8 The Bell Ringer
About Our Parish:
March/April 2013
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hyannis MA 02601
Apostles in Stained Glass
T he Be ll R ing e r
The nave of our church is illuminated by stained glass windows featuring 10 of
the 12 Apostles. Parish lore has it that the windows of the two missing apostles
— Simon and Bartholomew — were damaged during construction in the 1920s
S
tained glass illuminates added, they were damaged
churches and chapels and weren’t replaced. The reall over the world and maining windows provide
visual representations upon
which we can meditate.
St. Peter’s window shows
him holding the keys to the
kingdom, signifying his role
as leader of the apostles and
first Pope. He holds a book,
signifying his letters that are
part of the Bible. Everything
St. Peter’s denial of
Christ “thrice before the cock crows”
is his faith lesson.
were the first two apostles
chosen by Christ.
St. Andrew was a friend of
St. John the Baptist and first
recognized the messiah from
his friend’s description.
St. Andrew’s window shows
him holding a Bible marking
how he recognized the fulfillment of the messianic scriptures in Jesus Christ.
The emblem at his feet are of
two fish, bringing to mind Andrew’s presence at the blessing and increase of the loaves
and fishes. He was also called
to be a fisher of men. +
Volume 2, Issue 2
Faith Formation students listen to Father Dan’s homily at Mass
St. Francis Xavier Church
347 South Street
Saint Peter’s Window
32 Summer Street
the people and stories they
replicate also are intended to
illuminate our souls. The nave
of St. Francis Xavier tells the
story of 10 of the 12 apostles.
Sts. Simon and Bartholomew
are absent, lost it is believed
during the renovation of the
church in the early 1920s. Photos of the original church do
show two windows facing
South Street, which could be
the missing apostles. It is believed when the portico was
Yarmouth Port 02675
in St. Andrew’s
Parish Office:
window recalls the
21 Cross Street
multiplication of
Hyannis MA 02601
the loaves and fish.
Phone: 508-775-0818
found in a stained glass window has meaning and the oval
emblem shown at the feet of
St. Peter of a rooster tells the
story of St. Peter’s denial of
Christ three times “before the
cock crows.” His repentance
and forgiveness provides us
all with an example of Our
Savior’s merciful love. His
brother, St. Andrew and he
Fax: 508-771-5940
A digital version of
The Bell Ringer
may be found on the
parish website:
www.stfrancishyannis.org under
newsletter.
Send any correspondence to
the Parish Office marked
Bell Ringer
St. Andrew’s Window
What’s Been Happening . . .
Hyannis MA 02601
Sacred Heart Chapel
The fish emblem
March/April 2013 Newsletter
St. Francis Xavier’s Faith Formation classes take place following the
9 a.m. Mass on Sundays from September through April. There are 103
students enrolled this year in grades
1 through 10. On the first
Sunday of each month,
the students learn how to
participate in the mass
life of the parish by taking on the roles of lectors,
altar servers, bringing up
the elements, and sometimes acting as usher/
collectors.
Mrs. Deborah Boucher
heads up Faith Formation
at SFX and in addition to
supervising the religious classes,
Deborah also leads small faith communities, such as the afternoon sessions of Catholicism which is currently in its second session as a
Lenten opportunity for parishioners.
Deacon Boucher and Deacon
Murphy lead the evening sessions.
While we continue with our
Lenten devotions, including the Stations of the Cross held each Friday
afternoon at 12:10, we also look forward to the Triduum of
Holy Week and of course
the glorious Resurrection
of Our Lord on Easter.
The Triduum of Holy
Week is one of the most
inspiring times of our
church year. For those of
you who have never participated, or have not in
several years, we respectfully suggest you make
time this year to take part.
The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday evening, follows the last days of
Our Savior with Good Friday devotions and culminates in the Vigil of
Easter on Holy Saturday. Then we
all rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. +
2 The Bell Ringer
March/April 2013
March/April 2013
The Bell Ringer 7
Lenten Opportunities for All Parishioners
How We Choose a New Pope . . .
Lent is a time to become closer
With the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the laity is at sea about this rare development and
to the Lord through prayer,
how a new Pope will be selected and who does the selection. Here are some answers!
penance and alms giving. (See
page 5 for details about our
Who is the pope?
Lenten Mission.) At St. Francis
The pope is the bishop of Rome, the successor
of St. Peter. Together with all bishops, he
leads and guides the Catholic Church.
we have many other ways too
to share in the suffering of Our
What happens when the pope leaves office?
Lord during his passion and
can also pray the rosary and
Besides the pope, cardinals are the highest officials in the Church. They are usually bishops
who are appointed by the pope. When a pope
dies or resigns, all of the cardinals from
around the world who are under the age of 80
come to Rome for a special gathering called a
conclave. There is a special election to choose
a new pope.
Divine Mercy Chaplet daily.
How do the cardinals meet?
death. Visually, remember how
our sins hurt him as you meditate upon the crown of thorns
and nails placed as reminders
before the church lectern. You
First they pray! They celebrate Mass together
and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Then they come together to talk about and
vote for the man who will become the next
pope. During the conclave, the cardinals meet
in the beautiful Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican. No newspapers, cell phones, or television
are permitted within the conclave. The cardinals stay in the Vatican and do not leave until
a pope is elected.
At right, is a book,
“Dynamic Catholic” being
provided free of charge as
Lenten reading material.
Rice Bowl boxes are available at church entrances
to make alms giving easier. Read the folder that
comes with it to see where you money goes!
Attend Stations of the Cross each Friday
at 12:10 in the church for faith focus.
an agreement the ballots are burned with
some damp straw that makes the smoke black.
When the smoke comes out of the chimney,
the people outside the Vatican know a pope
has not yet been elected. Once the election is
final, the ballots are burned without the damp
straw and white smoke comes out of the chimney. This signals that the Church has a new
pope and bishop of Rome!
What happens next?
Usually the new pope is selected from the
group of cardinals. The dean, or head of the
cardinals asks the newly elected pope if he
accepts. If the response is yes, the new pope is
dressed in white robes and given the Fisherman’s ring. It is a symbol of St. Peter, who was
a fisherman and the first pope. The new pope
then chooses a name. The cardinals make a
promise to be faithful to him and follow his
leadership. He then comes out onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. His first
blessing includes the Latin words “Urbi et
Orbi”. This means “to the city”, referring to
Rome, the pope’s diocese, and to the world.
How do the cardinals elect a new pope?
What can I do to support the cardinals and
the new pope?
Each cardinal submits a secret ballot. Twothirds of the cardinals must choose the same
person. If this doesn’t happen, they vote again.
Each day during the conclave the cardinals
vote up to four times. If they do not come to
Choosing a new pope is an important task.
Pray for the cardinals as they gather for the
conclave. When the new pope is chosen, ask
God to bless and guide him as he takes on his
new role as the leader of the Catholic Church.+
6 The Bell Ringer
March/April 2013
Would you believe . . .
T
he Prayer Shawl Ministry has been in
existence for four years and in that time,
two dozen women have participated. They have knitted and
crocheted prayer shawls, christening blankets, newborn hats for
Cape Cod Hospital, children’s
sweaters, dresses, hats and mittens for the Baby Center, A
Women’s Choice, St. Vincent de
Paul, and the Hyannis Library’s
hat and mitten tree. Parishioners
have been generous in donations
of yarn and funds to keep up the
work. Now meeting every
Wednesday at noon, there are
usually a handful or more women on hand to
work on their needlework and discuss life and
faith. Other women, unable to attend meetings, do their work at home and send them in
for donation to our community.
teers who will be available to man the library
on Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 noon,
Saturdays from 3 to 4 p.m., and
Sundays from 10 to 1 p.m. If
you feel you would like to take
part in getting the library off to
a good start, please mark so on
your commitment form or if you
have already returned your 2013
form, call Janet at 508-775-1628.
P
arishioners have been
blessed by the donation of
a little red book, entitled The
Sorrowful Mysteries, which has
been left at the entrance to our
church for a month or more.
When you leave the church, do look for a copy
to take home. Reading this work, you will find
the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ come to
life as never before. St. Alphonsus is quoted in
the book: “We think as little of the Passion of
he damage to the Father Duffy Pastoral the Redeemer as if it were a fable . . .” Read
Center had delayed the opening of our- this booklet and you will quickly learn it isn’t
Parish Library but we are still seeking volun- and the depth of Our Savior’s love for us. +
T
St. Bernadette’s Feast Day continued from page 4
at Lourdes. The Sanctuary of
Our Lady of Lourdes is now
one of the major Catholic
pilgrimage sites in the
world.
To avoid the attention
surrounding her visions,
Bernadette moved to the
hospice school run by the
Sisters of Charity of Nevers
where she learned to read
and write.
At the age of 22, she
joined the religious order Sisters of Charity at Nevers and
spent the rest of her life there
as an assistant in the infirmary
and later as a sacristan.
years of age. And that is the
She was able to follow how day her life is celebrated.
Bernadette was declared
venerable by Pope Pius X,
declared blessed on June 2,
1925 by Pope Pius XI, and
officially canonized by Pope
Pius XI on December 8, 1933,
the feast of the Immaculate
Conception.
In the 155 years since Bernadette dug up the spring at
Lourdes, millions of people
St. Bernadette’s coffin in Nevers, France.
Lourdes becoming a pilgrim- have visited those healing waage shrine while she still lived ters. Bernadette herself said
at Lourdes. After a long illness, she that it was faith and prayer
died on April 16, 1879, at 35 that cured the sick. +
March/April 2013
An Empty Tomb . . .
An Empty Chair by the Rev. William Silvia
D
uring this year, but especially during
this Lent and Easter, His Holiness
Benedict XVI has asked us to reflect
on the great gift of faith. To aid us in this task,
Benedict has given us the image of the Porta
Fide, the portal of faith. At many points in our
lives, we are called to pass through portals,
doorways, to allow our faith and the faith of
others to grow stronger. With the resignation
of Pope Benedict from active ministry, there
are two doorways of faith that we as a parish
and a Church should reflect on: the doorway
to the empty tomb and the doorway to an
empty St. Peter's Basilica.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews
defines faith as "the realization of what is
hoped for and evidence of things not seen".
This definition is very important to remember,
especially as we look through doorways that
are nearly empty.
In the gospel of
Mark, Mary Magdalen, Mary the mother
of James, and Salome
go to the tomb after
the Sabbath to dress
Jesus' body for death.
They immediately confront the problem of the
large stone that blocks them from their
beloved. However, as they reach the tomb,
they see the stone rolled away and an angel
waiting in vigil for them. The angel tells them
that Jesus is risen, that the tomb is now empty.
Startled by this event, they run from the tomb
and hide in silence.
Over the next couple of weeks, we as
followers of Jesus will experience this same
sense of shock and surprise. No matter how
many people fill St. Peter's Basilica for prayer,
that great shrine will remain incomplete
because the one seat that should be occupied
is now empty - the seat of Successor of Peter.
The sede vacante, the empty chair, can pose a
scandal for some in today's world, just as the
empty tomb was
scandalous
2000
years ago. But for us
C a t hol i c s,
the
emptiness serves as a
time for faith to be
strengthened.
Remember,
faith
comes from things
not seen! Where the
world may see a
vacuum of power, we as Christians see a
tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, an
opportunity to place ourselves in the gentle
hands of Divine Providence.
So, what does the empty tomb and the
empty chair offer to our faith? It provides a
moment of quiet reflection in which to ponder
what does faith mean to me as an individual.
It allows us the opportunity to reflect on God's
holy will. It reminds us that the Church, established by Jesus, will endure until the last day.
As we prepare to receive Easter joy and a
greeting of great joy at the election of a new
pope, we must always remember that our
faith teaches us that emptiness must always
precede fullness. Our faith not only teaches us
this, but strengthens us for this reality as well.
Therefore, we are called to bravely pass
through the doorways of faith, the Portas Fide,
with confidence, knowing that our salvation
comes in ways that are not always seen. +
March/April 2013
Tuesday, April 16:
St. Bernadette’s Feast Day
o
n February 11, 1858,
St. Bernadette Soubirous was the 14-yearold girl, who was granted a
vision of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in a cave on the banks of
the Gave River near Lourdes
in France. Seventeen more
times, this young daughter of
an impoverished miller, was
to see “a small young lady” in
the grotto of Massabielle.
In what some referred to as a
“holy fortnight” there were
almost daily visions. At first,
her parents refused to let her
return to the grotto, but Bernadette, stubbornly calm and
consistent during interrogations by the local police,
never changing her story and
never claiming knowledge
beyond what she said the lady
told her, did return.
The townspeople were divided on whether or not Bernadette was telling the truth.
But a large number followed
her on her daily journey, some
out of curiosity, others out of
faith witnessing a miracle.
On February 24, the lady repeated the word “penance,”
three time and on that day at
the lady’s insistence, Bernadette kissed the muddy
ground. The next day, she
seemed to go into a trance,
chewed and ate grass she
plucked from the ground,
rubbed mud over her face and
swallowed some mud. Many
onlookers were disgusted. But
she explained that the lady
had told her “to drink of the
water of the spring, to wash in
it and eat the herb that grew
there” as an act of penance.
The next day, to everyone’s
surprise, the grotto was no
longer muddy but clear water
flowed.
On March 2, during the 13th
apparition, the lady told Bernadette “Please go to the
priests and tell them that a
chapel is to be built here. Let
processions come hither.” Bernadette went to the parish
priest with the request. Father
Dominique Peyramale, a brilliant but often rough-spoken
man, told Bernadette that the
lady must identify herself.
During the lady’s next apparition, Bernadette repeated the
request, but the lady bowed,
smiled, but said nothing.
Then Father Dominique told
Bernadette to ask the lady to
perform a miracle – make the
rose bush beneath the niche
flower on the last week of February. During the 16th visit,
“the miracles of the candle”
took place. Bernadette was
holding a lit candle during the
vision, and it burned down
and the flame was said to be
in direct contact with her skin
for over 15 minutes without
her showing any sign of pain
or injury. The town physician
was a witness and he timed
and documented it. According
to his report, Bernadette’s skin
wasn’t affected in any way
and he found no evidence of
burning. The girl had not been
aware of the event at all, but
when the doctor briefly put a
lit candle against her hand,
she reacted immediately.
During this vision, Bernadette asked the lady for her
name but the lady just smiled.
Bernadette repeated the question three more times and finally heard the lady say, in
the local dialect, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
It was just four years earlier,
Pope Pius IX had defined the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Her parents, teachers
and priests all later testified
that Bernadette had never previously heard the expression
from them.
Bernadette’s request to the
local priest to build a chapel
resulted in a number of chapels and churches being built
Continued on page 6
March/April 2013
The Bell Ringer 5