St. Mary-Holy Cross Parish

Dear Friends in Christ,

     Last weekend Di and I went down to Conception Abbey in Conception Junction, Missouri for Deacon Study Days.  The topic of the weekend was “How to Live with Hope.” Hope is a theological virtue, as well as an emotion and psychological trait. The speaker pointed out that hope anchors our lives, as well as our spiritual journey. 

     As I move into retirement from diaconal parish ministry, there are many uncertainties as to what that means to Di and me in our everyday lives. One chapter is closing, but a new chapter also begins. These beginnings and endings happen to all of us in a multitude of ways throughout our lifetimes. It may be getting married or divorced, the birth of a child, the loss of a job, the death of someone we are close to. Many emotions rise to the surface in each chapter and verse, some negative, some positive. One thing is certain, it is much easier to face all our challenges in life when we do so with hope. Sometimes finding that hope is hard, and that’s when we particularly need to rely on the Lord and trust that He is present in all our circumstances. The speaker pointed out that one exercise to help us hope and trust is to reflect on times in our lives when we knew that God was at work in a certain situation. Another exercise is to focus on the good things that have happened in our lives over the years and to thank God for these things. Some of them may be very, very small, but gratitude lifts our spirits as well as helps to give us hope. 

     So, it is with hope that I begin this next chapter of my life, knowing that I will need to rely on God to walk with me through the many emotions that I’m sure will surface as time goes on. I encourage all of you to do the same!

               God’s peace, Deacon Terry   

Dear Friends in Christ,

   Authority. It can be, and usually is, a dangerous thing in human beings! Authority gives one the ability, the right to order, demand, impose one's will upon others.  In my life's experiences, I know of way too many instances where authority was and is being abused and the harm it causes. Simply look at today's news.

   Look at Jesus; he was under the divine authority of God the Father who did not abuse his authority. However, on the human side, the Pharisees and their secretaries, the Scribes, continuously abused their position of authority over Jesus as a man. A lot of times when Jesus did something good for humanity, or even raised the self esteem of another, the "authorities" would run to the "rule book", the Law, to find out how Jesus broke the rules by his actions. Jesus was following the correct authority, the will of his Father, but the Scribes and Pharisees were too inexperienced, too naive, too egotistical to see the forest among the obvious trees! 

   Jesus died for thumbing his nose at the Pharisees. Jesus commanded all he met to "follow me." In many cases, if we truly follow the will of Jesus and his Father, we too will be rocking the boat of human authority and likely subject to punishment and being ostracized by those holding authority over us. Martin Luther King was another who ignored human authority and followed God's will.

   Question authority; Jesus did! If it is valid authority, that will come to light even though those we challenge will be upset. We will know which authority to follow by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need to constantly examine our lives to see if we are practicing abusive authority in the ways we have authority over others. Jesus commanded us to love; there is no love in locking another's heels.                                  Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   With sad heart I inform you that it is time for me to go. Go, as in retire!

   The guidelines for being a Deacon indicate that the retirement age for a Deacon is age 70. I just turned 73 at the end of May. The policy states that a Deacon can continue to serve on a year-by-year basis upon approval of the priest where the Deacon is assigned. Fr. Andrew has shown his support for me in the past, and would likely continue to do so, but I have a sense that it is time to go.

   I am finding myself becoming excessively forgetful and it bothers me deeply. I've never been 73 before so I don't know what is "normal" in the way of forgetfulness, but it surely can't be to the degree that I am experiencing memory loss. Having said that, I would like the freedom to live out the rest of my life with my beautiful wife and our "kids", the two dogs we have.

   I was ordained on August 10, 2010 so I choose that date as the time to make this official. It is possible that another Deacon would like to serve in this wonderful parish and would thus request a transfer. No guarantees on that.

   Another group of Deacons will start formation in three years, so I would encourage men from our parish to prayerfully discern if they are being called to this ministry.

   Even retired, and with Fr. Andrew’s permission, I would still be available to do baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The old "hatch, match, and dispatch" routine. So, with all that being said, and knowing of my love for recorded music, I now hit the "play" button on "Happy trails to me!"                       Blessings,  Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,  

     I can joyfully report the good news of the new sacraments conferred upon the young folks of our parish lately. Some of the sacraments such as Holy Eucharist, are intended to be ongoing on a regular basis. The other major sacrament received was Confirmation for the young people in high school. This is a one-time-only sacrament because once you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, you are always sealed!

     The anticipatory joy of those to receive their First Holy Communion was fantastic! As I talked to them at the back of church while they were lining up, the excitement and joy was contagious. They were pumped to receive the Body of Christ. No more coming forward with arms crossed to receive a blessing; they were preparing and prepared, for the Real Deal! They looked so beautiful in their shirts and ties and white dresses as most of them were attired. A thought; do we still have that same excitement and anticipation as we proceed forward to receive the Blessed Sacrament?

     And the confirmandi. They, being sophomores in high school, were Cool, just plain cool. They had to look good to their peers and to the Bishop and they did a great job of doing that. Their verbal responses to the Bishop, "amen", "and with your Spirit" were overall well done and audible to most.

     The most important message in the Bishop's homily was this: "This is Confirmation, not graduation." That is so important because so many young folks, once they receive Confirmation, think and act as if they have completed their final requirement in the Catholic faith. It ain't so, Joe!  Confirmation is just one step in what should be a lifelong practice and participation in

their faith.

     Congratulations all!     I'm proud of each of you! 

                                                                             Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

The parish council, which has been somewhat dormant for the last couple years, has reconvened in an attempt to find a new sense of direction. The group is made up of the heads of various committees, councils, and active groups in our parish. At one of our recent meetings, various people were discussing what makes their job difficult or what they would like to change to make our parish more active, more vibrant. The one word that kept coming up in our discussions was the word "involved," or "involvement."

All department heads or heads of committees felt that our parish would be much better if we had more parishioner involvement within the various areas of our parish community. GOOD involvement would be parents  making sure their children get to Sunday Mass by taking them there. Involvement in Sacraments and Adoration! Everyone's involvement in the role of lector, ministers of Eucharist, singers and instrument players for our liturgies. We need religious education teachers. I would like to see more involvement in adult faith activities that have been presented and should be presented. Involvement as ushers and greeters. The list goes on and on!

These are but a few of the MANY instances where more parishioner involvement would be beneficial to our parish. The more involvement in any and all activities that people gather for (Mass?) would add to the community building that is so important for any church.

Please think of ways that you could share some gifts and talents by becoming more involved in our parish. Thank you!

                          Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in the Risen Christ,

      Halleluiah, He is Risen!

      After these six weeks of Lent that we participated in abstinence, or increased service to people of God, or increased giving and other ways of participating in the Lenten season, we have arrived at the most joyous event in our celebration of faith! We shared in the way He taught, being a servant to others, and recalled during Holy Week the suffering of Christ as He endured His painful, agonizing torture and crucifixion. And here we are, celebrating His glorious Resurrection from the dead. And the joyful good news as part of His Resurrection is that He promises the same for us if we but follow Him!!

      This event is the central point in our faith. We should be shouting, " Halleluiah, He is Risen!" to all we meet! Notice the change in our liturgy from the solemn and somber use of prayers and music during Lent to the joyful way we now celebrate!

      This is a special Easter for Gavin Cory and Jeremy Shuler as they celebrate their Full Communion with the Catholic Church. They received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Additionally, Jeremy's daughter Lilian was baptized at the same liturgy.

                  Congratulations and welcome to Gavin, Jeremy, and Lilian.                        Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ,

     Pro life, and therefore, anti-abortion, is a strong Catholic belief and teaching. This stance is not unique to Catholics but shared with other Christian faiths. I too talked pro life rhetoric, although probably not in a convincing or powerful way. That has changed recently.

I saw the movie "Unplanned" this week at a local AMC theater. As one might guess, it pertains to unplanned pregnancies and the so called "sanitary" abortion that sometimes comes of the unplanned pregnancy.  

     The gut-wrenching film Unplanned, gets to the heart of what the movie accomplishes so well. Its resounding success, despite its low budget and controversial subject matter, stems from its willingness to expose the unmistakable reality of what takes place in every abortion procedure.

     The film depicts abortion unflinchingly — earning it an R rating — and predictably has been dismissed by mainstream sources as “propaganda” and “an unabashed hit-job.” But unfortunately for critics, the character Abby Johnson is based on a real person of the same name, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who now directs a pro-life organization.

     If you are not absolutely convinced about the Church's teaching on abortion, this movie will add clarity about the subject of reality. It is currently scheduled to be shown in the Des Moines area through Monday, April 8th. Please make every effort to see it, maybe even take a friend. I am generally not one to give endorsements, but I do fully endorse this movie.               Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

    I'm sure by now that everyone has heard about the devastating flooding being experienced by our brother and sisters in Nebraska and various parts of Iowa.  The reports on the news are there are thousands of acres of farm land that will be unable to be planted this year, which will add to the property losses experienced  already. This comes at a time when many farmers are already struggling due to the trade tariffs and low grain prices.

    It was less than a year ago that we here in Central Iowa experienced the devastation of flooding. Our church rectory, offices, RE and youth areas were all flooded. Many of our parishioners and neighbors experienced flooding of their homes and land. We understand and can relate to what is being experienced this time around.

    Due to ice and snow damming the natural flow of the melt-off, the youth area of St. Mary-Holy Cross had water coming in through the door on the north end of the building. The blessing for us is that there were people here when it happened. Thanks to the hard work and efforts of many, they were able to remedy the problem and keep the lower level from flooding again. I hesitate to mention all those involved by name for fear of leaving anyone out, but just want all to know the appreciation we have for their efforts.

    Let us keep our brothers and sisters in our minds and prayers and contemplate any other ways each of us individually may feel called to help in these circumstances.                 Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Here we are again at the beginning of Lent. Lent is a period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We should do these activities without looking grumpy about doing them, nor should we complain about doing them. For those giving up something like chocolate or coffee or some other caffeinated beverage, that could be a tall order because of the addictive nature of them. So much the better reason to live without, or at least cut back on our intake. But remember, the underlying reason for all of these Lenten practices is to root out sin in our lives, and not just during Lent. For those who have let time slip by without participation in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, it is never too late to start.

     The Church teaches that Sundays in Lent are not considered a mandatory day of the Lenten observance because each Sunday we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. I think it is probably appropriate for each of us individually to decide whether we will take a "time out" from whatever Lenten practices we are doing.

     Lent is the time for final preparation of Catechumens and Candidates who will come into full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. That is a very powerful and Spirit-filled occasion! As you know, we have two Candidates going through RCIA. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

     It had always been my understanding that Baptisms were not to take place during Lent. I found out I was wrong again! Baptisms and Holy Water in the font at the entrance of church are appropriate during Lent.                   Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ, 

    Has anyone noticed the suggestion box just outside the doors to the church? Has anyone made any suggestions lately? 

    I’m guessing many of you don’t even realize it is there.  With the goal in mind of improving our parish and parish community, please consider using it. What is working well, and what needs to be fixed, and how so? And if you don’t want to, you don't have to sign your name.

    I do not get the sense that the suggestion box is often used. I personally have not been told that I need to __________ (fill in the blank), or that as a parish we should ___________. I KNOW that I am far from perfect and could stand a tune-up in areas of my ministry as a deacon.  As a parish whole, we cannot improve if we do not know how we are missing the mark, or hitting the mark, whichever the case. There is an old adage that you cannot please all the people all of the time, but it would be nice to know what it would take to please some of our parishioners some of the time. Please use the suggestion box to share your thoughts, ideas, joys, complaints and comments about our parish. 
    Would it be helpful to our parish to have some of the comments submitted to our suggestion box published in either the weekly bulletin or the Mass Appeal? Maybe we could generate some good dialogue that could ultimately be beneficial to our parish. In order to respect confidentiality, if you would prefer not to have a comment published, even if you submit it anonymously, please note that on the suggestion. Fr. Andrew will be the “gatekeeper,” so to speak, of the suggestion box.

    I would think that more transparency between all would be good for all. Write 'em out; drop 'em in the box!            - Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

     Last weekend Bishop Pates installed Fr. Andrew as our “new” pastor. The installation was done at all three Masses in our parish so all could be a part. Welcome, Fr. Andrew!

     On a very different note, Valentine’s Day is this week. Ever wonder about the origins of this romantic holiday? St. Valentine, officially known as St. Valentine of Rome, is a third-century Roman saint commonly associated with love. There’s not much known for sure about St. Valentine's life, including whether the stories handed down through the centuries might actually be about two different saints by the same name. The legends attributed to the mysterious saint are as inconsistent as the actual identification of the man. One of the legends of St. Valentine depicts St. Valentine being arrested because he secretly married couples so husbands wouldn't have to go to war. Another says he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, was imprisoned and while imprisoned he healed the jailer's blind daughter. On the day of his execution, he left the girl a note signed, "Your Valentine.”

     In any event, it is agreed that St. Valentine did really exist, as archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to him. It is also agreed that St. Valentine was martyred and then buried. In 496 Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar because so little is known about him. However, the church still recognizes him as a saint.

     St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of engaged couples, bee keepers, epilepsy, fainting, happy marriages, love, plague, travelers, and young people.                                     ~ Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

     My wife and I were recently invited to Conception Abbey, Missouri for a weekend there. We were there to be the host couple for the newly formed diaconate community. Presently, there are six couples going through the process of discerning if they are called to continue in formation to be ordained as Deacons in four years. At the same time, the Church is discerning if those six should continue towards ordination.  

     The role Di and I played was to share with the couples what it is like to be a Deacon, to share what happens in the life of a Deacon, the high and low points of being a Deacon, and to answer any questions the six couples might have about the process. There were a lot of questions!

     As we attended gatherings, classes, and broke bread with the group, it brought back many memories, most of them good. I certainly didn't miss the many hours sitting in a classroom environment. I did miss the high spirituality that pervades the monastery. I recalled the fear and doubts I faced twelve years ago when I was in their shoes and now tried to comfort them in their concerns about their futures in ministry. Scary stuff to go through filled with uncertainty all the while! That uncertainty continues off and on even after ordination.

     Please pray that they may know the will of God as they move through formation, and that His will be done regardless of how many are ordained.                                  Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

     Next Sunday, December 30th, or this Sunday, December 23rd, depending upon when you received this bulletin and read it, is the Feast of the Holy Family. With that in mind, only read the first half of this article on Sunday, December 23rd and save the rest for Sunday December 30th.  ;-) this is a two-week bulletin.

     The Feast of the Holy Family, also referred to as Holy Family Sunday, is celebrated to promote the observance of this feast with the hope that it might instill into Christian families something of the faithful love and the devoted attachment that characterize the model family of Nazareth. Very little is known about the daily life of the Holy Family, made up of foster father St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of course the child Jesus. We do know of their travel to Bethlehem for the birth of the child Jesus, the story of their escape to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusalem.

     This feast is to present the Holy Family as the model and exemplar of all Christian families. The best way to live out the Church in the family unit is to make Christ the center of family and individual life. St. John Chrysostom urged all Christians to make each home a "family church," and in doing so, we sanctify the family unit.             Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

Q. Who was born due to the event known as the Immaculate Conception?

A.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born! The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary being immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother Anne, who was married to Joachim.  

     Mary has been known as "Theotokos", or "God-Bearer" (Mother of God) during the early years of the Church. This title was a response to early threats to 'orthodoxy', the preservation of authentic Christian teaching.

     Many people, including many Catholics, think that the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Jesus through the action of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Immaculate Conception refers to the condition that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from Original Sin from the very moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.

   It is interesting to note that Jesus is the only person who had the privilege of choosing His own mother! Also, whoever He chose to be His mother would be perfect due to the graces that He could have poured out upon that person.

We too are called to be "God-Bearers" in the way we live our lives in our present condition here on earth.

                                       Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

     Repent!      The end is near!

     And so it is; the end of our liturgical year is close at hand. The liturgical year is kind of like a fiscal year, the time when the Church year "starts over" again. We are ending the longer of the two periods known as ordinary time, so called because there are no major events occurring during these periods. The color green is used during this period.

     Our next liturgical season, Advent, begins on Sunday, December 2nd. Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. Advent, along with Lent, is a penitential season when people are called to introspection, repentance, and renewal.

     The liturgical color for Advent is violet, with the exception of the third Sunday. The color for the third Sunday, known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word meaning "to rejoice," is rose, or pink.  

     The Advent wreath, used during this season, holds four candles, three purple and one rose, each representing a week of Advent. The wreath is blessed on the first Sunday of Advent and displayed throughout the season. The Advent wreath serves as a reminder of the approach of the feast of Christmas.                     

                                                               Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

"Back in the day," when the Church was first beginning, the Mass was said in the catacombs and homes of secret Christians. The sign designating those of Christian belief was the two lines that crossed at one end symbolizing a fish. People secretively gathered at such places to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Since the worship took place in private homes, it's safe to assume the entire family was involved in some way. Everyone in the family had something to contribute to the Eucharistic celebration.

Today I'm seeing a resurgence of such family participation in the liturgy. I have recently noticed a strong family participation in our Masses at St. Mary-Holy Cross. I have seen instances of children acting as altar servers at the same Mass that their parents were Eucharistic Ministers. I have seen instances of a parent being announcer and cantor while their son was an altar server. Another example is of a mother being cantor while her daughter was lector and her husband and sons were ushers. Total family participation in the liturgy!

Since I've been assigned to SMHC parish, I have seen ministers "step up" to serve Christ in various liturgical ways. It has always been on a volunteer basis. Now is a good time to consider in what way you can serve with other family members in celebrating our liturgies. Make it a family approach to worship and leading worship.

Fr. Andrew is leading our newly revived Liturgy committee. Please consider speaking with him about ways that your family can more actively worship Christ in the liturgies. The list of possible ways to serve is seemingly endless. 

                                                         Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

Next week could be a pivotal time in the way State and Federal government works. A lot of life-changing issues are at stake! Election day is Tuesday, November 6. Many political seats are up for grabs that could bring about change in the way things are done. Are you ready to vote and do you know why you will be voting for a particular person running for office? Hopefully, people won't simply be voting the "party line" because no party has a line-up of perfect people for any given positions.

So how should you vote? The Church is not supposed to endorse any political candidate. IF you have heard from any pulpit a recommendation to vote for any particular person or party, ignore what you heard. Instead, research the candidates, look at their history, listen to what they say, try to separate the truth from the lies, and mostly find out the CRITERIA that the Church considers to be important. Do not let any single issue by any candidate be your reason to vote for that person.

The Church's guidelines can be found here: https://iowacatholicconference.org/2018/09/bishops-release-faithful-citizenship-for-iowa-catholics-letter/.

As a democracy, our country gives you the right and responsibility to vote. These rights and privileges haven't come easily, so don't just dismiss your responsibility as a citizen to help form our government.                       -Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Why do we pray the rosary before Masses in October? October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Church chose that day and the month of October to honor Our Lady of the Rosary because a great victory took place on October 7. In October 1571, the Church in Europe faced a seemingly hopeless challenge. The Muslim Turks had already conquered the Middle East, slaughtering millions and forcing the survivors to convert to Islam. They set their sights on the Christian kingdoms of the central Mediterranean, threatening Sicily, Venice, and even Rome herself.

    The Christian fleet was far outnumbered and appeared to have no human hope of winning. The Christian fleet met the invading Muslims off the coast of Greece in the Gulf of Lepanto. As Christians all over Europe prayed for Our Lady’s intercession, the Turks surrounded the Christian ships. By day's end, almost all of the Turks were driven to shore or drowned. Europe was saved. 

In honor of the victory, Pope Pius V instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, which is still celebrated today as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7). And, in 1883, when Pope Leo XIII officially dedicated the month of October to the Holy Rosary, he made reference to the battle and the feast.

    Some attribute the association between October and Mary to the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. On October 13, 1917, in Cova de Iria outside of Fatima, Portugal, the last of six monthly Marian apparitions to three shepherd children is said to have taken place.

                                Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   Ciao!  That word is an Italian greeting and farewell. That word was heard a lot last Saturday night at the St. Mary-Holy Cross picnic in the parish hall. People greeted and shared food and drink and fellowship with each other. A good time was had by all!

   A HUGE hats-off to the Stewardship Committee for planning, hosting, and serving that evening. Included in that hats-off is a salute to all the volunteers, not on the committee, who served, brought food, cooked, and cleaned up after the fun was over. It was a huge success. What would have made it better is if ALL PARISHIONERS could have joined us in the festivities.

   I used "fellowship" which is traditionally thought of as a Protestant term. They (Protestants) don't have the marked cornered on that sort of thing! It is very important for all Christians to join in fellowship together as well as with other faiths. That is how community is formed and which is so important to being a Christian. Jesus was constantly in community with his followers and with those he encountered in His ministry and that is recorded in the Gospels. He shared food and love with His community and wished that for all people. That is why a gathering like the picnic, or wine and cheese, or coffee and donuts is actually important for us to participate in as we grow in our faith. It doesn't take Father Andrew to be present in vestments for the action to be beneficial and authentically Christian!

   With that said, please join in any gathering of parishioners for whatever event is held in our parish community. 

                                                       Ciao, and Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   Last week I was in the vestibule with Fr. Andrew greeting and welcoming people, and little kids, as they left the church after Mass. I glanced in and saw quite a few people still inside the church so I decided to wait longer to greet them as they came out. After a period of time, I headed towards the sacristy to unvest. I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the church and saw the number of people scattered around inside the church, chatting with others. This is what community is all about!

   At Mass, we share the story and the body and blood of our Savior Jesus. After Mass, those people chatting were living out the story as they entered each other's lives through the stories they shared about their lives. How cool!

   The folks at Holy Cross have been engaged in this sort of thing for a long time, and good on them! It's neat to see the kids from different families playing together, chasing each other around the church, and climbing the trees outside of church until their moms catch them.

   Let's try to do more of that after Mass, maybe in the parish hall out of respect for those still in prayer. Let's be willing to let others share in our personal struggles, our joys, and our lives in general.                         Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear friends in Christ,

   A couple of weeks ago, 17 men were ordained in the order of Permanent Deacon. I had the honor of vesting one of those men who was ordained. These men, and their wives, spent the last four years in formation to become Deacons. The formation process included one weekend a month at Conception Abbey in Missouri, one Saturday a month in training, usually in Des Moines or Council Bluffs. They have read quite a few books and written a greater number of papers describing their spiritual journey as they were being transformed.

   At the ordination, they promised obedience to the Bishop. They will serve at a parish in the Des Moines Diocese as well as in a ministry of charity outside the parish per the Bishop's request.

   Why are they doing all of this? They felt a call from the Holy Spirit to serve God and his people. All were actively involved in lay ministry before they began formation. We are all called to serve God in a greater way than just going to Mass and receiving the Sacraments. I would challenge each of you to consider what gifts and talents God has given you that you can use in service to the Church and his people!                                      Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ, 

   "Who Are You?" is the name of a song written by a group called "The Who" in 1978. It is also a common thought that runs through a person's mind when they meet someone not familiar to them. It goes through my mind in an invitatory sort of manner when I encounter a parishioner I haven't met yet. In too many instances, I might have already met them but my "senior memory" prevents  me from remembering their name. As long as I've been here, it is still difficult to remember some names. Can you imagine how hard it is for Fr. Andrew, new to our parish, to begin to remember everyone's name? EVERYBODY knows him but not so easy the other way around!

   So let's do this; if you haven't heard me address you by name, tell me who you are the next time we encounter each other. Probably, and unfortunately, you will have to do the same the next time we meet. I really would like to know each of you by name as I'm sure Fr. Andrew would. He is showing great signs of being a good shepherd, and a good shepherd knows his sheep, so help him out. Also, just because he is a young guy doesn't mean that he too might not have difficulty remembering names so keep trying.

   And speaking about introductions, what about at the beginning of Mass when we are to greet those around us..................................? Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ,

    On June 10, Bishop Richard Pates made his annual appearance at our parish to Confirm 24 eager young people. The church was packed. Everyone was very nicely attired and in high spirits to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Bishop talked in his homily mostly to the Confirmandi, but also to those in attendance and even to those not present. We were told to share the message, the Good News, with those within and those outside our Catholic faith. We are to continually be supportive of those on their own faith journey. We should not consider ourselves alone on our journey with God. We should help others on their journey also in whatever way we can.

    The Bishop made a profound point in his closing. "This is not a graduation, but rather a Confirmation." So many, many young people go through faith formation by way of R.E. and Church youth groups until they are confirmed. Sadly, at that time, they are not so apt to be spotted in church any longer. In their way of thinking, their "dues" have been paid. But that way of thinking is not the Truth.

    We all are constantly called to grow in our faith and to participate in liturgies. Even us "adults" should strive to come to know Jesus better and to understand His will for each of us. That can't be accomplished outside the church community and outside of faith sharing. Thus, Confirmation is just another stepping stone on our constant path to God.

    Young and old alike, trust in and turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. 

                                                                                                      Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   This weekend, Monday specifically, we celebrate Memorial Day. The day started out with widows of Civil War veterans using that day specifically to decorate the graves of their deceased loved ones. Over time, it has grown to include decorating the graves of all deceased. This day has become almost like an additional Veterans Day. Living veterans are frequently told "Thanks for your service." That frequently brings to my mind, and the minds of many combat veterans, the question of, "Did I really do enough? I am among the living, and the people that we honor on Memorial Day are not."

   It reminds me of the saying "All gave some; some gave all!" Could I have done more to aid and assist the honorees today while they were still living? It is a haunting question experienced by many combat veterans. It never goes away.  

Our parish will show respect for all deceased at Holy Cross with a 10:00 AM Mass on Monday. Within the cemetery will be the very moving Avenue of Flags started by Lynn Schreurs, along with a color guard, and twenty-one gun salute. Very touching!

  In conjunction with Memorial Day, the Knights of Columbus will serve a pancake breakfast at Holy Cross after 8:00AM Mass on Sunday. Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear friends in Christ,

   I am writing this on a day, May 1, 2018, that SEEMS to be a national emergency. I hear people shouting out  "May day! May day!"

   On a very serious note, this is another invitation to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the 

 Thursday of the month at either St. Mary or Holy Cross on a monthly alternating basis.  When I came to our parish, there were a group of people carpooling to St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames and I was asked why we didn't have Adoration in our own parish? That was a huge hint to me, but after starting our own Adoration there has never been a car full of people attending. Is it my breath? Too much incense? Why almost zero attendance? You are all invited to attend. Our new pastor, Fr. Andrew Windshitl, is deeply committed to Adoration so come join us in this very sacred liturgy.

   Adoration is a time of meditation and contemplation so this would be a good time to gaze on the Blessed Sacrament and ponder the great "I AM". What did that mean to God who said it, to Jesus who also said it, and to us?

   What are we called to be, and become, in our merely human lives? What does "I AM" mean to us individually?

   Sooooo, to you that carpooled to Ames, and to all who didn't, please join us soon in the silent presence of God.

                                                           Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

   "The Times They Are A-Changin'" was a song written by Bob Dylan back in 1964, way before many from our parish were even born, but it is so true even today.

   Fr. Dan is retiring and leaving the parish. Four other priests from our Diocese are retiring as well. Fr. Andrew Windschitl is coming as our new pastor. The Bishop retired/is retiring.  What does all this mean to us?

   Many, including myself, HATE change, but it is inevitable. Time marches on and we must move with it, scary as that may be. It's scary because we don't know the outcome of our future. We can either lament the changing of the guard, or we can look to the future with hope, trusting God for our welfare, and looking forward to the positives that come with change. We must strive to go through these changes with open minds and prayerful hearts. Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the Israelites facing their change as they walked on the floor of the Red Sea with walls of water on either side and the Egyptians hot on their trail? They had to be wondering how change was going to work out for them!

   Let's get behind Fr. Andrew and give him our complete support as he leads us, just as the Israelites did with Moses. Let’s pray for him!                                                     Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

He is Risen! Happy Easter to everyone, and just a brief reminder of the "reason for the Season." This is the event in salvation history that should be of utmost importance to each of us. We have all heard that "Jesus died for our sins" and that if we "follow" him, we also will be raised from the dead. But think about that for a minute, what He endured for our salvation - He was scourged and crucified!

His words "follow me" are a pretty tall command and can lead to great suffering! Maybe you, or someone you know, are suffering from cancer, dementia, heart problems, or some other debilitating physical or emotional ailment. There are many being persecuted for their belief in God and their service to Him. Hard to believe, but true! We are called to stay in the struggle, to persevere just as Jesus did when he asked to have the cup pass Him by. By our perseverance in this life, we will experience our own being raised from the dead of earthly life! What we, each of us, are going through now, will be nothing compared to what we will experience when we enter His glory! Thank you Jesus!

Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ,

   A couple of years ago, Fr. Dan gave to parish staff members a book entitled "REBUILT: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter."  Very pertinent for our parish today. The book was very eye opening and talked about being open minded and working as a team. Good ideas but it didn't go very far in our parish because we lacked a formal implementation plan.

   One of our staff members talked about the various programs and committees working inside a silo. When you are inside a silo and look around, you see nothing but "your" silo. There is no concept of what others are doing outside of your silo. The idea is to knock down all silos so others around can see and hear what you are doing, how you are doing it, and maybe lend some assistance to your efforts. That way the whole community is able to be a part of the big plan and come on board with their own gifts and ideas.

   To make this happen in a good way, we all need to share ideas and perceptions about what might work and how to go about making it work. We all need to communicate with each other and be open minded!

   Right now, there are some committees and heads of committees attempting to lead our parish. That is a good thing. They (WE) need feedback and ideas; we need to share information with each other. We all should have the sense that we are members of ALL committees within our parish and have a vested interest in making our parish better. Speak up! Listen! Do something! Even if it's criticism, we need to know what is needed and what to do.                   Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ: 

We have nearly survived another winter. I seem to measure my length of life by winters survived. I, and many others, have a condition known as S.A.D., or seasonal affective disorder, that makes life difficult due to a decrease in sunlight brought on by shorter days and by long periods of overcast days. It can have a negative effect on mood. Winter can bring on sadness caused by the extreme cold that can kill and injure, which reminds us of our vulnerability. There is a noticeable absence of birds and furry creatures moving in the landscape in the dreary winter days. Through all this dread and dreariness, we have to remember that God is with us and will remain with us throughout all that we endure.

Now the temperatures creep a little higher each day; the lows are not as fiercely low as a month ago, and the days are getting longer in the amount of sunlight each day. Our friends are returning from Florida, Texas, and Arizona with suntans!! A little over a month from now, springtime and the liturgical calendar with the celebration of Easter will coincide. Easter is the most joyful of our Christian seasons as it reflects Jesus' Resurrection and His promise to us of our own resurrection! Happy days are here again!! What a cause for rejoicing! 

                                                      Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear Friends in Christ:

Recently, Fr Dan convened a meeting of parish committee and council leaders to discuss next years' budget plans. We heard Peter Relya outline the budget trends for our parish. It seems the dollar amount of tithing and number of people who tithe are both on the decline. Unfortunately, that trend is opposed to a trend of increasing costs and higher prices. I don't know the expected time that those two lines are anticipated to intersect, but they are headed that way, unfortunately. Fortunately, we have a parish of some generous givers who contribute the bulk of the parish financial needs while some don't tithe at all. Not a good situation. What do we as a parish need to do to counter or stop this trend? You, as parishioners, matter! Fr Dan and council leaders, and all parishioners need to hear viable ideas, so talk away.

In conjunction with the financial matters being discussed, there was a discussion of why people are no longer being active in their Catholic faith. People are not coming. There was discussion of RE children whose parents don't attend Mass. What is that teaching those kids? There was discussion of adult faith formation and Eucharistic Adoration activities being poorly attended. Why not? What needs to happen or change for people to become INVOLVED in their faith? How many young people have you seen from the last Confirmation class?

Back when many of us were growing up, the stock answer was, "if you don't go, you will go to Hell!"  That wasn't Jesus' way of inviting, encouraging people to follow Him and I don't want to talk that unloving talk. Why are so many Protestant mega-churches filled to the brim and yet they lack the true Eucharist? What part of our faith needs to be reexamined, and why?            Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Bishop Pates is looking for a few good Deacons! Actually, it's not current Deacons he is seeking, but rather men who might grow to become Deacons. Those men would be strong in their faith in the eyes of the core team even though a lot of people don't feel that their own faith is strong. Those men would be actively involved in the Church in some way that laypersons can be and are encouraged to be involved. This is more about feeling a "calling" than about an intellectual decision.

The candidate can be married or single. If they are single, they must remain single for their lifetime. If married and their spouse dies. they must remain single. All will take a pledge of celibacy and a pledge of obedience to the Bishop and his successors. They must be able to pass a stringent background check and psychological testing. At ordination, four years from now, they cannot be over the age of 60 (or must receive a dispensation from the bishop) as there is an expectation that they will serve as Deacons for at least ten years. Age 70 is the mandatory retirement age for Deacons.  

Those called will undergo approximately 500 hours of formation training and will write a multitude of papers about their understanding of the Church and their own state of formation.

The call is presently open but there is a deadline date to file a statement of interest. Multiple recommendation letters from priests, Deacons, friends and family must be written in support of the candidate. When ordained, the Deacon will be allowed to hatch, match, and dispatch. (Baptize, witness marriages, and perform funeral and wake services).

If you feel called, please contact me in the very near future at 515-669-6158. Blessings, Deacon Terry  

Dear Friends in Christ, 

At Mass on January 6, two people entered into full communion with the Catholic Church and our St. Mary–Holy Cross Parish Community, Ashley Young and Paula Garoutte.

These two ladies had unique faith circumstances which brought about an abbreviated period of RCIA formation for them.

Ashley was baptized and confirmed as an infant into the Russian Orthodox Church.  Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has generally taken the approach that the doctrinal teachings of the Eastern Orthodox churches are sound, and that "the vision of the full communion to be sought is that of unity in legitimate diversity."

Paula was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. While baptism in the Episcopal Church is recognized and accepted by the Roman Catholic Church, Confirmation in that Church is not. Therefore, Paula was Confirmed as a Catholic at the time she made her Catholic Profession of Faith. Her sponsor was her daughter, Beth Hart, who herself was received into the Catholic Church in 2016.

Both ladies made a public Profession of Faith that involves reciting the Nicene Creed and attesting to their acceptance of the teachings of the Catholic Church. They both also received the Eucharist at that Mass, and are now full members of the Roman Catholic Church. As with all of us, they will continue to learn and grow in the faith.

Please welcome Ashley and Paula to our Church Family, and keep them in your prayers. Thanks to all the RCIA team members who helped bring them to this point.       Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   "Mark" my words!

   That is what we will be doing this liturgical year that started with the beginning of Advent. We are now in cycle B of the three-year rotation, so the gospel readings this year focus on the Gospel of Mark. All four of the gospel writers had somewhat different perspectives on what Jesus said and did, and this year we will hear what Mark interpreted or considered most important about Jesus during his ministry. Traditionally, Mark's gospel is said to have been written shortly before A.D. 70 in Rome, at a time of impending persecution and when destruction loomed over Jerusalem. Its audience seems to have been Gentiles, unfamiliar with Jewish customs.

   Mark was much younger than the other gospel writers, probably a teenager. His mother was a prominent follower of Jesus Christ. Mark is known as Peter’s interpreter, both in speech and in writing. In his book, which reflects Peter’s interest in spreading the gospel among the Gentiles, Mark wrote down the observations and memories of Peter. Also, Mark was apparently more impressed by the mighty works that Jesus performed than by the content of Jesus's teaching as more than half of his gospel is devoted to giving an account of the remarkable deeds that Jesus performed. Throughout the gospel, Mark particularly emphasizes Jesus's humanity. In Mark, Jesus is portrayed as immensely popular with the people in Galilee during his ministry.

   So, as we hear the Gospel of Mark being proclaimed this coming year, let's try to imagine ourselves in Mark's shoes as he relates to us what Jesus said and did. 

                                                        Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

In December of 1980 six men from Forest Lake, Minnesota, unknowingly started a men's directed, Charismatic retreat that would live on for 35 years. Out of the men attending the retreat, 15 went on to be ordained Deacons.

The retreat was attended by men, many of whom were broken in spirit and by the world. Then-layperson-and-Viet Nam-veteran Gary Houle was the first to enter the diaconate and be ordained. Gary went on to encourage many other men, and in particular myself, also a fellow Viet Nam combat veteran, and wrote a letter of recommendation to the Des Moines Diocese for me when I discerned my call to enter the diaconate.  I was ordained in 2010 in Des Moines and was vested by Deacon Houle and my wife Diana as part of the sacrament.

Don Tienter first attended the retreat the same year as I. In addition to receiving direction as part of the retreat, we, and two other men, met to share our faith and hold each other accountable to that faith. I had continued to encourage Don to consider the diaconate, and four years ago I wrote a letter of recommendation to the Archdiocese of St. Paul supporting Don's entry into formation. This weekend, December 9, 2017, Don will be ordained a Deacon in the Archdiocese of St. Paul.  I and Don's wife Maria will be vesting him. Coincidentally, timewise, the retreat (which is no longer continuing) was always held the first week of Advent.

This retreat had always been a powerful and Spirit-filled opportunity for men to be reintroduced to the Holy Spirit and to bring Christ into their lives. Many tears were shared at those retreats and a lot of spiritual growth was experienced by all who attended. Henry Nouwen refers to such persons as being "Wounded Healers."                 

            Blessings, Deacon Terry  

Dear friends in Christ: 

St. Mary-Holy Cross hosted a beautiful service of first reconciliation for the second graders last Saturday, Nov. 18. What made it beautiful? A lot of things, especially the eagerness of the children receiving the sacrament. Usually reconciliation brings on feelings of apprehension or outright fear. I didn't see that so it must have been that the fear thing had been diminished through the excellent training by the RE teachers involved. Thank you teachers for making this sacrament of initiation so pleasant!

And thank you parents for your part in this sacrament. That "part" included many of the parents participating in the sacrament themselves. It was very encouraging to me to see so many of the parents going to reconciliation with their children. I'm sure the kids picked up on that too! As taught at Baptism, the parents are to be the first teachers of the faith and there is no better way to do that than to lead by example. Thank you parents.

Hats off to Caleb Coffelt, Tenley Fried, Tanner Heaps, Jaslyn Rasmussen, Gus Schaffer, Austin Shugar, Sydney Veasman, Brooklyn Volz, Weston Walmsley, Tyler Weber, and Macey Welch. Thanks to you for your participation in your faith, our faith! May they and their parents continue to grow in each's faith.

Thank you to Father Dan who led the service and rendered the sacrament and to Fr. Steve Orr who also rendered the sacrament.

The service ended with a rousing singing of "This Little Light of Mine". The singing was helped by the joyful choreography of the "kids" holding their candle lights high above their heads as they moved to the music.

Beautiful! 

                                         Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear friends in Christ: 

   Is it time for a change in our Church? No, I'm not talking about anything radical like trying to make changes to the very authentic and vital Mass or the sacraments and such. We're still trying to absorb the changes brought about by Vatican II! What I'm talking about here is changes to the ways WE think and to OUR mindsets and to how WE live our lives.

   Last week in his bulletin article Fr. Dan talked about the millennials and why, in growing numbers, they are not participating in the Church. Two of the things mentioned were authenticity and hypocrisy. None of us like to be around a fake or a hypocrite! The millennials do not have the market cornered on lack of interest in the Church. Do we act one way in church and then put on a different face after we go out the door? Are we only welcoming to some in our church and look down upon others not so much like us? I believe we need to make it a point to NOT live as if we are/were members in an exclusive club, because we aren't. The Catholic Church, and all Christian churches, should be welcoming to ALL. Are we living our lives in that mindset?

   If you see or think that I am unauthentic or hypocritical, tell me, so that I may contemplate on that/those accusations so as to learn more about myself. Hopefully, I will choose to live and be more Christ-like.

   As much as some might like to effect change in the ways and hierarchy of the Catholic Church, those matters are outside of our circle of influence. We only have the ability to try to be responsible in the way we do things personally. 

                                    Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear Friends in Christ,

   Doctors and lawyers must participate in annual or biannual ongoing training to maintain their certification in their profession. So do teachers, beauty stylists, engineers (train and building), priests and deacons, skilled tradespersons and on and on and on. This is done so those people can keep up to date on the changes in their line of work; it is a changing world out there!  So why do we as Catholic Christians ignore this process of "keeping up?" It seems that once a person is Confirmed as a teenager, the lessons end there.

   There is a lot more to be learned than can be taught in Religious Education one hour a week for eight months and going on for maybe ten years. And things change! Many would be surprised to learn that some of the Church teachings they learned as a child are no longer the way the Church teaches and believes. Granted, the basics such as the Trinity, Christ's death and resurrection, the role of Mary, and Christ's invitations to all of us DO NOT CHANGE.

   Remember the Second Vatican Council? Are you aware of all, or even most, of the changes made in the Church teachings and practices? Probably because most of the stuff you know or believe happened before that time, or those beliefs, however untrue, continue to be passed down through the family.

   It's time we all got caught up on what we as Church do believe and why we believe. It can be done in a more structured setting such as an adult faith session or series, or as laid back as a few people gathered in a home to discuss "church stuff!" Sitting in on RCIA teaching also brings people up to date. You can't believe how many times I heard, "I didn't know that!" during the sessions.

   All are invited to our RCIA teaching on Tuesday evenings, or at any other faith sharing group.  See ya there?

                        Blessings, Deacon Terry 

Dear friends in Christ,

   Who are "they," and who are "we"? I watched a couple of IPTV programs over the weekend that pertained to the surge of Hispanic immigrants to the USA. The various reporters seemed to reference the immigrants as "they."  The reporters would follow that by saying "we," which I would suppose to be the reporter's opinion and the opinion of the majority of US residents. 

   Granted, many are arriving in the US by secretly crossing the US/Mexico border, but if they didn't, they would not be able to get here in the first place. Once they are here, in filing for US Citizenship, if they disclose they are "illegals," they would be arrested and deported. That's a "catch 11," times two, if I ever heard of one!!

   Didn't Jesus tell us to take care of the marginalized, the poor, to feed the hungry? If I missed something in Scripture that excluded "illegal immigrants" from the marginalized, someone please show me chapter and verse where that exclusion is put forth! If we look back at our ancestry, we will find that many of our past relatives were considered to be in the "they" category. What if "they" had been deported; where would "we" be today? God created all human beings equal and responsible for each other, our brothers and sisters, and that includes Hispanic people. 

   "We" should include ALL without discrimination or exception. I don't propose to have THE PLAN as to how that should work, but the Holy Spirit within each of us will enlighten us individually as to what or how we can help. Pope Francis is calling out to each of us, just like Jesus did, to reach out and help our brothers and sisters. Francis started an initiative called Share the Journey which we will be hearing more of in the near future.                 Blessings, Deacon Terry

Dear friends in Christ,

Last week, the first reading was from Acts 6:1-7, and it spoke of the very first seven men chosen to be ordained deacons. The need for deacons was fairly obvious. The widows and children of the Hellenists were being overlooked as far as their needs for human survival not being met. The disciples' main mission was to continue the spread of the Word of God so they said to select seven reputable man, filled with the spirit and wisdom, to be ordained as deacons so the disciples could continue on with their mission of spreading the Word.

   "Deacon" comes from the Greek word "diakonos" which means "servant." The primary job of the deacon is to make sure that the needs of people are being met since that was the original intent of the establishment of the order of deacons. The deacons were slowly phased out in the early church but revived at the Second Vatican Council.

   The duties of the deacon include proclaiming the gospel, preparing the altar before the consecration, assisting the priest in a very limited way at the altar, assisting with the distribution of Communion, offering a sign of peace at the appropriate time, and dismissal at the end of Mass. The deacon, with the blessing of the priest, is allowed to preach on occasion. He also can perform baptisms, marriages, and be the celebrant at a vigil service or for the full funeral service. I like to say that we can hatch, match, and dispatch!

   I was ordained in August of 2010 as a married man. If my wife were to precede me in death, I could not remarry due to the vow of chastity that we make to the Bishop at our ordination. Today, there is a group of candidates, 17 strong, going through formation to be ordained in 2018. Pray for them to be open to do the will of God.

                                                                                                          Blessings, Deacon Terry