EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

After the 8AM Mass on Fridays in the chapel

ROSARY

11:30AM Marian Holy Hour w/ Rosary on Monday.

7:00 PM Fatima Prayer Group on Monday

After the 6:45 AM and 8 AM Masses Monday thru Friday and after the 8 AM Mass on Saturday.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

Adult Volunteers:  Julie Ashe, Joan Gay

Designate a gift to Saint Antoninus Church in your will and give witness to your faith. 

Dear Parishioners,

     I attended an all day lecture on Life Issues at Mt. St. Mary Seminary on June 22.  The presenter was Fr Tadeusz Pasholczyk who has his doctorate in neurobiology and is the director of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.  He covered In Vitro Fertilization, Embryonic Stem Cell Research and End-of-Life Issues.  The following is a summary of my notes on his presentation In Vitro Fetilization (IVF).

     IVF is the slippery slope of life issues because it puts embryonic humans on ice.  The TV program "Nova" produced "18 Ways to Make a Baby" and invited viewers to suggest more; Nova stated the number of methods is now 30.  On July 25, 1978, Louise Brown the first "test-tube" baby was born.  At that time the ethics of IVF was discussed.  However, that quickly faded and now embryos are graded Levels 1, 2, 3 and if eugenics is practiced, some of  the embryonic humans are destroyed.

     However, Pope John Paul II emphasized the sacredness of human life and procreation in The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae, 4). A foundational principle of Morality is that the end does not justify the means.  In this case, a good end, the desire for a child, does not justify IVF etc, to achieve it.  Yet, no matter how a child comes into the world, he or she is gift from God.

In Donum Vitae (Gift of Life, 2/22/87), the Holy Father emphasizes that the marital act is to be at one and the same time both love-sharing and life- giving.  It is to be a collaboration between the spouses and God.  In IVF, humans are treated as not equal to the mother and father because IVF is not true to the sexual self-giving between spouses.  The insight of natural law, which can be known to all humans by the light of reason, is that the marital act is the privileged place for the transmission of life.

     IVF undermines the meaning of sex, turning procreation into production, thus depersonalizing its very nature. Nevertheless, God binds Himself to His own universal laws, even though sinful human choices constrain His Hand.  Thus artificial contraception and IVF are two sides of one coin, opposed to the true meaning of the marital act: sex without babies/babies without sex.  Further dangers of IVF included frozen embryos which are treated as objects not subjects, the method of obtaining semen and eggs; "selective reductions" in the case of multiple births or low birth weight; elevated risk of birth defects; market forces e.g. "big money " in IVF technologies; little ethical oversight; "property rights"  on so-called "left-over" embryos.

     Donum Vitae makes the very important distinction between replacing the marital act with assisting in the procreation of children.  (It is important to point out that married couples have the right to acts per se apt for the generation of children, not to the children themselves.  Every child is a gift from God, no matter how the child is conceived.  But "how" is precisely the moral question here.) Dr. Hilgers of NaPro Technology.com at Creighton University has developed a means of assisting with procreation that cooperates with a woman's reproductive cycle.

     Father Tad concluded by reminding us that The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of Life and gave examples from Scripture of those who left progeny in the hands of God.  Likewise, we need to retool our thinking about adoption, other ways of ex-pressing faithfulness in marriage and celibacy.  Finally, the role of suffering, especially bearing the cross of infertility, has meaning and redemptive power in our lives.

-- Rev. Christopher R. Armstrong

LOURDES UPDATE

     If you wish to join this wonderful pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, please make your deposit for the trip ASAP.  For more info call Best Catholic Pilgrimages at 1-800-908-BEST.  Contact the rectory during office hours for a brochure listing the itinerary.

FRIDAY FAMILY FLICK   –  FRI. JULY 20^TH

     Family fun activities start at 8:00PM on the grass area near the main school entrance with a summer snowball fight, penguin races and bring your ingredients to make your own ice cream treat.  9PM showing of the movie “Happy Feet”.  See the parish website for more information.

BIBLE INSTITUTE

     One of the seminars offered this year is PARENTS: THE PRIMARY TEACHERS OF THE FAITH offered on Wednesday, July 25. Our pastor, Father Christopher Armstrong, will start his teaching at 9:00 AM. Other teachings will be offered by Janet Willig and Paul Autenrieb (both of our parish).  The day begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 4:30 PM with breaks (including lunch) and the Eucharistic Liturgy at 1:00 PM. Come and hear these inspiring teachers speak about a subject close to our hearts!

     For further info, please write Bible Institute Committee, P. O. Box 58308, Cincinnati, Ohio 45258 or call 922-0923 or 588-0425. 

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which adults formally prepare for Baptism, or, for those already baptized, reception into full communion with the Catholic Church.  If you know a family member, a friend, a co-worker or a neighbor who would like an invitation to the RCIA, please phone Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY  SAT., JULY 28

     Revised rules from Habitat for Humanity policy on construction youth volunteers.  Under 14 years of age are not allowed on site during construction.  Ages 14 and 15 can help with landscaping and clean up at the end of the build; and must have adult chaperone supervision.  Ages 16 & 17 can help with construction, but not allowed to operate power tools, work on roof, or work on scaffolding.  There must be one adult chaperone/ supervisor per each 5 youth volunteer.  18 and up can join any crew if approved by Construction Site Coordinator.  Call Deacon Bob at 922-4759 with any questions, and if this policy causes changes in your plans.

ADULT SOCIAL GROUP

Thursday, August 23, Toyota Plant, $20 p/p, lunch on your own.

Monday, September 10, 12:30 Communion service and lunch with Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

Wednesday, September 19, Rumpke trip. $12 p/p, depart at 9:30 AM.

THANK YOU to Thiemann Realtors

for advertising in our bulletin.

 “Caring for a Loved One-Caring for Yourself?”

July 28, from 9:30-11:30 AM, in the Saint Mary’s Room in the undercroft.  Doors open at 9AM.  Speaker: Mr. Gene McClory, Coordinator/Caregiver Assistance Network, Catholic Social Service will talk about stresses of care-giving and support services available. Call Linda Guetle at 451-1227 for reservations.

ST. ANTONINUS SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

JULY CLOSED;

AUGUST 1-10^th, 7:30AM to 11:30AM

Monday, AUGUST 13^th, 7:30AM to 3:00PM

REMEMBER THE POOR with your contributions to our St. Vincent de Paul Conference in the poor boxes at all of the church entrances.  Thank you for your generosity.

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

The Bible Institute is fast approaching-from July 20^th to 28^th.  On Tuesday the prayer group will gather to intercede for its’ protection and success.  If you cannot join us in chapel at 7:30 PM we sincerely solicit your prayers at home and at Mass.

Last Chance for Football Signups! 

 Call Jeff James @ 451-9199 or email @ jeffjames@fuse.net. Equipment Issue will be on Thursday, July 26th from 6-8PM for Varsity and PeeWee (5th - 8th Grade) and on Friday, July 27th from 6-8PM for Pony and Bantam (1st - 4th Grade)..

4TH QUARTER HONOR ROLL

Mother of Mercy High School: First Honors-

Camille C., Kristen K., Elizabeth B., and Kristin L. Second Honors- Alyssa P., Hannah S., Lisa R., Amanda M., Mary W., Michelle R., and Carol S.

St. Xavier High School: First Honors- Jacob K., Eric K., Patrick P., Nicholas R., Michael S., Steven S., Jovanie S. and Christopher V.

Second Honors- Steven C., Patrick G., Kevin H., Michael H., Mark H., Bradley K., Benjamin K., Zachary M., Christopher M., Bradley N., John P., Ambrose P., Andrew R., Patrick R., and Jacob S.