St. Peter Catholic Church Newsletter — April 2021

APRIL | 2021

CONTENT PAGE 2 Teaching By Example

The Importance of Prayer in a Child’s Life

PAGE 3 Give Thanks to the Lord, It Is Right and Just PAGE 4 The Social Concerns Committee Answers the

Gospel Call to Serve

PAGE 6 Steadfast in Faith and Devotion:

St. Catherine of Siena

PAGE 7 Catholic Youth Organization of Quincy

MEET OUR FOURTH-GRADE TEACHERS

Building a Strong Foundation for Learning

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ourth grade is a unique time of transition, as students approach the end of their elementary school years, while still working towards middle school.

It’s also a time of growth and discovery — both of oneself and the world around us. And for students who have the opportunity to attend St. Peter Catholic School, it’s a year they get to spend with our fourth-grade teachers, Mrs. Denise Hufendick and Mrs. Cris Weckbach.

“I love the age level, how they are ‘little big kids,’” says Mrs. Hufendick who has been teaching at St. Peter’s for the past 39 years.

“I love teaching fourth grade because students are learning to become independent,” says Mrs. Weckbach, who has spent 15 of her 26 years at St. Peter School teaching fourth grade. “They are just young people with good thinking skills.”

Both teachers love the things that make a Catholic school unique, from being able to learn and share about their faith in the classroom, to the various opportunities to pray together as a school community, especially at weekly school Mass.

“I like working in a Catholic school because we get to teach Religion and attend Mass as a school,” Mrs. Weckbach says. “I’m always proud when my students participate in Mass as a reader, saying petitions, and bringing up gifts.

“Fourth grade usually helps the kindergarteners at Mass,” she adds. “This is my favorite hour of the week. It’s so touching seeing my students helping the kindergarten students.”

“I like working in a place where my students and I can talk about God and pray every day,” Mrs. Hufendick says. “Being a teacher in a Catholic school has continued on page 5

Mrs. Cris Weckbach (second from right) and her family

Mrs. Denise Hufendick and her husband, Kent (center) with their two daughters, and their families

ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

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 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,

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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.

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, IT IS RIGHT AND JUST Dear Parishioners,

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very time I prepare my monthly letter to you in this newsletter, I am reminded of how blessed I am. Being a priest truly is a blessing. While the job is not always easy — a pastor has many responsibilities — the rewards are equally humbling.

As we complete our preparations and then share in our celebrations of the Triduum and Easter, I am also prompted to think about the holiest things I do. By far, the holiest is celebrating Mass, and especially consecrating the holy bread and wine so Christ is present among us. The very word “consecration” literally means “association with the sacred.” To have that duty is incredible. I have never taken it for granted, and although it may appear at times to be somewhat automatic, it never is for me.

Almost all of us are familiar with the Mass, and with what we do and say leading up to the high point — the Eucharist. But I think we must guard against becoming too casual in our responses and what we say. That is what I work to avoid, but I believe you need to work just as diligently to make sure that you are listening, hearing, and being aware of what you are saying. For us as Catholics, the Mass is the most important and sacred act in the Church.

I suppose I could write a whole series of letters or articles on the meaning of everything we say and do at Mass, but I was thinking of one exchange in

particular during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is something we may say in sort of a habitual way, but I firmly believe each of us must truly consider what we are saying.

I say to you, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” and you respond, “It is right and just.” Think about what that means, because it is very much at the heart of stewardship. I am saying we need to thank God, show gratitude for everything we are and everything with which we are gifted — and you, at least in words, acknowledge that doing that is exactly what we need to do. The Mass is filled with statements and exchanges of that sort, and I would ask that we think about what they truly mean.

Even the simple exchange between the Eucharistic Minister and you at the actual reception of the Host is heavy with meaning. We say, “the Body of Christ” and you reply, “amen.” In that instance, “amen” means “yes, I do believe this is Jesus.” Like myself, you are blessed. Sometimes we just need to realize it. Happy Easter!

In Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow

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ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Social Concerns Committee T

he oft-quoted Scripture passage from the Book of Matthew — “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt. 25:35) — is just one of many in which Jesus exhorts us to follow the Gospel call to love and serve God’s most vulnerable people in our midst.

Here at St. Peter, we have a wonderful group of parishioners dedicated to answering this call through participation on our Social Concerns Committee. By providing caring assistance to community members facing financial crises, this committee brings the love and light of Christ to countless families and individuals each year.

The Social Concerns Committee addresses various social justice issues in our area by providing direct assistance to parishioners in need while also partnering with various local agencies, including the Quincy Area Partnership for Unmet Needs.

“We do what we can to fill in the gaps and help those in need who don’t have resources anywhere else,” says longtime committee member Raquel Kroencke. “Sometimes those are temporary needs. We have had people with high medical bills, so we’ll help with extra groceries. Someone may call because they’ve lost a job or don’t have gas for the week. Parishioners are always at the

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top of the list of people we try to help, and we also have some standard organizations that we help.”

One of the organizations that the Social Concerns Committee began supporting this past fall is the Covered Bottoms Diaper Bank, which provides families with baby necessities. The committee also holds the monthly First Sunday food collection for the Ladies of Charity and sponsors the annual Back to School Fair and Giving Wreath. Their Rice and Beans Dinner during Lent brings in informational speakers on topics such as domestic violence or poverty in Haiti. Funds for the committee are raised through the Fifth Sunday collection and a cookie sale.

Certainly, most parishioners at St. Peter are familiar with the committee’s largest annual project — the Giving Wreath. This past year, 800 gifts were collected for eight local agencies to distribute to individuals and families in need.

As a social worker with Cornerstone Foundations for Families, Raquel has been able to witness firsthand the difference that these Christmas gifts make in the lives of so many.

“In my experience, with those gifts going to clients at my agency, they are just extremely grateful,” Raquel says. “And then they pay things forward. That is probably the best feeling I get

ANSWERS THE GOSPEL CALL TO SERVE from it — you give them hope and kindness and generosity from people they don’t even know, and then when they have the ability to pay it forward, they do. I had a girl who was a client years ago and recipient of the Giving Wreath, and she brought me something for it this year.”

The Social Concerns Committee has been changing lives in West Central Illinois for almost 30 years. Initiated as a response to the floods of 1993, today the group has 20 members and provides regular assistance to parishioners and agencies in our area.

“It is really amazing how long the committee has been around and that we are really good stewards of the money,” Raquel says. “If people knew all that we actually do, they would want to get involved. It’s grown a lot, and I hope the

younger generation will get involved. The more people and brains and ideas we have, the better able we are to help more people.”

By serving God’s people both inside and outside of our parish walls, the Social Concerns Committee joyfully responds to the Gospel call to care for the most vulnerable among us. What a beautiful way to shine the light of Christ in our community!

“This is our mission in life,” Raquel says.

“We’re not put here just to take care of ourselves — we have to help other people, and that is exactly what we do with the Social Concerns Committee, whether it’s in our own parish or out in the community. So many people in the community are touched by St. Peter, and this helps spread the love and joy and hope to the people.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Social Concerns Committee at St. Peter, please contact committee chair Sharon Mays at 217-257-1376 or maysfam2@comcast.net.

MEET OUR FOURTH-GRADE TEACHERS

continued from front cover

always made me reflect on my own faith, and going to Mass with my students makes me realize how precious our faith and worship are.”

In addition to the many wonderful things that make a Catholic education unique, our fourth-grade teachers have found something special about the community at St. Peter School.

“Our school feels like a big family,” Mrs. Hufendick says.

“You are a part of a family — always surrounded by good people,” says Mrs. Weckbach, who both attended and sent her own children to St. Peter School.

The students aren’t the only ones learning in our fourth-grade classrooms. Both teachers have found their own knowledge expanding as they walk alongside their students.

“My students have taught me that learning is always important and that each day is a gift,” Mrs. Hufendick says. “It’s fun sharing books,

music, and learning together each week at school.

Sometimes, we just share a good laugh over funny things that happen!”

“My faith continues to grow,” Mrs. Weckbach adds.

“Through teaching, you are constantly reminded of how important it is to have that foundation of having faith and hope.”

Both teachers hope that students will leave their classroom prepared to continue growing in their faith and inspired to make the world a better place.

“I want them to know they can always pray and that they are made in the image of God,” Mrs. Hufendick says. “I also want them to know they can ask the Holy Spirit to guide them.”

“I want my students to leave my class having an appreciation of the value of learning, to know that God will always be with them, and to know how important it is to use your God-given talents,” Mrs. Weckbach says.

If you would like more information on St. Peter School, please visit www.stpeterschool.com.

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ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

STEADFAST IN FAITH AND DEVOTION:

St. Catherine of Siena

On April 29, we celebrate the feast day of a doctor of the Church — one who remained absolutely devoted to living her life for Christ, even in the face of familial misunderstanding in her youth, and through societal opposition and turmoil during her later years. As stewards in our fast-paced, highly technical — and often fractured — world, we can always look to the life and example of St. Catherine of Siena, and strive to remain steadfast in our faith while facing our own modern-day challenges.

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orn in mid-14th-century Italy to a large family, and in the midst of a plague outbreak, St. Catherine of Siena was her parents’ 25th child, although half of her siblings did not survive through childhood.

Young Catherine resisted her family’s desire for her to marry — she even went so far as to begin fasting and cutting her hair short in protest. Her parents eventually relented, as Catherine strived to humbly serve her own family, treating her own father as Jesus, her mother as Mary, and her brothers as the apostles.

Such was Catherine’s desire to remain in service to her own family that instead of entering a convent, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic at age 18.

This enabled her to continue serving her family at home, even as she was part of a religious society. In time, she learned to read and began giving her family’s own possessions to those in need — even though her parents didn’t necessarily approve of her entirely altruistic approach to service.

Continuing with her faithful devotion as part of the Third

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Order of St. Dominic, Catherine developed a following of her own, as she wrote letters offering spiritual encouragement and instruction. Controversy would ensue, as her writings began to comment on public matters through her firm lens of faith.

In the midst of these spiritual developments, at age 21, Catherine underwent a profound change, as she experienced what she called her “mystical marriage to Christ.” Through this experience, she was directed to help the poor and the sick.

Catherine began serving those in need in hospitals and homes, which inspired followers to assist in these important missions of service, love and mercy.

Furthermore, she continued to comment on public matters, petitioning for peace in the midst of political fracture and strife. This continued through the Great Schism, beginning in 1378, as Catherine spent two years — the last years of her life — in Rome, praying and pleading for unity in the Church, and for the cause of Pope Urban VI.

By January 1380, Catherine was gravely ill, unable to eat or

drink — shortly thereafter, she lost the use of her legs. At only 33 years old, she would pass away on April 29, 1380. She was canonized nearly a century later, in 1461.

Despite her short life, St. Catherine of Siena made a profound impact on the Church through her spiritually direct writings, her work serving those in need, and in preserving the unity of the Church in the face of great societal upheavals — all while being singularly devoted to living a life for Christ. Her status led her to be declared a co-patron of Italy (alongside St. Francis of Assisi) in 1939. And in 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine of Siena a doctor of the Church.

CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF QUINCY Providing Our Students with Healthy Activities and Important Lessons on Teamwork

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hen it comes to our children, few things promote healthy activities or learning about teamwork quite like sports. However, youth may not always have an opportunity to participate in athletics, especially from a young age. Meeting this need, the Quincy Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) was formed to “promote the physical, social, mental, emotional, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing primarily of the Catholic Youth of the Quincy community through the participation in sports and social activities.” So, what started in the 1920s as a way to offer sports activities to Quincy Catholic elementary students has blossomed into an organization that is still thriving today.

The program is run by a board of eight members with two members from each of the Quincy Catholic parishes. While the CYO has been on a break this

spring and last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hoped that activities will begin again this coming fall. There is also a session offered each spring.

Girls’ volleyball is offered for third to eighthgrade students. Basketball is offered for boys and girls from first to eighth grade. Both will be held at Quincy University and have licensed officials, so students may learn the sport. Many of the coaches are parents of the players. Also, karate is offered for boys and girls from second to eighth grade in the St. Dominic School gymnasium.

Tom McLaughlin has been involved in CYO since he was a child — he started by playing baseball and basketball. Then, he got involved in coaching and was eventually trained as a referee through the Illinois High School Association.

“I’ve been a referee for almost 40 years,” he says.

“I’ve enjoyed all of my time with this organization and working with sports.”

Tom says CYO offers a valuable opportunity for the participating youth to meet students from other Quincy schools. The parents can also meet parents from the other parishes.

“We want kids to play hard and have fun,” he says. “We want the parents to be good sports too.”

Each game starts with all the players praying the Our Father in a big circle.

“This gives them a little religious and Christian influence in the game,” Tom says.

As Tom notes, participation in CYO also helps youth prepare for competitive sports at the high school level.

“I got so much out of this program as a player and a coach,” he says. “I’ve seen the value of what we are doing. Elementary school students need structure and something to do.”

In the spring of 2020, there were about 250 boys and girls who completed the season before the COVID-19 restrictions were put into place. continued on back cover

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2600 Maine Street Quincy, Illinois 62301 www.cospq.org

CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF QUINCY

continued from page 7

“The kids grow a lot through this program and they seem to enjoy it,” Tom says.

Besides the four Quincy Catholic parishes, participating students also come from Quincy Christian School, St. James Lutheran Elementary, Holy Family Catholic Elementary, and several homeschool groups.

Tom also extends his gratitude to all of the coaches and coordinators who share their time and talents to help run the CYO program.

“I am passionate about this organization,” he says.

“It’s an important part of the Catholic community.”

“I got so much out of this program as a player and a coach. I’ve seen the value of what we are doing. Elementary school students need structure and something to do.”

— TOM MCLAUGHLIN

Any student is welcome to get involved in CYO — you don’t need to be Catholic to participate.

And, in the future, the CYO board hopes to start other programs for students who are not as interested in athletics. In May of 2022, there will be a need for more board members. For more information on the Catholic Youth Organization, please visit cyoquincy.com or call 217-223-9321.

MASS SCHEDULE Weekend Masses Saturday: 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Weekday Masses Mon-Sat: 8:00 a.m., except for Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m.

Reconciliation Saturday: 7:30-7:50 a.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment