SCCR Parish Blog

Very recently (and with almost no advance notice), Gov. DeWine ordered facial coverings (masks covering the mouth and nose) to be worn for all indoor events in certain counties where the infection rate for Covid-19 is growing.  Yesterday, he added Clermont County to that list, for a total of 12 counties as of this writing. The Archdiocese is informing us that this edict applies to religious activities as well.  That means that all those attending Mass at  St. Mary or St. Peter will now be required by the State, not just encouraged, to wear masks.  Similarly, this edict applies to all indoor parish meetings. There is an exception for those with health issues where breathing is made difficult by wearing of a mask (such as asthmatics).  Also, there is an exemption for priests celebrating Mass and those leading a religious service.  The Archbishop is currently directing that his priests must wear a mask while distributing Holy Communion, so I will do that as lo...

We have been very busy this past month of June getting ready for changes to continue to serve our parishioners in the South Clermont Catholic Region (SCCR).    We have almost completed the move of the regional parish office to Bethel and will soon open the satellite office in the lower level of St. Peter's Church (see nearby blogpost).   We are also preparing for the arrival of Patrick, our resident seminarian, and our new volunteer DRE for St. Mary's, Nancy Shula.   So to accommodate all that, we have reworked the phone system a little You will still call the same familiar number to reach the parish (513-553-3267 for St. Peter or 513-734-4041 for St. Mary) and Debbie will answer both lines during business hours and transfer you to your party.   However, when she is out, if you need to connect to clergy or staff voicemail, here is the list of those extensions. Also, not a misprint: the extension for Gary Gunkel and Nancy Shula really is * (the asterisk key...

We're pleased to announce that our new St. Peter office in the lower level of the church building will be open for business starting Monday, June 13th. Office hours will be * Mondays from about 9:15 am - 3pm (Open just after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, manned by our business manager, Greg Feldkamp) * Fridays from about 9:15 am - 3pm (Open just after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, manned by Deacon Ron) If you come in person, just ring the doorbell by the lower level door. If you want to phone in, just call either parish office line.  Debbie will transfer you.  After business hours, you can leave a message for Deacon Ron or Greg at the St. Peter parish office anytime, by pressing Extension 1.   (Note: With the recent office move, the extensions have changed.  To reach Debbie's voicemail in the main parish office, you will now press Extension 0.) For the St. Peter's parishioners, if you would like to stop by for a Mass intention or other business in person, please come to the office ...

We are hearing more bad news from the U.S. Supreme Court.  In a narrow 5-4 ruling today, they held that a pro-life Louisiana law designed to protect the health and safety of a mother was "unconstitutional." The four reliably pro-abortion justices were joined by Chief Justice Roberts (sadly, a practicing Catholic) who did not want to overturn precedent. But precedents aren't absolute.  For example, Supreme Court precedent in the past held that slaves were not worthy of the same rights as freemen.  That unjust precedent was of course overturned, as Roe v. Wade should be, since it is based on the completely faulty assumption that the government has no duty to protect innocent life. The two justices nominated by the current President voted in favor of the pro-life law.  This is certainly a reminder that an important factor in deciding who to vote for as President is what kind of Supreme Court justices he will appoint.  This one vote difference on the Co...

We are busy getting ready to move offices in the parish. But in between moving, I will try to add a few things about the Church and racism, as that continues to be in the news.  Please check back later for updates. The first thing to note is that the Catholic Church is not a "Johnny come lately" to this issue.  She has always taught that there is one human family, descendants of Adam and Eve, and that the common bond of being brothers and sisters in Christ by divine adoption means that our ethnic differences should not be a source of division.  She has also taught that each person has a right to be  treated in accord with his or her inherent dignity, being made in the image and likeness of God. As just one example, the Popes have condemned the institution of slavery since before the Europeans arrived in the New World.   Long before there were politically organized abolitionist movements, for instance, the Church had been on the forefront of insisting that ...

UPDATED: July 6th. On the weekend of July 4th and 5th, we were privileged to welcome a visiting priest from the Archdiocese's Mission Cooperative Program.  Fr. Cyril from the Diocese of Moshi in Tanzania, Africa.  That's near the famous Mt. Kilimanjaro.   (He is currently a graduate student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.)  The quote above is from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, reminding us that sharing the Gospel with every nation and those in greatest need is at the core of who we are as the Catholic Church. Tanzania is one of the most economically poor nations in the world, with most of its population living on less than $1 a day. Please read this brochure for more information on the Diocese of Moshi and what we can do to help. If you were not able to contribute at Mass last weekend, but would like to help, please send you contribution to the parish office marked "Tanzania mission appeal."   Thanks for your support.

We will have two special Masses coming up over the next couple of weeks.  This Wednesday, June 24th, is the solemn feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, observing the birthday of the greatest of Jesus Christ's prophets.  We will have Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. Peter's.  On Saturday, the 4th of July, we will have a 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's to pray for our nation on her Independence Day.