St. Timothy Catholic Church Newsletter — April/May 2022

Living the Mission

MEET UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME STUDENT

John Holloway

Following God’s Lead, Blessed to Serve Our Parish Community

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ohn Holloway has spent John also appreciates many years listening to the beautiful facilities at St. the Lord’s call. He is currentTimothy. Since starting his ly serving here at St. Timothy internship, John has jumped while pursuing his Master’s in headfirst, taking the lead or in theology through the Uniassisting with several minisversity of Notre Dame. He tries. He has been helping to is currently participating in grow the Young Adult Minthe Echo Program, which inistry that meets at 7 p.m. on volves two summers of study Monday nights. In addition, at the university and two acahe teaches a combined fourthdemic years at St. Timothy. and fifth-grade Faith FormaCurrently, John lives in tion class. His teaching apTemple Terrace with three proach is similar to hosting a (From left) Parishioners Fernando and others who are also in the youth group gathering, with a Monica Gonzalez with John Holloway and Echo Program. In the sumtopic and games, and it’s been his girlfriend, Diana Salgado Huicochea mer, he goes back to Notre a positive change. John has Dame for his studies. Having also been assisting with the arrived at St. Timothy this past August, John Alpha Program, which helps people learn more has fallen in love with our parish community. about the Christian faith and ask questions in a “I really enjoy the people and the incredible safe space. John helped get the classes moved to staff,” he says. “It’s been a joy to be here. Parishio- Revelations Cafe to make it accessible to more ners are so vibrant and open to new possibilities.” people in the community. continued on page 5

April/May 2022 In this Issue Divine Mercy Sunday 2 and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

3 The Regina Caeli John 4 Parishioner Billings Recognized as Knight of the Year Working in Community to Serve God’s Kingdom

of Our 6 Highlights 2021 Stewardship Renewal

Unbound 7 The Ministry: A Life-Changing Opportunity to Engage with the Lord

17512 Lakeshore Rd. Lutz, FL 33558 www.sainttims.org

Divine Mercy Sunday and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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n the 1930s, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy, received a message from the Lord that she was to live her life as a model of Christ’s merciful love and spread Christ’s mercy throughout the world. She proceeded to offer up all of her personal sufferings in atonement for the sins of others. She kept a diary in which she wrote of God’s mercy, as well as about her special devotion to Mary Immaculate and to the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, which gave her strength. Sr. Faustina’s diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, serves as the handbook for the devotion to the Divine Mercy. In it, we read of the message of mercy that she received from Christ.

On April 30, 2000, Sr. Faustina Kowalska was canonized

by Pope John Paul II. Then, on May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship decreed that “throughout the world, the second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come.”

On Divine Mercy Sunday — occurring this year on April 24 — all parishioners are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, always remembering and practicing the essential “ABCs” of Divine Mercy: • Ask for mercy • Be merciful to others • Completely trust in Jesus

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How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet “Chaplet” simply refers to the prayers counted on a rosary. The Lord said to St. Faustina, “You will recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary in the following Manner:” Begin with: One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed On the “Our Father” beads, say: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the “Hail Mary” beads, say: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In conclusion, three times recite these words: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

“I want the whole world to know my infinite mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in my mercy” (Diary, 687).

A Letter From Our Pastor

The Regina Caeli Dear Friends in Christ,

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here are many ways we can show our love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We can make a commitment to pray the Rosary daily. We can celebrate the various Marian feast days that span our Church’s liturgical calendar. We can participate in a Marian consecration. We can fulfill the Five First Saturdays devotion.

Another way we can show our love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is by praying the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven). This is one of four Marian antiphons traditionally said or sung after night prayer, immediately before going to sleep. It is said throughout Eastertide — that is, from Easter Day through Pentecost.

The Regina Caeli is also said in place of the Angelus during Eastertide, traditionally prayed at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.

It is a great reminder that we should mark the hours of our day with prayer, asking the powerful intercession of Mary. It is also a wonderful opportunity to incorporate in a very simple and effective way, some good family prayer time. I encourage you to pray the Regina Caeli as we journey through the Easter Season and establish this good prayer habit.

May you and your loved ones have a blessed and joyous Eastertide! Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. John Blum Pastor

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Parishioner John Billings Re Working in Community t

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arishioner John Billings was recently “The pandemic made it more named Knight of the year — an honor difficult to raise funds because it stopped that is given to a member of the Knights of us from being able to do fundraising Columbus each year here at St. Timothy. A events,” John says. “Instead, we had to great man of character and service, John’s just simply ask people for donations. road to becoming the 2021 Knight of the Our council had many men leading the Year is truly remarkable. campaign to get donations. Many of John has been married for 48 years to his them were going to their neighbors and lovely bride, Kim. He is a father of five and asking individuals to donate and help grandfather of seven. As a child and young them spread the word.” adult, he grew up in the Methodist church.

John and his fellow St. Timothy John Billings and his wife, Kim, have been married for 48 years.

Having a great affinity for the pro-life cause Knights were able to initiate a grassroots and being drawn to the beauty and reverence fundraiser that spread throughout the of the Catholic Mass, John started to attend Mass around the age entire Diocese of St. Petersburg, raising $60,000 within a of 18 in his Kentucky hometown — he received his Sacraments year, which covered the costs of the van. and was Confirmed in the Church eight years ago.

It was John’s leadership and dedication to this project “There were a few men at my parish in Kentucky that that led him to be named Knight of the Year. supported me through my conversion into the Church,” John “I was flabbergasted,” John says. “There were so many says. “Once I was confirmed a Catholic, these same men people involved in getting donations. I was simply the one quickly encouraged me to join the Knights of Columbus, filling out the paperwork.” and I did.”

John is honored by the recognition but thinks of the Shortly after he entered into the Catholic faith, John title as something to be shared with the rest of his fellow moved to Florida to be closer to his daughter and three of Knights in our council, all of whom worked hard to make his grandchildren. He was once again swiftly recruited to this fundraiser a success. join the Knights at St. Timothy.

“Being a Knight is about working with other men to At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, John and a serve God’s Kingdom,” John says. few other Knights had already been praying about raising The Knights of Columbus has truly shaped John into money to purchase an ultrasound van for Foundations of the Catholic man that he is today.

Life, an organization that educates, empowers, and supports “Being a Knight has strengthened my faith because women through pregnancy at their various women’s centers these are men who I can talk to about things,” John around the Tampa area. says. “We support one another. As the saying goes, iron

““Being a Knight has strengthened my faith because these are men who I can talk to about things. We support one another. As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.” — John Billings 4

ecognized as Knight to Serve God’s Kingdom sharpens iron. Even my wife says that I have become a better husband and a better man since I have joined the Knights.”

On most days, John may be found attending daily Mass at St. Timothy.

As he continues to serve the Church and the Lutz community as a Knight, his greatest goal is to be holy.

“I want to be a better Catholic Christian for my kids,” he says. “I want to be a witness to them and hope that one day they say to me, ‘Dad, we want to go to Mass and learn more about the Catholic faith.’”

John Holloway

of the Year

The Knights raised money to purchase an ultrasound van for Foundations of Life.

continued from front cover

“The goal of the Echo Program is to put the university’s resources at local churches,” John says. “The program forms catechists, like myself, who can help form other people.”

With this in mind, John has started a catechesis email series for parents of youth attending the Lifeteen and Edge gatherings. The emails are meant to encourage faith conversations on the ride home.

“We don’t want the topics from youth group to fall flat when they get home,” John says. “We want to continue the conversations about what they learned at youth group.”

He also facilitates in-person meetings for parents one Sunday a month. The goal is to let parents socialize and learn tools to lead their children in the faith.

Raised in Birmingham, Ala., John attended Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where he studied an-

thropology. While he was in college, John entered into the Catholic faith.

“I was really looking for purpose, and I became open to prayer,” he says. “Once I prayed, God started working in my life.”

John spent about eight years living in a religious order, which took him to New Jersey and even all the way to France. In his free time, John enjoys golf, basketball, walking, reading, being outdoors, seeing new places, and visiting beaches and state parks.

As for what comes next after his internship here ends, John is undecided. But he knows he will continue to follow where the Lord is leading him. For now, he’s enjoying his time here at St. Timothy.

“I just really enjoy the people here,” he says. “Everyone takes ownership of the parish, and that’s important.”

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2021

Highlights of Our Stewardship Renewal

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his past autumn, our St. Timothy parish leadership 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. This month, we are happy to share with you some of the highlights of the 2021 Stewardship Renewal.

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There were 449 commitment cards received from 28 percent of active households.

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There were 3,938 prayer commitments — the stewardship of time — from 96 percent of participating households.

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There were 1,228 ministry commitments — the stewardship of talent — from 73 percent of participating households. Of these, 272 were new ministry commitments, while 956 were re-commitments to parish ministries.

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There were 394 offertory commitments — the stewardship of treasure — from 88 percent of participating households. The average pledge was $2,485.

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 may share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the parish community!

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The Unbound Ministry: A Life-Changing Opportunity to Engage With the Lord

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BY MICHELE LAURAIN

nbound is a non-confrontational deliverance prayer model. The word “deliverance” might sound intimidating, but it simply means the action of being rescued or set free — and that is exactly what the Lord does through the Unbound Ministry. We experience others being set free from the effects of the wounds and traumas of life, or from anything that can keep us from having a closer relationship with God or others: unforgiveness, anger, repetitive sin, selfhatred, addiction... the list goes on. Most people describe the experience as peaceful, affirming, and life-changing.

Unbound is very different than most prayers we are used to receiving, as each private prayer session can take up to two hours. A trained prayer team — consisting of a lead and an intercessor — lovingly hears each story, listening for those places where God’s truths have been replaced by lies: “I don’t belong,” “I can never forgive,” “I’m

bad,” etc. Unbound can help anyone who feels they would like the Lord’s help in removing those places of bondage that keep them from moving forward in life and in relationships with Him and others.

The Unbound Ministry was started over 40 years ago by a Catholic couple, Neal and Janet Lozano. I was first introduced to Unbound four and a half years ago by Matilda and Alberto Hildalgo from the House of Prayer while I was facilitating groups for women who had been sexually abused. We began to introduce Unbound prayer at the point where the women were working through forgiveness. The difference was astonishing! I knew I had to be a part of what God was doing with this ministry.

Six of us began the three levels of Unbound training through Unbound Ministry. A year later, Fr. Malley asked me to bring Unbound to St. Timothy as my LPMI project. continued on back cover

The word “deliverance” might sound intimidating, but it simply means the action of being rescued or set free — and that is exactly what the Lord does through the Unbound Ministry.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Tampa, FL Permit No. 3311

17512 Lakeshore Road Lutz, FL 33558 813-968-1077 www.sainttims.org

The Unbound Ministry: A Life-Changing Opportunity to Engage With the Lord continued from page 7 By the grace of God, there are now over 40 trained ministers able to pray at St. Timothy, St. Lawrence, Sacred HeartDade City, and Christ the King parishes, as well as the teams already ministering at the House of Prayer in Clearwater.

My favorite aspect of this ministry, the reason I think this ministry is important to our parish and why I got involved, is the Lord rescued me from many places of bondage including depression, anxiety, and fear that kept me from living out His plan for me. As a trained Unbound

minister, I’m blessed to experience the Lord rescuing others, setting them free to live their lives in the truth of who they are in Him. Unbound is not meant to replace any of our sacraments or counseling. Instead, Unbound can walk alongside any other ministry, Reconciliation, spiritual direction, or counseling in assisting the body of Christ in setting the captives free so we can live out God’s plan for us — benefiting us all as we answer the Lord’s call to bring Heaven to earth.

If you feel the Lord prompting you to get involved in this beautiful ministry or to inquire about personal prayer, please see sainttims.org/unbound or call me personally at 813-388-8169, so we can talk.

Mass Schedule

Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m. • Sunday: 7:30, 9, 11 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. • Daily: Mon-Sat 9 a.m., Wed 6. p.m. • Holy Days: 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. Vigil: 7 p.m.