St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Newsletter — August 2021

St. Anthony of padua

St. Dominic School

Students, Faculty and Staff Gearing Up For

Exciting New School Year

T

he 2020-21 school year most certainly came with lots of challenges, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closures and safety protocols that arrived in its wake.

But there were two things that helped everyone at St. Dominic School see the difficult year through — patience and faith.

“We had chosen the Bible verse, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’” says Principal Mrs. Carol Frericks. “We needed to call upon that strength so many times. Sometimes, we were on our knees, in prayer, thanking God for the challenges and the strength to deal with the challenges.”

The school was mostly able to stay Students and staff celebrated Catholic open. All year, the school also offered an Schools Week 2021 with the theme of being a “Holy Hero.” online option for students.

“Our staff was absolutely phenomenal,” Mrs. Frericks says. “They were well-equipped and well-prepared, each and every day. They provided the same academic excellence, even though they were challenged to do that in a more 21st-century manner with devices.”

Mrs. Frericks says students and staff gave up some things to be able to do others. For instance, classrooms were kept separate so they were unable to meet with their buddy classes. Each class has a buddy class from continued on page 2

Inside AUGUST 2021

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Strive to Be Swifter, Higher and Stronger Stewards

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The Sacrament of Confirmation: Taking the First Step on the Adulthood Faith Journey

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Living According to God’s Will Forming a Conscience and Moral Code

7 Our Parish’s Family

Faith Formation

Program Taking

an Exciting New Direction

St. Anthony of padua

St. Dominic School another grade.

As we hopefully continue to move past the pandemic, we can look forward to a joyful and exciting 2021-2022 school year.

This year’s Bible verses are from Matthew 28:19-20 — “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In particular, the students will focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“We want to learn how Mary did what she did,” Mrs. Frericks says. “We want to learn from Mary’s example and learn about discipleship.”

Mrs. Frericks is excited about this verse and the work students will do to better understand the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church — the Profession of Faith, the Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ, and Christian Prayer.

It looks to be a busy year in terms of learning about the Catholic faith, and staff will utilize more inquiry-based learning with students. Mrs. Frericks is excited about the opportunities in the new year.

She can’t wait to see what the

continued from front cover

Fr. Tom and the school designated the Nature Classroom as A Place for Grace.

Grace was a former St. Dominic School student who passed away.

2021-2022 school year holds.

In addition, 2021 saw a staff retirement, as well as some staff shifts. Eighth-grade teacher Mrs. Donna Richmiller retired after 37 years in Catholic education, with 36 years at St. Dominic School.

Also, Mrs. Sharon Phillips announced her retirement in July to take a position tutoring math with students at St. Dominic School. Miss Hope Glidewell, the previous seventh-grade and language arts teacher, acquired her endorsement in science and will serve as the eighth-grade homeroom teacher and middle school science teacher. Mrs. Holly Kasparie, the previous part-time physical education teacher, acquired her middle

school endorsement in math and will serve as the seventh-grade homeroom teacher and middle school math teacher.

“Our school family is amazing,” Mrs. Frericks says. “Our faith is here to hold us together.”

Mrs. Frericks extends heartfelt gratitude to all parishioners for their support of the school.

“We are so thankful for all parishioners,” Mrs. Frericks says.

“Throughout the pandemic, a lot of parishioners did things to stay connected to the school. They contributed — they never wavered. They continued to support the school through all this.”

If you would like to learn more about St. Dominic School, please visit the school website at www.stdominicquincy.org or call 217-224-0041.

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A Letter From Our Pastor

STRIVE

to Be

SWIFTER, HIGHER and STRONGER STEWARDS

Dear Parishioners,

A

t the end of July and for the first week of August, the eyes of the world will be focused on the Olympic Games in Tokyo. We will watch with amazement and admiration as athletes from all over the world run, swim, and perform seemingly impossible gymnastic routines. Their feats in these and other events will show the dedication and determination it takes to prepare to compete against the best athletes in the world.

The athletes will be doing their best to fulfill the Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” – “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.” Although the Olympics will be using this phrase in the context of athletic competition, I think we could apply these words to our own lives.

That’s not to say we need to defeat the other members of our family, neighbors, or fellow parishioners. Indeed, we should seek ways to help them, not compete with them. But we ought to live each day so that we work for goals in a “swifter, higher, stronger” way than we did the day before.

St. Paul uses a similar athletic image and applies it to the spiritual life when he wrote, “Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:25-27).

St. Paul was referring to the ultimate goal of the whole Christian life. The “imperishable crown” he mentions is that given to those who are with God in heaven, where they “shall reign forever and ever” (Rev 22:5). And we should never forget that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness” (1024).

We also celebrate during August the person who most perfectly exhibited dedication to a “swifter, higher, stronger” cooperation with God’s will, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Aug. 15, in the very middle of the month.

In closing, here is a stewardship suggestion for August — make a commitment to devote at least half the time you spend watching the Olympics this month to prayer and worship. It may be a challenge, but you’ll find your soul has become “swifter, higher, stronger.”

Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Tom Donovan Pastor

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St. Anthony of padua

The Sacrament of C TAKING THE FIRST STEP ON THE

“T

he best is yet to come…”

These words are often heard in relation to some of life’s major milestones — the birth of a new baby, the first week of college, a couple’s wedding day. It may come as a surprise, however, that this forward-looking phrase also provides an apt description for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church. Indeed, far from signaling an “end” to a child’s formation in the faith, Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation encompassing the completion of baptismal promises, the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the beginning of one’s full life in the Church.

“Confirmation prepares you to begin, in a way, your faith journey beyond the initiation,” says Deacon Harry Cramer. “You’re always going to be learning. One of the things about Confirmation is that when we’re fully anointed with Christ as prophet and king, we are called to do the things that Jesus did — to preach and heal and all the things a prophet and king does. You can’t keep up with the faith if you don’t continue to learn, go to Mass, and receive Jesus and carry Him out into the world. So, Confirmation is not a graduation — it is a bon voyage and the first step on your adult faith journey.”

Here in the Diocese of Springfield, parishes began following the “restored order” for the Sacraments of Initiation several years ago. This practice brings the sacraments back to the order in which they were traditionally received in early Church history, with Baptism followed first by Confirmation, and then by First Holy Communion.

Going forward, parishioners in the third grade will receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the same Mass.

This year, St. Anthony was blessed to see our third-graders receive both of these sacraments on Sunday, May 2. In addition, parishioners in the fifth, sixth and seventh grades who had not been 4

confirmed before our parish went to the restored order received the Sacrament of Confirmation at a later Mass the same day.

As with the Sacrament of Baptism, the parents are the first and foremost teachers of the faith to their children as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

“The baptismal preparation says it very clearly — mom and dad are the first and best teachers,” Deacon Harry says. “So, in the child’s early years and on into Confirmation, the first step is bringing the kids to Mass, understanding what Confirmation is, and talking about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in the home. Then you look to the school — in our case, St. Dominic or our PSR program — to support the parents with the more formal aspects of the preparation.”

While parents, teachers, and catechists play an essential role in the faith formation of our confirmandi, other sources of support and encouragement are found throughout the Catholic community. Traditionally, students preparing for Confirmation choose a friend or family member to be their Confirmation sponsor — these adults serve as role models in the faith. The confirmandi also discern a patron saint to help guide and inspire them on their faith journey. This ritual signifies the young person’s identity as a Christian and their place in the communion of saints.

“It’s really cool because they choose their saints for a variety of reasons,” Deacon Harry says. “They are encouraged to choose a name of a saint that has some characteristic or some calling that the confirmandi admires or aspires to. I talked to one confirmandi who had police officers in the family, and he mentioned that he chose St. Michael the Archangel because he had guardians in the family.

It was a sweet way of honoring his dad and uncles.”

By conferring upon the confirmandi the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit — wisdom, understanding,

Confirmation: ADULTHOOD FAITH JOURNEY counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord — the Sacrament of Confirmation is an integral step in the faith journey of every Catholic.

“I think it’s very important for all Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, especially in this day and age,” Deacon Harry says. “I think the reordering of the sacraments has brought to my attention the importance of Confirmation in bracing us against some of the opportunities that could lead us into sin. When you put it together with Baptism and First Holy Communion, these sacraments bring a whole battery of grace. They help us to focus on faith.”

Let us all rejoice in the Confirmation of so many of our young parishioners this past spring! May the gifts of the Holy Spirit they received in this sacrament inspire them to a deeper faith, a closer walk with Christ, and a full life in the Church.

“I think it’s very important for all Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, especially in this day and age. I think the reordering of the sacraments has brought to my attention the importance of Confirmation in bracing us against some of the opportunities that could lead us into sin. When you put it together with Baptism and First Holy Communion, these sacraments bring a whole battery of grace.

They help us to focus on faith.”

— DEACON HARRY CRAMER 5

St. Anthony of padua

Living According to God’s Will

Forming a Conscience and Moral Code

A

s Christians, it is important that we recognize the difference between right and wrong — both morally and ethically. Sometimes, though, this line can become blurred.

Many situations we encounter in our lives include variables that can leave us internally conflicted and unsure of how to move forward in accordance with God’s will.

So, how do we work through these moral conundrums? One way is to develop a solid Christian conscience.

A moral conscience exists in the heart of every individual. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking. Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed” (1777, 1778).

Think of your conscience as the “angelic” version of yourself sitting on your shoulder, giving you sound advice.

While everyone is blessed with a conscience, each individual has a responsibility to develop this conscience from the time they are young. Parents obviously play an important role in developing their children’s consciences. As the primary educators of their children on ethical issues and the Catholic faith, parents have a responsibility to teach virtue to their children and help them to

avoid fear, selfishness, and pride. As we grow older, we take on the lifelong challenge of continually forming our own consciences, and establishing a moral code that enables us to make the proper judgments.

One valuable tool in forming a conscience is the practice of introspection. “It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience” (CCC 1779). In contemporary society, where there are so many distractions and routines, it is extremely important that we take the time to look inward and truly listen to what our inner voice is telling us.

Another way to ensure we are developing a good moral code is by conforming to the mind of Christ.

God the Father gave us Christ, physically present on this earth and recorded in Sacred Scripture, as the ultimate example of what to do and how to behave according to God’s will. In turn, when we act in loving imitation of Christ, we are certain to make practical judgments of conscience.

The next time you are faced with a moral dilemma, take some quiet time to look inward, weigh the positive and negative outcomes, and listen to the voice of your conscience. Read the Gospels for examples of Christ’s teachings. By making this a regular practice, you will find that the voice of your conscience will come in louder and more clearly than you may have initially expected.

The next time you are faced with a moral dilemma, take some quiet time to look inward, weigh the positive and negative outcomes, and listen to the voice of your conscience. Read the Gospels for examples of Christ’s teachings. By making this a regular practice, you will find that the voice of your conscience will come in louder and more clearly than you may have initially expected.

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OUR PARISH’S

Family Faith Formation Program TAKING AN EXCITING NEW DIRECTION

E

xciting changes have been underway this summer at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, all to help us grow as disciples of Christ, grounded in our ability to evangelize our Catholic faith.

Effective July 1, we now have Family Faith Formation with Hope Glidewell as the Coordinator.

The focus has broadened from Parish School of Religion to Family Faith Formation, with existing ministries brought under the Family Faith Formation hub and a family ministry focus. Meetings have been ongoing all summer to organize all the details, with the cooperative element between St. Anthony of Padua Parish and St. Dominic School playing an important role. Hope’s position will be tying all the pieces of the former Director of Religion’s post to Family Faith Formation.

“Fr. Tom and I are involved with the parish and the school, and we have different vocations, including our deacon, parents of a school family,

as well as a parishioner who has a leadership role coordinating ministries, along with Hope, all working as a team,” says Carol Frericks, St. Dominic Principal.

The new Family Faith Formation will take a modular approach to help organize the ministries and to involve more people, with more taking responsibility.

“There will be other people affected in the change of the Parish School of Religion,” Fr. Tom Donovan says. “We have to get teachers and curriculum and re-format the PSR. We’re looking at reorganizing our PSR with a new vision, drawn from the recent Synod which at the same time called for the restored order of the sacraments. Bishop Paprocki is challenging us to focus on how to help our children live the grace of the sacraments in their young lives, specifically by developing them as Christian Disciples and Stewards in those middle continued on back cover

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St. Anthony of padua

2223 St. Anthony Rd. | Quincy, IL 62305 217-222-5996 | www.stanthonypadua.org

Return Service Requested

St. Dominic School of St. Anthony of Padua Parish 4100 Columbus Road | Quincy, IL 62305 | 217-224-0041

DAILY MASS: Mon, Tue, & Thu: 7:30 a.m.

Saturday: 4:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

CONFESSIONS: Saturday 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.

Family Faith Formation Program continued from page 7

years when they might otherwise just be waiting for Confirmation. This is a time of active faith formation looking out from the experience of the sacraments, rather than simply looking forward for them. Our emphasis on Family Faith Formation is a positive step in that challenge, that invitation. As we continue to develop these plans, we will be in a different place than we are now."

As the changes are being put into place, everything will be done to align with the four Pillars of Catechism — Belief, Celebration, Life in Christ, and Prayer. There will be encouragement to participate in the Eucharist and to bring Christ into all our families.

“Sometimes we have a wall between the Parish

School of Religion and the school,” Fr. Tom says.

“We also want to try to lower that wall and work in a more holistic way to make all our Christian families living happily and holy.”

“I’m excited for it,” says Hope, who is working on her master’s in Art and Catechetical Evangelization at Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, all the while teaching 8th grade at St. Dominic School.

“There needs to be a shift in how we do catechesis, and I want to be part of that.”

As the new Family Faith Formation hub is being put into action, Fr. Tom has one request of us.

“When Hope asks you to step up and do something, please say ‘yes,’” he says.

If you have any questions regarding the new Family Faith Formation hub, or if you would like more information, please contact the parish office at 217-222-5996.