Parish Weekly Bulletin

2008-2009

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Chairperson Barry Auer 984-1041

Vice-Chairperson John Abraham 791-4527

Member-at-Large Amy Hobler 984-3087

Member-at-Large Mary Kay Lynch 731-7155

Member-at-Large Peg Halpin 631-7301

Member-at-Large Conrad Neumann 793-3165

Athletics Steve Schaefer 792-9455

Building & Finance Ray Bauman 984-4239

Education Comm. Ken Gleason 891-4280

Worship Debbie Kamp 891-4168

Development Comm. John Sichel 891-7237

Community Life Phil Hying 984-1533

Social Justice Comm. Chris Homan 745-9958

Festival Comm. Patti Lowe 793-1112

Seminary Intern Adam Puntel 686-1126

Communication & Volunteer Recruitment Comm.

Gerald Shannon 791-9313

Recording Secretary Maryanne Staubach 891-0949

Communion Visits to the Homebound -Members of this ministry take Holy Communion and visit with parishioners who are unable to attend Mass. This service is available for short and long term convalescence. Please call the Parish Office (791-9030).

Driving Ministry– For parishioners needing transportation to weekend Mass, for health related appointments and grocery shopping. Please call Donna Piening (791-7449) or the Parish Office (791-9030).

Prayer Chain – To request prayers for a special intention call the Parish Office (791-9030).

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Jesus called two sets of brothers to be his disciples. First he called Andrew and his brother Simon. He then came upon James and John who left their father and their boat to follow Jesus. The summon of Jesus had to have been inviting beyond doubt, because these four men immediately left their means of livelihood and families to follow a dynamic, but unknown leader.

Reflection: The faith and trust of these early disciples is hard to imagine. Everything Andrew, Peter, James, and John had known disappeared as they began a new way of living found in their company with Jesus. We often see these dramatic conversions among candidates in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and the Children's Catechumenate. Something may have happened recently in a person's life that brought them to the point of conversion. It is important that you help your family, along with the entire Christian family, to affirm and support these folks in the months ahead.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THOSE ATTENDING 8:30 AM MASS ON WEEKDAYS AT SVF

Mass will be in Church on Wednesday, January 28 and on Friday, January 30. The school children will attend Mass on January 30 which will be our Catholic School celebration.

This week, we join with Catholic Schools throughout the country in thanking God for the blessings we receive through Catholic education.

I take this opportunity to thank our principal Steve Zinser and our faculty and support staff who work so hard to make our school a place where Christ is the center of what we teach and model – and also a school of academic excellence.

I am grateful, too, for the generosity of our parishioners who by your financial commitment to the parish help to fund the school – and to the many parents who volunteer countless hours to help with all the school activities.

On Monday February 2nd the liturgy celebrates Jesus being presented in the temple by Mary and Joseph forty days after his birth. It was during this ceremony of dedication and blessing that the prophet Simeon declared that Jesus was to be “a light of revelation for all people”. Because of this reference to Jesus as “the light of the world”, the Church in the Middle Ages began to bless candles on this day and February 2nd became known as Candlemas Day.

The season of Lent is fast approaching. In order to use those forty days as a time of prayer and fasting to prepare for the celebration of the Easter sacraments with our Catechumens and Candidates, we do not plan to schedule any baptisms during Lent (February 25 thru April 11) except in cases of an emergency or pastoral necessity. We are looking forward to celebrating the living waters of baptism with the new members of our faith community throughout the Easter season.

Can you believe that Lent is only weeks away? We invite you to bring to Church next Sunday the palm you received last Palm Sunday (baskets will be at the main entrance of the Church). These palms will be burned and their ashes used this year on Ash Wednesday February 25^th. The cycle continues as we remember year after year the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection.

Tuesday, February 3^rd, is the feast of St. Blaise, who was a bishop in the fourth century. According to an ancient legend, he blessed a young boy who was choking on a fish bone. The youth recovered and after Bishop Blaise died, he was proclaimed patron of those suffering from diseases of the throat. We will celebrate the Blessing of Throats at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Tuesday morning, February 3.

If you want an extra 2009 Church calendar there are some available at the Church doors or in the Ushers Room.

It has been many years since we replaced the Ushers sport coats. Fr. George has found a discounter who can provide SVF with new Ushers sport coats for approximately $2000. If you can help us with the expense, notify Fr. George at 791-9030. If you wish to donate one of the sport coats they are approximately $100 each.

The upcoming Cincinnati Catholic Men’s Conference is Saturday, March 21, 2009. We are planning to have all St. Vincent Ferrer attendees sit together; therefore, we need to know your interest by February 9. For more information, call Mark Wellinghoff at 891-3511. Conference speakers include: Curtis Martin from Fellowship of University students, Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, from EWTN, Dr. Ray Guarendi from National Radio & Television and Fr. Mark Burger. Tickets are $40 and include lunch – high school/college tickets for $20.

Did you know that the Church has a few special hearing devices available for the hearing challenged to use during Mass. They are available in the sacristy before Mass.

Your prayers are requested for the soul of Gerald Grever whose Mass of Christian Burial was held January 17.

Please welcome the following family who recently joined St. Vincent Ferrer Parish.

Please welcome the newest member of our faith community: John Douglas Knapschaefer, son of Aaron & Sarah Knapschaefer who was recently baptized. Congratulations to the proud parents.

The Reign of God is now. Be willing to drop what you are doing to follow Jesus’ call. Believe that God will give you what you need.

The baptism preparation class is for parents who are having their first child baptized. The next class will be offered on Sunday, March 8 at 1:15 p.m. in the Community Building Chapel. You must call the parish office 791-9030 to register.

So that as a parish we can keep in our prayers those in our community who are ill, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish would like to publish the names of those parishioners and their families who are in the hospital, recovering from an illness or going through treatments. We ask that you contact the Parish Office at 791-9030.

Glorianne Barbacane, Jim Boyatt, Gerry Brinker, Jenny Castelluccio, William Church, Robert Churchill, Ann Corder, Joe Crachiolo, Bette DiSalvo, Mark Glevicky, Mary Heinlen, John Hill, Virginia Howd, Marie Kleiman, Anne Kowalski, Mary Langemeier, Mary Sue Lawrence, Ann Lytle, Mary Alice Menke, Marilyn Naehring, Maurice Niehaus, Robert O’Keefe, Earlene Retford, Grace Schwallie, George Seurkamp, Marie Sheehy, Phyllis Villari.

STEWARDSHIP OF OFFERING

Sunday January 18, 2009

Weekly Offertory

Sunday Collection $14,214

Other Donations $1,416

Estimated Weekly EFT donations $2,170

Sunday Collection Total $14,800

Sanctity of Life $1243

Offertory Budget

Weekly Offertory Budget Requirements $17,880

Offertory Budget Deficit this Week - $3,080

Finance Fact: The cost to operate our parish office (including telephones, printing, service fees, postage, equipment rental, supplies and maintenance) is over $35,000 each year.

ST. VINCENT FOR THE POOR COLLECTION

Our next-door collection for our St. Vincent for the Poor Society will take place the weekend of January 24 & 25. The baskets will be in the back of Church. Your generosity is appreciated.

Tax Letters for Donations in 2008

Parishioners who want a letter from the parish stating their church donations for 2008 tax purposes must sign up in the back of church to request the letter. The letters will not be automatically sent. The office will mail the letter to your home, or you can pick it up in the Parish Office, but a letter will only be sent to those who request it. This procedure will save the parish hundreds of dollars in postage.

~ ATTENTION ~

ALL ST. VINCENT FERRER

FALL VOLUNTEERS & CHAPERONES

must participate in a Child Protection Workshop and be Fingerprinted

Workshop & Fingerprinting Dates

New parish volunteers who will be working with children this school year, or those who have not yet had a chance to be fingerprinted or take the workshop will have the opportunity to participate in them at neighboring parishes.

WORKSHOPS:

*Immaculate Heart of Mary–388-4466

7820 Beechmont Avenue (45255)

2^nd Monday of each month @7:30PM

3^rd Wednesday of each month @ 4PM

*Call to confirm!

PERMANENT FINGERPRINTING SITES:

Archdiocese of Cincinnati - 421-3131

100 E. 8th Street (45202)

Monday through Friday -- 9:00AM - 4:00 PM

*Holy Trinity, Norwood – 366-4400

2420 Drexel Avenue (45212)

Monday through Thursday -- 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*Need appointment or call ahead @ 366-4400

Immaculate Heart of Mary – 388-4466

7820 Beechmont Avenue (45255)

Tuesday through Thursday --9:00 – 5:00PM

St. Maximillian Kolbe – 777-4322

5720 Hamilton-Mason Road (45011)

Monday thru Friday – 9:30-11:30AM & 1:30–4:30PM

and Wednesdays – 1:30 – 7:30 PM

Additional Child Protection Orientation Workshop and Fingerprinting dates and times can be found at www.catholiccincinnati.org , the Archdiocesan website. Click on “Fingerprinting Information”, then onto “Sites” and “Calendar.”

For further information please call Marc Greenberg

in the Parish Office at 791-9030.

Parent & Child FIRST EUCHARIST MEETING ~ Parents preparing children to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist are reminded of the Parent & Child Eucharist Meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, January 26^th at 7:00 PM. Both you and your child are expected to attend. Please bring the children to the cafeteria. Parents will meet in Hamilton Hall. The evening will include a church tour for the children and a meeting for parents that will give details about the celebration of First Eucharist at S.V.F. and information and materials for remaining projects and activities that are part of your child’s preparation. For more information, please refer to our recent mailing.

Why try the High School Youth Group, the Jr. High Youth Group or HighSchoolers of the Well?

Because we’re better with you than without you!

Meet on Sundays from 6:45-8:30 PM in the Youth Room: Jan. 25, Feb. 1 (Souper Bowl Sunday) Feb. 8, and Feb. 22.

Meet on Sundays from 6:45-8:30PM in the Youth Room: Feb. 1 (Souper Bowl Sunday), February 15, and March 1.

Monday evenings from 6:45-8:30PM in the Youth Room … that’s the when and the where and the HOW. See you on January 26^th.

ATTENTION! - The Parish Library is now located in the Office of Faith Formation, on the 2^nd floor of the Parish Center. Hours are 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Mondays through Thursdays. Stop by to peruse our wide selection. Book returns can be made at that time, or placed in the blue bin in the main hall.

St. Vincent Ferrer Social Justice Commission is once again sponsoring a dinner for Over-the-Rhine residents at Nash Trinity United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 1st, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Help is needed in advance to prepare casseroles, bake cakes or to make cash donations to cover expenses. Serving help is also needed for the dinner. Please contact Julie Morency, 793-3031 or Sarah Stagge at 984-4081 with questions. Donations may be directed to the Parish Office, Attention: Urban Missionaries. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

A big “Thank You” to all the parishioners who came out for our winter blood drive last Saturday. We had sixty-one donors and collected fifty-eight units, which include four doubles and one platelet collection. Our parish helps Hoxworth collect over 100,000 units needed annually in the tri-state area. If you weren’t able to join us please make an appointment to donate at a neighborhood center by calling 451-0910.

The next SVF Social Justice and Outreach Commission meeting will be held on January 28 at 7:00 p.m. in Room B of the SVF Community Building (old Music Room at end of the hall). All are invited to attend. During the meetings we discuss and select Social Justice and Outreach activities to sponsor/promote. Meeting time is also spent planning events that will raise awareness of social action concerns supported by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Catholic Relief Services. If you have any questions about the SJO Commission or upcoming meeting, please call Chris Homan at 607-5996.

Bringing your paper trash to the green and yellow bin next to the school, you are supporting SJ&O activities as well as helping the environment. We receive about $100 from Abitibi each month that we then use to sponsor mission work and to help support SVF projects. Thank you!!

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish recycles empty aluminum beverage cans. The can recycling container is located next to the paper-recycling bin. We only accept beverage cans (soda, beer, juice) - no soup cans, sauce cans or other types of cans please. Please make sure your cans are rinsed and completely empty before putting them in our container.

Our School Open House that begins our celebration of "Catholic Schools Week" will be on Sunday, January 25, from 11:30a.m.until 12:30 p.m. following our 10:30a.m. Mass.

We look forward to this event that enables more people to see how the SVF Parish Community has blessed our children with our staff and facilities!

Kindergarten Registration and Orientation for the 2009/2010 school year will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 7:00p.m. in our school library.

Mark your calendar now to get out of the house and join your friends at the Annual SVF Spaghetti Dinner! The dinner will be held in the SVF Community Center and Cafeteria on Friday, January 30. For our early birds, dinner service begins at 4:30. The event ends at 8:00 p.m. and carryout is also available. The menu will include a LaRosa's spaghetti dinner and salad, fresh bread from Ferrari's restaurant in Madeira and soft drinks. All for the low, low price of $6 per person or $24 for your entire family! Again this year, wine and beer will be available by the glass for $2 or 3 tickets for $5. Tickets available at the door to win fun and valuable raffle prizes. Split the Pot will also be offered!

Please bring a small (nut free) dessert to share and join us for an evening of good food, games in the gym for kids of all ages and a great time with your friends. Contact event chair, Millie Vatter milvatter@hotmail.com with any questions or to volunteer at the event. Thanks for your support of this important SVF PTO fundraiser!

Registration for 3^rdto 8^th grade Boys VOLLEYBALL is open starting today until FEB. 11^TH, for all SVF parish boys. Register online at www.svfathletics.org. Season starts around March 30^th and ends around May 16th.

Games are weekday evenings only (no weekend games) and are 1 hour long beginning at 5:30, 6:30, etc.. There are no games scheduled during

Easter break. Please Contact Tad Berger via e-mail at tberger@theminc.com or call

We are looking for coaches. Contact Tad Berger if you are interested or have questions.

St. Vincent participates with All Saints parish for track. Signups for 2009 track teams (K-8) will take place on Sunday Jan 25 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Jubilee Room of the All Saints Parish Center. Any athlete who is in K -8^th grades for the 2008-2009 school year is eligible to participate. If you have any questions, please send an email to mmcmasters@cinci.rr.com.

Hello everyone and welcome to 2009....The weather is still very cold and will get colder I am sure, but it is time to THINK FESTIVAL 2009. We have our music in place thanks to Colleen Heidel, and the big name for Friday is THE GRISWOLDS, and the other names will follow. We need a bit of surprise. I am asking that all Booth Captains please contact me as soon as possible if you are still taking on your booth for this year. My address is

pdlflorida@hotmail.com. I am also asking for someone to become my co-chair this year. This job should only be in the hands of one person for three years. I will be chair for the festival until 2010...then someone will have to step up. Working together with a person for 1 year will make the transition easy. Festival is June 26,27,28. –Patti Lowe

Support SVF’s Festival Bid and Buy booth with The Pampered Chef fundraiser. All host benefits and consultant commission will be used to purchase products for this booth. You can view the catalog and place orders online at www.pamperedchef.biz/aliceskitchen using St. Vincent Ferrer as the host or call Alice Schneider at 272-6107 to have a catalog mailed directly to you. Catalogs are also available in the parish and school offices. Orders will be accepted until January 31^st. You can also contribute by collecting orders from family, friends, co-workers or donating a particular item or making a cash donation. Thank you for your support!

The Lector’s new schedule for March, April & May – We are about to put together the next quarterly schedule for Lectors. Any scheduling questions or concerns should be directed to Susan Aloisio (745-9181) or smaloisio@fuse.net by Monday February 2.

The Golden Wedding Jubilee Anniversary Mass, for couples celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains. Please call the Parish Office, 791-9030 if you are celebrating your 50^th Anniversary so that your name can be given to the Archdiocese and an invitation to the Mass issued. All couples celebrating their 25^th, 50^th, 60^th, 70^th or 75^th Anniversary should also call the parish office and will be mailed a scroll. The deadline to call the parish office is March 6.

The monthly meeting of the SVF Men’s Club will be on Wednesday January 28^th at 8PM in the cafeteria. There will be a putting contest and cards. There will be beer and a light lunch of sausage and peppers prepared by Chef Bob Morehouse. Check the SVF website for more information.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday; concession provided; instants are sold at 1:00 p.m.; first Bingo game begins at 1:30 p.m.; Bingo will end by 5:00 p.m. Bingo questions call 324-3788 or Brenda Hauser, 984-8446.

Tom Hughes, Betty Flynn, Ginny Rave, Steve Ruscher, Maryanne Staubach, Loretta Metzger.

We need to receive all articles in writing by Monday at 2:00 p.m. You should indicate the dates you would like your bulletin article to appear. Unless otherwise indicated, all articles will run for 2 weeks.

Please call the parish office to get your bulletin insert on the calendar. All inserts must be put on the insert calendar as soon as possible. (The number of inserts are limited to 2 per week) and the copies need to be in the Parish office by Wednesday morning. This will allow the bulletin stuffers ample time to adjust their calendar for volunteer time. A special thanks to our volunteer bulletin stuffers, we appreciate your help!

Don’t forget to notify the parish office of your new address and phone number when moving.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) endangers women & silences the voices of everyday Americans. President Obama has promised Planned Parenthood that one of his top priorities, as President will be to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) into law. FOCA would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide. Visit www.FightFOCA.com for more information and join almost 400,000 people who have signed the online Fight FOCA petition so far.

Communion Visits to the Homebound -Members of this ministry take Holy Communion and visit with parishioners who are unable to attend Mass. This service is available for short and long term convalescence. Please call the Parish Office (791-9030).

Driving Ministry– For parishioners needing transportation to weekend Mass, for health related appointments and grocery shopping. Please call Donna Piening (791-7449) or the Parish Office (791-9030).

Mass Intentions & Readings

for the Week

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Calendar for the Week

Monday, January 26, 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Sunday, February 1, 2009

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THOSE ATTENDING 8:30 AM MASS ON WEEKDAYS AT SVF

ST. VINCENT FOR THE POOR COLLECTION

Tax Letters for Donations in 2008

Because we’re better with you than without you!

PARISH LIBRARY