St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church
From the Business Manager’s Office

During the nearly three months that I have been on the job, I have been   attending training classes through the Archdiocese. While I have degrees in Accounting and Business Management and I understand generally accepted accounting practices, the AOD methods of accounting are specialized for the church’s use and do not necessarily follow the practices of “normal” businesses. During these classes, I have learned that the AOD is rewriting the accounting policies and procedures. This is a good thing. The last update was provided in 1981 and did not differ from the original drafted in 1931.

Commentary on various phrases in the new Roman Missal, 3^rd Edition

Over the next few months I will be offering some commentary on the new translation, which explains the significance of some of the newly translated phrases. All of this comes directly from the Magnificat Roman Missal Companion, edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., with the commentary written by Professor Anthony Esolen, 2011. (If you so desire to order this companion, visit: http://www.magnificat.com/romanmissal/roman_missal_companion.asp “…and the communion of the Holy Spirit: The word “communion” replaces “fellowship.” The word is a more exact rendering of the Latin communicatio, which suggests not simply a settled state of love, but the dynamic act of sharing or imparting that love. The Holy Spirit imparts to us the same love that is given and received by the Persons of the Trinity. We are called to enter that communion, that life of love. The blessing is taken word for word from the   conclusion of Saint Paul’s second Letter to the Corinthians.”

Advent is a time of remembrance and expectancy. It focuses our spiritual lives, bringing together our past, our present and our future. During our Advent journey, we revisit the spiritual journey or our ancestors and rekindle the feelings they felt as they awaited the first coming of the Messiah. Strengthened by their faith, we renew our own belief in Jesus’ presence and love in our daily lives. Finally, we prepare for his second coming. We ready ourselves to rejoice in the glory yet unseen.

Waiting is not a popular pastime, yet if we do not learn to wait, we will never be prepared for Christ’s coming. Advent teaches us how to cultivate and maintain a spirituality of waiting.

During this Advent season, immerse yourself in the spiritual stories of your faith filled ancestors. Have the courage to write your own salvation history. Hold this history with open hands. Allow your waiting for God, and God’s waiting for you, to transform the world in which you live. Allow this Advent, the coming Messiah, this arrival to transform your life.

Have a happy Advent,
Deacon Ron

   Well, how did it go today?  Did you experience the poetry of the Mass as the new and ancient liturgy was re-presented to your heart?  Or was it a bit more like being called to the board in math class when you hadn’t even understood your homework?  Either way, it’s how we’re moving forward now, re-learning to give thanks (Eucharistas) together.  What a great opportunity!  Did you know that the new translation requires us to change a few of our phrases outside of Mass, too?  In all Church rites, sacraments and praise services, the response to the greeting “The Lord be with you” will consistently be “And with your spirit.”   And the penitential prayer—known in Latin as the Confiteor—which begins “I confess to Almighty God,” should follow the new translation whether it is prayed in the Mass or anywhere else.

Could you help another family have a Merry Christmas? It’s easier than you think – and a wonderful way to experience the true meaning of Christmas. You’ll receive the names of the family members, ages, sizes and a need/wish list. We ask that you purchase an article of clothing for each person, a toy for each child and food for Christmas dinner. Anything beyond that (additional toys and clothing, decorations, etc.) would be up to you.

The items should be gift-wrapped and tagged and delivered to the family’s parish by December 20th. You may also deliver the gifts to the family’s home.

There’s plenty of time to shop sales and provide Christmas for another family without breaking your budget. Please consider sharing with a family in need.

Call Carolyn Plague at (586) 323-0302 for more information.

The Advent season is almost upon us. This year we will be collect for five different organizations; St. Peter & Paul, Vista Maria, Crossroads Pregnancy, St. Bartholomew, and St. Scholastica.

The unwrapped gifts will be collected every weekend through December 17th.

The gifts will be sorted boxed and delivered to the Charities, that following Monday, 12/19/11.   Trees are in the narthex.

Would you be able to bake homemade cookies, breads, muffins for the Homebound of our parish as a treat for the Holidays? If so, please deliver them to the Narthex the weekend of December 10th and 11th. The homebound are ever so grateful for the smallest gift of kindness. Please keep them in your prayers.

E-Mail

Have you ever considered delivering the Eucharist on Sundays to those who are in the hospital? We have approximately six ministers each Sunday who attend the 8:15 Mass, receive a blessing and head off to Troy Beaumont to offer the Eucharist to the sick. You are at Beaumont for approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. You would be put on a rotation schedule every 5-6 weeks. We are very low on ministers. I am seeking ten new ministers to bring our volunteer base back up to a safe level. If you are interested or have any questions please contact Kim Houseman at 248.689.8380 x112, or E-Mail.

Open Wide and Say “Ahhhhh”
We have a huge variety of ministries here at St. Anastasia. We try to serve parishioners in regards to every aspect of their person. We try to do this spiritually through our liturgies, prayer opportunities, reconciliation, etc. We do this intellectually through all of the educational opportunities like our library, speakers who come in, Bible  studies, book clubs, etc. We even do it socially through our many fun activities like the square dances and St. Patrick day parties. 

Why do we call our priests “Father”?

Many non-Catholics question why priests are called “Father” in our Church. They say this is not what the Bible teaches! Doesn’t Jesus Himself say, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven”? Mt 23:9

The question asked seems to presuppose that this passage from Scripture should be taken literally as an absolute statement; that we should call no man father. If we were to interpret Matthew 23:9 literally, no one could be called father, not even our biological father. Christians could not for example, celebrate Father’s Day. Nor could George Washington be called “the father of our country.” Is this what Jesus intended? Of course not. Doesn’t Jesus tell the rich young man “to keep the commandments” including the one to “honor your father and mother”? Mt 19:19

When interpreting Matthew 23:9, it would be helpful to read the entire 23rd chapter in order to get the proper understanding of the context of this passage. This chapter of Matthew contains Jesus’ indictment of the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. So, not only does Jesus condemn the scribes and Pharisees for their use of the address “Father” in a vain and empty way, but in the very next verse says: “Nor are you to be called teachers, for you have only one teacher, the Christ.” Mt 23:10. Yet, many contemporary non-denominational TV preachers describe themselves as “Bible teachers” and no one has ever argued that the Church should not have Sunday school teachers on the basis of this passage. Jesus Himself acknowledged Nicodemus to be a “teacher of Israel” (John 3:10) and in the Book of Acts, we read that certain men in Antioch were called “teachers.” Acts 13:1  As we can clearly see when reading the entire 23rd chapter of Matthew, Jesus takes issue not with these titles and roles, but rather with their abuse by the scribes and Pharisees.

The term “father” when used to address a priest is not merely an assertion of his “higher” status in the community. Rather, it is a term of endearment and of love, as the apostle Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 4:14-15,  and 1 Thessalonians 2:11. The spiritual fatherhood of the priest is intended to be a sign of the depth of the relationship which those in the community of the Church have with their leaders, a relationship based on the priest’s role in our second birth, our baptism.

This kind of attempt to interpret the Scriptures literally and then apply a     passage taken out of context, is a misreading and misunderstanding of the Scriptures. It remains a simple fact that the overwhelming majority of Christians in the world today (Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans, etc.) and across the 20 centuries of Church history have addressed and continue to  address their clergy as “Father.”

In Christ’s peace,
Deacon Ron