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PARISH DIRECTORY
CHURCH OFFICE: 252-638-1984 NIGHT EMERGENCY: 252-638-4436 Father Thomas S. Tully, Pastor: pastor@spccnb.org Father Robert Schmid, Parochial Vicar: frschmid@spccnb.org Deacon Rick Fisher: 252-229-1644 Deacon Mike Mahoney, ObISB: 252-571-1597 Deacon Jim Hackett: 973-479-8909 Sister Monique Dissen, IHM, Hospital: 252-675-0333 Finance Manager: Bob Nenni Faith Formation: Joy Harsen 252-229-2394 Faith Formation Coordinator: LisaAnn Ludwig 614-581-3547 Bulletin: bulletin@spccnb.org Funeral Arrangements: 252-638-4436, funeral@spccnb.org Cemetery: Danny Gennantonio, 252-637-2322 RCIA Coordinator: Fr. Rob, frschmid@spccnb.org Catholic Charities: 252-638-2188 Catholic Daughters: Mary Ann Harper, 252-633-3473 Extraordinary Ministers of Eucharist: Mary Spano, 252-633-4768 Eucharistic Ministers (Home/Sick): Dennis Colbert, 252-638-1555 Pastoral Council: Judi Williams, pcouncil@spccnb.org Finance Council: Skip Zimmerman, 616-516-1730 School Board: Dick Dodson: 252-671-1523 Knights of Columbus Third Degree: Michael Lynch, 540-222-1596 Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree: Ralph Aviles, 252-204-7700 Religious Community Services: 252-633-2767 |
Since you can't be at St. Paul for Mass, check out Bishop Barron's daily Mass online:
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There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things in order, she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the Pastor's reply. "This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor. The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!" So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come." The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She knew that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. |