He is Risen

Happy Easter!!

I know Easter is almost three weeks past, yet, I am still celebrating the blessings of Holy Week and what has followed.   I really tried to make a slide show of all the beautiful pictures of that special week but was unable to figure it out with my limited computer skills.   Therefore, my faithful reader, you will just have to savor the few that I will post.

Fr. Aaron on Palm Sunday at BTC

During Lent we prepared for Easter with the Way of the Cross which included praying this on two pieces of land that will host our future church buildings.  On Good Friday this was done as a living way of the Cross.

Way of the Cross on the land in Rutledge

Practice and Prayer of Way of the Cross in Rutledge

Good Friday Way of the Cross at Central Point

Jesus falls the first time

   Prior to this was Holy Thursday which reminds us of the great gift of Jesus in His Body and Blood.   The washing of the feet and then the adoration of the Eucharist are deeply moving moments.   When we take communion, the Body of Christ, we become that body of Christ.   Therefore we are to serve Him and His Kingdom.  This is worth time spent in adoration and reflection before the Real Presence of Christ reserved in the tabernacle.

Adoration Altar for Holy Thursday at JP II

Holy Thursday Adoration at BTC

The Easter Vigil was tremendous.   I celebrated at St. John Paul II (formally known as Blessed) where Forest became Catholic, two more adults received confirmation, and four children where baptized, three which became full members.  Fr. Aaron celebrated the Vigil at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta where over 14 people received sacraments, this included infant baptisms, adult baptisms, and conversions to the Catholic Faith.   We were really blessed by many acts of faith.

The Easter Light

Waiting for Baptism

These two were confirmed

The Blessing of the Easter Water

Forest is Confirmed and becomes Catholic

Now Easter Continues with new life and new blessings.   The Month of May will be one of many celebrations and many new developments.   Hopefully, you will not need to wait a full month to discover them.  

This family were baptized, confirmed and three received their first communion

Thanks for your patience with the tardiness of this blog and may these photos remind you of a precious week passed.

Volunteers teaching folks how to make rosaries

Volunteers help the week after Easter

Lent Continues

Lent is a time to grow, to change and to discover.  In these five weeks many silent blessings have been poured upon our small communities of faith.  Here are four events which due to planning them has delayed my "blogging".

Listening to the word of God

We continue to make plans for a future church building for both missions.   Saturday March 29 we blessed the property at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Mission in Maynardville, followed by our third meeting.  Also, in the afternoon we planned to do a Rosary March around the property of Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge, but the weather said otherwise.   Therefore, we prayed under a tent and in the car; yet, the land was blessed.

Blessing of Land for Blessed Teresa of Caclutta

Rosary and Blessing of Land for JP II

On Thursday, April 3, the ninth anniversary of the death of our Beloved Blessed John Paul II, we held a day of adoration.   All the Catholic Churches of the Five River's Deanery have been host a day of Adoration in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Diocese of Knoxville, TN.  This was a beautiful day with parishioners spending time with the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament.


Adoration

Adoration at JP II

On Saturday, April 5, the Bishop came to Blessed John Paul II and confirmed two youth and offered communion to one Adult.   There was to be another adult present for confirmation, but he was celebrating of birth of Child # five.   I think that was an very acceptable excuse!!  Bishop Stika is very supportive of our mission efforts here.   He has provided financial help, approved the purchase of our new properties from the foundation, and was extremely supportive of the folks at Blessed John Paul II.

Greeting Guadalupe before making his First Communion

Amy from BTC and Shannon from JPII for confirmation

Bishop Stika with ministers and those who received sacraments

Finally,  we just completed a three day ecumenical revival entitled "That They All May Be One."   It was a beautiful experience.   We  began at Rutledge Baptist Church with the Methodist preacher providing the message and the Catholic Choir providing the music.   The second night folks came to Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission with our Spanish Choir providing special music and the Baptist preacher providing the message.   The third night was hosted by Rutledge Methodist Church with the Baptist's providing the music and I presented the message.   The unity that the Spirit revived in each of our churches was beautiful.   It was a wonderful way to prepare for Holy Week.

Pastor Ryan praying at the Catholic Mission

Socializing after the Mission

Pastor Chan of the Baptist Church praying

Fr. Steve reading Scripture

Baptist Choir singing at Methodist Church

Next week at both churches several people will be baptized, receive their first Holy Communion and be Confirmed.   Look for more sharing on this great event later.   For now, as we conclude, please offer a prayer for all those coming into the Church this Easter Vigil.   May you, my faithful reader, have a very blessed Easter!!

Some of those preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil

Lent: A time to grow

Lent may be a time for penance but it is also an opportunity for growth.  These six weeks to prepare ourselves for Easter can be some of the most spiritually powerful moments of a believer's life. 

To face our limitations, our weaknesses and even our sinfulness is part of facing the truth of our humanity.   Once we can recognize this, we are able to present it to Christ for his forgiveness, healing and restoration.   This is conversation:   to face our sin and turn away from it as we turn towards Christ.   The more we surrender our pride, our control, and our self-centeredness to the Lord, the more of His love, mercy and joy enters our heart.   Lent is a dying to sin and a rising to life.   Lent is remembering that despair is stupid in the reality of hope in Christ.   It is remembering that not even death has a sting when it has been conquered in the resurrection of Christ. 

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers (and sisters) be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
 ( 1 Cor. 15: 56 - 58).

Signing the Book of the Elect at JP II

Among one of the most exciting things in Lent is walking with those who will join the church this Easter.   The RCIA/RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) members took another step last week when they signed the book of Initiation and this Saturday and Sunday they will be enrolled as one of the Elect by Bishop Stika.  Now this language may be confusing to some.   Basically following an early church tradition anyone over the age of eight who has not yet been baptized receives the sacraments initiation--baptism, confirmation and communion-- at the Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter).  Once a person receives these sacraments they are proclaiming themselves a disciple of Jesus and will honor and worship Him according to the Catholic Way of the Spiritual Life.  A baptized person is not just a friend of Jesus but an actually sister or brother of Christ.   How cool is that!!!

Our Spanish Speaking Family in the RCIC at JP II

At Blessed John Paul II we have one adult seeking communion and confirmation and three children seeking all three sacraments with their younger brother being baptized.  The sponsor of the adult was our first convert three years ago.  At Blessed Teresa of Calcutta we have 4 adults and 6 children seeking all three sacraments and 1 adult seeking communion and confirmation plus three children for baptism and another adult for confirmation only.   This will be the largest group in our three years here. What a blessing these folks are to our faith community!!

BTC catechumens, candidates and sponsors

Almost every Sunday there will be prayers just for them.   The rest of the community has the responsibility to demonstrate the life of a believer in Christ.   Thus in Lent each of us are invited by Christ to become more merciful and loving disciples.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we  may find the spiritual opportunities to rise above our sinfulness and shine in our salvation.  We might just be the gateway of grace for another to discover salvation through Jesus Christ.

Presentations

El Nino at BTC

El Nino at JP II

Last week was the  Presentation of the Lord.   For some countries, this really is the end of the Christmas season.  It is only after Feb. 2 that the nativity scene is put away until next year. At both missions we celebrated the custom with activities following Mass.   Through in one sense both Spanish Speaking communities did a similar presentation, there were significant differences.  Both groups prayed the rosary and had a meal, but the presentation of the child Jesus was different.

BTC reverence of the child Jesus

At Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Mission,  Maynardville the folks placed a very large image of the child Jesus, known as "El Nino" on the lap of one of our young mothers.  Individuals then approached the child on their knees and kissed the infant Jesus and then they were given a bag of candy.  Where as at Blessed John Paul II, Rutledge they dressed the child with handmade clothes, then took him around for everyone to honor and finally placed him on a throne like an infant king.  The reverance and care they put into this this prayer ritual demonstrates a deep appreciation for Jesus.  It may too, represent a strong sense of family life and the importance of children.  Either way, it is beautiful to be a part of it.

JP II the dressing of the infant

 

John and Lourdes presenting at JP II

The weekend before two representatives of the Bishop conducted a presentation on the possibility of a capital campaign that would include a new Cathedral for the diocese of Knoxville.  It was an education for all of us as the presentation on the dream for a Cathedral meet with the financial reality of our people.   At this moment, many of our parishioners are working only 6 - ten hours a week.   One week when the snow shut everything down, they worked no hours and had their children at home because school was closed. 

In light of this being such a tough winter with electric bills high because of the cold, children at home instead of in school which means more meals, and little outdoor work for those in construction and agriculture, we presented a few families with some food.   It was not much, but hopefully it made a difference.

Joe and Sarah preparing the food for delivery

 We were happy to present Donna to the local community during these basket delivery.   She is our first long term volunteer for the "Toppa Joppa" Glenmary volunteer program. She is a mother and grandmother, speaks Spanish and served in Liberia, Africa before joining us for one year in mission here.  Just one more dimension of our on-going missionary ministry.

Donna, our first long term volunteer

With all these presentations, please dear reader, present your prayers to our Lord for his continued blessings on these missions.

Chuck, our faithful driver

Property Owners

This month both Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Blessed John Paul II Catholic Missions reached important mile stones in their development.   They both now own land for their future permanent home.  This accomplishment in just over two years is a miracle.

After signing the deed for BTC

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta purchased 24 acres across from the High School, so it will remain a downtown church in the center of the county seat of Union County.   The price was high, but the Diocese of Knoxville made this purchase possible without cost to the local community.  East Tennessee Catholic Foundation, Inc. is a charitable organization of the diocese to help support our seminarians and to purchase property for new missions.  Without these donors, this purchase would not have been possible.

Discussing matters at the church planning meeting

Br. Craig sharing his image of what it means to be "Church"

Our first church planning meeting was very successful.  As we listened to Br. Craig's image of church we were all challenged to answer the question if "I love God then I will ...."  He also demonstrated how Glenmary's five missionary activities are present in our mission.   These categories are Catholic Nurture, Ecumenism, Evangelization among the Unchurched, Social Outreach and Justice, and connection to the Universal Church.   Then, I shared on Chapter 21 of book of Revelation. The community was also invited to reflect more deeply on our patroness, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and what she might want to see from us.   In the various reflections that followed, one parishioner summed up the meeting by saying, "Jesus built hearts, not temples.   That is what we are doing tonight ... we are building our hearts in Christ.   The building will follow."

BTC gathering for church planning

One fact that stands out is that in the year of 2013 we averaged 75 people at the English Mass and 74 at the Spanish Mass for a total of 149 people a weekend.   The high in the English Mass was 123 and the high for the Spanish was 145.   That shows tremendous growth from 26 people at the Mass under the carport in September of 2011.  We also have over $13,000 dollars in a building fund, some of which is from memorials made in the name of Robert Freeh and Kitty Scott.

It may take us some time to raise the funds necessary for building, but what a wonderful start.

Blessed John Paul II also owns 9.4 acres of land on Hwy 11, the main road through Rutledge just as you enter the town coming from Knoxville.  The first fund raiser netted $1,111.00.  (I should have tossed in 11 cents just to make it fun.)  There are plans for a spring concert to raise additional funds towards our building.   This Saturday will be their first church planning meeting.

After signing the deed for JP II

 
At Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission is very different community than Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.  More folks are either on fixed income or have seasonal jobs like agriculture and construction.   This effects both attendance and income.   Yet, there is a beauty of faith and family that is so very present within this community.   They really do love one another.

Celebrating life at JP II

Even through we only average 30 people for the English Mass and 66 folks for the Spanish Mass, they have over $10,000 dollars in their building fund.  They support commodities four times a year and feed the volunteers, members are on the board of directors for the food pantry, and they send cards and offer phone calls to our ill and homebound.  

Preparing for one of our many socials

Both communities will someday have permanent worship spaces on these properties.   When will depend on God's timing.   The only condition that is a given, is that half the projected cost must be in the bank before we can start.  God will send it to us at His time.   We will be waiting.