News - September 2022 RSS Feed

Remember that earlier this year our Diocese participated in the worldwide Synod called for by Pope Francis. Well, now the results from ALL of the Dioceses in the US have been consolidated and are available at the USCCB website at the link below. We encourage you to read this extraordinary document - and notice how so many of the same comments throughout the country match the results of our own Diocesan Listening Session. 

Updates – Two Phases Basilica, St. John’s and St. Bonaventure are presently in Phase I As we continue the Road to Renewal, the remaining Families will be designated to be formed within two Phases. Each Phase will consist of the following stages: Activation Stage - Parishes begin developing a Family Council and Family Action Plan. This phase lasts six months. Phase 1 FoPs will commence this stage November 1, 2022. Phase 2 FoPs will commence this stage May 1, 2023. Inauguration Stage - The date on which a Family of Parishes begins functioning as a Family. Phase 1 FoPs are estimated to be inaugurated May 1, 2023. Phase 2 FoPs are estimated to be inaugurated Nov. 1, 2023. As we continue down the Road to Renewal, please don’t forget to visit our website at www.RoadToRenewal.org and pray the Prayer for Renewal regularly. See you on the Road to Renewal!

A Magnificat for Renewal My heart shudders in God's close breath, and I stand silent before majesty and mercy. . . God shines in the eyes of those who love me, startles me with unending surprises. God's mercy rains on me. I lift my face to drink its cleansing power. God's humor overturns my selfish plans, shakes out my stifling impatience. God favors me with family and friends; graces me with poetry for beauty of expression and intuition for understanding. And I praise God with these, with the gift of myself. God upholds the promise lived through Jesus present in the world, and in my heart. Amen

As St. Paul reminds us, today, not just our leaders are called to live virtuous lives of service to others. We all are called to love and minister to one another.

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser is October 30th Please donate theme baskets! Create & drop off by October 12th to the Parish Office!

A Prayer of Love, Comfort and Reconciliation . . . A Magnificat for Renewal My heart shudders in God's close breath, and I stand silent before majesty and mercy. God shines in the eyes of those who love me, startles me with unending surprises. God's mercy rains on me. I lift my face to drink its cleansing power God's humor overturns my selfish plans, shakes out my stifling impatience. God favors me with family, friends and the strangers that are brought into my life; graces me with the poetry of goodness in heart, mind and soul and the intuition to do what is right. And I praise God with these, with the gift of myself. God upholds the promise lived through Jesus present in the world, and my heart rejoices!

In Confession, we free ourselves of the chains of sin and those struggles with our relationships in order that we can love more freely. Living in this love, we can now give more readily to the Lord, to others and also very importantly, to ourselves.

How great and how loving and forgiving is our God! Let’s strive to be like Him… to become less judgmental and begrudging and more generous, understanding and forgiving. Consider that we’ve all been like the prodigal son, at times, as we’ve all sinned. If we want God to be forgiving and merciful toward us, then we must be merciful toward others. Dear God, make us merciful and forgiving of others, as well as repentant for our own sins.

Congratulations and God’s blessings and His graces on Sr. Frances Marie of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (Nora Wenke) as she made her perpetual vows with the Passionate Nuns. May the spirit be upon you and your ministry. Your parents Mary and Deacon Matt Wenke are touched by your gifts and your life as is your parish family. In Christ, Fr. John I’m Gonna Die! During today’s ceremony, I will lie face down on the ground and be covered with a black cloth, an action that symbolizes death. A few weeks ago, anticipating this day, it began to hit me with greater intensity: I’m gonna die! What feelings does such a realization stir up? Fear, trepideation? Panic? Solicitude for proper preparation? A bit of all of that. However, amongst Nuns, a note of joy and eagerness tends to be the prevailing sentiment in the face of death. I will always remember being with our Sr. Marie Michael in the hospital room when Mother John Mary broke the news from the doctor that she did not have long to live. Sister’s whole face lit up and she spontaneously exclaimed, “Great news!” As, with inexpressible joy, I make my Perpetual Profession of Vows today, following the Lord’s call, I let go of earthly goods in a permanent way that resembles death; even deeper than that, I let go of myself: my pride, self-centeredness, self-reliance. The Great News? Radical surrender into the Hands of my Heavenly Father; a deeper envelopment in the embrace of my Bridegroom Jesus, and a fuller entry into the Divine Spirit-life which was infused into me (as into each one of us) at Baptism. A new Life of Love, impelled by the love of Christ Who loved me and gave Himself for me. As our Communion hymn puts it, to love Jesus is the greatest joy! I am so grateful to all of you who are joining the celebrations today, those present in person and those spiritually present from afar. Just as our Faith teaches that the bonds uniting us with our loved ones are not severed but strengthened beyond the grave, so in entering into this covenant with Our Creator, I am all the more one with each of you in the Heart of Christ. You and your intentions are in my heart as I make my vows. And for the rest of my days, as my offering is renewed in the Mass and in the mini dyings and risings each day brings, you will always be lifted up in this praying heart. Don’t forget that I’m here for you! Don’t forget to let me know when you need extra prayers! And please pray for me! Soon, please God, we’ll be celebrating together at the Eternal Wedding Banquet of Heaven. That will be Great News indeed! —Sr. Frances Marie of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, CP ST. JOSEPH MONASTERY 8564 CRISP ROAD WHITESVILLE, KY 42378 (270)233-4571 [email protected]

Thank you to our Basilica and St. John parish families who hosted the wonderful celebration and all present who helped make the 2nd Annual Renewal Mass so special as we renew as Church and in the Spirit. Fr. John and Fr. Peter “There’s something happening here!” It’s nice to see our Basilica in the southern region of the diocese filled with people from all over the diocese. … In a year so much has happened and continues to happen. I think the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our Renewal. Certainly we’ve had our challenges and continue to but I think the Lord is providing us with guidance and a pathway forward. Bishop Mike Fr. Bryan Zielenieski, Vicar of Renewal and Development, shared these words with us: "Be advocates for the Renewal! Tell your friends, your relatives, your neighbors, those that left the church, those that you may not have seen for awhile, that this is a new day and there is new hope! Reach out to those that still have not returned from the pandemic. Let them know that they are missed. Reach out to our young people and encourage them in their faith journey! And by all means get involved! As you know, this renewal is not possible without the work of many people.”