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UPDATED 5-26-21
Reopening Letter from Advisory, Staff, and Pastor
Dear Friends,
It will be a great joy and relief to see so many of you in the coming months. Slowly but surely, we will rebuild, reconnect and renew our parish, our city, and our world. We've learned many things during the pandemic, and we've started using many new digital tools to assist in our ministries.
The usefulness of some of those tools will fade away, but others will continue to enrich our in-person connections and expand our work as a parish. One quick example: Zoom will be necessary for committee and team meetings from now on. It has increased overall attendance and allowed families with busy schedules to stay involved in important planning work at countless levels of parish life. Yet, to everyone's great relief, it won't be the only way to stay connected!
As our country and our state move closer to a full re-opening, it is important to acknowledge that the shifts may not be easy for everyone. Families with young children who can not yet be vaccinated and people who are immunocompromised, as well as those who live and work with them, should be in our prayers in a special way. As a parish, we must always strive to treat each other with compassion and respect.
Summer Mass Schedule
As statewide COVID restrictions are eased, the Bishops of Ohio have lifted the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass. We trust all of you and know you can make wise and informed decisions about you and your family's safety in the coming months.
Because our music groups planned their schedules through the end of June, we will continue with the alternating schedule of 5 p.m. Saturday Vigils and 9 a.m. Sunday choirs through July 4th. You can find the dates and times for these weekend livestreams on the website. Please note that there is no 7 p.m. Mass on July 4th.
As of June 6th, there will be no need to RSVP for any of our masses. Beginning on July 11th, we will return to a "normal" Sunday schedule, with a 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 7 p.m. Mass in the Main Chapel. After July 11th, we will continue to Livestream the 9 a.m. Mass each Sunday.
Daily Mass will continue to be offered in the main chapel at 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday and at 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. We will continue to Livestream the 5 p.m. daily Mass each week.
Masks and Social Distancing
Bellarmine Chapel will continue to follow the XU campus-wide COVID guidelines. The indoor mask mandate and the requirement to observe social distancing will be lifted on campus after June 2nd. Fully vaccinated parishioners and visitors to the Chapel will no longer be required to wear masks or observe social distancing. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated will still be asked to wear a mask.
We have started to plan several outdoor morning masses this summer to help accommodate families who may not be comfortable bringing unvaccinated members into an indoor space where people are unmasked. Additionally, we encourage parishioners and families not comfortable indoors in large group gatherings to join us via Livestream and sit outside near the chapel. We will have communion distributors outside at all the Livestream masses this summer.
Daily masses are also a good option for those who prefer more distance when indoors. There is ample space, and you can easily distance yourself from other parishioners at the 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses. We hope that these measures will ease the transition away from our current protocols.
Music and Singing
The parish staff, the Advisory Committee, and our core teams will all be working to rebuild our vibrant and robust singing culture at each of our Masses. This rebuilding will take time.
Many members of our music groups have developed new habits and routines in the past 18 months, and we need new volunteers to help with our music ministry. If you are interested in joining any of our music groups, please email Roberta Whitely at whitely@bellarminechapel.org. It is a great way to get involved with the life of the parish.
Of course, the music ensembles aren't the only voices! Even as we rebuild our music groups, hymnals will return to the pews, and we will begin encouraging the congregation to sing at all the Sunday masses.
Gratitude
Thank you again, for your patience, for your adaptability, and most importantly, for your faithful commitment to this parish and our shared call as active disciples. We can't wait to see everyone's smiling faces!
Gratefully,
The Parish Advisory Committee
The Parish Staff
Fr. Eric
Reopening Letter from Advisory, Staff, and Pastor
Dear Friends,
It will be a great joy and relief to see so many of you in the coming months. Slowly but surely, we will rebuild, reconnect and renew our parish, our city, and our world. We've learned many things during the pandemic, and we've started using many new digital tools to assist in our ministries.
The usefulness of some of those tools will fade away, but others will continue to enrich our in-person connections and expand our work as a parish. One quick example: Zoom will be necessary for committee and team meetings from now on. It has increased overall attendance and allowed families with busy schedules to stay involved in important planning work at countless levels of parish life. Yet, to everyone's great relief, it won't be the only way to stay connected!
As our country and our state move closer to a full re-opening, it is important to acknowledge that the shifts may not be easy for everyone. Families with young children who can not yet be vaccinated and people who are immunocompromised, as well as those who live and work with them, should be in our prayers in a special way. As a parish, we must always strive to treat each other with compassion and respect.
Summer Mass Schedule
As statewide COVID restrictions are eased, the Bishops of Ohio have lifted the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass. We trust all of you and know you can make wise and informed decisions about you and your family's safety in the coming months.
Because our music groups planned their schedules through the end of June, we will continue with the alternating schedule of 5 p.m. Saturday Vigils and 9 a.m. Sunday choirs through July 4th. You can find the dates and times for these weekend livestreams on the website. Please note that there is no 7 p.m. Mass on July 4th.
As of June 6th, there will be no need to RSVP for any of our masses. Beginning on July 11th, we will return to a "normal" Sunday schedule, with a 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 7 p.m. Mass in the Main Chapel. After July 11th, we will continue to Livestream the 9 a.m. Mass each Sunday.
Daily Mass will continue to be offered in the main chapel at 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday and at 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. We will continue to Livestream the 5 p.m. daily Mass each week.
Masks and Social Distancing
Bellarmine Chapel will continue to follow the XU campus-wide COVID guidelines. The indoor mask mandate and the requirement to observe social distancing will be lifted on campus after June 2nd. Fully vaccinated parishioners and visitors to the Chapel will no longer be required to wear masks or observe social distancing. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated will still be asked to wear a mask.
We have started to plan several outdoor morning masses this summer to help accommodate families who may not be comfortable bringing unvaccinated members into an indoor space where people are unmasked. Additionally, we encourage parishioners and families not comfortable indoors in large group gatherings to join us via Livestream and sit outside near the chapel. We will have communion distributors outside at all the Livestream masses this summer.
Daily masses are also a good option for those who prefer more distance when indoors. There is ample space, and you can easily distance yourself from other parishioners at the 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses. We hope that these measures will ease the transition away from our current protocols.
Music and Singing
The parish staff, the Advisory Committee, and our core teams will all be working to rebuild our vibrant and robust singing culture at each of our Masses. This rebuilding will take time.
Many members of our music groups have developed new habits and routines in the past 18 months, and we need new volunteers to help with our music ministry. If you are interested in joining any of our music groups, please email Roberta Whitely at whitely@bellarminechapel.org. It is a great way to get involved with the life of the parish.
Of course, the music ensembles aren't the only voices! Even as we rebuild our music groups, hymnals will return to the pews, and we will begin encouraging the congregation to sing at all the Sunday masses.
Gratitude
Thank you again, for your patience, for your adaptability, and most importantly, for your faithful commitment to this parish and our shared call as active disciples. We can't wait to see everyone's smiling faces!
Gratefully,
The Parish Advisory Committee
The Parish Staff
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 05-14-21
Note from the Pastor
Yesterday, we emailed everyone a note about our plans and timelines for a return to full capacity and the gradual reduction of COVID safety protocols in the Chapel. As that letter was hitting your inboxes, the CDC updated their guidelines on mask usage for the fully vaccinated. I’m working with the XU COVID Taskforce to adjust our timelines and protocols in the Chapel based on this new guidance. For now, masks will continue to be required in the Chapel, regardless of your vaccination status.
It seems likely that this requirement will continue until June 2, 2021, due to local and state guidelines, but as we’ve all learned, things can change quickly. As we adapt and adjust while the Archdiocese, XU, and our state health department consider the new guidance from the CDC, please check back for updates.
~Fr. Eric
Note from the Pastor
Yesterday, we emailed everyone a note about our plans and timelines for a return to full capacity and the gradual reduction of COVID safety protocols in the Chapel. As that letter was hitting your inboxes, the CDC updated their guidelines on mask usage for the fully vaccinated. I’m working with the XU COVID Taskforce to adjust our timelines and protocols in the Chapel based on this new guidance. For now, masks will continue to be required in the Chapel, regardless of your vaccination status.
It seems likely that this requirement will continue until June 2, 2021, due to local and state guidelines, but as we’ve all learned, things can change quickly. As we adapt and adjust while the Archdiocese, XU, and our state health department consider the new guidance from the CDC, please check back for updates.
~Fr. Eric
UPDATED 05-13-21
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
On Wednesday, May 12th, Governor DeWine announced that the COVID public health orders would expire on June 2, 2021. He also announced that schools and businesses would be able to set their own requirements going forward.
I know that many of us cannot wait for our communal worship to return to what it was prior to the pandemic. I also know that many of us are not ready for large gatherings in indoor spaces like the Chapel. We are all learning to weigh our risks carefully and do what is best for ourselves, our families and the most vulnerable in our community.
Vaccines are safe, effective and available to everyone over the age of 12. Families with young children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine must still make tough decisions.
We also have many members of our community who are immuno-compromised, or who live with or care for someone who is immuno-compromised.
Carefully considering all of this, we will start moving toward restoring our ability to worship together in full song and voice in the coming months. I know that we are all longing for this, so I want to highlight our current plans and timelines.
Congregational singing will be encouraged at some Masses starting in June. Roberta and I will work with our ensembles and musicians to determine how and when we can resume singing and music at all the Sunday Masses. I ask for your patience and flexibility around music and singing more than anything else. We all know how important this aspect of liturgy is to our community, and it will take us some time to get everything back together.
*************************
Other Important Highlights:
For the foreseeable future, even after June 2nd, all visitors to the Chapel will be required to wear masks.
We will continue to livestream the daily 5 p.m. Mass and a weekend Sunday Mass.
Starting Monday, May 17th, lectors, cantors and presiders will be allowed to remove their masks when they are in the sanctuary and more than 6 feet apart from other people. Any choirs will continue to wear masks when not at the ambo or altar.
As we prepare to welcome everyone back, we will gradually increase the number of available seats at all the in-person Sunday Masses each week. After June 6th, I anticipate that we will no longer require RSVPs for in-person Sunday Masses. I will monitor this shift with the parish staff and see if we need to adjust our plans at any point.
I am in conversation with the XU COVID Taskforce to determine the maximum number of people we can safely and responsibly fit in Bellarmine Chapel for weddings, funerals and other special events after June 2nd.
*************************
You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as we enter into this new phase of the pandemic. Please remember our sisters and brothers throughout the world who suffer from COVID. As we approach Pentecost, let us all pray for guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. She won’t let us down.
Peace,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
On Wednesday, May 12th, Governor DeWine announced that the COVID public health orders would expire on June 2, 2021. He also announced that schools and businesses would be able to set their own requirements going forward.
I know that many of us cannot wait for our communal worship to return to what it was prior to the pandemic. I also know that many of us are not ready for large gatherings in indoor spaces like the Chapel. We are all learning to weigh our risks carefully and do what is best for ourselves, our families and the most vulnerable in our community.
Vaccines are safe, effective and available to everyone over the age of 12. Families with young children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine must still make tough decisions.
We also have many members of our community who are immuno-compromised, or who live with or care for someone who is immuno-compromised.
Carefully considering all of this, we will start moving toward restoring our ability to worship together in full song and voice in the coming months. I know that we are all longing for this, so I want to highlight our current plans and timelines.
Congregational singing will be encouraged at some Masses starting in June. Roberta and I will work with our ensembles and musicians to determine how and when we can resume singing and music at all the Sunday Masses. I ask for your patience and flexibility around music and singing more than anything else. We all know how important this aspect of liturgy is to our community, and it will take us some time to get everything back together.
*************************
Other Important Highlights:
For the foreseeable future, even after June 2nd, all visitors to the Chapel will be required to wear masks.
We will continue to livestream the daily 5 p.m. Mass and a weekend Sunday Mass.
Starting Monday, May 17th, lectors, cantors and presiders will be allowed to remove their masks when they are in the sanctuary and more than 6 feet apart from other people. Any choirs will continue to wear masks when not at the ambo or altar.
As we prepare to welcome everyone back, we will gradually increase the number of available seats at all the in-person Sunday Masses each week. After June 6th, I anticipate that we will no longer require RSVPs for in-person Sunday Masses. I will monitor this shift with the parish staff and see if we need to adjust our plans at any point.
I am in conversation with the XU COVID Taskforce to determine the maximum number of people we can safely and responsibly fit in Bellarmine Chapel for weddings, funerals and other special events after June 2nd.
*************************
You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as we enter into this new phase of the pandemic. Please remember our sisters and brothers throughout the world who suffer from COVID. As we approach Pentecost, let us all pray for guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. She won’t let us down.
Peace,
Fr. Eric
Updates to Mass Schedule
After Easter, we will begin accepting in-person reservations for our 5 p.m. Vigil and 9 a.m. livestream masses. We will balance the desire to return to in-person liturgies with music alongside our commitment to safeguarding public health. The pandemic is not over and masks, social distancing and limited seating capacity in the chapel will likely continue for most of 2021. As a reminder, all in-person masses will require a reservation.
Our expanded mass offerings provide options with varying risk factors in attempt to best serve our community. This overview will help you determine which mass is best for you and your family's needs and comfort level:
In-Person Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9 a.m.
These masses will include wind instruments and a choir (who will remain masked). Attending a mass with wind instruments and a choir could increase the risk of spreading or contracting COVID.
Sunday Liturgy at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
These masses will continue to offer instrumental music and no singing, with a lower risk of spreading or contracting COVID.
Livestream Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9 a.m.
These masses will continue to be available on our website and on our Facebook and YouTube pages and provide the lowest risk for spreading or contracting COVID.
Our expanded mass offerings provide options with varying risk factors in attempt to best serve our community. This overview will help you determine which mass is best for you and your family's needs and comfort level:
In-Person Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9 a.m.
These masses will include wind instruments and a choir (who will remain masked). Attending a mass with wind instruments and a choir could increase the risk of spreading or contracting COVID.
Sunday Liturgy at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
These masses will continue to offer instrumental music and no singing, with a lower risk of spreading or contracting COVID.
Livestream Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and Sunday Liturgy at 9 a.m.
These masses will continue to be available on our website and on our Facebook and YouTube pages and provide the lowest risk for spreading or contracting COVID.
UPDATED 03-26-21
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
If we’ve learned anything during COVID, it’s that we have to be flexible and adaptable. As the parish staff has watched the reservations roll in, we realized we would definitely need to make more options available this Easter.
Both of our originally scheduled Easter Sunday Masses (9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.) are already completely booked. Because of this, we added another Mass at 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday. My hope is that this extra option can give more parishioners the opportunity to attend Mass on Easter. The 1 p.m. Mass will require reservations in advance and will have instrumental music but no singing. This will also offer an option to people who are not comfortable in an indoor group gathering that includes singing and wind instruments.
We are now providing a livestream option for the 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Those who wanted to join us in person but could not get a reservation are invited to bring their devices and families to campus. You can set up an Easter picnic on the lawn outside the Chapel or even join us from your car as you watch the livestream using the XU wireless network. At communion time, ministers will bring communion to anyone gathered outside the Chapel.
You can greet all your Bellarmine friends outside in a safe and COVID-careful manner after the morning masses. Let’s all start praying for good weather on Easter Sunday! I suppose we can take some solace in the fact that we don’t have to worry about the cicadas just yet.
As always, I’m so grateful that God has given me this opportunity to walk with you all. It’s a privilege to accompany Bellarmine as we continue to pray and share our faith in the midst of the pandemic. I can’t wait to celebrate the Easter Season with everyone.
You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers everyday as we enter this most sacred and holy season of the year.
With much love and many prayers,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
If we’ve learned anything during COVID, it’s that we have to be flexible and adaptable. As the parish staff has watched the reservations roll in, we realized we would definitely need to make more options available this Easter.
Both of our originally scheduled Easter Sunday Masses (9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.) are already completely booked. Because of this, we added another Mass at 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday. My hope is that this extra option can give more parishioners the opportunity to attend Mass on Easter. The 1 p.m. Mass will require reservations in advance and will have instrumental music but no singing. This will also offer an option to people who are not comfortable in an indoor group gathering that includes singing and wind instruments.
We are now providing a livestream option for the 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Those who wanted to join us in person but could not get a reservation are invited to bring their devices and families to campus. You can set up an Easter picnic on the lawn outside the Chapel or even join us from your car as you watch the livestream using the XU wireless network. At communion time, ministers will bring communion to anyone gathered outside the Chapel.
You can greet all your Bellarmine friends outside in a safe and COVID-careful manner after the morning masses. Let’s all start praying for good weather on Easter Sunday! I suppose we can take some solace in the fact that we don’t have to worry about the cicadas just yet.
As always, I’m so grateful that God has given me this opportunity to walk with you all. It’s a privilege to accompany Bellarmine as we continue to pray and share our faith in the midst of the pandemic. I can’t wait to celebrate the Easter Season with everyone.
You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers everyday as we enter this most sacred and holy season of the year.
With much love and many prayers,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 03-19-21
Letter from the Pastor
As more and more members of our community are vaccinated, we are starting to field a number of questions about our liturgies and the changes we expect as our country and local community adapt to new public health recommendations.
First, as always, I want to thank everyone for your patience and flexibility. There will not be a one size fits all solution, especially as individuals deliberate and weigh their own personal and familial risks. For this reason, we will work to offer several masses with varying risk factors. We will balance the desire to return to in-person liturgies with music alongside our commitment to safeguarding public health. The pandemic is not over and masks, social distancing and limited seating capacity in the chapel will likely continue for most of 2021.
Our current mass schedule and COVID protocols will not change until Holy Week. The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil) will be both live-streamed and in-person. These liturgies will require reservations to ensure proper social distancing. All of the Holy Week liturgies and all of the Easter Sunday liturgies will include choirs and musicians. Our choirs will continue to wear masks while they are singing.
Reservations for masses during Holy Week can now be made online.
After Easter, we will begin accepting in-person reservations for our 5 p.m. Vigil and 9 a.m. livestream masses.
Attending a livestream mass with wind instruments and a choir could increase the risk of spreading or contracting COVID, yet my hope is the additional capacity of the livestream masses can begin to accommodate those parishioners who feel comfortable at public gatherings indoors because they are vaccinated or carry natural immunity. In the near term, the 11:30 a.m. and the 7 p.m. masses will continue to be in-person with instrumental music and no signing.
As the weather warms up, we will be working with XU to reserve a number of weekends throughout the late Spring and then later in the Summer (after our Brood X cicada friends have left us for another 17 years) for full, public outdoor masses.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter -- whether we are praying together, in-person, on livestream or even on Zoom -- we will all be united as the Body of Christ. May we all know God’s peace and consolation, and may the Holy Spirit fill us all with the hope and promise of good things to come this Easter Season.
Peace,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
As more and more members of our community are vaccinated, we are starting to field a number of questions about our liturgies and the changes we expect as our country and local community adapt to new public health recommendations.
First, as always, I want to thank everyone for your patience and flexibility. There will not be a one size fits all solution, especially as individuals deliberate and weigh their own personal and familial risks. For this reason, we will work to offer several masses with varying risk factors. We will balance the desire to return to in-person liturgies with music alongside our commitment to safeguarding public health. The pandemic is not over and masks, social distancing and limited seating capacity in the chapel will likely continue for most of 2021.
Our current mass schedule and COVID protocols will not change until Holy Week. The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil) will be both live-streamed and in-person. These liturgies will require reservations to ensure proper social distancing. All of the Holy Week liturgies and all of the Easter Sunday liturgies will include choirs and musicians. Our choirs will continue to wear masks while they are singing.
Reservations for masses during Holy Week can now be made online.
After Easter, we will begin accepting in-person reservations for our 5 p.m. Vigil and 9 a.m. livestream masses.
Attending a livestream mass with wind instruments and a choir could increase the risk of spreading or contracting COVID, yet my hope is the additional capacity of the livestream masses can begin to accommodate those parishioners who feel comfortable at public gatherings indoors because they are vaccinated or carry natural immunity. In the near term, the 11:30 a.m. and the 7 p.m. masses will continue to be in-person with instrumental music and no signing.
As the weather warms up, we will be working with XU to reserve a number of weekends throughout the late Spring and then later in the Summer (after our Brood X cicada friends have left us for another 17 years) for full, public outdoor masses.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter -- whether we are praying together, in-person, on livestream or even on Zoom -- we will all be united as the Body of Christ. May we all know God’s peace and consolation, and may the Holy Spirit fill us all with the hope and promise of good things to come this Easter Season.
Peace,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 02-05-21
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
The season of Lent is swiftly approaching. On the heels of that important liturgical touchpoint, we will cross through another key marker. During Lent 2021, we will mark one year since COVID changed almost every aspect of our lives and of our shared worship.
While life was changed, COVID certainly didn’t stop us. In some respects, we actually discovered exciting and new ways to gather and extend our community. Yet, we cannot ignore the loss and pain in so many areas of our lives. We have lost loved ones and dear members of our community. The economic crisis has put strains on many of us. While we would rather be physically together, it will not happen for some time.
I find the gospel for Ash Wednesday striking. It's an admonition to avoid making it obvious that you're fasting and doing penance. What do we typically do after hearing that? We promptly smear our foreheads with big bold ash marks, making it obvious to everyone that we have begun our Lenten observances. Perhaps for the first time in many of our lives, we’re going to get a chance to actually follow that admonition from Jesus. Sometimes, I really do wonder about God’s sense of humor.
This Ash Wednesday, we will not be marking people’s foreheads with ashes at the chapel. We will distribute ashes in the masses and afterwards for those who can’t fit into the chapel. This year, however, we will sprinkle the ashes on people’s heads, in accordance with suggested health protocols.
You can register to attend one of the masses via Eventbrite. We will have short masses at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. All masses will have a livestream available on our Youtube Channel. If you choose not to attend the mass in-person, or if the chapel reaches capacity, ministers will be available immediately following each mass (generally 30 to 40 minutes after the start time) to distribute ashes to anyone that would like to receive them.
Our GIFT program and youth groups have prepared resources for celebrating the start of Lent at home with your families. This is a wonderful way to invite your family to pray together at the beginning of this important liturgical season. All the details, prayers and times to pick up ashes are available on this website.
I encourage everyone to take full advantage of our Lenten resources that are available on the website.There are small faith sharing groups forming, and we will have a weekly Lenten reflection email. The Daily Lenten reflection books (purple for children and black for adults) will be available in the Narthex of the Chapel.
Many of you have heard me joke that the pandemic feels like a marathon where someone taps you on the shoulder around mile 20 and says, “By the way, we’ve decided to throw in a full Ironman now. So you‘ve got a swim, a bike ride and another marathon coming up.” I find myself reflecting often on the relationship between pain, loss, suffering and hope. As a result, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Paul’s letter to the Romans, especially chapter 5.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace* with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. Rom 5:1-5
There will be ongoing struggles as a community, as a country and as a world for many months to come. The days will continue to get brighter, though, and we will continue to unite ourselves in prayer, fasting and most importantly, that which does not disappoint: Hope.
United with you in hopeful prayer,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
The season of Lent is swiftly approaching. On the heels of that important liturgical touchpoint, we will cross through another key marker. During Lent 2021, we will mark one year since COVID changed almost every aspect of our lives and of our shared worship.
While life was changed, COVID certainly didn’t stop us. In some respects, we actually discovered exciting and new ways to gather and extend our community. Yet, we cannot ignore the loss and pain in so many areas of our lives. We have lost loved ones and dear members of our community. The economic crisis has put strains on many of us. While we would rather be physically together, it will not happen for some time.
I find the gospel for Ash Wednesday striking. It's an admonition to avoid making it obvious that you're fasting and doing penance. What do we typically do after hearing that? We promptly smear our foreheads with big bold ash marks, making it obvious to everyone that we have begun our Lenten observances. Perhaps for the first time in many of our lives, we’re going to get a chance to actually follow that admonition from Jesus. Sometimes, I really do wonder about God’s sense of humor.
This Ash Wednesday, we will not be marking people’s foreheads with ashes at the chapel. We will distribute ashes in the masses and afterwards for those who can’t fit into the chapel. This year, however, we will sprinkle the ashes on people’s heads, in accordance with suggested health protocols.
You can register to attend one of the masses via Eventbrite. We will have short masses at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. All masses will have a livestream available on our Youtube Channel. If you choose not to attend the mass in-person, or if the chapel reaches capacity, ministers will be available immediately following each mass (generally 30 to 40 minutes after the start time) to distribute ashes to anyone that would like to receive them.
Our GIFT program and youth groups have prepared resources for celebrating the start of Lent at home with your families. This is a wonderful way to invite your family to pray together at the beginning of this important liturgical season. All the details, prayers and times to pick up ashes are available on this website.
I encourage everyone to take full advantage of our Lenten resources that are available on the website.There are small faith sharing groups forming, and we will have a weekly Lenten reflection email. The Daily Lenten reflection books (purple for children and black for adults) will be available in the Narthex of the Chapel.
Many of you have heard me joke that the pandemic feels like a marathon where someone taps you on the shoulder around mile 20 and says, “By the way, we’ve decided to throw in a full Ironman now. So you‘ve got a swim, a bike ride and another marathon coming up.” I find myself reflecting often on the relationship between pain, loss, suffering and hope. As a result, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Paul’s letter to the Romans, especially chapter 5.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace* with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. Rom 5:1-5
There will be ongoing struggles as a community, as a country and as a world for many months to come. The days will continue to get brighter, though, and we will continue to unite ourselves in prayer, fasting and most importantly, that which does not disappoint: Hope.
United with you in hopeful prayer,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 12-26-20
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
We have good news to share with the community. Early this morning, I received the lab report that my PCR test for COVID was negative. This means the quarantine of the XU Jesuit Community is lifted, and that the Jesuits, including myself, are cleared to return back to our ministries.
I’m very grateful to everyone for their prayers, notes of support and for the flexibility and generosity of the parish staff and so many volunteers that helped keep things running as smoothly as possible during Christmas.
The parish offices will remain closed until January 11th, as previously scheduled. Fr. Schmidt and I will continue to be available for pastoral emergencies, and we will follow our normal mass schedules.
This weekend, we will have a 5 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass on livestream, and our regularly scheduled 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. in-person masses will happen on Sunday. The 5 p.m. daily masses (in-person and livestream) will resume on Monday, December 28th.
As always, if there are any changes or updates, we will continue to post them at http://bellarminechapel.org/covid19.
Merry Christmas!
With gratitude,
-Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
We have good news to share with the community. Early this morning, I received the lab report that my PCR test for COVID was negative. This means the quarantine of the XU Jesuit Community is lifted, and that the Jesuits, including myself, are cleared to return back to our ministries.
I’m very grateful to everyone for their prayers, notes of support and for the flexibility and generosity of the parish staff and so many volunteers that helped keep things running as smoothly as possible during Christmas.
The parish offices will remain closed until January 11th, as previously scheduled. Fr. Schmidt and I will continue to be available for pastoral emergencies, and we will follow our normal mass schedules.
This weekend, we will have a 5 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass on livestream, and our regularly scheduled 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. in-person masses will happen on Sunday. The 5 p.m. daily masses (in-person and livestream) will resume on Monday, December 28th.
As always, if there are any changes or updates, we will continue to post them at http://bellarminechapel.org/covid19.
Merry Christmas!
With gratitude,
-Fr. Eric
UPDATED 12-23-20
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
On Tuesday afternoon, out of an abundance of caution, I received a rapid COVID test because I knew I would be in the presence of large groups for the upcoming Christmas Masses. Those test results came back positive.
At the request of the Jesuit Province nursing staff, I took two tests later that evening, another rapid test and a PCR test. The second rapid test came back negative. It will be 48-72 hours before we have the results of the PCR test.
Because my first test result was positive, I am in a period of quarantine and have been asked to self isolate pending the results of the PCR test. This also means the XU Jesuit Community is in a quarantine.
Unfortunately, this will affect our mass schedules for the coming days.
The December 23, 5 p.m. daily mass and livestream have been cancelled. Fr. Terry Baum, S.J. has graciously agreed to preside at our 3 p.m. Christmas Eve livestream as well as the 5:30 p.m. in-person public mass on Christmas Eve. Fr. Baum lives in the St. X High School community which is not being quarantined at this time.
We are cancelling the 9 a.m. livestream on Christmas Day. The 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day in-person Masses will be held in the Chapel, but they may become communion services if the quarantine of the Jesuit community is not lifted in time. That quarantine timeline depends on my PCR test results.
Our Christmas Icon display will continue as previously planned and is not affected by the Mass schedule changes.
My heart is breaking right now for the whole Bellarmine community. I know that this is a difficult time, and changes at the last minute are hard for us all. I ask for your prayers for the parish staff, for all the Jesuits here at the community, and for me. I currently have no discernible symptoms and feel fine, but we always follow our COVID protocols in order to safeguard the health and safety of the most vulnerable around us.
Please visit http://bellarminechapel.org/covid19 for updates. We will post new information and mass schedules as soon as they become available.
With great hope,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
On Tuesday afternoon, out of an abundance of caution, I received a rapid COVID test because I knew I would be in the presence of large groups for the upcoming Christmas Masses. Those test results came back positive.
At the request of the Jesuit Province nursing staff, I took two tests later that evening, another rapid test and a PCR test. The second rapid test came back negative. It will be 48-72 hours before we have the results of the PCR test.
Because my first test result was positive, I am in a period of quarantine and have been asked to self isolate pending the results of the PCR test. This also means the XU Jesuit Community is in a quarantine.
Unfortunately, this will affect our mass schedules for the coming days.
The December 23, 5 p.m. daily mass and livestream have been cancelled. Fr. Terry Baum, S.J. has graciously agreed to preside at our 3 p.m. Christmas Eve livestream as well as the 5:30 p.m. in-person public mass on Christmas Eve. Fr. Baum lives in the St. X High School community which is not being quarantined at this time.
We are cancelling the 9 a.m. livestream on Christmas Day. The 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day in-person Masses will be held in the Chapel, but they may become communion services if the quarantine of the Jesuit community is not lifted in time. That quarantine timeline depends on my PCR test results.
Our Christmas Icon display will continue as previously planned and is not affected by the Mass schedule changes.
My heart is breaking right now for the whole Bellarmine community. I know that this is a difficult time, and changes at the last minute are hard for us all. I ask for your prayers for the parish staff, for all the Jesuits here at the community, and for me. I currently have no discernible symptoms and feel fine, but we always follow our COVID protocols in order to safeguard the health and safety of the most vulnerable around us.
Please visit http://bellarminechapel.org/covid19 for updates. We will post new information and mass schedules as soon as they become available.
With great hope,
Fr. Eric
UPDATED 11-24-20
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas will not look like previous years. We are currently living through the worst COVID spike since the pandemic began. Our choices and behaviors during this holiday season will make a difference for the most vulnerable in our community and our immediate families.
We encourage everyone to continue to make wise and prudent decisions based on your particular circumstances and needs. We have teams that bring communion to the most vulnerable among us and invite you to sign up or reach out if you want to be added to the list.
Brief, in-person Masses with masks, social distancing and no singing, will be the norm for many more months. I’ve also asked the parish staff to avoid all in-person, indoor group gatherings, outside of liturgies, through at least the end of December. It is likely that will be extended well into the winter.
Christmas Mass Schedule
This Christmas, we will offer a 3:00 PM livestream only Mass on Christmas Eve followed by a 5:30 PM in-person Mass. On Christmas Day, we will offer a 9 AM and 10:30 AM in-person Mass to ensure space for social distancing, all in-person Christmas Masses will use Eventbrite for RSVPs:
Christmas EVE 5:30 PM
Christmas DAY 9 & 10:30 AM
Even as the pandemic has taken so much away, it still presents new and interesting opportunities.
Advent Wreaths at Home
This Advent, we are inviting everyone to make their own Advent wreaths and we will have a large Zoom-based “Watch Party” as we light them each Sunday during our livestream liturgies. We are excited to focus our livestreams outward and highlight the sacred spaces you each create in your own homes. You can check the website for details on joining the watch party and making your own wreath at home.
The Giving Tree
We will continue our Giving Tree tradition by using a combination of virtual and in-person options. During the first two weeks of Advent, we invite you to come to the Chapel to remove a tag from the tree or to sign up online to receive a virtual tag to help our neighbors in need. We are also collecting donations on our website to provide a handmade gift to parishioners who have experienced a loss this year. In lieu of our Global Christmas Market alternative gift fair, we are preparing a website with sustainable and socially conscious buying options. Look in this week’s bulletin for further details.
Stations of Christmas
Since we cannot accommodate large numbers of families this Christmas, we are preparing a self guided “Stations of Christmas.” The Chapel will be arranged with a collection of icons of the Holy Family, from different cultures and perspectives, for the entire Christmas season. We invite you to bring your “COVID bubble” (wearing masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines) and spend time praying with these wonderful works of religious art in a safe, indoor prayer walk throughout the Chapel.
Parish Offices Closed Dec 26 - Jan 8
Daily and Sunday masses (including livestreams) will continue, but the parish offices will be closed for 2 full weeks to give the parish staff some much needed rest. They have been working exceptionally hard this past year and I want to give them all extra time off to rest, relax, and recuperate. Fr. Schmidt and I will be on call for any sacramental needs or pastoral emergencies.
Many of you have reached out to me and the parish staff to share your gratitude and your prayers. These small gestures keep us all going. The staff and I are grateful to all of you. Bellarmine is an amazing and supportive place thanks to the vital ministry we’ve continued to do through Zoom. Our small groups, online theology classes, action teams, RCIA, examens, youth group gatherings, panel discussions, lay-led liturgies, and Livestreams Masses are just a tiny sample of the things I am personally giving thanks for this week.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers each day. I continue to thank God for this community, and for your generosity and outreach during this pandemic. The support of our COVID assistance fund is a testament to your love and care for all our neighbors. I look forward to that glorious day sometime next year when we are all together again, vaccinated, energized and signing our hearts out, as we burst out of the chapel ready to “set the world on fire.”
With much love and many prayers,
Fr. Eric
Letter from the Pastor
Dear Friends,
Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas will not look like previous years. We are currently living through the worst COVID spike since the pandemic began. Our choices and behaviors during this holiday season will make a difference for the most vulnerable in our community and our immediate families.
We encourage everyone to continue to make wise and prudent decisions based on your particular circumstances and needs. We have teams that bring communion to the most vulnerable among us and invite you to sign up or reach out if you want to be added to the list.
Brief, in-person Masses with masks, social distancing and no singing, will be the norm for many more months. I’ve also asked the parish staff to avoid all in-person, indoor group gatherings, outside of liturgies, through at least the end of December. It is likely that will be extended well into the winter.
Christmas Mass Schedule
This Christmas, we will offer a 3:00 PM livestream only Mass on Christmas Eve followed by a 5:30 PM in-person Mass. On Christmas Day, we will offer a 9 AM and 10:30 AM in-person Mass to ensure space for social distancing, all in-person Christmas Masses will use Eventbrite for RSVPs:
Christmas EVE 5:30 PM
Christmas DAY 9 & 10:30 AM
Even as the pandemic has taken so much away, it still presents new and interesting opportunities.
Advent Wreaths at Home
This Advent, we are inviting everyone to make their own Advent wreaths and we will have a large Zoom-based “Watch Party” as we light them each Sunday during our livestream liturgies. We are excited to focus our livestreams outward and highlight the sacred spaces you each create in your own homes. You can check the website for details on joining the watch party and making your own wreath at home.
The Giving Tree
We will continue our Giving Tree tradition by using a combination of virtual and in-person options. During the first two weeks of Advent, we invite you to come to the Chapel to remove a tag from the tree or to sign up online to receive a virtual tag to help our neighbors in need. We are also collecting donations on our website to provide a handmade gift to parishioners who have experienced a loss this year. In lieu of our Global Christmas Market alternative gift fair, we are preparing a website with sustainable and socially conscious buying options. Look in this week’s bulletin for further details.
Stations of Christmas
Since we cannot accommodate large numbers of families this Christmas, we are preparing a self guided “Stations of Christmas.” The Chapel will be arranged with a collection of icons of the Holy Family, from different cultures and perspectives, for the entire Christmas season. We invite you to bring your “COVID bubble” (wearing masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines) and spend time praying with these wonderful works of religious art in a safe, indoor prayer walk throughout the Chapel.
Parish Offices Closed Dec 26 - Jan 8
Daily and Sunday masses (including livestreams) will continue, but the parish offices will be closed for 2 full weeks to give the parish staff some much needed rest. They have been working exceptionally hard this past year and I want to give them all extra time off to rest, relax, and recuperate. Fr. Schmidt and I will be on call for any sacramental needs or pastoral emergencies.
Many of you have reached out to me and the parish staff to share your gratitude and your prayers. These small gestures keep us all going. The staff and I are grateful to all of you. Bellarmine is an amazing and supportive place thanks to the vital ministry we’ve continued to do through Zoom. Our small groups, online theology classes, action teams, RCIA, examens, youth group gatherings, panel discussions, lay-led liturgies, and Livestreams Masses are just a tiny sample of the things I am personally giving thanks for this week.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers each day. I continue to thank God for this community, and for your generosity and outreach during this pandemic. The support of our COVID assistance fund is a testament to your love and care for all our neighbors. I look forward to that glorious day sometime next year when we are all together again, vaccinated, energized and signing our hearts out, as we burst out of the chapel ready to “set the world on fire.”
With much love and many prayers,
Fr. Eric
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 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 |