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Good Shepherd Catholic School teacher ‘happy as can be’ making students’ hot lunches

Posted on by Cori Urban

Fourteen-year-old Miranda Caron, an eighth grader at Good Shepherd Catholic School in St. Johnsbury, is not one of those teens who complains about her school’s hot lunches. In fact, she said the meals prepared by Jennifer Littlefield, the lunch coordinator, “are like home-cooked meals and really good.”

Her favorite is the baked ziti. “She gives us really good portions of everything,” Miranda said.

There is a general consensus about the high quality of the lunches. Gabe Emmons, 12, a seventh grader, said the lunches not only taste good, they are satisfying: “They’re healthy but they’re good healthy.”

Jo Anna Hall, one of the tutors at the school, often eats hot lunch there. “The food is delicious. (Littlefield) wants to prepare things the kids want to eat and are still good for them,” she said.

Sloppy Joes were on the menu on a recent Tuesday, and Littlefield admitted she had “snuck in” green peppers, onions and fresh tomatoes. But as per student requests, she does not add any vegetables to her macaroni and cheese.

Lunches include salad, fruit and milk. Littlefield makes her own bread, like braided garlic bread, and she varies the menu with entrees that also include breakfast pizza and cheddar broccoli soup.

A single serving costs $3.75 and $2 for an extra.

Littlefield plans the lunches, shops for the food, cooks, serves, leads the students in a prayer of thanksgiving and cleans up. Then she goes on to teach science in the afternoon and tutor students in math and reading.

This is the first year she has headed the lunch program, which serves 30-40 students daily.

Principal Lynn Cartularo is pleased with the lunch program. “We tried to do a hot lunch program for about six years, and things came together this year. We have nutritious meals the kids love and somebody who is reliable and wants to do it.”

Littlefield is pleased to have the opportunity to cook for the students. “I grew up in my great-grandmother’s kitchen” in Newark, she said. It was Laurie (“Tommie”) Rogers who taught her home cooking from scratch and even had her own vegetable garden and chickens, cows and goats.

Now Littlefield, a wife and mother of two who lives in Barnet and is a parishioner of Corpus Christi Parish based in St. Johnsbury, does a lot of home cooking.

When the opportunity arose to cook the students’ hot lunches, she “absolutely” wanted to take on the job. “I want to bring healthy food to them each day,” she says. “Cooking, feeding and taking care of people is my ‘love language,’” she says. “If I can cook for them, I’m happy as can be.”

—Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.

5 Catholic ways to celebrate Earth Day

Posted on by Catholic News Agency

Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated yearly on April 22 to demonstrate support worldwide for environmental protection. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of calling for proper stewardship of the earth.

In May 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’, an encyclical focusing on care for the natural environment and includes topics such as global warming and environmental degradation. He then released a follow-up document to the encyclical on Oct. 4, 2023, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, to address current issues.

In honor of Earth Day and in response to the Holy Father’s message urging the faithful to take action in protecting the environment, here are five ways Catholics can celebrate Earth Day, on Earth Day or at another time.

1) Spend time with God in nature.

Consider going on a hike or simply take a walk outside and spend time in prayer thanking God for his beautiful creation. You can also find a nice spot to sit and contemplate nature while resting in God’s presence. The whole family can participate in this one.

2) Create a Mary Garden.

A Mary Garden is one filled with plants, flowers, and trees that honor Our Lady and Jesus. Examples include baby’s breath to represent Mary’s veil, lilies to represent Mary’s queenship, poinsettia to represent the Christmas story, and chrysanthemum for Epiphany. You might also consider placing a statue of Mary in your garden. If you don’t have enough space outdoors, consider creating an indoor garden using a terrarium and smaller plants and mosses.

3) Read Laudato Si’.

Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ second encyclical after becoming pope, translates to “praise be to you.” This is in reference to St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Creatures,” where the saint praises God for the goodness of natural forces such as the sun, wind, and water. The encyclical not only focuses on care for the environment and all people but also looks at broader questions about the relationship between God, humans, and the earth.

4) Take the St. Francis Pledge.

The St. Francis Pledge, initiated by the Catholic Climate Covenant, asks Catholics to commit to honor God’s creation and advocate on behalf of people in poverty who face the impacts of climate change around the world. The pledge includes praying and reflecting on the duty to care for God’s creation, analyzing how each of us contributes to climate change, and advocating for Catholic principles in discussions on the topic.

5) Learn more about the lives of the saints who had a connection to nature.

There are several saints who are known for their love of God’s creation including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and St. John Paul II. St. Francis of Assisi and St. Kateri Tekakwitha are considered the patron and patroness of ecology. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was known for his love of hiking in the mountains and encountering God in nature. St. John Paul II was also known for taking spiritual retreats to the mountains and his love for the outdoors.

Steubenville East 2024

Posted on by Vermont Catholic

This summer, we are inviting high schoolers (incoming freshmen through graduating seniors) from across Vermont to join us at the Steubenville East youth conference in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The conference begins on Friday, July 26, and runs through Sunday, July 28.

Steubenville East is a Catholic conference for high schoolers from around New England. It is an inspiring weekend filled with faith-focused talks, small group discussions, fun activities, awesome live music, powerful Adoration sessions, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day. Last year, the Diocese of Burlington took 50 teens to the conference where we joined hundreds of other teens from all over New England in praising Jesus.

This summer we invite your teen to join us! To register a student or chaperone for the conference, use this link on or before Friday, May 31: paperwork.lifeteen.com/c/9JJD. Registration for the conference is $325 per individual. This includes: event registration, five meals, lodging, and transportation. Participants typically fundraise the amount.

If you have any questions about Steubenville East, reach out to Isaac Desranleau, diocesan youth and young adult minister, at idesranleau@vermontcatholic.org.

— Published in the April 20-26, 2024, edition of The Inland See.

Monsignor McDermott’s Musing

Posted on by Bishop-elect John McDermott

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

My dear family in Christ:

One of my diocesan responsibilities for nearly 20 years has been to serve on the Diocesan Review Board. This group made up of a majority of lay people have the responsibility of assisting the bishop and diocese in the development and implementation of safe environment programs and policies, and, in some instances, serves as the primary advisory board to the bishop when an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or deacon is received. While many might think this kind of committee work would be burdensome, I have found it to be some of the most rewarding work I have done. Why? Because I have had the great privilege to work with men and women who have helped the Diocese of Burlington create ministerial and pastoral environments in which our children and vulnerable adults are safe and respected as children of God.

It has been through the work of this committee that our Diocesan Code of Conduct, Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Policy, Safe Environment Training Programs, and other programs and guidelines have been established. This means that all of the adults who work with our children have completed a criminal background check, have completed safe environment training, and have learned what to do if they suspect a child or vulnerable adult under their care is being abused. It means that through the work of this committee, often done with little fanfare, the Catholic Church in Vermont has become a leader in preventing the abuse of our children and vulnerable adults.

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month so I thought I would provide this simple shout out to the past and present members of the Diocesan Review Board. Thank you all for your dedicated support and guidance over these many years.

Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to offer a reminder of some of the basic tenets of ensuring a safe environment for those we minister to, young and old alike. The following summary comes from our Virtus and Circle of Grace training programs:

Collectively, preventing abuse requires that varying strategies all work together:

  • Train clergy, staff, parents, and volunteers to recognize the warning signs of child abuse and grooming behavior.
  • Control access to children by utilizing background checks and supervision of all those who work with children.
  • Control physical access to children including locking buildings, locking rooms not in use, and supervising spaces when in use.
  • Encourage clergy, staff, parents, and volunteers to report concerns to law enforcement and program leadership.
  • Educate children concerning boundaries and their own sacred dignity.

The Diocese of Burlington remains committed to working with all of our parishioners to ensure the safety of those entrusted to our care. While we cannot undo the failures of the past, we can take steps to prevent those failures from happening again.

If you have any questions regarding our efforts to ensure safe environments, please refer to our website Protecting Our Children – Ministries & Programs – Vermont Catholic or contact John Pfeifer in the Office of Safe Environment Programs at 802-658-6110.

In Christ the Good Shepherd,

Monsignor John J. McDermott

Diocesan Administrator

 

Catholic Daughters seek to positively influence welfare of Church, all people

Posted on by Cori Urban

“The purposes of the organization are to participate in the religious, charitable, and educational Apostolates of the Church. Catholic Daughters of the Americas engages in creative and spiritual programs which provide its members with the opportunity to develop their God-given talents in meaningful ways that positively influence the welfare of the Church and all people throughout the world.” — The Mission Statement for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas provides “support and sisterhood for women in the Church,” said Lorraine Durfee, state regent of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and a parishioner of St. Anthony Church in Bethel.

But that support extends beyond Catholic Daughters meetings, providing peace of mind to the many people members help.

Currently there are about 300 members of the Catholic Daughters in Vermont with courts in St. Albans, Montpelier, Barre, Bethel, and Hardwick.

Former State Regent Loretta Schneider, a parishioner of St. Augustine Church in Montpelier and member of Court St. Augustine #976, emphasized that the CDA is not a service organization. “We are a group of women who, through our love of Jesus Christ, are inspired to serve His people. We see Jesus in all our fellow citizens. Jesus is The King of Peace. When we honor Him, He gives us His peace, which is beyond understanding.”

CDA courts in Vermont have focused on raising money/goods that are donated to different charities including food shelves, a women’s shelter, a Catholic school and a nursing home. Fundraisers have included rummage, cake/pie, and flower sales.

State-level programs include an SOS Program in which courts adopted a seminarian or two and send them cards to encourage them, books, and some money for personal use. This Support Our Seminarians program was established in conjunction with the diocesan vocations director.

In addition, the state CDA financially assisted Aspire Together, a crisis pregnancy center, with funds to purchase an ultrasound machine and offers education scholarships and awards for high school seniors who are active their parish.

Also on the state level, there is a formal effort under the National Circle of Love program. The state regent oversees chairpersons who address concerns in education, family, leadership, legislation, quality of life, spiritual, and youth.

“We all do a lot for our communities and our parishes,” Durfee said, adding that the courts receive “great support” from the Vermont CDA chaplain, Father Patrick Forman.

Local courts also have “Sunshine Committees” that send cards to and visit members to offer emotional support. “I urge all our courts to keep in contact with members in nursing homes. It’s important to value the work and traditions of women who came before us,” she said.

The Vermont State Catholic Daughters of the Americas Board turned 100 years old in February; plans are underway for a celebration in May.

—Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.

 

The Sign of Peace

Posted on by Josh Perry

In the reforms of Vatican II, the Church taught that Christ is present in multiple ways in the liturgy. Christ is present substantially in the Eucharist; He is present in the Word of God proclaimed; He is present in the person of the priest, and He is present in the assembly of the worshipping faithful.

Different aspects of the Mass express and bring forth these different ways Christ is present. The Sign of Peace flows from the acknowledgment that Christ is present in all the faithful.

Although suppressed for hundreds of years before Vatican II, the Sign of Peace is not new to Christian liturgy and is one of the earliest rituals found in Eucharistic celebrations. As with many of the rituals in the liturgy today, its history varies according to the place and time which one considers. In some places, clergy only greeted clergy, men only men, and women only women. In other places, everyone was greeted. The greeting itself took different forms according to culture. (The Sign of Peace was originally referred to as the Kiss of Peace). To this day, how one shares the sign of peace is not dictated by liturgical norms. Some embrace, some shake hands, some smile or bow their head toward one another. Whatever the form, the presence of Christ is to be recognized in the other person.

There is also variation in different dominations as to when the Sign of Peace is shared. There are two likely scenarios you might encounter: after the Lord’s Prayer/before communion (as is the custom in the Roman Catholic Church) or before the bread and wine are brought forward to the altar during the preparation of the altar and gifts (the custom in many, but not all, Eastern Rite Catholic churches and Orthodox churches). Both are valid and have historical precedence.

The practice of sharing peace before the wine and bread are brought to the altar stems from Matthew 5:23-24: “If you are offering your gift at the altar … first, be reconciled with your brother.” In this sense, it is the Eucharist that makes peace; the Sign of Peace expresses the unity that is prayed for in the Eucharistic Prayer and brought about by the Eucharist.

The rubrics (or rules) surrounding the Sign of Peace at Mass offer flexibility. A local bishop may determine how the Sign of Peace is offered at Mass or may suspend the offering of the Sign of Peace altogether. We saw this during the period of Covid when bishops throughout the world suspended the Sign of Peace in their dioceses to limit physical contact, a suspension that was lifted at various times depending on local circumstances. Oftentimes, the Sign of Peace is modified during cold and flu season; in our diocese, pastors have the option of temporarily suspending the sign of peace during the winter months when colds, flus, and other bugs abound.

Bishops may also opt to suspend the Sign of Peace in their dioceses for other reasons, which sometimes happens when they discern that the practice of the Sign of Peace has become a distraction to the liturgy (the Sign of Peace becomes more a time to exchange social pleasantries rather than a ritual recognition of the presence of Christ in another person). That time can then be used to provide catechesis throughout the diocese before the practice is re-introduced.

Although bishops may offer overall directives as to how a parish is to practice the Sign of Peace, it is always left to each person as to how they will individually give or receive the Sign of Peace. Regardless of how you engage in the Sign of Peace (a hug, handshake, smile, or nod), let us remember the words of Jesus Christ — “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” — and recognize the presence of Christ in one another.

— Josh Perry is director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Burlington.

—Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.