Connection The
KING’S
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Inside FEBRUARY 2022
ALTAR SERVERS:
A
Growing in Faith, Serving God and the Parish Community
re you looking for a way to involve your children in parish life, or to further open their eyes to the joy of the Mass? Or are you looking for a way to draw closer to Christ yourself? Look no further — the Altar Servers Ministry is a great way to serve God, serve others, and grow in faith. “The Church is the community, and the more opportunities those in the community can have to participate in the Mass, the better it is for everyone,” says Deacon John Hinkel. “Altar servers — along with the priests, deacons, cantor, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, ushers, and anyone else who contributes to the Mass — both contribute to and benefit the community, and I hope that they will feel like they are growing closer to Christ through that service.” Children may begin altar serving once they are in the fifth grade, and the parish encourages children of
all ages to get involved, including our middle school and high school students. In fact, the parish — and the Church itself — doesn’t have an “end age” for altar servers, so adults are also welcomed to serve. “We’d really like to have a wide variety of ages, and I think it’d be particularly nice to have high school students who had gone to Christ the continued on page 5
2 How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children? 3
The Word of God: How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It?
4 Communion to the Sick and Homebound Bringing Christ to Those in Need throughout Our Community 6 Valentine’s Day The Feast of a Christian Martyr 7 Married Life Workshop: Preparing to Share a Lifetime of Sacramental Graces
Connection The
KING’S
How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children?
T
he Church has made it clear that parents are primarily responsible for the spiritual and cognitive development of their children in matters of the faith. As the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, states, “Husbands and wives find their proper vocation in being witnesses of the faith and love of Christ to one another and to their children” (Chapter 4, Section 35). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further emphasizes this vocation, by pointing out that the moral education and spiritual formation of children is not only the right, but the responsibility, of their parents: “The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable... Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children” (CCC 2221, 2223). But how can we as parents create an environment in the home conducive to spiritual and moral development? As busy adults, how are we to disseminate the knowledge and understanding of the tenets of the faith to our children in the way that a trained and experienced catechist can? Furthermore, how do we strike a balance between teaching our children in the home and not interfering with the faith formation and sacramental preparation they are currently receiving through their parish school or religious education program? The answer to all of these questions is stewardship. Indeed, we must reinforce the lessons that our children learn in school and at religious education classes by talking to them about the faith, reading Sacred Scripture with 2
them, and spending time in family prayer. And there are several authoritative resources online that can help parents in this task, including Catholic Parents Online at www.catholicparents.org, which links parents to numerous websites and documents that can help them in talking to their children about the faith. But the best way that we can teach our children is by serving as a living example to them of how to live as disciples of Christ. If we want our children to grow up as strong Catholics and to display a lifelong commitment to their faith, then it is important that we ourselves live a committed faith life. This includes an ongoing commitment to our own faith formation as adults and active participation in the sacraments. It also includes the giving back of our time, talent, and treasure in service of our community in thanksgiving for the gifts that God has given us. Parenting can be a tough vocation, and children deal with many influences in their lives that exist in stark contrast to the values that their parents often hope to instill within them. Fortunately for parents, the stewardship way of life provides a simple and effective model for teaching our children in matters of the faith. By living as stewards of God’s gifts and reaping the spiritual rewards that accompany this lifestyle, we are tangibly showing our children that sharing of our gifts and talents leads to a life of happiness and spiritual fulfillment. In doing this, we give them a good opportunity to follow in our footsteps and make their faith a top priority for the rest of their lives.
A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector
THE W ORD OF G OD:
How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It? Dear Brothers and Sisters:
A
few short weeks ago, we completed our Christmas season. We are now in what we call Ordinary Time — but before long, we will begin Lent. This is one of those rare years when Ash Wednesday is in March — so, Lent does not, of course, begin in February this year. The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We speak often of the Word in the Church. As most of you are aware, the first part of our Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. What does that mean to us? Basically, there are four parts of our celebration of Mass: Introductory Rites; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist; and Concluding Rites. My focus in this reflection is that second part — the Liturgy of the Word. The main parts of that are a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading, the Gospel, and a Homily. We draw on Holy Scripture from the Bible for the readings. As Catholics, we do not consider that these readings are about God, or about the Church, or about our faith, or a history lesson, or a nice story from long ago. We consider them to be God speaking directly to us. Thus, our attentiveness to what is being proclaimed is important. Are we listening? Do we hear? And then,
do we respond in our lives? All of those should be facets of how we approach the Word of God. For us, the Word of God is the living Word. God is speaking to us as a community, and He asks us to be faithful to His Word. If we pay attention and truly listen, God can nourish our spirit, and Christ can be more real and present to us. The Homily, the Responsorial Psalm, the Profession of Faith, and the Intercessions develop the Word further and complete it. The Profession of Faith is our acceptance of God’s Word. Matthew and Luke have a passage called the “The Two Foundations,” in which Jesus tells His disciples, “The wise man is the one who listens and acts. He is like the one who built his house on rock, the rain, the wind, the floods buffeted his house but it remained standing. The fool listens but does not act, he is like the one who built his
house on sand. The rain fell, the wind blew, the floods came and it collapsed.” When I was 19 years old and college didn’t work for me, I felt like my world had collapsed. I remember opening the Bible to this passage in Matthew. It was as if God was speaking directly to me. A few months later, my mother encouraged me to make a retreat at Pius X Seminary in Northern Kentucky. Nine years later, after lots of “listening and acting on God’s Word,” I was led to be a priest. Thirty years later, I’m still trying my best each day to “listen and act.” The question for us is, how do we respond to the Word? Does it change our lives? Does it bring us to the conversion necessary to live lives of stewardship and service? It is not easy, I know. Being able to listen, to hear, and then to act requires time, practice, commitment, and a desire to fulfill all of this. I invite you to the journey of daily listening for God’s voice and acting on it! This is the Foundation that will allow you to build your life on Jesus, Who is the Living Word — He is our Rock. That is one of my prayers for us — that we can hear the Word, and that we can bring it to life in our own lives and in the lives of others. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. John Moriarty 3
Connection The
KING’S
Bringing Christ to Those in
COMMUNION TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND
R
osemary Miller has always had a deep love and appreciation for the Eucharist. She feels it is a great privilege to bring Christ, in the Eucharist, to members of the Cathedral of Christ the King as part of the Communion to the Sick and Homebound Ministry. Rosemary has been coordinating this ministry for about 15 years. “Ever since I made my First Communion, I’ve loved the Eucharist,” she says. “For many years, I have wanted to bring our Lord to those who aren’t able to go to the church.” Currently, volunteers bring Holy Communion to about 35 people, some at home and others in nursing homes, the hospital, and assisted living facilities. Before the pandemic, nearly
double that number received the Eucharist. The pandemic has kept some places closed to visitors. Many volunteers stick with the same person each week, allowing flexibility when they go. There are currently about 25 members who can be called upon for this ministry. “I miss not bringing Communion to as many people,” Rosemary says. “It was fulfilling to see people receive Communion. Many of them receive strength from Communion.” For Rosemary, it has truly been a blessing to get to know people through this ministry. Some are a quick visit, while she has spent a bit of time with to talk and visit with others. Sadly, she couldn’t say her last goodbyes with some, as they had passed away since the start of the
(Front, from left) Diane Lovell and Rosemary Miller; (back, from left) Clarke Keller and Pat McCartt
4
Need Throughout Our Community pandemic. She feels blessed, though, each time she brings our Lord to someone. “It’s so beautiful to see their response to receiving the Eucharist,” Rosemary says. When churches were closed at the onset of the pandemic, Rosemary, like most of us, turned to watching Mass online. It was difficult for her not to receive the Eucharist. The separation helped solidify the importance of the Eucharist for Rosemary. “The first time I received the Eucharist
again, I was just moved to tears,” she says. Rosemary would encourage others to consider giving their time to this beautiful ministry. Volunteers are trained and given a book of prayers. “When you help someone, they end up helping you more,” she says. “I have found that to be true. I have had several people who are hesitant to get involved come back and tell me how thankful they are that they started bringing Communion to the sick and homebound.”
If you would like to request the Eucharist to be brought to you or someone you know, or to get involved in this ministry, please call Rosemary Miller at 859-321-3684.
ALTAR SERVERS
continued from front cover
King, but have now moved on to high school and would like to stay involved,” Deacon John says. “It would be great to have anyone in the parish who is eligible and wants to serve.” Altar servers are trained by Deacon John, who sets up a time for training once interested parties have reached out. Beyond that, servers can request at which Mass they’d like to serve, and they will be put into a rotating schedule. After having the ministry on pause during the pandemic, everyone is looking forward to bringing altar servers back to Mass again. Since they experience the Mass in an “up close
and personal” way, altar servers can grow in their understanding of the Mass and the miracle of the Eucharist. “They will understand the Mass better if they are actively participating in it, preparing before and helping out after the Mass, and being closer to the priest on the altar,” Deacon John says. “They will naturally be more alert and observant. “I’d encourage anyone to just try it,” he adds. “Don’t be intimidated! Like anything else, you’ll learn by doing it, and we’ll be very patient with you. So don’t worry — you really won’t know until you try it!"
If you would like more information about the Altar Servers Ministry, or to get involved, please contact Deacon John Hinkel at jhinkel@cdlex.org.
Connection The
KING’S
Valentine’s Day:
The Feast of a Christian Martyr
C
andy, flowers, romantic dinners, and excuses for wooing are the common traditions we associate with the once-pagan holiday known as Valentine’s Day. Dangling cupids, candy “message” hearts, and faux long-
6
stemmed roses clutter every card store, waiting for that lastminute purchase. The question is — how did this over-commercialized holiday really begin? There are a few stories surrounding the history of Feb. 14 and St. Valentine himself, all dating back to the Roman Empire. The 14th day of February was a day set aside to honor the goddess Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. The following day, Feb. 15, began the feast of Lupercalia — a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. As part of the festival traditions, there was a name drawing among the young people. The names of young Roman women were written on slips of paper and placed into a jar. Each young man would draw a young woman’s name from the jar, and the two would be partners for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing lasted an entire year, and often, the couple would fall in love and later marry. At the time, Emperor Claudius II was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns, and he was having a difficult time recruiting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that soldiers were reluctant to join because they did not want to leave their
loves or families. With this in mind, Claudius decreed all marriages and engagements cancelled in Rome. During this time, St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and he and St. Marius secretly married young couples. For this, St. Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who sentenced him to be beaten and then executed by beheading. He suffered this martyrdom on Feb. 14, around the year 270 AD. Before his death, it is said that St. Valentine left a note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” Although the truth behind the St. Valentine’s legend is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. It is no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Over time, Feb. 14 became a time for lovers to exchange sweet messages, making St. Valentine the patron saint of lovers. The date was often commemorated with the sending of poems and simple gifts. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that Feb. 14 was the beginning of the avian mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine’s Day — should be a day for romance.
Married Life Workshop:
Preparing to Share a Lifetime of Sacramental Graces
T
here is no moment in life quite like planning a wedding. Engagement brings a great mix of excitement, stress, and busy schedules. A wedding is an important and beautiful part of a marriage, but it’s only the beginning. Marriage itself is filled with seasons of joy and seasons of suffering. Cathedral of Christ the King offers a marriage preparation program that supports healthy marriage for a lifetime. Micah Johnson and his wife, Allison, help present the Married Life Workshop, one of the three parts of marriage preparation at the Cathedral. “Jesus raised marriage to a sacrament,” Micah says. “If couples are married in the Church, they receive many sacramental graces.” The graces received through the Sacrament of Matrimony carry a married couple through the trials that come in life, strengthening their relationship with one another and with Christ. Through the Married Life Workshop, Micah and Allison and other married couples share their experiences with engaged couples during a Saturday session. “Marriage prep makes you talk about some of those things that maybe you haven’t talked about in the past,” Micah says. “Maybe you assumed something. Maybe you haven’t dealt with conflict yet or dealt with it well. Each couple brings their past and stories of how things went.” Micah often shares his experience learning to resolve conflict well. It was a skill he had to learn in his marriage and he realized that his upbringing hadn’t prepared him to handle conflict in a healthy way. While Micah learned these skills along the way, he hopes that he can pass on some wisdom to new couples so that they can be more prepared as they enter into marriage. For a busy, engaged couple, Micah knows that praying together might be something they find difficult to do. In the Married Life Workshop, he and Allison talk about some simple ways to
Micah and Allison Johnson with their sons, Wyatt and Elijah
incorporate prayer into their daily life together. “I don’t think couples are taught how to pray together very well,” Micah says. “We end our presentation with a model of how we pray together. Maybe you don’t have a vibrant prayer life, so here’s an easy way to start praying together.” Micah and Allison have been married for 10 years and have two boys, Elijah and Wyatt. Micah has found that preparing for the workshop is a good exercise for himself. continued on back cover
7
Connection The
KING’S
299 Colony Blvd. | Lexington, KY 40502 cathedralctk.org | (859) 268-2861
Married Life Workshop “It’s like a little check-in for us as well, as we prepare for the session,” Micah says. “Your own marriage changes over the years.” Being a part of this ministry has given Micah and Allison a community of Catholic couples on whom they can rely throughout their faith journey. “We all have friends outside of church,” Micah says. “But having a strong set of couples in the church really helps you grow in your faith because they’ll challenge you.”
continued from page 7
“Marriage prep makes you talk about some of those things that maybe you haven’t talked about in the past. Maybe you assumed something. Maybe you haven’t dealt with conflict yet or dealt with it well. Each couple brings their past and stories of how things went.” — MICAH JOHNSON
The next Married Life Workshop will be on April 30. The course is available online and in person. Couples who are looking to begin marriage preparation or are interested in volunteering may contact Mike Allen at mallen@cdlex.org.
LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil - 5:00 p.m.|Sunday - 7:30 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Daily (Monday to Saturday) - 8:00 a.m.|(Monday to Friday) - 5:30 p.m. Reconciliation: Wednesday 4:45 - 5:20 p.m., Saturday 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. | First Sunday of the month 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
