PONDERING

It was a chance meeting. I stopped for a sandwich. As luck would have it, the person who waited on me is the daughter of one of our families. She smiled, as did I. Her eyes told me that she was concerned that I was going to mention that it had been awhile since I had seen her at church. I ordered my sandwich and let her stew in her concern for a little while longer. When my sandwich was ready, I paid and just as I was about to leave I said, “When do you think I might get a visit from you?” She didn’t pause (so she was expecting the question) and out came, “Not for a very long time.”

I was taken back by her reply. Over the years when I have asked others the same question I have usually gotten “Maybe this Sunday,” for an answer. Sometimes I would see them; most often I would not. But I was definitely not ready for “Not for a very long time.” There was no malice or anger in her answer; she was just saying that right now in her life she does not have a need for organized religion. Her attitude is, unfortunately, growing. More and more people seem to have no need for organized religion unless someone is born, someone is engaged to get married or someone dies.

You may or may not know that every October the diocese asks every parish to do a Mass count. We did so on the first and third weekend of this month. I have tallied up the numbers and forwarded them to the diocese. Then I did a little research. I went back and compared our numbers for the past five years. Our high weekend total was 2315 and our low was 1770. The high number was five years ago and the low number was this year. Each year the numbers drop a little lower. The parish council has appointed a sub-committee to study the issue and come up with a strategy for getting more people back to church.

I am not sure what their final report will look like, but in the meantime, there is something we can all do. Invite someone you know who has stopped going to church to return. It works; trust me. Last Sunday after one of the Masses one of the parishioners greeted me by saying, “She’s back with me again this week. That’s three in a row.” It is what I call neighborhood evangelization. People come back because someone invites them back and the invitation is more effective coming from you rather than me. My invitation is heard through guilt; yours is heard through concern. It is just the way things are.

Please be gentle with your invitation. If you get a “no” please don’t assume that it is a life-long “no.” Take it as a one week “no” and then invite them again the next week. You get ‘em here and we will do our best to keep them here. Sometimes it is hard for people to return, so don’t be afraid to accompany them for the first few times back.

There is one other thing we can all do. We can pray that the Holy Spirit will touch their hearts.

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, October 25

5:00 p.m. Robert Cetenich

Sunday, October 26

8:00 a.m. Charles H. Curran

9:15 a.m. Katie DeCubellis

Tom and MaryAnn Haxton

11:35 a.m. Flor de Maria Sarria

Joseph A. Bell

Sunday, November 2

8:00 a.m. Viola Lonardo

9:15 a.m. John Kristman

John Maloney Martin

Gerard Blaney

11:35 a.m. Terry Anderson

BAPTISM PREPARATION

The next BAPTISM PREPARATION class is Tuesday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Parent preparation is required and arrangements should be made at least three months prior to the baby’s due date. If you have any questions or plan to have a child baptized, please call the office at 783-7459.

Please note: Baptism preparation sessions are held four times a year (February, May, August, November).

STEPHEN MINISTRY MESSAGE

Are you so troubled by the current economic difficulties that you can’t concentrate on the rest of your life? Are you worried about losing your job, or have you recently lost your job? Are family troubles making it difficult for you to get up in the morning? These are not worries that are easily put aside. They are not problems that a Stephen Minister can solve, but a Stephen Minister can help. We will listen to your concerns, help you to see possible options, and help you move forward. Often just talking out your concerns with someone who can see the situation through fresh eyes and without an agenda helps. Call Larry Bartley at 965-7276 (email LJBJR@cox.net), Carol Hartley at 783-4036 (email carolhartley@cox.net) or call the rectory.

WEEKEND MASS ATTENDANCE RESULTS

Each October the Diocese requests that parishes do a “head count” at all the masses on one weekend. The following are mass attendance totals from the past 5 years:

Year: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

Attendance: 1770 2153 2055 2315 2254

RELIGIOUS FORMATION

Religious Formation Classes October 26, as

scheduled, for classes Pre-K to 8.

FIRST COMMUNION PARENT REMINDER

Classes, 2D (DeQuattro/Delmonico), & 2E (Butler), will participate in a Celebration of Forgiveness, SUNDAY, October 26 during class time in the church.

Please be prompt.

Classes 2A (Speredelozzi/Erickson), 2B (Spicola/Dunn), 2C (Nunnery/Dolan) should go to their regular classrooms.

CONFIRMATION NOTES

Reminder to Phase I & Phase II Students:

Both Phase I & II students will be attending a presentation at Prout entitled “Romance without Regret” by Jason Evert on Thursday, October 30 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Confirmation is “Going Green”:

In an effort to keep our parish green, we are working to send information via email. If you need to update your email, or just have a question, contact glardaro@ctkri.org or btougas@ctkri.org.

PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
ELECTION DAY COMING UP! If you need information about your polling place location and hours of operation, the ballot, and/or your registration status, contact the Rhode Island Board of Elections on line at www.elections.state.ri.us.
Please pick up (and read!) the pamphlet VOTING FOR THE COMMON GOOD available at all doors of the church.
On Monday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 383 Old North Road, there is the program, FORCED FROM HOME: US POLICY AND THE ROOTS OF IMMIGRATION about undocumented workers still risking their lives to come to the US. Learn more about the reality of immigration in our country from Gloria Alba Andino Lopez. All are invited. To learn about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ urgent call for comprehensive immigration reform, go online to www.usccb.org.

OPEN HOUSE

The Prout School Open House is Sunday, November 2 from 1 – 4 p.m. This is an afternoon for anyone interested in applying to The Prout School. Meet our faculty and staff, enjoy a student-conducted tour of the school, and experience all that Prout has to offer. For more information, call The Prout School Admissions Office at 789-9262, ext. 515.

LITURGY CORNER

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

The 20^th Anniversary Concert to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King is on Friday, November 21 at

7 p.m. at the Prout School in Wakefield. Tickets will be sold after all masses the weekends of November 8/9 and November 15/16.

STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION

Tom Kendzia and the Choir of Christ the King Parish will offer a benefit concert for the St. Vincent de Paul Heating Assistance Program at St. Clare’s Church, Crandall Avenue, Misquamicut, RI on Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m. A free will offering will be taken.

PARISH ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

The Parish Activities Committee will host an evening of wine tasting on November 8, 2008 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. There will be wines from 6 countries to sample as well as a wine expert to answer any questions. A small selection of holiday beers will be available to taste. Cheese and desserts will be provided. Tickets are $10 per person and will be available after all the liturgies this weekend.

ANNUAL CATHOLIC CENTER

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

This winter break, 15 students along with Fr. Matt, will dedicate one week of their winter break for a Mission Trip to Nicaragua through Mustard Seed Communities, an International Catholic Organization that provides orphanages around the world for poor disabled children. We invite the parishioners of CTK to our annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, November 9 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. We will serve pancakes, eggs, bacon, and juice. Tickets are $5 per person and all donations will go directly to our trip. We look forward to your spiritual and financial support in these upcoming months for what we hope will be a life changing experience. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

AED/CPR TRAINING AT CHRIST THE KING

Rick Walsh will conduct an AED/CPR training class on Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for any parishioners who are interested in being AED and American Heart Association CPR certified. Call the rectory office (783-7459) to register.

ST. FRANCIS CEMETERY

Please remove any summer/fall decorations, empty containers, arrangements, etc. by November 1. A general cleanup will follow. For questions or if you are interested in purchasing a lot, please call 782-2711.

“LISTEN TO THE WHISPERS” RETREAT

On Sunday, November 9, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Christian Brothers’ Retreat Center, Narragansett, Catherine D. Murray, M.A., LCDP will conduct a retreat Experience how you are called to the everyday benefits of being “contemplative in prayer” and a “contemplative in action.” Experience how to better balance your life with silent prayer and reflection in order to truly understand all aspects of your life. The cost for the one-day retreat is $95, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact Catherine at 792-0033 or email heavencdm@aol.com.

THANK YOU NOTES

Dear Rev. Creedon:

We received and would like to thank you for your check for $4000. We are honored to be selected as one of the 2008 Annual Stewardship Giving recipients. This gift will help many families who are in need of assistance with their basic needs, such as food, utility assistance, etc. With sincere thanks, Cindy Gardiner, Social Service Manager, Wood River Health Services

Dear Reverend Creedon and Parishioners of Christ the King Church,

On behalf of South County Community Action, Inc., I would like to thank you for selecting our Head Start Program to be the recipient of your generous donation of $1000 as part of the 2008 Annual Stewardship Giving. Sincerely, Joseph R. DeSantis, Executive Director

******************************************

HOLY MEN AND WOMEN

In the month of November we call to mind our loved ones who have gone before us in the faith of Christ Jesus. We also recognize the saints and all holy men and women. Our church is decorated with 12 banners, each of which depicts the image of a person whose life became a model for all of us. These banners are the result of a discussion within the Liturgy Committee based on the concept of the Apostle banners, which are used at the Feast of Pentecost. As a new member of the parish and eager to be involved, I took on the challenge and organized a small group of parishioners to sew and finish the banners. Some of them had been involved in the Apostle banner project, such as Carol McMurrer, Edna Bernier, Alice Erdman, Diane Cormier and Mary Marchetti. They were eager to join Mary Pezza, Georgann Lardaro, Nancy Kiley, Gail Holder and Lynda Rogers in this new project.

CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 25 – NOVEMBER 2

Saturday, October 25

6:30 p.m. Harvest Supper/Hall

Sunday, October 26

10:30 a.m. First Communion Forgiveness

Classes D, E/Church

Tuesday, October 28

7:30 p.m. Choir

Wednesday, October 29

7:00 p.m. RCIA/Catholic Center

7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry Training/Library

Thursday, October 30

7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Hall

7:00 p.m. Jason Evert Concert/

PH I & II/Prout

Saturday, November 1

4:00 p.m. Confession

5:00 p.m. All Souls Day Liturgy/

Reception/Hall

Sunday, November 2

5:30 p.m. PH II Meeting/Hall

REMEMBER TO SET CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR!

********************************************* The Liturgy Committee suggested names and I began a search for images to use. Some came from magazines, books or newspapers. Fr. Creedon mailed me a postage size picture of Oscar Romero. The likeness of these individuals was produced using fabric paint on muslin and then turning them over to others in the group to sew and complete the banners. This project helped me to know the Holy Men and Women better and was a joy to share my stewardship of time and talent.

In the upcoming weeks, we will feature a brief biography of each of these Holy Men and Women in the bulletin. If you worked on these banners and your name was omitted, please call me at 789-5116. I tried to remember everyone, but it was many years ago!

Arlene Reynolds