Weekly Update March 23 - March 29, 2025

Announcements

• Stations of the Cross are being led by women of the parish praying Mary's Way of the Cross. Join them this Friday at 6PM in the church!
• The Caballeros de Colon will host Lenten meals on March 28, April 4 and 11. Join them starting at 5PM in Ave Maria for fried fish/fries or empanadas!
• Join us this Wednesday as we study and discuss Pope Francis' Encyclical Dilexit Nos. In his encyclical, Pope Francis addresses what we mean by “the heart,” explores how the New Testament talks about the heart, and discusses the rich theology of Catholic reflection on the heart of Jesus. The Pope has written this reflection not merely as a historical exploration but as an aid for all of us to reflect on how we kindle the love of Christ in our own hearts. 
• Easter Plant Memorials: If you would like your loved ones memorialized in our Easter bulletin – print and on our parish website - please take an envelope that is found by the front or back tables and fill it out with the name(s) of those you wish to be memorialized. A ten-dollar ($10) donation for each name you would like listed is appreciated. Please return the envelope by placing it in the offertory basket or bringing it to the church office before April 14.
• Invite your fellow parishioners to sign up for emails from Historic Saint Paul Parish! Share this link: https://saintpaul.cdlex.org/email-lists

ReminderS/Updates

• Rice Bowls for our Lenten almsgiving are available at the front of the church, next to the side door. The proceeds go to Catholic Relief Service to assist their efforts to the poor and needy around the world. Please return Rice Bowls during Holy Week. To learn more about this program, visit: crsricebowl.org
• Mass intentions are available by contacting the parish office. The suggested offering is $5.00 per intention, if one is able. Please have the following information prepared: the name of the person, whether they are living or deceased, the preferred date you would like the mass celebrated. Dates fill up quickly, so planning ahead is recommended. Contact:      859-252-0738     |     [email protected]
  

Events

• Bible Study: Tues. March 18/April 1, 6-7PM in Brossart House.
• Reading Pope Francis' Encyclical Dilexit Nos: Wednesday, March 26, 6-7PM in Brossart House. We will discuss paragraphs 82-142. You are encouraged to read beforehand!
• Viernes Comida: Friday, March 28 5PM till gone, Ave Maria.
• Stations of the Cross: Friday, March 28, 6PM (English) and 7PM (Español), church building.
• Coffee and Donuts!: After every 10am Sunday Mass. 
  • All parishioners and visitors are invited to share in coffee and donuts after Sunday 10am mass in the SPPS Cafeteria. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and an occasion to get to know each other better.
• A Conversation with Brother Christian: Monday, April 7 6-6PM in the church building. This will be a safe place with security present.

MESSAGE OF THE WEEK

Hello! My name is Mary Beth Casdorph, I live in Dayton, Ohio. This might be a lengthy email, but I promise it is not anti-LGBTQ. I am a 70 y/o wife, mother and grandmother. My youngest child is Trans-Male. We moved to Dayton eight years ago from Charleston, WV to be closer to family. My youngest was well accepted at our parish in WV (Blessed Sacrament). We had a very kind and accepting pastor. All our church buddies had watched Jessi grow up from a baby and accepted her identification. (We knew when she was 18 months that we were on a different trajectory from our other two daughters). We did not squelch her identification and allowed her identity to play out as she developed)

So, we moved here to Dayton and were quite frankly surprised and disappointed by how conservative the thinking was here. Jessi identifies as a Catholic, but NEVER felt accepted here. One day I was trying to locate our parish website (also St. Paul’s, Englewood, OH) and fell upon your church and happily your ministry. I was nearly elated! A Catholic church that had a LGBTQ ministry!! WOW! That actually happened?!  So, I signed up for the weekly bulletin.

I had read about Brother Christian and nearly decided to come down to hear his talk. I was very disheartened to learn that you received such vitriol and negative comments, from a deacon even! I just want you to know that there are people outside your parish and diocese that applaud you and fervently wish their own Catholic community would embrace the concept that God loves everyone. No exceptions! The Catholic Church should not be run as a country club, determining who gets in and who doesn’t.

Thank you for what you do! Keep going! I pray that our community up North here will embrace your beliefs. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Most Sincerely,
MaryBeth Casdorph

From the Pastor

Today during mass, we celebrate the first of three scrutnies. What are the scrutinies? The scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who wish to be baptized. They are celebrated in the third, fourth, and fifth weeks of the Lenten season. This is considered a period of purification and enlightenment for the Elect. The scrutinies are powerful prayers of protection from the temptations that would lead the Elect away from the path of God. Especially during the remainder of Lent, our Elect need our prayers of protection from evil as they make their final preparations for baptism at the Easter Vigil. Pray for our 46 Elect who will be baptized on April 19 at the Easter Vigil.

In the heart of Jesus,
Fr. Richard

Hoy, durante la misa, celebramos el primero de tres escrutinios. ¿Qué son? Los escrutinios son una serie de ritos para los adultos que desean ser bautizados. Se celebran en la tercera, cuarta y quinta semanas de la Cuaresma. Este se considera un período de purificación e iluminación para los Elegidos. Los escrutinios son poderosas oraciones de protección contra las tentaciones que los apartarían del camino de Dios. Especialmente durante el resto de la Cuaresma, nuestros Elegidos necesitan nuestras oraciones de protección contra el mal mientras hacen sus últimos preparativos para el bautismo en la Vigilia Pascual. Oremos por nuestros 46 Elegidos que serán bautizados el 19 de abril en la Vigilia Pascual.

En el corazón de Jesús,
P. Ricardo

Donation and Service Opportunities

• “ONE MINUTE FOR GOD” That is what your parish is asking from you – one extra minute for God. We are asking every person to spend a minute (or less, maybe) to take a look around your pew before you leave Mass to:
  - Make sure the hymnal and missalette are put back properly
  - Be sure there are no bulletins, water bottles, papers, tissues left in the pew.
  - Put the kneeler back to the upright position
  - Generally make sure the pew looks tidy and welcoming for the next person who will worship there.
  Can you spend one extra minute for God so that we, together, can keep God’s house tidy and welcoming? Together we can do it!
  
• Gift Card Donations: Support our Open Door Lunch Ministry by purchasing and donating a Kroger or Walmart gift card for our unhoused neighbors. Return them to the office or to Fr. Richard with the receipt or amount purchased written on top of card. Thank you for your generosity.
• Kroger Community Rewards: Saint Paul received $440.72 last quarter through the Kroger Community Rewards program. Thank you to all who have linked their Kroger card! Please follow the instructions (click here) to link your card (our linking number is "JA381")
• Donate from your IRA or from shares of your stock in a taxable brokerage account. Click here to learn more.

Ministries Updates

Open Door Lunch Ministry

Thank you to all who have volunteered and donated.
If you would like to donate, we accept lunch related items such as: water, chips, cookies, soft fruit (bananas, grapes, oranges), cupped fruits, crackers, snack bars, etc. You may bring these donations to the office between 9:00 AM —4:00 PM Monday-Friday or when you come to Mass on the weekend.

The Little Mountain School

We have raised $34,792 with our coffee sales for the Little Mountain School in Guatemala.

Please consider sponsoring a student or making a donation to The Little Mountain School. To learn more, visit guatemalaneducationaloutreach.org or view our Parish webpage (click here).

Please keep The Little Mountain School in your prayers.

HELP FEED Your Neighbors AT the CATHOLIC ACTION CENTER

St. Paul purchases and prepares a meal for 150 people on the third weekend of every month. Contact Susan Brown to help: [email protected] | 859-536-0571

in the Diocese

• Welcome the Sisters of the Little Way: Bishop Stowe decided to officially recognize the private association and welcome, Theresa Aletheia Noble and Sr. Danielle Victoria Lussier, to live their mission within the Diocese. Having recently returned from Rome after earning a Diploma in Safeguarding, the Sisters are eager to apply their knowledge and raise awareness about safeguarding within the Church, both locally and online, and to promote safer church environments for everyone.
  • You can learn more about the Sisters and their mission at SistersoftheLittleWay.com 
• Appalachian Immersion Experience 2025: 2025 dates are available.
  
  March 30-April 2, 2025 
  October 19-21, 2025
   
  The immersion experience brings pilgrims into contact with people and places of Appalachia who share their lived experiences of natural disasters, social division and disparity, single industry economics, and climate change. Through listening to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor, we hope to instill and encourage a response to the Gospel call to peace and justice and Pope Francis’ call to care for creation. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot, groups are also encouraged to apply: [email protected]
• Laudato Si' Events:
  • March 27 Tree Planting. The LSC is collaborating with Asbury University and Green Forests Work. For information about time and location, contact [email protected]
  • April 26 A walk in Calvary Cemetery. LSC hosted a walk during the Season of Creation during 2024 and decided to host a similar event in the Spring, when the plants and tree are in a different stage of life and development. Meet at 11 a.m., the walk is not strenuous but wear your sneakers!
  • September 13, place TBA A Laudato Si Art Retreat. Artist Rosie Fedorchuk will lead a day of reflection that includes creating art that inspires a love of the creation.