St. John Before the Latin Gate Catholic Parish Newsletter — June 2021

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The Church, a Universal Family The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

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Redefining Love Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Getting to Know Our Graduating Seniors

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A Joyous Easter Celebration

JUNE 2021

St.John

Before the Latin Gate Roman Catholic Church

Finance Council Members Devote Time and Talents for the Good of Our Parish

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e all have gifts. And while skills in accounting and finance might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of how to share our gifts with St. John’s, being good stewards of our parish finances is certainly important.

The Code of Canon Law states that each parish must have a Finance Council. And thanks to parishioners like Bill Penquite, St. John’s has an active Finance Council, made up of him and six other voting members, including Fr. John O’Neill. All of the memThe Finance Council members are (front row, from bers have a business, finance, or acleft) Deacon Dan Pickett, Laura Hunt and Mike counting background. Bill joined the Daigle; (back row, from left) Chris Wilson, Bill Penquite, Tim Vandeven, Brian Kennedy and Deacon Finance Council about 10 years ago.

Jerry Rutherford. (Not pictured, Fr. John O’Neill) The other voting members include Brian Kennedy, Laura Hunt, Tim Vandeven, Chris Wilson, and Mike Daigle. Deacon Dan Pickett and Deacon Jerry Rutherford, parish business manager, are non-voting members.

“Dan and Jerry are critical to the accounting for and the financial reporting of continued on back cover

The Church, a Universal Family The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

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n June 29, Catholics celebrate the feast of two of our Lord’s principal Apostles, foundational human cornerstones of the Church of Rome.

The first missal reading of this feast day tells us of the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison. This illustrates the concrete fact that despite persecutions, Christ and His chosen followers will be triumphant in this world, and in the world to come.

The second is of Paul summarizing his own “pouring out” of his life as a libation. The way in which he poured it out is overwhelmingly significant — he gave his life as a missionary to gather all nations into God’s unified Kingdom.

The Holy Gospel recounts Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. After this confession, the “keys to the Kingdom” were conferred onto him. These “keys” became the fundamental building block supporting the ordained priesthood and episcopal government of the Church.

In his homily on June 29, 2005, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI shared: “The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is at the same time a grateful memorial of the great witnesses of Jesus Christ and a solemn confession for the Church — one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

It is first and foremost a feast of catholicity.”

The celebration of our catholicity is a celebration of our unity in Christ. This unity endures unto the end, as our strength and fortress in the face of evil and the trials of earthly life.

Sts. Peter and Paul remind us that our faith is founded on something much higher than ourselves, on an entity which raises horizons beyond our human frailties and imaginings. Our holy faith is founded upon the rock, Jesus Christ.

Pope Emeritus Benedict described further: “When Peter and Paul came to Rome, the Lord on the Cross who had uttered the first line of that Psalm was risen; God’s victory now had to be proclaimed to all the nations...”

Let us embrace all of the graces which these beloved saints have won for us. Let us imitate their example, and so follow Christ with unwavering resolution. As did the Blessed Virgin, let us persevere in serving the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church in all that we say and do.

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A Letter From Our Pastor

Redefining Love

THROUGH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Dear Parishioners,

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ne of the great feasts of the Christian year will occur in June, but it is often overlooked.

It doesn’t fall on a Sunday, and it isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation.

I am referring to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which will be on June 11 this year.

This wonderful feast provides a great way to begin the summer.

However, despite widespread devotion and many parish dedications to the Sacred Heart, many Catholics have only a vague idea of what it’s all about.

So, let me try to briefly fill in the picture.

Often, when we think of the heart, we think of it as the seat of our emotions and feelings. The heart is often contrasted with the mind, as though our Godgiven reason were somehow evil or, at best, secondrate. But feelings come and go — we can’t really depend on our emotions to be reliable, steady guides.

However, when classical theology refers to the heart, it is considering an aspect of human life that goes beyond our feelings. It includes our will, where we make decisions. The heart can be considered the center of our personhood.

In explaining Christian teaching about human nature, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one’s being, where the person decides for or against God” (368).

It is common to mistakenly label love as an emotion. Love often includes feelings, but true love is more than that. Real love is a settled attitude that wants the best for the person being loved. That’s why the Church’s teaching usually uses the term “charity,” to distinguish the Christian virtue from the more superficial popular concept of love.

The Catechism tells us, “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God… Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own ‘to the end,’ he makes manifest the Father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive” (CCC, 1822-1823).

This sort of love, this charity — demonstrated by Jesus Christ and commanded to His followers — is no lightweight passing emotion. Feelings alone do not bring one to offer oneself to an agonizing death for the sake of someone else. No, that sort of sacrifice can come from only from a considered and deliberate decision.

Although we sometimes forget that fact, Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine. So His human heart was involved in His sacrifice on the Cross.

Thus, simply put, devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us of the basic fact that God loves us. It was a costly love, the ultimate act of charity, to give His life on our behalf.

We know the kind of love Jesus has for us. What kind of loving response are you going to make?

How will that affect your use of your time, talent and treasure?

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. John O’Neill Pastor 3

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GETTING TO KNOW OUR

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s we reach the end of the 2020-2021 school year, we congratulate our graduating high school seniors, who also shared their thoughts on their plans and faith journey.

Lauren Boyle, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — OU for Physical Therapy.

How will you continue to practice and grow in your faith? — I am looking for a church family in Norman.

Paul Vandeven, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — University of North Texas to pursue a major in Kinesiology with the goal to become an Occupational Therapist.

Piece of Advice — It is never too late to do anything in life, especially to forgive others and yourself!

Max Auschwitz, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Favorite Saint — St. Maximillian Kolbe T.C. Heuertz, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School and Tri County Tech Post-graduation plans — Working at Star Manufacturing in Coffeyville as a machinist.

Favorite Memory from Faith Events —

Reconciliation at March for Life Mike Robedeaux II, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Begin college at Rogers State University.

Favorite Bible Verse — John 14:6

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Ashley Ramsey, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I plan on attending the University of Oklahoma.

Favorite Saint — St. Vitus Logan Brownell, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Attend OU. Piece of Advice — Don’t doubt people based on appearance.

Kathryn McIntyre, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I will attend the University of Oklahoma and study biology and medical sciences.

Favorite Saint — St. Faustina Alli Pryor, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Attending Florida State University and double majoring with art and business.

Favorite Saint — St. Catherine de’ Vigri Jonathon Thibeault, St. John, graduating from Wesleyan Christian School Post-graduation plans — Attend Oklahoma State University and major in sports media.

Favorite Bible Verse — Jeremiah 29:11 Evie Luton, St. John, graduating from Tri County Tech/Homeschooled Post-graduation plans — I am taking a gap year and then plan to study Early Childhood Education.

Favorite Bible Verse — Joshua 1:19

Graduating Seniors Yhan Osborn, St. James, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Attending the University of Oklahoma.

Piece of Advice — Keep your mind and heart balanced.

Diana Reyes, St. James, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I plan to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and major in Nursing.

Piece of Advice — Look at how far you have come, not at how far you still have to go.

Luis Ortiz, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Attending the University of Oklahoma and majoring in Chemical Engineering.

Favorite Memory from Faith Events — Steubenville or March for Life Lucas Ortiz, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — Attend the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Political Science degree with a Pre-Law focus.

Piece of Advice — Don’t waste your high school years stressing. Enjoy the time you’ve got with your friends, because before you know it, it’s gone.

Max Williams, St. James, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — University of Kansas, majoring in Engineering and minoring in Music.

Favorite Saint — St. Maximillian Kolbe Evan Lauritsen, St. James, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I’m attending the University of Nebraska and majoring in Civil Engineering.

Favorite Saint — St. Padre Pio

Eli Winter, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I will be attending Dartmouth College in the fall.

Piece of Advice — If you are kind hearted and you work really, really hard at something, you’re not going to get what you want in life, but instead you will get something better which you didn’t even expect.

William James Parsley, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I will be attending University of Arkansas for Business Data Analytics.

Favorite Saint — St. Patrick Michael Brockman, St. James, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I will be going to Stanford University to study Computer Science.

Favorite Bible verse — John 3:30 Vanesa Robledo, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I plan to attend college.

Piece of Advice — Do what makes you happy.

Cole Spencer, St. John, graduating from Bartlesville High School Post-graduation plans — I am going to attend OU for engineering.

Favorite Saint — St. Joseph the Worker Mason Green An angel we were loaned for 12 years that will always be in our hearts.

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Joyous Easter

We thank all parishioners and visitors who attended our Easter celebrations this April.

Celebration

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715 S. Johnstone Ave. | Bartlesville, OK 74003 ​ Office: (918) 336-4353 | www.stjohn-bartlesville.org

Finance Council Members

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our parish finances,” Bill says. “Their insight, understanding, and knowledge is very much appreciated by the Finance Council.”

The council meets every two months, and Deacon Jerry Rutherford puts together the financial statements each month.

Ultimately, Fr. John is the president of the council. Members are there to listen to ideas for various parish expenditures like repairs and maintenance projects. In addition, they are there to make sure the day-to-day operations are being handled correctly.

“We are here to support Fr. John in any way we can,” Bill says. “We are here to give opinions and advice.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic made an impact on the way we gather and worship, the Finance Council members wondered how the offertory would be affected. Thankfully, parishioners have still been generous in their gifts, and online giving has helped keep the collection totals fairly stable.

“No matter what, there are expenses,” Bill says.

“The parish is like a large business in terms of expenses. People at this parish are so generous and that makes this job a lot easier.”

Bill is thankful to be a member of the Finance Council and to use his gifts to serve the parish.

“I just really enjoy the people in this group,” Bill says. “It’s a really professional group.”

If you would like to learn more about the Finance Council, please call the parish office at 918-336-4353.

LITURGY SCHEDULE 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., 11 a.m. (vulnerable population),, 7 p.m. (en Español) Friday: 8:15 a.m. (School only Mass), St. James at 8:30 a.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dewey at noon Reconciliation: Saturday: 4-4:45 p.m. | Sunday: 12:30-1:15 p.m.