February 19, 2023

I announced at all the Masses last weekend that I will be stepping down as rector of St. Joseph Cathedral and Holy Cross parishes on July 11, 2023.  Fr. Jan Sullivan, the current pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Zanesville, will become the new rector.  This change in my assignment is part of many pastoral changes throughout the Diocese that were announced last weekend.  This is part of the ongoing renewal and restructuring of parishes that has come about because of the Real Presence Real Future Initiative begun under Bishop Brennan.  I will continue in my role as Judicial Vicar and head of the Diocesan Tribunal.  This was a role that I was sent away to canon law school for in 2013.  My future residence has not yet been determined.  I believe that the change will be beneficial to the Cathedral parish and Holy Cross Church as Fr. Sullivan will be full-time with the Cathedral.   As Judicial Vicar and a judge, I had to spend half of my time working in the Tribunal.  As St. Joseph Cathedral and Holy Cross come together as one parish and under one staff, I believe it will be important to have a pastor who can give more time to this venture and also to help make the parish a stronger presence in the changing demographics of downtown.  You have no doubt noted the many new apartments and condominiums being built.  It is important that we reached these people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I will continue in my current role as rector until July 11th.  We continue to work on the transition of making St. Joseph Cathedral and Holy Cross parishes one.  With this in mind, I want to remind you of the “town hall” meeting on March 19th after the 10:30 am Mass in the Undercroft.  I ask for your continued support and prayers for our parish.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Lent begins this Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence from meat for Catholics 18 years to 59 years of age. It is a day of abstinence from meat for Catholics 14 years and older.   The laws of fasting allow a Catholic to take one meal during the day.  Food can be taken at two other times of the day which would not amount to more than a regular meal.  Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence from meat for all Catholics 14 years and older. 

 We have three Masses on Ash Wednesday: 7:30 am, 12:05 pm and 5:15 pm.  Ashes will be blessed and distributed at all the Masses.  Often people ask if anyone can receive ashes.   Yes, anyone who is contrite about their sins and wishes to amend their life can receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.   Blessed ashes are a sacramental which remind us of our eventual death and the necessity of penance and contrition for our sins.  A sacramental is an object or an action approved by the Church which imparts grace according to the disposition of the recipient and the intercession of the Church.   They are not the same as sacraments which were instituted by Christ and which impart grace by the virtue of the conferring rite itself.  Nevertheless, sacramentals are very helpful for the spiritual life and dispose our minds to be open to the grace of the sacraments.  Holy water, blessings, scapulars, medals and rosaries are examples of sacramental.

 

Forty Days of Adoration

 Like last year, the Diocese of Columbus will begin Forty Days of Adoration in many parish churches throughout the diocese.  Like last year, St. Joseph Cathedral will lead off these Forty Days with Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on this Ash Wednesday.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin following the 7:30 am Mass and will continue until 8 pm, interrupted by the 12:05 and 5:15 pm Masses.  Confessions will also be offered after the 5:15 pm Mass until all are heard.  If you can spend an hour with the Lord, I believe you will be blessed.  You can contact Carol at 614-224-1295 to sign up for a certain hour or come when you can.

 

Fr. Kitsmiller