Catholic Chronicle

Knights support religious education in Ohio

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

COLUMBUS—The Knights of Columbus distributed $57,115.90 to representatives of the Catholic dioceses of Ohio at the organization’s annual state district deputies meeting in Columbus.

Local Knights of Columbus councils in Ohio raised the funds through their “Strong in Faith and Service: Let Us Share the Dream” Matching Funds program. Included in this amount is a $25,000 match contributed by the Ohio State Council.

The Matching Funds program provides continuing support for religious education in each of the six dioceses of Ohio. Robert Collins, state advocate, chaired the 2009 campaign, which reflected an increase over the previous year.

On behalf of the Diocese of Toledo, David McCutchen, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis accepted a check for $12,522.82.

The Diocese of Toledo uses the money to help fund the diocesan media library and the Mysterium Christi Diocesan Institute, a new religion certification program for principals, teachers and parish religious education leaders and catechists.

Under the leadership of Paul Upman, state deputy, the Ohio theme of “Strong in Faith and Service: Let Us Share the Dream,” reflects the fact that the Knights of Columbus fraternity is a faith-based organization in service to the Catholic church, and in particular, to the religious education efforts of the parishes and schools of the Diocese of Toledo.

“Let Us Share the Dream” encompasses the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, who in 1882 founded the Knights of Columbus to provide service to widows and orphans, and envisioned that in the future every parish would have a Knights of Columbus council. Today the Knights of Columbus is a worldwide organization.

Local men receive ministry of acolyte

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

ST. MEINRAD, Ind.—Two men from the Diocese of Toledo were among 20 priesthood students from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology who received the ministry of acolyte Feb. 9 in the school’s St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel. Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, a Benedictine, of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, installed the acolytes.

Scott Carroll from Maumee St. Joseph and Christopher Mileski of Tiffin St. Joseph both received the ministry.

An acolyte is appointed to assist a deacon or priest, primarily in the celebration of Mass. He attends to the needs of the altar and may distribute Communion as an auxiliary minister. He also may be entrusted with the public veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, but does not give the Benediction, since he is neither a priest nor a deacon.

Chronicle announces photo contest

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

With Lent comes fish fries, and this year the Catholic Chronicle is sponsoring a contest to capture the best photograph from a fish fry in the Diocese of Toledo.

Send us your favorite photo and tell us what makes your parish or school fish fry unique. Submissions will be accepted through Easter Sunday, April 4, and all entries will be featured in an online gallery.

The Chronicle staff will select a first place winner to receive a copy of the Diocese of Toledo’s 100th anniversary history book and a runner-up to receive a centenary rosary.

To enter, e-mail your photo to catholicchronicle@toledodiocese.org or mail it to: Photo Contest, Catholic Chronicle, 1933 Spielbusch Ave., Toledo, OH 43604-5360. Questions? Call Laurie Stevens Bertke at 419-244-6711, ext. 136.

Catholic Charities offers free tax filing

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

TOLEDO—Local residents with a household income of $57,000 or less can have their 2009 federal and state income taxes filed for free with the help of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Toledo.

The program is being offered through the partnership between Second Harvest Food banks and the Governor’s Office of Faith Based & Community Initiatives and with grant funding from the Ohio Benefit Bank.

Individual appointments can be made by calling Catholic Charities Toledo office at 419-244-6711, ext. 460 or 461 or Norwalk office at 419-668-3070.

St. Vincent de Paul elects new Toledo District president

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

TOLEDO—Raymond A. Patterson has been elected the Toledo District president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the northwest Ohio area.

An accountant, Mr. Patterson and his wife, Sharon, are members of Toledo St. Joan of Arc. He joined the society more than six years ago, and previously served as treasurer for the St. Joan of Arc Conference and for the District Council.

More than 1,000 members and volunteers from Catholic church conferences throughout the Toledo Diocese go about helping quietly, in a caring Christian manner, and they assisted 80,000 poor and needy in 2009.

The society relies on donations of cash and goods. At this time coats, warm clothing, shoes, socks and blankets are needed to meet the current high demand.

Anyone in need, with a voucher from a Catholic church or social service agency, can get items at no cost to them at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in downtown Toledo. The store is open to the public and many items can be purchased at low cost.

A special collection is held in many parishes each month. These cash donations and the sale of items at the thrift store keep the store operating and provides emergency funds to help the needy with rent, utilities, clothing and food.

To donate useable items and wearable clothing, call the store at 419-243-2243 for pick-up or to get a list of drop-off locations.