Blessed Sacrament Newsletter — March/April 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

MAR/APR 2021

BLESSED SACRAMENT

CATHOLIC CHURCH

2 What is Almsgiving?

Month and Year to 3A Honor St. Joseph he Centering Prayer 4T Group: Waiting in Prayerful Silence for God ighlights of Our 2020 6H Stewardship Renewal nderstanding the 7U Parish Tithe and Good Stewardship of Our Treasure

Church Decor Ministry FOSTERS A PRAYER WORSHIP ENVIRONMENT THROUGHOUT THE LITURGICAL YEAR

P

articipation in the Catholic Mass engages all five of our senses. So, you might say that our sense of sight during the Mass is enhanced

by Delores Yosten, Barbara Binfield, and a group that helps keep our parish decorated for the liturgical seasons.

The decor of Advent, Christmas, Easter, and every Sunday and Holy Day in between helps Blessed Sacrament offer a feeling of home when one enters.

Delores and Barbara do a bit of decorating most weeks through the year. Green is used for Ordinary Time, and there are special decorations for feast days — like roses for the Feast of St. Valentine.

Barb Klein bowed out of this ministry in 2018. She has been so impressed with the work of Barbara and Delores since they took over.

“They have such neat ideas,” Barb says.

“It always looks so beautiful at Blessed Sacrament.”

Delores says that keeping the church looking nice helps keep her and Barbara busy

Church decorators give of their time and talents to make Blessed Sacrament look special for Easter.

and “on our toes.” There is always a holiday or feast day to be preparing for. Although it might not be obvious, they use mostly artificial flowers to save on cost.

“We just try to always make the church look nice and not spend a lot,” Delores says. continued on page 5

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH From the Catechism

WHAT IS ALMSGIVING? “Giving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462).

D

uring the seasons of Advent and Lent, it is not uncommon to hear about fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Most of us are familiar with at least two of the three penitential practices — prayer and fasting. We engage in prayer each day, while fasting becomes a regular part of our Lenten routines.

But what is almsgiving?

It is simply giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. This can be through donations of canned goods to the parish food pantry, participation in the Rice Bowl activities and collection during Lent, spare change to the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, or even through person-to-person contact with the poor.

This Lent, if your family has not regularly engaged in almsgiving, consider making a change.

Search for opportunities to serve the poor and vulnerable, making their lives easier — even if in a small way.

Things to do with your family: • During Lent, place a CRS Rice Bowl in a prominent place in your home, and commit to participating in its suggested activities. Then, on Holy Thursday return the filled Rice Bowl to the Church to be distributed through CRS to those in need.

• Place a coffee can in a prominent place in your home, and commit to filling it with loose change throughout the week. Then, donate the money to a local charity.

• The next time you shop for groceries, buy a few extra canned goods and donate them to a food pantry or food bank.

• Research a charity that works with the poor, and make a commitment to regularly give to that organization.

• Resolve to never judge those who are less fortunate, and teach your children to do the same.

MAR/APR 2021 A Letter From Our Pastor

A MONTH AND YEAR TO HONOR Dear Parishioners,

O

St. Joseph

ur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose to enter the world through the human family. He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human creatures who ever lived — Joseph and Mary. At a time when our world and our Church needs family and faithful disciples now more than ever, could there be a more fitting time to venerate the man who gave his life and his love to the Blessed Mother and the Son of God? Pope Francis has declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. Our pope said he established the year so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”

As Christians, we are blessed to have Mary as our spiritual mother and Joseph as our spiritual father.

Just as Mary guides us from heaven with loving devotion, St. Joseph also diligently provides for the needs of the family of God, the Holy Catholic Church.

Because of his special role as foster-father of the Child Jesus, St. Joseph has merited singular privileges in heaven unmatched by any saint aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To give some modern-day perspective to the significance of this special year, Pope Francis has said the coronavirus pandemic heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus.

“Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble,” the pope wrote.

At the end of the First Vatican Council in 1870,

Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. He is also the patron of carpenters, workers, fathers, and a happy death because he died in the presence of Mary and Jesus.

The title of Joseph’s March 19 feast day is “Husband of Mary.” Pope Pius XII later declared May 1 to be the feast of St. Joseph the Worker to counteract the Communist May Day holiday.

As Catholics pray and reflect on the life of St. Joseph this year, they also have opportunities to gain a plenary indulgence or remission of all temporal punishment due to sin.

An indulgence can be applied to oneself or to a soul in purgatory. An indulgence requires a specific act, defined by the Church, as well as sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the pope’s intentions, and full detachment from sin.

Special indulgences during the Year of St. Joseph can be received through various prayers and actions, including praying for the unemployed, entrusting one’s daily work to St. Joseph, performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, or meditating for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer.

As we devote 2021 to St. Joseph’s honor, we will undoubtedly unlock many special graces — not only for our parish, but for each of the faithful who increase their devotion to him during this special year. There is no greater model than St. Joseph from whom we can learn how to live virtuously in imitation of Jesus and Mary.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Martin Egging Pastor

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH

Waiting

THE CENTERING PRAYER C

atholic speaker Mark Hart once said that “prayer doesn’t ‘help’ our relationship with God — prayer is our relationship with God.” After all, it’s difficult to have a relationship without communication. We all have our favorite ways to pray — for instance, it may be the Rosary, or Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Perhaps you like to pray in the car, or out on a walk. However, for many of us, even if we take the time to pray, we find that we are the ones doing most of the talking.

It can be hard to hear the still, small voice of God in the noise of our everyday lives. However, there is a group of parishioners who faithfully pray at home — and together, when circumstances permit — with the intention of quieting their hearts and minds, to listen for God’s voice.

“I was praying one morning and I realized my

prayer seemed to be about me and my family,” says Les Lucht. “I had known a little bit about Centering Prayer and I thought, ‘That’s about the most pure prayer you can say.’ You sit for 20 minutes and you listen with your heart; it’s not about this or that or wanting my prayers answered. It’s just a pure prayer. You go, you ask for nothing, you turn your life over to God and let Him do the work.”

Centering Prayer is a practice that requires sitting quietly and seeking to focus on being open to whatever God wants to speak to you, as an individual, for 20-30 minutes.

“Centering prayer is about clearing your mind and allowing God speak to your heart,” says Les, who started the group a number of years ago after attending a retreat.

Parishioners Les and Diane Lucht practice Centering Prayer in their home.

MAR/APR 2021

in Prayerful Silence for God

GROUP:

When the Centering Prayer group is able to meet in person, they gather at the parish twice a month, on the first and third Mondays. One meeting is to pray together, and the second is for formation on how to grow in their relationship with God through this type of prayer.

“It’s an encouragement when we can get together,” Les says. “People say how they’ve experienced Centering Prayer and what it’s done in their life, and you’re part of a community of centering prayer people who practice as you do.”

Although a lifelong Catholic, Les has found that his prayer and spirituality have deepened,

since learning to pray in this way.

“God can change your life, and I feel like He has changed mine because of Centering Prayer,” Les says. “It has deepened my faith in God and His love for me, and also helped me to be less in control and to allow Him to be in control.”

Les encourages fellow parishioners to consider expanding their prayer life to include the practice of centering prayer.

“Scripture says, ‘Be still and know that I am God,’” Les says. “That’s what we’re all called to — to take a quiet time, time for stillness. God should be the center of our lives.”

If you would like more information on the Centering Prayer group at Blessed Sacrament, please contact parishioner Les Lucht at 308-380-2587.

Church Decor Ministry Delores is involved with this ministry because she enjoys decorating, even at home, and it’s a way for her to give back to God and the parish.

“When the church is decorated, it helps put you in a prayer attitude,” she says.

Although the decorating for each season always follows a similar design, Barbara and Delores like to make subtle changes each year. In particular, they both look forward to the beauty of Easter.

“We always use lots of lilies, tulips, daffodils, and more,” Delores says. “We want to

continued from front cover

make it look ‘springy.’”

This year, Easter will be even more of a celebration, since there were no in-person services last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Barbara and Delores still decorated the area that could be seen in the Mass recordings. They know this helped people feel like they were at Blessed Sacrament, even though they had been away for some time.

“We always get a lot of nice comments about the decorating,” Delores says.

If decorating is something you enjoy, please contact Barbara Binfield at (308) 379-1671 or binfmach@kdsi.net.

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR 2020 STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL past autumn, our parish leadership at Blessed TTahis le n t conducted the 2020 Sacrament TStewardship a le n t Renewal.

Lift Up Your Hearts

(con tinu ed)

(con tinu ed) The Stewardship Renewal gave our parish community the = Currently Involved = Interested how opportunity to discern we are=using our gifts of time, in Joining Currently Involved = Inte rested in Joining Clearly write the first name of family mem talent and treasure inberservice parish in return to on the line. to the Clearly write the firstand name of family member on the line.

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BLE SSE D SAC RAM EN T CAT HOLIC CH UR CH

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stewardship of talent — from 74 percent of First & Last Name SCHOOL MINISTRIES participating households.

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_  Men’s Early Mor ning Group continued on

Street • Grand Island, NE 688 01 308-384-0532 • www.blsachur ch.net

panel We thank all those next who participated in our 2020 Stewardship Renewal. If you did not have the opportunity to fill out and return a commitment card, we invite you to consider the ways you may share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the parish community!

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Please bring this card to Mas s on September 26/27, or mail usin g the envelope provided. Thank you and God bless you!

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MAR/APR 2021

UNDERSTANDING THE PARISH TITHE AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TREASURE

H

ave you ever heard this humorous but poignant story? A $100 bill, a $50 bill, a $20 bill, and a $1 bill were hanging out at the bank sharing stories about all the places they had been. The $100 bill began by talking about the places in Europe and Asia he had visited.

Then, the $50 bill shared about the operas and best restaurants he had visited and what he had seen there. The two looked at the $20 bill and asked where he had been. He shared that he had been to grocery stores to feed families, and to museums and art galleries to feed the minds of people. Finally, they asked the $1 bill, who hung his head and said he had been to church, and to church, and to church. We hear Jesus say, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:21).

This story has more to do with us than it does the monetary bills. It begs the question — are we ordering our finances responsibly and is the stewardship of our treasure Christian?

For the majority of Americans, Christian stewardship of finances is virtually non-existent.

Consider the following statistics: • 49 percent of Americans don’t pay their bills on time.

• 65 percent of Americans don’t do a good job of staying out of debt.

• 82 percent of Americans don’t save adequately for the future.

• On average, Americans give less than 2 percent of their income to charity, and Catholics give about 1 percent of their income toward charitable causes.

• A majority of those getting divorces point to finances as one of the primary causes of their breakup.

All of us have to be conscious of these realities. Even our stewardship committee recently talked about whether giving to

the church or tithing had been part of the discussions as they were growing up. One said that his parents had tithed, but they belonged to a Baptist Church. The others, who were all raised Catholic, said that they knew their parents gave to the Church regularly but they didn’t know how much, and it wasn’t talked about in the family. Why is it we can’t talk about how we give to the Church with our children? Are we uncomfortable, embarrassed, humbled? The continued on back cover

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH 518 W. State Street Grand Island, NE 68801 (308) 384-0532 www.blsachurch.net

UNDERSTANDING THE PARISH TITHE continued from page 7 truth is that we need to be honest with ourselves and our family about what we currently give and what we would like to give.

What we really need to realize is that there cannot be a separation between our personal finance and our spiritual finance — and yes, Jesus can even be the answer to our financial woe by letting our gift to Him be a part of who we are becoming.

Too often we don’t pay attention to our spiritual giving so we don’t even think about changing that amount.

There is another story of a woman who

learned to bake bread when she was first married. As her family grew she first doubled, then tripled, and quadrupled the ingredients, all except the yeast. She was still using one package of yeast for eight loaves of bread when one ordinarily uses a package of yeast for two loaves.

She didn’t understand why it was taking all day for the bread to rise when she was making eight loaves when it only took about an hour when she had been making two.

If you take an honest look at your spiritual giving, are you still using the same amount of yeast to get God’s work done?