Religion

CINCINNATI — Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has kicked off the annual Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA).. The CMA is a chance to support six local ministries throughout the archdiocese, that teach, feed and heal thousands. It is one example of the generous ways that local Catholics give back to the community. Some of the ministries supported by the CMA include Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley, Prison Ministry, Hospital Ministry and Campus Ministry. All donations to the CMA remain within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati helping local ministries.

CINCINNATI — Grant monies are available to local 501(c)(3) organizations in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati via funds from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) – an anti-poverty initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. These local grants, made possible by Catholics throughout the Archdiocese who contribute to CCHD each year, are intended to fight the root causes of poverty. Grantees should prioritize the voices of those affected by poverty in their decision-making process and seek to offer people a hand up, not a handout.

NEW KNOXVILLE — The Way International will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. The blood drive will be conducted at The Way International’s Outreach Services Center located at 19100 E. Shelby Road in New Knoxville from 8 a.m. until noon. Access to the blood drive through the E. Shelby Road entrance will be noted with signs.

FORT LORAMIE — Let healing begin by participating in GriefShare. GriefShare is a 12 week program meeting once a week that has helped many people as they grieve the death of someone they love.

CINCINNATI — Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has announced the appointment of Matthew J. Daniels as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, effective July 1, 2024. Daniels will assume this responsibility from Kathleen C. Kane, who is serving as interim superintendent for the 2023-24 academic year following the retirement of Susan M. Gibbons at the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

In March of 2020 my family gave me a tablet for my birthday. It was preloaded with a number of apps. One of the apps was called Zoom. I inquired of my kids as to what that was for to which the response was, “Oh dad don’t worry about that, you’ll never use it.” But, as you all know the world changed significantly shortly after that and Zoom became real practical in many ways. After I used it several times I discovered that if my background was unsuitable I could select from a number of beautiful scenes and presto I suddenly appeared to be on the beach or near the Golden Gate Bridge or on the edge of a rainforest. How awesome to just drop into that picture. I’m in no way trying to promote vain imaginations but I think sometimes it may be helpful or useful to see ourselves in another picture.

Since the first promise of deliverance from the bondage of sin (Genesis 3:15), the hopes of God’s people have rested in the Advent of the Messiah. Israelite mothers secretly dreamed her baby boy was the child of hope. Through the centuries the coming Messianic Age became the framework of the prophetic messages that addressed the political and spiritual fortunes of Israel. Unfortunately, the prophecies were misinterpreted to align with Jewish political aspirations rather than focus on a Suffering Servant sent to redeem all mankind from evil. Consequently, despite its miraculous nature and timing, the birth of Jesus was largely ignored by an unprepared and unrepentant people. The message and ministry of Jesus collided with the popular concepts about advent in his day. That confrontation of ideas ended in His rejection and crucifixion.

By Chaplain Gary Councell

The next few weeks prior to Christmas are going to be nice. We will see people be exceedingly nice one to another. We’ll get cards and phone calls and we can laugh with people we haven’t seen for awhile. Many people will read Matthew 1 & Luke 2 in their homes to get a reminder of the Christmas story.

NEW KNOXVILLE — Members of the New Knoxville Methodist Church are busy preparing for the annual Christmas Bake Sale Extravaganza, which is Saturday, Dec. 2, in conjunction with the village’s Hometown Christmas Celebration.