A couple of weeks ago, the priests of the diocese had a continuing education day devoted to the permanent diaconate.  As you have read in the Western Kentucky Catholic, our diocese is preparing to ordain eighteen men as deacons on September 15^th.  This will be the first class of permanent deacons ordained for the diocese.  Here at the Cathedral, we have been blessed to have Deacon Dirck Curry with us for the past couple of years, so we have some experience of a deacon’s ministry.  This gives me the opportunity to thank Deacon Dirck once again for his ministry with us, and also to tell you that the diocese is now forming a new class for those men interested in discerning a call to this ministry.  We have one person who has applied, but I think we have several other potential candidates among our parishioners.  I invite you to give this prayerful consideration, and if you have any questions, get in touch with me or Deacon Curry.

Surely no one was surprised by President Obama’s recent declaration in favor of same-sex marriage since he has already taken other actions that erode the unique meaning of marriage. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the president of the US Conference of Bishops stated “We cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society,” Cardinal Dolan added. “The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better.”  The Catholic Church upholds the sanctity of traditional marriage as being only between one man and one woman, and also teaches that any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful. “I pray for the president every day, and will continue to pray that he and his administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Cardinal Dolan said. “May we all work to promote and protect marriage and by so doing serve the true good of all persons.”

I want to draw your attention to a new addition to our parish webpage: a widget from the Vatican News Service.  The widget opens a small rectangular window with four tabs.  One tab opens the latest news from the Vatican, another provides the Holy Father’s comments from his Sunday Angelus, the third accesses recent speeches of the pontiff, the fourth gives the daily news bulletin from the Vatican.  Let me know if you find this helpful.

Congratulations to Sam Rasp, a 2012 graduate of OCHS, who has been selected as a recipient of the Servant Leaders in Ministry Award (SLIM) by the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry.  Sam is involved in a wide variety of service activities to the parish, school, deanery and diocese.  The award will be presented to Sam at the 9:00am Mass today.  His parents are Ken and Kathy Rasp.

Love, Fr. John

Today is Mother’s Day in our nation.  We congratulate all the mothers in our parish and thank each of you for your beautiful example of love and service.  I hope your families spoil you in extra ways today.  As we pray for you, we also prayerfully remember our mothers who have already entered into God’s eternal embrace.

In your name, I extend hearty Congratulations to all our high school and college/university graduates.  The list of our high school graduates is elsewhere in the bulletin.  May God bless each of you, and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide you along life’s journey.

Last Monday evening, Bishop Medley hosted a dinner for the priests and their parents.  My mother was able to be here, as were Fr. Brandon’s parents, along with many others.  Bishop McRaith also joined us. This was the second time the bishop has done this.  It was a wonderful evening, and we all appreciated it very much.

When we met with Granda’s Project Team a couple of weeks ago, they assured us that production is on schedule and, at this point, they can see no reason why they will not have installed our new altar, tabernacle, etc. by sometime in October.  That is good news!  The not so good news is that there are no Sunday’s in October that Bishop Medley is available to rededicate the Church and bless the altar.  Therefore, we have scheduled November 18^th as the day of dedication and blessing.  I had hoped that we would be back in the Cathedral before then but, for now, it appears that we will not be.  At least, we can now give an answer to the frequently asked question, “when will you be back in the Church?”

Love, Fr. John

We welcome Joey Beatty to our parish staff.  Joey began as our business manager last Tuesday, after retiring from his job with the city on Monday afternoon.  Understandably, it will take him some time to get to know parishioners, as well as the many responsibilities that come with his new position, but I am confident that he has many gifts to bring to us.  As I mentioned in a previous bulletin, Joey and his wife are members of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Whitesville.  They have three daughters:  Kirsten, Molli and Erin.

As I welcome Joey, I take this occasion to say a special word of thanks to Russ Hayden.  Russ is the business manager at Blessed Mother Parish, and he has worked with us the past two months to help us stay afloat.  Assisted by Ruth Ann, he has insured that we have paid our bills, filled out necessary reports, met payroll, etc.  I am sure he will also be a great help to Joey as he becomes familiar with our programs and processes.  Thank you, Russ, and God bless you!

Last week, three representatives from Granda Liturgical Arts were here to meet with our contractors and others.  They had a cordial meeting with Bishop Medley, whom they had not met before.  The most important information they gave us is that their work in Spain is progressing on schedule and they see no reason why we will not have their objects here and installed by sometime in October.  It is still too early to set a specific date for a dedication ceremony, but we have a committee that has begun to work on this.  Certainly, no one would be surprised to hear that there were some differences of opinions or different understandings about certain aspects of our project, but all that will be ironed out, and I remain confident that the Cathedral will be beautiful and that you will be both pleased and edified by the restoration.  Don’t forget to look at the pictures on the webpage, www.ststephencathedral.org.

I’m going to Paducah this afternoon to baptize my great-nephew, the son of my nephew, Robbie and his wife Emily.  Last summer, I witnessed the marriages of two of Robbie’s brothers and now both of them and their spouses are expecting girls in June.  Looks like more family baptisms this summer!

Love, Fr. John

Today is a special day for our parish as we celebrate the First Communion of thirteen of our young parishioners.  They have prepared for and anticipated this day for a long time.  I know that all of you join me in prayer for them and in congratulating them.  May their joy and enthusiasm overflow to all of us and renew our “Eucharistic amazement,” as Blessed John Paul II called it.

We need more help setting up the CPC basement on Saturday afternoons and restoring it to a meeting space after the 11:00am Mass on Sundays.  I hope that in a couple of months we will be able to move into our own undercroft for week-end Masses, but in the meantime, we must continue to use the basement next door.  A few dedicated folks continue to assist on Saturday and Sunday afternoons but more hands would make the work less for all.  Thanks for your kind assistance.

We must continue our efforts to campaign for the protection of our religious liberties here in the United States. Our bishops speak of this as “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.”  They are asking all people of good will to join in a nationwide prayer campaign for protection of religious freedom and conscience rights.  We have ordered prayer cards which we will soon distribute.  In the meantime, I again invite you to write to our representatives in congress expressing opposition to the HHS Mandate and supporting the respect for rights of conscience act. You can do this quickly from the following site:  http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292 . The deadline for comments on this issue is June 19^th.  For more information on this important issue, cf. the US Bishops’ website: www.usccb.org.

R & R update: The project team from Spain was here last week, the painters are hard at work and we have a garage full of marble tile.  We are making steady progress.

Love, Fr. John

This afternoon, eight of our candidates for Confirmation will be making a retreat as part of their preparation for their reception of the sacrament on Pentecost Sunday (May 27^th).  Please join me in prayer for these young parishioners, asking the Holy Spirit to bless them mightily.

The Project Team from Granda Liturgical Arts in Madrid will be in town at the end of the week to see how we are progressing in the Church and to consult with the architect and contractors.  I am hoping that they will also bring the latest pictures from their workshop in Spain and that they will be able to give us the date they expect to install the artifacts in the Church.

I have asked Fr. Brandon to form a committee to begin planning the re-dedication of the Cathedral.  They will hold their first meeting on Thursday.  There is much to be done between now and the expected October dedication.

With the renovation work underway, we have received numerous bills from our local contractors, as well as from Granda.  Our available cash is rapidly diminishing, as you might note from the weekly financial statement in the bulletin.  I want to thank all of you who have been so faithful in meeting your pledge over the past four years, and I encourage you to please keep up your good work.

The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged all of us to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights.  They have outlined their position in a document titled Our First, Most Cherished Liberty, published just last week.  I encourage you to read this publication which can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/our-first-most-cherished-liberty.cfm.

Love, Fr. John

Happy Easter!  As we continue our Easter celebration, today we observe Divine Mercy Sunday.  This feast is a beautiful reminder of the fruits of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.  Grace and mercy are offered to us in abundance, and today is a special celebration of that gift.  We will continue to reflect upon and to celebrate Easter for the next month.

Last week, I told you that there were no new pictures posted in the “Restoration Gallery” on our webpage.  Today, I am happy to tell you that we have received some new pictures taken in the Granda workshop in Madrid.  From these pictures, one can begin to get a clear idea of what the decor of the church will be.  There are photos of the Bishop’s cathedra and accompanying chairs, the altar, pulpit and baptismal font. There are also pictures of a clay model of what will be the wood-carved reredos that will be behind the altar and cathedra in the sanctuary.  I hope you enjoy the gallery.

I will be away this week attending a board (bored?) meeting of the Canon Law Society in Baltimore.  I will return to the Cathedral on Friday.  I am sorry that I will be unable to participate in the diocesan-wide “Rainbow Mass” for Catholic school students at the Sportscenter on Thursday.  That is always a wonderful event.

Periodically, we need a gentle reminder regarding a spirit of prayerful quiet that should prevail in the basement prior to Mass.  Such an attitude helps each of us prepare ourselves to enter into the Eucharistic Prayer and is also a gesture of kindness to others who are trying to recollect themselves for Mass. Thanks.

Love, Fr. John

Happy Easter!  Fr. Brandon and I, along with all the parish staff, wish you and your family a very blessed Easter.  I want to thank all of you who participated in the beautiful Triduum liturgies the last three days.  I offer a special word of appreciation to Mike and to the members of the choir who worked so diligently to prepare themselves so our prayer would be beautiful and uplifting.

Congratulations and welcome to those who were baptized and confirmed into the Church at the Easter Vigil.  They, too, have worked hard over the past year, reading the Scriptures, spending time in prayer and learning about the Catholic Church.  I know that each of them has special gifts they bring to our parish, and we are truly blessed to have them as members of our faith family.

It gives me joy to inform you that we have hired another business manager for our parish staff.  Joseph Beatty will begin working with us on May 1^st.   Currently he is the purchasing agent for the City of Owensboro.  Joey and his wife, Robin, have three children and are members of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Whitesville.   He is a 1985 graduate of Brescia University.

Perhaps you have noticed that there have been no new pictures of the Church posted on our website recently.  I want to assure you that the work continues.  In recent weeks, there has been much electrical work accomplished, but that does not lend itself to many pictures.   A new platform has been built at the back of the sanctuary, but it is difficult to get pictures because of the scaffold in the sanctuary.  The steps into the sanctuary have also been extended a little and the curves straightened to better accommodate the marble that will be installed.  There is still some plastering to be finished, and I think that the painting may begin soon.   Everything is on schedule, and I am also informed that work is progressing well in Madrid.

Have a blessed Easter week!

Love, Fr. John

This is Holy Week, the most blessed time of the Church year.  We have decided to celebrate all the Triduum liturgies (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) at Blessed Sacrament.  Honestly, I wish that the Church would be too small to accommodate us, but sadly, hordes of folks don’t participate in those wonderful liturgies so Blessed Sacrament will be large enough.  Prove me wrong.  Let us pray for each other that these special days will be times of blessing and grace for each of us, for our families and for our parish community.

The parish core team for ARISE with Christ had a training session last week.  I am grateful to those who have offered to serve us in this capacity, and once again I want to particularly thank Deacon Dirck Curry for assuming the leadership role for our parish. You will be hearing much more about this special opportunity after Easter.

I want to draw your attention to a movie now playing entitled “October Baby.”  This is a very pro-life movie that would be worth your while to see.  For more information check out the website www.octoberbabymovie.net

A number of priests recently received word from Bishop Medley that they will be moving to new assignments in June.  I am happy to tell you that neither Fr. Brandon nor I have received such a letter, so unless something unforeseen happens in the next couple of months, you will be stuck with us for awhile longer.

For those leaving town during the schools’ Spring Break, travel safe, say your prayers and have a good time.

Love, Fr. John

March 19, 2011

Present:  Garry and Ann Pierce; LaWanna Brand; Rita Robinson, Bill and Angie Drury; Richard Gruenwald, Sr. Sharon Miller; Todd Johnson

The meeting began with A Prayer For A Successful Picnic.

The entire committee agreed that there is a need for a 2012 Picnic, especially during the Renovation of the Cathedral.

The date is Saturday, September 15.  The hours are 2:00 – 6:00.  This is a hardship for the Cooking Team, but Todd agreed to these hours even though the cooking team will need to begin cooking in the early hours of the morning.

In 2011, there was confusion about when the meal would be served.  The Cooking Team had to bring the meats and burgoo earlier than anticipated.  This year, all serving will begin at 2:00.

We anticipate the undercroft will be usable by September.   Since Mass will be celebrated there, we need to take down and set up for Mass after the Picnic.  At this time, we anticipate Mass will be held at 7:15 following the Picnic.

Country Store:  Storage will be a problem because the rectory garage and downstairs are being used for storage during the Renovation. Garry intends to keep all items out of the hallways of the office.  Sr. Sharon offered to let us use the Glenmary garage off Locust Court for Country Store storage. Greenwell Chisholm has space, but we would need to rent the space.  A trailer or pod would also be expensive, plus the opportunity for vandalism exists.

***Since this meeting, Garry has looked at the Glenmary garage and found it suitable.  Also, he received permission to use back offices across from the Media Center in the office building for Silent Auction items.

Ann suggested that the Country Store break down into separate booths.  A parishioner made this suggestion, and has offered to have all the books in a separate booth.  Other suggestions from the committee include a children/toy booth, an electronics booth, a furniture and household booth and others.  Rita and LaWanna think that this is a good option.  Once workers are asked to take various booths, they would be free to go through donated items and take what is appropriate for their booths.  This will also have the advantage of taking responsibility from  LaWanna and Rita since each booth will be staffed and the opportunity for theft will be lessened.

The Country Store also has a problem of people shopping and wanting to buy items before the booth is ready.  It was agreed to allow shopping and buying at 2:00 when the Picnic opens, but not before 2:00.

Angie will be in charge of the Silent Auction.  Jennifer Fullenweider’s responsibility will be to take the items once they are collected and arrange them as she has in the past.  Mary Helen Nash, Marianna Robinson, Denise Payne and Larry Lyons collected items in the past, and we will ask them to help again.  Bill suggested that we all look for close-out sales, and extreme sales to add to our items. Angie suggests that we ask parishioners for specific items for specialty baskets again.  All Silent Auction items will be kept in the back offices of the office building, separating them from the Country Store items.  There was a problem last year with more than one person asking a business for donations, but Angie will keep track this year and organize the Auction.

Richard offered suggestions to increase the profit from the Silent Auction.  He has attended Silent Auctions that have had the following items:  jewelry; trips; tours and/or dinners with politicians; personal items from famous people. He has found that serving alcohol or beer increases sales. It was also suggested that we print a pamphlet listing all the Silent Auction items, donors and descriptions so that people have a clearer idea of what we have to offer.

The idea of expanding adult booths was discussed.  Perhaps Blackjack, Poker, or a Dollar Wheel could be used this year.  Angie suggested that we have 50/50 tickets, with workers walking through the crowd all day selling the tickets.

Garry wants to take advantage of the new downtown to attract visitors to our Picnic.

Garry suggested a Caramel Apple Booth.

Everyone agrees that we need to reach out to parishioners for additional workers.

No date was given for the next meeting.

I am sad to tell you that Jeanine Burke, our newly hired Business Manger, has had to resign from our staff for personal reasons.  Although she was only with us for a few days, her bright smile and cheery disposition were a blessing to us.  I am certainly sad to see her depart, and I wish her and her husband God’s many blessings.

I want to thank all those who contributed to our “Burgoo Bash” last weekend.  They made and sold over 300 gallons and donated the proceeds to the Cathedral Youth House to defray the cost of some recent repairs.  Many were involved in this Burgoo effort, but I want to say a  special word of thanks to Garry Pierce, Todd Johnson and Glenn Thompson – and  to all those who worked with them.

Last week, I visited the Catholic Middle School and Catholic High School to distribute report cards to the students from the Cathedral and Blessed Sacrament.  This is something all the pastors do twice a year.  I am happy for the opportunity to have that brief one on one conversation with our young parishioners. I know most all of them, of course, but there are a few I do not see at Sunday Mass as often as I would like.  Overall, I was very happy to observe that their grades were good.  In fact, with several students, I commented on how boring their reports were — just a column of A’s!  Although I did not use that occasion to remind our young parishioners, I hope they realize that the parish is investing over $2000 a year for each of them.  This is a good investment in our youth and their faith formation, but it also brings a serious responsibility to those students and their families.

The Chrism Mass is rapidly approaching.  It will be at the Sportscenter on April 3^rd at 6:30 p.m.  In a recent message from Bishop Medley, he wrote, “It is my hope that every parish of the diocese may be represented by parish staffs, parish council and committee leaders, and catechumens and candidates. There is a great value in experiencing our Church in a larger scale.”  Please plan to join your diocesan family for this wonderful experience on April 3^rd.

Love, Fr. John