EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Every Friday after the 8AM Mass

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.

THE PARISH LIBRARY is open every Sunday morning in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft.

CONFESSIONS SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 10, 7:30PM – Fr. Armstrong

Saturday September 12, 3:00PM – Fr. Armstrong

BABYSITTING FOR THE 9:30AM MASS,

SUNDAY, September 20

Adult Volunteers: Gretchen Wrolstad,  Kate Hein

Students: Brian H., Karly H., Megan N.

See the Catholic Telegraph’s new website www.thecatholictelegraph.com for additional international news stories and other local information.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY will start on Monday, September 14, from 7:00 to 8:00 in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft.  If you have questions please call Mary Lynne Rapien at 922-0902.

In the second reading today, St. James has harsh words for those who do not put their faith into action. May we be such good stewards of God’s gifts to us that we can never be accused of having “faith that does nothing in practice”.    See James 2:17.

Remember St. Antoninus in your will. 

FROM OUR PASTOR

     I wish to continue with the Vision Statement: "I see a day when every member of St. Antoninus engages in Divine Worship...when every member goes to Mass every Sunday."  St. John Vianney reminds us in his Catechism: "All good works together are not of equal value with the Mass, because they are the works of men, and the Holy Mass is the work of God.  Martyrdom is nothing in comparison; it is the sacrifice that a man makes of his life to God; the Mass is the sacrifice that God makes to man of His Body and blood."  Sadly, only about half our members go to Mass every Sunday.  In order to make reparation for that and for my own sins, I have had our parish enrolled in the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face since November 10, 2003.  That is why the picture of the Holy Face of Jesus hangs above the tabernacle.  It also there to confirm in the practice of the Faith all those who keep the Lord's Day holy by going to Mass each Sunday.   There may be a reason for missing Mass like ill health or an act of charity; but sports’ practices, playing in games or attending them, going shopping or “sleeping in” – such things are in no way valid excuses. If God commanded us to "keep holy the Lord's Day," it seems to me we do well to do so.  Our eternal salvation may well hang in the balance.  Again, we turn to the Little Catechism of St. John Vianney: "Our first end is to go to God; we are on earth for no other purposes....Sunday is the property of our good God; it is His own day, the Lord's day.  He made all seven days of the week: He might have kept them all; He has given you six, and has reserved only the seventh for Himself.  What right have you to meddle with what does not belong to you?"

Fr. Christopher R. Armstrong 

The Chancery Office and the Worship Office has received a number of phone calls regarding the H1N1 flu and Mass.  At this time, our recommendation, is as it has been in the past during flu season: to encourage parishioners/students to take precautions such as frequent washing of hands, remain at home if they are sick, refrain from drinking from the cup and from shaking hands at the Sign of Peace if they are not feeling well.  The Archdiocese will follow directives of the USCCB and local and federal health authorities and will keep parishes and schools informed as the need arises.

Biggs, Kroger, Price Hill Chili and The Holy Grail Gift Cards are available during rectory office hours of Monday-Friday 8AM to 3PM and after all weekend Masses.

Re-Chargeable Kroger Card users: Thank you for using your St. Antoninus re-chargeable gift card, where 4% of all of your purchases are returned to St. Antoninus. If you carry a $0.00 balance for longer than 90 days, the card will be invalid, and you'll need to get a new card. If your card is invalid, please stop by after Mass to get a new card or request via your child / school office. Thank you!"

CISE APPEAL

You may use the envelope or use the poor boxes at the church entrances. Please make checks out to St. Antoninus Church with the notation in the memo line, CISE Appeal. Thank you.

ORIENTATION MEETING ON CHILD PROTECTION DECREE will be in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft at 7:30pm, October 12, and November 19. If you have attended an orientation meeting since August, 2003, you do not need to repeat it. For further info about these meetings and the background checks, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759.

REGISTRATION FORMS for our PREP program for Catholic students in public schools are available in the greeting room. PREP begins on Sunday, September 13th. If you have questions call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

This past Wednesday, September 9, was the feast of Blessed Frederick Ozanam, founder of our organization. If you would like to help carry on the good work of Blessed Frederick, we would be pleased to see you at the next meeting of the St. Antoninus Conference on Tuesday, September 15, at 3PM in the Holy Family Room in the undercroft. We are pleased to report that the August Fifth Sunday contributions to our St. Vincent de Paul Conference totaled $1,888. Thank you, parishioners, for your continued generous support of our charitable work.

RCIA TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft. If you plan to attend or if you know someone who would like to receive an invitation to RCIA, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME CONSTRUCTION ON FYFFE AVE.

From 8:00am to 3:00pm or any hours you can help, on September 19, October 17, and November 21. Call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759 or send e-mail to: w8cro@arrl.net.

LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH THE CHILDREN will begin on Sunday, September 20. We will offer the opportunity for children in grades 1 and 2 (until they have received their First Holy Communion), to participate in their own Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 Mass.

ST. ANTONINUS SUNDAY SCHOOL for 4 and 5 year-olds will be held in the school cafeteria during the 9:30 Mass beginning on Sunday, September 20. Registration will be held in the greeting room between the 9:30 and 11:30 Masses on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Students registered for the 4 year-old group must be eligible for Kindergarten in the fall of 2010.

EDUCATION COMMISSION meeting will be on Monday, September 21, at 7:30 PM in the school conference room. Visitors are always welcome. If a visitor would like to speak at the meeting, please call Marty Ludwig at 451-5270 by Monday, September 14, to be added to the agenda. The next meeting will be on November 16.

THE ST. ANTONINUS PRO-LIFE/PRO-FAMILY COMMISSION will meet in the church undercroft on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 PM. All interested persons are welcome. For more info, call Joan Loebker at 922-0348.

ATTENTION SINGERS!

Lift up your voice in song and become a part of the new St. Antoninus Adult Choir. We invite all interested singers (age 18 or older) to join. This group will lead the singing at the 11:30 a.m. Masses on the 3rd and 4th Sundays of each month. Regular scheduled rehearsals will be twice a month on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the school Music Room, with the first meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd. Please call Peg Delaney at the rectory (922-5400) for info and to set up an audition time. Come and help us give glory to God through prayer and song.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD! (Psalm 19:1) St. Antoninus has been awarded a new telescope by the Cincinnati Observatory. You are invited to a Jupiter night at Schott field on Saturday, September 26, beginning at 8:30pm.

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL – JACK COREY

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” This comes from the second reading today. The reading continues that faith without good works is dead. In other words, if all we have is faith, and we do nothing to strengthen it, our faith will atrophy over time. At St. Antoninus Parish School we teach religion and about faith. We provide opportunities for our students to help those in need through service projects such as the canned food drive, collections for our service men and women, fundraisers for charities, etc. But unless our students continue to practice their faith outside of school, it will wither as well. We can teach our faith in school every day, but we need our parents to bring our students to Mass every Sunday and stress to them the importance of daily prayer. If this does not happen, our children have little chance of being an engaged Catholic when they grow up. We are here to assist in the formation of your children. Together we give our children the best possible chance to remain Catholic all their lives and be happy in the next.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR begins on Saturday, October 3. Call Susan at 227-0844.

FROM OUR SEMINARIAN INTERN,

MATTHEW J. ROBBEN

The Call: We have all had it at one time or another: that little voice deep down inside that speaks to the heart, leading us to think, speak, and act in a Christian way. Is it an overactive imagination, our conscience, or the voice of God? However we label these experiences, they help shape and form who we are as people of God. My journey towards a vocation to the priesthood began with such an occurrence. Every Sunday, our family would rush to finish milking the cows, get cleaned up, and scurry into Noon Mass at St John the Baptist Church in Harrison. We always sat in the first two rows on the St Joseph side, youngest in the first pew and oldest in the back. On this particular Sunday, when I was about 5 years old, we ran into Church a little later than usual. Kneeling down to pray, I encountered that little voice invoking me to be a priest. Of course, the voice sounded just like that of my brother so I punched him in the shoulder saying “That’s not funny!” He screamed just as Father Mark rang the bell to begin Mass, which prompted Mom to reach forward and smack me on the head telling me to be quiet and behave. After Mass, my brother swore that he never said a word. This event continues to be influential in my discernment of the priesthood, but I realize that God’s call is not a one-time event! It is a continual process that leads to the transformation of my heart and will to His. This transformation is something that we all share as God calls each of us to share in his divine plan here on earth. Let’s pray that the Lord gives us the strength, courage, and grace to recognize and answer His call to live and share the Gospel this week!

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

The Scripture gives us several images as symbols of the Holy Spirit – fire, wind, the dove, and anointing oil. Each symbol reveals some facet of the Holy Spirit and His action in our lives. One of the most powerful is the image of life-giving water. This Tuesday, Mary Ann Metzner, a home-schooling mom from Northern Kentucky, will be our guest speaker on “RECEIVING THE RIVERS OF LIFE-GIVING WATER – THE HOLY SPIRIT.” She will share with us -- not only teaching on this -- but a personal experience that the Lord gave her recently about the “rivers of living water.” Come and renew your thirst for the Holy Spirit! In Chapel, Tuesday 7:30 PM.

GIRL SCOUT REGISTRATION FOR K-8TH GRADES. Leave parent name, daughter(s) name, grade and phone number at jbusken@current.net or at 251-2492.

ADULT SOCIAL GROUP

Monday, September 14- Communion Service at 12:30PM, followed by lunch and a presentation on Antique Cars by Scott Bittner.

December 1-3 – Trip to “Our Lady of the Snows Shrine” to see the Christmas Displays and “Way of Lights.” Leave Tues, Dec. 1st, return Thur. Dec. 3rd. Stay 2 nights at the Shrine hotel. Tour will also include a sightseeing trip to the St. Louis Arch: Noon Mass at the Basilica: and a tour of the Anheuser Bush Brewery. Cost $175 per person, deposit $75 per person due now, full amount by November 1st. Includes the transportation, lodging and continental breakfast. Additional food, fees and souvenirs are at one’s own expense. Tour limited to 44 people. Get your name in early.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LUNCH

St. Antoninus will provide lunch for the Habitat for Humanity construction volunteers on Saturday, October 17. If you would like to help, please call Julie Heil at 922-3848 in the evening.

Seton High School’s “Power of the Purse” is hosting a Financial Planning Mini-Course Night for women on Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $20 a person. The course topics, registration form and more info can be found at www.setoncincinnati.org or call 471.2600.188. Deadline to register is September 16th.

THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS ST. MICHAEL PRAYER WARRIORS presents a Call of the King Conference with Archbishop Dennis Schnurr on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30PM at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood. Hear the Archbishop speak about fostering a culture of vocations in the home and parish. Adoration of Our Eucharistic Lord from 6-7PM. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the Conference.

AN EVENING WITH ARCHBISHOP SCHNURR at St. Ignatius Parish, Hilvert Center, at 7PM on Wednesday, September 16, about marriage issues that may have affected your life and relationship to the Church. Call St. Ignatius office for details at 661-6565.

2009 Athletic Club Festival Wrap-up

We would like to thank everyone for the support of this year's 2009 Summer Festival. As you may know, there are hundreds of volunteer hours (4+ months of planning, 8 days of vigorous setup/operations/teardown) that culminate in the 3 days of fun and excitement for our kids and parishioners! This fund raiser provides for approximately one third of the Athletic Club annual expenses which include league, referee fees, equipment and uniforms for 9 sports (boys and girls) and almost 1000 participants. Expenses also include upkeep and maintenance of Schott Field and the school Gym. The 2009 Summer Festival Revenue, Expenses and Tithe to the Parish are as follows:

Revenue = $113,314

Expenses = $ 71,891

Net Before Tithe = $ 41,423

10% Tithe Given to Parish in August = $ 11,331

Net to Athletic Club = $ 30,092

Thank you again to our sponsors and parishioners. And a special thanks to the dedicated women and men who transformed the lower parking lot and gymnasium into an awesome Carnival and Bid-N-Buy! You know who you are and this parish is a better place because of your talents and tireless effort!

Sincerely, The Athletic Club Board Schott Field

Improvements/Engraved Brick Memorial Patio

Have you seen the improvements up at Schott Field! Thanks to a volunteer team of Athletic Club parents led by Todd Allison, Dave Bengel, Tom Fleming, and Scott Reiter, the shelter has been upgraded and a tiered wall built behind Field One. Thanks to the William Schott Memorial Association for funding a large part of the improvements. The next phase of improvements includes moving the chained fence near Field Two and building the Engraved Brick Memorial Patio. Please check the St. A website or contact an Athletic Club member for an order form and details on how you can purchase an engraved brick (for only $50) and leave your imprint at Schott Field for years to come! You can also learn more about the William Schott Memorial Association who owns and leases Schott Field to our Athletic teams

VOLLEYBALL SIGNUPS now for all grade school and high school girls. Call Mary Nie at 451-4490 or chrisnie@yahoo.com or Jenny Allison at 251-4940 jallison@cinci.rr.com.

BASEBALL STACK TRYOUTS at Schott Field House on Sunday, September 13, 1PM-3:30PM. Field #3 – Class D for 2nd and 3rd grades; Field #2 Class B for 6th & 7th grades; Class C for 4th & 5th grades TBA.

THE ATHLETIC CLUB IS LOOKING FOR volunteers to fill the open positions for Basketball Tournament Coordinator. Please call Brian Bohan at 922-4313 or Mike Rolfes at 451-6704 to inquire about either position.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY AUGUST 4 (A.D. 1859)

From Butler’s Lives of the Saints Continued from last week… Consequently it is not surprising to find that the Cure of Ars was very strict indeed. There were too many taverns in the village, where money was wasted, drunkenness encouraged, evil take not reprehended: first the two near the church were shut, for lack of enough business; then two more; seven new ones were opened in succession, but each one had to close. He waged relentless war against blasphemy, profanity and obscenity, and was not afraid to utter from the pulpit the words and expressions that offended God, so there should be no mistake as to what he was talking about. For eight years and more he struggles for a proper observance of Sunday: not merely to get everybody to Mass and Vespers, but to abolish work which at times was done on Sunday without a shadow of necessity. Above all he set his face against dancing, maintaining that it was of necessity an occasion of sin to those who took part, and even to those who only looked on; to those who took part in it, whether publicly or privately, he was merciless: they must give it up entirely and keep to their resolution, or absolution was refused them. M. le Cure waged this battle, and the associated engagement of modesty in clothes, for twenty-five years; but he won in the end. (Over the arch of the chapel of St. John the Baptist in the parish-church he had painted the words: “Sa tete fut le prix d’une danse !”.) To be continued next week…

Dear Parishioners,

               “Who is a Christian steward? One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.” (Bishops’ letter on Stewardship)

               Below is the budget for St. Antoninus Parish.

Schedule 1 Statement of Revenue and Expense Summary

Period Ended, June 30, 2009

Further Budget Discussion:

Approximate Weekly Budgeted Collection to fund operating expenses and capital improvements = $26,540

The Finance Commission has approved gifting funds from interest income into the Tuition Assistance Program.  This year $21,900 was gifted from the parish.

Every school child received a tuition reduction from our parish fundraisers; Grocery gift card and the Main-A-Vent.  Please continue to support these programs.

School/Revenue/Tuition Budget Breakdown

The full cost to educate one student is approximately $4,650.  School enrollment is 469 in grades KN-8.

The St. Antoninus 2009-2010 tuition per child is $2,400 plus registration fee of $100.

$780 – School Family Sunday requested donation: $15 weekly minimum.

$320 – State Reimbursement per child.

Remaining Parish Scholarship per child (based on one child; higher with more children with discount given).

$860 -- Parish Tuition Subsidy, $100 Parish Fundraiser, $90 School Endowment Interest