Western Kentucky CATHOLIC Western Kentucky Catholic, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 Volume 35, Number 9, November, 2008 Change Service Service Change Bishop John Jeremiah McRaith takes part in Holy Spirit’s Ground- Requested breaking Ceremony By Gabby Springs, Holy Spirit Pastoral Council Communication Committee BOWLING GREEN,Ky. - Holy Spirit Parish welcomed Bishop John Jeremiah Owensboro, KY Permit No. 111 Nonprofit Org. McRaith to help celebrate and be a part of U.S. Postage their ground breaking ceremony held on 42301 Paid September 10, 2008. Bishop McRaith along with Holy Spirit pastor Father Jerry Riney, local dignitaries, and many who were an instru- mental part in the project, witnessed Holy Spirit parishioners with shovels in hand, News flowing from all the church build- dressed in red, ready to break ground on ings into the lives of all people the world their new church facility. “I congratulate over. God bless you for your faith and God you on the grand leap of faith that you are be with you in building this new complex making with this ground breaking,” said and in carrying out the real mission of the Bishop McRaith. Church,” Bishop McRaith also said It was truly a day of praise and cel- Bishop John McRaith, center in white Lisa Carter, Dana Gensler, Matthew After Bishop McRaith’s blessing, ebration for this parish. Many years of hat, pastor Father Jerry Riney, left in Keyser, Ivana Walker, Carol Kunkel, Holy Spirit parishioners of all ages formed research, planning, and prayer, enabled this white hat, and Diocesan Chancellor and Lori Lewis Sept. 10 at a ground a line around the perimeter of where the monumental occasion. Father Jerry said, Sister Joseph Angela Boone, OSU, at breaking for a new parish church. new church will be built. All broke ground “This has been a project about eight years right in white hat, stand with Holy Spirit Photo from www.holyspiritcatholic.org with much joy and were delighted by the in the making.” Holy Spirit parish realized Staff, from left, Rose Peck, Kelly Lewis, new memories at Holy Spirit Parkside. airplane flyby of parishioner Robert Pitch- they were bursting at the seams and would journey. Bishop McRaith explained how the ford who took aerial photos of the ground need to either expand their current facility Imagine leaving your church home of real Church, the people of God make up breaking. It truly was a memorable day. or move to a new site to accommodate the 38 years where you were married, watched the church and are the real bricks and Now ground is being moved and the church’s growing needs. “Holy Spirit was your children be baptized, receive first mortar. It is important that we understand fellowship hall, offices, and classrooms formed about thirty eight years ago and communion, and confirmation. John Deeb, what building community is and don’t stop should be ready by Easter 2010. By Christ- about 250 families from another Catholic past Pastoral Council Chair, and keynote with just a building. “It is just a reminder mas 2010, it is highly anticipated that our church joined the new church. Now, more speaker at the ground breaking ceremony that building community never stops with Holy Spirit parish will celebrate Christmas than 950 families attend Holy Spirit, cur- is one of those parishioners. “One Sunday, constructing new buildings. The challenge in our new church home. We as a church rently on Smallhouse Road,” said Jane years ago, I heard an announcement we is to work tirelessly to make sure that community will continue to pray and listen Wilson, current Pastoral Council Chair. might move to a new location. I couldn’t from this special place, the mission of His to the Holy Spirit as we continue our faith The move was carefully thought out believe it- it hit me like a brick falling out Church is always being carried out, with journey to Holy Spirit Parkside. and countless hours were spent making of the sky,” he said. But John began a new far-reaching, never-ending results,” said Please visit our website www.holy- sure parishioners’ best interests were faith journey and realized he could take Bishop McRaith. “Just as God’s work spiritcatholic.org for more information and taken into consideration. In the end it was his memories anywhere he went. “Faith is on us is never finished until we join Him photos. decided that Holy Spirit take that leap of not about a building,” said John. His faith for all eternity, the building will never be faith. Yes, faith has been the operative journey led him in a direction guided by finished until every one has heard the Good word that describes our parish’s ongoing the Holy Spirit; John now hopes to make Bishop John McRaith Asks Catho- Diocesan Schools Post 3-Year Enrollment Increase During the 2005-2006 school year The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Ow- ensboro reversed a 10-year trend in declining enrollment and have posted net gains of lics To Be Involved in Public Life enrollment every year since then. Our schools have managed to gain a little every year To: Priests, members of parish pastoral statement on “faithful citizenship” empha- as Catholic Schools across the state face enrollment declines. In a climate of higher councils, social concerns committees, sizing the importance of Catholics being fuel costs, tough times in the business world, and other dioceses losing students, the deanery councils, the Diocesan Pasto- involved in public life. As this election Dicoese of Owensboro Catholic Schools have entered the third straight year showing ral Council, Catholic schools education season comes to a close, no matter who is modest enrollment gains. We invite you to log on to www.owensborodio.org Schools councils, and boards of Catholic institu- elected to each level of public service, it link for more information. tions, and faithful Catholics around the is crucial that Catholics continue to take Inside this edition, readers can find stories and photos of Catholic Schools. Catholic Diocese: their duty to be faithful citizens seriously. Schools have always been a top priority in The Western Kentucky Catholic news mix. Dear Friends, I would like to extend a personal invita- School communities are invited to send pictures and articles to mel.howard@pastoral. Every four years I join my fellow tion to each of you to attend a Kentucky org Bishops in the United States in writing a Continued on page 38 2 The Western Kentucky Catholic, November, 2008 In November, We Celebrate The Communion of Saints and Renew Our Thanks Giving Dear Friends in Christ, charity, the union of the whole Church in will be faithful to the deepest vocation truly thankful for what we have is to celebrate In this month of November, we will the Spirit may be strengthened. Exactly (call) of the Church.” the Mass in your own parish on Thanksgiving celebrate two great feast days. On No- as Christian communion among our fel- These are just a few thoughts for us Day. The Eucharist means Thanksgiving, and vember 1st, we celebrate the Feast of All low pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so to consider on these two important days it is the best way to thank God for what we Saints. All Saints Day is a special time for our communion with the saints joins us to in the faith life of the Church and in our do have. us “to remember our brothers and sisters Christ, from whom as from its fountain faith lives as individuals. The lives of The second way to show our thanksgiv- who have gone to their eternal reward” and head issues all grace, and the life of those who have gone before us have not ing for what we have is to share what we can (Eucharistic Prayer II). This is a day the People of God itself.” ended, only changed. We are still one with those who are in need. This can start when we pray to those who are now truly On November 2nd, we celebrate with them; they are one with us. And in our own family, in our communities, our saints. the commemoration of All the Faithful it is important that we remember them nation and in the world. For those that the Those now enjoying the reward of Departed (All Souls). On this day, we in our prayers, as we pray for them and Lord has given much — be that happiness, eternal life live in the presence of God for pray for those who are departed from the to them – not just on these special days family or most of all our faith — we can and all eternity. The Church has declared a pilgrim Church but are still purified as they but every day. We live with the joy should share such great gifts with others in a few saints, but many more enjoy the same wait for their ultimate reward of joining of knowing that they continue to care way that each of us must find for ourselves. reward. The Feast of All Saints not only the communion of saints in heaven. The about us, pray for us, and are there to The best way to show God that we are reminds us to pray to all the saints, it also Catechism teaches us that “In full con- help us on our journey from this life to thankful is to share what God has given us. reminds us that our ultimate goal in life is sciousness of this communion of the whole eternal life. This is the real sign of our gratitude.