Stewardship Update
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November 2008
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Hospitality
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Nancy Jones |
| What is an Usher? According to Webster it is: one who acts as a doorkeeper; one who conducts people to seats. The ushers who serve at Queen of Apostles fill these roles as well as many others. Our ushers greet each person as he/she enters the church on Saturday evening, Sunday morning and for special masses, making each person feel welcome in our parish community. They assist late comers in finding seating, take up the offertory collection, do setup for baptisms, usher during communion, cleanup the church after each mass (putting books back in their holder and picking up items left in the pews), shut off the lights and fans, secure the church making sure all the doors are lock and no one is left in the bathrooms, they know what to do if an emergency arises, and some are trained in AED/CPR. The ushers find their ministry provides a mean to get to know the people in our parish community. As ushers they are provide a meaningful service to our parish and it makes them feel closer to God. Nancy Jones shared why she is involved in the Usher Ministry: “My dad Ken Callagham, who was a man of many hats, ushered for decades at Queens. He had a way of making people feel at home and welcomed at Queens. He always had something kind, clever, warm or witty to say to everyone he met or greeted. He passed away over 4 years ago and during his funeral Father Kirby talked about all his roles of volunteering. He volunteered almost everyday between the hospitals, church, Hospices, election polls, etc. around the city. Father Kirby said, ‘So many people are going to have to step up to fill all his roles in the community.’ It made me think of what I could do that would be of serve to God and make my Dad proud. I asked if I could take over Dad’s role as an usher. It is now one of the most rewarding things I enjoy doing every week. It makes me feel very proud of our parish and parishioners when visitors tell me how welcoming our church is and they love coming here to pray and worship with us. I now know why Dad loved being an usher. It has turned into a family affair, my son Scott has ushered here also for a couple of decades.” BACK TO TOP |
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Prayer
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We are now in the season of Advent, busily preparing ourselves for Christmas. Hopefully, we plan to take some time for our spiritual preparation among the shopping and baking. The Tri-Parish community is offering a Forty Hours Devotion beginning Sunday, December 14th and ending Tuesday, December 16th to be held at Holy Family. This is a period of continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The Forty Hours will begin with Mass at 6:00 pm, followed by recitation of the Rosary. The sacrament of reconciliation will also be offered. In addtion, there will be opportunities to participate in Taize Prayer, the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as well as evening, night and morning prayers. Of course, time is set aside for personal prayer. While Queens has weekly adoration, Forty Hours allows those who work during the day a greater chance to participate. Donna Lear signed up to be in attendance from 4 to 5 am at the last devotion. “I thought I’d be tired the next day, but I was actually refreshed. It’s so peaceful.... just you and God.” While she sometimes brings things to read, sometimes she justs sits in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. “It is so peaceful. You find a sense of peace which comes over you.” While people are being recruited to sign up for specific times, everyone is welcome to attend at any time. Feel free to drop in and stay as long as you like. |
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Formation
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 Fr. Lazarus |
Can someone go to Heaven without being baptized? There are some questions about our faith that cannot be answered by yes and no. One of the questions raised by many people is if one can go to heaven without being baptized. The quick answer would be yes. Remember the thief crucified with Jesus? He was saved though not baptized. Faith saves, unbelief condemns. You cannot be saved if you have no faith in Jesus or you despise baptism. In addition, the Catholic Church also teaches about the Baptism of Blood and Baptism of Desire. In the times of the early Church there are stories of people dying for their faith in Christ before they could receive baptism. For instance, Roman soldiers, participating in the execution of Christians for refusing to recant, were impressed by their amazing Christian Faith–being willing to die for it. They, by the grace of God were converted and executed on the spot. Also the Church recognizes Baptism of Desire. This would be the baptism of one in the process of entering the Church through Christian Baptism but is killed in a car accident, for instance. Also, those are baptized with this baptism, if God knows that in their heart they would have received baptism if they had known about it or known it was necessary. For instance, if they were taught that baptism was unnecessary and therefore did not receive it, and died believing in Christ but unbaptized. If that person’s heart was such that they would have been baptized if they had known it was necessary then we believe a baptism of desire existed also in their hearts. Also, Our Merciful Father would attribute this baptism to all those people of good will towards God, throughout history on all continents, who never heard about Jesus and baptism. BACK TO TOP |
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Our parish priests are willing to answer your questions about the Catholic Church and our Faith. Questions may be submitted in three ways: • call the rectory at 323-2916 • email: queenofapostles@cox.net • drop a note in the collection basket You may submit your question anonymously, if you wish. BACK TO TOP |
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| On the first weekend of November the parishioners of Queens opened their wallets to help support the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation. The community, located in Kenya, was founded in 1952. At that time there were less than a dozen nuns; it now numbers 230 women and is still growing. The order, which focuses its ministry on the elderly and abandoned children, serves in almost every part of Kenya. They run two orphanages, several schools for needy children plus dispensaries and hospitals assisting those who cannot afford regular medical care or insurance. Queens has direct connection with the Nazareth community as Sr. Rose Hellen, a member of the order, is the first cousin of Fr. Lazarus. The parish collected over $1700 for the construction of a house for members of this religious community who are attending college. Sr. Rose Hellen will be the local superior of this house. The children of Queens also have stepped up in helping the Nazareth Sisters. During last summer’s Bible Day Camp, they collected over $400 to help the sisters in their work with children. A big thank you goes out to all who have helped. BACK TO TOP |
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Your ideas for future issues are welcome. If you would like to join the stewardship committee Contact the stewardship committee: Queensstewardship@cox.net BACK TO TOP |
