Archives for March 2020

March 16, 2020 by Peter Garcia

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: March 16, 2020

Public Masses Suspended in Ohio through Easter

The Catholic Conference of Ohio, chaired by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, has released a statement temporarily suspending all publicly celebrated Masses and liturgies through Easter.

The archdiocesan website, www.catholiccincinnati.org, will be live-streaming daily and weekend Masses from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains. Daily Mass will be available on-line at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday Mass will be live-streamed at 11 a.m. All live-streaming Masses will also be available on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CatholicCincinnati/.

The full release from the Catholic Conference of Ohio:

“Carolyn Jurkowitz,
Executive Director
614-224-7147

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.

This decision is not taken lightly and, as your bishops, causes us great sadness. However, after consultation with the governor and health officials we are convinced that this is the most prudent and necessary action.

Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion. This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.

As Catholics, in every Sunday Mass we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. In this moment, we are experiencing in a unique way the passion of our Lord as this pandemic prevents us from gathering for the Sunday Eucharist. In this very difficult time, we encourage the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer. Sunday remains a holy day, and we encourage the faithful to pray using the rich resources of our faith, including praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, stations of the cross, etc. We also urge you to participate in prayer by way of radio broadcast or televised or live-streamed Mass and make a spiritual communion.

Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from illness or disease of any kind, for all health care workers, and for an easing of the anxiety and tension caused by this situation. Relying on the Motherly care of Our Lady, we unite our sufferings to those of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our healing and our hope.”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 450,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 211 parishes and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

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March 16, 2020 by Peter Garcia

March 16, 2020
For Immediate Release
For Information: Carolyn Jurkowitz, Executive Director
614-224-7147

RE: Catholic Bishops of Ohio Suspend All Publicly Celebrated Masses/Liturgies

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.

Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion. This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.

Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Chairman
Catholic Conference of Ohio
Archbishop of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer
Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Columbus

Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton
Bishop of Steubenville

Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J.
Bishop of Youngstown

Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak
Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland

Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo

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March 12, 2020 by Peter Garcia

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: March 12, 2020

Schools Closing at Direction of Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine

This afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced school closures in Ohio for all schools beginning at the end of the day on Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 3, 2020. Out of concern for the common good and physical well-being of the people, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Department of Schools will be closing in cooperation with the governor’s direction. All school related meetings and activities will also be cancelled. Schools were recommended to have an academic plan for all students if at all possible.

Questions can be directed to respective schools for further information.

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March 12, 2020 by Peter Garcia

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: March 12, 2020

Guidance Concerning COVID-19

The health and well-being of everyone is the highest priority for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. We are following the directives of local, state and federal health authorities in establishing health and safety precautions throughout the archdiocese.

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are dispensed from their Sunday Mass obligation through the weekend of March 28-29.
Masses may be celebrated as currently scheduled with the following restrictions:
- No holding hands during the Our Father
- Suspension of exchange of a sign of peace
- No reception of Holy Communion from the chalice
- No reception of Holy Communion on the tongue
Holy water fonts in the church should be drained.
Unconsecrated bread and wine for Mass should be kept out of public areas.

Our current general precautions should continue to be followed, specifically:

Those who are sick, experiencing symptoms of illness, or are at risk should be strongly encouraged to not attend Mass and, out of charity to their brothers and sisters in Christ, remain at home.
Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should practice good hygiene, washing their hands thoroughly before Mass begins and, if possible, using an alcohol-based antibacterial solution discreetly before and after distributing Holy Communion.

Catholics who are not able to attend Sunday Mass can watch online. The archdiocesan website, www.catholiccincinnati.org, will be live-streaming Mass from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains Saturday at 4:30 and Sunday at 8:30, 11:00 and 6:00 p.m.

A list of frequently asked questions are on our website: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/worship-in-atime-of-public-health-concern-coronavirus/

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March 10, 2020 by Peter Garcia

Reverend Eugene J. Mueller passed away on March 7, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on October 28, 1930 in Marion, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood and received a M. Ed. from Xavier University, Cincinnati. He was ordained on May 26, 1956 at St. Monica Cathedral in Cincinnati, Ohio by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Mueller received his first assignment on June 1, 1956, as assistant at St. Rose Parish, Cincinnati and to teach at De Porres High School. On July 31, 1956, he was transferred to teach at Purcell High School, Cincinnati (1956 – 1974) while continuing at St. Rose Parish. On June 16, 1961, he was appointed assistant at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Cincinnati and to continue to teach at Purcell High School. On June 21, 1968, he was appointed assistant at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Reading (Cincinnati) and to continue at Purcell. On June 19, 1969, he was appointed assistant at St. Michael Parish, Sharonville (Cincinnati) and to continue at Purcell. On June 19, 1974, Father Mueller was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish, Oxford. On June 16, 1981, he was appointed administrator pro-tem (Vicarius Oecon.) of St. Charles Parish, Carthage (Cincinnati). On August 1, 1981, he was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Norwood. From 1994 -1995, Father Mueller was on loan to the Diocese of Lexington to serve as administrator pro-tem at a couple of their parishes. Father Mueller retired from active ministry on July 1, 1995. He was appointed temporary administrator of St. Rita Parish, Dayton from August 20 – November 20, 1995.

Visitation: Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Michael Church, 11144 Spinner Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241; 513-563-6377.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Edward M. Burns.

It was Father Mueller’s specific wish, “That there not be vested concelebration at the funeral Mass, although any and all are welcome to attend and participate.”

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March 5, 2020 by Peter Garcia

by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr

Lent is upon us. Even those who do not share our faith or celebrate this penitential season are typically aware of it. They see “Lenten specials” offered at restaurants and hear their friends refer to what they “gave up for Lent.”

Yes, Lent is a time for small sacrifices in repentance for our sins – fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays in accordance with Church law, and often other acts of voluntary self-denial in line with long-established tradition.

In recent decades, there has been a healthy emphasis on giving up bad habits and sinful behaviors, such as gossip and grudges, during Lent, in addition to or instead of doing without a favorite food or drink. Catholics may also observe Lent by spiritual reading, volunteering to help others in need, attending a day of reflection, or participating in Mass daily.

At all Lenten liturgies, the priest and deacon wear purple and the Alleluia is not sung. On the three middle Sundays of Lent, a series of ancient rites of self-searching and repentance called the scrutinies are celebrated for the elect – those who are seeking baptism, confirmation and First Communion at the Easter Vigil.

The cumulative effect of all these practices is that Lent feels different from the rest of the year, both on Sundays and throughout each week.

At the same time, however, what we do during Lent should affect how we live our lives after Lent. Think of it as a kind of reset button for our lives. The traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are powerful tools to help us soberly re-examine our lives and our relationship with Christ, determine what needs to change, and begin that process.

While communal prayers such as Mass and the Stations of the Cross are important, so is individual, meditative prayer. In the world of 24/7 cable, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and podcasts – all of which can have many positive effects – it is more important than ever that we take some quiet time for spiritual reflection, especially during Lent.

One important tool for reflection that comes into your home is The Catholic Telegraph. The archdiocesan newspaper is an essential source of faith formation and spiritual development, as well as news. This is true every month, but in this issue you will find a special focus on Lent from many different perspectives.

The CT also has a wonderful new service called The Daily Divina. This is a brief passage from Scripture and a single question for reflection that is e-mailed to subscribers each morning, weekends included, to give you nourishing food for thought all day. You can subscribe at thecatholictelegraph.com/digitalsubscriptions.

Another vital habit to cultivate is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is particularly appropriate during Lent. Through this great gift, God gives us the means to confess our sins and begin anew. To make Lenten access to the sacrament more easily available, all parishes/parish regions of the Archdiocese will be open for confession and private prayer from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. We call this The Light is On for You because the light of the confessional is like a porch light welcoming us home. It reminds us that the light of Christ shines in the darkness for all of us, whatever our failings and whatever our challenges. Learn more at encounterpeace.org.

Lent is an opportunity to “repent and believe in the Good News,” to make a change in our relationship with the Lord and with others – not just for six weeks, but for the rest of our lives. I urge you to make the most of it.

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