January 18 2009 - Diocese of Columbus
Transcription
January 18 2009 - Diocese of Columbus
C A T H O L I C D I OC E S E O F CO LUM B US A journal of Catholic life in Ohio J A N U A RY 1 8, 2 0 0 9 SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME VO L U ME 58:1 5 W W W.CTO N L I N E .O RG st. joan of arc parish: facing the challenges of growth 2 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 The Editor’s Notebook Build It and They Will Come By David Garick, Editor I’ve long been a fan of Kevin Costner’s film “Field of Dreams.” It touches on a lot of “guy” themes like sports, father/son relationships and has an interesting kind of fantasy spirituality to it. I thought of it in connection with a much more real spirituality as we were preparing this issue of Catholic Times. I remember when I first became aware of the village of Powell. I was exploring a back way to the Columbus Zoo and found this quiet little village near the Big Bear Farms. For those of you who don’t remember, Big Bear used to be the top supermarket chain in the Columbus area and they had this big corporate farm in Delaware County that was a showplace of their commitment to local agriculture. It, and the nearby village of Powell were an icon of rural life. Times indeed have changed. Big Bear supermarkets are gone and so is that picture postcard image of rural life. Powell is now at the epicenter of upscale growth in the Columbus Metro Area. It is still a beautiful area. But now it is a place for growing families instead of growing corn. The population is surging. It’s one of the fastest growing communities in Ohio. And all of those people have spiritual needs. It had been apparent for some time that this growth would occur and so St. Joan of Arc was built for the people who would later come. Just like Kevin Costner’s baseball field drew that symbolic line of cars with headlights shining in the dark Iowa night at the end of Field of Dreams, a constant stream of relocated cradle Catholics, converts, inquirers and others are finding their way to St. Joan of Arc. It’s a real challenge to provide a spiritual home to such a rapidly growing population. There are a lot of services that are needed, support systems that have to be put into place, physical and human resources that must be there. But that’s what the Catholic Church has always been about. The Apostles were genuinely overwhelmed by the outpouring of disciples who heard the message of Christ and came to be part of the fledgling church. And they found ways to minister to all of them. Over the centuries the great waves of evangelization took our faith to every corner of the earth and all of those missionaries found themselves trying to figure out how they could meet the needs of so many people hungry for the Gospel. Two centuries ago the first priests arrived in central Ohio and found throngs of spiritually hungry families already here ready to assist in the building of the Church. In a time when we hear so much about tight finances and shortages of priests it is good for us to look at a place like St. Joan of Arc Parish. We can all learn something from their spirit of community and the innovative ways that they are using to meet ever-growing needs. St. Joan of Arc Parish is a wonderful model for us in leading the charge to build the church for the future by drawing on the lessons of 2000 years of Christian history. That brings me back to a line from “Field of Dreams” in which I see the comments on the people coming to the magical baseball field as a metaphor for the Catholic Church, “They’ll find they have reserved seats …, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come. The one constant through all the years, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come. People will most definitely come.” Front Page photo: Modeled after a French farmhouse, St. Joan of Arc Parish serves the rapidly growing area in southern Delaware County. Photo by Gordon Mawhinney Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Jesus calls us, His disciples, to continue His mission on earth to bring the Gospel to all peoples and nations. Through our prayers, sacrifices and donations we join with the missionaries who give their lives to mission work so that others might come to know Christ and live the life of faith as we do. This weekend, January 17 and 18, is the Society for the Propagation of the Faith Membership Drive. Through the Society we support the mission of Jesus throughout the world. Our support enables the Church in the mission fields to continue and increase its healing and saving work among the poorest of our sisters and brothers. Our donations enable those who have yet to hear the Good News to experience God’s love and salvation. In more than 1,150 mission dioceses worldwide, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and lay catechists rely on the prayers and financial assistance from the society. They count on this support as they help young people who are searching for the meaning of life, as they help refugees in their spiritual and material needs, as they minister to the sick in hospitals, as they teach children in schools, as they prepare adults for Baptism, or as they help those who suffer because of war and natural disasters. During the Membership Sunday weekend, please pray for missionaries everywhere, especially the twenty men and women from our diocese, who are sharing Christ’s Gospel message. I am most grateful for your continuing generosity and support of the most important task of the Church – evangelization. Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Frederick F. Campbell, D.D., Ph.D. Bishop of Columbus CATHOLIC TIMES Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved. Catholic Times is the official newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. It is published weekly 48 times per year with exception of two weeks following Christmas and two weeks in July. Subscription rate: $25 per year. ISSN 0745-6050 Periodical Postage Paid in Columbus, Ohio Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, D.D., PhD. ~ President & Publisher David Garick ~ Editor ([email protected]) Laura Troiano ~ Assistant Editor ([email protected]) Tim Puet ~ Reporter ([email protected]) Alexandra Keves ~ Graphic Design Manager ([email protected]) Deacon Steve DeMers ~ Business Manager ([email protected]) Phil Connard ~ Advertising Sales Account Executive ([email protected]) Jodie Sfreddo ~ Bookkeeper/Circulation Coordinator ([email protected]) Mailing Address: 197 E. Gay St., Columbus OH 43215 Editorial Staff Telephone (614) 224-5195 FAX (614) 241-2518 Business Staff Telephone (614) 224-6530 FAX (614) 241-2518 Catholic Times 3 January 18, 2009 Columbus Children help raise funds for children in the missions One of the great mission charities supported by the Diocese of Columbus is the Holy Childhood Association. Sunday, November 23rd, the Parish Life Center at Our Lady of Victory was filled with parishioners supporting the annual pancake breakfast for HCA. Every year, the breakfast is held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Members of the Knights of Columbus prepared the flapjacks and sausages and the parish kids set and cleared the tables. In addition to the breakfast, the parish kids held a bake sale and a raffle with proceeds also going to HCA. It was a delicious feast and for a worthy cause! Over $2,200 was collected for HCA!! In addition to collections for HCA totaling over $500, Mrs. Andrea Mulisano’s second grade class at Holy Spirit School held a bake sale last June for their missionary pen pal in Chimbote Peru, Sister Germaine Conroy, O.P. With the collected funds, Sister Germaine provided lunch for children in Las Americas school in Peru. The Holy Spirit second graders even made it in the local newspaper all the way down in Peru for their generosity and received letters back from the children they aided! St. Matthias Parish of Columbus, donated $10,000 to the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) in honor of their 50th Anniversary! HCA was established in France in 1843 and was designated as a Pontifical Mission Society in 1922. It promotes the motto of children helping children and is active in about 110 countries worldwide. Children in kindergarten through eighth grade are encouraged to share their faith with children in the foreign missions Above Left: Children from Our Lady of Victory gather for the bake sale raffle and pancake breackfest that raised over $2,200 for the Mission. Above Right: Children from Las Americas school in Peru enjoy a meal and send letters of thanks to students at Holy Spirit School who raised funds for them. through their prayers, personal sacrifices, and financial support. For 165 years, HCA has been making a difference in the lives of children all over the world! In addition, the parish also gave a $10,000 gift to the Ursuline Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus in the Philippines for the mission children and a gift of $2,000 to the Dominican Sisters in Sri Lanka for their mission. A special thank you to Father James T. Smith and St. Matthias for the incredibly generous donations that will greatly serve many mission children! Find out more about how your contributions to the mission help people around the world by visiting the Missions Office section of the Diocesan Father James T. Smith, Sister Marie Shields, Mr. Dan Kinley – principal, and St. Matthias website at: www. School students in front of a wall plaque depicting Jesus with children from all around colsdioc.org the world. Join the worldwide mission of Jesus By: Leandro M. Tapay Many of us began joining organizations when we were children. We joined groups such as the Girl Scouts or Boys Scouts. In college some of us joined in sororities or in fraternities and moved on as adults, to civic or religious groups such as the Women’s Club, The Knights of Columbus, the Lions, the Kiwanis, or the Rotary. But we got our start in membership much earlier than that. When we were baptized as babies we were initiated into the communion of the Church and were welcomed as a part of the community. This weekend, January 17 and 18, is the Society for the Propagation of the Faith Membership Drive. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is all of us. It is all of us reaching out to support the mission of Jesus throughout the world. The membership drive gives us the opportunity to formalize our respond to Christ’s call for us to continue Jesus’ mission on earth by joining the society. At the Eucharistic Celebration let us, individually and silently, renew our commitment to continue to help the mission of Jesus which is to make the whole human race one family of God in Christ. Mission work is the greatest and holiest work of the Church. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a Pontifical Mission Society, was founded in the 19th century. The society is the Church’s central means to encourage prayer for missionary tasks and to gather fi-� nancial support for those who announce the Good News in other countries and cultures. Today, more than 1,500 mission dioceses depend on the annual support provided by the society. Our donations help sustain the work of thousand of priests, religious and catechists in mission dioceses. In the society no bylaws are needed, no attendance required, just a quiet demonstration of our prayerful and financial support, which go a long way to establish the Kingdom of God even “to the ends of the earth”. As members of the fam- ily of God, as members of the community, we call the “Church” let us do our part – let’s become members of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Let’s reflect on John Paul II’s reminder to us: “The Lord is always calling us to come out of ourselves and to share with others the goods we possess, starting with the most precious gift of all –our faith”. We can become a member in the society in one of the following levels: Individual Membership: $5.00 Family Membership: $10.00 Perpetual Membership (Individual) $50.00 Perpetual Membership (Family) $100.00 (Membership is open to both the living and the deceased individuals). Every day of the year, Masses are offered by mission priests for members of the society. On behalf of His Excellency, Bishop Campbell and of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States I would like to thank you for support for the missions. If you have any questions please give Lany a call at 614 228 8603 or email Lany at ([email protected]). 4 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 PRACTICAL Rick Jeric STEWARDSHIP Judgment Did you serve, or have you been serving this past week, as Mary did? So many of us do serve already in so many ways. Some do not. At any rate, we can always do more. Our world cries out for more.We must continue to tie the towel of service around our waists each day, ready to wash the feet of any who would show a need, and ready to wash the stain of sin from our world. Most of us are not ready to meet the challenge head on. Many of us are very comfortably shielded and insulated from the needs of many. Some of us are in need ourselves.Whatever level to which we rise, let us never lose the desire to serve.The fact that our God gave His life to serve our greatest need should be enough inspiration for us.The fact that Mary witnessed all this from day one at the Annunciation, and still served with the disciples and the new Church until her Assumption, should be more inspiration. With the passing of National Migration Week, I was inspired by the coverage in the Catholic Times. There is certainly much for us to learn, much for us to support, and much to consider. As is usually the case, my inspiration was a little different. I read more statistics about all the illegal immigration in this country, especially the past 10 years or so. Our borders are so unguarded and unprotected. Our laws are so weak. Our hearts bleed so easily. Our judges are so lenient. Our politicians are only concerned with votes. Why don’t these uneducated, unemployed, poor, and sometimes criminal foreigners do things the way the law states? Why can’t they do it the way our grandparents did, and become citizens the right way? And most important, why don’t the U.S. Bishops just mind their own business? I recently met someone at a holiday party, who was relatively new to this country. He had a heavy accent, and to my dismay, was actually working in a local office for the IRS. Can you imagine? A foreigner, collecting my taxes. It really made me upset to know that someone like that was born in another country, came here and was educated with scholarship money paid by my tax dollars, and then had the nerve to collect more. If this is upsetting to you also, then read on. It gets worse. When are we going to demand an end to this? I also met a friend of a relative over the holidays who was in this country on a visa, became pregnant, and was now having the baby by way of our health care system. Imagine, my tax dollars paying for another illegitimate kid, probably the product of prostitution, earning drug money. At least that was the insinuation from the one who told the story. Finally, I was accosted by a lazy beggar in my parking lot downtown. Not only did he make up some story about needing bus fare, but he was another one of those foreigners who spoke in very broken English. Our practical challenge this week is to read three passages in the Gospels. Read Matthew 9: 9-13. Jesus actually called someone who collected taxes for a foreign, occupying nation: St. Matthew. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Read Luke 7: 36-50. Jesus actually called a woman who had sinned greatly: St. Mary Magdalene. “Her many sins are forgiven, since she has shown great love.” Read Luke 10: 29-37. Jesus actually calls us to care for strangers and foreigners: The Good Samaritan. “Go and do likewise.” How could I possibly judge these people in the preceding paragraphs? As we know all too well, Jesus teaches us how to live and how to serve. Jeric is director of development and planning for the Columbus Diocese. ‘Joyeuse semaine nationale de français’ That’s French for “Happy National French Week!” French students at Columbus Bishop Watterson High School recently lead the school community in celebrating French culture. French music played over the speakers as students moved from class to class, and everyday before lunch, the prayer was spoken in French. The prayer leader would then share a fact about French culture and a “word of the day.” All students were involved in French Week, even those taking other languages. Those taking were able to wear T-shirts which listed all their French names. There was also a French bake sale. Pictured are seniors Erin Stover and Kate Kellogg holding up the T-shirts they helped design. CT photo courtesy of Watterson Author of ‘What Happened at Vatican II’ to lecture at Josephinum, Jan. 25 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Announcement of the Second Vatican Council, the Pontifical College Josephinum welcomes the public to “What Happened at Vatican II: The Author Reports Back,” a presentation by Rev. John W. O’Malley, SJ, on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., in the Jessing Center on the Josephinum’s campus at 7625 N. High St. Rev. John W. O’Malley, SJ, professor of theology at Georgetown University, is regarded as the dean of American historians of Christianity. His newest book, What Happened at Vatican II, is a detailed synthesis of the Second Vatican Council. “Some of the finest contemporary Catholic theologians and students of the Second Vatican Council have described this book as a masterful one volume account of the Council that will become the obligatory point of reference for anyone in this generation interested in studying the Council and its background,” said Msgr. Paul Langsfeld, Josephinum rector/president. “Father O’Malley’s talk will be the highlight of our academic year.” John W. O’Malley, SJ, PhD (Harvard) is a specialist in the religious culture of early modern Europe. Among his five monographs are Praise and Blame in Renaissance Rome, which received the Marrow Prize from the American Historical Association, and Trent and All That, which received the Roland Bainton Prize from the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference. His best known book is The First Jesuits, which received both the Jacques Barzun Prize for Cultural History from the American Philosophical Society and the Philip Schaff Prize from the American Society for Church History. Father O’Malley has lectured in North America and Europe on both professional and popular topics. He has held fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Philosophical Society, the Harvard University center for Italian Renaissance Studies, Florence, and the American Academy in Rome. He is a past president of the American Catholic Historical Association and of the Renaissance Society of America. He was honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Society for Italian Historical Studies in 2002, and the Renaissance Society of America in 2005. “What Happened at Vatican II: The Author Reports Back” is part of the Josephinum’s annual Building Spiritual Bridges to the Community lecture series, supported by a grant from Our Sunday Visitor Institute. For more information, visit www.pcj.edu or call 1-614-9852497. All lectures are free of charge and open to the public. Catholic Times 5 January 18, 2009 Danville St. Luke’s March for Life trip to Washington, D.C. The annual March For Life in Washington D.C., will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, in protest of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States. With donations to help defray the expenses of the trip, the cost will be: $295 for a double room and $250 per person for three or four people and includes the bus ride, a three night motel stay arrive in time for Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 6 p.m. The March is Thursday at noon, and the group will tour on Friday with John Durbin. A group will be leaving from Danville on Wednesday, Jan. 21, traveling on a 47-passenger bus. There are still openings for the trip, and anyone in the Columbus Diocese is invited to join the group. at the remodeled Hampton Inn in Alexandria, Virginia, and a tour of Washington, D.C. guided by Danville’s own John Durbin. The bus will depart from St. Luke’s at 7:30 a.m., on Jan. 21, and The group will return on Saturday, Jan. 23, arriving in Danville early evening. To register or for more information, call the parish at 740-599-6362 or Bobbie Thomas 740427-4044. CNS file photo Celebrating The Year of St. Paul in Glenmont, Jan. 25 The Columbus Diocese will be marking the midway point of its yearlong commemoration of the second millennium of St. Paul the Apostle with a special celebration at Glenmont Sts. Peter and Paul Church, located at St. Rt. 520, at 4 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 25. That Sunday is also the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, which marks the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. For that reason, the celebration will be an ecumenical gathering consisting of Pauline hymns as well as brief readings from each of Paul’s letters. Each member of the Millersburg Ministerial Association and each priest of the Tuscarawas-HolmesCoshocton Deanery has been invited to share a favorite verse or two from one of the letters and to give a 30-second comment on it. “Our celebration will be precisely timed to last no more than 60 minutes and will be followed by a carry-in shared dinner in the church social hall,” said Father Ron Aubry, pastor at Glenmont and at Millersburg St. Peter Church. Father Aubry invites all Catholics, as well as non-Catholics, from throughout the entire diocese to join the parish in celebrating St. Paul’s ministry. The diocesan celebration of the Year of St. Paul, which was declared by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 as a jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul for the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of his birth, began on June 29, of that year at Westerville St. Paul Church. The diocesan celebration will be concluded on Sunday, June 28, at Wellston Sts. Peter and Paul Church. For more information about the upcoming St. Paul celebration at Glenmont Sts. Peter and Paul, call the parish at 330-674-1671. Catholic Diocese of Columbus - Missions Office The Year of St. Paul is being celebrated this year throughout the universal Catholic Church. To celebrate this time and in honor of the Paulist Fathers’ patronal feast day on Jan. 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Father Larry Boadt, C.S.P., biblical scholar and president of Paulist Press, will present “The Spiritual Vision of St. Paul” on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the St. Thomas More Newman Center, 64 W. Lane Ave., in Columbus. Sponsored by the Newman Center’s Endowment Series, topics for Father Larry Boadt’s talk will be: •The Background and Worldview of Paul •Paul’s Vision in the Letter to the Romans •Other Key Elements in the Letter to the Corinthians For more information, call the Newman Center at 614-291-4674. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith ...a Pontifical Mission Society JANUARY 17 - 18, 2009 MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY 'Spiritual Vision of St. Paul,' Jan. 24, at Newman Center Name___________________________________ Name Address_________________________________ Address City_________________ State____ Zip_______ City State Zip Membership Enrollments (living & deceased) Ƒ $100 family Ƒ $50 individual Ƒ $10 family Ƒ $5 individual Perpetual: Annual: Enclosed is my offering of $_________. $ Ƒ I would like to be a monthly donor! Your gift is tax deductible. Mail your gift to: Leandro M. Tapay, Director Society for the Propagation of the Faith 197 East Gay Street Columbus, OH 43215-3229 Phone: 614-228-8603 www.missions.colsdioc.org 6 Catholic Times A quick note from: OFFICE OF LITURGY WORSHIP: THE UMBRELLA Back in September, the Office of Liturgy ran a series of columns that compared and contrasted sacraments, devotional exercises and sacramental actions. All of those topics are panels on the giant umbrella known as worship. Starting this week and continuing over the next few, we will strive to cover even more of those panels. It is fair to say that all topics can be called worship. However, worship is certainly not encompassed by any one category that will be (or has been) mentioned. Worship, in fact, does not necessarily have to refer to religious action. Even though the lexicographer Webster says that worship is “the reverent love and allegiance accorded a deity, idol, or sacred object,” and also “a set of religious forms by which this love is expressed,” we all know people who worship various objects that are not sacred; money, food, Ohio State football, etc. For our purposes, we will adhere to Webster. It seems possible to break down the umbrella of worship into two subcategories – liturgy and devotion. Liturgy is the specific and prescribed set of forms that are set out for public religious worship. Going back, it is safe to say that both the Sacraments, and the sacramental actions are indeed forms of liturgy. Liturgy is rubrical, it follows a specific pattern - a pattern prescribed in ritual books that govern the liturgy. It has a definite shape and form instituted by the Church and carried forth by the bishops and priests of the world. Since 1570, the Mass is to be done following the same formula (whether in the Ordinary or the Extraordinary Form) in every time and place in every corner of the globe. Granted, the languages are different, and the customs are different, but the Mass (wherever it is celebrated) is taken from the same source. It is the duty of the bishops of the world to uphold and govern what has been prescribed by the Church’s Magisterium. Anything that is ritualistic in nature, when it comes to the Church, can be lumped into the category of liturgy. Liturgy is a communal action that invites us into a dialogue with God, and whether it is the Mass, a baptism, or the blessing of the new doors on the church, liturgy allows God to speak to us, and through us, so that we may be used as his instruments of good will. Next week we will begin to discuss devotion and its similarities and differences to liturgy. It will be important to remember that any type of liturgy is an organized, specific, rubrical, governed and communal action. Some of the topics we will be looking at in the weeks to come will be prayers, music, people and places where liturgy and devotion take place. It should be an interesting couple of weeks. January 18 , 2009 Jesus’ years before public ministry Q : The Gospels record the life of Jesus from birth to death, at age 33. However, it seems that the time from 12 to 30 is omitted. Why is this? What happened during these years? (Texas) A : The answer is basically quite simple. The Gospels were not written to hand down a biography of Jesus but to give us the good news of God’s love and infinite care for our human family, as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus. The very first words of the first Gospel written indicate this intention. St. Mark, in Chapter 1, Verse 1, of the Gospel with his name, says, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The Anglo-Saxon roots of our English word “gospel” mean the same as the Latin and Greek ful and important for their Christian readers. The more we read and study the narratives of the conception and birth of Jesus and John the Baptist, for example, the more we realize these are not solely tender and warm baby stories. Every word and phrase reveal their own special insight and wisdom about what the Father and Son were saying about salvation through these commonplace family events. Some other early Christian writings, the second-century protoevangelium (first Gospel) of James, for example, also contain a variety of quaint and whimsical stories about the life of Jesus and his relatives. Some of them may be true, but they are not part of our sacred Scriptures and, of course, not a matter of faith. QUESTION & ANSWER FATHER DIETZEN Catholic News Service words for “gospel,” literally the good news. Only some time after St. Mark wrote was the title “Gospel” given to the first four books of the New Testament. In other words, those first words refer not to the book he was writing, but to the good news of the salvation God offered, and would continue to offer, to human beings in the life, death and resurrection of his Son. In all the Gospels, therefore, it is clearly not the writers’ purpose to answer curiosity questions or to pass on merely interesting information. It seems that was not directly relevant to our comprehending the meaning of the life and message of Jesus was simply passed over. This is the reason we know absolutely nothing about most of the years of Jesus on earth from the Gospels themselves. We can assume a few things, for instance that Joseph died sometime during the years in Nazareth, since he isn’t mentioned during the final three years or so. But that’s as far as we can go. This lack of engaging information may sometimes disappoint us, but there’s a marvelous good side to appreciate. It means that all the little asides scattered through the Gospels, the apparently insignificant details that seem incidental, in fact carry some message the evangelists considered fruit- PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in necessity. Oh, star of the sea, help me and show me herein, you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in this necessity. There are none who can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my Mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee (repeat three times). Oh, Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hand (repeat three times). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads that I can obtain my goals. You gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and in all instances in my life, you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. (this prayer should be said for three consecutive days) - MS Send questions to Father Dietzen at Box 3315, Peoria, IL 61612, or email [email protected]. Reverse Mortgage Safety u Security u Peace of Mind u u u u Supplement Your Retirement Income! n n proceeds are tax-free no monthly mortgage payment n n no income qualifications continue to own your home TINA VOGEL KUBA MORTGAGE CORP OF OHIO 5945 Wilcox Place, Suite C DUBLIN, OH 43016 !v www.mortgagecorpofohio.com MB 802580 Catholic Times 7 January 18, 2009 Newark Catholic runner leaves living legacy in 'last laps' BY TIM PUET Reporter, Catholic Times A Mardi Gras-style processional, complete with a band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In,” was part of the wake service at Newark Catholic High School for Devin Reid, 20, a former athlete at the school, who died Monday, Jan. 5, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. The cause of death was a virus he contracted while fighting leukemia. His illness first was diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer. Reid was the school’s top cross country runner when he learned he had the disease in the fall of 2005, his senior year in high school, during the cross country season. “He was the picture of health at the time,” said his coach, Rennie Bare. “He told the team about it at a chapel service the day before a meet, and our mouths just dropped.” He spent most of the next 10 months and additional time after that undergoing treatment at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City. He was able to return to school to com- pete his final semester of classes in 2007 and competed in the Division III district meet in May as part of the school’s track team, for which he competed in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. He successfully fought the cancer, but the effort damaged his immune system to an extent that he was not able to overcome the leukemia and the virus. The wake service took place Thursday, Jan. 8, with the band marching from the school’s St. Catherine of Siena Chapel to its track, where Reid practiced and competed (pictured above). His funeral Mass was Friday, Jan. 9, at Granville St. Edward Church. Reid was born April 13, 1988, to Lar- ry and Becky Reid. Survivors include his parents; and sisters, McKi Reid and Alison (Dan) Hammergren. “The wake service, which we called ‘Devin’s Last Lap,’ was the sendoff he wanted,” said Newark Catholic principal Beth Hill. “His life was a testament to his faith. From the time he was diagnosed, he remained optimistic and encouraging, even at his worst moments. He was an amazing beacon of faith to all of us. That was the gift he gave us – his gift of faith and his gift of hope.” Bare said Reid kept in touch with his teammates while he was hospitalized. After returning to Newark, he was a volunteer coach for the 2007 team. “When he had a chance, he would call us from New York before a meet and wish the team good luck,” he said. “It seemed like whenever he called, we would run very well. He had that kind of impact on a team. Whenever he spoke, he was golden.” Reid was awarded several college scholarships, including the Licking County Foundation Timothy R. Brandt Scholarship, and had hoped to attend Rio Grande University. “He would have performed well in college and probably would have been the top runner at Rio Grande,” Bare said. “He was our best from his junior year on. He was stellar, with times in the 16:45 to 16:50 range,” which in most years would place him in the top 50 at the state meet. “To do that with what was inside him was truly amazing. That’s the kind of ability he had. When he had a goal, he worked at it like no one else. “He also was a strong believer in the Catholic Faith, and wasn’t afraid to tell you that. It carried him through much of what he faced in the last 3 1-2 years,” Bare said. CT photo courtesy of Newark Advocate 8 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 Black Catholic Ministries celebrates National Black Catholic History Month Black Catholic Ministries of Columbus (BCMC) celebrated National Black Catholic History Month, November, with a variety of activities. The month-long celebration began when BCMC and the Martin de Porres Center teamed up on Nov. 9, to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Martin de Porres. The program was titled “Many faces, One Church.” The featured speaker for this event was Dr. Diana L. Hayes, professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Her presentation focused on the Church’s African beginnings and the continued African presence in today’s Catholic Church. Pictured at right with Alex Boudreau (seated) are members of the BCMC executive board (from left): Beverly Thompson, Virginia Hardy and Willie Moore, the late executive director of BCMC. On his 88th birthday, Nov. 17, Boudreaux signed a copy of his biography for submission into the Black Catholic Heritage Room at the Jubilee Museum, 57 S. Grubb St., in Columbus. These documents were presented to Father Kevin Lutz, pastor at Columbus Holy Family Church and curator of the Jubilee Museum, on Dec. 10. Boudreaux is a devout Catholic, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, a Tuskegee Airman and the First Black Air Traffic Controller in the United States. On March 29, 2007, he received one of the nation’s highest honors. He and the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the most presti- gious honor awarded by the United States Congress. The Education Committee of BCMC contributed $500 to Columbus All Saints Academy on Nov. 25, in recognition of the importance and value of Catholic education. The BCMC made this award to All Saints Academy because of the outstanding work accomplished by the staff, students and parents at the school and Columbus Christ the King Parish community. The BCMC was able to make the donation as a result of its fundraising efforts, such as the Children’s Bible sale, BCMC paraphernalia, and the annual February Black History Month Collector’s and Memorabilia Fair. Pictured below (from left) are: Father Steven Seever, pastor at Christ the King Church; Barbara Cooper, principal at All Saints Academy; Virginia Hardy, BCMC education committee; and, Willie Moore, the late executive director of BCMC. The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as National Black Catholic History Month in 1990. There are 270 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world. November was selected due to the number of dates important to Catholics of African descent in November. The celebration usually begins with the St. Martin de Porres Feast Day. It is a time to raise the awareness of all Catholics to their rich gift of cultural diversity. New activities and safe environment consultant Regina Quinn, an attorney with experience handling child abuse cases during a 16-year career in the Air Force, has recently been hired as activities and safe environment consultant by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. She replaces Barbara Cain, who retired after four years with the office to spend more time with her family. Quinn will be in charge of the diocesan Protecting God’s Children program and the Safe Environment Program for parishes. Protecting God’s Children is a sexual-abuse prevention program required to be completed by everyone who works with children in the diocese. It incorporates stories from victims and perpetrators of abuse and provides information on how to prevent situations that can lead to abuse, on what behaviors should raise concern about abuse and on how to report abuse. The Safe Environment Program includes a background check for employees and volunteers and trains them to ensure compliance with diocesan child protection rules. For the past five years, Quinn has been safe environment coordinator at Danville St. Luke Church. Since 2001, she has been a substitute teacher. She also has been a tutor in the East Knox School District. She grew up in Marble Cliff and is a graduate of Grandview Heights High School and The Ohio State University, where she obtained her law degree. After completing law school, she joined the Air Force, where she served in various posts around the world from 1985 to 2001. Her last assignment was at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, where she spent two years. She retired from the Air Force with the rank of major. Help bring about God’s will by including Him in yours. Naturally, as you prepare your will your first thoughts are of your family. That is as it should be. But once you have provided for them, you may be But once you have provided for them, you may be surprised to see that you still have the capacity for surprised to see that you still have the capacity for meaningful gifts. In fact, you may find that you can meaningful gifts. In fact, you may find that you can leave your parish a larger gift than you ever thought leave your parish a larger gift than you ever thought was possible. was possible. Call Jennifer Damiano or Mary Leathley at The Catholic Foundation to discuss giving options that will allow you to achieve your personal goals and intentions, 614.443.8893. THE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION www.catholic-foundation.org £äÇ£Ê-ÕÌ Ê} Ê-ÌÀiiÌÊUÊ ÕLÕÃ]Ê"Ê{ÎÓäÈ January 18, 2009 Catholic Times 9 Faith LIVING Bring divine hope to human hearts in 2009 During the last four months of 2008, I had the opportunity to live and work as a resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research in Collegeville Minnesota. continuing through the Abbey’s monks, Saint John’s School of Theology, the staff of SJU, and those at Saint Benedict’s Abbey and the College of Saint Benedict. The Institute’s 10 apartments and common center cling to the banks of Lake Santab, a lake one passes on the short drive from the interstate into Saint John’s University campus and the Abbey of Saint John the Baptist. The sense of community that developed among those at the Institute is perhaps most important grace of all, the gift that provides grounding through which all else was experienced. The rhythm and depth of monastic prayer of both the monks of Saint John’s and the nuns of Saint Benedict’s Abbey just a few miles away, envelope this beautiful space in rural Minnesota with reverence and praise for the Holy One, for creation, and for the people, plant and animals that fill it. Benedictine hospitality reaches out through everyone beginning with Collegeville Institute’s director and staff and We came from a variety different ethnic and denominational backgrounds, including Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Russian Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox and Methodist; the projects we worked on at the Institute were just as varied. God’s grace is mediated to the world. LOCAL CONTRIBUTOR Mary van Balen-Holt watching and an election night party. We helped one another with transportation, enjoyed walks through the nature preserve, and observed celestial wonders of planets and stars brilliant in clear, cold skies. When I flew home to be with my mother and family as she neared the end of her battle with cancer, and when I returned again for her funeral, the prayerful support of the Institute community went with me. We supported one another’s work, whether in formal seminar settings or casual conversations, and met weekly for lunch. That same compassion saw us through the sudden death of one of our scholars, Bill, as well as the death of another scholar’s sister. We shared presidential We wept, prayed and remembered together. prayer, debate During the prayer service for Bill and the requiem Mass offered for my mother, Paul’s sister, and Bill, I was struck by the depth of our community, sharing our hearts and talents: celebrating Eucharist, presiding at prayer, reading Scripture, playing instruments, singing. Together we lifted to God each other and those we had lost, trusting the Divine embrace of compassionate love. “This is what church in its broadest sense is called to be,” I thought. People using their gifts in service to God and God’s people, gathering to pray, to support one another, and celebrate life’s joys and sorrows. Through all this living, Do you have a ‘Living Faith’ story? The entrance of that transforming Presence is what we have just finished celebrating in our liturgical cycle: Christmas and Epiphany. Those who came to welcome Jesus were outcasts, shepherds and gentile sages, a sign that God calls every person, no matter their nationality, faith, or social status. As we begin a new year, hope is rising in my heart. Despite headlines of increasing violence between Israel and the Palestinians, continued wars, dwindling social services and economies in recession, I am encouraged. In our country we have new leadership and renewed vision of the common good. In the midst of conflict, there are those who work for peace. As the diverse group of nine scholars who were called to the Collegeville Institute has come together in prayer, work and support, we are called to find common ground and to work for the common good. God’s presence with us in these efforts is what brings hope. Alone, we cannot succeed, but with Grace, we will not fail. Remembering God’s desire to communicate Divine Life to all, we must be open to every person, listen to what they have to contribute to the global conversation, and accept help and ideas from unexpected places. We are all called to appreciate the richness and gift of diversity through which God’s kingdom is coming. God is counting on all of us to bring divine hope to human hearts as we begin 2009. Copyright 2009 Mary van Balen-Holt van Balen-Holt is a Lancaster resident and author. Anyone can contribute stories to the Living Faith page. Stories should be a personal experience in a faith context written in the first person. They should be typed, doubled-spaced, and about one-and-one-half to two pages in length. Stories should be signed. All submissions may be edited for length and content. Mail stories to : The Catholic Times, 197 E. Gay St., Columbus, Ohio, 43215; or, e-mail them to [email protected]. 10 Catholic Times /January 18, 2009 St. Joan of Arc Church experiences steady growth, but tries to keep a ‘small-parish’ feel BY TIM PUET Reporter, Catholic Times When Powell St. Joan of Arc Church was founded 22 years ago, it already was a fairly large parish, with 850 families and about 2,400 members. Since then, it has continued to grow steadily and now has about 3,300 families and 10,000 members. Father Jeff Rimelspach said keeping up with that growth has been his biggest challenge since he became the parish’s pastor in 1997. He said parishioners have contributed greatly to maintaining a welcoming atmosphere by their willingness to reach out to new members and to create small groups within the larger community. “We’ve tried to keep the smallchurch mentality as best we can so people don’t get lost and so they feel there’s a role for them here,” he said. “We have plenty of opportunities for people of all age groups and have built a reputation of being a friendly, welcoming community by our willingness to let people know about what we have to offer.” One way of informing new parishioners of service opportunities is through the parish welcoming committee, which publishes a bulletin insert each month listing new parishioners and contacts people who register as members, with their permission. “We love to visit people and tell them how they can help, but only if they want us,” said Romy Riebe, director of adult faith formation. “We don’t want to push activities on anyone, but I’ve found lots of people want to get involved with the parish and just want to be told what’s available and asked if they can help.” The first Sunday of the month is known as Welcome Sunday, with a different group from the parish explaining its role at St. Joan of Arc and providing fellowship and refreshments in the social hall. “Everyone knows the first Sunday is doughnut Sunday and that it’s a good time to get together,” said Claire Adams, a charter member of the parish. In cooperation with Welcome Sunday, the welcoming committee staffs a table on the first weekend of each month to register new members and answer questions regarding social and spiritual activities of the parish. Father Rimelspach said St. Joan of Arc’s GIFT program has been of great value in attempting to keep the small-parish atmosphere. Father Jeff Rimelspach (left), pastor, and Father Jeffrey Tigyer, parochial vicar at Powell St. Joan of Arc Church CT photo by Tim Puet GIFT stands for Growing in Faith Together and gives people a chance to strengthen and explore their Catholic faith through smallgroup gatherings. It’s been a part of parish life since 1999. Its importance is shown in the large “GIFT” sign which is the first thing likely to catch drivers’ eyes as they enter the church grounds. “When I came here 12 years ago, the parish had just finished the Renew program,” which also is based on smallgroup gatherings, Father Rimelspach said. “It had brought almost 500 people into various groups, and we wondered ‘How do you keep it going?’ “We looked at other packaged programs, but none of them seemed to be St. Joan of Arc Church’s Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) program for small faith groups sponsors a French quite the answer. toast breakfast for all parishioners in September Photo by Gordon Mawhinney GIFT was our own idea. It uses some of the packaged material, but places a greater emphasis on the readings in each Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word and how they relate to families and small groups.” The parish currently has 12 GIFT groups of 12 or 15 people each. They meet every week or every two weeks. Father Rimelspach said between 100 to 115 people are involved in GIFT at this time. That number has been as high as 175 on occasion. GIFT gatherings use a guidebook and a format of opening with Scripture, reading a commentary, reflecting on it, and having people talk about how the readings and commentary address their daily lives. The gatherings take place at various times and dates throughout the week and last for eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the spring. Facilitators from each group meet monthly with Father Rimselspach and Father Jeffrey Tigyer, parochial vicar. “Each group has a different approach. Nothing is mandated,” Riebe said. “Most of the groups end up finding ways to reach out to others as a result of their discussions. For instance, our Tuesday morning group decided to make blankets for A stained-glass depiction patron saint Photo by G the bereaved and for w mestic violence situatio “The groups don’t try t issues, but they do little combine to have a big i “GIFT definitely has b of a sense of family to Father Rimelspach said minister to one another a family of their own of each other. They al ministry beyond their expand the influence o beyond anything Fathe I could do by ourselves “For such a large par ally seems to be a se here, and that’s somet have. I think GIFT is for a lot of that,” Father “It helps people see th individuals is more im they may realize.” At about the same time process began, the paris ular Eucharistic adora Rimelspach said there strong bond between th ties from the start. “One of the parish’s g ings is having GIFT a working together,” he s See PARIS January 18, 2009 /Catholic Times 11 Powell parish’s outreach extends from central Ohio to the Mississippi Gulf Coast BY TIM PUET Reporter, Catholic Times of the parish’s Gordon Mawhinney women in doons. to take on big e things which impact.” brought more o the parish,” d. “Members r and become n, taking care lso take their r groups and of the parish er Jeffrey and s.” rish, there reense of unity thing hard to s responsible r Tigyer said. heir impact as mportant than Powell St. Joan of Arc Church annually provides physical and material assistance to a multitude of groups in central Ohio, and for the last three years, it has extended that outreach 765 miles to Bay St. Louis, Miss. The suburban Columbus parish has established a “twinning” relationship with Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Bay St. Louis which has helped the Mississippi church recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. As the name of the community’s parish indicates, Bay St. Louis is on the Gulf Coast and was one of the cities left devastated by the storm and its aftermath in the late summer of 2005. Work groups from St. Joan of Arc have visited Our Lady of the Gulf on several occasions to help with the ongoing cleanup of the area. They will continue to do so in 2009, with six-day trips to Mississippi planned in February, April, September, and November. Father Michael Tracey, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf, said the efforts of the central Ohio volunteers have been of enormous help. “Groups from St. Joan of Arc have made countless trips to the Bay St. Louis area to help our parishioners rebuild their homes,” he said. “Under the leadership of Father Jeff (Rimelspach, St. Joan of Arc pastor) and parish coordinators like Eloise Carlet and John Gaffney, Bay St. Louis has truly been blessed by their dedication and support. “Volunteers from St. Joan of Arc who have come to Bay St. Louis have endeared themselves to our community.” Besides providing volunteers, the church in Powell has donated more than $100,000 to its twin parish. Carlet, sacristan at St. Joan of Arc, said the persistence of a Bay St. Louis woman named Mary Monti, who came to central Ohio to live with her daughter after the hurricane, was responsible for linking the two parishes. “Father Tracey had told his parishioners they should ask for help in the places they were living,” she said. Vacation Bible School students at Powell St. Joan of Arc Church spell out a message for parents and friends on the last day of school Photo courtesy St. Joan of Arc Church “Mary talked to Father Jeff once about this on her way out of Mass, then came back a couple more times and got a little more specific. “Father Jeff asked for more information the third time, and that’s what got things started. It took a while to be connected with Father Tracey, but once we did, four of us e as the GIFT sh began regation. Father e has been a he two activi- greatest blessand adoration said. “There’s SH, Page 12 Parishioners from Powell St. Joan of Arc Church have made several trips to Bay St. Louis, Miss., where they have helped rebuild homes and Our Lady of the Gulf Church (right) following Hurricane Katrina Photos courtesy Eloise Carlet, St. Joan of Arc from St. Joan of Arc made a trip down there in January 2006. “When we saw how much aid was needed, we made a long-term commitment to help, which we recently extended for another three years. On our most recent trip in October, about 25 people came, including several from St. Brendan’s in Hilliard. “Our two churches have built a solid, wonderful relationship. Unless you’ve been there, you can’t explain the joy of being able to help someone who’s lost as much as the people in that parish have.” “In the past, Catholics did not have a great reputation for volunteerism,” Father Tracey said. “They felt that by contributing to a collection, they had done their part.” He said Katrina had changed that. “It produced a groundswell of ‘boots on the ground’ Catholic groups from around the country,” he said. “Sometimes, it is easy to forget a disaster when it disappears from the front pages. St. Joan of Arc has not let that happen.” What St. Joan of Arc parishioners have done in Mississippi is mirrored in multiple ways closer to home. See OUTREACH, Page 13 12 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 PARISH, continued from Page 11 a lot of crossover between the two, and that’s been a key to whatever success we’ve had as a parish in the last 10 years.” Adoration is continuous from the end of Wednesday’s 9 a.m. Mass to the beginning of Friday’s 8 a.m. Mass. About 180 people are signed up to spend at least an hour with the Eucharist during that period. St. Joan of Arc and Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church were the first new parishes in the diocese in 20 years when they were formed at the same time in 1987, drawing their membership mainly from Worthington St. Michael, Columbus St. Peter and Delaware St. Mary. Bishop Emeritus James Griffin, who was responsible for creating the parishes, now lives within the boundaries of St. Joan of Arc and celebrates Mass there on weekends. The original church was built in the style of a French farmhouse at the time St. Joan of Arc lived in the 15th century. It may be a relatively new church, but its three priests’ chairs and other altar furnishings in the sanctuary and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel come from Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral. “We found them in the cathedral garage,” Adams recalled. While the church was being built, parishioners gathered for Mass in a storeroom at the Olde Sawmill Square shopping center. “In those days, people called us ‘St. Kroger’s’ because it seemed everybody went to church, then went grocery shopping next door,” said Diana Zinkhon, a parish secretary since that time. “We’ve grown a lot since then, but I think we’ve kept that early sense of community at the heart of the parish.” The church was dedicated in 1989. A social hall and six classrooms were added in 2000. A second addition, completed in 2007, included 300 more seats, increasing capacity to 1,300, as well as a second “cry room,” four more classrooms, and more offices. St. Joan of Arc is by far the largest parish in the diocese without a school. It sends children to seven elementary schools and three high schools. “A school was always in our long-term plans, but we didn’t own enough land,” Father Rimselspach said. “However, in July, we bought 12 acres adjacent to our property. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Second Vatican Council The Pontifical College Josephinum welcomes you to a public lecture What Happened at Vatican II: The Author Reports Back Rev. John O’Malley, SJ University Professor of Theology Georgetown University Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The Jessing Center Pontifical College Josephinum 7625 North High Street Columbus, OH 43235 Free and Open to the Public For Information: (614) 985-2497 / www.pcj.edu Supported by a grant from Our Sunday Visitor Institute Preschoolers in Powell St. Joan of Arc Church’s Parish School of Religion program, the diocese’s largest, get ready to sing in the parish social hall Photo courtesy St. Joan of Arc Church That gives us 30 acres, which would be enough for a school if we choose to build one. “At some point, I’m sure the parish council will talk about that possibility. But action is at least two years away because the agreement with the gentleman who lives on that land allows him to stay there for two more years.” The Parish School of Religion is the largest in the diocese, with 1,800 students from preschool through eighth grade. They attend classes throughout the week in 125 separate sessions in 22 classrooms, assisted by eight staff members and nearly 400 volunteers. “We are able to be successful even with our large numbers because of the collaborative effort between the families and the parish community,” said PSR director Emily Winner. “Each year, parents and parishioners step up to help with our program, dedicating their time and talents to spread God’s word, and we cannot thank them enough. “We run a tight ship in order to maintain it all. We work through the summer, fully preparing the curriculum so it’s all Christmas decorations at St. Joan of Arc. Chairs at left of the altar are from St. Joseph Cathedral Photo by Gordon Mawhinney ready to go for our volunteers when they walk in the door. Also, because we always seem to be growing, we’re always looking for new volunteers.” Winner said the students’ service theme for this year was based on how the willingness of one child allowed Jesus to feed many, as described in St. John’s gospel account of the feeding of 5,000 people. Children in the PSR program take part in one of the parish’s longest-standing traditions each year when they perform “A Bethlehem Carol,” a play by parish music director Judy Custodio. The 2008 production was the 16th consecutive year for the play, which keeps the same ba- sic structure but is revised annually to deal with different social issues. About 65 students from first through eighth grade took part in the play, which includes dancing camels, singing angels and a “holy family.” Custodio wrote and directed the play in the past, but this year turned the director’s role over to Paula Vasey. In addition, the parish men’s club sponsors a family Christmas festival every year, usually on the second Friday in December. About 500 people show up each year at the festival, which includes games, refreshments, a cookie walk, face painting, crafts, carols, and Christmas stories. Catholic Times13 January 18, 2009 OUTREACH, continued from Page 11 For instance, at Christmas time, the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society sponsors its annual Giving Tree program, which in the last 16 years has collected more than 14,000 gifts. Parishioners select ornaments from the Giving Tree and fill the church’s gathering space with presents for Kids N Kamp, which benefits children with cancer, the Delaware County People in Need organization, and needy parish families. “Powell is an affluent area, but the parish boundaries also include areas of Columbus where people struggle to make ends meet, and we provide for their needs in a number of ways,” said Judy Custodio, parish music director. “Our people are very generous whenever they’re asked for help,” said parishioner Pete OAKLAND NURSERY VOTED BEST IN THE U.S. Now is the best time to plan and design your landscape. Patios, pools, walk-ways, retaining walls, lawn sprinkler systems 268-3834 Since 1967 Plumbing, Drains & Boilers 614-299-7700 www.muetzel.com OH Lic. #24318 Patrick J. Brennan Mark J. Buchy Thomas F. Harris John T. Mackessy 191 West Nationwide Blvd., Suite 650, Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-221-6831 Fax: 614-221-6856 www.hmbnet.com HELP US HELP OTHERS! Donate that extra car, truck or SUV Don’t hassle with ads, calls and negotiations. Get more value as a tax donation than for a trade-in. Shears. “That’s one advantage of being one of the diocese’s largest parishes. We have a lot to give in terms of both money and time.” The parish has a food pantry which is stocked on an as-needed basis by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. This month, it also conducted two clothing drives for impoverished areas of southern Ohio. Winter coats and other items were collected for Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Otway and clothing of all kinds was gathered for the St. Francis Center in Vinton County. Parishioners fill about 500 boxes at Thanksgiving and again at Easter to help homeless families through Columbus Holy Family Church. The St. Vincent de Paul Society also collects cell phones for families suffering from domestic violence, and it partners with the Delaware Council for Older Adults to provide assistance for senior citizens. This past year, nearly 50 parishioners completed the orientation program for Delaware County Habitat for Humanity so they could work on Habitat homes. The parish’s English as a Second Language program has expanded to four sessions a week and has helped people from 11 foreign countries. Parish members honor soldiers by providing notes, prayers, and gift baskets for those in the military and through an annual visit to the Chillicothe veterans hospital by Knights of Columbus Council 10765. Service projects conducted by the Parish School of Religion include a fall food drive; collections of hats, mittens, and infant layettes; collection of loose change by preschoolers; treat bags for the Community of Holy RosarySt. John the Evangelist in Columbus, and more. St. Joan of Arc’s music ministries include two adult choirs, a high school choir, a contemporary choir, and a children’s choir which sings on Christmas and Easter. Other parish organizations include bereavement, Respect Life, and social concerns committees; a quilting group; the “50 and Holding” senior citizens; high school ministry; Vacation Bible School; Christian Workers in Transition, for people between jobs; and Catholics Returning Home, for those wishing to reunite with the church. Significant events on the parish calendar include an annual coffeehouse and a French toast breakfast in September, both sponsored by GIFT (Growing in Faith Together), which coordinates small faith communities; Lenten fish fries sponsored by the Knights of Columbus; the parish picnic at the end of August; and the Women’s Club harvest craft show in October. J!ofwfs!esfbnfe!pg!cfjoh!b!gjsf!gjhiufs/ !!!!!!!!!!!J!ofwfs!esfbnfe!pg!cfjoh!bo!bsdijufdu-! !b!xfc!eftjhofs!ps!b!qjmpu/ J!esfbnfe!pg!cfjoh!b!ovstf/ Esfbnfst!nblf!uif!xpsme!b!cfuufs!qmbdf/ Npvou!Dbsnfm!Dpmmfhf!pg!Ovstjoh!jowjuft!zpv! up!ublf!uif!gjstu!tufq!jo!sfbmj{joh!zpvs!esfbn/!! 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Online RN Refresher Course. 14 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B) To be able to see with the eyes of faith Father Lawrence L. Hummer 1 Samuel :3b-10,19l 1 Cor. 6:13c-15a,17-20 John 1:35-42 The call of Samuel, like the call of anyone for a specific purpose, is an action of God. His parents had put Samuel in service to the temple at Shiloh as an apprentice to Eli, the priest. But Samuel’s ultimate purpose (to be a prophet) does not unfold until the Lord actually calls. No amount of human intention can replace the actual call, which must come from God. In this case, Samuel is ever at the ready (“Here I am”) even if the call comes in the night. At first not even Eli recognizes it as a call (“go back to sleep, son”). Finally after three repetitions, Eli recognizes what might be happening but still tells Samuel to return to his bed to await a fourth (and final) call. And if it should come, then he should answer in a different way. “Here I am” is to be replaced by “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” With that, the Lord calls again and Samuel grows into a mighty and powerful prophet in the land (“not permitting any word of his to be without effect”) because “the Lord was with him.” Samuel will eventually anoint Saul as king in Israel, and preside over the initial years of his reign. John’s account of the first disciples of Jesus is quite different from the Synoptic Gospels (i.e. Matthew, Mark and Luke). There Peter is always the first one called. Here in John it is Andrew, who is said to go from following John to following Jesus. It is Andrew who then calls his brother Simon, whom Jesus names Cephas or Peter. FREE ROOF INSPECTION ! Do you qualify for a new roof paid for by insurance? Available at Giant Eagle The very first words Jesus speaks in John’s Gospel are recorded in the form of a question: “What are you looking for?” That question is addressed not only to Andrew and his companion but also to every would-be disciple in every generation. The answer will unfold throughout the rest of the Gospel. That dialogue between Jesus and Andrew and the other disciple presents the heart and soul of what it means to be a disciple in John’s Gospel. Looking for and making the effort to find where Jesus is staying holds out the promise that we “will see.” That is what it means to be a disciple. Each of these words is pregnant with meaning. “Staying” means abiding, dwelling, living, remaining, existing and even just being. The word occurs 40 times in John’s Gospel. In all the other Gospels it occurs only 12 times. In John’s theology it means to remain intimately bound with Christ even as he will later instruct his disciples: “Remain in me, as I remain in you” (Jn.15:4). For them to discover where he is staying is a partial answer to the question of what they are looking for. Seeing is another word loaded with meaning in John, and it means ever so much more than physical eyesight. It almost always suggests seeing with the eyes of faith, perceiving, pondering and ultimately, believing. The role of a disciple of Jesus is to be able to see with the eyes of faith. “Come and you will see.” Samuel is called by God as a prophet by a persistent repetition of his name until Samuel finally recognizes the voice of the Lord. The Christian disciple is one who seeks to find where Jesus stays, and by remaining with him, comes to believe in him, not simply as a Rabbi but as the Lamb of God, whom John had already recognized and acknowledged from the beginning. Yet it remains for each disciple to discover this individually. The Weekday Bible Readings MONDAY Hebrews 5:1-10 Psalm 110:1-4 Mark 2:18-22 TUESDAY Hebrews 6:10-20 Psalm 111:1-2,4-5,9,10c Mark 2:23-28 WEDNESDAY Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17 Psalm 110:1-4 Mark 3:1-6 THURSDAY Hebrews 7:25-8:6 Psalm 40:7-10,17 Mark 3:7-12 FRIDAY Hebrews 8:6-13 Psalm 85:8,10-14 Mark 3:13-19 SATURDAY Hebrews 9:2-3,11-14 Psalm 47:2-3,6-9 Mark 3:20-21 Father Lawrence L. Hummer, pastor at Chillicothe St. Mary, can be reached at hummerl@hotmail. com. Bunn=Minnick Pipe Organs 875 Michigan Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43215 800-292-7934 614-299-7934 www.BunnMinnick.com SHERIDAN FUNERAL HOME 740-653-4633 222 S. COLUMBUS ST., LANCASTER Catholic Times 15 January 18, 2009 Moving beyond skin-deep faith A couple of weeks ago after putting the finishing touches on my Catholic Report Web site for the night and not being able to fall asleep I turned on the television. Much of the programming was mindless, endless infomercials and a few actual programs. I came across an old episode of “Seinfeld,” which was sadly very telling of our skin deep society. The episode centered on Jerry Seinfeld’s attraction to a particular woman. When he saw her from a distance he was quite impressed with her attractiveness but when he saw her close up he was not. He liked chatting with her along with telling friends how attractive she was if they saw her from afar, but only from afar. ways be among us. THE TIDE IS TURNING TOWARD CATHOLICISM You might be wondering what this has to do with us in the Catholic world. Yet, Jerry Seinfeld’s shallowness in that episode is all too reminiscent of some of us in our faith lives. How many times do we see people in need in our parishes, work places or on the evening news and pretend there is nothing we can do? How many times are we in a conversation with someone who comments about how the Church needs to get with the times by accepting changes to the 2,000 year old Teachings of the Church as well as to accept lifestyles and political and social movements that are against what Christ David Hartline and his disciples taught, and yet we say nothing? You thought only Jerry Seinfeld’s beliefs were skin deep? A couple of summers ago, I was on family vacation and attended what appeared to be a pretty affluent parish filled with many other vacationing families. When the time for the collection came around, I couldn’t help but notice a dapperly dressed man next to me who pulled out a money clip so full it seemed to be breaking. The man went through several $50s, $20s, and $10s before he finally pulled out a $5 bill and put it in the basket, so much for thanking God for being on vacation. However, I think most of us can admit that we can do a better job of letting our faith sink more than skin deep. It really needs to penetrate all the way to our bones and especially our heart. How will we know when it has? You might ask is it wrong to admire attractive looking people or want to have money in the bank? The minute you practice your faith and know its teachings as well as you know your favorite sports team, political happenings in Washington, your favorite film star, what’s on Broadway, the latest Hollywood entertainment news or whatever strikes your fancy you will know that your faith is more than skin deep. No not at all, Jesus even told us the poor would al- The sacraments are God’s way of showing We all know deep down inside we are guilty to some extent of letting our faith only sink in skin deep at times. His presence at the most important stages in our lives. Actually, if we would simply try to appreciate these important sacramental gifts, our Catholic faith would fall in line and the rest would probably come naturally. Until then you might want to pass this column along with some books and teaching aides about the Catholic faith to someone you know who might need them. It might be the jump start that helps both of you to take your faith beyond skin deep. Hartline is the author of The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism, founder of the Catholicreport.org and a former teacher and administrator for the Columbus Diocese. • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • •• • • Knights of Columbus install new 4th Degree Assembly The installation ceremony for the Knights of Columbus (K of C) new Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Assembly #3157 took place after 4:30 p.m. Mass at Marysville Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Jan. 3. The Mass was con-celebrated by Father David Poliafico, pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes, and Ohio District 3 Friar, Father John Bakle, pastor at Cardington Sacred Hearts Parish. This Mass was celebrated for the feast of the “Epiphany.” The K of C, Ohio District 3 Master, Francesco Iannaggi, officiated the 4th degree installa- tion ceremony. Father Poliafico was installed as the Assembly Faithful Friar, and Sir Knight Tom Goodman was installed as the Faithful Navigator, who will lead the new assembly. Pictured are: (back row from left) David Burke, Paul Cordell, John Warnement, Tom Goodman, Jose Banaag, Father Poliafico, Dennis Neidert, Duane Lord, Fred LaFrance, Joe Wagner and Charlie Giametta; and, (front row from left) George Walrath, Francessco Iannaggi, Father John Bakle, John Huffman, Bill Huffman and Tony Wimmers. CT photo courtesy of Tom Goodman 16 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 Pray for our dead ALLIS, Robert L., 87, Jan. 8 Church of the Resurrection, New Albany KUHN, Winefride T., 95, Dec. 29 St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Pickerington BIGELOW, Richard A., 65, Jan. 9 St. Bernadette Church, Lancaster LALLI, Michael, 59, Jan. 8 St. Christopher Church, Columbus BROMBERG, Linda, 54, formerly of Gahanna, Jan. 5 Blessed Sacrament Church, Springfield, Ill. MAHONEY, Linda A., 64, Jan. 10 St. Andrew Church, Columbus BURTON, Charles C., 83, Jan. 3 St. Andrew Church, Columbus McGRATH, Marie O., 98, Dec. 29 St. Andrew Church, Columbus MORO, Angela, 83, Jan. 5 Our Lady of Victory Church, Columbus CANALE, Joseph R., 74, Dec. 29 St. Leonard Church, Heath MURPHY, James J., 88, Jan. 3 St. Timothy Church, Columbus CONNOR, Roger “Larry” Jr., 59, Jan. 3 St. Matthew Church, Gahanna DENO, Melissa, 28, Jan. 8 St. Thomas More Newman Center, Columbus DOPKING, Louise M., 93, formerly of Columbus, Jan. 3 Espiritu Santo Church, Safety Harbor, Fla. DRAGANI, James J., 90, Jan. 9 Immaculate Conception Church, Columbus O’CONNOR, Margaret M. “Peg,” 74, Jan. 3 St. Andrew Church, Columbus O’CONNOR, JoAnn, Jan. 3 St. Patrick Church, Columbus PALMER, Dorothy F., 90, Dec. 30 St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville DUNPHY, Edna M., 88, Dec. 30 St. Bernadette Church, Lancaster PAUL, Dr. Robert J., formerly of Columbus, 81, Jan. 8 St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Youngstown EDMONDS, David A., 44, Jan. 3 St. Mary Church, Delaware PINCHOCK, Marcella L., 90, Dec. 31 St. Mary Church, Marion ERBY, Patricia A., 75, Dec. 31 St. Brendan Church, Hilliard RACHER, Frank L., 85, Dec. 30 St. Agatha Church, Columbus FLACCHE, Ella M., 71, Dec. 31 St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin RAGER, Stanislawa “Stella,” 73, Dec. 23 St. Leonard Church, Heath GARABIS, Francisco A. III, 61, Jan. 5 St. Agatha Church, Columbus RAINS, Robert F., 80, Jan. 4 Ss. Simon and Jude Church, West Jefferson GREEN, Regina E., 90, Jan. 1 St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus RYAN, Dr. Jack T., 61, Jan. 7 St. Catharine Church, Columbus HARSTER, LeRoy A., 83, Jan. 10 St. Pius X Church, Reynoldsburg SAME, Nina, 85, Jan. 9 St. Anthony Church, Columbus HARVEY, Bill, 84, Jan. 8 St. Philip Church, Columbus SCANLON, Jane F., 86, Jan. 3 Holy Trinity Church, Somerset HAYHURST, Norman E., 76, Jan. 6 St. Paul Church, Westerville SHANE, J. Michael, 67, of Dublin, Jan. 8 St. Barnabas Church, Northfield HUGHES, James C., 78, Dec. 31 St. Pius X Church, Reynoldsburg SINCLAIR, John “Randall” Jr., 49, Jan. 5 St. Mary Church, Chilicothe KESSLER, Garnet M., 98, Jan. 4 St. John Church, Logan SPITLER, William W., 36, Jan. 2 St. Andrew Church, Columbus KILLILEA, Joseph M., 43, Jan. 5 St. Anthony Church, Columbus STRAKA, Cynthia A., 47, Jan. 5 St. Mary Church, Groveport Pray the Rosary REVEREND FATHER ROBERT J. SCHUER PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 12, 2009 The Reverend Robert J. Schuer died on Monday, January 12, 2009 at his residence at Saint Agatha Church Rectory. The son of Henry and Rose (Malone) Schuer, Father Schuer was born October 14, 1922 in Columbus, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Charles. He is survived by his brothers William, David and sister Virginia, along with several nieces and nephews. He attended elementary and high school at Monroe Township Public School. Father Schuer studied at Saint Gregory College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy in 1944. He subsequently studied theology at St. Mary Major Seminary, Norwood, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1948. Father Schuer was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Columbus on February 28, 1948 at St. Joseph Cathedral by Bishop Michael J. Ready. His assignments included assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Church, Columbus (1948-49), Holy Name Church, Columbus (1949-50), Chaplain of Mercy Hospital, Mt. Vernon (1950-54, 1955-57), Administrator of St. Francis de Sales, Newcomerstown (1954-55), assistant pastor at St. Christopher Church, Columbus (1957-58), St. Leo Church, Columbus (1958), Holy Spirit Church, Columbus (1959), Instructor at Bishop Hartley High School (1959), Pastor of St. Patrick, Junction City (1959-66), Chaplain, Roseville Honor Camp (1963-66), Pastor of St. Genevieve Church, Calmoutier (1966-67), Assistant Pastor, St. Nicholas, Zanesville (1967-68), Holy Redeemer, Portsmouth (1967-68), Chaplain Saint Aloysius Academy (1969-89) and Assistant Pastor, Saint Bernard, Corning (1972-1989). Following his retirement, Father Schuer lived at St. Agatha Church, Columbus, and continued to celebrate Mass there, as well as several other local parishes. Father Schuer’s body will be received at St. Agatha Church, 1860 Northam Rd., Columbus, Friday, January 16, where friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. until the Funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Frederick F. Campbell will preside in choir, Bishop James A. Griffin will be the principal celebrant and Monsignor David R. Funk will offer the homily. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Lockbourne, Ohio will follow the funeral Mass. Catholic Times 17 January 18, 2009 Televised Mass for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jan. 18, 2009 From the Diocese of Columbus The Sunday Mass with the Passionist Fathers can be seen at: 7 a.m. on WHIZ 18 7:30 a.m. on WWHO 53 11 a.m. on Cable Channel 2 (in Marion) 11 a.m. on Cable Channel 20 (on Adelphia Cable in Scioto County) The televised Sunday Mass also can be seen on Time Warner Cable Chan. 6 (Hardin County), at: 10 a.m. Immaculate Conception Church, Kenton On EWTN (Time Warner Chan. 127, Insight Chan. 382 and on WOW Chan. 378) at: 8 a.m. Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Birmingham, Ala. (Encores at noon and midnight) Daily Mass 8 a.m. Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Birmingham, Ala. (Encores at noon, 7 p.m. and midnight) See EWTN above; and on I-Lifetv (Chan. 113 in Ada, Logan, Millersburg, Murray City and Washington C.H.; Chan. 125 in Marion, Newark, Newcomerstown and New Philadelphia; and Chan. 207 in Zanesville; 1270 AM in Marysville and 1580 AM in Columbus on St. Gabriel Radio, rebroadcast at noon.) We pray Week II, Seasonal Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours All fund-raising events (festivals, bazaars, spaghetti dinners, fish fries, bake sales, pizza/sub sales, candy sales, etc.) will be placed in the “Fund-Raising Guide.” An entry into the Guide will be $17.50 for the first six lines, and $2.50 for each additional line. For more information, call Phil Connard at 614-224-6530 or 800-511-0584. ‘Happenings’ submissions Notices for items of Catholic interest must be received at least 12 days before expected publication date. We will print them as space permits. Items not received before this deadline may not be published. Listings cannot be taken by phone. Mail to: The Catholic Times, Happenings, 197 East Gay St., Columbus, OH 43215 Fax to: 614-241-2518 E-mail as text to: [email protected] H A P P E N I N G S CLASSIFIED Graves for sale Four graves in St. Pius section of St. Joseph’s Cemetary (Lots 544, graves 1,2,4 & 5). $900.00 each. Won’t last long. Contact: Susan Lopez, 6809 Tamarisk Pl. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 (505) 899-1353. JANUARY 6-18, FRIDAY-SUNDAY Youth Conference at Seton Parish St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, 600 Hill Road, Pickerington. Diocesan conference for middle school and high school youth and parents. Times: 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday, grades 6 to 8; 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, catechetical and youth ministry leaders; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, high school students; 9 to 11:15 a.m. Sunday, for all; 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Mass celebrated by Bishop Frederick Campbell. 614-221-5565 Men’s 12-Step Retreat at Maria Stein Spiritual Center of Maria Stein, 2365 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein. Men’s 12-step recovery retreat with Father Peter Deane, SJ. 419-925-7625 17, SATURDAY Spanish Mass at Columbus St. Peter 7 p.m., St. Peter Church, 6899 Smoky Row Road, Columbus. Parish’s monthly Spanish Mass, celebrated by Father Ervens Mengelle, IVE, of the Josephinum. 706-761-4054 18, SUNDAY St. Christopher Adult Religious Education 10 to 11:15 a.m., St. Christopher Parish Center, Trinity School, 1420 Grandview Ave., Columbus. Discussion of the book “Sophie’s World” by Jostein Gaarder. 614-488-9971 Praise Mass at Seton Parish 11:15 a.m., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 600 Hill Road North, Pickerington. Praise Mass with contemporary music by parish’s small musical groups. 614-833-0482 St. Padre Pio Secular Franciscans 2:30 to 5 p.m., Parish center, Holy Family Church, 584 W. Broad St., Columbus. Adoration, Franciscan Crown Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, followed by Evening Prayer, meeting and formation. Cookie 614-275-4960 St. Catherine of Bologna Secular Franciscans 2:30 to 5 p.m., St. Christopher Parish Center, 1420 Grandview Ave., Columbus. Rosary followed by general meeting, ongoing formation and social. Elizabeth Bowen 614-276-1953 Series on World Religions at St. Pius X 7 to 8:30 p.m., St. Pius X Church, 1051 Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg. Second talk in four-week series on world religions with Father Dan Millisor. Subject: “Judaism and Christianity.” 614-866-2859 Spirituality Talk at St. Paul 7 p.m., St. Paul Church, 313 N. State St., Westerville. Father Larry Boadt, CSP, president and publisher of Paulist Press, speaks on “Favorite Gifts of Spirituality.” 614-882-2109 19, MONDAY Admissions Open House at Ohio Dominican Ohio Dominican University, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus. Open house for prospective students. 614-253-2741 Martin Luther King Day Mass at Holy Rosary-St. John Noon, Community of Holy Rosary & St. John the Evangelist, 660 S. Ohio Ave., Columbus. Annual Martin Luther King Day Mass, with keynote speaker Pastor Sylvia Benson of Key to the Kingdom Ministries. 614-252-3132 Blood Drive at Columbus Immaculate Conception Noon to 6 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 414 E. North Broadway, Columbus. Blood drive sponsored by American Red Cross. 1-800-448-3543 Marian Prayer Group 7 p.m. Mass, St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave., Columbus. Celebrated by Father Andre LaCasse, OP. 614-235-7435 Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bible Study 7 to 8:30 p.m., Marian Hall, St. Michael Church, 5750 N. High St., Worthington. Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bible Study/Prayer Group meeting. Rosary (optional) at 6:35. 614-846-3803 or 614-841-1776 22, THURSDAY Study of Sunday Readings at Newark Retreat Center 10 to 11:30 a.m., Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center, 2734 Seminary Road S.E., Newark. Study of this coming Sunday’s Scripture readings with Father Rod Damico. 740-928-4246 Respect Life Mass at Cathedral 10:30 a.m., St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., Columbus. Respect Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Frederick Campbell, marking the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Aquinas Convocation at Ohio Dominican 10:30 a.m., Matesich Theater, Ohio Dominican University, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus. Annual convocation in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, with Father Chrys McVey, OP, of the Dominican Order’s Rome office speaking on “Dominican Values: Alive to the Real and the Possible.” Registration required. 614-251-4722 Workshop for People in Divorce Process 7 to 9 p.m., Catholic Center, 197 E. Gay St., Columbus. Start of eight-week workshop for people going through the divorce process, sponsored by diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office. 614-241-2560 ‘Courage’ Support Group Meeting 7:30 p.m., A Catholic organization providing support for individuals with same-sex attraction. Mary Louise 614-436-8676 23, FRIDAY Bishop Campbell Celebrates Mass at DeSales 10 a.m., St. Francis DeSales High School, 4212 Karl Road, Columbus. Bishop Frederick Campbell celebrates Mass on the Feast of St. Francis DeSales. 24, SATURDAY Seminar on St. Paul at Newman Center 9 a.m. to noon, St. Thomas More Newman Center, 64 W. Lane Ave., Columbus. Seminar on “Key Themes from St. Paul for a Modern Spirituality” with Fr. Larry Boadt, CSP. 614-291-4674 ‘Everyday Mysticism’ at Martin de Porres Center 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Martin de Porres Center, 2330 Airport Drive, Columbus. Presentation on “Everyday Mysticism” by Father Rod Damico of Westerville St. Paul Church and the Newark Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center. Registration deadline Jan. 20. 614-416-1910 Labyrinth Walk at Shepherd’s Corner 3 to 4:30 p.m., Shepherd’s Corner, 987 N. Waggoner Road, Blacklick. Walk the labyrinth at the farm operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs and reflect on the beauty and stillness of the Earth in winter. Registration deadline Jan. 20. 614-866-4302 25, SUNDAY Open House at St. Brigid School 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Brigid of Kildare School, 7175 Avery Road, Dublin. Open house for prospective students and their parents, with preschool information session at 12:30 p.m. and discussion for parents of incoming kindergarten and first-grade students at 1 p.m. 614-718-5825 St. Christopher Adult Religious Education 10 to 11:15 a.m., St. Christopher Parish Center, Trinity School, 1420 Grandview Ave., Columbus. Deacon Frank Iannarino speaks about the history of the diaconate. 614-488-9971 Open House at St. Mary Magdalene School 12:15 to 2 p.m., St. Mary Magdalene School, 2940 Parkside Road, Columbus. Open house for prospective students and their parents. Information on EdChoice scholarships will be available. 614-279-9935 Open House at St. Cecilia School 1 to 3 p.m., St. Cecilia School, 434 Norton Road, Columbus. Open house for prospective students and their parents. 614-878-3555 Open House at DeSales 1 to 3 p.m., St. Francis DeSales High School, 4212 Karl Road, Columbus. Open house for prospective students and their parents. 614-267-7808 Vocations Talk at Maria Stein 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Spiritual Center of Maria Stein, 2365 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein. Lynn Knapke of New Bremen talks about her call to join Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. 419-925-7625 Scout Day With the Bishop 3 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, 6300 E. DublinGranville Road, New Albany. Annual Scout Day with the Bishop program, with Bishop Frederick Campbell honoring diocesan Boy and Girl Scouts and Camp Fire participants who have received Catholic religious awards. Celebration at Glenmont of St. Paul’s Conversion 4 to 5 p.m., Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 150 Main St., Glenmont. Official diocesan celebration of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, marking midway point of the Year of St. Paul. 330-674-1671 Series on World Religions at St. Pius X 7 to 8:30 p.m., St. Pius X Church, 1051 Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg. Third talk in four-week series on world religions with Father Dan Millisor. Subject: “Hinduism and Buddhism.” 614-866-2859 Presentation on Vatican II at Josephinum 7 p.m., Jessing Center, Pontifical College Josephinum, 7625 N. High St., Columbus. “What Happened at Vatican II: The Author Reports Back,” a presentation by Father John O’Malley, SJ, theology professor at Georgetown University, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. 614-985-2497 26, MONDAY Bethesda Post-Abortion Healing Ministry 6:30 p.m., support group meeting, 2744 Dover Road, (Christ the King Church campus), Columbus. 614-718-0277, 614-309-2651, 614-309-0157 Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bible Study 7 to 8:30 p.m., Marian Hall, St. Michael Church, 5750 N. High St., Worthington. Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bible Study/Prayer Group meeting. Rosary (optional) at 6:35. 614-846-3803 or 614-841-1776 Our Lady of Peace Men’s Bible Study 7 p.m., Our Lady of Peace Church, 20 E. Dominion Blvd., Columbus. Bible study of Sunday Scripture readings. 614-459-2766 26-30, MONDAY-FRIDAY St. Michael School Registration St. Michael School, 64 E. Selby Blvd., Worthington. New student registration for kindergarten through eighth grade for 2009-2010 school year. Kindergarten registration is for half-day or full-day classes. Copies of student’s birth and baptismal certificates, Social Security number, immunization dates and $150 fee required. 614-885-3149 28, WEDNESDAY University of Dayton Energy Forum 5 to 6 p.m., Boll Theater, Kennedy Union, University of Dayton. Forum on renewable energy alternatives, part of six-session energy seminar being offered live online and filmed. Available at http://energyforum.udayton.edu. Submit questions to [email protected]. 29, THURSDAY Study of Sunday Readings at Newark Retreat Center 10 to 11:30 a.m., Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center, 2734 Seminary Road S.E., Newark. Study of this coming Sunday’s Scripture readings with Father Rod Damico. 740-928-4246 30, FRIDAY Mass and Tradition Breakfast at DeSales 7 a.m., St. Francis DeSales High School, 4212 Karl Road, Columbus. Mass, followed at 7:45 by annual Tradition Breakfast, with current students asked to bring a family member or friend who is a DeSales graduate. Reservation deadline Jan. 23. 614-267-7808 18 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 BOOK REVIEW +<> PYM_] YX “The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa and Asia - and How It Died” Engaging history book has much for general public, academicians. “The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa and Asia - and How It Died” By Philip Jenkins. HarperOne (San Francisco, 2008). 315 pp., $26.95. Reviewed by Brother Jeffrey Gros, FSC Catholic News Service The Iraq War has brought the presence of Christians in what was once Mesopotamia and Babylon to global attention. However, what many do not recall is that these centers of the Christian faith were flourishing communities for centuries, with bishops, monasteries and universities, while Germany, Britain and France were still on the barbarian frontier. Maps of early Christianity often center on the Mediterranean. However, some maps of the Middle Ages show Jerusalem at the center, with Beijing on the Asian right, Britain on the European left and the upper Nile Valley in Africa as the bottommost point, well before Poland and Scandinavia even appear as mission lands. These ancient Persian and Syrian churches, which at one time rivaled the Latin- and Greek-speaking world in learning, missionary zeal and geographic extension, still exist and carry a significant heritage of our common 2,000 years of Gospel witness. In 1984 Pope John Paul II and Syrian Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch (now resident in Damascus, and called in this volume the Jacobite Church) signed a common declaration on eucharistic sharing, based on agreements of the 1970s resolving disagreements on the nature and person of Christ dating from 451. In 1994 a similar declaration was made with the patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East (called here Nestorian), formerly of Baghdad and Persia, now resident in Chicago. These ancient and living Christian communities have a rich history, which now becomes part of our Catholic heritage and our common future. In “The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa and Asia -- and How It Died,” Philip Jenkins provides an engaging volume, whose clarity of style and accessible narrative belies the carefully researched and detailed documentation that lies behind such a readable story. He outlines the rise, heritage and expansion of these churches in the early centuries with centers attributed to the apostles. He describes their successful missionary activity as far as China, India and Indonesia, their rich literary and theological production, and their evangelization of whole cultures. He gives an engaging and differentiated view of the coming of Islam, its complex relations with its Jewish and Christian roots, and the variety of approaches it took to its Christian neighbors and subjects. Like Christian relationships with Jews in Europe, periods of toleration alternate with periods of persecution. The author gives the lie to those who would characterize the Muslim faith as any more violent in its history than Christianity, or even biblical Judaism. Intolerance, violence and persecution are common characteristics of particular moments in all of the great world religions. Likewise, there are periods of peaceful coexistence and cultural interchange. He outlines the mutual support of the two and sometimes three communities at particular points in the story. However, the common thread is the decline of many of these churches in their ancestral Christian homeland, and the extinction of some communities. What will also surprise some is that the final blow to many of these Christian communities came with the violence following World War I in Turkey and some other areas of the Middle East. Jenkins also compares and contrasts the reasons for decline and the differences between some communities that went totally extinct, like Latin North Africa, and others that survived heartily, like Christian Spain before the reconquest of 1492 or the Coptic Orthodox Christians of Egypt. The book, while descriptive and objective, ends with a series of provocative questions which challenge received Christian wisdom and secular oversimplifications. He explores in his last chapter what might be the foundation for a theology of Christian extinction, in the context of a doctrine of God, the church and providence, which attends as much to the vagaries of human history as to the successes of missionary endeavors. This volume makes an engaging read for the general public and a useful resource for the historian of Christianity and the theologian exploring the doctrine of providence and God’s action in human history. Brother Gros is a professor of ecumenical and historical theology at Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., and a former staff member of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Catholic Times 19 January 18, 2009 PEOPLE TAKE PART IN CATHOLIC MASS IN MADRID PROMOTING TRADITIONAL FAMILY People take part in a Mass in Madrid, Spain, Dec. 28 promoting the traditional family. Thousands of Spaniards attended the Mass on the feast of the Holy Family CNS photo/Juan Medina, Reuters People hold their statues of baby Jesus during Mass on the feast of the Epiphany at St. Francis Church in La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 6. Thousands of people brought their statues of CNS photo/David Mercado, Reuters baby Jesus to the Mass Palestinians take part in a prayer procession for peace outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank, Jan. 4. Dozens of people processed around Manger Square calling for an end to the current conflict between the Israelis and CNS photo/Debbie Hill Palestinians in the Gaza Strip 20 Catholic Times January 18, 2009 Author to speak about Pope Benedict XVI Fiat Youth Conference at Seton Parish, Jan. 16-18 The Fiat youth conference will be held Friday, Jan. 16. – Sunday, Jan. 18, at Pickerington St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 600 Hill Road, N. Middle School and High School youth and their parents from the Columbus Diocese are all invited to participate in this Office of Vocations-sponsored Catholic youth event. This weekend includes keynote speakers, Eric and Rebecca Groth, from OutsidedaBox Ministries, men and women Religious from across the U.S., praise and worship music from “The Firey Fish,” inspiring student testimonials, informative and motivating workshops, fellowship and Mass with Bishop Campbell presiding. Individual online registration is available at: www.seekholiness.com. Group registration is available by sending an e-mail to: registration@ seekholiness.com. Those who are group leaders, please specify the name, the school and the number of students. Register now. Space is limited. For more information, call Bob Moraine at 614221-5565. The weekend schedule is as follows: Friday, Jan. 16, Middle School Day, 9:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., grades 6-8, $10, includes lunch and t-shirt. From 2:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Catechetical and Youth Ministry Leaders Symposium, $15, includes dinner. Saturday, Jan. 17, High School Day, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., grades 9-12, $30, includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and t-shirt. Sunday, Jan. 18, All are Welcome Free Day, 9 a.m., Culmination Activities, 11:15 a.m., with a concluding Mass with Bishop Campbell. EDUCATION GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH CATHOLIC FOUNDATION Now is the time to apply for Education Grants from the grants committee of The Catholic Foundation. These grants are available for programs related to a Catholic school, parish religious education program, or youth ministry program within the Diocese of Columbus. All programs must support the Catholic education of youth eighteen years of age or younger. Individual grant awards are capped at $5,000. Applications were mailed to each pastor, principal, director of religious education, and youth minister in the Diocese. Applications may also be downloaded at http://www.catholic-foundation. com/grants/Phase1-Grant_Application_2009.doc. Grant applications must be received at The Catholic Foundation no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2009. As a man who was born, bred, and spent much of his life in Bavaria, it is natural that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger would be influenced by its culture and values. But now that he is Pope Benedict XVI, what do his Bavarian roots mean for the papacy, the Catholic Church, and the world? On Tuesday, January 20, Dr. Brennan Pursell, a professor of history at DeSales University, will discuss these and other questions from his book, Benedict of Bavaria: An Intimate Portrait of the Pope and His Homeland, at Franciscan University of Steubenville. For his book, Pursell drew upon a host of sources that are virtually unknown outside of Germany, including interviews with people who knew Joseph Ratzinger, to demonstrate the authentic influence Bavarian culture had on the development of Pope Benedict’s life and thought. While researching Benedict of Bavaria, Pursell experienced firsthand the traditional Bavarian regard for history, love of beauty, respect for intelligence but impatience with obscure intellectualism, and a deeply rooted, unabashed Catholic piety—qualities that shaped Joseph Ratzinger’s personality and worldview. Several chapters of the book are devoted to giving a true accounting of Ratzinger’s experiences during World War II. Pursell grew up a selfproclaimed pagan. In 1992 he began graduate studies in European history at Harvard University, and through study of the Protestant Reformation, discovered the attraction of Catholicism. In the summer of 1994, while staying at a monastery in Bavaria, he was received into the Church. Pursell has given over 90 media interviews to news outlets such as CNN, the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, and the New York Times. He is an honorary fellow of the Cardinal Newman Society. The public is invited to attend this free lecture on January 20, at 9 p.m. in the Tony and Nina Gentile Gallery, J.C. Williams Center. It is sponsored by the Franciscan University History Department. Copies of Pursell’s book will be available for purchase and signing by the author.