Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Newsletter — November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021

Our Lady of Lourdes CATHOLIC CHURCH

Altar Servers Ministry A

Drawing Closer to God and Growing in Understanding of the Mass

ltar servers often do their job so quietly that they seemingly blend right into the sanctuary during Mass. However, Steve Simmons has been training altar servers for four years and knows how much work and dedication they put into their job — and how much growth comes out of it. Serving on the altar brings young parishioners up close with the Mass and, over time, helps them to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Mass and Christ in the Eucharist.

“It really builds up a lot of confidence in them and gives them a sense of their Catholicity,” Steve says.

Over the years, as he has mentored the servers, Steve has seen that the young men who serve are more likely to be open to discerning the priesthood. In fact, one newly ordained deacon was a regular server Steve Simmons has been training altar servers for four years and knows how much when he was a student. Some high schoolers serve every week and work and dedication they put into their job. Steve can see within them the potential for the priesthood.

“They have that glow,” he says. “Most of our seminarians, I’d say ninety percent of them were altar servers.”

Even for young men who aren’t discerning the priesthood and for young women who serve, Steve hopes that being so close to the Mass and Christ will give them direction. Perhaps hearts will open to the religious life continued on back cover

Stewardship of Talent Bring Your Gifts to the Spotlight!

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he word “talent” often conjures up images of stage performers in the spotlight, captivating awestruck audiences with their impeccable musical or acting skills.

While these talented performers are certainly deserving of applause, the majority of the population sits hidden in the shadows, staring on in amazement while feeling overlooked — and perhaps wishing to possess such talents themselves.

But even when we feel overlooked and untalented, God knows better. As Christians, we are all called to dig deep and trust that we are uniquely blessed with valuable talents and abilities, even if our talents aren’t so obvious or don’t garner applause and accolades.

Along with “time” and “treasure,” “talent” is one of the “three Ts” of stewardship. Exploring our natural inclinations and preferences, especially when guided by the intricacies of our unique personalities, can unearth God-given talents.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit,” writes St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians. “There are different forms of service, but the same Lord.”

Some people have the gift of working peacefully with children. Equipped with patience and gentleness, they are able to guide young souls to the Lord. Yet, others shudder at the thought of

a classroom full of 5-year-olds, and instead seek the quiet solace of behind-the-scenes tasks — cleaning the church, sewing altar cloths or stuffing envelopes.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God. H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author of Life’s Little Instruction Book, once said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it is going to be forwards, backwards, or sideways.”

If our gifts of talent are not guided by the discipline of prayer, just like an octopus on roller skates, we will get nowhere fast! Yet, if we keep our eyes on the goal of heaven and serve the Lord with joyfulness, our efforts will produce a bountiful harvest. In the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.”

The next time you sit quietly in the shadows behind a glaring stage spotlight, rest assured that your talents are no less impressive in the eyes of God, and will always be “applauded” when directed to the service of His people.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God.

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A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Time Dear Parishioners,

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he next several weeks are certainly a busy time for us as Catholics, good stewards, good citizens, and faithful members of the Church and our parish. There are celebrations and commemorations both inside and outside the Church that are momentous in terms of faith, citizenship, and living as people of thanksgiving and gratitude.

We celebrate Veterans Day to honor and thank all those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces in one capacity or another.

Indicative of the importance of this day, every year at 11 a.m. Eastern, the President of the United States lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

We all understand that Americans celebrate a day of Thanksgiving on Nov. 25. What more can we say about this? It is a day that was faith-based from its very beginnings, and it is an indication of how much we have to thank God for in terms of the gifts we have received — our lives, our families, our Church, our Lord and Savior — everything we are and everything we have.

No sooner are Thanksgiving Day celebrations concluded, than we begin that glorious season called Advent on Sunday, Nov. 28. This prepares us for and leads to Christmas. Indeed, this is both a busy and extraordinary time of year! There is, of course, much more on which we could focus and about which we could think, meditate and pray, but that is more than enough for us to consider and absorb.

From a stewardship perspective, I would like you to not only participate and focus on all the particular things that are about to happen but also on one of our special gifts – the gift of time. The gift of time, which we all receive from God in equal amount, is precious because it is a non-renewable resource.

Although some of our time is committed because of family responsibilities, work responsibilities, or

simply personal needs, we have an element of freewill with how we spend a certain amount of it. We need to spend some of that time in prayer, in thanksgiving, in worship, and works of mercy and ministry. Our time is perhaps more precious than any material gifts we receive from the Lord. How are we doing with that gift?

I am so very grateful to be your pastor and I thank God every day for every one of you. May God bless you and your families abundantly and may we, like our Blessed Mother, trust that God will always see us through to the end if we just trust in His providence. Peace be with you.

In Christ,

Fr. Patrick Keane Pastor

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THAT MAN

IS

YOU!

An Invitation to Share in

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t’s often too easy to get wrapped up in the demands of work and home. In turn, it can be difficult to find the time to focus on faith and fellowship. And it can be particularly challenging for men to gather with those who are like-minded and have time to share the Catholic faith.

Here at Our Lady of Lourdes, we have an opportunity for men to gather on Friday mornings, share their faith and socialize. That Man is You! — or TMIY — is an opportunity for fellowship, a video on a faith topic and small-group discussions. Our parish group uses this program through Paradisus Dei, a nonprofit organization that provides programming to help families and men discover the “superabundance of God.” Participants and Core Team members are thankful to be back to meeting in person after they moved to Zoom for a time during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Friday, about 25 men gather beginning at 6 a.m. to socialize.

Programming starts at 6:30 a.m. and wraps up by 7:30 a.m.

This is the fourth year of TMIY. Core Team Member Domenic Coletti helped bring this program to Our Lady of Lourdes after several people mentioned it to him. Finally, Joan Rose Brown gave him the extra drive to get it started.

“The impetus in starting this was the Holy Spirit,” Domenic says. “It was fortuitous that it kept getting brought up to me.”

Once a Core Team was identified, the momentum was there to start this group.

Domenic knows it can often be difficult for men to find other men who share the faith. As our world becomes more and more secularized, it becomes more challenging to make authentic friendships. People are busy and modern technology has changed the way we communicate. In the face of all of these challenges, a huge draw of this group is the fellowship aspect.

Men gather for a recent TMIY session.

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Faith and Fellowship with Men of the Parish “Men like that they can talk about their lives and struggles,” Domenic says. “Men wonder why they can’t find other men like them out in the world. When they do find them, they want to keep attending.”

Domenic says that being involved in this group has helped him be a better husband to his wife, Angela, and father to his two daughters, Rebeca and Elizabeth.

Small groups typically stay the same, so men can develop a stronger bond with the other men.

However, men need not be at every meeting — the team wants men to know they can come as often as they are able. The videos are available online to catch up on missed sessions.

“I’d invite all men to come give it a try,” Domenic says. “You might be surprised by how comfortable you feel if you attend. These are all regular guys, living regular lives, but doing it in the right way.”

We asked a few TMIY participants what they love about the program and why others should attend.

Ken Kukorowski, participant “Men should attend and participate because TMIY challenges men to be better fathers, husbands and to do it in a way that strengthens our Catholic spiritual foundation in a practical way.

I wish more men would participate so I could meet more parishioners!”

Ric Patrick, participant “The Christian fellowship and friendships make good men better. Iron sharpens iron. It allows men to be comfortable communicating with each other and expressing our Christian beliefs.”

Dan Jess, TMIY Core Team member “TMIY is engaging every week around the issues men face in the world. The small groups we have built and the bonds we have together give me the strength and courage to do what’s right and know there are a number of men trying to do the same thing.”

Dave Behrens, participant “TMIY is my safety net for when the homily has me wanting a bit more. I can always count on our group to share something that gives me a new perspective on old challenges.”

For more information on That Man is You!, please contact Domenic Coletti at domenic.coletti6@gmail.com or 919-389-9913. If the Friday morning meetings don’t work with your schedule, Domenic recommends checking the time at St. Michael and St. Andrew — both parishes also have a TMIY ministry.

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THE SIGN OF THE CROSS:

A Powerful Prayer Tradition in the Catholic Church

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ince we say and make the Sign of the Cross so often, it may easily become a rote, perhaps even thoughtless, action. However, it is important to remember that the Sign of the Cross is much more than a simple gesture. Even in its most basic form, the Sign of the Cross — accompanied by the spoken or unspoken words “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” — is a prayer, a creed stating our belief in the Holy Trinity, the dual nature of Jesus Christ, and the dependence of our salvation on His crucifixion and resurrection.

In addition, making the Sign of the Cross is an indication of a willingness to take up our own cross and suffering for the sake of Christ. The prayer is considered one of the greatest weapons against Satan and all demons, and an added strength against the temptations of the flesh.

In the Roman Catholic Church today, the Sign of the Cross is typically made with either three fingers or an open hand touching first the forehead, then the chest, followed by the left shoulder and then the right (in the Eastern Church, the right shoulder is touched before the left). The concept of making a sign, or “setting a seal,” upon the forehead of those who place their faith in the Lord appears in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible — see Ezek.

9:4 and Rev. 7:3, 9:4, and 14:1.

Early versions of the Sign of the Cross were traced on just the forehead, using the thumb and forefinger held together in the shape of a tiny cross. We still see this version of the blessing performed during Baptisms (with the cross traced on the infant’s forehead) and on Ash Wednesday (with the cross traced in ashes on the foreheads of the faithful). Similarly, when the Gospel is read during the Liturgy of the Word, the priest or deacon leads the congregation in forming this small cross on the forehead, mouth, and chest, indicating a 06

willingness to keep the Word of the Lord in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

There is no doubt that our early Church fathers were strong believers in the sanctifying power of the Sign of the Cross. A second-century ecclesiastical scholar, Tertullian, and a third century saint, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, both wrote about the necessity of performing the Sign of the Cross at one’s waking and one’s lying down, at entering and leaving a room, at mealtimes, and more. St. Augustine also referenced the importance of marking the cross on the faithful’s forehead during the administration of the sacraments.

It is likely that the sign transformed from the tiny cross on the forehead to the larger, full-body cross used today sometime in the fifth century, when heretics began questioning both the dual nature of Jesus Christ — fully human and fully divine — and the unity of the Holy Trinity. Believers in these crucial Church doctrines began forming the cross with three extended fingers (representing the Trinity), keeping the ring finger and little finger pressed down into the palm (representing Christ’s dual nature), and tracing a cross on their entire upper body so there could be no mistaking the gesture.

Today, the Sign of the Cross still figures predominantly in our prayer life as Roman Catholics. We commonly perform it upon entering a church; at the beginning and end of the Catholic Mass, a Benediction, or the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; when opening and closing our personal prayers; at mealtimes; and when passing by a Catholic Church (in recognition of Christ, present in the tabernacle).

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, the frequent, intentional use of the Sign of the Cross can help the faithful dedicate each day to the glory of God and provide strength in the face of trial and temptation (2157).

MEET

Nancy Pekarek:

Learning from the Faith Stories of Others

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or many years, Nancy Pekarek mainly attended Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes and sang in the choir. She only knew a few parishioners and was mostly disconnected from the life of the church.

Then she decided to “start showing up.”

“Getting to know each other as people of faith strengthens our own faith and gives us the confidence to learn and move forward on our own spiritual journey,” Nancy says. “Many people sitting around us in Mass on a Sunday are living lives of strong faith, service, and sacrifice, but if we never interact with them, we can never learn or be guided by their faith stories or share ours.”

Nancy joined Our Lady of Lourdes in 1985 when she first moved to Raleigh. Two particular things drew her to the parish, specifically the church architecture and the character of the celebration of the liturgy.

“The architecture so elegantly connects the spirit with God’s gift of nature through its windows and natural wood,” Nancy says. “Since grade school, I had been involved in both choir and guitar groups, so when I first joined Lourdes, and when I returned years later after living away from Raleigh, I took part in music ministry.”

When Nancy decided to “start showing up,” she started with a commitment to One Day for Him and to attend faith formation classes after the 10:30 a.m.

Mass. Then she made a more significant time investment by participating in both Discovering Christ and Opening Your Heart, part of the Walking with Purpose series. The different programs encouraged her to think more deeply about the faith.

“Equally importantly, they offered me the opportunity to meet and engage with other parishioners who shared their experiences along the path of faith,” Nancy says. “The personal stories of other parishioners offered insights and inspiration that have strengthened my faith and encouraged me in my own efforts to seek a stronger relationship with Christ.”

Over the years Nancy has been a sacristan, a

Nancy Pekarek

member of both the Pastoral Council and School Advisory Board, a choir member, and an adorer in the Adoration Chapel. She also spent a few years working to help establish the community garden.

“St. James tells us clearly that ‘faith without works is dead,’” Nancy says. “We are called to actively demonstrate our faith by giving back according to our talents and the needs of our neighbor. Starting small builds faith and community, and with the grace of God, guides us to other meaningful uses of our time and God-given talents.”

Nancy believes that the faith journey begins with a single step, but we have to take that step, which sometimes requires moving outside our comfort zones.

“Catholics are a community of faith,” Nancy says.

“I am grateful to all those at Our Lady of Lourdes I have learned from and who continue to guide and support me as I seek to build a deeper relationship with Christ.”

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

Altar Servers Ministry or another kind of ministry within the Church.

When Steve trains new altar servers, they spend an hour going through the mass step-by-step with Fr. Pat. Servers come to understand not only what happens at Mass, but also why it happens that way. In addition, there are many Latin terms that the servers need to learn.

“Some of them know Spanish and English, some of them just know English, and now they’re going to know Latin,” Steve says. “That’s the exciting part — they’re learning.”

After that hour training session, it’s all on the job. It might be a lot to learn, but the servers always have a sacristan to help them through if they get lost.

“I tell them, ‘You’re nervous because you care,’” Steve says.

continued from front cover

Servers are most successful when their parents are involved. Parents are critical in making sure servers get to Mass on time and come with proper clothes and shoes. Parents benefit too — they have a child who is more engaged in the Mass and often can bring home what they have learned. Steve loves to see when a whole family is involved — the parents might be lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist while the kids serve on the altar.

Steve believes that altar servers gain such a knowledge and love of the Mass that they will remain faithful down the road — he sees them becoming leaders in the church.

“I love the Mass and I love them to appreciate it,” Steve says. “Instead of sitting in the back, they’re really paying attention.”

Altar servers are needed for weekend Masses, school Masses, and funerals. To get involved in this important ministry, please contact Steve Simmons at 919-861-4613 or ssimmons@ourladyoflourdescc.org.

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