Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Newsletter — April 2022

APRIL 2022

Our Lady of Lourdes CATHOLIC CHURCH

MEET PARISHIONER

ADRIANA ADLER Building Community, Serving Christ and His Church

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aleigh and the Triangle area have several Catholic churches.

When Adriana Adler first moved here from New York State about three years ago, she searched for a church that felt like home. What drew her to Our Lady of Lourdes was Eucharistic Adoration. She visits the chapel as much as possible, even though she and her husband, Gary, live in Zebulon. Gary and Adriana were married here at Our Lady of Lourdes in 2019.

Adriana also serves as a lector for Spanish Mass. She is so thankful to Fr. Patrick Keane for starting the Spanish Mass.

Adriana and Gary Adler “Being a lector gives me the opportunity to meditate on the readings and be part of the Mass,” Adriana says. “I love being close to God’s Word as a lector.”

In addition, Adriana is an aide for fifth-grade Faith Formation.

Growing up in Mexico and having been raised in a devout Catholic family in Mexico, Adriana had a firm continued on back cover

Prayer: Come to Know the Lord W

e make constant reference to the “three Ts” of stewardship, recognizing that to truly live as a stewardship people, we must give God the first fruits of our time, talent, and treasure.

So, what does it mean to give God a portion of our time? When we talk about stewardship of time, we are referring to prayer time. Prayer is of the utmost importance in a disciple’s life, and in the Diocese of Wichita’s The Pillars of Parish Stewardship, it is also one of the four pillars of stewardship.

Does this mean that in order to be true disciples, we should say the Our Father three times a day or pray a daily Rosary? Not particularly.

Of course, we must not discount the merits of prayer, as the Church in her wondrous wisdom has given us certain prayers to help guide our lives. However, the disciple’s deep life of prayer involves even more.

St. John Chrysostom explains, “You should not think of prayer as being a matter of words.

It is a desire for God, an indescribable devotion … the gift of God’s grace” (Hom 6). That is, if we look at prayer as a mere regimen that we must follow every day, then we do not see to the heart of it. The reality is that prayer will take on different forms for every one of us. One person may have a deep devotion to the Rosary, and in praying it, he is closely united to the Lord.

Another person might feel deeply connected to Him through constant conversation – in the car on the way to work, before bed at night, or at other hours throughout the day. Meanwhile, for another person, a daily or weekly hour of silence before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration is the best place for him to offer the Lord his heart. No matter how we choose to pray, we must get to the root of it all. If we are to truly give God our time, it must be a gift of ourselves.

It must come from the heart and not take the form of mere word repetition. If we offer an Our Father without meditating on the words, it can simply become recitation.

The point of prayer is to get to know the

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Lord. If we are committed to living as His disciples, we must be on personal terms with Him. The first disciples didn’t know what it meant to pray the Rosary. And until the Lord taught them the Our Father, they couldn’t pray that either. But they were definitely true stewards of their time. They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and ate meals with Him. He was their best friend, and the more they got to know Him, the more they longed to serve Him. The same holds true for us today. We can walk with Him, talk with Him and sit with Him, just as they did. And He wants us to do this, too.

St. John Chrysostom proclaims, there is nothing more worthwhile: “For prayer unites us to God as His companions” (Hom 6). How can we serve Him if we don’t know Him? If we truly desire to be a servant people, we must talk to Him whom we wish to serve. We must get to know Him. Then, most assuredly, we will fall in love with Him. We will undoubtedly desire nothing more than to serve Him.

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 ongoing 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 in the following words (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!

In Christ,

Fr. Patrick Keane Pastor

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THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN

Welcoming Souls H

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very year, courageous souls enter the Catholic Church, surrendering their hearts to what she believes and teaches. They have seen her light in the midst of the darkness and experienced the love of Christ in a profound, life-changing way.

Each of them has traveled a unique and inspiring journey on their path “home to Rome” with the help of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process.

“The RCIA was a most welcoming adventure and scenic pathway set in stone before me to Catholicism,” a former RCIA member says. “Every class rekindled the fire that helped me discover my love for Jesus, Mother Mary, and all of the saints. It helped prepare my soul to be washed with living water through the Sacrament of Baptism, initiating me into the Church and making me a member of the mystical body of Christ. My life has been changed forever. Now I am reborn with grace as a child of God, and a defender of the Catholic faith.”

Fulfilling the RCIA process has proved to be a wonderful opportunity for its members to embrace their newfound faith in Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. As James Whittaker, a former Protestant Minister of 22 years who was fully initiated into the Church recently along with his wife, Dianna, describes:

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“I believe. First and most obvious, this was the vehicle where I could more fully learn and understand the Catholic faith to enter the church. Perhaps more specifically, when I say ‘Amen’ as I am presented the host at Mass, I am truly saying that I believe that Jesus is fully there in the Host (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity). I am also saying I believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church and that there is salvation in believing. It is hard to say you believe if you haven’t been taught. Therefore, RCIA is indispensable in ensuring that all who come into the Catholic Church have at least heard and understand the basic doctrine and practices.”

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process, utilized by the universal Church, for individuals to become Catholic and receive some or all of the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. Centered on fostering a deep relationship with Jesus and the Church, the RCIA journey takes place through distinct stages over a period of time suitable to bring about a thorough catechesis, significant experience of the parish community, and commitment to the liturgical and moral life of the Catholic faithful. It is designed to meet the needs of catechumens (non-baptized adults who will receive all of the Sacraments of Initiation), as well as candidates (baptized Christians preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confession, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist). Normally, most of the Sacraments of

N INITIATION OF ADULTS

Home to the Church

Initiation are received by all at the Easter Vigil.

The RCIA sessions meet in the Fallon Center or the Conference Room on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m., usually from August until Pentecost. The sessions work through the following stages: the Period of Inquiry; the Catechumenate; the Period of Purification; the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation; and the Mystagogia (during which members reflect on how they will serve Christ and help in the Church’s mission and outreach activities).

Overall, the RCIA is a period of reflection, prayer, instruction, discernment, and formation. The formation includes presentations on topics such as the mission of the Church; the Sacraments; Sacred Scripture; faith sharing; the Creed; prayer; the Mass,

and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“Our hope as a community of believers at Our Lady of Lourdes is that the RCIA members accept that God chose them, and say ‘yes’ to the invitation to seek the truth, wonder, and mystery of the Catholic faith,” says Deacon Byron Champagne, Director of Adult and Youth Faith Formation and Parish Coordinator of RCIA and RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children ). “We pray that they discover a new way to live in the world. RCIA is a great blessing to all of us, not just to those being initiated. It reminds us that we are all called to conversion on a daily basis. It also enables us to share the faith with our new brothers and sisters in Christ, calls on us to reaffirm our faith and recommit to Jesus, and connects us with the evangelization mission of the Church.”

“Our hope as a community of believers at Our Lady of Lourdes is that the RCIA members accept that God chose them, and say ‘yes’ to the invitation to seek the truth, wonder and mystery of the Catholic faith.”

— DEACON BYRON CHAMPAGNE, DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND YOUTH FAITH FORMATION If you would like further information about the RCIA process, please contact Deacon Byron Champagne at 919-861-4614.

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Steadfast in Faith and Devotion: St. Catherine of Siena On April 29, we celebrate the feast day of a doctor of the Church — one who remained absolutely devoted to living her life for Christ, even in the face of familial misunderstanding in her youth, and through societal opposition and turmoil during her later years. As stewards in our fast-paced, highly technical — and often fractured — world, we can always look to the life and example of St. Catherine of Siena, and strive to remain steadfast in our faith while facing our own modern-day challenges.

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orn in mid-14th-century Italy to a large family, and in the midst of a plague outbreak, St. Catherine of Siena was her parents’ 25th child, although half of her siblings did not survive through childhood. Young Catherine resisted her family’s desire for her to marry — she even went so far as to begin fasting and cutting her hair short in protest. Her parents eventually relented, as Catherine strived to humbly serve her own family, treating her own father as Jesus, her mother as Mary, and her brothers as the apostles.

Such was Catherine’s desire to remain in service to her own family that instead of entering a convent, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic at age 18. This enabled her to continue serving her family at home, even as she was part of a religious society. In time, she learned to read and began giving her family’s own possessions to those in need — even though her parents didn’t necessarily approve of her entirely altruistic approach to service.

Continuing with her faithful devotion as part of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Catherine developed a following of her own, as she wrote letters offering spiritual encouragement and instruction. Controversy would ensue, as her writings began to comment on public matters through her firm lens of faith.

In the midst of these spiritual developments, at age 21, Catherine underwent a profound change, as she experienced what she called her “mystical marriage to Christ.” Through this experience, she was directed to help the poor and the sick.

Catherine began serving those in need in hospitals and homes, which inspired followers to assist in these important missions of service, love and mercy. Furthermore, she continued to comment on public matters, 06

petitioning for peace in the midst of political fracture and strife. This continued through the Great Schism, beginning in 1378, as Catherine spent two years — the last years of her life — in Rome, praying and pleading for unity in the Church, and for the cause of Pope Urban VI.

By January 1380, Catherine was gravely ill, unable to eat or drink — shortly thereafter, she lost the use of her legs. At only 33 years old, she would pass away on April 29, 1380. She was canonized nearly a century later, in 1461.

Despite her short life, St. Catherine of Siena made a profound impact on the Church through her spiritually direct writings, her work serving those in need, and in preserving the unity of the Church in the face of great societal upheavals — all while being singularly devoted to living a life for Christ. Her status led her to be declared a co-patron of Italy (alongside St. Francis of Assisi) in 1939. And in 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine of Siena a doctor of the Church.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Growing Closer to Christ in Essential Liturgical Service

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s Catholics, we are called to bring Christ wherever we go. While on a daily basis this often means living our lives and vocations as a witness to those we encounter, there is a unique way to physically bring Christ to others within the parish. Every time the Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated, we see the priests or deacons distributing the Eucharist. The priests and deacons are considered the “Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.” When there is a need for additional ministers, the priest calls upon the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) within the parish to help.

Ellen Crowley, who leads the training of EMHCs here at Our Lady of Lourdes, recalls that she began serving as an Extraordinary Minister for a special purpose.

“The mother of one of my friends passed away and unfortunately at the funeral, they did not have any Eucharistic Ministers,” she says.

“The priest went down the line of my friends asking if any of us could assist but we all said, ‘no.’

That day we all decided to become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion so we would be able to help if there is ever a need.”

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence.”

This preparation includes parish-provided training for those who are interested in becoming an EMHC. Training sessions are just over an hour long and take place three to four times a year, depending on the parish’s needs. Once training is completed, you are approved by the diocese and receive a certificate from the bishop. This certificate must be renewed every five years.

Participating in a role in the liturgy is a simple and great way to be a good steward within the parish. Parishioners can volunteer at the Mass they regularly attend and assist in a way that helps them be a part of the liturgy.

“You are an integral part of the Mass,” Ellen says. “I find that being involved in this way brings me closer to Christ, especially during the Consecration. When you look someone in the eye and say, ‘the Body of Christ,’ you are physically bringing them Jesus in the Eucharist. It is very special.”

Those who are already trained ministers are encouraged to check at the beginning of Mass to see if there is a substitute request for that Mass.

The parish especially needs more EMHCs for the 11:30 a.m. Mass and the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass, though volunteers are welcome for any Mass time.

If you are interested in becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or if you would like more information, please contact the parish office at 919-861-4600.

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2718 Overbrook Drive | Raleigh, North Carolina 27608 919-861-4600 | ourladyoflourdescc.org

Meet Parishioner Adriana Adler faith foundation. She continued to practice her faith during her 20 years living in New York. When she moved to Raleigh, it was only natural for her to get involved. Church has always been a place for Adriana to build community and find a family.

Adriana does cleaning work and also babysits.

When she’s not working or praying at the chapel, she can be found making rosaries as part of the Rosary Makers Ministry. When she gets together with friends, they use the time to make rosaries. The group makes rosaries for any group at Our Lady of Lourdes that needs them. They are also donated outside the parish.

“As soon as people learn how to make the rosaries, they love it,” Adriana says. “It’s relaxing to make them.”

Not keeping her faith just within the walls of our parish, Adriana also has a prayer group of women from outside our parish whom she meets with

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weekly. She appreciates having a group that can celebrate the good with her and pray for her when she’s in need. She is always willing to give people advice and pray for them.

“When you pray in the morning, your life is totally different,” Adriana says. “It will help how you feel. It doesn’t have to be anything big.”

To show the power of prayer, Adriana offers the example of when she went to the Our Lady of Lourdes Adoration Chapel to pray for a job. She walked out, and someone asked her if they knew anyone who did home cleaning — Adriana had her first cleaning job right there!

Putting everything into her faith, Adriana can’t imagine not knowing Jesus and having Him beside her during life’s challenges.

“God has been so good to me,” she says. “If I didn’t have Jesus, I would be empty and lonely.”

Mass Times

SATURDAY VIGIL, 5:00 PM | SUNDAY, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM Spanish, 5:00 PM MONDAY, 8:00 AM | TUE — FRI, 8:30 AM | THURSDAY, 6:30 PM Spanish Confession Times: WEDNESDAY, 12:00 PM | SATURDAY, 3:00 PM