Remembering Kobe Bryant: Formed and saved by his Catholic faith - Christ the Servant Parish
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The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020 Remembering Kobe Bryant: Formed and saved by his Catholic faith By Phillip Kosloski How a priest changed Kobe Bryant’s life This article was originally published in April of 2016. Sadly, Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others, passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. May they rest in eternal peace. On Wednesday, April 13, 2016, Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest athletes of all time, ended his 20-year basketball career with a bang, scoring 60 points in his last game. While Bryant’s stats can be recited by many — five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic champion, 18-time All-Star and the third leading scorer in NBA history — few know about the role his Catholic faith played in helping him through one of his darkest hours. Born in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant was raised in a Catholic household and even spent some of his youth in Italy. Drafted into the NBA at the age of 17, he eventually married Vanessa Laine at St. Edward Roman Catholic Church in Dana Point, California. Two years later they had their first child. Bryant was at the top of his game and everything seemed to be heading in the direction of his dreams. Then he made a big mistake. In 2003, Kobe Bryant was accused of raping a woman in his hotel room, while he was in Colorado for knee sur- gery. He admitted having sex with the woman but denied rape. A judge eventually dropped the charges, but the woman went on to file a civil lawsuit against Bryant that was settled outside of court. In the midst of it all, he is- sued a public apology, stating that he was sincerely ashamed of what he had done. The incident had major consequences as numerous spon- sors abandoned him and his reputation was tarnished. In 2011, his wife filed for divorce. Yet during one of the darkest moments of his life, Kobe Bryant turned to his Catholic faith. In an interview with GQ in 2015 he explained: “The one thing that really helped me during that process — I’m Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my kids are Catholic — was talking to a priest. It was actually kind of funny: He looks at me and says, ‘Did you do it?’ And I say, ‘Of course not.’ Then he asks, ‘Do you have a good lawyer?’ And I’m like, ‘Uh, yeah, he’s phenomenal.’ So then he just said, ‘Let it go. Move on. God’s not going to give you anything you can’t handle, and it’s in his hands now. This is something you can’t control. So let it go.’ And that was the turning point.” After some rough years, Kobe Bryant reconciled with his wife, and they remain married to this day. Together they have founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF), which is dedicated to, among other things, helping young people in need, encouraging the development of physical and social skills through sports and assisting the homeless. Asked about this commitment in 2013, Bryant’s answer would likely have made Pope Francis very happy: My career is winding down. At the end of my career, I don’t want to look back and just say, “Well, I had a successful career because I won so many championships and scored so many points.” There’s something else that you have to do with that. [The homelessness] issue is one that kind of gets pushed on the back burner because it’s easy to point the blame at those who are homeless and say, “Well, you made that bad decision. This is where you are. It’s your fault.” In life, we all make mistakes and to stand back and allow someone to live that way and kind of wash your hands of it … that’s not right. Throughout all of his trials, and perhaps even in response to them, Bryant has realized that fame and fortune were nothing compared to the importance of faith and family. When everyone else in the world abandoned him, the Catholic Church was always there. He may be an All-Star and NBA legend, but even superstars can use the foundational support of faith-formation, and a good priest to turn to.
Christ the Servant Parish Canton, OH
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
Social Concerns
“As servants of Christ, we will strive to be the presence of Christ to our parish and the wider community,
providing counsel, assistance, and hope as we live the Gospel of God through our practice of the Corporal
Works of Mercy. We offer our gifts with kindness and respect, enhancing opportunities for fellowship and
mutual support, led by Christ’s example of hospitality, diversity and inclusiveness.” Social Concerns Pastoral
Secretary: John Cihon jchon@mpwservices.com or Teresa Golden McClelland teresa-efg@sbcglobal.net
We had another very good week for our food drive. We collected 442 lbs. of food, 84 lbs. of clothing and 41 lbs, of toilet-
ries. Our compete total is 567 lbs. Hope Outreach will be so grateful when deliver to them this week. Thank you for contin-
ued support of our ministry. Nothing can happen without your help.
Since we began our ministry in October 2015 we have collected 123,000 lbs of food. That equals over 60 tons. That is re-
markable! My thanks again for everything that you do.
Liturgy
“As Servants of Christ, through the various Liturgical Ministries, we offer our gifts to one
another with the mutual kindness and respect, providing and enhancing opportunities for prayerful worship and
celebration.” Liturgy Pastoral Secretary: PJ Chavez pchavez@walsh.edu or Mike Reed mreed
@christtheservantparish.org
Tuesday February 4
9:00a.m. Mary Gill by Family Saturday February 8
Cecilia Wojtala by Daughter 4:30p.m. Cheryl Schott by Paul Schott
Wednesday February 5 Sunday February 9
9:00 a.m. Mary Chekan by Jerry Michael 9:00 a.m. Molly Samsa by Dan Styduhar
Robert Lesko by Ed & Flo Meyer
Thursday February 6 11:00 a.m. Bob Stewart by Family
9:00 a.m. Lucille Zastawny by Bill & Christine Burger
Friday February 7
9:00 a.m. Living and Deceased Members of Christ the
Servant Parish
Parish Life
Parish Life Pastoral Area Mission Statement
As servants of Christ, through the various Parish Life ministries, we offer our gifts to one another with mutual
kindness and respect, providing and enhancing diverse opportunities for fellowship, mutual support and ministry to
our Parish community, led by Christ’s example of hospitality and inclusiveness.” Parish Life Pastoral Secretary:
Andrew Sarachman acsarachman@christtheservantparish.org
Beginner Italian Class
Starting Thursday February 6th, 6-8PM for 8weeks. Class is taught by parishioner Lina
Falcone. Cost is $70.
Please call the parish office to register 330.492.0757.
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
Outreach Sunday sponsored by PSR ALL parishioners are encouraged to attend
Sunday, February 16th from 10-11 am
in Seton Hall
Materials will be provided to make
fleece no-sew blankets to bring extra
comfort to children throughout north-
east Ohio.
Other styles of quilts & blankets are accepted.
Contact Elise Schafer for specifics.
(330-714-9087 or eschafer@youngstowndiocese.org)
We would love to have others
showcase their talents of
sewing, quilting, or knitting to benefit
our community as well.
Last weekend, the Diocese of Youngstown sponsored BEYOND THE BOOK
the Church Overseas Combined Collection for minis-
tries to needy people. Thank you for your participation Third Tuesday from 6:30-8:00 February
18, 2020 —Once a Month
in this important collection. If you did not have the Christ the Servant Gathering Room
opportunity to respond last week, there is still time to If you were unable to attend the last
contribute to this combined collection. meeting, please feel free to join us at this
meeting. The book for discussion is: The Disappearing
January 25 and 26th The Man by Doug Peterson
Mary Faigley 330-904-6421 or email:
men’s club will be selling mfaigley@neo.rr.com
Super bowl squares after
Mass for $25 each.
Food Prep Help
We need six volunteers that can commit to three out of
six Thursdays to help with meal prep for the Friday
night fish fry. Please contact Drew at: 330.518.4313 or
email at acsarachman@christtheservantparish.org
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION P.S.R. PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION
FIRST EUCHARIST 10:10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
March 31, 2020 Parents and Children February
Tuesday 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 02 Regular Session
09 Regular Session
April 9, 2020 Holy Thursday Catechist Meeting after class
11-12:00
April 21, 2020 Parents and Children 16 Outreach – Service project in Seton
Tuesday 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Hall 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
23 Mass and More
April 26, 2020 Mass and More Day 26 Ash Wednesday
Sunday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY 23 – MASS AND MORE
April 28, 2020 First Eucharist Practice 9:00 a.m. Mass – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Mardi Gras celebration as we approach the season of Lent. Watch
for more information as we draw closer to this exciting time of re-
May 3, 2020 First Eucharist flection and conversion.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass
Our 6th, 7th and 8th grade PSR classes are finishing up a series on “God, Revelation and Scripture.” On February 9, we look
forward to beginning our series on “Jesus the Christ.” This past Sunday, students were asked to consider an experience that
was a negative one, but where eventually something good came from it. They were considering the transformative power of
God and it is all about trust, acknowledging that we do not see the big picture. C.S. Lewis captured it well when he remind-
ed us to just keep on moving forward every day, doing our best in each moment and not worrying so much:
“Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted—i.e., keep ful-
filling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!), asking forgiveness for each
failure and then leaving it alone. You are in the right way. Walk—don’t keep on looking at it.”
Everyone is cordially invited to join us for coffee and donuts today after the 9:00am Mass and be-
fore the 11am Mass, today Sunday February 9th. This is an excellent way to meet and greet fellow
parishioners of our community and enjoy coffee from Carpe Diem and Mary Ann Donuts. Tea, hot
chocolate and bagels are also available. Donut Sunday is generally held on the second and fourth
Sunday of each month.
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
General Parish and School
Activities 50/50
Parish Meeting Events for the Week Every Monday a winner will be drawn the winner will
Ahead be posted in the following weeks bulletin.
Sunday February 2
Put a dollar in the envelope to participate. The
2 PM Grief group lower level rectory rm
envelopes are found in your
New Beginners Alcoholic Anonymous Stewardship Packets.
meeting in the Gathering Rm 7-8 PM
1/19/2020 # was drawn, and would have won $897.50
Monday February 3
7 PM Men's basketball-Gym
Wednesday February 5
No Bible Study– will resume March 11
Thursday February 6
8 PM Men’s basketball-Gym
After 47 years of legalized abortion, millions of women,
men, families and friends are hurting from their regret.
There is Hope and Healing available.
For CONFIDENTIAL help contact Project Rachel of
N.E. Ohio at 888-259-4806 or
support@projrachneo.zohosupport.com. .
1/19/2020 $10,867.36
1/26/20 $10,378.55
For stewardship or any other donations to
the parish or school, please make checks
payable to Christ the Servant Parish–
Thank you
OMEM LLC.
Plea
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020 Today, in Luke’s Gospel we find Simeon, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. A “righteous and devout” man. Simeon has received a revelation from the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen” the Messiah. As Mary and Joseph enter the temple to present their newborn son, Simeon, through eyes enlightened by faith, sees more than a baby in His parents’ arms and recognizes the child as the Messiah. Who wouldn’t want that certainty of having Jesus right before you? Most of us have to struggle with that combination of faith and doubt at various times in our lives. Thank God for the guid- ance of the Church and the gifts of the Eucharist and the other sacraments, which enhance our ex- perience of Jesus’ presence in our lives. We also have our diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Exponent, which helps keep the Church close to us as we deal with the uncertainties and vicissitudes of life. The Exponent, through its report- ing on the news of the Church, the news of the world in light of the Gospel, along with its com- mentary on life informed by faith, and its adult catechesis, can help keep us grounded to navigate the world with the assurance of our faith – even when the world at times seems to fly in the face of that Gospel. Subscribe or renew your subscription today by dropping the “Catholic Exponent” envelope from your parish packet into the collection basket. Or call 330-744-5251 or email us at exposubscrip- tions@youngstowndiocese.org to request subscription information. See more. Read the Catholic Exponent.
The Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
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