information.  Visit the secure site for to create an account is https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/1674.

St Mary of the Any questions, contact the Parish Office. Woods BULLETIN BITES Weddings “And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, May 16 - Jeff Isenberg & broke it, and gave it to them.” Bridget Gray 6PM When Jesus encountered two disciples on the road to Emmaus it is clear that they did not understand all he June 20 - Evan Schrecker & had endured. He bluntly tells them, “Oh, how foolish Sara Boehman 6PM you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!” Despite his disappointment he did July 11 - David Ball & not abandon the two disciples, but “beginning with Marla Bennett 6PM Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them July 18 - Dylan Hardesty & what referred to him in all the Scriptures.” To Abby Roby 6PM paraphrase St. Augustin, Jesus is hidden in the Old Testament, and revealed in the New. How fortunate September 19 - Austin Goetz & we are to have the faith of the apostles, the many Kaitlin Bandy 6PM disciples who followed them, and billions of

October 10 - Trevor Knott & Christians over two thousand years who believed that Emily Wink 6PM Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Are we grateful October 17 - Eric Roby & for the gift of their faith? Do we accept and nurture Brittney Ling 6PM our faith by daily or frequently reading God’s Word revealed to us in the Old and New Testaments? When June 5, 2021 - Luke Fulkerson & is the last time we read Sacred Scripture and Abby Johnson 6PM listened for God to speak to us?

3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020 St. Mary of the Woods & Trinity High School

Calendar of Events May 8 Last non-traditional instruction (NTI) day for students

Scrip - The scrip office is closed until further notice. You can still purchase ScripNow Brands (Electronic gift cards) on shopwithscrip.com or myscripwallet.com.

School Happenings School is out for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We hate that we cannot be together as a school in the school building, but we know we are together in our hearts. NTI officially ends May 8, 2020. Please pray for the students and teachers of both Trinity High School and St. Mary of the Woods School as we finish out the school year. It has been a difficult time for all, but we must continue to trust in God.

The administrative team is working on end of the year plans. As we finalize plans and get approval for all plans, we will communicate that to our families. Thank you to our parents for trusting in us and partnering with us in your child’s education.

We are also planning for the next school year! If you are interested in your child attending St. Mary of the Woods School (PK-8) or Trinity High School, please email our admissions office at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you all in the Fall!

God Bless You All, Emily Hernandez Principal St. Mary of the Woods School/Trinity High School

Welcome to St. Mary of the Woods Parish

If you would like more informaon about our Parish and schools or would like to join, please complete the following and drop in the collecon basket or mail to the Parish Office at St. Mary of the Woods PO Box 1, Whitesville, KY 42378.

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3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020

3rd Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020