From the Archbishop’s desk to the Pastor’s desk and now to you . . .

My Dear Friends in Christ, 

The Catholic Church globally, including this Archdiocese locally, has consistently and outspokenly urged all nations to protect the lives and dignities of migrants and to establish orderly immigration systems.  For too long now, the crisis of migrants having to flee dire poverty and appalling violence around the world has sadly not improved.  Nor, it seems, has many nations’ ability to respond in a compassionate and orderly fashion.  There are so many social concerns that trouble the conscience of the Church right now, such as abortion, gun violence and the state of the environment to name a few.  But I write again on this concern of immigration for two main reasons: 

First, we are relentlessly experiencing the dehumanizing impact of our own nation’s broken immigration system in many of our parishes, schools, social services, and communities.  Each day we see our own families being separated, traumatized children from the border coming to us for help, local refugee communities unable to bring their loved ones out of refugee camps elsewhere, and the lives of our neighbors devastated by human trafficking.  For us, the issue is personal. 

Secondly, as our country devolves into an increasingly polarized culture, migrants are God’s gift to remind us that we are one body in Christ.  As we so tragically saw in El Paso, fear and hatred of immigrants are driving people to indiscriminately kill their neighbors. Our own salvation, however, is steeped in our hearts’ desires to unify humanity in God’s love.  And, among other tests in our daily lives, this is being measured by our willingness to respond to the extreme needs of those coming to our nation’s doorstep, like Lazarus crawling to the rich man’s house (Lk 16:19-31) and like the Holy Family seeking shelter from Herod’s persecution (Mt 2:13-23).  In every migrant seeking freedom from persecution, can we imagine ourselves in their footsteps?  Can we see in them the face of Christ? 

For these reasons, I reaffirm our call to all Catholics and people of goodwill to take action.  I encourage us again to tell the Administration and Congress to prioritize the lives and dignities of migrants and to restore order to our broken immigration system.  

A fundamental challenge of our modern-day immigration system is that there are simply too few legal and orderly paths for migrants to come here to begin with. Over the last several months, policies have been suggested and enacted that, unfortunately, are making the situation even worse. Several efforts aim to drastically restrict our country’s asylum policies, limiting people’s lawful right to seek refuge and protection in our country. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently exclaimed, “It is contrary to American and Christian values to attempt to prevent people from migrating here when they are fleeing to save their lives and to find safety for their families.”   

Another threat that is being discussed in our government is reducing to zero the number of refugees permitted into our country in 2020. Our country has historically welcomed tens of thousands of refugees every year. In fact, since World War II the U.S. has welcomed more refugees than any other country - over two million people have proudly become part of the diverse fabric of American life. In the last 25 years, the refugee ceiling has hovered around 80,000, but in 2017 the number was dropped to 50,000; in 2018 it was dropped to 45,000, and this year it is set at 30,000. Bishop Joe Vasquez, Chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Migration, points out that “This recent report, if true, is disturbing and against the principles we have as a nation and a people. The world is in the midst of the greatest humanitarian displacement crisis in almost a century... Eliminating the refugee resettlement program leaves refugees in harm’s way and keeps their families separated across continents.” Rather than ending the program, the U.S. Bishops are urging us to restore the program to its historic norms of an annual resettlement goal of 95,000.”  

I strongly encourage you to reach out to your elected officials, especially those in the U.S. Congress, and demand that they take comprehensive action to fix our broken immigration system. As Cardinal DiNardo writes, “a just solution to this humanitarian crisis should focus on addressing the root causes that compel families to flee and enacting a humane reform of our immigration system.” The Archdiocese is making available letters which you can sign and send to our elected officials at www.catholiccincinnati.org/socialaction.   

I also entreat you to pray and to support the ministries of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio (www.ccswoh.org) and Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley (www.cssmv.org), which regularly serve the needs of countless vulnerable populations in our Archdiocese, including migrants and refugees. 

Thank you for your openness to this appeal.  May our merciful response to make our nation more just both for current U.S. citizens and for those seeking a new life here reflect our eternal desire to be unified in the Body of Christ. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop of Cincinnati 

USCCB Letter from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, 7/16 - http://www.usccb.org/news/2019/19131.cfm  

USCCB Letter from Bishop Joe Vasquez, 7/19 - http://www.usccb.org/news/2019/19-134.cfm  

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/us-annual-refugee-resettlement-ceilingsand-number-refugees-admitted-united 

Local statements on immigration and other critical issues of human life and dignity can be found at the “Where We Stand” page at www.catholiccincinnati.org.  Additional positions on statewide matters can be found at www.ohiocathconf.org.    

"Migrants are persons... They are the symbol of all those rejected by today's globalized society... The weakest and most vulnerable must be helped... This is a tremendous responsibility, from which no one is exempt if we wish to fulfill the mission of salvation and liberation, in which the Lord himself has called us to cooperate."

Many of you want to take action or assist immigrant and refugee families and children arriving at the U.S./Mexico border and in our communities. Please see the list below and take action in solidarity with people seeking refuge, safety and security in the United States.

1) Call and Take Action to Oppose Inhumane Detention Conditions for Immigrants and Widespread Enforcement Actions. 

Recent reports have documented the inhumane and unsanitary conditions in which immigrants arriving to our southern border, including children and families, are being held in by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to these unacceptable conditions, we have seen the Administration continue to pursue an enforcement-only immigration approach. It has continued to separate families at the border and threaten widespread immigration enforcement actions, which strike fear into our parishes and communities. 

The faith community has decried this treatment of children and families not only as a violation of human dignity and rights, but also as fundamentally contrary to religious teachings and the sacred call to love our neighbor and care for people who are the most at risk, especially children. Catholic social tradition teaches us that every person deserves equality and respect. It also teaches us that family is sacred-it is the cornerstone of our church and our community.

For these reasons, USCCB's Committee on Migration has voiced its strong opposition to the conditions and planned actions noting: "Recent reports of overcrowded and unsanitary conditions are appalling and unacceptable for any person in U.S. custody, but particularly for children, who are uniquely vulnerable." And further that: "Enforcement actions like those anticipated this week by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency separate families, cause the unacceptable suffering of thousands of children and their parents, and create widespread panic in our communities."

Catholic leaders have launched a campaign to end the inhumane treatment of immigrant and refugee children and families at the border, in detention centers, and in communities across the country. Catholics are gathering in Washington, DC (information is here); they have come to stand with immigrant communities threatened by our broken immigration system. The time to take a prophetic stand and say NO MORE is now.

We ask you to Act NOW! Call the White House and let your voice join the chorus of Catholics who say no more to tearing families and communities apart and say yes to welcome and love.

Call the White House Now! Call (202) 456-1111

Suggested Script

As a person of faith, I am calling today to strongly oppose the inadequate and unsanitary conditions in which immigrants, including children and families, are being held while in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. I also oppose actions that unnecessarily separate immigrant families at the border, as well as in communities around the country through widespread enforcement actions. Family is sacred-it is the cornerstone of our church and our community and must be protected.

Guided by our Catholic faith and our national values, we affirm the dignity of all people and our call to love our neighbors. Every person, every family deserves stability and security. 

We urge you to reconsider actions that threaten family unity and address these unacceptable holding and detention conditions. We can and must remain a country that provides refuge for children and families fleeing violence and persecution.

2) Volunteer or Give 

Support asylum-seeking families who have fled their home countries and are arriving daily. Several Catholic Charities agencies serve as reception and hospitality centers along the U.S./Mexico Border and provide for the immediate needs of released families and assist them with making travel arrangements to their final destinations. Contact your local Catholic Charities affiliate to learn more about their material and volunteer needs. 

3) Foster an Unaccompanied Child.

USCCB/MRS currently provides foster care to unaccompanied immigrant children. You can find a list of locations at www.usccb.org/fostercare. Those interested in becoming a foster parent would need to follow state and agency guidelines for training and licensing. If you live in one of the states we serve, and are interested in becoming a foster parent, contact foster@usccb.org for more information. If there are no USCCB or LIRS programs in your area, please direct your inquiries to DCS_ProjectOfficers@acf.hhs.gov . 

4) Pray.

Prayer opens our hearts to the Holy Spirit and strengthens us to carry out God's work with compassion, devotion, and love. You and others can use the USCCB Prayer for Migrant Families to ask God to protect and provide for our immigrant sisters and brothers in Christ, or affirm your solidarity with them with the USCCB Prayer for Migrants and Refugees.

Thank you for your efforts!

People person? Retired?

Looking for something worthy to do?

Need a little excitement in your life?

Looking for a new challenge?

Do you have a spouse/partner/friend that you would like to share the job with?  That’s fine too!

Part-time Volunteer Opportunity at St. Leo Food Pantry

St. Leo Food Pantry is seeking a VOLUNTEER assistant administrator, 9-12 hours/week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, to manage inventory control and onsite volunteer communications. Now that our procedures are well established and skillfully run, we need someone to help oversee and maintain operations. If you (and a teammate) are interested, please contact Stephanie Sepate, Pantry Administrator, at 513-921-1044 ext. 20

Food Pantry Volunteers Always Needed

Many hands make light work! Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 4/4:30pm are typical volunteer hours, but if you happen to only have a couple of hours o share on those days, we certainly can use the extra help.

Call 513-921-1044 If you can help out!

Action Steps

Provided by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Office

You can also send an email prepared by Catholic Confront Global Poverty here!

1.   Support development efforts in other countries.

Parish twinning, Catholic Relief Services and other ministries organized by your local church are great opportunities to help poor and vulnerable populations in other countries find opportunities in their homeland, so they won’t need to migrate to secure their lives and dignities.  To learn more, contact:

·      Your own parish and find out what ministries it already has and how you can get involved;

·      Archdiocesan Mission Office about parish twinning: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/ministries-offices/mission-office/parish-twinning/

·      Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Catholic bishops’ overseas humanitarian and development organization: www.crs.org.

2.    Help migrants integrate into our parishes and communities.

The Church calls us to embrace migrants as our own countrymen and women. The Archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry Office can help: lgasparini@catholiccincinnati.org

3.    Urge Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Call your elected representatives and encourage them to fix out broken immigration system.  Ask them for a reform that:

•  Provides a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country;

•  Preserves family unity as a corner-stone of our immigration system;

•  Provides legal paths for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States;

•  Restores due process protections to our immigration enforcement policies and does not detain immigrant families, especially those with children, in substandard detention facilities;

•  Addresses the root causes (push factors) of migration, such as persecution and economic disparity.

Contacts

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown: 
(202) 224-2315

U.S. Senator Rob Portman: 
(202) 224-3353

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot: 
(202) 225-2216

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson: 
(202) 225-6205

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup: 
(202) 225-3164

4.    Urge Administration to keep families out of long-term detention facilities.

After cancelling its child separation practices, the Administration’s “zero tolerance policy” is now resulting in costly, long-term detentions for entire families.  To do this, the Administration is proposing new rules that would make it possible to detain children longer than the current 20-day limit (established by the “Flores Settlement).  Encourage the Administration to not pursue this by submitting your comments to the proposed rule by Nov. 6.  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/09/07/2018-19052/apprehension-processing-care-and-custody-of-alien-minors-and-unaccompanied-alien-children

5.    Urge Administration to set refugee levels at 75,000/year.

By September 30, the Administration will seek Congressional input concerning its maximum number of refugee admittances, a process called the Presidential Determination.  The Administration will seek input from the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Please contact your Senators, and urge them to raise our annual limit for refugees back up to 75,000.

6.    Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio – Immigrant-related services
Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio (CCSWO) provides social, emotional, and legal support to immigrants and refugees from all over the world. Consider supporting CCSWO efforts by volunteering with the Immigration Legal Services Department, Refugee Resettlement, and/or Su Casa Hispanic Center. More information on the website:  www.ccswoh.org/volunteer. If volunteering time is not an option, we also welcome spiritual and financial support!

7.    Support Maribel Trujillo and other separated families – Immigrant Accompaniment Campaign

Locally, the Archdiocese and Catholic Charities have supported many immigrants and the families from whom they’ve been separated.   Consider writing to a detained migrant to let them know that he or she is in your prayers.  Occasionally, when a local deportation case has risen to the level of a clear injustice, we have organized protests and requests to cancel deportation.  Stay tuned for such actions, especially in the upcoming retrial of Maribel Trujillo from St. Julie Billiart Parish.

Plan Ahead For Any Emergency :  Give 9-1-1 the information they need to help you fast.  

Go to:  https://www.smart911.com/ 

Once you've signed up for Smart911, first responders will be aware of important information you have provided that will help Police, Fire, and EMS locate and help you in an emergency.

4 or 5 or 6 volunteers are needed ASAP to fold, tab and label our monthly newsletter. 

Usually needed the third week of the month for 3-4 hours if 3 or 4 people help out. The more hands, the faster the job gets done! Call Casey at 513-921-1044 ext. 30

St. Leo's was featured in a story about our North Fairmount neighborhood on WCPO.  Check it out at: http://www.wcpo.com/longform/our-forgotten-neighborhoods-north-fairmount

Many, many thanks to all of you who supported our Stained Glass Window Appeal.  We simply can’t thank you enough! 

We are thrilled to announce that as of September 1st, we have reached our goal of $25,000 to restore our stained glass windows that were in most need of repair. 

Due to your overwhelming generosity, we have received enough funds to make additional fixes to all of the windows in order to prevent further decline and to keep them all in good condition for years to come. 

All of us at St. Leo’s are 
truly, deeply grateful!

VOLUNTEER PANTRY INVENTORY CONTROL ASSOCIATE NEEDED

Responsible for the purchased and donated acquisition of food, evaluate weekly inventory, and manage weekly orders with the Freestore Foodbank and other food resources, for pantry needs, parish needs, and neighborhood functions as needed. Approx. 20-25 hours a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call Stephanie at 513-921-1044 ext. 20.

FOOD PANTRY SHOPPING ESCORTS NEEDED

English as a Second Language Volunteers Needed.

Classes are held on Saturdays, from 10:00 until Noon, in the rectory at St. Leos.

We currently teach English to Spanish and Burundi speaking students, but welcome all interested in learning English. We can always use English speakers to help students practice.

St. Leo's welcomed members of the Archdiocesan Offices who joined us on Sunday, June 5, 2016,  to present St. Leo's parishioner, Dr. Jonathan Trauth, with The Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Award. 

Sr. Dorothy Stang was a Sister of Notre dame de Namur and native of Dayton, Ohio. She was murdered in Anapu, in the State of Para, in the Amazon Basin of Brazil in February 2005. She was very outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment and an advocate for the rights of poor farmers to farm land in a sustainable way in the Amazon region of Brazil. Her dream was to have some of the land designated as a federal reserve where the poor farmers would always be safe; where they could till the soil and establish their own income-producing businesses through sound development; and where the farmers and their families could always live in peace and with dignity. However, some wanted her work stopped and she received threats upon her life. Such resistance eventually led to her assassination. 

The Spirit of Sister Dorothy Stang Award is granted by the Sisters of Notre dame de Namur and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Offices of Mission, Catholic Social Action, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Evangelization and Catechesis. The Award is granted to someone who has demonstrated Christ-like solidarity with the poor, shows care for the Earth, and applies Catholic Social Teaching in cross cultural service. With these criteria, Jon Trauth helps keep the Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang alive in Cincinnati and right here in North Fairmount at St. Leo. Congratulations, Jon! Many thanks to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Archdiocesan Offices for making this award possible and for encouraging all of us to care for the needs and rights of others and to give witness with Christ-like example to our faith.

Click here for more information about the Sr. Dorothy Stang Award.

• Civilize It: Dignity beyond the Debate. www.civilizeit.us 
  What does mercy look like during Election Season? “Civilize It” is a campaign to promote civility, clarity and compassion in electoral politics and among ourselves. 
• Take the pledge at www.civilizeit.us!

Click here to take a quick tour of St. Leo's new "choice" food pantry.

St. Leo's is one of several churches throughout the Archdiocese that have been named as pilgrim sites for the Holy Year of Mercy.

This means that we are open to visitors throughout the year who may want to make a pilgrimage to our church for prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

During the Holy Year there will be opportunities for Exposition and Sacrament of the Sick, TBA; Pilgrims are encouraged to add petitions to our Book of Prayers for the Faithful, add names to our Book of the Faithful Departed, and place petitions in our prayer wall (in our parking lot).  Pilgrims may also bring canned goods for our food pantry.

Click here for more information.

St. Leo's was mentioned Monday, November 9th, in a story by Rich Jaffe on Channel 12 News about the non-profit, Childhood Food Solutions.

Click here to see the story.

photo by Kevin Eigelbach

St. Leo's was recently featured in a story by Kevin Eigelbach of the Channel 9 Insider.  Read the entire story at:  http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/immigrants-are-revitalizing-st-leos-in-north-fairmount

“DROP AND ROLL”

The great quote for fires, falling from tall buildings, and sky-diving landings.

For St. Leo, a reminder to please DROP what you’re doing and re-enROLL if you haven’t yet done so. We have been able to supplement projects and outreach programs with the donations from Kroger from the percentage of your purchases! Thank you!  Your involvement is very much appreciated!

Re-Enroll or Become a member online at www.krogercommunityrewards.com with your Kroger Plus card. Select St. Leo from the list or enter our ID#28680 and click confirm.  You still benefit from the coupons and special deals provided through the Kroger Plus card.

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in North Fairmount has become a haven for a diverse population of refugees, immigrants and native Cincinnatians. Read more about the church and its Burundian refugee parishioners at CityBeat.com

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in North Fairmount has become a haven for a diverse population of refugees, immigrants and native Cincinnatians. Read more about the church and its Burundian refugee parishioners at CityBeat.com

St. Leo's presence in the North Fairmount neighborhood of Cincinnati was featured on the front page of the City Beat newspaper.  Click here to read the article:  Seeking Refuge

Michelangelo sculpted the Pietà in 1498–1499,    taking less than two years to complete. His depiction of the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion on the rock of Golgatha is one of the most famous pieces of sculpture known by so many across the world.

Showing the "religious vision of abandonment and a serene face of the Son", Michelangelo did not want his version of the Pietà to represent death, but rather a representation of the communion between man and God through Christ’s gift of life.

For the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the Vatican loaned the Pietà for installation in the Vatican pavilion. A conveyor belt moved people, who stood in line for hours, past the sculpture. It is housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed.

Several decades ago, St. Leo was gifted with a beautiful representation of the Pietà in memory of the Schuchart Family. Over the years, the wear and tear, fragments of the more fragile areas of the statue cracked or missing, and chipping paint called a friend of the parish to totally refurbish our Pietà. To repaint it with its former colors would have shown the flaws; it was decided to paint it all one color, especially in keeping with the make-up of our parish—all one people. After months and months of prayerful restoration, our Pietà finally came home, quite appropriately, the day before Ash Wednesday.

As we celebrate Holy Week and Easter, we are grateful for Michelangelo’s reminder of the ultimate gift in our midst. The St. Leo Pietà has been given a new life; let us all celebrate a season of renewal in our own lives as Lent ends and as we rejoice in the hope and joy of Easter’s Alleluias!

- Stephanie Sepate

Help support our many spiritual and corporal acts of mercy by shopping at Kroger's. 

All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card. 

You will still receive your mileage points and other customer rewards, while you support St. Leo's!

Register online at:  

Everybody Loves a Picnic

All of us at St. Leo’s are truly, deeply grateful to our Covenant Parish, Our Lady of the Visitation, for inviting us to join them at their annual parish picnic.  Not only did they include St. Leo’s in the food, fun and fellowship, they sent a bus to transport St. Leo’s parishioners so that they would be able to attend. 

St. Leo’s filled the bus as well as both of our passenger vans and a couple of more carloads to boot!  Everyone who attended felt so very welcome.  We were delighted to be a part of God’s Universal Church with our partner parish at this end-of-summer social event.

Kids will be kids!  And all of the kids, the big kids, the little kids, and the kids-at-heart, had a really great time!  The younger ones especially enjoyed riding the rides.  What could be more exhilarating than the thrill of the ride, the wind in your hair, and not a care in the world other than to decide which ride to try next? 

Of course, it just wouldn’t be a picnic without the traditional picnic fare including burgers, brats, metts, and hot dogs.  Even though St. Leo’s is a very diverse, multicultural community, we do appreciate good old-fashioned American picnic cuisine!  We are especially thankful for the bountiful supply of left-overs given to our St. Leo Food Pantry.  Your gift provides the immeasurable gift of dignity for our guests.  Truly a gift of indescribable value! 

Your warm welcome and widespread friendliness made us “feel at home, part of the family, well in.”  We are inspired by your kind embrace and committed to expanding our faithfilled partnership with you, our family at Our Lady of Visitation, in building the Kingdom of God together.

Wording based on lyrics from “Consider Yourself” by Lionel Bart

-Casey Betz

Thank you again and again to the many donors and volunteers who made our St. Leo Children's Event a huge success!  We could not have done it without your bountiful generosity!

SIGN UP TODAY!

Help support St. Leo's many spiritual and corporal acts of mercy by shopping at Kroger's. All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card. You will still receive your mileage points and other customer rewards, while you support St. Leo's!

Many, many thanks to the Social Justice Committee at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for organizing their School House collection to benefit the children at St. Leo's parish.  St. Leo's is truly, deeply grateful for the bountiful collection of school supplies.  Each and every one of our students received an abundant supply of school items to begin the school year.  

Many, many thanks for the energetic, enthusiastic, high quality service work done by the Alive In You volunteers visiting us this week (July 23-25). We are especially pleased to be able to include our parish youth along with the Alive In You campers in the fun, games and service work.

St. Leo the Great Parish is most grateful to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for donating 5 laptop computers to provide access to computers and the internet for community members.

These computers will allow us to include computer/internet access for our English as a Second Language Classes, and for our Tuesday Night Tutoring Classes, as well as for our neighbors in our North Fairmount and surrounding communities. 

In addition, some of our students are spending time during summer break learning not only how to use the computers, but also, about how computers actually work.

St. Leo the Great Parish is Happy to Announce that as of Tuesday, April 1, 2014,  the St. Leo Food Pantry has expanded our service area to include the Millvalle Neighborhood.

Requirements for Service: Guests may visit once every 30 days.
The following documents MUST be presented at EACH visit to determine eligibility using Federal guidelines:
1. Current proof of residence dated within 30 days (gas & electric or telephone bill)
2. Photo ID
3. Social Security Cards for all members of household.

Click here for more information about St. Leo's Food Pantry

Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) appoints Global Music & Wellness (GMW) administrator and fiscal agent of the older refugee program in Hamilton County

Effective October 2013, Global Music & Wellness (GMW) was designated to serve older refugees aged 60 and over living in Hamilton County. Through a strong community partnership we are able to provide: meals, wellness programming, arts, culture and music programs, English as a Second Language Classes (ESL), seminars on healthy eating, educational sessions on legal matters, care management, supportive services, and transportation.
 
The goals of the program are:

To develop a comprehensive set of services to support a program for older refugees
Assist older refugees in obtaining citizenship and naturalization services
Help older refugees access community resources and enrich their lives with health & wellness activities

The following organizations work closely with GMW to improve the lives of older Bhutanese and Burundi refugees:

Great Oaks Career Campuses                        Cincinnati Recreation Commission
TriHealth                                                       Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra                      Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Cincinnati Area Senior Services                      Sycamore Senior Center/Maple Knoll
Pro Seniors                                                   Asian Community Alliance
St. Leo Church                                              UC College-Conservatory of Music –Prep Dept.

Many, many thanks to St. James the Greater Parish, White Oak for the beautiful crucifix, baptistry and ambo.  St. Leo's is truly, deeply grateful.

Congratulates to Ernestine, member of St. Leo the Great Parish, whose beautiful photo is shown in one of Cincinnati State's downtown billboards. 

S'no School?

On days with inclement weather, check out the following stations for St. Leo event cancellations:

WCPO - Channel 9
WKRC - Channel 12
WXIX   - Channel 19

-Stephanie Sepate

Click here for more information about our prayer wall, or to submit a prayer request.

Our entire St. Leo the Great parish congregation attended Mass at Holy Family Church in Price Hill to pray for immigration reform in solidarity with churches throughout the nation:  http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130908/NEWS/309080085/Local-Catholics-pray-immigration-law-changes

The immigration reform mass was also mentioned in the  September 9th issue of the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/09/us/politics/immigration-reform-falls-to-the-back-of-the-line.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1&

You can tell by our children's smiling faces that Ice Cream Sundae Sunday, sponsored by St. Leo's Children's Liturgy of the Word teachers, was a big success!

Two of our young parishioners, Alexandre Marembo and Gilbert Nzoyisaba, visited Washington DC in late spring as part of one of six Red Cross groups from around the US honored for their work on a video titled "Innocence to Evil." Alexandre was the editor and Gilbert did the camera work on this 14 minute film portraying the use of child soldiers in war-torn countries. If you would like to view their film, go to YouTube and in “innocencetoevil” (no spaces) with “gilbert nzoyisaba” as the person posting the YouTube. While the content can be disturbing, it will also enlighten viewers on the reality of a child’s life in war-torn countries.

Several of our Withrow students received monetary awards from the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation for excellence in academics: Alexandre and Charlotte (Anastasia and Renovat's children); Alex (Minani and Rebeka's son); Gerald (Venancia's son); and Janvier (Simeon and Melanie's grandson). Alex (Minani and Rebeka) has been accepted into DePaul Cristo Rey High School.

St. Boniface presented “Annie” in which several of our students participated at the close of the school year. We were lucky to have someone provide a photo of Pascascia (daughter of Maria and Joseph) who was part of the chorus. She will be starting 7th grade in the fall.

This summer Bob Englert channeled the creative talents of some of our youth through a Computer/Video workshop over the course of several weeks. Gerald, Gilbert, Alexandre, Evelyn, Alex, Charlotte, and Pasquel learned the tricks of video editing, how to conduct and film an interview, and how to provide on-screen translations. The goal of the workshop was to learn the ins and outs of creating a finished documentary.

If you asked any of our children how their summer was going, you’d probably hear “it’s boring—there’s nothing to do.” A reading award program was designed so that one-day pool passes were provided for reading books and providing “reports” which the children thoroughly enjoyed! No more being bored!

The Cincinnati Red Cross is one of eight chapters that participated in the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Action Campaign Pilot Program. Students near participating chapters could create IHL teams to teach their peers about humanitarian law. Two Cincinnati teams won the competition for projects they created and traveled to Washington May 31-June 2 to collect their awards and participate in the first National IHL Youth Symposium. The Cincinnati chapter will participate in the competition again next year.

[Read More...]

From Our Friends in New Zealand:

Hello Stephanie,

Thank you so much for the copies of your newsletter with the articles on the jerseys and hats we sent over from New Zealand.  It was really lovely to hear from you and to see your newsletters. 

Winter is starting to settle over here – and while nowhere near as cold as you get – we are starting to feel the effects of cold winds and rain! 

Caprice is going to share the newsletters and the story of your Parish with her class and school – It is amazing how far and wide the love of God can stretch and continue to spread! 

Many joys and lots of blessings to you all.

Kind Regards, Janice Basile 

There’s more than meets the eye on the scene of a fire.  Obviously, the overwhelming flames, smoke, and evacuation of the family involved is more than anyone should ever bear.  The presence of a chaplain somehow brings a grace to the cacophony of the painful moments evolving before everyone’s eyes.

Several years ago, a friend of mine underwent the horrific experience of a fire at her home. Faces of firefighters who walked up and provided guidance, kind words, and reaffirming hope with a gentleness in total contrast to the scene of the blazing house brought some consolation. Neighbors and friends provided support, extra blankets, a porch upon which to sit while watching the view unfold as opposed to standing in the middle of the street.  These were all touchstones of compassion and sup-port much valued during such a tragedy.

Recently, Father Jim joined the ranks of the Fire Department Chaplains.  He is one of three chaplains working with the Cincinnati Fire Department.  He will be one of those “faces” present at the scene, ready to be a presence to those both watching on, as well as to those fighting the fire.

“I’m happy to be asked because I think it’s a good part of what urban ministry is about.  Also this work is supported by our mission statement that calls us to reach out to our neighborhoods with the love of Christ. Firefighters are certainly our neighbors.  Being a chaplain for the Fire Department fits in well with the spiritual and corporal works of mercy which is a big part of what we believe God wants us to be doing at St. Leo’s.

Right now my main responsibility is to provide the Sacrament of the Sick for any Catholic Firefighter that may request it.  But I can do more if my time allows such as providing spiritual support and presence at any three alarm fire or responding to any major tragedy and helping the Firefighters process their grief and deal with the losses that they have encountered.  The Cincinnati Fire Department has welcomed me with open arms and I am blessed that they consider all of their chaplains to be an integral part of their Department. Besides, I get to wear cool gear and a badge and impress my nieces and nephews.  However, our pastoral staff at St. Leo’s now refers to me as the ‘Barnie Fife’ of the Fire Department!”

May our own dear ‘Barney Fife’ provide the hope, comfort and solace with the compassion and grace a chaplain of the Fire Department is called upon to bestow.