Weekly Bulletin

 St. Charles Home Page

 Mass Intentions

Mon. - 7:00 am - Jerry Sullivan by Family
Tue.  NO MASS AT ST. CHARLES, MASS AT NEWMAN CHAPEL AT 12:05 pm.
Wed. - 12:05 pm - Florence Kwinn by  Charmaine Owens
Thur. - 7:00 am - All Soul’s Intentions
Fri.    - 7:00 am - Samuel P. Jenkins, Sr. by  Pat, Michael, Samuel, Jr., Judith,  Neil, David and Jeff.
Sat.   - 5:00 pm - Comm. of St. Charles
Sun.  - 8:00 am - John Henkelman by John  and Margaret Luedke
           9:30 am - Paul Kirby by Mark  Christhoff
 

 

 
 

Today we celebrate Pentecost.  The promise of Jesus is fulfilled in the gift of the Spirit.  Our 50 days of Eastertime, this great season of feasting and celebrating now comes to a close.  May the wind and flame of God’s Holy Spirit fill each of us.
 
Congrats to our graduating seniors whom we recognize at the 8 o’clock Mass today, followed by a breakfast served by the Knights of Columbus!  Good luck on all your future endeavors!
 
I will soon begin my fourth summer of school at the University of Notre Dame.  I will leave June 20 and be gone six weeks.  This summer I will take comprehensive exams, a four hour written and a forty minute oral.  God willing, I will pass, and have a Masters in Liturgical Studies.  With the blessings of Bishop Ryan, the help of Fr. Bob from the Newman Center, and the efforts of the rest of the staff here, I am able to be away.  I am confident that things will continue to run smoothly.

 
 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

ATTENTION ALL CHILDREN, grades Pre-K through 6th - Vacation Bible School is coming soon !!!  Pack your bags and mark your calendar for our “Passport to the Holy Land”.  Every day, July 19 - 22, we will visit the lands that Jesus did.  Our stops will include, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Capernaum and Bethlehem.  This year our journey will take place in the early evening hours.  That’s right !!! VBS will be held 6:30 pm to 8:30 p.m.  It is our hope that more parents, who work during the day, will be able to join us as tour hosts.   People are beginning to volunteer but we still need 10 teachers, 12 high school aides and a kitchen crew. June 21st will be the deciding date if VBS is a go or not.  Call today.  Registration dates will be announced !!!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION !!!  We have just closed out one year but are already looking to the next.  This year we will hold religious education registration EARLY !  To help with our planning and recruitment of teachers, registration for the 1999-2000 school year will be held June 5 & 6 and June 12 & 13.  The registration fee is $15 per child, with a maximum of $45 per family.  Classes will be held on the same days and times as this year.  One exception is the 8th grade class will be moved to Sunday mornings.  Avoid the late summer rush - register NOW !!!

 

 
 

DAILY MASS SCRIPTURES

Please join the church in praying the Daily Mass Scriptures.
 
Mon.  5/24  Sir 17:24-29; Ps 32:1-2.5-7; Mk 10:17-27
Tues.  5/25  Sir 35:1-12; Ps 50:5-8.14.23; Mk:28-31
Wed.  5/26  Sir 36:1.4-5.10-17; Ps 79:8-9.11.13; Mk 10:32-45
Thurs. 5/27  Sir 42:15-25; Ps 33:2-9; Mk 10:46-52
Fri.     5/28  Sir 44:1.9-13; Ps 149:1-6.9; Mk 11:11-26
Sat.    5/29  Sir 51:12-20; Ps 19:8-11; Mk 11:27-33
Sun.    5/30 Acts of Apostles 2:1-11; Ps 104:1.24.29-31.34;1 Cor 12:3b-7.12-13; Jn 20:19-23
 
 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

  5/23   H. S. Graduation Breakfast after 8:00 Mass
           H.S. Religious Education - 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - MH
 5/24   RCIA - 7:00 p.m. - LL - Catechumenate
 5/25   St. Theresa’s Circle - 6:30 p.m. - MH
 5/30   K of C Corporate Communion - 8:00 Mass
 6/3     Comm. Blood Drive - 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. - MH
 6/5     1st Sat. Dev. to Mary - 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

 
 

 

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

...Florence Weber, of our parish family
...Jean Morganson, niece of Florence  Weber
...Lynn King, the sister of Ann Stevens
...Jim Holland, the grandfather of Mary  Bower
...Sue Bernhardt, the sister of Pat Laube
...the brother of a parishioner
...Tom Osseck, the father of Sue Spitz
...Patty Mason, the mother of Tim Mason
...the inactive and alienated Catholics in  our community
...Rebecca Hammersley, the granddaughter of Lillian Hammersley
...Jackie Wharton, the daughter-in-law of  Ann Wharton
...Laurie Thacker, our former pianist
...Dorothy Grace Erwin, daughter-in-law of  Dorothy Erwin
...Mary McGuire, the mother of Dorothy  G. Erwin
...Dolores Webb, of our parish family
...Andrew Steffens, heart problems
...John W. Wilson, our custodian  recovering from back surgery
...Madeline Blair, the mother of Philip Blair
...Patty Fernandez, the niece of Rosanne  Sanders
...Mark Bates, the brother of Rob Bates,  who has cancer
...Shirley Breen, the sister-in-law of Joan  Jacobs
...Gene Anderson, the brother-in-law of  Dorothy Erwin
...the repose of the soul of Fred Schultz,  brother-in-law of Dorothy Erwin
...the repose of the soul of Marilyn Gibbs

 
Please let the office know if there is someone you love that is in need of the prayers of the parish.
If you wish not to reveal a name, we certainly can phrase the request to honor your privacy.
 

 

STEWARDSHIP

 
Envelopes(103)                      2,244.00
Loose                                        471.20
St. Vincent de Paul                      20.00
Habitat For Humanity                334.00
Elizabeth Lee Memorial Gift      500.00
Ascension                                 350.00
 
Total                                      3,919.20
 

 
 

PENTECOST

TODAY IS PENTECOST!  Our priests have a special responsibility to exercise a unique role of
spiritual leadership under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Please pray for our priests and also
make a generous response to care for the retirement and medical needs of our priests.  You
are aware that these expenses increase each year.  Your giving will enable the diocese to
help to provide for the care of our priests who have served us and the Lord with fidelity and
love.  An envelope has been provided in your packet for this collection.

 
 

RCIA

RCIA is a year round process at our parish.  Our catechumenates will continue to meet twice a month to reflect on their faith journey and their desire to be one with us.  Please remember in your prayers our Catechumens - Larry Helsel, Gina Fulk, Tammy Fulk, Felicia Fulk, Mindy Fulk, and our Candidates - Ben Fallaw, Allyson Henson,  Jeremy Henson, Stacey Poulter, and Kevin Poulter.  Your blessings are also asked for our team members and catechists - Clare McCulla, Marjorie Hoedebecke, Sr. Rosemary Schmalz, Barbarba Sullivan, Fr. Joe, Judy Vaughn, Bill Heise, Bob Inyart and Charmaine.  May the Holy Spirit come in her wondrous ways to this group.

 

 

CLASS OF 1999

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 1999.
This Friday (May 28th) the following young men and women of our parish will complete another phase in their lifelong quest of learning.  We congratulate our graduates and send them forward with our love, prayers and pride.  May the future be a blessing and a challenge.
 
Matt Augustine      Jessica Juern            Adam Noyes
Bobette Buchar      Jason King                Rosie Pagliai
Kristen Clark         Todd Kobriger          Mary Phelps
Lindsey Coleman   Melissa Koop           Brendan Snowden
Bob Corbin             Bonnie Litteken       Alison Swango
Tom Ethridge         Kate Loudon             Erin Sweeney
Jamie Hart             Paige Muller             Rachel Vaughn
Karen Heckel        Margot Nikitas         Kevin Zawodniak
Sarah Heise           Omie Nivens
 

PRE-JORDAN SESSION
 

A PRE-JORDAN SESSION is scheduled on Saturday, June 5th at 9:30 a.m. in the lower level of the church.  Parents expecting the birth of a baby are to attend before presenting your child for baptism.  Please call the office this week to register.

SENIOR CITIZENS
 

ALL SENIOR CITIZENS are invited to an Open House at the Charleston Area Senior Center at 720 Sixth Street on Wednesday, May 26th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

ST. THERESA’S CIRCLE meeting will be a salad supper on May 25th at 6:30 p.m. in Moriarty Hall.  Please bring your favorite salad to share (and the recipe).
 

VACATION WITH GOD?  For the 14th year, individually directed retreats at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center on Lake Springfield are being offered.  The retreats will be held June 10-18 and August 9-7.  The retreat length and the choice of directors are decided by the person making the retreat.  Please give this opportunity your prayerful consideration.  For a brochure or for further information, please see the bulletin board in the vestibule or call the parish office.

 SUMMER BASH ‘99 - a Safe Night USA event.  This is a special celebration for young people (6th, 7th, & 8th Graders) in Charleston on June 5, 1999, to be safe, have fun, and even learn something.  Summer Bash ‘99, a violence and substance abuse prevention program, will be held from 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. at the Charleston Middle School and Charleston swimming pool. On June 5, between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., citizens of Charleston are asked
to turn on their porch light to help light the streets for the kids and to show support for Summer Bash ‘99.  Also, any parent interested in serving as a chaperon should call Audrey Bachelder at WEIU TV at 581-7193.
6th - 8th Graders should have received a pre-registration form at school.  If not, please call Audrey at 581-7193.

 
 

YOUTH NEWS
 
 

THE HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP won several awards for the Crisis Pregnancy Walk.  Top collection for the High School was Trish Metzger and for the Junior High was Tammy Fulk.  A total of $770.00 was collected from our parish (with Father Joe’s help) and over $10,000 was raised!  Thanks to all who contributed!
 
THE HIGH SCHOOL GROUP will meet Sunday after 9:30 Mass in Moriarty Hall to discuss rafting details.

 

 

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to man a Community Blood Services Drive on Tuesday, June 3rd in Moriarty Hall.  The hours are from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  If you would be able to help out during that time, please call Pat Jenkins, 345-2078.

 

 
A GREEN THUMB THANK YOU to Shelley Greenwood and Colleen Peterlich.  These ladies with the help of their children planted flowers around our church sign, the barrels, and the pots at the front entrance.  All summer long may these flowers remind us of the beauty of God’s creation and Shelley’s and Colleen’s dedication to this parish family.

A close reading of the documents on the Mass reveal that the common practice of kneeling before and after receiving communion is not correct.  While we all stand to come forward in the communion procession, everyone was returning to their pews to kneel.  There is no official justification of this practice of kneeling after the Lamb of God, or of kneeling after receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
 
Standing for all the communion rite is to be our posture.  The General Instruction of the Roman Missal indicates that after the eucharistic prayer, the entire assembly should be standing throughout the Lord’s Prayer, the sign of peace and the breaking of the bread accompanied by the Agnes Dei.  They should continue to stand during the invitation to communion and the distribution of communion, as well as after communion, until the priest returns to the chair and sits down to signal the beginning of the period of silent prayer.  During the communion procession the entire assembly is standing and joining in the song as they approach to receive communion, continuing the song as they return to their places, and even after they return.
 
Now that we know what the Church asks of us, we need to know where this comes from.  Remember when the celebration of Mass began to change, beginning in 1969, and into the ‘70s.  We heard English at Mass, the priest faced the people, the sign of peace, etc.  To guide all this, Pope Paul VI issued the General Instruction of the Roman Missal on April 3, 1969.  There in paragraphs 20-22 we find this instruction for standing during the communion rite.  This is not a 1998 innovation!
 
Why was this change not implemented before?  Perhaps with all the other changes in the Mass, several pastors thought their people could only take so many new things at once, and put this on the bottom of the list.  In the course now of 28 years it has been forgotten.  A more careful reading of the Instruction informs us that a change is needed.  When people
received communion kneeling at the rail, it was appropriate to go back to the pews and kneel in prayer.  The new practice of standing to receive communion was never followed up with instruction that we are to remain standing while everyone receives communion.
 
What if you are unable to stand for this period of time?  Please use your own judgment and common sense.  Some people are unable to kneel during the eucharistic prayer, so they are seated.  Some people are unable to stand during the long gospel reading of the passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, so they are seated.  If you cannot stand throughout the communion rite, then feel free to be seated.
 
Why does the Church see standing as the appropriate posture during the communion rite?  The Church has always understood standing as the posture for praise and thanksgiving.  We all stand at the proclamation of the gospel at Mass as a sign of our reverence for the good news, giving praise to God for his saving word.  Kneeling is understood as the posture of penitence, contrition, remorse.  Unworthy though we are to receive the Lamb of God, God makes us worthy.  Blessed are we to stand in communion with our God and one another, giving praise and thanks to the One who heals us and strengthens us and makes us one.
 
Standing for all the communion rite may take some getting use to.  Some may ask what difference does it make.  The uniformity of our posture at Mass, whether we standing, kneeling or sitting is a visible sign of our unity.  The Mass is our collective prayer.  It is the Body of Christ gathered on the first day of the week to thank God for the gift of redemption.  The word eucharist means thanksgiving.  The celebration of the Mass is not simply the prayer of the priest, or of a single individual.  It is the prayer of the Church.  We unite our individual hearts and voices and gestures in this act of worship.  As St. Augustine said, the eucharist is both a sign of our common unity (community), and the means of  forming community.  Our visible solidarity with others through our posture is important.  The proper moment during the communion rite for individual thoughts and personal prayer to Christ is during the communal period of silence after all have received the eucharist.
 
Some assemblies spontaneously join hands at the Lord’s Prayer, praying with one voice and one heart.  What a sign of solidarity!  And in some of those communities that is the primary, visible sign of their common unity, because during the communion rite some are standing, some are kneeling, some are singing, and some are absorbed in private prayer.
 
Standing for all the communion rite is a beautiful sign of our unity and praise of our God.  At the great moment when we partake of the holy bread and sacred cup that makes us all one in Christ, it would be inconsistent for us to be disunited in our posture -- some standing, others kneeling, others sitting.  (If you are unable to remain standing throughout the rite, then use your own judgment for when to be seated.)  During this communal activity of worship, we recognize the importance of our visible solidarity with others through song and action.  Good table etiquette at home means that all remain the table until all have finished eating.  While we cannot all remain standing at the altar until all have received communion, we show respect (good etiquette) for those who eat and drink last by remaining standing at our places.  These reflections may guide one to reflect on meal sharing at home.