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 2008

Dear People of St. Christopher Church:

Easter this year comes very early, on March 23rd. In fact, it is just one day short of being the earliest Easter possible. The date of Easter is calculated according to an ancient method. Easter is the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring). As a result, Ash Wednesday will be upon us in early February, February 6th. We have some exciting new parish programs planned, of both a spiritual and a social nature. You will find these explained in this edition of the newsletter, along with the weekly bulletin.

2008 marks both the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky (later transferred to Louisville in 1841), and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of St. Christopher Church on August 25, 1958. The Archdiocese is planning a series of celebrations, culminating in the outdoor Mass at Slugger Field in Louisville on Sunday, June 29th, The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. As you may recall, the Diocese of Bardstown was one of the four dioceses (New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Bardstown) separated from the original Diocese of Baltimore in 1841. On occasion, it is good to remind people from a city such as Chicago, that they were once part of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky!

Please read the enclosed information carefully and save it for reference in the months ahead. May the approaching holy season of Lent be for all of us a time of spiritual renewal and purification.

Sincerely in Christ,


Rev. Dennis Cousens
Pastor

The Sacred Triduum of Holy Week
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion –
March 16th
Palm will be blessed and distributed at all weekend Masses:
Saturday, March 15th at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 16th
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses
5:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Thursday, March 20th
Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Adoration at the Altar of Repose all night until 9:00 a.m. on Good Friday morning
Good Friday, Friday

March 21st
Morning Prayer at the Altar of Repose
9:00 a.m.
Stations of the Cross
12:00 Noon
Solemn Commemoration of the Passion and Death of the Lord
7:00 p.m.
Reading of the Passion, Intercessions, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion
The Great Easter Vigil – Saturday, March 22nd at 8:00 p.m.
Lighting of the Easter Fire, Blessing and Lighting of the Paschal Candle
Singing of the Easter Proclamation,
The Exsultet, Scripture Readings
Baptisms, Receptions into the Church and Confirmations of the RCIA Class
Liturgy of the Eucharist - Easter Mass
First Holy Communions
Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
Masses at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt after the 11:00 a.m. Mass
5:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spiritual Bouquet for Archbishop Kurtz – During the days of Lent, a “Spiritual Bouquet” for Archbishop Kurtz will be compiled as a gift to him from the parish on the occasion of his first Holy Thursday as Archbishop of Louisville. Holy Thursday is very special to priests because it celebrates the institution of the Priesthood at the Last Supper.
- A flyer with all of the details will be inserted in the bulletin on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
- A parishioner is making a special card. This card will have the totals of all the offerings for the Archbishop.
- At the reception following the Chrism Mass on the Tuesday of Holy Week, this card will be given to the Archbishop.

The Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus is celebrated on “Shrove Tuesday”, February 5th, the day before the beginning of Lent.
- The regular 9:00 a.m. Mass that day 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 the church. The original of this image is in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
- Regular Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration will be held that day from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The relic will be in the church during this time for public veneration.
- Following the confessions, at 7:30 p.m. or later, there will be devotional prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Following the Benediction those who wish can be anointed with oil that burns before the Image of the Holy Face.
- This anointing will be for healing: spiritual, physical and emotional; healing of relationships; healing within families and between spouses; healing within the Church at large, and within this Archdiocese and parish in particular.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6th. There will be TWO Masses at St. Christopher Church: 12:00 Noon and 7:00 p.m. Please note that the Wednesday evening Mass is at 7:00 p.m. rather than at the usual 6:00 p.m. time. This change is made to allow people who work to more easily attend Mass for Ash Wednesday.

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.

The Knights of Columbus will have their Lenten Fish Fry on the Fridays of Lent from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Church Hall. Come and enjoy a Lenten fish-meal and then go upstairs for the Stations of the Cross. These two go together nicely and make for a uniquely Catholic way to observe the Fridays of Lent!

“Ora Et Ambulora (Pray and Walk)” – Join with fellow parishioners on the weekdays of Lent to increase in spiritual and physical strength while decreasing in girth. Walk laps around the gym while reciting the Rosary to the beautiful music of Dana and Fr. Scanlon. Look for more details in the bulletin.

A Silent Retreat Day on “The Meaning and Purpose of Lent” will be held at St. Christopher on Saturday, March 1st. Here are the details:
- The day will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Church Hall.
- A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
- There will be three talks by Father Stephen Dominic Hayes, O.P. (Father Hayes is a Dominican priest, pastor of St. Rose Church in Springfield, KY. He has been a featured speaker at the “Ignite Your Torch” youth conferences the past few years.)
- There will be time for quiet reflection, Eucharistic Adoration and confessions.
- For purposes of meal planning, call the parish office (351-3706) to register before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, February 27th.
- People from ALL parishes are invited!

Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration During Lent

Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
February 12th, 19th and 26th
March 4th and 11th

NO Confessions on Tuesday, March 18th

Confessions on WEDNESDAY, March 19th after the 6:00 p.m. Mass
Three priests will be hearing confessions.

January and February Birthday Celebration – Following the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, February 9th, all are invited to join in celebrating the birthdays of parishioners born in the months of January and February. The evening will include:
- A pot-luck supper with the parish providing the meat.
- A Birthday Cake, and gifts for those celebrating the oldest and the youngest birthdays.
- Following the dinner, for those who wish to stay, there will be a “Green Acres” Marathon, featuring four episodes from this classic TV series. There may even be a few “Trivia Questions” and prizes!
For purposes of planning, please fill out and return one of the forms you will find at the doors of the church. If this first birthday event is successful, we hope to have similar celebrations every other month on the second Saturday of the month.

World Marriage Day Celebrations – At the Masses on the weekend following Valentines Day, February 16th and 17th, the parish will observe World Marriage Day. Here are the plans so far:
- All couples who wish will be invited to renew their marriage vows at Mass.
- The parish will give a certificate to couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th or 60th and above wedding anniversary in 2008. Call the parish office by February 11th if you are observing such an anniversary. You will be recognized and receive a certificate at one of the weekend Masses of February 16th and 17th.
- Following the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, February 16th, there will be a “Banquet” for all married couples of the parish. Enjoy a night out together! Full details and a registration form can be found on the flyer in the church.
- Married couples are invited to bring in a wedding picture for display at the banquet.

Papal Pilgrimage - Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is coming to the United States in April and will celebrate a Mass in Yankee Stadium in New York on Sunday, April 20th. As one of the four dioceses celebrating our bicentennial, the Archdiocese of Louisville will receive special recognition. Each parish of the Archdiocese will receive four tickets to the Papal Mass. Fr. Cousens chose the following four parishioners to attend the Papal Mass and represent the parish: Cathy Lewis, Edwina Ogo, Bill Flatt, and Tony Reyna.

50th Anniversary – This year 2008, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of St. Christopher Church on August 25, 1958. Plans are being developed to observe this anniversary. Please make note of the following:
- The Golden Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Kurtz will be on Saturday, September 13th at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Golden

 

Anniversary Dinner. Mark your calendars now for this date.
- We will be producing a 50th Anniversary, hard-back edition, Church Directory this coming fall. It is our hope that we can include photos of all our parishioners in this new, special edition directory. We are very excited to be working with a new company that offers some very unique features to our parishioners. Please plan now to sign your family up to be photographed for the directory during the last two weekends of April (we will have specific sign-up dates and times at a later date). The delivery date of our new directory will be after the celebration of our 50th Anniversary Mass and Dinner so that photos from those events can be included.
- As part of the Golden Anniversary Parish Pictorial Directory that is being planned, the parish would like to acknowledge the living parishioners from the founding years of 1958-1963. If you are a parishioner from those founding years, please call the Parish Office with your name and the year you joined the parish.
- If you have pictures from the history of the parish, we would like to borrow them and make copies. The originals will be promptly returned. Also, if you have any historical artifacts (old programs, directories, mementoes, etc.) that you would like to donate to the Archives Room, please contact the parish office with this information.


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

Church Buildings & Grounds
Our new accessible parking lot is well underway, however there were delays in beginning the project. This has caused a work stoppage until later in the spring. It is our hope to see the lot paved and striped prior to Easter Sunday! As our parish continues to grow with new families, we look forward to moving on to the next piece of the Master Plan for buildings and grounds. We are beginning to look into the possibility of renovating our original church building into an all-purpose Parish Life Center/Parish Office complex. This facility would also house our growing Religious Education and Youth Ministries programs. It would need to be remodeled quite a bit, but this project would be much more economical for the parish than building a new structure. In order to afford this project we will need to add substantially to our Building Fund account and our Savings on loan to the Archdiocese.
Parish Picnic & Raffle

St. Christopher Church will have its spring picnic on Sunday, May 18, 2008. We will have our silent auction baskets again this year along with our potluck meal. New this year for our picnic, we are going to have a special raffle. We will be selling ONLY 300 tickets for this raffle at $50.00 each. There will be only one prize – for $5,000. With so few tickets being sold, your chances of winning the sole prize of $5,000 are much improved. Once we sell all of our tickets, we will realize a net gain of very nearly $10,000 for our parish! We will not be selling the tickets at the church doors, rather a form can be used to order tickets that will be mailed to you, or you can stop by the parish office and purchase one or two.

Stewardship
All of our parishioners should have received by now the Annual Stewardship Renewal information and documents. It is good to take the time each year to re-examine our use of Time, Talent & Treasure. Please be sure to fill out both the Time & Talent form as well as the Treasure form and return them to the parish office.


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

The Religious Education Center is still in need of donations for our Holy Family Statue. We are $750.00 short of our goal. We would like to be able to order the statue and have it in place by Spring. If you would like to donate put your donation in an envelope and write “Holy Family Statue” on the front of the envelope and give it to either Mrs. Barefoot, put it in the mail slot of the Religious Education Center or drop it off at the Parish Office.

In just a short time, it will be Ash Wednesday. The children will learn why we received the ashes, as well as preparing themselves for Lent and the Suffering and Death of Jesus. Every Friday during Lent, we will have the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 P.M. in the Church. Parents and students are encouraged to come and participate in the different activities during the Lenten season.

Sacramental Program
The second grade children are preparing for the First Holy Communion. First Communion will be on Sunday, May 4th at the 9:00 a.m. Mass with a reception following.

Adult Bible Study
We have begun studying the Israel’s Story (Part One) and will finish with Israel’s Story part two before the end of May.

RCIA
We now have five people who are attending RCIA classes. Any one interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith and possibly becoming Catholic, please contact Mrs. Barefoot at 351-8777. A course of instruction will then be arranged for you.

YOUTH NEWS
Mrs. Helen Ohmes Phone 270-351-3706

There have been a lot of good things happening in the Youth Ministry. Parents please encourage your teens to come and teens please feel free to join us on any of the scheduled dates to continue to grow in your faith.

Teen Rosary Makers meet on Wednesday nights from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the St. Christopher Youth Room. The youth are making mission rosaries to share around the world. Come learn how to make rosaries and join in the fun, friendship, and food! We're looking forward to seeing old and NEW faces!

Upcoming events
Both Youth Groups will volunteer to help Knights of Columbus with their Friday fish frys during Lent.

Sunday Evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room
7th and 8th Grade Youth: February 24, March 9, March 30, April 20, May 4, May 18.
High School Youth: February 10, March 2, March 16, April 13, April 27, May 11, May 18.

Annual March for Life - Seven high school youth and five adults from St. Christopher attended the Annual March for Life in Washington, DC this January.