Wednesday, March 10, 2010 ST. MARGARET MARY DEANERY — There are five elements that make a parish truly viable, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr told a group of Catholics March 6: The parish must celebrate the Mass and sacraments; it has to have a solid and effective religious education program; it must …

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 By Mary Caffrey Knapke DAYTON DEANERY — “Holding the Earth Lightly: A Call to Care for People and the Planet” was the theme of this year’s Catholic Relief Services Global Solidarity Conference, held Feb. 27 at the University of Dayton. The conference addressed what the United …

Thursday, March 11, 2010 By Jeanne Hunt I often begin my talks to children preparing for their first holy Communion with these words, “Hello, I am Mrs. Hunt, and last Sunday I made my 4,124th holy Communion. You should be so lucky!” I then tell the children a story about …

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. Fourth Sunday of Lent: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; Psalm 34: 2-7;  2 Corinthians 5:17-21;  Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 It may seem a little strange to hear the words celebrate and rejoice on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. But that is what …

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 A Mass of Christian Burial for Ursuline Sister Mary Carmen Johnson was celebrated on March 8 in the Sacred Heart Chapel of the Ursulines of Brown County in St. Martin. Sister Mary Carmen, 73, died March 3 at Mount Notre Dame Heath Care Center.

By Sister Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.  Third Sunday of Lent: Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9   Our Gospel passage this week gives us a focus for understanding the message of our liturgical readings. It falls into two parts: one stresses the …

By David Eck CATHEDRAL DEANERY — An ecumenical group of church leaders came together Feb. 19 with a message for President Barack Obama and members of Congress: focus on comprehensive immigration reform. The group included Fathers James Schutte, pastor of St. Leo the Great Church and Jorge Ochoa, associate pastor …

By Eileen Connelly, OSU  SPRINGFIELD DEANERY — One word that surfaces frequently when interviewing snowboarder Louie Vito is “thankful,” whether he’s describing his recent Olympic experience or expressing his thoughts on the support from home.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 By Father Kyle Schnippel In a gathering, once upon a time, a Catholic priest was getting a good-natured ribbing from a friend. “You Catholics,” the friend quipped, “divide the world to conquer it.” “It’s true,” the priest answered back. “We feel like we own the whole world!”

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. Third Sunday of Lent: Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9 Our Gospel passage this week gives us a focus for understanding the message of our liturgical readings. It falls into two parts: …