Message from Monsignor Flach...
I hope that in the coming New Year we will be able to develop a new column for our bulletin, A View from the Pew. I envision a short article spot-lighting a parishioner and their story and witness to the faith. I hope these parishioner stories will be an inspiration to all and create a greater sense of who we are as the Catholic faith community of Marion.
These events and ideas are not just New Year’s resolutions to made and forgotten, but rather as opportunities for growth in our parish family.
View from the Pew-Letter Twelve
By Harry Mosley
Shakespeare’s Tribute to Mercy
Since we’re focusing for the next twelve months on mercy, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit what the great English poet and playwright William Shakespeare said about mercy.
In his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare wrote a beautiful and oft-quoted passage praising the importance of mercy as a human quality. Even after 420 years, these words still resonate with us as they describe the important Christian virtue of mercy.
"The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likes God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy." (Act 4 sc. 1)
Let us remember these poetic words as we go about "rendering our deeds of mercy."
View From the Pew-Letter Eleven
By Monica Jones
Hello, my name is Monica Jones. I am a full time key-holder (manager) at Lane Bry-ant. I am currently serving on the Stewardship Committee.
With an ever-changing schedule in retail, it is diffi-cult to find the time to serve our parish. Whenever it was possible, I worked with the Youth Group and the Choir, but then I got a call to join the Stewardship Committee. While working with this committee, I have learned about the needs of the church that I was unaware of before. I am learning what it means to be a good stew-ard and I have met some wonderful people in the par-ish that I may not have been able to meet.
I encourage you to attend the Time and Talent fair Oct. 17-18th after each Mass. By giving your time and talent, it may lead you to have an eye-opening experi-ence like it did for me. I hope you find a ministry you would love serve in.
See you there!
View From the Pew-Letter Ten
By Adelynn McCarty
Hello, my name is Adelynn McCarty!! I am in the 5th Grade at Lincoln Elementary here in Marion. I am an Altar Server at St. Joseph Church. I wanted to be an Altar Server because before I started, others told me it was a really fun job. Also, I felt like I wanted to be more a part of Mass. Now that I am a server, I realize I have more of a personal relationship with Father Tom. I have also noticed I listen and understand the readings better. Finally, I enjoy being an Altar Server because it helps me meet new people! I would encourage you to join us servers because this is one of the Ministries that allow children. It also gives you a purpose to get up and ready in the morning. And last of all, it makes you more passionate about church.
See you serving!
View From the Pew-Letter Nine
By Kaleb Martin
Ola my name is Kaleb Martin and I’m 16 years old. I am a sophomore at Marion High School who loves to play soccer and be part of the Marion High School band. My hopes are that I will receive a Musical Scholarship that will allow me to pursue a career in the medical field. I’d like to start my career as a basic EMT. I’m part of the percussion section at school as well as part the Joyful Noise Players here at St. Joseph Parish. I joined the Joyful Noise Players not only because I love playing music but because I wanted to be part of something at Church. Since my baptism I’ve been involved in the Church in different ways. I remember starting off as an altar server in third grade and continued to serve until the middle of my freshman year. Now I serve as a Eucharist Minister.
ÎI truly believe that serving in a ministry is very important for everyone, no matter what ministry they are called to, or whatever their age or talent is. I have always served in a ministry because I feel that by serving each other we serve God and move closer to Him. I also feel a great sense of personal fulfillment and awe that I can serve others by helping them receive something as important as Communion. If you would like to be part of something bigger than yourself then go for it. Join me in doing good by serving God.
View From the Pew-Letter Eight
By Rita Dutton
I moved to Marion from the Louisville, Kentucky area in 1973 with my family and have been a member of St. Joseph Church since that time. All three of my daughters have been married at St. Joseph As a cradle Catholic, I have always loved going to church and that still stands true for me today. I love singing and being a member of the choir. I am also involved in other church organizations and love them all. Following Bill Harper’s departure, Father Tom asked if I would like to oversee the Homebound Ministry. I had previously been involved in doing this on my own and it has been most rewarding to me, so I readily agreed to take on the responsibility. It has been a true blessing in my life. It’s strictly on a volunteer basis and on my own time. The purpose of the Homebound Ministry is to reach out to members of our parish who are homebound for various reasons, or in a nursing home, assisted living or some other facility but still want to be part of St. Joseph even though they are physically unable to attend church services and to know they haven’t been forgotten. We take communion to them, visit with them, pray with them and basically see if there is any other way we can assist them. Those who I visit are so appre-ciative of the time I spend with them and it’s such a privilege for me to take them communion, the Body of Christ, and to pray with them. This is our primary goal but we are also here to offer other service like driving some-one to church, taking them to an appointment, run errands, etc.
I have always loved visiting with people of all ages but especially the eld-erly, listening to their stories, reliving good and bad times, encouraging them and laughing with them. Ever since retiring from work I feel God has led me to this point in my life and is using me for this purpose. He is constantly putting people in my path that I feel I can help and ask Him to continue doing this. We are meant to be servants. I’m sure some think they don’t want to get involved or they are too busy to do this or that but I feel everyone has a responsibility to support their church in whatever way they can. Please don’t sit back and let "somebody else" do the task. Life is not about me but serving others. I especially love the "Servant Song" which goes like this…Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, help me to lift those who are weak. Any way the prayer of my heart is "ALL SER-VANTS ARE WELCOME!"
View from the Pew-Letter Seven
By Hayden Lees
Hello! My name is Hayden Lees and I’m nine years old. I’m a fourth grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. I have been a member of St. Joseph Parish since I was born. My first Mass was Christmas Eve, my birthday is December 20 so I was four days old (but I don’t remember much about it of course.)
I have been a server since I was in the second grade and have been in the choir since third grade. I became a server because it looked fun. I like that I get to help Fa-ther. Serving also makes Mass more enjoyable. I would tell someone who’s thinking about becoming a server to consider doing it.
I have been a member of the choir since a little before Christmas last year. I joined when Miss Patty Lynn asked for new members. Then I asked my Dad if I was old enough to join and he said, "It never hurts to ask." When I asked Miss Patty she said, "Yes!" I then told my Mom I was in the choir but she didn’t believe me until Miss Patty told her. I wanted to join because I play the conga drums in the Joyful Noise Players. Playing the drums is lots of fun. I like that other people enjoy the music and so do I! I also like that you can make other friends in church like Dr. and Mrs. Li.
View from the Pew-Letter Six
by Sue Humphrey
Volunteerism. It is a word that strikes fear in people’s hearts. The fear in-creases proportionally to the number of children you have and hours you work. We worry about being over-burdened. And, not to mention being trapped do-ing a difficult job because no one will help. In the past this might have been true, but not anymore. Our stewardship to our Parish is working to invite those that want to be more involved. There will soon be a Volunteer Fair that will allow pa-rishioners to choose a volunteer path they may enjoy. Won’t you please attend?
For me, volunteering allows me to do things I never thought I was capable of. I get to stretch my wings, my creativity and my voice. The results of my volunteer-ism has allowed me to grow as a woman and as a Christian.
God has been very good to me. But, I don’t volunteer to thank Him. God gave me this gift of volunteering. Just as he gave me Mike when I was lonely and the kids when we found out we couldn’t have any. Volun-teering isn’t giving back to the community, it allows me to know MORE about my community. Did you know that more than anything, this community needs free dental care for the poor?
For me, volunteering is about the people. My fellow Outreach members, PSR kids and catechists, Fun and Fund folks, but most of all it is my Angels. The folks that I can call on to help aid a benevolence candidate or when I ask for money for Table Fund they give without hesitating. What is volunteering for you?
View from the Pew-Letter Five
By Rose Gribble
While sitting in Mass, I often find myself looking around to find the children, teens, and young adults who are in attendance. I believe we can all agree with this state-ment, "It’s good to see them." To me, our youth bring liveliness, a sense of freshness, and energy to our weekend Masses.
Outside of church, my involvement with the Youth Ministry Committee is a spiritual, personal journey that I find very gratifying. The Youth Ministry Com-misttee is made up of adults who want to contribute some time assisting with activities and events which involve our youth. When working with the boys and girls, I find they are truly seeking a journey to expand and involve themselves in great acts of charity and kindness.
Recently, we have been reading in our weekly bulletin about the local mission work that was completed by our youth. This work included yard work, painting, cleaning and organizing, and time getting to know one another. Being one of several adult volunteers assist-ing with this hardworking group, we witnessed unity and collaboration in full force. We were all bonding as Catholic Christians and it felt "Sooo Good."
We, the adults in the parish, must make ourselves available and stay connected with our youth. Espe-cially in today’s busy times, the Catholic Church needs their enthusiasm, their talents and gifts, and most im-portantly our prayers for their continued involvement.
The Youth Commission is always seeking fresh ideas or service from other parishioners. We invite you to join us and experience this "Youthful" voyage.
View from the Pew-Letter Four
By Theresa L. Shively
I can't remember a time when my family did not sing in church. My father was a cantor when we lived in the Philippines and when he became a medical missionary at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota; we were surrounded by many talented musicians who were also missionaries. When we moved away from the reservation so that my father could pursue his medical education, my father would join the church choir at the Catholic Church in whatever town we lived in and bring my sister and me to each practice. I've always associated worship with music and find Mass without music very sterile. I firmly believe in the adage" when you sing, you pray twice". When we moved to Marion ten years ago, I decided that I wanted to be more involved in the parish and cantering seeded like a perfect way to be more involved.
Singing, whether in the choir or as a cantor is a joy and while my voice isn't as strong or sure as it used to be, the joy in the act is the same. I wish that others could find the same enjoyment in singing and the courage to share their talents in the many opportunities offered by our faith community. Come sing with us!
View from the Pew-Letter Three
By Elizabeth Huhman
In the near future St. Joseph Church will hold a Time and Talent Ministries Fair. This is a great time to answer your calling. How can you use your time and talents for stewardship? This is a question I asked myself more than 15 years ago. I felt that I was called to carry out the mission of Christ - - a calling to become part of something of great significance. Many years ago there was a song that quoted “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” I love working with children. When I look at the faces in the Parish School of Religion, (PSR), I realize…here are our future Catholics. There is nothing in the world like the heart of a child!
How do people in the real world, with real 21st century families, find the time or commitment to do something like being a catechist? It’s a challenge, but a fulfilling one. I have enjoyed sharing my faith and teaching the children. However, as a teacher, I also learn; I have grown in my own life. I have become a better Catholic, a better mother and a better woman. I spend a few hours each week with the best group of kids and other teachers.
So, why do I choose to teach PSR? Because I love the Lord and I want to share him. I have a personal commitment to the mission of PSR. That mission, is the handing on of our Catholic faith. It is handing on the truth of Jesus Christ. Teaching is a gift. If you feel that God has given you that gift, then embrace it. If you feel called to teach a class, we would love for you to join us. and if teaching PSR in not your
calling, we have many other Ministries where your gifts can be shared.
View from the Pew-Letter Two
Confessions of a Catholic Convert
By Harry Mosley
Sometimes I hear Catholics say, “I’m a cradle Catholic.” At first, I used to feel sad that I was not a cradle Catholic, as though I had missed out on something. However, now I’ve decided that I like the way the Holy Spirit led me to embrace Roman Catholicism at the ripe old age of fourteen. No, I didn’t see a blinding flash of light that knocked me to the ground as St. Paul did; nevertheless, looking back, I do see the hand of God working in the chain of events that resulted in my becoming Catholic.
I owe it all to my sister, the Baltimore Catechism, and a movie.
I grew up in Chicago, Illinois, with my older sister. Our parents were staunch Southern Baptists who carefully instilled in us a strong moral sense and the love of Jesus Christ. We always said grace before meals, and the Holy Bible occupied a prominent place in our home. My family also attended many services at various and sundry Baptist churches. Yet, somehow these services did not meet my spiritual needs. Instead, they left me empty and unsatisfied. Something was missing.
Fast-forward to my sister preparing to enter the eighth grade. Since our mother did not like the rowdy public school that my sister had been attending, she looked into the possibility of transferring her to the nearby parochial school at Holy Cross Catholic Church. At that time, the Church required non-Catholics attending a Catholic school to take instructions in the Catholic faith. My sister agreed, and I just tagged along to have something to do on Tuesday evenings.
After a few visits, suddenly I wasn’t just “tagging along” anymore. I began to listen intently to the priest as he carefully explained the basic tenets of Catholicism. The more I heard, the more I liked. I even liked the Baltimore Catechism that served as our textbook, because it presented the concepts in a simple, easy-to-understand format.
But we did more than just reading. When we began studying the life of Christ, the class saw a film entitled “The King of Kings.” Made in 1927 by Cecil B. DeMille, this silent, black-and-white epic depicts the major events in Christ’s life. Both reverent and spectacular, the film influenced me like no other film I had ever seen. It helped me to “see” Christ in a whole new way. The Resurrection scene alone is one of the most moving things I have ever experienced.
The big turning point, though, came when I attended my first-ever Mass. I loved it! Here at last was a Christian church service that spoke to me. The Mass gave a dignity, beauty, structure, and grace to the worship of God that almost overwhelmed me. The music and hymns were lovely and meaningful. In short, the Eucharist (which, as I first learned in that class, means “Let us give thanks”) provided the missing element that I had been seeking.
So, on August 16, 1959, both my sister and I received the sacrament of baptism at Holy Cross Catholic Church and became Roman Catholics. Eager to grow in my newly accepted faith, I decided to attend a Catholic high school and a Catholic university.
Ever since then, my journey of faith within the Church has been rewarding and fulfilling. Not for one moment have I ever regretted becoming Catholic, and I never shall. In fact, I believe that the Catholic faith offers a great deal of depth and substance which many Catholics unfortunately never realize.
So, all things considered, I’d say that my “view from the pew” is very satisfying indeed. Catholicism is a wonderful faith, and I’m so glad God led me to it.
View from the Pew-Letter One
By Lori Power
I have been a parishioner at St. Joseph Church since 1987, when my husband, John, and I and our first son, John Patrick, returned to Marion after finishing college and living near Houston, Texas, for a year. We began our optometry practice in November 1987 and our second son, Matt, was born in 1991. John Patrick is married to our beloved daughter-in-law, Andrea, and they are the parents of our first grandchild, Kate Renee. Matt is in his first year of medical school at SIU. God has richly blessed us.
In 2003, I began to experience some odd symptoms that were finally diagnosed as MS. I was devastated. I experienced deep depression and literally cried for a year. I was broken, but God blessed me with a stubborn, determined spirit (much to my husband's frequent frustration) and I came to realize that I could either surrender to this diagnosis or strap on my God-given armor and fight. I began to make significant diet and lifestyle changes and to speak healing scriptures over myself daily.
In January 2005, our dear friends, John and Lisa Sanders, invited us to attend a ballroom dancing class. I had been interested in this especially since all forms of musical expression are a major focus of my life. And I felt that my time might be limited; I didn't know how much longer I'd be walking much less dancing. John agreed and we headed off to class. We loved dancing and continued with our class. I can remember having vertigo so badly at times that I could hardly sit straight on a chair, but somehow I was able to get on the dance floor and dance. One particular evening, dancing in Paducah, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me that I was dancing in the devil's face every time I went out on that dance floor. I continued dancing despite symptoms that made it very difficult at times. At a Mass in the gym one Sunday morning in November 2010, I heard God speak to me as clearly as if He were standing right behind me; "To those whom much is given, much is expected". He repeated it three times. I had no idea what it meant.......stay tuned.....
In February 2011, our dance instructor asked if I would be interested in competing at the St. Louis Star Ball. Let me tell you, this made absolutely no sense...the competition was in 4 weeks, I had no appropriate dresses or dance shoes, and had never had a private lesson of any kind with my instructor. But I felt so very compelled to go and wasn't sure why. John encouraged me and for some crazy reason, I decided to go.
When I arrived at the Star Ball and had some time to absorb everything and figure out how it all worked, I knew I did not belong there. This really was a crazy idea and if I'd had my own car, I would have turned around and gone home. But I felt God telling me to dance in the devil's face!
On this large stage, it took all the courage I could muster to put my foot out on that huge floor in front of all those amazing dancers, but I did it. For some reason, the judges even liked my dancing. It was incredible!
Four years have passed and my symptoms have completely disappeared. I am a walking, dancing testimony to God's power, grace, mercy, kindness, joy, peace, and LOVE. As I prepare for my fifth Star Ball in March, I am certain why I dance and for Whom I dance.
I hope that in the coming New Year we will be able to develop a new column for our bulletin, A View from the Pew. I envision a short article spot-lighting a parishioner and their story and witness to the faith. I hope these parishioner stories will be an inspiration to all and create a greater sense of who we are as the Catholic faith community of Marion.
These events and ideas are not just New Year’s resolutions to made and forgotten, but rather as opportunities for growth in our parish family.
View from the Pew-Letter Twelve
By Harry Mosley
Shakespeare’s Tribute to Mercy
Since we’re focusing for the next twelve months on mercy, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit what the great English poet and playwright William Shakespeare said about mercy.
In his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare wrote a beautiful and oft-quoted passage praising the importance of mercy as a human quality. Even after 420 years, these words still resonate with us as they describe the important Christian virtue of mercy.
"The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likes God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy." (Act 4 sc. 1)
Let us remember these poetic words as we go about "rendering our deeds of mercy."
View From the Pew-Letter Eleven
By Monica Jones
Hello, my name is Monica Jones. I am a full time key-holder (manager) at Lane Bry-ant. I am currently serving on the Stewardship Committee.
With an ever-changing schedule in retail, it is diffi-cult to find the time to serve our parish. Whenever it was possible, I worked with the Youth Group and the Choir, but then I got a call to join the Stewardship Committee. While working with this committee, I have learned about the needs of the church that I was unaware of before. I am learning what it means to be a good stew-ard and I have met some wonderful people in the par-ish that I may not have been able to meet.
I encourage you to attend the Time and Talent fair Oct. 17-18th after each Mass. By giving your time and talent, it may lead you to have an eye-opening experi-ence like it did for me. I hope you find a ministry you would love serve in.
See you there!
View From the Pew-Letter Ten
By Adelynn McCarty
Hello, my name is Adelynn McCarty!! I am in the 5th Grade at Lincoln Elementary here in Marion. I am an Altar Server at St. Joseph Church. I wanted to be an Altar Server because before I started, others told me it was a really fun job. Also, I felt like I wanted to be more a part of Mass. Now that I am a server, I realize I have more of a personal relationship with Father Tom. I have also noticed I listen and understand the readings better. Finally, I enjoy being an Altar Server because it helps me meet new people! I would encourage you to join us servers because this is one of the Ministries that allow children. It also gives you a purpose to get up and ready in the morning. And last of all, it makes you more passionate about church.
See you serving!
View From the Pew-Letter Nine
By Kaleb Martin
Ola my name is Kaleb Martin and I’m 16 years old. I am a sophomore at Marion High School who loves to play soccer and be part of the Marion High School band. My hopes are that I will receive a Musical Scholarship that will allow me to pursue a career in the medical field. I’d like to start my career as a basic EMT. I’m part of the percussion section at school as well as part the Joyful Noise Players here at St. Joseph Parish. I joined the Joyful Noise Players not only because I love playing music but because I wanted to be part of something at Church. Since my baptism I’ve been involved in the Church in different ways. I remember starting off as an altar server in third grade and continued to serve until the middle of my freshman year. Now I serve as a Eucharist Minister.
ÎI truly believe that serving in a ministry is very important for everyone, no matter what ministry they are called to, or whatever their age or talent is. I have always served in a ministry because I feel that by serving each other we serve God and move closer to Him. I also feel a great sense of personal fulfillment and awe that I can serve others by helping them receive something as important as Communion. If you would like to be part of something bigger than yourself then go for it. Join me in doing good by serving God.
View From the Pew-Letter Eight
By Rita Dutton
I moved to Marion from the Louisville, Kentucky area in 1973 with my family and have been a member of St. Joseph Church since that time. All three of my daughters have been married at St. Joseph As a cradle Catholic, I have always loved going to church and that still stands true for me today. I love singing and being a member of the choir. I am also involved in other church organizations and love them all. Following Bill Harper’s departure, Father Tom asked if I would like to oversee the Homebound Ministry. I had previously been involved in doing this on my own and it has been most rewarding to me, so I readily agreed to take on the responsibility. It has been a true blessing in my life. It’s strictly on a volunteer basis and on my own time. The purpose of the Homebound Ministry is to reach out to members of our parish who are homebound for various reasons, or in a nursing home, assisted living or some other facility but still want to be part of St. Joseph even though they are physically unable to attend church services and to know they haven’t been forgotten. We take communion to them, visit with them, pray with them and basically see if there is any other way we can assist them. Those who I visit are so appre-ciative of the time I spend with them and it’s such a privilege for me to take them communion, the Body of Christ, and to pray with them. This is our primary goal but we are also here to offer other service like driving some-one to church, taking them to an appointment, run errands, etc.
I have always loved visiting with people of all ages but especially the eld-erly, listening to their stories, reliving good and bad times, encouraging them and laughing with them. Ever since retiring from work I feel God has led me to this point in my life and is using me for this purpose. He is constantly putting people in my path that I feel I can help and ask Him to continue doing this. We are meant to be servants. I’m sure some think they don’t want to get involved or they are too busy to do this or that but I feel everyone has a responsibility to support their church in whatever way they can. Please don’t sit back and let "somebody else" do the task. Life is not about me but serving others. I especially love the "Servant Song" which goes like this…Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, help me to lift those who are weak. Any way the prayer of my heart is "ALL SER-VANTS ARE WELCOME!"
View from the Pew-Letter Seven
By Hayden Lees
Hello! My name is Hayden Lees and I’m nine years old. I’m a fourth grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. I have been a member of St. Joseph Parish since I was born. My first Mass was Christmas Eve, my birthday is December 20 so I was four days old (but I don’t remember much about it of course.)
I have been a server since I was in the second grade and have been in the choir since third grade. I became a server because it looked fun. I like that I get to help Fa-ther. Serving also makes Mass more enjoyable. I would tell someone who’s thinking about becoming a server to consider doing it.
I have been a member of the choir since a little before Christmas last year. I joined when Miss Patty Lynn asked for new members. Then I asked my Dad if I was old enough to join and he said, "It never hurts to ask." When I asked Miss Patty she said, "Yes!" I then told my Mom I was in the choir but she didn’t believe me until Miss Patty told her. I wanted to join because I play the conga drums in the Joyful Noise Players. Playing the drums is lots of fun. I like that other people enjoy the music and so do I! I also like that you can make other friends in church like Dr. and Mrs. Li.
View from the Pew-Letter Six
by Sue Humphrey
Volunteerism. It is a word that strikes fear in people’s hearts. The fear in-creases proportionally to the number of children you have and hours you work. We worry about being over-burdened. And, not to mention being trapped do-ing a difficult job because no one will help. In the past this might have been true, but not anymore. Our stewardship to our Parish is working to invite those that want to be more involved. There will soon be a Volunteer Fair that will allow pa-rishioners to choose a volunteer path they may enjoy. Won’t you please attend?
For me, volunteering allows me to do things I never thought I was capable of. I get to stretch my wings, my creativity and my voice. The results of my volunteer-ism has allowed me to grow as a woman and as a Christian.
God has been very good to me. But, I don’t volunteer to thank Him. God gave me this gift of volunteering. Just as he gave me Mike when I was lonely and the kids when we found out we couldn’t have any. Volun-teering isn’t giving back to the community, it allows me to know MORE about my community. Did you know that more than anything, this community needs free dental care for the poor?
For me, volunteering is about the people. My fellow Outreach members, PSR kids and catechists, Fun and Fund folks, but most of all it is my Angels. The folks that I can call on to help aid a benevolence candidate or when I ask for money for Table Fund they give without hesitating. What is volunteering for you?
View from the Pew-Letter Five
By Rose Gribble
While sitting in Mass, I often find myself looking around to find the children, teens, and young adults who are in attendance. I believe we can all agree with this state-ment, "It’s good to see them." To me, our youth bring liveliness, a sense of freshness, and energy to our weekend Masses.
Outside of church, my involvement with the Youth Ministry Committee is a spiritual, personal journey that I find very gratifying. The Youth Ministry Com-misttee is made up of adults who want to contribute some time assisting with activities and events which involve our youth. When working with the boys and girls, I find they are truly seeking a journey to expand and involve themselves in great acts of charity and kindness.
Recently, we have been reading in our weekly bulletin about the local mission work that was completed by our youth. This work included yard work, painting, cleaning and organizing, and time getting to know one another. Being one of several adult volunteers assist-ing with this hardworking group, we witnessed unity and collaboration in full force. We were all bonding as Catholic Christians and it felt "Sooo Good."
We, the adults in the parish, must make ourselves available and stay connected with our youth. Espe-cially in today’s busy times, the Catholic Church needs their enthusiasm, their talents and gifts, and most im-portantly our prayers for their continued involvement.
The Youth Commission is always seeking fresh ideas or service from other parishioners. We invite you to join us and experience this "Youthful" voyage.
View from the Pew-Letter Four
By Theresa L. Shively
I can't remember a time when my family did not sing in church. My father was a cantor when we lived in the Philippines and when he became a medical missionary at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota; we were surrounded by many talented musicians who were also missionaries. When we moved away from the reservation so that my father could pursue his medical education, my father would join the church choir at the Catholic Church in whatever town we lived in and bring my sister and me to each practice. I've always associated worship with music and find Mass without music very sterile. I firmly believe in the adage" when you sing, you pray twice". When we moved to Marion ten years ago, I decided that I wanted to be more involved in the parish and cantering seeded like a perfect way to be more involved.
Singing, whether in the choir or as a cantor is a joy and while my voice isn't as strong or sure as it used to be, the joy in the act is the same. I wish that others could find the same enjoyment in singing and the courage to share their talents in the many opportunities offered by our faith community. Come sing with us!
View from the Pew-Letter Three
By Elizabeth Huhman
In the near future St. Joseph Church will hold a Time and Talent Ministries Fair. This is a great time to answer your calling. How can you use your time and talents for stewardship? This is a question I asked myself more than 15 years ago. I felt that I was called to carry out the mission of Christ - - a calling to become part of something of great significance. Many years ago there was a song that quoted “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” I love working with children. When I look at the faces in the Parish School of Religion, (PSR), I realize…here are our future Catholics. There is nothing in the world like the heart of a child!
How do people in the real world, with real 21st century families, find the time or commitment to do something like being a catechist? It’s a challenge, but a fulfilling one. I have enjoyed sharing my faith and teaching the children. However, as a teacher, I also learn; I have grown in my own life. I have become a better Catholic, a better mother and a better woman. I spend a few hours each week with the best group of kids and other teachers.
So, why do I choose to teach PSR? Because I love the Lord and I want to share him. I have a personal commitment to the mission of PSR. That mission, is the handing on of our Catholic faith. It is handing on the truth of Jesus Christ. Teaching is a gift. If you feel that God has given you that gift, then embrace it. If you feel called to teach a class, we would love for you to join us. and if teaching PSR in not your
calling, we have many other Ministries where your gifts can be shared.
View from the Pew-Letter Two
Confessions of a Catholic Convert
By Harry Mosley
Sometimes I hear Catholics say, “I’m a cradle Catholic.” At first, I used to feel sad that I was not a cradle Catholic, as though I had missed out on something. However, now I’ve decided that I like the way the Holy Spirit led me to embrace Roman Catholicism at the ripe old age of fourteen. No, I didn’t see a blinding flash of light that knocked me to the ground as St. Paul did; nevertheless, looking back, I do see the hand of God working in the chain of events that resulted in my becoming Catholic.
I owe it all to my sister, the Baltimore Catechism, and a movie.
I grew up in Chicago, Illinois, with my older sister. Our parents were staunch Southern Baptists who carefully instilled in us a strong moral sense and the love of Jesus Christ. We always said grace before meals, and the Holy Bible occupied a prominent place in our home. My family also attended many services at various and sundry Baptist churches. Yet, somehow these services did not meet my spiritual needs. Instead, they left me empty and unsatisfied. Something was missing.
Fast-forward to my sister preparing to enter the eighth grade. Since our mother did not like the rowdy public school that my sister had been attending, she looked into the possibility of transferring her to the nearby parochial school at Holy Cross Catholic Church. At that time, the Church required non-Catholics attending a Catholic school to take instructions in the Catholic faith. My sister agreed, and I just tagged along to have something to do on Tuesday evenings.
After a few visits, suddenly I wasn’t just “tagging along” anymore. I began to listen intently to the priest as he carefully explained the basic tenets of Catholicism. The more I heard, the more I liked. I even liked the Baltimore Catechism that served as our textbook, because it presented the concepts in a simple, easy-to-understand format.
But we did more than just reading. When we began studying the life of Christ, the class saw a film entitled “The King of Kings.” Made in 1927 by Cecil B. DeMille, this silent, black-and-white epic depicts the major events in Christ’s life. Both reverent and spectacular, the film influenced me like no other film I had ever seen. It helped me to “see” Christ in a whole new way. The Resurrection scene alone is one of the most moving things I have ever experienced.
The big turning point, though, came when I attended my first-ever Mass. I loved it! Here at last was a Christian church service that spoke to me. The Mass gave a dignity, beauty, structure, and grace to the worship of God that almost overwhelmed me. The music and hymns were lovely and meaningful. In short, the Eucharist (which, as I first learned in that class, means “Let us give thanks”) provided the missing element that I had been seeking.
So, on August 16, 1959, both my sister and I received the sacrament of baptism at Holy Cross Catholic Church and became Roman Catholics. Eager to grow in my newly accepted faith, I decided to attend a Catholic high school and a Catholic university.
Ever since then, my journey of faith within the Church has been rewarding and fulfilling. Not for one moment have I ever regretted becoming Catholic, and I never shall. In fact, I believe that the Catholic faith offers a great deal of depth and substance which many Catholics unfortunately never realize.
So, all things considered, I’d say that my “view from the pew” is very satisfying indeed. Catholicism is a wonderful faith, and I’m so glad God led me to it.
View from the Pew-Letter One
By Lori Power
I have been a parishioner at St. Joseph Church since 1987, when my husband, John, and I and our first son, John Patrick, returned to Marion after finishing college and living near Houston, Texas, for a year. We began our optometry practice in November 1987 and our second son, Matt, was born in 1991. John Patrick is married to our beloved daughter-in-law, Andrea, and they are the parents of our first grandchild, Kate Renee. Matt is in his first year of medical school at SIU. God has richly blessed us.
In 2003, I began to experience some odd symptoms that were finally diagnosed as MS. I was devastated. I experienced deep depression and literally cried for a year. I was broken, but God blessed me with a stubborn, determined spirit (much to my husband's frequent frustration) and I came to realize that I could either surrender to this diagnosis or strap on my God-given armor and fight. I began to make significant diet and lifestyle changes and to speak healing scriptures over myself daily.
In January 2005, our dear friends, John and Lisa Sanders, invited us to attend a ballroom dancing class. I had been interested in this especially since all forms of musical expression are a major focus of my life. And I felt that my time might be limited; I didn't know how much longer I'd be walking much less dancing. John agreed and we headed off to class. We loved dancing and continued with our class. I can remember having vertigo so badly at times that I could hardly sit straight on a chair, but somehow I was able to get on the dance floor and dance. One particular evening, dancing in Paducah, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me that I was dancing in the devil's face every time I went out on that dance floor. I continued dancing despite symptoms that made it very difficult at times. At a Mass in the gym one Sunday morning in November 2010, I heard God speak to me as clearly as if He were standing right behind me; "To those whom much is given, much is expected". He repeated it three times. I had no idea what it meant.......stay tuned.....
In February 2011, our dance instructor asked if I would be interested in competing at the St. Louis Star Ball. Let me tell you, this made absolutely no sense...the competition was in 4 weeks, I had no appropriate dresses or dance shoes, and had never had a private lesson of any kind with my instructor. But I felt so very compelled to go and wasn't sure why. John encouraged me and for some crazy reason, I decided to go.
When I arrived at the Star Ball and had some time to absorb everything and figure out how it all worked, I knew I did not belong there. This really was a crazy idea and if I'd had my own car, I would have turned around and gone home. But I felt God telling me to dance in the devil's face!
On this large stage, it took all the courage I could muster to put my foot out on that huge floor in front of all those amazing dancers, but I did it. For some reason, the judges even liked my dancing. It was incredible!
Four years have passed and my symptoms have completely disappeared. I am a walking, dancing testimony to God's power, grace, mercy, kindness, joy, peace, and LOVE. As I prepare for my fifth Star Ball in March, I am certain why I dance and for Whom I dance.
~ In all things may God be praised! ~
