March 4, 2018
Third Sunday of Lent
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEKWeekday Readings
Mon No Scheduled Mass2Kgs 5: 1-15b/Lk 4: 24-30
Tue(SN)8:00am The Kleman family /Exposition Closing 4pmDn 3: 25, 34-43/Mt 18: 21-35
Wed(HF)8:00am No Intention/Exposition Closing 8pmDt 4: 1, 5-9/Mt 5: 17-19
Wed(SN)8:00am Stations of the Cross w/children
Wed(SN)8:45am Stations of the Cross w/children
Thu(HF)6:30pm No IntentionJer 7: 23-28/Lk 11: 14-23
Fri(SN)8:00am Jim SteffenHos 14: 2-10/Mk 12: 28-34
Fri(SN) 7:00pm Stations of the Cross
Sat(SN)4:00pm Gordon Verhoff & Liv & Dec’d Lewis Otto family
Rita Hermiller (anniv) Joseph & Mary Motycka
Sat(HF)7:00pm For the Parish`Sunday Readings
Sun(HF)8:30am Marilyn Inkrott2Chr 36: 14-16, 19-23/Eph 2: 4-10
Sun(SN) 10:30am Brenda ScheckelhoffJn 3: 14-21
From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
A great sense of pride and joy exudes from the heart and soul of our faith communities this weekend as 67 young women and men enrolled in our religious education program receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit during the Lord’s Day Mass at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. For our family of faith, this sacrament, like any sacrament, serves to mark a passage for our youth.
Today, during the celebration of the Rite of Confirmation with Bishop Daniel Thomas, our young men and women embrace the fact that God has gifted them with many talents and abilities and will continue to bestow His divine blessing upon them as they join the ranks of the fully initiated members in the Catholic Church to be of service to the Lord and the world. Confirmation seals the grace and call to holiness that was bestowed on these youth at their baptism. In many respects, they “come of age” now in the ways of the Catholic faith and stand on their own two feet embracing the responsibilities of being faithful followers of the Lord. Of course, this faith given to them continues to be nurtured through their whole adult life by all of us who walk with and care for their wellbeing.
The venue for today’s celebration of Confirmation could be no more than appropriate for our youth and parishes. The Cathedral Church of a diocese is what St. Peter’s Basilica is to the Universal Church. The Cathedral Church is the “mother” to all diocesan parishes because it is the Bishop’s church, where he exercises the teaching office and governance of the diocese entrusted to him. In fact, the word “cathedral” is a derivative of the Greek word “cathedra” which means chair. This is in reference to the Bishop’s chair in the cathedral, where the Bishop presides, teaches and leads the entire diocese under his pastoral care and oversight.
The custom of having parishes send their confirmation candidates to the diocesan Cathedral was begun a number of years ago as a way of connecting parishes to the Bishop and to offer the opportunity of having the Catholic faithful from Northwest Ohio come to the spiritual center of the diocese. These many years since, about 13 years now, parishes that have come to the Cathedral for Confirmation have found the experience spiritually uplifting seeing the beauty and symbolism
found in our diocesan Cathedral Church. You may find it interesting to know that Rosary Cathedral in Toledo has
been ranked among the top ten most beautiful cathedrals in the continental U.S.
While there is some distance between our setting in Putnam County and our Cathedral Church in Toledo, attending this Mass with Bishop Thomas at Rosary Cathedral is a true pilgrimage in faith. Making “pilgrimage” involves some travel to the holy site. Traveling to the spiritual center of our Catholic faith in Northwest Ohio offers us the opportunity to realize that our diocese is vast and enormous; that we belong to an even larger family of faith and are united together in that bond of faith that the Holy Spirit strengthens in our hearts. Congratulations to our young women and men this weekend.
Monsignor Singler
WEEKLY OFFERINGS
February 24 & 25, 2018
St. Nicholas: Holy Family:
Regular: $3,558.00Regular: $4,357.00
Fuel: $ 55.00Fuel: $ 310.00
Total: $3,613.00Total: $4,667.00
CONFESSIONS will be heard this Friday, March 9, 5:30pm-6:45pm at St. Nicholas and from 2:30-3:30pm at St. Nicholas and 5:30-6:30pm at Holy Family on Saturday, March 10. Area Penance Services: Tuesday, March 6 at St. Michael’s, Kalida at 4 & 7pm; Wednesday, March 7 at St. Joseph’s, Ft. Jennings at 7pm; Sunday, March 11, Immaculate Conception, Ottoville at 2pm; Tuesday, March 13 at Holy Family, New Cleveland at 7pm.
ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR will have practice this Monday, March 5, at 7:00pm in the choir loft.
HF CLC will meet this Thursday, March 8 at 7:00pm at Holy Family Parish Hall. This will be our first meeting of 2018. We have numerous issues to take care of. It is time to make your nominations for matching funds and charitable donations. We will also have our white elephant sale, proceeds are going to Right to Life. Attend this meeting and get started on this year's perfect attendance.
OTTAWA K OF C FISH & CLAM STRIP FRY, is this Friday, March 9, 4:30-7:00pm at the Ottawa K of C Hall.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION/YOUTH GROUP
Junior High Christian Formation: 6th-8th graders meet this Wednesday. 8th graders meet from 6-8 at the parish center to begin their Theology of the Body classes.
Seniors (HF, 9:30am) and Juniors (SN, 8:30am) do not meet until Sunday, March 18. Freshmen and sophomoresdo not meet until Sunday, March 25.
All high school students are invited to register to participate in our 8th annual 30 Hour Famine. Please see Elena Niese for the registration materials.
THE LIGHT IS ON. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 21, 2018 when the confessional lights will be on in parishes across the Diocese of Toledo from 4:00-7:00pm for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Light is On is a collective diocesan-wide effort when confessions are scheduled at the same time at local parishes on a selected day. Monsignor Singler will be hearing confessions during Adoration from 9:00am-8:00pm at Holy Family that day.
HOLY FAMILY CEMETERY CLEANUP. All fall and winter flowers and wreaths must be removed from the Holy Family cemetery by Friday, March 30. Due to the cost of these decorations we encourage everyone to remove these items and take them home. Any winter decorations left in the cemetery after March 30 will be discarded.
BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE 2018. Gather your friends and family and form a team of 4 people and enter Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2018 at Sports Center Lanes in Pandora, March 10 at 11:00am or 12:30pm. Teams are asked to collect donations and will be eligible to win prizes. For donation information or to fill out a registration form visit bbbswco.wixsite.com/putnambfks or pick up forms at the St. Nicholas Parish Center during office hours.
PUTNAM COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE will meet this Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30pm in the home of Mary Jane Stechschulte (next to Kalida fire station). All are welcome. Friday, March 9, Kalida K of C will have a fish fry to benefit Putnam County Right to Life, serving 4 to 7. Our Garage & Bake Sale will be April 4 & April 5, with donations accepted April 3.
THE DOMUS ANGELORUM RETREAT HOUSE, located at 21706 State Route 114 Cloverdale, will be conducting a retreat on the topic of “The Mercy of God”next Saturday,March 10. The day beginswithMass at 8:30am with registration and Adoration following Mass. The day will conclude with Reconciliation and Benediction at 3:00pm. Cost is $10.00 per person. Please bring a packed lunch. All are welcome. Retreat leader will be Father Herman Scherger.
ALL CATHOLIC MALES AGES 18-23 may now apply for the Bob Kreinbrink Memorial Scholarship. The applicant must be a 3rd degree member of the Ottawa Knights of Columbus by March 8, 2108 to be eligible for this $600.00 scholarship award. Applications can be picked up at the K of C Hall or the high school guidance counselor’s offices of Leipsic, O-G, and Miller City High Schools or by contacting Gary Kreinbrink at 419-969-0729. Application deadline is March 8, 2018.
SENIOR CITIZEN PROM. This year the annual “Senior Citizen” Prom is hosted at Ottoville Immaculate Conception Parish Center on Sunday, March 18 from 3:00pm-6:00pm, doors opening promptly at 2:45pm. You are also invited to join us to close the evening with Mass at Immaculate Conception Church at 6:00pm. If you are 21-99 years old and would be interested in attending, please make your reservations by calling your parish office. Please RSVP by Monday, March 5. Come enjoy good food, entertainment, games and door prizes during this “Starry Starry Night” event! This free event is being coordinated by the St. George Deanery Youth Ministers and high school students.
CUB SCOUT PACK 207 CHICKEN BBQ. Miller City Cub Scouts will be having a Chicken BBQ and Bake sale at the St. Nicholas Parish Center on Sunday, March 18 from 11am-1pm. Meals are $8 for ½ chicken or $6.50 for a Leg Quarter and include applesauce, cheesy potatoes and dinner role. Pre-sale and Carry out only. Scouts will be selling tickets from now until March 6. You can also call Jeff DeMuth at (419) 876-3310 or text your order to (419) 890-9045. Please include name and # of each meal.
PETITION CAMPAIGN TO STAND FOR HUMAN LIFE! ProMedica has officially entered into an agreement with Capital Care Network of Toledo which enables the abortion provider to continue taking the innocent human lives of unborn children and wound mothers and fathers. Sign the petition which simply states you believe a prestigious health care provider like ProMedica should not support an abortion facility that ENDS life rather than SUSTAINS it. Go to to sign this pro-life petition! Please act quickly so we can deliver a strong clear message to ProMedica!
ST CHARLES CATHOLIC CHURCH, Lima is offering a 12-week GriefShare program from 2:00-4:00pm every Thursday beginning March 1, 2018 to May 17, 2018. Meetings will be held in the Gathering Space. GriefShare is an adult support group for those experiencing the loss of a loved one. The sessions are free. A $20.00 offering is optional for the workbook and supplies. For information call Pat Wendel 419-230-0875 or Elizabeth Lynch 419-303-6149.
FIRST COMMUNION DRESSES AND VEILS!! Mustard Seed Gift Shop has a beautiful selection of First Communion Dresses and Veils in stock. They will also be hosting a First Communion Dress Resale this year, with all donations from the sale Supporting HOLY FAMILY RADIO. The sale will be Tuesday, March 6, 2018 - Saturday, March 10, 2018. For more information, like Mustard Seed Gift Shop on Facebook or call 419-538-7220.
BULLETIN SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: HERMILLER’S BUTCHER SHOP --: Beef and Pork for the home freezer. We also have homemade summer sausage and bologna at our meat counter plus other goodies. Call Len or Theresa Hermiller to make an appointment at 876-3260.