Public Mass Reservation Links
Sunday, October 25, 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-25-sunday-public-mass-tickets-118043319747
Sunday, November 1, 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-1-all-saints-day-sunday-public-mass-tickets-125022781505
Sunday, October 25, 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-25-sunday-public-mass-tickets-118043319747
Sunday, November 1, 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-1-all-saints-day-sunday-public-mass-tickets-125022781505
UPDATED 10-16-20
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
In 2013, Pope Francis proclaimed: “A good Catholic meddles in politics.” Today, I am encouraging you to be a good Catholic and meddle away! Because on November 3rd, our country will go to the polls to determine who we want to lead us, but more than that, to determine who we want to be as a nation, what we value and seek for one another, especially the most vulnerable among us.
While Bellarmine remains a non-partisan parish community, we embrace our Catholic call to have an informed engagement in political life. As you’ve heard in the announcements at the Masses, we are hoping to have 100% of our eligible voters participating in this election. I know many of you have already voted since the polls opened last week, either absentee or early in-person at the Board of Elections, and I know many others are committed to voting in-person on Election Day. With the pandemic challenging us all, there is no wrong choice amongst these options, so long as you make a choice to vote. Now is the time to make sure you have a plan for how you will vote and to make sure your loved ones do too. You can find information on all three of these voting options for Hamilton County here. This information varies by state and county, so please look up your local information if you live elsewhere.
Last month, the Jesuits released “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement,” a new tool for helping us practice active discipleship by reflecting upon complex political realities in nuanced ways and so discerning the movement of the Spirit within us and our political institutions. We are challenged to become voting contemplatives in action. I hope you will spend some time praying with this document in the coming weeks. Using excerpts from Jim Martin, SJ and Pope Francis, parishioner Connie Widmer composed an Examen Prayer for Our Elections. We offer this as another valuable prayer resource.
Also, Bellarmine will be co-sponsoring a livestream panel with the Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice here on campus entitled “Catholicism, Social Justice, and the Elections” on October 29, 7 PM. This event will feature Dr. John Sniegocki, a Christian ethicist; Sr. Tracey Horan, SP of Kino Border Initiative; and Rev. Deacon Royce Winters of the Archdiocese African American Ministries Office and Resurrection Parish. Together, they will help us dig deeper into some of the justice issues facing our world today, helping us to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We hope you will join us for this.
In his October encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship, Pope Francis describes how we, the Church, “‘cannot and must not remain on the sidelines’ in the building of a better world… ‘we want to be a Church that serves, that leaves home and goes forth from its places of worship, goes forth from its sacristies, in order to accompany life, to sustain hope, to be the sign of unity… to build bridges, to break down walls, to sow seeds of reconciliation’”(para 276). I encourage you to take up this call today, to go forth from our parish home, to engage in reconciling dialogue around the important issues of our day, to prayerfully discern how you will vote, and to meddle as only a good Catholic can!
With great hope,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
In 2013, Pope Francis proclaimed: “A good Catholic meddles in politics.” Today, I am encouraging you to be a good Catholic and meddle away! Because on November 3rd, our country will go to the polls to determine who we want to lead us, but more than that, to determine who we want to be as a nation, what we value and seek for one another, especially the most vulnerable among us.
While Bellarmine remains a non-partisan parish community, we embrace our Catholic call to have an informed engagement in political life. As you’ve heard in the announcements at the Masses, we are hoping to have 100% of our eligible voters participating in this election. I know many of you have already voted since the polls opened last week, either absentee or early in-person at the Board of Elections, and I know many others are committed to voting in-person on Election Day. With the pandemic challenging us all, there is no wrong choice amongst these options, so long as you make a choice to vote. Now is the time to make sure you have a plan for how you will vote and to make sure your loved ones do too. You can find information on all three of these voting options for Hamilton County here. This information varies by state and county, so please look up your local information if you live elsewhere.
Last month, the Jesuits released “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement,” a new tool for helping us practice active discipleship by reflecting upon complex political realities in nuanced ways and so discerning the movement of the Spirit within us and our political institutions. We are challenged to become voting contemplatives in action. I hope you will spend some time praying with this document in the coming weeks. Using excerpts from Jim Martin, SJ and Pope Francis, parishioner Connie Widmer composed an Examen Prayer for Our Elections. We offer this as another valuable prayer resource.
Also, Bellarmine will be co-sponsoring a livestream panel with the Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice here on campus entitled “Catholicism, Social Justice, and the Elections” on October 29, 7 PM. This event will feature Dr. John Sniegocki, a Christian ethicist; Sr. Tracey Horan, SP of Kino Border Initiative; and Rev. Deacon Royce Winters of the Archdiocese African American Ministries Office and Resurrection Parish. Together, they will help us dig deeper into some of the justice issues facing our world today, helping us to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We hope you will join us for this.
In his October encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship, Pope Francis describes how we, the Church, “‘cannot and must not remain on the sidelines’ in the building of a better world… ‘we want to be a Church that serves, that leaves home and goes forth from its places of worship, goes forth from its sacristies, in order to accompany life, to sustain hope, to be the sign of unity… to build bridges, to break down walls, to sow seeds of reconciliation’”(para 276). I encourage you to take up this call today, to go forth from our parish home, to engage in reconciling dialogue around the important issues of our day, to prayerfully discern how you will vote, and to meddle as only a good Catholic can!
With great hope,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 9-11-2020 - Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
When people describe their dreams about the future, I must admit that at first, most of it feels outside of my now limited and pandemic-restricted imagination. In those moments I often recall the words of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Like those disciples in Luke’s gospel, I stand still and my face is downcast. I think to myself, “Are you the only one visiting who does not know the things that have happened in these days?” I am tempted, as were those disciples, to despair, resignation, and fear. I wonder how much longer this can go on, and how much longer we can live with pandemic protocols and the gnawing sense that life isn’t quite right, no matter what we do or say or try. How much longer can we read more bad news or witness more injustice? How much more of the fabric of our common lives can be torn?
The exhaustion is real, we are all feeling it. Yet there are also experiences like the Parish Leadership Retreat that was held over Zoom on August 29th. Well over 120 of your fellow parishioners came together to share and reflect. It was a moment of intense grace for many. We hadn’t gathered together on a scale like that since the pandemic began. The yearning that we have to be together was given a space to be expressed. We heard witness talks and testimonies that stirred that groaning in our hearts. We touched that place where the Spirit is urging us and reassuring us, speaking for us at times in ways we haven’t fully comprehended.
Our theme was active discipleship. It was born out of the listening sessions and strategic planning that have been ongoing for many years now. It was a chance for the parish staff to share the hard work they have been engaging in, even in the midst of a pandemic. A chance to put our prayer, planning and restructuring into concrete actions. It was a chance to open the scriptures with each other and to feel our hearts burning within us. It was a much-needed jolt in the middle of a long marathon, right as we were about to “hit the wall.” <<Click here to read the full letter from Fr. Eric>>
Dear Friends,
When people describe their dreams about the future, I must admit that at first, most of it feels outside of my now limited and pandemic-restricted imagination. In those moments I often recall the words of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Like those disciples in Luke’s gospel, I stand still and my face is downcast. I think to myself, “Are you the only one visiting who does not know the things that have happened in these days?” I am tempted, as were those disciples, to despair, resignation, and fear. I wonder how much longer this can go on, and how much longer we can live with pandemic protocols and the gnawing sense that life isn’t quite right, no matter what we do or say or try. How much longer can we read more bad news or witness more injustice? How much more of the fabric of our common lives can be torn?
The exhaustion is real, we are all feeling it. Yet there are also experiences like the Parish Leadership Retreat that was held over Zoom on August 29th. Well over 120 of your fellow parishioners came together to share and reflect. It was a moment of intense grace for many. We hadn’t gathered together on a scale like that since the pandemic began. The yearning that we have to be together was given a space to be expressed. We heard witness talks and testimonies that stirred that groaning in our hearts. We touched that place where the Spirit is urging us and reassuring us, speaking for us at times in ways we haven’t fully comprehended.
Our theme was active discipleship. It was born out of the listening sessions and strategic planning that have been ongoing for many years now. It was a chance for the parish staff to share the hard work they have been engaging in, even in the midst of a pandemic. A chance to put our prayer, planning and restructuring into concrete actions. It was a chance to open the scriptures with each other and to feel our hearts burning within us. It was a much-needed jolt in the middle of a long marathon, right as we were about to “hit the wall.” <<Click here to read the full letter from Fr. Eric>>
UPDATED 8-7-20
Sunday On-Campus Parking
Move-In will be happening on Sunday, August 9th and 16th. The most significant impact will be at 11:30 am Mass. Impacts on the 7:00 pm Mass should be minimal. Please allow extra time due to increased traffic and congestion around the campus. As in the past, parishioners are encouraged to use the lots behind the Gallagher Student Center as well as University Drive. If you need to get to the circle to drop someone off, please let the campus police know that you are dropping off someone to attend Sunday Mass. If we receive new advice or determine better parking solutions, we will update this website with the information.
Examen on Grief
The weekly Tuesday Parish Examen at 7:30 PM will focus two gatherings on the grieving process and finding healing. Join parishioner (and retired educational psychologist) Connie Widmer, as she leads the Examen on August 11, for those grieving the loss/death of a loved one, and again on August 18, for those grieving other types of loss.
To receive login details for the Examen, please complete the registration webform and a link will be sent to you a few hours before each gathering.
Letter on Listening Sessions from Allison Borden, Director of Parish Engagement and Growth
Hello All,
For those who do not know me (many of you), I'm the new Director of Parish Engagement and Growth at Bellarmine Chapel. It is my responsibility to assist Fr. Eric in overseeing the strategic direction of the parish and to ensure we are positioned to execute on the initiatives that have been identified by the parish.
I have been working closely with the staff, Advisory and Finance Committees since May to determine how best to do this. This has involved a thorough examination of our current organizational structures, processes, programs and approaches to liturgy, formation, social mission, youth and young adult ministry, family ministry, welcoming/hospitality, elder care, etc. -- in essence, all of what makes up our amazing community and parish life at Bellarmine!
While we have already identified many opportunities for change and growth, and the staff is hard at work planning new and exciting ways to support deeper engagement at Bellarmine, we want to hear from you as well. We recently conducted listening sessions with the Millennials and Gen X's in our parish. Now we are reaching out to the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and Silent Generation (1925-1946). We want to hear from you, to learn from you, and to get your honest and open feedback, regarding what you are longing for in our parish community.
These listening sessions will take place via Zoom.
Baby Boomers will be on August 18th, 7-8:30 PM and the
Silent Generation will be on August 20th, 7-8:30 PM.
We are in a very unique situation at Bellarmine, many new, exciting things are happening and new areas of growth are occurring, even in the midst of a pandemic. Yet, we know there is still so much more we can do and want to do! So, please consider coming to share your ideas with us, so we can explore and imagine our future here together at Bellarmine. We care, and want to know what you care about!
Fr. Eric will also join us. He will be present to listen (and take notes😊) as well as respond to any questions and concerns.
If you can help, please fill out this form and I will get back to you with a Zoom link closer to the date of the listening session.
I look forward to listening and learning from you!
Peace,
Allison
Sunday On-Campus Parking
Move-In will be happening on Sunday, August 9th and 16th. The most significant impact will be at 11:30 am Mass. Impacts on the 7:00 pm Mass should be minimal. Please allow extra time due to increased traffic and congestion around the campus. As in the past, parishioners are encouraged to use the lots behind the Gallagher Student Center as well as University Drive. If you need to get to the circle to drop someone off, please let the campus police know that you are dropping off someone to attend Sunday Mass. If we receive new advice or determine better parking solutions, we will update this website with the information.
Examen on Grief
The weekly Tuesday Parish Examen at 7:30 PM will focus two gatherings on the grieving process and finding healing. Join parishioner (and retired educational psychologist) Connie Widmer, as she leads the Examen on August 11, for those grieving the loss/death of a loved one, and again on August 18, for those grieving other types of loss.
To receive login details for the Examen, please complete the registration webform and a link will be sent to you a few hours before each gathering.
Letter on Listening Sessions from Allison Borden, Director of Parish Engagement and Growth
Hello All,
For those who do not know me (many of you), I'm the new Director of Parish Engagement and Growth at Bellarmine Chapel. It is my responsibility to assist Fr. Eric in overseeing the strategic direction of the parish and to ensure we are positioned to execute on the initiatives that have been identified by the parish.
I have been working closely with the staff, Advisory and Finance Committees since May to determine how best to do this. This has involved a thorough examination of our current organizational structures, processes, programs and approaches to liturgy, formation, social mission, youth and young adult ministry, family ministry, welcoming/hospitality, elder care, etc. -- in essence, all of what makes up our amazing community and parish life at Bellarmine!
While we have already identified many opportunities for change and growth, and the staff is hard at work planning new and exciting ways to support deeper engagement at Bellarmine, we want to hear from you as well. We recently conducted listening sessions with the Millennials and Gen X's in our parish. Now we are reaching out to the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and Silent Generation (1925-1946). We want to hear from you, to learn from you, and to get your honest and open feedback, regarding what you are longing for in our parish community.
These listening sessions will take place via Zoom.
Baby Boomers will be on August 18th, 7-8:30 PM and the
Silent Generation will be on August 20th, 7-8:30 PM.
We are in a very unique situation at Bellarmine, many new, exciting things are happening and new areas of growth are occurring, even in the midst of a pandemic. Yet, we know there is still so much more we can do and want to do! So, please consider coming to share your ideas with us, so we can explore and imagine our future here together at Bellarmine. We care, and want to know what you care about!
Fr. Eric will also join us. He will be present to listen (and take notes😊) as well as respond to any questions and concerns.
If you can help, please fill out this form and I will get back to you with a Zoom link closer to the date of the listening session.
I look forward to listening and learning from you!
Peace,
Allison
UPDATED 7-23-20
Grief Work Through the Month of August
During these months of pandemic, some of us have been grieving the loss of loved ones; others grieve the loss of part of their lives: a job/career, financial security, a social connection, a way of life. Healing can begin by naming a loss for which we need to grieve and by giving ourselves over into the loving plan of God. In August, Bellarmine Chapel will present opportunities to engage in this work.
Taizé Prayer
On Friday August 7 at 7:30 PM the usual monthly Taizé Prayer will focus on finding hope amid grief, healing of loss, and trusting in God. You can tune in to the live stream here: https://www.bellarminechapel.org/taize.html
Tuesday Examen
The weekly Tuesday Parish Examen at 7:30 PM will also focus a couple of sessions on the grieving process and finding healing. The dates are being determined, so watch the bulletin for more details.
To receive login details for the weekly Examen, please complete this registration webform and a link will be sent to you a few hours before each gathering. All are welcome!
Mass
Sunday Masses in August will also include remembrance and prayer for those dealing with grief and loss.
Naming Your Grief and Acknowledging Your Losses Through Writing
We invite you to take some time and write out for yourself whom or what you are grieving. Whether you wish to simply write a name, a sentence, a phrase, or you wish to compose a farewell letter to someone you have lost or a letter to God about your feelings and concerns - all submissions are welcome. Honesty in naming a loss and acknowledging the pain or emptiness we feel can be a powerful step toward healing and wholeness.
Throughout August in the main chapel, in front of the altar there will be a basket where you can place your writings. Alternatively for people who can not come to the chapel, on the parish website, and available here, you will find a link to anonymously submit your responses, which will be printed out and placed in the basket.
As a gesture of our surrendering up to God all these losses and griefs, the contents of the basket will be burned in a fire pit outside the front of the chapel - in a similar way to the Easter Vigil fire. This burning ritual will take place after the 7 PM Mass on Sunday August 30 and will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Grief Work Through the Month of August
During these months of pandemic, some of us have been grieving the loss of loved ones; others grieve the loss of part of their lives: a job/career, financial security, a social connection, a way of life. Healing can begin by naming a loss for which we need to grieve and by giving ourselves over into the loving plan of God. In August, Bellarmine Chapel will present opportunities to engage in this work.
Taizé Prayer
On Friday August 7 at 7:30 PM the usual monthly Taizé Prayer will focus on finding hope amid grief, healing of loss, and trusting in God. You can tune in to the live stream here: https://www.bellarminechapel.org/taize.html
Tuesday Examen
The weekly Tuesday Parish Examen at 7:30 PM will also focus a couple of sessions on the grieving process and finding healing. The dates are being determined, so watch the bulletin for more details.
To receive login details for the weekly Examen, please complete this registration webform and a link will be sent to you a few hours before each gathering. All are welcome!
Mass
Sunday Masses in August will also include remembrance and prayer for those dealing with grief and loss.
Naming Your Grief and Acknowledging Your Losses Through Writing
We invite you to take some time and write out for yourself whom or what you are grieving. Whether you wish to simply write a name, a sentence, a phrase, or you wish to compose a farewell letter to someone you have lost or a letter to God about your feelings and concerns - all submissions are welcome. Honesty in naming a loss and acknowledging the pain or emptiness we feel can be a powerful step toward healing and wholeness.
Throughout August in the main chapel, in front of the altar there will be a basket where you can place your writings. Alternatively for people who can not come to the chapel, on the parish website, and available here, you will find a link to anonymously submit your responses, which will be printed out and placed in the basket.
As a gesture of our surrendering up to God all these losses and griefs, the contents of the basket will be burned in a fire pit outside the front of the chapel - in a similar way to the Easter Vigil fire. This burning ritual will take place after the 7 PM Mass on Sunday August 30 and will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person.
UPDATED 7-10-20 - Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
Throughout the past year, I’ve been working with the Advisory Committee to look closely at our Parish staffing and organizational structures. A crucial step in this process has been the creation of a new position on our staff. As many of you know, Allison Borden began working as the Director of Parish Engagement and Growth in May. Her background and expertise have helped us to begin planning new and exciting ways to support our growing parish. Even in the midst of the pandemic, we are laying the groundwork for new creative initiatives that will focus on forming active disciples. Jane Myers and Tim Severyn have been working diligently to make this possible. Bellarmine’s rich tradition of social mission and outreach will continue to flourish as it integrates with our equally important (and growing) formation in Ignatian spirituality.
In light of our focus on growth and disciple formation, I’ve worked with the staff to adjust some roles to help us better serve that focus. A few titles have changed, and Kathy Kohl is moving to exciting new work at Mount Notre Dame this summer. We will always be grateful for her many years of service and for building up our wonderful marriage ministry. If you visit our staff directory on the website, you will see lots of familiar faces and a new addition, Robby Francis, who is our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
With the dramatic changes that COVID has created in our parish and our world, we have been working very hard to evaluate how we can best serve our community, our neighbors, and our church. So even when the campus closed and mail service slowed to a trickle, Liz Keuffer kept the lights on and got all the bills paid from home. In the midst of a lockdown, we were reaching parishioners and new members through the internet, as well as facilitating prayer and reflection with digital tools. This digital ministry and a new and developing communications strategy will be an exciting part of our work in the months and years to come.
Our Sunday liturgies, in-person gatherings, and faith formation that happen on XU’s campus before, during, and after liturgy have always been the core of Bellarmine. COVID has forced us to shift and things have certainly changed, but we haven’t stopped living out our parish mission. I’m very grateful to Brendan Hemmerle and all the choirs and volunteers who make our live streams possible. Children’s faith formation also continued and Pam Fellerhoff helped to redesign Vacation Bible School to run completely online this year. She is working diligently to do the same for GIFT in the fall, allowing new ways to engage our children and families.
While it will be many months before we are all back together in the same physical space, when we do come back, we will have new tools and initiatives to help expand the reach of our in-person gatherings. God’s spirit has not been idle and because of that, I know our future is very bright.
Thank you to everyone who is helping us through this crisis. Thank you, especially for your generosity in supporting those in need through initiatives like the Coronavirus Community Assistance Fund. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I will keep repeating what I’ve said before; it is a privilege to walk alongside all of you during this time. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers every day.
With gratitude and hope,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 7-9-20
Reservation Links for Public Sunday Masses
Make Reservations for 11:30am or 4:00pm Sunday, July 12:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-12-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110028534308
Make Reservations for 11:30am or 4:00pm Sunday, July 19:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-19-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110039059790
UPDATED 7-5-20
Public Sunday Mass Reservations
You can find the Eventbrite links below to make reservations for Sunday, July 5 or Sunday July 12, 11:30 AM or 4:00 PM public masses in the Main Chapel. More details on registering can be found below.
Make Reservations for Sunday, July 5:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-5-sunday-public-mass-tickets-109176345388
Make Reservations for Sunday, July 12:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-12-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110028534308
UPDATED 6-19-20
Welcome Back to Public Masses in July!!
Friends, we are excited to welcome you back to Bellarmine Chapel for public Masses beginning in July. Our hearts have been burning within us as we have longed to break bread together. We are committed to creating a prayerful and uplifting experience of liturgy that respects the health and safety of everyone present. To that end, we are creating a system where you can sign up to attend Mass on Sundays, either at 11:30 AM or 4:00 PM.
We are utilizing Eventbrite to handle reservations; you can use the link provided here or the link on the parish website under Sunday Public Masses in July. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-5-sunday-public-mass-tickets-109176345388 You will need to create an account on Eventbrite, if you don’t already have one, with your name and an email address; it’s really easy to do! This will allow us to keep track of who signs up, who attends, and contact tracing for health/safety concerns if needed.
We are doing everything we can to welcome back as many parishioners as possible. Our hope is that these policies will ensure a safe and healthy experience for all attending. Please realize that we will not be able to make “standing” reservations each week for any individual/family/household/germ circle, so that all in our parish family may have a turn at attending Mass. Also be aware that seating will be very different from what you are used to, pre-Covid19 (i.e. your usual spot in the pews may not be available because of social distancing/health and safety efforts). We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this regard, and look forward to welcoming you back to public liturgies.
Dear Friends,
Throughout the past year, I’ve been working with the Advisory Committee to look closely at our Parish staffing and organizational structures. A crucial step in this process has been the creation of a new position on our staff. As many of you know, Allison Borden began working as the Director of Parish Engagement and Growth in May. Her background and expertise have helped us to begin planning new and exciting ways to support our growing parish. Even in the midst of the pandemic, we are laying the groundwork for new creative initiatives that will focus on forming active disciples. Jane Myers and Tim Severyn have been working diligently to make this possible. Bellarmine’s rich tradition of social mission and outreach will continue to flourish as it integrates with our equally important (and growing) formation in Ignatian spirituality.
In light of our focus on growth and disciple formation, I’ve worked with the staff to adjust some roles to help us better serve that focus. A few titles have changed, and Kathy Kohl is moving to exciting new work at Mount Notre Dame this summer. We will always be grateful for her many years of service and for building up our wonderful marriage ministry. If you visit our staff directory on the website, you will see lots of familiar faces and a new addition, Robby Francis, who is our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
With the dramatic changes that COVID has created in our parish and our world, we have been working very hard to evaluate how we can best serve our community, our neighbors, and our church. So even when the campus closed and mail service slowed to a trickle, Liz Keuffer kept the lights on and got all the bills paid from home. In the midst of a lockdown, we were reaching parishioners and new members through the internet, as well as facilitating prayer and reflection with digital tools. This digital ministry and a new and developing communications strategy will be an exciting part of our work in the months and years to come.
Our Sunday liturgies, in-person gatherings, and faith formation that happen on XU’s campus before, during, and after liturgy have always been the core of Bellarmine. COVID has forced us to shift and things have certainly changed, but we haven’t stopped living out our parish mission. I’m very grateful to Brendan Hemmerle and all the choirs and volunteers who make our live streams possible. Children’s faith formation also continued and Pam Fellerhoff helped to redesign Vacation Bible School to run completely online this year. She is working diligently to do the same for GIFT in the fall, allowing new ways to engage our children and families.
While it will be many months before we are all back together in the same physical space, when we do come back, we will have new tools and initiatives to help expand the reach of our in-person gatherings. God’s spirit has not been idle and because of that, I know our future is very bright.
Thank you to everyone who is helping us through this crisis. Thank you, especially for your generosity in supporting those in need through initiatives like the Coronavirus Community Assistance Fund. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I will keep repeating what I’ve said before; it is a privilege to walk alongside all of you during this time. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers every day.
With gratitude and hope,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 7-9-20
Reservation Links for Public Sunday Masses
Make Reservations for 11:30am or 4:00pm Sunday, July 12:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-12-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110028534308
Make Reservations for 11:30am or 4:00pm Sunday, July 19:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-19-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110039059790
UPDATED 7-5-20
Public Sunday Mass Reservations
You can find the Eventbrite links below to make reservations for Sunday, July 5 or Sunday July 12, 11:30 AM or 4:00 PM public masses in the Main Chapel. More details on registering can be found below.
Make Reservations for Sunday, July 5:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-5-sunday-public-mass-tickets-109176345388
Make Reservations for Sunday, July 12:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-12-sunday-public-mass-tickets-110028534308
UPDATED 6-19-20
Welcome Back to Public Masses in July!!
Friends, we are excited to welcome you back to Bellarmine Chapel for public Masses beginning in July. Our hearts have been burning within us as we have longed to break bread together. We are committed to creating a prayerful and uplifting experience of liturgy that respects the health and safety of everyone present. To that end, we are creating a system where you can sign up to attend Mass on Sundays, either at 11:30 AM or 4:00 PM.
We are utilizing Eventbrite to handle reservations; you can use the link provided here or the link on the parish website under Sunday Public Masses in July. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-5-sunday-public-mass-tickets-109176345388 You will need to create an account on Eventbrite, if you don’t already have one, with your name and an email address; it’s really easy to do! This will allow us to keep track of who signs up, who attends, and contact tracing for health/safety concerns if needed.
We are doing everything we can to welcome back as many parishioners as possible. Our hope is that these policies will ensure a safe and healthy experience for all attending. Please realize that we will not be able to make “standing” reservations each week for any individual/family/household/germ circle, so that all in our parish family may have a turn at attending Mass. Also be aware that seating will be very different from what you are used to, pre-Covid19 (i.e. your usual spot in the pews may not be available because of social distancing/health and safety efforts). We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this regard, and look forward to welcoming you back to public liturgies.
UPDATED 6-11-20
<<<Click here for the Full Letter from Fr. Eric>>>
Bellarmine Chapel will restart public Masses on Wednesday, July 1st. Each Monday - Friday, we will offer a 5:00 PM public Mass in the Chapel. These daily Masses will continue to be available on livestream as well.
On July 5th, we will restart public Sunday Masses at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Public Sunday Masses will not include music. They will have shortened homilies and will not be livestreamed. To plan for social distancing, these public Sunday Masses will also require reservations in advance. The bulletin next week will include guidelines for attending public Mass as well as instructions explaining how to reserve a space at those Masses.
The 9:00 AM Sunday livestream will continue to be a non-public Mass. By reducing the number of people present in the Chapel during the Sunday livestream, we can continue to offer regular-length homilies and full musical accompaniment.
<<<Click here for the Full Letter from Fr. Eric>>>
Bellarmine Chapel will restart public Masses on Wednesday, July 1st. Each Monday - Friday, we will offer a 5:00 PM public Mass in the Chapel. These daily Masses will continue to be available on livestream as well.
On July 5th, we will restart public Sunday Masses at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Public Sunday Masses will not include music. They will have shortened homilies and will not be livestreamed. To plan for social distancing, these public Sunday Masses will also require reservations in advance. The bulletin next week will include guidelines for attending public Mass as well as instructions explaining how to reserve a space at those Masses.
The 9:00 AM Sunday livestream will continue to be a non-public Mass. By reducing the number of people present in the Chapel during the Sunday livestream, we can continue to offer regular-length homilies and full musical accompaniment.
UPDATED 5-17-20
<<<Click Here for the Full Letter from Fr. Eric>>>
<<<Click Here for the Full Letter from Fr. Eric>>>
- Bellarmine Chapel is planning to offer live-streamed liturgies through the end of June. These will not be public, in-person liturgies.
- We hope to resume some forms of in-person, public liturgies beginning in July.
- We will continue to monitor public health guidance, directives from the Archdiocese and Xavier, and consult among the parish staff and community. Even when we resume in-person public liturgies, live streaming will continue so that those who decide to remain at home can still participate in our worship as a community.
- We have an online form where you can also sign up to have Eucharistic ministers come to your homes to distribute communion.
- These ministers will follow health and safety protocols and maintain social distance as they celebrate the communion rite in the domestic church. We will continue to break bread together via the livestreams and celebrate as the Body of Christ every week. If you are not yet a Eucharistic minister but would like to be trained in order to help your fellow parishioners, you can tell us on the form. The form will also allow you to share your thoughts regarding when and how you and your family would be ready to attend in-person public masses in the future
UPDATED 5-10-20
A few minutes before Liz was about to send the weekly bulletin, I sent her a message that read: “STOP THE PRESSES!” We received notice late Friday afternoon that the Archdiocese is asking parishes to resume public Masses on May 25th. I need a little time to digest the new guidelines and fill in our local details, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows a few things:
After I’ve had a chance to work through this with the parish staff and a few of our core teams, we will provide more details and information here on the website.
We will be creative. We will respect the advice of public health care experts. We will work with XU to follow campus guidelines. And, most importantly, we will need your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we all work together.
See you soon,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 5-1-20
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago I thanked the parish for your generosity during this pandemic. We’ve been able to increase our support of local families through SVdP and other local organizations. We are also able to assist parishioners who are suffering during this economic and health crisis. We could not do this without your support.
As I noted, the suspension of public masses created some gaps between budgeted offertory and actual offertory. Thank you to everyone who mailed in envelopes or used the online system for weekly offerings. Your response has allowed us to eliminate those gaps this month. We are grateful for your continued support of Bellarmine.
As many of you are aware, the Ohio bishops have extended the suspension of public masses through May 29, 2020. The parish staff and I are working with the state guidelines, the Archdiocese, and XU to plan for a prudent and safe return to public masses. I do not know when that will happen. The suspension has been extended several times already and it could happen again.
What I do know, is that when we start to celebrate public masses again, they will likely look very different than our previous norms. Social distancing and other protocols will need to be in place. Please check the parish website frequently for updates. Be assured that the Livestreams will not end anytime soon, even if public masses restart at the end of May. We are committed to providing this option for parishioners for many months to come.
It is a privilege to walk alongside you as your pastor during this crisis. Your support, your prayers, and your creativity are a testament to the activity of the Holy Spirit. We will continue this journey together. After a few months of quarantine, I’m really looking forward to that day when we’re all walking a little closer than 6 feet apart.
With gratitude and hope,
Fr. Eric
A few minutes before Liz was about to send the weekly bulletin, I sent her a message that read: “STOP THE PRESSES!” We received notice late Friday afternoon that the Archdiocese is asking parishes to resume public Masses on May 25th. I need a little time to digest the new guidelines and fill in our local details, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows a few things:
- The obligation to attend Mass each week has been dispensed “until further notice.” No one should feel any pressure to attend a public Mass.
- Bellarmine’s Livestreams (Daily and Sunday Masses) will continue well beyond May 25th.
- Public Masses will look very different from the pre-pandemic Masses we celebrated together. We will not be able to accommodate normal crowds in the Chapel for some time. Social distancing will change a number of the aspects of our public worship.
After I’ve had a chance to work through this with the parish staff and a few of our core teams, we will provide more details and information here on the website.
We will be creative. We will respect the advice of public health care experts. We will work with XU to follow campus guidelines. And, most importantly, we will need your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we all work together.
See you soon,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 5-1-20
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago I thanked the parish for your generosity during this pandemic. We’ve been able to increase our support of local families through SVdP and other local organizations. We are also able to assist parishioners who are suffering during this economic and health crisis. We could not do this without your support.
As I noted, the suspension of public masses created some gaps between budgeted offertory and actual offertory. Thank you to everyone who mailed in envelopes or used the online system for weekly offerings. Your response has allowed us to eliminate those gaps this month. We are grateful for your continued support of Bellarmine.
As many of you are aware, the Ohio bishops have extended the suspension of public masses through May 29, 2020. The parish staff and I are working with the state guidelines, the Archdiocese, and XU to plan for a prudent and safe return to public masses. I do not know when that will happen. The suspension has been extended several times already and it could happen again.
What I do know, is that when we start to celebrate public masses again, they will likely look very different than our previous norms. Social distancing and other protocols will need to be in place. Please check the parish website frequently for updates. Be assured that the Livestreams will not end anytime soon, even if public masses restart at the end of May. We are committed to providing this option for parishioners for many months to come.
It is a privilege to walk alongside you as your pastor during this crisis. Your support, your prayers, and your creativity are a testament to the activity of the Holy Spirit. We will continue this journey together. After a few months of quarantine, I’m really looking forward to that day when we’re all walking a little closer than 6 feet apart.
With gratitude and hope,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 4-24-20
TRAUMA AND RECOVERY IN A TIME OF COVID
Join Bellarmine and the Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice in another livestream conversation with theologian and parishioner Dr. Ashley Theuring on Monday, May 4, 7:30 PM. Dr. Theuring will lead us through an exploration of the field of trauma theology, in the hopes that what we already know about trauma and recovery can help us survive and thrive in this moment. You can find more information on the bulletin insert here, and you can watch the livestream here: www.bellarminechapel.org/trauma-theuring
TRAUMA AND RECOVERY IN A TIME OF COVID
Join Bellarmine and the Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice in another livestream conversation with theologian and parishioner Dr. Ashley Theuring on Monday, May 4, 7:30 PM. Dr. Theuring will lead us through an exploration of the field of trauma theology, in the hopes that what we already know about trauma and recovery can help us survive and thrive in this moment. You can find more information on the bulletin insert here, and you can watch the livestream here: www.bellarminechapel.org/trauma-theuring
UPDATED 4-17-20
PARISH FINANCES
In the Easter greeting that went out on Thursday, I noted that the parish staff has continued to work diligently to meet the needs of the parish. Our daily operations and long term planning have not stopped and in some cases, they’ve gained urgency because of the coronavirus. We have accelerated our timelines for modernizing our communications workflows, training staff on remote work applications and purchasing new digital tools.
All of this is happening at a time of great economic upheaval and I will be working closely with the finance committee to ensure that Bellarmine Chapel makes prudent decisions in the weeks and months to come. But a crisis is not a time for us to pull back our ministry; in fact, it is a time to do the opposite. I know everyone understands that and your generosity has been inspiring. The Coronavirus Community Assistance Fund has raised over $23,000 that is going to help parishioners and neighbors in most need at this time.
I also want to make everyone aware that our normal offertory for March is about $12,000 short of budget. In order to support the outreach efforts and the work of the staff, we will need continued support for daily operations. If you are able, please consider increasing your support for Bellarmine Chapel at this critical time. If you normally bring your offerings to the Sunday Masses, please consider switching to an automatic electronic payment or mailing in your envelopes to the Chapel. Our mailing address is at the end of this e-bulletin.
Thank you as always for all that you do and for your continued support of the mission and outreach of this amazing community.
With gratitude,
Fr. Eric
PARISH FINANCES
In the Easter greeting that went out on Thursday, I noted that the parish staff has continued to work diligently to meet the needs of the parish. Our daily operations and long term planning have not stopped and in some cases, they’ve gained urgency because of the coronavirus. We have accelerated our timelines for modernizing our communications workflows, training staff on remote work applications and purchasing new digital tools.
All of this is happening at a time of great economic upheaval and I will be working closely with the finance committee to ensure that Bellarmine Chapel makes prudent decisions in the weeks and months to come. But a crisis is not a time for us to pull back our ministry; in fact, it is a time to do the opposite. I know everyone understands that and your generosity has been inspiring. The Coronavirus Community Assistance Fund has raised over $23,000 that is going to help parishioners and neighbors in most need at this time.
I also want to make everyone aware that our normal offertory for March is about $12,000 short of budget. In order to support the outreach efforts and the work of the staff, we will need continued support for daily operations. If you are able, please consider increasing your support for Bellarmine Chapel at this critical time. If you normally bring your offerings to the Sunday Masses, please consider switching to an automatic electronic payment or mailing in your envelopes to the Chapel. Our mailing address is at the end of this e-bulletin.
Thank you as always for all that you do and for your continued support of the mission and outreach of this amazing community.
With gratitude,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 4-16-20
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2020 Easter GreetingHappy Easter!
Hopefully you will hear that greeting for many days after Easter Sunday. It’s by design. Easter is a season, it’s not one day. And while Lent is 40 days; Easter is 50 days. Easter is longer. We spend more time celebrating than repenting. While it feels a little odd to say that this year, with quarantine and stay-at-home, it is what we are called to do and who we are called to be. We are an Easter people and we can still be an Easter people in quarantine, at our homes, on Zoom and Google Hangouts, via FaceTime and phone calls, in the midst of crisis and confusion. <<<Click here for the full letter>>> |
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Bellarmine Chapel
(513) 745 - 3398 Mailing Address: 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45207-2211 Physical Address: 3801 St. Francis Xavier Way Cincinnati, OH 45207 Parish Center Address: 3832 Ledgewood Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45207 |
