The LeDGeR Issue 6 May 2017

St. Matthew the Apostle Church

❖ One ❖ Parish ❖ One ❖ Family ❖ One ❖ Journey ❖

Pastoral Reflection: An Invitation to Receive the Love of Our MotherI had a really great Mom. I remember how tender she was when we were hurting, how interested she was in what we were doing, how joyful she was at my ordination, and how my heart suffered from the bittersweet experience of watching her slip away with dementia.I was blessed with the gift of being raised by an attentive and loving mother, and in this month of May I will think of her often. She was a great reflection of the Mother we all have in common, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. My own relationship with Mary began years ago, and over the years I have realized the great impact she can have on the life of a Catholic. St. Alphonsus Liguori once said, “No true child of Mary is ever lost.” We know that the person who was chosen to bear the Christ to the World, the person who loved fiercely even through suffering and the woman who was the most beautiful of all God’s creation, was the one who Christ gave to us as our own Mother.“Being the Mother of Jesus, Mary is also our Mother. Good mothers always stand up for their children. Certainly this Mother does. While still on Earth, she interceded with Jesus for others…Because her love for us never ceases, we can be sure that she will plead for us in the two most important moments of our life: ‘now and at the hour of our death.’” Youcat 148.God created mothers to show us specific parts of His own heart. Mothers tend to be nurturing, merciful, just and gentle. It is this parenting that opens our hearts to know the love of God Himself in our own lives. I encourage you to take this month of May, and even the summer months, to receive the love of Our Mother, Mary, so that you can, through her love, obtain a deepening relationship with God. Here are a few suggestions: Pray a daily Rosary or part of the daily Rosary; since the First Saturday of every month is devoted to Mary, go to Mass that day and celebrate at home; pray the 33 Day Consecration to Jesus through Mary or renew your Consecration if you’ve already made it; or read a book on Mary or learn a new prayer to her. May we all, with Mary’s help, become the holy people, the sons and daughters, that God has called us to be.

Father Ted

Will you make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life?• Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both

living and dead.• Keep your parish priests in your prayers throughout the year.• Encourage your children, grandchildren, or other young people to consider a

vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister.• Pray a Rosary for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to

God’s Call.“There can be no promotion of vocations or Christian mission apart from contemplative prayer...above all, by the cultivation of personal relationships with the Lord in Eucharistic adoration, the priveleged ‘place’ for our encounter with God.”

(Pope Francis’ Letter for 2017 World Day of Prayer for Vocations) Msgr. Meagher, Fr. Sill, Fr. O and Fr. Daniel

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In February, our Beta Club members collected over 3,000 food items

in the Souper Bowl of Caring for our Charitable Works Ministry.

ABOVE: In late March, members of the St. Matthew Beta Club competed in 28 individual and/or group events during the Ohio Junior Beta Club State Convention recently held at the Hyatt Regency.

St. Matthew students took home nine 1st Place Awards, eleven 2nd Place Awards, and eight 3rd Place Awards. A special congratulations to 7th Grader, Lukas Graham, who was elected as Beta’s Ohio State Vice President.

Kindness GrantsThis year, the St. Matthew Beta Club founded the Mrs. Kammer Kindness Grants in memory of a beloved former First Grade teacher. Mrs. Ann Kammer taught over 30 years at St. Matthew, and she was known for the kindness and generosity she shared with others daily. Students submitted their ideas about how they would use $100.00 to spread kindness to others. The following students were chosen as our 2017 recipients:

Abby Dean, Grade 1: To spread kindness, in memory of Mrs. Kammer, I decided to buy 21 blankets and books to give to kids at Children’s Hospital. I hope that my gifts will make them feel like they’re in their own bed at home enjoying a good book with their favorite blanket.

Jordan Lofton, Grade 4: My kindness grant is to help dogs in need by giving supplies to pet rescues in Central Ohio. This is very important to me because our own dog Shelby is a rescue dog too. I got to meet lots of nice, kind, cute dogs that really needed help. I visited Fuzzy Paws at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and the New Albany Pet Rescue and

donated treats, beds, leashes, collars, toys and other things. I learned that being nice goes a long way. And, it felt so good to help these dogs. You can do so many things with just a little money.

Nina Motter, Grade 6: Nina purchased flowers and delivered them to residents at the Villas. She also entertained the residents by singing and playing the ukulele.

Although the Fifth Graders were participating in Colonial Day, it didn’t prevent them from

enjoying some technology time.

Mr. Frazier and the 5th and 6th Graders entertained us with American pop songs

across the decades.

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Education Corner By: Sherry Schoenstein, PSR Coordinator

On Sunday, April 2nd, our Second Graders from St. Matthew School and the Parish School of Religion had their First Communion Retreat. Parents and students enjoyed a wonderful day of learning, reflection and fun. Students and parents learned about the liturgical items used at Mass. Parents learned about the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel, while their children were working on a picture of a Monstrance that turned into a picture of Jesus. In another session, parents and students did a guided reflection on the Eucharist. Students even heard a story about a caterpillar that came to church complete with visuals and flashcards. And, of course, we couldn’t have a retreat without BINGO! Fr. Sill joined in the Bingo fun by holding up pictures and asking the students to name the objects used at Mass. The children then had to find the correct item on their Bingo cards. Many volunteers made the retreat very special for our students and parents. Our volunteers put into action what our Lord has asked all of us to do, to serve others with our God-given talents. Thank you for being a wonderful example for our youth.

Sunday School and the Sacred Heart By: Julie Ratliff

At Saint Matthew, we have been encouraged to learn about and consider practice of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart. Our Sunday School classes for Pre-K/Kindergarten-aged children have been studying a number of the aspects of Jesus’ Sacred Heart; including the tremendous love He has for each one of us, the ways we can come to know of Jesus’ love and how we can love Jesus more and more.

During Advent, we spent time learning about Our Lady, the Annunciation and how Jesus’ Sacred Heart was formed in her. Next, we focused on prayer and how prayer is one of the ways we can hear from Jesus that He loves us. February’s spotlight was set on how the very essence of God is Love. And in March, our focus turned to Consoling the Heart of Jesus.

On a chilly Sunday morning in March, knowing that one of the best places here at St. Matthew to console the heart of Jesus is in our Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel, our classes took a field trip across the parking lot for a visit with Jesus in the Eucharist. Inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux’s assertion, “Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude,” the children consoled Jesus with their thankfulness. To help the children recall some of the things they can be grateful for they read the Thankful book by Todd Parr. The second activity of the day was to play a game in which they picked flowers from a bouquet as they named a gift from God. Then we took our flowers to the Adoration Chapel and as we placed our flowers before Jesus in the Eucharist, we told Him things that we were thankful for: family, moms and dads, good food, and water. Finally, we spent a very short time in silence and sang a song to Jesus by Christopher Walker, Jesus, I Will Stay with You.

If you are interested in learning more about the Devotion to the Sacred Heart, I highly recommend Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A Heart on Fire by Fr. James Kubicki, S.J., and Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC.

My Date with the Lord By: Emilyn A. HallFr. Sill invited me to sign up for an hour of Vigil Adoration here at St. Matthew Church. Who can say NO to Fr. Sill, huh? Not me! So, I chose to do my Vigil Adoration every Wednesday at 2 AM.I was not working at the time, and I have not been sleeping during normal hours thus my choice of time. I was depressed then. First, I lost my husband and soulmate to cancer, and then I lost my job after 26 years of working for the same firm due to a business closing. I have been to Vigil Adorations before at other Churches. This weekly commitment that started in July 2016 however, has changed my life tremendously. I call it “My date with the Lord.” It started out as an hour with my Creator, my Lord and Savior! One hour a week where the Lord is my focus! I learned to pray as Jesus has taught us during my Adoration. I opened up my heart and told Him all my trials and tribulations. I asked for guidance, but mostly I asked for forgiveness. I even learned to pray for people I don’t particularly like! In the quiet of early morning, I learned to listen to God’s message. It has been six months since Fr. Sill encouraged me to join the Vigil Adoration. With God’s grace and mercy, I got over my depression and I found another job that I like! My prayer life has deepened. I now pray the Rosary daily in honor of Mary the Mother of God. I do not feel alone anymore. Indeed, Jesus is a wonderful companion. In each dilemma I face, I ask... “What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)?” It truly helps to put things in perspective! My life is simpler because I trust in Jesus, my God and Redeemer. Now my main FOCUS is Jesus...Not just one hour a week but every day of my life! Thank you, Fr. Sill! Thank you, Bryan, for all that you did and all that you still do! God bless us all!

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Power of Prayer By: Ted Deibel

We all know and say prayers. I have since childhood, but it wasn’t until April 26, 2016 that I understood how powerful and wonderful prayers would be for me. On that day last year, I was rushed from an exam room in the ER to the Cath Lab. I had a heart attack which I didn’t know had happened. I had felt sick, but didn’t have any of the normal symptoms or signs of a heart attack.

The Cardiologist tried to open the LAD artery which was 100% blocked with a stent but could not. I had a second artery that was only 85% blocked but with the stress on my heart the doctor did not attempt to stent that one. Instead, a balloon was inserted to slow down the heart rate.

Prayers started with family and spread quickly to our friends and faith community. Fr. Ted came up and anointed me and Fr. Mike Hartge said a Mass for me. What a blessing we have. The next day the doctor was hoping to do bypass surgery, but the results of the Echocardiogram were not good. There was too much damage to the wall of my heart and bypass surgery was no longer an option. I lay in my hospital bed wondering and praying about what was next.

After four days in the hospital, the doctors wanted me to go home to rest and let all the medicines prescribed start working to lower my heart rate. I left with a defibrillator vest and a lot of unknown questions about the future.

My wife Yvonne went to church and prayed, and many of you also were saying prayers for me. I received numerous cards of concern and well wishes every day. This was unbelievable to see all this love and concern from St. Matthew and beyond praying for me. Masses were said, and Rosaries were prayed in the Divine Mercy Chapel. They were all felt by me and, still to this day, bring tears to my eyes. I am blessed and thankful as I believe miracles came from them.

A month after the heart attack, I had an MRI, which showed no improvement to the heart, and I went back into the hospital for a stent to be inserted in the 85% percent blocked artery. After that was inserted successfully, the Cardiologist looked at the LAD again, and he saw a tiny opening. He said he had to try to stent it even though he knew how solid the blockage was previously. He was able to get the stent in, and now I have no blockage. He was so excited he was able to do this, that he went personally to get my family out of the waiting area and told us together to keep up the prayers, that Faith is what allowed him to get that stent in. He has only seen this happen a couple of times, and he has been doing this for over 10 years.

So again, I thank you for praying for my recovery. I have felt them at various times throughout this journey, through Eucharistic ministry, anointings, enthronement, 1st Friday Rosaries, in Adoration, and in our Church. Your prayers are felt by those in need. Keep them coming for all; you may not see the results, but believe me, they are there.

Receiving the Lord She So Desperately Longed For By: Fr. Jim Ogurchock

Of all the patient visits during my 28 years as a Hospital Chaplain, this one stands out as perhaps the most rewarding. She was 92 years young and had a beautiful smile. After a brief conversation, I asked if she would like to receive the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. The smile was replaced with a deep frown as she replied, “Father, I can’t; I married outside the Church.” She went on to explain that she was the eldest of 10 children, and lived in Europe in the late 1800’s. Her parents sent her to the U.S. (they could afford to send only one person) with the hope the others would follow as finances permitted.

During those years, a young female couldn’t really survive without the support of a male; so, when a pleasant young man met her and proposed marriage, she felt accepting was her only choice. He treated her very well, except she discovered that he hated Catholics! Trapped in a difficult situation, she agreed not to attend Mass, but managed to keep her well-worn rosary hidden from him. Though she begged Mary to let her receive Holy Communion at least once before she died, it was assumed this would be practically impossible.

When I asked if he would allow this now, she exclaimed that he died several years ago, and “Once you marry outside the Church you are forever excommunicated.” When I told her that she was mistaken, and she really could be forgiven and reconciled with the Church, she was utterly incredulous! The smile quickly returned, bigger than ever, as I helped her with a Confession that covered the past 70 years. After the Anointing, she tearfully received the Lord she had so desperately longed for. But these were tears of joy, as she thanked our Blessed Mother for granting her this wonderful “miracle”!

She was released from the hospital within days, and like most patients, I never heard from her again. But she had assured me that the great-granddaughter with whom she lived would certainly get her to weekly Mass. All my patient encounters were very rewarding, but this one will always have a very special place in my golden memories!

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What A Journey It Has Been! By: Kalyn Alkire

I am not a cradle Catholic. I did not grow up in a home where attending church was a weekly routine, prayer was a part of daily life, and discussions about the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit were of common conversation. I attended a Methodist church on and off throughout parts of my life but nothing ever struck my heart. I can’t recite Bible verses on command, or reference Biblical stories accurately. So how did I find the Catholic Church? A Catholic invited me to Mass and something was different. I became intrigued by the Church and located one near my home, St. Matthew. I began to attend Mass every Sunday alone. I didn’t know how to enter the pew, which books to follow, which prayers to recite, when to sit, when to kneel or even when I was supposed to pray. Most of the time, I didn’t even know how to pray, but something still called for me to return each week. That’s when I felt the push to know more and reach out to the representative of RCIA and begin a journey.

What a journey it has been!

My heart began to seek the Lord. To gain knowledge of His teachings, to understand the traditions of His Church, and to create a life that represents holiness and grace. I knew that in order to really experience holiness and grace, I would need to partake in the Sacraments. I have never been baptized or received the Eucharist. I didn’t even really understand what it meant to receive the Body and Blood of Christ until RCIA.

My excitement for my Baptism and to receive the Eucharist can be compared to a small child on Christmas morning, except that doesn’t even do it justice. To know that all of my fears, mistakes, anxieties will be washed by His water, and that I will be a witness to the miracle of the Eucharist transforming into the Body and Blood of Christ is completely astounding. I will feel extremely blessed to be able to fully participate in the life of a Catholic; where Mass is a weekly routine, prayer is always encouraged, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are always with me.

Congratulations to Those Who Received Sacraments in March:

Lauren Peck, Alexi Potts, Brooke Warren, Kyra Charles, and Lesley Salinas

Congratulations to Those Who Received Sacraments at the Easter Vigil:

Dan Abraham, Kalyn Alkire, Davis Anderson, Beckett Anderson, Lane Anderson, Natalie Anderson, Brian Ankamah, Lauren Bennett, Booker Brown, Mya Cardona

Ava Cardona, Aaron Cassady, Andrew Fagen, Cameron Fagen, Derek Felici, Lucas Ketelsen, Mandi Leyland, Steve Martinez, Jay McIntire, Malena Norasing,

Zach Peck, Colin Pedicini, Rick Potts, Aidan Ruff, Ashley Williams, and Caden Wilson

Congratulations to Those Who Were Baptized:Galen Henry Freimark, Isabella Freimark, Ella Grace Rupert, Shaelan De La Pena Fitzpatrick,

Elisheba Naa Ayengo Nartey, Anna Marie Dean, Zoe Kizhakedan, Zita Leona Evans, Deacon Gregory Grant, Miles Lawler McClintock, Henry Thomas Nickels, Ivan Lucas Ketelsen, Yevgenya Noelle Ketelsen, Isabella Cristina Canini,

Sophie Michael Carpenter, Graham Albert Heinselman, Finn Donald Martin, Finn Christopher Masters,

Camden Daniel Peck, Carter William Peck, Anna Luisa Porter, and Caroline Blaise Vaccaro

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Dealing for Danny 2017 By: Kevin Arnold

This year we had a sellout crowd of 158 people that enjoyed a night of blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, dancing, and fun in the Hutta Gym! “It was an awesome night. It was great seeing friends and families getting together and celebrating a wonderful life. The night was filled with so much fun and laughter,” said Sarah Hennessey. Nikki Bowen also adds, “We were honored to be part of such a great cause. The food and entertainment was great and we had so much fun learning new casino games!”

We raised $8,000.00 for the scholarship funds and the works of charity supported by the Daniel Arnold Memorial Foundation. This year, we will award about $10,000.00 in scholarships to two St. Matthew 8th Graders, who will attend a Catholic high school, and a senior each at Bishop Hartley and St. Francis DeSales, who will attend college. In addition to these scholarships, we fund various needs that a school or organization could not fund otherwise, like technology items and learning programs.

We could not do this without the volunteers and helpers who make events like Dealing for Danny and the upcoming Danny’s Open Golf Outing possible.

Please consider saving the date for the Danny’s Open Golf Outing, May 20th, at St. Albans in Alexandria. Details are available at http://danielarnoldfoundation.org.

Visiting MinistrySaint Matthew Parish has a new ministry for visiting the sick and homebound. The purpose of the ministry is to visit parishioners who are sick, in care facilities, and are homebound. In visiting, volunteers will be able to bring the Eucharist, comfort, and conversation. We are hopeful that this will be helpful to families who worry about their loved ones. If you have someone who might benefit from or be interested in having a volunteer come and visit, please contact Carol Ann Lombardi at ezcalomba@gmail.com. If you have questions or concerns, you may also call (614) 478-4328.

Becoming Active in the Ministries – A Personal Experience By: Mrs. Glenda Neely

I joined Charitable Works Ministry (CWM) many years ago, because I wanted to see where all the crocheted items went. I was amazed at all CWM did. Helping in the Food Pantry to serve others is so rewarding, not only all year long, but especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. The families are so thankful for the food and shopping at our Free Christmas Store. It is a very rewarding experience.

The Knitting and Crocheting Ministry is a wonderful blessing. Over 150 members are in our ministry now. A broader family we now have, as so many friendships have been made. God has richly blessed this ministry, so we can help those in need.

The garden ministry is a joy. It is so much fun making the flower beds at church come alive and look beautiful. Plus, there is the bonus of visiting with the other volunteers. Lots of new friendships have been made.

Helping with the Bereavement Committee is another meaningful experience to help families going through the difficult time of losing a loved one.

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Editor’s Note: Please visit http://www.stmatthew.net/sacraments-services/marriage for more details about the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Matthew.

A New Order of Celebrating MatrimonyYou may have heard through the grapevine that the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a new Order of Celebrating Matrimony on December 30, 2016. The Diocese of Columbus provided workshops for parishes to help with the implementation of the new rite. You may ask, what is this all about? It seems not broke so why fix it? While nothing is broke per se, the USCCB is seeking to preserve with greater clarity what exactly a Catholic wedding is in a time when the culture is increasingly turning toward secular practices when it comes to marriage. What a great tragedy that would be since a wholesome Catholic wedding has so much to offer both for the couple and those in attendance!The wedding is a time of celebration with family and friends before God, and the new adaptations of the Rite help to preserve the signs and symbols within the wedding liturgy that communicate how great a gift marriage is from God and for the Church. As we hear from chapter 62 of the prophet Isaiah “as a young man marries a virgin so shall your Builder marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.” Marriage expresses to the world God’s love for humanity as it mirrors Christ’s love for His bride the Church! As a priest I love when non-Catholics remark “How beautiful the wedding was! Do you always celebrate in this way?” Why yes we do, because if it is from God it is worth celebrating well.So without further ado, let us look briefly at some of the adaptations and places of emphasis in the Order of Celebrating Marriage. The first adaptation is the inclusion of an Entrance Rite, in other words a procession. Processions are nothing new to Christian liturgy; they symbolize our pilgrim journey through this world following the Cross – the sign of our salvation. Adding the cross and candles into the procession preserves this symbol. Christ also accompanies us on that voyage to salvation which is symbolized in the person of the priest or deacon. The ministers of the sacrament follow, which in the sacrament of Marriage would be the couple themselves. Wait a minute, what about bridesmaids and groomsmen or even the parents? Where do they fit into this? Not to worry, the bridal party, the chosen witnesses to the marriage, are welcome to partake in the procession as well. The bride and groom are welcome to process in with their parents, by themselves, or even together, which actually is the oldest and most universal form of the wedding procession going back centuries.It is important to keep in mind that the procession is a symbol of salvation, pilgrimage, and hope. Instead of focusing only on the bride or the groom, the new rite emphasizes the couple as they approach the altar of the Lord, together seeking to make their lives one before the Church. Also, those in attendance are not just a body of spectators but are active participants in the liturgy. Thus, a hymn is sung during the Entrance Rite with all present standing, just as a regular Mass. Besides, it is a bit puzzling to stand for the bride and not the groom when they are both, after all, the ministers of the sacrament.Second, along the lines of participation, the congregation stands during the exchange of the marital vows. This again emphasizes that the community is not just observing the vows taking place but is actively witnessing them. The posture of standing also expresses attention and reception of what the Lord is communicating to us in liturgy; this is why, for example, we stand for the Gospel. Our posture of standing signifies God communicating His love to us as He shares His love with the couple as they forge their covenant with Him.Third, the Order of Celebrating Matrimony speaks into the nature of the homily. The homily for a wedding is an exposition of the sacrament of marriage using the readings that the couple has selected and have just been proclaimed. This is not praise for the couple, their marriage has just begun after all, but it is an encouragement to all the faithful present, which focuses specifically on the couple’s unique commitment and the Scriptures they chose.Lastly, a greater range of options are offered in regard to the exchange of consent, the blessing of the rings, and the nuptial blessing. This provides more choices to the couple and the priest or deacon for the liturgical texts. This draws an even greater wealth of knowledge and meaning into the liturgy itself.Ultimately, all of these changes seek to convey all the better what marriage is as a gift of God and how we might best display that in worship, sign, and symbol.As always, should you have any questions regarding this or you just fancy a chat, please feel free to contact me.Yours in Christ, Fr. Daniel Swartz

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Catholic Youth Summer Camp: A Part of My Life By: Gabrielle Buzenski

Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC) has been a part of my life for many years. I have been a camper for five or six years now. Before I was eligible to be a camper, I would often be up at the campsite visiting my sisters who were on staff.

Camp provides middle and high school kids with an exciting way to learn to live their faith and make it their own. At the same time, they get to experience many adventurous activities, such as rock climbing, jet skiing, paintballing and more. These activities helped me to step outside of myself and be courageous in experiencing new things, which I am not always that great at doing.

While at camp, I learned that especially in these exciting and joyous moments of getting nailed in the arm by a paintball or flying off a jet ski, Jesus is present. I learned that I can find God in all of the things I do. I feel that two things have formed my faith life as it is now: my family, who is strongly rooted in their Catholic identity, and my years at Catholic Youth Summer Camp. The staff at camp helped me want to truly love Jesus and be on fire for Him.

I would recommend camp to any person: kids not interested in the faith, kids of different denominations, kids already on fire for the Lord, or kids who are lukewarm in their relationship. CYSC truly has a gift for drawing people in, making them feel welcome, and leading them to a path of better living. They do it all with joy, and they do it for God’s kingdom.

As my years as a camper come to a close, I can only hope that I will get to be a part of the amazing community at camp and start changing the lives of the campers just as mine has been changed every time I go to camp.

Congratulations To Our Teacher of the Year Nominee: Christine Bogue!Columbus Parent Magazine has an annual Teacher of the Year contest. In early April, we were notified that one of our Intervention Specialists, Christine Bogue, was one of the top five nominees for the middle school category.

Enjoy an excerpt from the nomination submitted for Christine:

Christine is not only loved by her students, but their parents as well. Her love for these middle grade students is shown daily. In an academic sense, their test scores have increased immensely due to her time and extra support. She has come in on her own time to help them with an upcoming test or to explain a concept they are struggling with. The confidence she has instilled in these students is amazing.

On a personal note, Christine had long hair and knew she wanted to donate her hair to the Locks of Love. She shared with the students more about this program and how people can benefit from this selfless donation. One of our teacher’s aides, a hairdresser, cut her hair in one of our classrooms. The impact this had on these students was wonderful.

Christine is a teacher who walks the walk, and these children are learning so much from her. She works well with our classroom teachers and stresses to me that it is imperative that a partnership be formed between the two for our children to be successful.

Congratulations, Christine!

Editor Note: At the time the Ledger went to print, the results of this contest were not received.

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May 31: School Commissioning Service, 9:30 a.m.

June 1: Bacculaureate Mass, 8:30 a.m.

June 1: Last Day of School for St. Matthew

June 19-23: Catholic Kids Camp

June 26-30, July 6-8, July 10-15, July 24-29 and July 31: Parish Directory Portrait Times.  Please sign up at http://www.stmatthew.net/parish-directory-2017.

July 9-14: Camp KRIC

July 20-22: Parish Festival

Upcoming Events

Please refer to the website or bulletins for further details on times and locations.

Is Sunday Mass Part of Your Vacation Plans? By: Rita Klein

Do you skip Mass while on vacation? If so, you are missing an opportunity and another chance to give thanks to God!

The opportunity you miss is the chance to worship in community with people you’ve never seen before, but have the same beliefs, values, and love of Jesus that you do. You’ll see some wonderful hospitality from the parishioners. You’ll enjoy the aesthetics of a new church building with its beautiful statues, hear different songs than you might be used to hearing, and hear the perspective of a homilist you’ve not heard before.

Our family has many memories of attending Mass while on vacation, but our experience in Alaska really stands out. We were in Alaska several years ago and wanted to attend Sunday Mass. Because of our travel schedule and the scarcity of Catholic churches in Alaska, we had to leave at about 7:00 a.m., and drive two hours from a lodge near Denali Park to a church along the highway near the village of Talkeetna.

The address of the church led us to a small cinder block building with a little make-shift sign that said St. Phillip. There were no cars in the parking lot. We thought, “This can’t be the church.” It looked like an abandoned garage. We waited for a few minutes and a car pulled up. A middle-aged woman unlocked the building and went in. We followed her in and asked if this was St. Philip Church. She said, “Yes.” So the six of us sat down. We later learned that this woman was a Eucharistic Minister as well as the organist, lector, and parish administrator.

Soon, another eight to ten people filed in – about half of them relatives of the woman that opened the church. She said that someone would be coming, but they weren’t sure if it would be a priest or deacon. 9:00 a.m. came and still no one. Then the phone rang. The woman hurried to the phone to answer. It was the priest who said he would be there soon. With great excitement, she announced to the (small) congregation that a priest would be coming. She scurried around to make sure everything was ready for the priest’s arrival. Soon, an older priest hobbled in with his walker and began Mass.

At Communion, the priest asked if anyone was a Eucharistic Minister as he wasn’t able stand to distribute Communion. I raised my hand, and I said I was a Eucharistic Minister in Columbus, OH. He asked me to serve.

When Mass was over, they invited us to stay for coffee and pastries, which we happily did. It was nice chatting with the parishioners and priest. We learned that he was late because he had just come from saying Mass in another town.

How blessed we are that we don’t have to wonder if we will have a priest to say Mass. We are blessed enough to be able to attend daily Mass, to have Perpetual Adoration, to be able to go to Confession often, to join with others in our community for various activities, and to further our education about our faith. Let’s give thanks for these blessings, pray for those less fortunate, and make a commitment to make Mass part of our vacation adventure.

Editor’s Note: To find Mass times while on vacation or on the road, please check out masstimes.org.

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Where in the World Did You Go to Mass? Are you traveling over the summer? Share a photo of where your family went to Mass! Send to Karen Lackey at klackey@stmatthew.net.

The Maple Family attended Easter Mass, while staying at the Greenbrier

in West Virginia.

The Lindemann Family first attended Mass at San Marco Catholic Church on Marco Island

in February 2002. At that time, they were praying very hard that year for the

lives of their unborn twins. Look at them now!!

Rhea Neugebauer helped welcome her sister, Stephanie Reed, into the Church at the Easter vigil this year.

She traveled (9 months pregnant) to celebrate at St. Mary’s Basilica

in Marietta, Ohio.

The Otting Family went to Mass at St. Joseph Church in Philadelphia,

which was founded in 1733 by the Jesuits.

The Draher Family went to Holy Family Church in Steubenville, OH,

Nikki’s hometown, for Easter. Nikki and Jon were married there and Elizabeth was baptized there.

The LeDGeRMay 2017 Issue 6 ❖ Page 11

Happy Birthdayto one of our oldest parishioners,

Cecilia Stanulonis!She celebrated her

99th Birthdayon April 15. Cecilia has been a

parishioner since 1963!

Staff Spotlight with Jenna Zins, Director of EvangelizationQ: What is your background?

A: I grew up right here in Gahanna, Ohio, and attended Gahanna public schools. My mother (who is awesome and still a parishioner at St. Matthew) did a great job of keeping my two sisters and I active in our Catholic faith at St. Matthew. I imagine it was an even greater challenge because my father is not Catholic!

I studied Journalism at Ohio State, and I performed in various choir and theater groups, I worked as a data analyst, I managed a Playhouse and God called me to two years of mission work with NET Ministries (www.netusa.org).

Most of my solid Catholic formation came from my time with NET. I developed a rich and habitual prayer life, I learned relational and educational ministry skills, I got lots of practice evangelizing and most importantly, I saw the Catholic faith lived out with vigor in others.

Q: What do you love about your job?

A: I love starting conversations about Jesus. I think most people in our culture (including me not too long ago) are too fearful or intimidated to mention the name of Jesus or how He is alive and active in our world. It’s wonderful to watch people breathe a little easier and grow in boldness once it becomes ‘normal’ to live their faith out loud.

Q: What is your favorite part of St. Matthew Parish?

A: I could give a list that would fill up this entire Ledger! But I’ll settle on one thing. This might be a cliché answer (because he’s my boss!) but my favorite part about St. Matthew Parish is our pastor, Father Ted Sill.

Like a good Father, most of His shining moments are actually out of the spotlight. Father shows me that immense fruit is born when someone obediently does their part. Father joyfully lives out his vocation, serves his flock tirelessly, and most importantly, prays fervently.

I am convinced that many of the great opportunities here at St. Matthew have arisen because of his prayers and continued devotion to Jesus Christ.

Our Parish Mission...

St. Matthew Mission Statement:In Baptism,

we are committed to follow and imitate Jesus Christ, to hear and proclaim the Word of God,

to participate in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church,

to nurture a life of prayer, to hunger and thirst for justice, and to practice the commandment of Love.

One Parish. One Family. One Journey. One parish committed to Jesus Christ,

His teachings, His Church. One family seeking to support each other

in faith, hope, and love. One journey towards eternal life in heaven.

St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church

807 Havens Corners Road, Gahanna, OH 43230614-471-0212

www.stmatthew.net

Social Media Updates:Follow the Parish, School and PSR Programs

on Facebook by liking:St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic ChurchSt. Matthew Catholic SchoolSt. Matthew Parish School of Religion

Parish Office and Clergy: 614-471-0212, http://www.stmatthew.net/about-us/our-staff

Fr. Theodore K. Sill, PastorFr. Daniel Swartz, Parochial VicarFr. Michael Nimocks, In Holy ServiceFr. James Ogurchock, In Holy ServiceDeacons:Rev. Mr. Joseph MeyerRev. Mr. Larry Koebel

Parish Staff: 614-471-0212Business Manager, Leo GrimesDirector of Evangelization, Jenna ZinsDirector of Athletics, Eileen Buzenski 614-478-8533Director of Information, Robert BuzenskiDirector of Music, Dawn Shininger ext. 1117Parish Administrative Assistant,

Darlene RotellaParish Administrative Associate,

Hillarie MichaelsParish Secretary, Mary OttingPastoral Associate, Mary ThompsonRCIA, Jennifer CabeStewardship and Safe Environment Coordinator,

Karen LackeyYouth Minister, Travis Burtch 614-471-7556School Principal, Susan Maloy 614-471-4930Parish School Of Religion, Coordinator: Sherry Schoenstein 614-471-2067Secretary, Malinda MoloneyPreschool Coordinator, Julie RatliffCharitable Works: 614-471-5320Wedding Coordinator, Laura Schlagheck

Next Issue InformationNext Issue information. Thank you to all our contributors, as well as our Content Editor, Lauren Shiman. This is Lauren’s last issue and we thank her for all her hard work. If you would like to help edit upcoming issues of The Ledger, please contact Karen Lackey at klackey@stmatthew.net. We hope to have the 7th issue available Mid-August 2017.

Please send any ideas and articles to Karen Lackey. Try to keep articles to less than 300 words. All articles will be reviewed by staff for inclusion and may be edited. Thank you!