MARCH 31, 2019 • FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

902 East 9th Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Saints

Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

AND SCHOOL

Established 1872

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos-tolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County.

Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor crmeredith@stsppchurch.org

Rev. Fr. Michael Charles Abiero, Parochial Vicar mcabiero@stsppchurch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz rcruz@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Schlueter tschlueter@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522 PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296 PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM-12 Noon • 1pm-5 PM Monday – Friday

SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172 SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org

Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)

Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027

Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-962-7008

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish

community are asked to let us know.

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening .................................... 5:00 PM Sunday ................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español ............... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday ................................ 8:00 AM Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM Thursday MISA EN ESPAÑOL ..................... 5:30 PM

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by anyone

acting in the name of the Catholic Church, (priests, deacon, employee or volunteer), please call the Diocesan Pastoral Assistance Coordina-tor, using the dedicated confidential phone-line (270-852-8380) as well as the Diocesan web site (www.owensborodiocese.org/safe).

† SACRAMENTS † † Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (English and Spanish), Wednesday at 4:30 PM. (ENGLISH and SPANISH) Confessions will be heard any time by appointment.

† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class is usually held the first Sun-day of each month. Our next class will be Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office to register.

† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.

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Parish Pastoral Council

Vicky Barnes, Education……..……...………....vicky@barnesws.com Jan Buckner, Family Life……………….janet.buckner59@gmail.com Dee Dailey, Worship …………..…....……....dalyfrau2@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ….……….ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Gary Harden, Chair, Administration…………garyharden@gmail.com Hilda Linares, Social Concerns…………… linareshilda@outlook.com Fran Marko, Secretary ……………………….....franmarko@gmail.com Morgan Murray, Vice-Chair, Spiritual Life…. morgan.c.murray.1@vumc.org Katie Wyatt, Principal …………………...kwyatt@stsppschool.org

PARISH OFFICE Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)….........................Director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org)....……..…. Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)............................Pastoral Associate

Leigh Ann Johnson ………………….………Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...……….Maintenance Foreman Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)…………….....Thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)…………Hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer(swassmer@stsppchurch.org)............................Parish Secretary Dan Wilkinson(dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)………...Parish Music Director

SCHOOL OFFICE

Jamie Embry (jembry@stsppschool.org)……………….. Reception/SCRIP

Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org)………….… School Secretary Katie Wyatt (kwyatt@stsppschool.org).................................School Principal

MINISTRY TO THE SICK

Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing by calling the Parish

Office, 270-885-8522.

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in tak-ing hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament dur-ing the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please con-tact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner Available hours: Sunday 12 am, Monday 2am & 8 pm, Wednesday 2pm, Thursday 4 am, Saturday 2 pm & 3 pm- Need prayer partners Saturday 8 pm & 9 pm. Please help!!

School News To the Saints Peter and Paul Parishioners: As the school year is entering its last nine weeks, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as principal. Over the last two years, I have appreciated the kindness of your Parish and the parishioners. Some of you may know that each day I am driving from Madisonville to come to work. With two small children and a husband who is a railroad engineer, there is no way that I can devote the time needed in order to be successful in the mission of the school. Thank you to everyone for the opportunity to serve this community and Parish. I have learned invaluable lessons that I will carry with me throughout my career. Sincerely, Katie Wyatt

Catholic School Principal Position Available Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School

Currently seeking applications for the School Principal begin-ning with the 2019-2020 school year Qualifications: · Practicing Catholic preferred · Four years teaching experience (K-8 preferred) · Master’s Degree · Kentucky administration certificate or working towards certification · Excellent administration/communication skills

Send letter of interest, resume, and transcript to the following address: Rev. Richard Meredith, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church 902 E. 9th Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 crmeredith@stsppchurch.org

Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School (SPPS) announces its search for an effective and enthusiastic principal. Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School (PreK-8) is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and is part of the Diocese of Owensboro. SPPS provides an education that is dedicated in ensuring that students learn in a prayerful, safe, and joyful environment that is strong in aca-demics and rich in tradition.

Christ is the foundation of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School and is open to all who seek and realize the significance of a Catholic education. Students are guided and empowered by teachers who exemplify Gospel values and are committed to Catholic education. All students are welcome regardless of race, sex, religion, or national origin.

Sts. Peter Paul Catholic School is accredited by the Kentucky Department of Education through the Kentucky Non-Public School Commission, Inc. and is in full compliance with all dioc-esan curriculum updates.

Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School is an equal opportunity em-ployer that provides a wide range of benefits.

MARCH 31, 2019 • FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 3

Laetare Sunday: Most Catholics today are used to the Mass being conducted in English, and they hardly ever think about

the fact that Latin remains the official language of the Catholic Church. Occasional-ly, Latin reasserts itself, as it does in the case of Laetare Sunday. Laetare Sunday is the popular name for the

Fourth Sunday in Lent. Laetare means "Rejoice" in Latin, and the entrance antiphon is Isaiah 66:10-11, which begins "Laetare, Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem"). Because the midpoint of Lent is the Thursday of the third week of Lent, Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened. The passage from Isaiah continues, "rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow," and on Laetare Sun-day, the purple vestments and altar cloths of Lent are set aside, and rose ones are used instead. Flowers, which are normally forbidden during Lent, may be placed on the altar. Traditionally, the organ was never played during Lent, ex-cept on Laetare Sunday. Laetare Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday or Re-freshment Sunday, and it has a counterpart in the Season of Advent – Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, when purple vestments are exchanged for rose ones. The point of both days is to provide us encouragement as we progress toward the end of each respective penitential sea-son.

Scrutinies: This weekend we celebrate the 2nd Scrutiny with those preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church. These Scrutinies are meant to uncover then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect. The scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. So continue to pray for the elect as they contin-ue their journey to the Easter waters and sacraments. So continue to pray for the elect as they continue their journey to the Easter waters and sacraments. These include our Ty-ler Martin, Bailey Rogers and Brandon Whitt; Brenda Jones, Nicole McDonald, Amber Mosch, Leslie Patla, Tam-my Turner, Sandi Velez.

Aspire not to have More, But to be More.- Oscar Romero.

This Week is Spring Break.

Our Parish Office will be closed Monday, April 1st through Friday, April 5th. We will re-open on Mon-day, April 8th at 8:00 a.m. If there is a pastoral emergency, please call (270) 885-8522 and follow the emergency prompts.

Sympathy: We pray for our parishioner Frances “Franki” Durbin who passed away at 12:22 p.m. Monday, March 25, 2019 at Gallatin Health Care Center in Gallatin, Ten-nessee at the age of 79. Franki was a native of Orping-ton, England where she was born October 28, 1939. She was the daughter of the late William Gerard Ryan and Majorie Horner Ryan. While in India in 1961, Franki met Gene Durbin who was serving in U.S. Navy. She often would say that she met this handsome man in uniform on July 4, 1961 and they married that December of 1961 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Delhi by an Archbishop. Franki lost the love of her life, Gene, on January 24, 2017 after 55 years of marriage. She retired as the Director of Religious Education for Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church and was a homemaker. She served Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Minister, she was a member of the Bereavement Committee, and volunteered at St. Vincent DePaul. She also volunteered for the Hopkinsville – Chris-tian County Public Library. She was preceded in death by her husband: Cecil Eugene “Gene” Durbin; and her brother: Desmond Ryan. Survivors include her seven children: Mat-thew Durbin of Bowling Green; Nicki (Chet) Durbin Marmoll of Marietta, GA; Liam (Susan) Durbin of Columbus, OH, Jennie (Chuck) Durbin Sweat of Hendersonville, TN; Ben (Ellen) Durbin of Cedar Park, TX; Tim (Dawn Broadley) Durbin of Stornoway, Scotland, and Pippa Durbin of Wal-tham, MA; her brother: Will (Janet) Ryan of England; her sisters: Kath (John) Manthorpe and Brenda (Geoff) Ford both of England; her sister-in-law: Lyn Ryan of England; and 19 grandchildren. Her Funeral Mass will be 12:00-Noon on Monday, April 1, 2019 at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home. As a parish we offer our prayers for the Durbin family as we pray “May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.”

Spiritual Adoption: Bishop Fulton Sheen promoted the de-votion of "spiritual adoption" many years ago. The idea is to commit to pray for a child in the womb (or a human em-bryo created outside the womb) whose existence is threat-

ened by abortion or destruction. The com-mitment lasts nine months. Although the child is known only to God, one names the child and prays for the child’s life and sal-vation each day of the nine month period. So the members of Saints Peter and Paul

parish family will have the opportunity this weekend to “spiritually” adopt a child who is newly conceived this month. Not all newly conceived babies are allowed to be born. In fact, more than 4,000 babies lose their lives to abortion each day. It is these babies you are being asked to “adopt”. You may “adopt” a child individually or as a

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 4 3

family by signing up this weekend. You will find in each pew “Pledge Cards”. When you sign the pledge card, you pledge to pay daily for the baby. The completed Pledge Cards can be placed in a basket at the Blessed Mother’s statue. You are encouraged to name the baby and give him or her an identity. Each month in the bulletin a report describing your baby’s development will be given. At the end of the nine-month period we will celebrate the “birth” of our spiritually adopted babies with a baby show-er. In this way we can also help, in a very tangible way, the mother as she brings to term a beautiful gift of life. All gifts collected at the shower will be given to the Alpha Al-ternative Pregnancy Care Center for mothers in need.

Chrism Mass: The Chrism Mass is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Sportscenter in Owensboro. We have reserved our 14 passenger parish bus. We will depart from Saints Peter and Paul parking lot at 4:00 p.m. We will arrive around 5:30 p.m. to the Sportscenter. This gives you ample time to visit and meet with other priests and friends. After the Mass, we will stop for dinner at Moonlite Bar-B-Q and then head home. We typically arrive back in Hopkinsville around 10:30 p.m. The cost to ride the bus is $8.00 per person and dinner will be at your own cost. To reserve your spot on the bus, you can see Libby in the sacristy after all weekend Masses or stop by the office and see her. Payment is due at the time of reservation. We hope that you can join us as we travel as a parish to attend this beau-tiful celebration.

Covering of Statues: The practice of veiling crosses and statues during the last two weeks of Lent was approved by the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) in November 2001, granted recognition by the Holy See, and has been in effect since April 2002. It reads: “In the dioceses of the United States, crosses in the church may be covered from the conclusion of the Mass for the Saturday

of the Fourth Week of Lent until the Cele-bration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Fri-day. Images in the church may also be covered from the conclusion of the Mass for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.” This practice is a way to extend the Lenten fast. Veiling statues and images is a “visual fast” which helps us to focus all our

attention on Christ as we approach the celebration of his Passion. We clear away any distractions so that we might focus on him who calls us through the cross to new life. So next weekend, April 6th and 7th when you come to Mass you will find our statues covered. Want to come assist the Wor-ship Committee as they cover the statues in the Church with purple cloth? We will begin after the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Saturday, April 6th. We are in need especially of our tall parishioners.

Baptismal Class: Our next Baptismal Preparation Class will be held Sunday, April 7th at 4:00 p.m. This class is for all first-time par-ents who wish to have their child bap-tized in the Catholic Church. Registration is required. Simply call the office to register for this class.

2019 Friday Lenten Preaching Mission at Grace Episcopal Church

located at 216 East 6th Street at 12:00 – Noon.

April 5: The Rt. Rev. Terry Allen White, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky

April 12: Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

All Services begin at noon and a luncheon follows in the parish hall. Luncheons are $8.00 and all proceeds benefit charitable organizations in our community. Please know that no lunch will be served on Good Friday. Family Rosary Opportunity: Our Knights of Columbus extends an invitation to the whole parish to join them THIS Sunday, March 31st from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. This is our

Parish Holy Hour in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance on our main altar. This Holy Hour begins with Evening Prayer (Vespers), the Sacrament of Reconciliation is then available, fol-lowed by some quiet, private time

with Jesus, then a Family Rosary will be offered and con-cluding the hour with Benediction. Beginning this Fifth Sun-day, our Knights of Columbus would like to incorporate a Family Rosary Program as part of our Holy Hour. This pro-gram promotes devotion to Mary, the patroness of the Knights of Columbus, and emphasizes the importance of prayer in our parish community and as a family. This is an opportunity for us to learn how our faith can be strength-ened through a devotion to Our Lady, while praying the rosary together in our parish as well as in our homes.

Family Prayer (Composed by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori)

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of our fami-ly. Enlighten our hearts and minds that we may live more

fully this vocation of love. In our daily life and work, may we reflect the self-giving love which you, O Father, eternally show with your Son and the Holy Spirit. Let your love be

evident in the peace that reigns in our home and in the faith we profess and live. May our family always be a place of

generosity, understanding, forgiveness, and joy. Kindly give us the wisdom and courage to be witness to your eternal de-sign for the family; and grant that the Holy Family of Naza-reth may always guide our path to holiness as a family. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God

forever and ever. Amen.

MARCH 31, 2019 • FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH • MARCH 31– APRIL 7

Readings for the week of March 31, 2019 Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [9a]/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Monday: Is 65:17-21/Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b [2a]/Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12/Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 [8]/Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday: Is 49:8-15/Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18 [8a]/Jn 5:17-30 Thursday: Ex 32:7-14/Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23 [4a]/Jn 5:31-47 Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 [19a]/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday: Jer 11:18-20/Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12 [2a]/Jn 7:40-53 Next Sunday: Is 43:16-21/Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 [3]/Phil 3:8 -14/Jn 8:1-11 © LPi

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Sun: No PSR Parish Holy Hour-4 pm with Family Rosary

Parish Offices Closed Monday—Friday for Spring Break Tues: Parish Lenten Group-11 am, HFR Zaxby’s Night for SPPS 5-7 pm Parish Lenten Group-6:30 pm, HFR Wed: NO MS/HS Youth Choirs - Spanish 5:30 p.m.; English 6:30 p.m. Thu: Women’s Group 6:30, Annex Fri: Stations of The Cross-6 pm; Soup Supper follows Sun: NO PSR; Parish Holy Hour-4 pm

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Today we hear one of the most beloved stories in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Reconciliation is a prominent theme. Seeing the younger son returning to him, the son who left the family and squandered his inheritance, the compassionate father runs to embrace him. Jesus offers us a vision of a loving God who is merciful and forgiving when we, through our own sinfulness, leave his presence, and then through repentance, return to him. The remainder of the Lenten season offers us an oppor-tunity to reflect on God’s compassion and our need for rec-onciliation. Consider celebrating the sacrament of reconcilia-tion and experience God’s loving embrace and forgiveness.

DIOCESE OF OWENSBORO PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2019

PARISH PASTOR: Ighacho, Rev. John: Pastor, St. Peter Parish in Stanley and St. Augustine Parish in Reed, effective June 11, 2019.

Puthenpurackal, Rev. Jegin: Pastor, St. Sebastian Parish in Calhoun and St. Charles Parish in Livermore, effective June 11, 2019.

PAROCHOCIAL VICAR (Associate Pastor) Az Cuc, Rev. Basilio: Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph Parish in Bowling Green, effective June 11, 2019.

Clark, Rev. Gary: Parochial Vicar, Holy Name of Jesus Par-ish in Henderson, effective June 11, 2019.

Dennis, Rev. Jamie: Parochial Vicar, Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro, effective June 11, 2019.

Thompson, Rev. Will: Parochial Vicar, Sts. Joseph & Paul Parish in Owensboro; and part-time Defender of the Bond in the Marriage Tribunal, effective June 11, 2019.

Monday, April 1

8:00 AM † JOSEPH KINNARD

Tuesday, April 2 St. Francis of Paola

8:00 AM † PAT ESPOSITO

Wednesday, April 3

8:00 AM ANGELA BELL

5:30 PM GINNY BARNES

Thursday, April 4 St. Isidore

8:00 AM † RYAN STINE

5:30 PM SPANISH PAT CHESTNUT

Friday, April 5 St. Vincent Ferrer

8:00 AM † JUDY POUND † PHIL CARSONE

Saturday, April 6

8:00 AM JOE & JENNIFER CHAUDOIN

5:00 PM † ANNE CUMMINGS

Sunday, April 7 Fifth Sunday of Lent

8:00 AM † DODIE HARDEN

10:30 AM † KAY STEVENS

2:00 PM Spanish GALVAN FAMILY

10:30 PM Spanish FOR ALL THE PEOPLE

† Indicates Requiem Mass

SANCTUARY LAMP IN HONOR OF JOE & JENNIFER CHAUDOIN

ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES

IN HONOR OF ALL FIRST RESPONDERS

Budget News March 24, 2019

Contributing Households

Envelopes 102 $6,779

Online Donations/EFT 3 $80

Loose collection Cash $965

Loose collection Checks 38 $2,535

Weekly Total 143 $10,359

Weekly Parish Budget Needs $20,500

Capital Campaign/Legacy Donations 33 $1,295

1st Sunday of Month 2nd collection Next Apr 6/7

Monthly Payment Due on 15th-$35,373 Balance $4,017

Past due Diocesan Assessment 17/18 $10,207

Past due Prop. Ins. & Priest Medical Ins. Payments to Diocese 17/18 $50,364

Past due Prop. Ins. & Priest Med. Ins. Monthly Pymts. to Dio. 18/19 $39,140

2018/19 Diocesan Assessment due 6/2018 $74,036

Trivia #10 Saturday, April 13th

Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m.; Trivia at 7:00 p.m.

Have you got your Trivia Team Together? Have you signed up?

Deadline to sign-up is Wednesday, April 10th Sign-up your table this weekend in the Narthex.

Proceeds benefit our SPPS 8th Grade Class Trip and our Middle and High School youth program.

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 6

Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families

Ryan Harrison, Trey Johnston, Jake Means, John O’Conner, and Dom Pifko

LAY MINISTERS APRIL 6 / 7— FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Saturday, 5:00 pm Altar Servers .............................. Rebecca Lee, Mia Litchfield Cross Bearer ....................................................... Gage Kessler Commentator .................................................. Imelda Gorman Lectors ........................................ Robin Bilan, Libby Downs Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ............... Dana Nethery ............................ Mary Ann Keel, Jane Irwin, JoAshley Hall Choir Loft ................................ Mary Moehlman, Julie Tiell Ushers ................................................ Todd Hall, Joe Mezzoni ................................................................. Pat Puckett, Ken Tiell Vocational Cross ............................................... Karen Shehan

Sunday, 8:00 am

Altar Servers .................... Lucy Wilkins, Eva Blankenberger Cross Bearer .............................................................. Faith Folz Commentator ................................ Stephanie Blankenberger Lectors ................................... Jim Creighton, Ann Williams Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ............... Libbie Rutland .......................... Lori Gardner, Dan Gardner, Colleen Allen Choir Loft ........................... Bob Stites, Debbie Harden Ushers .................................... Gary Harden, Charlie Rutland ............................................. Tony Folz, James Folz Vocational Cross .............................. Rich and Jan Hornbeak

Sunday, 10:30 am

Altar Servers .................................... Nic Luckey, Anna Allard Cross Bearer ................................................... Jonathan Allard Commentator .......................................................... Dee Dailey Lectors ........................................ Alex Allard, Vicki Luckey Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ......... Wendy Anderson ............. Martha Argotte, Rossella Cincotti, Nathan Tillman Choir Loft ............. Damian and Michelle Sandheinrich Ushers .................................. Franco Cincotti, Scribby Goode .................................... Jerry Adams, Lucus Adams Vocational Cross ...................... Franco and Rossella Cincotti

Domingo 2:00 pm Comentarista: ........................................................... Lupita Rosas 1-2 Lectura: ..................... Trinidad Soriano, Emmanuel Ixcol Ministro E: ................................. Day Mulero, Yolanda Perry Hospitalidad: ......................... Tomas Macario, Chano Vieyra Monaguillos: .............. Mariana Vieyra, Alondra Hernández

Easter Food Blessings: Did you know? The centuries old tradition of blessing Easter food began in the Catholic Eastern European cultures, most likely in Poland, and soon spread to the former Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, and Russia. This custom was brought to the United States by an-cestors of these Eastern Europeans. Baskets that contain Easter foods are brought to the church on Holy Satur-day to be blessed. The food items in the baskets are usually not consumed until Easter Sunday. Each type of Easter food has special significance and meaning. Traditionally, these Easter foods are:

Hard boiled eggs (dyed or not) – symbolic of Christ’s Resurrection

Bread – represents Jesus as the “Bread of Life”

Kielbasa and Ham – represents great joy and abun-dance (the fast is now over)

Sometimes Lamb – symbolic of Jesus as the “Lamb of God”

Butter – (sometimes formed in the shape of a lamb) – again, representing Jesus as the “Lamb of God”

Salt – symbolizes purification and prosperity and re-minds us, “we are the salt of the earth”

Horseradish and Pepper – symbolic of Christ’s bitter sacrifice for us.

How has the Easter food basket tradition changed in the

In Need of Prayers… Bradford Heights –Melnora Altshuler, Car-riage Way Assisted Living- Eleanor Rogers, Albert Weakly, Coving-ton Convalescent–Pat Chesnut, Friendship House- Christine Mills Western State Nursing Facility- Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Chris-tian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holu-becki, Others.. Betty Aberle, Jensen Christian Adamek, Clarence & Helen Allard, Wendy Anderson, Fred Anderson, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Matt Baker, Pat Bradley, Ruth Britt, Joan Brockman, Judy Brummett, Sam Chesnut, George Coleman, Lynda Combs, Hugh Davenport, Todd Dressel, Donna Dunham, Woodly ‘Damon’ Dunn, Glenn Finch, Connie Fowler, Martha Fowler, Ron & Janice Godot, Jim Gorman, Richard Graham, Teresa Hite, Beth Hancock, William Hancock, Heather Jeffries, Carol Johnson, Tony Jones, Doug Kahre, Charlie Keel, Bobby Keyes, Christopher Lytle, Larry & Kathy Lytle, Don McCowan, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Mike Moseley, Diane Mumme, Neil McGillivray, Pearl Nethery, Cecelia Omundson, Debbie Owens-Brown, Theresa Payne, Teresa Pazin, Al Perry, Emily Thomas Pyle, Zoe Raber, Martha Reed, Debbie Schock, Frank Selph, Kristian Shouse, Linda Stepanek, Marcy Stevens, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Ken & Mary Swicicki, Jer-ry & Bernie Thomas, ‘Pick’ Thompson, Carolyn Thorpe, Wilma Villinger, Linda West, Charles Whitmer, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack, Rose Yurkovic. Names will remain on the prayer list for 1 month. Please contact the parish office to add or remove a name.

United States? Some people only put Easter breakfast goods, while others also include Easter dinner foods in their baskets. Occasionally, dinner wine is even added. Children have been known to put Easter candy in the family basket to be blessed. Religious medals, necklaces with crosses, etc. are sometimes included in the basket. Will you bring your Easter food basket to Church on Holy Saturday, April 20th at 12:00 – Noon so it can be blessed? Easter Egg Hunt: Our Knights of Columbus are sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt on the grounds here at Saints Peter and Paul on Satur-day, April 20th (Holy Saturday) begin-ning at 9:00 a.m. Children up to 12 years of age are invited to come and hunt for eggs!

MARCH 31, 2019 • FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 7

Pastor’s Greeting: Luke chapter 15 has three parables of the lost and found: the lost and found sheep; the lost and found coin; and the lost and found son. All three are employed to teach why Jesus sought and welcomed his fellow Jews who had strayed from the faith of Israel and why those who re-

mained faithful to the covenant should welcome them home. The prophets, particularly Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were all strong on the call for sinners to return, but Jesus opened a mission to bring them home. None of his prede-cessors ever spoke of the joy of God which attends the re-turn of the lost. None of them, as far as I can tell, ever dealt with the reconciliation required for the returning strays to be received in peace by the home community. Jesus did, as does the Church after him. There are many titles offered for the third parable in the set, none of them were supplied by Jesus. The Prodigal Son– the oldest title is based on the extravagant waste of the younger son. The Lost Son– this title recognizes the com-mon theme among the three stories. The Prodigal Father– this title acknowledges the lavish and completely unde-served mercy with which the father welcomes the strayed son home. Personally, I like to call this parable by another title– My Three Sons (not to be confused with the old TV show). It is obvious to all that the father of the parable reveals how God is Father to us and how God’s love, completely undeserved, urges the return of the children who have strayed. At the same time, Divine Love urges those who keep to the straight and narrow to enter into the same lavish and undeserved love. If so, then they can revel in the joy of the homecoming of the lost. If not, then the story can take some unexpected turns. This parable, unlike the other two in chapter 15, is not finished. Jesus looks up from his tale to catch the eyes of his hearers, to see where each of them stand in the story. As then, so now, the hearer has some de-cisions to make regarding the Father and the two siblings of the parable. Do you see the third son? Parents, how often do you bail a child out of trouble? How far do you go welcoming the offender home? How much do you put up with? Do you make excuses? Do you just ignore the lies, the thefts, the injuries, the self-destruction, the draining of your resources, the life-styles you never taught or have ever approved of? How far do you go before you say, “Enough!” When do you kick them out? When do you begin to practice what many call “tough love”? Is there a point of no return? How just or healthy or realistic is this parable of Jesus? Is it something that can be admitted only of God’s love, but impossible in human terms? Siblings, what about you. How often would you bail a sister or brother out or welcome a repeat offender home? Would you take from your own and deprive others to redeem your sibling who has wasted the family’s resources on sin and crime? When is enough? Is it sufficient to forgive spiritually and to cut off further material loss? Is there a point where the door must remain closed, when welcome is exhausted?

Families and friendships face questions like these all the

time. If infidelities in marriage are brought to the table, or matters of abuse, the situations are not only viewed as criti-cal but as humanly impossible. But, as realistic as these questions are, do they make an absurdity of Jesus’ para-ble? Must we conclude that the elder son of the parable, is after all the voice of truth in the parable? Is the father’s perspective so much wistful moonshine? Or, perhaps, is it only as we appreciate the all too familiar human crisis that we can receive the revelation and grace of this parable? The parable does not tell us if the younger son was truly reformed, just that hunger drove him home. What did he do after the party? Nor do we learn whether the elder son relents and joins the celebration to embrace his way-ward brother and share the father’s point of view. Legally he could have ignored the father (the estate had been di-vided between the sons) and have expelled his brother. It remains for us to live out the parable from this point. Which brings me to the third son. He is, of course, the one standing between the Sinners and the Pharisees telling the story. Jesus is the brother who shares the perspective of the Father. He is the brother who picks up the tab for the younger son’s waste and destruc-tion. He is the brother whose love and devotion is offered to thaw the cold self-satisfaction of the elder brother igno-rant all the while of how the Father is a greater inheritance than all of the divided estate. “All that I have is yours.” For those who know the love of God in Jesus Christ, there is a prodigious supply of Christ to redeem the family. Matters here do not become humanly simple. We are offered a grace and a hope not measured by or limited to material things. It is possible in Jesus Christ both to curtail resources and contacts with corrupted brothers or sisters without denying them either the love of God or one’s own love (which comes from God). Christ went so far as to die to take away the sins of each and everyone of us. Not one of us deserved this love. The Scriptures say that though we may have to reprove a brother we shall not hate, but love instead (see Leviticus 19. 17-18). That is to say, we must not hate even if we must actively confront the evil of anoth-er human being. This is a divine attitude, but one offered freely to anyone who is in Jesus Christ. It is the very point of Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 2. Jesus offers us a wise love for each other based in God the Fa-ther, a love which cannot be held hostage by the calcula-tions and chicaneries of material things. Fr. Richard

Area Communal Lenten Penance Services

Sunday, March 31 – 5:00 p.m.—St. Michael, Oak Grove

Thursday, April 4 – 6:30 p.m.—St. Stephen, Cadiz

Sunday, April 7 – 1:00 p.m.—St. Henry, Aurora

Monday, April 8 – 6:00 p.m.—Resurrection, Dawson Springs

Tuesday, April 9 – 6:00 p.m.—Christ the King, Madisonville

Sunday, April 14 – 6:00 p.m.—Saints Peter and Paul, Hop-kinsville