St. Christopher Catholic Church
1225 S. Wilson Rd.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Phone: 270-351-3706
Fax: 270-351-2843
Email: church@stchristopherparish.org
Web site: www.stchristopherparish.org

February 2007

Dear People of Saint Christopher Church:

In this edition of last year’s newsletter I asked for your prayers for the Regional Planning Process that was then just getting underway. The process is now complete, and the plan has been approved by Archbishop Kelly. As you know, the plan calls for St. Christopher Church to eventually stand on its own with a full time pastor, without being clustered with another parish.
Because of location and the make-up of the parish, the Archdiocese believes that St. Christopher Church will be the parish that will grow the most in the north end of Hardin County as a result of the changes coming to Fort Knox. The Archdiocese wants to be ready for the influx of new people, and St. Christopher Church is key to this planning process.

This change presents the parish with a series of both opportunities and challenges:
- An additional Sunday Mass can be added, taking some of the crowding off the 11:00 a.m. Mass which is already full without the impact of BRAC. An additional Mass can automatically accommodate another 400 people.
- Additional services can be offered in all areas of parish life: spiritual, educational and social.
- The parish will have the new financial challenges of salary and benefits for a full time priest, including a place for him to live.

At the time this newsletter is being put together, it is not known when this change will take place or who the pastor will be.
As we prepare to enter the holy season of Lent, let us unite in prayer that St. Christopher Church will rise to the challenges of this golden opportunity for future growth and development.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Dennis Cousens
Pastor

Sacred Triduum of Holy Week and Easter
Palm Sunday, April 1st
Palms will be blessed and distributed at all four of the weekend Masses:
Saturday, March 31st
4:00 p.m. Mass at St. Christopher Church
6:00 p.m. Mass at St. Brigid Church
Sunday, April 1st
9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Brigid Church
11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Christopher Church

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper Thursday, April 5th
7:00 p.m. at St. Christopher Church
Adoration at the Altar of Repose all night until 9:00 a.m. on Good Friday morning

Good Friday, Friday, April 6th
Solemn Commemoration of the Passion and Death of the Lord
(Including the Passion, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion)
12:00 Noon at St. Christopher Church
Stations of the Cross
2:00 p.m. at St. Christopher Church
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
3:00 p.m. at St. Christopher Church
Solemn Commemoration of the Passion and Death of the Lord
(Including the Passion, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion)
7:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church
The Great Easter Vigil–Saturday, April 7th
8:30 p.m. at St. Brigid Church
Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Church
Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. Christopher Church – Fr. Al Wilson, celebrant
Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Christopher Church
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt following the 11:00 a.m. Mass.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at St. Christopher Church on Sunday, February 18th.
- The statue will be carried in the Entrance Procession of the 11:00 a.m. Mass and placed in the sanctuary.
- Following Mass there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Rosary.
- There will then be quiet meditation until 2:00 p.m.
- At 2:00 p.m. there will be a talk on Our Lady of Fatima and Marian devotions.
- At 3:00 p.m. there will be a “Divine Mercy Holy Hour” followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
- The statue will then be taken out of the church and on to its’ next destination in Louisville.

The Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus is on Tuesday, February 20th, the day before Ash Wednesday.
- The 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Brigid Church will be the Mass of the Holy Face of Jesus. A documented relic of the image of the Holy Face of Jesus will be in church for veneration. The original of this image is in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
- Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration that evening will be at St. Brigid Church from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The relic will be in the church during this time for veneration. Two priests will be hearing confessions.
- At 7:30 p.m. there will be devotional prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus. Following the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, those who wish can be anointed with the oil that burns before the image of the Holy Face.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, is February 21st. There will be THREE Masses between the clustered parishes. Ashes will be blessed and distributed following the homily at all three Masses.
- 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Brigid Church
- 12:00 Noon Mass at St. Christopher Church
- 7:00 p.m. Mass at St. Christopher Church
- Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence.

Regulations for Fast and Abstinence During Lent - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence from meat. There is a limit of one full meal on these days and no eating between meals. This is binding for those between the ages of 18 and 59. The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. All who have reached their 14th year are bound to abstain totally from meat. Voluntary acts of self-denial are encouraged for the other days of Lent.
The Stations of the Cross and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed on the Fridays of Lent at 7:00 p.m. at St. Christopher Church.

The Knights of Columbus will have their Fish Fry on the Fridays of Lent from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the hall underneath the church. Come and enjoy a lenten fish meal, support the Knights and then go upstairs for the Stations of the Cross. Fish Fry and Stations of the Cross: How much more Catholic can one get for the Fridays of Lent? The Knights also have their pancake breakfasts on the second and fourth Sundays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration During Lent – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 27th – St. Christopher Church
Tuesday, March 6th – St. Brigid Church
Tuesday, March 13th – St. Christopher Church
Tuesday, March 20th – St. Brigid Church
Tuesday, March 27th – St. Christopher Church
Tuesday, April 3rd – St. Brigid Church
(There will be four priests hearing confessions on April 3rd.)
“The two sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance are very closely connected. Because the Eucharist makes present the redeeming sacrifice of the cross, perpetuating it sacramentally, it naturally gives rise to a continuous need for conversion, for a personal response to the appeal made by St. Paul to the Christians of Corinth: “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20) - Pope John Paul II

St. Patrick’s “Game Fest Nite”, Friday, March 16th – Again this year St. Christopher Church will have this night of fun following the 7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Here’s how it works:
- Bring your favorite card games, board games, etc., and snacks to share.
- Wear something green and you will be eligible to win one of several door prizes.
- Entertainment is being planned. Watch the bulletin for developing details.
- Pick up one of the green flyers at the church for the registration form and all the details.

Parish Mission – This year St. Brigid Church will host the Parish Mission, March 11th, 12th and 13th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Mission will be conducted by Fr. Jeff Nicolas, pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in Louisville.

The Sale of Religious Articles continues on the second Sunday of the month following the 11:00 a.m. Mass. For the March 11th sale there will be things for Lent, Holy Week, Easter, First Holy Communion, Graduation, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. This sale of religious articles is a service to the parish offered through Our Lady’s Center for Peace, a non-profit organization in Louisville. Fr. Cousens is the spiritual advisor for Our Lady’s Center and helped to establish it nearly 20 years ago.

Afternoon of Eucharistic Adoration – St. Christopher Church now has Eucharistic Adoration on the third Sunday of the month, following the 11:00 a.m. Mass to 4:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m. there is a “Divine Mercy Holy Hour” followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
“Christ will renew His parishes through Eucharistic Adoration!”

PARISH NEWS
Mr. Dean Sears – Parish Administrator email: dsears@stchristopherparish.org

Census/Registration Update
For the past year we have been tracking our parish census and registration information. This data lets us know “who we are as a parish family”. If you have not completed a parish registration or census update in the past year, please do so as soon as possible. As of January 2007, the demographic information for St. Christopher Catholic Church is:
Total Households: 319 Percentage
Total Parishioners: 731 African-American: 5.6%
New Households: 57 Asian: 11.2%
Caucasian: 66.7%
Hispanic/Latino: 10.9%
Other: 5.6%

Church Buildings & Grounds
Our church buildings and grounds represent our most substantial investment of parish resources. As a parish, we feel that making much needed physical improvements to these resources makes us good stewards. Some of the most recent improvements include:
- Improved lighting in the parking lots and driveway areas. This adds to the security for our parishioners and visitors.
- Completed improvements to the new Religious Education Center via waterproofing the basement, aluminum covering of fascia boards, vinyl covering of soffits, gutter repairs, and new basement doors that are much more energy efficient.
- Completed improvements to the Church building via new aluminum covering of the fascia boards, and vinyl covering of the soffits.
Upcoming Improvements include:
- Replacement of the Church exterior doors.
- Completion of repairs to the aluminum, and lighting the bell tower.
- New lighting on the front and west side (Church Hall entrance) of the church building.
- Repairs to the Church Hall entrance landscaping walls.

Former School Building
As we draw nearer to the spring of the year we will be re-negotiating our agreement with Hardin County Schools for an option to lease the building. Though they did not need the building this year, we feel confident that they may need the building next school year. We will keep you posted on this situation.

Finances
We continue to make improvements in our financial condition at St. Christopher Church. You may have recently received your annual Stewardship letter, if so please take the time to complete these forms and return them to the parish office. If you did not receive this mailing please contact the office and we will be more than happy to send you a copy. Now is the time to re-evaluate our level of giving back to God. As we give back to God our tithe (10%) of the blessings He has bestowed upon us, we will reap multiple benefits! Additionally, during Lent / Easter, many parishioners like to remember their parish through specific giving. Remember, all gifts to your church are tax deductible! As we have done in the past, we will add to this mailing an update of our fiscal year financial status. The data on the next page reflects our first six months of this current fiscal year 2006-2007.

Saint Christopher Parish
2006/2007 Financial Results

July 2006 - December 2006 Actual July 2006 - December 2006 Budget
Parish Income
Collections & Unrestricted Gifts $158,140 78.04% $154,000 81.74%
Archdiocesan Collections $0 0.00% $7,500 3.98%
Restricted Gifts & Income $37,888 18.70% $1,500 .80%
Fundraising $0 0.00% $5,000 2.65%
Grants $0 0.00% $0 0.00%
Formation $1,212 0.60% $700 0.37%
Misc. Revenues $5,387 2.66% $19,700 10.46%
Total Income $202,627 100.00% $188,400 100.00%

Parish Expenses
Archdiocesan Collections $0 0.00% $7,500 4.17%
Restricted Fund Expense $11,789 6.75% $0 0.00%
Salaries & Benefits $79,696 45.65% $86.154 47.87%
Operational Expenses $14,006 8.02% $14,175 7.88%
Facility Expenses $42,553 24.37% $44,025 24.46%
Assessments & Grants Paid $25,560 14.64% $26,060 14.48%
Formation $983 .56% $2,000 1.11%
Miscellaneous Expenses $0 0.00% $50 0.03%
Total Expenses $174,587 100.00% $179,964 100.00%

Net Income (Loss) $28,039 $8,436



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Mrs. Susan Barefoot, OPA, DRE Phone 270-351-8777
St. Christopher Religious Education Center

The Religious Education program is currently collecting donations to purchase a Holy Family Statue for the front yard of our Religious Education Center. The students are donating their quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies every week; parents and parishioners may donate funds for the statue as well. The cost of the statue is $3,700 and we have already collected $1,725. A restricted fund account has been created for all donations so that we can build up funds over more than one year if need be. Donations can be turned in to Mrs. Barefoot or the parish office. Please remember to place your donations in an envelope marked Holy Family Statue. Very special thanks go to those who have already donated funds for this statue.

Religious Education Program
Christmas is past and the Lenten season is upon us! The children in the second grade class are preparing for their First Eucharist, while the confirmation students are getting ready to receive the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation, in May. See the

“Dates for Parents to Remember Chart” below for other special events concerning First Eucharist and Confirmation.

During Lent, the children will be using their Lenten Rice bowl to collect their loose change. The students are asked to bring the full Lenten Rice bowl to Mass on Holy Thursday. The money collected via the Rice Bowls will go to help the poor overseas. What a wonderful way for our children to experience the joy of stewardship, while giving to the poor!
May is the month of our mother Mary, and we will have our May Crowning of the Blessed Mother after the 11:00 a.m. Mass on

 

Sunday, May 13th. Instead of Religious Education class that day, the children are expected to attend the 11:00 a.m. Mass and participate in the May Crowning.

Parent/Student Night With Father Cousens:
On January 24th the Preschool, Kindergarten and First grade students and parents met with Father Cousens in the Church Hall. After Father talked to the parents and children he took the children on a tour of the church to explain the Holy water fonts, how to make the sign of the cross when entering and exiting the church, the statues, Stations of the Cross, the ambo, the altar, the baptismal font, the Paschal Candle, and the Tabernacle. The children enjoyed their time with Father and he got to know the children and their parents much more.
The 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade Student/Parent meeting with Fr. Cousens will be on February 28th, at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall. The 6th, 7th, & 8th grade Student/Parent meeting will be on March 28th, at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall.

Lenten Retreat Day:
A Lenten Retreat day will be held here at St. Christopher on March 24th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sr. Genevieve Duncan will be the facilitator for the retreat. This retreat is for all Religious Education teachers, and any parishioner who would like to attend and lunch will be provided. Our Religious Education teachers are reminded that this will count toward their certification through the Archdiocese. Registration forms will be at the back of the church, just place the completed forms in the Religious Education basket. The deadline for registration is March 11th.

Dates for Parents to Remember:
Date Event Place Time
Feb. 28 3rd, 4th,5th grade parent/student night with Fr. Cousens. St. ChristopherChurch Hall 7:00 p.m.
Mar.10 Confirmation Retreat Day St. ChristopherChurch Hall 10:00 a.m.- after 4:00 p.m. Mass
Mar.11-12-13 Parish Mission St. BrigidVine Grove 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 24 Lenten Retreat Day St. ChristopherChurch Hall 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 28 6th, 7th, 8th grade parent/student night withFr. Cousens St. ChristopherChurch Hall 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 18 First Communion practice. Children meet in the cry room at 6:45 p.m. St. Christopher Church 6:45 p.m.
Apr. 21 First Communion picturesGroup picture 3:30 p.m. St. ChristopherChurch Hall 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Apr. 21 First Communion St. Christopher Church 4:00 p.m.
Apr. 29 Confirmation Practice St. Martin of Tours, Flaherty 2:00 p.m.
May 8 Confirmation Confessions St. Christopher Church 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May 13 Religious Education Mass and MayCrowning St. Christopher Church 11:00 a.m.
May 14 Confirmation St. Martin of Tours, Flaherty 7:00 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Poster Contest
The Knights of Columbus “Say No to Drugs and Alcohol” Contest winners were: 1st place, $100.00 Savings Bond, went to Brian Sears; 2nd place, $50.00 Savings Bond went to Kyle Franz. Our runners-up were Ailey Layson and Ashley Crotzer; each of them received a participation certificate and a rosary. Congratulations to the winners and those who participated in this contest. We are very proud of these young students.

Adult Bible Study:
Our adult bible study group meets on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in the Religious Education Center. We are currently studying the “Psalms for all Seasons I”, and will follow up with “Psalms for all Seasons II”.
The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 religious songs. The form and subject matter varies from psalm to psalm, with some being composed for liturgical use in the temple while others were intended for recitation elsewhere; some of the psalms were sung by an individual, and some by the entire community; others ask for God’s help in spiritual and temporal needs; still more psalms are hymns of thanksgiving and praise; while others are primarily to discuss problems or to teach some lesson.
We have found the Psalms are very prayerful. As you study your Bible, in the book of Psalms, you will find similarity between the needs of Israel’s people of old, and all modern day people.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - St. Christopher and St. Brigid in collaboration.
We are blessed to have seven people from our parish coming into the church at this year’s Great Easter Vigil! Along with their addition to our parish family, five children will also be receiving First Eucharist with their mother, and two children receiving First Eucharist with their father.

Those who have joined our classes this year have been eager to learn, study, and ask many questions about our faith. They have become faith-filled people who want to know, love, and serve God; and to become part of our local Catholic Parish community. What a blessing it is that God has sent these seven people to us.
Our last RCIA class will be on April 26th at St. Brigid in the Church Meeting Room and all are welcome to attend.

Contact Mrs. Barefoot for further information in any of these areas.



YOUTH NEWS
Mrs. Helen Ohmes Phone 270-877-0240

St. Brigid and St. Christopher Youths active in the Youth Ministry Program have grown together in their faith and friendship through the regular youth group meetings, rosary making, prayers, special events and services these past six months.

The Middle School Youth and the High School Youth meet bi-weekly from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday evenings. The location of the youth group meetings alternate between St. Brigid and St. Christopher parishes.
On a weekly basis, rosary making for the teens continue to meet Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in the St. Brigid Youth Activity Room. Youth Rosary makers started in May 2006, since we’ve started until the present time – we’ve made 930 rosaries. 590 rosaries have been mailed to missions for Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Africa, & India; and 340 rosaries for the trainee soldiers in 1ATB and CAV on Fort Knox. Thanks to Linda Stogner, we recently started to learn how to make the chain link rosaries. Rosary making has attracted youths from surrounding parishes through this program. The teenagers have many opportunities to participate in spiritual, service, and social activities.

Youth Ministry Schedule for 2007
Events for both Middle and High School Youth
Rosary Making – Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Brigid Youth Activity Room
February – 1, 8, & 22
March – 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29
April – 19 & 26
May – 3 & 10
Ice Skating in Louisville
February 25 (Sunday) TBD

Parish Mission
March 11 (Sunday) from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church
Vocations Pilgrimage
April 13 (Friday) leaving after 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Christopher
Holy Hour
April 29 (Sunday) from Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Laser Tag in Elizabethtown after the Holy Hour
End of Year Party
May 20 (Sunday) Time and Place will be announced in April
High School Youth (Grades 9 – 12) Sunday Evenings 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
March 4 - St. Brigid YAR
March 18 – St. Christopher Church Hall
April 15 – St. Brigid YAR
May 6 – St. Christopher Church Hall
Middle School (Grades 7 – 8) Sunday Evenings 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
January 28 – St. Christopher Church Hall
February 11 – St. Brigid YAR
March 25 – St. Christopher Church Hall
April 22 – St. Brigid YAR

ST. BENEDICT HOMESCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF ST. CHRISTOPHER
The St. Benedict Homeschool Association has now officially affiliated with St. Christopher Church. They will be known as the St. Benedict Homeschool Association of St. Christopher Church. A warm welcome to these families. We look forward to working together in the years ahead.
The Mission of the St. Benedict Homeschool Association is to build up and encourage homeschooling families in the Lincoln Trail area. We declare our loyalty and obedience to Pope Benedict the XVI and the Magisterium.
Homeschool Association Seeks Readers, Tutors, Babysitters
Members of the St. Benedict Homeschool Association of St. Christopher are seeking conscientious teens and adults who would like to read to or tutor homeschooled children. Babysitters are also needed occasionally, both by individual members and by the group as a whole. The tutoring and reading would be on a volunteer basis. Babysitting would be paid. For an application, send a SASE to L. Cook, PO Box 86, Cecilia, KY 42724.
Crosses Needed for Pro-Life Project
The St. Benedict Homeschool Association has plans to assemble a pro-life memorial that accounts for mothers who have died as a direct result of their legal abortions. Over 300 mothers' crosses and 300 infants' crosses are needed for this memorial, which is to be assembled in September 2007. If you or your organization would like to help make crosses for the project, call Linda at 270-862-9799.