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).

Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Great faith and forgiveness are at the center of today’s gospel reading. A paralyzed man had four friends of deep faith. So great was their faith in Jesus that they lowered their friend on his mat from the roof of the house where Jesus was. In ancient times, people believed that diseases and deformities were caused by either the sins of the person or his/her parents. Forgiveness of those sins would render the person healthy again. Jesus’ problem came when he forgave the man his sins. The Jewish leaders considered the action blasphemous because only God could forgive sins. They didn’t recognize Jesus’ authority as the Son of God.

Reflection: Today’s gospel helps people of all ages recognize the value of true, faithful and believing friends. Even when we consider our own friends and the people with whom we spend our time, we thank God for the people who share our values and faith. We know it’s true that people who share faith with us understand the struggles that face us daily and can be there to support us.

St. Vincent Ferrer is providing each family in our parish a booklet for reflection during Lent and the Easter Season. The booklet will be available at Sunday Masses the weekend of February 21 & 22. Begin each day with these short reflections… allow time for the words to sink in for the message to unfold. This is the Journey of Lent and Easter.

February 25 Masses will be at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Ash Ministers are needed for 7:00 p.m. Mass. Ashes will be distributed at all three Masses. The schoolchildren will be in attendance at the 8:30 a.m. Mass. The door collection that day will be for our support of the rebuilding of the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe. There is a special envelope provided with your collection envelopes.

This year during Lent Stations of the Cross will be on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. beginning on Friday, February 27.

Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on March 4, March 11 and March 18 in the Community Building Chapel.

The Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. Mark your calendar!

Plan to make the Parish Mission part of your Lenten Journey. The Mission, sponsored by

St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints Churches will be presented on March 30 & 31 and April 1 & 2. Save the dates! Jesuit Father Al Bischoff from Xavier University will be our Mission Speaker. The theme of our 2009 Mission will be “A Joy Filled Life: Stories of Faith and Love”

For many centuries, it has been the custom of the Church for Catholics to fast and abstain from meat on particular days during the penitential season of Lent. Here is a summary of the fasting regulations for your reference:

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fast (which is often described as limiting yourself to a simple full meal).

The law of abstinence binds all Catholics over 14 years of age. The law of fasting binds all Catholics from their 18^th year until the beginning of their 60^th year.

An important part of our Lenten alms-giving here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has been our participation in the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Over the years, this appeal was known as the Archbishop’s Fund Drive and more recently, as the Archdiocesan Fund Drive. The name change was intended to put greater emphasis on the important Archdiocesan ministries that it funds. These include: the education of seminarians, deacons & lay pastoral ministers; Catholic Social Services; Chaplains for hospitals and prisons; College campus ministers; St. Rita School for the Deaf; and the retirement fund for diocesan priests. The appeal begins on March 14. Information will be sent through the mail to all registered parishioners. Please make all checks payable to “Catholic Ministries Appeal” and mail them directly to the Archdiocese using the white “CMA” envelope mailed to each household or use the green envelope marked “Catholic Ministries Appeal” that was in with your regular Sunday collection envelopes and drop that into the collection baskets.

THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS FOR THE NEW USHER SPORT COATS… Many SVF parishioners helped us reach our goal of $2,000 so we can now order the coats.

Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until 5:00 p.m. in the Community Building Chapel. At least one person must be present when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. We are in need of a few people to fill the 1:30 – 2:20 p.m. time slot. Please call the Parish Office at 791-9030 if you can help.

Your prayers are requested for the soul of Johnathan Perry a St. Vincent Ferrer 1995 alum who was killed in the Buffalo, New York plane crash. Please keep his parents Robert & Denise Perry and family in your prayers.

God’s healing power is at work in you. Who needs your compassion? How will you be an instrument of healing and forgiveness?

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.

Please keep in your prayers all the men and women who are currently in the military serving our country.

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, Jane Bushelman, Jenny Castelluccio, Joe Crachiolo, Bette DiSalvo, Mark Glevicky, James Grever, Mary Heinlen, John Hill, Virginia Howd, Marie Kleiman, Mary Langemeier, Ann Lytle, Mary Alice Menke, Marilyn Naehring, Stan Neumann, Maurice Niehaus, Robert O’Keefe, John Overbeck, Earlene Retford, Mary Lou Runge, Grace Schwallie, Phyllis Villari.

STEWARDSHIP OF OFFERING

Sunday February 15, 2009

Weekly Offertory

Sunday Collection $11,406

Other Donations $525

Estimated Weekly EFT donations $1,982

Sunday Collection Total $13,913

Other Collections

St. Vincent for the Poor $533

Offertory Budget

Weekly Offertory Budget Requirement $17,880

Offertory Budget Deficit this Week - $3,967

Finance Fact: Please use your “Promise 2009” mailer to make a Sunday collection commitment to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish for 2009. So far 155 parish families have made a “Promise 2009” pledge.

Thank you for your support of our parish!

Tax Letters for Donations in 2008

Parishioners who want a letter from the parish stating their church donations for 2008 tax purposes must call the Parish Office 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.

Now that the Kenwood Kroger is re-opened, it is a good time to remind everyone how simple it is to use your FOCAS 50 Kroger card. As you know, Kroger sends us a check every four weeks equal to 4% of the money our parishioners have loaded onto their FOCAS 50 Kroger gift cards. This money is absolutely critical to our budget and we are very grateful to those families who regularly shop at Kroger and use their FOCAS 50 card.

Now that the Fresh Fare is open, we are hoping to see our FOCAS 50 revenues rebound so that we can get back on track with this important fundraiser. Do you have a FOCAS 50 card? Are you using it every time you shop at Kroger? If you need a card, please stop by or call the parish office. It's so easy to use, and the results really add up if lots of people participate. Simply put money on the gift card before the cashier starts ringing up your order. You can use cash, check or a credit or debit card to load money onto your card. Then use the card to pay for your groceries and/or prescriptions. That's all there is to it -- and at the end of the month, Kroger will send SVF a check. Several times we've earned between $2,800 and $2,900 in a month. Let's get everyone back on board and see if we can top $3,000!!

The Roamin’ Catholics are sponsoring a Lenten Morning of Reflection on March 13^th at St. Vincent Ferrer in Hamilton Hall. Sr. Carol DeFiore will be the main speaker. She is a sister of Notre Dame and is pastoral assistant at Holy Trinity in Norwood. It will start at 10:30AM and a box lunch will be served at 11:30AM.

SVF Roamin’ Catholics’

Lenten Morning of Reflection

March 13^th at 10:30 AM

This RSVP is due in SVF Office by March 6^th.

Please make check payable to St. Vincent Ferrer for $6.00, and return to: SVF Church, 7754 Montgomery Rd., Cinti.,OH 45236;

ATTN: Roamin’ Catholics

Name:

Phone:

Number of Reservations:

Sandwich preference:

Egg Salad: Tuna Salad:

In this year of St. Paul we have invited Fr. Timothy Schehr to help us better understand the Writings of Paul to Philemon. Please join us as we learn more about this small letter with a big message.

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! And so are you! Any school … All Saints, St. Vincent, St. Savior parishes … 7^th & 8^th grade for Junior High, 9^th – 12^th for High School and HOW.

For your advance notice, we plan to “Pray the Steps” again this year at Immaculata Church in Mt. Adams on Good Friday, April 10^th, from mid-morning through lunch. This is open to all Junior High and High School parishioners. Watch for more details.

Our next gathering is Sunday, Feb 22 for “Cast Your Nets” at Good Shepherd Parish from 5:30PM – 9:00PM (Archdiocese release form is REQUIRED before participation! All forms are available online www.allsaints.cc, at All Saints Parish Office, or from Jeff Rosfled.) This is a regional event for Catholic teens … and will include Mass, great music by the Lee Roessler Band, a talk or two, and plenty of social time with dinner. We’ll meet at Good Shepherd … drop off at 5:15-5:30 PM and pick up at Good Shepherd is at 9:00-9:15PM. We’re projecting that 200-300 Catholic teens from the area will participate; this one is highly recommended!

Monday evenings from 6:45PM – 8:30PM, in the Youth Room … that’s the when and the where and the HOW. See you on Feb. 23^rd,March 2^nd, and March 9^th.

For all group participants it’s time to complete the Archdiocese Release Forms for the year. Please go online www.allsaints.cc and return to All Saints by March 1. Questions? Call All Saints’ Jeff Rosfeld at 314-1147, or SVF’s Kara Feltrup at 891-5597.

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.

Ministry Trip to Appalachia
The Social Justice and Outreach Commission is looking for individuals who would be interested in participating in the 4-day Outreach event this Spring in which we will refurbish homes in Appalachia. We are looking at four possible 4-day blocks for the trip and want to assess the availability and level of interest for each. The potential dates include: April 13-16 or April 15-18 (both are within the week following Easter), May 6-9 (the week before Mother’s Day): or May 11-14 (the week after Mother’s Day). If you are interested in participating in this ministry please contact Chris Homan by email (jhoman1@cinci.rr.com) or phone (607-5996) with your first and second choice, and which if any, for which you would not be available at all. We will make the final decision during the next Social Justice and Outreach Commission Meeting on Tuesday, February 24.

Social Justice and Outreach Commission Meeting - Tuesday, February 24
The next SVF Social Justice and Outreach Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:00 pm in Room B of the Administration Building (Music Room). The focus of this month’s meeting will be to discuss the Spring Appalachian Trip and the results of the Social Action Collaborative Congress. All are invited to attend, particularly those interested in participating in the Appalachian ministry. If you have any questions about the SJO Commission or upcoming meeting, please call Chris Homan at 607-5996

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.

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.

The seventh graders at SVF recently held a "Wacky Tacky Dress-Up Day" for a project called "Ethiopia Reads". This activity was held with guidance from Mrs. Jane Callan, our librarian. All of our students paid $.50 to be out of uniform for the day. Many children made other donations to this worthy cause. The students and staff raised over $400 for Ethiopia Reads. This money will allow schools in Ethiopia to buy books for their children. Many of the schools have very few if any books! We are very proud of everyone's efforts to support this project. Any other donations may be sent to Mrs. Callan in the SVF library.

St. Vincent Ferrer School Hosts Artist in Residence, Eric Paton, Japanese Drummer

St. Vincent Ferrer School is once again participating in the Ohio Arts Council’s Artist in Residence Program. The school was one of 47 sites in Ohio to receive a grant from the Ohio Arts Council to support an artist in residence during this school year. This is the seventh artist in residence that St. Vincent Ferrer School and the Ohio Arts Council have supported since 2002.

This year, the school is hosting Eric (the FISH) Paton, a percussionist, who specializes in Japanese (Taiko Festival) drumming. Mr. Paton is an Assistant Professor in the World Music Lab at Capital University in Columbus.

On Thursday evening, February 26, at 7 p.m. in SVF gym, St. Vincent Ferrer students in grades 8 and 4 will showcase what they have learned by presenting a Taiko Festival. Refreshments will follow. This same program will be repeated in the gym on Friday February 27 at 1 p.m. All parishioners are invited to attend.

Members of the SVF Dance Team are selling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts near the doors of church after all Masses this weekend. Be sure to stop by for a box of a dozen fresh, glazed doughnuts for $6. Thank you for your support!!

The following students have earned honors for the second quarter: St. Xavier High School – First Honors: Steven Boyle, Michael Cardone, Jay Carroll, Kevin Chase, Nathan Duderstadt, Charles Glaescher, Jack Johnson, John Muething, Connor Sambrookes – Second Honors: Kevin Feltrup, Matthew Glaescher, Martin Matthew, Jake Sambrookes.

Any High School parishioner who made the honor roll needs to have their school provide us a list so your name can be included in the bulletin.

The school junior high students are continuing their quest to reach one million pop tabs before the end of this school year. Our current hallway display of 3/4 of a million is quite impressive! Please drop your pop tab donations in the box in the church entry way or at the school office. Thank you for helping us to help Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Did you know that any purchases you make at GFS can benefit SVF? Just let them know when you check out at the register that you belong to SVF Parish and a portion of your purchases will be refunded to SVF each year in February.

Fish Fry Events will be returning soon to St. Vincent Ferrer! Please join us for these community events for great food and great fun!

St. Vincent Ferrer Monte Carlo

BINGO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Please help St. Vincent Ferrer Parish operate our successful Bingo. We need volunteers every Sunday from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Can you give our parish one Sunday afternoon, 4 times a year, for this important fund-raiser? We need people to help with one of the following:

*Sell "Instants"

*Sell Concessions

*Announce Winners

*Bingo Cashier

(Training will be provided)

YES! I'm willing to help our Bingo!

(Please Print)

Name:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

Email:

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.

Christians throughout Greater Cincinnati are invited to take part in the national 40 Days for Life effort from February 25 through April 5. In addition to 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in America, please consider volunteering to pray outside of the local Planned Parenthood abortion facility on Auburn Ave. in Cincinnati for one or more hours during the 40 days, and spread the word to others about this important life-saving effort. To get more information, or to volunteer to help, please contact: Joan Rios at 984-1538 or by e-mail pinolero@aol.com All are welcome!

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

Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Calendar for the Week

Monday, February 23, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Tax Letters for Donations in 2008

Because we’re better with you than without you! And so are you! Any school … All Saints, St. Vincent, St. Savior parishes … 7^th & 8^th grade for Junior High, 9^th – 12^th for High School and HOW.

PARISH LIBRARY

Sponsored by the Athletic Commission

BINGO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

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

Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Calendar for the Week

Monday, February 23, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Tax Letters for Donations in 2008

Because we’re better with you than without you! And so are you! Any school … All Saints, St. Vincent, St. Savior parishes … 7th & 8th grade for Junior High, 9th – 12th for High School and HOW.

PARISH LIBRARY

Sponsored by the Athletic Commission

BINGO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Because we’re better with you than without you! And so are you! Any school … All Saints, St. Vincent, St. Savior parishes … 7^th & 8^th grade for Junior High, 9^th – 12^th for High School and HOW.