A Season for Weddings

Each Summer many couples get married, and that is also the case here at St. Joan of Arc in Powell.  Each year our Deacons, Associate Pastor and our Pastor Fr. Raymond Larussa marry many men and women who make a commitment to be together for the rest of their lives.

A wonderful part of my job as an ecclesiastical musician is sitting down with couples to choose music for their Nuptial Mass or service.  Each couple will often have something different in mind, and will differ slightly from one another.  Yet all of the couples are coming together to celebrate the love of God, their love for one another and to be joined in this wonderful Sacrament.

Pray for the couples to be married at St. Joan's this year, those who have been married at St. Joan's in the past, and all married couples.  May their love for one another grow and their love of God be strengthened all the days of their lives.

Sacraments 'R' US

 Church ministry is never dull, especially at St. Joan of Arc in April! Literally over 360 students and their families will have celebrated either First Communion or Confirmation here this month. If we were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we could be called, Sacraments 'R' Us.

 Do you ever wonder how so many students and families are prepared for these special sacramental milestones?  One way to visualize this is to think of  all the families, dedicated volunteers, staff and clergy as threads of a skillful weaving which becomes a beautiful tapestry.


Today I'd like to focus on the PSR  staff members who behind the scenes are the strong threads that form this fabric for God's tapestry. Their contributions are special signs of  God's presence among us. 


Many of the colorful threads for the tapestry are the 350 + volunteers which are coordinated by director, Emily Winner along with top notch administrative staff; Mary Jo Newell, Judy Komenda, Cindy Guzak and dedicated coordinators; Jeanne Hayslip - preschool, Laura Sams - elementary, Susan Fox - middle school, and Michael Barone - high school youth group.   This team is composed  of 4 full time and 4 part time staff members. They weave prayer, education, community, and outreach together for the 1,800 + PSR (Parish School of Religion) children and their families to celebrate the sacraments and live their faith.


The visible thread that connects the weaving is obviously our ordained clergy; Pastor, Fr. Raymond Larussa, Associate Pastor, Fr. Jeffrey Tigyer, Weekend Celebrants; Emeritus Bishop James Griffin, Retired Founding Pastor George Schlegel, Deacons Tom Berg Sr., James Rouse, Michael Ross and Ben Muhlenkamp (deacon from the Josephinum who will be ordained in his home diocese soon). Their efforts are seamlessly supported by Eloise Carlet, sacristan coordinator and staff member,  whose efforts ensure that everyone and everything is in place for each sacramental celebration. This is quite an amazing feat given the numerous events at St. Joan of Arc.

The finishing touch for this tapestry is God's love which binds us together. It encourages each of us to contribute to this tapestry by becoming active members. One great way to participate in this large parish is to join Growing In Faith Together (GIFT), small faith sharing communities, it helps make this large parish more personal.   For more information please contact Pete Shears 614-888-1562 or Romy Riebe 614-885-9450.

Small Faith Sharing Communities, BIG Benefits!

             Learn! Grow! Share Friendship in the Parish!
                                Appreciate Your Faith More!

St. Joan of Arc small faith sharing communities are a conduit for getting to know parish members and grow in faith together.

Recent events for small faith sharing communities:

Parish Mission, Fish Frys, Stations of the Cross, Women's & Men's Breakfast with Fr. Larussa, Women's Groups: Lenten Longings & Women of Grace Book Club, Men's Faith Sharing, Fall French Toast Breakfast, Christmas potlucks and Summer picnics.  

Upcoming event: Next Friday, March 30th the Small Faith Sharing Communities (GIFT) will be assisting the Knights of Columbus with serving fish at the Fish Fry. If interested in volunteering, please contact us.

Become a part of something BIG join a small faith sharing community TODAY!
Contact Romy Riebe 614-885-9450 or Pete Shears 614-888-1562.
 

Lenten Opportunities

This beautiful spring-like weather with so many trees and flowers beginning to bloom, is the perfect reminder of how our small faith sharing communities are blooming at St. Joan of Arc.

This past Saturday March 10, featured a Women's Breakfast with Fr. Larussa. It was initiated  as a result Women's Conference and about 55 ladies attended.

The gathering began with Saturday morning Mass which included a lovely breakfast hosted and served by the participants of the Men's Conference. The theme of the morning was Pathways to Christ - Keeping Your "Soil" Fertile. Fr. Larussa shared the scripture reading from Mark 4:1-20; the Parable of the Sower. Each participant was given a hyachinth bulb planted in a container as a reminder to keep our spiritual soil culitvated with God's word and works.   Many opportunities were shared to help faciliated our spiritual growth. 

These opportunities include special Lenten experiences:
GIFT (Growing In Faith Together)  Romy Riebe 614-885-9450

Lenten Longings, 6 sessions, begun on Mar. 6, Tuesday evenings 7:00-8:30 pm
Facilitated by Anne Benington, 614-764-0924

Mornings of Grace Book Club, My Life with the Saints, 5 sessions begun on Mar. 2, Friday Mornings 9:30-11:00 am Facilitated by Jennie Wallace

Burdens and Blessings Women's Prayer Group, meets, April 21, May 12, 26, June 2, 16
Saturdays 9:00 a.m.Facilitated Annie Dalby, spiritual director

Coming in the Fall 2012:
Women's Overnight Retreat Michelle Biagi 614-785-0709, Jean Supron 614-433-9815

Various Small Group Study Series:
~ Catholicism DVD Series
~ Together!  Series (28 sessions) Eileen Huber 614-849-8827
~ Women of Grace (9 sessions) Jennie Wallace 614-430-8202 & Anne Benington 614-764-0924

Please watch bulletin for future details.

"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty, sixty and a hundredfold." Mark 4:20