Father Black would like to thank everyone for their prayers. His surgery this week went according to plan and he continues to have a positive recovery. The doctor gave us an update at the hospital and said he was very pleased with everything. Father Black has requested no visitors and privacy at this time. His immediate family is with him, and he appreciates your prayers. Please continue to keep Father Black in your prayers. 

St. Brigid of Kildare…Pray for us!

Below are the many activities St. Brigid of Kildare Parish will be hosting to honor the Lenten season. Click the link on the bottom for dates, details, and more information on each of these activities.

For a printable one page overview, click here.

We have noticed an increase in attendance on our weekend Masses and are delighted to see it. We must remind everyone, however, that you cannot park in designated fire lanes. We need to keep those areas clear in case of a medical emergency, for traffic flow and for everyone's personal safety. Overflow parking is available in the back school parking lot and across the street at Brigid's Green. We will monitor our parking lots at Mass times and will communicate if we need to expand in some way to accommodate everyone safely.

The Social Action Committee and Cub Scouts will be collecting non-perishable food items on Ash Wednesday (February 14) and the following weekend (February 17/18). Donations can be dropped off at Hendricks Hall around all Masses on those days or placed in the Collection closet in Hendricks Hall throughout the week.

This year, Bishop Griffin Resource Center will be the recipient of the collection. This food pantry located in Columbus, serves over 300 families each week. In the last reporting period (2022), 34,900 people were served throughout the year with 311 families provided Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. While all items are appreciated, the following are of greater need:

Canned soup

Muffin, bread, cookie and cake mixes

Cooking oil

Canned fruit

Canned corn

Pancake mix

In preparation for the food drive, we will also have a donation box available at the next Sunday Social scheduled for February 4. Please consider bringing non-perishable food items when you visit the social. The need in the community is great and your donations help children and the elderly have nutritious meals. Thanks for your kindness.

For additional information or to help with this food drive, please contact Karen at 614-271-4086 or [email protected].

Do you want to volunteer for the parish but don't know where to start? We are in need of Ushers for all Masses!

Husband and wife teams are welcome and this is a great opportunity to get your kids involved as well. Children (6th grade or older) can become Junior Ushers and be involved with Mom & Dad during Mass.

The next training session will be on February 13th at 6:30 and will last approximately one hour. We will also be holding a Eucharistic Minister training session the same day and time.

Please call the parish office at (614) 761-3734 to register or access the information link below.

This Lent, we will gather in Hendricks Hall to share a simple meal of soup and bread at 6 PM. All are invited to attend. RSVP is not required - just come as you are and enjoy a variety of soups prepared for you by the Host Committee Members. Please bring bread to share. Dinner will end in time for everyone who wishes to attend Stations of the Cross at 7 PM.

Tuesday, February 20th (hosted by Family First)

Tuesday, February 27th - (hosted by Religious Education)

Tuesday, March 5th - (hosted by Knights of Columbus and That Man Is You)

Tuesday, March 12th - (hosted by the 55+ Club)

Tuesday, March 19th - (hosted by RCIA and Music Ministries)

On December 15, Mary Fran Cassidy directed her final Dublin Singers concert at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish to a large audience. Mary Fran provided many years of outstanding service to the Dublin community as founder and director of the Dublin Singers, which she founded in 1996. She spent years sharing her musical gifts as a conductor, singer, composer and arranger, bringing enjoyment and entertainment to thousands.

Mary Fran served St. Brigid of Kildare Parish as the director of religious education for many decades until she retired in 2015.

Congratulations to Mary Fran on her outstanding years of service, we are very blessed she has shared her talents with us for so many years.

The St. Brigid of Kildare Knights of Columbus is pleased to announce the St. Brigid of Kildare Knights of Columbus Scholarship. The Scholarship is to honor our deceased Brother Knights of Columbus.

This scholarship is for post-secondary education. The Scholarship is for a maximum of $3,000 to be paid out in yearly increments of $750 as requirements are maintained. 

Applicant must meet the following guidelines:

1)   Applicant must be a high school senior who is a registered parishioner of St. Brigid of Kildare and is Catholic.

2)   Current GPA must be a minimum of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). A current high school transcript must be submitted.

3)   Applications must be prepared and submitted by the applying student.

4)   Applications must be received by the Scholarship Committee prior to the official deadline of April 15, 2024.

Interested applicants can contact Terry Miller at 614-327-1381 or [email protected] to request an application and receive the scholarship guidelines. 

Applications are available now and are due by the April 15, 2024 filing deadline. Applications will be reviewed, and the recipient will be notified during the month of May 2024.

The Robert E. and Rhoda M. Wilson Scholarship is available through The Catholic Foundation on January 29th. This is a four year scholarship totaling $12,000 ($3,000 per year)

Requirements for the Robert E. and Rhoda M. Wilson Scholarship are as follows:

•           Any Catholic in good standing pursuing a post-secondary degree who currently resides in Delaware County (for a minimum of 48 months). These facts must be confirmed by a letter of recommendation from your Pastor.

The Catholic Foundation’s Applications for the Robert E. and Rhoda M. Wilson Scholarship will open on January 29th and close February 26th. The link to apply for the Wilson Scholarship is:

https://catholic-foundation.org/grants/scholarships/the-robert-e-and-rhoda-m-wilson-scholarship/

Since 2007, The Catholic Foundation has awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships empowering over 200 young people to continue their academic and vocational studies. For more information and to apply, please visit https://catholic-foundation.org/grants/scholarships/ . If you have any questions about our scholarship process, please feel free to contact Dan Kurth, VP of Grants, at 614-443-8893 or [email protected].

As many of you are aware, St. Brigid of Kildare School suffered a small accidental fire on the evening of Tuesday, December 19th. Blessedly no one was hurt, and the fire was quickly extinguished by the Washington Township Fire Department. Unfortunately, the damages were primarily to the Religious Education offices, and we have had to relocate to the Carr (Nursery) Room in Hendricks Hall. Thank you to everyone who reached out to us with offers of help and well wishes! We are very grateful.

Looking ahead as we resume classes for our spring semester, we have a lot coming up! Small group lessons, service events, and family activities, as well as preparation classes for both Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Religious Education is also very excited to host our second Lenten Soup Supper on Tuesday, February 27th. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Diocese of Columbus has a GOOD AND 

GROWING NEED by virtue of 16 ADDITIONAL young men interested in the priesthood. A contribution from you will support this immediate need to fund future priests throughout our Diocese!

There will be a second collection throughout the Diocese at the end of February dedicated to supporting these seminarians in their discernment process. 

You can give then or donate now to the Seminary Support Fund by visiting https://www.columbuscatholicgiving.org/seminarian-support-fund!

Join us for this four-week Lenten study!

A Lent to Remember explores the ways God reaches out to each of us with his mercy. This four-week series makes a step-by-step examination of the Rite of Confession and communicates God's invitation to each one of us to come experience his indescribable love this Lent. Through Christ's suffering on the cross in the Paschal Mystery and his perpetual reception of his people in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God makes his love, his very self, present to us in the world.

Feb 14/Feb 15 Augustine Institute Forgiven — Where Are You?

Feb 21/Feb 22 Augustine Institute Forgiven — An Encounter with Mercy

Feb 28/Feb 29 Augustine Institute Forgiven — Embraced in Mercy: The Rite Explained

Mar 6/Mar 7    Augustine Institute Symbolon — The Paschal Mystery: Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

There are three ways to participate:

1. Wednesday Evening Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups on Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM in the Berry Room.
2.  Thursday Morning Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups on Thursdays, 10—11:30 AM in the Berry Room.
3. Individual Small Groups: Create your own small group in your home and receive study materials free of charge from the parish!

Use the link below to sign up. For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at [email protected].

Mom to Mom is a vibrant, faith sharing group focused on

motherhood, spirituality, and Catholic parenting. Whether you’re

a rookie or veteran, join us to support, share and gain wisdom from each other.

Meetings: Wednesday; February 7th to March 27th

Time: 9:45-11 am

Location: Church Basement

Child Care Sign up: Here

Prepare for Easter this Lent with Mom to Mom! This Lenten season we will listen to Father Mike Schmitz Homily series, Learning to Lose.  

From his Homily; “The world sees life as being about winning. And to win is to gain power and influence. If a person wins they get power, and with that power they can re-shape the world as they see fit. But a Christian view of winning is different.” -Father Mike Schmitz

Join us as we discuss losing, sacrifice and more! 

2/7/2024 Father Mike Schmitz: Life is about Losing Part 1

2/14/2024 No Meeting Ash Wednesday 

2/21/2024 Father Mike Schmitz: Life is about Losing Part 2

2/28/2024 Father Mike Schmitz: Life is about Losing Part 3

3/6/2024 Father Mike Schmitz: Life is about Losing Part 4

3/13/2024 No Meeting Spring Break St. Brigid School

3/20/2024 No Meeting Spring Break Dublin City School

3/27/2024 Holy Week Discussion

Catholic Social Teaching Session with Deacon Don

Have you ever struggled to know what to do in a certain situation? How would the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching help as a guide? 

How do we utilize these teachings to live our lives in the secular world? Deacon Don Poirier will give an overview on Social Justice on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00 pm in the Berry Room of Hendricks Hall. 

Christian Morality Session with Deacon Paul

Have you ever wondered about the overall church teaching on morality? What are the foundations of Christian morality? What role does the conscience play? How does this impact how we live our lives as Christians? Deacon Paul Zemanek will give an overview on Christian Morality on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 pm in the Berry Room of Hendricks Hall. 

 If you are interested in attending either of these sessions, please email Kim VanHuffel at [email protected]. 

Our wonderful Women’s Bible Study has a mission of growing in Christ, together in community, through the study of Scripture.  In January, this group will begin the Jesus and the Eucharist Study. This seven-session series immerses participants in the gospel proclamation and unveils God’s saving work in the Eucharist. They meet in the Carr Room on Tuesday afternoons from 1-2:30 p.m. For more information contact Teresa Salmeron at [email protected].

Our Men’s Bible Study consists off a great group of faith-filled men who have the mission to reach a deeper relationship with God though a better understanding of scripture. By that study, they hope to improve their lives and the lives of those they touch. They are currently studying the first book of the Bible, Genesis, using the Little Rock Scripture Study. They meet in the Deacon’s Room on Wednesday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. for more information contact Wayne Booker at [email protected].

Sisters in Christ is a ministry that cultivates prayer and community with other women and emphasizes our need for spiritual friendships. This group provides a weekly structure for women to spend time learning about God and the Catholic faith and journeying with other women. A new study on Theology of the Body with Christopher West will begin in January for five weeks until Lent. Then the group will take seven weeks to participate in the Jesus and the Eucharist study, and finally, will return to finish the last five weeks of Theology of the Body in the spring. These women meet Wednesday afternoons from 1:15 - 2:45 pm. For more information contact Cheryl Hohlefelder at [email protected].

We are excited to hold our 17th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 2, 2024. We can't wait to celebrate Music City with our Nashville Nights theme!

There are several ways to help support this event, through volunteering, becoming an event sponsor, donating auction items, or donating wine, champagne or bourbon bottles.

If you are able to help in any of these ways, please reach out to Sarah Moore at [email protected].

Wine, Bourbon & Champagne Botles Needed

We are looking for donations of bottles of wine or champagne valued at $20 or higher and bottle of bourbon valued at $30 or higher for our Wine Grab! If you can donate, please contact Sarah Moore at [email protected] or feel free to drop them off at the parish office.

Ticket sales will open on Friday, January 19 at our 2024 event website: www.corks24.givesmart.com.

Sunday, January 28 from 3-5 PM

This is the perfect time to explore our three-time Blue Ribbon School. Prospective families and children can tour our school and see first-hand how Saint Brigid of Kildare School provides a quality Catholic education in a warm environment. There will be representatives from Saint Brigid of Kildare School’s many programs available to answer questions.

Our new family application for the 2024-25 school year is now open, with an on-time deadline of February 2, 2024. Anyone interested in applying for the next school can learn more about the process here.

The next Youth Sunday is February 11! 

This gathering is for all current 6th-8th grade students.

Lunch will be provided followed by group games, Seminarian guest speakers, and live worship music by Mar Frommeyer/ Station 14

Friends are welcome and RSVP is required to ensure we order enough food! 

Pick up will be from Enke Hall at 1:30 PM. 

A Night Out to Focus on Your Marriage

Saturday, February 10, 2024, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Hendrick’s Hall – St. Brigid of Kildare Parish

All married and engaged couples are invited to St. Brigid’s 28th Make It a Date!

Deacon Steve Petrill and his wife Dawn will share their memories and serve as our guides for the evening. Deacon Steve and Dawn have been married for 28 years and have 3 children.

Like always, we’ll have light appetizers and there will be a chance to catch up with old and new friends. At the conclusion of the event, couples leave on their own date at a venue of their choice to talk about the evening and how it relates to their own relationships.

Please RSVP to Jessica Freiburger at [email protected] or 614-282-5095 by February 8.

Sponsored by Family First and the St. Brigid School of Adult Faith Formation

Meetings: Wednesday January 10^th- January 31^st

Time: 9:45 - 11 am

Location: Church Basement

This winter join Mom to Mom as they read and reflect on Lisa Hendeys, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.  Guided by the example of the saints, Hendey eloquently links personal stories, scripture and prayer and soul-strengthening exercises into a spiritually rich and deeply practical resource for Catholic women. 

Allow A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms to help you grow in your faith and enrich your heart, mind, body, and soul by spending each week with a different saint.

You can purchase this book at Ava Maria Press or on Amazon. We hope you will join us! 

1/17/24       A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Joan of Arc: Courage in the face of Adversity

1/24/24       A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Maria Goretti: Protection for our Children

1/31/24       A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Dymphna: Finding Relief Those Suffering with Mental Health Issues

Questions, please reach out to Gracie Dziewiatkowski at [email protected] or Sara Norton at [email protected]

As you may be aware there is an increased need for food in our Central Ohio community. Beginning in January any parishioners, individuals or groups can sign up to make make sandwiches at home and bring them for delivery to be donated to those in need.

Sandwich Saturday at Home (SSAH) is in ADDITION to the monthly Sandwich Saturdays held in the school cafeteria. With SSAH you sign up for the month you would like to help, assemble the sandwiches at home with supplies you provide and deliver your assembled sandwiches to the Kroger on Perimeter Loop at 8:30 am on the designated Monday. Sign up at the link below.

The Giving Tree project was once again a resounding success. Through the generosity of St. Brigid parishioners, approximately 700 gifts and $16,000 were distributed to the following organizations:

• Gladden House – gifts for 150 preschool and after school children in the Franklinton area of Columbus.
• St. Lawrence Haven –  in partnership with the City of Dublin, 140 gifts for their annual Christmas shop for disadvantaged families in downtown Columbus.
• Bishop Griffin Resource Center – 125+ gifts of clothing and household goods to stock their community store in east Columbus.
• Heinzerling –  250+ gifts of toys, clothing and personal need items for the population of non-ambulatory residents, both children and adults, with severe developmental disabilities.
• St. Stephen’s Community Center – 100+ gifts of food for their Christmas Cares food distribution program in the Linden community.
• Kentucky Mission - $8,670  to support the efforts of the Sisters of St. Francis as they minister to the needs of the residents of Booneville, Kentucky, an area of high unemployment and low incomes.
• St. Brigid Emergency Fund - $7,270 to be distributed by the staff of St. Brigid’s to persons in need as they see fit.

The Giving Tree committee thanks all those who participated in this important project by donating gifts and/or their time to make it a success. The recipient organizations are deeply grateful for your support. The director of Bishop Griffin Resource Center writes, “Thank you, thank you for your Giving Tree donation. The socks and underwear will help so many. We appreciate your efforts to gather and drop off the donations. It truly takes a village to help our neighbors and your generosity is a blessing”

Men’s Cornerstone Retreat!

January 26th – 28 th, 2024

WHO: All men of the parish are invited to attend the annual Men’s weekend Retreat.

WHERE: The Spiritual Center of Maria Stein. Meals will be provided, and all men will have private rooms with bath.

WHY: to renew your spirituality, build fellowship with other men of the parish, enjoy excellent speakers, group discussions, social gathering, music, Mass and more!

DETAILS: More info and registration can be found on parish website here.

CONTACT: Matt Niemec at [email protected] or 614-352-1131 with any questions!

Save the date for the Women's Retreat April 12-14! Registration opens at stbrigidofkildare.org on February 12.

Bishop Watterson is now accepting applications for the 24-25 school year.

To learn more, visit www.bishopwatterson.com.

St. Charles will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 4, from 1:00- 6:30 p.m., in the school’s Walter Student Commons. Dinner will be prepared by the Susi Family and its staff from Berwick Manor. Entertainment will be provided by the SC Concert & Jazz Band, which will perform at 2:15 and 4:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy a bountiful meal of spaghetti with meatball, salad, rolls, ice cream, and a beverage. $14.00 for Adults; $10.00 for Senior Citizens; $7.00 for Children 4-12 (3 and under are free). There is also a $55 Family rate (dine-in, up to six immediate family members). Carry out orders will be available.

THE 27TH ANNUAL CATHOLIC MEN'S CONFERENCE

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

Save the date for an amazing day of faith as we hear from three incredible speakers: John Edwards, Chris Stefanick, and Father Burke Masters!

Everyone can use the gift of fellowship and faith, and this could be a gift they never forget!

Follow the links below to register! Register now to take advantage of early bird discounts.

Register for Men's Conference

Register for Women's Conference

Crucial Conversations is a parenting speaker series for St. Brigid of Kildare Parish and School parents of school-aged children, focusing on student wellness and safety—physically, emotionally, and online.

Internet Safety for Parents with Jesse Weinberger

Thursday, January 25 | 6:30 PM

Nationally recognized internet safety speaker Jesse Weinberger will share guidance, data, and life-changing information on keeping children and families safer online, and the connection between social media and mental health.

Presentation highlights include:

• value vs risk of tech use
• parental complicity
• mental health impact
• cyberbullying, sexting, sexual predation
• popular apps explained
• extreme content & gaming
• how to monitor, supervise & consequence

This presentation applies to all parents. Whether your child is a toddler or a college student, technology is having an impact on their day-to-day life as well as their future outcomes.

As parents, we may not realize that our children are hypersexualized by digital content, how our own adult use of technology changes them, and the causal impact technology has on their mental health.

Jesse Weinberger is a former programmer, a nationally recognized speaker, TEDx presenter, and the host of Big Mama's House Podcast. Jesse is also the author of The Boogeyman Exists: And He's in Your Child's Back Pocket, 2nd ed. With over 15 years of speaking at school districts all over the United States, Jesse's particular skill is successfully reaching audiences with the perfect combination of humor and deep expertise in technology and digital content.

Learn more about Jesse at her website www.overnightgeekuniversity.com.

If you are 18 years or older and interested in volunteering with youth activities at SBK, attending PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN is required before you can volunteer. Register under the Diocese of Columbus at 

www.virtus.org

The Diocesan Safe Environment Department will be offering Virtus Protecting God's Children (PGC) sessions: 

2/15/2024 Zoom PGC Session (Columbus) 6pm

All volunteers with our children and youth must complete PGC, a St. Brigid volunteer application, submit the signed code of conduct, copy of photo ID, and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

Full details and forms can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/safe-environment/ 

Thursday, February 29, 7 PM, Church

Spend a quiet hour together as a family with prayer, reflection and music. 

Registration for Spring Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field has been opened and available at https://stbrigid.doodlio.com/register 

Baseball

Registration Fee: $160 - includes game jersey and hat.

Practices will begin around March 1, and games will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact schedule released end of March)

Softball

Registration Fee: $160 - includes game jersey and hat/visor.

Practices will begin around March 1, and games will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact schedule released end of March)

Track & Field

Registration Fee: $85 

Practices will begin around March 1, and meets will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact meet schedule released in March)

Want to help out with the teams this spring?  All 3 sports are in need of coaches (head coaches and assistant coaches) - please consider volunteering.  When you sign up your child you can provide details if you are interested in helping out. Our programs are driven by parents volunteering - so please consider giving some of your time to help out.

Have any questions about the spring season?

Baseball/Softball Commissioner - Will Maelrich ([email protected])

Track & Field Commissioner - Dan Workman ([email protected])

Registration Questions - Shawn Steinbrunner ([email protected])

Registration will run until Feb 23rd - but we are offering an Early Bird Discount of 10% off if you register before January 31st - so sign up today.

Undone: Freedom for the Feminine Heart

All women are invited to attend “Undone: Freedom for the Feminine Heart,” which will be held at St. Francis de Sales in Newark on January 25, 26 and 27. “Undone” is a Women’s Conference, where women will experience a weekend of truth, beauty, and transformation, as the knots of Eve’s disobedience are “undone” through Mary’s model of radical receptivity.

This event is being offered in person OR virtually via livestream! Register online for either experience at www.jpiihealingcenter.org. Contact Tina Burtch, at [email protected] for more information.

Anointing of the Sick, Carey, Ohio

For the past five years, the Columbus Region of the Order of Malta has sponsored an Annual Mass for the Anointing of the Sick on the second Sunday of February. On Sunday, February 11, 2024, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. The Order is sponsoring a Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, OH to join Bishop Earl Fernandes as he celebrates Mass and offers the Sacrament of Anointing. The Order is chartering an ADA certified bus to take those who wish to receive the Anointing of the Sick and a companion to Carey. The Mass begins at 11:00 AM and the bus will leave from the back parking lot of St. Peter Church (6899 Smoky Row Rd, Columbus 43235) at 9:00 AM. For more information and/or to make a reservation (no later then January 22, 2024) please email Len Barbe at [email protected].