seton festival 2017 fall clothing giveaway · seton festival 2017 by the time you read this, our...

Volume 16, Issue 5 September/October

2017

Seton Festival 2017 By the time you read this, our annual festival will just be a memory. We were very blessed with a beautiful weekend and great crowds. We can’t thank you enough to all those who worked tirelessly to plan the event, those who helped to set up and tear down, booth and shift workers over the festival weekend, and all those who helped in so many ways. Your efforts were sincerely appreciated. Thank you to our many sponsors. And thanks to all those who attended the event, we hope everyone had a wonderful time. Greg and Ruth Brothers Congratulations to our Major Award Winners… $10,000 ~ Ginny Wahl $1,000 ~ Ted & Lisa House $750 ~ Ron Bare $500 ~ Dennis & Jennifer Flege $250 ~ Terry Clark $200 ~ Mark Entrup $200 ~ Tina Klaus $200 ~ Andy Sheehy $200 ~ Andrea Callahan $200 ~ Christine Yankovsky $100 ~ Caryll Piepmeyer $100 ~ Dennis Null $100 ~ Barbara Natale $100 ~ Caryll Piepmeyer $100 ~ Cindy Murphy $100 ~ Mary Fischer $100 ~ Audrey Erickson $100 ~ Steve Roll $100 ~ Eddie Ivers $100 ~ Jean Ann Sheehy

Volume 16, Issue 5 September/October

2017

Fall Clothing Giveaway

Seton’s St. Vincent de Paul Society is having their annual Fall Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, October 28th, from 9:00am until 11:30am in the Seton cafeteria. Your donations of fall and winter clothing, especially winter coats, will make this day special for those in need in our community. We will also be accepting small household items and toys. Clothing and items can be dropped off to the cafeteria on Friday, October 28th, from 9:00am until 2:00pm. We ask that you come to the back of the school cafeteria located near the dumpsters. For high school students needing service hours, this is a fun and rewarding way to help those less fortunate. If you would like to donate items or your time to this wonderful cause, please contact Jeanne Wahl, 575-5983, or Nancy Haines, 576-1798.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish5890 Buckwheat RoadMilford, Ohio 45150 Address Service Requested

Setonotes is a publication of St. ElizabethAnn Seton Parish and is intended for allfriends and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Parish groups who wish tosubmit articles or pictures for publicationin Setonotes must submit the informationto the parish office by the 15th of each month for publication the following month. If you have questions or comments regarding Setonotes, please contact the parish office at 575-0119.

Editorial/Contributing Staff

Fr. Michael L. Cordier, PastorValerie HofmannSue BoruszewskiPatty NorrisTerri ImmingMargaret BerghCatherine Fasano

Layout and DesignAngela S. Foulks – ASF Creative

Setonotes is a publication of St. ElizabethAnn Seton Parish and is intended for allfriends and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Parish groups who wish tosubmit articles or pictures for publicationin Setonotes must submit the informationto the parish office by the 15th of each month for publication the following month. If you have questions or comments regard-ing Setonotes, please contact the parish office at 575-0119.

Editorial/Contributing Staff

Fr. Michael L. Cordier, PastorFr. Christopher M. Geiger, Parochial VictorValerie HofmannSue BoruszewskiPatty NorrisMargaret BerghCatherine Fasano

Layout and DesignAngela S. Foulks – ASF Creative

2Setonotes • September / October 2017

From the Pastor’s Desk… Dear People of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, The Parish Festival has come and gone. Once again, it was a great success! We thank our God for giving us very nice weather for the weekend! Thanks for all your prayers!! We thank our parish festival committee and the hundreds of volunteers who worked many many hours to make this parish and community event possible. We also thank the many parishioners from St. Andrew who helped out also! We thank all those who came and enjoyed the games, food, rides, and more. And many thanks to Greg and Ruth Brothers, Mike Wulker, Steve Kroeger and many others who worked hard to make this a successful parish event. Thank you. Also – congratulations to all those who won prizes! As we move into fall, many parish activities begin again, like our SASEAS School, RCIA, PRP, school sports, and more. It is always good to see our campus fully alive. We welcome everyone back. Please join me in welcoming two new members to our parish staff: Aimee Limberg is the new Preschool Director, replacing Terri Imming, who is retiring September 6th; and Jason Hinson, who is our new Coordinator of Religious Education, replacing Margaret Bergh, who is retiring August 31st. We welcome Aimee and Jason and are very happy they are with us. We thank Terri and Margaret for their many years of service to our parish. We wish both of them a happy retirement. For the fiscal year 2016 - 2017, we ended the year with a deficit. We will be giving you a more detailed financial report in September. Much of the deficit can be attributed to the new HVAC system installed in the old wing of the school. As always, I am very thankful for the wonderful generosity of our parishioners, giving so generously of your time, talent and treasure. Your generosity allows us to continue the mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community. May we all grow in our love of God and of our neighbor, especially by attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. At Mass, we are blessed to hear the Word of God in Sacred Scripture, and receive our Lord in the Eucharist. By doing so, we are better able to live life to the full. We are so blessed! God bless you,

Fr. Michael L. Cordier

Setonotes • September/October 2017 15

Personal Care Items Drive for St. Vincent de Paul The Men of Seton and the Knights of Columbus are collecting personal care items for our parish’s St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Please consider filling and returning a bag being distributed the weekend of October 7th and 8th. They will be collecting items the following weekend. If you didn’t get a chance to pick up a bag, items in low supply include: bar soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Thank you for your generosity for the less fortunate. Men of Seton and Knights of Columbus

Boy Scout Troup 244 BBQ Chicken Dinner On Sunday, September 10, from 1:00 to 6:00pm, Boy Scout Troup 244 will host a BBQ Chicken Dinner – their 11th Annual. Menu: BBQ chicken, baked potato, green beans, cole slaw, dinner roll, dessert and a drink Adult: $9.00, includes 1/2 chicken Child: $6:00, includes 1/4 chicken Carry out available Proceeds will be used for replacing old troop equipment, including much needed new tents, and to offset the cost of camping for the scouts. If you are unable to join us for the BBQ Chicken Dinner, but wish to make a donation to Seton’s Boy Scout Troop, you can send a check made out to Troop 244 and mail to BSA Troop 244, 1420 Finch Lane, Milford 45150; or drop an envelope in the Sunday collection addressed to Troop 244. Thank you in advance for your support. Bob Brookens

Prayers for Parish Seminarian Please keep in your prayers parishioner Matt Montag, the son of Al and Cheryl Montag. Matt recently entered the seminary for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is a young man, who has heard the call of Jesus to follow our Lord in a special and indeed, a beautiful way. Matt is one of almost 20 young men who entered the local seminary this fall to begin studying for the priesthood. Please keep Matt and Benson Lotiang’a, former Seton parishioner, and all seminarians in your prayers. Fr. Michael Cordier

Setonotes • September / October 2017

14 7

St. Andrew - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School Academically Excellent – Passionately Catholic

Seeking the Son - Welcome Back to School!

SASEAS School’s Stellar Teachers Shining brightly at both campuses!

Mark Your Calendar!

Upcoming events…

Chipotle PTO Fundraiser

PTO Family Movie Night

Run4Fun & All-School Mass

Hope to see you there!

www.saseasschool.org

Like and Follow Us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com StAndrewStElizabethAnnSetonSchool

Seton Campus Miss Alexis Antoskiewicz K Mrs. Traci Essen K Mrs. Linda Phillips GR1 Mrs. Alison Hantak GR2 Mrs. Krista Jones GR2 Mrs. Shelly Griner GR3 Miss Karen Poux GR3 Mrs. Susan Schweickart GR4 Mrs. Lynn Fields GR4 Mrs. Mandy Wood GR5 Miss Carol Ducheny GR5 Mrs. Linda Young K-5 Librarian

St. Andrew Campus Mrs. Mary Jo Voto GR6/8 Mrs. Ellen Beiersdorfer GR6/7/8 Mr. Andrew Arber GR7 Mrs. Chelsea Dzubak GR6/7 Mrs. Jennifer Stitt GR6/7/8 Mr. John Laudeman GR6/7/8 Mr. Nick Grieco GR8

Both Campuses Mr. Paul Clayton Technology Mr. Paul Estes Physical Education Mrs. Angela Mascolino Art Mr. Pat Powers Music Mrs. Hilary VanderMolen Spanish

Sept. 19 5-9pm

Sept. 29

Oct. 13

As the sky grew dark earlier that week, our students eagerly awaited the brightness of a new school year. The spectacular sight in the sky was only later eclipsed by SASEAS School principal, Mr. Mark

Additional Staff Mark Wilburn Sandy Reed Pat Clayton Ruth Brothers Michelle Claus Kathleen Clark Suzan Strayer Sandy Vollman Angela Foulks

Wilburn and his brilliant staff, greeting each

student as they arrived on Thursday,

August 24, with a cool pair of shades

that they could wear all day as they continued

seeking the Light of the World!

Principal Seton Admin

St. Andrew Admin Speech

Intervention Reading

Seton Nurse Extended Day

Marketing & Development


Contemplate how you are being asked to give your heart to God… So begins the quote of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton that appears on the front of a note card my sister sent me in July of 2005 when I began my tenure as the Coordinator of Religious Education here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. The note card has been framed in my office over the years and I have found the wisdom within a motivator in my service. It continues: …amidst your everyday activities. Be prepared to meet your grace in every circumstance of life.

Elizabeth Ann Seton It is with a tenderness of heart that I take leave of this very special place. Special because of the families and history that makes Seton a strong community of faith. It has been a quick twelve years and I have experienced, grown and learned so much along the way. I would like to express my gratitude to God for this opportunity and the many parishioners, dear Seton families, who helped me, partnered with me, affirmed me and supported my humble efforts. They along with Fr. Cordier, Fr. Chris, and the wonderful Seton staff have made my time as CRE a labor of love. I pray God will continue to bless you in the years ahead and offer this prayer of St. Paul to you as my farewell wish. “This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name: Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to him whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine…” Ephesians 3:14-21

Margaret Bergh National Pilgrim Virgin Statue Tour The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is blessed to host a tour of the statue from September 8 through September 28, 2017. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will host the statue on Tuesday, September 26th. There will be a talk at 8:30am, followed with the School Mass at 9:00am. The statue will then be on display until 8:00pm. The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue is a beautiful hand-carved image of Our Lady of Fatima given to the United States by the bishop of Fatima after being blessed by Pope Paul VI in 1967. The statue was crowned by Cardinal O’Boyle at the National Basilica in Washington, DC in 1971 and the statue has proven time and again to be the catalyst for renewed interest in the message of Fatima, and for exposing new generations of Catholics, who are unaware of the important message of conversion and peace brought by Our Lady to the three shepherd children in 1917 at Fatima, Portugal. Additional information about the details of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue's tour in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is available at the World Apostolate of Fatima USA website: https://wafusa.org/the-apostolate/pilgrim-virgin-statue-tours/. Fr. Chris Geiger


Scripture Study Heaven Starts Now: Becoming a Saint Day by Day Michigan pastor Fr. John Riccardo helps us dive into the Scriptures so that we can apply them to our daily lives in this book. In his inspiring and incisive way, Fr. Riccardo addresses the obstacles we all face in becoming mature disciples. How do we learn to forgive? How do we combat fear and understand suffering? How do we worship the Lord, love others as Christ loves us, and fully surrender our lives to God? You may have enjoyed Fr. Riccardo's gifts of teaching and preaching through his broadcasts and podcasts on Catholic Radio. The book can be purchased at the first class or you can buy it for your kindle. Cost: $15 for paperback. Marian Mom’s (specifically for parents with infants and preschoolers): Wednesdays from September 27 – November 15 at 10:00am in the Wenzel Room Adult Scripture Study: Thursdays from September 28 – November 16 in the Wenzel Room

Morning Sessions: 8:45 - 10:15am Evening Sessions: 7:00 - 9:00pm

Patty Norris

Christ Renews His Parish Second Tuesday Monthly Gathering ~ All CRHP for Women alums are invited to the second Tuesday of each month’s meeting in the Wenzel Room at 7:00pm. We pray with Scripture, share our faith and enjoy each other’s company. The current women’s CRHP Team will begin gathering weekly on Tuesday, October 3rd, to begin to prepare for the upcoming: Christ Renews His Parish Weekend for Women February 17-18, 2018. All women of St. Andrew and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton are welcome…mark your calendars and register now! Christ Renews His Parish for Men ~ Second Saturday Monthly Gathering ~ All CRHP alums are welcome! Join other men at the 8:00am Mass at Seton and then gather in the Wenzel Room for music, scripture, prayer and fellowship. For any questions, call or email Patty Norris, Director of Religious Education at the Parish Office 575-0119 or [email protected]. Patty Norris


How do I become Catholic? How does our parish attract inquirers each year who consider becoming Catholic? The short answer is you! When any parish has many inquirers year after year, it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit as parish members open their hearts to welcome others. Members of a welcoming and evangelizing community take seriously their call to share the Divine message of salvation. It happens in parish families, in the workplace, in gatherings with friends and neighbors, and in daily contacts. Give thanks to God as he continuously strengthens each of us who seek to do his will in offering a gentle, humble, and clear welcome to the Catholic faith. “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) What is RCIA? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process established for the universal Church for individuals to become Catholic and receive the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. This initiation process also involves a parish community experiencing a renewal in faith as it prepares and welcomes new members into the Church. The Rite speaks of conversion as a “spiritual journey.” Centered on fostering a deep relationship with Jesus and the Church he founded, this journey takes place through distinct stages over a period of time suitable to bring about a thorough catechesis, significant experience of the parish community and commitment to the liturgical and moral life of the Catholic faithful. Who is RCIA for? 1. Persons in need of Baptism.* 2. Persons baptized in another Christian tradition who desire to become Catholic. 3. Persons baptized Catholic in need of First Communion and/or Confirmation. RCIA Information Evening: Monday, September 11th, 7:00pm Wenzel Room (in school) Consider bringing your friends and family who have expressed an interest in learning more about the Catholic faith. RCIA begins Monday, September 17th, 7:00pm in the Wenzel Room. Contact Patty Norris, [email protected] or 513-575-0119 with any questions you may have. *If you have a child 7 years or older in need of baptism, please contact the Patty. Patty Norris


SMILE News I hope the beginning of the school year has started off on the right foot! The start of SMILE programming is right around the corner with our kickoff on September 17th at 7:00pm at St. Andrew in the Church Hall. Come join the fun! At this meeting release forms for the year will be distributed. There is no official way to “register” for the Youth Group, but it is necessary to collect a release form to be kept on file for our events. A new form must be filled out each school year. Please turn the release forms in as soon as possible so they can be recorded and filed. This will make for a much quicker registration and check-in at events/meetings. We look forward to meeting many new people! After the kickoff, the high school teens will continue to meet on the first and third Sunday of the month, while the junior high (7th and 8th) will meet on the first Friday of the month at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. This allows us to do different activities and to talk about issues in a more age specific way. Everything will be explained in more detail at the kickoff – hope you'll join us! We have several opportunities for teens to earn service hours and meet new friends through the group. See below for our calendar of events for September and October, and feel free to contact the Youth Office (831-8318) with any questions. September 17 SMILE Kickoff, St. Andrew Church Hall, 7:00-9:00 21 Game Night at SEM Villa, 6:30-8:00 October 1 High School Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall, 7:00-9:00 6 Jr. High Meeting, Seton Cafeteria, 7:00-9:00 7 Confirmation Rehearsal, 10:00-12:00 Seton (current 9th grade) 8 Confirmation, 2:00pm (current 9th grade) 14 Encounter (HS) at the Underground 15 High School Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall, 7:00-9:00 19 Game Night at SEM Villa, 6:30-8:00 22 St. Andrew Oktoberfest (volunteers needed for kids games) Our High School students had an extremely meaningful experience on their Mission Trip to Detroit and would like to thank all that have supported and continue to support them on their faith journey. Catherine Fasano


POISED AND READY FOR A GREAT YEAR! PRP 2017 – 2018 The Parish Religion Program (PRP) is ready to launch a new year of growing in faith for the young people of the parish who attend the area public schools (are home schooled or attend a private school with no religious affiliation). Along with the new year, we welcome a new Coordinator of Religious Education, Jason Hinson! The first class will be September 10, 2017. The program meets each Sunday from 9:00 – 10:00am for the Preschool Program; and 9:00 – 10:15am for the Elementary/Junior High Program. NEW STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! The program utilizes the Our Sunday Visitor curriculum ALIVE IN CHRIST (Grades 1-8) and ALLELU! (Preschool and Kindergarten). The texts provide our youth with complete and up-to-date resources to learn and grow in their knowledge and love of God. The school year will begin in the cafeteria for all elementary and junior high parents, teachers, and students on Sunday, September 10th, at 9:00am in the cafeteria. Preschool students will go directly to their classroom on the 10th and the parents are welcome to join for the parent meeting in the cafeteria after they drop their child off in the classroom. (See the map in the lobby for directions.) It is important that children attend the program each year. The PRP program offers a solid foundation in the Catholic faith and an experience of community among our parish youth. Each year they extend their understanding and deepen their relationships with Jesus and other members of our faith community. This helps form our children as future active members of the church. The program welcomes the help of all members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish! Volunteer catechists prepare and deliver weekly lessons. The parish is grateful to those who generously respond to God’s call to be a catechist. This year we have several NEW volunteers, but still could use a few more. There are several ways you can help. If you’re interested, please contact Jason Hinson at [email protected]. If you are new to the parish or a returning family and have not yet registered, please do so ASAP. Forms are available on the parish website, in the narthex or you can call the parish office or Jason Hinson for more information. Join Us! Margaret Bergh

RCIA with Children Formation in the Catholic Faith for children who are seven years old or older and have not attended religious education classes are being formed at this time. If you or someone you know has a child who is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, please contact Patty Norris or the parish office for more information.


Second Grade means “SPECIAL MOMENTS” With fall comes the start of a new school year and the beginning, for some, of a deeper life in Christ and the Church. For children of the parish in the second grade, much growth will take place and they will complete steps to encountering Christ in the Sacraments. Our second grade families will meet on Thursday, October 12th, to enroll their children in the Sacrament Preparation Program for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. This is an exciting time for these families. The First Reconciliation + First Communion Committee (FR+FCC) help with the preparations for these two sacraments. Any parent, grandparent or interested parishioner is invited to be a part of FR+FCC. Contact Jason Hinson or the parish office for more information, or to volunteer. Sacraments are very special moments in our life when we encounter Christ in a very intimate and special way. Through the sacraments we receive grace. The entire parish is asked to support these young people and their families with prayer, example, and encouragement. Thank you! Margaret Bergh

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY 2017 This year, the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 17th and will focus on the theme "Living as Missionary Disciples.” There will be a blessing this day of the people who serve our community as catechists at the 10:30 Mass. The theme this year invites all the baptized – especially catechists and Catholic school teachers – to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. We acknowledge and thank all the men and women of the parish involved in catechetical ministry through the RCIA, PRP, Sacramental Prep, Bible Study, and SEAS ministries! May God continue to bless the good work you do! Margaret Bergh


St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Preschoolers Off to a Great Start It is with great excitement that we open the doors of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Preschool at the start of our twenty-third year of operation. Our families may notice some new faces this year. In January we sadly said “goodbye” to Ana Savitz, our Three Year Old Class lead teacher. We are thrilled that Angela Foulks has taken over the lead teacher roll. She brings over twelve years of experience with the three year old children to the position. Anita Kern is our new Three Year Old Class teaching assistant, bringing much enthusiasm and joy to the classroom. Krystal VanCauwenbergh, our Four Year Old Class teacher has relocated to Tennessee, and our director, Terri Imming, who has run St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Preschool since its inception, is retiring this year. We wish them both much happiness in their new endeavors. We are pleased to welcome Liz Linz and Sheila Martin as the Four Year Old Class lead teachers, and Andrea Burkhardt as the Four Year Old Class teaching assistant. Kate Suddendorf is joining us as the Pre-K teaching assistant, and I am taking over for Terri Imming. We begin our 2017-2018 school year with over ninety children. As we get down to learning our letters and numbers, we are excited to add an expanded religious curriculum to our daily routine which focuses on our preschoolers’ faith formation. Along with classroom activities, there are several exciting things going on at our school this fall. Our children will be visited by the Miami Township Fire department for a presentation on fire safety and an up close view of a fire truck. We will have our Preschool Open House on Sunday, October 22. Our students can visit their classrooms with their families and show them their hard work. The preschool will also host a Dad’s/Special Friends night later in October. The children can bring their dad or special friend and a pumpkin to school and have some fun carving and lighting it while enjoying juice and donut holes. We will end the month of October with our Halloween parties. Children can wear their costumes to school and will play games and make crafts in their classrooms. Psalm 96: 11-12 says, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” When we look around at the majesty which surrounds us this fall, we are filled with awe at our Creator’s greatness. As you take time to soak in beauty around you, our preschool family wishes you all a safe and happy fall.

Aimee Limberg

Adoration for 40 Hours Devotion in the Chapel

Friday, September 29th ~ 9am-12midnight Saturday, September 30th ~ 12midnight-8am; 9am-3pm; 6pm-12midnight Sunday, October 1st ~ 12midnight-6:30am; 1pm-3pm Closing with Holy Hour begins at 3pm with Benediction in the church


Are you too busy to improve? As we make the transition from summer to fall, we can find our lives getting much busier. School starts back up, the fall sports season goes into full swing, there are extra-curricular activities, clubs, meetings, and the added stress of making sure that none of these undertakings are forgotten or overlooked; it can all be very overwhelming!

When our lives get busy, one of the temptations that we can easily fall into is to measure our worth based on the success that we do or do not achieve in all of these endeavors. We think that if we do well in school, or get the lead in the play, or manage to get our kids to every practice early, or get a raise at work, then we will be more valuable or more loveable. Likewise, when we fail, we can be tempted to think that we are useless, and maybe not worthy of the love of others or the love of God. None of this is true! The worth of many of the different things in our lives is determined by how useful they are and how well they work. So if your microwave can’t reheat your leftovers, it is worthless, and you should throw it away and get a new one. But you and I are not things, we are persons created by God and loved by Him as His sons and daughters. Our value is not based on our success. We are loved by Him when we succeed, and we are loved by Him when we fail. In fact, we may be loved especially in our weaknesses and failings. St. Paul says, “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) We all fail at one time or another. However, when we fail, it is not the end of the world, it can actually be an opportunity to remember that we are loved and cherished even when we don’t succeed. This can be a hard lesson to learn, but it is a lesson that leads to a deep sense of peace and joy when we realize that we are loved whether we are successful or not. The best way to keep the truth of this close to our hearts is to continue to encounter the love that the Father has for us in prayer. So, even amid the business of the fall season, I want to encourage everyone to spend at least 10-15 minutes of focused time in prayer each day. This may seem difficult, but we will never encounter the Father’s love if we don’t give Him the opportunity to show us this love. If you consistently give Him the time and open your heart to Him, then I can promise you that He will come and fill you with His love. Let’s pray that we all encounter the love that the Father has for each one of us, and let’s pray that we are able to see each other in the light of the Father’s love.

Fr. Chris Geiger

Setonotes • September / October 2017 7 77

Baptisms Bryce Anthony Mayhall, son of Edward and Michelle Charlie Giovanni Griffin-Placa, son of Joshua and Nicole Lucy Mae Wingereid, daughter of William and Sarah

New Parishioners

Megan Kilbane Joseph and Patricia Thumann Jeff and Christen Mulvhill Mary Carraher Corey and Amber Breitfelder David and Michelle Clark Ethan and Becky Himes Douglas and Sarah Day Jonathan and Megan Hassel Jonathan Riehle Bill and Sarah Wingereid Jeff and Marika Courtney Lori Lana Joe and Mandy Wood Janet Rosenhoffer

Deaths Diana Moore Pat Liming

Wedding

Kristin Pierce and Stefan Vind

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the

faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run In every age and for every time the Lord raises up saints from among the believers. On September 23rd in Oklahoma City, one of these will be beatified. Stanley Francis Rother was an American Roman Catholic priest from Oklahoma who served and was martyred in a church mission in Guatemala. Fr. Rother was murdered in 1981 in his Guatemalan mission rectory. His murder is widely believed to have been perpetrated by members of a right-wing extremist death squad attached to elements of the Guatemalan armed forces. And why should we care and how do we relate to a priest from Oklahoma? In many ways, he was like any farmer we could meet if we visited the churches around Maria Stein, Ohio. His family and neighbors were German immigrants, hard working and staunchly Catholic. He was the oldest of four children and attended a parish and school where many still spoke German. Daily Mass and the rosary were normal and religious vocations plentiful. His sister became a Sister of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, the order that staffed their Catholic school. He attended the seminary, but was more interested in fixing the machinery and growing things then he was in studying Latin. Finally he was asked to leave, but because his bishop truly believed in Stanley’s vocation, he found another seminary that was willing to take him. He was sent to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he was able to complete his formation. Emmitsburg is where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was sent to carry out her mission and vocation. Stanley and Elizabeth Ann walked the same hills and endured the same winters while struggling to find their way. There are no coincidences with God. In the early 1960s, Pope St. John XXIII called for the Church of North America to send missionaries to her southern neighbors in Central and South America. The then Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa responded with amazing generosity considering they were still a mission territory in many ways with only three to four percent Catholic presence. In 1968 – at his own request – he was assigned to the mission of the archdiocese to the Tz'utujil people located in Santiago Atitlán in the rural highlands of southwest Guatemala. The town had a large rundown church from the days of the Spanish settlements, but had not had a priest in 100 years. Although he had a hard time learning Latin, he took to the native language of the Tz’utujil people in a way that had escaped most foreigners. The native people called him Fr. Apla’s (native for Francis…because there was no easy way to say Stanley). He loved his native parishioners and they loved him. He towered over their diminutive heights as he worked with them in the fields. As the bloody Guatemalans civil war began to encroach on his remote area, he became suspect because he had begun a radio station to facilitate the catechesis of his vast parish bounds. The land with its volcanoes, lakes and mountains was a reflection of the conflict that was about to descend on Fr. Stanley and his parish. His catechists began to disappear and his routine began to include looking (continued pg 9)


The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run (continued) for the bodies of his parishioners and carrying them home for burial. He began to hear threats. He knew he was in danger. He had made some decisions. He knew that his people were not just being murdered, but tortured and mutilated. He was not going to let himself be kidnapped. He didn’t. The night the murderers came for him, he fought back. His knuckles were torn from the fight. The sisters who found him collected his blood which lay in pools around him into empty jars from the rectory kitchen. They placed the jars on the altar of the church. His people had to build a coffin for him because none in town were long enough for his tall and lanky frame. After his funeral, his heart was buried behind the altar, a concession by his family who wanted to bury his body in Okarche, Oklahoma. The room he died in is a holy pilgrimage site to this day. He is still their priest…the shepherd who did not run away. When Fr. Apla’s died, we lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma so we knew of him and mourned his loss. He was a son of our Oklahoma church, a martyr. I had recently given birth to our sixth child, a son. When he went to university, he went on missions in Thailand and Jamaica, and then entered the Marine Corp after 9/11. He had seen the evil exploitation of innocence and felt called to stand against those who wished to do harm to the defenseless. He once told me that “good people had to be willing to die for others, not just pray for them.” As I said, there are no coincidences with God. Blessed Stanley Francis Rother, pray for us. Patty Norris

We Welcome Jason Hinson Hello! My name is Jason Hinson, and I am thrilled and humbled to be the new Coordinator of Religious Education here at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton! I am a recent graduate from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in Spanish and Theology. I was born and raised right here in Cincinnati and I was blessed enough to attend Saint Bernadette in Amelia, and later Archbishop McNicholas High School. I am grateful that I am able to give back to the Archdiocese in this way, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me here! I am excited to be involved with helping students prepare for the Sacraments. In my spare time, I love to read the writings of JP II, Scott Hahn, and Bryant Pitre as I relax in my hammock. I also love to watch the Office and literally anything that has to do with Marvel. Jason Hinson

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