Gmail - Welcome to St. Mary's https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f9d2...

john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

Welcome to St. Mary's

11 messages

Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 9:12 AM

To: "john.letourneux@gmail.com" <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

Dear John,

So wonderful to hear the Lord has drawn you back to his Church! I too was away for quite some time before
he nabbed me for the priesthood.

In terms of how you can help I would love it if you could join us for the Alpha program. It is a non-judgmental
open-format group that meets on Monday nights. We are just starting it here at Cathedral and Im very excited
about it. It involves three things food, presentation (on a basic element of Christianity) and discussion. Its
meant to be a place where we can voice our opinions and let the Holy Spirit show us the way. We start this
coming Monday the 27th.

If you are not free for that, or in addition to, I highly suggest you join a small group this Lent. These groups
meet peoples homes and are very warm and welcoming. A great way to get connected to the community.
This year well be talking about Pope Francis The Joy of the Gospel. Not all the groups are formed yet but
here is the link to sign up for one if you so wish. You can also wait and see if other groups form to fit your
needs.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P6lluYErgl9hcf9l-TZb-i4X5xCZnuHshipAhiNHCv8/edit?usp=sharing

Many blessings to you and let me know how I can help you get connected here at St. Marys. Its good to
have you back.

Fr. Tim Furlow,

Parochial Vicar

john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com> Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 11:47 AM

To: "Furlow, Rev. Timothy" <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>

Thank you very much for your reply, Father. I'm looking forward to continuing to observe, on behalf of me and
for the example I can provide for the younger members of my family and for the family of humanity and I'm

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grateful for the opportunities you've pointed out how I might contribute. I look forward to serving however I
can.

Yours in faith,

John Letourneux
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Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Fri, Feb 24, 2017 at 7:10 PM

To: john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

Fantastic John! I look forward to seeing you around. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help
you on your journey. Many blessings

Fr. Tim
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john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com> Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 2:31 PM

To: "Furlow, Rev. Timothy" <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>

Many thanks for your words of encouragement, Father.

I do have an important question to me that I would not want to waste any time of others while in confessional
with. It's important to me to become confirmed -- it was not offered to me by my family at the traditional time (I
am 40 now, soon to be 41 on the 27 of March), although I was blessed and grateful to have been baptized as
a Catholic Christian, and have received my first Communion and, prior, my first Penance.

I read regularly the Catechism, and, indeed, can affirm my assent to the teachings of the church. I was
unable to attend the first meeting of the RCIA/Alpha this Monday, and I although I have committed myself to
several observances of Lenten abstention (meat, solid dairy, one meal per day, no tobacco, and observance
of daily prayer and meditation, following Igantius's exercises), I look forward to following the Lectionary in the
Vulgate New Testament, but I ask you what is the best path to what I feel should be the next step in my
accepting the sacrament of Confirmation?

I understand that I've given you more information than a man can be expected to process reasonably, but I'm
seeking the true path no matter how long it takes.

Fellow servant of Christ,

John
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Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 2:47 PM

To: john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

John,

Thanks so much for your email. I would suggest coming to the Conrmation/Alpha
meetings on Monday nights. That will get you prepped and ready for conrmation

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should the Lord lead you in that direction. You could be conrmed on May 24 th if that
was the case. Let me know how I can help! Would love to have you. Peace

Fr. Tim

From: john letourneux [mailto:john.letourneux@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 2:32 PM
To: Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>
Subject: Re: Welcome to St. Mary's
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Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 2:51 PM

To: john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

Hi John,

Were rming up adult conrmation details on our end and I just wanted to check in
and see if you were still interested in being conrmed this year. Our adult
conrmation with Archbishop Sample will be here at the Cathedral on May 24 th at
7:30 p.m. If you are interested please let me know and I will send you info about a
special one-session conrmation course. God bless!

Fr. Tim

From: john letourneux [mailto:john.letourneux@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 2:32 PM
To: Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>
Subject: Re: Welcome to St. Mary's

Many thanks for your words of encouragement, Father.

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Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Fri, Apr 14, 2017 at 11:50 AM

To: john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

Hi John,

Just wanted to let you know that well have a one-session crash course on the
evening of May 17th. It will be around 90 minutes and will include dinner. All those
who participate will be able to be conrmed on May 24 th. Let me know if youre
interested and Happy [early] Easter!

Fr. Tim

From: john letourneux [mailto:john.letourneux@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 2:32 PM
To: Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>
Subject: Re: Welcome to St. Mary's

Many thanks for your words of encouragement, Father.

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john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com> Fri, Apr 21, 2017 at 7:26 PM

To: "Furlow, Rev. Timothy" <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>

Hi, Father Tim,

Just off the cuff, I want to apologize to you personally for not having replied to your e-mail which generously
showed the Church's willingness to offer a sacrament, namely Confirmation. Believe it or not, as a computer
scientist, I don't spend much time online! I am personally grateful for your invitations, and in the name of the
Church.

In short, the Lenten period gave me some indications about how strong my faith is, and I hope tomorrow I can
before vigil confess with my whole heart the opportunities I've missed in the past number of weeks to
celebrate our shared faith as a community one with Christ. I am not sure if I'm able to be confirmed, and I will
have to consider long and hard if I'm even able to pronounce the creed Nic., much less receive the body of
Christ every week, but my weak, but present faith is a matter for the sacrament of Penance tomorrow.

I hope you share my joy that we remain in the season of Easter, and I hope that my faint prayers can become
stronger through practice of the Church and its concelebrants.

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Yours in study, faith, and prayer,

John

john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com> Fri, Apr 21, 2017 at 8:56 PM

To: "Furlow, Rev. Timothy" <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>

Emend., not concelebrant. Doctrinal error of language. As I was talking with one of my former French
students on FaceBook about languages and faith just now, it's easy to make mistake in language, but it is
easy to be understood.

Yours in understanding the creed,

John

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Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org> Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 8:51 AM

To: john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com>

John,

Im thankful for your email and your faith! The class is come as you are with all
knowledge levels accepted. Conrmation, as you probably know, is actually the
sacrament our Lord uses to give us the grace to live the faith to its fullest. So, maybe
right up your alley! The door is wide open if youd like to join. I know the grace of the
sacrament has helped me immensely in my own faith journey. Let me know about
that or really about anything I can help you with. Its why Msgr. Pat and I are here.
Many blessings.

Fr. Tim

From: john letourneux [mailto:john.letourneux@gmail.com]

Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 8:57 PM
To: Furlow, Rev. Timothy <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>
Subject: Re: Welcome to St. Mary's

Emend., not concelebrant. Doctrinal error of language. As I was talking with one of my former French
students on FaceBook about languages and faith just now, it's easy to make mistake in language, but it is

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easy to be understood.

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John

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john letourneux <john.letourneux@gmail.com> Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 6:35 PM

To: "Furlow, Rev. Timothy" <tfurlow@archdpdx.org>

What a welcome testament in your response. As you make it sound, perhaps faith may not be measured in
strengths or degrees, but in presence tout court. As I hope I said with enough thanks to your commendable
willingness to communicate in just e-mail, perhaps I can be able to pronounce the creed and be enough to
serve to receive the communion every week, as should be my joy.

You've given me a lot to think about -- perhaps the sacrament of Confirmation is for me, but as in all things
canonical I defer to the Church.

If you'll forgive me for speaking out of topic, one of the sticking points early on in my reaquaintance with the
Church was if I could promise to remain chaste -- as you can imagine, as an average man of 41 years, I have
had a typical secular life not short of companionship of women, in one case in some states what would be
considered as a matter of law having taken a "common-law wife" of seven years or so, but the very beautiful
paragraphs in the Catechism about the respect to another's soul one owes. Well, it may not dissuade me
from a given opportunity, but while I've never been a womanizer or so forth, it's one of many examples of the
things the Church may offer. to give to me a good reason to contemplate before action.

On the one hand, at this moment, I feel not only properly catechized thanks to my early instruction, but at the
other hand, I feel disappointed that my maternal uncle, who pledged to sponsor me at Confirmation, has not
been able to guide me. Although it is not, and I have not, chastized him for such -- I feel, as I said to my
mother today, it is a matter for the Church and I reaffirmed to her that thanks to the small amount of faith I've
felt grow, while love is a new feeling to me, I'm learning.

However, thanks to the Church I feel strong in the faith that through faith love can grow, and for that I am
thankful. I should say, I would think it's a kind of abomination to think of Confirmation as a kind of merit badge
or a secular academic degree -- that matter is not mine to decide.

I am thankful for your kind reply -- it may be a sin, but I enjoy and appreciate hearing words which affirm my
own beliefs.

Yours in truth, heartily,

John O'Leary Letourneux

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