Hello everyone! As I write this, I am feeling fine, just hunkering down at the house. I have no idea if I caught Covid, but am being cautious in light of the potential exposure. I miss just going to the church to pray. I will go for a test next week, giving it about 6 days to make sure that I do not have a false negative.
I heard that Lima Memorial has begun scheduling Covid vaccines for those 80 and older beginning Tuesday. Call 419-998-4491 or go to their website for more info.
In light of the terrible acts of violence at the Capitol building last week, I was thinking of how those people were acting as if it were their duty to attack and do violence to correct a supposed injustice. The truly Christian way is never to do violence to get one’s way. The Church teaches that there are extreme circumstances where it is justified to use force such as defending one’s life in an imminent threat such as in a home invasion or in a just war. The Capitol violence was not a defense to an imminent threat or a just war. Protesting is one thing, but violence like that is wrong. It is not “God’s will” that we should act that way as some have claimed. Even violent, hateful words against “the enemy,” is anti-Christian and it saddens me to see even supposed Christians speaking to each other in that way. Remember that Jesus said to pray for your enemy. This is again why it is so important to be guided by God through a prayer life, through the Scriptures, and through Church teaching. St. Paul teaches in Ephesians 4, “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” During the time of Jesus’ arrest, he chastised Simon Peter for drawing his sword and cutting off the servant’s ear, saying, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt 26:52).
We have one savior, Jesus Christ. In him alone do we put our trust and in him alone comes the peace we long for. Peace is not merely the absence of war, but it is peace in our hearts that comes only from Jesus as he says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
Pray for our world, our country, our society, our culture. Political leaders can’t fix it; nor can the Pope, our bishops, or me. Only God can, but he waits for our prayers. And we can by bringing Jesus into the world through our own lives. This weekend, we hear at Mass “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” And “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Our mission is to listen and to go out and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Deb Driscoll is back in the office at OLL! She has been since January 4th and is doing well.
Please pray for the repose of Melissa “Missy” Bischoff who passed away January 8th as well as for her family. She is the daughter of OLL parishioner Theresa Crouse.
Eucharistic Adoration at ICC is returning!
Beginning Wednesday, January 20
th, ICC will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following the 9am Mass until 1pm. Thank you to Jane Scharf who was the spark to get this going again, to Louis Wrasman who made the phone calls to fill the time slots, and to all of you who have volunteered to fill the time slots. It is a good way to keep our church doors open for prayer in the middle of the week for quiet respite and to keep watch with Jesus for one hour. We have put a sign-up sheet in the back of the church to fill open times for the 5
th Wednesdays of the month followed by openings for the 1-2pm hour. We hope to keep extending the Exposition time if we can have enough commitments. You may contact Louis at
LouisWrasman@gmail.com or 419-675-1409.
Parishioners of OLL are welcome to sign up as well!
New livestreaming equipment
OLL just had new livestreaming equipment installed in the church. You will notice better video and audio quality, beginning with the 11am Mass livestream this weekend. ICC will also receive new equipment in the coming weeks.
New gutters for OLL
OLL church just had new seamless gutters installed. I have not seen them yet but I’m sure they are much better than the old ones which were too small and old as the fascia boards had rotted and the gutters had pulled away from the building.
New PSR directors at OLL
Thank you to Steve and Ann Johnson who have volunteered to be the new PSR directors at OLL for the rest of this year. Thanks to Deb Driscoll for her many years as PSR director.
Men’s conference virtual this year
The Catholic Men’s Conference is going virtual this year! Men, join Fr. Ed and the men of the parishes to watch the Men’s Conference online together, February 27
th from 9am-12pm. We are working on details to include Mass, a meal, and will hold the gathering at either OLL or ICC parish halls. Fathers, you are encouraged to bring your sons. Register by Feb. 8
th to receive a booklet from one of the main speakers. Register at:
https://www.catholicmensministry.com Please contact Dcn Mike Hood for more info.
St. Joseph consecration
Pope Francis has declared a year of St. Joseph. Just as we had a Consecration to Jesus through Mary, we will do a 33 day preparation leading up to the Consecration on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19th. We will begin Feb 15thusing the book Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway. The office will order the books and distribute them. Sign-up sheets are in the narthex of the church, but please sign up ASAP as the books are selling like hotcakes!
Fr. Mike Schmitz Bible in a Year
If you find it difficult to read the Bible and understand it, this format might help. Fr. Mike Schmitz reads through the Bible and offers reflections on the reading, every day for a year. It began on January 1st and is currently the most popular podcast in the US.
Respect Life info on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade
The Respect Life Mass is Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral. Bishop Brennan will be the main celebrant. On the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, our diocese will join all dioceses in the U.S. in observing the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. The Mass will be livestreamed on the
Diocese of Columbus YouTube Channel and on
St. Gabriel Catholic Radio.
Roe Remembrance at the Ohio Statehouse: Greater Columbus Right to Life will sponsor this annual event on Friday, January 22, Noon-1 p.m., following the Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral. The Roe Remembrance will be held outside on the Ohio Statehouse lawn. It also will be livestreamed. For updates, visit
www.gcrtl.org/roe.
9 Days for Life is January 21-29. USCCB’s 9 Days for Life is a multi-faceted novena for the respect and protection of human life. Each day, a different intention is accompanied by a short reflection, suggested actions, and related information. Sign up to receive the novena at
https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-for-life
March for Life virtual
This year’s March for Life will be virtual only. You may sign up to watch online beginning 11am on January 29
th at
https://p2a.co/Oegif7x
Children’s Pro-Life Posters at OLL
If your children have made pro-life posters, please return them to the parish hall this weekend. Parishioners are invited to pick up these posters to place in your windows at home in honor of the national pro-life days of prayer this month.
Bereavement Ministry
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one,
Seasons of Hope Bereavement Ministry, may help. It is a Catholic Support group for the bereaved. They have their upcoming support meetings online via Zoom on six consecutive Sundays from 2-4 p.m. The dates for this six-week session are Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28. Go to
https://www.northhighdeanery.org/seasons-of-hope for more details, including contact information for the ministry, and to download and print the brochure.
Attached is this weekend’s worship aid, the bulletins, and Fr. Ferguson’s cat column.
The live-stream of the Mass will take place this weekend from OLL at 11am.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
God bless!
Fr. Ed