St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church Newsletter — May-June-July 2021

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Mary Saint

May/June/July 2021 Vol. 19 Issue 1

on the hill catholic church

Vacation Bible School Brings Children of Our Parish Together to Share God’s Word

S Mass Schedule Sunday, 7:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Monday, 7:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

Thursday, 7:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Friday, 7:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Saturday, 9:15 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (Sunday Vigil)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Pro Life Holy Hour Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.

Perpetual Adoration Chapel Chapel is located at the corner of Monte Sano and Bellevue.

t. Mary on the Hill is calling our youngest parishioners to “climb aboard the Rocky Railway” for this summer’s Vacation Bible School program! Our parish is thrilled to bring back a summer VBS camp for the first time in seven years, offering a week of Bible learning fun for children from kindergarten through the third grade. While the COVID-19 crisis derailed the VBS comeback that had been planned for last summer, this year’s program promises to be well worth the wait!

Parishioner Christy McArdle is excited to get the VBS program back on track here at St. Mary on the Hill.

Vacation Bible School is returning to St. Mary on the Hill this summer with Totally Catholic’s new VBS program, “I grew up with VBS and loved the Rocky Railway! it,” she says. “I just think it’s such a fun experience for kids to go somewhere for a week and learn so much about God and the lessons from the Bible. Being able to do it with their friends, games, and crafts just makes it a fun way to learn about God. And we have so many kids at the church — this is a great thing to offer.”

This summer, our parish will be using a VBS program designed by Our Sunday Visitor, a Totally Catholic VBS, that incorporates both biblical points and Catholic teachings.

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Vacation Bible School

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“The parents and families will get to know each other and just have good support. We’re all raising our kids in the Catholic faith, and you don’t want to do that alone.

You want like-minded people on the journey with you. VBS brings more of a support system from your parish. Your kids will also make friends and have that spiritual support. They will be getting to enjoy God and everything He gives us with their friends.”

— Christy McArdle A typical day is divided into several stations or activities. With the “Rocky Railway” theme, the message that Jesus helps get us through the ups and downs of life is a common thread throughout the program. Children will open each day with prayer and song, and then break into groups for Bible storytime, arts and crafts, active games, themed video clips, and a snack.

Christy loves the way VBS camps bring so many parish families together.

“The parents and families will get to know each other and just have good support,” she says. “We’re all raising our kids in the Catholic faith, and you don’t want to do that alone. You want like-minded people on the journey with you. VBS brings more of a support system from your parish. Your kids will also make friends and have that spiritual support. They will be getting to enjoy God and everything He gives us with their friends.”

With a great group of adult and teen volunteers already lined up for a week on the “Rocky Railway” with our young parishioners, Christy is thankful to see VBS become a parish-backed ministry at St. Mary on the Hill. Surely, the rewards of spending a week together in faith and fellowship will be a blessing to all the children and volunteers who hop aboard with VBS this year!

“Our number-one goal as parents is to get our kids to heaven, so we want them to have positive experiences at church and in the church community,” Christy says. “It’s important to keep their spiritual life on track, help them connect with others in their parish family, and make those positive memories.”

The one-week, half-day program will take place June 28-July 2.

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Highlights of

Our 2021 Stewardship Renewal

T

his past Fall, our parish leadership at St. Mary on the Hill conducted the 2021 Stewardship Renewal. The Stewardship Renewal gave our parish community the opportunity to discern how we are using our gifts of time, talent, and treasure in service to the parish and in return to God. (continued) THROUGH (continued) ly Involved = This month, we are happy Interested in Joining  = Currently Involved the first name of fami ly member to share with you Clea some of the = Interested in JoiningSTEWARDSHIP on the line. rly write the first nam e of family member on the line.

NITY AND highlights ofRE the 2021 Stewardship PASTORAL CA SERVICE  Chavis Hou  FaithfuRenewal. l Rea

Talent

Growing Together

Talent

ders Book Club

se

 Family Promise  Habitat for Humani ty • There were 681 commitment  Knights of Columbus cards received from 29Lad percent ies Ancient Ord

 Forward in Faith (Wido

ws, Widowers and Senior Singles)  Gabriel Guild  Intercessory Prayer Tea m  Ladies Out to Lunch Bunch  Live Nativity

er of Hibernians (LAOH)  Master’s Table Sou p Kitchen (Adult)  Master’s Table Sou p Kitchen (Youth and Family)  Order of Hibernian s in America, Inc. — (AO H) Richmond 1 Division  Pro-Life Ministry  Saints Overseas

of our households.

Marriage Preparatio n Team

• There were 4,501 prayer The Master’s Garden ers commitments — the stewardship Men’s Basketball oft/P time — from 91 percent of Mother’s Day Ou re-School Newcomers We participating households. lcoming (Appointed by Pastor)

Ministry

Parish Receptions Parish Visitation Tea

• There were 2,505 ministry m FINANCE Pilgrim Queen of commitments — the stewardship the Family  Gift Counters (Appointed

by Pastor) Rosary Making Ministr y of — from 79 percent of of talent Our Lady St. Joseph’s Guiparticipating households. Of ld Scouts — Cub Scouts these, 768 were new ministry couts — Boy Scouts commitments, while 1,737 ecular Franciscan enior Center were re-commitments to parish enior Mass and Lun cheon ministries.

Walkin

g Aerobics Wednesday Night Fam ily upper Volunteer

• There were 623 offertory ST . MA RY ON TH E outh Basketball Chu rch commitments — 142 the stewardshipHI LL ague Coach 0 Mo nte San o Ave nue Aug ustpercent a, GA 309 04 of treasure — from 91 of continued on next pane l 706 -73 3-6 627 • ww w.s tma ryo nth ehi ll.o rg participating households. The average pledge was $5,180.

Stewardship Prayer

ST . MA RY ON TH E HIL L

G rowing Together

Jesus, teach us to pray.

Help us to manage our time so that we can spen d it with You.

TH RO UG H ST EW AR DS HI P

Holy Spirit, fill us wit h Your gifts. May we offer ourselves in sacrifi ce for our parish and for all in need.

Father, give us gene rous hearts. Help us to ma nage our finances and to offer first fruits to You. As your faithful dis ciples, we ask this for ourse lves and for Catholics everywhere, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

2021 CO MM ITM EN T CA RD My Offering of Time, Tale nt & Treasure

First & Last Name Phone Email

Spouse: First & Last Name Spouse: Phone Spouse: Email

Address

ST. MARY ON THE HILL City State 2021 STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL

ZIP

Envelope #

Date Please bring this car d to Mass on Nov. 14/ 15, or mail using the env elope provided.

Thank you and God bless you!

We thank all those who participated in our 2021 Stewardship Renewal. If you did not have the opportunity to fill out and return a commitment card, we invite you to consider the ways you will share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the parish community! It is not too late to turn in your Commitment Card!

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Mr. Todd Shafer Reflects on His Firs “I

t’s a great day to be a saint!”

Walk through the halls, classrooms, and offices of our parish school and you are likely to hear this delightful exclamation. The phrase is part of a call-and-response instituted by our new St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School Principal, Mr. Todd Shafer. And thanks to Mr. Shafer’s genuine passion for K-8 education and the dedication of our talented faculty and staff, the sentiment certainly rings true. In a year when many institutions — including schools — have struggled to navigate a global pandemic, it certainly is great to be a St. Mary’s Saint!

Mr. Todd Shafer began serving as our new Principal of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School in July.

When Mr. Shafer stepped into the role of Principal at St. Mary on the Hill how to reopen with COVID-19 guidelines and safety Catholic School in July, Catholic schools around the in mind. Luckily, Mr. Shafer had a wealth of diverse Diocese of Savannah were hard at work figuring out professional experience to draw on.

The “house system” at SMCS has created a friendly competition when it comes to acts of kindness and service! Here, representatives from each house help organize food received through a canned food drive for Catholic Social Services.

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Mr. Shafer is an Augusta native. Following his graduation from Davidson High School, he studied architecture for a year at SCAD. He then returned to Augusta and studied as a chemistry major before joining the Air Force. After four years of military service, he became an Atlanta police officer for MARTA. Eventually, Mr. Shafer decided to move back to Augusta to be closer to his family. It was during his two years on the police force here that he met his wife, Tammy, a fellow officer.

Not long before the couple married, Tammy decided to go back to school for a teaching degree. Her decision to pursue a career in education inspired Mr. Shafer to consider doing the same.

“A couple of months after we got married, I told her I was going back to school full-time,” Mr. Shafer says.

“I was tired of putting kids in jail. Seeing that I was at the end of the choices they had, I wanted to be where I could help mold and shape and transform their lives earlier on so they could make better decisions.”

Mr. Shafer spent his first 12 years of teaching in the Columbia County school system. In 2014, he partnered with a colleague to found a charter school for the arts — the school would later open under the name SAIL.

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st Year as Principal at Our Parish School The state approval process for year. And while this impressive the charter school had come to a feat was certainly a result of the halt when Mr. Shafer heard that a hard work and dedication of teaching position was open at St. many, it was also a sign of our Mary on the Hill. community’s unwavering faith From his very first day on in challenging times. our campus in January 2016, Mr. “It’s knowing that there is a Shafer knew he was right where higher entity that surrounds us God wanted him to be. all and permeates us all,” Mr. “When you walk in the doors Shafer says. “Even in the midst of the school, it’s home,” he of negativity, we know that there says. “I got that feeling as soon is something better. Jesus permeas I walked in the doors. There ates through everyone. If we live were parent volunteers throughby faith and love one another, out the building, kids busy doserving others, negativity can’t ing things, and teachers seemed take us down.” to be happy. It has just been easy Moving forward, Mr. Shafer to fall in love with, and I love remains dedicated to his three Students return to St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School what I do. I love teaching the primary goals for the school: after attending Mass in the church. kids, I love being able to talk to enriching its Catholic identity, them and relate to them. It just blossomed from there. strengthening academic programming, and rebuilding When the position of Principal opened last summer, the parish-school relationship.

I had people saying, ‘Todd, you need to apply.’ God The “house system” established this year — based has a plan, and here I am.” on the virtues of faith, love, service, and community While there is nothing easy about stepping into a — has given students a tangible experience of their school leadership role in the face of a global pandemic, shared Catholic faith in action. The academic curricuMr. Shafer was able to take things in stride and come lum across all grades continues to be updated and exup with a solid reopening plan for the school within panded, and Mr. Shafer looks forward to implementweeks of becoming Principal. ing more project-based learning in the year to come.

“Our superintendent was committed to getting As the largest ministry of our parish, the school rekids back in school around the diocese,” he says. “It mains deeply connected to life at St. Mary on the Hill was a challenge, but I think it turned out really well. I Catholic Church. Mr. Shafer is thankful for the support think communication with the families has been key. of Fr. Ross and the stewardship way of life that makes We got a lot of great advice from our school nurse our school and parish such wonderful places to learn Rhonda Wallace. She did a lot of research and talked and worship together. to doctors in our school community. Mrs. Wallace has While Mr. Shafer’s first year as Principal of been invaluable; she has been the glue that has alSt. Mary on the Hill Catholic School may be coming to lowed us to continue on with some normalcy here.” a close, there is no doubt that his enthusiasm and pasThanks to the combined efforts of Mr. Shafer, Assion for the job are still going strong. sistant Principal Ashley Fisher, Mrs. Wallace, and all “I haven’t lost my love for it,” he says. “I come of the school faculty and staff, St. Mary on the Hill to work with a smile, and I leave with a smile. I love Catholic School has been able to continue in-person coming here and being here. I love the kids, the staff learning without interruption for the entire academic and teachers, and the parents. I just love it.”

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

“I

want to be just like Mom!” “I want to be just like 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 66

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 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.

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Baptisms Nov. 8, 2020 George Brendan Fisher Son of Patricia and Stewart Fisher

Nov. 29, 2020 Levi Archer Darley Son of Madison and Chase Darley

Nov. 15, 2020 Itzae Paulina Calderon Martinez Daughter of Brenda Lizeth Martinez Baltazav and Guadalupe Abimael Calderon Espinoza

Dec. 12, 2020 Daniel Owen Ingham Son of Rachel and Donald Ingham

Nov. 21, 2020 Gwenyth Mae Liangco Stewart Daughter of Mae Liangco and Charles Stewart Nov. 22, 2020 Paige Parker Boring Daughter of Jennifer and Keith Boring Nov. 28, 2020 Cody Jordan Bradley Son of Nicole Nelson and William Evans

Dec. 13, 2020 Foster Smith Byrnes Son of Mary Elaine and Michael Byrnes Dec. 27, 2020 Ruthie Teal Conkle Daughter of Katie and Donald Conkle Jan. 3, 2021 Alejandro Jesus Mendoza Son of Michielle and Carlos Mendoza Jan. 10, 2021 Arabella May Thibodeau Daughter of Marian and Dennis Thibodeau

Jan. 12, 2021 Maliyah Thao Van Wannamaker Daughter of Kathy and Gabriel Wannamaker Jan. 16, 2021 Zelda Ruby James Daughter of Chloe and Benjamin James Jan. 23, 2021 Hunley Michael Hitt Son of Kimberly and Patrick Hitt Feb. 13, 2021 Owen Scott Fitzgerald Son of Taylor and Chadwick Fitzgerald Feb. 21, 2021 Evangeline Eloise Firmin Daughter of Corazon and David Firmin

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on the hill 1420 Monte Sano Avenue Augusta, GA 30904 Phone 706-733-6627 www.stmaryonthehill.org

Recent Donations to St. Mary on the Hill St. Mary on the Hill Church Virginia D. Ross In Honor of their 50th Wedding Anniversary Franco and Vanna Palumbo In Memory of Elizabeth Schlachter David and Janet Hudson Pam and Bill Barrett Jack and Marcelene Markwalter Dr. and Mrs. William R. Kitchens Dr. and Mrs. T. Barrett Trotter Dr. and Mrs. Michael B. Rogers In Memory of Ann Behun Fenicin The Wednesday Dolls Bowling League Stephen and Patricia Behun The Augusta Area Newcomers Club Anne and Joe Kulhanek Joanne and Gordon Leebosh Gary and Kristi Kulhanek Sharon Emel In Memory of Maria Luz “Tina” Edwards Melissa and Deke Copenhaver Zetta Garrett Teresa Barnes Mike Rucker In Memory of Charlotte Van Horn Mike Rucker In Memory of Jane O’Connor Wheeler Mary Freeman In Memory of Eddie Mulherin Leanne Mulherin James Herman In Memory of Tom Wiedmeier Wesley United Methodist Church 8

In Memory of Jack Johannsen Dr. and Mrs. Donald Loebl, Jr. Mike Rucker Jeanie and Doug Herman Karen Brittingham William Herman, III John, Charlar, Maye-Stevens and John-John Weigle

In Memory of Emma Gene Fulcher Forest Hills Townhouse Board of Directors Kathryn Whittle Peggy Sorrells Mary McLendon

In Memory of Linda Slaby Eleanor Taylor

In Memory of Nuong Trinh Hai Trinh

In Memory of Clifford L. Carey Eleanor Taylor

In Memory of Larry Ross Ralph and Margaret Schilly, Jr. Richard and Christy Davis Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dendinger Mary Ellen and Paul Zielinski

In Memory of Joan Boos Kathy Baltzell In Memory of Sophia Strelec Kathy Baltzell William Herman, III In Memory of Wallace Mentel Kathy Baltzell In Memory of Don Bossard Mary Ellen and Paul Zielinski William Herman, III In Memory of Herman Brittingham Walter F. Abbott, IV Karen Brittingham William Herman, III In Memory of Lydia Porro Milham Phillip and Kay Jesse In Memory of Betty Casey William Herman, III In Memory of Cindy Brittingham Karen Brittingham Mike Rucker

In Memory of Harry Jacobs Karen Brittingham

In Memory of George Lenz Jim Selzler Mary Ellen and Paul Zielinski Mike Rucker Sean and Mary Grady Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dendinger Kathleen Cook Elaine Jones Black In Memory of Gail Ward Mary Ellen and Paul Zielinski Mike Rucker In Memory of Doris Maxwell Nydia Sancho Mary Ellen and Paul Zielinski

St. Mary on the Hill Church Master Gardeners Anne Proctor