St. Joseph and Nativity of the BVM Catholic Parish Newsletter — December 2020

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St.

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of the bvm parish parish newsletter

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Inside 2 This Advent, Music

Prepares Our Hearts for the Coming of Jesus

3 The Christmas You Really Need

4-7

Financial Reports

8 Debunking Myths and

Celebrating the Real St. Nicholas

9 Extraordinary Ministers

of Holy Communion Sharing Christ and Growing in Participation of the Mass

St. Joseph Parish 200 Saint Joseph Drive Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 988-2848 stjosephamherst.com Nativity of the BVM Parish 333 South Lake Street South Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 986-7011 nativitysouthamherst.com

December 2020

Parishioner Profile:

Sara Lewis

Traditions Keep Family Rooted in the Faith

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arishioner Sara Lewis has never known a life without Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Born in Amherst and baptized at Nativity, Sara considers her faith community to be an extension of her family.

“I have gone to Nativity my whole life,” Sara says. “It’s small, and we’re like family there because we all grew up in such a small town.”

Growing up, Sara’s family always attended Mass on Sundays and holy days, keeping their Catholic faith at the center of life together. Sara continued this tradition when she married her husband, David, 34 years ago. Although David was raised in the Methodist faith, he began attending Mass with Sara and went through the RCIA process to join the Catholic Church in 2003. Sara and David have three grown children — Alan, Wesley, and Helen — so there were certainly times when life got busy! However, the Lewis family has always made time for the faith.

“We always say grace before mealtime,” Sara says. “I started the habit of prayer time with my children when they

Sara Lewis looks forward to keeping alive the spirit and tradition of her family’s Catholic faith — a precious gift passed down by her own parents and grandparents before her.

were little, and they still do that. There just wasn’t a question about going to Mass — you made time for it. We maintained a schedule, and church was a part of that weekly routine.”

When Alan and Wesley were taking classes through the Parish School of Religion, Sara volunteered as a catechist. She continued on back cover

This Advent, Music Prepares Our Hearts for the Coming of Jesus

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o sing is to pray twice” is a saying often attributed to St. Augustine. Music Ministry coordinators Ron Renick and Ed Klimczak believe we can achieve better prayer through music than spoken voice. Both Ron and Ed have been working to prepare beautiful music to help us celebrate Advent and Christmas.

“Certain hymns make us feel nostalgic for our childhood and just generally happy,” says Ron, who coordinates the music at the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturdays at St. Joseph. “Holiday music seems to evoke treasured memories from the past.”

“During the Christmas season, we are rejoicing in our Lord’s birth, and the hymns are joyful,” says Ed, who is the Music Director at St. Joseph and Nativity Parishes. “They have a happy, pleasing melody and, especially during the Christmas season, most people know the words to all of the hymns through the tradition of singing them with family and friends.”

Most of us are familiar with the secular Christmas favorite “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Ron believes that phrase to be true in the Christian faith, as well. It’s truly a wonderful time of year as we await Jesus’ birth. There are so many songs that evoke the joy of Christmas. He knows

most of us enjoy singing the Christmas favorites — for Ron, his favorite Christmas song is the solemn, yet melodious “Silent Night.”

“Sometimes, a certain hymn or song is sung in such a way that for the first time, we think about what it Ron Renick and Ed Klimczak follow the must have been like to see liturgical calendar to plan music for the whole year at our parishes. the heavens filled with angels and what it would have “I enjoy it when someone comes to been like to see Jesus in the manger,” me after Mass and tells me they heard Ron says.

Thus, hearing this music can foster what we were singing and it meant something to them,” Ed says. “As I always tell a moment of profound, deep faith.

Throughout the whole year, Ron people, I am not a superstar when playing and Ed take great care to choose the and singing. I do my best job and it is all songs that most closely align with the for the greater glory of God.” Ed says this year might look a bit liturgical season and readings, or even the homily. Music is essential to help different for the choirs at Christmas parishioners enter more deeply into the because of the COVID-19 restrictions celebration of the Mass and worship of that impact singing. But, it will still be a our Lord. They feel blessed to lead peo- beautiful celebration of our Lord’s birth.

“There will be a time we can all ple closer to the Lord through music.

“I see firsthand how music can pos- sing loudly and proudly again, but it itively impact our lives and, humbly, may be a while,” he says. “We pray for this helps grow my faith,” Ron says. an end to the pandemic.”

Ed and Ron both look forward to “When someone comes up to me after church and tells me how much they en- the day we can all join in song, together.

“We are all one body in Christ, joyed the music and singing, it is the highest compliment. If I can influence through our singing, our prayer, and their spirituality through music and our participation in Holy Communion,” Ed says. singing, that’s even better.”

If you would like more information on becoming involved in our Music Ministry, please call the parish office at 440-988-2848. page 2

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A Letter from Our Pastor

The Christmas You Really Need Dear St. Joseph and Nativity Parishioners,

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here was a very unusual auction that was held in Washington, D.C., in 1926. The items were inventions that had been patented and had become obsolete.

Even though some of them were rather comical, those 150,000 inventions really represented lots of dashed dreams and disappointed people.

Perhaps disappointment is an odd thing to write about as we enter Advent and prepare for the Christmas holiday season.

But to tell the truth, some people find these COVID-19 pandemic times disappointing because Christmas this year may look quite different from the Christmas they have in mind.

We see John the Baptist in the Scriptures (Matthew 11:2-11) maybe being a bit disappointed too. He had been preaching repentance at the Jordan River and baptizing lots of people.

And then King Herod put him in prison.

John the Baptist was wondering: “This Jesus that I preached about — is He really the Messiah? I’d like to know for sure before I die.” Maybe his expectations of what the Messiah should be were a bit unreasonable.

And so he sends some of his own followers to ask Jesus this question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

And Jesus responds: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind

regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

What was Jesus quoting from?

From the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 61.

That is what Isaiah said the Messiah was going to be like. Perhaps John wasn’t looking at the right signs. And so, he didn’t get the right message.

What are we expecting Christmas to be like this year? If our expectations are unreasonable, they can bring us disappointment.

Leo Buscaglia tells a story about when he was a boy. A present was dropped off at their home two weeks before Christmas, and it was huge. And it had his name on it. It was placed in their living room near the Christmas tree. He wondered every day what was inside.

He describes coming to Christmas morning and, as he started to unwrap it, he was already becoming disappointed. He was quite convinced that whatever was in there was not going

to meet up with anything he had been imagining.

What was inside was a desk, handmade for him by his uncle. It was a wonderful gift. But Leo says it taught him a lesson for life — that when our expectations become unreasonable, we are in for disappointment.

What are your expectations for Christmas this year? Are they reasonable, or not?

For centuries, people awaited the coming of the Messiah, and yet look how the Messiah finally came — in outof-the-way Bethlehem, of all places.

Are we looking at God’s signs for the way to be happy as Christian people? Or are we looking at the signs of materialism and personal satisfaction?

Although this may not be the kind of Christmas that you have in mind, in God’s own love for you, it could well be the one that you really need this year.

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.”

Even in these pandemic days, we can still find reasons to rejoice, if we open our minds and our hearts to Him. Yours in Christ,

Fr. Timothy J. O’Connor, Pastor page 3

ST. JOSEPH AMHERST

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balance CHURCH, SCHOOL & CEMETERY

ST. JOSEPH AMHERST

Statement of Cemetery Revenue and Expenses

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ST. JOSEPH AMHERST

Statement of Church Revenue and Expenses

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ST. JOSEPH AMHERST

Statement of School Revenue and Expenses

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St. Joseph NATIVITY B.V.M. CHURCH

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NATIVITY B.V.M. CHURCH South Amherst, Ohio

Fiscal YearStatement - July 1 to June 30 and Related Information Income and Expense INCOME AND EXPENSE STATEMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION Fiscal Year - July 1 to June 30 Registered Households Registered Persons Revenue Offertory Collections/Bequests Designated Collections Interest & Investment Income Steak Fry/Dinners to go Rental Income Rooted in Faith Other Donations & Misc. Income Heavy Maintenance Envelopes Total Revenue Expenses: Salaries - Clergy Salaries - Lay Payroll Taxes & Benefits Office Expense Household Altar Supplies Misc. Expense Utilities Maintenance & Supplies & Repairs Property Tax and Insurance Stewardship Diocesan Assessments Designated Collections Total Expenses Net from Normal Operating Capital Expenses Kitchen Repairs/Replacement Roof Repairs Contingent Captial Expenses Total Capital Expenses Total Expenses Net Income over Expenses

June 30, 2020 325 986 This Year 2019-2020 $130,155 2,916 7,275 13,360 3,382 2,125 7,447

Last Year 2018-2019 $133,153 3,823 9,382 2,626 3,812 215 6,398 47,526

Percent Diff -2.25% -23.72% -22.46%

Budget 2020-2021 $132,850 9,000 7,500 1,800

-11.28% -100.00% -66.79% -84.33%

3,250 8,000

$166,660

$206,935

-19.46%

$162,400

$20,170 36,346 16,782 7,280 0 7,426 7,324 15,512 13,281 6,299 11,057 21,244 2,916 165,638

$18,828 51,280 19,083 8,599 0 8,808 8,103 16,039 16,339 9,711 11,750 18,966 3,180 190,686

7.13% -29.12% -12.06% -15.34% -15.70% -9.61% -3.28% -18.71% -35.13% -5.90% 12.01% -8.30% -13.14%

$20,700 42,699 16,885 6,950 0 6,700 6,250 13,900 10,716 6,600 11,000 20,000

$1,022

$16,249

-93.71%

$0

4,403 5,395

1,865

9,798 $175,436

1,865 $192,551

425.36% -8.89%

5,000 5,000 $167,400

$14,384

-161.02%

($8,776)

Year End Balances June 30, 2020 Checking/Savings Account Bal. $34,050 Investments $146,855 Total

June 30, 2019 339 1038

$180,905

162,400

($5,000)

June 30, 2019 $50,096 $139,586 $189,682

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Debunking Myths and Celebrating the Real

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St. Nicholas

he world’s leading academics collaborated to answer a simple question wondered by children around the world — what did St. Nicholas actually look like?

Using all available skeletal and historical records, Professor Caroline Wilkinson, a facial anthropologist, constructed a model in 2004, which was subsequently updated in 2014 at the Face Lab at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. In a fitting gesture, the students at Liverpool’s St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School were the first eyes to behold this image of the “real face of Santa Claus.”

Nearly all historical accounts of the fourth-century bishop remain deeply

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colored by myth and legend. Embellished stories of St. Nicholas of Myra spread first through oral transitions and then non-biblical plays throughout the Middle Ages. By the sixth century, St. Nicholas had a sort of cult following in the East, but few surviving reliable records of his life exist.

As Catholics today, we can reclaim the tradition of St. Nicholas in many ways, beginning with teaching ourselves and our children about this saint and how his life encourages us to give and to reach out to others during the Advent and Christmas season.

Bert Ghezzi in Voices of the Saints writes that all we definitively know about St. Nicholas is that a man of that name became bishop of Myra, now in modern Turkey, during the fourth century, and then after his death he was buried in the cathedral there.

Tradition holds that St. Nicholas was born to Greek Christian parents in a Turkish city on the Mediterranean Sea. After St. Nicholas became the bishop of Myra, stories of his generosity to the poor and the persecuted proliferated.

Some records include St. Nicholas on the list of attendees at the First Council of Nicaea (325), where issues regarding the relationship of the Father and the Son were debated and resolved. Stories have suggested that St. Nicholas became incensed during the debates and actually struck Arius, who emphasized the divinity of God the Father over God the Son.

St. Nicholas most likely suffered persecution during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and he may have been exiled or imprisoned. The image of St. Nicholas that Professor Wilkinson’s research yielded shows a middle-aged man with a broken nose, which potentially supports this account of St. Nicholas’ suffering.

After his death, St. Nicholas’ remains were buried in his cathedral in Myra, but in 1087 sailors seized the remains, fearing they would be desecrated during this tumultuous period of history. They are now interred partially in the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy, and partially in the church San Nicolò al Lido in Venice.

Many stories about St. Nicholas offer rich accounts of his legendary kindness. In the most popular legend, St. Nicholas heard that a poor father couldn’t afford dowries, food or clothing for his three daughters. To save the family from destitution and the daughters from potential slavery, St. Nicholas deposited three bags full of gold to be used for the three daughters’ dowries. Some accounts share that he tossed these bags through the window and may have even sent the last bag down the chimney.

In many of the legends about St. Nicholas, as Ghezzi points out, symbolic “threes” occur. He may have freed three innocent men from prison and rescued three falsely accused guards. More continued on page 10

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EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

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Sharing Christ and Growing in Participation of the Mass

he statistics are startling. Nearly 800 million people in the world do not have adequate nutrition. You don’t have to leave the TV on for long before you’re encouraged to sponsor a hungry child in a third world country or even here in the United States. People are starving.

And as important as it is to help those in need of food around the world, there are other kinds of hunger we must address — loneliness, feeling worthless or unloved, anger, hurt or bitterness. These are examples of spiritual hunger, and they can only be satisfied with spiritual food.

Along with priests and deacons, laypeople within our parish serve as Extraordinary Ministers — or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Recognizing the spiritual hunger in their community, they choose to serve the parish by helping bring nourishment to those in need of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life.

“I truly feel it an honor and a privilege to serve our congregation,” says St. Joseph parishioner Ross Maenza, who has served as an Extraordinary Minister for the past six years. “Words cannot express how it makes me feel, how it has changed the way I participate and pray, in and outside of Mass.”

St. Joseph parishioner Tim Nye has served the parish as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the past 25 years and also helps coordinate the scheduling of those involved in this ministry at St. Joseph. He initially became involved to model the importance of service to his children, and his dedication to the ministry has only grown through the years.

“I wanted to set an example for my children that my wife and I felt that giving back to the church was important, and this was a way to do it,” Tim says. “It’s increased my commitment to serving — it’s been a blessing to me.”

In addition to helping the priests distribute Holy Communion during Mass, those who serve as Extraordinary Ministers also come early to help set up, as well as remain after Mass to help ensure everything is cleaned and returned to its proper place. Extraordinary Ministers attend

diocesan training, which helps them embrace the heart of the ministry, as well as training at St. Joseph’s, which helps them to understand the practical aspects of how the ministry functions in our parish.

“Our function is to not only distribute Communion but to assist the priest, in any way possible,” Tim says.

For Ross, not only has serving as an Extraordinary Minister been a way to give back to the parish, but it has also strengthened his own faith and devotion to the Eucharist. His understanding of the Mass has also increased through having a more active role.

“I can honestly say that my faith has grown through my participation in this ministry,” Ross says. “I believe I have a deeper perspective of the Mass itself and participate more fully during the entire celebration.”

Ross encourages other parishioners to consider serving the parish as an Extraordinary Minister and Tim hopes that others — especially those with children at home — will join the ministry.

“It’s a great way to set an example for your children, reinforcing for them that it’s important to participate and not continued on page 10

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Debunking Myths and Celebrating the Real

St. Nicholas

continued from page 8

elaborate myths share stories of St. Nicholas resurrecting three children who had been murdered and pickled in brine!

If we disentangle St. Nicholas from what Professor Adam English, author of The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra, calls colorful “barnacles and add-ons,” the unsubstantiated myths about his life, we find that the spirit of St. Nicholas is still an inspiration for this season.

Professor English’s work on St. Nicholas emphasizes that early accounts and artistic depictions of the saint show him as not only gift-giving, but also simply generous and just. One example is when St. Nicholas traveled to implore tax relief for Myra citizens. In fact, Professor English suggests that we might imitate St. Nicholas’ example of being “very much involved in the public good” throughout the year.

Particularly during the Christmas season, we can begin Advent by re-centering our families on Christ and teaching them of the real St. Nicholas by celebrating his feast day on Dec. 6. On the eve of this feast, children have traditionally left shoes outside their doors to receive small gifts, coins or candy canes, representing the bishop’s staff, in the morning.

Even more importantly, we can imitate St. Nicholas by completing acts of kindness for others in our family or in our larger community. Perhaps we can make Advent resolutions to do small, selfless acts for others within our domestic church and to become involved in at least one outreach initiative during this season.

St. Nicholas, friend of the poor and those in need, pray for us.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION continued from page 9 only go to Mass but also to participate,” Tim says. “This is a great way to participate in the parish community.”

“You will never regret it,” Ross says. “The experience of sharing the Eucharist as a minister is a very personal and spiritual experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the Church.”

Joe Siekeres coordinates the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Nativity and has served as an Extraordinary Minister for over 25 years.

“To me, it’s part of helping out at the church,” Joe says. “It’s just part of the responsibility of being part of

the parish. “I just feel it’s important,” he adds. “It gives you a special feeling when you distribute Communion at Mass — it’s an honor to be able to do that.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nativity only has one Extraordinary Minister at each Mass, with there being only one Mass at Nativity each weekend. Yet, in the face of the great uncertainly we have faced this year, we remain blessed to be able to gather at the Eucharistic table.

“I just try to keep a sense of reverence,” Joe says.

“I try to concentrate on having reverence, that this is a great honor.”

For more information on becoming trained to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, at St. Joseph please contact Tim Nye at 440-988-3565 or the parish office at 440-988-2848; at Nativity, please contact Joe Siekeres at 440-965-4001. page 10

R eflections

on the

R oom

By NATHAN FRANKART

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eace of Christ to you! No one tells you that the further along you get in your academic career, the more you have to “bring work with you on break.” I find this idea preposterous and ridiculous.

Alas, this has been the story of being home in December this year — plenty of reading, plenty of writing, plenty of things to keep my mind busy in the Advent season.

But in the times that I have to get away from St. Thomas Aquinas and from the confessors of the church, I reflect on my room. For the past 13 years, from when I was young in middle school all the way up to now, I have slept in the same room here

in Amherst. I’ve seen it change and transform depending on my preferences or whatever thing I was particularly into at that particular moment.

(It turns out I am not that interested in Guinness Book of World Records anymore.) Now, my childhood room has been transformed into a guest room. The decorations are simple, and it is obvious that I do not live here throughout the year. That’s because it’s almost always clean.

Of course, this leads me to think of my own heart, the place I return to over and over again over these years of formation. How have I decorated this space or part of me? Is it apparent that I am utilizing this space? Am I taking

care of it through diligent cleaning? Is it ready or presentable to be the dwelling place of our Lord? I can’t say that it is. Dirt, neglect, or even brokenness can crowd this space.

Our inner room, where the Father hears our prayers, can be lead into disarray if we forget to enter into it. Jesus repeatedly asks us to dwell in His abundant heart, but this is not simply a one-way exchange — for if we dwell in Christ, He is dwelling within us.

And I, for one, want to be sure that room that I provide Jesus to dwell within me is one that is open and honest. Don’t worry about the mess, because He will help with the tidying up.

Just be the person that opens the door. page 11

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Fr. Tim O’Connor Serving Both Parishes Mass: Monday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. - Nativity of the BVM Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - St. Joseph Friday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - St. Joseph

5:30 p.m. - Nativity of the BVM Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. - St. Joseph Confession at St. Joseph: Thursday - Individual Reconciliation 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday - Individual Reconciliation 11:00 a.m. - noon Eucharistic Adoration (Chapel) at Nativity of the BVM: Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Parishioner Profile: Sara Lewis continued from front cover enjoyed having her sons in class with her and loved doing the arts and crafts with the younger students. Later, when Helen was preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, Sara helped with many of the group activities. She was always impressed with the many fun and faith-filled events that were planned for the Confirmation students.

Sara is thankful for a life built on a sturdy foundation of faith from the very beginning.

“I’ve always had a pretty strong faith,” she says.

“A lot of kids get away from it, but I never did. I even went to Mass every Sunday when I went to college. It was just something my parents instilled in me, and I embraced it and never turned away from it. It really is a blessing.”

This month, as with every Christmas past and present, Sara is eagerly anticipating her family’s gathering for the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. The tradition comes from the Italian side of her family —

Sara’s maiden name is “Gentile” — and was brought to this country by her grandparents in the early 1900s.

Cooking and sharing the traditional dishes of fish and pasta is an annual ritual for the family, one that reminds them of the great love and importance of family as they celebrate the birth of Christ to Mary and Joseph.

“It’s something we look forward to every year,” Sara says. “We go to my brother Joe’s house and there are at least 20 or 25 of us. It’s a tradition that makes us remember our grandparents and our parents who worked really hard to make holidays special for us, so we want to keep those traditions alive.”

With the Lewis’ youngest child finishing high school this year, Sara hopes to become more involved in parish life at Nativity soon. Whichever parish group or ministry she may join, she knows she will be keeping alive the spirit and tradition of her family’s Catholic faith — a precious gift passed down by her parents and grandparents before her.