A tribute to Monsignor Thomas Dempsey - childhood, Ordination, Priesthood, Pastor . Regular Mass Holy Infant Church Schedule 627 Dennison Drive, Ballwin MO 63021-4898 Sunday Obligation Rectory: (636) 227-7440 FAX (636) 227-4548 Saturday: 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., Website: www.holyinfantballwin.org Vol. 7, No. 2 Spring 2011 10:15 a.m. and noon Pastoral Staff MY LEGACY FOR YOU, “TO LOOK BEYOND ONESELF Weekday Masses Msgr. Thomas J. Dempsey . Pastor Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. and Father Timothy L. Bannes . Associate Pastor AND SERVE OTHERS.” 8 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. Father Christopher Dunlap. Associate Pastor By JoAnn Dinkelkamp We lay people are always years later and followed him into the priesthood with his Holy Day Masses Deacon Kenneth Clemens . Permanent Deacon curious about “the calling” Ordination in 1964. th Please check the bulletin or Rectory Office Hours to the Priesthood. As a child, Father Mark Ebert had no Upon graduation from the 8 grade, young Tom im- call the rectory to check doubt that he would enter the mediately entered the St. Louis times for Holy Day Masses. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. priesthood. Father Tim Bannes Preparatory Seminary and then Closed for lunch from noon -1 p.m. experienced repeated moments of Cardinal Glennon College before Perpetual Eucharistic “God’s persistence” but he thought entering Kenrick Seminary. His Adoration Ministry to the Homebound he wanted to be an accountant. It Ordination into the Sacred Priest- 24 hours, 7 days a week. Please call the rectory if you are ill at home or in the hospital or was not until he attended the 1999 hood was April 7, 1962 with his Enter the chapel through the nursing facility and would like Communion brought to you. Volun- visit of Pope John Paul II in St. first assignment as Associate Pas- main lobby. teers also are available to help in other ways. Louis and then in 2000 traveled to tor to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Medjugorje, the Holy Land and June 1962 to June 1963 at which Rome - when he finally accepted time he was assigned as full-time that he was “being called.” Father teacher at Duchesne High School Chris Dunlap likewise had no idea in St. Charles until 1981. Aside of his call to the priesthood before from regularly teaching Religion, the Papal visit in 1999. he also coached the Duchesne photo by Don Dinkelkamp This may be similar to the ca- Soccer team. He boasted of one reers that we lay people follow into Monsignor explains, “On one hand . .” season when they were unde- adulthood. How many of us knew feated. During this period, he as children that we wanted to be “whatever we are to- lived and served as priest at the following parishes: day?” Our Monsignor Tom Dempsey knew as a small child St. Monica, Creve Coeur - June 1963 to June 1976 that he would one day be a priest. He played “church” St. Patrick, Wentzville - June 1976 to December 1976 and was always the priest while his younger brother Jack St. Peters, St. Charles - December 1976 to June 1981 would perform as his server. St. Dismas, Florissant - June 1981 to October 1981 Monsignor Dempsey was born to Vera and Thomas J. Dempsey, September 8, 1936 and was schooled at Holy It was at this time that he was assigned as Pastor of PERMIT NO. 2 NO. PERMIT Family and Church of the Resurrection. Father and son Holy Trinity until June 1986 followed by assignment as BALLWIN MO. MO. BALLWIN share the same Thomas J. but he is not a junior. “Dad’s Pastor of Assumption in Mattese until June 2001 when he middle name is Jefferson and he said he would never give came to us at Holy Infant in Ballwin. PAID PAID Ballwin, MO 63021-4898 63021-4898 MO Ballwin, the name of Thomas Jefferson to a son,” so Monsignor’s Monsignor liked all of his assignments but has seen U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S. 627 Dennison Drive Drive Dennison 627 middle name is Joseph. His brother Jack was born two his ten years at Holy Infant as very special. He has had Holy Infant Parish Parish Infant Holy NON-PROFIT ORG ORG NON-PROFIT (Continued on page 333)3))) PAGE 2 HOLY INFANT’S WORDS AND WORKS THE SACRISTAN MINISTRY By Mary Ellen Bourneuf . Fonts to be filled. There are sacristans who do these tasks faithfully. It takes many parishioners to assist our priests with Joan’s list of duties is long and detailed, but her first the Mass every week. They are the altar servers, Eucha- responsibility is to see that all arrangements are ready for ristic Ministers, readers, ushers, and choir members. We Mass each day. Her weekday begins with setting-up for see them in their ministries and appreciate their service to the 8:00 AM Mass – Monday through Saturday. Tuesday our parish community. through Friday, the students attend this Mass during the Now you might be wondering how the Sacristan Min- school year. The 6:00 AM Mass is set-up by volunteers istry relates to our Mass and services. The role of sacris- who attend that Mass every day. “Set-up” means every- tan, according to the Webster Dictionary, is the “custodian thing is ready on the altar – books, lit candles, vessels, for the vessels, vestments, etc. used in church services” etc. Hosts and wine are measured according to attendance and in the Catholic Church, it pertains to the Mass. In at each Mass and placed on the gift table. The sacristan this ministry the work is “behind the scenes” so to speak. cleans up after Mass and checks to see if anything needs Under the capable leadership of Joan Morelli, a select cleaning or replacing. Soiled purificators go into boxes group of thirty women and men assist her in the many that are picked up by volunteers. There are lists and things needed for the Mass and services. You are proba- schedules in the sacristy cabinets for the weekend masses bly aware of most of this without realizing the time and and Joan keeps them current. She picks up the hosts from effort involved. One important task has seventeen volun- the Passionist Monastery weekly and orders the wine. teers who launder the used purificators with specific in- Before she leaves each morning, she gathers a bundle structions to remove the sacred stains in a certain way. of albs and altar cloths to launder or to be mended at The process is lengthy but when they are finished these home. It’s important to keep up with these because there cloths are white again and folded for the next Mass. The might be a funeral or two next week and extra Masses same reverent care is used with the vessels that also come scheduled. Special seasons such as Holy Week and Easter in contact with the Eucharist. and Christmas have different routines to follow. With There are other tasks that must be done continually. patience, reverence and love for her work, Joan is follow- One is keeping the missalettes in order in the pews of the ing her commitment to Our Lord as any loyal and faithful church and chapel. There are always candles to be sacristan would do. changed and chapel materials organized and Holy Water You might see some of the volunteers when they are working in the church or chapel. It’s necessary to keep the house of Our Lord looking its best and they feel hon- t “He has been a ored to do this as part of their ministry. great example in If you would like to join the Sacristan Ministry, please my life and he is call Joan Morelli, (636) 273-5008. a great shepherd to his people.” Mary Hutson left: Thomas Joseph Dempsey; First Holy Communion. Photo submitted from photo by Don Dinkelkamp Father Dempsey’s per- sonal album. Isaiah Valdenbella, Marlow and Marlena at the St. Pat’s celebration, 2011. PAGE 10 HOLY INFANT’S WORDS AND WORKS HOLY INFANT’S WORDS AND WORKS PAGE 3 (Continued from page 555 . The Way, The Truth and The Light . ) t “I have been blessed to work with such a simply said, “It’s a pretty tall order wonderful, compassionate pastor, whose pri- asking a priest not to do his job.” In mary concern is caring for his many parishion- that moment, I saw things in a differ- ers.” Beata Gordon ent light. What Father told us made me uncomfortable, but it was true. Delicious casseroles are provided on scheduled days Just having Russell baptized would each month to the St. Patrick Center. We have a service- not give us or him a true faith life. giving Confirmation program and our Youth program Father may be blunt, but his honesty provides aid such as their trip to New Orleans after the photo by Don Dinkelkamp set in motion my entire Catholic Katrina devastation. The Habitat for Humanity assists faith, and that has become the very Monsignor explains, “But on the other hand . “ those in need of permanent shelter. The whole parish is core of who I am. focused on doing for others. The next week I signed up for (Continued from page 111 . Look Beyond Oneself . ) On the other hand, he said he failed in the area of lit- R.C.I.A and became Catholic the great Associate Pastors throughout these years and Sister urgy to convince people to stay to the end of Mass.