Happy Easter!

Welcome to April! We hope that you had a wonderful and live-giving Lenten journey and a beautiful Triduum and Easter. 

Despite the challenging weather we've been facing (prayers for all those affected by tornadoes, hail, and flooding), spring is here, and we're looking forward to this season of rebirth 

We hope you all got to enjoy solar eclipse on Monday. What an amazing example of the beauty of God's creation! (It's also kind of cool that it happened on the Annunciation.) 

We had a great Catholic at the Capitol Day yesterday in Columbus. Over 80 Catholics from across the state gathered, prayed, and advocated for an end to the death penalty in Ohio, better support for pregnant women and families, and more resources for returning citizens. If you're interested in doing some follow up advocacy over the phone, send Andrew an email and he can share the talking points with you.

We're partnering with Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio to bring the director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) to Xavier for a presentation. You can find the details below, and we'd love to have you join us. 

This is of course an election year, and we are fully in the thick of it. We Catholics have a responsibility to engage in the political process, not only by voting according to our faith but also standing against violence, vitriol, divisive language, and othering. We've decided to gather our election year (and beyond) work under one project name, and we're calling it 'Our Eucharistic Mission in a Polarized World.' Look below for some initial offerings available now and coming soon. 

We humbly ask that you continue to pray for us. This continues to be an exciting and challenging year, and your prayers - and engagement! - will make our success possible. God help us!

If there's anything that we can do to support the work happening in your community, please let us know. We're trying to be more present to families of parishes, especially during the Beacons of Light process, and we'd love to (re)connect with you and work to build up God's kingdom of peace, justice, and kinship in your corner of the kingdom.

We will continue to send out Regional Updates with time-sensitive reminders and Action Alerts encouraging everyone to bring their voice and power to bear on important issues. 

We wish you a wonderful Easter season, and - as always - we look forward to seeing you soon as we continue to stand up for justice, solidarity, and equity. 

Peace and all good,

Tammie, Sr. Christine, Jill, Glen, & Andrew

View Archbishop Schnurr's Easter Message 2024

Our Eucharistic Mission in a Polarized World

In January of 2012, Pope Benedict XVI stated that "The Church’s witness, then, is of its nature public: she seeks to convince by proposing rational arguments in the public square. The legitimate separation of Church and State cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on certain issues, nor that the State may choose not to engage, or be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determining the values which will shape the future of the nation."

In September of 2013, Pope Francis emphasized this sentiment: “We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.” 

The US Catholic Bishops, in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, reinforces this call: "The obligation to participate in political life is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person." (#1913-1915)" (#13)

As we can see above, both on the global and national level we are called to engage in the political sphere and to do so guided by our faith and acting with grace and mercy. In the coming year (and beyond), we will face tremendous tumult and myriad challenges when it comes to politics, and our office will do our best to support you in this work by offering resources and guidance. To better highlight this support, we will be sharing these resources under the theme Our Eucharistic Mission in a Polarized World. We invite you to engage with these resources and share them within your family of parishes and broader community. 

To access any of these resources - current and forthcoming - please visit www.catholicaoc.org/faithfulcitizenship.

The Church's Mission in a Polarized World

We are excited to announce that we are partnering with other offices in the Archdiocese to bring you a six-part series featuring Fr. Aaron Wessman, PhD, Glenmary Home Missioners. Fr. Aaron has written a book titled, The Church's Mission in a Polarized World, and over the course of the series he will be exploring six themes in the book and connecting them to the blessed sacrament. While we're still working on finalizing the details on the last couple of sessions, here is the information on the first few.

Session 1: The Eucharist: An Antidote to Polarization

Thursday, May 23, 7:00pm, Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains

Session 2: An Overview of Polarization in the U.S.

Thursday, June 20, 7:00pm, Bellarmine Chapel (at Xavier University)

Session 3: Polarized Repugnance or Eucharistic Presence 

Wednesday, July 24, 7:00pm, St. Michael (Sharonville) (mass followed by presentation) 

All events will be hybrid - offered both in person and streamed over Zoom.

If possible, we'd love to have as many people as possible join us in person so we can have some more engaging Q&A and discussion at the conclusion of the talks. 

https://zoom.us/j/99177580089 | Meeting ID: 991 7758 0089 | Dial in: 312 626 6799

Please contact Jill with any questions about the series.

Global Crisis.  LOCAL HOPE.

WHAT IT IS: An informative update on the challenges of our immigration system, realities faced by local refugees and migrants and our moral response through the lens of Catholic teaching.

KEY SPEAKERS:
• Anna Gallagher, Executive Director at Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
• Elizabeth Clapp, Immigration Legal Services Director at Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio
• Client testimony and community conversation

WHEN: Monday, April 22, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

• Join us at 6:15 for refreshments, appetizers, and conversation.

WHERE: Xavier University's Health United Building (FREE Parking at the Cintas Center)
1723 Cleneay Ave, 4th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45212

Click here for flyer and registration information.

Archbishop Schnurr Letter

Please read the letter from Archbishop Schnurr regarding Migrants and Refugees.

End Gun Violence

Eight  regional Catholic religious congregations are sponsoring a billboard urging an end to gun violence. The message will appear April 8 to May 5, 2024, near the Harrison Avenue Exit along Interstate Highway 75 and will read: “Put the Guns Down! Nobody is Winning. Let Peace Begin with Me.” Our faith calls us to promote a culture that values life, peace, and the inherent dignity of all. Together, we can take concrete steps to end gun violence and create communities where all people and children are safe and free from violence. We encourage you to join this endeavor by visiting the Sisters of Charity Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation News/Action Alerts page at www.srcharitycinti.org/ministries/scj-ministries/jpic/jpic-news/ to find sample letters to the editor, to legislators and templates to act in support of this campaign.

The eight regional Catholic religious congregations are: 

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Ursuline Sisters of Cincinnati

The Ursulines of Brown County, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Glenmary Home Missioners, Benedictines, St. Walburg Monastery

Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin OH, Sisters of Notre Dame USA, Covington KY

CRS Collection - This Weekend!

Don't forget - the collection to support CRS is this weekend, April 13-14. Please remember to bring your checks/envelopes to mass and drop them in the collection plate - and remind your friends as well! :) 

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Seeking a new Executive Director

The Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC), one of our office's major partners in interfaith justice work in Cincinnati, is looking for a new executive director following the announcement of the departure of longtime ED Peg Fox. For more information, please click here. And thank you so much Peg for your great and dedicated work!! 

Celebrate the Feast of St. Isidore

May 15 is the Feast of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers and farmworkers. On behalf of our Catholic Rural Life conferences, we invite you to utilize the prayers below to join in this celebration.

Prayer for Food Providers in honor of Feast of St. Isidore

God of all creation, with the unending love you brought forth the earth and shared your breath with all creatures. You sustain us and nurture us, feeding us with your own hand. Bless the men and women (farmers, shepherds, fishers, vintners, cooks, community kitchen workers, etc.) who work with you to feed and nourish your people. My they be faithful stewards of your creation. Keep them safe and healthy as they perform their tasks. May they receive just recompense for their labors. May they know satisfaction in their work and respect in their communities. We pray this through the intercession of St. Isidore, example of faithful participation in the Eucharist and care for the poor. Amen.

Intercessions

For all who work the land, that they may have a safe planting season and derive a just livelihood for themselves and their families. We pray…

God made us stewards of creation. That we may always work to protect what God has made. We pray…

For a spirit of cooperation among the leaders of the world, that they may work together to end hunger and care for the land, we pray…

Prayers adapted from Catholic Rural Life

Advocacy Opportunities

End the Death Penalty in Ohio

The time is NOW to change state law.

Make your voice heard and urge your state legislators to support Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 259 to abolish the death penalty in Ohio. We cannot solve violence with more violence or obtain justice via the state of Ohio directly and intentionally killing a defenseless human life.

Action Alert for Senate Bill 101

Action Alert for House Bill 259  

Additional Advocacy Help Needed in Butler and Warren Counties

If you live in Butler or Warren county, we especially need your help. We're looking for additional advocates to reach out the elected officials in those areas as they can play an important role in moving this forward. Please let Andrew know if you're able to help in this way (or even just make sure you complete the advocacy alerts above for your rep and senator). 

Protect Those Seeking Safety

Stand in Solidarity with Vulnerable People

Join with the U.S. bishops in opposing harmful and counterproductive changes to immigration law as a condition for supplemental funding. Speak out here.

Immigration Reform that Respects Religious Liberty

Serving newcomers is compelled by Sacred Scripture and Catholic social teaching, and it is a core ministry of the Church.

Encourage members of Congress to work toward bipartisan immigration reform that furthers the common good, upholds religious freedom, and respects the God-given dignity of all. 

Combat Human Trafficking and Protect Survivors

Urge your US Senator to Pass bi-partisan Anti-Trafficking Legislation

Support the House-passed Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 5856), an important, bipartisan bill that will help combat the evil of human trafficking. 

Help Communities Affected by Climate Change

Urge Congress to support the Green Climate Fund and Development Assistance.

Urge Congress to address the impact of climate change by providing robust funding for poverty-reducing international assistance programs in the fiscal year 2024 budget, especially for the Green Climate Fund and Development Assistance. 

Pass Funding Measures to Support People in Ukraine and Gaza

Fund vital humanitarian assistance for people caught in these brutal conflicts.

The lives and safety of millions of our sisters and brothers in Gaza and Ukraine are at stake. Our faith calls us to act quickly and decisively in the face of these humanitarian emergencies to avoid further suffering.

From the Respect Life Office

Walking With Moms in Need

Bob Wurzelbacher, Director of Respect Life Ministries

When a woman finds herself in a crisis pregnancy, she does not typically need to be convinced that her unborn child is a person. What she needs is hope. She may need material assistance like clothes, diapers, and formula. She may need counseling and relationship classes. She may need help with drug addiction for her and her baby. What she needs may be as simple as a listening ear, or as involved as a place to live for several months, along with job training and child care. In the end, she needs to know that there are people out there who are able to walk with her, no matter the circumstances, to help ensure her life and the life of her child, will hold more promise than she is able to see right at that moment. As I mentioned, what it really comes down to is hope. She needs the hope that comes from Jesus, through the work of so many hands who do His work right here in this Archdiocese.

With that in mind, the USCCB began a program a few years ago called “Walking with Moms in Need.” It is an invitation for parishes to be active in promoting the existing resources within their communities, to ensure that every mother in a crisis pregnancy knows how to find the help she needs to choose life for her child, whether through parenting or adoption. To get started, check out our website at catholicaoc.org/walkingwithmoms. Click on Parish Materials at the top, watch the webinar and browse the summary of phases for the Parish Action Guide. It may seem overwhelming at first, but just get started. In the end, you are just assembling a team, filling out the Parish Inventory Tool where you can sit down with a group from your parish and start to look at ways your parish can better educate your entire community on how to help moms in need.

For the inventory process, I recommend taking your time. Start with your local pregnancy center. Get to know the people who provide resources by name. That way, when you refer someone in need, you can provide a personal reference instead of just a phone number. That personal touch can make a big difference.

This isn’t about turning your parish into a pregnancy care center. This is about making sure everyone at your parish knows what resources are out there—including the nearest pregnancy care center, material assistance services and other agencies—so that when someone is in need, you are ready to help. Believe it or not, most people do not know all the resources already out there. Once your parishioners know you are ready to help, they will refer people they know to you. Some of your team members may also be available to simply be a listening ear to a mother in need and be that connection to finding a new faith community right at your parish. For them, consider the training from the Sisters of Life called Into Life.   As Pope Francis reminded us in a 2015 address, “…our parishes and communities [should] become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.” We should all know where to refer a pregnant woman in need.

Together, we can all make sure every mom in crisis finds the help she needs to choose life!

From the Office for Persons with Disabilities

Lisa Averion, Associate Director of Office for Persons with Disabilities

Thirty-three years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all places that are open to the general public. This changed the course of life for so many! As a church, we are legally exempted from that law in many instances, but at the same time, we should be reaching out and going above and beyond what the law requires.

The Office for Persons with Disabilities advocates for those who benefit from this important law in your parish. How accessible is your parish for those who are blind, deaf, hard of hearing, or have a cognitive or intellectual disability? Do you offer braille missiles and support for the blind, ASL for the Deaf Community, FM or Loop devices for the hard of hearing, and Sensory Friendly Mass for those with autism, dementia, or Alzheimer’s? We must serve everyone in our parish, and we want to create a culture of belonging for all!

Our office also supports families and parishes with sacramental preparation for our community members with intellectual developmental disabilities, Deaf Community and Blind Community children and adults.  We provide on site support, resource lists, and recommendations. 

According to A Statement of the United States Catholic Bishops on A Framework of Access and Inclusion:

          “We are a single flock under the care of a single shepherd. There can be no separate Church for persons with disabilities.” This powerful statement reflects the commitment of the United States Catholic Bishops to inclusion and justice for individuals with disabilities. Let’s delve into the significance of this message:

1.    Unity in Diversity: Each person, regardless of their abilities, is created in God’s image. While there are variations in individual abilities, recognizing these differences fosters unity within the Body of Christ. There is no room for a separate Church; we are all part of the same flock.

2.    Dignity and Contributions: Upholding the dignity of every individual, especially those with disabilities, is crucial. Negative attitudes toward disability, which can lead to practices like abortion, medical rationing, and euthanasia, are unequivocally opposed. We recognize the positive contributions that our brothers and sisters with disabilities bring to the Church’s spiritual life.

3.    Access and Participation: The parish serves as the gateway to Christian participation. It is the responsibility of both pastors and laity to ensure that parish liturgical celebrations and catechetical programs are accessible to persons with disabilities. Costs should never limit the welcome extended to them.

4.    Ordination and Service: Qualified individuals with disabilities are welcomed to ordination, consecrated life, and full-time, professional service in the Church. Their God-given talents and capacity can contribute significantly to the Lord’s work in the world.

This moral framework serves as a guide for contemplation and action, emphasizing justice, inclusion, and the recognition of the inherent worth of every person ¹. Let us continue to build a Church where all are embraced, valued, and empowered to participate fully in the life of faith. (www.usccb.org)

Contact Lisa Averion, laverion@catholicaoc.org, if you need support for your parish family. 

Graduate Assistant Program Recruiting

Campus Ministry at University of Dayton is currently seeking faith filled individuals who have ministerial gifts and a desire to continue to be formed for service in the church. Our Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Program is a unique opportunity to engage in direct ministry while studying for a Masters in theology or pastoral ministry.

The Campus Ministry GA program is designed to be a holistic formation experience, and we are seeking candidates who are looking to take the next step in their ministry formation and education. For more information about the program, including next steps if you feel called to apply, please see our website. You can also contact Kelly Adamson, the director of the program, at kadamson1@udayton.edu if you have any questions.

Who We Are

Andrew Musgrave
Cincinnati | Director

csa@catholicaoc.org | 513-263-6690
https://resources.catholicaoc.org/offices/catholic-social-action

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