St. Leo's Catholic Parish Community Newsletter — April 2022

St.

Leos’

Parish Community

Finding a Faith and Stewardship Home in Our Parish

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D

an Boroff recalls that he grew up as a “front-pew Lutheran.” He practiced his Lutheran faith for years, even as his wife, Kathy, practiced hers at St. Leo’s. The couple has been married for about 10 years.

For a few years after their marriage, Dan had been thinking about becoming Catholic, which came as a surprise to Kathy. Dan had even attended St. Leo’s when he and Kathy were dating — parishioners were always inviting him to become Catholic and he always felt welcome.

So, he jumped in by going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process in 2017 and entered into the Catholic faith in 2018.

“Father has asked me what I like here and why I became Catholic,” Dan says. “I say, ‘I feel like I’m home here.’”

A member at St. Leo’s for more than 30 years, Kathy attended RCIA classes with Dan and found that she was learning so much through it.

Dan enjoyed the RCIA process so much that he now teaches it and attends every Thursday night.

“Teaching RCIA took me out of my comfort zone,” Dan says. “It was a big step to teach. It has changed me so much and has given me more confidence in myself. I feel I am really doing what God wants by teaching.” continued on back cover

Inside APRIL 2022

MEET DAN AND KATHY BOROFF

Teaching By Example The Importance of Prayer in a Child’s Life

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All Things and All People Are Made New

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Higher Ground Retreats An Invitation for the Youth of Our Diocese to Encounter Christ

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Responding to the Glory of Christ’s Resurrection at Easter

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Meet Dan and Kathy Boroff Finding a Faith and Stewardship Home in Our Parish

TEACHING BY EXAMPLE

The Importance of Prayer in a Child’s Life

“I

want to be just like Mom and Dad!” Perhaps nothing lifts a parent’s heart like hearing these words. While certainly affirming, such words also remind us of the great responsibility that comes with parenthood.

Children often examine the lives of their parents when making decisions that will affect their own lives. For example, a young boy may dream of becoming a physician one day, just like his father. Or a young girl may hope to become a veterinarian, just like her mother. Could the same be said about their parents’ faith lives?

Just as children learn traits and values from their parents, they should also learn the importance and great joy of developing a personal relationship with Christ. And the foundation of such a relationship is prayer — conversation with God. How should we go about teaching our children to pray? There are several methods, but none works as well as teaching by example. Begin teaching the importance of prayer by praying openly with your spouse. This teaches children that prayer is meaningful and important, and not just a ritual. Also, pray with your children — in the morning and in the evening. Show your sons and daughters the importance of beginning and ending each day in prayer.

While a fortunate dilemma, it’s a dilemma nonetheless — Catholics face the challenge of discerning which prayers to use, considering the thousands available. A good rule of thumb is to start simple — maybe an Our Father or Hail Mary, and then move into something more complex — Hail, Holy Queen or Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, among others. Begin with prayers your children can pick up fairly quickly. Not only will this show them that praying can be fun and easy, but shorter prayers are also usually easier to understand.

Teach your children the importance of spontaneous prayer, rather than just prescribed prayers.

Spontaneous prayer is any prayer that is created 2

at the same time it is offered. Another way to think of spontaneous prayer is “praying in your own words.” Structure spontaneous prayers according to the ACTS acronym — Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. In layman’s terms, this means beginning each prayer with words of adoration, such as “You are the Lord God Almighty.

I love you.” Move into a period of contrition, asking God’s forgiveness for the sins you have committed.

Then, give words of thanksgiving, thanking God for the gifts He has given. Finally, spend time sharing with God your heart’s desires. These intentions can be personal or on another’s behalf. Following this format ensures that spontaneous prayer “covers all the bases,” and doesn’t become just a mental wish list. While God wants to hear and grant our wishes, He also expects words of adoration, contrition and thankfulness.

The best time to begin praying with your children is right now. The sooner they learn about prayer, the sooner they can begin cultivating their own relationship with Jesus. Many parents even pray with their children before birth, hoping their unborn son or daughter can hear their words in utero. Remember, there is no better way to teach one’s children about the value of prayer than by example.

A Letter From Our Pastor

All Things and All People Are Made New Dear Parishioners,

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e associate the Easter season with springtime — a time of new life and new beginnings — and Holy Scripture addresses this idea of newness many times. The Lord declares, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

This idea of being “new” is important to us as Catholics, and it is important to our parish. We need to strive to do this on a regular basis — even on a daily basis. Think of the fact that all was once new. Regardless of how you view the development of this earth and those of us who occupy it, all was once new.

During this Easter season, we need to retain that idea of being “new.” And being “new” means conversion, and we have often pointed out that conversion is at the heart of a life of stewardship.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life” (654).

In other words, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our new life — our own future resurrection. St. Paul wrote about it to the Romans (Rom 6:5) — “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”

Hope for a new life beginning now and extending on into heaven is the result of Jesus’ Resurrection. What greater grounds for thanksgiving can there be than this Easter hope? We should sing with joy about God’s promise to us, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

St. Paul also wrote (Col 3:1-2), “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is

above, not of what is on earth.”

Jesus’ Resurrection and His promise of a new life for us mean that we need to live in conformity with our status as adopted children of God. How do we show our joy and our gratitude to God for this amazing gift He has given us? We join in worship and praise God by word and song. We share the Good News of Jesus’ victory over death with our family, friends, and neighbors. And we offer back to the Lord a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He has entrusted to us.

Yes, the Easter message that we share in the benefits of Christ’s Resurrection indeed makes all things new — the ultimate foundation for all Christian stewardship.

The Lord is risen, alleluia.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Donald A. Buhrman Pastor

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HIGHER GROU

An Invitation for the Youth of O

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he Higher Ground and Higher Ground Extreme Faith Middle School Retreats are two summer retreats that the Diocese of Grand Island offers for the youth and young adults all across the diocese. These retreats offer students the chance to gather with their peers, share life with them over five days, and grow closer to God through their new community and relationships.

The Higher Ground Retreat is offered for sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school. Week one will be held from May 29June 3, and week two will be held from June 5-June 10. The retreat is held at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, Neb. Students are provided the opportunity to meet young adults from other communities throughout the diocese and to spend time getting to know them. Throughout the five days, students learn what it means to be a

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part of this community and leave at the end of the week with a real sense of their place within the larger Church community. They can experience what a Christian community is supposed to look like — understanding, supportive, inviting, and a place where they can belong. One student reflected on her experience and shared her favorite part of the week.

“My favorite part of the week was definitely adoration because by that point in time we were all already so close that it was really comforting to be with all of the people that we knew and that we had grown to love,” she says. “I thought we all did a great job of supporting each other and it was just a really great bonding moment.”

Higher Ground Extreme Faith is the middle school retreat that will be offered from July 10-July 14. This retreat is for students who

ND RETREATS

ur Diocese to Encounter Christ have completed sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in the spring of 2022 and will be held at Maranatha Camp near Maxwell, Neb. Students will be given the chance to play, pray and work together as a community of faith.

The youth will be introduced to the Gospel message in the midst of fun outdoor activities such as rock wall climbing and archery.

The registration cost for Higher Ground is $250, with a late registration rate of $300 after May 1. The cost for Higher Ground Extreme Faith is $325, with a late registration rate of $375. Space is limited for both programs, but if you are interested and the

program is full, there will be a waiting list.

An important aspect of any faith community is prayer. While these youth and young adults will be spending time encountering Christ with their new friends and leaders, these retreats also need the prayers of the larger community. One way you can support them through prayer is by joining in the Novena to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati leading up to the retreats. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati is the patron saint and we will be asking for his intercession leading into the retreats. Participating in this is a simple, but important way that anyone can get involved.

If you are interested in volunteering as an adult leader, you can fill out an application and you will be contacted if leaders are still needed. Both the novena and the leader application can be found at www.highergroundretreats.org.

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RESPONDING TO THE GLORY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AT EASTER

Dying, He Destroyed Our Death; Rising, He Restored Our Life “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day He rose again from the dead” – APOSTLES’ CREED

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s we have recently come to the end of our Lenten journey toward Easter, let us take a moment to meditate on three pivotal lines from the ancient creed, which comprise the central events of our redemption.

Far from being a mere myth or legend, in Jerusalem around the year 30 A.D., Jesus Christ — the Son of God made man — was tortured at the hands of the Romans. He was flogged, beaten, spit upon, and crowned with thorns. He was made to carry the cross through the crowded streets to Golgotha and, once there, He was crucified — He was nailed to a cross and died. Just as someday we will each be laid in our graves, Jesus was laid in His. The most obvious question that confronts the observer of this horrific reality is “why?” Luckily, Christ made the impetus for His self-sacrifice quite clear: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14-15).

The reasons Christ died on the cross are twofold, one negative and one positive. The negative cause is sin. Only in witnessing the cost of redemption — the death of the Son of God — can we begin to comprehend the profound magnitude of sin: “You have been purchased at a price,” says St. Paul (1 Cor 6:20).

Conversely, Christ willingly accepted the cross because of love. St. John famously says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only 6

Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

Uniting these two causes, St. Paul says, “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

In His limitless compassion, Christ entered into the fullness of human suffering — physical torment, emotional agony and utter isolation — so that He might share complete solidarity with mankind. Accordingly, His passion and death not only accomplished our redemption, but by the cross, He also showed us the way to true discipleship. For Christ taught His disciples long before His crucifixion, “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23).

Christ’s is the final and perfect covenant between God and man, and it is a covenant of love, with Christ Himself as its high priest. Nevertheless, this covenant is not based on love as popular culture conceives of it, but love as Christ displayed it: “The way we came to know love was that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).

Joined with the passion, Christ’s Resurrection is the key to the entire Gospel — for in rising from the dead, Jesus proved true His bold promises. He had prophesied to the apostles, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again” (Jn 10:18). The Resurrection vindicates this promise and validates His teaching and miracles.

This Easter, let us respond to the glory of Christ’s Resurrection by exclaiming, as St. Thomas the Apostle did, “My Lord and my God!” And may each of us be filled with faith in God of our salvation, hope in the rewards He has won for us, and love for Him who has deigned to bestow them on us.

CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF EASTER

An Opportunity to Foster Our Faith and Share the Good News

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he season of Lent may sometimes feel long, but there are joys and celebrations soon to come as we approach the Easter season. But Easter is more than just a one-day event, as it stretches on for 50 days until Pentecost.

“Easter is the most important liturgy in the whole year, the culmination of our salvation,” Fr. Don Buhrman says. “It is a life-changing event for the eternal promise — to return to heaven, to be with God forever. Jesus’ faithfulness returns us to be with God forever. It’s the liturgy of the year that celebrates the passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior.”

As we proceed through the season of Lent, we practice fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These practices are not all just for show, as they ultimately prepare us spiritually to celebrate Easter.

Once we reach Easter, we hopefully have strengthened our faith with these practices and are ready to receive Jesus in His glorious resurrection.

“We take 50 days to rejoice and give glory to God for the gift of salvation,” Fr. Don says.

Easter ends with Pentecost, commemorating when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles and entrusted them with gifts to spread the Gospel story with others. This commission is ours, as well — we, too, are encouraged and inspired when the Holy Spirit comes to us at Pentecost.

“The Easter season is a time for us to give glory to God and be strengthened and encouraged

by God so we can go out and proclaim the Good News,” Fr. Don says. “Pentecost is when the gifts of the Holy Spirit encourage the Apostles to proclaim the Good News, living into Ordinary Time.

The Easter season is a season of renewed life — we renew ourselves in the sacraments, then hopefully live out that faithfulness and proclaim it to the world around us.”

During Lent, Fr. Don has encouraged us to

gather as small Christian communities in each other’s homes. For the Easter season, he suggests parishioners continue meeting with their small-group communities. Whether it’s once a week or month, Fr. Don hopes parishioners still connect and join in fellowship together. Ideas for these gatherings could include a video series from FORMED, watching The Chosen or Fr. Mike Schmitz’s videos, reading Scripture, or praying the Rosary. The parish will help any groups find resources as needed for these gatherings.

As for what else we might do during this time, Fr. Don emphasizes the importance of living the faith as being actively involved in parish life as possible.

“To be in attendance at Mass is one thing, but finding ways to participate and serving in various ways, I would encourage that — giving of ourselves for the glory of God and the support of one another,” he says.

If you would like more information about getting involved in our faith community, please see our parish website at www.saintleos.org or our parish bulletin.

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2410 S. Blaine Street Grand Island, NE 68801 (308) 382-4753 | www.saintleos.org

MEET DAN AND KATHY BOROFF Dan has since gotten involved with Brothers in Christ. He and Kathy both bring people the Eucharist through the Homebound Ministry.

“The Homebound Ministry is so beautiful,” Kathy says. “One time, we were really touched by a lady who we missed on the first visit to bring her the Eucharist. We came back a short time later, and she started to cry, thinking we had forgotten her. It was beautiful to hear that the Eucharist means so much to her.”

Stewardship is important to Dan and Kathy — they both love sharing the faith and being part of the St. Leo’s community.

“We truly believe in sharing our time, talent, and treasure,” Kathy says.

Kathy is also on the Evangelization Team and assists with bringing courses and classes to St. Leo’s.

“I’ve really enjoyed being a part of bringing The Chosen series here,” she says. “I love it. I’ll never look at the Bible the same way after watching it.”

continued from front cover

Kathy also serves as a commentator at Mass. She had served on the Parish Council for several years and now serves on the Stewardship Council. She has enjoyed being part of both groups because the people are so dedicated. In addition, Kathy has been part of Catholics Encounter Christ for more than a decade.

She still regularly meets with her small group from the first weekend she attended.

Dan and Kathy have three boys between the two of them and also a granddaughter named Marley. The couple loves to spend time with friends and family, kayak, eat at restaurants, and attend Broadway musicals in Omaha and other concerts in Grand Island.

They also enjoy watching movies. Both feel incredibly blessed to be part of the St. Leo’s community.

“It’s so joyful to be around others here at the parish,” Dan says.

“I feel like we have a lot of good friends that we wouldn’t have known if we didn’t go here,” Kathy says.

LITURGY SCHEDULE Daily Mass: 9 a.m., Saturday: 5 p.m., Sunday: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Confession: Saturday 4 - 4:30 p.m. Adoration: First Friday of the Month, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Abide Adoration: Fourth Sunday of the Month, 7 - 8 p.m.