parish lenten mission - milford, ohio · lenten penance service parish mission will be held at...

Volume 15, Issue 2March/April

2016

Setonotes • March/April 2016

Spring Clothing Giveaway Seton’s St. Vincent de Paul Society is having their annual Spring Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, April 2nd, from 9:00 until 11:30am in the Seton cafeteria. Your donations of spring and summer clothing will make this day special for those in need in our community. We will also be accepting small household items and toys. Clothing and items can be dropped off to the cafeteria on Friday, April 1st, between 9:00am and 12:00 noon. We ask that you come to the back of the cafeteria, near the dumpsters, to drop items off. For high school students needing service hours, this is a fun and rewarding way to help those less fortunate. If you would like to donate items or your time to this wonderful cause, please contact Jeanne Wahl, 575-5983, or Nancy Haines, 576-1798.

Parish Lenten Mission

† Prayer † Mass † Mercy †

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton/St. Andrew Parishes

Monday, March 14th, 7:00pm Mission Talk Tuesday, March 15th, 7:00pm Mission Talk Wednesday, March 16th, 7:00pm Mission Talk followed by 7:30pm

Lenten Penance Service

Parish Mission will be held at Seton in the church.

Fr. Tony Stephens

Fr. Tony was born in 1976 and is a native of Angelus, Kansas. Discerning a call to religious life and the priesthood, he joined the Fathers of Mercy in 2000. In 2001, Fr. Tony professed the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and then he studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. While at the Josephinum, he received his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest in 2005. In 2007, Fr. Tony was assigned to begin traveling and preaching parish retreats, also known as “parish missions.” His travels have taken him all over the United States, into Canada, and also to different parts of the Australian Continent. From 2009-2015, he served as the Vocations Director and Student Master for the community. During this time, he also helped out part time in the preaching apostolate of the Congregation. Beginning in August of 2015, he joined the formation faculty at the Athenaeum of Ohio / Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati, OH, where he currently works as the Director of Field Education, the Director of Pastoral Interns and assists on the formation faculty.

Volume 15, Issue 2 March/April

2016

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish5890 Buckwheat RoadMilford, Ohio 45150 Address Service Requested

Setonotes is a publication of St. ElizabethAnn Seton Parish and is intended for allfriends and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Parish groups who wish tosubmit articles or pictures for publicationin Setonotes must submit the informationto the parish office by the 15th of each month for publication the following month. If you have questions or comments regarding Setonotes, please contact the parish office at 575-0119.

Editorial/Contributing Staff

Fr. Michael L. Cordier, PastorValerie HofmannSue BoruszewskiPatty NorrisTerri ImmingMargaret BerghCatherine Fasano

Layout and DesignAngela S. Foulks – ASF Creative

Setonotes • March/April 2016

From the Pastor’s Desk… Dear People of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, On February 10th, we began the solemn season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. It is a time of preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter and the Easter season. During Lent, we embrace the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time of doing less (acts of self-denial) and doing more (prayer and acts of charity). The forty days of Lent are followed by fifty days of celebrating the Easter season. Please remember that during Lent we are praying the Stations of the Cross in church every Friday night at 7:30pm. Immediately following, I will hear confessions. Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation is a wonderful way to prepare oneself for the glory of Easter. We will have a joint penance service with St. Andrew on Wednesday, March 16th, at 7:30pm at Seton. During Lent, we remember in a special way all RCIA candidates. They have made important life decisions, and are making a great act of faith as they journey to full membership in the Catholic Church. We pray for them in a special way as they get closer to the Easter Vigil, when they will be able to join us at the altar of God. I invite you to attend our St. Andrew/St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Lenten Parish Mission, given by Fr. Tony Stephens, beginning with the weekend Masses on March 12th and 13th, followed by mission talks Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 7:00pm. Please check the bulletin and website for more information. If you have never been to an Easter Vigil Mass, consider coming this year. It is the most beautiful and meaningful Catholic liturgy there is. This year, the Easter Vigil begins at 8:45pm, on Saturday, March 26th. It will last about two hours. We look forward to springtime and Easter time. We look forward to celebrating our Lord’s Resurrection, so beautifully symbolized by the new birth of spring. Enjoy the fifty days of Easter. Please remember that our SASEAS School is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, March 12th. Please watch for details in the bulletin and support our wonderful and important school if you can. And finally, I have a note to remind me that the month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph – whose feast day is March 19th. He is the patron of the Universal Church, and patron of fathers, workers and carpenters. St. Joseph – pray for us.

God bless you, Fr. Michael L. Cordier

2

Setonotes • March/April 2016 15

TITAN MADNESS St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School is excited to announce our annual fundraising event…Titan Madness on March 12, 2016. Titan Madness will raise vital funds for our school. The funds we raise will provide our students with equipment, programs and curriculums that enrich and enhance their education. We place high emphasis on providing our teachers and students with as many resources as possible to succeed. We are currently seeking sponsors and donations for this event. We invite you to this event and to be a special part of our continuous efforts to be academically excellent and passionately Catholic. Your support will benefit nearly 400 SASEAS students. Tickets are available in the school office. For additional information on the event, to be a sponsor or make a donation contact: Amy Powderly (513) 417-0503 or Kim Chamberlin (740)727-4849.


The Name of God is Mercy Pope Francis was interviewed by writer Andrea Torniella and the conversation was made into a book called “The Name of God is Mercy.” It draws on the memories of Pope Francis from his youth and priesthood. This is a book in which the Pope opens his heart, taking us by the arm to enter into the great mercy of God. It is meant to help people understand the message of mercy and forgiveness that is at the heart of the Christian message. It is a book to help people understand that it is possible to restart one’s life only if we are able to humble ourselves and recognize the need to be forgiven. Pope Francis describes humanity at one point as wounded, deeply wounded, and in need of a Church that does not wait for the wounded to knock on her doors, but looks for them on the streets to make them feel loved. The Church, he says, is like a field hospital, where treatment is given for those who are sick, those who are sinners. He refers to Pope Pius XII who in 1955 said that the tragedy of our age was that it had lost a sense of sin. Many people don’t know where to turn when they are wounded, many are lost. Many turn to psychics and fortune-tellers. Many indulge in drugs, alcohol, food or sex to relieve the pain. They don’t know that the love of God exists even for those who are not disposed to receiving it. As a priest, as one who hears confessions, he tries to find a crack, just a tiny opening, so that he can pry open that door and grant forgiveness and mercy. Just going to confession shows an initiation of repentance, even if it is not conscious. Anyone who confesses does well to feel shame for his sins: shame is a grace we ask for; it is good and positive, because it makes us humble. He stresses that the confessional should not be analogous to a ‘dry cleaner.’ To view sin as just a stain that needs cleaning away is hypocrisy. Sin is more than a stain. Sin is a wound; it needs to be treated, healed. He said that priests should not treat the confessional like a torture chamber. When asked, “Who is Pope Francis? He replied that, ‘I am a sinner.’” He says that the Church condemns sin because it has to relay the truth, but at the same time embraces the sinner, who recognizes himself as such. No human sin, however serious, can prevail over or limit mercy. The Church does not exist to condemn people, but to bring about an encounter with the visceral love of God’s mercy, and help people perceive that there are no situations that they cannot get out of. The book closes with a chapter on the need for mercy and compassion, to conquer global indifference, for every believer to open his heart to the mercy of God, to be merciful to others and to act on the seven corporal works of mercy. As St. John of the Cross said, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” Love God first and love our neighbor – please go to Confession and Sunday Mass.

Fr. Michael Cordier


All the PRP Sunday students and Home School families are participating in the CRS Rice Bowl project during the season of Lent. The kick-off this year was Sunday, February 7th, at the Family Lenten Day. This Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

program helps the children learn about Catholic Social Teaching and have the opportunity to reach out and help the communities served by CRS. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we engage in the work of Lent. CRS Rice Bowl asks us to:

Pray to deepen our relationship with God and reflect on what type of person He calls us to be. Fast to remove the things that get between God and us and to live in solidarity with those in need. Give alms to our brothers and sisters in need, honoring Jesus’ call to serve our neighbors.

Any parish family or individual wishing to join our effort through participation in CRS RICE BOWL is encouraged to pick up a packet in the narthex and return their donations through the Sunday collection basket. Please consider engaging in this USCCB sponsored Lenten practice. When you give to CRS Rice Bowl, 75% of your donations support CRS humanitarian relief programs in nearly 100 countries worldwide, and 25% go to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in the Cincinnati area. More information can be found at http://www.crsricebowl.org/about/ Margaret Bergh

FRIDAY NIGHTS AT SETON LENTEN FISH FRY AND STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Each Friday night during Lent

from 5:00 to 7:30pm in the cafeteria

The Men of Seton host and prepare our annual fish fry dinners and the Ladies of Seton provide the desserts. The menu will include all of your favorites…fish, shrimp, crab cakes, baked tilapia and baked salmon with all of our fabulous side dishes, desserts and drinks. Adding to the menu, a Jr./Sr. dinner. For our complete menu with prices, go to the Seton website homepage: www.setonmilford.org

Adults, children’s and ala carte menus – take out is also available.

Also each week we will have Stations of the Cross in the church at 7:30pm. Immediately following, Father will hear confessions.


St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Academically Excellent – Passionately Catholic

As students continue to learn about the Year of Mercy, along with our Corporal and Spiritual works of Mercy, students collected and packaged enough food to make over 200 power packs and filled 20 boxes of food to help the children at Oyler School in Lower Price Hill.

Students thanked parishioners for their support, generosity and prayers during the Sunday Masses of Catholic Schools Week. Each parishioner left with a special bookmark dedicated to the Year of Mercy, all designed by each one of our students.

Students from both campuses, joined with parents, faculty and staff, celebrated the end of Catholic Schools Week with Mass. The Mass was a beautiful culmination of the week for our entire school community.

To prepare for our Open House, the St. Andrew Campus decorated the classrooms and hallways centered on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, while the Seton Campus focused on One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Now that our celebration of National Catholic Schools Week is over, the principal, staff and students wish to thank the families, parishioners and friends who helped make our week special. We appreciate the time you spent learning about the community of faith, knowledge and service that SASEAS School provides for our students and parish.

Throughout the week students had fun with special events including, pajama day, students vs. teachers volleyball games, bible bee, Spirit Day, a no homework day and our first ever, all school lunch and Bingo!


ATTENTION Art Lovers The Knights of Columbus Council 10003 in Milford is hosting its 2nd annual Art Auction at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in the school cafeteria on April 23, 2016. The profits from this fundraiser are used to support our charitable works, such as, Special Olympics, Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Coats for Kids, Wheel Chair Program, support for our troops overseas, support the Scouting Program and food for families in need, just to name a few. The preview will begin at 6:30pm with the live auction starting at 8:00pm. Arin Ross Auctions will conduct the auction, which will feature more than 150 custom framed and matted works of art, lithographs, etchings, serigraphs, animation cels, watercolors, original oils signed by the artists, and documented sports memorabilia. Featured artists include Kinkade, Wooster Scott, Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Renoir, Boulanger, Neiman, Rockwell and Shaviko, plus additional artists. The majority of the art will have opening bids ranging from $45 to $300. Opening bids are generally 50% less than traditional framed gallery prices. Tickets for the event are $25 (including spouse) and the community is welcome. The ticket price includes a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and music social. For tickets or further information, contact Perry Saylers at 513- 575-2073. Check out the partial list of artists and examples of their available works at http://www.arinross.com/Art1.html.

Bob Brookens

Seton Bingo Update Seton Bingo is looking for a couple of new volunteers to help with staffing the Bingo once every four weeks on a Wednesday for about 3 ½ hours. The job is very easy, you call back Bingo winner cards to the caller, help in the kitchen during the two 15 minute intermissions. Volunteers are normally on their way home before 10:00pm. A question asked many times is, “Why should I help with Bingo, it doesn’t help me?” Answer: Bingo is a very important income activity for the parish. Each month the proceeds from Bingo are turned over to the parish general fund to help with meeting the budget. To volunteer or want additional information, please contact Bob Brookens (Bingo Chairman) at 513-575-9136 or email [email protected], or the parish office at 513-575-0119.

Bob Brookens


Announcing VBS 2016!

For those children entering

Preschool (3 years old) through 5th grade

Save the Dates: June 20-24

Even though the weather is cold, it’s time to start planning for summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) fun! You won’t want to miss this opportunity for a week of fun, fellowship, and learning! Mark your calendars now so that your vacations and other camps don’t conflict!

Adults and Teens: We Need You!!! Many volunteers are needed for a successful VBS. This is a FANTASTIC, high-energy week in the life of our parish with many wonderful opportunities for growth, friendship, and witnessing God’s love! Teens, this counts for those high school service hours too!

Crew Leaders Station Helpers Decorators Setup/Cleanup Childcare

Photographer Nurse Imagination Station KidVid Skits/Music

Bible Room Games Snacks Help prior to the

VBS week

(FREE Cave Quest music CD for your family if you volunteer) If you are interested in being a part of it, we’d like to hear from you now! Please contact Amy Powderly [email protected], Margaret Bergh [email protected], or Kathy Bitzer [email protected].

All parishioners are welcome! You don’t have to have a child participating to get involved! Online enrollment will be in April for both volunteers and participants.

Setonotes • March/April 2016 5 55

Baptisms ____________________________________________ Gianna Elizabeth Medugno, daughter of Thomas and Tricia Brayden Michael Borchers, son of Michael and Nichole Melina Elizabeth Borchers, daughter of Michael and Nichole Henry Owen Morel, son of Amber Jackson Kane Morel, son of Amber Pierce Brennan Norris, son of Brendan and Cayla Tegan Louis Budai, son of Timothy and Casie

New Parishioners __________________________________________

Amber Morel Sean and Amanda Sowards Tom and Kate Woolery Philip and Rebecca Gettinger Spencer Morgan Louis and Lynn Helsel Mark and Deanna Oppenheimer Jonah Pearson Christopher and Melissa Radcliffe Richard and Rachel Tetreault Joseph and Erin Hutson Jay and Kimberly Harmeyer

Deaths ____________________________________________ Betty McCann Tammy Lester Vera Callahan Allen Birkle Richard Callahan Gladys Gormly Vera Jackson Raymond Askew Dela Wallace James Schmidtgesling Johnaten Reiff Bret Bicknell Helen Mott Polly Sandmann Robert Benkert, II Mary Ellen Lowry Ralph Meineke Edward Parker Jim Wolf Margaret Edelbrock Wilma Woodard

My dear children, the Christian community

welcomes you with great joy!

The Christian community

welcomes you

“Eternal rest grand unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light

shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the

faithful departed rest in peace.”


Seton’s Boy Scout Troop 244 At registration for 2016, Troop 244 was awarded the Gold Journey to Excellence Award! This award is a measure of performance for the troop in providing a quality scouting program for 2015. The program includes planning before the year begins and monitors activities, i.e. long and short camping, service projects, meeting activities, budget planning, advancement of scouts in the troop, committee and scoutmaster training, and is monitored for continuous improvement during the year and recognizes performance at the end of each year. Bob Brookens

ATTENTION BOYS AGES 10 ½ TO 14 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT? If you like to do one or more of the following: hiking in the country, camping in the outdoors, canoeing, fishing, rock climbing, swimming, cooking, exploring the outdoors, exploring caves, and many more activities, you should think about joining Seton’s Boy Scout Troop 244, a 2013 and 2015 Gold Journey to Excellence Award Troop. For additional information on Seton’s Boy Scout Troop 244, please contact Scoutmaster, Mr. Bob Brookens (Mr. “B”).

(h) 513-575-9136

(email) [email protected] Troop 244 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/troop244.milford.ohio/

Stop by at our Monday meetings in the school cafeteria

7:00 to 8:30pm

SCOUTING IS YEAR ROUND FUN WINTER ● SPRING ● SUMMER ● FALL

COME JOIN THE ADVENTURE Bob Brookens

Winter and Security We begin the New Year and the third quarter for the church fiscal year. Looking at the church financials for the first six months, we are in line with our budget and having a very good year. Thank you for your generosity! The winter is half over and to date, it has been only moderately cold with only a couple snowy days. That is great news for the snow removal and salt budget, as well as the heating bills. Hope the mild winter continues! New this spring will be security cameras for the parking lot areas of the church and school. Seton has been very fortunate not to have any break-ins to the buildings and very few other issues on the grounds. The cameras will allow Seton to assist the police in any investigation and see any strange activity on the grounds. We also hope that you will feel safer with the added security.

Valerie Hofmann


First Reconciliation Celebrated

First Reconciliation was celebrated on Tuesday, January 26th, with forty-two Seton second graders. We thank the parents and teachers for their support. The First Reconciliation Retreat was held on Saturday, January 23rd. That morning our second graders experienced many great activities and learning opportunities. By visiting stations that reinforced learning that took place in the classroom, all were ready, EXCITED and prepared to celebrate the sacrament well. The children are now engaged in learning more about the Eucharist. A Parent Meeting for

First Eucharist is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13th, at 7:00pm in the church. They will experience their morning retreat on First Communion on Saturday, April 23rd, and receive their First Holy Communion at Mass on April 30th, May 1st and 7th. This is an exciting time for our second grade children and their families! Please keep them in your prayers. First Reconciliation†First Communion Committee (FR†FCC) plans for these events. If you would like to help, contact: Margaret Bergh, Jill Reineck, Joy Zielinski or Jen Walker for more information. Margaret Bergh

First Reconciliation Retreat Craft Station First Reconciliation Retreat, waiting for snack

Divine Mercy Sunday

We will have a Holy Hour Sunday, April 3rd, for Divine Mercy Sunday beginning at

3:00pm with Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Rosary,

concluding with Benediction.


SETON PRESCHOOL GETS READY TO “MARCH INTO SPRING” Start looking for early signs of spring in the preschool classrooms as the children get ready for warmer and sunnier days by making art projects such as kites, windsocks, caterpillars, butterflies and, of course, green shamrocks to hang up in the classroom. However, past experience warns us not to be too hasty in putting away our hats and mittens…snow may still be in the forecast. It was great to see so many preschool parents at our Catholic Schools Open House held in January. A special thanks goes to all of you who shared your good thoughts about our school to your friends and neighbors. Your support means a great deal to the teachers and me as we strive to make this the very best preschool possible. We have a few openings for preschool that are available, if you know anyone interested, please have them give me a call at 575-9900. The preschoolers had a chance to exchange valentines with their classmates at our Valentine’s Day parties in February. Thank you to all the parents who helped with the party games, food, and supervision. We had many happy faces covered in pink and red icing!!! The children will be spending the next few months learning about the changes that the spring weather brings to God’s creations. We will study flowers and butterflies and what is needed for them to continue to grow strong and healthy. Easter break and Easter are just around the corner, and the children are anxious to be outside more often and to observe the welcoming signs of spring. God’s earth seems to reawaken during the months of March and April with blossoming tulips and warm gentle breezes (we hope!). We wish all of you a sunny, warm spring; a relaxing spring break; and a blessed, happy Easter and, of course, a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

Terri Imming

Join Us for Holy Week as We Walk with our Lord

Palm Sunday, regular Mass schedule Easter Egg Hunt at 2:00pm on March 20th Ladies of Seton Easter Raffle Drawing at the Easter Egg Hunt

Holy Thursday ~ Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00pm held at St. Andrew followed with Adoration until 10:00pm at St. Andrew

Good Friday, a day of fast and abstinence ~ 1:30 The Passion; 7:00pm Stations and Veneration of the Cross at Seton

Easter Vigil ~ 8:45pm Easter Vigil Mass, reception in the cafeteria following Mass Easter Sunday Mass Schedule ~ 7:30am/9:00am/10:30am/12:00 noon

The Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.


PRP Families Enter into the Season of Lent Sunday, February 7th, the PRP community gathered in the cafeteria to reflect on the season of Lent. A blend of prayer, sharing, fellowship, and learning helped us engage, focus on the beauty of the season and fostered ideas of how to proceed. The morning began with praying the Stations of the Cross led by Deacon Steve Brown. The students had created images of the fourteen Stations and they were used to focus our prayer. It was a very solemn and prayerful experience. The group then reflected on the disciplines of Lent and Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Program was presented. This annual Lenten activity helps us through its focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving to deepen our commitment to growing our faith and serving others as Jesus asks. The PRP families will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 16th, at the Parish Reconciliation Service, which will be offered at 7:30pm within the context of the closing night of the parish mission being held at Seton this year. This opportunity in Lent adds to our meaningful celebration of the season. The parish is fortunate to have a dedicated group of catechists who share their faith and the teachings of the Church with our young people. Do you have a child to enroll or want to volunteer? Please contact Margaret Bergh (646-2348). New participants are always welcome! Margaret Bergh PRP Lenten Family Day

The Twelfth Station of the Cross


Youth Group Our High School Retreat was a great success with 33 high school students in attendance. The group was able to take time out of their busy routines to have some time with themselves, their peers and with God. Thank you to the adults—George Morrison, Melanie Moore, Emily Spotts and Carroll Craycraft—and the retreat team that helped to make the weekend possible. The group started to see each other as family. It was a wonderful experience! Attention 6th grade students: Mark your calendars to try out a Junior High dance on April 29 and see what the Youth Group is all about by attending our Meeting on May 1! Parish Night at the Red's Game is May 11 at 7:10pm. Purchase tickets at a discount of $20 as a way to help support the summer mission trip to St. Louis, MO.

March 6 SMILE Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall 12 Encounter Cincinnati (HS), location The Underground 17 Game Night at SEM Villa 20 SMILE Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall April 3 SMILE Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall 16 Chosen: JH Event at LaSalle HS 17 SMILE Meeting, St. Andrew Church Hall 21 Game Night at SEM Villa 24 Confirmation Retreat (current 8th grade students) 29 Junior High Dance (6th - 8th), Seton Cafeteria

Stay tuned for more information about…

Catherine Fasano

WHAT: A high energy youth rally for Catholic teens that includes food, music, Adoration, a direct service component and talks led by nationally-known presenter/singer Paul J. Kim

WHO: Catholic parish and school youth in 6th -

8th grades

WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2016, 5:00 – 9:15pm


High School Retreat

parish lenten mission - milford, ohio · lenten penance service parish mission will be held at...

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