Vol. 39, No. 11

March 2015

Quote of the Month The Saint Philip Be-News-Zi

“This is my Beloved Son. Listen to Him.” Mark 9:7

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3: 16-17)

Calendar of Events March 2015 3/6-7: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION begins the First Friday of every month in the Chapel, after the 8:30AM Mass and concludes with Benediction at 7:45AM Saturday morning.

3/6: HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS Holy Hour will be held in the Chapel from 4-5PM during First Friday Adoration. Join us as we pray for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate, and Religious Life.

3/6: PRAISE & WORSHIP ADORATION –7PM 3/8: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS (Set clocks ahead one hour!) 3/8 – 3/11: PARISH MISSION (See more details in this issue.)

3/17: HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! 3/19: SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mass at 8:30AM (English) and 7:30PM (Spanish)

3/20: FIRST DAY OF SPRING 3/24: LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE – 7PM See the list below for other Penance Services in the area.

3/28-29: PALM SUNDAY (Regular Sunday Mass Schedule)

STATIONS OF THE CROSS (take place each week during Lent) Mondays – 7:30PM (Spanish) Wednesdays – 8:00AM (English) Fridays – 7:00PM (English)

Lenten Penance Services March 5 March 11 March 12 March 18 March 19 March 23 March 24

Sacred Heart, Griffin (7PM) St. Matthew, Tyrone (7PM) Holy Trinity, Peachtree City (6:30PM) St. Peter of the Rock, Rock (7PM) Our Lady of Vietnam (7PM) St. John the Evangelist, Hapeville (7PM) Our Lady of Mercy, Fayetteville (9:30–11:15AM)

March 24

St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro (7PM)

March 25

St. John Vianney, Lithia Springs (7PM)

Nick’s Notes By Nick Dragone, Director of Music & Liturgy “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” This paraphrase is attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of the post-modern age’s most beloved saints. She was a woman of great faith, of great humility, of great stubbornness, and of great love. This woman, who simply loved God and loved other people (enough to care for those totally cast out by society) achieved great things and founded a new religious community. She was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, but perhaps her greatest achievements were her fidelity to God in times of abandonment and personal darkness, and the extreme, sometimes reckless love with which she ministered. My time volunteering at the Gift of Peace hospice facility, staffed by the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Sisters), was a challenging and frustratingly formative experience. This hospice was specifically for homeless or very low-income men and women who were chronically, seriously ill or dying. On my first day, I was given the task of feeding one of the residents. I was elated that I was able to “dive right in”. Well, feed him I did; then he threw up all over me. It was a “baptism of fire” for me. A few weeks later, one of the Sisters told me that she had something very special to show me; she was going to teach me how to clean the bathrooms. The bathrooms in this hospice were communal, and thus, needed daily attention. At the time, I did not at all understand why this task was at all special. One day when I was there, I heard one of the residents screaming at one of the Sisters at the top of his lungs. He was calling her names and saying things that made me blush and embarrassed, so I couldn’t even imagine how the Sister felt. After she calmly walked away, she simply told me, “Brother, we take them where they are.” What beautifully simple advice. These women, day in and day out, were puked on, cussed at, made to clean bodily fluids off the floor and the beds, and yet, they maintained such calmness and a profound reverence for the person to whom they were ministering. The crux of ministry for them is that they are ministering Christ, who Himself thirsted on the cross. As we continue our Lenten journey, how do we quench the Lord’s thirst? We are asked to pray, to fast, and to give alms. Perhaps it is more affective to do more “small things with great love”: praying for the awareness of God’s constant presence in our lives; attuning our hearts to the heart of God; fasting from life’s little annoyances; fasting from our own prejudices, hidden agendas, and acts of violence; and finally, giving our time, whether it is cleaning up vomit, plarning mats for the homeless, or just giving someone our compassion and attention. These small things, done with great love, are what bring us from darkness to light – from the kenosis and dying of Lent, to the joy and life of Easter morning.

Lenten Sacrifice and the Awareness of God By Rev. Nicholas Cirilloame (Excerpt) Deep within its celebrations and structures, Lent is designed for one purpose alone: to lead us to recognize the presence of God in that which is right before our eyes. Everything that we do during Lent is to make us aware of the Lord, and less focused on ourselves. In its perfection, Lent is a season for reflection upon and delight in the goodness of our God. 

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If you give something up, as most people do, your sacrifice should help you recognize the blessings that we take for granted most of the time. This is especially true of those things we enjoy on a daily basis. When we willingly deprive ourselves of them, we are reminded that the blessings that we are so accustomed to enjoying do not come from our own hands, but from the Lord whose generosity is the source of all kindness. If you fast during Lent, let your self-denial help you recognize your need for God, and the daily bread that He, in His goodness, provides. Remember that the hunger you feel should lead you to thankfulness, not bitterness. If you dedicate yourself to a regimen of prayer for Lent or a commitment to daily Mass, try to understand that as you turn to God more frequently and regularly to offer Him praise, your vision of the world changes. You begin to recognize how His presence works in your life and how His strength is your consolation in trial. You may also begin to see His presence and His hand in places that you never imagined. If you are involved in acts of charity and works of mercy, try to recognize the face of Christ in those whom you serve, and love Him in them as you would love Him in person. Charity covers a multitude of sins, and it is still the most effective way to start to understand the Lord who is love. Finally, if you come back to the Church through sacramental reconciliation, here above all, recognize the powerful yet tender mercy that is perhaps God’s richest blessing to His people, and the sweetest balm for the soul. All will be forgiven to those who look for His compassion; all will be forgotten for those who return and recognize His love.

Lent isn’t about senseless sacrifices; it’s about meaningful ones. It’s not a season for offering endless prayers; it’s a time for offering honest ones. It’s a season to come back to the Lord who calls us to return to Him, and to avail ourselves of that great bounty which God has spread before us. Whether it be through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, penance, self-denial or whatever – give up what you will, but try to see the Lord in the sacrifices you make. However you get from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday is up to you. But above all, make this Lent a time when you learn to recognize Jesus Christ and the thanksgiving that we owe Him for everything that we tend to think of as our own.

PRAYER FOR LENT God of infinite love, I know that you are the source of all that is good and graced in my life. Each day, you shower me with limitless gifts. I thank you for the many gifts you have placed in my life; the gift of your Son, Jesus; the gift of faith; the gift of family and friends. Help me to recognize and be grateful for these gifts every moment of the day. In my every thought, word and action, guide me to the loving light of your Kingdom. During this Season of Lent, help me to move from the life of sin to which I so often cling. Help me to move away from those things that keep me from loving you with all my heart. Soften my hardened heart to the cries of those who are in most need – the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. Help me to love others, especially those who are difficult to love, as a way to glorify and worship you. Help me to always be aware of the many ways you allow me to share in your life so intimately. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, help me to humbly serve you and your people as we walk this journey of faith together, striving always to do your will. I ask all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

March 2015

Dear Parishioners, I am writing this column two days prior to the Priestly Ordination of Friar Gabriel Mary Scasino. There is a lot of activity taking place on our grounds, preparing for this sacred and historic event. It is the first ordination at St. Philip’s in our fifty year history and it is significant that a former Friar Pastor will be the ordaining Bishop. It will be wonderful to welcome Fr. Greg (now Bishop Hartmayer) back home again. I want to thank all those who are sharing their time and talent to make this a solemn and memorable event. Our Music Director, Nicholas Dragone, has organized a special Ordination Choir who has been practicing for many weeks. I know they will do an excellent job. Nick also planned the Ordination Liturgy with Friar Gabriel and prepared the program. Deacon Peter is the Master of Ceremonies and will make sure that all runs well. Kathy Cirincione, with John Graham and many, many volunteers are working very hard to provide the receptions after the Ordination on Saturday, February 14 th and after the Mass of Thanksgiving at 10:45AM on February 15th, as well as a dinner for Friar Gabriel’s family and friends on Saturday night. Vickie Flock and the Sacred Art & Environment Committee are decorating the church. On Saturday, many others will serve in liturgical ministries and will assist in other ways. Thanks to all of you! When we have an event like this one, it becomes so obvious that we have very generous and loving parishioners who understand the gift of stewardship and who freely share their time, talent and treasure for the good of others. th

We are now at the beginning of our 50 Anniversary year. During each Sunday Mass, we recite our Jubilee Prayer after the Prayers of the Faithful. I want to thank the Chair of our Pastoral Council, Bob Oertel, for composing such a beautiful prayer. Please put our Jubilee Mass and reception on your calendars – Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the 5PM Mass. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will be the Presider and preacher. I am happy that he will join us as he is our Shepherd who has formed a warm relationship with our parish during these last ten years. I am in the process of putting committees together to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves for our Jubilee Year. If you have a desire to assist us in our Jubilee activities, please call me and I will be happy to accept your help and point you in a direction where your talents will best be used. Two committees that could use help are: the committee to work on a design for our Memorial Garden, which will be located next to the JP II Building, and the committee to design a statue of St. Philip Benizi. Both of these will be permanent memorials to our 50 th anniversary. We have also decided to dedicate our Parish Hall to the founding families of our parish and will dedicate “Founders Hall” on September 12th and install a bronze plaque with the names of our founding families. I am also happy to announce that Mia Broder, the granddaughter of

two founding families (the Broder and Lynberg families), has agreed to oversee the production of a 50th Anniversary Memorial Book. She is a graphic designer and has a lot of experience with projects like this one. We hope that this Memorial Book will be ready for the Jubilee celebration. We will have our Jubilee Parish Picnic on May 2 nd this year, which will be free of charge. The theme is, “Celebrating 50 years of Faithful Stewardship”. We want to thank in advance, all of our parishioners for their generous sharing of time, talent and treasure to help make this picnic a success. A few years ago, in order to preserve precious memories of the remaining founding members, we conducted interviews with some of them. These interviews (about nine or ten hours’ worth) are now being edited and small clips are being posted on YouTube. Eventually, these clips will be copied onto a DVD and will narrate the story of the founding of St. Philip Benizi Church. I want to thank Tom Nemchik, David Knight, Rose Campbell, Basil Odusanya, Tim Wojcik and Jim Driscoll who have been involved in this major project. We hope that the hour-long DVD will also be ready for the Jubilee celebration. In the meantime, if you would like to view the clips that have already been posted on YouTube, the YouTube addresses are listed below. There is a lot more being planned for our Jubilee, but I don’t have room here to write about them now. More to come in future columns…. Finally, I am thrilled to announce that we have been asked by Archbishop Gregory to provide the music for the closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA. This is a tremendous honor for our parish. It is also an affirmation of all the hard work Nick and all of our music ministers and choirs are doing. I am so proud of them and hope you are too! 1. Betty & Cliff Monteau - Finding the church in an old drugstore (http://youtu.be/xenjhQh6l2k) 2. Betty & Cliff Monteau - The Confessional in the Jonesboro Mission (http://youtu.be/vQm3d41nGek) 3. Betty & Cliff Monteau - Getting ready for the new St. Philip Benizi church building (http://youtu.be/2OrwIh-Dhsc) 4. Betty & Cliff Monteau - Volunteerism & Community in the Jonesboro Mission (http://youtu.be/djuVqRiZKl8) 5. Mildred Green & Ann Hutcheson Millican - The first Sacraments (http://youtu.be/mHjcunbOxBw) 6. Mildred Green & Ann Hutcheson Millican - The first Masses at the Jonesboro Mission (http://youtu.be/uI5rgA17A2Q)

Honoring St. Joseph, The Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast Day: March 19 St. Joseph, the model of humility, and one of the world’s greatest saints, is often mentioned as being silent. This silence speaks volumes. In it, the Church realizes his faithfulness, his love and his acceptance of the Holy Will of God. St. Joseph was not a man of many words: he was a man of action. We have only one direct statement about his personality: in Matthew's Gospel, he is described as "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:19). His actions alone reveal everything else we know about him. He brings Mary and the Child she bears into his home when, in the sight of the world, he would be justified in divorcing her. He leads the expectant Mary into Bethlehem, and flees with her and her Child into Egypt. When it is safe, he returns with the two into Galilee. He does all of this, because God asks it of him. He never hesitates. Each time we read that the angel spoke to Joseph, the following sentence begins with the action St. Joseph took. "Joseph awoke," "Joseph rose," "He went." Each time he received a summons, his reaction was to follow the call immediately. Never once did he hesitate. (http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/) “(St. Joseph) is that just man, that wise and loyal servant, whom you placed at the head of your family. With a husband’s love, he cherished Mary, the virgin Mother of God. With fatherly care, he watched over Jesus Christ your Son, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Sunday Missal)

 Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Whole Church O Glorious Saint Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, and the head of the Holy Family. You have been chosen by Christ’s Vicar as the heavenly Patron and Protector of the Church founded by Christ. Protect the Sovereign Pontiff and all bishops and priests united with him. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life; and grant that all peoples of the world may be docile to the Church without which there is no salvation. Dear Saint Joseph, accept the offering I make to you. Be my father, protector, and guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me purity of heart and a love for the spiritual life. After your example, let all my actions be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.

1st Annual MLK Celebration – a Moving Tribute Submitted by Elaine Green and Lois Wolfe The holy rites and ceremony of the Roman Catholic Mass seemed even more spiritual when dedicated to the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Friars of St. Philip Benizi Parish celebrated the inaugural Mass in honor of Dr. King on Monday, January 19, 2015, at 10:00AM. Parishioners and visitors who followed the theme “Make It a Day On, Not a Day Off” filled the sanctuary. Fr. John Koziol, Pastor, served as principal celebrant and was joined by Fr. Paul Miskiewicz, Fr. Santo Cricchio, and Msgr. Edward Branch, Chaplain of the Atlanta University Lyke House. All elements of the Mass invoked the spirit of Dr. King. Fr. Gabriel Scasino, who served as Deacon, delivered a rich homily which intertwined Dr. King’s beliefs and principles with the Gospel and readings of the day. Dr. King’s prayers were poignantly reflected in the General Intercessions, read by Fr. Santo. Beautiful music and songs were performed by Nicholas Dragone and the 10:45AM Sunday Choir. Betty Bertrand sang a soulful rendition of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”, a favorite hymn of Dr. King’s. One of St. Philip’s youth, Ethan Orphe, masterfully recited an excerpt of Dr. King’s renowned “I Have a Dream” speech. Ethan attends Fayetteville High School, is a youth leader in our parish, has played football for 4 years, plays the bass guitar, has been accepted to the University of West Georgia, and is going to major in graphic arts. He will graduate this May and attend college in the fall. After Mass, the Parish Hall was filled to capacity with parishioners and guests for a reception. Visitors included members of other Catholic parishes, as well as members of the Clayton County NAACP and residents of Riverwood Townhouses. The reception also included a presentation by John A. Stokes, a special guest of the Social Justice and Black Catholic Heritage Committees. Mr. Stokes is one of the original plaintiffs of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board, a Supreme Court decision which ruled segregation of public schools to be illegal in the United States. Because of his active involvement in the struggle for human rights, Mr. Stokes has been called the “torchbearer for Dr. King and the civil rights movement”. His interactive presentation familiarized the audience with Jim Crow practices of segregation and discrimination under which Mr. Stokes lived in his home state of Virginia. One part of the interactive portions Mr. Stokes included in his presentation was a “bus ride” crossing the Mason-Dixon Line. This site: http://eric.ed.gov/? id=EJ904815 explains the purpose of the bus ride. Born in Kingsville, Prince Edward County, VA, John Arthur Stokes grew up in the Jim Crow South, a time and place in which public schools were segregated by race. He attended Robert Russa Moton High School, the county’s only school for African Americans, located in Farmville. The one-story school was built for 180 students, but there were more than 450 pupils when he began his senior year in 1950. The school had only eight classrooms, an office, and an auditorium, but no gymnasium, cafeteria, or science lab and few educational resources. Recognizing the inequalities between Moton and whites-only schools, Stokes, with his classmate Barbara Johns, helped lead a strike by all the students in April 1951. They walked out and refused to return to class until construction began on a new high school for African Americans. With advice from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the students decided to demand desegregation of all county schools, rather than seek only a new, separate school. In May, Davis et al. v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Va., et al. was filed on their behalf to integrate the county schools. The U.S. District Court in Richmond rejected their lawsuit. On appeal, the case was combined with other lawsuits under Brown v. Board of Education, and on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that public school segregation was unconstitutional. Mr. Stokes and the NAACP members who attended the event at St. Philip’s said that they felt very welcome in our parish. Mr. Stokes said of his visit, “This experience was wonderful. Your parish, St. Philip Benizi, is a very spiritual place. The audience was the warmest and most receptive to whom I have ever spoken.” After Mr. Stokes’ presentation, student winners of the MLK Art Contest received their awards. Ethan Orphe also received a plaque for his participation in the celebration. Judging from compliments expressed by many attendees, the inaugural celebration was a huge success. The Black Catholic Heritage Committee and the St. Martin de Porres Society, who co-sponsored the event, owe a debt of gratitude to many volunteers and contributors. Special thanks go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for providing all of the pastries for the reception, to Activities Director Kathy Cirincione, whose expertise with serving such a large crowd was invaluable, and to the Friars, especially to Fr. John for supporting the celebration.

1st Annual MLK Celebration – a Moving Tribute

Above: Parishioner Lois Wolfe, Ph.D. chats with John Stokes before the Mass. Lois met Mr. Stokes in Chicago in 2003 during a taping of a C-SPAN program about Brown v. Board of Education, while attending the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference. “From that time, on she worked closely with Mr. Stokes to get his story down on paper in a way that would memorialize the efforts of so many courageous students and inspire future progressive thinkers to stand up and be heard.” Their book, Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me, was published by National Geographic in 2008.

Above & Center: Some of the 1954 newspaper articles were framed and displayed in the Parish Hall after the Mass.

Center: St. Philip’s Friars, as well as Msgr. Edward Branch concelebrated during the Mass. Right: Art Benner, a member of the St. Martin de Porres Society, carried a striking banner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Procession.

Right-Above: Ethan Orphe wonderfully recited an excerpt of Dr. King’s renowned “I Have a Dream” speech. He received a plaque in appreciation for his participation. Many thanks go to all who helped make this special celebration possible!

Above: Ethan (R) and his family attended the wonderful reception in the Parish Hall after Mass. Center & Right: Impressive art work of students who participated in the MLK Art Contest were displayed in the Parish Hall.

(Photos by Winsome Harvey & Lorraine Miller)

Members of St. Philip Benizi Attend AACCW SW District Meeting The ladies of Mother Cabrini Circle attended the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW) SW District Meeting on January 31st at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Atlanta. The meeting brought together Catholic women from the Southwestern District of the Archdiocese. Karen Allen, a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes and alumnus of the Catholic School there, presented the rich history of their church which is over 100 years old.

The church was founded in 1911 by the Rev. Ignatius Lissner, of the Society of African Missions. With the help of J.J. Spalding, a member of nearby Sacred Heart parish, Father Lissner succeeded in purchasing the current site in March of 1912. By November of that year, the building was completed, blessed and dedicated. Father Lissner obtained financing from Mother Katharine Drexel, a wealthy heiress from Pennsylvania who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order established to serve Black and Indian people. At its founding, the Lourdes complex consisted of the church on the first floor, classrooms on the second and a parish hall on the third floor. This mission was to be a memorial to the late Archbishop Patrick Ryan of Philadelphia and was called Our Lady of Lourdes in memory of the day on which he died. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament staffed Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School until 1974. The school closed in 2001, when the Archdiocese of Atlanta could no longer provide funding. It is now the Katharine Drexel Community Center, which includes church offices, Sunday school classrooms, a choir rehearsal hall, and the Drexel Institute for the Arts. It is also used as a parish hall. Our Lady of Lourdes is located in the midst of what is now known as the Martin Luther King Jr. Landmark District and is a testament to Dr. King’s civil rights dream fulfilled. The ladies of St. Philip Benizi enjoyed a luncheon after a business meeting that addressed details of the upcoming events of Recognition Day (Feb. 28), The Day at the Capital (Feb. 3), Leadership Day (date to be announced), Villa International (March 15), and the Convention that will be held September 24-26 at the Wyndham Peachtree Hotel & Conference Center in Peachtree City. The ladies approved motions for financial contributions to Catholic Charities’ Gala Auction and the Madonna Fund that provides money for clean water for Third World Countries. All ladies of our parish are members of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and are invited to become involved. The ladies from St. Philip Benizi meet on the third Thursday of each month with the Mother Cabrini Circle. For further information, you may contact Frances Weikers (Mother Cabrini Circle President) or Peggy Ashe (SW District President) by e-mail or phone: [email protected]; (770 478-0764).

Come to the Parish Mission! Our Parish Mission will be held on March 8-11, 2015 and will be presented by St. Philip Benizi’s Friars: Fr. John, Fr. Paul, Fr. Santo and Fr. Gabriel. The theme is

“Walking United as Faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ”. Because it is our Jubilee year, our Pastor, Fr. John, thought it would be a good idea for the Friars to preach the Mission this year and to highlight 50 years of discipleship. Please check the weekly Bulletins for more details.

“…how greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!”

The Parish Family of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church offers its Heartfelt Congratulations to

Fr. Gabriel Mary Scasino, OFM Conv. on the Occasion of his Ordination to the Priesthood, February 14, 2015.

~Pope Francis (Message for Lent 2015)

March Respect Life Events

The Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th is also recognized as the Day of the Unborn Child. The Knights of Columbus instituted the Day of the Unborn Child as a way to show their commitment to build a culture that respects and protects every human life from conception to natural death. A Pro-Life Rosary will begin in St. Philip Benizi’s church at 6:30PM, followed by Mass at 7:00PM. All are invited to attend. The Jonesboro Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) on South Main Street will hold its annual Walk for Life on Saturday, March 28th. Registration begins at 8:30AM and the Walk begins at 9:00AM. It’s a lovely event as participants wind their way through Jonesboro’s downtown residential neighborhoods, covering a two-mile radius. This is a great way to support the work of the PCC which assists women with unplanned pregnancies. Registration brochures can be found in the literature rack below the Bulletin Board, opposite St. Philip Benizi’s Gift Shop.

Laying on of Hands: Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. of the Diocese of Savannah was the Ordaining Bishop during the Mass of Ordination. As the former Pastor of St. Philip Benizi Church and a Franciscan Friar, his presence and participation added a personal dimension to the celebration, both for Fr. Gabriel and for St. Philip Benizi parishioners. Look for photo coverage of Fr. Gabriel’s Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving in next month’s Be-News-Zi.

The Blessing of Vestments & Vessels Within the context of Evening Prayer, held on Friday, February 13 th, many gathered to witness the blessing of Friar Gabriel Scasino’s vestments, chalice and paten, before his Ordination to the Priesthood the following morning. St. Philip Benizi’s pastor, Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. and Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. led the Prayer Service. In May 2014, Fr. James was installed as the First Minister Provincial of the new Our Lady of the Angels Province (to which our friars belong) which united the former Provinces of Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony of Padua. As Fr. James explained, the vestments were made by Fr. Paul Gabriel, one of the friars of the new Province, and the chalice and paten (formerly belonging to Fr. James Plavcan, OFM Conv. who was killed in a bicycle accident in 1995) were handed down to Friar Gabriel. After his death, Fr. Plavcan’s family returned the chalice and paten to the Franciscans who had them re-gilded and saved for a new priest, now entrusted to Friar Gabriel on this special occasion of his ordination. The moving Prayer Service was just the beginning of a beautiful weekend of celebrations for Friar Gabriel, his family, friends, visiting priests, and our parish family!

Right: Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. and Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. Left: Friar Gabriel with some members of his family - Arianna (niece), Alberta (sister-in-law), and Anthony (brother).

Left: Friar Colton Rodgers proclaimed the Scripture Reading.

Below: St. Philip’s Director of Music and Liturgy, Nick Dragone (at the keyboard), and Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos provided beautiful music during the Prayer Service and throughout the weekend.

Left: Many friars from the Province attended the weekend festivities. (L-R): Fr. Bob Benko, Br. Greg Spuhler, and Friar Nader Ata, who was the assisting deacon during the Mass of Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving. Please pray for these friars and all priests, as well as those in formation, that they may receive all that they need to faithfully serve God and His people. Left: Fr. Pablo Migone (L), Vocations Director and Assistant to Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. of the Diocese of Savannah, also attended a rehearsal before the Prayer Service, assuring that all would go smoothly the following day. Bishop Greg was pastor of St. Philip’s for 15 years and was ordained a Bishop in October 2011. His former parishioners were very happy to see him again as Fr. Gabriel’s ordaining Bishop!

(Photos by Yone Daly & Susan Douglas)

The Blessing of Vestments & Vessels

The Blessing Rite began after the Scripture Reading and a brief reflection by Fr. James, during which he explained the personal, Franciscan significance of the vestments and vessels.

The beautiful, white altar cloth, trimmed in lace, was especially made for Fr. Gabriel’s ordination by St. Philip’s parishioner, Vickie Flock, a member of the 9AM Sunday Choir and Coordinator of the Sacred Art & Environment Committee.

Above: Fr. Paul Gabriel, OFM Conv. (R), pictured with Music Director Nick Dragone during one of the receptions that weekend, is the talented friar who made Fr. Gabriel’s chasuble and stole.

Be sure to look for additional coverage of Fr. Gabriel’s Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving in the April Be-News-Zi. Check the weekly Bulletin for details regarding the purchase of a video, as well as a link to view and download photos on our web site.

Friar Gabriel was all smiles — quite calm and peaceful through it all!

(Photos by Yone Daly & Susan Douglas)

Parish Pastoral Council Update New Members Needed Very shortly, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) will be seeking new members to replace those who are completing their respective terms of service. Can you see yourself, or someone you know, participating in this special service to St. Philip Benizi Parish? If you are a registered parishioner who is at least 16 years of age, please consider serving on the PPC. Collectively, we serve as an advisory body to our Pastor, Fr. John, and as a resource to all SPB ministries, groups, and organizations. We develop goals that help the parish fulfill its Mission Statement, and we provide leadership and vision for the parish community. Recruitment weekends will take place in April, with a Discernment Session to follow in May, and commissioning in July 2015.

50th Anniversary Jubilee The parish needs you to help plan, coordinate, and implement the key Jubilee events that will take place throughout 2015! If you are interested in making sure that the parish celebrates this unique occasion in style, please let Fr. John or any member of the PPC know how you would like to help. As the weeks and months unfold, please pay close attention to the weekly Bulletins, the monthly Be-News-Zi, and the monitors in the Gathering Space for event announcements.

Pastoral Plan for St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church The parish wants and needs your ideas, your skills, and your help to ensure that SPB’s next 50 years are as successful and rewarding as the past 50 years. If you have a loving spirit, zeal for the Parish Mission, and the time, talent and vision that can help the parish plan for its future growth, please contact Bob Oertel (PPC Chair) at (770-228-3050).

Member of the Month Our PPC contact for March is Ana Morgan. You may contact her via telephone at (404-578-2135), or by email: [email protected].

Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy go out to the family of:  John Vila, cousin of Mary Santana  Michael McCormick, husband of Jean McCormick  Ella Hall, sister of Gloria Hawkins  Anna Molnar, sister of Rose Kleppinger  Sara Wagner, mother of Mark Wagner  Abigail Stape, daughter of Michelle & Dave Stape  Reginald Trevor Howe, son-in-law of Verona Tai  Michael Soller, nephew of Norma Victoria  Julia Shearer, wife of John Shearer  Margaret Zeiher, sister of Betsy Schaffer  Sulaman Mahdi, uncle of Wendy Paul  Alina Mendoza, mother of Doris Suarez  Ann Langston, daughter of Dan & Ellie Simon, sister of Danielle Simon

May they rest in God’s peace! The Saint Philip

Be-News-Zi Monthly Newsletter of

St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church 591 Flint River Road Jonesboro, GA 30238 (770) 478-0178 Fr. John A. Koziol, OFM Conv. Pastor/Publisher Yone Daly, Editor Parish Website: www.stphilipbenizi.org Deadline: All articles submitted for publication in the Be-News-Zi must be received in writing (preferably th typed) or via e-mail, by the 5 of each month for publication in the following month’s edition. Each article submitted for consideration will be published as approved by the Pastor and on a space-available basis. Any questions, comments, suggestions, or articles concerning the newsletter may be addressed to the Editor through the Parish Office, or by e-mail:

[email protected]