When choosing a name for an organization or an individual, it is wise to choose a name that's original, yet easy to understand. As human beings, we like names that are easy to understand, spell, and pronounce. It's natural to feel uneasy with a name that is very different from what we are used to because it's so surprising. That feeling goes away once you've been living with the name. Eventually, when a name is chosen and we start using it, everyone grows to love it. After almost a month of submitting names for our family of parishes and sorting through the plethora of possible names, a name has been chosen by the Pathways Team and myself for our family of parishes. The name chosen is: St. Gregory the Great.

The reasoning behind this choice from the names submitted is that for many years the seminary on Beechmont Avenue held the name, St. Gregory the Great Seminary, until St. Gregory the Great Seminary was closed in 1980 and Mt. St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology moved from Norwood to Mount Washington in 1981. St. Gregory Seminary was a major focal point in the areas of Mt. Washington, Anderson and Newtown. Many young men attended St. Gregory Seminary from this area. The seminary still stands majestically on Beechmont Avenue as a Beacon of Light for young men and others to come and learn about our Catholic Faith. It pays homage to the history of our area without giving preference to any one former parish in the family. Our parish family is very unique because the seminary lies within our boundaries.

Furthermore, St. Gregory the Great became one of the pope’s seven deacons, and also served six years in the East as a papal representative in Constantinople. He was recalled to become an abbot, but at the age of 50 was elected pope by the clergy and people of Rome. Gregory was content to be a monk, but he willingly served the Church in other ways when asked. He sacrificed his own preferences in many ways, especially when he was called to be Bishop of Rome. Once he was called to public service, Gregory gave his considerable energies completely to this work. St. Gregory the Great is the patron saint of teachers of which we have many in our family of parishes with two Catholic Schools and children in our Public School of Religion classes.

Our family of parishes, newly named St. Gregory the Great, is forming a unified Pastoral Council! This council’s purpose is a strategic focus on the direction and spiritual growth of the family. Please consider whether you, or someone you know, would be interested in being a member of our inaugural, family level Pastoral Council.

The most important attributes team members will have are as follows:

1.      Strategic Thinking

2.      Diligence

3.      Spirituality

4.      Good Communicator and Listener

All with a focus on the family of parishes and rather than just your individual parish.

Each parish will have three members on the new council. Terms will initially be between two and four years, followed by three-year terms after this phase-in cycle. You do not need prior experience on a parish council to become a member of this pastoral council.

At this phase of the Beacons of Light process, individual parish councils still serve an important role and will remain as is.

 If you’re interested in being considered for our St. Gregory the Great Pastoral Council, please email stgpastoralcouncil@gmail.com by Friday, March 31.

Fr. Dan Schmitmeyer, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will share his vocation path and entertain us with his humor. He has visited our school children for Vocation Week for the last 5 years and now it's our turn to delight in his wit and wisdom!

Click here to RSVP and for more information.

Penance Service:

St. John Fisher

How can your family contribute to the success of our liturgies? We need individuals, couples and families to serve as greeters (stand at the Gathering Space doors and welcome Mass attendees to our parish) and gift bearers (bring up the bread, wine and collection basket at the Offertory Procession during Mass). We need volunteers for all 3 of our weekend Masses. Contact Kay Froehlich (kfroehlich@gaparish.org) or Mary Fey (mtfey13@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Thank you for volunteering to serve in these important ministries. Your help is much needed and appreciated! Sign up here.

Click here for more information. 

Keep an eye on the parish website and our bulletins for more details.

This past month, we upgraded our cameras on campus to increase visibility to see all areas of campus and improve safety and security. This is just one of the many ways we are working to increase security and safety on campus through the $100,000 school safety grant Guardian Angels received. Principal Corey Stoops will be working with the Education Board, School Safety Team, and our School Safety Specialist to continue to prioritize how these funds are spent and keep our angels safe.

Click here for more information.

We are also in need of incoming 7^th grade and 8^th grade and high school volunteers. Contact Mrs. Froehlich to volunteer.

kfroehlich@gaparish.org/ 513-624-3146

If you would like information about upcoming opportunities, please contact Bradley Barnes at youth@gaparish.org or 513-624-3148.

As we begin a new liturgical year, we’re hoping that you can mark your family’s calendar for our 9th annual middle school camp called “Camp GAudeo.” Camp is always an incredible time of gathering the youth of our parish, and we’re so excited to see what God has in store for June 26th-30th. Registrations will open in late January, but we are hoping that families can mark their calendars now and fit this week of ministry for current 5th-8th grade students into their future planning. We are also looking to expand to a second camp week offered on July 10th-14th (further details to come). Email Bradley Barnes for more information.

We are currently looking for high school students who are interested in volunteering for this event. We are typically able to offer 50+ hours of community service credit, and high school counselors participate in all activities for free! Register a current high school student through this Volunteer Application Form. 

When: Every Monday during Lent from 8:00-9:00pm 

Where: Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Room B in the undercroft or by zoom 

Age: 20s - 40s 

Looking for some way to enhance your Lenten season? Join together in brotherhood with other men to grow in virtue and faith. Each session combines the best research from science with the teaching of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of a man fully alive and capable of transforming himself, his family, and greater society. Contact the group at mensfaith@gaparish.org for more information or to join via Zoom.

When: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays every month from 8:00-9:00 pm

Where: Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Room B in the undercroft

Age: 20s - 40s

Looking for a new way to pray during Lent? Join together with other women to expand your Catholic faith and build meaningful relationships as we dive into various faith studies from the Blessed is She, Rooted devotional. No prior knowledge or materials needed; come as you are! Contact the group at womensfaith@gaparish.org for more information.  

Each Friday, Fathers Team will be meeting for Fathers Team "Lite” which consists of a review and discussion of the upcoming Sunday's scripture readings. All GA fathers are invited to join either in person or via Zoom. Our meeting will start at 6:05 am Friday morning and last for one hour. Together we explore the readings and consider how the scripture's message can be applied to our daily lives. If you are holding back because you’re not an expert, join the crowd....neither are any of us! Join us in person in the Undercroft (Conference Room B), or by Zoom, this Friday at 6:05 am. Contact us at GAfathersteam@gmail.com for the zoom information, or to get on the GA Fathers Team email distribution.

The St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes will be combining efforts to create one RCIA program for those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. Meetings will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary on Thursday evenings as well as dismissals after 9:30 a.m. Mass at IHM. If you know someone interested in becoming Catholic, please contact Jay Mather (513) 388-4188.

Enrollment is now open for all students entering preschool through eighth grade for the 2023-2024 school year. You'll find all the information you need on the school website.

If you missed our Open House events but would still like to learn more about our school, we invite you to take a personal tour. A tour allows you to meet with our administration to discuss the classes and programs available through GA and have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. These are typically done during school hours so you can see what a typical day is like for students. Call the school office at (513)624-3141 to schedule a tour.  

We want to remind everyone of the hours of operation for our newer playground equipment. The portion of the playground that was installed last year sits outside the area where our old equipment sat. Since it is outside the mulch area and is now closer to other property lines, the portion of the equipment with the slide CANNOT be used outside of the posted playground operating hours. Those hours are 8:00am-6:00pm. 

Just click here to access the site.