St. Francis Solanus
m o n t h l y n e w s l e tt e r
Introducing O ur N ewest P arochial V icar
Fr. Rafal Pyrchla:
Inside This Issue: 3
Celebrating God’s Love
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An Update on Our Sister Parishes in Alaska
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How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children?
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Meet Marcia Steinkamp: Outgoing Stewardship Council Chair Ready to Pass the Torch
FEB/MAR 2022
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A Priest with a Missionary Heart
r. Rafal Pyrchla’s life bears testimony to all of the beautiful things that can happen in a young soul when hearty seeds of faith, hope, and charity are planted firmly within. “I have felt a calling to the priesthood ever since I was a child,” says Fr. Rafal, who joined St. Francis Solanus parish as a Parochial Vicar this past fall. “I always wanted to become a priest and my main goal was to be like my hometown pastor in Poland. I really liked him and I admired what he was doing. He was very pious and he prayed a lot. I was also realFr. Rafal Pyrchla’s life bears ly impressed by my mother’s piety. She was a testimony to all of the beautiful things that can happen in a woman of deep prayer. My father died when young soul when hearty seeds I was 8 years old and she raised four boys by of faith, hope and charity are herself.” planted firmly within. By being surrounded by enriching Catholic family traditions and Catholic culture, these seeds continued on page 2
St. Francis Solanus Fr. Rafal Pyrchla
continued from front cover
of grace were nurtured and continue to bloom until this day. “We prayed the Rosary and went to Mass together regularly as a family when I was growing up,” Fr. Rafal says. “My twin brother and I would pray for each other, and we still do to this day. He has kept his Catholic faith and he still lives in Poland. The town we lived in, which was one hour from Krakow, was very Catholic as well.” In God’s good time, Fr. Rafal entered a seminary in Poland, and after undergoing some formation there, decided to come to the United States about eight years ago to serve as a missionary priest. He was ordained in 2017. “As a missionary, I am called to live far from home and go to a country where there are not a good number of Catholic people or priests,” he says. “It also means that I have the privilege of sharing my Polish Catholic heritage, prayers, and traditions with others. My favorite Polish devotion is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as St. Faustina was from Krakow.” Above all, Fr. Rafal appreciates the opportunity to walk alongside God’s people on the journey of faith. “I enjoy being with people in the joyful times of their lives, such as Baptisms and weddings,” he says. “I am also grateful I can serve them in difficult moments, such as after the death of a loved one. I am glad I can be there for my parishioners in both good and bad times.” When asked how he sees his priestly vocation as a commitment to stewardship to Our Lord, Fr. Rafal offers a thoughtful, reflective response. “Being a priest offers me a way to give time to people and to the Lord, as well as to grow in holiness,” he says. “As a priest, I really feel I can give 2
my talents to God, especially by teaching. I am looking forward to teaching in the parish school next fall. I would also like to get to know the parishioners better, serve them in the best way I can, and be with them when they need me.”
St. Therese of Lisieux’s
PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep Your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with Your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown.
a l e tt e r f r o m o u r p a s t o r
Celebrating God’s Love Dear Parishioners,
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hat’s the most widely observed saint’s day in February — the one that’s kept even by those who aren’t practicing Catholics? Undoubtedly it would be St. Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The irony is that his feast isn’t even on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ official Liturgical Calendar. That doesn’t mean that he’s not recognized as a real, historical person, and a genuine saint, but only that his influence throughout the Church has not been as significant as some others. So, who was St. Valentine? Actually, there are several St. Valentines, as the name was not a rare one in the ancient Roman empire, but the saint we celebrate was a priest of Rome martyred in the late third century. Still, that doesn’t explain how his feast came to be celebrated as the day one sends letters, cards, and presents as expressions of romantic love. The truth is that the custom of sending tokens of love comes not from any direct connection with St. Valentine, but from the ancient belief that birds begin to pair off on Feb. 14. And if courtship in the natural world occurred then, it must be appropriate for humans, as well. The association between St. Valentine and love notes is a later development. Nevertheless, it’s not wrong to connect the two. Love has many aspects, and our conception of it is richer if we keep more than one of them in mind. Martyrdom is the result of loving God more than our earthly life. St. Val-
entine was a martyr because of his love — his love for Jesus Christ and his Church. If he had not loved God so much, he could have repudiated his Lord and saved his life. We in turn express our love by sending cards and gifts on St. Valentine’s Day. But isn’t that what stewardship as a way of life is, a little martyrdom? Not to push the image too far, but when we are faithful stewards, we give up a little portion of our lives out of our own love for Christ. Most Christians will not be called on to be martyrs, in the sense of forfeiting our physical lives for God. But we are called to give up some of our comforts, indulgences, and riches because of our love for Him. So then, as you prepare to celebrate and share your love with your Valentine this month, remember St. Valentine and his love for Christ. As well, keep in mind that God loves us, and return that love with your own toward Him. Loving God will be reflected in how you prioritize your use of the time, talent, and treasure God has entrusted to you. As St. John wrote (1 Jn 4:19), “We love because he first loved us.” Happy St. Valentine’s Day! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Steven Arisman, Pastor 3
St. Francis Solanus
AN UPDATE ON OUR SISTER Greetings,
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sually, I try to visit or write to you and let you know how we are doing here in Alaska. First, I want to thank you for your continued support of our Missions here in Alaska. I was sorry to hear of our friars having to leave our parish here in Quincy. Over the years I have always enjoyed visiting with the friars who have served you over the years. I still have good memories of Brother Martin — I was in Cleveland when he died. To share a story, we were at supper when we heard of Br. Martin’s passing and one of our older priests said, “That was the last of our Good Brothers.” I had to say, “Father, there are six brothers here at the table.” He laughed and said, “That is the last of the good brothers.” I walked with and knew many of the friars who were part of your life at St. Francis — I always felt you were blessed with the greatest friars we have. I know we as Friars try to not only bring the Word of God but also walk with God’s people. When I think of you, I see the church full of beautiful families trying to bring themselves and their families close to God. I always felt the love of God and at home every time I
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visited. I still remember one Sunday, when the children were the choir and sang so wonderfully. I knew that is where the new priests, brothers, and sisters will come from — from your beautiful families that will spread God’s love to our world. I do keep the late Fr. Gary Bernhardt (a priest who grew up at St. Francis), who spent some time with us here in our villages, in my thoughts and prayers, as well. Through your prayers and donations, you have had a great influence on our native people here in Alaska. As I mentioned when I visited your parish last time, I love the statue of St. Francis Solanus baptizing the native people in the front of the sanctuary. This statue makes me feel a special kinship with our two missions who serve primarily native peoples. With the pandemic, we have limited access to most of our villages. Hardly anyone can come and go without testing and quarantining, and only medical or other needed visits to Fairbanks can be made. I am proud of how we are trying to protect our villages and families. Being this isolated, we have still had the
R PARISHES IN ALASKA
By Br. Bob Ruzicka, OFM
opportunity to gather to pray over the past months. We usually pray the Rosary every night in May and October in different homes, but because of COVID we gather in church and people provide food to share as we visit after the Rosary. It is hard and trying, but we are doing the best we can to keep our prayer life together at this time. On the other hand, the donations you have sent have helped people who at this time need food and have helped with some monetary problems people have incurred because of the lack of work and the lack of available food coming in as it used to before. One day, our bishop — Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of the Diocese of Fairbanks — was offered a boat from the owner of Hewescraft. The bishop was here visiting Nulato and he asked the men he encountered there if they felt there was a need in Nulato. One of the men spoke up and said, “You better a get a decent boat for Brother Bob, the one he uses is going to kill him someday!” The bishop asked if I would take the boat, but I needed to get the motor for it and I told them I would use the money that you have given to us. Thank you! I know the boat
is bigger and safer than what I was using as the primary means to get between villages. Also, we are getting closer to a new church in Koyukuk, and I hope to get this completed soon with some of your donations helping us to purchase pews for the Church. The church we have now is plywood and I am always amazed that they haven’t collapsed at times. Thank you for your financial support and prayers. We are praying for you and your families. Fr. Arisman has invited us to stay in better communication. I hope to write more regularly, and continue to grow the connection of our parishes. God Bless you — you are part of my heart. You are helping the Franciscan Missions of Galena, Nulato, Koyukuk, Huslia, Ruby, Kaltag, McGrath, and Tanana. Fr. Joseph Hemmer, Fr. Thinh Tran, Br. Justin Huber, and I, and the people we serve thank you from our hearts. I wish I could come and visit you. Hopefully someday soon! With sincere love, Br. Bob Ruzicka, OFM
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St. Francis Solanus T
How Can We Model the Faith for Our Children?
he Church has made it clear that parents are primarily responsible for the spiritual and cognitive development of their children in matters of the faith. As the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, states, “Husbands and wives find their proper vocation in being witnesses of the faith and love of Christ to one another and to their children” (Chapter 4, Section 35). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further emphasizes this vocation, by pointing out that the moral education and spiritual formation of children is not only the right, but the responsibility, of their parents: “The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable... Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children” (CCC 2221, 2223). But how can we as parents create an environment in the home conducive to spiritual and moral development? As busy adults, how are we to disseminate the knowledge and understanding of the tenets of the faith to our children in the way that a trained and experienced catechist can? Furthermore, how do we strike a balance between teaching our children in the home and not interfering with the faith formation and sacramental preparation they are currently receiving through their parish school or religious education program? The answer to all of these questions is stewardship. Indeed, it is important that we reinforce the lessons that our children learn in school and at religious education classes by talking to them about the faith, reading Sacred Scripture with
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them, and spending time in family prayer. And there are several authoritative resources online that can help parents in this task, including Catholic Parents Online at www.catholicparents.org. This site links parents to numerous websites and documents that can help them in talking to their children about the faith. But the best way that we can teach our children is by serving as a living example to them of how to live as disciples of Christ. If we want our children to grow up as strong Catholics and to display a lifelong commitment to their faith, then it is important that we ourselves live a committed faith life. This includes an ongoing commitment to our own faith formation as adults and active participation in the sacraments. It also includes the giving back of our time, talent, and treasure in service of our community in thanksgiving for the gifts that God has given us. Parenting can be a tough vocation, and children deal with many influences in their lives that exist in stark contrast to the values that their parents often hope to instill within them. Fortunately for parents, the stewardship way of life provides a simple and effective model for teaching our children in matters of the faith. By living as stewards of God’s gifts and reaping the spiritual rewards that accompany this lifestyle, we are tangibly showing our children that sharing of our gifts and talents leads to a life of happiness and spiritual fulfillment. In doing this, we give them a good opportunity to follow in our footsteps and make their faith a top priority for the rest of their lives.
Meet Marcia Steinkamp:
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Outgoing Stewardship Council Chair Ready to Pass the Torch
t all started when Marcia Steinkamp filled out a Stewardship Renewal card to show she was interested in joining the Stewardship Council. As a cradle Catholic and a Quincy resident all her life, she knew it would be a great way to give back to St. Francis Solanus. After serving six years on the council, with three as the Chair, Marcia is ready to move on and let others step in. Her term on the Council ended in December 2021. Misty Cramsey has taken over as the Stewardship Council Chair. “It will be great to have some new people come on with new ideas,” Marcia says. “In my years on the Council, it’s been fun to see more involvement and more ministry work. It’s all been very good for the parish.” Marcia retired in October 2019, and she’s ready to take a bit of a break to give herself more time for reflection. Marcia and her husband, Dennis, also plan to travel more to spend time with their 17 grandchildren. In her time on the Council, a highlight was attending the Msgr. Thomas McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita, Kan., in 2016. She left the conference feeling excited with many ideas to promote stewardship.
Marcia Steinkamp is thankful she had the opportunity to serve and grow in faith and leadership during her time with our Stewardship Council.
“The atmosphere at this conference was so hospitable,” she says. “It was a chance to meet so many new people who are doing wonderful things in the Catholic Church.” She loved learning more about the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. Of these, she most enjoys promoting Hospitality. “Hospitality in your home or your church continued on back cover
“I see so many people who could become so much more if they pursued knowing Christ better. What I do know is that by telling someone, you’re not able to convey it as much as to be able to show them or to give them an experience of knowing that Christ loves them.” — MARCIA STEINKAMP
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St. Francis Solanus 1721 College Avenue Quincy, IL 62301 (217) 222-2898 stfrancissolanus.com
Meet Marcia Steinkamp is making everyone feel welcome,” she says. “It’s greeting a person in a warm, caring atmosphere, where you want to be and want to come back to.” Marcia feels the Stewardship Council allowed her to learn leadership skills. She will continue as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a member of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. “I am open to new ministries, too,” she says. “I look forward to staying involved at the parish.”
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Marcia is thankful she had the opportunity to serve and grow in faith and leadership. She encourages everyone to consider how they may get involved to grow in faith and come to know our Lord better. “I see so many people who could become so much more if they pursued knowing Christ better,” she says. “What I do know is that by telling someone, you’re not able to convey it as much as to be able to show them or to give them an experience of knowing that Christ loves them.”
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. • Monday - Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8:35 a.m. • Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Confessions: Wednesday, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. • Saturday, 8:30 a.m., 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.; Exposition: Wednesday, 4:00-5:00 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.
