ST. EUGENE’S CHURCH CHAT

Over the past few weeks you have heard an update from the Building Committee. I am most grateful for all their hard work. I especially appreciate their commitment to see this project through so that the new spaces we will have will serve the parish community well. By the time you read this, we will have sent our construction contracts off to the diocese for signature. Although I am tempted not to speculate anymore, I do not believe it will be long before we are underway.

To complete this project as timely as possible, and to save considerable money in doing so, the building committee has opted to allow the contractor to undertake the project as a whole rather than in phases. This will impact on our ability to use our current building especially for weekend Mass.

1. A similar amount of parking spaces, including designated handicap spaces;

2. An opportunity to continue refreshments and fellowship after Masses;

3. Meeting space to re-instate our Children’s Church program; and,

4. A space for nursery in the building.

With this option in mind, others also need to be considered:

1. Daily Mass will be moved to either the Family Life Center (FLC) OR to a neighborhood church willing to share their facilities with us Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings;

2. A Blessed Sacrament chapel will be set up in the FLC and will be open each day for private prayer and meditation;

3. Reconciliation will be celebrated each Saturday in my office in the church office building directly across from the school;

4. Thursday evening Mass might be celebrated in a common space in Weaverville, to give folks in the north end of the parish an opportunity to gather. (We are still working on these details.);

6. We will utilize local churches to celebrate our weddings. I will work with individual couples in this regard.

We think we have all the bases covered, and believe this will be an experience we can cherish as we move forward in our life as a parish. However, I have come to believe that some "bases" sneak up on you, so this also becomes a time to dust off those virtues of patience and kindness!

We do not yet have a kick-off for this "moving around." We will inform the parish ahead of time, and we will also invite parish members to help us form teams for weekend worship set-up. Keep all this in your prayers!

this past year. Jos was both a teacher and department head in that department at UNCA for many years. Second, this Mary statue will be a Semitic young woman who is pregnant. It will offer

us a meditative opportunity to reflect on God’s gift of life as well as challenge us to give birth to the Word - among - us. I am grateful to the Knights for taking on this project. As you hear of their fundraisers this year, please be aware that the raised money assists in the purchase of this work of art. You will see an example of the statue by mid February. In fact, the model for this work of art was a pregnant Native American woman. Help out the Knights whenever you can, so we can make it a reality soon!

As you come into the Gathering Plaza of the new construction, you will note that it is designed to bring all of us to one place to enter the building as a community. This assembly is a gathering of the living and the dead, since our columbarium will also be in the supporting walls of this plaza. It will truly be a gathering together of the Communion of Saints.

To your left, as you come onto the plaza, will be the Daily Mass Chapel. Inside will be an original work of art to reflect this saintly communion in which we share.

A fresco is a particular type of painting done on plaster. The most famous is DaVinci’s "Last Supper", a familiar scene. You may also have visited the frescos in the northern mountains or those painted at St. Peter’s Church in Charlotte. They are rare and beautiful.

St. Eugene will have the first fresco in Asheville. It will grace the back wall of the Daily Mass Chapel, about 11x 18 feet in size. It will be a fresco of the Communion of Saints -- the gathering of all the living and the dead around Christ. It will be a beautiful and unique work of art. A local fresco artist in Asheville will undertake the project.

The cost of this fresco (they are expensive) is not part of the building program. It has been donated through the generosity of a parish member. While this will pay for the majority of the work, we will also sell small portions of the artist’s working drawings as the project nears completion. This will allow you to have beautiful works of original art for your home (did I mention that Fresco artists use local folks as models for the people they paint?) and assist us with the small remaining portion of the project not paid for by an individual’s generous gift.

It will take a year to complete this project. When we get underway, we will have the artist present his initial plans. I am especially excited that our church will house original religious art executed by local artists. What a way to offer praise to our God!

On December 16, 2000 the following children received their 1^st Reconciliation: Kevin Bailey, Jane Bowers, Thomas Burns, Virginia Davis, Zachary Elio, Ryan Finder, Hannah Harte, Garrett Hitesman, Ingrid Humphrey, Sarah Kaplan, Caitlin Kerrigan, Sarah Kuster, Deanna Meola, Seth Peterson, Matthew Ray, Ian Rosner, Andrew Scotchie, Justin Shoemaker, Graham Sluder, Mitchell Smith, Emily Snedeker, Eric Sowa, Emily Tremblay, Erik Usher, Claire Wadhams, Joshua Weidie, Andrew Wetula, Parker White, Reid Yanik and Ryan Yanik.

Please continue to pray for these children as they begin preparing for 1^st Eucharist in the spring.

The children in the Sunday School program participated in a wonderful Christmas children’s program. They sang Advent and Christmas songs for their parents and the older children read to coincide with the songs. Music has been added to our program this year, so Jan Hart along with assistants Karen Gourlay and Andrew Richardson volunteered to teach the children music. Thanks to all the Catechists and parents for helping make this a WONDERFUL year for the children. Keep up the good work! For information concerning Elementary Faith Formation, you can contact Tracy Jedd at the church office at 254-5193.

The Evening Women’s Group WINGS p.m. meets once a month on the 2^nd Tuesday evening from

7-9 p.m. We had Sr. Peggy Verstege from the Jesuit House of Prayer in Hot Springs lead an evening of reflection on Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. It was a lovely evening complete with a handout of some of Catherine’s famous quotes.

In December, Anne Bosch led the group in an evening of reflection and movement titled, "Shalom/Shalama." The social hall was glistening with the light of many little candles that set a contemplative mood. Anne led the group in several dances that evolved from the time Mary was a young woman. "These were perhaps not unlike the very dances she may have done as worship with her friends," Anne said.

January 9^th, Sr. Sara Faye and Sheila O’Connor led the group in "A Winter’s Evening of Art As Prayer" with opportunities to listen to seasonal poetry, work with clay, draw with paints or color with crayons. Watch for future seasonal evenings by S&S. 

The Hiking Group STep (St. Eugene Pathfinders) has covered a lot of territory this fall. Starting in January Doris Thibodeau leads a hike group on the 2^nd Friday of each month and Chris Cicotello leads a hike on the 3^rd Sunday of each month. They remind folks to bring a daypack with water bottles and a sack lunch or snacks. Doris says a walking stick is also a good idea to bring along. Please call Doris at 274-9637 or Chris at 251-1560 if you plan to go.

1. Fr. John Rausch, a Glenmary priest from Kentucky and frequent contributor to the Catholic News & Herald, will be back, by popular demand, on March 5^th & 6^th and speak on topics related to social justice. He brings a vast knowledge of such topics as Environmental Theology, Labor Practices/

Abuses/Exploitation of Workers, Consumerism, School of the Americas, the Death Penalty, to name a few. Watch for more details in the bulletin.

2. The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola - a mini-series, will be presented during five Thursdays in Lent beginning March 8^th – April 5^th from 7-9 p.m. Sr. Peggy Verstege and Fr. Joe McGovern from the Jesuit House of Prayer in Hot Springs will be our guest presenters. They will be taking the sections of the Spiritual Exercises that deal with the Passion of our Lord. It promises to be a very enlightening series!

3. Preparing for The Peaceful Death – Some of you may wrinkle your foreheads and comment that the title of this series is an oxymoron. Granted we may have no control over how we are going to die, but at least we can experience it with open eyes as to what might be helpful to know, for ourselves and/or for our loved ones, who we may be responsible for making these decisions. This mini-series will be held Tuesday evenings in Lent beginning March 13^th from 7 – 9 p.m. Topics include the spirituality of near-death experiences, medical ethics/terminating life support, funeral service and burial options within the Catholic church teachings, legal issues/medical directives/ documents to have in place, and making funeral arrangements. We would like to invite parish members who have expertise in any of these areas to contact me at the parish office to discuss how you might be able to contribute.

Sheila O'Connor

Our yearly membership drive will commence the middle of February.

We meet every 2^nd Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. beginning on

March 14, 2001.  Because of impending construction, watch the bulletin for location

or call Jeanne DeLong at 299-8385.  Hope we see you there! 

Please join us on January 28^th for what promises to be a fun night at the Civic Center. Four tickets for $36  will buy you 4 pizzas, 4 cokes, 4 programs and of course seeing your favorite Asheville hockey team win!!! Please call me as soon as feasible.

The 2001 Season Begins!!! The following pending plays will be held at the Flatrock Playhouse:

May 2-20 – "Oliver"

May 23 – June 9 –family comedy "Over the River and Through the Woods"

June 13 – July 1 –"Bye Bye Birdie"

July 4-21 –"Maggie’s Getting Married"

July 25 – August 18 "South Pacific"

August 22 – September 9 "Once Upon a Mattress"

September 12-30 "Arsenic and Old Lace"

October 3-21 "Romance in D"

October 24 – November 4 (one out of the following three will be shown)

"A Party to Murder"

"Sleuth"

"Dial M for Murder"

Please place your reservations early. An appropriate time for payment will be announced. This, of course, will include lunch at the Highland Lake Inn.

"Perhaps you’re elderly and living alone, not sure enough of your balance to get up on a stepladder. Maybe you’re arthritic and unable to tackle that list of things needing to be fixed. Could be you’re a single mom whose hectic schedule and inexperience leave you stymied about all those ‘simple jobs’".

This is a great opportunity to thank all those retired or working dads, who are willing to help those who can’t do it for themselves. There are quite a few among us and they should be highly commended!!!

(Partially rewritten from an article from the Catholic News and Herald, January 5, 1996.)

What? Is the Progressive Dinner? It’s an opportunity to break bread with your fellow parishioners in a convivial social dinner party atmosphere. At little cost, it is an elegant night on the town featuring fine wines and gourmet foods.

Who? Open to all parishioners, single, young marrieds, widows, widowers and old marrieds. In short, anyone from 18 years to 108 is welcome!

How? Those attending may either host a cocktail hour or dinner party at their home or just be a good old-fashioned guest.

When? Saturday, February 24^th from 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.

Dinner Host – 8:00 p.m. Dinner at hosts’ home will provide 2 bottles of wine, rolls, butter, vegetables and tableware for 8-10 guests.

Guests will provide wine or hors d’oeuvres or salad or an entrée or dessert as requested.

Dessert – 10:00 p.m. back to Asheville Catholic School for scrumptious desserts, music and conversation.

As a Jesuit seminarian, Nick Weber learned the Ignatian practice of applying the senses of the imagination to the gospel scenes. As a professional circus clown he honed his comic skills and his appreciation of laughter.

Now, in "And Jesus Laughed!" he takes us on a funny, reverent and insightful ride through the New Testament hoping to shed forgotten light on our day-to-day practice of faith and prayer.

Don’t miss this one! Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 11, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Eugene’s.

Over 60 parishioners signed up to help with the interfaith ministry shelter for homeless people especially women who need emergency shelter. St. Eugene will be participating in this program by teaming up with Asbury United Methodist Church whose facilities will house homeless women every 3 months for a period of one week. All parishioners who signed up will be trained for the ministry, and the dates our Parish will serve will begin March 4, June 3, September 2 and

December 2, 2001. Many heartfelt thanks to all those who signed up!

In the near future we will be publishing a directory of businesses that either our church members own or are affiliated with. We believe we should support our own community first, in any manner possible.

Please provide to the church office: your name, business name, address of business, business telephone, email address and nature of business. If you have any questions, please call Sheila Wilkins at 277-8338 or Paulette Corbett at 645-4646.