July 2022
community of St. John & St. James A LOOK AT OUR
LECTOR MINISTRY:
Proclaiming God’s Word for All to Hear
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t. Paul has much to say in his letter to the Romans about those who bring the Word of God to others. “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?... ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!’… ‘Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?’ Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13-17) We are called to share the Good News of the Gospel in our daily lives and actions. Within our own parishes, there is a special way of sharAllan Carlson ing the Word of the Lord with others. Lectors within the parish proclaim the Word of God for all to hear. “Being a lector has helped me experience the Mass in a different way,” says Allan Carlson, who has been a parishioner for 40 years and a lector for over 10 years. “I am more of a participant in the liturgy instead of feeling like a viewer in the audience.” When we are involved in the roles of the Mass, it can help us be more active and engaged in the liturgy. We experience the Mass in a different way and take responsibility for the liturgy more than when we simply sit in the pews. Being a lector is one way to help others hear the Word of God and live lives of holiness. “When I read the readings to prepare, I really try to think about what the writer of that book of the Bible is trying to get across to us,” Allan says. “The Bible was written a long time ago, so how does this relate to us here in 2022? I reflect on it and try continued on page 5
The Traits of the Christian Steward E
ach day, we strive to live stewardship in our lives, recognizing our roles as “God’s co-workers” in His creative, redemptive, and sanctifying work. But in our quest to live as disciples of Christ, many obstacles often arise. One of the most prevalent roadblocks in living stewardship is understanding the traits that make up a good Christian steward. Surely, it would be much more convenient if we had some sort of “stewardship list” that could lay out the necessary steps to becoming a good steward. Unfortunately, it more often feels like living stewardship is a lifelong journey that we will never fully comprehend. Fortunately, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, gives some insight into the characteristics that make up a good Christian steward. The Christian steward should display some of the following traits: Insight — Before the disciples could live what we know as the stewardship way of life, they needed a flash of insight or a certain way of viewing the world and their relationship to it in a fresh light. This “divine grandeur,” more than anything else, is often what sets people on the path to Christian stewardship (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 39). Conscientiousness — Stewards are fully conscious of their accountability in sharing of their time, talent, and treasure. As caretakers of the gifts that God has given them, they have the opportunity and responsibility to use them to their fullest potential to spread God’s Kingdom on Earth (40). Generosity — Christian stewards are generous out of love as well as duty. They should display a desire to share with and care for others based on the sacramental graces they have received. And they are also cognizant of the many warnings that the New
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Testament presents to those who fail in charity and authentic love (40). Joy — Christian stewards are often presented with difficult obstacles, but they should remain joyful in the face of challenges to their lives of stewardship. Like Paul, the good steward is able to say, “I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction” (2 Cor. 7:4). Only by serving with a joyful spirit will stewards fully reap the rewards of their service, both in this life and the next. Indeed, living as a Christian steward is a lifelong journey with many ups and downs along the way. But if we strive to consciously incorporate each of these characteristics into our giving of time, talent and treasure, we will find that the responsibilities of a good Christian steward will become much clearer with each experience of service.
A Letter From Our Pastor
We Provide the Gifts, God Performs the Miracles Dear Parishioners,
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t is human nature to try to neatly place things into categories. If we categorize the miracles performed by Christ, the two largest groupings might fall under the headings “Healing” and “Feeding.” This is exactly what we are about here in our faith community. At the base of all our liturgies is the Eucharist, when we come together in communion with the Lord and with one another to be both fed and healed. Even one of Christ’s most famous miracles — the Feeding of the Multitude — involved both healing and feeding from a spiritual and a literal perspective. The reason the large crowd gathered was that Jesus’ reputation as a healer had spread and grown. He felt compassion for that crowd, which is another way of saying He loved them and felt sorry that they were hungry due to their willingness to sit and be with Him for so long. Recognizing it was late in the day and that many of them had not eaten, Jesus literally fed them — but that day, He didn’t stop with physical nourishment. He also fed them spiritually with His words, and simultaneously, healed their wounded hearts by preaching a message of hope and forgiveness amid a dark and hardened world. The narrative of Christ taking a small amount of food and using it to feed thousands is familiar to all of
us. It is reported in all four Gospels. However, I would like to highlight one aspect of that miracle. It all started with one boy who was willing to share what little he had. Because the boy made the gift of his fishes and loaves, the Lord took it and multiplied it many times over, nourishing so many more people than that little bit initially could. Isn’t that what we as a community of believers are called to do? We make gifts of our time, our talent, and our treasure as good stewards — but nevertheless, it is God who takes those gifts and performs miracles with them. Our goal is to give what we have so that Christ might use it, multiplying it to feed, to heal, and draw a multitude of people closer to Him. The reality is that without the gifts, there can be no miracles, and without miracles, we are a hungry and broken people. Christ has come to renew, nourish, fulfill, and restore — and that, brothers and sisters, is what Christianity is all about. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John O’Neill Pastor
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EXTRAORDINARY MINISTE Actively Serving Our Chu W
Scott and Patty Mason
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hile our priests celebrate Mass, they are quietly assisted by dedicated parishioners. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are one way that lay people can take a more active role in the liturgy. Extraordinary Ministers have the unique privilege of offering the Body and Blood of Christ to their brothers and sisters. “When people come to receive Communion, I try to give each individual my undivided attention,” says St. James parishioner Scott Mason, who has served as an Extraordinary Minister for almost 15 years. “I hold up the host so they can clearly see it and give them a big smile. This should be a joyful act for me.” Scott felt like it was his turn to serve the parish when he first got involved years ago. He and his wife, Patty, found that one thing led to another, and getting involved led them into more and more parish activities. They also wanted to set an example for their son, Sean, who is now grown. “I wanted to teach my son that it’s important to serve my fellow person,” Scott says. “I hope I did that. We’ve been given a lot and we need to give back.” While being an Extraordinary Minister is just one way to be involved — Patty often serves as a lector — Scott has found that this ministry has drawn him deeper into the liturgy. “When I am an Extraordinary Minister, I pay more attention at Mass,” he says. “I feel like I need to prepare, so I sort of prepare myself through the Mass and get ready to serve. It deepens my experience.” Both parishes have a structured schedule through a ministry scheduling app. Coordinated and trained by Deacon Dan Pickett, Extraordinary Ministers at St. John serve one or
ERS OF HOLY COMMUNION urch and Sharing Christ two times each quarter. New ministers have a half-hour training session with Deacon Dan and they go over their role with an emphasis on reverence towards the Eucharist, how to approach the altar, how to handle the Precious Body and Blood, and what to do if the host is accidentally dropped. Deacon Jerry Rutherford trains the Extraordinary Ministers for St. James. There were some adjustments in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we return to Extraordinary Ministers offering the Precious Blood to the congregation, the
ministry needs more parishioners to serve in these roles as we build back up. There are many small ways to serve the Lord and the parish in the liturgy — as a lector, a cantor, an altar server, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and more. “Pick a ministry and get started,” Scott says. “It doesn’t really matter which one, but hopefully one that speaks to your heart. There is great joy in serving others.”
If you’re interested in serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at St. John, please contact Deacon Dan at 918-766-5855 or dcn.dan.pickett@stjohn-bartlesville.org. St. James parishioners may contact the parish office at 918-335-0844.
Lector Ministry
continued from front cover
to understand what is important. What is the focus of the passage? What should we be paying attention to?” For some people, speaking in public is a simple thing to do, but for others, it takes a little courage. Allan encourages others to really consider being a part of this important ministry. “Sometimes you have to confront your fears,” he says. “Many people don’t like speaking in front of others, but you have to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Being a lector is an important role for the laity of the parish to fill. We have wonderful tools now thanks to the Internet. You can search the pronunciation of difficult words and it is something you just get more comfortable doing.”
Becoming a lector is simple — those who are interested reach out to the parish office and set up a one-on-one training with the deacon. At St. John, Deacon Dan Pickett will lead an individual training session with the new lector. For parishioners at St. James, the process is the same, with Deacon Jerry Rutherford leading the training. “I listen to them read and give them some feedback,” Deacon Dan says. “We try to give them a sense of reverence that they need to have when they are serving in this way. Lectors are aiding the parish in listening to God. It is truly giving the glory back to God.”
Those interested in being a part of this ministry should contact the St. John parish office at 918-336-4353 or the St. James parish office at 918-335-0844. 5
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Prayer Chain Ministry: United with Our Parish Family in Spiritual Work of Mercy
magine being worried about a friend or family member battling an illness or recovering from an accident. We know we need to pray and get everyone we know to pray for them. A simple way is to have the person added to the parish Prayer Chain. You can share as much or as little information as you like about the person needing prayers. Annette Walker coordinates this ministry for St. John and sends email prayer requests to about 250 addresses. Some of the emails go to a couple or family, so well over 250 people are praying for each request. Mindy Freeman manages the St. James Prayer Chain, which has about 12 members. Mindy appreciates that the response is almost instantaneous. “It is awesome to see how quickly people are willing to jump in to pray for the needs of others,” Mindy says. “It’s a real comfort to those who ask for prayers,” Annette says. “They can take comfort in knowing a lot of people are praying for them.” Reflecting on how she began coordinating this ministry, Annette credits God because, as she admits, she isn’t very tech-savvy. It’s an excellent ministry for her because she can’t be as involved as in the past, and so this is a ministry she can do from home. Each person on the Prayer Chain prays for the requests in their own way.
Some may include it as part of their Rosary prayers, while others may say a quick prayer when they receive the email. It’s not about how the request is prayed — it’s the power of numbers. Annette says there’s an average of three prayer requests per week. She also sends emails with prayers answered when she receives that information. She recalls that Prayer Chain members were praying for a premature baby who eventually was healthy and able to be released from the hospital. This is just one of many stories of healing from Prayer Chain requests. “A lot of people will call me with a ‘thank you,’” Annette says. “It’s not necessary, but it’s very nice to hear.”
This is a great ministry for someone who is homebound or who has a hectic schedule that doesn’t leave much time for volunteering. It’s also a great way to be united with our parish family. “This is a way to stay aware of the needs of others,” Annette says. “It’s also an easy way to do a Spiritual Work of Mercy if you are busy.” The Prayer Chain list even includes people who have moved away — there are people from Florida, Arizona, Africa, and more. Annette believes this ministry is so vital to the life of the parish community. “Everybody is friendly and concerned for one another,” she says. “It’s a family here.”
If you would like to be added to the St. John Prayer Chain or request prayers for someone, please call the parish office at 918-336-4353, or contact Annette Walker at nurseaw2@yahoo.com or 918-440-1332. For St. James, please contact Mindy Freeman at 918-335-0844 or secretary_stjms@sbcglobal.net. 6
Getting to Know the “Summertime” Saints
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chool is out, and summer is now in full swing. The days are longer, warmer and filled with plenty of fun summertime activities.
St. Christopher
St. Joseph of Cupertino
St. Brendan the Navigator
St. Adjutor of Vernon
This summer, as we take family vacations, gather with friends and loved ones for barbecues, spend time by the pool, and enjoy all of the usual summertime activities, we can also take the time to reflect on some of the saints who are associated with the summer. Family vacations are perhaps the most iconic of all summertime activities. Although there is no patron saint of vacations, there are a number of saints associated with traveling. One of the most popular is St. Christopher. According to his story, St. Christopher was an extremely tall and strong man who served Christ by helping people cross an especially dangerous river. That is why many people wear St. Christopher medals while traveling — to ask for his blessing and protection. For those of us who are taking road trips this summer, there is St. Frances of Rome, the patron saint of cars and drivers. While St. Frances died well before cars were invented, her story says that her guardian angel went ahead of her when she traveled at night and lit the road with a lantern to keep St. Frances safe. There are also saints we can look to when traveling by plane. St. Joseph of Cupertino was a Franciscan friar who is said to have frequently and miraculously levitated off the ground during intense prayer sessions. Because of this levitation, he is recognized as the patron saint of air travelers. St. Therese of Lisieux is also associated with aviators and flying. If you are going on a cruise this summer, you can ask for the intercession of St. Brendan the Navigator, an Irish monk who founded the Clonfert monastery and monastic school, and is the patron saint of mariners and sailors. He and his brothers sailed the Atlantic Ocean and evangelized on a number of islands, and may have even reached the Americas. Another favorite summer activity is swimming. Whether you choose a pool, a lake or the ocean, seek the intercession of St. Adjutor of Vernon, a knight who was captured in the First Crusade. His captors tried to force him to give up his faith, but St. Adjutor escaped by swimming to his freedom. For this reason, he is the patron saint against drowning, and for drowning victims, sailors and swimmers. continued on back cover
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Saint John Before the Latin Gate 715 S. Johnstone Ave. Bartlesville, OK 74003 (918) 336-4353 www.stjohn-bartlesville.org Saint James Catholic Church 5500 Douglas Ln. Bartlesville, OK 74006 (918) 335-0844 www.saintjamescatholicparish.org
Getting to Know the “Summertime” Saints continued from page 7
The summer is also a time of amusement and enjoyment. One of the biggest national celebrations of the summer is the Fourth of July. For this type of summertime activity, we look to St. Barbara, the patron saint of fireworks. There are also a number of saints with feast days during the summer. The feast day of St. Anne, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, is celebrated on July 26. July 31 is the
feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who is also associated with stewardship. These are just two of the many saints whose feasts we celebrate this summer. No matter what kinds of activities we choose to enjoy during the summertime, let us remember to honor the saints who have gone before us, and give their intercession for us as we walk through our own journeys of faith.
MASS & CONFESSION TIMES ST. JOHN: Masses: Saturday: 5 p.m. | Sunday: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (en Español) | Tuesday: 7 a.m. | Wednesday: 5:15 p.m. Thursday: 7 a.m., 7 p.m. (en Español) | Friday: 8:15 a.m. (School Mass) Reconciliation: Saturday: 4-4:45 p.m. | Sunday: 12:30-1:15 p.m. ST. JAMES: Masses: Saturday: 5:30 p.m. | Sunday: 9:30 a.m. | Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. | Thursday: 8:30 a.m. | Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday: 4:30-5:15 p.m.
