Christ The King Church, Nashville, Tennessee Volume 20, Issue 2, Summer 2018 Welcome, Father Phan By Kathy Reese ather Anh Tuan Phan has settled in nicely in his new role at CTK. He is eagerly looking forward to be- coming involved in the various ministries here. He F is open to all experiences; however, during his formation in the seminary, he discovered that he is adept at work- ing with people, especially helping them during difficult times of life. He also likes working with children. Father Phan grew up in Central Vietnam and moved to the United States ten years ago when he was 20 years old. His maternal grandparents sponsored his family, and in April of 2008 his parents and three children moved here. His younger sister is an eighth grader at St. Ann’s, and his younger brother will graduate from MTSU in December. He also has a sister who is a Cistercian nun. She is pres- ently at Divine Word College in Dubuque, Iowa training as a missionary. She hopes to return to Vietnam when she completes her studies. Father Phan’s older brother and his family still live in Vietnam, along with his paternal grandparents. As far as when he knew he had a calling to become a priest, Father Phan said it was a gradual realization. While living in Vietnam, he taught CCD classes and would go with his father to work in the church. After high school his paternal grandmother suggested that he apply to the Hospitality ......................................................................... 2 seminary. He wasn’t sure, so he prayed to God to give Columbian Squires ........................................................... 2 him a sign. He opened himself up to God’s plan and felt A Discussion We Need to Have ........................................ 3 that passing the entrance exam was his sign. After moving Relationship Recovery ..................................................... 3 to the United States, Father Phan studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. During his early years at Notre VBS 2018, Shipwrecked ................................................... 4 Dame, his formation as a priest was almost derailed by School News ..................................................................... 8 snow. In January 2011 he left Nashville driving to New Garden of The Year Awards ........................................... 10 Orleans in the snow. He couldn’t maneuver through the Milestones in Faith ..........................................................11 snow and became very frustrated. Fortunately, his grand- father lent Father his car to drive to New Orleans. True Notes ....................................................................... 12 Continue on page 2 Continued from page 1 Father Phan has many interests including sports and food. His favorite sport is soccer, but he also enjoys play- Columbian Squires ing ping pong, tennis, and volleyball. While in the semi- nary, he was introduced to flag football and became some- what of a celebrity at Notre Dame. He is now known as “The Legend” because he caught a Hail Mary pass from the quarterback to win the game. Father Phan’s food in- terests are varied. His favorite Vietnamese dish is Spicy Noodle Soup from Central Vietnam. Asked if he cooks this soup for himself, he smiled and said that his mother and grandmother make it for him. His favorite American food is steak, which he eats in moderation, and seafood. For the last two weeks in July, Father Phan took a long- awaited trip to Vietnam to visit family. This was his first time to return to Vietnam in seven years. Now that he has returned, everyone will have ample time to enjoy getting to know him. W Hospitality By Carolyn Goddard From L-R: DJ Vigerust, Zach DeGuira, Greg Gomez and n image had been stirring my imagination of Kevin Gomez. late — it is Rublev’s icon of the Trinity. If you are not familiar with it, allow me to give you By Pat Watson Asome sense of its beauty. There are three figures in he Columbian Squires is an arm of the Knights of Co- wondrously colored garments seated around a small lumbus, which focuses on the spiritual, cultural, civic, table with what looks like a large chalice, possibly social and physical improvement of boys and young containing some bread in it. While the artist’s inten- T men, and the development of their leadership qualities. The tion was certainly to depict the Christian notion of Reverend Richard Pius Miles Squires Circle was formed at Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the icon also brings to Christ the King in Fall 2015, in association with the CTK mind the “three men” who visited Abraham in the council. The Circle is a way to get more boys involved in ser- story found in Chapter 18 of Genesis. The “three vice in the parish community, as well as provide opportuni- men” turned out to be “the Lord.” ties for to participate in leadership roles. Meetings are coor- The word that both the icon and the story whis- dinated and conducted entirely by Squires, who lead various per to the ear of my heart is hospitality. The Bible is positions such as treasurer, secretary, and Chief Squire. big on that virtue, suggestion that in showing kind- Charter member and most recent Chief Squire Kevin Go- ness to any stranger, we show kindness to God. This mez has led the Circle over the past year. The Squires par- makes sense if we think of Incarnation not as a one ticipate in service activities and parish events throughout the time happening, but as an on-going reality for then year, including the Community Festival in the fall, Breakfast God is present in the flesh of, the person of, others. with Santa and decorating the church in the winter, Knights I am most likely to offer hospitality to people of Columbus Fish Fries in the spring, and Mur-Ci Homes who look and think a great deal like me. I would like Festival in the summer. The Squires also plant and maintain to extend my table. I would like to live more in the four flower beds in front of Christ the King Church, along spirit of hospitality as Henri Nouwen defined the Belmont Boulevard, and has been awarded in the annual gar- word. “Hospitality means primarily the creation of den contest for the past two years. free space where the stranger can enter and become All of these events provide ample opportunities for Squires to a friend ... Hospitality is not to change people but to complete service hours, help the parish and the community, and offer them space where change can take place. It is connect with one another. Any Catholic boy between 10 and not to bring men and women over to our side, but to 18 years old can join the Squires; meetings take place every 2nd offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.” May Sunday of the month at 5 PM in the CTK Council Room. If you I, may we all, become more hospitable. W have any interest in joining the CTK Circle, please contact the 2018-19 Chief Squire, D.J. Vigerust, at [email protected]. W 2 Volume 20, Issue 2 l Summer 2018 A Discussion We Need to Have By Margaret Emsweller t may be difficult for many of us to grasp the reason our youth than in previous generations. But depression why one could find himself in such a dark place and and suicide have many causes, including genetic predis- feel so isolated that suicide would be the only answer position, family environment, bullying and trauma which I for the despair he presently endures. Yet we are seeing an can all play a role. increase in number of suicide deaths in our country, espe- Christ the King Parish in collaboration with Christ the cially among our youth. King School will offer two opportunities to discuss Teen According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide Suicide Prevention in the Fall. The sessions will be held on is the third leading cause of death for youth between the Wednesday, September 26, at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall ages of 10-24. It results in approximately 4600 lives lost and another session on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 9:45 am in each year. In the United States, on average there are over the West Wing of the Parish Hall. A panel of local profes- 5400 suicide attempts per year by young people grades sionals led by Joe McLaughlin, Clinical Psychologist and 7-12. Christ the King parishioner, will detail the risk factors for So what are some of the risk factors for suicide? Ac- suicide and how we can help our children, grandchildren cording to the American Medical Association, youth who and the youth in our community. are bullied are more than twice as likely to consider sui- Joe has vast experience counseling teens and recently cide. A recent article published in “Clinical Psychologi- stated “We need a willingness to talk about this topic and cal Science” found that the generation of teens born after a willingness to approach and talk to someone experienc- 1995 is much more likely to experience mental-health is- ing suicidal thoughts.” sues than their millennial predecessors. In the five years The panel will also include a representative from the between 2010 and 2015, the number of U.S. teens who felt Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network; Sara Smith, Christ useless and joyless surged 33 percent. Some suggest that the King Counselor; and William Forster who will share teens spent much less time interacting with their friends his story after the loss of his brother to suicide. There will in person and more time on smart phones; and more time be an opportunity for questions at the end of the presen- spent on social media leads to unhappiness.