JULY | 2022
CONTENT PAGE 3
We Provide the Gifts, God Performs the Miracles
PAGE 4 Parish Welcomes New Parochial Vicar,
Fr. Zachary Samples PAGE 6 Assisting Children and Families, Getting New
Year off to Great Start PAGE 7
Back-to-School Help Fair
Meet Parishioners JASON AND REBECCA KNUFFMAN Blessed to Share Time and Talents as Family
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bout eight years ago, when Jason and Rebecca Knuffman moved to Quincy, Jason’s hometown, they checked out all the Catholic parishes. They settled here at St. Peter because it felt like home. The longer they have been here, the more it has truly come to be home. “We loved how inviting it was here,” Rebecca says. “There are lots of opportunities to get involved. We also fell in love with the school.” “It’s just been a natural fit here,” Jason says. “The kids enjoy going to Mass and getting involved in ministries.” Jason and Rebecca have four daughters, and each of the six family members is active at St. Peter’s. Rebecca and the girls use their vocal talents to cantor and sing in several choirs — we are so blessed to enjoy those talents at weekend and school Masses. Each of the four girls is either currently an altar server or has been in the past. Rebecca also helps in the St. Peter’s School cafeteria. “To me, music is a form of prayer,” Rebecca says. “It’s so beautiful to me that my girls can follow in my footsteps and learn the beauty of music.” In contrast to his wife and daughters’ service at the continued on page 2
The Knuffman family
ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
JASON AND REBECCA KNUFFMAN continued from front cover parish, Jason’s service is done in solitude, as a committed adorer at the Eucharistic Adoration chapel. “I enjoy the contemplative time in the chapel,” he says. “No one would want to hear my singing voice.” Jason also assisted with a Girl Scout project on a memorial garden to Fr. Augustus Tolton at St. Peter’s. Fr. Tolton was the first black Catholic priest in the United States. In addition, Jason is the coach of the high school girls’ golf team at Quincy Notre Dame. Both Jason and Rebecca feel blessed to be a part of this parish and school. “We feel we will be indebted to St. Peter’s School forever,” Jason says. “The school is the biggest ministry of the parish.” The Knuffman family does their best to help at St. Peter’s when and where they can, whether by making pizza for a fundraiser or helping at the annual Parish Picnic. They admit there are a lot of valuable secular organizations to be involved with, but Jason and Rebecca want to set an example to their daughters that the church is the best place to direct their energies. “We believe the Body of Christ is present here,” Jason says. “We do what we can. We are all-in.” Jason emphasizes that the family members aren’t involved at St. Peter’s because they want to look good or receive praise — they are simply giving their gifts back to God. If we have gifts, then we have the responsibility to share them with others,” Jason says. “If our gifts aren’t perfect, that’s okay. We give imperfect gifts back to God.” 2
Rebecca Knuffman Takes Over New Parish Nurse Program at St. Peter’s
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his June, our parish was blessed to have Rebecca Knuffman begin serving as our parish nurse. Her love for nursing started from a young age. As a child, Rebecca was in a sledding accident, which resulted in a broken leg that required three surgeries and a two-month-long hospitalization. "During that period, I was blessed with many kind nurses whose compassionate care inspired me to become a nurse," Rebecca says. "I attended St. Louis University School of Nursing and received my Bachelor of Nursing in 2000." Following her graduation, Rebecca worked at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis in a cardiac unit. A couple of years later, she took a position in the ICU at St. Joseph's Hospital in her hometown of Milwaukee. "My next move was to Madison, Wis., after getting engaged to my college sweetheart," she says. "There, I worked at Meriter Hospital in the Cardiac Cath Lab, Electrophysiology Lab, and Interventional Radiology Lab for several years while my husband, Jason, finished his Allergy/Immunology Fellowship at UW Madison. "During that time our daughter, Hana, was born and soon followed by our daughter, Heidi," she adds. "After our second daughter was born, God graced me with the ability to stay home and raise our four beautiful daughters." Rebecca's main role as parish nurse will be to integrate faith and healing to promote wellness within St. Peter Parish, with a focus on homebound, hospital, and nursing home parishioners. She will also accompany Fr. Leo and Fr. Pawel on home and hospital visits, as well as provide blood pressure checks following Mass on first Sundays.
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 at St. Peter’s. 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 in the midst of 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 what that little bit initially could. Isn’t that what we as a parish are called to do? We make gifts of our time, our talent, and our treasure as good stewards — 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. In Christ,
Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow 3
ST. PETER
Welcome
CATHOLIC CHURCH
PARISH WELCOMES NEW PAROCHIA Ready to Accompany Paris
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arly on at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, Fr. Zachary Samples was told by a priest that there would come a time in his journey to the priesthood where no other vocation made sense. After six years in formation at the seminary, Fr. Zach had no doubts about his vocational call. He was ordained on May 28, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, and celebrated his first Mass on May 29. Fr. Zach will serve as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter and Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame. “To say that I am excited would be an understatement,” Fr. Zach says. “Many thanks to Msgr. Enlow for taking me on. I am grateful to learn from him and work alongside him as I transition to the priesthood.” After so many years of studying and being in school, from preschool to the seminary, Fr. Zach is truly ready to live his calling. “I am so ready to begin service in our church,” he says. “I look forward to celebrating Mass and the sacraments and serving those I am called to serve.” When Fr. Zach was growing up in Mt. Zion, there was no youth ministry, and he didn’t have a solid outlet to learn more about the Catholic faith. “I decided to start teaching fourth-grade religion at our Parish School of Religion,” he
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Fr. Zachary Samples was ordained on May 28, 2022.
says. “I felt I came to know my faith at that age level.” When Fr. Zach started at Eastern Illinois University, he quickly became involved at the Newman Catholic Center. “I got involved because I wanted my faith to be a big part of my life,” he says. “It was at the Newman Catholic Center where my faith really came alive.” The first Sunday that Fr. Zach was at the Newman Catholic Center, then-Chaplain Fr. John Titus asked him if he had considered the priesthood. He remembered back in fourth grade when a priest asked him that same question while serving at the altar.
“Through many Newman Center activities and mission trips, the faith really came alive,” he says. “This seed planted as a fourth-grader finally started to grow.” Fr. Zach learned at the Newman Center that the Lord had a path for him. “People ask kids, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” Fr. Zach says. “When that’s the only question, it makes you think about what you want to do, but there’s more to the story. It’s also about what God wants you to do. Instead, we should ask that question, ‘What does God want me to do?’” As a new priest, Fr. Zach most enjoys celebrating the sacraments. He feels blessed to minister the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to celebrate the Mass. “I am ready to be part of people’s lives as a priest and to accompany people on their journeys of faith,” he says. “I am ready to be there for the joys and struggles of the lives of those I am called to serve.” He also looks forward to serving as Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame. This work is near and dear to him since he never had the opportunity for this support as a young man. And his years in college were so formative. “I can’t wait to help be a conduit to bring the faith to
AL VICAR, FR. ZACHARY SAMPLES
shioners on Journey of Faith “I am ready to be part of people’s lives as a priest and to accompany people on their journeys of faith. I am ready to be there for the joys and struggles of the lives of those I am called to serve.” — FR. ZACHARY SAMPLES
them in a way that hasn’t been brought to them before,” Fr. Zach says. “I want them to know they are infinitely loved by Christ. He wants to walk with them.” Fr. Zach looks forward to starting his priesthood here and learning from Fr. Leo. “I look forward also to learning from the staff and those in the pews as we work together to bring about the kingdom of God,” Fr. Zach says. In his free time, Fr. Zach likes to travel, cook, watch movies, spend time with friends and family, take walks, and be outdoors.
Fr. Zachary Samples will serve as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter and Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame.
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ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
QUARTERLY FINANCE REPORT Jul - March 22 INCOME Regular Church Support Other Sources of Parish Support Investment Income Restricted Income Tuition Income
1,297,849.66 136,180.60 15,719.35 802,552.23 952,781.73
1,249,786.96 38,941.53 15,298.87 667,523.76 966,750.22
TOTAL INCOME
3,205,083.57
2,938,301.34
Payroll Expenses Contractual Services Utilities Insurance - Property & Liability Repairs and Maintenance Equipment and Furniture Professional Fees Support to Other Parishes Religious Education Expenses Parish Organization Expense ACSA Expense Tithe Expense Other Expenses
1,840,182.95 26,524.72 66,833.07 24,380.03 71,042.57 82,307.30 2,101.30 0.00 5,231.24 71,044.67 0.00 127,616.00 43,123.36
1,811,721.13 21,329.93 68,607.48 23,667.84 28,777.72 153,978.22 1,621.30 30,000.00 4,296.28 55,439.77 95,634.00 0.00 54,017.95
TOTAL EXPENSE
2,360,387.21
2,349,091.62
844,696.36
589,209.72
NET INCOME
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Jul -March 21
BACK-TO-SCHOOL HELP FAIR Assisting Children and Families, Getting the New Year off to Great Start
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ugust is certainly a busy time as summer winds down and families get ready for their kids to go back to school. For those families who may struggle to provide all of the supplies, clothes, and necessities their children are expected to have on that first day of school, the Backto-School Help Fair is a huge blessing. Our parish partners with other area churches to host this event for residents of Adams County. Karen Hugenberg helps coordinate the efforts at St. Peter and volunteers at the fair.
“I can just see it in the eyes of the children. They want a nice outfit for the first day of school, and it’s nice when they can find something that they like and will feel good in.” — KAREN HUGENBERG She says the volunteers prepare more than 800 backpacks each year. Children can also receive a free haircut, clothing, and dental exam, and volunteer nurses provide physicals and immunizations.
“We’re coming together with a lot of churches to meet the needs of children in our community,” Karen says. “I don’t know of a lot of ecumenical events like this. I think it’s important that St. Peter’s is represented.” The fair was started by First Baptist Church more than 30 years ago. As the event grew, more and more local churches got involved. To prepare for the fair, our parish usually has a clothing drive, collecting socks and underwear in particular. Clothing was collected at the school at the end of the year and parishioners can find donation boxes for clothing in the narthex of the church at the end of the month. Karen is always touched when she sees the happiness of the children picking out their clothes at the fair. “I can just see it in the eyes of the children,” she says. “They want a nice outfit for the first day of school, and it’s nice when they can find something that they like and will feel good in.” continued on back cover
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2600 Maine Street Quincy, Illinois 62301 www.cospq.org
BACK-TO-SCHOOL HELP FAIR continued from page 7 The Back-to-School Help Fair gives families a chance to check many needs off their list at once, ensuring that their kids are ready when the first day of school rolls around. The volunteers often save some backpacks for the first day of school for the children who didn’t make it to the fair and are still in need of basic supplies. The fair requires many volunteers to set up and run. The donated clothing must be sorted before the fair and there is a particular need for volunteer nurses and licensed hairdressers. Anyone available to volunteer can reach out to Karen. “It’s very rewarding to help those little children and I know I felt so blessed that I was able to provide those things for my own children,” Karen says. “There are a lot of families that would like to, but really struggle to do so. If you’re in a position to help, it’s very appreciated.”
The Back-to-School Help Fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 8 to 11 a.m. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Karen Hugenberg at 217-592-2219. If you would like to donate new socks and underwear for Quincy students, please pick up tags in the Narthex after Masses on July 9-10 or July 16-17. Please return the purchased socks and underwear on July 23-24 and tape the bus tag on the packages to assist with sorting the donations. If you have questions about donating new socks and underwear, please contact Mary Christensen via email at christma2@att.net.
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
