August 2008

Prayer Intention:  For an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life.

                               For an end to abortion and a respect for all life from birth to

                                                                                   natural death

                               For our military personnel and their families.

     On August 5, 2008 the Tiffin Serra Club held its annual Picnic for the Religious and Priests, Deacons and families, seminarians and members at the K of C Club. Started with Mass at 6 P.M. with Rev. Joseph Szybka as celebrant and as concelebrants were Monsignor Edward Dunn and Fr. James Steinle. Assisting were Deacons Dan Scherger and Deacon Floyd Hohman. Lector was Phillip Smith (Seminarian). Thomas Shook led the singing and was in charge of the liturgy. Monsignor Edward Dunn gave the homily. John and Mary Eichorn and Bob and jane Clouse co chaired the event. Larry Bouillion from Paul’s Market in New Riegel provided the meat which consisted of steak and chickenand a huge cheese plate.  We want to publicly thank him for his generosity through the years. The price of the meat came to about $300.00.  He told pat to give each seminarian $50.00 each and put the rest of it in our fund. What a wonderful gift. There was around 90 people attended the picnic.

     On August 19, 2008 Pat Englehart brought the meeting together with prayer. Dinner followed. Pat handed a piece of paper with Serrans Working For God’s – Company The “Benefits”. Everyone tries to find out what the benfits of a job is before they take the position, these are the best benefits of any job a person can get.

1. Because God is a personal Spirit… I will seek intimate fellowship with him.

2. Because god is all powerful… He can help me with anything.

3. Because God is ever present … He is always with me.

4. Because God know everything … I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.

5. Because God is sovereign … I will joyfully submit to His will.

6. Because God is holy … I will devote myself to him in purity, worship, and service.

7. Because God is absolute truth … I will believe what He says and live accordingly.

8. Because God is righteous … I will live by His standards.

9. Because God is just … He will always treat me fairly.

10. Because God is love … He is unconditionally committed to my well being.

11. Because God is merciful … He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.

12. Because God is faithful … I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

13. Because God never changes … my future is secure and eternal

     Pat introduced Fr. Joe who thanked all of us for the wonderful picnic we had. He spoke about the blessings of so many people attending Mass this evening. He talked about the 50th Wedding anniversary of Joe and Rita Scherger which is always a wonderful celebration and our 2 seminarians was present plus Agnes Zeiter whose Sister is a religious Nun.  Such a variety of people attending.  He also spoke about school stating the next day. He asked that we keep the teachers, students and parents in our prayers.

     Pat announced read the resignation of John Noble as treasurer and member of the Serra Club.  He stated that move on to a new chapter in life. We will truly miss him.  He has done so much for our club through the years.  He joined the club in 1968.  He was president a couple of times and bar tender for the events in which we have drinks and treasurer for as long as he can remember.

     We went over the committee reports.  Joanne Kirian gave us an update on the new youth ministry awards program the Serrans are implemented. It includes grades 8 through 12. It will be for the deanery. For students who do a lot for their Church and parish. The pastor nominates the students who he feels should be awarded.  Each parish will nominate 7 students
     David Mileski announced that the Seminarian have a space where it keeps and update and picture of each seminarian as they go through their journey.  The web site is www.toledovocations.com.  Dave will be our speaker at our next meeting on September 2 and he will speak on Monestic practices of every day life. 

     The Holy Hour is this coming Monday, Aug, 25th at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church transept.

      Dave Mileski then introduced our 2 speakers: Andrew Reinhart and Chris Mileski who spoke on their experiences in the parishes this past summer.  Andrew spoke first. Last Saturday I went with a friend to Columbus to visit a convent called St. Joseph’s Adoration Monastery. It happened to be the diamond jubilee for one of the sisters there. That is 75 years as a sister.  It is a full cloisted community.  It was real privilege to be there. This sister is about 95 years old and small in size and very timid. She will not become a saint in the church but she surely is saintly. It was a great experience for me to be able to share this day with her. Andrew started to reflect on what Fr. Joe had said at mass that we like to make ourself out as God.  The problem with that is it is a hopeless situation. We fall short if we rely upon ourselves.  Andrew also commented on how the parishioners at Mansfield, St. Peter had become part of his family .He had lunch with a life time member and she didn’t know the name of a certain person and as she was describing this person he knew who she was talking about.  That made him realized how the people had become known to him in such a short summer.  They engaged him in ministries of the parish, such as visiting hospitals, prisons and nursing homes. He was able to go to some of the classrooms and talked to the students. He can now see himself more in these situations than before.  All of his discernment is good but he also needs raw materials to learn from.

     Chris shared with us 3 maxims. 1. The pastor is in charge of the parish and if no one else does it you are going to do it.  2. People count on the priest to be the expert on prayer.  3. The priest is the leader of the worship.  1. Back in June we got a whole bunch of rain at once. About 3 in the morning there is a knock on my door, it is Fr. Jim Brown (pastor) goes Chris the water is up over the stump and I thought what stump. He is describing it and I thought that is a half tree and wait the water is over the half tree. They went out and there is a little stream that runs on the parish grounds.  A couple of feet from that is the parish offices with a beautiful sloping down drive right into the basement.  The water is getting higher and higher.  My experience was building a sandbag wall at 3 in the morning with my pastor because everyone else is busy with water in their territory.  If there is no one to do it the pastor is in charge of doing it.  Going to daily Mass my pastor and I walked in to Mass and one of the parishioner asked what are you going to do about the tree. I though what tree.  Our Lady of Lourde on the west side of Toledo sets on 25 acres and a lot of it is a wooded areas. I thought that tree.  So after Mass we walked around the other side of church where we could see the large tree that had fallen over a block and had pulled down power lines and all over everything.  The secretary couldn’t do her work because the internet and phones were not working because of this tree.  We had a hospitatily soup kitchen and no one was their to work it. I quickly changed out of my daily clothes and put on some work clothes and I got to help remove the tree.  It was pretty cool because I got to use a chain saw.  Ultimately that works needs to be done and the work of the Church is not just spiritual.  2. People thinks priests are so close to God and the sisters are so holy that her rosary prays itself,  It is kinda that actualization that is what people expect from priests, seminarians and sisters. Like parishioners after masses say will you pray for this person.  Absolutely.  That is what we are here to do.  Some times we forget that is our role to pray for others.  All of our roles especially for Serrans is to pray for people to respond to Gods calling.  3.  The priest is in charge of worship.  Serving at the parish it became visible that you are the active model of how to pray.  I had one very interesting experience. There was a large missed communication and for the 4 o’clock evening Mass there was no priest on Saturday evening.  They turned to me and said you will have to lead a Communion service.  I said what.  They said Yes and you will need to do it in about 45 seconds.  It was a good growing experience for me and very quickly leading the parish in prayer and also it was a good experience for me to realize how important Serrans are.  My summer was a lot of actualities of what we learn in the Seminaries and putting it to use.  The audience then asked a couple of questions.

Deacon Dan Scherger closed the meeting with a blessing after we prayed.