January 29th, 2012

Please remember in your prayers John Humphrey and Anthony Capocciama, who died and were buried this past week.  May God grant them the peace of Heaven and consolation to their families.  We also express our sympathy to Ron Belford on the death of his mother, Elnora Belford.  May she rest in the peace of the Lord.

News from Our Lady School
Sunday, 1/29     Catholic Schools Week begins  
                 Collection "Savings for St. Paul"
                 (Monday-    Wednesday) - filling class jugs with monetary donations for our H2O for Life Project

Monday, 1/30    All School Mass - 8:30 AM
              Awards Assembly in gym for 2nd quarter
              Book Fair in Library - 10:15-2:15
              All students wear regular uniform

Tuesday, 1/31   Book Fair in Library - 10:15-2:15
              All students wear regular uniform

Wednesday, 2/1   Various Health and Fitness Activities for students - 9:00-1:30
                Book Fair in Library - 10:15-2:15
                All Students wear gym clothes and crazy socks

Thursday, 2/2       The Trial of Mother Goose - middle school drama - 9:30 AM in gym
                Book Fair in Library - 10:15-2:15
                Middle School Talent Show - 1:00 PM in gym
                Open House with Book Fair in Library and Science demonstrations in Mrs. Freeman's room and Ms. Hartley's room - 6:00 PM
                The Trial of Mother Goose - middle school drama - 7:00 PM in gym
               Middle School Talent Show - 7:30 PM in gym
               Dress like a hero - for classes that have reached their Savings for St. Paul goal

Friday, 2/3        Our Lady Spirit Day
             Grades K-2 Science demonstration presented by "The Works"
             Book Fair in Library - 10:15-2:15
             Cheerleaders and Teachers vs. 8th Grade Volleyball Game - 1:00 PM in gym
             All students wear Our Lady spirit wear
     
Registration for the upcoming school year 2012-2013 for families new to the school will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2012 in the school gym from 10:30 am (immediately following the 9:30 Mass) until noon.  You must bring a copy of your child's birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and any custody papers that may apply to your family.  There is a $30.00 non-refundable registration fee and a $100.00 deposit due with your paperwork.  We look forward to seeing your child on this date!

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
The RCIA topic for this up-coming Thursday, February 2,  will be “Commandments 1,2,3” chapters 25-27.  All are welcome from 7-9 pm in the Parish Life Center.

First Reconciliation Retreat
The retreat is Saturday, February 11, 1-4 pm. Registration forms were distributed at the parent meeting and are still being accepted.  Questions? Call 875-9345. All students receiving reconciliation for the first time are expected to attend. Family First Reconciliation will be held Tuesday, February 28, at 6:30 pm.

Feb. 4th.   5pm  The Life Teen Mass with Fr. Gribble!  After Mass, HS teens & 8th graders are invited to stay for a Coffee House in The Life Center.  Live Music, specialty coffees, sandwiches & desserts!

Feb. 12 & 19th.  No Life Night!  Core & Lifeguard meetings for Retreat Planning!  4-7pm

Feb. 26th.  Retreat Kickoff!  Time to be announced!

Mark your calendars & get your registration in for Life Teen's Annual Retreat:  March 9-11th at Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center.  Cost is $130. 

Health and Wellness Committee
As members of the Faith Community Nursing and Health Ministry sponsored by Ohio Health, our group is collecting feminine hygiene products for the homeless. Requested items include:

New underwear (any size), sanitary napkins, tampons, soap, deodorant, non-scented powder, tooth brushes / tooth paste , lotion, vaseline, socks, shampoo / conditioner, combs / brushes, hair holders, ethnic products such as hair oil, large teeth combs, skin cream, toilet paper, hand sanitizer / wipes. Full size bottles, not travel size are requested.

Parishioners may bring items to the Life Center after weekend Masses on Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, February 5.  Products collected by all participating churches will be delivered to the homeless as an Easter offering. Thank you in advance for your generosity to the least of our brethren.

Banns of Marriage  are announced for  Clare Sorenson from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Mitchell Davis from St. John’s  Parish, Logan, Ohio.  Congratulations! 

NEXT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, IS THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.  We invite you to participate in the 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which will be exposed for all to pray and visit from 9:00 a.m. on Friday until 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.  In the Gathering Area, there is a sign-in sheet, made out in half-hour increments, where you can sign for as much time as you wish.  The purpose of this sheet is to make sure that the Blessed Sacrament is never unattended.  The substitute list is for those who are willing to come when no one has signed for that time. Please avail yourself to the wonderful blessings and graces given those who choose to spend time with the Lord.

Fr. Shonebarger Memorial

Catholic High School Students speak with Bishop Campbell on AM 820.   Tune into St. Gabriel Catholic Radio AM 820 on Tuesday, February, 7, 2012 at 5 p.m.  to the third annual High School Student Forum with Bishop Campbell.  If you miss this special program, please remember you  can download the audio at stgabrielradio.com.

Dear  Parishioners,

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians this weekend, we discover that everyone has a reason to be anxious.   According to Paul, if you are unmarried you worry about being holy, and if you are married you worry about the things of the world.  In my experience, such worries have nothing to do with one’s state in life, rather everyone has some level of anxiety about the things of the world and the things of the spirit.   Yet, we are told that God does not want us to worry.  Not at all.  Is that really possible?

It may not be possible to live in peace 24/7, but there is a way to be “protected from all anxiety,” as we used to pray in the Mass after the Lord’s prayer before the new Roman Missal took over.  Instead of placing our anxiety at odds with our faith, perhaps we can learn to use our angst as a tool to direct us to faith, to the place of peace where God lives.  I can use my unrest as a rudder to guide me to the calm within the storm, even though I may not be able to stay in the calm forever.

St. Augustine wrote in his classic Confessions, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God.”  And St. Catherine of Siena wrote in her Dialogues, “Worry is a monologue, prayer is a dialogue.”  These words are consoling for this anxious soul.  Even here and now we can experience moments of great calm that sustain us until we can live in peace 24/7.

I am slipping away today (Sunday, Jan. 29th) for some vacation, to find some calm and peace for awhile.  My friend, Fr. Jim Ruef, and I are going to Kiowa Island, off the coast of Charleston, SC; a mutual friend graciously allows us the use of his home there.  Though I am sure we will explore some of the beautiful spots of Charleston, this is primarily a rest and relaxation vacation in (hopefully) a warmer place than central Ohio in February.  But rest assured that I never take a vacation from prayer.   In my morning and evening prayer, Masses, and walks on the beach I will carry each of you in prayer, as I do daily, asking God to bless you with calm and peace.  I’ll be back in the parish on Saturday, February 11.

Love,
Fr. Dan

From Bishop Frederick F. Campbell…….
As Christians in the world we do not live isolated from the problems and the troubles of the larger community.  In Central Ohio,  the demand for emergency shelter has skyrocketed, particularly for families.  The Community Shelter Board will renew its community wide campaign entitled “One Day to End Homelessness” on January 31, 2012.  The campaign is designed to raise funds for emergency shelter and other services to the homeless in Central Ohio by appealing to donors to give the equivalent of one day’s rent or mortgage payment to help house those without a home. The campaign will run from January 31 to February 29, 2012.   The Community Shelter Board’s website (www.onedaytoendhomelessness.org) has been set up to receive funds.

The Marriage and Family Life Office and the Diocesan Marriage Ministries Leadership Council call your attention to World Marriage Day, February 12, 2012.  Plan to celebrate this special day at St. Elizabeth Pastors’ Hall from 3:00-5:00 p.m.  St. Paul Parishioners Tony and Donna Bonina will present The Lasting Promise: Nurturing Active, Lifelong Love, a relationship enhancement program for Catholic couples based on the book The Power of Commitment by Scott M. Stanley.  Light refreshments will follow.  Contact the Marriage and Family Life Office at 241-2560 or FLOMailbox@colsdioc.org to register by Monday February 6, or for additional information.

The Holy Father urges us to “collect our thoughts in silence and meditate on what the Lord wants to teach us.”  What better time than Lent? The Catholic Laywomen’s Retreat League invites all women in the diocese to a silent retreat March 2-4, 2012 at St. Therese's Retreat Center, East Broad Street, Columbus. The retreat begins Friday evening and ends Sunday at noon.  Father Stash Dailey, Associate Pastor of Saint Michael, Worthington is the retreat director.  His theme will be “Coming to Know Jesus Through Mary.”  For more information or to register, send e-mail to  retreatleague@gmail.com or call Sharon Gehrlich at  614-882-1946.  Respond soon.  The deadline is February 20, 2012 and space is limited.

Save the date – Bishop Hartley Style Show and Luncheon! 
The 21st Annual Bishop Hartley Style Show and Luncheon will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Columbus Country Club.  Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.  Look for further details in your upcoming parish bulletins.  Mark your calendars now!

The next Pre-Baptismal Class will be held on Thursday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Office.  If you would like to attend, please call the Parish Office (875-3322) to register.

CAKE BINGO   
Let’s Get Ready to Bingo!!!!

Mark your calendars for our annual Cake Bingo!  This event is for all family, friends, and neighbors!  Cake Bingo is Saturday, February 11, from 6-8 pm.  Pizza and ticket order forms are available in the Gathering Space.  We will of course need volunteers to bake all the yummy prizes!  Any questions, please contact Julie Freeman at jfreeart@aol.com!  See everyone on the 11th!!

Save the Date!
This year's Our Lady Athletics Golf Outing will be Saturday, June 9, at 1:30pm. We are returning to Westchester Golf Course in Canal Winchester. Anyone interested in helping with the coordination, please contact Scott Lindsey (sflindsey@yahoo.com) or Jerry Testa (cal08@wowway.com).

OFFERTORY FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 8, 2012:

Envelope Offerings (661) $18,759.00
Loose Check Offerings (19) 525.00
Loose Offerings       446.50
Total $19,730.50

1/22/2012 – JOB FAIR COLLECTION - $2,674.00

May God reward you with His blessings for your continued support of your parish.

MONEY COUNTERS FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2012 – TEAM #4