Thursday, December 17, 2009 ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY — Five seminarians for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been approved for candidacy for Holy Orders. Coadjutor Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided  over the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orderson Dec. 8 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the …

Thursday, December 17, 2009 By David Eck DAYTON DEANERY — Just weeks before celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk revisited the places where his priestly vocation was nurtured.

Thursday, December 17, 2009 By Sister Carol Gaeke, O.P. When the pregnant Elizabeth encountered the pregnant Mary, there was great joy at the mutual recognition of God among them in Mary’s womb.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 CATHEDRAL DEANERY — Two events will mark the 50th anniversary of Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk’s ordination to the priesthood on Dec. 20, 2009. The first will be an anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3 …

Mary Rita “Irish” Sims, 80, died Monday, Dec. 14. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish in Dayton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Holy Family Church. Harris Funeral Home in Dayton is handling the arrangements.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 St. Francis Seraph celebrates 150th anniversary By Eileen Connelly, OSU CATHEDRAL DEANERY — When St. Francis Seraph Parish in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine marked its 75th anniversary in 1934, Franciscan Father John B. Wuest, who penned a commemorative booklet for the occasion, wrote, “A parish is not a thing of …

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. Fourth Sunday of Advent: Micah 5:1-4a;  Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19;  Hebrews 10:5-10;  Luke 1:39-45. The beautiful “O” antiphons that are sung at vespers from Dec. 17-23 remind us that Christmas is near. They recall for us the long period of …

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 A Mass of Christian Burial for Adrian Dominican Sister Felicia Haidysz was held on Dec. 18 in St. Catherine Chapel at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich. Sister Felicia, 93, died on Dec. 13, in her 75th year of her religious profession with the congregation.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 A Memorial Mass for David Reker, an assistant superintendent of schools for the archdiocesan Catholic Schools Office, was celebrated on Dec. 12 at St. Vivian Church in Finneytown. Reker, 61, died on Dec. 7.

Monday, December 14, 2009 DAYTON DEANERY — The Catholic Education Collaborative recently received a $5,000 grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) for the Urban Elementary Instrumental Music Initiative. These funds will be used to provide a band/musical instrument experience to Catholic school students who may otherwise …