Mustard Seed NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST THE KING PARISH DECEMBER 2015 As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them in loving justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord. — Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response t was a beautiful fall day in Rockville as the hikers ventured forth into some of Rhode Island’s most magnificent forests and ponds. The purpose was to encounter God in a different setting and to remember that church is not a building but a community of believers. At stops along the way, excerpts from “When the Rain Speaks: Celebrating God’s Presence in Nature” by Melannie Svoboda, SND were shared for this moving church of people to contemplate, to medi- tate on or maybe to pray about. One such sharing was: “I saw the red flames of the kingly sun glaring through the black trees, not like dawn but like a forest fire. Then the sun became distinguished as a person and he shone silently and with solemn power through the branches, and the whole world was silent and calm.” –– Thomas Merton Although the terrain was fairly flat, there were a few places where sure footing was important. It was fun to watch as the nim- ble and not so nimble hikers navigated the rough terrain with help- ing hands extended to guide and support – so much like the helping hands we see so often within the many ministries at Christ the King, and in the hymn, “The Eyes and Hands of Christ,” by Tom Kendzia. The hikers were asked to think about the hike as being a mirror of their faith journey. There were times when the going was pretty easy – we were solid in our beliefs. There were times when the going was rough, and we might not have made the journey without the helping hands of others. And, there were times when we lost contact with the trail signs and got lost with only our faith to fall back on. To most, if not all, this was an experience at the heart of beholding – beholding the beauty of God’s glorious earth. We’ll have to go again. Front Row: Ruth Newquist, Phil Tracy, Heather Signorelli, Lucy Mueller, Jeanne –– Phil Tracy Burns, Luke Sisco, Jennifer Sisco, Nat Sisco. Back Row: Tim Thomas, Sheila Spiritual Life Committee Greene, Sarah Tracy, Jen Marran, Kathy Thomas, Laureen Berglund and Jim Duff. A Community of Faith CTK Parishioners Take Memorable Trips to Hear Pope Francis Speak in D.C. Students from The Prout School Silence descended upon the crowd as Pope Francis began to speak. Mr. Frappier said about the Pope’s speech, “He recog- On September 23, the Catholic high schools of Rhode Island nized four people who worked for the betterment of the took Washington, D.C., by storm. Tickets were given to Bay United States: Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, View, St. Raphael’s Academy, Mount Saint Charles, LaSalle Thomas Merton.” He also appreciated Pope Francis’ mention and The Prout School by the Diocese of Providence to see of Thomas Merton, saying that he is a “Merton fan,” and was Pope Francis address Congress from the Capitol Lawn. Ms. impressed by the Pope referring to Merton as a prominent Lily Araujo, head of Campus Ministry at Prout, chose eight students whom spiritual figure and a searcher for she believed peace. would most ap- preciate the ex- After address- perience and ing Congress, would, as she Pope Francis said, “not get came out onto a lost.” The trip balcony to speak was chaperoned to the crowd di- by Ms. Araujo rectly and give a and parishioner blessing for the and head of children. The Prout’s religion Pope asked for department, Mr. prayers from be- Michael Frappier. lievers and good The students cho- thoughts from sen to go on the nonbelievers. Mr. trip were: Luke Students and chaperones from The Prout School wait on the Capitol Frappier thought Ahearn, Cath- lawn Sept. 23 for Pope Francis to arrive. Pictured (L-R) are Lily Araujo that the Pope’s erine Colgan, (chaperone), Caitlyn Gosciminski, Catherine Colgan, Abby Wishart, request for posi- Kaitlyn Gosci- Emily Shepard (CTK parishioner), Kaitlin Slattery, Logan Settle, Syd- tive vibes, even from people who minski, Sydney ney Saulnier, Luke Ahearn, and Michael Frappier (chaperone and CTK do not believe, Saulnier, Logan parishioner). Settle, Emily was quite inspir- Shepard, Kaitlyn ing. Slattery and Abby Wishart. The Pope’s message stuck with the travelers. Mr. Frappier After being picked up at Prout, the group traveled via bus to has been trying to instill in his students a true understanding of the 4H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The the Pope’s words. He has been encouraging them to “pay at- next morning, the representatives from the five schools went tention more, be fair, kind.” He hopes that as Catholics we all into Washington, where they congregated on the Capitol Lawn take the Pope’s message to heart and live out that message: to with thousands of people. Mr. Frappier remarked upon the “be fair to everyone, to be open and loving to what we have in respectful attitude of the crowd and was especially taken aback every aspect: family, marriage, poor.” by the different people who gathered to listen to the Pope. He –– Emily Shepard noted that “there were all types of people: young and old, business people, professionals.” (Continued on page 3) PAGE 2 MUSTARD SEED / DECEMBER 2015 Stewardship in Action Parishioners Travel to D.C. to Hear Pope Francis ... (Continued from page 2) The Durkin Family their surroundings – the sun began to rise. Becky described the sunrise as a powerful event that almost metaphorically felt like When Jim and Becky Durkin heard over the summer that Jesus shining light on the earth. They were finally able to see Pope Francis would be coming to the United States in Septem- who and what were around them. ber, they were thrilled to learn that one What they saw was a virtual melting of the stops would be at Catholic Uni- pot of people. They realized how versity, where their son, Jack, attends many people had come from near and college. They assumed they would just far to see the Pope; it made them cog- show up and that they’d have no trouble nizant of how many people need Jesus. seeing the Pope. Jack convinced them otherwise, and as luck would have it, At 10 a.m., those people who were they noticed an advertisement in the gathered on the lawn were able to see newspaper that Congressman Jim and hear the Pope’s speech to Con- Langevin had tickets to give away for the gress over the Jumbotrons. Celia was Pope’s appearance outside the United struck by his comments about immi- States Capitol Building. They secured grants. He described them as people, their tickets, flights and hotel room, and not numbers, and said that we should off they went. treat them as we would want to be It was awfully dark at 3 a.m. on Sep- treated. tember 24 when Jim, Becky and Celia When the Pope came out of the Durkin awoke to begin their journey to Capitol Building, Becky said she felt see the Holy Father. like he was Jesus and she was one of the many in the crowd who had come They were told that the Capitol lawn out to see him. She felt like she was in opened at 5 a.m., and if they weren’t Jim, Becky and Celia Durkin the bible story of the fishes and the early, they wouldn’t get a good viewing loaves. (…“ ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two spot. They were also told that they couldn’t bring chairs, so fish,’ they answered. ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. And he they were somewhat dreading five hours of standing in place directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five waiting. But they brought blankets, and shortly after their arri- loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave val – after sitting in darkness and not having a good sense of thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disci- ples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate “Father of all, bless these. Bless each and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basket- of them. Bless the families. Bless fuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and them all. And I ask you all please to children.”) pray for me. And if there are among Becky described the Pope saying that he “embodies Jesus on earth right now.” Pope Francis closed with the words, “I ask you any who do not believe or cannot you all to pray for me. And if there are among you any who do not believe or cannot pray, I ask you please to send good pray, I ask you please to send good wishes my way.” They realized that this Pope was attracting wishes my way.” believers and non-believers, Catholics and non-Catholics. They recognized that he was respected by so many people world- –– Pope Francis wide, and they felt so fortunate to have had this experience. –– Karen Pinch DECEMBER 2015 / MUSTARD SEED PAGE 3 A Community of Faith It Really Does Make a Difference ere at Christ the King, there are many programs and John is doing ministries where we can help the people in our com- well and is back munity.