Greetings, and a blessed Holy Week!
We hope that you've had a meaningful and peaceful Lenten journey. Our community, country, and world continue to go through many struggles, but we can certainly rest in the peace of God and the hope and renewal that comes with Easter.
Of course, we can't have Easter without Good Friday so we know that challenges will come (especially if we are standing up against injustice and inequality that benefit those in power). But again, with God's mercy and grace, we can and will overcome and follow the arc of the universe towards justice and God's kingdom.
If you haven't checked it out yet, head over to the CT's website where you can find daily reflections from AOC staff, pastors, and friends. And it's not too late to use the great resources in their Ultimate Guide to Lent.
Of course, the pandemic is still very much still a thing (and we have to keep being safe with masks and social distancing!), but with infection and death rates dropping and the number of vaccines going on, there's hope on the horizon. We pray that we do not have another wave and we can continue with diligence on the path to healing and health.
Our prayers continue go out to all those affected by the coronavirus - the sick, the healthcare professionals, the public health workers, and the mourning.
The annual CRS collection is this month. Please see below for more information.
April also means Earth Day. We'll be holding a prayer service on April 22 at 12pm. See below for more details.
Please know that we continue to pray and support you, and we humbly ask that you continue to pray for us too.
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 deaneries, parishes, schools, and neighborhoods, and we'd love to (re)connect with you and work to build up God's kingdom of peace, justice, and kinship.
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We will continue to send out Regional Updates with time-sensitive reminders, Action Alerts encouraging everyone to bring their voice and power to bear on important issues, and COVID-19 Information as it becomes available.
We wish you a wonderful April, and - as always - we look forward to seeing you soon as we continue to stand up for justice, compassion, and equity.
Peace,
Becky, Sara, Tammie, Sr. Christine, & Andrew

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“Walk” for Justice and Peace
Good Friday
April 2, 2021
12noon
This annual walk usually takes place in downtown Dayton. Join in Friday at noon or whenever you're able for this virtual walk through the stations of the cross. This "walk" connects modern injustices with the crucifixion of Jesus.
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Earth Day Prayer Service
April 22nd is Earth Day, providing us with another chance to celebrate the beauty and goodness of God's creation AND pray for greater care for all of God's creation.
We invite you to join us for a virtual prayer service on Thursday, April 22nd, at 12:00pm.
We'll also be recording the service for those who cannot join us.
Brought to you by the Care for Creation Task Force and our partners at the Catholic Climate Covenant, this event will give us a chance to come together over lunch to thank God and ask for guidance and wisdom in our quest to preserve this precious planet for future generations.
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Effective Strategies
to Promote Domestic Abuse Awareness
in Parishes
April 14, 2021, 3:00 - 4:00 pm EST
Domestic abuse has risen during the pandemic. However, Catholic Charities agencies and parishes, working together, can offer hope, help, and healing by implementing practical strategies to address domestic abuse, ranging from increased parishioner awareness to organization of an in-depth ministry.
This webinar, a joint presentation between the Catholics For Family Peace Education and Research Initiative and Catholic Charities USA, will feature speakers who will present methods that have worked in over 50 parishes and will answer questions about developing a local response. A brief overview of Catholic teaching as it relates to domestic abuse will be included.
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CRS Collection
The Catholic Relief Services Collection will be held in our Archdiocese on the weekend of April 17 and 18. This annual, national collection helps support the work of six organizations: Catholic Relief Services, the USCCB Department of Migration and Refugee Services, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., the USCCB Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church, the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development and the Holy Father's Relief fund.
Support is needed from the pulpit, in bulletins, newsletters, and social media to contributes to the collection's success and to an enhanced global solidarity among our parishes.
Resources for the Collection:
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Accepting Nominations for
Spirit of Sr. Stang Award
It has been 16 years since the murder of Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Dorothy Stang in Anapu, in the state of Para, in the Amazon Basin of Brazil. The Dayton native was a woman of faith and courage and an outspoken advocate on behalf of the poor and the environment. Sr. Dorothy had a deep love for the people of Brazil and worked tirelessly alongside villagers in the Amazon jungle in their struggle to overcome poverty.
In 2010, her religious community and five Archdiocesan offices established the Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Awards to keep her memory alive and honor those who exemplify her values through their ministries.

The nomination forms for the high school awards, given to a graduating senior or faculty/staff member in each Catholic high school, are being accepted until April 23. For a form or more information, please email econnelly@catholicaoc.org. Parish awards will be given in the fall.
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Century Farm Award Applications
Catholic Rural Life of St. Marys and Sidney Deaneries is now accepting applications for the 2021 Catholic Century Farm Award.
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Coldwater Farm Family To Host Mass In July of 2021
This year’s Rural Urban Farm Mass is on Thursday, July 15th at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Richard Walling will say Mass at Keith and Odessa Boeckman’s Farm, 4924 Burrville Rd. Coldwater, Ohio. Some seating will be available around the pond, but individuals attending Mass should consider bringing lawn chairs. At Mass, Fr. Walling and the Catholic Rural Life team will present the 2020 and the 2021 Catholic Century Farm Awards for Sidney and St. Marys Deaneries. The award recognizes Catholic families who have continuously farmed the same land for 100 years or more. Blessed water and soil will be distributed at the Mass. Following the Mass there will be a “Barn Dance” to celebrate farms, friendships and families! Mark your calendars and plan to attend!
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Follow us on social media!
Our office is now on multiple social media platforms. Please add us to your contacts, friends, or following list so we keep you up to date on what's going on.
Twitter: @AoCincinnatiCsa
Instagram: @aocincinnati_csa
YouTube: @CatholicSocialActionAOC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/csacinci
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Creating Belonging
Have you ever considered providing resources for parishioners with blindness or vision loss? There are a variety of free resources available ranging from large print missals to religious books in braille and audio recording. There are even Lectionaries available that would assist clergy or a lector with blindness or vision loss. These resources can be found through Xavier Society for the Blind. We have samples of their products available in our office, but they offer a huge array of materials. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact our office or CLICK HERE to watch an interview that reviews these resources. This is an important means of accessibility for many parishioners, and these materials are a very simple step in the direction towards creating a culture of inclusion.
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APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
During this month we celebrate neurodiversity and take time to grow in our awareness of persons with autism and the many gifts that they bring to our Church. Autism is often called the “Invisible Disorder,” because persons with autism have no distinguishing physical characteristics, but may have a variety of sensory issues and intellectual and developmental delays. Sometimes it is easy to assume that a child is simply acting out during Mass when, in fact, he/she is overstimulated. Persons with autism need our support. It may be difficult for a person with autism to attend Mass due to overstimulation, and Sensory-Friendly Liturgies are a great solution for this issue. Our office is hoping to work with parishes to reinstitute these Sensory-Friendly Masses across the Archdiocese to better support persons with Autism and their families. These liturgies require a few adaptations, but the biggest part of implementing a Sensory-Friendly Mass is to create a stigma-free environment. If your parish is interested in hosting these Masses regularly, please contact Noelle Collis-DeVito at ndevito@catholicaoc.org.
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DAYTON, OHIO
HELP CREATE A COMMUNITY OF WELL BEING
Join the conversation and be the change you want to see.
We believe in a Dayton community where everyone has the opportunity to realize their
full potential. Your voice matters if we are going to make the region more equitable
and more economically viable for those who have been left behind or left out.
“You never change something by fighting against the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller
Focused in Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Preble Counties,
Re-Imagining America is a citizen-driven change movement
to re-imagine and co-create a community of well-being that
transcends economic injustice and systemic racism.
OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ARE VIRTUAL
JOIN US ON A TUESDAY EVENING OR SATURDAY MORNING!
The conversations are starting March 23 and are running at least through early May. If you are interested in hosting a conversation for your employees, team members or organization, we would love to discuss that option. Note that conversations are limited to 15 people.
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CRS RICE BOWL DURING A PANDEMIC

In times of upheaval our faith is an anchor. During Lent, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving strengthen us for the challenges ahead and bring us closer to God. Please remember that CRS Rice Bowl offers online prayers and reflections that families, schools, and parishes can use to support Lenten spirituality and reflection in the home. As always, your involvement in CRS Rice Bowl this Lenten season provides for those in great need and your compassion is very much appreciated. Please find ideas for online giving and activities here https://resources.catholicaoc.org/offices/catholic-social-action/task-forces-committees/crs.
Blessings to you all! Contact Sara Seligmann with questions or concerns.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
There have been questions about the current Covid-19 vaccines and any moral issues that Catholics might have with taking them. The Ohio Bishops and the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith have both issued statements that address and support the moral use of these vaccines to save lives by fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
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SOLARIZE CINCY 2020
Ever wonder if rooftop solar panels could help you save on your energy bills? Signing up to join the Solarize Cincy 2021 co-op could help answer that. Throughout the spring of 2021 the City of Cincinnati is partnering with Solar United Neighbors to launch Solarize Cincy, a residential solar campaign bringing Greater Cincinnati residents together to purchase solar at a group discount. Joining the co-op is FREE and gets you access to expert support to help you understand if solar is a good fit for you and your home. Learn more and sign up today!
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Fratelli Tutti
Pope Francis' Love Letter to the World
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Here are some resources to help you delve deeper into Pope Francis' new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti:
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A Mask is a Sign of Solidarity |
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Make sure to join Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese Catholic Social Action Office every Monday at 11:00 AM for our Praying in Solidarity weekly prayer. It takes place LIVE on Catholic Charities' Facebook page and you will hear prayer intentions delivered by our staff for those whom we serve and empower.
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Help the Earth and your Neighbors!
Impact Opportunity: Did you know that as much as 40% of perishable food goes to waste while 1 in 5 people in Cincinnati don’t know where their next meal is coming from? What if we could save all that food from filling landfills and polluting the air and instead deliver it to non-profits before it goes bad? Last Mile Food Rescue is a technology-based non-profit that uses an app to mobilize volunteer drivers – “Food Rescue Heroes” – to pick up good food before it is thrown out and deliver it directly to non-profits who serve the food insecure in our city. Learn more and sign up to be a Food Rescue Hero at www.lastmilefood.org or check out this flyer.
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Andrew Musgrave - Cincinnati
Sara Seligmann - Dayton
Becky Kunkler - Northern Area
Sr. Christine Pratt - Eastern Area
Tammie Mers - Administrative Assistant
Catholic Social Action Office
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
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100 East Eighth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202 USA
513-421-3131
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