PONDERING
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s we celebrated Eucharist you
enjoyed a visual that, for the last 22 years, only the choir and the presider
were able to enjoy. Today the presider and the choir got to enjoy the visual
that you have enjoyed for that same period of time. I hope you noticed that we flip-flopped the cross with the crown and the cross with the
crucifix. Now comes the question, why did we do it?
I wish there were a simple
answer, but there isnÕt. About six or seven months ago, I was sitting in the
presiderÕs chair and my attention was drawn to the crucifix in the old choir
loft. I had looked at it many times, but on that day I saw it and it spoke to
me. At first I ignored the experience. But the thought kept coming back to me
during liturgy, during prayer and at random times during the day. Slowly a
question formed in my mind Ð should we move the crucifix back to the wall
behind the altar? I say back because
that is where it hung from the time the church was built in 1956, until we
renovated the church in 1987. It hung under a type of baldachino that bore the
inscription, ÒEgo sum, qui sum.Ó That is, ÒI am who am.Ó
When we renovated, it was clear that the Latin had to go and it seemed right at
the time that the crucifix should go with it. It took almost 22 years for the
idea to form in my head that maybe the crucifix should not have been moved.
At this point I began to ask
people what they thought about the idea of moving the crucifix back to the
front of the church. Most were enthusiastic, some were hesitant, but no one was
opposed. Once that very small sampling was done, I told the
Parish
Council that we were considering the move.
Once again, no one was opposed. Now the only question in my mind was how much
would it cost? Once I got that answer, the only question was when?
I toyed with the idea of
getting it done for Easter, but that was impractical because what if something
went terribly wrong with the move? I was unwilling to risk having the
environment of the church work negatively rather than positively for the celebration
of the Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday.
Now the deed is done. I hope
and pray that the move will have a profoundly positive effect on our
celebration of the Eucharist.
One of the issues that made
the move seem like a good idea is that when Fr. John OÕNeil built the church he
had very good taste. It is difficult to have a crucifix that captures the
correct balance between a sign of suffering and a sign of triumph. The crucifix
that came with the church does that very well.
As some folks are reading this they might begin to ask if
the statues of Mary and Joseph coming back to the front? I think they look fine
right where they presently are.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, May 23
5:00 p.m.
Robert Manning
Corliss Manning Wotherspoon
Sunday, May 24
8:00 a.m. Dick Keogh
Alfred and Avelina
Fortin
11:00 a.m. Dalton &
McKee Families
Monday, May 25
9:00 a.m.
Lucinda Bernard
Saturday, May 30
5:00 p.m.
Michael Duran
Catherine
Leavene
Sunday, May 31
8:00 a.m.
Daniel Pinch, Jr.
9:15 a.m. Betty Kane
11:00 a.m.
Robert Baldwin
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT
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esus is the perfect steward Ð
watching carefully over all who have been entrusted to Him by the Father and then
sending them all out into the world in service. May I similarly protect and
wisely use the gifts entrusted to me!
CATHOLIC
CHARITY FUND APPEAL
Thank you to the 602 (40%) families who have generously donated
thus far. We are still in need of your help to reach our parish goal. We are
only 148 families shy of our 50% participation goal. Please prayerfully
consider making a pledge this week.
For your convenience, pledge envelopes
are at the doors of the church.
Rick and
Donna Menard, Co-Chairs
NEW PARISH
COUNCIL MEMBERS
We welcome two new at-large members of the Parish Council, Mary Carol Kendzia and Frank Pazienza, who replace Nora Hall and George Cioe. We thank Phil Tracy, Loree Vento, and Barbara Vigeant whose names were also in Òthe hatÓ for selection. Thank you to all who have served on our Parish Council, past and present.
STEPHEN MINISTRY MESSAGE
This weekend is the Òunofficial"
start of summer. For many families,
young adults who have been away at school are returning home for the summer.
This remix of life styles can cause conflict within the home. Parents have become
accustomed to the Òempty nestÓ and the students have become accustomed to being
on their own. Many of us have been through this adjustment. Talking with others
can help. Contact Carol Hartley at 783-4036
(carolhartley@cox.net),
Larry Bartley at 965-7276 (LJBJR@cox.net) or call the rectory.
RELIGIOUS FORMATION
FIRST COMMUNION
Next weekend is the final weekend for our celebrations of
First Communion. We warmly congratulate all the children who have participated
this spring! We ask for your ongoing prayers that they will continue to grow in
faith:
Saturday,
May 30, 5:00 p.m.
Olivia Gillick, Liam Kiely, Lily
Nunnery, Bryce Osgood, Jack Perreault
CONFIRMATION
NOTES
Phase
I students Ð Letters were sent home last week requesting that Phase I families
bake for the Confirmation Reception on May
29. Please drop off the baked goods anytime Thursday, May 28 or before 6
p.m. on Friday.
Reminder:
All paperwork including sponsor forms is due in the Religious Formation office
on or before June 1.
REHEARSAL
FOR CONFIRMATION is on Wednesday, May
27 at 7 p.m. in the
church.
Candidates
and sponsors must attend.
CONFIRMATION
On Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m.,
Bishop Roque will
confirm 79
young women and men of our parish. This is not the end of their journey, but
rather the beginning of their adult faith life. Please keep all these young
people in your prayers as they face the challenges of todayÕs world.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
9:30
a.m. Ð 12:00
noon for children in grades K Ð 5.
The theme is ÒWe are GodÕs People.Ó
We still need a guitar player! Call Arlene
Reynolds at 789-5116 for more
information and registration. Forms are also on the bulletin board.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ROAD
Plains
and Alumni roads on the URI campus will be closed on Saturday, May 30, from 5 Ð
6:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 31
from 8:30 a.m. Ð 12:00 p.m. Special
Olympics Rhode Island will be holding a cycling competition on
LITURGY CORNER
Traditions
of Pentecost
Next weekend we celebrate the
great Feast of
Pentecost. Our
tradition at Christ the King is to wear something red to church, which
symbolizes our unity with the Holy Spirit and reminds us of the energy and life
God infuses within us. Please join our community in wearing red next week!
Another tradition is to return
the Òvirtue stonesÓ we accepted at the beginning of Lent. These stones represent the gifts we
developed in ourselves
during
Lent. Please place your stones in
the
baskets at the
entrances of the church. A symbolic
basket will be
carried in the opening procession. We return our Òvirtue stonesÓ to the
community of the church, and pledge to continue to develop the gifts and talents
God grants to each of us.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We received a lovely thank you
note from the South County Hospital Auxiliary thanking the
parishioners of Christ the King for crafting and
donating the quilts for the emergency room at the hospital. Since
September, 270 sewn quilts were donated to the emergency room and a total of
832 items were sewn, knitted or crocheted and donated to
Mark
your calendar for our Summer Workshop, Thursday,
August 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the
parish hall. Contact Barbara Beauregard
at 294-3623 for more information.
ASSUMPTION
PARISH
FOOD DELIVERY STEWARDS NEEDED
A new
list for drivers to Assumption has been posted on the door next to the loft
stairs. If you can take the food collected at CTK to Assumption
parish, please
register your name and phone
number for the
week(s) you will deliver.
SOCIAL
ACTION COMMITTEE
The Social Action Committee
needs used furniture, bureaus, mattresses, a kitchen table and chairs, and a
bunk bed. We also need the necessary items for a first apartment. If
you have something, call Lynda at 284-0231.
FAMILY LIFE COMMITTEE
The
annual Christ the King Picnic is June 13
immediately
following the 5 p.m. mass. Tickets will go on sale at the Parish Picnic for the
2nd annual Christ the King Evening at the Pawtucket Red Sox on Friday, August 7. We have 100 tickets for sale at a parish-discounted
price of $15 each, which includes admission to the game as well as an
all-you-can-eat BBQ prior to the game. ItÕs sure to be a great family
experience. Also, we need student stewards in need of service hours to help at
the Parish Picnic. Contact Shelly
McConnell at 788-0865 (shellyamcconnell@verizon.net)
for more
information.
MONSIGNOR
CLARKE CAR WASH
On Saturday, May 30 from 10
a.m. Ð 2 p.m. in the MCS parking lot, the 8th grade class is
sponsoring a Car Wash to raise funds for a graduation dance and festivities.
Thank you for your support.
ADOPTION
BY CHOICE
Adoption by Choice, a program
of Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc. will hold an information
session for individuals and families interested in adoption. The session is Sunday, June 7 from 1:30 Ð 3:30 p.m. For more information
or to register call 508-674-4681.
GCCÕS
ROCK ÕN RUN 5K ROAD RACE
GraceÕs Courage Crusade will
sponsor a Rock ÔN Run 5K Road Race and Family Festival on Sunday, June 28 from 10 a.m. Ð 5 p.m. at
MONSIGNOR
CLARKE
GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Monsignor Clarke Open is Monday, July 13 at Quidnessett Country Club. Breakfast is at 7 a.m.
followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Call 789-0860
or visit www.MonsignorClarkeSchool.org for more information.
WORLD
WIDE MARRIAGE
ENCOUNTER
ÒÉif we love one another, God remains
in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.Ó Learn to love each other more, so that
God will remain in your marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Weekends in
THANK
YOU NOTES
Thank you for your donation of
$5000 to our organization. Over two thousand individuals including children,
elderly, disabled and those facing serious illness and hardship are serviced
each month thanks to dedicated volunteers. Contributions from people like you
who wish to better the lives of another help us to continue our work.
Sincerely, The R.I.C.A.N. Food
Pantry Advisory Board and Staff
I wanted to personally thank
you for your donation from the Holy Thursday collection of $1635 that will
allow us to make a difference in the lives of thousands of abuse victims.
Thanks to your generosity, we will continue to house, feed, counsel and support
women and their children who are homeless due to violence.
Sincerely, Mary Roda, Exec. Director,
On behalf of the Jonnycake
Center of Peace Dale and the Board of Directors, thank you for your generous in
kind donation of gift cards to local grocery stores in the amount of $605.
Sincerely, Susan A. Gustaitis, Exec. Director
CALENDAR FOR MAY 23 Ð MAY 31
Saturday, May 23
5:00
p.m.
First Communion
Sunday, May 24
8,
9:15, 11 a.m.
First Communion
Monday, May 25
Memorial
Day Holiday/Offices Closed
9:00
a.m.
Mass/Catholic Center
Tuesday, May 26
7:30
p.m. Choir
Wednesday, May 27
7:00
p.m. Stephen
Minister Training/Library
7:00
p.m. Confirmation Rehearsal
Thursday, May 28
7:30
p.m. Finance
Committee/Library
Friday, May 29
7:00
p.m. Confirmation
Saturday/Sunday, May 30/31
Feast of Pentecost/Receptions
Saturday, May 30
4:00
p.m. Confession