St. Peter Catholic Church Newsletter — November 2021

NOV | 2021

CONTENT PAGE 2 Teaching Our Children the True Meaning

of Stewardship

PAGE 3 Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Time PAGE 4 The Lavery Family: Gratefully Spending

Thanksgiving Day Together

PAGE 6 St. Rose Philippine Duchesne:

“The Woman Who Always Prays”

PAGE 7 Meet Our Second-Grade Teachers,

Mrs. Becky McCutchen and Mrs. Emily Mellon

THE GIVING WREATH: Sharing Christ’s Love at Christmas

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hat began as a small Christmas tree with several ornaments through the efforts of Carol and Jerry Jensen more than 20 years ago, has grown into a continued sharing of Christ’s love with those in need through our Giving Wreath.

Our parish’s Social Concerns Committee now oversees the project, led by Christy Holm. The Giving Wreath has grown to the distribution of gifts through nearly 900 tags. The project helps eight Quincy social service organizations. The names are not publicized for confidentiality.

“I contact each organization and they submit lists of needs and some wants of their clients,” Christy says. “The organizations submit their ‘wish list’ to us and we take these and apply them to the tags that we set out.”

Labels are made and attached to tags that are set out in the Narthex of the church just before Thanksgiving. Parishioners take the tags and buy the item on the tag. They wrap it and attach the tag on the outside to return the gifts to the Narthex on the designated weekend.

“Our school is involved also,” Christy says. “The children in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade color the tags that we attach the labels to. The organizations pick up the gifts and distribute them to their clients. A group of volunteers from the eighth grade continued on back cover

ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE TRUE MEANING OF STEWARDSHIP

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hat is your response when someone compliments your child’s achievements in art, music, or sports? Do you say “thank you” as a kind response, or do you thank God for granting your child the gifts necessary for success?

As parents, we serve as the primary educators of our children. Teaching them from a young age that their talents — whether in soccer, chorus or painting — come not from us, but from God, is essential to teaching stewardship. God graciously grants each of us unique skills and abilities, and it is our job to use those gifts to glorify Him. As parents, aunts, uncles, or older siblings, we can guide children in our lives to recognize their God-given gifts. We can further encourage children to use God’s gifts to their full potential, and then thank Him for bestowing them. This teaches young Catholics how to be good stewards. Indeed, not utilizing our talents brings to mind the parable of the servant who buries the treasure his master gives him, instead of using it to create more treasure. God wants us to use our talents wisely and thankfully.

Teaching children to utilize their talents to build God’s kingdom is only one step of the threefold stewardship message. How your children spend their time is also important. As we move through the hustle and bustle of our day — balancing school, chores, and extracurricular activities — do we find time to spend with God? It often seems as if 24 hours is not long enough to fulfill our many daily tasks.

So, how can we find the time to teach and demonstrate the importance of sharing our time with God? Simple time offerings include praying on the way to school, stopping by the church to pray for a friend in need, or thanking God for a good outcome on a test. Even learning about a saint over dinner and praying as a family before bedtime can be a valuable time offering to the Lord.

As parents, finding daily prayer time ourselves is also necessary, both for our roles

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as good stewards and as an example to our children. How wonderful for a child to witness their parent in quiet prayer devotion!

The third tier of stewardship — treasure — is most frequently overlooked when educating our children. Birthday money from Grandma and allowance money doesn’t count — or does it?

All gifts we receive are really from God, and the “first fruits” of those gifts should be generously returned to God — even if they come from Grandma. Starting as early as grade school, children can understand the concept of giving back to the all-giving God if we simply take the opportunity to teach it to them. Witnessing our weekly tithe is a great start, but encouraging them to give in their own children’s offertory envelope is also important. Knowing they are returning to God in thanksgiving will fill them with joy!

Of the many lessons parents instill in their children, teaching them to be good stewards should be a top priority. Our goal as parents is to get our children to heaven to be with our creator, God. Teaching them to be good stewards is a great way to ensure entry.

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR THE Dear Parishioners,

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he next several weeks are certainly a busy time for us as Catholics, good stewards, good citizens, and faithful members of the Church and our parish. There are celebrations and commemorations both inside and outside the Church that are momentous in terms of faith, citizenship, and living as people of thanksgiving and gratitude.

We celebrate Veterans Day to honor and thank all those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces in one capacity or another. Indicative of the importance of this day, every year at 11 a.m.

Eastern, the President of the United States lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

We all understand that Americans celebrate a day of Thanksgiving on Nov. 25. What more can we say about this? It is a day that was based in faith from its very beginnings, and it is an indication of how much we have to thank God for in terms of the gifts we have received — our lives, our families, our Church, our Lord and Savior — everything we are and everything we have.

No sooner are Thanksgiving Day celebrations concluded, than we begin that glorious season called Advent on Sunday, Nov. 28. This prepares

Gift of Time

us for and leads to Christmas. Indeed, this is both a busy and extraordinary time of year! There is, of course, much more on which we could focus and about which we could think, meditate and pray, but that is more than enough for us to consider and absorb.

From a stewardship perspective, I would like you to not only participate and focus on all the particular things that are about to happen, but also on one of our special gifts — the gift of time. The gift of time, which we all receive from God in equal amount, is precious because it is a non-renewable resource. Although some of our time is committed because of family responsibilities, work responsibilities or simply personal needs, we have an element of freewill with how we spend a certain amount of it. We need to spend some of that time in prayer, in thanksgiving, in worship, and in works of mercy and ministry. Our time is perhaps more precious than any material gifts we receive from the Lord.

How are we doing with that gift?

In Christ, Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Enlow

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ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

MEET THE LAVERY FAMILY: I

f you walk into Rich and Mary Lavery’s home any given year on Thanksgiving Day, you will find a whole lot more than just a great meal on the table.

You will witness overflowing joy, the beauty of family being together, and the peace that comes from grateful hearts.

“The really nice thing about our Thanksgiving celebration is that it is an opportunity to spend time with all of our family members, without any other overriding purpose to the day,” Mary says. “We get together often for birthdays, major holidays, weddings, baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, and graduations. Thanksgiving does not bring with it the expectation of gift-giving or receiving, or even focusing on one particular person whom we are celebrating. While those things are important and provide wonderful family traditions, Thanksgiving is just a wonderful day to celebrate our entire family

Gratefully

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and the blessing of each individual within it.”

For the entire Lavery family, celebrating Thanksgiving together is a tradition that goes way back – something that has carried across several generations.

“Throughout the years, we have always had a big family Thanksgiving celebration, and the tradition continues today as we gather in my mother and father’s home,” says Maria Mast. “When we all get together, my husband, Matthew, and I are there with our three children — Elena, William, and Richie — and my two brothers and sister are also there with their families. There is even one great-grandchild there as well! I hope that the tradition continues in my children’s lives as well, long after I am gone.”

Each year, the family’s celebration starts a little before Thanksgiving Day. “My mother enjoys having her grandchildren help

“Thanksgiving does not bring with it the expectation of gift giving or receiving, or even focusing on one particular person whom we are celebrating. While those things are important and provide wonderful family traditions, Thanksgiving is just a wonderful day to celebrate our entire family and the blessing of each individual within it.” — MARY LAVERY

The Rich and Mary Lavery family

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Cousins, all together on a special day

pending Thanksgiving Day Together her create table decorations, name cards, special napkins, or placemats for Thanksgiving,” Maria says.

“It gives them a great opportunity to spend time with her, and it is something they look forward to.”

The Lavery family’s Thanksgiving usually includes a mid-day meal, along with a few special traditions that help them focus on gratitude for faith, fellowship, and family.

“We love being together as a large group, and ‘the more, the merrier’ has always been our motto,” Maria says. “We purposely have the meal around 11:30 a.m. so we have time to spend together. It also allows for some of us to go to a different meal in the evening with other sides of our families if we need to.

We pray at the beginning of the meal, and then we each share something significant in our lives that we are thankful for. We understand that being grateful

Place cards created by the grandchildren

for all of our blessings in our lives is the real reason for Thanksgiving.”

Each person takes a part in providing and preparing the meal, which makes the day more enjoyable for everyone.

Last but certainly not least, the family savors a deeply meaningful tradition of taking family photos each Thanksgiving.

“We love to take family photos, such as in the yard, featuring re-enactments or pictures of all the cousins together, etc.,” Maria says. “ My mom puts the pictures up so we can see the changes from year to year. This tradition shows the importance of prioritizing your family and spending time with them. Ultimately, your family is meant to be with you through thick and thin, and love you unconditionally.”

Sharing in family time

Enjoying a favorite dessert

The Lavery siblings, then and now

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ST. PETER

CATHOLIC CHURCH

ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE: “The Woman Who Always Prays” On Nov. 18, we celebrate the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. During her long life of service, she confronted many hardships, and played an important role in bringing the Catholic faith to the new American frontier. Her endless devotion to prayer and lifelong desire to help those in need provides us with a beautiful example of stewardship and faith in the face of great adversity.

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orn on Aug. 29, 1769 in Grenoble, France, to a prominent lawyer, the young Philippine was educated by tutors and her own mother, as well as by the Visitation nuns in Grenoble. By 1788, the 19-year-old Philippine had become completely devoted to the Catholic faith, and she joined the Convent of the Visitation — by some accounts, against her family’s wishes.

However, by 1792, the convent was closed due to the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution — an era that witnessed the outlawing of all religious organization in France. While no longer a member of a convent, Philippine remained fully active in providing service and ministering to those in need — even selflessly putting herself at great risk by helping to hide priests from the Revolutionaries.

By the time the Reign of Terror ended and the Concordat between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII was signed in 1801, Philippine attempted to restart the convent, but without success. However, in 1804, she learned of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and with several of her companions, became a novice in the Society. By 1815, Philippine was elected secretary general of the Society, but had already expressed a strong desire to minister outside of France and Europe.

Such an opportunity was presented just three years later, as Bishop William Dubourg requested missionaries at his large diocese in Louisiana.

Philippine, along with a group of four companions, sailed to New Orleans in May 1818. By that September, Philippine and her companions had opened the first free school for girls located west of the Mississippi.

While Philippine found great difficulty adjusting to an unfamiliar culture in what was still largely uncharted North American territory, she nevertheless

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continued to oversee several struggling convents. And despite her uneasiness with the language and culture, Philippine worked to maintain a unified spirit within the Society as it spread throughout the new American territory.

By the early 1840s, Philippine decided to join her companions in the Society at a reservation of the Potawatomi nation, in Sugar Creek, Kan. A major influence on this decision was Philippine’s disgust with the treatment of the native people on behalf of the American government. She felt that by serving the reservation, she could concentrate on ministry and prayer in a setting far removed from European influence.

Unfortunately, Philippine’s health had already begun to fail, and at Sugar Creek she could do little more than continually pray in the reservation chapel.

Nevertheless, her strong faith and spirit profoundly moved the Potawatomi people, and they affectionately referred to her as Kwahkahkanumad, or “the woman who always prays.”

As her health continued to deteriorate, Philippine was soon recalled from Sugar Creek. She would spend the final 10 years of her life quietly working to spread the Catholic faith throughout North America.

Philippine died on Nov. 18, 1852. Her companion, Anna du Rousier, was by her side at her death. Anna would carry the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus into South America, assuring that Philippine’s faithful devotion to ministry and prayer would continue to inspire and influence long after her passing.

In recognition of Philippine’s contributions to the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as to the spread of the Catholic faith in North America, she was beatified on May 12, 1940. And on July 3, 1988, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was canonized.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR SECOND-GRADE TEACHERS

BECKY MCCUTCHEN AND EMILY MELLON The Joy of Sharing Faith and Prayer

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t. Peter School is just a building — if not for the teachers, students, and staff inside. Without the students, it’s quiet. Without educators, there’s no chance to learn the faith and academics.

Thankfully, the school has it all.

We want you to meet two of those educators — Mrs. Becky McCutchen and Mrs. Emily Mellon, who have been teaching second grade together for eight years. Mrs. McCutchen started her first four years teaching fifth grade. This is her 22nd year teaching second grade, and all of those years have been at St. Peter.

Both Mrs. McCutchen and Mrs. Mellon feel blessed to be teaching at a Catholic school. They love integrating prayer into the school day and centering all lessons on our Lord.

“I love that I get to share my faith and pray each day with my class,” Mrs. McCutchen says. “I enjoy going to Mass as a school each week. I like being there with my past, present, and future students all worshiping together.”

But it isn’t just about the students growing in faith — Mrs. McCutchen and Mrs. Mellon grow right along with them. They also grow through teaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

St. Peter School isn’t just any school, it’s a special place. For both teachers, the school is a family.

“I love that many of our kids start here in preschool and get to stay in the same school community until they leave eighth grade,” Mrs. McCutchen says.

“We have a wonderful and caring staff that support each other,” Mrs. Mellon says. “We also have supportive families and students who love to come to school and learn.”

Both teachers love second grade, specifically, because the students are becoming independent and have a real love for school.

“I love my students’ sweet personalities and how they are learning to be independent, but also still so fun and loving,” Mrs. Mellon says.

Mrs. Mellon loves that teaching allows her to be creative and present opportunities for handson learning, especially in science.

Although Mrs. McCutchen enjoys teaching all the subjects, Mrs. Mellon loves to teach reading and instilling a love for books in all students.

Mrs. McCutchen and her husband, Mike, have a son, Jack, and daughter, Claire. They also have three dogs. In her free time, she loves to travel, read and shop.

Mrs. Mellon is married to Cruz and the couple has three young boys — Ben, Daniel, and Theo. She enjoys spending time with family, baking, and reading.

Becky McCutchen

Emily Mellon with her husband, Cruz, and children, Ben, Daniel, and Theo

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

THE GIVING WREATH help them load the gifts into the agencies’ vehicles.”

The Giving Wreath has had between 700 to 980 gifts distributed each year for the past years since the project began more than 20 years ago.

“Giving of ourselves and loving others is what stewardship is all about,” Christy says. “This is a great way to go beyond our church and share God’s love with the community.

continued from front cover

For myself, this is a way to help others in a concrete way and share God’s love. I visualize Jesus’ love wrapped up in each gift to be sent to a family! It is truly a sight to see all of the generosity and love of our church community wrapped up and sitting in the Narthex!

“Everyone feels the need to help people who are in hard times,” Christy adds. “It is difficult to find a meaningful way to do this. The Giving Wreath fills this need.”

Would you like to help with the Giving Wreath project? Contact Christy Holm at 217-779-0894 to find out how you can share your time and talent with this ministry.

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