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 (dgarick@colsdioc.org)
Laura Troiano ~ Assistant Editor (ltroiano@colsdioc.org)
Tim Puet ~ Reporter (tpuet@colsdioc.org)
Alexandra Keves ~ Graphic Design Manager (akeves@colsdioc.org)
Deacon Steve DeMers ~ Business Manager (sdemers@colsdioc.org)
Phil Connard ~ Advertising Sales Account Executive (pconnard@colsdioc.org)
Jodie Sfreddo ~ Bookkeeper/Circulation Coordinator (jsfreddo@colsdioc.org)
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
(ltapay@colsdioc.org).
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 jjdietzen@aol.com.
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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-œÕ̅ʈ}…Ê-ÌÀiiÌÊUÊ
œÕ“LÕÃ]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 ltroiano@colsdioc.org.
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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: ltroiano@colsdioc.org
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 udenergy08@gmail.com.
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.