Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the founder of Mary’s Meals, a charity that feeds three million schoolchildren worldwide daily, will return to Columbus for a film presentation on Saturday, Sept. 13 and a concert the following day.
MacFarlane-Barrow, who has spoken twice at the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference, will introduce a screening of the new Mary’s Meals film “On the Frontlines of Hunger,” followed by a question-and-answer session at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Matesich Theater of Ohio Dominican University (ODU), 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus. This event is part of ODU’s celebration of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
He also will appear from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at the second annual Concert for a Cause, a benefit for Mary’s Meals at the Edison Brewing Co., 785 Science Blvd., Gahanna. The family-friendly event will feature the musical group The Navigators, children’s activities, food and beverages available for purchase.
There is no cost to attend either event. Donations will be accepted.
MacFarlane-Barrow founded Mary’s Meals in 2002 after hearing the simple wish of a child in Malawi “to have enough to eat and go to school.” It partners with local farmers, food suppliers and communities to deliver and manage school feeding programs. Trained volunteers prepare and serve meals, and staff monitor the impact in 16 nations, including Haiti, Ethiopia, Malawi and South Sudan, where a school meal is often a lifeline.
Father Buffer’s music to be presented in concert
A free concert of original sacred music composed or arranged by Father Thomas Buffer, pastor of Columbus St. Cecilia Church, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 at the Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption,132 S. High St.
Choirs from the basilica, St. Cecilia, Columbus St. Patrick and Westerville St. Paul churches and the Columbus St. Leo the Great Oratory and the Una Voce vocal ensemble will participate, with organ and brass accompaniment.
Serra sponsors essay contest for boys
The Serra Club of Columbus’ third annual essay contest for eighth-grade boys will present $1,000 tuition assistance grants to a Catholic school to writers of the 10 best essays of 500 words or less on whether God might be calling them to the priesthood.
“The mere fact of writing vocation essays helps form a culture of vocations,” the club said. “Last year’s essays were very well-written while showing serious thought about what God might have in mind for them. A boy who settles down to write out what he thinks about his future in light of God’s will, forms in himself an antidote against secularism.”
All eighth-grade boys in the diocese are eligible whether or not they are attending a Catholic school. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, Nov. 30. Call or text (614) 558-0806 or email kielkopf.1@osu.edu for more information.
St. Andrew to host program for all affected by addiction
Anyone who has dealt or is dealing with the impact of addiction is invited to Columbus St. Andrew Church, 1899 McCoy Road, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31 for a late afternoon of prayer, support, and spiritual healing sponsored by iTHIRST Columbus.
The program will begin with time for private prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Night Prayer and Benediction will take place from 5:15 to 5:30. iTHIRST spiritual companions will be available to pray with anyone.
iTHIRST is a team of individuals who have been trained through Seton Hall University to provide spiritual companionship to anyone who needs support along the journey away from addiction.
For more information about the iTHIRST spiritual companion program or for confidential support and connection to a spiritual companion in your area, call or text (614) 547-9288.
Women’s recovery alliance to sponsor breakfast
The OpenDoor Women’s Recovery Alliance, a local nonprofit serving women recovering from substance use disorder, is sponsoring a fundraising breakfast featuring former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver Roy Hall Jr. telling his family’s personal journey with addiction and how it has shaped his life.
The event will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Five14 Church, 5744 N. Hamilton Road, Columbus. An auction will be part of the program.
OpenDoor was founded by Leslie Kristoff, Rachel Muha and Tammy Foeller – three women brought together by the pain caused by substance disorder. Kristoff and Foeller were desperate for their daughters to stop using drugs and Muha was devastated by the murder in 1999 of her son Brian, a Franciscan University of Steubenville student, by men high on drugs.
Its focus is befriending women suffering from the disease of addiction who lack support, providing them with unconditional advocacy, mentorship and companionship.
This transitional relationship fills the void existing between incarceration or treatment and sustainable recovery. By transforming lives, it impacts future generations.
“We believe the Catholic Church has a vital role in ending the cycles of addiction, isolation, and shame,” Muha said. “Our work is not about fixing people. It’s about being present, being faithful and building bridges to restoration. The women we serve are mothers, daughters and sisters – often survivors of abuse, trafficking, and generational poverty.”
Tickets to the event are $100 per person and sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Foeller at tammy@opendoorwomensrecovery.org or go to https://opendoorcolumbus.networkforgood.com.
Indian Lake shrine groundbreaking planned in October
Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in October for a new outdoor Our Lady of Fatima shrine overlooking Indian Lake at Russells Point. It will replace the shrine destroyed by a tornado on March 14, 2024.
Bill Quatman, president of the American Society of Ephesus that owns the shrine, anticipates that it will be completed in time for the annual pilgrimage and Mass for the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15, 2026. The pilgrimage has taken place there every year since the 1960s, except for two years during the COVID epidemic and one year when high winds forced it indoors. This year’s Mass was at nearby St. Mary of the Woods Church.
Quatman said the new shrine will feature a 20-foot-tall fiberglass statue of the Virgin Mary plus three smaller bronze statues of the children who witnessed the miraculous apparition of Mary in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The shrine’s architect is Freytag & Associates of Sidney and the sculptor is Mike Major of Urbana. The were selected from among entrants in a local design competition.
For more information about the shrine, visit www.ase-gbqfoundation.org.
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