Greetings in the Lord! I had a good family vacation to Vancouver, Canada this past week. We had some challenges due to my father’s health condition. He is 82, in a wheelchair, and has symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia. It is by the grace of God that we got through the challenges of having him on a weeklong trip to a different country in his condition. However, we were quite thankful that he went and will remember this trip fondly because of him. Please make sure you appreciate and pray for your fathers no matter how difficult they may be. 

Happy Father’s Day this weekend to those physical and spiritual fathers. You may not realize it, but your fatherhood is so necessary and appreciated. We will have some nice treats for you as you leave Mass, just a small token of our appreciation. Fathers, please pray to St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus for help and guidance in being a good and holy father. 

I have received cards from people who visited the relic of St. Bernadette. They were so appreciative of the hospitality of the volunteers. Thank you again. There are some nice newspaper articles written about the relic visit. I’m not sure if you can find it online, but there are two articles in the June 9^th edition of the Ada Herald. The Catholic Times also has a June 7^th article that you may find online by clicking here: https://catholictimescolumbus.org/news/doug-bean-25eff3c4-ec24-452b-acd4-427d4c0bf403/miracle-boy-among-hundreds-drawn-to-st-bernadette-relic

Thank you for welcoming Fr. Simon Peter to our parishes this past weekend and thank you for your contributions to the mission appeal in helping the church in Uganda. I was quite surprised to hear how much the Catholic faith is growing there. Tens of thousands of baptisms and confirmations just in one diocese in one year! Praised be Jesus Christ! They need the help in building more churches. If you did not get a chance to contribute, please make a check out to the parish and write Mission Appeal in the memo line. 

This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, aka, Corpus Christi Sunday. It focuses on our belief that what we see as bread and wine in the Eucharist is indeed the Body and Blood of Christ. It is no mere symbol, but the reality. No longer bread and wine, but actually the Body and Blood of Christ. After the Mass on Sunday at both parishes, we will have a Eucharistic procession around the block. Immediately following communion, we will expose the Blessed Sacrament by putting it in the monstrance upon the altar. Please remain kneeling in the pews. There is no final blessing or dismissal. We will sing a Eucharistic hymn then process outside with the monstrance and the Blessed Sacrament. You may then follow along in the procession. This is our way of telling people in the surrounding neighborhood of our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It’s also our way of honoring Jesus by making a “big deal” of the Eucharist and of renewing our devotion and love for the Eucharist. At ICC, Fr. Jeffrey will process around the church through the alley. At OLL, we will go a few blocks around the neighborhood. If you can not take part in the procession, please wait until we have gone outside before leaving. The following is a picture of last year’s Eucharistic procession at OLL. 

The second-round models of the possible parish restructurings in the Diocese of Columbus are still available for viewing. 

Currently, we are not being asked to advocate for a particular draft model. The draft models are simply suggestions and are meant to further the conversation about which way to go. New draft model suggestions are welcome. The 30 minute video gives a greater overview and context of why these models were suggested. Please click this link, https://realpresencerealfuture.org/draft-models-spring-2022/ scroll down to Planning Group 3 North, watch the video, and then give your feedback. You may send your feedback, comments, suggestions, and questions directly to hello@columbuscatholic.org .

Bishop Earl Fernandes will need time to look through the suggested models and the feedback. Therefore, the round 2 feedback will end on June 30^th. Then the round 3 models will come out with the goal to have all feedback in by the end of August. 

You may not have any particular feedback or suggestions to give, but please familiarize yourself with what is being suggested for our two parishes in the video so that you will not be surprised when the final recommendations are put forth, or so that you can offer feedback by the time we get to round 3. 

One significant thing to note is that the current model recommendation for our two parishes is Model B, which is to have both parishes combined with both churches remaining open, but combining the finances so that they become one parish. Model C is for both churches to remain open and also to remain two separate parishes so that each also retains its own finances. That is a significant difference and this one point might be where feedback and discussion is needed most, assuming no other models are suggested. 

We will have Mass at 9am at both parishes on Friday, June 24^th to celebrate this solemnity. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but it will be a good way to enkindle a renewed devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is always in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary which is why they are back-to-back. We will also have Mass at 9am at both parishes on Saturday, June 25^th to celebrate this solemnity. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but it will be a good way to enkindle a renewed devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Please mail in your BAA pledge in the envelope, or drop it in the collection basket, or make your pledge online at https://columbuscatholicgiving.org/baa . Extra pledge cards and envelopes are in the churches. Anything that you can give is truly appreciated. Please participate! Note that any amount raised over the goal comes directly back to the parish. Thank you for your generosity! 

Our Lady of Lourdes goal is $15,576.38.

Immaculate Conception goal is $16,376.45

See the bulletin for more info.

Fr. John Riccardo, from Acts XXIX, is coming to Columbus on Corpus Christi weekend, June 18, to launch The Rescue Project Live - aweekend experience to awaken the faith of parishioners - with the ultimate goal of mobilizing them for mission, to go out from our parishes and ignite the faith in the hearts of many others. See more and register here: https://stgabrielradio.com/rescue-project-live/

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!      

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!   

St. Bernadette, pray for us!

St. Joseph, pray for us!

God bless!       

Fr. Ed