EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

After the 8AM Mass on Fridays in the chapel

ROSARY

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.

Moms and children’s Rosary group every Friday from 10AM to 11:30AM.  Call MaryAnn at 922-3461 before you come for the first time.

Adult Volunteers: Julie Ashe,   Kathy Grimm

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

FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Parishioners,

       I was simply staggered when I realized that at least fifty million (that's 50,000,000!) of our citizens have died because they were aborted.  For that reason and for all offenses against life, the Bishops have called upon us to do penance on Tuesday, January 22, the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision which was the catalyst for some many deaths and a coarsening of our nation's moral fiber. That is why a special Mass has been scheduled on Tuesday, January 22, at 7:30 pm so that we can make some small reparation for so much blood shed.  Likewise, other Christians sense the need to repent; recently I read the following quote in a local paper which referred to "The Call Ohio:" There's such a rich history here with the Underground Railroad and we're going to tap into that history with our prayer, and that God would begin to work in Cincinnati as he did with the Underground Railroad on the issue of abortion.  We're asking God to come in and break through, not politics."  Indeed, we are asking God to break through and renew our respect for life from natural conception to natural death.  By the time you read this, I will be made an uncle as the result of an adoption; my nephew is here because his birth mother told my sister, his adopting mother: "I do not believe in abortion."  Each time I hold that child I praise God that she gave him the gift of life, sustained it in her womb and made the heroic sacrifice to surrender her child to a couple who wanted to become a family.

40 HOURS AND ADORATION

Beginning on Friday, February 1, 2008 St. Antoninus parish will observe 40 hours of devotion to and adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.  Adoration begins after the 8:00a.m. Mass that morning and will go until 10:00p.m.on Saturday, February 2^nd.  The closing of 40 hours will take place at the end of the 11:30 Mass on February 3^rd with a procession and benediction.  Incense will be used both on Friday morning and at end of the 11:30 Mass that weekend.  Please take some time to pray before our Eucharistic Lord that weekend by signing up for one or more 30 minutes slots.  The sign-up sheet is in the greeting room of the church.

Biggs and Kroger Gift Cards are on sale in the church elevator hallway after all weekend Masses, and at the rectory, M-F from 8AM to 3 PM. 2008 Entertainment and Zone Books will be sold until January 14^th.

THE ST. ANTONINUS WAYS & MEANS COMMISSION

16^TH RUNNING OF THE NITE AT THE RACES AND MONTE CARLO

Will be in the undercroft on Saturday, February 16.  Doors open at 7PM.  Post Time is 8PM.  Hors d’oeuvres, snacks, refreshments served all evening.  $15 admission fee at the door.  Split the Pot tickets and race forms in the mail.   If you cannot come to this event, you can still join the fun by buying a horse and Split the Pot tickets. Mail form with your check to 1500 Linneman Road, 45238, Attn; Nite at the Races.  Thank you.

St. Antoninus Tuition Assistance Program donation request:  Christ has called us to care for each other.  To answer that call, St. Antoninus has developed a Tuition Assistance Program, supported by parishioners to help fellow parishioners pay their tuition.  TAP is also supported by funds from PTO.  Tuition assistance is provided 3 times a year to school families that are having financial hardship and apply for assistance. This is different than “Parish School Support” or the School Endowment in that the TAP donation directly pays the families’ current year school tuition bills.  Please pray for its success.

Tuition Assistance Applications are available for families having financial hardship this current 07-08 school year.  In-parish school families with children in grades 1-8 may apply for assistance to offset part of their tuition.  Applications must be received in the school or parish office by Thursday January 31, 2008.  Awards will be made in early February.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

    In the Gospel today, John testifies that Jesus is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.  The revelation of Jesus’ identity – how He is made known in the world – is mediated by the way we live our lives everyday.  As you place your gift in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul poor box, know that you are a sign of God’s love to those who are suffering and you give them reason to believe and to trust.

GATHERING OF LITURGICAL MINISTERS

On Saturday, February 2^nd, during the parish weekend of 40-hours, all liturgical ministers (lectors, ushers, music ministers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) are invited to attend the 8:00a.m. Mass, silent adoration until 9:00a.m., coffee and donuts in the undercroft and a presentation by David Endres, our seminarian intern.  There will also be mention of several “business” items.  This meeting will end no later than 10:00a.m.  So that we may adequately prepare, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder if you plan to attend (922-4759).  You may also e-mail him at: w8cro@arrl.net.  Please plan to join us.

ADULT SOCIAL GROUP

Friday, February 1, Steering Committee meeting at 1 PM in the Holy Family Room.

Monday, February 11, Communion Service and lunch starting at 12:30 PM.  $9.00 per person.  A presentation by Eldermount.  Reservations due by February 6. Drop envelope marked “Adult Social Group” at rectory or in the collection basket.

YOUTH CLUB meeting will be on Sunday, January 27, after the 11:30 AM Mass with lunch.   YMCA Lock-In on February 22, from 9PM to 1 AM  includes swimming, volleyball, basketball and more! Call Julie Heil for permission slips and details at 922-3848.

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL, MR. JACK COREY

The theme during Catholic Schools Week is, “Catholic Schools Light the Way.”  While I have not received confirmation of all the scholarship offers, so far our eighth graders have earned over $100, 000.00 in scholarship offers.  This includes more boys accepted into Elder’s Honors program than any other elementary school and over 20% of our girls getting scholarship offers.  The commitment to quality Catholic education from our parishioners, parents, students and staff allows St. Antoninus School to “Light the Way”.   

The week will begin with our Open House on January 27^th, after the 11:30 Mass.  I encourage all parishioners to come and see the great things that go on at St. Antoninus School.  I would especially encourage all prospective parents to come to our Open House.

Last year we were fortunate enough to have the space available to open another section of kindergarten.  With the addition of last year’s kindergarten, we no longer have the option to expand our program.  When the kindergarten and first grade programs are full we will run a waiting list.  Registration begins Sunday, February 3, after all the Sunday Masses.  Kindergarten registration is on a first come first serve basis.

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

            How do you deal with suffering?  Our Holy Father tells us that it is a valuable tool when offered to God for the redemption of sin and the salvation of souls.  Accepted in this way it brings untold blessings and graces.  Fay Brinck recently experienced this and will share her witness on Tuesday night.  At some time in our lives we will, all thru periods of sorrow or suffering.  It’s called “picking up your cross”.  When we offer it to Jesus in a spirit of love He replies with unexpected peace and blessings.  God is love.  In chapel at 7:30 PM

THE ATHLETIC CLUB is looking for a volunteer to serve as Gym Coordinator.  Steve Niehauser is willing to assist the new coordinator.  For info please call Steve at 922-2670, Todd Logan at 922-1782 or Scott Reiter at 922-5002.

THE ST. ANTONINUS GIRL SCOUT FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE will be held on Saturday, January 26, in the undercroft from 7PM to 9PM.  The cost is $5 per girl and dads are free.

Federal Privacy Regulation- HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) prohibits all hospitals from informing churches of a patient’s presence unless the patient gives permission for the hospital to do so.  If you are admitted to a hospital and would like a member of the clergy or a deacon to visit you.

If you or someone you know is sick, homebound or near death and would like a visit from a priest, deacon or Eucharistic ministers, please call the parish office Monday thru Friday between 8 AM – 3 PM at 922-5400.

A NOTE FROM OUR

SEMINARIAN INTERN,

MR. DAVID ENDRES

This week marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that overturned state and federal laws that outlawed or restricted abortion.  Since that decision, over 40 million children have been aborted in this country.  This week I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. along with other seminarians to take part in the annual March for Life.  As members of a generation scarred by abortion, we feel strongly that as Christians we need to support mothers and their unborn children.  What can you do to support life?  Pray for the conversion of hearts needed to end abortion and support our local pregnancy centers that work to give mothers the material and spiritual assistance to choose life.

FINGERPRINTING FOR VOLUNTEERS   Here is some clarification of the Archdiocesan policies regarding fingerprinting/background checks and the need for them to be repeated:  1. Whenever there is a change of service, volunteers and employees need to be re-fingerprinted.  Volunteers who have move from one parish and begin at another, need to be re-fingerprinted.   2. If a volunteer or employee has been inactive for more than one year, they need to be re-fingerprinted. If you have questions or concerns, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759.

To report abuse in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, call Sister Mary Garken, the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator at 421-3131 x352 as well as secular legal authorities.

SETON HIGH SCHOOL is sponsoring a Troops Collection Drive during Catholic Schools Week.  The community is invited to donate items for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Please drop off the items at the main office of Seton High School on Monday, January 28, thru Thursday, January 31, from 8AM to 3PM.  For a list of items see www.setoncincinnati.org.  Cash donations will be accepted to help pay the shipping cost.

Want to enhance our ministerial skills?  Want to learn more about the Catholic Church and your faith?  The Lay Pastoral Ministry Program is now accepting applications for both the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Certificate (non-degree) programs.  Classes for the three year masters program are held on the main campus, The Athenaeum of Ohio, 6616 Beechmont Avenue in Mt. Washington.  The two year Certificate program will begin with first year classes on Saturday’s at St. Dominic’s Parish in Delhi, beginning in the fall of 2008.  Completion of either option fulfills the pre-requisite for application to the Permanent Deaconate.  For dates and times of upcoming Informational Meetings please call the LPMP office at 231-1200.

St. Dominic Class of 1979 Reunion on March 1, 2008.  We will begin by attending the 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Dominic, followed by a tour of the school and a reception in O’Connor Hall.  We have been unable to locate 35 class members.  Therefore, if you have not been notified about the reunion, please e-mail Terri Bemerer Gruen at tgruen1116@yahoo.com or call her at 251-2284 to make your reservation.

12 TIPS FOR STRENGTHENING CATHOLIC FAMILIES

1. Plan and do things together as a family

2. Pray daily for each family member

3. Eat meals together

4. Go to church as a family

5. Ask for forgiveness from each other

6. Go to the sacraments together

7. Pray together- when the Spirit leads you!

8. Choose a patron saint for yourself and also

   for your family

9. Cultivate family customs—use the old and

   create new ones

10. Pray for vocations to married life and religious

    life

11. Celebrate family anniversaries, baptisms and

    birthdays

12. Tell stories of faith from your family history

To all Athletic Association Officers, Coaches, Athletes, and Parents of the St. Lawrence Deanery:

We, the pastors of the St. Lawrence Deanery, recognize that there is a strong tradition of sports on the Westside of Cincinnati, and we know that the participation of youth in sports programs brings many benefits to their formation as human beings, as well as social interaction among their families.  We would like for youth sports programs to continue to flourish and we thank those who are involved in the hard work of organizing these programs.

A concern that we have raised in the past is that Sunday, especially Sunday morning should always be respected as a special time set aside for worship.  Our last deanery-wide communication about this was a letter over ten years ago, in which we asked that no sports activities be scheduled before 1:00 PM on Sundays.  We think that the time has come to do this again, as many of you may not be aware of this policy.  Also, many of us have been appointed recently to the parishes of this Deanery, and we believe that it is important to communicate explicitly our thoughts on the matter.

While there are many times that Catholics can go to Mass on the weekend, most of the liturgies are scheduled on Sunday morning, the Lord’s Day.  It is important that worshiping our Lord in the liturgy not be something that has to be squeezed into the schedules of families with children.  It should always have first priority and no recreational event of any kind can have precedence over it.  Also, some sports activities involve children and youth from Protestant congregations whose main worship services are usually offered on Sunday mornings.

Therefore, we ask that no Catholic athletics sports events, even tournament games, be scheduled on Sundays before 1:00 PM, and that teams sponsored by Catholic athletic associations refuse to participate in leagues and tournaments that have games beginning before 1:00 PM on Sundays.  We also ask Catholic parents not to allow their children to participate in games sponsored by secular athletic associations on Sundays, before 1:00 PM.  We expect Catholic parents to voice their concern to coaches.

We know that this may involve some sacrifice, especially at first.  However, we hope and have reason to believe that, if this policy is made clear and Catholic coaches and parents give due diligence in supporting it, the policy would be easier to follow.