St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church — Feb/March 2021

Saint Francis Solanus F E B R U A RY/ M AR C H

2021

The Belonging Catholic Young Adult Group d e e p e n i n g fa i t h a n d f r i e n d s h i p s

The Belonging is a group for young adults who want to connect with others and grow in their faith.

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oung adulthood can be a challenging time of life.

Whether you’re in college, starting out as a young professional, or newly married, it’s often a time of transition and significant decisions as you discern the direction of your life and your faith. It can be challenging to “find your place” in the parish, but for young adults (19-29) in Quincy, we hope to offer support and encouragement along the journey.

“A group of three of us decided that we were upset and sad seeing so many people our age leaving the Catholic Church, and when we would go to Mass, we’d look around and only see maybe one or two people our age,” says Kendra Genenbacher, one of the founders of The Belonging Young Adult Group. “We want people to feel they belong in the Catholic Church and we want them here. We wanted every person to feeling belonging.”

The group — which began early last year and took a bit of a hiatus in the early months of COVID-19 — meets on Tuesday evenings, at the St. Francis parish center.

The group also has social events on scattered Friday continued on page 2

The Belonging group gathers weekly for prayer, to learn about their faith, and to deepen their friendships with one another.

The Belonging Catholic Young Adult Group continued from front cover

and Saturday nights. The themes of the Tuesday nights vary, usually focusing on learning about the faith, growing in prayer together, or spending time fostering a sense of community among the group. They also plan to be involved with service, as COVID-19 restrictions allow.

In a world where many young adults struggle with isolation and loneliness, the group’s goal is to provide support — regardless of where people may be on their journey of faith — giving them a place where they can find encouragement, connection, and friendship, centered around a relationship with Christ and the Church.

“We want you to walk into the building and know, this is exactly where you should be,” Kendra says. “And when you’re hanging out with friends you’ve met at The Belonging, it’s like, ‘This is home.’”

For Kendra, not only has The Belonging been a place to connect with other like-minded young adults, but it has also been an opportunity to grow in her knowledge of the faith. Although she attended Catholic schools for much of her life, she finds herself continuing to deepen her understanding of the

Church’s teaching and what it means to embrace her faith as an adult.

“Every time, I’m in awe and I learn so much,” Kendra says. “I learned so much at a Catholic school, but sometimes, when you’re older, then you actually understand. I’m sure I’ve heard all of these things before, but now I want it to mean something to me, so I’m giving more to making that happen.

“I was trying to help other people grow in faith but now I’m growing in my faith life,” she adds. “It’s so amazing.”

Kendra encourages local young adults to consider attending — and inviting a friend to join them — at The Belonging, to see what the group is all about.

“We’re a Catholic young adult group, but you don’t have to be Catholic,” Kendra says. “You can bring a friend who hasn’t been to church in five years — or maybe they’ve never been. We’re just trying to help young adults find a home, and in the end, we want it to be in the Catholic Church.

“Come, try it once,” she adds. “Take that leap of faith and come. You’ll find out it’s where you want to be on your Tuesday nights.”

For more information, or to become involved with The Belonging, you can check out the group’s social media profiles: Facebook — www.facebook.com/thebelongingquincy Instagram — @thebelonging_quincy You may also reach out to Kendra Genenbacher at 217-316-3251.

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St. Francis Solanus A Letter From Our Pastor

The Word of God:

How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It? Dear Parishioners, few short weeks ago, we completed our Christmas season. As we begin this month, we are in what we call Ordinary Time — and before February is over, we will begin Lent.

The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We speak often of the Word in the Church. As most of you are aware, the first part of our Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. What does that mean to us?

There are four parts of our celebration of Mass — Introductory Rites; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist; and Concluding Rites. My focus in this reflection is that second part, the Liturgy of the Word.

The main parts of that are a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading, the Gospel and a Homily.

We draw on Holy Scripture from the Bible for the readings. As Catholics, we do not consider that these readings are about God, or about the Church, or about our faith, or a history lesson, or a nice story from long ago. We consider them to be God speaking directly to us. Thus, our attentiveness to what is being proclaimed is important. Are we listening? Do we hear? And then, do we respond in our lives? All of those should be facets of how we approach the Word of God.

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For us, the Word of God is the living Word. God is speaking to us as a community, and He asks us to be faithful to His Word. If we pay attention and truly listen, God can nourish our spirit, and Christ can be more real and present to us. The Homily, the Responsorial Psalm, the Profession of Faith, and the Intercessions develop the Word further and complete it. The Profession of Faith is our acceptance of God’s Word.

However, the question for us is, how do we respond to the Word? Does it change our lives? Does it bring us to the conversion necessary to live lives of stewardship and service? It is not easy, I know. Being able to listen, to hear, and then to act requires time, practice, commitment, and a desire to fulfill all of this. That is one of my prayers for us — that we can hear the Word, and that we can bring it to life in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Steven Arisman Pastor

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SECULAR FR

Seeking to Follow the Gospel C W

Deb Moffitt, OFS

hile attending Mass or other parish functions, you may have noticed some of our parishioners wearing a wooden tau, which resembles the capital letter “T.” The tau is the last letter of the ancient Hebrew alphabet, and the symbol St. Francis of Assisi chose as an outward sign of his fidelity in following the footsteps of Christ. Today, the tau is worn by the three orders established by St. Francis — the Order of Friars Minor, the Order of St. Clare (also known as the Poor Clares), and the Third Order of St. Francis, which consists of religious men and women (the Third Order Regular) and laypeople (Secular Franciscans).

Our local area is blessed to have a community of Secular Franciscans living, working, and worshiping in our midst. This community draws members from St. Francis Solanus, as well as from parishes in surrounding towns. Formally established the year before our parish came into existence, the Secular Franciscans in Quincy were once the largest fraternity in the nation, with about 150 active members! Today, there are about 30 Secular Franciscans in our local order.

Deb Moffitt, OFS, Minister of the Secular Franciscans in Quincy, made her profession in 2009, but her ties to the Franciscans go back much further. Growing up in Chicago, she attended a Franciscan high school. The nuns’ motherhouse was attached to the school, and

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“For people that know Francis, we know that he was very much into simplicity and poverty of material things, with a poverty of spirit meaning humility and not being prideful. It also means being very aware of and focused outward on the people around us, on what’s going on with them and their trials. So our charism is related to that, and we try to bring that charism where we work and where we live. We attempt to bring the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.”

— Deb Moffitt, OFS

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RANCISCANS

Call in the Way of St. Francis even the youth minister was a Third Order Franciscan.

Her spirituality was formed by the Franciscans, though it was only years later — after she had married, had children, and pursued a career as a teacher — that Deb realized how great an influence those years had on her faith life.

“I was teaching here in West Central Illinois, and one year, we hired a new teacher and he came in wearing a tau,” says Deb. “I said, ‘Oh my goodness, you’re Franciscan!’ I started studying again and I felt I was coming home. I could see similarities in the way I was raising my children and the way I was teaching my students — it was so deeply rooted in Franciscan spirituality. That teacher became my formation master.”

The process of becoming a Secular Franciscan involves several stages, beginning with observation, moving on to the orientation, inquiry, and candidacy phases, and concluding with the candidate’s profession, or public promise to live by the Rule of St. Francis, which is rooted in Gospel.

Perhaps the most popular misconception about the Rule of St. Francis is the assumption that it requires taking a vow of poverty. While this is true of the religious orders established by St. Francis, it is not the case with the Secular Franciscans, who are called to another kind of poverty and simplicity.

“Those of us who are out in the world, we’re called ‘Secular Franciscans’ because the world is our monastery,” Deb says. “We are still raising families and interacting with our coworkers. At the same time, we don’t live in excess — we live simply.

“For people that know Francis, we know that he was very much into simplicity and poverty of material things, with a poverty of spirit meaning humility and not being prideful,” she adds. “It also means being very aware of and focused outward on the people around us, on what’s going on with them and their trials. So our charism is related to that, and we try to bring that charism where we work and where we live. We attempt to bring the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.”

With the members of our Secular Franciscans spread out geographically, Deb — who lives in Nauvoo where she

attends Sts. Peter and Paul Church — is hoping to find more ways for them to come together to serve our communities as a group. She is thankful for the dynamic spiritual life she has developed with the Secular Franciscans and for the fellowship found in their shared charism.

“Being a Secular Franciscan helps to bring your faith more alive,” Deb says. “It becomes like your own family.

These people are my brothers and sisters, and I care for them greatly. We have a shared vocation, so when we get together, there is a spiritual bond that we have with each other.”

Are you interested in learning more about the Secular Franciscans? Deb Moffitt, OFS, Minister of the Quincy order, encourages parishioners to attend one of their third Sunday meetings in the St. Francis Solanus parish hall once gatherings have resumed — meetings are currently suspended due to COVID-19.

Please check the brochures in the narthex for more information, or call Deb at 309-221-1564.

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Living D

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Lent in 2021

uring the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert, Satan was constantly tempting Him. He preyed on Jesus’ humanity, trying desperately to get Him to test God. Of course, we all know that it didn’t work. As Jesus is 100 percent God at the same time that He is 100 percent man, the devil was unable to take hold of Him. Yet, the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert communicates an all-important truth to us. Jesus, the Godman, experienced everything we have and everything we ever will as human beings. Satan even tried to tempt Him, just as he tempts us every day. But because Jesus is God at the same time that He is human, He had no tendency to give in to Satan’s attempts.

Even so, Christ fought Satan tooth and nail, putting him in his place — “Get away, Satan! It is written, ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship, and Him alone shall you serve’” (Matthew 4:10). At that, the devil left Him. We all find ourselves in similar situations. We live in a world wrought with sin, and, in his ever-so-cunning way, Satan makes the sinful look appealing. We must stand firm in our faith and tell Satan to “get away,” just as Jesus did. Only then will we truly experience the glory

of the salvation that Christ came to give. Lent offers us a particular time to fight Satan, taking courage in the resurrection that we are preparing to celebrate. It is a time that we spend focused on strengthening our relationships with the Lord. Armed with His power, which we receive in many different ways, we can resist the temptations of the devil and accept the salvation Christ offers each one of us.

How can we do this? Get to know the Lord through prayer. Read the Scriptures often. St. Jerome tells us that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. So, we must be steeped in Scripture. Read it daily — chapter by chapter, or verse by verse. It is, after all, the Word of God! Draw close to the Blessed Mother — she is eager to bring us to her Son. Join her at the cross, where she witnessed her most precious Son die for each one of us. Pray the Rosary — individually and as a family. It is a powerful prayer through which, with Mary, we walk through Christ’s life, His death, and His resurrection. Unite with Christ Himself in His suffering.

Let us focus on the spirit of the season. We are to be preparing ourselves, just as Christ did, for the great event that won for us salvation!

St. Francis Solanus

Funeral Dinners Ministry

offering comfort to those in mourning

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n the Gospel of Luke, we hear the story of Mary and Martha.

Mary spends time at Jesus’ feet and Martha busies herself getting the house ready and preparing a meal. We can all relate to Mary and Martha at some point in our lives.

They both have a role in the story, but Martha provides an example that those in the Funeral Dinner Ministry have emulated, providing true hospitality to guests.

When a family opts for a meal following a funeral at our parish, one of four groups help. The group, consisting of about five people, gathers before the funeral to make

a meal of meat, potatoes, beans, corn, and rolls. Others in the group volunteer by bringing salads and desserts. Each group has about 30 people to call on for cooking, salads, and desserts.

For family and friends of the deceased, often coming from out of town, this ministry provides hospitality and comfort to those who have experienced a tough few days.

“When there is a mother or dad that dies and the kids are located out of town, or the sisters or brothers are out of town, this is one way to unite the families and give them a place to

visit after the funeral,” says Marcia Tushaus, who has been involved with the ministry for many years.

“They have the opportunity to take pictures of who is around, and that is a good thing for them.”

Marcia enjoys being able to provide a space for people to process the loss they have just experienced and not have to worry about space and a meal. From setup to cleanup, the Funeral Dinner ministry is there to help.

“When we provide this opportunity, families can gather around a table and avoid the stress of making food,” Marcia

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A group leader is needed to make a fifth group, but help is appreciated with every part of this ministry. To volunteer or for more information, please call Marcia Tushaus at 217-222-3370 or David Hildebrand at 217-455-3822.

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St. Francis Solanus R O M AN

CATH O L IC

PA R IS H

1721 College Avenue Quincy, IL 62301 (217) 222-2898 stfrancissolanus.com

Funeral Dinners Ministry says. “When they sit down to eat, the tough part of that day is hopefully over — the cemetery, Mass, and greeting people.”

Marcia says for this important show of hospitality to continue, more help is needed as many members are getting older.

“The leads of the groups have been doing this ever since we started this, so for many years,” Marcia says.

“We need more people to step forth to help.”

Marcia chuckles when asked if groups combine for a dinner.

While this is a beautiful ministry of hospitality, it is

continued from page 7 also one that is “behind the scenes,” as Marcia points out.

“People don’t know about it until they need it,” she says.

Marcia also acknowledges the many men and women who help and have helped over the years, from making the meals to bringing salads and desserts.

“We deeply appreciate those that help — without them, it wouldn’t happen,” she says. “They don’t get pats on the back very often.”

Marcia wants others in our parish to experience the blessings of this hospitality ministry.

“It’s good to help out in this way so the family can be together,” she says.

Liturgy Schedule

Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. │ Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 a.m.

Weekday Mass: Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. │ T, W, Th 8:35 a.m. │ Saturday, 8:00 a.m.

Confessions: 8:30 a.m., 3 - 4 p.m.

Holy Days of Obligation: Vigil 5:30 p.m.; Holy Day: 6:30 a.m., 8:35 a.m. on school days, 5:30 p.m.