PONDERING
Sometimes I wonder why I still believe that the Catholic Church envisioned by the Second Vatican Council will become a reality. Last Sunday was not one of those days. Our annual Stewardship Sunday was a wonderful tribute to the church of the future continuing to take root in our local church.
Sometimes I think we fail to recognize just how
much the church has changed – at least on the local level. What happened in our
church last weekend could not have happened 30 or 40 or 50 years ago. Never would
members of a parish have been allowed to go to the pulpit and give witness to
how their faith has enriched their lives. Never would members of a parish have
been invited to sign up to serve in ministries that would enrich the life of
their parish. Back then, the pew dwellers’ only job was to “pray, pay and obey”
– passivity was the only option.
As I sat and listened to the powerful witness
talks given at each of the Masses, I realized just how far we have come. I know
first-hand just how nervous each of our presenters was; I also know how powerful
their presentations were. There is something about a fellow member of the
parish getting up and saying how Stewardship has enriched their faith life that
is more powerful than one of the ordained saying the exact same thing. For better or worse, those who sit in the pews expect
the ordained to say what they have to say, so they have developed an ability to
mute what the ordained have to say because, “They have to say that.” But when
one of their own gets up and witnesses to how acting on their Baptism has
changed their lives, there is integrity against which there is no defense.
After each of the Masses last weekend, the
parish hall was filled to overflowing. Members of the parish were collecting
textbooks for Religious Education classes and many were walking around looking
for a ministry opportunity that would allow them to participate more fully in
the life of their parish. You could feel the power of the Holy Spirit in the
hall.
I need experiences like last Sunday. Too often, I am confronted with a Church that seems to be retreating from the vision of the Second Vatican Council. Too often the institution seems caught in a defense of a church that is gone and will never return. I grow tired of those who think the genie can be put back in the bottle. It has been more than 40 years since John XXIII threw open the windows to let fresh air into our Church. Too often, our leaders seem to be focused on nailing those windows shut so that things can go back to the way things were. There aren’t enough nails or hammers to change the
notion of church that was set free at the Second Vatican Council. The Church of the future is taking longer than I expected, but what I experienced last Sunday in the living faith of our parish convinced me once again that we are moving in the right direction.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, September 13
5:00 p.m. Deceased members of the
Glasheen and Lyons Families
Samuel
Yeamen
Sunday, September 14
8:00 a.m. Donald Payette
Joseph
O’Brien
9:15 a.m. Miriam Dwyer
Jeannie
Dwyer Anderson
Benjamin
Clark
11:35 a.m. James Donnelly
Kevin
Donnelly
Scott
Tretton, Jr.
8:00 p.m. Joseph Burns
Frances M.
Byington
Wednesday, September 17
12:00 p.m. August and Isabelle Mazella
Saturday, September 20
5:00 p.m. Anthony Cinelli
Thomas
Cinelli
Sunday, September 21
8:00 a.m. Inez and Thomas Sylvia
9:15 a.m. MaryLou DiSaia
BANNS
OF MARRIAGE
Michelle
Papallo and John Raso
STEWARDSHIP
FAIR
We wish to thank our Stewardship Fair speakers
who gave witness to their faith last weekend. Jim Ginda, Pam Sherman, Joan Crothers and Christine and Russ Hall
gave us a glimpse of their lives of stewardship in sharing their own stories of
time, talent and treasure with our community of faith. Their personal “witness”
invited over 400 people to inquire about the various ministries and committees
available within our parish. Thank you to all who were nudged from complacency
to active participation in our community of faith.
The Stewardship Committee
STEPHEN
MINISTRY MESSAGE
Do you feel like the ringmaster at
the circus? Not just juggling your own obligations, but being the “director” of
the events of your family, your workplace and your clubs? This feeling of
having to arrange things for many others can be frustrating when it goes on for
any period of time, and especially when there seems to
be no end in sight. It’s the perfect time to call and have a Stephen Minister
visit you and help to see ways to do what you have to do and keep your sanity.
Call Carol Hartley at 783-4036, Larry Bartley at 965-7276,
or call the rectory.
There is an Informational
Meeting on Wednesday, September 17
at 7 p.m. in the library.
This will be a short meeting to answer
questions, give out tentative training
schedules and applications. We’d love to see you.
RELIGIOUS FORMATION
FIRST
DAY OF CLASS
Religious Formation classes begin Sunday, September 14. Pre-K
will meet at 9:15 a.m. in
the Parish Hall during Mass.
Kindergarten through grade 8 will meet from 10:30 – 11:20 a.m. in the following assigned buildings. Please note changes:
K, 1, 2, &
3 Swan (YELLOW)
Grades
5 & 7 Washburn (GREEN)
Grades
4 & 6 Ballentine (PINK)
Grade
8 Quinn (BLUE)
Look for color-coded posters and balloons to guide your
way!
MANY
THANKS
On behalf of all the families in Religious Formation, we
would like to thank all the stewards who so generously stepped in to teach and
assist in our parish Religious Formation program. This is a large commitment of
time and talent and we are blessed with your willingness to share in the
catechetical mission of the Church.
PRE-K
Our Religious Formation Pre-K program has openings
for children who were 4 years old by September
1. Pre-K meets in the Parish
hall during the 9:15 a.m. Mass. Please
call the Religious Formation office at 789-0417
if you are interested in registering your child.
1st
GRADE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The first meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 5 during the 9:15 a.m. Mass. We are still
looking for stewards to help break open the Gospel with our 1st
graders. Please call Keri McAlice at
792-3395.
FIRST COMMUNION REMINDER
Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 16 at
7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Parents
of children receiving First Communion should attend. Parents who have had a
child in this program WITHIN THE LAST
THREE YEARS do not need to attend, but may contact the RF Office to pick up
your child’s text and materials.
CONFIRMATION NOTES
Phase
II – All
requirements for the incoming PHII class should be in the office. If you
have not turned in your completed sponsor forms or service logs, you need to do
so at this time.
PH
I – Parent/Student Meeting
Sunday,
September 21 at 5:30
p.m. in the parish hall.
PH II – Parent/Student MANDATORY Meeting - Sunday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall.
PH II – Sponsor/Student Meeting
Sunday,
September 28 at 5:30
p.m. in the parish hall.
WHERE DO I FIT IN?
Do you have a middle school or high school child who has not received one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion)? There is a program called Christian Initiation for Children (CIC). If you are interested in this program or have questions, please call the Religious Formation office at 789-0417.
WELCOME
HOUSE MEALS
Please share your time, talent and treasure with
our local community! Stewards are needed to prepare Welcome House meals for
Mondays in November, December and January. Welcome House is an emergency
shelter in Peace Dale that depends on local community support. Christ the King
parishioners have delivered an evening dinner once a week for many years thanks
to innumerable stewards. The meal is for 16 – 20 people. Soups, casseroles, a
hearty stew, pasta or a family specialty would be greatly appreciated. You
could prepare the meal as a family, as a group of neighbors, or on your own.
Teen-agers – this could be a wonderful way to fulfill service hours for school
or CCD commitments. The meal needs to be delivered late Sunday afternoon or evening
to be served on Monday. Please email Kristen
and Abbey Greene (greenezone@cox.net)
or call at 284-2183 if you would
like to make a meal in the coming months, be added to
the parish list of Welcome House stewards for future months, or for more
information.
BIBLE
STUDY
Did
you miss last weekend’s bulletin? Bible Study began for the fall season
and we are fortunate to have Fr. Bob
Caul with us for our weekly sessions. It is not too late to join us on
Thursday, September 18 at 7 p.m.
in the hall for the second in Fr. Caul’s series that will focus on
the Gospel of Mark and how to use the bible in your personal prayer. You are
welcome, whether you are a novice or an experienced student. Just
come with your bible, and prepare to develop a new understanding of the
readings in our liturgy.
THANK YOU
Many thanks to the mailers who assisted with the Stewardship mailing: Beth Hogan, Judy Klopfenstein, Kay McDougall, Barbara Paquette, Christine, Madeline and Victoria Quigley, Elaine Rial, Dorothy Shackleton and Marge White. Your help was greatly appreciated.
A JOURNEY FROM
GRIEF TO HEALING
This journey is based on the belief that writing and sharing
one’s thoughts, feelings and experiences is one of the most helpful ways to
move beyond pain and loss. Meetings are held at the
WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment of the
Diocese of Providence is sponsoring the second annual Wedding Anniversary
Celebration on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral of
SS. Peter and Paul,
J.
Tobin will be the main celebrant and homilist. Contact
the office at 783-7459 to register
or for more information.
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
“Love one another, for the one who loves another
has fulfilled the law.” Learn how to love your spouse more fully by
attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next weekends in
RHODE
The Rhode Island Men of Saint Joseph invite men of all
ages to join in the 10th annual Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday, October 4 at the Cathedral in
OPEN
HOUSE
The Glastonbury Abbey in
FATHER
MICHAEL CROSBY
Many of you remember Father Michael Crosby, OFMCap, who gave a parish mission at Christ
the King in March 2007. His talks are now available in a book: The Paradox of Power: From
Control to Compassion. It is available from Crossroad Publishing Company,
Amazon.com and bookstores.
CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 14 – 21
Sunday,
September 14
Religious Formation Classes Begin
11:35 a.m. Baptism
5:30 p.m. PH
II/Hall
Monday,
September 15
6:30 p.m. Family
Life/Library
7:00 p.m. Liturgy/Hall
Tuesday,
September 16
8:30 a.m. Staff
Meeting
10:30 a.m. SK
Nursing Home
7:00 p.m. First
Communion Parent
Meeting/Hall
7:30 p.m. Choir
Wednesday,
September 17
7:00 p.m.
Meeting/Library
Thursday,
September 18
7:00 p.m. Bible
Study/Hall
Saturday,
September 20
3:00 p.m. Wedding
4:00 p.m. Confession
Sunday,
September 21
5:30 p.m. PH
I Parent/Student
Meeting/Hall
