APRIL 2022
the phi lipian
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F S T . P H I L I P N E R I C AT H O L I C C H U R C H
Meet Parishioner Joanna Gould
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Sharing Her Talents to Serve God
or parishioner Joanna Gould, getting parents and grandparents by living a life involved in parish life at St. Philip Neri of active stewardship. was like second nature. Having such wonderful examples “My grandfather was the organist in of stewardship in her life, Joanna knew his church,” Joanna says. “When I was she wanted to get involved at St. Philip young, he would let my sisters and I sit Neri when they moved. Her son was up in the balcony with him during Mass enrolled in the SPN Preschool at the and let us ring the bells, which we felt time, so she volunteered there, assisting was very special. My own father played with classroom needs. She also joined the organ for his church, and my mother the Christmas choir one year and served was a Eucharistic Minister as well. It’s a as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy special feeling when you attend Mass Communion. Joanna Gould and the music is from your father’s “I volunteered as a Eucharistic hand, and the host is received from your mother’s.” Minister and was able to participate in serving with When she moved here to Fort Mill in 2018 with many Masses — the most memorable one being my her husband, Bill, and their children, Olivia and oldest daughter’s First Holy Communion,” she says. Joseph, and began attending St. Philip Neri, Joanna At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joanna immediately began following in the footsteps of her needed to take a step back from some of her continued on back cover
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Cultivate Your Personal Garden for Christ this Spring
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veryone loves springtime. The weather is warmer and beautiful flowers are blooming all around us. But anyone with a beautiful garden will attest that the flowers do not magically appear as if the season change itself miraculously makes the flowers bloom. Beautiful flowers and lush gardens are the result of the gardener’s hard work. Imagine that a man is given some flower seeds. The man then buries the seeds in the ground and leaves them on their own. As the months pass and rain falls, some seeds may receive enough nourishment to bloom. But simply burying seeds in the ground will hardly make for a gorgeous garden. Rather, if the man truly wants to enjoy many beautiful flowers, there is much care and work ahead. Recognizing the hidden beauty within these simple seeds, he must cultivate the ground, plant the seeds in a solid foundation, then water and fertilize them throughout the year. Only then will he see the proper fruit these seeds were made to bear. This simple illustration speaks to the heart of us this season — not only as we look around at the flowers, but more importantly as we reflect on the springtime of the Church. We are celebrating the great feast of Easter when, through His death and resurrection, Christ offers us the greatest gift of all — eternal life with Him forever. This celebration leads us to
reflect on the many gifts God has given us in this life and the fruit they will bear, especially as we look to life eternal. He has given each of us a multitude of gifts so that we can better serve Him and bring others to Him. Do we notice the hidden potential of our gifts? Do we see them, like the seed — as seemingly small, yet so full of fruit? Everything we have — our time, talents and treasure — is a gift from the Lord. Do we accept gifts in gratitude, then put them to use by cultivating and nourishing them so they will bear the proper fruit? Just like springtime flowers that we enjoy, our time, talents and treasure need to be cared for. Our gifts need to be cultivated and nourished. Only then will we see them for what they are — wonderful gifts given by God meant for His greater glory. Like the seeds, if we use our gifts flippantly, we may see some fruits here and there. But we are called to so much more — we are called to build a beautiful garden. We are called to offer God the most beautiful flowers of all. This season, as we look at all the beautiful flowers around us and enjoy God’s creation, let us think about the seeds in our own lives. Ask yourself if you have accepted the gifts God has given you — your time, talents and treasure — and have cultivated and cared for them properly. Or, do they just sit dormant within you yearning to bloom?
Just like springtime flowers we now enjoy, our time, talents, and treasure need to be cared for. Our gifts need to be cultivated and nourished. Only then will we see them for what they are — wonderful gifts given by God meant for His greater glory.
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A Letter From Our Pastor
All Things and All People Are Made New Dear Parishioners,
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e associate the Easter season with springtime — a time of new life and new beginnings — and Holy Scripture addresses this idea of newness many times. The Lord declares, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5). This idea of being “new” is important to us as Catholics, and it is important to our parish. We need to strive to do this on a regular basis — even on a daily basis. Think of the fact that all was once new. Regardless of how you view the development of this earth and those of us who occupy it, all was once new. During this Easter season, we need to retain that idea of being “new.” And being “new” means conversion, and we have often pointed out that conversion is at the heart of a life of stewardship. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life” (654). In other words, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our new life — our own future resurrection. St. Paul wrote about it to the Romans (Rom 6:5) — “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” Hope for a new life beginning now and extending on into heaven is the result of Jesus’ Resurrection. What greater grounds for thanksgiving can there be than this Easter hope? We should sing with joy about God’s promise to us, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5). St. Paul also wrote (Col 3:1-2), “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” Jesus’ Resurrection and His promise of a new life
for us mean that we need to live in conformity with our status as adopted children of God. How do we show our joy and our gratitude to God for this amazing gift He has given us? We join in worship and praise God by word and song. We share the Good News of Jesus’ victory over death with our family, friends, and neighbors. And we offer back to the Lord a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He has entrusted to us. Yes, the Easter message that we share in the benefits of Christ’s Resurrection indeed makes all things new — the ultimate foundation for all Christian stewardship. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Fabio Refosco, C.O.
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Rebuild t
Strengthening Our Fou THE NEED Our current Fr. John Giuliani Parish Center has been problematic since being built in 1998. Beginning with the damage to the roof caused by the “storm of the century” in 2004, the building has just never been “right.” Even after some initial repairs, over time, the cost to repair the center had ballooned to over $2 million — and with our current economic challenges, the cost of repairs will only increase. Even still, the Parish Center would not meet our current or future needs. With the Child Development Center occupying the building Monday through Friday until noon, that leaves little opportunity for other ministry activities. Quite simply, there’s no place for parish ministries to grow. REBUILD TO SERVE After months of prayer, study, and consideration, the leadership of the parish decided to move forward and rebuild the Fr. John Giuliani Parish Center on the existing location and build a new Child Development and Activity Center. With the new Parish Center building, we will ensure the faith life of our parish family, both today and tomorrow for generations to come, and provide an unrestricted opportunity to carry out the mission of our parish — to form a church family dedicated to continuing the ministry of Christ. The proposed building will provide much-needed additional space for evangelization, outreach, hospitality, youth and adult formation, ministry growth, and community opportunities. Many years ago, our parish leadership felt the prompting of the Lord to begin a faith-based early child development center. This has become part of our educational mission at St. Philip Neri. At our child development center, we believe that each child is unique and a special
gift from God. We focus on developing social and school behaviors in a nurturing Christian environment while gently guiding each child to his/ her potential spiritually, socially, and academically. The new Child Development and Activity Center will help us better carry out our educational mission and provide a place to expand our ministerial and formational footprint in the parish and the local community. STRENGTHENING OUR FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE — OUR JOURNEY BEGINS These buildings have been on the minds and hearts of our parish leadership teams for several years. This past year, the Building Committee looked into what it would take to build our new Parish Center and Child Development Center. The group met with architects, engineers, and contractors. After careful consideration by the Building Committee, Property and Facilities Committee, and the Pastoral and Finance Councils, we have finalized our plan to administer the project and are now ready to begin to Rebuild to Serve: Strengthening Our Foundation for the Future.
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to Serve
undation for the Future The cost of the project is an estimated $8 million. In order to pay for this, we plan to raise $6 million through the Rebuild to Serve capital campaign. The remaining $2 million will be provided for from the parish’s savings ($1 million) and Future Growth and Expansion Fund ($1 million), to which parishioners have so faithfully been contributing over the past three years. It will be a great joy for so many to see the fruits of these generous donations Growth & Expansion Fund. With the theme, Rebuild to Serve: Strengthening Our Foundation for The Future, we are launching an ambitious $6 million campaign. Ultimately, this campaign is not just about money or buildings — it’s about God’s people. It is about how can we be fruitful and grow our faith community to serve the mission set forth by the people of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. This is
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a serious and important challenge for our parish community. All of us must pray for the success of the campaign, lend our many God-given talents to its completion, and make a financial commitment on all our parts to make it happen. In the months that follow, you will receive a Rebuild to Serve brochure that will provide detailed information on the project. In addition, our website will be available 24/7 as a resource for Rebuild to Serve information, project updates, and to track campaign progress. Thank you for all you have done to make St. Philip Neri Catholic Church such an incredible parish community, as well as your generosity in this endeavor.
“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10
An Introduction to Our Capital Campaign Logo
e are excited to introduce the Rebuild to Serve campaign logo. It was designed by parishioner Joanna Gould, a graphic designer who felt a stewardship calling to offer her graphic design services to the parish as gifts of talent and time. The gear symbol was used to represent progress and connection. The spokes of the gear represent our St. Philip Neri ministries and their connection to serving the Lord, our faith family, and our community. The trio of people inside the gears represents the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three people considered collectively represent three in company acting together as a faith community to serve the mission set forth by the people of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. This provides a perfect representation of the goals of the campaign — to ensure the faith life of our parish family, today, tomorrow for generations to come, and provide unrestricted opportunity to carry out the mission of our parish — to form a church family dedicated to continuing the ministry of Christ.
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RESPONDING TO THE GLORY OF CHRIST’S Dying, He Destroyed “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead” – APOSTLES’ CREED
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s we have recently come to the end of our Lenten journey toward Easter, let us take a moment to meditate on three pivotal lines from the ancient creed, which comprise the central events of our redemption. Far from being a mere myth or legend, in Jerusalem around the year 30 A.D., Jesus Christ — the Son of God made man — was tortured at the hands of the Romans. He was flogged, beaten, spit upon, and crowned with thorns. He was made to carry the cross through the crowded streets to Golgotha and, once there, He was crucified — He was nailed to a cross and died. Just as someday we will each be laid in our graves, Jesus was laid in His. The most obvious question that confronts the observer of this horrific reality is “why?” Luckily, Christ made the impetus for His selfsacrifice quite clear: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14-15). The reasons Christ died on the cross are twofold, one negative and one positive. The negative cause is sin. Only in witnessing the cost of redemption — the death of the Son of God — can we begin to comprehend the profound magnitude of sin: “You have been purchased at a price,” says St. Paul (1 Cor 6:20). Conversely, Christ willingly accepted the cross because of love. St. John famously says,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Uniting these two causes, St. Paul says, “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). In His limitless compassion, Christ entered into the fullness of human suffering — physical torment, emotional agony and utter isolation — so that He might share complete solidarity with mankind. Accordingly, His passion and death not only accomplished our redemption, but by the cross, He also showed us the way to true discipleship. For Christ taught His disciples long before His crucifixion, “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23). Christ’s is the final and perfect covenant between God and man, and it is a covenant of love, with Christ Himself as its high priest. Nevertheless, this covenant is not based on love as popular culture conceives of it, but love as Christ displayed it: “The way we came to know love was that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). Joined with the passion, Christ’s Resurrection is the key to the entire Gospel — for in rising from the dead, Jesus proved true His bold promises. He had prophesied to the
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RESURRECTION AT EASTER Our Death; Rising, He Restored Our Life apostles, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again” (Jn 10:18). The Resurrection vindicates this promise and validates His teaching and miracles. Furthermore, Christ, “the firstborn from the dead,” opened the door to eternal life and to new creation (Col 1:18). Out of the darkness of despair, the scattered and frightened disciples saw the risen Christ and were renewed and transformed. Filled with faith in the crucified and resurrected Savior, they evangelized the known world. St. Paul summarizes the centrality of the redemptive power of the Easter Triduum with his characteristic zeal: “If Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:14-17). This Easter, let us respond to the glory of Christ’s Resurrection by exclaiming, as St. Thomas the Apostle did, “My Lord and my God!” And may each of us be filled with faith in God of our salvation, hope in the rewards He has won for us, and love for Him who has deigned to bestow them on us.
This Easter, let us respond to the glory of Christ’s Resurrection by exclaiming, as St. Thomas the Apostle did, “My Lord and my God!” And may each of us be filled with faith in God of our salvation, hope in the rewards He has won for us, and love for Him who has deigned to bestow them on us.
St. Philip Neri C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 292 Munn Road East Fort Mill, SC 29715 803.548.7282 saintphilipneri.org
Meet Parishioner Joanna Gould Joyfully Sharing Talents to Serve God Meet Parishioner Joanna Gould involvement in the parish. Her family was uncomfortable attending Mass in person, so she was unable to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. “We all know how long and difficult the pandemic has been,” Joanna says. “It occurred to me that I wasn’t comfortable not doing anything and realized that I needed to find my own way of serving.” By discerning the gifts and talents God has given her, Joanna decided to reach out and volunteer her graphic design skills to the parish. Graphic design is one of those God-given talents and one she could share from home. Shortly after reaching out, Joanna started on her first project — designing a logo for our Capital Campaign. “Living a life of stewardship is important to me because it makes me feel like I am not only serving my community, but most importantly, I am serving God,” Joanna says. “We all have different gifts to share, and this is how I choose to put my stewardship into action.” Joanna believes that getting involved in parish life is a great way to serve God. “God calls us to serve Him, and offering whatever talents you have is fulfilling His wishes,” she says.
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The Gould family
