Bellarmine Chapel Bulletin

Bulletin Archive

To receive the Bellarmine bulletin by email, please send your name to Liz Keuffer at Keuffer@xavier.edu.   Thank you!

March 21, 2010

Fifth Sunday of Lent

BELLARMINE CALENDAR

Sunday, March 21

Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Bread for the World Offering of Letters

Fair Trade Coffee for Sale

12:30 PM First Eucharistic Preparation - Activity Room and Chapel

Monday, March 22

7:30 PM Lenten Series - Conaton Boardroom

Tuesday, March 23

7:00 PM JustFaith - Activity Room

Wednesday, March 24

7:00 PM Advisory Committee - Alumni Center

Thursday, March 25

7:00 PM RCIA - Activity Room

Saturday, March 27

9:00 AM Saint Vincent de Paul - Activity Room

9:00 AM Triduum Reader Practice - Chapel

Sunday, March 28

Streetvibes for Sale

12:45 PM Summer Service Trip Adult Meeting - Activity Room

COOKIES FOR KAIROS: NEXT SUNDAY!!!!

Once again a group of Bellarmine parishioners are on the team to present a Kairos retreat for prisoners. This year they will be at Lucasville Maximum Security Prison, April 15 - 18, and for the first time are offering the retreat for prisoners in protective custody. Because of restrictions at Lucasville and the timing with Easter, the only date for cookie collection will be next Sunday, March 28. Boxes will be in the vestibule to collect your donations. The cookies must be home baked, 2 dozen per gallon bag, nothing else in the bags (plates, foil, notes, etc.), and no restrictions on the cookie content. They can be bars or brownies, too. Please keep the members of the team, as well as the prisoners who will be enjoying your cookies, in your prayers as you bake and on the weekend of the retreat.

CALLED TO BE NEIGHBOR

Please join us for the conclusion of the 2010 Lenten Series on Monday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in the Conaton Boardroom, Schmidt Hall.

This session features a powerful video from the series "Race: The Power of an Illusion" followed by an opportunity for discussion. This video explores how institutions and cultures have given race meaning and power in the U.S.

BREAD FOR THE WORLD OFFERING OF LETTERS

You can help end childhood hunger by donating 10 minutes of your time today after Mass. Write your senators and urge them to strengthen key tax credits for low-income workers and their families. The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit work toward a day when no parent has to send a child to bed hungry. Sample letters, friendly helpers and everything you need will be available in the narthex. Today's outreach collection will also go to Bread for the World.

Eastern Hills Mothers of Twins or More Club kids spring clothing and equipment sale! Saturday, March 27 from 8 AM - 12 noon. Half price sale at 11 AM. Nagel Middle School - 1500 Nagel Road in Anderson.  $1.00 door charge - CASH ONLY - all sales are final.

If you’d like to be a member of the Bellarmine Prayer Chain, offering prayers for those in need in our community, please send your name and email to Liz Keuffer in the Chapel Office at keuffer@xavier.edu.

Here's a chance to enter together more deeply into the Easter journey as it is unfolding in our lives. Registration is now open for the parish annual winter/spring retreat, April 16 and 17. Using Gospel stories and figures, we will explore together the path through loss into joy, considering the possibility of gifts in the ashes of our lives. The retreat will offer presentations, prayer services, song, story and time for private reflection and sharing. Retreat begins Friday night at 7 PM at Bellarmine Chapel and continues Saturday from 9:30 to 4:00 at the Pavilion at Milford Jesuit Spiritual Center. Leaders are: Bob Dufford, S.J., a retreat director, liturgical composer and musician with the St. Louis Jesuits; and Maureen Martin, MDiv, MPAC, a former pediatrician who now serves as a hospice chaplain, writer and spiritual director. Come to both sessions if you can, but come to either if your schedule only allows for one. No charge for Friday evening alone; Saturday session is $30 including lunch. Checks payable to Bellarmine Chapel can be sent to the office until April 13. Questions? Call Liz Keuffer at 745-3398.

RANDOM QUOTE

This past Sunday's "Voices of Immigrants" program at Bellarmine drew nearly 150 people to hear tragic stories of local immigrants who have suffered greatly under the current U.S. immigration system through wages denied, frequent harassment and even slave-like treatment.  Participants also reflected on Catholic social teaching's meaningful vision of human dignity and solidarity concerning national and global challenges of immigration reform.

This Sunday and the weeks ahead provide an opportunity to join your voice with immigrants and others working and praying for immigration reform. Consider praying with and for those attending today's National March for Families and Immigration Reform in Washington, DC. If you wish to explore more resources and action opportunities on immigration reform, visit the U.S. Bishops' www.justiceforimmigrants.org website or the national campaign, www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org.

COME AWAY DAY

...to pray about God's call, April 9-10, 2010. An overnight retreat for single Catholic women between the ages of 18 and 45 who are exploring a call to religious life.  There will be prayer, sharing, reflection and input on discernment and religious life. The fee is $15, with scholarships available. Held at St. Joseph Heights in Covington, KY. For more information or to register, contact Sr. Jean Marie Hoffman, SND at 859-344-6258 or jhoffman@dcchome.org.

Our thanks to the 30+ Greater Cincinnati families who host AFS exchange students each year, adding to global harmony one family at a time. AFS is looking for caring, flexible host families for the 2010 high school year. You'll choose from 15 to 18 year-olds like Maged from Egypt who loves his school swim team, and Michela from Italy who joined the cheerleading squad. AFSers become part of your family. Local AFS volunteers' support is ongoing throughout the year. Interested? Please email Georgia Moore at damoores3@fuse.net .Visit www.greatercincyafs.org for local news, or www.afs.org/usa for national AFS information.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CONFERENCE

The Family Life Office, the Office of Religious, and the Social Action Offices of the Archdiocese as well as many other organizations are co-sponsoring a "Conference on Violence Against Women" on Saturday, April 24, from 8:30 - 4:30 at Seton High School, 3901 Glenway Avenue. There will be a Keynote presentation, panel, 12 workshop sessions (some in Spanish). Cost of $65 for reservations includes breakfast, lunch, concluding entertainment by MUSE. Co-sponsors include archdiocesan offices and parishes, area religious congregations and schools, community groups. Co-chairs: Louise Akers, SC, and Mary Jo Gasdorf, SC. Online registration, www.srcharitycinti.org/opjic.htm or via mail, Sisters of Charity, Office of Peace, Justice & Integrity of Creation, 310 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233. Information: 451-9444.

MULCH MADNESS IS BACK!

Ready for spring flowers and warm weather? Well, Xavier's Habitat for Humanity is! Have enthusiastic Xavier Habitat for Humanity students come mulch your yard for you. All our proceeds go toward building our house for the fall semester. When: March 27, April 10, 17, 24. Where: your yard, you provide the mulch How much: $15 per person per hour. Contact us at: xumulchmadness@yahoo.com.

Would you like to learn more about the orders of women religious in our area? A panel of Sisters will tell us about their community and how Vatican II affected them. Come to learn the joys and struggles of Sisters and express your gratitude. Tuesday, March 23, 6 - 9:00 PM, Nativity School Cafeteria (Pleasant Ridge). This event is a potluck, and reservations are required. Please RSVP to Cheryl at wsgrbr@fuse.net.

Did you know that your donation to the 2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal directly benefits Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio? All of the monies collected through this fund drive are divided among six organizations, including CCSWO. That means that your donation has a direct impact on the services and programs provided by Catholic Charities. Thank you for supporting Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio through your donation to the 2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal.

Jr. High Youth Group meets in the cafeteria on the ground floor at 1507 Dana Ave. every other Friday night from 7-9:30. Meetings begin with dinner and teens are welcome to stay and socialize for half an hour afterwards.

April 16 - JrHi field trip to Starfire for a Games Night

April 30 - Meeting at Alumni Center at 1507 Dana

May 7 - "Challenge Party" at XU O’Connor Center

Bellarmine Youth Group for high school teens meets at XU’s Alumni Center, 1507 Dana Ave on Wednesday nights from 7-9pm weekly. BYG upcoming meeting dates: April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5

Time/Dates for the next two interactive workshops for teens are: Saturdays, April 17 and May 1, 12-2pm

Each workshop stands on its own. If you are interested in this valuable experience, please RSVP to Jeanne Schaefer at 513-728-4332.

Place: St Vivian (7600 Winton Rd) Workshop, Entrance: Ursuline Hall on Finney Trail at the end of the school building, near the entrance to the back parking lot.

April 23-25 High School teens - retreat and yurt camping in beautiful Chilo Park, Clermont Co. Ohio. Flexible schedule - come to one or both days. Save the dates - more information coming soon!

Summer Service Dates - Sign-up starts next week. Forms are available at the Youth Info Board or online.

#1 St. Jude Catholic Church on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, AZ., June 8 - June 17, $350 plus airfare. Please fill out a reservation form and send the $150 deposit by Sunday, March 21.

#2 Harlan, KY July 4-10, 2010, $265 complete. Please fill out a reservation form and send the $125 deposit by Sunday, May 2.

Please contact Sue Antoinette soon if you have questions or are interested in joining either group - 745-4224 or antoinette@xavier.edu.

Recently a pair of SVDP volunteers visited "Pete" who they also had visited last year. Pete was walking home on Reading Road when he spotted our volunteers who were on their way to visit another neighbor. When he saw them pass by, Pete later told us that he said to himself, "Hey, there goes that couple from SVDP in their white car". He ran home so as not to miss their visit. Pete suffers from bipolar disorder and faithfully takes his medication to remain on an even keel.

Our volunteers provided Pete with Kroger cards, bed, furniture and clothing vouchers and bus tokens. They also noticed that Pete was heating his apartment with his electric oven because his thermostat was inoperative. Upon examination, they discovered that the batteries were corroded. Our volunteers purchased new batteries and instructed Pete on how to lower the thermostat at night thereby saving money and more importantly, increasing his overall safety compared to his former means of keeping warm. The little group of God’s children closed their visit with a prayer, each feeling enriched for having the opportunity to cross paths again on a beautiful late winter morning.

New Location for SVDP Donation Box

With the recent demolition of the parish center, several people have inquired about the location of the large blue St. Vincent de Paul donation box. It has been relocated to the north side of Kuhlman Hall and is easy to find. The box is a short distance from the parking lot opposite the west side of the Cintas Center, right next to the ATM machine. In addition, as you get set for spring cleaning, if you have larger items to donate please take them to one of the neighborhood SVDP thrift stores or call 421-CARE to schedule a pick up.