St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Newsletter — December 2020

DEC

2020

Christmastime Stewardship How We Can Bring His Son to the World PAGE 2 December: A Time for Mercy and Tenderness

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When “I Do” Doesn’t Last Forever: Seeking Justice Through the Annulment Process PAGE 4 Begin the journey home for Christmas PAGE 6

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA

Coming Soon to St. Dominic School/St. Anthony Pancake And Sausage Breakfast PAGE 7

A VERY SPECIAL PA R I S H C H R I S T M A S G I F T

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t’s that time of year again — Advent and Christmas are right around the corner, and many of us have already begun to look for the “perfect” gifts for our loved ones. We put a lot of thought into this search, hoping to find presents that will bring the recipients true joy and serve as a reflection of our love for them. This year, St. Anthony of Padua is pleased to give a meaningful and enriching Christmas gift to all our parishioners — a digital subscription to FORMED, at formed.org!

The online streaming platform FORMED is run by the Augustine Institute, the parent organization to Lighthouse Media. It provides subscribers with a wealth of Catholic resources — including programs, movies, audio content, and e-books — right at their fingertips.

“FORMED is a multimedia experience that allows Catholics to become better formed in their faith,” says Fr. Tom Donovan.

“One of the goals of the parish for the coming years was to provide opportunities for formation. We had some exciting things planned that, in the age of COVID, we weren’t able to do. So, this is a response to that goal that is consistent with the state of the world we’re in right now, where people can view,

right from their own homes, some outstanding productions that are done on the Catholic Church and the Catholic faith.”

With our parish-sponsored FORMED subscription, parishioners will be able to stream content on their smartphones and computers. “Smart” televisions — or any that are connected to a streaming device such as Roku, Apple TV or Google Chromecast — are also able to support programs on FORMED. Listen to well-known Catholic speakers like Scott Hahn and Bishop Robert Barron present on topics of the faith, engage in a Bible continued on back cover

Christmastime Stewardship: How We Can Bring His Son to the World

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t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that.

True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way.

Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world.

What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants

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us to go, and there are many places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them.”

How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship.

We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us.

Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well.

Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts.

This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA a letter from our pastor

December: Dear Parishioners,

A Time for mercy and

Tenderness

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dvent and Christmas are upon us. Even with all of the challenges we have faced this year, this is a busy time for me, for our parish, for priests, and certainly for most of you. And, even as we continue to navigate so much uncertainty, we still look forward to traditional holiday events and to be present with our faith family for Christmas Masses.

We all know why — there is something special about the Church and our faith during these holidays.

We must remember this, and we need to be grateful for it. It is a time to be the loving and welcoming people Christ calls us to be. Hospitality is an important part of being a good steward, and this is a perfect time to practice it.

For those of us who may have only come to church every once in a while, or if you’re making your way back after having been isolated due to the pandemic, you are welcome here! We want you to know that you always have a home and family here, any time you need it.

You may have heard of the term “the new evangelization.” It is something Pope Francis has emphasized, in particular through his exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The pope’s letter, with the title that means

“The Joy of the Gospel,” has advice for all Catholics relating to how we should all view and treat each other, as sons and daughters of God and members of the Church.

The pope said, “There is a need for Christians who help show God’s mercy and tenderness toward every creature. We all know that today’s humanity is facing a deep crisis. This is why the new evangelization must necessarily use the language of mercy, which is more about gestures and attitudes than words.”

So, as we enter into the Advent season and then Christmas, we must

always remember that this is a time for “mercy and tenderness.” This is a time for us to show love for everyone, to our brothers and sisters in the next pew or on the other side of the globe.

This is a time to share the Good News of Emmanuel, God-with-us, with all we meet.

May you and your families have a blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!

Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Tom Donovan Pastor

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When

“I Do” Doesn’t Last Forever:

Seeking Justice Through the Annulment Process

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t is probably safe to say that few people walk down the aisle on their wedding day anticipating that their marriage will one day become a statistic. But for one reason or another, despite the best intentions in saying “I do,” not all people find themselves in a viable, sustained marriage. Sadly, for many Catholics who have suffered the pain of a marriage ending in divorce, the joy of a second chance at love may be dampened by a sense of disconnection from the Church and the Sacraments.

However, for Catholics who are civilly divorced, and desiring to be united to Christ and His Church through the sacraments, a life of celibacy is not the only option. The annulment process is one by which the Church seeks to walk alongside an individual in reflecting on their relationship and coming to understand if there were factors which, from the very beginning of the marriage, made it impossible for one of both parties to truly enter into the sacrament.

“The Church says that marriages are forever and if both spouses are alive, no matter what the state says, we recognize that marriage union as something that endures,” says Fr. Tom Donovan. “But we also have the very human experience that there are times when a marriage has a defect so crippling that it prevents a couple from being able to live what Christ has in mind for what marriage is.

“If we enter into marriage correctly, there’s nothing in heaven or earth that can undo that,” he adds. “But as flawed and imperfect human beings, there can be defects in the way we enter into marriage, and we realize there are cases where the words [“I do”] are said, and the things are done, but the sacrament didn’t really happen.”

In the past, an annulment has often been misunderstood as a “Catholic divorce,” while in reality, it is quite the opposite.

While a divorce signifies the legal end of a contractual union between two people, an annulment declares that a marriage is “null,” or in other words, never really existed, as God intended marriage in the first place.

“To have a marriage, it needs to be faithful, fruitful, final, as far as the vows and intention, and it needs to be free,” Fr. Tom says. “If someone isn’t free, that can’t be a valid attempt at marriage.”

“As part of the annulment process, we go back and look at the marriage and say, ‘Was there something defective about what people were thinking marriage was, all the way from the beginning?’” he adds. “That’s what makes an annulment different from just ‘Catholic-style divorce.’”

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Nadine and Jake Messmer were married in 2018 after both of them sought and gained declarations of nullity for their former attempts at marriage. They now enjoy a life-giving, Christian, sacramental marriage together and encourage others who are seeking annulments.

“The Church family is the most important thing that keeps you going — it’s a cornerstone and means you have someone to lean on,” Jake says. “If you’re going to go through the process of an annulment, use those people to encourage you to get it done.”

“If your faith is deep, anything is worth doing to keep your faith,” Nadine adds.

There are many factors, ranging from psychological and emotional maturity to coercion, to a lack of understanding of the meaning of the sacrament, and more. These factors or “defects” make it impossible for a true, Christian marriage to take place.

“If we’re able to definitively say that there was something defective there, we can say that never really was what Christ intended as marriage, that was not a Christian marriage,” Fr. Tom says. “It was an attempt at marriage and the children you had during that marriage are understood as a product of your love, but there was something from the very beginning that prevented a real lifelong Christian marriage from existing, maybe from one or both parties.”

Fr. Tom clarifies that the majority of couples would admit to having no idea what marriage entailed before saying “I do” — however, the grace of the sacrament often empowers them to live out their vows through a variety of challenging continued on page 5

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA circumstances. This is why the process of declaring a marriage to be “null” can only take place once a couple is civilly divorced. As long as a couple is still married, the Church does everything in her power to assist and support couples in living out their vows.

“Grace builds on our imperfections and fills in many gaps when we make a decision like becoming a priest or getting married,” Fr. Tom says. “Everyone enters their vocation a little bit broken and we should trust that, even if we did enter in with the wrong intentions, grace can build on that and we recommit ourselves to our marriages every day. But, if a divorce does happen, that would be a case where we’d go back and look at things.”

In the end, the annulment process is a way in which the Church seeks to bring about justice — both for the individuals involved, as well as to honor the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.

“The Church wants justice in this,” Fr. Tom says.

“If you have not had a proper Christian marriage, the Church wants you, in justice, to be free to have a true Christian marriage.”

Fr. Tom hopes that parishioners who have completed the process of a legal divorce will be open to the possibility of looking back and recognizing what may have inhibited them

— or their former spouse — from fully or freely entering into the Sacrament of Marriage.

“Just give us a call and let’s see what might be possible,” Fr. Tom says. “Trust God to let the process unfold as it might.”

For Fr. Tom, there are few things more rewarding than helping people to complete the process of an annulment, bringing them back into union with the Church and the sacraments, if they have been away.

“Being in a marriage that’s not recognized by the Church after a divorce is probably one of the greatest things that pushes people away from the Church,” Fr. Tom says. “Let’s see if the Church can provide healing and help, some justice here. Let’s see if we can help you to re-engage the sacramental life. That’s my job as a priest — to help facilitate that anywhere we can. “[The annulment process] recognizes our humanity, recognizes our brokenness, and recognizes that there is justice that is found in mercy,” he adds. “This is not to scold and point fingers, it’s to set things right. What a privilege, what a wonderful thing to participate in. It’s a sign of God’s providence, writing — with really crooked lines — His will into people’s lives. We hate that the broken marriage happened, but to finally set things right, there’s nothing quite like it in the world.”

For more information about the annulment process, please contact Fr. Tom Donovan at 217-222-5996. Fr. Tom can either assist you through the process or refer you to another annulment advocate, based on your needs and preferences. We also hope to host an informational event with someone from the diocesan tribunal, who works on annulment cases, to share about the details of the annulment process, as COVID-19 precautions allow.

Please contact the parish office at the number above for more information.

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Begin the Journey

Home for

CHRISTMAS C

hrist was born the son of a poor carpenter. This was by no means an accident. His birth was the culmination of salvation history, as it profoundly revealed the glory of God. Infinite power and wisdom took the form “of a servant, coming in human likeness” (Phil 2:7) — not as a warrior, but a poor and vulnerable babe.

Every aspect of Christ’s birth, from the three kings to the swaddling clothes, carries meaning. The proclamation of the angel, therefore, is also important: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). This message, meant to be for “all the people,” was announced to a group of shepherds in a field out in the middle of nowhere. Was this accidental? Not at all.

The shepherds, who received a personal invitation to greet Christ at the manger, reveal that God’s love extends beyond boundaries of distance and transcends social classes. Unlike persons of this world who yearn to gain recognition with those of influence, wealth or beauty, Christ cries out to the lowly in society — to the shepherds in the distance.

He reaches out in love, desiring a relationship with every single person,

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no matter their status. This is the “good news of great joy for all people” — Christ was born for us all.

Christmas is the perfect time for distant shepherds to begin the journey home. The angel’s greeting extends to all those who feel estranged from the Church or numb to God’s love. Those who have fallen away from the faith can be comforted by these words: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).

Be not afraid. The Christ Child awaits your arrival. Begin the journey back to Christ by drawing near to His body, the Church. Through prayer and the sacraments, you will discover the great joy that accompanies a relationship with God. Take a moment to ask the Lord to bring peace to your heart and guide you in love towards Him. Please join our parish family for the final preparations of Advent, as well as the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses.

You have read this entire article and have received a personal invitation to begin the journey.

Accidental? Not a chance.

“unlike persons of this world who yearn to gain recognition with those of influence, wealth or beauty, christ cries out to the lowly in society — to the shepherds in the distance. he reaches out in love, desiring a relationship with every single person, no matter their status.”

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA

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ST. ANTHONY of PADUA 2223 St. Anthony Rd. Quincy, IL 62305 217-222-5996

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www.stanthonypadua.org 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.

FORMED continued from front cover study, keep the kids entertained with an animated children’s series on the saints, or settle in for a movie night sure to be good for the soul! Both English and Spanish-language programming is available. Indeed, FORMED truly offers something for everyone.

“There is something for all ages,” Fr. Tom says. “I expect and hope to see it being used in our school and made available to our high school students. There are catechetical learning opportunities, but also opportunities for entertainment. They have a well-curated list of highquality movies that are family-friendly.”

Fr. Tom hopes that FORMED will be a Christmas gift that serves the people of St. Anthony throughout the entire year as they continue to delve more deeply into their faith from the comfort of home.

“We’re always trying to teach and help people make the faith their own,” he says. “This is something new for our parish that we can link together with our reflections

on Christmas and our New Year’s resolutions. We haven’t been able to have life, as usual, this year, so until we can get things fully launched and going again, this allows us to continue our mission to evangelize and grow in the faith.

“I just pray that it is a new and exciting way for parishioners to plug into not only their own experience but also the wisdom and the union of the larger Church and the faith that we all profess,” Fr. Tom adds. “This is our faith, and this is our opportunity to continue growing.”

To register for FORMED, visit http://signup.formed.org and then enter 62305 or St. Anthony of Padua Church, Quincy, IL.

To learn more about stewardship at St. Anthony of Padua, please contact the Stewardship Committee at stewardship@stanthonypadua.org