Adoration 1-4PM
in Church
Unless pre-empted by funeral

Junior High
7PM in the Library

Breakfast with Jesus
7AM in the Welcome Center
 

As October kicked-off with Respect Life Sunday on October 3^rd, we are reminded that Jesus’ ministry was to all the living, but especially the poor, sick, and marginalized.
As Catholics, part of our care for life involves our opposition to the death penalty.

October 8^th to the 17^th has been designated Death Penalty Abolition Week.

Here is a request from the Social Action Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati:

“We're asking all parishes and Catholic communities to join people of faith across Ohio to stand in solidarity for abolition of the death penalty. Recognizing the injustices in our criminal justice system, we are unwilling to participate in the cruel and inhumane practice of sentencing our fellow neighbors to death. We join together across religious traditions calling in one voice for the abolition of the death penalty.”

Pope Francis stated unequivocally in 2018, the death penalty is now “inadmissible.” He ordered a change to that effect in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and said that Catholics must work for its abolition. In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis grounded his opposition to capital punishment not only in mercy but also in opposition to revenge, stating: “Fear and resentment can easily lead to viewing punishment in a vindictive and even cruel way, rather than as part of a process of healing and reintegration into society.”

Here are some facts about the death penalty:

• Nationally, since 1973, more than 185 death row inmates have been exonerated of all charges and released.
• Ohio is home to 11 death row exonerees who collectively spent 216 years incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. For every five people Ohio has executed, one has been exonerated from death row.
• The death penalty appears to be applied unevenly based on race and geography. Ohio’s death penalty system is continually used in just ten of 88 counties. As of Fall 2020, more than half (56%) of Ohio’s death row comprise of people of color, even though they make up a very small fraction (15%) of Ohio’s population.
   

October 9^th is an Archdiocesan-wide service day titled “Let Your Service Shine.”

Service opportunity for the entire family!

In order to celebrate 200 years of faith, the women’s and men’s religious communities are coming together to recall their ministry in the Archdiocese with a day of service. There are a number of things you could do such as choosing a ready-made project. For example, donate to a Catholic Charities Food Pantry or St. Leo’s Food Pantry; partner with the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) by writing letters for the World Day against the Death Penalty (which is October 10) or partner with St. Vincent de Paul in Cincinnati or with another organization. Or, you could create your own project. On your service day, take photos and then send them to Cerb@sistersofmercy.org along with specifying the number of volunteers who participated in your project and a simple name or description in each photo.

For more info, go to www.cincy200.com/serviceday.

Looking for a way to help St. Leo Parish? Perhaps consider donating your COVID Relief stimulus check.

St. Leo the Great Food Pantry is always in need of items to help fulfill their increasing needs which have been demanding since the start of the pandemic. You can look for their needs posted on their Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1Y6S276N39W08?ref_=wl_share.

These are just ideas but the Pantry is always in need of canned food items, boxed food, personal hygiene items, household cleaning supplies, etc.

You can also help with a monetary donation to help supply items needed daily, or to cover the monthly operating cost. The Food Pantry is also in need of volunteers to help serve on Monday, Wednesday, and especially Fridays to help serve the community from noon - 4 p.m. Please contact 513-921-1044 if you are interested or would like to learn more. 

Pray A Minute: One Million Hours of Prayer for Peace, Justice and Goodwill The world feels heavy these days. News headlines are filled with injustices and unrest. It seems as though everywhere we turn we find division and disharmony in our country. The world desperately needs Christians united in prayer. A million hours of prayer may sound impossible, but if you divide that prayer time among all of the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, it is just one minute of prayer a day. Just one minute. From now until January 1, the World Day of Prayer for Peace, you are invited to pray one minute more than you already do, every day, specifically for the intention of peace, justice and goodwill in our country. One more minute might not sound like much, but together with our brothers and sisters in faith, that minute can help change the world. Commit to praying at www.PrayAMinute.com. _________________________________________________________________________________ Pray A Minute: One Million Hours of Prayer for Peace, Justice and Goodwill Do you believe in the power of prayer? What might happen if every Catholic would pray just one minute more than they already do, every day, for the specific intention of peace, justice and goodwill? From now until January 1, the World Day of Prayer for Peace, Catholics from across the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are invited to unite in prayer for the spiritual renewal of our country. Together, we will pray one million hours! Learn more and commit to doing your part at www.PrayAMinute.com.

You may also visit Food for the Soul on our website for other ways to pray.

Catholic Charities of SW Ohio says it is helping a family fleeing Afghanistan to resettle here in the Cincinnati area. It's a married couple with six children. Catholic Charities is asking for help in finding permanent or temporary housing for the family. 

To donate or offer help, click

https://www.ccswoh.org/get-involved/donate/ or call 513-241-7745.

There are also many types of service opportunities with Catholic Charities such as helping to set up housing, welcoming families when they arrive, teaching classes, mentoring youth and young adults, picking up donations, and driving families to and from medical and other appointments. Explore these options at ccswoh.volunteerhub.com.

Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio is looking for help in providing housing to incoming refugees who are being sent here throught the Archdiocese  "Refugee Resettlement Program". They are putting out a general request to contact the Catholic Charities office if you have any connections for rental/permanent housing of any size for refugee families. If you would like to inquire further, please contact LaTonya in the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program at 672-3722.

Prayer has divine power and Visitation has a Prayer Wall on the parish website for anyone to post prayer requests.