VOL.

3  MAY 7-8, 2011  ISSUE 18

Welcome to
Catholic Church at Fort Gordon, GA

Parish Staff and Ministries Pastoral Council

Pastor: Fr. Damian Ilokaba Music Director: VACANT
MIKE RIVERA, PRESIDENT
(706) 791-4307 (706) 791-2945
riveralejos@yahoo.com
Co-Pastor: Fr. Samuel Aniekwe MCCW: Kim Besel, mccwfg@yahoo.com
(706) 791-4307 Knights of Columbus:
BILL HOLT, VICE-PRESIDENT
Contract Priest: Fr. Michael Roverse Ricardo Ruiz Jr. , ruizrjr@knology.net
wilbil56@aol.com
(706) 791-2945 Lectors: Tom Dean, (706) 860-6946
Deacons: Ushers: Ron Shannon, (706) 868-5960
LOLA RIVERA, SECRETARY
- George Foster (706) 860-2379 Religious Education: VACANT
lolarivera@ymail.com
- Mike Marchek (706) 855-2107 Flowers Ministry: Sherry Wodicka
- David Kriegel (706) 869-9781 swodicka24@gmail.com
TINA RABY, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
NCOIC: Sgt. Sheronda Williams Editor: Lola Rivera (706) 860-0604
gritstwo@yahoo.com
(706) 791-4308 lolarivera@ymail.com
PLC: VACANT

Third Sunday of Easter QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Scripture Why do Catholics bless objects?
 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:32) I think that blessing such things is a fine custom as
long as the person does not think that the blessing
 You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, (Psalm 16:11)
excuses him or her from using the object prudently.
 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct … so that your faith and hope For example, having my car blessed does not mean
are in God. (1 Peter 1:18,21) that I can drive recklessly and be guaranteed not to
 Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the have an accident.
Scriptures to us. (Luke 24:32)
Blessing objects is one way of saying that everything
Reflection comes from God and should be used in harmony with
 How does the Jesus rising change the disciples traveling to Emmaus? God's intention, with respect for the rest of creation
 What grace from Christ’s rising has changed your direction? (human and nonhuman). We bless the food we eat, but
 What would you do to take your life closer to God through encountering the risen Christ? we do not eat everything in sight! The virtue of tem-
perance should influence all of life.
Many men in the past have been loved with extreme intensity – Socrates by his disciples, Julius
Caesar by his legionnaires, Napoleon by his soldiers. But today these men belong irrevocably to The General Introduction to Book of Blessings (U.S.
the past; not a heart beats at their memory. There is no one who would give their life or even Catholic Conference) says that blessings "refer first
their possessions for them even though their ideals are still being advocated. And when their and foremost to God, whose majesty and goodness
ideals are opposed, no one ever thinks of cursing Socrates or Julius Caesar or Napoleon, because they extol, and since they indicate the communication
their personalities no longer have any influence; they are bygones. But not Jesus; Jesus is still of God's favor, they also involve human beings,
loved and still cursed; men still renounce their possessions and even their lives both for love of whom he governs and in his providence protects.
him and out of hatred for him. No living being is as alive as Jesus.
"Further, blessings apply to other created things
Ricciotti, Giuseppe, Christian Readings, edited by John E. Rotelle, Catholic Book Publishing; through which, in their abundance and variety, God
New York, 1973, p. 33. blesses human beings" (#7).
Retrieved from http://www.americancatholic.org/
Retrieved from For the Ride Home by Ted Bergh ParishVision LLC 2011

Parish Council Meeting

St. Michael’s Parish Council Meeting will be on Tuesday May 10th, 2011. The meeting will be at Good Shepherd Chapel (GSC), social room at 5:30 pm.
Parish Council meetings are open to all parishioners.
**Ministry coordinators, please submit your reports to the Council President if you have not done it yet. Thank you. The Secretary.
Photos by Kim Besel
Page 2
Bishop Higgins Visit AND Confirmation 2011
Most Reverend Richard Higgins visited St. Michael’s Parish last
week to confirm St. Michael’s Confirmandi. It was a blessing to see Sponsored by the Catholic and Protestant
Bishop Higgins celebrating this Holy Sacrament. We all hope he
Chapel Congregations
had a great time, and repeat his visit soon!

Congratulations to the eight Confirmandi.

Ariel Cox Mayra Maura

Mickala Ramiriz Gretchen Rodriguez
Brandon Tran Brian Valdez
Jessica Valdez Tara Walker

May the gifts of the Holy Spirit bless you always.

St. Michael’s Confirmation 2011 was a successful celebration thank

to the help of many parishioners. We would like to thank the Altar
Servers, Knights of Columbus, St. Michael’s Choir, Kim Besel, and
all the volunteers that helped to welcome Bishop Higgins with a
wonderful reception. Thank you.

Vacation Bible School

for Children from Age 4 thru 5th Grade
(rising to 6th)

9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

July 18th thru 22nd
at the

Religious Education Center

ave
who h )
nd T eens ( e and above
l t s a g ra d
Adu leted 6th
comp
Questions?
Want to Volunteer?
Want to Register Your Child(ren)?

Call (706) 791-4703.

Access Parish updates, current newsletters, and more

http://stmichaelparishfg.blogspot.com/
 ST. MICHAEL’S Page 3
GRADUATION MASS
Attention High School and College Graduates,

There will be a graduation Mass in your honor on Sunday May

Military Council of Catholic Women
(MCCW)
MCCW Faith study will be meet two more times before we
end for the summer. The last two dates are May 9th and the 16th. We will
have a small celebration on the 16th.
15th, 2011 at 10 AM. Anyone graduating, please send an email to
lolarivera@ymail.com with the information (name, degree, hon-
ors, if any, school name). Please, submit the information by May
8th at 3PM, so we can reserve the pews for our graduates. We will
put all names in the bulletin that weekend too. Congratulations!

Attention Ladies of the Parish All Lectors, EMES and Ushers

MCCW is currently taking nominations for the new MCCW Executive
Board, all women of the chapel are eligible to be nominated or nominate
themselves for the following positions; President, Vice President, Secretary,
and Treasurer. If you are interested in any of these positions and would like
to be considered a candidate, please contact, Laura Pizzi @ 706-651-0688,
Barbara Larson @ 706-592-2220 or Lidia Huter (706) 447-4890` for a job
description.
~ ~ ~ CCD News ~ ~ ~
May 8th, NO CCD
May 15th, Last day of CCD!
Attention Parents, Children and Catechists:
Come to celebrate the end of the CCD year with a
PIZZA PARTY on May 15th at 11:30am in Building
13th. This is our way to thank you for supporting our
religious education program.
We’ll see you there!
New to our Parish?
If you are a new parishioner and have not registered yet, please take a min-
ute and fill out our registration form. You can find these forms in the tables
located in the back hallway. You may give the form to our Pastor, or leave
it in his door. You can also download the form from our website if this is
more convenient for you, and send it to lolarivera@ymail.com. Welcome!
The schedules will now be emailed to everyone. If you have not sent your
email address to receive future schedules, please send it as soon as possi-
ble to mijcat@aol.com.
Knights of Columbus
Please know that our meeting in March will be on Tuesday
May 10th, 2011 in Bldg. 13 at 1830. Social and the meeting
starts at 1900 hours. Contact the Grand Knight Ricardo Ruiz
Jr. if you have any question at ruizrjr@knology.net or (706)
863-3435.
God and Coffee
Are there questions about your Faith would like to have answers for?
Come and ask them. God and Coffee and RCIA on Sundays at 11:30AM.
The location where we used to meet is under construction now, so we are
using a provisional place at this moment. More information on location
during Pulpit Announcements or contact POC Tom Dean (706) 860-6946.
We truly apologize for the inconvenience.
Bible Study!!
Saint Michael’s Bible Study on Tuesdays. The study will be using the
Little Rock Scripture Study on the Book of Psalms called “Psalms for All
Seasons”. The group meets each Tuesday evening in the Chapel Activ-
ity Room at 7-9 PM. On evenings when showing the series videos, the
group will meet in Blg. 13 at the Religious Education Center. Contact
Tom Dean (706) 860-6946.

OUR COMMUNITY/////////
Golf Tournament
Immaculate Conception Catholic School will host a Golf Tournament to
benefit the school. The tournament will be held on Friday, June 3trd (11:00
registration, sign in / 1:00pm shotgun start) at Goshen Plantation Golf
Club. The cost for a team is $300.00 ($75.00 individual player) For more
information contact: Kathy Turner – icdev@comcast.net

OPEN HOUSE at Immaculate

Conception Catholic School on Tuesday, May 10 th from 9am – 11am and
5pm – 7pm. Parents considering enrollment for the 2011/2012 school year
should plan to attend. Parents are invited to visit classrooms and meet
teachers and staff. Call the school for more information. 706.722.9964
Visit our website: www.icaugusta.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

"So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord". Does your Sacra-
ment of Marriage witness the Sign of God's love? Let Worldwide Marriage
Encounter give you tools to increase your Sacramental Sign. The next
weekend is June 10-12, 2011 in Columbia, SC. Early registration is highly
recommended. For more information or to register online, visit our website
at: www.mes4.org or call Tom and Kathy Lensie at (864) 576-0416.
 Page 4

LITURGICAL LIFE
A Bible study on the book of Peter Weekend Masses
The book of 1 Peter was a letter written by the Apostle Peter during the first century. It was written to Saturday 17:00
Christians living throughout Asia Minor, most of which were once Gentiles. This is the first of two letters Sunday 08:30 & 10:00
written by Peter for the purpose of encouraging Christians who were experiencing persecution because of
their faith. Daily Mass
Mon, Wed, Thurs. 11:30
The believers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia once lived very worldly lives. Mon-Friday DDEAMC 11:45
They had been held captive by lewdness, drunkenness and idolatries, completely outside of the mercy of
God. When they heard the message of the Gospel, they readily believed. Although the believers in Asia Penance/ Reconciliation
Minor had never walked with Jesus, they embraced the Gospel with fervency. And although they lived Saturday 16:00
their lives without having seen their Messiah, they still believed in Him with joy. Sunday 08:15
(Also by Appointment)
But now because the once-hardened Gentiles found their salvation in Jesus Christ, the unbelievers living
among them rejected them, and spoke evil of those who left the world behind. They were upset that the Rosary
believers no longer chose to run with them in their wild parties and perverseness. But Peter reminded the Saturday 16:30
believers that they had a reward waiting for them in heaven, and that the unbelievers who spoke against Sunday 08:00
them would one day have to give an account for their actions before the judgment seat.
Communion (Sick/Homebound):
Peter commended the believers in Asia Minor for their incredible faith, and exhorted them to continue to Deacon George Foster
walk through the trials they were facing. They were not to conform themselves to the lifestyle of the sur-
rounding peoples, but rather they were to live their lives in the fear of the Lord. They were not to fall Weddings
back into their old sinful habits. Peter reminded them that they had not been redeemed from sin and death Deacon George Foster
with mere gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Baptisms
Because of the high price that had been paid for their salvation, Peter reminded them to cast off malice, Deacon Mike Marchek
deceit, envy, hypocrisy or any other behavior that tarnished their witness for Jesus Christ. They were a
chosen people who had been called out of darkness. As such, they were to follow the example of Christ Liturgy
in love, obedience and forgiveness. Deacon David Kriegel

Peter communicated several instructions to the various social groups to clarif their roles as believers. As Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
members of their communities, all Christians were to submit to the governing authorities. Those who Deacon Mike Marchek
were slaves were instructed to submit to their masters, whether their masters were gentle or harsh. Jesus
Christ Himself suffered willingly at the hands of the harsh Romans, and therefore the slaves who were Adoration
treated harshly were to consider their suffering a privilege. Wives were to submit to their husbands, Wednesday 18:30
whether their husbands were believers or unbelievers. Their obedience and respect for their husbands was
to come from the hidden person of the heart, a gentle and quiet spirit. It was their godly example that Religious Education (RE)
would win their husbands to Christ. Likewise, husbands were to treat their wives with gentleness and Sunday 11:30
understanding. Husbands were to remember that together with their wife, they were heirs of the grace of (RSO and RE Complex)
life.
Written by: Amy Miller Retrieved from http://www.americancatholic.org/

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us

in battle.
Be our protection against the wicked-
Please remember in your prayers all those who are deployed and cannot be with their families ness and snares of the devil.
and love ones. Remember their families and friends during their deployments too. If your May God rebuke him, we humbly
love one is one of them, or you know any deployed military personnel send us his or her pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the
name, so we can include it in our daily prayers. Send your prayer request to Heavenly Host— by the Divine
lolarivera@ymail.com. Power of God -thrust into hell,
Satan and all the evil spirits, who
roam throughout the world seeking
SFC Kevin Sabo COL Mark Ziemba
the ruin of souls.
LTC Karl Strellner SFC Nathan Varner Amen.
Susan Wersal SrA James Varner
Kristopher Nichols

Stewardship
Bulletin Announcements Attendance: 707
Bulletin announcements must be submitted to lolarivera@ymail.com by Sunday 3 PM. Offering: $2,207.47