Hello everyone! The priests met with Bishop Fernandes on Tuesday to talk about the potential merger of the Diocese of Columbus with the Diocese of Steubenville. If you had not heard, Bishop Monforton of the Diocese of Steubenville had proposed this merger to the rest of the bishops in Ohio because of the shortage of priests and finances in his diocese. The bishops acknowledged the need and accepted the proposal. The next step was for this proposal to be voted on by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at their general meeting last month. If they approved it, the proposal would then go to the Vatican. Perhaps because of feedback received from his priests, and with the need for more local discussion, Bishop Monforton decided to withdraw the proposal from the agenda at the US Bishops’ meeting. However, the proposal is still expected to be re-introduced into the agenda at the next US Bishops meeting in June. You can read more background of the situation in the October Catholic Times article here: https://catholictimescolumbus.org/news/the-catholic-times/diocesan-merger-between-steubenville-columbus-under-consideration
One of the major concerns addressed at our meeting was what will happen with the Real Presence, Real Future models if our diocese has to take on Steubenville. At this point, there is no answer. In the meantime, Bishop Fernandes said that the Diocese of Columbus will move forward with the Real Presence, Real Future models as is, though his final decisions have not been made. It is unknown if his timeframe of finalizing his decisions by Pentecost (May 28, 2023) will be affected by the possible merger of the two dioceses.
For our two parishes, we will continue to operate as two distinct parishes under one pastor as we have begun to do. Whatever happens in the future, it is important to remember that we have a mission that remains the same: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, to be holy and to lead others to holiness. To deepen our awareness of how much God loves us and to deepen our response of love for God. To tell people about Jesus out of love for Him and out of love for others.
Some people are going through difficulties at the moment. I thought I’d share an excerpt of a reflection from Blessed is She which is a Catholic Women’s ministry:
“As I grew in my faith, I started to realize that I needed to be humble and accept that I can’t do it alone. I need to stand on solid ground, and that ground needs to be Christ.
A friend pointed out that maybe instead of praying for all my wants, I should start asking that my desire would be for God’s will. At first I didn’t get the difference, but the more I thought about it, I realized how radically different that perspective was. It was such a shift for me in my prayer, and a challenging one because it required a different kind of obedience on my part. Even though I often failed at meeting them, I did not find it hard to accept the commandments of God, the guidelines set forth by the Church, or even those boundaries set forth by my own vocation in life. But God wanted a deeper intimacy with me; one where my will was more closely aligned to His. So when big changes in life approached, and I wasn’t completely sure which way to walk I would pray, “God, help me want what you want for me.” Sometimes His will was easy to accept, and other times it wasn’t so easy, but that simple prayer had softened my heart to whatever He might have in store for me. God, help me want what you want for me.
God is calling us deeper into His will. So when those storms come, and the floods rush over us, and the winds howl and shake us, we will not collapse in total ruin. We might need some patching up as weak points are brought to light by a storm, but our foundation will be firm and steadfast, so long as we stand upon Christ.”
New Christmas tradition?
Found on the internet: Beginning December 1st, read one chapter of the Gospel of Luke each day. There are 24 chapters. On Christmas Eve, you will have read an entire account of Jesus’ life and wake up Christmas morning knowing who and why we celebrate!
First Saturday Mass tomorrow at ICC
We will have a First Saturday Mass tomorrow, December 3rd at 9am followed by Exposition and confessions until 10:30am. After that, I will no longer be able to offer First Saturday Masses.
Donuts with Santa at ICC this Sunday, December 4th
The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their annual Donuts with Santa after the 9am Mass in the St. Anthony Center this Sunday, December 4th. Thank you Knights!
Advent Penance Service this Sunday at OLL
This Sunday immediately after Mass, we will have an Advent Penance Service. I will expose the Blessed Sacrament following communion. Instead of a final blessing, we will sing a hymn and immediately begin the Penance Service. We have two second-graders who will receive First Reconciliation. Congratulations to them! After they go to confession, all others are invited to go to confession. Please remember that as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, the proper decorum is to take all conversations outside. There will be no formal ending so you may leave as you wish. A fitting gesture of reverence before leaving is to kneel and bow, if possible, before getting up and leaving quietly, in consideration of the King and those still in prayer.
Christmas Giving Tree at ICC
Please return your gifts for the Giving Tree by this weekend, December 4
ONU Advent Prayer Tree
Parishioners are invited to adopt a prayer request by taking an ornament from the tree in the OLL church hall. Check back as more will be added throughout Advent as college students and others add their prayer intentions.
ONU Finals
December 8-15th, we’ll be inviting ONU students to use our church hall for study space until 10 PM each night. We’d like to provide a welcoming space and to keep their energy levels high by providing snacks and beverages. If you’d like to help out by donating a food item, please sign up in the narthex or church hall to receive additional information on what items will be needed.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation) schedule:
Dec 7: vigil Mass at 5:30pm at ICC
Dec 7: vigil Mass at 7pm at OLL
Dec 8: Mass at 9am at ICC
Dec 8: Mass at 5:30pm at OLL
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
I will celebrate a Spanish Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day is December 12th. The Mass will be on Sunday, December 11, at 7:00pm at ICC. That Mass will still be the Sunday Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent. The Hispanic community will lead the rosary at 6:15pm and it will be followed by a traditional Mexican dance in the church. After the Mass, traditional Hispanic food will be served in the St. Anthony Center. All parishioners are invited to attend the Mass and the reception.
The Ministry of Lector
Please keep OLL parishioner, Chris Spiese, in your prayers as he continues his diaconate formation. He will be instituted into the Ministry of Lector on Sunday, December 18th at a Mass at St. Joseph cathedral. That means he will be officially instituted into the ministry of lector to proclaim the Word of God at Mass. It is an official step in the formation to become a priest or deacon.
Repeat info:
Christmas Bazaar at ICC
The St. Vincent de Paul Society has put together a bazaar of Christmas items and trinkets to be purchased. They are in the St. Anthony Center and are available after the weekend Masses throughout Advent.
Christmas Masses:
Dec 24: vigil Mass at 5:30pm at OLL (children's choir)
Dec 24: vigil Mass at 8pm at ICC (adult choir)
Dec 24: Midnight Mass at 12am at OLL
Dec 25: Mass at 10am at ICC (please note that this is Sunday morning, so it is a change from the regular Sunday schedule)
Christmas Masses:
Dec 24: vigil Mass at 5:30pm at OLL (children's choir)
Dec 24: vigil Mass at 8pm at ICC (adult choir)
Dec 24: Midnight Mass at 12am at OLL
Dec 25: Mass at 10am at ICC (please note that this is Sunday morning, so it is a change from the regular Sunday schedule)
New Weekday Mass schedule
Tuesdays: 5:30pm at Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL)
Wednesdays: 9am at Immaculate Conception Church (ICC)
Thursdays: 9am at ICC
Fridays: 9am at OLL
Wednesdays: 9am at Immaculate Conception Church (ICC)
Thursdays: 9am at ICC
Fridays: 9am at OLL
The weekend Mass schedule remains the same.
Nativity Displays at the Diocesan Museum
The diocesan Museum of Catholic Art and History will have their annual display of Nativity sets. Come be inspired and see their nearly 500 Nativity sets representing cultures from all over the world. The display will be open from November 25th through January 9th. The museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Adult admission is $10 and students/seniors are $5. The Museum is located in the Catholic Foundation building at 257 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Call (614) 618-4030 for more information.
Relics on display
As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Relics of St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia and Blessed Carlo Acutis will be on display for the public at the following locations December 2-5:
- Friday Dec 2, at St. Joseph Cathedral, displayed during the 7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Masses, with confession at 10:45 a.m. An evening with Bishop Fernandes begins at 5 p.m. with a talk, Vespers, and Holy Hour.
- Saturday Dec 3, at Buckeye Catholic, displayed during the 5 p.m. Mass, with Bishop Fernandes and a talk by Patrick McNulty at 8 p.m.
- Sunday Dec 4, at St. John XXIII, displayed during the 8:30 a.m. Mass and 11:00 a.m. Mass, with public veneration between Masses.
- Sunday Dec 4, at St. Mary Delaware, displayed during the 2 p.m. Mass, with public veneration. Display will continue through an evening youth event “Made for Greatness” from 6- 9 p.m.; Theology of the Body talks featuring Fr. Patrick Shultz, Graeson Dahl, and Damascus Worship. This event is open to any middle and high school youth and their parents in the Diocese. Register at https://forms.gle/ebVL3WKfBxMxxBQs7
- Monday Dec 5, at Christ the King, displayed from 12- 8 p.m., with public veneration with a Bilingual Mass at 7 p.m.
Attached are the bulletins and Sunday readings.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
God bless!
Fr. Ed
