INSIDE THIS ISSUE

All Saints Festival……....3

Justin Motes………...4 & 5

Good Stewards ………….6

Catholics in Action……..7

What Now?...............….8

Dear Parishioners, This summer I pulled out one of my

favorite t-shirts to complete my “athleisure" outfit for running errands. My fingers paused before I could pull it off the hanger. I have never been ashamed of my faith, but for the first time since I converted, I didn't want any-one to know that I was Catholic. I put that shirt back in the closet because it had one word written on it that I didn't want anyone to see me wearing...Catholic.

The revelations of this past summer have broken my heart. As a woman, as a moth-er, as a HUMAN BEING, everything in me cries out for these victims—and the gutting realization that nothing can undo the horrific things done to them by the very people who were trusted to love and care for them in the holiest, purest of ways—to guide them to heav-en. Instead, these children of God endured, and continue to endure, hell on earth.

I am so angry!!! Angry that these mon-sters hurt children. I am FURIOUS that those with the power and means to bring justice, to

prevent further abuse, and to DO THE RIGHT THING, not only didn't lift a finger, but active-ly covered their own butts rather than be held accountable. I'm sick of apologies and promis-es that lead nowhere.

My heart has been torn apart to think that everything good that we do, every act of faith, the prayers and the lives of holy men like Fr. Mike, Fr. Tom, Fr. Clark, Fr. Tim, and Fr. Brannen had been offered to the Lord for noth-ing. Every minute spent consoling a grief-stricken family, every hour spent serving the poor in our community, every moment devoted to praying before the Blessed Sacrament, and meetings to discuss how we can share the faith… was all this turned to ash? Every ac-complishment, every step undone, every good wiped away? We are asked to give and we do so gratefully. We work HARD and put in many hours to fulfill our mission. All the work of people like you and me, the lay faithful, seems turned into a shattered heap of trash.

We talk of defending our faith and we think the assaults on the Church founded by

We talk of defending our faith and we think the assaults on the Church founded by Jesus Christ will come from outside our walls and outside our Church. We are ready to explain: no, we don't worship Mary; no, confession is not a get-out-of-jail-free card; yes, we have seven "extra" books in our bible; yes, we do believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist and communion is not just a symbolic act; and no, we aren't cult members. However, what happens when the assault on our faith comes from within? What now?

Am I Still Catholic?

An Open Letter in Response to the Pennsylvania Report

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Jesus Christ will come from outside our walls and outside our Church. We are ready to explain: no, we don't worship Mary; no, confession is not a get-out-of-jail-free card; yes, we have seven "extra" books in our bible; yes, we do believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist and com-munion is not just a symbolic act; and no, we aren't cult members. However, what happens when the assault on our faith comes from within? What now?

The devastation is so complete that I have spent a long time thinking about whether or not I wanted to continue to work for the Church. Am I a party to this evil? Can I in good conscience support my family by working here? I wanted to hand in my key and write up my two weeks’ no-tice. It would be easy to give up. Every fiber in me says this fight isn't worth it.

Then I realized, through a great deal of prayer, that the truth of Jesus is unchanged. That His sacrifice also can't be undone. Jesus DIED for ME. He loves me so deeply that He gave His life for me. He loves us all so deeply that He died for each of us. He is present in the Eucharist to strengthen and sustain us... to be as intimate with us as possible. The doctrine of the Church, tested through Council after Council, through centuries and millennia, is unwavering. Jesus said: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the nether-world shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18). He is not calling me to defend the sin of members of the Church, even if those members are priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, or even the pope! God is calling me to defend the TRUTH.

YOU, my dear fellow parishioners, have given me hope. In the midst of my anger and sad-ness, a couple showed up, as they do every Mon-day and Friday, to prune, cut down trees, and haul off the debris. The ladies of the Parish Council of Catholic Women and the men of the Knights of Columbus emailed to get details about providing a BBQ for the students. The Catholic Eagles came in to plan outreach activities for the semester. Three big boxes of fabric were dropped off for the Haiti Sewing Project. The Handbell Choir practiced Morning Has Broken. Our choir director copied the music for the Sunday Masses and choir members sang for a funeral. Twenty-two teenagers showed up for our first Lifeteen Session. Religious Education teachers dropped by to get their classrooms ready for the start of our new session. Volunteers served meals at the

soup kitchen and assisted the poor at Area Chris-tians Together in Service. Parishioners signed up to help with the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

YOU didn’t quit. YOU, who are commit-ted to CELEBRATE, LOVE, and SHARE the faith right here in Statesboro, Georgia, YOU are the instrument that God used to restore my own faith. WE are the church.

So, fellow lay Catholics, DO NOT set aside your outrage and anger! Bring them to Je-sus! Do NOT sit back down. It is time for us to STAND UP for our Catholic faith, for our LORD, and demand that TRUTH triumphs over lies...that JUSTICE prevails...that LOVE wins! It is up to us to insist that the bishops, cardinals, and the pope fully support whatever measures are necessary to rid the Church of this evil and that they will devote themselves to ensuring the spir-itual well-being, safety, and growth of the flock entrusted to their care. It is up to us to listen to the voice of the Lord and do His will. I am still Catholic and I will fight for my faith! As semi-narian Justin Motes said in response: “In the ago-ny of the Garden, Jesus saw all of this and still went to the cross for His People and Church. Thank God he did.” May our Church be made worthy of Christ!

Yours in the Love of Christ,

Melinda

“While Christ, holy, innocent and undefiled knew nothing of sin, but came to expiate only the sins of the people, the Church, embracing in its bosom sinners, at the same time holy and always in need of being purified, always follows the way of penance and renewal. The Church, ‘like a stranger in a foreign land, presses for-ward amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God’, announcing the cross and death of the Lord until He comes. By the power of the risen Lord it is given strength that it might, in patience and in love, overcome its sor-rows and its challenges, both within itself and from without, and that it might reveal to the world, faithfully though darkly, the mystery of its Lord until, in the end, it will be manifested in full light.” —Lumen Gentium, Chapter 1, Section 8, 3rd paragraph

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Melinda Cannady (MC): What is your cur-rent status as a seminarian? Justin Motes (JM): I am in my 2nd year as a Basselin Scholar at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC studying for the Diocese of St. Augustine. I reside and receive all of my priestly formation at Theological Col-lege, located across from The Catholic Univer-sity. MC: Describe the Basselin Program vs. your regular seminary program. JM: In the late 19th century, a lay Catholic lumber magnate in upstate New York, by the name of Theodore Basselin, donated a large sum of scholarship money to the Catholic Uni-versity for philosophical and public speaking training of young Catholic seminarians aspiring to the priesthood. Today, the Basselin Scholar-ship can maintain a total of 15 college seminar-ians from across the United States. It is quite competitive. In general, the Basselin Program is a three-year scholarship. I will finish a Bache-lor’s degree in Philosophy this academic year. The Basselin Program differs greatly from reg-

ular college seminary programs in that I must add an extra year (the third) to my priestly for-mation to study for the License in Philosophy (Ph.L) which is the equivalent of a master’s de-gree. There is not too great a difference from a regular seminary program except for the extra year for the Ph.L and an overall more intense philosophy program.

MC: What is a typical school day like for a seminarian? JM: I wake up every day at 6:20 am, snooze for 10 minutes, then start my cup of coffee. Morning prayer and/or Mass begins at 7:30 am every day. Breakfast follows. I usually have mornings off from class, so I spend that time either reading for classes, meeting with my for-mation advisors, or exploring downtown DC. My classes begin after lunch and continue until 5 o’clock. I then attend Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and have dinner afterwards. Depending on the day, I might have an evening class, Rector’s conference, or a free evening. Depending on the evening, I pray Night Prayer with my diocesan brothers or with the Hispanic Affairs Commit-tee (followed by Papusas or Tomales). Saturdays are free days. On Sundays, I venture out to Maryland to my parish, St. James, to serve the Spanish Mass at 11:30 am and to teach a confirmation class afterwards. MC: In what areas have you grown the most this year? Have you discovered anything new about yourself? Did you discover strengths you didn't know you had? JM: To be formed as a pr iest, one must grow in four areas: academic, spiritual, human, and pastoral. Truly, I can say I have grown the most in my spiritual and pastoral areas. A daily Holy Hour before the Tabernacle is essential for priestly formation. Without it, a seminarian will burn out and cannot progress. We are not

An Interview with Justin Motes, Seminarian for the Diocese of St. Augustine

By Melinda Cannady

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formed as priests for ourselves, we are formed as priests for Jesus Christ and others. We must be in constant contact with Him every day! Having my first pastoral assignment this year, teaching a confirmation class, I have grown more confident in my abilities to teach the faith to young men growing to love the Lord. It is a great gift the Lord has given me. I have reflected much this semester. The com-mon mantra seminarians are told is this: The Lord does not call the equipped, He equips the called. This cannot ring more true than this year. The Lord has given me such great gifts in confidence, pastoral charity, patience, and hu-mility. A strength the Lord has showed to me is my love to teach the faith! MC: Is there anything you learned/took with you from our parish that has made a difference in your life as a seminarian? JM: St. Matthew will always be a par t of my life and in my prayers! St. Matthew, by its own charity and love found within her parishioners, has taught me to be charitable and loving to others I encounter. It is much more than avoid-ing rudeness, it is giving that smile, holding that door, or giving that compliment. Love abounds at St. Matthew and it resonates with everyone who enters that door. As seminarians we are instructed in the New Evangelization of the Church and St. Matthew embodies that. St. Matthew has really given me a leg-up in my seminary formation! Thank you so much! MC: What is it like to be home in the “Boro?” What do you enjoy most with fami-ly/parish while you are on break? JM: It’s always great to be able to drink real sweet tea again! I most enjoy the time I spend with my family and to catch-up with what has been happening. I also enjoy catching up with my fellow parishioners to be able to tell them what has been happening in my life! MC: How can the parish pray for you next semester? JM: Pray that I grow in Holiness and that I follow only the Lord’s will. The Lord will take care of the rest. Perhaps add an Ave or two!

MC: Describe your summer experience in Latin America. JM: This past summer , I spent 8 weeks in Comayagua, Honduras with the Missioners of Christ. Although I learned much Spanish over those eight weeks, the purpose of my summer was to give myself totally to the poor of Hon-duras. In doing so, I stayed in the mission house within the city of Comayagua where I would engage in what we call 'local missions'. Many of these local missions included: visiting the local hospital, assisting at the local boys' and girls' orphanage, casitas (house visits), and working with the local teenagers. Throughout the summer, I spent 3 separate weeks away from the local mission house doing week-long missions in the poorest, mountainous regions of Honduras. In these weeks, the Lord truly gave me a missionary spirit. I saw poverty up close and, when one sees this, the message of the gospel really flies off the pages and be-comes real. As I write this, yesterday was the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, and he writes that the poor must be our masters and teachers. When one sees the poor as our teachers of au-thentic hope and charity, we see exactly why the Archangel Gabriel appeared to a young virgin in very similar situations to bring us sal-vation and truth. Please keep the poor of Hon-duras in your prayers. "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." - 1 Corinthians 13:1

- Justin Motes

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Dear Parishioners, I would like to thank you for your continued support of our parish. Your commitment to giving, growing, and sharing of your own fruits is crucial to live our faith more actively and to nurture the future of the Church on earth. YOU are the hands and feet of Christ as you help ful-fill our parish mission to celebrate the Catholic faith in Jesus Christ by inspiring all to love God and one another and to share the Good News of God’s love with others by:

Celebrating our Faith

Sunday, Holy Day,

and daily Mass

Weekly Adoration

St. Matthew Feast

Fatima Celebration

All Saints Festival

Our Lady of Guada-

lupe Celebration

Sharing our Faith

Bible Studies

Religious Education

New Youth Ministry

Catholic Eagles SEEK

Conference

Lenten Parish Mission

Matthew Kelly Book

Giveaway

Loving Others

ACTS

Backpack Buddies

Consolation Ministry

Haiti Dress Project

Saddle Fundraiser

Silver Linings

Soup Kitchen

Worn Threads

Thanks to your generosity we will also be able to start addressing an area of concern in every Catholic parish: Youth Ministry. This year, we hired two part-time youth ministers to help us develop a more exciting faith formation program for our teens! The Finance Council did an outstanding job of anticipating the capital needs of the par-ish. This year we were able to replace the 21 year old HVAC unit in the church without taking money out of savings. During the replacement of the HVAC, it was discovered that the fire sys-tems in the church and social building had become inoperable and needed to be replaced at a cost of approximately $50,000. I have not had to come to you with hat in hand, asking you to cough up more money, because we had money in savings to meet this requirement. Next year we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of our parish! What a wonderful time for us to reflect on how we can make changes, painful though they may be, for our Church to become more Christ-like. If you are not already actively participating in parish life through giving of your time, talent, and treasure, I encourage you to become involved! Your faith and the faith of all parishioners will grow if we all give back to God from what he has so unfailingly given to us and will ensure that the Catholic Church will continue to thrive in Statesboro! Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Thank You!

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Catholics in Action!

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St. Matthew Catholic Church

221 John Paul Avenue

Statesboro, GA 30458

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Statesboro, GA

Permit No. 00388

By Melinda Cannady

Pray! That the victims of abuse will be heard, healed, and consoled and that the Holy Spir-

it will give the Church the wisdom and the courage to do what must be done to cast out evil and rid her of the sins which have hurt so many.

Faith! God is who we worship—not men. Christ was without sin but His Church is not.

We, the Body of Christ, can make His Church holier by faithfully living our own vocations in the vineyard in which He has placed us to do His work.

Action! The St. Matthew Parish Council approved a proposal for the formation of an ad-

visory council of lay Catholics to help make suggestions to Bishop Hartmayer. Included in the proposal is a recommendation that the appointed lay faithful communicate changes to their par-ishes. “By uniting our prayers, works and sufferings to those of Jesus, we can actually make some reparation for our offenses against the justice of God. Because we are members of Christ, our offerings become part of the work of our Lord which was to make reparation for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, our offering not only makes reparation for our sins, but for the sins of others as well.” -Fr. Robert Altier, http://www.courageouspriest.com/father-robert-altier-reparation-important. Beginning in October, the weekly church bulletin will feature a box that lists sacrifices we as a parish family can offer to make reparation for the grievous sins and evils which have crept into the Church. United as the body of Christ, we can be a powerful force for good and holiness.