The Philipian, A Publication of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church — March 2021

MARCH 2021

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

A Deeper Look at Our Upcoming

Easter Triduum Liturgies The Ultimate Celebration of God’s Unconditional Love at Work

D

uring these challenging times, preparing for and celebrating the Easter Triduum will no doubt allow us to center ourselves and our families on Christ.

“Everything God does is ordered toward our benefit and well-being,” says our pastor, Fr. Fabio Refosco.

“God constantly offers us divine guidance through the events of our lives. When life events cause us to suffer, look more closely for God’s unconditional love at work.”

The Easter Triduum is the summit of our Catholic liturgical year. Although it chronologically lasts

three days, the Church teaches that it is liturgically one day that unfolds for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

Throughout these most sacred days, we recall the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the canonical Gospels.

“It is all one magnificent celebration of the life of the Lord in the hands of His creation,” Fr. Fabio continued on back cover

02

Stewardship The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations

W

e experience great joy when we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany each year. For many of us, it is the completion of Christmas. Yet, the gifts offered by the Magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — can serve to guide us as we observe Lent this month.

It may seem strange to connect the joyful celebration of Epiphany with the penitential season of Lent. Yet, our spiritual life should not be divided into separate bits having no connection with each other. In the same way, the Church’s liturgical year should also flow from one season to another. The different feasts and seasons certainly have different emphases, but they are intended to build on each other. So let’s see if we can connect what the Magi gave Jesus with what we’re going to offer Him this Lent.

The basic ingredients for our Lenten rule normally come from what are termed the Three Notable Duties — prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These in turn come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

How do we connect the wise men’s gifts with the notable duties? Actually, what the gifts symbolize matches up surprisingly well.

Frankincense is the basic ingredient in the incense used in the worship of God, in the ancient world and in the Church today. Offering it to Jesus points out His divine nature, and so it symbolizes prayer. Our Lenten rule needs to include prayer and worship. Of course, we are bound to worship at Sunday Mass year-round.

Maybe during Lent, we might add a weekday Mass.

Perhaps we can increase the time we devote to private prayer at home or at adoration. Devotional reading from the Bible or another appropriate book can be added. In addition, don’t forget the possibility of adding family devotions during Lent, so that the whole family prays together.

When we offer our gold to Christ to build His Church and to help His poor, we are engaged in almsgiving. While giving from the treasure God has entrusted to us is a duty throughout the whole

year, maybe this Lent we can practice being a little more generous than usual. If our giving is a thankful response to the gift of eternal life that God has given us, we will find that the giving is indeed a means of grace.

For centuries, myrrh has been associated with fasting. Although myrrh comes from the same family of plants as frankincense, it has a more pungent scent and bitter taste. In the ancient world, it was regularly used in embalming. Generations of theological writers have seen the gift of myrrh as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sufferings. And fasting strengthens us in holiness and prepares us to come into God’s presence after our own deaths. St. Thomas Aquinas himself linked myrrh with repentance and fasting when he wrote that myrrh represents the penance by which we preserve our souls from the corruption of sin.

Fasting may be the most difficult of the three notable duties for modern Americans. After all, most of the advertising and many of the magazine articles we see are devoted to making us more, not less, comfortable. We usually think of fasting only under the heading of dieting to lose weight. Instead, try to think of fasting as a way to become more spiritually fit. Body and spirit affect each other. The whole sacramental system is built on the truth that we can receive spiritual grace through material things and physical actions. Our specific requirements of fasting are limited — abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, and a reduction in the quantity of food we eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But discipline of our physical bodies for our spiritual well-being does not have to be limited to Lent!

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were indeed valuable gifts for the wise men to present to the Child Jesus. When we look at their symbolism, we can see their relationship to the three notable duties of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. What gifts are we going to offer to Jesus this Lent?

A Letter From Our Pastor

03

A Month and Year

to Honor St. Joseph O

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 encourage parishioners and friends of St. Philip Neri Parish to consecrate themselves to St. Joseph by reciting the Litany of St. Joseph on the 19th day of every month through December - the year of St. Joseph declared by Pope Francis. During this special year, may St. Joseph intercede for us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Fabio Refosco, C.O.

To read more about Pope Francis’ declaration on the Church granting plenary indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph, visit www.bit.ly/StJoseph2021

04

PARISH BOOKKEEPER

Melissa DeLaO (center) celebrates after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church. With Melissa are her husband and RCIA sponsor, Raul (left) and Faith Formation Director Mary Harden.

R

eflecting on the two years that have passed since she first came to work in our parish office, Melissa DeLaO feels tremendous gratitude for the path that led her here to St. Philip Neri. Little did she know when she applied for the position of parish bookkeeper just how much her life would change from that moment.

Not only is Melissa thoroughly enjoying her work in the

Melissa DeLaO R

First Y

parish, but she is also celebrating her recent entry into the Catholic Church!

Melissa was raised in the Baptist church and baptized into that faith at the age of 8. Early in her adult years, however, she found herself drawn to the Catholic Church, though she could never fully explain why she felt such a connection to Catholicism.

Then, just over two years ago, Melissa heard that the bookkeeper position at St. Philip Neri was open.

“I was in an accounting job that I wasn’t really unhappy with, but I was praying about it,” Melissa says.

“I was asking, ‘God, where do you want me? What is my direction?’ The next thing I knew, there was an opening in this church.

“The job here started my faith journey,” she adds.

“For years, I had prayed and wondered how I could learn more about the Catholic Church, and this was my answer. So I jumped in and learned the business side of the church and, at the same time, was able to work with and get to know this really great group of women here in the office.”

Inspired by the wonderful examples of faith provided by her co-workers, Melissa got to know more about the Church. When Faith Formation Director Mary Harden let her know that a new session of RCIA — Rite of Christian continued on page 5

“

I feel like I’m more grounded as a person and feel more confident in my relationship with God. It runs so deep. I’m just always striving to have that close relationship with God, do His will, and try to be the best person I can be.

Melissa DeLaO

05

REFLECTS ON HER

Year as a Catholic Initiation of Adults — was about to begin, Melissa didn’t hesitate one bit before signing up for the program!

“RCIA was very enlightening,” Melissa says of the experience. “There is a lot more to Catholicism than I had thought. There is more in common with the Baptist faith than I realized — of course, they are both Christian religions — and there is also so much history.

There is a lot to know, and still so much more to learn.”

Melissa’s husband, Raul, served as her RCIA sponsor. A “cradle Catholic,” Raul discovered that he was also learning a lot about the Church that he had either forgotten or never learned as a child growing up in the faith. Melissa also enjoyed sharing things she learned in RCIA with the other women in the parish office each week. In many ways, she felt as if she, Raul, and her co-workers were all learning and growing together.

Now, over a year after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church, Melissa still considers the women she works with to be her mentors in the faith. She is thankful that the office staff begins each day with a prayer and even finds herself saying quick prayers throughout the day — quiet moments in the midst of a busy schedule of checking bank accounts, posting deposits, running payroll, and preparing letters and tax forms.

No matter how busy parish life might get, our staff always makes stewardship a priority, caring for the people and property of St. Philip Neri in any way they can.

“It’s been wonderful,” Melissa says of working in the parish office. “There is a really close connection with everyone. And they always have that service attitude of just wanting to help everyone. Of course, if we see a piece of trash on the ground or a weed that needs pulling, we’re always doing little things like that as well.”

Blessings have abounded for Melissa since she first came to work in our parish and then decided to join

the Church. She counts the two times she has had the opportunity to meet Bishop Guglielmone — once for the Rite of Election Mass for RCIA candidates, and once when he blessed our columbarium on All Souls’ Day — among these special blessings and memories.

Moving forward in faith, Melissa is thrilled to be serving as our parish bookkeeper and plans on getting even more involved in parish life by helping with the St. Philip Neri Safety Team. Thankful for God’s guidance and the providential path that brought her here, Melissa hopes to continue learning and growing in the faith for many years to come!

“On a personal level, I just feel more peaceful and calm now,” she says. “I feel like I’m more grounded as a person and feel more confident in my relationship with God. It runs so deep. I’m just always striving to have that close relationship with God, do His will, and try to be the best person I can be.”

Melissa DeLaO greatly enjoyed the two opportunities she has had to meet with Bishop Guglielmone.

06

From the Catechism

What is Almsgiving?

“G

iving 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).

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

During 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 local food pantry, 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.

Things to do with your family: •

• • •

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 the same.

St. Philip Neri

I TA L I A N M A R K E T P L AC E Save the Date: May 14-15, 2021

T

he St. Philip Neri Catholic Church Italian Festival, a tradition enjoyed in our community for over 25 years, is back! Due to the COVID pandemic, we’ve had to change things up a bit in 2021, including renaming the festival to the St. Philip Neri Italian Marketplace.

You’ll be able to enjoy our delicious homemade food, the heart of our event, by pre-ordering and paying online. Vendors will be available outside to welcome your browsing and business. Additional event details will follow shortly. Watch for them at www.spnitalianfestival.com. You won’t want to miss this!

Italian Marketplace Dates and Hours:

Friday, May 14 — 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 15 — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

07

Meet Our Scout BSA Units Learning and Fun Abound for the Youth of Our Community

F

or young men and women, having opportunities to learn about citizenship, the outdoors, and teamwork is important. But, of course, it’s important to have fun, too! Here at St. Philip Neri, we are blessed to have a strong Scouts BSA program for boys and girls, which provides them with these valuable opportunities for both learning and fun — they enjoy archery, camping, and cooking outside.

Steve Newkirk serves as the liaison for scouts at St. Philip Neri. He has been involved with Boy Scouts for more than 20 years, and he genuinely believes in the importance of this program as a part of the formation of young people.

“By having a Scouts BSA unit, we are offering an exceptional program to girls, not reinventing the wheel,” Steve says. “Boy Scouts has been around for more than 100 years.”

At St. Philip Neri, we have three units of the organization. First, there is Pack 219, which is for 5-year-olds to sixth-graders. This program is unique in that it is integrated with boys and girls. This group’s meetings and events are primarily held at the parish, and they also do a camping trip twice a year. The boys and girls are kept separate, and a parent also attends.

After sixth grade, youth move to Troop 219 for boys and Troop 220 for girls. Troop 219 has been around since 2004 and Troop 220 was put together in 2019. There are about 20 girls involved in Troop 220.

While these two troops don’t intermingle, each does similar activities.

“Troop 219 is a great group of about 50 boys,” Steve says. “It’s a solid group with good leadership.”

The group has gone on some large trips, like a canoeing trip and a sailboat trip off the coast of Florida, both of which were valuable learning experiences that offered plenty of outdoor fun.

Although his children, Ryan and Meghan, are grown, Steve still believes in staying involved so that

The Scouts BSA members receive a blessing.

he may help the program flourish for our parish youth.

“This is such an important ministry to the youth of the parish,” Steve says.

In today’s tech-connected world, a simple camping trip can make a real impact on our youth. When they’ve gone on their camping trips, the scouts give up their cell phones. By the end of the trip, many participants remark that they don’t miss having it.

An important part of Steve’s position is ensuring that the program, as a whole, follows Catholic Church teaching. No matter what rules and regulations the Boy Scouts of America enact, the groups at our parish follow Catholic teachings. Through our parish’s programs, Steve has seen so much positive growth in the youth. He believes in the values it teaches kids — especially in these current times, as youth encounter a lot of negative peer pressure.

“They learn respect, love of country, and outdoor camping techniques, to name a few,” he says. “It’s a very positive influence.”

Anyone — Catholic or not — may participate in our parish Scouts BSA program. To learn more, contact Stephanie Griffith at srgriffithfamily@gmail.com. Also, be sure to watch the church bulletin in the fall for information on the annual popcorn fundraiser.

St. Philip Neri

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID City, ST Permit #

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

Easter Triduum continued from front cover says. “Every year the Triduum has the same liturgical structure, but each time we participate you discover a new face of God to surprise and delight us. Commit yourself to focus on the Lord and to make friends along the way.”

Throughout Lent, we can spiritually prepare for the Triduum by thinking about and responding to God’s call to love and care for ourselves and others. The motto of St. Philip Neri calls us to have a “Spirit of Caring and Giving” “We hear consistently from the Scriptures that God is love (1 John 4:16) and that ‘those who live in love, live in God, and God in them,’” Fr. Fabio says. “God calls us to love and care for ourselves and others.

When we respond to that call, we experience the presence of God,

and we are made one with Him.” During Holy Week, the last week of Lent, faith community members will have the opportunity to participate in Mass and the Stations of the Cross on Monday.

On Tuesday, we can gather for a Communion Service and the Rosary, and on Wednesday, there will be Mass and a self-penance service.

On Thursday morning, there will be a Tenebrae Liturgy, and the Triduum begins that evening with Mass and a Virtual Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches of Rome. On Good Friday, there will be Stations of the Cross and the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.

On Saturday morning, there will be the Blessing of the Easter Food Basket, and that evening

we celebrate the Easter Vigil, and then the Easter Sunday Mass the following morning.

“We offer a variety of opportunities to pray, reflect and spend meaningful time with God and the community during Holy Week,” Fr. Fabio says. “The entire Holy Week, including the Triduum, will stream on our website.”

Similar to last year, this Lent, Holy Week, and the Easter Triduum will look different, and will offer us a particular opportunity to seek Christ and “cling to the Kingdom of the Lord.”

“The world and everything in it is passing away,” Fr. Fabio says.

“Cling to the Kingdom of the Lord, to divine things that are where God accomplishes His ultimate goal of being united with us forever.”

If you would like more information about the Easter Triduum at St. Philip Neri, please reach out to Jenny Funk at the parish office at 803-548-7282.