Parish Weekly Bulletin

March 4, 2007

 

2006-2007

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

 

Chairperson           Tom Kronenberger  792-0109

Vice-Chairperson     Gerald Shannon   791-9313

Member-at-Large     Bill Mountel           793-7634

Member-at-Large     Mary Kay Lynch   731-7155

Member-at-Large     Chris Homan        745-9958

Member-at-Large     Mark Maxwell       793-6559

Member-at-Large     Angie Broughton  793-1926

Athletics                  Rick Sanz            791-0545

Building & Finance   Ray Bauman        984-4239

Religious Ed.           Sue Gleason         891-4280

School Comm.         Allen Arthur           984-1984

Worship                   Karen Hulefeld      984-3664

Development Comm.  Patty Lowe            793-1112

Community Life          Sandie Wubbolding  561-1911

Social Justice Comm.  Chris Homan        745-9958

Festival Comm.       Sharon Molinaro    936-0004   

Communication & Volunteer Recruitment Comm.

                               Mitch Baker          793-1992

 

NETWORK OF CARE

 

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 Tom Sweeney (791-3939) or Judy Verny (791-6321).

 

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).

 

St. Vincent for the Poor – (791-9030)

 

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

or Ellen Brinker (791-7184).

 

Web site: www.svfchurch.org

 

Mass Intentions & Readings

for the Week

 

Monday, March 5, 2007

Dn 9:4b-10  Lk 6:36-38

8:30 AM            Adrian Miciano

                        Birthday/1st Anniversary                         

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Is 1:10,16-20  Mt 23:1-12

8:30 AM            Paul Flood        

 

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Sts. Perpetua & Felicity

Jer 18:18-20  Mt 20:17-28

8:30 AM            Frank Hulefeld

 

Thursday, March 8, 2007

St. John of God

Jer 17:5-10  Lk 16:19-31

8:30 AM            Communion Service      

 

Friday, March 9, 2007

St. Francis of Rome

Gn 37:3-4,12-13a17b-28  Mt 21:33-43,45-46

8:30 AM            Rudy Emerson  

 

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Mi 7:14-15,18-20  Lk 15:1-3,11-32

5:00 PM            Roberta Jean Rakel

                        Birthday Remembrance

 

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Third Sunday of Lent

Ex 3:1-8a,13-15  1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12  Lk 13:1-9

9:00 AM            Harry Vennemeyer

10:30 AM          The members of St. Vincent Parish

12:00 Noon        Ruth Osterwisch

 

Calendar for the Week

 

Monday, March 5, 2007

6:30 AM                        Communion Service – Chapel

8:30 AM                        Mass-Church

9:15 AM                        Solemn Exposition- Chapel 

(Stop in for 15 minutes)

6:30 PM                        Development - B

7:15 PM                        GIFT – Chapel/HH

 

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

6:30 AM                        Communion Service – Chapel

8:30 AM                        Mass – Church

7:00 PM                        Athletic Comm. – A

7:00 PM                        PTO Board Mtg - Library

 

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

6:30 AM                        Communion Service – Chapel

8:30 AM                        Mass –Church

3:00 PM                        Girl Scouts- Aud

4:15 PM                        GCCTM idea swap-HH

7:00 PM                        Evensong – Church

7:00 PM                        SVF Mom’s Group-HH

7:30 PM                        Faith Sharing- A/Chapel

7:45 PM                        Rel Ed Mtg – Rel Ed Office

 

Thursday, March 8, 2007

6:30 AM                        Communion Service

8:30 AM                        Communion Service –Church

5:00-10:00 PM               Scrapbooking – Aud

6:00 PM                        Poetry Reading-HH

7:00 PM                        4th Grade Family Reconciliation – Church

7:00 PM                        Communication - B

 

Friday, March 9, 2007

6:30 AM                        Communion Service

8:30AM                         Mass – Church

9:30 AM                        Bible Study – A

5:00 PM                        Fish Fry - Aud

7:00 PM                        Stations of the Cross-Church

 

Saturday, March 10, 2007

3:30-4:30 PM                 Confessions-Church

5:00 PM                        Mass  –Church

 

Sunday, March 11, 2007

9:00 AM                        Mass (1st Scrutiny) – Church

9:00 AM                        PREP

10:30 AM                      Mass - Church

10:30 AM                      EC

12:00 PM                      Mass –Church

2:00 PM                        Living Church gathering-Aud

7:30 PM                        Bible Study-A

8:00 PM                        AA - Room B

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

  Today’s Gospel about the Transfiguration tells of Peter, John and James seeing Jesus transfigured in their presence.  They see Jesus in a luminous radiance and hear a heavenly voice identifying Jesus as the “Chosen Son” and commanding them to “listen to Him”.

  Throughout Lent, we listen to the Word of God in Scripture and deep within our hearts.  We experience our faith growing stronger, and we bear witness to the Chosen Son in how we accept and bear our own daily crosses.

Living the Word: Can you remember a time when your faith transfigured you and you were able to deal peacefully and steadily with a difficult time?

 

PASTOR’S DESK

 

SVF/ALL SAINTS MISSION SCHEDULED

  St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints 

parishes will jointly host a Mission

March 12-15, featuring speakers Jeanne Hunt, Director of Faith Formation, Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield, and Al Cucchetti, Retreat Coordinator, Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford.  Both are powerful speakers in their own right, and together, most inspiring.

  The Monday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 14 sessions will be held at St. Vincent; the Tuesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 15 sessions will be at All Saints.  All evening sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m.

  On March 13, Reconciliation will be offered at All Saints; on March 14 choirs from both parishes will present a Lenten concert at St. Vincent.

  For those finding it difficult to attend an evening session, morning sessions will follow the 8:30 a.m. Mass on March 13 and 15 at St. Vincent’s and a morning session will follow the 8:30 a.m. Mass on March 14 at All Saints.  Each will be about an hour in length.

 

PARISH LENTEN RECONCILIATION SERVICE

The Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service will be celebrated at All Saints Church (As part of our Inter-Parish Mission) on Tuesday March 13 at 7:00 p.m.  There will be five priest confessors.

 

PRAY FOR THE ELECT

It was a real joy to celebrate the Rite of Sending Forth with our catechumens and Candidates for Full Communion in the Church along with their sponsors last Sunday – and then to accompany them to the Cathedral for the Rite of Election.  Please keep these Candidates in your prayers as they prepare for the Easter sacraments.

 

LENTEN EVENSONG AND STATIONS

  A reminder that we will be celebrating Lenten Evensong on Wednesday March 7th, March 21st and March 28th at 7:00 p.m.

  Another opportunity for prayer during Lent is the Stations of the Cross which will be prayed in the Church each Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. 

 

ARCHDIOCESAN FUND DRIVE

Today we begin the Archdiocesan Annual Fund Drive.  Your support makes possible a wide variety of ministries throughout the Archdiocese.  It is also a major source of funding for the Retirement Fund for Diocesan Priest, the education of seminarians and lay ministers, and St. Rita School for the Deaf.  A pledge card has been sent to each member of the parish.  Our parish’s goal this year is $31,000.  Please know that every gift is important no matter how large or small it may be.

 

PRAYERS FOR SR. KAYE IN THE LOSS OF HER BROTHER

Your prayers are requested for the soul of Robert Lednik whose Mass of Christian Burial was held March 1 at St. Peter’s Church in Hamilton.  Robert is the brother of Sr. Kaye, SVF Director of Religious Education.

 

                -Fr. George Kunkel

 

VOCATION VIEW

Are you listening to Jesus, the Chosen One?  Be open to what he reveals to you.  Let his message dwell in your heart. (Luke 9:28-36)

 

 

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

Kurt & Jodi Kastner

& children Samuel & Joseph

Matt & Janice Krumanaker

Ryan Opichka & Tyler Trolio

We trust that our parish will extend friendship and support to them.

 

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION PROGRAM

Parents are expected to attend the program prior to the baptism of their first child.  Godparents are welcome.  The program is offered quarterly.  The next program will be offered Sunday, March 18th at 1:15 p.m. in the Chapel.  Please call the Parish Office to register.

 

STEWARDSHIP OF OFFERING

 

Sunday Offering Information

Offering for 2/25/07 =                  $  16,965

Offerings Year-to-date = $657,837

Offerings Budget To-date =         $660,786

 

Current Total Parish Financial Information

Parish Revenue To-date =           $1,207,559

(including tuition and other)

Parish Expenses To-date =         $1,226,749

Parish Deficit Year-to-date =       $     59,190

 

Projected Fiscal Year-end Results

(Fiscal year ending June 30)

Revenue for the Fiscal Year =     $1,783,324

(Excludes debt reduction gifts)

Expenses for the Fiscal Year =   $1,894,803       

(Excludes debt payments)

Fiscal Year-end Deficit =            $   111,479

 

Report of Parish Debt

Current Parish Debt =                 $1,380,000

Total Debt Reduction Gifts =       $     27,209

Projected Debt at Year-end =      $1,352,791

 

 

FOCAS 50 Update: Keep the Good News Coming!

Good news: January was a strong month for our FOCAS 50 program!  The latest check (for the 4-week period ended January 20) was the biggest one yet for this fiscal year -- $2,860, versus a year-to-date average of $2,400.  This is great momentum for this important program that has generated $33,000 each of the last two years for our church and school.  Please continue to support this program each and every time you shop at Kroger!

 

Latest period (4 weeks ending 1/20/07): $2,860

Year-to-date Total Receipts (29 weeks ending 1/20/06):  $18,000

Cumulative Total since program started in July 2004:  $84,100

 

 

ST. VINCENT FOR THE POOR

Our next-door collection for our St. Vincent for the Poor Society will take place March 17 & 18.  The baskets will be in the back of Church.  Your generosity is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

In The Hospital or Recovering at Home:

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, Jean Funch-Conrad, Jean Cornett, Joe Crachiolo, Anne Durkin, Ginny Farrell, Ferd Forney, Virginia Howd, Sarah Kuczaj, Mary Langemeier, Shirley Milostan,  Mary Lou Runge, Tom Sweeney.

 

 

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:

St. Susanna – Mason - 398-3821

                3/10 – 9AM

3/26 – 7PM

Immaculate Heart of Mary – Beechmont

   Call 388-4466 to confirm!

2nd Monday of each month @7:30PM

3rd Wednesday of each month @ 4PM

 

PERMANENT FINGERPRINTING SITES:

Archdiocese of Cincinnati - 421-3131

100 E. 8th Street

Mon. ~ Fri., 9:00AM - 4:00 PM

 

Holy Trinity, Norwood – 366-4400

Mon. ~ Thurs., 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 

St. John, West Chester – 777-6433

Wed., 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Mon. & Tues., 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Sat., 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

 

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 Pastoral Associate, Judy Verny, in the Parish Office at 791-6321.

 

 

 

LENT ~ RECONCILE WITH GOD, SHARE HIS COMPASSION  On Ash Wednesday we began our annual pilgrimage of prayer and reflection in preparation for Easter.  This year in our liturgies and prayer services we will be highlighting the theme, “Reconciliation with God  ~ Share His Compassion.”  This is the season when the whole Christian community is called to repentance and a change of heart.  It is also the time when the members of the GIFT Program (R.C.I.A.) make their final preparation for the Easter sacraments.  As a parish, let’s accompany them on their faith journey and renew in our lives a true sense of conversion and commitment to the gospel of Jesus.

 

To help set a prayerful tone for these forty days, a Lenten booklet, which we prepared, was inserted in a previous bulletin.  The format has suggestions for Lenten practices and prayers such as an examination of conscience and different ways of fasting.  A calendar of the Lenten liturgies and services here at St. Vincent Ferrer is also part of its content.  In addition, each week, inserted in the bulletin, you will find daily scripture reflections, prayer suggestions and activities.  The daily reflections can also be accessed on the parish website, www.svfchurch.org.  Click on “Church” and then the Lenten Reflection link.

 

For your convenience we will have additional copies of the booklet and each week’s reflection in the back of church. 

 

We hope that this new format will be prayerful and easy to use.  The pastoral staff would appreciate your comments!

 

LENTEN EVENSONG

 

Please join us for our Lenten Evensongs on March 7th, 21st, and 28th at 7:00 PM in Church.

 

Evensongs are the evening prayer of the church that includes prayer, songs, scripture, psalms, and a time of reflection.

 

This year we have invited a parishioner to share his or her reflections for each evening on one of the Lenten scripture readings.

 

Evensong lasts about 45 minutes.

 

HAPPY WANDERERS

All persons over 55 are welcome to join us.

 

Joint Venture . . .

Next Sunday, March 11

St. Patrick’s Celebration ~The Celtic Tenors w/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Music Hall - 2PM Bus departure - Location TBA

Cost:  $58.50- includes bus & concert tickets

Need more info? See flyer in rear of church.

 

G.I.F.T. R.C.I.A.

 

THE SCRUTINIES

The Scrutinies are an integral part of the Lenten purification period for our Elect and Candidates who will be receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.  They are celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent.  The Scrutinies are prayers of protection and healing for the Elect and Candidates.  They raise up whatever keeps us from the transforming love of God, and they also raise up those dimensions of life that welcome the loving presence of God.

 

We celebrate the 1st Scrutiny Rite next Sunday (March 4) at the 9:00 Mass.  Please pray for our Elect and Candidates.  You’ll find their pictures in the vestibule of the main entrance to Church.

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

 

CONFIRMATION RETREAT

As part of their preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, Candidates will attend a retreat this Sunday, March 4th at SVF from 1:30 – 8:00 PM. 

Please consult your mailing for further details.

Please keep these young candidates in your prayers.

 

4th GRADE RECONCILIATION

Our fourth grade parish youth have recently completed a focused study of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  In conclusion, the children and their families will celebrate a special Communal Reconciliation Service Thursday evening, March 8th, at 7 PM.  Following the service the celebration will continue with a small reception in the Church.

 

PARISH LIBRARY

BOOKSHELF SPOTLIGHT

 

The Pilgrimage Way of the Cross

By:  Edward Hays         

Library Code:  Lent

 

The twenty Stations of the Cross in this volume are a creative blending of traditional stations along with new ones that reflect the complete Paschal Mystery of the Risen Christ. 

 

The reader is guided on a day-by-day pilgrimage experience of visiting the sites of the passion of Christ in and around the Holy City.

 

The Pilgrimage Way of the Cross is abundantly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and maps that together enhance this book’s lived experience of the ancient Holy City. It provides a profoundly moving first-hand experience for those who have never been to the Holy Land, and a rich reminiscence for those who have already traveled there. 

 

This is a deepening resource for every faithful disciple whom Jesus called to “Take up your cross and follow me.”

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OUTREACH

 

We Come to Share Our Stories:  A Look at Immigration from Both Sides of the Border
On March 10, 2007 the Catholic Relief Services’ Committee of the Catholic Social Action office will host a conference at the University of Dayton Kennedy Union from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.  It will explore the push and pull factors of immigration, the response of the Catholic Church, and global solidarity.  Please go to www.daytonimmigration.com for more information and a list of speakers.  SVF Social Justice and Outreach Commission has purchased a block of reservations to this conference.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Chris Homan at (513) 607-5996 by Thursday, March 8.

 

URBAN MISSIONARIES        

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 11th, 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 at 793-3031with questions. Donations may be directed to the Parish Office, Attention: Urban Missionaries.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

 

SVF SCHOOL NEWS

SVF School Stories

Did You Know??

Last week our school had many famous visitors!!  Yes, on Thursday, February 22, we welcomed Oprah Winfrey, Pope John Paul II, Abigail Adams, Walt Disney, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other notable guests. They were here on behalf of our annual, Seventh Grade-"Wax Museum." Under the direction and guidance of Mrs. Michele Frost, our junior high social studies teacher, each student selected a famous historical person to portray. All of our other students visited the museum (cafeteria) throughout the day. At 7:00pm that evening, the museum was open for all of our parents and parish community. Our thanks to Mrs. Frost and the students for doing such a great job!

 

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

  St. Vincent Ferrer School will participate in the Ohio Arts Council’s Artist in Residence Program Feb. 26 through March 9.  The school was one of 46 sites in Ohio to receive a grant to support an artist in residence during this school year.

  On Thurs, Mar. 8th, at 7 p.m., SVF core group students in grades 5 & 6 will showcase what they have learned by individually reading the poems that they have created.  This will be followed by refreshments.  The program will be hosted in Hamilton Hall.  All parishioners are invited to attend.  This same program will be repeated in the gym on Fri, Mar. 9th at 9 a.m.

  The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this residency at St. Vincent Ferrer School with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

 

THE STAR FUND         

The STAR fund stands for School Tuition Assistance Resource and is the parish’s primary resource to help families, in challenging circumstances, keep their children in our school.  Without these funds, SVF would lose students and the tuition dollars they pay. Yet, our costs of running the school would be virtually the same.  So, STAR funds help families AND the parish!  Since STAR donations assist students, they are not assessed by the Archdiocese.  Consider becoming a STAR donor by making a contribution to help others.  Any sized gift is accepted.  

 

ATHLETICS

 

FISH FRIES                    

It will be EASY to remember when the Fish Fry events will be held at SVF this year.  Due to increasing requests and great response from the parish, the Athletic Commission will be able to host a Fish Fry EVERY Friday in March!

We will be receiving additional assistance from our Boy Scouts and their families to help host the extra Fridays that we have added and our thanks to them for making this possible.

Please spread the word.  Plan to include your family and friends so we can make this a successful endeavor! If you know someone who works in the area, please tell them it's a great place to stop on the way home.  

Dates:   March 9, 16, 23 & 30 (every Friday in Lent except Good Friday).

Time:    5:00 - 7:00 PM

Menu:

 

FESTIVAL NEWS

 

Festival Golf Booth Captain

Interested in being a festival booth captain?  The golf booth co-captains are looking to pass the baton.   We will have the steps laid out very well and we are looking for some new energy to keep this unique to Cincinnati festival event alive and growing.   Please give George Bryce a call, 489-2792 or email at mountain4@gmail.com

 

OTHER PARISH NEWS

 

SVF MOMS GROUP is holding its next meeting on Wednesday March 7, 2007 from 7-9pm in Hamilton Hall. This month our speaker will be Dr. Mirkham from Children's Hospital to discuss child development stages and answer any questions we have about our own children. We will also have time to share our spring-cleaning tips. We would like to meet more moms of young children from Saint Vincent Ferrer at our meetings.  Any questions please contact Heather Leland (513) 985-0617 or dhleland@fuse.net.

 

MENS CLUB COMMUNION BREAKFAST

  Please mark your calendars

for the annual Father – Son    

Communion Breakfast.  Our speaker this year is Fr. Eric Knapp, S.J., Pastor of St. Xavier Church in downtown Cincinnati.  His experience includes working in counseling with juvenile delinquents in Detroit, the dying poor in Cleveland, family counseling in Bolivia, retreat ministry in California and Chicago, middle school teaching on the lower east side of New York City, and homeless shelter work in Boston and leading high school service groups to build houses in Peru.  Fr. Knapp will center his talk on how all men…boys, teenagers, singles and fathers…can leverage the power of prayer within each of us to recognize the unique gifts we all bring to God’s plan for us as instruments to his ultimate will. 

  This year’s event will take place immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday, March 18th, and will be held in the community building.  A catered 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 caterers, please RSVP to John V. Mock by 3/12/06 @ 608-5660 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.  The cost is $10 per adult and $5 for children under 12.  There is a family rate of $20.

 

GOLDEN WEDDING JUBILEE   

The Golden Wedding Jubilee Anniversary Mass, for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.  Please call the Parish Office, 791-9030 if you are celebrating your 50th Anniversary so that your name can be given to the Archdiocese and an invitation to the Mass issued.  All couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th, 70th or 75th Anniversary will be mailed a scroll.  The deadline to call the Parish Office is March 5.

 

BULLETIN DEADLINES

Dee Printing, the publisher of our bulletin would like to re-emphasize the importance of deadlines.  In order for them to provide us with a professionally printed bulletin 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.

 

AROUND TOWN

 

COLLEGE AGE MEN AND OLDER

You have a first-rate opportunity to see if priesthood is for you.  If you have ever thought about being a priest, if you desire to be a force for the Lord as a priest, you are invited to an informative “Welcome Weekend” at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary.  The weekend will give you an excellent sampling of what it would be like for you to be in training for the priesthood.  The date is, Friday, March 23 & Saturday, March 24.  To get more information and to make your reservation, please call the Vocation Office at 421-3131 or register over the Internet at www.cincinnativocations.org by March 21.

 

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

$1,000 Patty Bersche Memorial Opportunity Grant.  The Kenwood Woman’s Club is awarding 2 grants for the 2007-2008 school year.  In order to apply you must meet the following criteria: Must be a woman who wishes to further her education in order to re-enter the working world or needs continuing education units in her present job; Must live or work in the Kenwood area or in the Madeira/Indian Hill School Districts; Must attend an accredited school.  For an application contact: KWC Scholarship Chair, Suzanne Sagrati, 891-3280.  Application deadline is March 30.  Two years ago one of our parishioners won!