From the Pastor’s Desk: Father Rodolfo Coaquira Hilaje
(Father Rudy) March 23, 2025
Faith and Disappointment

My Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,

We live in a world filled with unexplainable calamities. Natural disasters devastate entire communities, claiming lives without discrimination. Disease afflicts the young and healthy alongside the old and frail. Acts of violence and injustice leave us questioning why such suffering exists. In moments like these, it’s natural to wonder, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Or, perhaps more painfully, “Why does God allow this?”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus offers us the parable of the fruitless fig tree (Luke 13:1-9), a story that speaks to the mysteries of suffering and hope in the face of disappointment. The fig tree’s owner sees no fruit and is ready to give up, declaring the tree a lost cause. Yet the gardener steps in with a different perspective. He doesn’t judge the tree harshly, nor does he let frustration overwhelm him. Instead, he rolls up his sleeves, grabs a shovel, and gets to work.

Here’s the remarkable part: it’s not the tree that needs to change; it’s the owner of the fig tree whose mind the gardener is trying to transform. The gardener invites him—and us—to look at the tree with hope and patience. He calls us to trust that, even in barrenness, life can bloom again if nurtured with care.

The gardener’s actions challenge us to adopt a practical, hands-on faith. He doesn’t waste time assigning blame or becoming self-righteous about why the tree hasn’t borne fruit. Instead, he dives into the muck, digging around the roots and fertilizing the soil. His actions remind us that our response to life’s challenges is what matters most.

When tragedy strikes, the question is not “Why did this happen?” but “What can I do?” The gardener reminds us that faith is not about standing on the sidelines, paralyzed by fear or despair. Faith is about action—getting involved, ministering to those in need, and trusting that God is working even when we cannot see the fruit.

Jesus also warns us not to blame the victims of tragedy or assume their suffering is due to sin. He references the collapse of the Tower of Siloam and the Galileans killed by Pilate, urging us to see these events not as punishments but as reminders of life’s fragility and the need for repentance. Rather than cowering behind closed doors in fear of the next calamity, Jesus calls us to live boldly, trusting in God’s care.

Each morning, we have a choice: to despair over what we cannot control or to face the day with faith. With the gardener by our side, we can say, “Whatever comes my way, I will stand firm. My joy will be magnified because I trust in God’s goodness. My sorrow will be transformed because I walk with Christ.”

Let us listen to the gardener’s voice and embrace a faith that gets its hands dirty, transforming barren branches into vessels of God’s grace. Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Father Rudy

Our Lady of Guadalupe Priest Assignments–September 2024 
Click here

Catholic Leadership Documents: Click on title to review

Belief in Core Catholic Teaching
Benchmarks
Cross Tabulation
Demographics
Effectiveness of Parish Support
Key Drivers
Key Leader Perspective
Leadership Indicator
Missionary Impulse
Spiritual Practices
Strengths and Opportunitie
Strengths and Opportunities
Sunday Experience

Seek the Lord by Archbishop Dennis Schnurr
March 2025

Each year during the season of Lent, the Church affords us the opportunity to rekindle our relationship with God, both as individuals and as a community of faith. These 40 days are a time set aside to pray more, to embrace a spirit of self-denial and sacrifice, and to work to serve those in need. The spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not ends in and of themselves. Rather, they are means to further convert our hearts from worldly ways so that they may become more conformed to the very Heart of Christ. The more we allow ourselves to be transformed by God’s love, the greater our capacity for loving others becomes in return.

Pope Francis reflects on how God calls us to open our hearts to receive the seeds of grace He offers us during this privileged time. We then should carefully cultivate those seeds so that they bear fruit in our own lives and, just as importantly, in the lives of those He puts in our path. Explaining this dynamic of sowing and reaping, the Holy Father says, “Regular listening to the word of God makes us open and docile to His working (cf. Jas. 1:21) and bears fruit in our lives. This brings us great joy, yet even more, it summons us to become God’s co-workers (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9). By making good use of the present time (cf. Eph. 5:16), we too can sow seeds of goodness. This call to sow goodness should not be seen as a burden but a grace, whereby the Creator wishes us to be actively united with His own bountiful goodness” (Message for Lent 2022, 1).

The Holy Father goes on to encourage us, as St. Paul did for the Galatians, to “never grow tired of doing good” (Gal. 6:9). Specifically, he says, “Let us not grow tired of praying… Let us not grow tired of uprooting evil from our lives… Let us not grow tired of doing good in active charity towards our neighbors” (2). As we do these things we make more space in our soul for God to act, for Him to take the little we often have to offer and make it bear abundant fruit for others. And we should never doubt the good which God can do with even the smallest things we offer in a spirit of charity!

It is this same attitude of generosity which moves the hearts of so many throughout the Church to give of their own time and gifts for the sake of others. Some do this through their daily work; many others, though, build up the Kingdom by volunteering or supporting the various non-profit ministries which seek to serve those who find themselves physically, spiritually or emotionally in need.

There is so much work which the Lord invites us to be a part of in order that His Gospel of salvation may reach as many souls as possible. Right here in our own archdiocese there are many examples of such ministries radiating the light which Christ came to shine into the darkness of this world. During these weeks of special grace, may all of us receive everything that the Lord has prepared to give us. Going forth into the world, let us sow these seeds which He will undoubtedly cause to bear much fruit for the good of all!

St. Joseph Needs Your Help Today!!
We are in financial distress and we need your support to continue!!
St. Joseph started its walk in 1846. Along the way, we have welcomed members from seven mostly-Black Catholic Archdiocesan churches that have been closed. We helped birth the national Black Catholic liturgical movement. We led the Archdiocesan Catholic church and school integration. We are one of the last inner-city Cincinnati Catholic parishes that proudly identify as Black. We have leaned on the Spirit through it all and today celebrate that we still stand as a tower of faith in the West End. Yet we are in financial distress and we need your help to continue!! We are revitalizing, reorganizing and working hard to keep St. Joseph alive and to bring back a school presence. We are determined to continue being a strong force for good in the West End.We ask for your help today to keep our doors open, to keep doing good. We need your financial support more than ever. Please Click on DONATE  NOW on the home page to make a donation – a significant one if you can – today.  THANK YOU!

St. Joseph Mobile Produce Pantry Changed to Walk-up Service
Due to Covid-19, the  St. Joseph Catholic Church Mobile Produce Pantry is now a walk up, outdoor pantry that will be open open on the Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please pick up your pantry at the front entrance doors to the church. The next Produce Pantry is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11. Come by and receive free produce for your family. First come, first served, for 100 families! All types of fresh produce is available.

Pope Francis: Message for Lent
by Hannah Brockhaus (Catholic News Agency)

In his message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of living one’s life as a constant journey of conversion, choosing to walk in peace and hope aside one’s fellow humans.

“May the hope that does not disappoint, the central message of the jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey toward the victory of Easter,” the pope said in the message, released Tuesday.

He also quoted St. Paul’s exclamation in the first letter to the Corinthians: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

Though Francis is in Gemelli Hospital to receive treatment for multiple respiratory infections, his Lenten message is dated Feb. 6, well ahead of his hospitalization on Feb. 14.

The season of Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5. The Vatican said the pope continues to carry out some work duties with the help of his secretaries while in the hospital.

In his message, the pontiff wrote that this Lent is an opportunity to consider three areas where one may be in greater need of conversion: journeying with others, being synodal, and having hope.

“A first call to conversion,” he said, “comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life; each of us is invited to stop and ask how our lives reflect this fact. Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone? Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity?”

On the virtue of hope, Pope Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which calls hope the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”

“Thanks to God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are sustained in the hope that does not disappoint,” the pope said, adding that hope “moves the Church to pray for ‘everyone to be saved’ (1 Tm 2:4) and to look forward to her being united with Christ, her bridegroom, in the glory of heaven.”

He recalled a prayer of St. Teresa of Ávila, to “hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one.”

Francis said a good Lenten exercise and examination of conscience would be to compare one’s life to a migrant or foreigner, “to learn how to sympathize with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father.”

He also encouraged Catholics to be more synodal by journeying with others while avoiding self-absorption, exclusion, oppressing and excluding others, or being envious and hypocritical.

“Let us all walk in the same direction, tending toward the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience,” he urged.

Pope Francis said the call to hope and trust in God and in eternal life is also an important aspect of Lenten conversion. Some questions to ponder include: “Am I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God’s help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?”

“This Lent, God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs,” he said.

Letter from Father Rudy on school closure
click here

Caregiving Support Meeting at St. Joseph Church Suspended:
For March Programs, click here
For the March Newsletter, click here
Our mission is to offer support with the challenges of caregiving and gain practical tips. Caregivers receive encouragement in their struggle to cope with stress. Caregiving is a community effort and we are here to help! If you know of a caregiver who needs encouragement and support, please tell them about our caregiver group at St. Joseph. The monthly meeting was normally on the second Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm in the Convent Conference Room. This group is free and here for you! Please call Angie Homoelle at (513) 672-3834 for more information. Sponsored by the Caregiver Assistance Network, a program of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio funded through the Council on Aging. During the pandemic Caregivers have been transitioned from in-person sessions to virtual experiences via Zoom. You can still join with your computer, or call in for audio only with a toll-free number. Currently Caregivers are working hard to create more opportunities for those who are interested. They are working on coordinating policies with our locations and should have  more in-person sessions soon.
–Angie Homoelle,​Caregiver Assistance Network Coordinator,Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio,7162 Reading Rd. | Cincinnati, OH 45237 | Ste. 600,Office: 513-672-3834 ahomoelle@ccswoh.org | Web: https://ccswoh.org/programs/caregiver-assistance-network/

Welcome, Father Rudy!
On July 1, 2022, Father Rudolfo Coaquira Hilaje, M.CC.J., became our new pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  We are grateful and comforted as he shepherds our parish in the days ahead. Father Rudy joins a preeminent list of St. Joseph pastors who have guided our way since our church doors opened in 1846. We welcome him with open hearts and minds and offer our assistance in all his future endeavors.  Thank you, Father Rudy, for all you have already accomplished on our behalf.  We are hopeful and encouraged by your leadership as we move forward at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati also appointed Father Rudy as pastor for the Family S-12 region that includes St. Joseph, St. Boniface, St. Leo, Holy Family and St. Therese  Little Flower.
Father Rudy is a Peruvian Comboni missionary was ordained to the priesthood in 1992. After completing theological studies, his first mission assignment was to Zambia where, in 1997, he became part of a team that was sent to begin  a new mission in a remote area of Luangwa Valley among the Atumbuka people. After several years, he was called back to his home country to work as educator of candidates to the missionary priesthood. In 2010 he returned to Zambia and ministered in the rural parish of Kanyanga, located in the Eastern Province of Zambia, again, among the Atumbuka people. In 2015 he was assigned to the North American Province, and most recently served at St. Boniface Parish here in Cincinnati.
As Father Rey always expressed in his columns,  “Let us keep each other in our prayers;” and especially today, please keep Father Rodolfo Coaquira Hilaje in our prayers as the new pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for your constant presence. Through seasons of constancy and seasons of change, you are always with us – calling us into deeper waters, calling us together in your spirit of unity, calling us out of ourselves into the world to serve others. Grant that Father Rudy might hold fast to your unending love and mercy. As we experience change, help us to remember the promise that your mission is bigger than any single priest or local church. We know that this promise will bring both comfort and discomfort – comfort in a season of change and discomfort as it drives us all to love you and each other more. Strengthen us to be your Church in all times and seasons of life – a place where all are truly welcomed and embraced in your love; a place where Father Rudy will find ways to be active with you among us and calling us to join in your saving work; and a place where the story of your love and grace and mercy are embodied. We offer our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Seven New Priests Ordained in Cincinnati
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 18, 2024. The men were ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr  celebrated the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop  laid his hands on the men, invoking the authority given by Christ to the apostles to make new priests. The Mass was streamed on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati YouTube channel.

The seven new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. The seven men being ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this year, is in line with the seven men ordained in 2023, 2021, 2016, 2009 and 2022. Since 2014, sixty men have been ordained the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The seven new priests have served as transitional deacons for the last year. Their ministry has included baptizing, assisting at marriages, and preaching at Mass. The men graduated on May 12 of this year from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood. Parish assignments for the new priests were be announced at the ordination.

Men who were ordained:

Deacon Brice Berger
Deacon Adam Berning
Deacon John Grusenmeyer
Deacon Benjamin Mersch
Deacon Matthew Montag
Deacon Anthony Sanitato
Deacon Jeremy Stubbs

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 206 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 109 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

From the Safe Environment Office
We would like to remind all parish/school employees and volunteers of the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection.  All employees and volunteers are required to have completed The Archdiocese of Cincinnati SafeParish™: Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse – Arch. of Cincinnati Edition training or child protection training under the prior child protection platform (VIRTUS).  In addition, employees are required to complete an online background check, manual fingerprint, and B4 form once prior to beginning employment.  Ohio Department of Education licensees may have additional requirements and should check with their school office or athletic departments if there are any questions.  Volunteers are required to complete an online background check prior to volunteering with youth.  Employees and volunteers are required to stay current in completing SafeParish™ quarterly bulletins.  As of July 8, there are 10,000+ SafeParish user accounts that are pending due to lack of compliance in completing the quarterly bulletins.  With the school year beginning, please make sure to complete the quarterly bulletins or you will not be able to work/volunteer with youth until your SafeParish account is approved.  Please direct questions regarding bulletin completion to your parish/school safe environment coordinator.

Genesis: A Pre-Cana Retreat
The Center for the New Evangelization’s Marriage & Family team hosts Genesis: A Pre-Cana Retreat in English and Spanish throughout the archdiocese. The retreat typically runs 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers engaging presentations on the sacrament of marriage by teams of married couples, focusing on what it means to say “yes” to each of the questions of consent. The retreat also offers a unique opportunity for couples to pray together in adoration, go to Confession, spend time alone in conversation, and form friendships with other engaged couples. Visit our marriage preparation website for more information and dates of upcoming Genesis retreats at https://www.centerforthenewevangelization.org/marriage-family/marriage-preparation.

Beacons of Light Update: Pastoral Planning for our Third Century
Update: Work continues as Beacons of Light gets closer to the next major milestone: the announcement of the final Families of Parishes. The date of the Families of Parishes announcement has been confirmed as Sunday, December 5.  Look for more information in the next few weeks both from the Beacons Update and from your pastor.
For Archbishop Schnurr’s September letter about the Beacons of Light, please click here. 
Currently,  St. Joseph has been designated in the South Deanery as S-12 to include St. Joseph Church Cincinnati, St. Theresa of the Little Flower, St. Leo the Great, Holy Family, and St. Boniface. Father Rodolfo Coaquira Hilaje, M.CC.J has been named pastor. 
Beacons of Light is a multiyear process of pastoral planning for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Rooted in prayer, groupings of parishes will come together as one faith community. These new Families of Parishes will be stronger together, focused more on mission than on maintenance. In the Families of Parishes we will grow closer to God, follow Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and radiate Christ in our lives. Go to  https://catholicaoc.org/beacons-of-light/beacons-of-light-faq to find out more about the process. There is also a video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpipzXondcU
Please also sign up at https://catholicaoc.org/beacons#newsletter to receive the free “Beacons Update” e-newsletter which will provide monthly prayers, reflections and planning process news.
Archbishop Interview on Beacons of Light: Archbishop Schnurr recently sat down with Anna Mitchell of Sacred Heart Catholic Radio to talk about Beacons of Light. Hopefully, this 20-minute interview will help answer some questions and concerns you may have about this pastoral planning process.

An Interview withArchbishop Dennis M. Schnurr

St. Joseph Catholic Church is Inviting you to a Scheduled Zoom Bible Study Every Monday Evening at 6:15 pm.
All are welcome to join us.  Please call the parish office with any questions..  Zoom can be used on your computer, your tablet, or even your smartphone. To get logged in: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/338681613. Meeting ID: 338 681 613. If you are only able to join by phone, call:  312-626-6799. Meeting ID:  338 681 613. (Please log in about 5-10 minutes ahead of time.) (Please log in about 5-10 minutes ahead of time.) Beginning in November, St. Joseph Bible Study is fortunate to have Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu, a seminarian from the diocese of Charlotte,  North Carolina to work with us. He is currently a third year seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati. He is one of 16 seminarians from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina who is training here. Born in Washington D.C., but raised in Nigeria, he is a graduate of North Carolina A&T where he headed their Catholic campus ministry.  He will be ordained a transitional Deacon June 2022. Please welcome this fine man to our parish and consider joining us for bible studies during the month of November.

Online Giving With myEoffering
Electronic giving at SJCC is here! myEoffering is an easy way to send your offerings online in the same way you might pay bills or purchase products. We are offering this service as a convenience, so you no longer have to write checks or remember to bring cash with you on Sunday. Simply log in to the myEoffering through the St. Joseph Church website (www.stjosephcincinnati.org) and set up your offering. You can set up donations to match your pay periods, and even send a one-time donation to special offerings we may have from time to time. This new service allows you to give any amount, at any time, from home or on the road with your computer, tablet, or mobile device. Online giving is easy way to access and has many benefits for our parish, especially during these difficult times when you may not be able to attend Mass but want to continue your contributions. It is secure, safe, and easy to manage.  Again, signing up is as simple as going to our church website and clicking on “Donate Now” on the menu bar. You’ll register an account, and within minutes, you will be giving your first online donation. If you have any questions about enrolling, please call the parish office. As always, we thank you for your generous sharing of treasure in the spirit and practice of stewardship.

West End Emergency Center and Pantry Soon to Reopen–On Hold with More Information to Come
We are happy to announce that the West End Emergency Center and Pantry is returning to service in our community.  Details are yet to be finalized, but three things are certain: When we are close to reopening: We will need your physical help and volunteering spirit to help us get up and running. Whether it is moving chairs, stacking shelves, driving, taking inventory, or offering thoughtful suggestions, we need you! Whatever you can do, however much time you can devote, or the manner in which you’d like to offer your assistance, know in advance how grateful we are. When we are close to reopening: We will need your in-kind donations. As we strategize, plan, and organize the pantry in the week and months to come, and specifically, add items, we will be asking for in-kind donations. To begin the process, we are thinking we might specify categories of need by week, such as Week One, we might be asking for men and women’s clothing, Week Two—paper products, Week Three—canned goods, and so on, all with a view of amassing a varied but complete inventory of goods. And please don’t be shy in asking neighbors, friends, and family for donations; often they are a wonderful source of new interest in our endeavors. WHAT WE NEED NOW: We ask you, if your finances permit, to make a monetary donation toward this effort, as there are many costs we will incur in reopening the pantry. No donation is too small, so please consider helping us. To contribute, please drop by or call the parish office (513) 381-4526, or you may place a check in the collection basket. Mark “WEEC&P on the memo line. Remember, every dollar or donation you make will ultimately make someone’s day a special one, as the need is great.

Welcome to Safe Parish: The New Child Protection Platform for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
All volunteers and employees in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with an active child protection account should have received an email from SafeParish inviting them to register for their new SafeParish account. These emails were sent during the week of July 12. If you did not receive the email, please check your spam or junk mail folders. You can also find a copy of the SafeParish registration instructions by going to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Safe Environment Office webpage at https://catholicaoc.org/offices/safe-environment. Click on “Top Resources” then click on the link for “SafeParish”. All new volunteers and employees should follow the SafeParish registration instructions for creating a SafeParish account. During the registration process, new volunteers and employees will be invited to complete their background check and child protection training online. New employees will also need to complete manual fingerprinting and submit a B4 form for approval. For any questions concerning SafeParish, please go to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Safe Environment webpage at https://catholicaoc.org/offices/safe-environment
Update From the Safe Environment Office We would like to remind all parish/school employees and volunteers of the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection.  All employees and volunteers are required to have completed The Archdiocese of Cincinnati SafeParish™: Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse – Arch. of Cincinnati Edition training or child protection training under the prior child protection platform (VIRTUS).  In addition, employees are required to complete an online background check, manual fingerprint, and B4 form once prior to beginning employment.  Ohio Department of Education licensees may have additional requirements and should check with their school office or athletic departments if there are any questions.  Volunteers are required to complete an online background check prior to volunteering with youth.  Employees and volunteers are required to stay current in completing SafeParish™ quarterly bulletins. As of July 8, there are 10,000+ SafeParish user accounts that are pending due to lack of compliance in completing the quarterly bulletins.  With the school year beginning for most in August, please make sure to complete the quarterly bulletins or you will not be able to work/volunteer with youth until your SafeParish account is approved.  Please direct questions regarding bulletin completion to your parish/school safe environment coordinator. Thank you for all you are doing and please stay safe and healthy!

The One Stop Resource Center is Open
The Hamilton County One-Stop Resource Center was created to eliminate barriers to accessing supportive services for all Hamilton County residents, including those with criminal convictions.. Their goal is to offer our community access to service providers each month at the same location for assistance related to vital records, personal identification, substance abuse and mental health care, child support concerns, housing, record sealing or expungement, and health care. When you visit the One-stop Resource Center, you will learn more about a local organization, begin the intake process, resolve issues, or meet service related conditions of release. Open on the Final Friday of each month from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Hamilton County Justice Center Lobby, 900 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 . For more information, go to  http://www.reentry.com/

Heart of Mary  Respite and Companion Services
This service provides non-medical support in the home from reliable, trained volunteers so caregivers can take care of other responsibilities or have time to relax or pursue other interests. This service helps caregivers take a needed break to revitalize, so they can continue caring for their loved one in the home. Volunteer duties primarily depend on the level of activity of the client. Some volunteers provide safety and security for clients who are homebound; others provide companionship, emotional support, and a caring presence; and others will do an activity for those clients who like to stay busy. Currently they are only providing Phone Reassurance for homebound clients. These phone calls provide a friendly voice to those who may feel isolated and cut off from their community and friends/family. To become a volunteer please visit the link at Better Impact: http://bttr.im/bm17f or contact Stephanie Slack, Senior Community Engagement Coordinator at Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, 513.535.2291.

Help Support SJCC with your Kroger Plus Card You can support our parish while you shop at Kroger just by connecting your Kroger Plus Card to our Kroger Community Rewards account EU886. Our parish will earn a portion (3-5%) of every dollar you spend at Kroger! Invite your friends, relatives and neighbors to link their cards to our parish as well. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com to enroll. Follow the screen prompts.

1. Click on I’m a customer and want to enroll in community rewards.
2. Sign in to your existing Kroger account with your user name and password.
3. Enroll in the program under search with our rewards account number EU886.
4. Confirm your preference of St. Joseph to receive the parish support (Click Enroll)
5. On the screen you will see your status as “Currently enrolled,” the date of your enrollment, and the organization’s name and number. To enroll, you must have a Kroger Plus Card and an email address.
   Please call the parish office if you have any additional questions or need help with your enrollment (513-381-4526). Thank you for supporting our parish!

NAMI is offering, free of charge, an 8 week, evidenced based training for All!!
2020 has created so many challenges that have forced us to make so many changes to our normal lives. Under ordinary circumstances one in five (1 in 5) are living with a mental illness. This pandemic has increased those numbers within our community. What can you do? How can you help? Education is the answer! NAMI Urban Greater Cincinnati Network on Mental Illness is offering during 2020/2021the NAMI evidenced basis practice, Family to Family. Family to Family is a great offer by NAMI Family-to-Family, FREE, 8-session educational program for families, significant others, friends and concerned leaders in our community people with mental health conditions. This designated evidenced-based program helps us to understand: Explanation of major brain disorders; the latest information about medications (including side effects and strategies for promoting medication adherence); information about the most effective treatments available; what to do in a crisis; handling your loved one’s hospitalization and relapse; problem solving and communication skills; advocating for your loved ones; how to work with professionals; and taking care of yourself. By the end of the 8-week session, participants will have a packet of materials to keep for ongoing reference. This class has proven to make a positive impact on family members and their loved ones. Information really is power and in this case it’s free! Want to give back? Become a NAMI member. Membership information available at all NAMI meetings and classes or join online. “It takes a village!” Will you be part of our village? Let us know by calling (513-238-7788). If they are not able to answer immediately, please leave a message including your name, phone number, email and they will get back to you. Or, san email to nami@ugcnomi.org.

Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains named a Minor Basilica
As you may have heard, Archbishop Schnurr announced Saturday, August 15, that Pope Francis has designated the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains a basilica, the first basilica in our archdiocese. This recognition is a tremendous moment for our archdiocese and our cathedral, henceforth known as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, and is the result of many months of work by rector Fr. Jan Schmidt and others. Read more about this wonderful news here.

Wish List for the Church and WEEC&P

CHURCH: (New Items) gift cards($10.00 to $15.00)—White Castle Restaurant, Subway, Skyline, Frisch’s etc.; Kroger gift cards ($25.00-$50.00); copy paper and card stock (white); disposable coffee cups; disposable napkins; creamers; plastic: forks and spoons; AA batteries.

Wish List for the West End Emergency Pantry:

Special Needs: Hand Sanitizers, Toilet paper, Cleaning supplies Paper Towels. Also: dish detergent, shaving cream and disposable razors, canned meats, baby food.

• Meats (Please place in the cooler next to the donation barrels.)—one lb. ground beef rolls, hot dogs, bacon, sausage
• Canned goods and non-perishables—soups, fruits and vegetables, drink mix, coffee, tea
• Household items, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, bleach, fabric softener
• Paper products—bathroom paper, paper towels, paper napkins, tissue
• Personal hygiene items—shower gel, deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene items, soap
• Clothing— men’s clothing, children’s clothing, socks, shoes
• Linens—bath towels, wash clothes, sheets ( all sizes)

NBCCC and NBSC Statements on Racism
The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus [NBCCC], which serves as a fraternity for the Black Catholic Clergy and Religious to support the spiritual, theological, educational, and ministerial growth of its members, has recently published a statement of racism. To read the statement, go to https://nbccc.cc/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NBCCC-statement-on-racism-May-2020-final.pdf. The NBCCC is a fraternity which nurtures and supports its membership. They provide leadership training and mentoring for seminarians and deacon candidates and religious brothers in their formation process and  are committed to taking care of the spiritual needs of their African-American brothers and sisters. On September 16, 2020, the National Black Sisters’ Conference (NBSC) also issued a statement on racism. To read their statement, click here.

Archbishop Schnurr: On the Sin of Racism (4/26/2021)
Archbishop Schnurr: An Invitation to Conversion and Peace and His Pastoral Letter (Radiate Christ)
For the Archbishop’s Letter on The Sin of Racism, click here
For the Archbishop’s Message on Conversion and Peace, click here.
For the Archbishop’s Message on Radiate Christ, click here.

Safe Environment for Children and Youth
(The Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
Please join us in maintaining vigilance regarding the safety and protection of all people. If you see something, say something. Please report any suspected abuse on the part of any agent of the Archdiocese to the appropriate  civil authorities, as well as to the Coordinator of Ministry to Survivors of Abuse in the Archdiocese.  This can be done by calling 513.263.6623 or 1.800.686.2724 ext. 6623 or by submitting a report online, here. One of the greatest responsibilities adults ever face is the protection of children under their care. That is a duty that falls heavily upon those who minister in the name of the Church because children are entrusted to us in so many ways – in schools, in religious education, in Scouting, on field trips and in sports. Parents have a right to expect that their children are as safe as humanly possible in all of these situations. For more information and for the Archbishop’s Statement on the sexual abuse crisis, please click here.

Remembering Our Parish in Your Will
As many of you know, every year St. Joseph receives bequests from parishioners’ estates. We are most appreciative for these generous gifts to our parish. Gifts such as these help us to continue to share God’s word through our various worship programs and ministries. We are often asked how to make such a bequest, and it is very simple. When you call or visit your attorney, discuss adding the following language to your will or codicil: “0.00 or 0 % of estate to be distributed to St. Joseph Catholic Church, currently located at 745 Ezzard Charles Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45203. If the church is not in existence at my death, the distribution to it shall be made to the successor institution into which it was merged. If there is no successor or merged institution, the bequest shall lapse.”

St. Vincent de Paul Reopens Thrift Stores
The SVDP Thrift Stores has reopened. Donations can be made at these stores starting on those dates. For everyone’s benefit, new safety procedures are being implemented for those visiting the thrift stores. For the safety of others, they encourage you to wear a mask while inside the store, and maintain appropriate social distancing both in the aisles and in line for the registers. If you are not feeling well, they ask that you please stay home and shop another day. Pick-up service of donations is also resumed on Tuesday, May 12. Call 513-421-CARE to schedule a pick-up time. Drivers  are only making curbside/driveway pick-ups. They are no longer going inside a home to collect furniture and other donations.

St. Vincent de Paul is continuing to offer its other social services to those in need, but possibly with some changes  in the application and delivery process. Please call 513-421-0602 if you are  in need of social services—rent and utility assistance, food, birth certificates, bus passes or vouchers for clothing, furniture– to find how to obtain these services or to complete and application. Those in need of medicine from the charitable pharmacy should call 513-562-8841, ext. 267.

Wylie Gene Howell: An Extraordinary Life (February 7, 1950—July 13, 2020)
“When we all sing with one voice, the world will stop and listen. The arts are not simply skills: their concern is the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual maturity of human life.” (Robert Shaw, conductor, friend, and mentor of Wylie Howell)
God certainly smiled on us when he brought Mr. Wylie G. Howell to the doors of St. Joseph Church over thirty years ago! Through his music and by his steadfast example, he gave each of us the tools to live a better and more purposeful life in service to the Lord. He was the true embodiment of what it means to love the Lord, love his fellow man, and most importantly, to use his earthly gifts to make the world a better, brighter, and more beautiful place. Of course, he was one in million and irreplaceable in every sense of the word; yet his story, his legacy, his music, and his brilliance will live on in our hearts as we move forward in these challenging days. Let us offer a prayer of thanks to our Lord for giving us the treasure and talents of the incomparable Mr. Wylie G. Howell. May he rest in peace.

Prayer: We Are One With You
O God, we are one with you. You have made us one with you. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, you dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept you, and we thank you, and we adore you and we love you with our whole being, because our being is your being, our spirit is rooted in your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes you present in the world, and which makes you witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious.– Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

Inspiring products from The Catholic Telegraph
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Bringing the Faith Home: With some kids out of school and public Masses and religious education classes temporarily suspended, parents may feel cut off or overwhelmed with how to teach and share the beauty and joy of the Catholic faith. To help with this, the staff of The Catholic Telegraph has identified 7 fun resources to help parents and children learn and live their faith at home. Find these at https://bit.ly/CTFaithHome.