Ministry Weekend - Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who came out for Ministry Weekend! It was such a joy to gather and connect with so many wonderful ministry leaders and volunteers.

Our parish is truly a living tapestry, where each unique thread comes together with purpose to strengthen our St. Brigid family.

We are so grateful for your “yes” to God’s call, and we hope you find your place in our parish family to grow in faith alongside us.

Interested in getting involved? Click the Volunteer Form button below to sign up for a ministry.

Ready to submit your annual offertory commitment? Click the Offertory Form button below.

Kristen Schneider, Director of Marketing and Communications

New Volunteer Guidelines Coming Soon

The Diocese of Columbus has recently updated its safe environment and volunteer compliance requirements. Please stay tuned for detailed information in the coming weeks outlining what these changes mean for our parish and how to ensure you remain fully compliant.  

Below are some upcoming sessions and fingerprinting opportunities hosted at St. Brigid.

Protecting God's Children sessions offered at St. Brigid:

• October 3, 7am-10am: No fingerprints being offered, but they are available Oct. 4th from 6:30-7:30 in the parish office
• November 14, 9am-12pm: Fingerprints offered from 8am-9am before session
• December 12, 8am-11am: Fingerprints offered from 7am-8am before session

Weekly Fingerprinting at St. Brigid:

• Fingerprinting sessions at St. Brigid will begin on Sunday, September 20. They will be held weekly in the Parish Office from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, except for December 13 and March 21 (due to Advent and Lenten Vespers & Penance Services).

To register for an upcoming fingerprinting session, visit the St. Brigid Safe Environment page HERE

All registrants must have a valid driver's license at the fingerprint session. The cost is $30 for BCI, $35 for FBI, and $65 for both.

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

Winterwear Collection

The weekend of September 26-27, volunteers from the Social Action Committee will be available around all Masses to collect new & gently used men, women and children’s coats, hoodies, gloves, scarves, hats and winter socks for our Winterwear collection.

This collection replaces Project Magi formerly held in January. Donations from this collection will benefit families served by Bishop Griffin Resource Center, Holy Family Soup Kitchen and StarHouse (center serving homeless youth).

These organizations assist approximately 2,500 individuals each week with food, personal hygiene items, medical services, and clothing. They begin distribution of winter clothing in the fall. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

For additional information or to assist in the collection, contact Joane at jeless@sbcglobal.net 949-422-8824.

Women's Retreat - Save the Date

Save the date for our annual St. Brigid of Kildare Women's Retreat!

Surrender Your Heart

April 16-18, 2027

More details coming soon!

Men's Cornerstone Retreat - Save the Date

Date: January 29 – 31, 2027

Location: Bergamo Retreat Center – Dayton Area

Get away to a Winter Retreat filled with Faith, Fellowship, and Fun! All are welcome, no matter where you are in your faith journey. 

Join other St. Brigid men to awaken, renew, and grow your faith. Many men of the parish call this one of the most powerful and positive experiences of their spiritual lives. Carpooling is available. 

At Bergamo Center’s quiet 150-acre grounds, you will have a private room and bathroom, good meals, time for prayer and reflection. Experience the sacred sacraments and listen to both a world-class speaker and men of the parish!

Contact: Keith Broadman at kbrodman@gmail.com or 567-283-0013 with any questions! 

Family of Faith

We had a wonderful turnout for our Family of Faith kick-off event, where our families came together to pack 1,500 snack packs for Catholic Social Services!

Late registration is still open if you'd like to join us this year.

View our 2026-27 Religious Education Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming sessions and events.

Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (Becoming Catholic)

Interested in becoming Catholic, completing your Sacraments, or simply learning more about the faith? OCIA is a community journey of prayer, study, and reflection for anyone looking to take the next step.

• When: Tuesday evenings, starting Oct 6 (7:00–8:30 PM)
• Where: Berry Room, Hendricks Hall
• Contact: Kim VanHuffel at kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org for more information.

Below is a testimonial from one of our recent OCIA members:

"I entered OCIA at age 62 after thinking about becoming Catholic for a number of years. In a world that often feels chaotic, I wanted to deepen my faith and learn more about the Church. At first, all the information seemed a little overwhelming, but I quickly realized I was surrounded by people just like me who were asking questions and learning together. I really enjoyed the variety of presenters and learning not just what happens at Mass, but why. The Stations of the Cross and my Confirmation were especially meaningful experiences. OCIA showed me that you don’t have to be perfect or have all the answers and that faith is a lifelong journey. I’m glad I finally took that first step, and I would encourage anyone who is considering OCIA to do the same." — Matt 

To learn more about the OCIA process or to fill out an inquiry form, visit our webpage below.

Building a Community of Belonging

As the school year begins to settle in, the work of meeting needs becomes more visible. Every child learns, communicates, and experiences the world differently.

Inclusion means meeting a child where they are — recognizing strengths, removing barriers, and providing the support they need to participate, grow, and succeed.

Different needs. Different paths. One Community.

Our next SPiCE meeting is: Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 PM in the Kelty Library.

All are welcome!

For any questions contact Laura Cook SBK SPiCE Executive Committee Chair Laura.mucer@gmail.com

Hi there, St. Brigid Parish! We pray that you all are doing well!

After a fun and full summer filled with studies, activities/outings, and time outside, we are so excited for our fall schedule to start up! (Click HERE if you are interested in seeing more of what God did this summer.

The goal of The Mantle is to lead teens to encounter Christ and to equip them to live as life-long disciples.

THE MANTLE IN UGANDA

We were also incredibly blessed by the opportunity in the past few weeks to help Fr. Godfrey in establishing The Mantle in Uganda. We are so excited to see the continued opportunities and way God moves in and through this “yes”.

THE NEED

Fr. Godfrey shared that the average age in Uganda is just 17, and many young people have little opportunity to encounter the Person of Jesus. His dream as a priest is to begin a youth ministry program modeled after The Mantle here in Dublin. He believes reaching young people through ministry is one of the greatest needs in his community.

GOD’S PLANS ARE ALWAYS BETTER

I have been struck by how much greater God’s plans are than ours. I never imagined our youth ministry would reach beyond Columbus, let alone across the world to Uganda!

When our trip was canceled, Fr. Godfrey repeatedly reminded us, “God’s will will be done.” We have seen those words come to life. Rather than being discouraged, he has prayerfully taken steps to build The Mantle from the ground up.

Fr. Godfrey often used the word “sustainable.” He wants The Mantle to take deep root and provide something lasting for young people.

Because we could not travel to Uganda, we were able to redirect those funds to help Fr. Godfrey’s parish provide clean water, which is a basic but life-changing need. He hopes the young people will see this sustainable gift as a reminder of Jesus, the Living Water.

Through phone calls, texts, and Zoom, we have also been blessed to support the beginnings of The Mantle in Uganda. God has opened doors we never expected through technology!

CONFERENCE DAY & CORE TEAM TRAINING

On August 27, I joined Fr. Godfrey’s parish by video to help launch The Mantle. About 125 young people participated, eager to learn about the program and Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. They waved to the camera, asked thoughtful questions, and showed just how hungry they are for Jesus. The day concluded with Eucharistic Adoration and Mass.

Two days later, I met virtually with 10 adult core team members to cast vision, share the heart of youth ministry, and begin making a plan. They are all serving as volunteers—a beautiful gift of generosity and faith.

What began as a canceled trip has become something far greater: God opening a new door for The Mantle in Uganda. We cannot wait to see what He does next!

As always, please know of our prayers for you, and please pray for us! If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please let me know.

In Mary’s Mantle,

Ellie Dills (St. Brigid High School Youth Minister)

edills@stbrigidofkildare.org

Knights of Columbus Patriot Day Service

Our Knights of Columbus met at Dublin Cemetery, for the Annual Patriots Day, flags for veterans' placements. The Knights offer a supportive lifelong brotherhood and strong community friendships. To learn more or get involved, contact Grand Knight John Mangiola at jmmangiola@gmail.com

Pray for Priests: September

Join Our Lady of Peace Parish in praying for a different priest or seminarian of our diocese each day of the month. CLICK HERE for the September calendar.

800th Anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi

Join Saint Joseph Cathedral and Holy Cross in Celebrating the 800th Anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. All presentations will take place in the catholic Center conference room at 197 East Gay Street on Monday evenings starting at 7 pm on September 14, 21, 28 and October 4, 2026. Please CLICK HERE for more information.

Friends of the Poor Walk

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul invites you to walk with us on Saturday, September 19, 2026,

at St. Francis Desales High School. Registration is free! Please see the attached flyer for more details about the event. The walk is one mile, symbolizing walking a mile in the shoes of someone in need. The purpose of the walk is to raise funds to support

our work, assisting our neighbors in need. We provide help with rent, utilities, food, shelter, car repairs, and more, bringing hope to our neighbors during difficult times. Even if you are unable to join us on the day of the walk, please consider supporting us with a donation.

Beatification Of Blessed Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Join Bishop Earl K Fernandes and the ODU community as we commemorate the Beatification of catholic philosopher and archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at the Matesich Theater at Ohio Dominican University on September 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m. and remember his many visits to the campus. The Celebration Meeting includes a welcome by ODU President Dr. Shonna Riedlinger, Unveiling of a commemorative plaque Blessing of the plaque by Bishop Fernandes and a short presentation on Blessed Fulton J. Sheen’s longtime friendship with ODU. For more information, contact Dr. Michael V. Dougherty at dougherm@ohiodominican.edu

Anniversary Mass and Rosary Procession

All the faithful people in the Diocese are invited to the First Mass Rosary Garden for an Anniversary Mass and Rosary Procession to commemorate the Anniversary of the First Mass in the State of Ohio. The praying the Holy Rosary, followed by a votive Mass, will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., in conjunction with the National Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, in Washington, D.C. Most Rev. Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of Columbus, will be the celebrant to commemorate the 218th Anniversary of the First Mass in the State of Ohio. The event will be held at the Historical First Mass Site & Rosary Garden, located at 4940 Stage Coach Road NW, Somerset, Ohio 43783. Please bring your lawn chairs. All of the Catholic Faithful throughout the Diocese are most welcome, including priests, deacons, and religious sisters and brothers. For inquiries about the event, contact Pete Thomas at 614-260-4300.

Ohio Mass for Life

Join thousands of Ohioans in Columbus on Friday, October 2, 2026 to pray and march for the respect of human life in all stages and circumstances.

• MASS for LIFE at 9:00 am

St. Joseph Cathedral

212 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH, 43215



• MARCH for LIFE

10:00 am Concert, 11:00 am Rally,

12:00 pm March

Ohio Statehouse

1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH, 43215

Mental Health Sunday

The USCCB has designated Sunday, October 11, 2026, as Mental Health Sunday. This coincides with Pope Leo’s monthly intention for October

“that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.” Bishop Fernandes will be celebrating a Mass on

Saturday, October 10 at 5:15 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cathedral to acknowledge those living with mental health challenges, their caregivers, and mental health professionals. A resource fair and light reception will follow in the undercroft.

White Mass

All are invited to join us on the Saturday October 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the St. Thomas More Newman Center at 64W Lane Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201 for the Annual White Mass. Celebrant and Homilist Bishop Earl Fernandes. Talk given by Sister Mary Diana Dreger, OP MD, an amazing physician and Dominican sister speaking on end-of-life issues in the Catholic tradition. Reception to follow.

Fifteenth Annual Sacred Heart Congress

This year's event will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville. Hosted by the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, this year’s Congress follows the historic Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and invites Catholics to respond personally to Christ’s invitation: “Come to Me.” The theme, “One Nation for His Heart — ‘Come to Me,’” calls the faithful to bring the love of Christ into their homes, parishes, schools and communities. The Congress will feature Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison and Annie Mitchell of the Son Rise Morning Show. Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus will celebrate Holy Mass. A children’s program will be offered following the morning Mass, providing an opportunity for young members of the family to participate in the day as well. Additional information can be found HERE.