Holy Family Catholic Church 307 Black Oak Ridge Road Seymour, Tennessee 37865

Diocese of Knoxville

Office Contacts Pastor—Fr. Gilbert M. Diaz FrG@holyfamilyseymour.org

Deacon—Deacon Dean Burry 865-579-9196 Deacon Gil Campos 865-805-9040

Office Manager—Patricia Hosea 865-573-1203 secretary@holyfamilyseymour.org

After Hours Emergency Number 865-310-5699

Sacramental Ministry Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8:00am and 10:30am Mon, Tues, Thurs 8:30am & Wed 7:00pm Holy Days: 7:00pm Vigil & 8:30am 1st Friday of the Month: Mass 8:30am followed by Adoration 9:00am-5:30pm & Benediction 5:30pm

Reconciliation Saturday 4:30 to 5:00pm (or by appointment)

Anointing of the Sick-Contact the office 865-573-1203

Communion for the Sick and Home Bound- Contact the office 865-573-1203 or Claudia Burton 573-0056

Baptism-Contact Deacon Dean Burry (865)579-9196,

one month in advance.

1st Communion-Contact Office (865)573-1203

Confirmation-Contact Office (865)573-1203

RCIA-Contact Deacon Gil Campos (865)805-9040

Marriage-Contact Fr. Gilbert (865)573-1203 or Deacon Dean

Burry (865)579-9196, four months in advance for preparation and scheduling **registered parishioners only

Annulments-Contact Fr. Gilbert M. Diaz (865)573-1203 Deacon Gil Campos (865)805-9040

Parish Contacts Parish Council—Meeting 3rd Monday of every other month Parish Chair Erik Preske 865-607-2209, pcchair@holyfamilyseymour.org Administration Juan Rivera Charlie Robinson Education Misti DeGroot Parish Life Social Action Scott Hosea Liturgy/Spiritual Life Fr. Gilbert Diaz, Deacon Dean, Deacon Gil Communications Owen Poveda Family Life Recorder Misti DeGroot Advisor Daniel Warrensford

Finance Council Chair: Kathy Taylor

Coordinator of Religious Ed/CCD Todd DeGroot 865-719-8744 cre@holyfamilyseymour.org

Youth Ministry - Vacant Call the office 865-573-1203

Facilities Management/Custodial Charlie Robinson 865-983-3448 Office 865-573-1203 Knights of Columbus - Council #12961 Warren Hager 865-850-8254

Ministry Contacts Liturgy Committee Secretary Karen Burry 865-579-9196

Readers Deacon Gil Campos 865-805-9040

Extraordinary Ministers Of Holy Communion Deacon Dean Burry 865-579-9196

Ushers Juan Rivera 865-850-5229

Altar Servers Deacon Dean Burry 865-579-9196

Music/Choir— Kris Rucinski 865-232-4636 ksrucin@gmail.com

Office Information Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs–9:00am to 2:00pm

865-573-1203, FAX 865-579-3645 Website: www.holyfamilyseymour.org

MyParishApp: text APP to 88202 enter 37865

St. Vincent de Paul ——–———865-360-5202 svdp@holyfamilyseymour.org

From the Pastor’s Desk

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Psalm 23

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can

show to any human being, let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way

again.” Attributed to Stephen Grellet (adapted)

I love Psalm 23 because it conveys a confidence and trust in God who is the Good Shepherd,

leading us through difficult times such as the corona virus, uncertainty, anxiety, fear & economic

hardships and disaster for many. Many generations through the centuries have tried to build an

imagined utopia in an imperfect world, but humanities imperfections got in the way. We all know

how these imagined utopias have ended. They have ended with terrible consequences. The only

utopia I know of is God’s Divine Providence of unconditional love and mercy in the imperfect world

we live in.

One of the things the Word of God did before he took on human flesh was to empty himself of

all his glory. Jesus baptized, immersed, himself in our humanity to become one of us. Yet, God did

not empty himself of his love for us, he instead was obedient unto the cross for love of us.

Many are asking, where is God? Why is God silent in the midst of the virus? Human

suffering is never pleasant, fear scares us and it can be an impediment to our humanity. Fear is a

factor of the human condition. There is good and evil in our world but when we can see God present

in the abyss, it is all good. God is present in human suffering. Faith is a trust and confidence in the

God of life when we put that trust into action. It takes faith to believe in the silence of God. God

does not write in straight lines. God comes to us in the broken, zigzag of life, in the twist and turns,

in the joys and sorrows, and yes, also in life and death.

We are reminded in our psalm today that, “even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no

evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” Yes, we live in

an imperfect world but we are a people of faith, children of God. Have confidence and be coura-

geous, for our God is with us. God’s love is my utopia because God’s Love is perfect in life and in

death, in light and in the dark. “Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.” This is

the Good News for us, Jesus “came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

- Fr. Gilbert

Complain as little as possible of your wrongs, for as a general rule you may be sure that complaining is sin ... because self-love always magnifies our injuries. - St. Hilary of Arles (403-449) Bishop, Patron of France Feast Day May 5

With the postponement of First Penance and First Communion please remember to keep in your

prayers our Holy Family students that are waiting for their special days.

Jayden Baldwin, Trey Baldwin, Preston DeGroot,

Aubrey Bryant, Daniel Chavez, Evan Mobbs, Ryan Mobbs,

Madison Pritchard, John - Michael Quinter, Annie Vickers, Eli Vickers, David Wilton,

Jackson Wilton, Jacob Ritenour

A heartfelt THANK YOU is extended to all of you who have continued to

support this parish through these past few

weeks of social distancing.

Your donations are GREATLY APPRECIATED!

RICE BOWL Last call for Rice Bowls!!

If you would like to donate to RICE BOWL, please bring your offering to the parish office by Thursday, May 7th.

Happy Anniversary

David & Judy Rafferty May 03rd

51yrs Robert & Jean Augente May 05

th 19yrs

Tad & Lucy Kruk May 05th

47yrs Lyman & Samantha Blanton May 09

th 38yrs

Michael & Marilu Nelson May 20th 32yrs

Deacon Dean & Karen Burry May 21st 38yrs

Tom & Dawn Glenn May 22nd

27yrs Daniel & Kara Warrensford May 22

nd 22yrs

Mark & Myra Pillon May 24th

11yrs Bill & Barbara Voight May 28

th 37yrs

If we have missed your special day please call the office 573-1203

Fourth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2020

Today, we celebrate “Good Shepherd Sunday” where we reflect on Jesus’ care and love of us and hear his words, “I came so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”

By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul you will reveal the love of the “Good Shepherd” to your suffering brothers and sisters.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul 865-360-5202 svdp@holyfamilyseymour.org

Pray for the Sick:

Please call Claudia Burton 573-0056 to be added

Abby, John Andres, Ed Bigelow, Lyman Blanton,

Rudy Croft, Irene Damphier, Kevin Evans, Donna Haskett, Peggy Hood, Denise & Donald Graph, Dorothy Jenkins, Roger Jessup, John Kruzel,

Archbishop Kurtz, Regina Long, Hennie & Maggie Mauer, Jeanette Ormazabal, MaryLu Shipstad, Pat York, Ted Zwolinski,

Please don’t forget to keep all those affected by the Corona virus in your prayers as well.

Empowering and protecting the poor and vulnerable through: Columbus Home Children’s Services -Housing for Special Populations-Outreach to those in Hardship -Counseling & Education.

For information or help, go to www.ccetn.org for services And contact information in your community.

Knights of Columbus George S. Kurtz Council 12961

Giving every Catholic man the opportunity to serve.

Contact: Grand Knight Warren Hager (865)850-8254 Meeting: First Wednesday of every month,

Following 7:00 p.m. Mass - church lower level

ALL SAINTS PARISHONER

CHARLES W. KITE Former IRS Tax Attorney

Wills Trusts POAs Estates Tax Problems Business Formations

Commercial Transactions (865) 604-7605

ckite0804@gmail.com

Macon Memories Antiques and Collectibles

Now carrying religious items with proceeds going to Holy Family

Anita Miller-Parishioner 213 East Macon Lane Seymour, TN 37865

(865)712-8252 http://anitasantiquesart.vpweb.com/

Christians Reaching Out Serving Seymour

There is always a need at CROSS to help stock their

shelves with food for local families. Would you like to

be a volunteer or do you need assistance call

865-579-6192 or go visit C.R.O.S.S. at 406 Boyds

Creek Hwy Seymour TN 37865 and see all the good works

they do. Open M,T,W, 10-2 Th, F, 10-12

May Our Lady of Fatima Statue Come into Your Home?

Parishioners speak of miracles, both little and large, happening when her statue has been

present in their homes. Our lady has brought feelings of peace, possibilities and

hope where there was confusion, chaos and despair. A beautiful novena booklet accompanies her to be prayed

during each of the nine days she is in your home.

To receive “OUR LADY” into your home, please contact Claudia Burton at 573-0056.

Pregnancy & Adoption services, including post-abortion counseling, available 24/7/365 by calling 1-877-990-4673

Do you have a need for a Notary?

We have a Notariy in the office.

Please stop by during office hours for all of your Notary needs.

Please support these generous supporters of the

Confirmation/CROSS Garden!!

Tenn Nails Professional Nails Care

Acrylic Nails Sculptured Nails Pink & White Silk Wrap Gel Powder Spa Pedicure

Walk-Ins Welcome 10721 Chapman Hwy, Ste #4A

Seymour, TN 37865 Mon-Fri 9:30-7pm Sat-8:30-4pm

865-609-0080

Jennie Brewer Williams Owner

10231 Chapman Hwy Seymour, TN

(865)773-0830 https://www.facebook.com/

mamaskountrykitchenseymour/