Deacon Earl’s funeral homily for Wrenlow Ainsworth

On behalf of the parish family here at SFX, Fr. Dale Cieslik and the whole staff, we wish to express our sincere condolences to Ashley and Luke, Theresa and Robert, Mandy & Graham and the whole family gathered here today.  We gather to remember the life of Wrenlow Rhode Ainsworth, a precious child of God. 

Wherever our hearts may be this day, know that Jesus knows exactly where they are, and so, we can bring him our confusion, doubts, struggles, and difficulties because this is not an easy thing.

There is something inside us that rebels against death.  This rebellion in us is from the Lord, because God made us to live His abundant life, not this, and that brings us to our confusion.  Wherever your heart is today, the Lord wants to tend to it.

It’s not hard to feel the pain and sorrow at the loss of Wrenlow, but as follower’s of Christ, we know that there is more for us.  When we recall Christ suffering, death and rising, we see God’s plan of salvation being offered to us.  Something so great— out of something so horrible.  Like the dawn of a new day, in the very midst of our grief and sadness, an experience of His goodness can and will come to us.  His goodness is like rays of light that penetrate the darkness of grief and sorrow. 

When we think about “life”, what does it strike up in us?

Many define a “successful” life with wealth, comfort, happiness, and the joy of living to be maybe 80 or 90 years of age.  And so, to compare that sense of life, to the life of Wrenlow, who was in her mother’s womb for nearly 6 months, and only 7 days outside, her life would seem short of that definition.  But as believers, we don’t measure life by a number of years.  We understand the big difference between earthly life and eternal life.  The number of days, or months in a womb, or even 100 years of life really becomes very small when considered against the reality of all eternity, and the immortal nature of our souls.

I will always consider August 26^th as one of the greatest days of my life.   It was the day that Wrenlow was born and baptized.  Ashley, Luke, Theresa and Robert, it is a real testament to your faith and discipleship, that you wanted to have Wrenlow baptized when she was born.  It was a great privilege to baptize her, and your faith in Christ spoke for Wrenlow.  In that precious moment, Jesus poured out his salvation into her soul, freeing her from original sin, incorporating her into the family of God, and He placed an indelible mark on her soul.  It was from God’s hand that she came to you, and to God’s hand that she has returned.  Wrenlow lives eternally with God the Father.

Sometimes we forget the purpose of life.  We forget that God wants us to be in heaven with him eternally.  He created us for heaven.  Jesus told us, on the night before he died, that he would go and prepare a place for us, because He wants us with him eternally.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them.  For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”. How much more hope do we need if we trust in those words?  The creator of the universe, the creator of all things, bent down to touch and to bless the little children.  We can imagine how much he delights in inviting Wrenlow into eternity.

In her few days here with you Ashley and Luke, she brought you a deep love, a love you have never known before.  In her short life, she touched the hearts of her parents, grandparents, nurses, aids, doctors, a deacon and many more.  On this side of heaven, we may never know all those she has touched.  It’s very possible, that Wrenlow unleashed a love greater than some people do in a long life.  The sole purpose of this earthly life is to love and to be loved.  And so, in this regard, Wrenlow’s short life was immensely successful.  

Today, let us entrust our grief and sorrow to the One who knows it very well.  The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.  She knew the great joy of carrying her child within.  But she also knew the most profound sorrow and grief, as she held her beloved son on Calvary’s hill.  We can cry out in our grief and sorrow today.  Let it have a voice within you.  Give it all to him.  Let it perhaps… be your offering, surrender it to him, because he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

We do not know or understand the plan, but we do know God is trustworthy, because a God that suffers and dies for us is worthy of our trust. You held your daughter in your arms, you sang to her, and your  eyes gazed in love and wonderment upon her.  We give Wrenlow back to God today, into his loving arms, and there is no safer for her.  His loving eyes are upon her now and forever.

CSA 2023 officially kicks-off next weekend! Our SFX goal for 2023 is $24,100 with 105 families participating. There are Matching Gift Opportunities; click HERE for more details. Watch the bulletin for CSA updates beginning September 24th.

View the video from Archbishop Shelton regarding this year’s appeal. Archbishop CSA Video

Don’t miss out on your chance to enter the Knights of Columbus Catholic Citizenship Contest! This year’s topic is “How can the Church evangelize in the digital age”. The contest is open to grades 8-12, essays should be 500-750 words and a $100 prize winner will be chosen from each grade. Download the entry form below or pick up one in the gathering space of church. Contact Mike Zygmunt for additional information, (716) 319-4967 or bspford99@icloud.com .

23^rd Sunday in OT (Cycle A)

Gospel:  Matthew 18: 15-20

September 9-10, 2023

This being Grandparents’ Weekend, I often wonder how a grandma or grandpa chooses to correct their own grandchild when it is warranted.  It is not easy work.  There is a public face of bad behavior and the response to it.  I personally see and hear it at public places like Kroger or Walmart or McDonald’s or chick-filet or Cracker Barrel or fill in the blank.  Then there is the private face of correction that happens at home, or in the car or in the principal’s office at school.  While I admit I have less patience as I grow older, I also find it harder to watch or listen to what I see as unfair; both on the part of the child and also the adult.  I know tough love is very hard to enact.  It is a two-way street whereas any person, small or large, old or young, called on God for fairness and to do “the next right thing”.  But, what is ‘the next right thing’?

Today’s readings are all about “correcting” … but correcting WHO?  The readings seem to be saying that we have this responsibility to one another, to help each other stay on the right path. 

So, how do we feel about that?

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

Now, as you may know, I am from a semi-small immediate family, but from a very large one of many first cousins.  The year 1955 produced the most of these cousins in any given year.  I am close to most of these 46 cousins… I “like” most of them… especially Archbishop Chuckie in Indianapolis… most of the time…

Being family, we did not always get along.  I think it would be safe to say that we “sinned against each other” plenty.  And we were also very good at “fraternal correction”, which usually took one of three forms.  One form we used to correct each other involved hitting one another.  Not too effective… but it felt good.  The second form was good ole name calling – such as you idiot, you jerk… We were pretty good at not using profane words, but beyond that; we were quite creative.  The last form of correction was the most effective, and the one we used the most: tattling.  We told on each other a lot, with lots and lots of extra embellished details…

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

Now, I think all of us can understand when a child resorts to this type of solution.  But what is our excuse as adults?  What? We don’t tattle?  Sure we do.  We just give it another name — GOSSIP.  When we gossip, we’re not necessarily telling anyone who has the power to do anything about it, we’re tattling nonetheless… out comes those words and we want them right back … most of the time, it’s too late

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his

fault between you and him alone.”

You know, quite honestly, that it’s not easy to know how to correct another person.  It just isn’t.  It is not easy to know how we’re supposed to go about it, what we are supposed to say and how we are to say it.  But God seems to be making it fairly clear that it is one of our responsibilities to each other.  In the first reading from Ezekiel, we heard that… if we see someone going astray, and we don’t do anything to help him or her get back on the right path, we bear some of the responsibility.  Pretty strong words?

This gets especially complicated when we get to the level of the world stage… but that is another day and another time…  

But why is this also so hard to do at the level of our families, our workplaces, our schools, and our church?  The Lord tells us to go to the person who wronged us and try to settle the issue… to bring reconciliation.  And what do we often do?  We tell every single person except the person we should tell.  And the people we do tell, tell others and they then tell others, and right down the line… Usually the last person to find out is the one who should have known in the first place. 

Gossip is poison.  It just is.  It poisons families, schools, neighborhoods, and even faith communities.  And gossip is not necessarily the telling of falsehoods… it sometimes involves telling the truth to persons who have no business knowing the information in the first place… 

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

In the end, there is one test for gauging how OR if we should correct someone, how we are to help someone stay on the right path.  That test is brought to light by the words of Paul: “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”  And there you have it…

Love, love, love.  If our actions aren’t done out of love then we shouldn’t do them at all.  If the words we say are not said out of love, we shouldn’t say them at all.  Every time we’re about to open our mouths, we need to ask, “Am I doing this out of love, or for some other reason?”

We have heard the expression, “You only hurt the ones you love.”  Well, Jesus wants us to turn the phrase inside out… start loving the ones who hurt us…. it is the hardest work you will ever do.

Amen.

A message from SFX parishioners, the Brand Family, and an update on their childhood cancer journey. Check out ways for our community to get involved with awareness and fundraising efforts.

Check out the latest edition of the Crossroads Messenger!

The Communion Minister training scheduled for Tuesday, July 25th at SFX has been cancelled. A training though the Archdiocese will be offered at St. Bernard on July 25th at 6:30PM. Click HERE to view the schedule of Communion Minister trainings offered through the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Children’s Faith Formation registration (Religious Education) is now open! Classes resume on
Wednesday, August 30th, 6:45-8:00PM.

Online registration has ended. Please contact lauren.battcher@sfxmw.com for registration information.

Are you interested in learning more about the Holy Mother and spending time with your sisters at SFX? We hope you will join us for Margaritas with Mary! All ladies are welcome, drinking margaritas not required. Grab your buddy and join us! Scan the QR code below or click HERE to vote for the day, book, and drink. The book study will be led by parishioner, Lisa Reed. Call the parish office with questions.

The Patricia French Honorary Scholarship was established in 2017 and was awarded for the first time.  Those who qualify for the scholarship are parishioners in their senior year of high school.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a Saint Francis Xavier parishioner in her or his college or trade school tuition in the coming year.  Past recipients are Abbigale Guy, Lauren Ruess, Sierra Hayes, Macy Martin, Aeron Adams and Macy Waddle.

The qualifications for the $2,500.00 award seeks a “service-oriented person of high Christian moral values and a dedicated student demonstrating a good work ethic… preference should be given to the one with greatest financial need”…

For 2023, these qualifications can be found best in the person of Jordan Baird. 

Congratulations Jordan!

We have added Jordan’s name to the plaque that hangs in the RE building foyer for all to see and remember.

All SFX parishioners enjoy a free subscription to FORMED. Click HERE to check out the pick of the week.

On Monday, June 5^th, nine high school youth of our parish, along with four adults, left on a retreat to Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort near Cumberland Falls. The group had an action packed three days, accompanied by prayer,
fellowship, Catholic trivia, and faith sharing.

             Staying in a cabin and covered wagon, the group cooked out, hiked, went white water rafting, swam, rode the rapids, jumped off rocks (think life preservers), and enjoyed eating out! Fun was had by all. In addition, the youth rescued a dog and found an owner when they got home. The adults were impressed with the comradery, care and concern they gave the dog. The owner of the resort property commented that our kids were the “best group of kids she’d ever seen”!

We thank SFX parishioners for their purchase of youth fundraiser raffle tickets and donations that in large part paid for this trip. We also thank Dave Richardson for his time and leadership with the Youth.

Full-time Facilities Position- 36 hours per week. Abilit and skills for repairs, lifting, groundskeeping and upkeep of facilities. Candidate must have knowledge and experience with maintenance issues and equipment, be able to climb ladders and assist with snow removal and room set-up. Should have the ability to forsee improvements and repairs and take action. Candidate must possess good communication skills and work collaboratively with staff and volunteers. Send resume to Helen Hagan, helen.hagan@sfxmw.com .

Attention all Eucharistic Ministers Past and Present:
The chalice will return to Mass the weekend of June 10 and 11. SFX will host 2 full weekends of refresher sessions on the distribution of Holy Communion from the chalice. Please plan to attend one of the following sessions on 5/20, 5/21, 6/3 or 6/4. Refresher trainings will be held after each Mass.

The SFX Parish Council is now accepting nominations for the Parish Council. The Parish Council advises the Pastor in planning for the pastoral development of the parish.  Members should have deep faith, experience, imagination, and sound judgement. Elected members will serve a 3- year term.

Qualifications to serve on Parish Council include:

• Baptized and practicing Catholic and at least 18 years old.
• Registered member of the parish called to the important work of furthering the mission, vision, and discipleship for the parish community.
• Willingness to commit their gifts of stewardship and wisdom in a collaborative manner.

Nomination forms may be dropped in the ballot box in the gathering space of church or sent to the Parish Office, attention Lou Leppert. Nomination forms are due not later than Monday, May 22, 2023.

Selections will be made on Pentecost Sunday.

THE RAFFLE HAS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASES.

Charitable Gaming License #ORG1325