“Walk United as Faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ”.

Vol. 39, No. 9
January 2015
Quote of the Month
The Saint Philip
Be-News-Zi
Become part of a year-long Celebration
of our Parish History as we
“Walk United as Faithful Disciples
of Jesus Christ”.
“This is the beginning of a new day
…a new year.
God has given me this time
to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
I choose to do His will, not mine.”
St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Church
Jonesboro, Georgia
Faithfully serving God and
His people for 50 years.
Calendar of Events
January 2015
12/31: VIGIL – MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
(NEW SCHEDULE THIS YEAR!)
8:30AM Mass (English) – Normal Weekday Mass
4:00PM Mass (English/Church) – Vigil Mass
THE MAGIC BANK ACCOUNT
Author Unknown
Imagine that you had won the following “PRIZE” in a
contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400
in your private account for your use. However, this prize
has rules:
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JAN. 1, 2015: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
(Holy Day of Obligation)
10:45AM (English/Church)
12:30PM (Spanish/Church)
1/2-3: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
begins the First Friday of every month in the
Chapel, after the 8:30AM Mass and concludes
with Benediction at 7:45AM Saturday morning.
1/2: HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS
Holy Hour will be held in the Chapel from 4-5PM
during First Friday Adoration. Join us as we pray
for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood,
Diaconate, and Religious Life.
1/4: THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
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1/11: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
1/22: ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUPREME
COURT DECISION, ROE vs. WADE
(See Respect Life events in this issue.)
Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your
account with another $86,400 for that day.
The bank can end the game without warning; at
any time it can say, “Game Over!” It can close
the account and you will not receive a new one.
Would buy anything and everything you wanted?
Would you buy not only for yourself, but for all the
people you love and care for…even for people you
don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it
all on yourself?
Would you try to spend every penny and use it all,
because you knew it would be replenished in the
morning?
ACTUALLY, this GAME is REAL!!!
(End of the Christmas Season)
Mass at 10AM—Parish Offices Closed
(See details in this issue.)
You may not simply transfer money into some other
account. You may only spend it.
What would you personally do?
(Regular Sunday Mass Schedule)
1/19: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY
Everything that you didn’t spend during each day
would be taken away from you.
Each of us is already a winner of this “PRIZE”. We just
can’t seem to see it.
The PRIZE is “TIME”!
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Each morning, we awaken to receive 86,400
seconds as a gift of life.
When we go to sleep at night, any remaining time
is NOT credited to us.
What we haven’t used up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning, the account is refilled, but the bank
can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT
WARNING.
So, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those
seconds are worth so much more than the same amount
in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every
second of your life, because time races by quicker than
you think.
So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and
enjoy life! Here’s wishing you a wonderful and
beautiful day. Start “spending”....
“DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD –
MANY PEOPLE DON’T GET THE PRIVILEGE!”
January 2015
and local newspapers, promoting our parish and its history.
Dear Parishioners,
As you can imagine, implementing all of these ideas will
necessitate the efforts of many, many people. I hope
that you will want to be a part of these activities and
events. A Jubilee is a unique opportunity for a parish to
celebrate its history and to plan for the future. If any of
the ideas I have mentioned appeals to you, please let
me know. We need your help! As we celebrate our
Jubilee and look forward to the future, let us walk united
as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ!
Happy New Year! Happy Jubilee Year!
This year, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary as a
Catholic Faith Community. The first Mass of the
“Jonesboro Mission” was celebrated by Father Daniel J.
O’Connor on September 12, 1965 in an empty drugstore on Main Street. The Jonesboro Mission soon became St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church and moved to its
new home on Flint River Road in 1967. We officially
became a parish on June 3, 1967.
Peace!
Fr. John
Our parish goal for our Jubilee year is: “Celebrate our
50th Anniversary prayerfully and joyfully; embrace our
future by creating a Pastoral Plan for the next five to ten
years”. We are planning a number of liturgical and social events to celebrate our fiftieth year. Let me mention some of the highlights:
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Jubilee Prayer Card to be prayed at all Sunday
Masses at the end of the Prayers of the Faithful;
Monthly Praise and Worship Service on the First
Friday of every month (7PM);
Art Exhibit featuring artwork of parishioners and
other local artists;
Jubilee Concert featuring our parish choral groups;
Celebration of Cultures with a program of song and
dance from various nations;
Family Fun Run (5K) with proceeds going to
our Sister-parish, Santa Ana, in Campamento,
Honduras;
Parish Mission presented by our Friars, honoring
the vision of our founders (March 8-11, 2015);
50th Anniversary Picnic honoring our Good Stewards (May 2, 2015);
50th Jubilee Year Mass and Reception
(Saturday, September 12, 2015);
RESPECT LIFE EVENTS
2015 STAND FOR LIFE/
ATLANTA-WASHINGTON
There are many opportunities to commemorate the
January 22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Roe
v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, which legalized abortion in
America. The following is a quick listing of events:
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 22, 2015
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Vesper Service to remember the deceased founders and deceased members of St. Philip Benizi
Parish (November 2015);
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We also hope to create a Memorial Garden in the area
between the Peace Garden and the St. John Paul II
Center, investigate the possibility of a statue of St.
Philip Benizi for the front of the church, produce a 50th
Jubilee Commemorative Book, a one-hour DVD of our
founders’ recollections, a new Pictorial Directory, a
plaque honoring the founding families, Jubilee t-shirts
and other commemorative items, a time capsule created by our children, and articles in the Georgia Bulletin
9:30AM: Rosary for Life, Cathedral of Christ the
King/Atlanta, GA
10:00AM: Mass for the Unborn, Cathedral of Christ
the King/Atlanta, GA
12:00 Noon: Stand for Life on Peachtree Street
from the Cathedral to Lenox Mall
12:30PM: Individual Evangelization for Life on
Peachtree Street
1:00PM: Stand for Life Youth Seminar, Cathedral
of Christ the King/Atlanta, GA (registration required)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21-22, 2015
Events include the National Prayer Vigil for Life, the
Youth Rally and Mass for Life, as well as the national
March for Life. Please contact the archdiocesan
Respect Life Office at (404-920-7362) for complete
information, especially if you would like to join a
group that is chartering a bus to Washington.
Nick’s Notes
By Nick Dragone, Director of Music & Liturgy
The beginning of January is a season of new beginnings: a
new calendar year, a new year of resolutions, of hopes and
dreams that are destined to find fulfillment in the upcoming
year. We buy memberships to fitness centers, stop smoking,
start to eat healthy, or begin to change habits that have not
served us well in the past. Yet, so often, we find that a common cliché prevails: “Old habits die hard.”
Our spiritual lives are no exception. We make promises to
pray more, to love more, to forgive more, to be more involved
in reaching out to the destitute and disenfranchised. This
year is also very special for our parish family: we begin to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of our parish’s founding
(September 12, 1965). To commemorate this anniversary
liturgically, we will have an evening Praise and Worship
Prayer Service each month during First Friday 24-hour Adoration: an hour of music, scripture, silence, adoration, and benediction.
What is adoration? The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) says this about adoration: “This [adoration]
is an extension of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
which occurs in every Mass: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold
him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those
called to the supper of the Lamb.’ Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to
deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of
the Church.” Adoration indeed serves to deepen our hunger
for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church.
Our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the
Church is only satisfied when we enter into and cultivate an
intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and go out as disciples to the world. One cannot exist without the other; we cannot possibly focus solely on reverence for Christ, but disregard or mistreat other human beings.
What does one do during adoration? Perhaps repeat the following mantra: “Be still and know that I am God.” Use this
moment as a respite from busyness; use it as a moment to re
-orient and recharge – to slow down. Use this moment too,
as a springboard to lead you back to the Eucharistic table,
and then lead you out into ministry.
Much has been written about the different “seasons of life”
and how prayer evolves as one ages and matures. In his
recent book, Sacred Fire, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI quotes
the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, who presents three
prayers for people – for souls at different seasons of life.
Three Kinds of Souls, Three Prayers
by Nikos Kazantzakis
1. I am a bow in your hands, Lord; draw me, lest I rot.
2. Do not overdraw me, Lord, I shall break.
3. Overdraw me, Lord, and who cares if I break!
Try integrating one of these prayers into your prayer life. As a
new year begins and we consider our New Year’s resolutions,
consider making a resolution to spend one hour per month at
Praise and Worship Adoration. There is something for everyone at every season of life.
Parish Pastoral Council Update
Prayer for the New Year
As our parish community celebrates its past and
embraces the present, let us also look forward to the
future with a loving spirit. Give us a zeal for the Parish Mission, help us to look beyond our walls to those
who do not know Christ, make this Church a blessing
to those in need, and embolden us to walk united,
with strength, as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebration
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church will be 50 years
old on September 12, 2015! With a lot of help from
the Holy Spirit, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)
discerned the liturgical and social events that will
take place throughout the year, along with how the
parish will memorialize its 50th Anniversary with a
permanent remembrance. Please look for announcements in SPB’s weekly Bulletin and/or monthly
Be-News-Zi for ways that you can help the parish
celebrate its Jubilee Year.
Member of the Month
Our PPC contact for January is Patty Shannon. You
may contact her via telephone (770-477-6471) or by
e-mail: [email protected].
Auxiliary Fund Drive
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home
P.O. Box 420273
Atlanta, GA 30342
November 17, 2014
Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv.
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church
591 Flint River Road
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Dear Fr. John,
Thank you for taking an active part in something so
extraordinary. The 2014 Auxiliary Fund Drive had another successful year. Over $102,000.00 was donated
to help Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home. A
huge “thank you” to you and your parishioners who
helped support this drive by donating $494.00.
God blesses those who give of themselves. May God
reward you for being so kind and generous.
Sincerely in Christ,
Marie Murray
Auxiliary Drive Chairperson
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church Presents the
1st Annual MLK Celebration Mass
Make it a Day ON, Not a Day OFF!
“Mine eyes have seen
the glory of
the coming of the Lord.”
Join us for Mass in Honor of
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
on his National Holiday.
Monday, January 19, 2015—10AM
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church
591 Flint River Road
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Principal Celebrant:
Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv., Pastor
St. Martin de Porres Society/
Black Catholic Heritage Committee
For further information, contact:
Louella Dubose (770-461-8181)
[email protected]
The “Tree of Hope”
Since October 2010, our parish has been blessed to have a beautiful piece of
artwork in our church – the “Tree of Hope” – created by parishioner John
Parker. Situated near the sanctuary and next to the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, this unique Votive Candle Stand has become a prayerful corner of our
church where parishioners daily come to place their needs and names of their
loved ones before the Lord and the Blessed Mother. We again thank John for
conceiving and creating this beautiful structure. Although printed several years
ago in the Be-News-Zi, the symbolism of the “Tree” bears repeating. Printed
below is an excerpt from the previous article:
What inspired me to create the “Tree of Hope” was that I too recognized the
need and felt a calling to build something that was a more prayerful area.
The “Tree” represents the Cross that Jesus died on and the flowers beneath
represent new growth and “Hope”. I designed the “Tree” to be sturdy and
steadfast as Jesus is – always there for us when we bring our prayers and
burdens to Him. I also wanted the “Tree of Hope” to be a reminder to the people that Jesus died for us and
that they can always bring their burdens to Him.
The “Tree of Hope” is made of 3/8” steel rods, 3” angle iron, ¼” flat iron, and Oak. The “Tree” itself
weighs about 100 lbs., while the table weighs about 115 lbs. This “Tree of Hope” has 48 candle cups (12
flowers with 4 blooms each) and 4 cups on the Tree itself…holding a total of 52 candles. The 4 red candle
cups represent the blood that Jesus shed for us while on the Cross.
The bird on the “Tree” represents Life. You’ll notice that the
bird is looking up toward Heaven. This being a Franciscan
parish, the bird also symbolizes St. Francis of Assisi’s love of
animals. Father John has meant a lot to Julie and me, and to
our Family, as we have walked on our spiritual journey; I
wanted to do something special for him and for the church, so
this “Tree of Hope” is dedicated to Father John, our 9th Pastor.
This has been a Labor of Love and I thoroughly enjoyed building the “Tree of Hope” for the church. I hope that everyone
will use this prayer area to speak to Jesus, bringing their
prayers, burdens and thanks to Him.
God Bless,
John Parker
Sincere thanks go to the many parishioners who periodically donate items for the “Tree of Hope” –
votive candles, lighters, matches and candle cups. Your generosity is GREATLY appreciated!
If others would like to contribute any of these items, please bring them to
the Parish Office or church, to the attention of Yone Daly. Thank you!
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
OUR LADY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Patroness of Puerto Rico
The Feast of Our Lady of Divine Providence (OLDP) was celebrated on November 9, 2014
during the 12:30PM Spanish Mass. Fr. John Koziol, Presider and Pastor, was joined by Fr.
Santo Cricchio. Friar Gabriel Scasino and Deacon Julio Martinez assisted and the Hispanic
Choir provided beautiful music throughout the celebration. We are grateful to all who
planned, organized, decorated and participated in this wonderful liturgy. (Photos by Yone Daly)
Left: Some of the children participated in the Mass
by offering flowers to our Blessed Mother.
The statue of
Our Lady of
Divine
Providence
was later
crowned with
a beautiful
ring of
flowers.
12th Annual St. Martin de Porres Celebration
By Helen Fisher, President/SMDP Society
The St. Martin de Porres Society (SMDP) of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Jonesboro, celebrated the 12 th annual celebration of its Patron Saint with a Mass on November 1, 2014. Father John Koziol, OFM Conv., Pastor, was the principal celebrant. Father Henry Lozano from the “Missionaries of the Poor” concelebrated. Also in attendance were Brother Ciprico and
Wendy from the “Missionaries of the Poor” who sang with St. Philip’s 10:45AM Sunday Choir.
The event also marked the 8th annual presentation of scholarship awards to student parishioners of St. Philip Benizi Church
who attend Catholic Middle Schools. The candidates must demonstrate a commitment to academics and service in their communities. Applicants are required to write an essay on St. Martin de Porres and how they would live out his virtues in today’s
society. The scholarship is funded by members of the SMDP Society, parishioners, family and friends. Valerie Benjamin,
Chair for the celebration and Emcee for the reception, welcomed all. Two winners received $500.00 for tuition and books.
The runner-up received $100.00. Presentations of the scholarships were presented by Helen Fisher, President/Scholarship
Chair, Mary Studaway and Celestine Greene, Vice President.
Awards were also presented to sponsor 5 children of Santa Ana Parish, Campamento, Honduras; and donations were given
to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and to Father John (to benefit our parish). SMDP Society’s member, Michelle March, a
disability specialist for more than 30 years, worked in concert with Berta and Semandra Muniz. Members of the Society performed “thank you” in sign language to the song, “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston.
The St. Martin de Porres Society thanks everyone who helped to make this 12 th annual celebration such a great success. We
were truly blessed to have had friends of the “Missionaries of the Poor” celebrating with us and to promote their musical, “The
Messiah...The Greatest Story Ever Told”.
Congratulations to the 2014-2015 winners and runner-up of the St. Martin de Porres Scholarship Awards. We hope that we
have informed you, moved you spiritually, and in some way, inspired you to continue to live out the virtues of St. Martin de
Porres in today’s society. Thank you!
12th Annual St. Martin de Porres Celebration
The two recipients of the scholarship
awards were Abigail Barrantes and
Sebastian Ponce from St. John the
Evangelist School in Hapeville. Runner-up was Arielle Belinga from Our
Lady of Victory School in Tyrone. All
three winners were 6th graders. A list
of past winners can be seen on a
plaque in the foyer of the Hartmayer
Education Building, near the Religious
Education Office.
(Photos by Susan Douglas)
ARCHDIOCESAN WORLD AIDS DAY MASS
On December 3, 2014, St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church hosted an Archdiocesan World AIDS Day Mass, with Bishop
David Talley as the main celebrant. St. Philip’s Pastor, Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv., and Fr. John Adamski concelebrated.
Deacon Peter Swan of St. Philip’s assisted during the Mass. The event was organized by St. Philip Benizi’s AIDS Ministry, which is co-chaired by parishioners John Patterson and Carol Gossett. The solemn Mass was an opportunity to pray
for those directly infected by HIV/AIDS, as well as family members and friends who are affected by the disease. Many
thanks go to the clergy who participated; the AIDS Ministry; Kat Doyle, Director of Justice & Peace Ministries in Atlanta;
Nick Dragone, St. Philip’s Director of Music and Liturgy; and to all who attended and supported this worthy cause. Pictured below are some of the highlights.
(1) One of the banners, displayed during the Mass; (2) Carol Gossett and John Patterson; (3) Bishop David Talley, standing before the St.
Philip Benizi AIDS quilt which was made by parishioner, Janice Wernert, displaying names and photos of loved ones who have died of HIV/
AIDS. (4) Kat Doyle of the Atlanta Archdiocese gave the opening greeting.
(1) Fr. John Koziol, Bishop David Talley & Fr. John Adamski; (2) The Knights of Columbus Honor
Guard; (3) At the beginning of the Mass, Ashe Griffin began the Tolling of the Bells (34 times) a sobering reminder of the number of years that HIV/AIDS has been in existence.
Left: Members of the AIDS Ministry join in the Entrance Procession; Center: Lector Jim
Martino proclaimed the First Reading; Right: Bishop Talley reverences the Book of the
Gospels. (To view and read interviews of St. Philip’s AIDS Ministry members, given to the
Georgia Bulletin, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtFWnOkOTWs and
http://www.georgiabulletin.org/news/2014/12/bishop-like-christ-walk-suffering-hivaids/.)
(Photos by Yone Daly)
ARCHDIOCESAN WORLD AIDS DAY MASS
Left: In his homily, Bishop Talley called on all to be Christ to
one another, to bridge the gap that separates us, and to walk
with those who are suffering, without being judgmental.
“When we live Christ, Christ is alive,” exclaimed Bishop Talley.
Center & Right: Members of the AIDS Ministry lit candles
throughout the church while John Patterson prayed for the
needs of HIV/AIDS patients, their families and friends,
and for those who have died.
Dear Parish Family,
My heartfelt thanks for your
prayers, cards and phone calls
these past months. Your kindness is very much appreciated.
God bless, Mildred Green
Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy
go out to the family of:
 Lorene Newsome, mother of Tim Newsome
 Kevin Scott, brother of Tonya Scott
 Andrew J. Fenelon, son of Dorice Brianvil
 Frank Anzalone, brother of Deacon Joe Anzalone
 Elizabeth Wolf, mother of Don Wolf
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
The Saint Philip
Be-News-Zi
Prayer for the New Year
“A new year is unfolding –
like a blossom with petals curled tightly,
concealing the beauty within.
Lord, let this year be filled with the things
that are truly good –
with comfort and warmth in our relationships,
with the strength to help those
who need our help,
and the humility and openness to accept help
from others.
As we make our resolutions for the year
ahead, let us go forward with great hope
that all things can be possible –
with Your help and guidance. Amen.”
~Author Unknown
Monthly Newsletter of
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church
591 Flint River Road
Jonesboro, GA 30238
(770) 478-0178
Fr. John A. Koziol, OFM Conv.
Pastor/Publisher
Yone Daly, Editor
Parish Website:
www.stphilipbenizi.org
Deadline: All articles submitted for publication in the
Be-News-Zi must be received in writing (preferably
th
typed) or via e-mail, by the 5 of each month for publication in the following month’s edition. Each article
submitted for consideration will be published as approved by the Pastor and on a space-available basis.
Any questions, comments, suggestions, or articles concerning the newsletter may be addressed to the Editor
through the Parish Office, or by e-mail:
[email protected]

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