Mary Mother of the Church

Volume 43 Issue 1 February, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR Fr. Chuck Barthel 894-1373 [email protected] Sacred Relics

During the Q and A portion of the “Walk thru the Mass” last October, someone asked the question if there were relics in our altar; and, if there were, who were the . I knew that the parish had some relics; but I didn’t know if there were any in our altars. So I began some detective work. Here is what I discovered.

There are no relics placed in the altar or beneath the altar of the Church or the Chapel. The reason is because both altars are moveable, not permanent. In keeping with the ancient practice, we do have the relics of 3 saints for the Church and 3 saints for the Chapel. The three Church relics are all Redemptorist saints: St. Alphonsus Ligouri, St. Gerard Majella and Blessed Peter Donders. (It looked like Fr. Ed Nugent and Fr. Chuck Beierwaltes cashed in all their favors when asking for these relics!) I wasn’t familiar with Blessed Peter Donders (1807-1887), a Dutch Redemptorist missionary who served among the lepers in (the northeast coast of South America.)

In the chapel, I found relics from these 3 saints: St. , St. and St. Sylvester. The that I was least familiar with is Pope St. Sylvester. Pope St. Sylvester served as Pope from 314 to 335, His feast day is December 31. During his time of leadership, both the Council of Nicaea and the growth in power of Emperor Constantine took place.

Some of you may think that having relics and / or reverencing them to be a bit unusual, if not bordering on the magical. Here is some background on relics. Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. They are usually broken down into three classes. First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh. Second class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book (or fragments of those items). Third class relics are those items that a saint touched or other objects that have touched a first, second, or another third-class relic of a saint. Relics most often are used in prayer services for healing.

Regrettably, until now I have only been able to find the documentation for 2 of the 6 relics. The documentation would let us know what class of relic they are. But the staff and I continue to search for the other papers. Where are they now being kept? Rather than build separate reliquaries for them, I have chosen to place the relics in the tabernacles of the church and chapel.

Mary Mother Festival of Ministries ******************************** February 22-23 After Mass PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS in the Reilly Center Are right around the corner. Find a new way to serve your parish. Please give SPOTLIGHT Prayerful consideration ON If asked to Serve. STEWARDSHIP ******************************** Currently and for many years in the past, these generous individuals give of their very limited time. They are gifted with many precious memories which UPDATE STAFF they would not trade for anything. Currently, some are serving with the merged Assumption/Mary Managing Editor: Jackie Wilson Mother Athletics program. Thank you for all that they Reproduction: Trish Willmering do! Look on page 2 to find out who they are. Post Office Delivery: Marcia Dohack Page 2 UPDATE

PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN DIRECTOR OF Dick Roseland 486-8345 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION [email protected] Ed Lewandowski 894-1373 As a Kid I would often ride my bike all over South [email protected] County, it gave me great freedom to go where I wanted. It also showed me how to overcome obstacles on the ride, Our Family Mass is on February 2, at 9am. Have your and get back home in one piece. In high school a coach children served as hospitality ministers (ushers)? Would told us that life is like riding a bike. “As long as you keep you like your family to present the gifts of bread and wine pedaling, you will go up the hill; and the only way to coast at Mass? Go to Sign Up Genius on our website is down the hill.” This has had a big effect on me; and I www.marymother.org Call Becky McDonnell at 314-236- think of it often. 1421 to help.

Confirmation Retreat is scheduled to run from NOON, My church service life had been coasting for a few years; Saturday, February 15 to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February oh sure, I was involved in things I was comfortable with, 16. The retreat has been on calendar since our September but nothing new. Then Parish Council nominations came meeting; we certainly hope the date has been reserved. around and boom I’m nominated. Mary Mother will be Candidates, remember to eat a good lunch before you ar- having nominations and an election soon, time to start rive. Return the registration form along with the breakfast pedaling again? menu and 20 dollar activity fee asap.

A Festival of Ministries will be held on February 22/23. No PSR sessions this month on President's Day, This will be an opportunity to get questions answered Monday, February 17th and Ash Wednesday, February 26. about the different services provided at Mary Mother. Jump on the bike we need some fresh legs. First Communion Workshop For Parents of future first ********************************************* communicants will be on Saturday, March 7th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 1. We will be organizing for PARISH COUNCIL the Communion Retreat Day on March 28th. VICE-CHAIRPERSON Gary Leiendecker 707-3134 [email protected] With the end of 2019, let’s all take time to give thanks for our Mary Mother Family; and pray that 2020 will provide more opportunity for all of us to grow closer to our God, Who loves us so much.

First, it is time to once again consider nominations for the next Parish Council. Please prayerfully consider the possibility of nominating yourself or someone you think would be a good leader for our parish.

Secondly, the Parish Council is conducting a survey regarding the Update, publishing 9 months a year. Please fill Our FAITH Alive in the Home visits will begin in out the survey below and place it in the collection basket, or February. We have been calling the homes of Mary return it to the office at Mary, Mother of the Church, 5901 Mother families with toddlers. If one of our team left a Kerth Rd., St. Louis, MO 63128, ATTENTION: Gary phone message, please return the call. We’d love to be in Leiendecker. touch with you as your child grows. Questions? Contact Sr. Maureen Martin [email protected] or 314-450-4873 for Do you read the entire Update? YES NO more information.

Do you wish to continue receiving the Update on 9 months? Lent can make a difference in your life. YES NO

Would reading the Update on the Mary Mother website THE SPOTLIGHT’S ON...... suffice? Y ES NO

Should the Update be discontinued? YES NO ATHLETIC LAY DIRECTORS, MANAGERS Would receiving the Update quarterly be sufficient? AND COACHES YES NO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR MANY YEARS.

Sign Name (Optional) ______Submitted by Judy Peckham and Bob Slama UPDATE Page 3

FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE CHRISTIAN FORMATION Michele Venable 894-1373 Karen Karr 416-1992 [email protected] [email protected] and In this “month of hearts,” so to speak, remember the basic ways to keep our hearts healthy: Nutritious, low fat, low DIRECTOR OF sugar (added/substitute) food/drinks, weight control, regu- RELIGIOUS EDUCATION lar exercise, avoidance of smoking, avoidance of excessive Ed Lewandowski 894-1373 alcohol intake, and proper stress management can help to [email protected] keep blood pressure manageable and decrease our risk of stroke and heart disease. If we are prescribed medication Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 26; and we are for heart condition/high blood pressure, this alone general- happy to announce TWO Lenten opportunities for prayer ly won’t improve the condition. A proper diet of low salt, and spiritual formation. low fat foods + regular exercise + medication as prescribed Mark Your Calendar - is needed. What about family history of heart problems? Watch for Sign-up Notices Although our genetics can’t be changed, paying attention EVANGELIZATIONAll are welcome! COMMISSION to lifestyle, cholesterol and blood pressure can positively Steve Rothermel 308-8997 affect change. Encourage one another every day to do [email protected] DAY OF PRAYER something “healthy for our hearts”! Saturday, February 29, 2020 9 – 3 p.m. in our Parish Hall Consider reading “What the heart has to do with the head” Our presenter, Susan Komis, will offer interactive sessions by American Heart Association News, which can be found: exploring the www.heart.org stages of prayer and faith development as we acquire The Fire of Divine Love.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR Thursdays, March 12, 19, 26 7-9 pm in Parish Hall or Reilly Center (tbd) Led by our ministry team with the help of the LITURGY NOTES Catholic Renewal Center Ken Barnes 894-1373 What is the Life in the Spirit Seminar? It is a Catholic [email protected] spiritual process of teaching sessions, each building upon the previous one. It will include speakers, scripture, music, There is a certain character of our weekend liturgies which prayer and small groups. Participants establish, re- influences the way we decide to live as Catholics. Could establish or deepen their individual relationship with God our daily lives --- that time between our weekly worship through Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit. --- perfectly reflect the wisdom that we hear, sing, and pray during liturgy? At Mass, we have the opportunity to embrace all the gifts of our Christian calling that we RAFFLE BASKETS need to go forth and change the world for the better. The and words and example of Jesus are radical and challenging: theyPARISH beckon us COUNCIL to think beyond our GIFT CERTIFICATES personal likesVICE and dislikes.-CHAIRPERSON Dick Roseland 486-8345 AND Consider this [email protected] from an apostolic letter written in 1998 by Pope John Paul II: “The Eucharist is an event and FISH FRY program of true community. From Sunday Mass, there flows a tide of charity destined to spread into the whole life of the faithful, beginning by inspiring the very way ON

in which we live the rest of the week. Lived in this way, not only the Sunday Eucharist, but the whole of Sunday FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 becomes a great school of charity, justice, and peace.” BASKETS AND GIFT CERTIFICATES Imagine if we left this “school” each week and applied ARE SPONSORED BY the lessons we have learned to each moment of our THE HEALTH MINISTRY COMMISSION daily experience. Perhaps our Christian life would “graduate” and contribute to a more loving and WE’RE SEEKING FOR DONATIONS OF peaceful world. NEW OR LIKE-NEW ITEMS, GIFT CARDS, GIFT CERTIFICATE OR DONATION FROM YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS Prayer will Light up Your Life. QUESTIONS? CALL MARY SCALZO, (314) 842-3827 Page 4 UPDATE

SOCIAL COMMISSION Evangelization Commission Becky McDonnell 236-1421 Steve Rothermel 308-8997 [email protected] [email protected]

Sensational Seniors In these weeks leading up to the Lenten season, please February 13: Potluck lunch and showing of movie: consider exploring the following options to prepare your Breakthrough. mind and heart for this holy time. In addition, consider inviting someone else to come with you. We are all called March: we hope to plan a trip to Frank Lloyd Home and to be witnesses to Christ in our families, our communities, Cupples House (Kirkwood) And our neighborhoods.

Lenten Fish Frys The St. Louis Catholic Men for Christ conference February 28, March 13, and March 27 February 1, 2020 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center 4-7pm in the parish hall https://www.catholicmenforchrist.org/

Dinners will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children The St. Louis Catholic Women for Christ conference Look for volunteer sign-ups (through Sign up Genius) March 7, 2020 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center and menu on our website soon. https://www.catholicwomenforchrist.org/

Quilters meet every Tuesday at 9am The annual White House Retreat for Men to work on quilts March 5-8, 2020 in the room across from classroom 6. Contact Jerry Lesmeister at 314-585-2836

Also, a big thank you to our Progressive Dinner, Happy The Community of Transcendent Men Birthday Jesus, and Trunk-or-Treat volunteers. You make Last Tuesday of each month at St. good things happen. in Imperial. For more information, contact Chris Eldridge 314-974-7126. For more information and sign up sheets, visit marymother.org

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMISSION Carl Cooper 200-9138 [email protected] I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This month, the Administration and Finance Commission will be focusing on programs to provide intruder alert and active shooter responses. We have been evaluating several actions and will be presenting them at the January Parish Council meeting. Additionally, this commission is requesting from the Archdiocese Security and Safety Director for their presentation regarding active shooter response. When scheduled, parishioners are encouraged to attend. I realize many parishioners feel safe in our church. Programs that reduce the threat of an active shooter or intruder may have requirements of those who attend services that are not convenient. As stated by Archbishop Carlson in his October 25th letter to Fr. Chuck, “Unfortunately, our Catholic Church is not immune to a tragic event …Remember it is our responsibility to protect our flock in every way possible.” As recommended by Archbishop Carlson, Mary Mother of the Church will be developing the best possible plan to deal with unwanted intruders. UPDATE Page 5

TITHING TITHING November 2019 - 4 Sundays December 2019 - 5 Sundays $963 each agency $1,068 each agency 1) Carondelet Betterment Foundation Food Pantry – 1) St. Agatha Center – Ministers to the poor within parish Supports the city neighborhood through multiple social boundaries, includes food pantry and education center. programs and in particular, through their food pantry, serving hundreds of families each month. 2) Sisters of Divine Providence (Room at the Inn) – Assists their Room at the Inn shelter for homeless women and 2) Mary Ryder Home – serves St. Louis’ most vulnerable children in St. Louis. senior women, nourishing their social, physical and emotional needs, and enhancing their quality of life through 3) Whole Kids Outreach – Provides health and wellness compassionate care. services in five poverty stricken rural counties in southern Missouri, with a goal of preventing child abuse. 3) Health Resource Center – Provides free healthcare access for North St. Louis community using supervised 4) St. Louis University Prison Program – An educational medical students from St. Louis University. Includes college prison program aimed at breaking the cycle of clinics for pediatrics, well women, healthy living, diabetes, poverty and recidivism. SLU offers an Associate’s Degree cardiology, asthma, allergies and foot care. program to the incarcerated, as well as prison staff, with a demonstrated reduction in repeat offenses from 65% to 15% 4) Most Holy Trinity Parish – Assists an inner-city parish for those who complete the program. in the Hyde Park area in its efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. 5) The Family Center – Provides annual counseling, spiritual direction, educational programs, group facilitation 5) Lemay Child and Family Center – Provides early care and outreach for those otherwise unable to afford the and education to children in a diverse, nurturing center’s services. The Mary Margaret Program reaches out environment, and strengthening families by promoting to low-income families, especially single mothers with children’s healthy physical, cognitive, and social-emotional children. development. 6) English Tutoring Project – Supports the teaching of 6) Blood of Christ Parish, Bolivia – Provides missionary English to children from immigrant and refugee families at presence in the rural area of La Paz. Sangre de Cristo is four Catholic elementary schools in the metro area. one of the many priestless missions in Bolivia. 7) in Thailand – Assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned by parents with AIDS. Mothers and children who have the disease are also under care.

Over the year in 2019, Mary Mother tithed nearly $73,000 to those in need. Thank you for your generous support! HEALTH MINISTRY COMMISSION Mary Ann Young Schulte 706-1512 [email protected] It’s the bleakest time of the year now with the bitter cold, rain, ice and sleet. The lack of natural sunlight can bother some of us. Without the ever present sun to warm us, this earth would be uninhabitable. FEBRUARY 28 Without people in our lives who give us warmth our MARCH 13 lives would be empty. My statements aren’t anything MARCH 27 new under the sun, just newly discovered again. So feel the cold and dampness with acceptance. It will 4 PM—7 PM make the warm days so much brighter. IN OUR PARISH HALL DINNERS: $10 FOR ADULTS $5 FOR CHILDREN ASH WEDNESDAY SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER THROUGH iS ON Sign up Genius on FEBRUARY 26 www.marymother.org Page 6 UPDATE

PRO-LIFE Liturgy Commission Craig Snavely 651-7432 Carol Mason 287-0297 [email protected] [email protected] Each of the main ministries that are provided by Mary January 22 marked the 47th year the anniversary of Roe v Mother of the Church parishioners are represented each Wade decision to make abortion legal to end Gods creation month in our Update newsletter. The Liturgy Commission of human life. Pro-Lifers around the greater St Louis area is one of those ministries in which each of us is invited to attended the Mass on January 18th at the Cathedral Basilica participate. God calls us to Church to participate in the and proceeded in prayer to Planned Parenthood to ask God Mass for many reasons, one of which is to join in to change people’s hearts and to reverse our laws to protect community and share our praise with our brothers and the unborn. sisters in Christ. Thank you, to all of you for your contributions for the Life- It would be difficult to obtain all the graces that He intends Line Coalition that were collected January 18 and 19. Your for us in the Mass if we were to sit on the couch and watch contributions were very much appreciated! the Mass on television. At the Festival of Ministries on February 21st and 22nd, the Liturgy Commission will have Many thanks to all of you supporting our Christmas Card a presentation of the various ways that you are invited to sale with your purchases and donations. We sold out all the participate in this wonderful ministry. If you have been cards and proceeds were sent to The MO Life Coalition. shy about volunteering, this would be an excellent way to Plan your calendar for the coming “Show Me Rally” in resolve some of your questions. You are needed; and there Jefferson City on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. There will be is always an open spot for you! Please come and join us! buses leaving from Grasso Plaza at 7:30 AM and at St. Paul Church in Fenton at 7:50 AM.

A final note: I will be stepping down as the Parish This Lent Coordinator; and I have enjoyed working with all of you in the Pro-Life movement. There have been many changes, mostly good with a Pro-life president, Pro-life Missouri be ready! governor and passed legislation that contains some of the strongest safeguards for unborn babies and their mothers. It isn’t always With this being stated, I will continue to serve in the Pro- Life movement; and I look forward to seeing all of you at future events. easy! Our next meeting will be Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 7:PM and all are welcome. SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL Mary Ann Zimmerman Please contact Leslie at 314-369-5474 for more information. On behalf of all SVDP members at Mary Mother, we wish to send a heart-felt thank you to Judy Belford for There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an the outstanding she has done for the past 3 years abomination to Him: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” Proverbs ESV 6:16-17 serving as President of our Saint Vincent De Paul Conference. She has been a great leader and an icon for what this charitable organization stands for. Judy, you are a true Sister in Christ. Thank You.

PARENTS, HAVE YOU TOLD BRING UP SOMEONE YOUR TODAY CHILDREN THAT YOU WITH GOD. LOVE THEM? UPDATE Page 7 Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 31 Feb 1 2 6:15pm Stone 9am Basketball 4th Sunday in Soup Night 9am Contemplative Ordinary Time Prayer 9am Team 9:30am Krull 9am bridge bread visitation sales 10:30am Jim Krull 9am Children's Choir Memorial Mass at Mass February 2020 3:30pm Confession 9am Family Mass For more details go to: www.marymother.org/calendar-1 5:30pm bridge bread 11am Baptism 5:30pm Jonah Team 11am Confirmation Candidates 6:30pm Men's Basketball 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9:05am AA Group 9am Adoration 9am Adoration 9am Walking/PAC 6:30pm Pickleball 3:30pm Confession 5th Sunday in 12:30pm Pickleball 9am Quilting 9:30am Cornerstone 10:30am Zumba 5:30pm BP Ordinary Time 6:30pm Pickleball 9am TOPS 9:30am Tai Chi 4pm Adoration Screening 9am BP Screenings 6:30pm PSR 9am Walking/PAC 12:30pm Pickleball 4:30pm Basketball 11am Confirmation 7pm Men's Prayer 4:30pm Basketball 6pm Basketball 5pm Yoga Candidates Grp 6pm HMC "The 6:30pm PSR 7pm Contemporary 11am P/W Band at Sandwich Generation" 7pm ProLife Comm Choir Mass 7pm SVdP Mtg 7pm Youth Comm 7pm Liturgy Mtg 12:30pm Baptism - 7:15pm Traditional Choir 7pm Prayer Group Paradoski 8pm Youth Prayer Grp 6:30pm Men's 8:30pm Men's Basketball Basketball

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9:05am AA Group 9am Adoration 9am Adoration 9am Walking the 6:30pm Pickleball CONFIRMATION CONFIRMATION 11:45am Meat 9am Quilting 9:30am Cornerstone PAC RETREAT RETREAT Slicing (For SS II) 9am Sandwich Shoppe 9:30am Tai Chi 10am Contemplative 9am Contemplative 6th Sunday in 12:30pm Pickleball II 12:30pm Pickleball Gathering Prayer Group Ordinary Time 6:30pm Pickleball 9am TOPS 6pm Basketball 10:30am Zumba 3:30pm Confession 11am Confirmation 6:30pm PSR 9am Walking/PAC 6:30pm Young Women's 12pm Sensational Candidates 7pm Men's Prayer 4:30pm Basketball Prayer Grp Srs Meeting/Lunch 11am Confirmation Grp 7pm Women Sharing 6:30pm PSR 4pm Adoration Retreat closing Mass Faith 7:15pm Traditional Choir 4:30pm Basketball 12pm UPDATE Due 7:30pm Adult 7:45pm ACTS Core 5pm Yoga 7pm Youth Group Volunteers Mtg (Youth Team 7pm Contemporary rec nite Grp) 8pm Youth Prayer Grp Choir 8:30pm Men's Basketball 7pm Prayer Group

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 President's Day - 8:30am Meat Slicing 9am Adoration 9am Walking/PAC 7am setup for HMC Basket Raffle 7th Sunday in OFFICES (for SS III) 9:30am Cornerstone 10:30am Zumba Festival of ticket sales Ordinary Time CLOSED 9am Adoration 9:30am Tai Chi 4pm Adoration Ministries Rock Church Food (MARDI GRAS 9:05am AA Group 9am Quilting 12:30pm Stitching 4:30pm Basketball 11:30am Friday Collection Weekend WEEKEND) 6:30pm No PSR 9am TOPS 12:30pm Pickleball 5pm Yoga Friends 7am Festival of 7am Festival of 9am Walking/PAC 6pm Basketball 7pm Contemporary 6:15pm Stone Ministries (after all Ministries (after all 3:15pm Contemplative 6:30pm PSR Choir Soup Night Masses) Masses) core team 7:15pm Traditional Choir 7pm Prayer Group 6:30pm *NO* 3:30pm Confessions 11am Confirmation 4:30pm Basketball 8pm Youth Prayer Grp Pickleball Open Candidates 6pm Ad/Fin Meeting 8:30pm Men's Basketball Play 6:30pm Men's 6:30pm Sandwich Basketball Shoppe III 7pm Health Ministry 7pm SVdP Mtg 24 25 26 ASH WEDNESDAY 27 28 29 9:05am AA Group 9am Adoration Masses : 6:30am, 9am Walking/PAC 3pm Stations of the 9am Lenten Day of 12:30pm Pickleball 9am Quilting 8:30am 7pm 10:30am Zumba Cross Prayer (time tbd) 1pm Meat Slicing 9am Sandwich Shop I 9am Adoration 3pm Fish Fry Prep 4pm Fish Fry 3:30pm Confession (for SS I) 9am TOPS 9:30am Cornerstone 4pm Adoration 6:30pm Pickleball 6:30pm Pickleball 9am Walking/PAC 9:30am Tai Chi 4:30pm *NO* 6:30pm PSR 4:30pm Basketball 12:30pm Pickleball Basketball 7pm Men's Prayer 7pm Women Sharing 6:30pm No PSR 5pm Yoga Grp Fait 8:15pm Traditional Choir 7pm Cont. Choir 8pm Youth Prayer Grp 7pm Parish Council 8:30pm Men's Basketball 7pm Prayer Group

UPDATEPage 8 NONUPDATE-PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Mary Mother of the Church St. Louis, MO 5901 Kerth Road Permit No. 458 St. Louis, MO 63128

Page 8 UPDATE

BAPTISMS: Amelia Grace Yohn Lenni Rose Wanko Savannah Marie Fry

MARRIAGES: Megan Barker & Ryan Bennett

DEATHS: James Bokamper HAPPY Jim Krull VALENTINE’S NEW PARISHIONERS: Marillac “Mac” Miller DAY & Kristin Vergano Nico Tom & Pat McInroy

FAREWELL: Matt/Stephanie Shorey Family Cathy Mayrose