West Jefferson Sts. Simon and Jude Church, 9350 High Free Pike, will be the site of an Advent mission titled “Let There Be Light!” with actor Frank Runyeon on Sunday, Dec. 8 and Monday, Dec. 9.
On the first night, Runyeon will bring the Gospel of John to life with a presentation in a candlelight setting. Monday’s theme will be “Hollywood vs. Faith,” an evening filled with humor as Runyeon compares the story of our faith to the media stories people see every day.
Each presentation will be from 7 to 8:15 p.m. with receptions to follow.
Runyeon has been presenting the Gospel with drama and humor in various ways for more than 25 years and has appeared in more than 1,000 television shows in the past 30 years, with recurring soap opera roles in The Young and the Restless, As the World Turns, Santa Barbara and General Hospital.
For more information, contact Bonnie Creeger at bcreeger@stsimonjude.org.
African Catholics to gather for annual Mass
The annual African Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Columbus St. Matthias Chapel, 1582 Ferris Road. The chapel is home to the diocesan Nigerian Catholic community.
The annual Mass is organized by the National Association of African Catholics in the United States (NAACUS).
Father Elias Udeh, CSSp (Congregation of the Holy Spirit, or Spiritans) will celebrate the Mass. Co-celebrants include Fathers Lawrence Tabi, Jude Fongouck, Weldit Tesfazghi Abby and Process Milton Kiocha.
The Mass will also be livestreamed.
For more information, call Uche Ezechukwu at 773-709-4326 or Father Udeh at 614-622-1956.
Information about NAACUS is available at www.naacus.org or facebook.com/groups/naac.usa. The association can be contacted at naacus@gmail.com.
St. Dominic Church alters weekly Mass schedule
Columbus St. Dominic Church, 453 N. 20th St., is changing its weekly Mass schedule.
Effective this Sunday, Dec. 1, the church’s Sunday Mass will be at 9:45 a.m., with a weekday Mass at noon on Wednesdays. There also is a Mass for former residents of Cameroon at 1 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place from noon to 1 p.m. on the first Friday of the month.
Simbang Gabi event will be Dec. 15 to 23
The Filipino Catholic community of central Ohio will be celebrating its traditional Simbang Gabi novena of Masses from Sunday, Dec. 15 to Monday, Dec. 23 at Columbus St. Josephine Bakhita Parish at St. Elizabeth Church, 6077 Sharon Woods Blvd, with praying of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Mass at 7 each evening.
Bishop Earl Fernandes will be celebrant for the final Mass, which will be concelebrated by Father Anthony Davis, pastor; Fr. Pius Ajuluchukwu, associate pastor; and Father Hilary Ike, priest in residence at St. Josephine Bakhita; and Father Ramon Owera, chaplain of the Filipino Catholic community.
Simbang Gabi is a spiritual preparation event in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas. The novena Masses will be celebrated in English, with most songs in the Tagalog language of the Philippines.
For more information, contact irene_sze@yahoo.com or minda-li58@hotmail.com.
St. Pius X to host Advent retreat
Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church, 1051 S. Waggoner Road, will be the site of an Advent retreat on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to the conclusion of the parish’s 4:30 p.m. Mass.
“Great Expectations” will be the theme of the day, with talks by members of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters who serve the St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Community, based in Portsmouth.
The program will include lunch, small-group discussion, Advent garland making and time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
To RSVP, go to https://forms.gle/eQRhzNY2JbewHFe9a.