Staff Report

On Sunday, Feb. 22, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will celebrate the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion with 857 adults and children seeking entrance into the Roman Catholic Church.

The number is a slight decline from last year, when 946 were received into the church.

The Rite of Election is celebrated with those who are unbaptized and preparing to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.  The Call to Continuing Conversion is celebrated with those already baptized, but desiring to be received into the Roman Catholic Church.

Additionally, baptized Catholics who are completing their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist are also called to continuing conversion at this celebration.

The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion follows Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. This season of the Church year is dedicated in a particular way to the final preparation period of these men, women, and children as they prepare to enter the Church.

The term “election” refers to the fact that God has chosen these catechumens for membership into Christ’s Body. During this public celebration, the Church discerns their readiness and affirms their intention to advance toward the Easter Sacraments.

This year there will be four celebrations on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr will preside at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer will preside at the same times at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Dayton.

These gatherings are one way in which the archbishop and auxiliary bishop can be involved in the initiation process of these soon-to-be Catholics.  Also, it is an opportunity for those involved in the initiation process to experience a sense of being incorporated into the larger Roman Catholic community.

Parishes have been assigned to a particular celebration according to the deanery in which they are located.

Archdiocese HQ gets larger-than-life portrait of St. Francis de Sales
There’s a newcomer to the eighth floor of the 100 E. Eighth Street Building — a bigger-than-life painting of St. Francis de Sales, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The painting hangs in the reception area.

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr commissioned the painting by well-known Cincinnati artist Holly Schapker, a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

St. Francis de Sales, who was bishop of Geneva in the 17th century, is also the patron saint of writers and journalists (and The Catholic Telegraph) because of his effective use of pamphlets in evangelizing his Calvinist diocese. Introduction to the Devout Life, his most famous book, is a spiritual classic. It was written for lay people, which was unusual in his era.

In the painting, St. Francis is holding a book featuring two images.

One is the black madonna, patron saint of Catalonia, to whom St. Francis de Sales had a great devotion. The other image is the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

Mount St. Joseph University awards honorary doctorate to Lauren Hill
On Friday, February 6, 2015, Mount St. Joseph University awarded Lauren Hill, a freshman basketball player who is battling brain cancer, with the Doctor of Humane Letters degree in a private ceremony.

The ceremony, attended by her family and friends, as well as Mount faculty, staff and students, was held at 5:30 p.m. in Mater Dei Chapel.

Hill has spent her life since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer raising awareness and funds for cancer research.  Readers can learn more about Hill or support her efforts HERE.

McAuley freshman wins award
McAuley High School freshman Josie Smith recently received a Silver Key in the 2015 Scholastic Art & writing Awards for four poems she composed: Sunrise, Archery, Tree, and Few are They.

Josie is the daughter of W. Stephen and Ellen Smith of Fairfield.

Around the Archdiocese is compiled from press releases and other submissions sent to The Catholic Telegraph. To be included in a future posting contact New Media Editor John Stegeman.

Posted Feb. 10, 2015