Parish Weekly Bulletin

2007-2008

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Chairperson Gerald Shannon 791-9313

Vice-Chairperson Barry Auer 984-1041

Member-at-Large Bill Mountel 793-7634

Member-at-Large Mary Kay Lynch 731-7155

Member-at-Large Peg Halpin 631-7301

Member-at-Large Conrad Neuman 793-3165

Athletics Rick Sanz 791-0545

Building & Finance Ray Bauman 984-4239

School Comm. Denis McGrath 733-9264

Worship Debbie Kamp 891-4168

Development Comm. Tom Kronenberger 792-0109

Community Life Sandie Wubbolding 561-1911

Social Justice Comm. Chris Homan 745-9958

Festival Comm. Patti Lowe 793-1112

Communication & Volunteer Recruitment Comm.

Gerald Shannon 791-9313

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 6, 2008

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Friday, February 8, 2008

Like Adam and Eve, Jesus was tempted, but did not sin. Our sinfulness is acquitted through one man, Jesus Christ, in whom we are justified.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Friday, February 8, 2008

Sunday, February 10, 2008

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 2 & 3. This booklet titled Daybreaks has been authored by John Shea who is Theologian and Storyteller. 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 6 Masses will be at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 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.

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.

St. Vincent Ferrer Worship Commission was notified by the Worship Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati that the Vatican’s General Instruction of the Roman Missal indicated that the Baptismal Font and Holy Water fonts at the Church doors should remain filled with Holy Water during Lent and all seasons of the Church year.

When we bless ourselves with the Holy Water it reminds us that if we have died with Christ we rise from our Baptismal Waters to live a new life with Christ. Holy Water is a beautiful sacramental symbol for every liturgical season of the year.

RITE OF SENDING FORTH FOR ELECTION

Next Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, February 10, Catechumens: Derek Brewer and Jodi Kastner are requesting our recommendation to be accepted for Baptism, First Eucharistic and Confirmation at Easter Vigil.

Ken Whitney will be recommended as a candidate for Full Communion in the Catholic Church and will participate in the Rite of Election at St. Peter in Chains on February 10. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

This year during Lent Stations of the Cross will be on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. beginning on Friday, February 8.

Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on February 13, February 20, [no Evensong on February 27 due to the Parish Mission] and again on March 5 and March 12.

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 February 25, 26, 27 and 28^th by Father Rob Jack who was ordained in 1992. He has served as a parochial Vicar, Hospital Chaplain and is currently on the teaching faculty at the Athenaeum of Ohio / Mt. Saint Mary’s Seminary. There will be both morning and evening sessions alternating between the two parish sites. Watch for a flyer in the mail.

An important part of our Lenten alms-giving here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has been our participation in the annual Archdiocesan Appeal. Over the years, this appeal was known as the Archbishop’s Fund Drive and more recently, as the Archdiocesan Fund Drive. This year, the appeal has a new name – Catholic Ministries Appeal. The name change is 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 the Second Sunday of Lent, February 16 & 17. Information will be coming through the mail.

The Beatitudes disturb us today as they must have disturbed Jesus’ listeners in his day. The fact is, the Beatitudes are unsettling. Jesus speaks of conditions and situations that aren’t at all appealing. Yet, the power of the Beatitudes results in the fullest measure of happiness. In the paradox of the Beatitudes we find the essential happiness that we can realize in no other way. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this happiness: “The Beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness. This desire is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to the One who alone can fulfill it”.

Prayer Moment: I long for you, Creator God, for my lasting happiness is found only in you.

Please welcome the newest members of our faith community: Braden Tyler Gaerke, son of Kevin & Gina; Michael Oakley Guy, son of Lucas & Katharine Guy; Benjamin Paul Sichel, son of John & Diane Sichel who were recently baptized. Congratulations to the proud parents.

The baptism preparation class is for parents who are having their first child baptized. The next class will be offered on Sunday, March 9 at

1:15 p.m. in the Community Building Chapel. You must call the parish office 791-9030, to register.

Reminder: Baptisms will not be scheduled during Lent. The first Sunday of Lent is February 10, 2008.

The Lord says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you”. Always listen to an Old Friend.

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

STEWARDSHIP OF OFFERING

Sunday January 27, 2008

Weekly Offertory

Sunday Collection $12,657

Pledge Connect & other donations $10,673

Weekly Donation Total $23,330

Other Gifts

St. Vincent for the Poor $758

Fiscal Year Offertory

Offertory Budget to Date $611,490

Offertory Received to Date $525,930

Offertory Budget Deficit to Date -$85,560

Finance Fact: Eighty-one parish families have returned their “Promise 2008” Sunday collection Letter of Intent, with a total of $212,859 pledged for 2008. Please support St. Vincent Ferrer Parish with your “Promise 2008” commitment.

ST. VINCENT FOR THE POOR

Thank you for the collection of $758 to the St. Vincent for the Poor Society. Your generosity is appreciated.

Tax Letters for Donations in 2007

Please call the parish office at 791-9030 if you want a letter from the parish stating your church donations for 2007 taxes. There is also a sign up list in church after Mass. This is a change from previous years, when the letters were sent automatically. The office will mail the letter to your home, or you can pick it up, but a letter will only be sent to those who request it. This new procedure will save your parish hundreds of dollars in postage. (Note: If you gave $250 or more to the church in 2007, and you plan to itemize your deductions, you will need this letter.)

$16,455 Earned through December…

Thanks to all the families who faithfully used their FOCAS 50 at Kroger through the holiday season! That holiday lift helps the FOCAS 50 totals every year. From the start of our fiscal year July 1 through December 22, we have received 7 checks from Kroger totaling $16,455, which represents 4% of all money loaded onto the cards. We are well on our way to another year of over $30,000 of revenue from Kroger. Since we started this fundraiser in June 2004, we have earned a total of $112,345 in “free” money, i.e. money our parishioners were spending at Kroger anyway that Kroger has generously donated back to us.

This money is absolutely critical to our budget and we are very grateful to those families who shop at Kroger and use their FOCAS 50 card. It costs you nothing but a moment of your time to load money on the card before you checkout (via cash, check or credit card) and then use the card to purchase groceries, prescriptions, and even gasoline. If you need a new card call or stop by the parish office and help us in Funding Our Church And School.

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.

Florence Bailey, Glorianne Barbacane, Gerry Brinker, Joe Crachiolo, Bob Ford, James Grever, Mary Heinlen, John Hill, Virginia Howd, George Jutze, Mary Langemeier, Bonnie McLaughlin, Les Meldon, Marilyn Naehring, Richard Nurre, Clara Stites, Phyllis Villari, Mark Wellinghoff.

must participate in a Child Protection Workshop and be Fingerprinted prior to volunteering

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.

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.

Consider taking one of our spiritually renewing companions for a leisurely break on a quiet evening or afternoon. Stop by the ushers’ room located near the main entrance of the church to browse the wide selection of reading material in the bookcase.

PREPARE TO VOTE IN THE OHIO PRIMARY TUESDAY, MARCH 4…READ THE CHALLENGE OF FORMING CONSCIENCES FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP The February 10 bulletin will contain a brief document from the US Catholic Bishop’s for your consideration before voting in the Ohio Primary. A large-print version of the document found in the February 10 bulletin is available free at www.faithfulcitizenship.org. The complete document on “Faithful Citizenship” is available at the Church doors.

APPALACHIAN MISSION TRIP Dates have now been set for a mission trip to Auxier, Kentucky through Hand in Hand Ministries. The trip is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7-Saturday, May 10. For more information about joining a group of SVF parishioners on this outreach, call Connie Dunn at 791-7506.

We wish to thank all of the SVF parishioners, staff, faculty and students who support the recycling program throughout the year by collecting their paper trash and taking it to the recycling bin. Bring your paper trash to the green and yellow recycling bin on the SVF parking lot near the community building. This has been a terrific way to save trees while earning money for SVF! Remember, only paper, magazines, and newspapers are accepted. NO PLASTIC BAGS, CARDBOARD or PHONE BOOKS. 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.

Yearly membership dues of $10.00 are now being accepted. Make checks payable to SVF and mail or drop off at the Parish Office (Mark envelope H.W.)

HAPPY WANDERERS

LENTEN MORNING OF REFLECTION

The Happy Wanderers are sponsoring a morning of reflection on Friday, February 15, here 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 10:00 a.m. and a box lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Charge for the box lunch is $6.00. Since it is Lent there is a choice of Tuna Salad or Egg Salad sandwich. Please make your check payable to St. Vincent Ferrer and tell us your choice of sandwich you prefer. All are welcome. Send your reservations to St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Happy Wanderers, 7754 Montgomery Road or drop off at the Parish Office by February 10. If you have any questions; please call Lynette Busch, 984-1483 or Dr. Len Kuehnle, 791-0070.

Name __________________________

Phone __________________________

Number of Reservations____________

Egg Salad _____ Tuna Salad_______

For those scheduled for Music Hall in December (cancelled due to snow/ice) the new date is Sunday, February 3. Eric Kunzel, conducting the Pops Orchestra, Cirque de la Symphonie. The bus will leave from All Saints at 2:00 p.m. Any questions call Pat Smyth, 791-3762.

Our Junior High Math Teams competed in the Greater Cincinnati Council of Teachers of Mathematics competition at Sycamore Junior

High on Saturday, January 26, 2008. This contest had over 70 schools and more that 300 students participating! Our students did a great job and represented SVF very well! The top scorers at each grade level were as follows:

Two of our eighth graders scored in the Top 10 out of all of the participants! Nathan Duderstadt came in 7th place with a score of 25 out of 30, and Jack Johnson came in 6th place with a score of 26 out of 30!

We are very proud of all of our students who participated in this challenging event!

Kindergarten Registration for all of our parishioners will continue throughout the month of February.

Thanks to all who have been collecting Pop-Tabs for us. Our 6th Graders continue their drive to collect One Million Tabs. Please continue sending your tabs to Mrs. Frost and our Sixth Grade Class. Our current count is 430,000.

The following students have earned honors for the second quarter: Mt. Notre Dame High School – First Honors: Melissa Eckes, Caitlyn Schlie, Kathleen Volker, Jennifer Vonderbrink – Second Honors: Lauren Clarke, Katherine Conwell, Delaney Halpin, Skylar Halpin, Sarah LeConey, Alix Malinoff, Martha Reckers, Monica Ruscher, Courtney Tucker, Allison Werling. Congratulations on a job well done! 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.

MANY THANKS to all the families who participated in the magazine drive. Your participation has helped us earn $6,620 to support our school. If you find you have a need for magazine subscriptions later in the year, go online to www.qsp.com to place your order using Account #: 425005521. This will help save you money and continue to support our school.

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

891-8035 (home) or 226-6611 (cell) for answers to your questions. COACHES -We are looking for coaches. Contact Tad Berger if you are interested or have questions.

Happy New Year!!! It might be wet and cold outside, but in 6 months it will be summer and hot and… Festival Time. Dates for the festival are June 27, 28 & 29. The festival committee has been hard at work coming up with new and exciting venues that will be sure to please all age groups. A big thank you to Colleen Heidel who has been able to get our entertainment for the weekend. Saturday night headliner “The Rusty Griswolds”… more information on the entertainment for Friday and Sunday coming later. BOOTH CAPTAINS: It is very important to let us know if you plan on being captain for your booth this year. Please e-mail Patti at pdlflorida@hotmail.com If you will not be a captain this year and have yet to find a replacement we need to know as soon as possible. Booth captains are currently needed for the following: Bid-n-Buy, Golf Booth, Big Card Poker and the Party Booth. All it takes is a group of friends to organize these booths. Call Patti Lowe at 910-0668.

Thanks to all the parishioners who donated clothing for the Dress For Success clothing drive. You made a difference in a woman’s life. Your gift helped a woman interview for a job feeling confident and dressed for success.

Our next meeting is Wednesday February 6, in Hamilton Hall from 7-9pm. We will be making crafty name tags and holding a Book Swap. So bring any books, children or adult that you would like to swap and come see what everyone else has to offer. There will be Valentine treats and drinks. Also note our monthly Child outing will be Friday 2/22/08 at Crossgate Lanes, please RSVP if interested. Also our Book Club is reading The Choice by Nicholas Sparks and will be meeting Monday 2/25/08 at 7pm, location TBA. SVF MOMS GROUP has a lot going on and we would love for you to come join us. Please contact Heather Leland, dhleland@fuse.net, (513) 985-0617 if interested. Hope to see you soon!

This year’s event will take place immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday, March 9th, and will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blue Ash at the I-71 / Pfeiffer Road Exit. A full service breakfast buffet will be provided. As always, this uplifting event is open to every male member of the parish, and extended family and guests are invited to attend. To better accommodate the hotel catering staff, please RSVP to John V. Mock by February 29th @ 513.504.6972 or preferably via email to: jvmock@fuse.net. Be sure to indicate the number of adults and children under 12 that will be attending. Make checks payable to St. Vincent Ferrer Church and send to John Mock at 6730 Michael Drive, 45243-2022. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 for children under 12. There is a family rate of $20.

About the speaker: Steve Specht will be the featured speaker at the annual SVF Father-Son Communion Breakfast. Mr. Specht is the Head Varsity Football Coach at St. Xavier High School. The Associated Press has personally recognized Coach Specht as Coach of the Year. The topic of his talk will focus on the importance of a faith-based vision in life with an emphasis on how he has applied it in the game of football.

MARDI GRAS 2008

Invitations have been mailed out for Mardi Gras 2008. The date is February 9^th. Send in your reservations as soon as possible because space is limited. This year there will be the Reverse Jester Raffle (split the pot). The last Jester laughing will split the winnings with St. Vincent Ferrer. There will be the Queen’s Key Club; one winner will hold the key to open the Crown Jewel. There are other surprises all through the night, so do not delay, mail in your reservation today. Any questions, please call Patti Lowe at 910-0668.

The Golden Wedding Jubilee Anniversary Mass, for couples celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 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 2.

The upcoming Cincinnati Catholic Men’s Conference is Saturday, March 1, 2008. We are planning to have all St. Vincent Ferrer attendees sit together. For more information call Mark Wellinghoff at 891-3511. Conference speakers include: University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly, TV’s The Apprentice finalist, Tarek Saab, Pastor of St. John’s in West Chester, Father Mark Burger. Tickets are $40 and include lunch.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m.; 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.

FEBRUARY 11, 2008 MARKS 150^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITION OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER AT LOURDES, FRANCE

A plenary indulgence to all the faithful is granted by The Holy Father if you visit A blessed image of our Lady of Lourdes in any church. In Cincinnati The Shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Western Hills is the dedicated Shrine. For details visit their parish web page at www.lourdes.org

You are responsible for finding your own substitute if you are unable to work on your assigned date. There will be a list in the parish office in the Bingo mailbox listing names & numbers.

We need to receive all articles in writing by Monday at 3:00 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.

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 6, 2008

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Friday, February 8, 2008

Calendar for the Week

Monday, February 4, 2008

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Friday, February 8, 2008

Sunday, February 10, 2008

RITE OF SENDING FORTH FOR ELECTION

ST. VINCENT FOR THE POOR

Tax Letters for Donations in 2007

$16,455 Earned through December…

PARISH LIBRARY

HAPPY WANDERERS

MARDI GRAS 2008