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Greetings folks.
Welcome to 2023! It's gonna be great! 2022 definitely had it's challenges, but we made it through (with God's grace), and we're excited for all that 2023 has to offer. We enter this new year with renewed energy for and commitment to building God's kingdom here on Earth, fighting each and every injustice with strength, compassion, patience, and presence. And it's not an election year!
We hope you had a wonderful end of your Advent journey and you're enjoying the Christmas season. Our prayers are with those who had a difficult December, especially those who were affected by the harsh weather and those for whom the holidays are not the most joyful time. For those who have lost loved ones, for those who have difficult family situations, for those struggling with physical and mental health challenges, and for those who for other reasons are in a tough season of life - we see you, we love you, and we're with you.
We also of course continue to pray for all of you and your families of parishes, hopeful that the Beacons of Light process is going as well as possible. Please know that we stand ready to support you, walking in solidarity on this journey as your families discerns how you will commit to Love in Action. Let us know how we can help!
We humbly ask that you continue to pray for us. There's a lot going on this year, and while we're excited to get (or keep) things moving, your prayers -and engagement! - will make our success all the more likely. 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 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.
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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 start to the new year, and - as always - we look forward to seeing you soon as we continue to stand up for justice, solidarity, and equity.
Peace,
Sara, Tammie, Sr. Christine, & Andrew
(P.S. Happy Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus!)
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Watch the powerful documentary, “The Letter”
The Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force is pleased to invite you to a community screening of the documentary film The Letter on Monday, January 23rd, at 6:00pm at the Community of the Good Shepherd (8815 E Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, 45249).
The Letter is a compelling story that features environmental champions from around the world from different faiths and worldviews in their journey to Rome to discuss the encyclical, Laudato Si’, with Pope Francis. Each represents an unheard voice in conversations on the planetary crisis: the indigenous, the young, the poor, and wildlife. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope included in the film offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.
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Save the date!
On Saturday, March 4, 2023, the Archdiocese Care for Creation Task Force will be holding a full-day Laudato Si Action Platform conference at Curran Place on the University of Dayton campus. It's scheduled for 8:30am - 4:30pm and will include opportunities for prayer, learning, networking, planning, and sharing. We'll have information on multiple topics for multiple audiences, both in large group sessions and breakouts. Visit this website for more information and the registration link.
The Laudato Si Action Platform is the collaborative effort of the global Roman Catholic Church to address caring for God’s creation. You can learn more about it here or contact Andrew Musgrave with any questions.
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Love in Action
If you're wondering how your family of parishes might go about engaging in the Love in Action principle, we encourage you to check out the Love in Action page on the Pathways platform - https://pathway.catholicaoc.org/love-in-action. There you'll find a great introductory video, as well as further explanation of the breadth of the principle. Over time, you'll find more resources and support, and of course you know you can always reach out to our office for support. If you're looking for the first tool we created - the parish inventory - you can find it here (along with the inventories from the other principles) - https://pathway.catholicaoc.org/pathway-tools. If you work for a parish or are involved in parish leadership, we'd love to talk with you through the Forums. Don't hesitate to reach out!
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Beacons Roundtable Returns Jan 17!
Join other parish leaders – priests, deacons, lay staff, and others – for Beacons Roundtable on Tues, Jan 17th from 1:30-3:00pm online. The Spring 2023 series will focus on leading change in a Family of Parishes. In particular, we’ll look at the importance of vision and the role that leaders play in creating and communicating vision. We’ll also focus on the importance of spiritual, physical, and mental health for parish leaders. Our Jan 17 session will focus on new approaches to Lent and Holy Week: Family Style! We’ll also talk about the upcoming Visio Days in March. More info and RSVP here.
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Learning & Advocating for Life, Dignity, and Justice
Every year at the end of January, the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) brings together diocesan, parish, and community leaders to pray for, deepen their understanding of, and advocate for multiple issues of peace and justice. Organized by the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development, hundreds of people convene in Washington D.C. to address issues such as the dignity of work and workers, people with disabilities, peacemaking, global solidarity, empowering women & children, climate change, food insecurity, gun violence, abortion & domestic violence, immigration & refugee resettlement, and racial justice. For three days, subject-matter leaders from around the world share information to form and educate attendees, equipping them to bring their learning back to their communities and spread the knowledge. On the fourth day, after a sending mass and breakfast (for spiritual and bodily strength), attendees visit elected officials to strongly encourage them to direct their efforts and votes towards policies that reflect our Catholic values of life, dignity, and justice.
Please include during your prayers this month all of those Catholic leaders who will be participating in CSMG – that their minds and hearts will be open and their advocacy efforts will fall on fertile soil and grow into policies that support all life, from womb to tomb.
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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Each year, on the third Monday of January, we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the United State's greatest leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK fought tirelessly for justice and equality, and he was martyred for his work.
He was first and most importantly a man of faith, a prophet sharing God's messages of love and peace. As the late Abraham Heschel said, "Prophets are some of the most disturbing people who have ever lived: the men whose inspiration brought the Bible into being — the men whose image is our refuge in distress, and whose voice and vision sustain our faith."
This year, we have two suggestions on how to celebrate MKL Day. First off, check your local community for events happening to honor his life. Since most people are off work for the holiday, hopefully it's easy to join one - whether in person or online. Second, we invite you to (re)visit his powerful work, "A Letter from the Birmingham Jail." You can read it here or listen to it in his voice here. From it come the powerful lines:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."
"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."
"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
"Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity."
"So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?"
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Breaking Open the Sin of Racism
Engage your community in dialogue
The 8-part video series and discussion guide were prepared for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for use by organizations in a 4-part workshop. The videos feature presentations by scholars and professionals at the University of Dayton. The series begins with a macro global and historical examination of race and racism, and progresses to a micro examination of the interpersonal impact of race and racism. Check out the Breaking Open the Sin of Racism site to see how your parish, school, or organization can host workshops.
Questions? Contact Sara Seligmann | 513-546-3143
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From the Respect Life Office | |
March for Life 2023
Since January of 1974, people young and old have been gathering in Washington, DC to protest the infamous Roe v Wade decision which legalized abortion in all 50 states, and advocate for the legal protection of the most vulnerable among us, the unborn. Last June, the US Supreme court overturned that decision, returning once again the right of the people and their representatives in each state to determine what restrictions should be put on abortion in this country. With the primary battleground for the rights of the unborn now moved to the states, many are organizing marches in their own state capitals to advocate for the legal protection of unborn children, including right here in Ohio. For those not heading to the annual March for Life in Washington, DC, what can you do instead to continue to mark the importance of protecting innocent life in this country?
First of all, The Office for Respect Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati created a MARCH FOR LIFE TOOLKIT in 2021 to empower parishes, schools, and respect life groups to join in the vigil at home. We have created a WEBSITE with an abundance of resources ranging from pro-life movie nights to lesson plans and prayer services appropriate for a youth ministry program or the classroom.
Secondly, join us from wherever you are for the annual 9 DAYS FOR LIFE NOVENA starting January 19. Check out that website or follow with us on our FACEBOOK PAGE.
Third, this year, for the National Prayer Vigil for Life, join Archbishop Schnurr for a Pro-Life Rosary and Holy Hour on Thursday evening, January 19 at 7PM. Please plan to come to the Cathedral Basilica in downtown Cincinnati for this special prayer for the rights of the unborn, and healing for all those affected by abortion. This holy hour will be immediately followed by Exposition all night until concluding with Holy Mass the following morning, January 20, at 7AM. We need adorers to accompany Our Lord all night, so please share the word with all your parishioners and sign up for whatever hours you can cover HERE (access code 1111).. Our liturgy will be livestreamed on our facebook page.
Finally, there will still be a prayer vigil starting at Holy Name church on Auburn Ave with a procession in front of Planned Parenthood on Friday, January 20, 2023. Head to the events calendar at CINCINNATI RIGHT TO LIFE for more information on that soon.
Finally, whether or not you are attending any events in person, please consider joining us through fasting and prayer, for an end to the atrocity of abortion. Let us pray for the millions of lives lost to abortion, as well as the countless women and men who are suffering from the consequences of their choice. Let us work ardently to create a culture grounded in respect for life and justice.
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From the Office for Persons with Disabilities
On January 17th at Our Lady of Sorrows, Monroe, Ohio and January 18th St. Monica-St. George, Cincinnati, Ohio The Office for Persons with Disabilities will sponsor a workshop on how to start Mental Health Ministry in your parish hosted by Deacon Ed Schoener, President of The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers.
Why Mental Health Ministry?
· 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
· 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
· 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
· 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
· Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14
*National Alliance of Mental Illness
Learn how to serve and provide opportunities for individuals and families suffering with mental illness to grow in faith.
"Whoever suffers from mental illness always bears God's image and likeness in themselves, as does every human being. In addition, they always have the inalienable right not only to be considered as an image of God and therefore as a person, but also to be treated as such.” (Pope John Paul II, International Conference for Health Care Workers, on Illnesses of the Human Mind, November 30, 1996.
Register by email: Lisa Averion
January 17th registration: Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Mental Health Ministry Workshop (signupgenius.com)
January 18th registration: Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Mental Health Ministry Workshop (signupgenius.com)
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100 East Eighth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-261-6690
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