Living the Mission
Church Safety Team
June/July 2022
Ensures Well-Being of All Who Enter Our Parish
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ith our vibrant parish and the number of people we have at Mass, accidents and medical emergencies are bound to happen. Though we hope they are few and far between, a new team at St. Timothy stands ready to help — the Church Safety Team (CST), which has been around for nearly a year. Imagine a scenario where someone passes out in the pew ahead of you during Mass. Your first instinct may be to yell for help or call 911. Others sitting nearby would notice a commotion. This is just the type of situation the CST is intended to address. Members are trained to assist with minimum impact to Mass. CST members are there to remain calm and alert medical personnel if necessary. They are also trained in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), of which there are three at St. Timothy. The team is also working on a Crisis Management and Evacuation Plan. Tom Boudreaux spent his career in safety and risk management, and he wanted to use his gifts
In this Issue Keeping Our Stewardship Commitments in the Summertime
Jesus With 3 Receiving Awe and Wonder
4 to help at St. Timothy. He coordinates the CST and often serves on the team at 11 a.m. Mass. “Our mission is to provide a hospitable and safe environment during Mass and designated special events,” Tom says. Although this is a new team, there are currently about 25 members. There are also several members in common with the Usher and Greeter Ministries. The CST aims to always have three members at each weekend Mass. CST volunteers wear yellow shirts and carry a two-way radio. Some team members are law enforcement members and firefighters. continued on page 5
Meet Parishioner Carla Stahley Living Our Faith in a Practical Way
Church, a 6 The Universal Family The
Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Parishioners 7 Meet Larry and Betty
Quigley Blessed to Serve God with Members of Our Parish
17512 Lakeshore Rd. Lutz, FL 33558 www.sainttims.org
Keeping Our Stewardship Commitments in the Summertime
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he kids are out of school and our fast-paced lives centered on school and youth sports activities have slowed down. Our own internal clocks are now on summer time. We’re ready for a break from our hectic lives. And while we take vacations and enjoy the leisurely pace of the season, we need to remember that summer is not the time to take a vacation from God. In fact, summer can serve as the perfect opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, especially since most of us have considerably more free time. So, instead of neglecting our faith due to busy days and late nights, try these simple steps to embrace God during the quieter summer months and during your vacation.
Get More Active in a Parish Ministry
The summer is actually a perfect time to get more involved in a parish ministry. Because we no longer have to get the kids to and from school, or get them to sporting events or other activities that normally occur during the school year, our schedules are a bit less cluttered. Summer is indeed a perfect time to fill some downtime with service to God through ministry and giving of your talents. Take a look through the parish ministries to find something that suits your particular interest or talent.
Vacation Bible School, for Kids and Adults
Vacation Bible School is a great way for younger children to learn about God through songs, activities and fellowship. The fun-filled lessons build upon Gospel teachings while keeping kids’ attention. For older children, it is a great opportunity to offer service by being a team leader or assistant. Adults can also help plan, decorate, organize and teach during the week. It’s a wonderful activity for the entire family!
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Give Thanks for the Sun
Praise God for the sun, time off from school and easygoing days by visiting the adoration chapel to say a quick prayer. Bring a journal or rosary along to help stay focused. Little children can even bring a religious coloring book to give thanks to God on their terms. Or, before heading to the pool, why not attend daily Mass with the kids? It’s a perfect way to start the day and set the tone that — vacation or not — God is still an important part of your family life.
Don’t Take a Vacation from Mass
Often while on a vacation away from our parish family, we are not familiar with where to attend Mass. Don’t let that be an obstacle for you. Check out masstimes.org in order to find out where and when to go to Mass. In addition, if you are lodging at a hotel, the concierge will assist you with directions to the nearest Catholic Church.
Summertime Stewardship of Treasure
The prime reason for keeping up our pledge all summer is that God doesn’t go on vacation. He continues to sustain us throughout the summer months. He persists in pouring out blessings on us, even during the hottest weather. He keeps on meeting us in His sacramental presence when we go to Mass wherever we travel. As God remains faithful to us during the summer, we are called to be faithful in our commitments to Him and our parish family, even during our vacation time. So, enjoy the warmer temperatures and the relaxed atmosphere. Just don’t forget Who provides the sun and the sand! And most importantly, remember to take God with you wherever you go on vacation!
A Letter From Our Pastor
Receiving Jesus With Awe and Wonder Dear Friends in Christ,
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ne of the great joys of being a Pastor is celebrating First Holy Communion Masses. Our First Holy Communion Masses took place in May, and it’s such a special moment for the children... to see their joy, their wonder, and their awe as they receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the very first time. As we celebrate on June 19 the feast of Corpus Christi (the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ), my prayer for all of us is that we would receive Jesus in Holy Communion at every Mass as if it were our First Communion… that we would receive Jesus in Holy Communion with that same joy, that same wonder, and awe that we experienced when we made our First Holy Communion. My prayer is also that we would receive Jesus in Holy Communion not only as if it was our First Communion, but also as if it was our last Communion… our only Communion. The feast of Corpus Christi allows us to renew our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. At every Mass, ordinary bread and wine are changed into the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. At the moment of consecration, when the priest speaks the words of institution (the same words Jesus spoke over the bread and wine at the Last Supper: “This is my body…this is my blood”), we witness a great miracle… the miracle of the Eucharist. And not only do we witness this great Eucharistic miracle, but we also get to partake of it when we
come forward to receive Jesus Himself, in Holy Communion. After the Consecration at Mass, the bread is no longer bread, the wine is no longer wine… it is really, truly, and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Acknowledging and coming to greater awareness of this sublime reality of what we believe about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist impacts our Eucharistic Devotion and our Eucharistic Reverence that is such an important part of our spiritual life. That is why the Church refers to the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the “source and summit” of the Christian life. On the feast of Corpus Christi, not only do we renew our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but we also renew and deepen our expressions of piety, our expressions of devotion, and reverence for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise, and all thanksgiving be every moment thine! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John Blum Pastor
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Meet Parishione
Living Our Faith i
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Carla Stahley has been a catechist at our parish for several years. She enjoys engaging with the children and teaching them how to live out the faith in today’s world.
n today’s world, living out the faith can be a challenge. Kids are growing up with different influences than the generations before them, with tough situations presented on a regular basis. Catechist Carla Stahley strives to teach the children of our parish how to live the faith in a practical way. “A lot of people say that kids are the future, but they’re the present,” Carla says. “They’re as much the present as they are the future.” A parishioner at St. Timothy for eight years, Carla has spent the last five years as a catechist for the children in our parish — she was also a catechist at her previous parish for more than six years. She believes in the importance of instructing children in the faith, through both prayer and Scripture, as well as real-life examples. "We’re like David fighting Goliath in today’s world," Carla says. “They live in situations I didn’t face at their age. We can memorize prayers, but unless we can live it out, what good is it? This is not an easy road we have. We’re all in a community and that to me is the most important thing.” continued on page 5
“It’s so wonderful to see people of all ages, all walks of life working together as a community. Everybody seems genuinely invested in their time and talents. It’s wonderful to see that.” — Carla Stahley 4
er Carla Stahley
in a Practical Way
Each week, Carla develops a lesson plan for the children. They begin every lesson with prayer and a song about the books of the Bible, then engage in various small and largegroup activities, and Carla chooses a weekly challenge for the children. “I want the kids to grow in their faith,” she says. "That looks different for each person, based on families, backgrounds and where they are on their journey. Their knowledge and relationships with Jesus are all a little different.” Serving as a catechist is a natural fit for Carla, being a middle school math teacher who enjoys learning more about the faith. “If you want to learn about something, teach it,” she says. “I absolutely love our faith and I don’t think you can ever learn enough. I have a natural curiosity for our faith. It’s exciting for me to hear how these kids think and how they perceive something. It also helps being a teacher to guide where they’re going.”
Church Safety Team
Along with her role as a catechist, Carla helps with Vacation Bible School and food drives, and she is currently working in a leadership role for the Emmaus Retreat. She enjoys the dynamic community at St. Timothy and being involved in the life of the parish. For her, serving around the community is an easy way to grow in her faith. “It’s so wonderful to see people of all ages, all walks of life working together as a community,” Carla says. “Everybody seems genuinely invested in their time and talents. It’s wonderful to see that.”
continued from front cover
Tom invites other parishioners with health-related careers to get involved. “Those people have such an important set of skills,” he says. “We would love to have their help on the CST.” Tom asks those with medical skills to alert a CST member so they know where they are sitting at Mass should the need arise. The CST members also receive training on deescalation and other incidents that may happen at Mass. Tom wants parishioners to know they should report anything they see amiss to an usher or a CST member. Whether
a kneeler is broken or if there is a hole in the parking lot asphalt, tell someone about it. He also wants parishioners to know the CST is there in the event of an emergency. “Don’t panic,” Tom says. “Find an usher or CST member in an emergency.” This is all about making St. Timothy the best and safest it can be. “We want to promote a culture of safety here at St. Timothy,” Tom says. “This team is here when needed for any emergencies that arise.”
If you would like to get involved with the Church Safety Team, please contact Tom Boudreaux at Tboudrea@tampabay.rr.com or 813-545-8180.
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The Church, a Universal Family The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
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n June 29, Catholics celebrate the feast of two of our Lord’s principal Apostles, foundational human cornerstones of the Church of Rome. The first missal reading of this feast day tells us of the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison. This illustrates the concrete fact that despite persecutions, Christ and His chosen followers will be triumphant in this world, and in the world to come. The second is of Paul summarizing his own “pouring out” of his life as a libation. The way in which he poured it out is overwhelmingly significant — he gave his life as a missionary to gather all nations into God’s unified Kingdom. The Holy Gospel recounts Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. After this confession, the “keys to the Kingdom” were conferred onto him. These “keys” became the fundamental building block supporting the ordained priesthood and episcopal government of the Church. In his homily on June 29, 2005, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI shared: “The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is at the same time a grateful memorial of the great witnesses of Jesus Christ and a solemn confession for the Church — one, holy, catholic and apostolic. It is first and foremost a feast of catholicity.” The celebration of our catholicity is a celebration of our unity in Christ. This unity endures unto the end, as our strength and fortress in the face of evil and the trials of earthly life. Sts. Peter and Paul remind us that our faith is founded on something much higher than ourselves, on an entity which raises horizons beyond our human frailties and imaginings. Our holy faith is founded upon the rock, Jesus Christ.
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Pope Emeritus Benedict described further: “When Peter and Paul came to Rome, the Lord on the Cross who had uttered the first line of that Psalm was risen; God’s victory now had to be proclaimed to all the nations...” Let us embrace all of the graces which these beloved saints have won for us. Let us imitate their example, and so follow Christ with unwavering resolution. As did the Blessed Virgin, let us persevere in serving the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church in all that we say and do.
Meet Parishioners Larry and Betty Quigley Blessed to Serve God with Members of Our Parish
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arry and Betty Quigley have been parishioners at St. Timothy since the very beginning when Mass was celebrated in a garage. The parish community did not have much, but they had their name and they had their mission. “Most of the startup community had been members of St. Paul’s Parish just down the road,” Betty says. “St. Paul’s pastor asked us to become a mission of St. Paul’s, so we did. We had to borrow most things since our budget was kind of tight. But our congregation grew fast and it only took a few years for St. Timothy to become the youngest parish in the diocese.” St. Timothy now has over 40 active ministries, and the Quigleys have been involved in many of them over the years. Betty has participated in the Women’s Club, served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and taught Faith Formation. Larry has been involved in the Men’s Club, Knights of Columbus, and the choir. Participating in these ministries has led them to other groups and ministries over the years, including Readers of the Word, teaching children, and what they call “kitchen duties.” “Kitchen duties are basically providing meals for the many groups that meet in our social hall such as Bingo, Pancake Breakfasts, and, during Lent, our Weekly Fish Fry dinners,” Larry says. “We make it easy and fun to break bread together. You should taste our full-course pancake breakfast and see the lines waiting to get in!” Betty and Larry like to emphasize all the aspects of living out stewardship in our lives. It does not simply mean giving money — you also have to be willing to give of your time and talent.
Larry and Betty Quigley
“First comes time and talent, then treasure,” Larry says. “We were talking with a relatively new couple at our Parish Pancake Breakfast. By talking with them, we found that they can work with their teenage children in certain particular areas of interest and that this would allow them to get involved in the parish as a family. They will have fun serving together as a family. The money will come, but for now, this is what they can give.” continued on back cover
“We love the people of St. Timothy — they are our brothers and sisters. It has become our second home. We have been so fortunate that God has sent us just the right pastors, parochial vicars, and deacons.” — Larry and Betty Quigley 7
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17512 Lakeshore Road Lutz, FL 33558 813-968-1077 www.sainttims.org
Parishioners Larry and Betty Quigley
continued from page 7
Betty and Larry have both been inspired in the faith by their mothers and aunts who were especially devoted to the Blessed Mother, reciting the Rosary daily. They have worked hard to discern God’s will in their lives and have joyfully accepted His call to parenthood. For them, St. Timothy has become their second home. “We love the people of St. Timothy — they are our brothers and sisters,” Betty and Larry say. “It has become our second home. We have been so fortunate that God has sent us just the right pastors, parochial vicars, and deacons. And we would like to encourage any parishioner who has not gotten involved, to spend some quiet time in the Church or the Day Chapel and meditate as to where you want to go, who you want to be, and listen to where God is calling you.”
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.
