EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Every Friday after the 8AM Mass

ROSARY

7:00 PM Fatima Prayer Group on Monday

After the 6:45 AM and 8 AM Masses Monday thru Friday and after the 8 AM Mass on Saturday.

THE PARISH LIBRARY is open every Sunday morning in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft.

CONFESSIONS SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 10, 7:30PM – Fr. Armstrong

Saturday September 12, 3:00PM – Fr. Armstrong

BABYSITTING FOR THE 9:30AM MASS,

SUNDAY, September 13

Adult Volunteers: Tina Hawk, Susan Fluegemann

Students: Molly H., Ally R., Katie G.

See the Catholic Telegraph’s new website www.thecatholictelegraph.com for additional international news stories and other local information.

THE GOOD STEWARD must not show favoritism. The rich may have many material gifts to share, but St. James reminds us in the second reading that God has chosen the world’s poor to be rich in faith and inheritors of God’s kingdom.

Remember St. Antoninus in your will. 

FROM OUR PASTOR

Last week, I published my vision statement for the parish.  For the coming weeks, I intend to write a brief explanation on each point. From the vision statement: "I see a day when every member of St. Antoninus engages in Divine Worship: when every member prays every day."  When I was in the seminary, my classmate, now Fr. Mark Burger had a sign on his desk "The man too busy to pray is busier than God wants him to be."  That has stayed with me since I first read it in 1972.  It was true then; it is true now.  Among other things, St. John Vianney reminds us in his Little Catechism: "Prayer is the source of all graces, the mother of all virtues, the effacious and universal way by which God wills that we should come to him."  How important it is for parents to teach their children to pray: before and after meals, on rising, on going to bed.  How richly the Church encourages visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Bible reading, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and the Angelus, to name a few.  I read somewhere what a difference it would make if the Church's one billion faithful would make a holy hour each day. How dramatically the world would change for the better!

Fr. Christopher R. Armstrong

Biggs, Kroger, Price Hill Chili and The Holy Grail Gift Cards are available during rectory office hours of Monday-Friday 8AM to 3PM and after all weekend Masses.

CISE APPEAL

You may use the envelope or use the poor boxes at the church entrances. Please make checks out to St. Antoninus Church with the notation in the memo line, CISE Appeal. Thank you.

ORIENTATION MEETING ON CHILD PROTECTION DECREE

All clergy, employees and regular volunteers who work with children are, in addition to a background check, required to attend a orientation meeting on the Archdiocesan Decree on Child Protection. Deacon Bob Schroeder will be offering this meeting in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft at 7:30pm on the following dates in 2009: September 8, October 12, and November 19. If you have attended an orientation meeting since August, 2003, you do not need to repeat it. For further information about these meetings and the background checks, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759. REGISTRATION FORMS for our PREP program for Catholic students in public schools are available in the greeting room. PREP begins on Sunday, September 13th. If you have questions call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY

All are welcome to a Bible Study for adults on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft. This study will begin on Monday evening, September 14. The focus of this year’s study will be the Gospel according to Luke, from which most of next liturgical year’s Sunday gospels are taken. If you have questions please call Mary Lynne Rapien at 922-0902.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

This Wednesday, September 9, is the feast of Blessed Frederick Ozanam, founder of our organization. If you would like to help carry on the good work of Blessed Frederick, we would be pleased to see you at the next meeting of the St. Antoninus Conference on Tuesday, September 15, at 3PM in the Holy Family Room in the undercroft.

RCIA TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Holy Family Room of the undercroft. If you are not Catholic but have considered becoming Catholic, or just want to find out more about the Catholic faith, you are welcome! If you are a Catholic who would like to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith, you are welcome as well! If you plan to attend or if you know someone who would like to receive an invitation to RCIA, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME CONSTRUCTION ON FYFFE AVE.

From 8:00am to 3:00pm or any hours you can help, on September 19, October 17, and November 21. Call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759 or send e-mail to: w8cro@arrl.net.

LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH THE CHILDREN

Beginning on Sunday September 20, we will offer the opportunity for children and grade 1 and grade 2 (until they have received their First Holy Communion), to participate in their own Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 Mass. Immediately before the first reading, two adult catechists will take the children to the bride’s room (off of the greeting room), where the children will listen to the three Sunday readings from the children’s lectionary, discuss them and offer their own Prayers of the Faithful. In other words, the structure of this Liturgy of the Word will be the same as at Mass. The children will return to Mass after the Prayers of the Faithful. All children who are in the 1st or 2nd grade are invited to participate.

ST. ANTONINUS SUNDAY SCHOOL

Religious Education for 4 and 5 year-olds will be held in the school cafeteria during the 9:30 Mass beginning on Sunday, September 20. Registration will be held in the greeting room between the 9:30 and 11:30 Masses on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Students registered for the 4 year-old group must be eligible for Kindergarten in the fall of 2010.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD! (Psalm 19:1) St. Antoninus has been awarded a new telescope by the Cincinnati Observatory. You are invited to a Jupiter night at Schott field on Saturday, September 26, beginning at 8:30pm. We will be able to view lunar craters, mountains and the shadows cast by them. Jupiter's atmospheric bands should be visible. If the seeing if steady, we should be able to see the shadow of Jupiter's moon, Io, begin to cross the planet at about 9:45pm. All are welcome!

TRAVELING CHALICE

Thank you to Bob and Carole Jones who took the Traveling Chalice into their home for one week to help pray for vocations to the religious life. If you would like the Traveling Chalice for one week, please call Debbie at 922-2414.

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL – JACK COREY

     With the economy the way it is, I was hoping we would be able to maintain the same enrollment from last year.  This time last year we had 459 students.  I am pleased to say that we went up to 470 students.  To say the least this is good news.

     With a lot of media attention given to the H1N1 flu this year, our school nurse has added a “Swine Flu” page to our web page.  This will allow parents to get accurate information about any developments as we head into flu season.  This year we are using the information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and our county health department to keep everyone informed.  Please be aware that there are a lot of sources and not all of them are accurate.  For more information, please see our website at www.saintantoninus.org.

      This past week we had our Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday night.  We also had grades 3-8 receive the sacrament of reconciliation.  It did not take us long to hit our stride as the new school year began.  This is a testament to all who are part of the St. Antoninus Parish community.

FROM OUR SEMINARIAN INTERN,

MATTHEW J. ROBBEN

Family Formation- After my first two week at St. Antoninus, I have found the parish to be extremely warm, friendly, and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.  In an attempt to “catch the wave,” I would like to use this column as a way to highlight various themes or topics that have arisen in my life that have shaped and formed my vocation to the priesthood.  Whenever I share my vocational story, family is where I begin.  As the second youngest of 14 alphabetically named children, my family is near and dear to my heart.  As a child, I remember my father always remarking how proud he would be if one of his children would become a priest or a religious.  Even my brothers and sisters made comments that I would make a good priest.  This created an atmosphere where I felt like the priesthood was a worthy vocation and well accepted and supported.  I continue to pray that all children are given the same grace that I have been given: the ability to see all vocations, whether to the single, married, religious, or priestly life, in the same light as God sees them: equal and very good.  God bless you as you carry His light to the world this week!

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP

Lately we have been considering the many writings of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. As we gather this week, we intend to look deeper into how his words have resonated within us. We have four passages for discussion that we have been reflecting upon in our private prayer time. By sharing our thoughts on them, we hope to encourage each other to read Scripture more and see how it speaks to each of us personally. Indeed, God does have special words meant for you and me. As a reminder, these four passages are: Isaiah 40:10 & 11, 40:12 & 13, 55: 1-3, 54:10. In Chapel 7:30 PM Tuesday.

GIRL SCOUT REGISTRATION FOR K-8TH GRADES. Leave parent name, daughter(s) name, grade and phone number at jbusken@current.net or at 251-2492.

THE ATHLETIC CLUB IS LOOKING FOR volunteers to fill the open positions for Equipment Room Coordinator and Basketball Tournament Coordinator. Please call Brian Bohan at 922-4313 or Mike Rolfes at 451-6704 to inquire about either position.

ADULT SOCIAL GROUP

Monday, September 14- Communion Service at 12:30PM, followed by lunch and a presentation on Antique Cars by Scott Bittner. Time and weather permitting, Mr. Bittner will offer some rides in his Model T. Cost is $9 per person. Get your reservations in by Monday, September 7.

December 1-3 – Trip to “Our Lady of the Snows Shrine” to see the Christmas Displays and “Way of Lights.” Leave Tues, Dec. 1st, return Thur. Dec. 3rd. Stay 2 nights at the Shrine hotel. Tour will also include a sightseeing trip to the St. Louis Arch: Noon Mass at the Basilica: and a tour of the Anheuser Bush Brewery. Cost $175 per person, deposit $75 per person due now, full amount by November 1st. Includes the transportation, lodging and continental breakfast. Additional food, fees and souvenirs are at one’s own expense. Tour limited to 44 people. Get your name in early.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LUNCH

St. Antoninus will provide lunch for the Habitat for Humanity construction volunteers on Saturday, October 17. If you would like to help, please call Julie Heil at 922-3848 in the evening.

VOLLEYBALL SIGNUPS now for all grade school and high school girls. Call Mary Nie at 451-4490 or chrisnie@yahoo.com or Jenny Allison at 251-4940 jallison@cinci.rr.com.

Seton High School’s “Power of the Purse” is hosting a Financial Planning Mini-Course Night for women on Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m. A reception will be held in the Commons following the 8:00 p.m. presentation. The cost is $20 a person. The course topics, registration form and more information can be found at www.setoncincinnati.org or call 471.2600.188. Deadline to register is September 16th.

THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS ST. MICHAEL PRAYER WARRIORS presents a Call of the King Conference with Archbishop Dennis Schnurr on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30PM at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood. Hear the Archbishop speak about fostering a culture of vocations in the home and parish. Adoration of Our Eucharistic Lord from 6-7PM. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the Conference.

TWIN PARISH

St. Francis Seraph School staff relies on our help in their school cafeteria each year. If you can help one day per month two hours a day, please call Carolyn Rolfes at 347-0622.

The Chancery Office and the Worship Office has received a number of phone calls regarding the H1N1 flu and Mass. At this time, our recommendation, is as it has been in the past during flu season: to encourage parishioners/students to take precautions such as frequent washing of hands, remain at home if they are sick, refrain from drinking from the cup and from shaking hands at the Sign of Peace if they are not feeling well. The Archdiocese will follow directives of the USCCB and local and federal health authorities and will keep parishes and schools informed as the need arises.

SEVEN WOMEN OF FAITH St. Ann’s Parish – Hamilton, OH. Saturday, October 3, from 9:00am to 3:00pm with Fr. Timothy Schehr, Ph.D.,Professor of Biblical Studies at the Athenaeum of Ohio, will present, Seven Women of Faith, a reflection on the lives of women in the Bible who are models for Christian living. For info call Cheryl at 515-6697 or Susan at 863-4963 or access St. Ann’s website at www.stanncc.org.

Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Prayer Vigil for Life will have on the second Saturday of every month, a Mass at 8:30AM at St. Teresa of Avila Church followed by a Rosary procession to the nearby Planned Parenthood facility.  Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk will celebrate on Saturday, November 14, and Archbishop Dennis Schnurr on Saturday, December 12.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY    AUGUST 4

(A.D. 1859) 

             From Butler’s Lives of the Saints

    Continued from last week… 

         On July 2, 1814, John Mary Vianney received the minor orders and subdiaconate, and returned to Ecully to continue his studies with M. Balley.  In June 1815, he received the deaconate (five days after the battle of Waterloo), and on August 12, the priesthood.  He offered his first Mass the following day, and was appointed curate to M. Balley, to whose clear-sightedness and perseverance is due, under God, the fact that St. John Mary Vianney ever attained to the priesthood.

        “The Church wants not only learned priests but, even more, holy ones”, the vicar general of Lyons had said at his ordination, and Mgr. Simon, Bishop of Grenoble, had seen in the Abbe Vianney a “good priest”.  The things that a priest must know he did know:  but not necessarily from text-books.  Moral theology, for example.  When M. Bochard cross-examined him on difficult “cases”, his replies were explicit and accurate:  for the Abbe Vianney was a saint and he had common sense; and moral casuistry is sanctified common sense.  A few months after his appointment to Ecully he received his faculties to hear confessions; his first penitent was his own rector, and very soon the “run” on his confessional was noticeable.  Later on the hearing of confessions was to take up three-quarters of his time.  Quietly, rector and curate began to have a holy competition in austerity, rather after the manner of monks in the Thebald; the cure’ denounced his vicaire to the vicar general for “exceeding all bounds”, while M. Vianney retorted by accusing the rector of excessive mortifications.  M. Courbon laughed, and said the people of Ecully were lucky to have two such priests to do penance for them.  In 1817, to the infinite sorrow of his pupil, M. Balley died, and early in the following year the Abbe Vianney was made parish priest of Arsen-Dombes, a remote and neglected place of 230 souls, “in every sense of the word “a hole’ ”.

       There has been a good deal of exaggeration of the debased spiritual state of Ars at the time when M. Vianney took it in hand (just as there has been of the “ignorance” of the good man himself).  Is seems to have been in just about the same state as many English villages in the third quarter of the twentieth century: little definite immorality and malicious wickedness, but little true religion and love of God; the greatest scandal at Ars was probably the “deadly scandal of ordinary life”.  For the rest, there were several exemplary Christian families, including that of the mayor, and the “lady of the manor”, Mlle M. A.C. Garnier des Garets (“Mlle d’Ars”), was sincerely, if rather fussily, pious.  The new cure’ (he was really at that time only a chaplain to a sort of chapel-of-ease) not only continued but redoubled his austerities, especially the use of a cruel “discipline”, and for the first six years of his incumbency lived on practically nothing but potatoes, seeking to make himself a sacrifice for the shortcomings of his “feeble flock”.  The evil spirits of impurity and drunkenness and dishonesty and indifference are “not cast out but by prayer and fasting”, and if the people of Ars would not pray and fast for themselves, well, than their pastor must do so for them.

      When he had personally visited every household under his care and provided a regular catechism class for the children, he set to work in earnest to make a real conversion of Ars, by personal conversation, in the confessional, and by laboriously and carefully prepared sermons which he delivered naturally, but not quietly.    The people were too sunk in religious indifference and material preoccupations to be amenable to quietness and moderation; moreover, in those days Jansenism was still something more than a memory and had left its backwash in the methods and teaching of orthodox but rigorist directors and theologians.

To be continued next week…