the
August 2015
Columban
Loveland, Ohio
Parishioner makes First Profession of Vows on journey to priesthood
Father Larry Tensi called Paul Wilkin out of his St. Columban pew to the front of church at the end
of the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 21, 2013. He told the congregation Wilkin was leaving to join
the religious order of Salvatorian’s, (Society of the Divine Savior-SDS) offered a blessing, the congregation raised their arms to pray over Paul, and then sent him off on his journey. In the two years
since, Paul Wilkin has lived the religious life in community with the Salvatorian’s in Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin. He will make his First Profession of Vows at Mass there Sunday, August 9.
“The Society of Divine Savior, or SDS, is priests and brothers,” Wilkin explained. “Our priests are
religious order priests, not diocesan priests who answer to their Bishops. In essence, we make
vows to Rome.” The mission of the SDS priests or brothers is to make the Word of the Lord known
to everyone “by any ways and means.” Showing the mercy and love of Jesus Christ by any ways
or means to all people is exactly what attracted Wilkin. He entered “Candidature” to begin full discernment on August 1, 2013. His second year – called Novitiate – is canonical, mandated by
Rome, and focused strictly on taking classes to study and learn the Society of Divine Savior. “We’re Apostles,” he said. “That
means we are supposed to go out by two’s, at least, anywhere to make the Word of God known by any ways and means.”
The priests and brothers of the order all take vows of obedience, poverty, and celibate chastity. Vowing poverty does not
mean unhealthy living. While they do not need to own a lot of things, they do need to live in healthy conditions, eat nutritious
meals and be able to serve and minister to the poor. The vow of celibate chastity, celibacy as we more commonly call it, is
more simply explained. It is a commitment to the life of the religious order, not marrying the church, but not entering into an
exclusive relationship or marriage with another. Wilkins said this vow keeps them free of distractions or obligations which
may interfere with their ability to see, hear, understand, and respond to all people they serve equally.
Obedience is not the typical “do as you’re told” form of obedience. While it is still a form of doing what they’re told, Wilkin explained this vow is more about listening, “really hearing” what you’re being told to do, or where you are being told to go and
minister. He may still be told by the provincial of the order, but there will be discussion and listening to hear what, or where
God is calling him to be. “I vow that now,” said Wilkin. “In my mind, this is the major point in my life, my religious life, because
I’m saying yes to these vows now.”
Wilkin heard the call of God long before Fr. Larry called him to the front of the church, blessed him, and sent him forth on that
Sunday morning in July 2013. At the age of 48 then, he admits he was a little slow in responding to the whisper from God.
He owned his own graphic design and marketing company in Seattle. He was “surviving,” but not thriving when he began
searching for opportunity in 2008. He thought hard about how he helped other companies get the word out about their products or services. “I’m helping people, and that was the word that came up,” he said. “I help people. I went Oh, priests help
people.” That was his “ah-ha” moment. Wilkin researched and contacted many religious orders. There were discernment
classes in the diocese in Seattle. After spending time with seminarians he put his home up for sale. In 2010 he moved back ,
closer to family in Cincinnati, came to St. Columban and later went through the Men’s CRHP #47 at age 47.
Wilkin chose the Salvatorians over Glenmary Missions because the SDS serves internationally and he could go anywhere.
He will continue the steps in formation including these temporary vows, final vows, lifetime formation and ordination as a
priest. He invited everyone to the First Profession of Vows Sunday, August 9 to witness his public proclaiming of what is in
his heart. “There’s been a lot the Lord has given me,” Wilkin said. “It’s good. I know I can’t do anything without the Lord. I
think I’ve already been living these vows.”
Support Paul’s call and formation:
Contact: SALVATORIANS † SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE SAVIOR † 1735 N. HI-MOUNT BLVD. † MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN 53208 † (414) 258-1735 † [email protected]
OR Paul Wilkins directly at: [email protected], phone: at: (206) 245-9325
~ Chuck Gibson
Learning, Living, Loving ... our Catholic Faith
Spirit of Hope = Spirit of our Youth
A single sunflower stood slightly bent, but still growing tall, atop the massive compost heap. This mountain of discarded
roots, cardboard, sticks and other sundries, could be regarded as mere trash, and symbolic of the very city itself. This was
downtown Detroit, and the area has suffered such unimaginable crime, scandals, poverty and exodus of its citizens during
the past few years, that it would be all too easy to see only bleakness and despair. Yet, similar to that sunflower that had
persevered through difficulty just to survive, this town had been battered and knocked down, but had not given up.
It was in the midst of this situation that sixteen members of our parish’s Youth Group (12 high schoolers and 4 adults) found
themselves this summer as workers in a week-long Mission Trip. They were to toil on restoring an urban garden, which is a
plot of land abandoned by its owners and ignored by the local leaders. Up until now, the Trinity Episcopal Church had
worked in partnership with this property, and, dedicated volunteers such as Norm, were present every day to help out and
lend a hand. But since Pastor Matt’s congregation had dwindled down to a mere handful of remaining worshippers, the
garden was now going to have to grow enough vegetables and flowers to become self-sufficient.
Of course, comparable to Detroit, there was more beneath the surface than appeared. In this instance, a nearby gas station
had been deserted years ago and the tanks underground had leaked, leaving the soil of the entire neighborhood toxic.
Residents had become physically sick, and so sick of the reality that no one would claim responsibility for the spill, that they
had moved away. The contamination meant the ground could not be used for any type of crops, and boxes had been built
on top of this particular field for growing. This was also why the compost was so desperately needed, to create clean dirt for
the harvests.
The name of the agency hosting the Mission Trip was Young Neighbors In Action, and that is exactly what the week was.
As soon as they arrived at their work site, St. Columban’s young parishioners leapt into action. They sickled down bushes
bigger and taller than them. They hoed around the scattered plants and salvaged them from the ravages of the weeds.
They tilled, raked, plowed, planted and renewed the garden into a figurative Eden.
The overall theme of the Mission Trip experience was that all of us are called to be light and salt in, and for, the world.
Since light illuminates, we are to show our faith through our words and our actions. Since salt is a catalyst for change for
everything from preserving food to boiling water to unfreezing roads, we are to be the spark that brings about a change for
the better. This does not mean we must transform the entire planet, however it does mean we have to help bring about
change in the areas where we can. In other words, God is not calling us to do everything, but each of us is definitely called
to do something.
In 2007 this garden was founded by Kate, who still performs her labor of love there today. It is named the “Spirit of Hope”
which is fitting because hope is always in bloom. The people who walk by see hope in the recycling and rebirth of the land.
The garden brings beauty to a depressed area and assists the residents to trust and keep believing. Our youth were an
integral part of bringing about this hope, through the hours of sweat and energy they planted there. For just like the
sunflower that continues to rise above, the Spirit of Hope Garden is an example of how hope and the Holy Spirit continue to
endure, now and forever.
Mission Trip participants from St. Columban Parish
(front row from left to right): Cissy Eyre, Lisa Hilliker (second row) Amy Maricocchi, Maeve Bray, Annie Eyre, Haley Dues,
Henry Daumeyer, Scott Mussari (back row) Savannah Mussari, Alexa Santamarina, Maggie Schulhoff, Matt Reardon, Cole
Behrens, Joe Hilliker, Josh Brock, Jacob Korniak
2
Reflections on the Mission Trip Experience
“I thought our trip to Detroit was an eye-opening experience. It taught
me so much about not only the city of Detroit and the people living
there, but also about myself and our youth group.” – Henry Daumeyer
“It was great to get to meet so many new friends.” – Joe Hilliker
“For me, the Mission Trip was an enlightening experience into the world
of extreme poverty.” – Cole Behrens
“Service is a duty of sacrifice in a community of people, in that we learn
how to be salt and light for a larger picture that we haven’t even
imagined yet.” – Joshua Brock
“What I learned from the Mission Trip is that when you work together as
a team, you get so much more accomplished than you ever thought you
could.” – Maggie Schulhoff
“I learned that it's about searching to see God in those around us, it's
not just about the work we did.” – Lisa Hilliker
“It was a really eye opening experience to see poverty in the United States, yet it was also inspiring to witness the passion
and love the citizens of Detroit have for their city.” – Annie Eyre
“I really enjoyed my time on the Mission Trip. My favorite part was making new friends, and reconnecting with old ones.” –
Matt Reardon
"This mission trip has been such a wonderful experience. I became close with my youth group, made great friends, and met
amazing people with such tragic stories yet they gave their lives to help the poor. This experience has not only changed me
through all the work we did, but through the humble people we met." – Alexa Santamarina
“The life lesson I learned from the Mission Trip is that beauty isn’t always visible. Sometimes we just have to take the effort
to pull the weeds and plant new seeds, so in time, beautiful flowers can pop up.” – Savannah Mussari
Starting Point Habitat Project
The Starting Point ministry spent a recent sunny Saturday
volunteering their time and talents at a house in Lebanon
that is currently being built by Habitat for Humanity.
Alongside other St. Columban parishioners and the Habitat
for Humanity team, Starting Pointers helped to construct a
side porch, create a cement slab for the air conditioning
unit, paint the interior of the home, aid in leveling and
preparing the front and back yards for grass to grow, and so
much more! The spirit of God and His unconditional love
was displayed at this little house in Lebanon as Starting
Pointers found that compassion, enthusiasm and team work
can turn an empty lot into a loving home. At the end of the
day, although volunteers were tired and arms were sore,
smiles were shared because a young couple in need would
soon be able to call this humble house their very first home.
VBS conquers Mt. Everest!
During the week of July 13-17, St.
Columban welcomed 200 students to help
conquer God’s challenges. With the help of
160 volunteers, the 16 crews listened to the
daily bible story, made crafts, ate fun snacks, played games,
and learned songs about God’s great power. On day one, the
forecast was for severe thunderstorms throughout the week,
but as we learned the Bible point for that day: God Provides
and he did as not one rain drop fell all week! As Friday came
to an end, and parents came to watch the crews sing songs
and perform motions to the songs, everyone agreed that, “Our
God is powerful, He stands invincible, We will hold on to him!”
Interested in joining Starting Point? If you are in your 20s or
30s and are interested in connecting with other young
adults and young couples, please contact Katelyn Viscomi
in the Parish Office at [email protected] or (513)
683-0105, ext. 2106. We can’t wait to hear from you!
3
Festival Update
Another successful festival with net revenues exceeding $50,000. We couldn’t do it without your support!
Thank you for making it a memorable event.
On behalf of the Festival Committee, we would like to give special thanks to:
Father Larry for your support, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the fabulous funnel cakes
Parish staff for your unending support
St. Columban School & ERE for your donations and support throughout the year
Bid ‘N Buy and Book Sale donors for donating a wonderful variety of items
Setup & teardown team who are the “behind the scenes” crew that make it all come together (and disappear)
Booth captains for organizing and recruiting volunteers
St. Columban ministries for staffing and managing booths
Cub Scouts for staffing two drink booths
Knights of Columbus
Boy Scouts for handling the trash throughout the grounds
Bakers for all the delicious desserts and cakes
We are forever grateful for this amazing parish with so many engaged people willing to help!
We’d like to thank the following Festival sponsors for their generosity and financial support:
Gold Sponsors
Accent Signs
American Legion Post 256
Bond Furniture
Comey and Shepherd
Dee Printing
James Wolf Jewelers
Julianne Swayne
Loveland Dairy Whip
Milford Dental Excellence
Rozzi Fireworks
Tri-County Propane
The Works
Silver Sponsors
Clermont Nursing Care
Ellenbee Leggett Inc.
Glow Salon
Hills Martial Arts of Maineville
Loveland Police & Citizens
Police Academy
Randy Wagner Insurance
Bronze Sponsors
Dale Robertson
Emery Credit Union
Gregory Auto Service
Mike & Martha Schneider
Mio’s Pizza
Recreations Outlet
Screen Shoppe
Tony’s
Tufts Schildmeyer Family
Funeral Homes
Patrons
AutoShine
Bachmans Inc. HVAC
Cindy’s Friendly Tavern
Concepts in Hearing LLC
Drake Tollefson DDS
Paxton’s Grill
Pet Nation
Pon’s Top Dog Grooming
St. Columban Primetimers
Summer Solutions Workbooks
Wards Corner Chiropractic
& Sports Rehab
Congratulations to our Stewardship booth winners!
Friday night $100 Visa card: Christine Staggs
Saturday night $100 Visa card: Cody Hudson
Sunday night $100 Visa card: Steve Ellis
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRAND RAFFLE WINNERS!
1st Prize, $12,000 CASH: Dee Angel
2 Prize, $2,000 CASH: Fasola Family
3rd Prize, $1,000 CASH: Natalie Corcoran
nd
4
Anniversary
Breakfast!
It’s Time for…Choir!
Are you a parishioner of high
school age or older who likes to
sing? You’re most welcome to join
our choir! We’ve taken the summer
off but will resume our rehearsals
on Thursday, September 17th at 7:30 p.m. in the church.
The St. Columban choir is friendly and very welcoming to
new singers. For more information or to let us know you’d
like to join the choir, contact Mary Bellman, Director of
Music. [email protected] or 683-0105, x 2102.
June is the most popular month to
get married, but the couples that
came to Mass on Sunday, June 14th
were not celebrating a month but
years of being married. Couples from our parish that are
celebrating their 25th, 50th or 60th year of marriage were
invited to 8:00 a.m. Mass to receive a special blessing and
then they enjoyed a home cooked breakfast!
Those who attended also received their certificates from the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati commemorating this milestone. If
you are celebrating your 25th, 50th or 60th anniversary in
2015 we will mail your certificate the week of your wedding
anniversary! Congratulations!
We warmly welcome the
families who have recently
joined the parish!
Adam, Ruth, Ellie and Gracie Asbury
Peter, Rian, Maddie, Avery, Teague and Payton Boland &
Sara Bockhorn & Isabella, and Brody Huff
Michael & Joyce Bucci
Christopher & Erin Castleman
Aaron, Miranda, Olivia and Ava Fischer
Patrick & Denise Foley
Joseph, Sarah, Pete and Anna Fondacaro
Randall & Lauren King
Larry, Karen, Nick, Steve and Krista Kuhlman
Shaun MacEachen
Katie, Roxy, David and Gwyn Mikel
Ted, Megan, Brady and Evelyn Puthoff
Frank, Rebekah, Nolan, Aidan and Kelan Richardson
Daniels, Stephany, Nolan Ryan
Michael & Phyllis Schaltz
Michael, Heidi, Vivien, Ella, Millie and Augie Terselic
Daniel, Hana, Will and Henry Ullman
Brian, Nicole, Anna and Elise Wellbrock
Please join us on Sunday, August 23rd for
the blessing of the backpacks during the
9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday Masses.
Come celebrate the beginning of school
by bringing your backpack to Mass. We
will call all students forward with their
backpacks to receive a blessing and a
small gift to remind them to be disciples of Christ as they
begin this new school year!
DEFUND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD!
Recently released videos in which
officials of Planned Parenthood
traffic in human organs, tissues,
and body parts from their abortion clinics are chilling and
appalling. They display a callous disrespect for human life.
Staff from the Family and Respect Life Office of the
Archdiocese took part in the “Women Betrayed” rally at
Planned Parenthood’s Cincinnati clinic on July 28th to
protest this outrage.
Welcome to our newly
baptized members!
Grant Brocklehurst, son of Timothy & Anne
Madelyn Croweak, daughter of Michael & Kristin
June Burkhart, daughter of Christopher & Jillian
Alexa Dunlap, daughter of Brett & Alison
Harper Guenther, daughter of Laura Falgner
Zoey Hoover, daughter of Ryan & Sarah
Madilyn Hubbard, daughter of Jason & Megan
Callie Kinzie, daughter of Kyle & Sara
Ellison Morris, daughter of James & Tara
Amelia Niese, daughter of Marc & Meredith
Ryan Quisno, son of Andrew & Kristin
Claire Schatzle, daughter of Ryan & Monica
Kathleen Wheeler, daughter of Shawn & Amanda
However, we need to do more than raise our voices. I urge
Catholics and all people of good will to write to their
representatives in state and national government, asking
them to stop the flow of your tax dollars to Planned
Parenthood. The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops has supported defunding for many years. Planned
Parenthood received more than $1.3 million in state funds
from Ohio and $500 million in federal funds in fiscal 20132014.
Please also support a pro-life pregnancy center that
helps women in unintended pregnancies, providing
many needed services. You can find a list of them
at
http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/ministries-offices/
family-life/respect-life/pregnancy-coalition-resourcepage/. If you have had or participated in an abortion and
suffer remorse, please know that the Church’s postabortion healing ministry, Project Rachel, stands ready
to offer compassionate assistance. Learn more about
Project Rachel at www.projectrachelcincy.com.
Got News?
The deadline for the October edition of The Columban is:
Tuesday, September 1
~ Archbishop Schnurr
Contact Cathy at [email protected].
5
St. Columban Parish Welcomes
Mary Beth Meyer
I grew up on the west side of Cincinnati, graduated from the College of Mount St. Joseph and have a Masters
Degree in Education from Xavier University. Last year, after twelve years as a seventh grade science and
religion teacher at St. Susanna, my passion for ministry and service lead me to become a Pastoral Associate
of Faith Formation where I facilitated adult faith classes, sacramental preparation and service/outreach opportunities such as Habitat for Humanity and the food pantry. Additionally, I have volunteered as a flutist at Sunday Masses for the past 32 years and have chaired and been a member of many parish committees, such as the Worship,
Peace and Justice, and Education Commissions. I have been married for 28 years to my husband, Vince, and we have 3
grown children: Stephanie, a fourth year medical student, Vincent, a first year law student, and Eddie, who will be a sophomore at the University of Toledo. Looking forward, I am honored to serve the parishioners of St. Columban as a Pastoral
Associate and welcome the opportunity to become actively involved in this vibrant Catholic community.
St. Columban School Welcomes
Donna Waymire
Dinora Dillhoff
Hello, I am a mother and grandmother. I
graduated with my son from Xavier University. I
have a wide variety of work experience at P&G
and Publishing and Education to name a few. I like
to consider myself a seasoned professional. My
career has always revolved around my family’s
needs. I was blessed to have raised my three
children in a loving Catholic community and was hoping one
day to show my appreciation by paying it forward. I am looking
forward to doing just that at St. Columban and being a part of
this wonderful community. It has been a career goal to work
with children and I feel blessed to serve as the new
Administrative Assistant at St. Columban School.
I'm so excited to rejoin the staff at St.
Columban as the Spanish teacher. I
am originally from Colombia. I moved
to the United States to study at The
University of Notre Dame where I met
my husband. We have three
daughters and a new puppy. We spend most of our spare
time on a lacrosse field. I can't wait to share my culture and
language with the kids!
Christine Rand
My name is Christine Rand and I am
thrilled to join the staff at St. Columban
School as the new Speech Language
Pathologist. I have worked with preschool
and school-age students as a speech
language pathologist for 21 years. My
husband Joshua and I, and our two boys
Ethan and Elijah, have lived in Loveland for nine years. Our
oldest son Ethan will be a sophomore at Moeller High
School this fall and our youngest son Elijah will be a
second grader at Loveland Primary School. In my free time
I enjoy running, riding bikes on the Loveland bike trail, and
baking cookies and chocolates to share with family and
friends. I am looking forward to serving the students at St.
Columban and getting to know the staff and families this
fall.
Caitlin Trone
My name is Caitlin Trone and I will be
an Intervention Specialist at St.
Columban School. I graduated from
The Ohio State University in 2010 with
a degree in Special Education. I went
on to South Carolina where I taught as
an Intervention Specialist for the
past five years. During my time in South Carolina I met my
husband, Josh, and currently have two fur babies Rocky
and Remmy. I also earned my Master's Degree in
Divergent Learning from Columbia College. I enjoy being
outdoors, especially biking, kayaking and hiking. I am
happy to be back in my hometown of Cincinnati!
Cathy Wheeler
Cathy Wheeler is the new 7th/8th grade math teacher. She has just completed her Master's Degree in
Education from the University of Cincinnati where her area of interest was developing students' conceptual
understanding of mathematics concurrent with their procedural fluency. Teaching is a second career choice for
Cathy. Her undergraduate degree is in Business with heavy emphasis in mathematics from Indiana
University. Previous career positions include being a District Manager for ADP - Automatic Data Processing
and working for the Cincinnati Nature Center in their Marketing and Development offices. Cathy has been
married to her husband Derek for 24 years and has 4 children. She is very passionate about Catholic
education having raised her children in Catholic grade schools, high schools and two in Catholic
universities. In her free time Cathy enjoys reading, running and spending time with family and friends.
6
Stewardship Spotlight Ministry:
VIRTUS HOUSEKEEPING REMINDERS
First, a word of thanks to the 700 plus
VIRTUS trained users of our parish. Most
users have been faithful in reading monthly
VIRTUS training bulletins…keep up the good work!
Starting Point, Choir, Quilting for a Cause,
Manna for Many
In September we will feature several ministries that either
kick off in the fall or are in need of new members. Check
the bulletin for more information on the groups listed belowand please look for them at Donut Sunday on Sept. 13th.
Starting Point
Choir
Some important facts:
1) The VIRTUS training bulletin is posted the first SUNDAY
of each month and can be accessed that day. You do
NOT have to wait for an email reminder from VIRTUS to
read the bulletin. Simply sign onto your account at the
VIRTUS website (www.virusonline.org) and hit the
TRAINING tab. Then go to BULLETIN REPORT on the
far right side of the screen…HINT: The VIRTUS website
is best accessed from a laptop, desktop computer or
tablet. Using a smartphone to access the VIRTUS site
makes navigation challenging due to screen size.
2) If you neglect to check your emails on a regular basis, set
up a reminder or reoccurring event in your calendar for
the first Sunday of each month to read your VIRTUS
bulletin. That way, each month, you will see the reminder
and hopefully remember to complete your bulletin.
3) Finally, if you registered on the VIRTUS website with an
email address you either no longer use or use very
seldom; consider changing the email address in VIRTUS
to an email you see daily. You can make any changes
such as change of address, phone or email information to
your account by signing into your VIRTUS account and
selecting the TOOLBOX tab and then select UPDATE
MY ACCOUNT.
Quilting for a Cause
Manna for Many
If you’ve lost someone close to
you, or know someone who
has, please contact us to find
out more information about our
weekly GriefShare seminar/support group.
We know it hurts, and we want to help.
Contact Tim Crowley, Coordinator
340-4844 or the Parish Office
Sessions will be in the Parish Hall on Tuesdays from 7:008:30 p.m. beginning September 8th and ending December
8th.
While reading a monthly bulletin may at times seem like a
chore, it is a vital part of a VIRTUS user’s ongoing education.
Most users tell me it takes less than three (3) minutes on
average to read a complete a monthly bulletin. That is a small
amount of time to invest each month for the well-being of our
children.
BOO HOO Breakfast



Are you taking your first or even your
fourth child to college this month?
Do you feel this is hard to do or are
you excited to see them take another step to adulthood?
Do you have questions for those who have kids in college or can you offer support and advice to new college parents?
Once again, thanks for all you do for the parish and for
keeping the safety of our children a priority for you.
~ Don Kruse, Safe Environment Director
New Directories are Here!
If you had portraits taken, your complimentary
directory is in the Gathering Space. Each
directory is labeled alphabetically by family
name.
If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions,
please come to our BOO HOO Breakfast on August 28th at
9:00 a.m. Whether you want to BOO HOO because your
child is far away or you want to celebrate with a toast,
come and enjoy breakfast and meet other St. Columban
moms who are experiencing the same feelings. Join us in
the PMC (Parish Library) for coffee, breakfast and great
conversation! Please let us know if you can come by calling 683-0105 to RSVP.
Please take a moment to verify your information in the back
of the directory or in the paperback directory sent earlier
this year. If, for instance, you are an empty nester and no
longer wish to list your children at your address, please
contact Katelyn Viscomi at 683-0105 x 2106 or
[email protected].
Put on that college t-shirt you bought at the bookstore and
join us for a morning of food, fun and lots of fellowship!
Financial Peace University
St. Columban will be offering another
Financial Peace University class course on
Thursdays, beginning September 17th at
6:30 p.m. The course is 9 weeks long and
runs two hours each week. Free child care is provided.
Please contact Paul Pizzimenti at 518-1864 or
[email protected] to register.
St. Vincent de Paul
Bundle Truck
The truck will be in the church parking lot
on September 19th and 20th. Gently used
clothing and household items are accepted.
7
Elementary Religious Education (ERE) Classes Begin in September
St. Columban would like to invite you to become part of our Religious Education program. If your child does
not attend a school where Catholic education is part of the curriculum, you are invited to join our
Preschool Religious Education (PRE) or Elementary Religious Education (ERE) programs. Our
preschool program takes place on Sunday mornings during the 9:45 a.m. Mass, for ages 3 through
First grade. The ERE program meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:15 p.m. for grades 1-8.
Volunteer catechists explore various parts of our basic faith and Catholic traditions, as well as developing and encouraging
prayer and life-long faith formation. Second grade also includes preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation in
December and First Communion in the spring and 8th graders prepare and receive Confirmation in the spring.
To register, go to our website, www.stcolumban.org where you will find a calendar for the year, additional information and
registration forms. The cost is $70 per child or a maximum of $190 per family. You may also pay through our parish online
service by using your credit card or checking account. Just go to the “Online Giving” button on the website. Registration is
open during the month of August. Please register today to make sure we have enough classes.
Resume: Love working with children
Enjoy sharing my faith
Enthusiastic and upbeat
Looking to get involved more at church
If this could be your resume, my invitation to you is to get involved in religious education. We have catechists who work
with our youngest parishioners: preschoolers on Sunday mornings, and catechists who enjoy working with elementary
students on Wednesday evenings. One-on-one training will be offered this year as well as lots of resources and support to
help you learn how to become involved in this ministry. If you cannot commit to becoming a full-time catechist or even a cocatechist, consider being an aide or a sub throughout the year. Call Terri Kerley for more information: 683-0105 x 2118.
**************************
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
894 Oakland Road
Loveland, Ohio 45140
513.683.0105—Fax 513.683.1389
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Non-Profit Org.
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