a year in the life of our parish08.pdf · holiday, lynda schreiner, paul titser (newly elected...
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MISSION STATEMENT Holy Name of Jesus, a Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Owensboro, Ken-tucky, is dedicated to living the Gos-pel message. We strive to build com-munity by celebrating God’s pres-ence in Word and Sacrament. Through our gift of diversity, guided by the spirit, we witness Christ’s love for God’s people by our compassion for all.
A Year in the Life of our Parish
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
511 Second Street • Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-2096
www.holynameparish.net
VOICES IN THE PARISH August 2015 • Issue 236
2 A Letter From Our Pastor
July starts a new fiscal year for the parish and gives us an opportunity to look back over this past year. In this edition of VOICES you will find
our financial report for this past year along with articles from the vari-ous staff and committee members as they reflect on the year. As I re-
flect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude to God and to the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Family. I am richly blessed. I would like to tell
you about a few people in the parish and the blessings that they are.
There is a woman in the parish who struggles with many health issues and is on a very limited income. Her health limits her ability to come
to church much of the time. She has had to turn to our Outreach Office a couple of times when medical bills swamped her. With all of this she
is always looking for ways to give back because of the many blessings that she has received. One day she told me that she was able to buy a
couple of extra items with her food stamps and she wanted to bring them to our Outreach pantry.
There is a family in the parish who have worked hard and have a successful business. One weekend last year I announced that we were in need of money and food items for our Outreach program.
Many people generously gave money and food so that our Outreach program was once again well stocked and financially solid. This family thought of the situation and did not want anyone to go hun-gry after coming to Holy Name for assistance. They generously put $120,000 in an investment ac-
count that the parish can pull from to make sure that we always have groceries in our Outreach pan-try.
There is a gentleman who has been hanging out around the Church lately. He is basically homeless because of circumstances and decisions that he has made. Over the past year I have gone from tell-ing him to leave the Church and never come back to paying for him a room at Gilmore Inn. I have
tossed and turned in a nice comfortable bed because I knew that he was sleeping on the side porch of the Rectory. One Saturday morning, I walked into Church to find him with a bucket of water, Mur-
phy’s Oil Soap and rags cleaning the pews. He said that he wanted to do something for the Church because we had been so good to him.
This year, I have begun to teach a class on Catholicism at the Detention Center. Depending on many
variables there can be from 5 to 20 inmates in the class. They range from those who were born and raised in the Catholic faith, to those who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and
everything in between. Not long ago they asked to pray the Rosary so that they can learn how to pray it better. I took in some information for them and talked about the Rosary and then we prayed
the Rosary. The room that we meet in has two walls that have large glass windows so that the guards can watch the room from the hallway. It is also a great distraction for the guys when we are talking
because they are always looking at who is walking down the hall. As we began to pray the Rosary it quickly became more than a mere demonstration and became PRAYER. The distractions seemed to melt away and we went from my voice being the only one that was heard to a chorus of voices praying
together.
There is a woman in the parish who recently retired. Since her retirement her husband has corralled her into his silent ministry to the parish. They go to the cemetery on a regular basis and work with
the old monuments that are broken or crooked. Using ingenuity and a few basic tools they have repaired many monuments. This silent ministry offers respect to those who have gone before us and
a great example of service to us all.
We are richly blessed here at Holy Name with many, many people who are involved in a wide variety of ministries, some of which we know and some we will never know. Thanks to all who give regularly of
their time, talent and treasure.
Inside this issue:
Parish Highlights 2-3
Financial Update 4-5
New Additions to our Family 5
Holy Name School 6
Purpose Retirement 7
College Outreach 7
Hospital Ministry 7
Celebration of Holy Baptism 8
New Vision for Youth Ministry 9
Loving God by Caring for His Gifts 10
Mission Reflection 11
Mission Reflection 12
Parish Pastoral Council Members:
Don Wathen, Chairperson; Anne Boyd,
Rhonda Gillham, Marvin Hancock, Jo
Holiday, Lynda Schreiner, Paul Titser
(newly elected members: Ann Klaffer &
Nancy McKinney)
Finance Committee Members: Jud
Royster, Chairperson; Terry Carver,
Phyllis Crafton, Dan Hengen, Karen
Morris, Phil Thompson
Parish Council Meeting
minutes may be found at
www.holynamepaish.net
Click on “councils”
3
FORMATION:
Ninth Annual Parish Faith Quest - Viva Holy Name
Evening Youth Bible School “D3 – Discover ~Decide~Defend”
Little Rock Bible Study - “The Word of God-The Word of Peace”
Adult Ed - Saints & Sinners-The History of Popes
Arise - Season 5 “We are the Good News”
Celebrated “Month of the Family” in October
A Jesuit Looks at a Jesuit Pope” by Fr. John R. Donahue
Good News People - Small group faith sharing
The Light is on for You - Lenten Presentations and Reflections
Corpus Christi Procession
Remembering our Shut-ins - Christmas card program
6 members attend workshop for RCIA Team Formation
RCIA Hospitality Team was created
YOUTH:
26 youth and adults attended our annual High School Retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center 37 youth and adults attended our annual 8th Grade Retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center 18 youth and adults went to the Owensboro Diocese Youth Conference
1 youth went to the Christian Leadership Institute at Mount St. Joseph
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
17 catechists attended Discerning Gifts Retreat
12 catechists participated in: Role of Catechist and National Directory of Catechesis 20 catechists participated in Diocesan Spiritual Formation
Confirmation Preparation 4 week sessions-success attendance of 95+%
HISPANIC MINISTRY:
23 students attending Holy Name School from our Hispanic community
250 attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
12 families participated in Henderson Co. High School Latino Outreach facilitated by HN Latino Ministry Office Assisted 128 individuals with court interpretation, doctors office, hospi- tal interpretation & home visits 9 families attended Immigration Workshop
32 graduated from English as a Second Language Program
60 attended Las Posadas Celebration hosted by 9 HN families
34 participated in Lent Program Stations of the Cross during Lent
70+ attended the Corpus Christi Celebration
STAFF:
Sr. Laurita Spalding celebrate her 50th Jubilee
Fr. Maury Riney named Associate Pastor
Basilio Az Cuc—Deaconate Ordination
Matt Knight served as summer Youth Ministry Intern 2nd year
Abraham Brown received the Evansville Trusteeship Award
FACILITIES:
Began the process of building an elevator for the choir loft
Established St. Jerome Lending Library
FINANCIAL:
Sold all 250 tickets for 2014 Reverse Raffle supporting the Youth & Radio Ministries Holy Name continues to tithe 5% of collections to the Outreach and was able to assist 552 families with food, 636 families with utili- ties, rent, medical, etc...... Holy Name’s Relay for Life Team raised $14,997.50
Parish Lenten Project—CRS Rice Bowl raised $3,105.50
Held second annual “Night at the Races” - Fund raiser for youth group
Sold Alles property for $113,000.00
Received $120,000.00 for the Holy Name Food Pantry
COMMUNITY/GLOBAL:
3rd Annual Mandeville Mission Trip & purchased clean water filters
2015 Community Latino Health Fair: more than 250 participants
Helped 127 children with Christmas presents thru the Giving Tree
25 youth & adults participated in Mission Missouri, Caruthersville, MO
20 youth & adults participated in Mission Chicago, in Chicago, IL
Participated in Henderson City Serve Day
2nd Annual Community Dinner & Celebration feast of Holy Name of Jesus
Hosted Mobile Mexican Consulate, 500 Mexican nationals were served
Fiesta Committee- Chili Cook-Off, Mardi Gras Party
Welcomed the Audubon Area 3rd Annual Veteran’s Resource Fair
Hosted Musical Concerts - Newman Singers, Alice P. Taylor Community Christmas Program, Benefit Concert for Villa Infantil Orphanage, James Wells-Season of Lent, Young Women-Mt. Vernon High School, Donna Cori Gibson- “Our Catholic Faith” Participated in Feed My Starving Children
Sister of Charity honored at “Women’s Honor Court”
Muslim Speaker - Iftakhar Choudhury
Protection and Healing - presented by Bishop Medley
Night at the Movies - Movie and discussion
Participated in “Make a Difference Day” projects in October
The Youth Group, Religious Ed students and the Hispanic Team continued their work at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen Served Latino inmates at the Henderson County Detention Center Holy Name Latino Ministry has been invited to be a part of the Mexican Consulate Advisory Board
STATISTICS
1527 Registered Households
4027 Registered Members
1620 Avg. Wkly Mass Attendance
85+ Active Ministries
SACRAMENTAL RECORDS
32 Infant & Children Baptisms
4 Adult Baptisms
11 Professions of Faith
41 First Communions
66 Confirmations
22 Marriages
20 Deaths
At a Glance
In addition to the generous tithing of our parishioners, endless hours of time and talent have been shared with our parish community to accomplish the following:
4 Annual Report July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
Contributions Historical Summary
St. Jerome FREE
Lending Library Our library is a ministry of the
parish and is available to all, just stop by the church office.
For more information and a complete list of titles visit
www.holynameparish.net, click “Special Events/News”
then click on the “St. Jerome Library” link.
Fiscal Year End (2014-2015)
As of 6/30/15 we have 1500 registered families of Holy Name of Jesus. 493
(33%) of our families contributed $0.00 this fiscal year. The average contribution of families who gave financially this fiscal year was $1,527.75.
Fiscal Year End (2013-2014) As of 6/30/14 we have 1505 registered families of Holy Name of Jesus. 498 (33%) of our families contributed $0.00 this fiscal year. The average contribution
of families who gave financially this fiscal year was $1,541.93.
Expenses Year Ending June 30, 2015
Operating Account Year Ending June 30, 2015
ACTUAL BUDGET
TOTAL REVENUE 1,477,247 1,507,400
PARISH ADMINISTRATION 411,407 419,598
FACILITIES OPERATIONS 149,338 154,851
YOUTH 58,357 60,088
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 76,294 74,140
HNC SUBSIDY 605,400 605,400
HISPANIC MINISTRY 24,502 20,079
MUSIC & LITURGY 79,201 80,103
SOCIAL CONCERNS 90,937 88,140
CAPITAL OUTLAY 10,827 5,000
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 1,506,264 1,507,400
EXCESS REVENUES -29,017 0
You are needed…..
The purpose of Voices in the Par-ish is to promote and provide infor-mation that furthers the mission of Holy Name of Jesus Parish. Your help is needed! Become a part of Voices in the Parish - contribute an article about ministry, an up-coming event or a random act of kindness. Provide pictures of a parish celebration or share a faith experience. We are asking YOU to become the “VOICE” in your par-ish. Contact Jill Hagan at [email protected].
2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015
General Operating Account 1,424,955.05 1,446,366.38 1,468,881.20
Campaign Contributions - - 17,192.17
Building Maintenance 15,379.00 20,995.27 13,352.46
Cemetery 2,092.00 2,556.14 1,582.28
Estates & Bequests 1,470.00 - 122,598.63
Diocesan, Habitat, Outreach 18,018.18 82,810.52 37,434.39
Food Pantry 120,000.00
Totals 1,461,914.23 1,552,728.31 1,781,041.13
% of Increase -13.35% 6.21% 14.70%
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It has been months since Easter Vigil but only days since our latest members joined our faith com-munity. These newest members have yet to be introduced to our parish community. You have been praying for them for some time, because they began their journey back in August of 2014. Now welcome our newest members.
Angela Mills came to RCIA with a desire to learn, embrace, challenge and question. She took the role of learner seriously and walked the journey in her time. On May 16, she came forward in front of the community to profess the faith we now share. She received the final sacrament of initiation and joined at the table of the Lord for the first time.
Angela writes…“So thankful for the love and support of my family!! And thank you to Mike Bailey for standing up with me and being my sponsor for all these months. I appreciate that you were there today. — with Mike Bailey, Tina Warrender, Dave M Nalley, Kristian Mills, Tammy Nalley, Donna Mi-chael and Rodney Michael at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.”
Faithful to the RCIA “process” Selena and Jason were present at the Easter Vigil, even though they knew they would not be part of the initi-ation at that time. They shared in the joy of fellow candidates but longed for the day in which they would join the church community. On July 5, that day came and the Church grew fuller.
Fr. Larry anointing with the Oil of Sacred Chrism during Confirmation. Later that afternoon Selena says, “It's offi-cial...me and Jason Miller are Catholic! We got confirmed at Mass this morning at Holy Name Catholic Church.”
With Sponsors Latasha & Mike Biggs, Jason and Selena then have their marriage convalidated (blessed) following the reception of their First Holy Communion.
How can we welcome these new members or assist others inquiring, discerning, and/or joining our Church? Here are just three suggestions….
• Be hospitable…just by talking to strangers at Mass on Sunday, we are evangelizing. Every week, our parish attracts seekers. Someone shows up hoping for a connection to the Holy or wishing for a ray of light in their lives. They may come in late, sit in the back pew, and leave early. Evangelizing can be as simple as walking to the back pew and saying hello.
• Be joyful…we can evangelize by smiling more and practice this at Mass.
• Be courageous…we are called to be courageous, going out into the “night” of other people’s lives to bring the light and hope of Christ. We will have to get outside our comfort zones to do that, but we don’t have to start too far outside the zone. Baby steps will do for now. The important thing is to have the courage to take the step.
New Additions To Our Eucharistic Family By Rose Wheeler
TOTAL REVENUE 1,540,300.00
PARISH ADMINISTRATION 422,526.78
FACILITIES 152,688.40
YOUTH 59,428.11
GRADES K-12 13,550.00
TEACHERS 54,785.69
ADULTS 9,675.60
RCIA & RCIC 1,880.00
ELEMENTARY 615,400.00
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 695,291.29
HISPANIC MINISTRY 21,942.25
MUSIC & LITURGY 85,119.38
SOCIAL CONCERNS 98,303.79
CAPITAL OUTLAY 5,000.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 1,540,300.00
EXCESS REVENUES 0.00
6 Holy Name School Financial Overview/Highlights
In the 142nd year of Holy Name School, our theme was “We’re On A Mission,” and so we were.
We began our school year with our wonderful teachers participating in community service at a number of local
non-profit organizations in order to model good works for our students. Throughout the year, students participat-ed in dozens of projects including fundraising and service on behalf of Marsha’s Place, the Conservation District,
Holy Name Outreach & Food Pantry, Methodist Hospital, the Henderson Humane Society, the Salvation Army and more. Once again, Holy Name 7/8th grade Co-Ed Y Club members achieved more service hours than any other
club in the Commonwealth.
Students once again participated in the Kentucky Youth Assembly activities in Louisville and Frankfort, and returned home with tremendous honors that demonstrated their strong leadership, writing and public speaking
skills.
Our athletic programs also enjoyed record participation with several City and Invitational boys and girls championships and trophies too nu-merous to mention here.
Right along with athletics, our academic teams once again performed with district, regional, state, and even international placements, with our
Future Problem Solving team traveling to international competition this summer.
We made a large investment into the school’s IT infrastructure during the 2014-15 school year in order to fully support the addition of 30 laptops and 30 iPads to our inventory of technology available to our students. The school was completely rewired not only to meet current needs,
but to support additions and enhancement in the future.
We said goodbye to several faculty members this year as we welcomed new family members among us. Nurse Cathy McCormick, Phyllis Brown, and Debbie McArdle retired from our ranks after many years of service and Connie McFarland accepted a new position at Owensboro Catholic High
School. We welcome Emma Bridges and Ashley Mirick to the 7/8 grade team. Melissa Taylor, with over 25 years of nursing experience, will be our school nurse, and Lyndsay Koonce, an HNS alumna, filled the guidance counseling position.
The mission that began when our school opened on September 7, 1872, not only continues, but progresses and grows as we start our 143rd
year. We are poised to strengthen our academic excellence in the new year. Our enrollment is strong once again as we will welcome approximate-ly 460 new students. Most importantly, we strive to make Christ the center of all we do each and every day. We are so very grateful to the parish-
ioners of Holy Name Church, our priests, teachers, the school families, alumni, volunteers, coaches, community partners, and all those who believe in and support our efforts.
2014-2015 Holy Name School Financial Overview
Revenues: Expenditures:
Tuition 1,393,343$ Salaries and Benefits 2,018,904$
Parish Subsidy 605,400 Instructional Materials 72,066
SCRIP Program 45,450 Operations and Maintanance 69,158
Extended Care Program 63,885 Utilities 54,075
Fall Festival 52,679 Technology 25,860
Gaming/Bingo Donations 53,300 Insurance - Property and Liability 30,399
Other Operating Income 48,141 Other Operating Expenses 34,153
Total Revenues 2,262,198$ Total Expenditures 2,304,615$
Change in fund balance (42,417)$
Holy Name 19th Annual Golf Classic
Monday, August 24,
10:00 AM shotgun start.
Contact Brad Boyd at 827-4490
Holy Name Annual September 11 & 12
Mark your calendar and
watch the bulletin for more details!
Voices in the Parish
We had over 50 college students signed up to receive news and care packages from us here at your home church. Several students sent us “thank you” notes thanking us for prayers and goodies from home over the years while
they were attaining their higher education. If you are a college student and haven’t signed up yet for the upcoming year, please do so by calling Kathy Johnston at (270) 533-5744 or by emailing me at joshuajohn-
[email protected]. I just need your college address, phone number, and email address. Don’t miss out on pray-ers, news, and care packages from Holy Name. May God continue to Bless You All!
College Outreach Update by Kathy Johnston, Coordinator
As I look at the list of ministers to the hospital, I realize how blest our parish is to have such faithful and committed volunteers. These men
and women give freely of their time and talent to minister the needs of the sick of our parish and those of surrounding parishes. The
message they bring to the bedside of patients and families during times of uncertainty gives the strength and courage of knowing that
never does one walk alone. Asking that the Body of Christ just re-ceived may bring peace and health of mind and body during this
difficult time. Faithfully and humbly they carry the Body of Christ to those unable to attend mass. Never one time in the years I have
been involved in this ministry has one volunteer called to say, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
So why do I write today? It is because the list of volunteers is getting shorter as they go from ministering to becoming those needing to be
ministered. As the slots in our monthly calendar empty, I reach out to our parish for faith-filled people to fill the spots. What does this involve? It is going to the hospital once or twice a month to offer
communion to Catholics at Methodist Hospital. It is walking through a training session in which you are mentored and trained. It is being
the child of God you are called to be and reaching out to others with comfort and compassion.
Does this interest you? Want to find out more? Have questions? Call the church office.
God of Compassion, fill me with the power of your Word and the love of your Holy Spirit as I visit your suffering sons and daughters. Help me so that I may worthily and gracefully share your sacred presence with those who await your coming to them. May the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, heal and comfort us, deepen our faith, and strengthen our hope in the imperishable inheritance you have promised to those who seek you. For this I pray to you for myself and for those I visit, in the name of Jesus, our risen Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Eucharistic Ministers to the Hospital By Rose Wheeler
Purposeful Retirement: A Retreat
During our primary working years we sought career suc-cess; in our retirement we are called to grow beyond suc-cess, and to grow closer to Christ. This is your opportunity to better clarify your unique significance for today and to-morrow.
On the weekend of September 18-20, Holy Name is hold-ing a retreat to help you discover this retirement signifi-cance. Starting Friday night and continuing through Sun-day morning, St. Margaret’s Chapel will be the retreat site, negating the need for overnight accommodations. The re-treat master will be Richard P. Johnson, Ph.D., author of
Creating a Successful Retire-ment: Finding Peace and Pur-pose.
The retreat is for couples only
and will cost $70 per couple.
For further information, call the
parish office.
What Gifts Has God Given You? “In his grace, God has given us different
gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophe-
sy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving oth-ers, serve them well. If you are a teacher,
teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving,
give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility
seriously. And, if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8
Holy Name Church is an active parish with many ministry opportuni-ties. Each of us have been given gifts and abilities by God, consider
how you can share yours through the Stewardship of Prayer, Ministry and Treasure.
COMMITMENT WEEKENDS: September 19 - 20 Stewardship of Prayer
October 3 - 4 Stewardship of Ministry November 7 - 8 Stewardship of Treasure
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Pictured above: Dustin Sandoval, child of Oliver & Melissa Sandoval, was baptized 7-4-2015.
Pictured above: Athena Butler & Au-rora Butler, children of Chris & Britta-ny Butler, were baptized 6-20-2015.
Pictured above: Luz Sabino Vitervo & Alexis Sabino Vitervo, children of Epifanio Sabino & Usaura Vitervo, were baptized 6-20-2015.
Pictured above: Madison Sarah Logan, child of Logan & Shae Nun-ley, was baptized 6-14-2015.
Pictured above: Ian Stanley Cody, child of Mark & Jenny Cody, was baptized 6-14-2015.
Pictured above: Israel Antonio Varquez, child of Israel Vazquez & Jazimin Sanchez-Guerrero, was baptized 5-30-2015.
Pictured above: Jacob Anthony Hayden, child of Kelly & Pammi Hayden, was baptized 7-26, 2015.
Pictured above: Catalina Nike Perez, child of Omar Rafael Perez-Monoz and Angie Melis-sa Buritica-Garcia, was baptized 7-26-2015.
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For the past 11 years, the youth ministry efforts at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church have been focused on helping youth grow in their faith in Jesus Christ and connect to the ministry of the Church. As the culture of children and youth is always shifting, we hope to shift our efforts along
with them. I am proud of the efforts we have made in the last decade, but it’s time to adjust our course if we hope to continue to make a lasting impact.
A mistake we often make in the Catholic Church is we assume conversion. Meaning we tend to believe that if a child is raised in our church, they will
automatically come to love and appreciate the gift of faith that comes in knowing Jesus Christ. Time and time again, this has proved to be a dan-gerous assumption as we see so many of our youth walk away from the church as young adults. Conversion is a necessary experience for people
who wish to follow Jesus for a lifetime. This is precisely what we want to be about in our Youth Ministry efforts for children and youth. We want to provide as many opportunities as possible for a young person to come in contact with Jesus in such a way that their hearts are oriented towards following Him for life. That being said, we are also firmly aware that this “following of Jesus” is a process, a journey, and that it happens in God’s
time. Faith is a gift from God, but it is a gift that can be hard to receive if one is not in the right available space to receive it. So how do we offer the right opportunities, at the right time, in the right space, to catch someone when they’re ready to receive the grace given gift of faith? I’m glad
you asked. The following is the beginning stages of a vision for Youth Ministry, a map if you will, for how we’d like to see a youth grow in their time with us from 5th-12th grades.
In closing, I’d like to implore your efforts in prayer as we begin this new journey in ministry. We will also need many will ing participants as this con-tinues to evolve and grow, so through prayer consider how you can get involved. And lastly, know that the family is still and will always be the most successful grounds for conversion. The risen Christ that your children and youth with experience in your homes is far more influential that anything
we can do at Holy Name. Our prayers are with you, the families, as well! Our ministry exist to aid and support you.
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 270-826-2096 with questions or thoughts.
5th/6th Grades (At Holy Name School and Religious Education) Emphasis- Helping youth understand the “how’s and why’s” of our faith over the “what”. For example, engaging youth in prayer over teaching
them to memorize prayers. Opportunities- Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp (Summer Camp), 5th Grade Retreat Day on Faith at BIAC (HNS), 6th Grade Retreat Day on Pray-
er at St. Margaret’s Chapel (HNS), 5th and 6th Grade Retreat Overnight (Religious Ed), Various efforts in the classrooms throughout the school year
Junior High Youth (7th/8th Grade at Holy Name School and Religious Education) Emphasis- Helping to reconnect the “heart and head” experience of faith, especially in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and the
transition into High School. Opportunities- Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp (Summer Camps), Junior High Overnight Retreat to Gasper River (HNS and Rel. Ed), Junior High
Youth Group that meets once, every other month throughout the school year (HNS and Rel. Ed), Various efforts in the classrooms throughout the school year
High School Youth (9th-12th Grades at HCHS, Memorial, and OCHS) Emphasis- Making every effort possible to provide opportunities for Evangelization and Conversion. Then providing Small Discipleship Groups for
faith deepening and sharing. Opportunities:
Pre-Evangelization (Fellowship and Relationship Building)- Lock-Out, Summer Events like Jell-O Olympics and Water Wars, Games Nights and Open Gym, “Special Interest Ministries” like Cooking Groups, Dance Classes, Open-Gym, and Art Ministry
Sunday Night Youth (Fellowship, Study, Prayer Experiences, Service)- Opportunities to plant and water seeds of faith. This is the beginning efforts of experiencing and learning about Jesus and what He calls us to do and be as a community of believers.
Conversion Opportunities (Opportunities to Retreat and Serve)- Week Long Mission Trips, High School and Senior Retreats to Gasper River, National and Diocesan Youth Conferences, Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp (Summer Camps)
Small Discipleship Groups- Opportunity to meet twice a month with a trained small group leader to walk through life, faith share, bible study, and continue to deepen in commitment to following Jesus Christ.
A New Vision for Holy Name Youth Ministry (5th-12th Grades)
by Charlie Hardesty ([email protected])
9
God gave us dominion over the earth and all that is in it. He gave us this gift and charged us with its care. Statistics show that we haven’t done a great job of
caring for His gift. Pope Francis issued an encyclical this summer asking the world to work as a community to preserve this beautiful home God gave us. I
wish to challenge this community of Holy Name to make a conscious effort to preserve our world. What changes can we make in our lifestyle to make a posi-
tive impact on our environment? There are thousands of things we can do. None of us can accomplish all of them, but each of us can do some. Little things can
make a big impact.
Consider the impact paper has on our lives. We preserve and share ideas on
paper. We use paper to cover, contain and protect things for transportation and storage. These are just a few of the positive ways paper impacts our lives. Paper
also has a negative impact. Paper is made at the expense of the trees we need for the air we breathe. When we are finished with paper it is often discarded in
dumps or along our landscape. It may be burned which adds to air pollution. So how do we balance the positive and the negative for the good of our environ-ment? Reduce our paper usage when possible and recycle when we are ready to
dispose of it.
Here are a few simple suggestions that will eliminate some of paper’s negative impact. Go paperless when possible. Request account statements and bills elec-tronically. Subscribe to the newspaper’s electronic version. Store information
electronically and print only when absolutely necessary. Send e-mails and e-cards to keep in touch. Use cleaning cloths and hand towels instead of paper
towels. Put purchases in reusable cloth bags when shopping. Use ceramic mugs and dishes instead of paper products.
When you choose to use paper, go the tree saving route. Check the labels and buy paper products made of recycled paper. Dispose of paper by recycling.
Have a second trash can for recyclables in a handy place in your home. We often toss something in the trash simply because it is easier than taking it out to the
recycling can.
It may take law makers to clean up factory pollution, but all of us can make a
positive difference in our environment. We just have to be willing to make a
change. Start small. Pick one thing in your lifestyle that you can change and stick
with it until it becomes your lifestyle. Then make another change. Together we
can care for God’s precious gift. Watch the bulletin for other earth saving sug-
gestions.
Loving God by Caring for His Gifts By Ranni Dillard
Pictured above: Some of the water women from the Jamaica mission trip pause for a picture.
Pictured above: Holy Name parishioners partic-ipating in Feed My Starving Children meal packing day.
Pictured above: Some of the Latino Team serv-ing at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen.
Pictured left: Children of St. Anthony Basic School enjoy their new swing set which Holy Name parish helped fund.
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Mission Chicago 2015 by Trey Book
Mission Chicago was my fourth mission trip. My fourth mission to go out and spread God’s message and serve others. This trip was differ-
ent from Mission Missouri because I didn’t have any interaction with kids. At Missouri I usually work the vacation bible school that we host at a park in a neighboring city. During Chicago I was working with 4 other youth and one adult leader at a development center that ranked 25th on the FBI’s most dangerous neighborhood list. Even though Missouri was 1,000 miles away and safety was an even bigger issue the stories, the faith, the
struggles, and the people were all the same. The center was run by a woman named Marian and other staff members. During the school year the center provided a place for students to come and work on homework or other school work. During the summer it provided a safe place for kids to
play because on the streets they were exposed to drugs, gangs, and violence. At the center they were taught dance, music, and art. They learned responsibility, creativity, strengthened their reading skills and most importantly were able to just be kids. The first two days the majority of our time
went to organizing the library and cleaning out closets. One of the staff members, Dr. Joyce, made it her goal to give us a real sense of what the neighborhood was like and how the people lived. She believed that if
we really want to help that we must first understand the environment and the people we are with. She took us on a tour of the neighbor-
hood and where she had grown up. We also met a man named Antho-ny. Anthony was a man whose mission was to change the environment of the neighborhood, surrounding neighborhoods and eventually Chi-
cago. He grabbed the media’s attention by creating videos about the struggles that people were facing in the ghettos and projects of Chica-
go. He said, “Divide and conquer is the Devil’s greatest tool.” People are divided by race, gender, political beliefs, ideas, religions, gangs,
and working class. We can’t even begin to fix the problems our world faces until we love and understand each other. We are not called to
judge or hate one another. We are called to serve and to love one another. (Mark 10:45) As the week progressed we painted steps, walls, and trim. With each day we could tell how appreciative the staff
was. Marian cried, and cried some more, and then a little bit more. They gave us book marks and when it’s time for summer camp they
will have the kids write us letters thanking us. This trip really had an impact on me because it really showed me how much we need God. How we need to trust in Him and put Him first. We may not always know God’s plan, but His plans for us will always be greater than the plans we have made
ourselves. We need to place our trust fully in Him and to not worry about the situations we’re facing. No matter how deep the water may get or how shallow our understanding is of the situation, if you have Jesus Christ with you, there will be nothing to fear and no reason to understand or know
everything. If you have Jesus, you have everything you need. It also made me think about the people who work behind the scenes to make our day to day lives easier. It made me more appreciative of others. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have these exper iences when I did. With-
out the mission trips, my youth group, Holy Name, and God I wouldn’t be the person I am today or have the faith that I have. I’d like to end with a prayer. Dear God, thank you for my life. Thank you for the house I live in, the school I get an education at, and the church I praise you at. I pray that you watch over the ones who make our day to day lives possible. Watch over the ones who work in the background. The ones who don’t get
the recognition they deserve. I pray that we can find peace in ourselves and in one another. I pray that you watch over us all and help guide us to a new life in you. In your name I pray. Amen.
Annual Report 2014-2015
Working for the church
is our ministry….
Pictured here is the Holy Name parish staff attending the annual parish planning day on June 16, 2015. Our time was spent pray-ing, reflecting, and reviewing the past year in order to plan for the upcoming year. Thanks to the parishioners of Holy Name for their continued support & pray-ers!
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Mission Missouri 2015 By Sidney Cain
“The only difference between us and them is the circumstance we are born into.” This is
one of the most valuable things that I have learned during my experience in Caruthersville, Missouri. We are all humans. We are all followers of God. We all have a purpose that we, sooner or later, will figure out. Spending time in this broken down town could open any-
one’s eyes to the realization that we are called by God to serve. We are called to share our love in as many ways as we can, and that is what we have done and will continue to
do.
Sometimes we have to do things that we don’t enjoy so much for the purpose of benefit-ting others. Whether it be running around in the hot sun for hours with a kid wrapped around you or dealing with the frustrations of constructing a few beds, overcoming these
struggles are simple if you remember one thing: the work is more than worth the out-come. Seeing the joy in someone’s face after receiving something very meaningful to them
is a heartwarming feeling that overpowers the obstacles you may be given.
Every minute I spent with the kids in Missouri, I became a little more selfless. I realized that most of our perspectives seem to be permanently directed in the wrong way, toward
ourselves. Focusing on only ourselves restricts us from being fully applied to what we are called to do. With full commitment in what you do is the only way you will succeed. Being wholly invested in the mission of serving leaves the biggest impact. We, as a team, do our
best to do anything we can to help with the needs of the community, and due to the effort we have given, I see the many positive changes that have taken place.
It still amazes me the way those kids share acts of generosity and appreciation towards
everyone around them. Being in the less fortunate situation they are in, they are so in-credibly pleased with the smallest things that are given to them. I showed my love through hugs and laughter, which seemed to be all those kids needed to gain a little hope.
Although I go to give, I receive so much unexpectedly. I leave with a pure heart that was
nourished by the love of all the sweet kids that I spent time with. I leave with new relation-ships that I hope to be continued on and to be built stronger. I leave with a completely
different perspective and memories that I believe no one could truly understand until ex-perienced. Mission Missouri has made me realize the purpose that God has given me, and
a way to put that purpose to use. That is one thing that I couldn’t be more thankful for.
“Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16
The presence of children is a gift to the Church
and they are a reminder that our parish is grow-ing. Welcome our children and give a smile of
encouragement to their parents. Remember, the way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to the Church, to
God and one another. Let them know that they are at home in this house of worship.
To the parents of our young parishioners, may we suggest:
Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t
feel you have to suppress it in God’s house.
Sit toward the front where it is easier for
your little one to see and hear what’s going
on at the altar. They tire of seeing the back of others’ heads.
Quietly explain the parts of the Mass and
actions of the priests, deacons, altar serv-ers, choir, etc. Sing the hymns, pray and
voice the responses. Children learn liturgi-cal behavior by copying you.
If you feel you have to leave Mass with your
child, feel free to do so, but please come
back. Rocking chairs are located in the vestibule for your convenience.
All are welcome!
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church
Voices in the Parish
511 Second Street
Henderson, KY 42420
Phone: 270-826-2096 Fax: 270-827-1494
Website: www.holynameparish.net
World Meeting of Families Prayer
God and Father of us all, in Jesus, your Son
and our Savior, you have made us
your sons and daughters in the family of the Church.
May your grace and love help our families
in every part of the world be united to one another in fidelity to the Gospel. May the example of the
Holy Family, with the aid of your Holy Spirit,
guide all families, especially those most troubled,
to be homes of communion and prayer
and to always seek your truth and live in your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
pray for us!
For more information visit: www.worldmeeting2015.org
“The family which experi-
ences the joy of faith com-
municates it naturally.
That family is the salt of
the earth and the light of
the world; it is the leaven of
society.”
Pope Francis, October 27, 2013
Una oración para el Encuen-tro Mundial de las Familias en
Filadelfia en el año 2015
Dios y Padre de todos no-sotros, en Jesús, tu
Hijo y nuestro Salvador, nos has hecho tus hijos e hijas
en la familia de la Iglesia. Que tu gracia y amor
ayuden a nuestras familias en cualquier parte del mundo
a estar en unión con las demás en fidelidad al Evangelio.
Que el ejemplo de la Sagrada Familia, con
la ayuda de tu Espíritu Santo, guíe a todas las familias, espe-cialmente las más atribuladas,
a ser casas de comunión y oración y a buscar siempre tu
verdad y vivir en tu amor. Por Cristo nuestro Señor.
Amén. ¡Jesús, María y José,
ruega por nosotros!