Columban

Easter 2020 Loveland, Ohio

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Learning, Living, Loving ... our Catholic Faith

Being Washed In A Spiritual Way

Hand washing has been on my mind more in the past few weeks, than it had been for the last few decades. The proper procedures of lathering up, counting to twenty and scrubbing under my nails, now roll through my mind in a continuous spin cycle.

It is probably because it was in the forefront of my thoughts already, that the washing of hands of Pontius Pilate in our Palm Sunday reading, jumped out at me. In fact Matthew’s version, which we hear this year, is the only Gospel writer who includes this small, albeit significant, detail in his passion of Jesus.

Similar to how we try to distance ourselves from viruses, Pilate is unsuccessfully attempting to relieve himself of the responsibility for his condemnation of Christ. His efforts to wash away his sins from his hands are futile because he is cleansing only his outward body and not his inner self.

Most Biblical scholars believe that Pilate considered Jesus to be innocent, and therefore undeserving of the punishment of crucifixion the crowd was demanding. Despite him thinking this with his mind, Pilate still failed the Son of Man with his actions. He sinned against the Savior solely because he was too cowardly to stand up for his convictions. Pilate saw the road of justice before him, but he did not possess the appropriate fortitude to choose the right path.

Contrasting this watery scene of Pilate is another reading which also occurs during Holy Week. It is Christ washing the feet of his disciples on Holy Thursday. This particular event, however, illustrates the real meaning contained in the symbolism of washing. Unlike Pilate, who tried in vain to self-wash his wrongdoing from existence, Jesus plays the role of a slave by cleansing his followers. He instructed them then, as he does us today as modern day disciples, to emulate his example of caring with compassion and loving others.

The verbal exchange with Peter during this interaction, highlights even further how water reveals the purity of our religious faith. For Jesus’ explanation that we are to be washed to share in the Lord’s inheritance, references how Baptism draws us closer to Christ, and likewise brings us into the Church. Even though the Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated throughout the year, the high point happens on Holy Saturday, when all of the unbaptized Elect across the globe, are welcomed to Catholicism.

Just as the waters of the font are poured over those to be baptized, each of us is reminded again every time we dip our fingers in and make the sign of the cross over ourselves that this washing is about believers becoming spiritually clean so we can live out, and live up to, our being called by God. Liturgical washing is not something we do as Pilate did, so we can shirk any and all responsibility we have to act as followers of Christ. It is actually quite the opposite. Being washed should help us understand the demands of our faith and gift us with the discipline which enables us to literally be the hands and feet of God here on earth.

Being washed inspires us to turn away from the distractions of technology and social media so we can instead turn towards the truth of our relationship with Christ through prayer and reflecting on the Scriptures. Being washed motivates us to boldly speak up for those who have no voice, because they have been coldly silenced by fear, oppression and cruelty. Being washed moves us to stop the cycle of hatred and disrespect that continues on through gossip, lies and negativity. Being washed empowers us to give out to those lacking material goods such as food and clothing, and to reach out to those longing for intangible necessities such as friendship and inclusion.

Since the expression “wash your hands and say your prayers because germs and Jesus are everywhere” really rings true, being washed does not mean we will forever be physically healthy or that we will never experience a crisis of faith. But having been washed does mean we can know and trust that despite the trials we may face, the Lord will always be by our side. After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness.

~ Scott Mussari, Director of Faith Formation

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Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Welcome to Our Soon-to-Be Newest Members!

RCIA ELECT Joey Huening Joey is 8 and half years old, and has been a member of Saint Columban since August of last year. He is in the second grade at Loveland Primary School. Joey has one brother, Sam, who will turn five years old on Good Friday and looks forward to his baptism. Some of the things that Joey

enjoys doing are climbing (practically anything), building with LEGOs, playing soccer and baseball, reading (but prefers only good books), family game night, Pokemon, and spending time with his family and friends. His favorite Bible story is Moses parting the Red Sea, because it is pretty cool how that happened, and how it shows the power of God. He selected Joseph as his Confirmation name because Saint Joseph loved his family very much. Since Joey loves his family very much too, he thought it made sense for him to use Joseph for his Confirmation name, to show how similar they both are. “I am very excited about my upcoming baptism. On my first visit to St. Columban, I got to watch a baby being baptized. I asked my dad about it, and he told me that if I wanted to be baptized, I could. Preparing for my own Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation have all been great. I can’t wait for Easter!”

RCIA CANDIDATE Jada Fagan-Doud Jada has five siblings (Travis, Shari, Mikey, Michaela and Jolie) and has been married to her husband, Ken, since September 2018. She is a student at Xavier University and is hoping to graduate next spring. Jada enjoys

doing various crafts, but baking and cooking with her mother-in-law is perhaps her favorite pastime. One of her favorite Bible stories is the wedding at Cana. She is amazed at how this miracle was sort of a test for Mary to see how faithful she was, and a way for us to see how powerful Mary’s intercession can really be! In addition, Jada is inspired by the faith of the servers, who did just as Mary instructed them to do, and how she tries to imitate their trust. For her Confirmation name, Jada chose Imelda, for Blessed Imelda Lambertini, who is the patroness of First Holy Communicants. She selected this name because she greatly desires to participate in and receive the Eucharist. “My RCIA journey has been absolutely wonderful. I feel more empowered in my faith with all the information I have learned. This process has been very meaningful for me, and I feel like I’m coming home. I have never felt so welcomed into a community. It helps a lot that I have such a welcoming parish family and that they have been so very supportive throughout this process. I cannot thank everyone enough for their love, prayers, and most importantly their time given to help me experience my faith.”

Interfaith Hospitality Network Update “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. “ ~ Matthew 25:35

We have received word from the Executive Director of IHN Cincinnati that they are cancelling our hosting week April 27 through May 3. This is to keep safe all volunteers and families who are homeless. Prior IHN volunteers will be contacted via email with ways they can still help that week given the new arrangement.

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Parenting Parables The Sport of Citizenship For sports enthusiasts, this is usually the time of year we relish, until Covid-19 hit. The opening of baseball season brings us renewed hope in our hometown team, the end of the college basketball season is truly a maddening experience, golfers retrieve their clubs from hibernation as the Masters Golf Tournament fools us into believing we can hit a golf ball farther and straighter than last fall, the NFL draft brings with it lots of risky dreams, and the Kentucky Derby stirs us with the vivid beauty of equestrian athleticism.

This year we are in the midst of yet another raucous season of a different sport – citizenship politics. Campaigns, debates, and election decisions are filled with energy, competition, and chagrin. You have to be at the top of your political game during this season, which will stretch into November. Talk with your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and strangers and you will get divergent reactions, ranging from apathy to indignation, resolution to resignation, relief to defiance. Emotions are running high. And yet, it is likely that only fifty percent of all eligible voters will vote this coming November. Sad. Some years ago, historian Richard Brown reasserted a warning first delivered by our constitutional forefathers, that an apathetic and ill-informed citizenry would cause much more harm to our country than failed leadership. Brown concluded his thesis with this caution: “To expect greatness in public office, to anticipate a new meritocracy that can solve our problems, is a fantasy. The public interest and safety of free government are better served by an alert, informed citizenry seeking to promote the common good.” Citizenship is more than rights, privileges, and protections afforded by our accidental good fortune to reside in this country, state, and community. The preservation of responsible citizenship is totally dependent on our active allegiance, defense, and knowledge of carefully crafted laws, doctrines, and historic traditions. Citizenship demands personal accountability. Our schools have increased their instruction of citizenship within the social studies curriculum. Rote memory of dates and historical facts is not enough. Students today are expected to draw conclusions, insights, and make informed judgments based on what they learn through the integrated study of history, geography, economics, and civics. Facts are still important and necessary in formulating informed opinions, but we are expecting our students to think more critically before offering a point of view. Sheer emotion carries little weight in a sound argument. This is the sport of citizenry politics. So, what can we do as parents to foster the development of responsible citizenship from our children? First and foremost, we can be daily examples for our children. We can read, study, and research before offering opinions on political issues and candidates. Simply referencing something we read or heard on the internet is not enough. As my high school civics’ teacher use to expect, “Check and double check your facts.” Second, we can teach our children that participation in the democratic process is an honorable, necessary, and invigorating experience. Voting is both a privilege and an obligation. Participation is the sport of the active citizen. It’s not a question of party affiliation. It’s a call to live one’s citizenship. Third, while it is our right and at times our obligation to be critical of an issue, candidate, or office holder, it is also our parenting responsibility to model civility with our children. Fourth, we can teach our children that proactive citizenship sometimes demands courage. Doing and defending what is right is not always popular or easy. Yet being in the minority now and then is good for the soul. Stand for something. As Theodore Roosevelt once challenged, “Freedom is not a gift that tarries long in the hands of cowards.” Fifth, we can teach our children to respect the opinions of others. Even when we disagree, we need not be disagreeable. It’s amazing how much we can learn from our adversaries and detractors if we only take the time to listen. Sixth, we can teach our children that there is no substitute for honesty. Deception breeds mistrust, and once you have lost another’s trust, you have devalued yourself and your position. Seventh, we can teach our children to have respect for the rule of law, especially the rights of other people. Without such respect we have chaos and anarchy. The resulting irony is that our freedoms are diminished. Eighth, we can teach our children that pride in this USA is admirable. Being grateful and humbled by the privilege of U.S. citizenship is our indelible passport. As Andrew Jackson once asserted, “Every good citizen makes his country’s honor his own.” The sport of citizenship demands the best of athleticism – strength, stamina, dexterity, teamwork, sacrifice, courage, and character. If our country would ever go the way of former fallen empires, it will not come from without, it will come from within. An out-of-shape, flabby, couch-potato citizenry will make us ripe for demise. As it is with all that we try to teach our children about living Christ-like lives, a parent’s citizenship training of their children cannot be minimized or undervalued. If we practice the virtues of good citizenship, we are likely practicing the virtues of a good Christian.

Dr. Jerry Sasson: parent, grandparent, educator,

Psychologist, deacon, and friend.

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SPIRIT AND TRUTH AWARD

“Spirit and Truth” - it was the response Jesus gave to the woman he met that day at the well as he was passing through Samaria. Part of the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman was about worship. Jesus informs her that the hour is coming, and is already here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and Truth. Sunday after Sunday we gather to proclaim and experience the Spirit of God. Then, we are sent into the world to live out this reality in truth. Namely, to do, to make present in the world, what we profess in church.

While we are all called to worship and live out our lives in Spirit and Truth, there are some among us who go well beyond such a call. We know them. We see them. We experience their Spirit and Truth in the daily market places of our lives. Often such people go unnoticed, yet, their contribution to our parish, our city and this world is enormous. Started in 2009, our St. Columban Catholic Community gives the St. Columban Spirit and Truth Award on an annual basis. The 2020 honorees were nominated by fellow parishioners and the nominations were reviewed by a committee. This year, we honor three people who are outstanding in their faith, who gather with us on Sunday to worship in Spirit and Truth, who live out their Baptismal call on a daily basis, who provide good example, encourage and inspire others into living out their own lives in Spirit and Truth and take the command of Jesus to serve others seriously. Congratulations and thank you to this year’s 2020 Spirit and Truth honorees – we are truly blessed to have you as part of our St. Columban community!

Jim Miller Jim Miller, an engineer by trade, and his wife Mary, joined the parish in 1974, raised their son and became active members of the parish. He became a Deacon at St. Columban and will celebrate 35 years next June! He was also part of the staff as a Pastoral Associate for 24 years, and even though he retired to spend more time with his grandchildren, Jim hasn’t slowed down one bit. He is still a facilitator of the CRHP weekends, helps with HANDS, is active in RCIA, and the only widower in the widow and widowers group. He visits the sick, hospitalized, and those in hospice every week and was chaplain for SVDP, the Knights of Columbus and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a lifetime member of the Worship Commission and knows how to make a good funnel cake; just check out the few burns on his hands that he has received over the many years. He also supports the parish by attending the Grand Affair. Most importantly, Jim is a

pro-active Catholic leader, as his nominator stated, “influencing others with his unique brand of humility, grace, sacrifice and outspoken allegiance to our church, our parish and our community. Jim encourages others to step into the light and to serve as a beacon of faith-hope-charity!” Congratulations Jim!

George Wolbers George Wollbers was born and baptized at St. Columban in 1931 and has been a parishioner ever since. (89

th years!) Not only did he receive all of his sacraments here, he graduated from St.

Columban in 1947. He married his lovely bride Carolyn here and raised their two children in the parish. George has spent his life serving and giving back to St. Columban parish ever since! He has been involved in retreats, CRHP, many capital campaigns and fundraisers, chairman of Bingo for 13 years, worked on many commissions and committees, helped with Festival for who knows how many years and he is still an usher at 11:30 Mass! It might be easier to find something George hasn’t done for this parish! So if you want to know how it used to be, or hear some of George’s great stories from St. Columban’s past, just ask him. He has not only lived it, but has a vast memory of St. Columban history! For example, his grandfather actually helped build the first church of St. Columban, and his brother Edward, a pilot in WWII, lost his life in December, 1943 and the flag from his casket was the first flag to fly at St. Columban School. Congratulations George!

Peggy French When you meet Peggy French for the first time, you notice three things right away - she is very petite (just around 5 feet), she has a smile that never seems to end and speaks the sweetest words, which come from her heart. Peggy has been part of the bereavement team since 1999. She meets families to help them plan, but she also offers her warm and caring support and she comforts them and helps them realize that everything is going to be okay. She has been a parishioner since 1974 and retired from teaching in the Loveland School District in 1987, all while raising three children who now have families of their own. But retirement from teaching didn’t slow Peggy down. Besides working on the Bereavement team, she volunteers at the Loveland Historical Center, and Cincinnati Nature Center. She is also a member of the Primetimers and helps plan the Widow and Widowers monthly lunches, one of which she

invites everyone to her home and cooks for the entire group. Those who nominated her said there is no one more loving, sweet and kind than Peggy French. Congratulations!

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A Word of Thanks Thank you doesn’t even begin to convey our gratitude for the evening that unfolded because of our

remarkable St. Columban community. We extend heartfelt congratulations to the 2020 Spirit and Truth Award

winners: George Wolbers, Peggy French, and Deacon Jim Miller. We are grateful for your decades of

commitment and for modeling discipleship. Congratulations!

We also wish to thank the following for their contributions to this successful night

for our parish and its ministries:

Chairperson Beth Newton and the amazing committee

Parishioners and friends who joined us for the evening

Supporters of our auctions, raffles and Party Party events

Fr. Larry and the Parish Office staff

Our sponsors, donors and advertisers including all seven parish councils/commissions,

our school, our teachers, PTO and Boosters

Congratulations to:

Live Auction Raffle winners: Frank and Rebekah Richardson

Knights of Columbus Split the Pot winners: Sion and Shelly Williams

Bar Cart winners: Mike and Katie Jurkowitz

Like countless other moments in our 161 years, what great teamwork to advance our mission: We worship. We educate. We serve.

See you next year!

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We warmly welcome the families who have recently joined the parish!

Tim & Mary Adleta Beau, Ashley, Elijah & Grace Broering

Marie Collier Mike, Alexis, Michael, Joe, & Ellerie Dattilo

Joyce Dickey Dave, Lisa, & Ellie Fagin

David, Holly, Brynn, Cameron, & Vera Frietch Matt, Kelly, & Reese Fugazzi

Iwan Gibby, Vickie Wood, Ben Hunt, & Nia Gibby David, Claudia, & David Gregory

Javier, Heather, Bella, & Alex Hernandez Nick, Sarah, Lexi, & Liam Holroyd

Patrick Hung Alex & Courtney Kraemer

Scott, Karen, Cooper, & Naomi Lorenz Barbara McGrath

Mark, Molly, Elliott, & Henry Petre Ross, Claire, & Logan Quehl Jimmy, Erin, & Eleanor Trejo

Welcome to our newly baptized members!

Carson Adamson, son of Mike & Emily Reese Fugazzi, daughter of Matt & Kelly Daxton Gormley, son of Chris & Jenna

Ruby Koopman, daughter of Tommy & Candace Leonard Niese, son of Mike & Kristy

Harrison Pace, son of Nicholas & Lindsay Mason Purdy, son of Brian & Stephanie

Penelope Schaefer, daughter of Matt & Nicole Carter Toerpe, son of Tommy & Kim

Daniela Viscomi, daughter of Kyle & Katelyn

Spring Blood Drive

Sign up for our spring St. Columban Community Blood Drive taking place on Monday, May 4, from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Donate, recruit, and spread the word! To

schedule a donation go to: www.hoxworth.org/groups/stcolumban. For more information, please contact Rich Smethurst at 677-1683 or smetfam203@gmail.com. Your gift saves lives!

Anointing of the Sick

The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that focuses on the healing power of Christ. During this Rite, the priest prays, lays hands, and anoints the sick person with oil. On June 7, during the 11:30 Mass, this sacrament of healing is being offered to all who are ill or about to undergo a serious operation. If you would like to be included in this Rite, or know of someone who would, please contact Mary Beth in the Parish Office at mbmeyer@stcolumban.org or 683-0105.

St. Columban Boosters Time Out! The St. Columban Booster organization is dedicated to developing and enhancing the athletic talents of the students of St. Columban School and Parish in various sports in a Catholic environment. The Booster organization meets once a month, on the second Sunday of the month in the Parish Hall at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate. This spring, boys volleyball will hopefully be underway soon, as well as track for kindergarteners through 8

th

grade. Registration is now open for fall sports: Girls Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Football and Cheerleading. For more information and registration, go to www.stcolumbansports.com.

ALL ABOARD

THE ROCKY

RAILWAY!

Vacation Bible

School

Itinerary-2020 Date of Departure: July 13-17, 2020 Time of Departure: 9:00 am-12 pm (Mon-Fri.) Ages of Passengers: 3 years olds-5

th Grade

Cost of Trip: $40 per passenger/Family for $100.00 Available Tickets: Registration forms are online at www.stcolumban.org. Click the train picture on the front page! Booking Deadline: June 20, 2020 Trip’s Itinerary: At Rocky Railway, kids explore Jesus’ power and how we can trust Jesus to pull us through when life feels like a valley or a mountaintop. On board, you will be filled with Boxcar Bible story experiences kids can see, hear, touch, and even taste. There will be Loco Motion Games, Chew Chew Snacks, Imagination Station, Caboose crafts-all on the sing and play express! Wee Passengers (Preschoolers): Preschoolers (ages 3-5 that are potty trained!) have a special train car where they meet and participate in the same activities but on a preschool level and a slower pace. Many of the crafts are geared for their age group. Workers: The railroad is hiring volunteers for Conductors, Engineers, Operators, Station leaders, and Station helpers, If you are in 5

th grade-8

th grade, high

school , college, or an adult- we need your help. Go to the registration page, www.stcolumban.org and sign up as a volunteer today! Questions: Terri Kerley at tkerley@stcolumban.org or 683-0105.