Opportunities to live out your faith in action.
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus

I nformation and Response NETWORK 
Correction: Bishop Brennan's installation is Friday, March 29 not March 20 as stated in the previous email. Sorry about the typo. We are looking forward to welcoming Bishop Brennan. Please keep him in your prayers. God bless.

Latest Updates
Office for Social Concerns

Opportunities to live out your faith in action.
Bishop Robert J. Brennan

Pope Francis Appoints Robert J. Brennan as 12th Bishop of Columbus. Installation is Friday, March 29, 2019, at St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus.


Equal in Dignity & Dearly Loved:
The Church and Persons with Disabilities
Theology on Tap 
February 14, 2019

Thursday, February 14, 2019, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at El Vaquero, 3230 Olentangy River Road, Columbus.  Our Catholic faith affirms the dignity of every human person and identifies persons with disabilities as dearly loved by the Lord. This presentation will explore teachings from Sacred Scripture and Church documents about persons with disabilities. We will also examine ways we can welcome persons with disabilities and their families into the life of the parish and community. Featured speaker Mark Butler is Education Resource Coordinator for the Dominican Sisters of Peace,  parent of two young adults with disabilities, he advocates for the rights of parents and youth with disabilities on local and state levels, and advocate. For details, visit  https://www.facebook.com/events/232603274283253 .  


Mount Carmel Church Partnerships
Community Naloxone Training
February 25, 2019

Mt. Carmel Church Partnerships is hosting a free Naloxone Training for heroin and opiate overdose on Monday, February 25, 2019, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mount Carmel East Siegel Center, East Auditorium, 5975 E. Broad Street, Building 3, Columbus. Participants to receive a free Naloxone kit. Limited quantities available. RSVP to reserve your spot. To register, contact Kate Whitman at (614) 546-4062 or kwhitman@mchs.com .




Human Trafficking Awareness Day
February 28, 2019

The 10th Annual  Human Trafficking Awareness Day  at the Ohio Statehouse brings together advocates from around the state with one mission: ending human trafficking. This year's focus will be on the opioid crisis, and how it impacts and elevates the risk of human trafficking in Ohio. To register, CLICK HERE.



March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

All persons with disabilities have gifts to contribute to the whole Church. Embrace. Welcome. Participate. For resources available to individuals, families, and parishes to work towards the goal of full participation, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/persons-with-disabilities

CRS Rice Bowl

CRS Rice Bowl   is a Lenten faith formation program for use in parishes, schools, religious education programs and by families and individuals in the home. CRS Rice Bowl ensures that the Catholic community of the United States is present in nearly 100 countries worldwide, serving the poorest among us through CRS. For more information, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at 614- 41-2540 or  socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org  or visit the CRS website at  www.crsricebowl.org


Spirit of Hope Gala of Catholic Social Services
March 2, 2019 

Saturday, March 2, 2019, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St. Charles Preparatory School’s Walter Commons, 2010 E. Broad Street, Columbus. The annual event benefits Catholic Social Services’ programs which help seniors and families. To purchase tickets or to sponsor, visit  www.colscss.org/upcoming-events  or contact Julie Naporano at 614-857-1236 or  jnaporano@colscss.org


40 Days for Life:  The Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign
March 6 to April 14, 2019  

will be held at the Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facility at 3255 E Main St, Columbus. This facility is currently central Ohio's only surgical abortion facility. Participate in 40 Days for LIfe runs from March 6 to April 14 and fill the hours of 7am until 7pm with peaceful, prayerful action. Please consider joining us for an hour on your own or organizing and adopting a day through your church. You can learn more about the campaign or sign up for a time at   www.gcrtl.org/40-days-for-life  or by calling 614-445-8508.  
  

Lighten Your Load, Brighten Your Light Retreat
March 9, 2019 

A day of self-care and healing, Saturday, March 9, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Martin de Porres Center, Columbus. Grounded in gratitude and humility, this day seeks to return the patience, compassion and love you give out, back on yourself. As caregivers, first responders, crisis counselors and volunteers, and ministry leaders, taking the time for self-care is vitally important to your resiliency and renewal, which ultimately influences your capacity to serve and lead. We invite you to retreat and reignite through your passion, faith, and community. Free-will offering is appreciated; registration is required due limited space and lunch is provided. To Register, visit  www.tinyurl.com/DHTF-register . For more information contact Andrea Pannell, at 614.241.2550 or email at apannell@columbuscatholic.org . Sponsored by the diocesan Hope Task Force. 


Sacraments for Persons with Disabilities
For Parents, Teachers, Parish Staff 
March 13, 2019 

Featuring Esther Garcia of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and Andrew Burson of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship. Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Church, 6077 Sharon Woods Blvd., Columbus. Join us for a conversation with parents, catechists, teachers, parish staff, and clergy about preparation and the celebration of the sacraments for persons with disabilities. Offered in English and Spanish. This is a free event but RSVP is appreciated. For details and to register visit www.columbuscatholic.org/persons-with-disabilities . For questions, contact lleister@columbuscatholic.org .   FLYER:   ENGLISH    |   SPANISH   
  

Sacraments for Persons with Disabilities
Day Session for Clergy and Parish Leaders
March 14, 2019  

Featuring Esther Garcia of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and Andrew Burson of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship. Thursday, March 14, 2019, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville, 313 N. State Street, Westerville. This event will focus on the practical application of sacramental preparation of persons with disabilities, networking, and group discussion on best practices. Spanish translation is available. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. For details and to register, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/persons-with-disabilities . For questions, contact lleister@columbuscatholic.org .   FLYER:   ENGLISH  |   SPANISH    
  

Sacramentos para Personas con Discapacidades
13 DE MARZO 2019 

Presentando a Esther García de la Asociación Nacional Católica sobre Discapacidades Y Andrew Burson de la Oficina Diocesana de Adoración Divina. 13 DE MARZO 2019, 7:00PM-8:30PM EN LA IGLESIA ST. ELIZABETH, 6077 SHARON WOODS BLVD. COLUMBUS. Únase a nosotros para una conversación con padres, catequistas, maestros, personal parroquial y clero sobre la preparación y celebración de los sacramentos para personas con discapacidades. Este evento diocesano gratis será ofrecido en español e inglés, www.columbuscatholic.org/persons-with-disabilities .    FLYER:  SPANISH   
Good Friday Walking Stations of the Cross
April 19, 2019 

Many facets of faith and justice will be the focus of the annual Good Friday Walking Stations of the Cross. The walk begins with opening prayer at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., Columbus, at 8 a.m., Friday, April 19, 2019. Hundreds of participants from across the diocese will process to locations throughout downtown Columbus to recognize Jesus Christ’s suffering and crucifixion as well as to reflect on current areas of social concern. Open to all ages. For more information, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) 241-2540 or the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at (614) 241-2565. 

Autism Mythbusters
Autism Awareness Month
April 24, 2019 

Wednesday, April 24, 2019, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Martin de Porres Center, 2330 Airport Dr, Columbus, will be hosting an Autism Awareness Month program called “Autism Mythbusters”. ( https://www.facebook.com/events/368759150619582/ ) The program will help identify many misconceptions people have about Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace and the Autism Society of Central Ohio. It is part of the center’s month-long observation AAM19 along with some art shows ( https://www.facebook.com/events/543110186189385/ ) .   For FLYER Click Here .  
Advocacy News
“This Legislation is Evil, Pure and Simple,” Says Chairman of U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Activities Committee; Calls All Catholics to Fight with Renewed Vigor for Unborn 

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, KS and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities has issued the following statement in response to several states moving forward with legislation that would permit a baby to be aborted at nine months. Read Archbishop Naumann’s full statement  For updates, visit www.usccb.org/prolife .


Governor DeWine Delays Execution Due to Concerns Over Execution Drugs

Governor DeWine has  delayed  the scheduled February 13, 2019 execution of Keith Henness. He has directed the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to assess Ohio’s current options for execution drugs and examine possible alternative drugs.
Federal Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz last week  deemed Ohio’s three-drug execution protocol akin to fatal “waterboarding .” But the judge did not rule Ohio's method of execution unconstitutional because of a   2015 U.S. Supreme Court decisio n . The majority in the 5-4 ruling declared if Death Row inmates claim that the government’s methods of killing them are cruel, they must propose an alternative for their own execution that is “available, feasible and can be readily implemented.”
The Catholic Church   teaches , in the light of the Gospel, that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”  Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267 To learn more about the work of the Church to abolish the death penalty, CLICK HERE.


U.S. Bishops’ Domestic Chairman Reacts to Bipartisan Carbon Pricing Bill
 
WASHINGTON—After the introduction of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (EICDA), Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, welcomed the legislation as an important step forward in addressing climate change.   Read Bishop Dewane's full statement. For updates, visit www.usccb.org/environment .
Did You Know?
During the frigid temperatures in January, seven students from the University of Notre Dame spent three days of their winter break in Columbus for the annual Notre Dame Urban Plunge. The Urban Plunge is a one-credit, experiential-learning course designed to give students a brief but important opportunity to engage with communities experiencing poverty in U.S. cities. Leading up to and during the immersion, students examine the root causes of poverty in urban areas. Since the mid-1970s the diocesan Office for Social Concerns has partnered with the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Columbus to host the Columbus plunge. Jerry Freewalt, director of the Office for Social Concerns, organized and led this year’s plunge, participating in his 23rd ND Urban Plunge. Thank you to the participants for your faithful service!
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Jerry Freewalt
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus
197 E. Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio  43215
614-241-2540
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The Office for Social Concerns is the central diocesan resource for Catholic Social Teaching, reaching out through prayer, education, service, and advocacy.