ABVM Magazine
"ABVM Magazine's mission is to help our parish family tell their stories of knowing, loving and serving Jesus."
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Assumption BVM Parish will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023!
Special Features:
Part One of ABVM 150 Years in West Grove
and
A Fragment of the Word
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COLUMN: DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
BY JOHN LYNCH
Thank You, Gene!
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Author’s Note: Gene Fogarty recently retired as president of the Development Council and as a member of the Parish Finance Council. It has been a blessing to know Gene and work with him on both of these parish councils during the last several years. Gene’s contributions to the parish’s financial management and to developing long-term funding sources have had a tremendous impact on the parish. Having worked with him on numerous assignments and projects, I appreciate Gene's integrity, dedication, expertise, knowledge, and sense of humor. Yet, most of all, I appreciate his boundless love for the parish. Thanks, Gene!
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Beginning in October, Gene transitioned the Development Council President role to me. I am very grateful to Gene for carefully preparing me for this transition. My first priority has been to focus on the activities already in progress—the “Make a Joyful Noise” campaign and the 2021 Parish Appeal—and to help kick off the 2022 Parish Appeal. As writer and content coordinator for the ABVM Parish Magazine, my other priority has been to work with other contributors and with editor Grace Spampinato and IT Consultant Ed Charlton to publish the 2021 Fall edition.
In December, I will reach out to the Development Council Committees to introduce myself and discuss plans for 2022. Look for updates on the Development Council page of the parish website, in the bulletin, and through Constant Contact. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
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PLEASE WELCOME JOHN HALL
John Hall is our new 2022 Parish Appeal Chair. He has extensive work experience in Finance and Banking, and we appreciate his accepting this role. We look forward to working with him!
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
· Make a Joyful Noise campaign – raised over $31,000 and met our parish donor's $25,000 matching donation.
· ABVM Magazine (Donor Relations Committee) – produced the 5th edition: Fall 2021.
· Stewardship Committee – hosted a Ministry Fair on November 14 in the Parish Life Center with about 20 Ministries represented.
· 2021 Parish Appeal – has been completed, raising $173,000 contributed by 288 families. The first $125,000 goes to parish expenses; the balance will go to the Emergency Fund.
· 2022 Parish Appeal – began November 7. As of November 14, 115 families have donated $17,999. Thanks to your generosity, we are off to a great start!
John Lynch joined the ABVM parish in 1993 and is a familiar face to many.
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COLUMN: SPOTLIGHT ON MINISTRIES
Walking with Purpose Bible Study
BY STEPHANIE TOBIN, COORDINATOR, and JOHN LYNCH
“In the world we have our guard up. When you connect with others sharing a desire to grow a relationship with Christ, you are able to let this guard down.” – Stephanie Tobin
What is WALKING WITH PURPOSE?
The mission of Walking with Purpose Bible Study (according to its website,) is “to help all women and girls to know Jesus Christ personally by making Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church relevant and applicable... Our mission is to help every Catholic woman and girl in America encounter Jesus Christ through our Bible Studies.”
WALKING WITH PURPOSE offers programs for three age groups: Adult Women, Young Adult Women, and Middle School Girls. While most programs are hosted within a parish, WALKING WITH PURPOSE also offers an online session option for women who cannot attend in person.
In the Fall, 2021, Walking with Purpose Bible Study at ABVM is offering three programs. Opening Your Heart (which began September 22) is a beginner-level course where women can discover a personal relationship with Jesus and increase their trust in His unconditional love. Grounded in Hope began on September 21 and will help women experience a growth in grit and grace “to help you run your race.” Beginning in October, ABVM introduced BLAZE , a program for 7th and 8th grade girls. According to the WALKING WITH PURPOSE web site, BLAZE teaches girls that “they are unconditionally loved by their heavenly Father.” and fosters relationships in the program “that provide an alternative to the unhealthy way our culture encourages teens to cope with challenges of their stage of life.”
Beginning in March ABVM Walking with Purpose Bible Study will offer Reclaiming Friendship, whose goal is to “Let God reshape how you see and experience intentional relationships...and become a woman who is capable of the lifelong bond of true friendship.”
WALKING WITH PURPOSE at ABVM
This is the fourth year that WALKING WITH PURPOSE has been offered at our parish. Joan Patrick was the first to learn of the Bible study at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Women’s Conference and felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to bring it to ABVM. She asked Stephanie Tobin to help coordinate the program. Joan stepped down this year from her role due to work obligations, and Caroline Lyons has taken over the role as co-coordinator.
I asked Stephanie what makes WALKING WITH PURPOSE so special.
“Our mission is to enable women to grow in their faith through Scripture study and to help them be grounded in Catholic doctrine. It is a very safe environment where we can build relationships while feeling supported and loved.”
In describing the Opening Your Heart program, Stephanie explained that it is comprised of independent reading and answering questions for five weekdays, taking no longer than 20-30 minutes a day. Women meet weekly to discuss the lesson with an emphasis on hospitality. “We give the Parish Life Center a homey atmosphere and serve light refreshments. Our groups are kept reasonably small to help build trust and openness to faith sharing. The last 10 minutes we write down each other’s prayer petitions to remember throughout the week. An emphasis is made on personal resolutions that are formed during our weekly at home study.”
Stephanie and Caroline always encourage everyone to invite a friend. There is always an open seat. Every four weeks, there is an extra special emphasis on hospitality; a buffet of brunch type foods is offered. A video talk called "Connect Coffee" is shown, and discussion follows. The hospitality session is an excellent opportunity for newcomers to check out Walking with Purpose Bible Study. Stephanie and Carolyn will promote the "Connect Coffee" events through the parish Bulletin, website, and ABVM Facebook page.
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BLAZE At ABVM
BLAZE Coordinator, Tina Sgroi, explains her thoughts about BLAZE . “We are so blessed to offer this program to our 7th and 8th Grade girls. Each week, we focus on a lie these girls are told in secular society and then dispel that lie with the truth found in Scripture. Their bible, originally thought to be antiquated and difficult to understand, instantly comes alive for them. We have a beautiful opportunity to make the Bible relevant in their lives. The girls also learn to pray in a spontaneous manner, as they are encouraged to pray for each other each week. This is usually a new experience for them at their age. Each session concludes with a take-home gift that brings the truth home.” The BLAZE program is a 20-week program offered on Sundays at 11 a.m., so the girls can still attend Mass at the 10 a.m. or 12 p.m. Mass.
More about WALKING WITH PURPOSE
As of October 2020, WALKING WITH PURPOSE was active in 400 parishes in 94 dioceses across 40 states as well as in Europe and Canada. The success and growth of WALKING WITH PURPOSE in parishes across the country reminds us that encountering Jesus in our daily lives and building a personal relationship with Him can transform us. Stephanie Tobin reflects on WALKING WITH PURPOSE: “Just being anointed by the Holy Spirit. This is what we need for the world we live in. Women’s Catholic faith is stronger. It makes our faith come alive.”
To learn more about how WALKING WITH PURPOSE started, click here
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The Consolation Ministry
BY GINNY BRYSON, COORDINATOR, and JOHN LYNCH
In 2012, ABVM Pastor Father Murphy asked if any parishioners were interested in volunteering for a new ministry being introduced to local Chester County parishes to ease the burden of people suffering from a recent or past loss of a loved one. Ginny Bryson and five other parishioners immediately stepped forward to begin the Consolation Ministry.
Ginny's husband died several years ago, so she personally knows the difficulty of coping with losing a loved one. Even with family and friends living locally, talking about what one is going through is still not easy. Sometimes people even feel that if they talk about their loss, they are burdening others. When I asked Ginny why she volunteered, she said, "After I lost my husband, I realized that this is something I could do; I could help someone else."
Ginny and the other volunteers attended a three-day training session at St. Cornelius Parish in Chadds Ford. The participants attended presentations and discussion groups and, at the end of the course, were certified as Ministers of Consolation. Ginny and the others returned to ABVM and began to offer monthly sessions for people who were grieving a loss.
Currently, the ABVM Consolation Ministry group meets every third Thursday in the Children's Chapel at 7:00 p.m. Ginny Bryson and Joan Shannon are the coordinators. Anyone 16 and older is welcome to attend a meeting or, instead, call Ginny on her cell (610-322-6366) to find out more information about the ministry or simply to talk with someone. Sharing with someone can help. "A worry shared is a worry cut in half, and a joy shared is a joy doubled." Ginny says she remembers a nun giving her this advice many years ago.
Every meeting of the Consolation Ministry begins with a prayer. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts with the group, but this is not required; sometimes people only want to sit and listen. Each meeting covers a special topic about coping with life after losing someone. Topics have included "Cooking for One Person" and "How to Live Life as a Single Person."
Ginny wants anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one to know "We are here for you. We will listen to you. You are not the only one going through this. We have also been through this ourselves."
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COLUMN: FAMILY IN THE CHURCH
The Dad Who Made Breakfast in Church
BY LISA GOLDSTEIN
Throughout the years, I've often thought about the father who fixed his child a bowl of cereal during Mass. He has no idea that I know about him, have thought about him, and have developed empathy for him. He doesn't know that I regarded him with anger and bewilderment then or that I regard him with love and solidarity now. He is clueless about how I moved from bewilderment and anger to empathy and, finally, compassion and understanding about what he did. You see, he was a stranger, a stranger who filled one moment during one hour of my life, approximately 20 years ago. Amazing, isn't it? The way some people cross our paths with significance, and others cross our paths for only moments. And it is only in hindsight that you realize some of those moments become moments you remember in a perpetual afterward-ness and, yet, have no idea why they stayed with you.
I was in my midtwenties, working a full-time and two part-time jobs to pay for my apartment and weekend fun. Yet, I was very involved in parish life, discovering ways to use the zeal I had at the time. One Sunday morning, I was seated behind a Dad and his little boy, a child probably about 3-years-old. The little boy was fidgety throughout the Mass—which is, of course, entirely natural and normal—but did I understand this? No. I was twenty-something, unmarried, and did not have children. I undoubtedly thought I understood; I undoubtedly had all sorts of opinions about what I thought Dad should be doing to settle his preschooler.
Yes, I laugh at myself now when I think back, just like you laugh when you think about what you thought you knew about parenting before you became a parent.
I watched the little boy pull everything out of the bag Dad had brought along. You know the bag I mean—the one with the books, the cups, the snack container, the spare clothes, and...well, what do or did we not have in there? Dad was exasperated, trying to busy his child with quiet toys and books, but then, his little boy found one of those mini-cereal boxes and was asking Dad, over and over, to open it.
The next moment is the one that has stayed with me forever. Dad not only opened the cereal box, but he also unabashedly dug out a little bowl, a spoon, and a pint-sized milk carton. (Yes, you read that right: milk). I kid you not—Dad fixed his little boy a bowl of cereal with milk during the Presentation of the Gifts! The little boy was happy; he was eating his bowl of cereal. AND sliding up and down the pew with it! Yes, I know you are aghast; so was I.
I looked around to see if anyone else thought this was as absurd as I did. How could a parent make his child breakfast in the middle of the Mass, at the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist? What does that teach? Why would someone do that?
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Well, of course now I know how a parent could do that even if I hope I never witness it again. The poor guy was desperate; that's why he did it. We've all been there. Sure, there might be elders who will tell you they made certain every one of their children always sat perfectly behaved in church from the moment their children were born. But do these words help parents of energetic young children? No. The culture is different now than it was 50 years ago, and everybody knows that.
My sons are 11- and 13-years-old now. They're good kids. They are involved in church, and they take Mass seriously. Guess what? They did not sit perfectly behaved in the pew when they were 3-years-old. Thankfully, I knew better than to make breakfast in church, but I definitely had the books and allowed a stuffed animal or two over the years. If you do, too, it's okay. We understand. The Dad I judged all those years ago is a Dad I feel only total compassion for now. I just didn't understand back then. There will always be people who don't understand.
Always bring your toddlers and preschoolers and young children to church. Most parents, grandparents, and retired folks DO understand, and they all want your family here in church with us. You are part of our ABVM parish family. You're doing the right thing when you bring your little ones. Eventually, when they are older—maybe even 11 or 13—I promise that you will be glad they see themselves as part of their church from as far back as they can remember.
The Dad who made breakfast in church has no knowledge that he has remained on my mind for 20 years. He has contributed to my faith journey and will never know it. He helped me grow and will never know it. I'll always have a place in my heart for the Dad who made breakfast in church.
Lisa Goldstein is a mom trying to juggle a million different things while raising her kids in the Church, just like many other parents at ABVM are trying to do.
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SPECIAL FEATURE: A FRAGMENT OF THE WORD
BY ED CHARLTON
Part of an early version of St. John’s Gospel known as Rylands Library Papyrus P52.
I've always been fascinated by archaeology. Perhaps growing up in the British Isles—home to Stonehenge and other ancient wonders—explains why. Being an author and sometime publisher, I am doubly fascinated by ancient writings.
In 2018, I visited The University of Manchester's John Rylands library in Manchester, England. On display there is perhaps the earliest piece of canonical New Testament text in existence.
Before your eyes glaze over, let me explain what "canonical" means!
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There are many fragments of papyrus where parts of biblical books can still be seen and read, both New and Old Testament. Some are in Hebrew, some in Greek. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a great example.
Read more about the Dead Sea Scrolls here.
But not all the early writings are “canonical,” in that they are parts of books not included in the Bible. The Nag Hammadi documents are an example of noncanonical writings.
Read more about the Nag Hammadi documents here.
The Rylands Library Papyrus P52 is from the Gospel of St. John and is written in Greek. It is very small and very old. I’m going to address three questions you may have and urge you read more online when you can.
· What is it?
· Is it really from St. John’s Gospel?
· How old is it?
What is it?
The Rylands papyrus is unusual because there is writing on both sides. Why is this odd? Most of the early texts are written on papyrus scrolls with writing on only one side—the inside when rolled up. Books, as we know them, with writing on both sides of the page, were not common in Jesus's time. This kind of document is referred to as a codex.
Scholars suggest that this codex had been read aloud to a congregation. The writing is larger than normal, clear, and easily read, which means that the intact book would, in many ways, have resembled the lectionary we read from at Mass.
Is it really from St. John’s Gospel?
There are differences, even in the few lines it shows, with the wording of our current Bible—at least our accepted translation. But to be clear, it is recognizably a part of the gospel. Even though there may be a word or two different, these differences don't cause any confusion.
John 18:31-33
New International Version (2011) referenced by the Ryland Library in the fragment notes.
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves, and judge him by your law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,”
32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Only the words in bold survive on the fragment. (I said it is small.) The other side (the next page) shows words from John 18:37-38.
How old is it?
This is where it gets tricky. Scientists could do a Carbon-14 dating on the papyrus, but the fragment is so small, a significant part of it would be destroyed in the process. So scholars estimate the date in other ways.
They can look at the style of the writing, the style of the layout, the size of the letters, and how much space there is between each letter and each line. All these can be used to compare it to other documents throughout history to see the similarities and differences. It is even possible, to compare the handwriting with other documents and see which scribes have similarities, just as we would compare examples of contemporary writing. Scholars can also estimate how far a document can travel, through the making of copies, from when it was first written to where a copy was found.
Of course, given these varied approaches, the best estimate for the Rylands papyrus comes down to a range of dates. The papyrus may have been written as early as AD 100, given that we believe St. John wrote the original in Ephesus (Turkey) about AD 70 and that this fragment was found in Egypt. We also know that the community in Egypt had put the gospel into a book to be read aloud, which implies both acceptance and familiarity, each taking a while to build. Others give it a date of AD 200, based on its similarity to other documents more easily dated to that time. A recent review of the early documents points to a date between AD 125 and AD 175.
Summary
The Rylands Library Papyrus P52 is the earliest known fragment of the Gospel of St. John, dating to perhaps AD 125 and is part of a lectionary from a church in Egypt.
To give you another perspective, while the members of that Egyptian church were listening to a lector reading St. John's words from this codex, my own ancestors were painting themselves blue and fighting the Romans over Hadrian’s Wall.
Ed Charlton is a science fiction author with an interest in biblical archeology.
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COLUMN: ABVM SCHOOL
The 2021–2022 School Year
BY DANIELLE WHITE
The 2021-2022 School Year kicked off with great excitement! Both students and teachers are thrilled to be back in the classrooms! The Student Council even beautified our school by decorating the walls with murals.
Through the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, Assumption BVM School received about $400,000 in designated funds. The summer months provided time for us to create an outdoor classroom and lunch area. This money was used to purchase outdoor tables, water bottle filling stations, new seating for the library, new technology, and other items that will be delivered to our school.
COVID-19 mitigation strategies are still being practiced, and parents receive weekly updates from our Onward Planning Committee. We look forward to the day when some of these mitigation layers can be peeled back and students can share their beautiful smiles all day long.
Our school is accredited through the Middle States Association and must be reaccredited every seven years. The formal self-study was presented to the four-member visiting team from November 15 through November 18. Our self-study was a labor of love. A huge thank you goes to our internal coordinators, Linda Holohan (First Grade teacher) and Kimberly Moroz (Middle School teacher) for their time dedicated to this self-study. Our school has a lot to be proud of and we are excited to share our achievements and reflect on our opportunities for growth.
Family events are back on the calendar, courtesy of the Home and School Association. ABVM School family events include Trunk or Treat, Family Bingo Night, and the Father/Daughter Dance, to name a few.
Our governing body, the Board of Limited Jurisdiction, had its first meeting of the new school year in October, and each committee (Development, Finance, Enrollment, and Facilities) has its action items for the year. Development is focused on promoting Giving Day with the goal of exceeding last year’s success of $50,000. They already have a donor who is willing to match the first $5,000 in donations! Finance has a new committee chair and is eager to work with our staff to keep the budget balanced, while continuing to put money in reserves for future projects. The Enrollment Committee is representing ABVM School at marketing events at local parishes and participated in ABVM parish’s Ministry Day on November 14. The Facilities Committee has been busy securing contracts for fencing that will be installed this year and is overseeing the front foyer renovations that are in process. This investment will provide a welcoming vestibule and a second layer of security.
Assumption BVM School is blessed in so many ways. Most recently, we were the recipient of over $100,000 in anonymous donations to cover the cost of the front foyer renovations and other earmarked projects. We are also grateful for the support of ABVM parish, surrounding parishes, and the community at large. Although we are tuition-based, we rely greatly on the success of our fundraisers to keep tuition increases at a minimum for parents. The Annual Golf Outing was a huge success; the participants and school volunteers had a wonderful time!
Please put these important upcoming events on your calendar:
Christmas Bazaar, November 20
Giving Day, November 30
Ladies Night Out – Bag Bingo, January 13
Night at the Races, March 19.
Come out and enjoy time with family and friends and know that you are supporting your parish elementary school that provides a rigorous curriculum with Jesus as the center of all we do!
The Advanced Giving Day link opens on November 15. Click here if you wish to donate to Assumption BVM School Giving Day:
Donations to the school can also be made directly using this link on the school website.
Danielle White is the principal of Assumption BVM School.
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Wondering What EANS and Accreditation Are All About?
EANS
The Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) relief program has provided billions of dollars in financial support for private and independent schools since its launch in early 2021.
EANS was introduced to help schools recover from hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021, a second round of $2.75 billion in funding was announced (called “EANS 2.0”).
This program gives governors across the country access to funds that they can distribute to non-public schools based on financial need. (So non-public schools aren’t the direct recipient of federal funding.)
What’s New in EANS 2.0?
Recipients of EANS 2.0 can only use the funds for future expenses, not as a reimbursement for past expenses (which was a feature of the first round of EANS funds). There’s also an added emphasis on sending funds to non-public schools that serve a significant number of low-income families.
For more information, click here.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a self-evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards. The standards examine schools in a holistic way, supplementing student-testing data to provide a more complete measure of a school’s performance and chart a strategic and realistic course for continuous school improvement.
Who Is the Middle States Association?
The Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association accredit early-childhood through post-secondary, non-degree granting public, private, faith-based educational institutions including special purpose schools, and learning services providers.
Historically, MSA-CESS has operated in the mid-Atlantic region (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia); with its cooperative partners, it has expanded its scope to include schools and institutions seeking accreditation throughout the United States. The Commissions also award accreditation to member institutions in more than 100 countries around the world.
For more information, click here.
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COLUMN: CATHOLIC YOUTH FAITH FORMATION – CYFF
CYFF 2021-2022 Formation is off to a great start! New and returning catechists are rising to the occasion to teach our faith in all our diverse situations. This year, taking part in this ministry has become especially humbling after the Holy Father issued an Apostolic Letter, titled Antiquum Ministerium, in May instituting the Ministry of Catechist. Pope Francis has breathed new life into the ancient ministry of catechist.
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“Catechists of today are linked to a long chain of faithful men and women who dedicate themselves to initiating, educating, accompanying and forming their brothers and sisters to grow in lifelong friendship with Jesus as members of Christ’s body, the Church....This papal initiative offers an opportunity to recognize, with gratitude and formational support, those catechists who serve in this esteemed ministry.” (Jem Sullivan, "Pope Francis renews the ministry of catechist for the New Evangelization,"
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Our 2021–2022 CYFF program, started in September, has now exceeded 300 parish youth being formed in the faith! Currently, 182 students are in the home-based program and 123 students are in the on-site program. The CYFF program has 53 students receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on December 1, with Archbishop Perez presiding.
The larger number of home-based students is partly due to some of our lower on-site levels reaching capacity as well as older levels choosing home-based instruction, which gives these students more flexibility to participate in after-school commitments.
Many families were interested in our home-based faith formation choice, and the program has been met with great enthusiasm.
On September 23, Father Scott opened our first Parent Preparation Session with prayer in the Parish Center; attending were 112 faithful parents along with catechists. Parents and catechists will reunite on-site periodically during this year of formation.
Our on-site classes are robust and healthy this year as well! We are encouraging the parents and grandparents who arrive with their children each week to remain in our church for adoration and prayer. We hope that small prayer groups will spring from these shared prayer experiences.
WHAT OUR PARENTS ARE SAYING:
“Thank you so much for offering both options again.”
“My child will do better with on-site learning.”
“We enjoyed doing the lessons home-based as a family.”
“Homebased worked out well with our schedule.”
“My relationship with my daughter has improved so much doing these lessons together.”
“Our younger children participate in the weekly lessons with their siblings.”
“My daughter and her two friends are meeting on a weekly basis and doing the home-based lessons together.”
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SPECIAL FEATURE: THE HISTORY OF ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH, WEST GROVE
BY JOHN LYNCH
Assumption BVM Parish will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023!
To commemorate this event, the ABVM Parish Magazine will feature a series of four articles tracing the history of the parish from 1873 until the present day.
Read the first part by clicking the button below.
ABVM Church circa 1900
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To keep current on what’s happening in the parish and view the current and past bulletins, please consult our parish website
and follow us on Facebook (ABVM Parish Community, West Grove, PA)
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