The fifth annual diocesan Catholic Young Adult Conference will take place Saturday, Oct. 14, at Sunbury St. John Neumann Church, 9633 E. State Route 37, beginning at 8:15 a.m. The theme will be “Trust in Him” (Psalm 37:3-5).
Keynote speakers will be Dr. Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries in Detroit and longtime host of The Choices We Face on EWTN radio and television, and Sister Mary Grace, SV, of the Sisters of Life in New York.
The program also will include breakout sessions, small-group discussion, an Adoration chapel, exhibits by Catholic ministries, time for the sacrament of reconciliation and lunch.
The day will conclude with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction at 2:45 p.m., the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:15, Mass at 4 and dinner, with a barbecue and bonfire (weather permitting), at 5:15.
Tickets are $38. Child care will be available. For more information, go to www.ccyac.org.
Bradford on tap to speak to men’s luncheon club
John Bradford, founder and president of the Wilderness Outreach outdoor ministry, will present a talk titled “What is a Man? The Hunt for Manhood” at the Friday, Oct. 6 meeting of the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave., following the 11:45 a.m. Mass.
No reservations are necessary. A $12 donation to cover the cost of the lunch is requested.
The club’s next meeting is Friday, Nov. 3 and will feature a talk by Father PeterClaver Kasasa Kiviiri, who was ordained to the priesthood in May and is parochial vicar at Gahanna St. Matthew Church.
To sponsor one of the club’s lunches, contact Jim Gernetzke at jimgernetzke@noslumine.com.
Serra Club sponsoring vocations essay contest
The Serra Club of Columbus is sponsoring a vocations essay contest for eighth-grade boys and is offering 10 prizes of $1,000 in Catholic high school tuition assistance for the best-written entries.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, Nov. 30. The diocesan Office of Catholic Schools is coordinating the competition in diocesan grade schools, and the Serra Club is reaching out to parishes to give boys in Parish School of Religion programs the opportunity to participate. Names of the award winners will be announced in February.
The club hopes to expand the program, adding one grade each year, ultimately offering 40 scholarships – 10 each year to boys in grades eight through 11 – by 2026.
There is money in a Catholic Foundation endowment fund to support the program for three years. Additional donations are needed if the club is to attain its goal.
Donations may be sent to the foundation at 257 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215, with checks made out to the foundation and the words “Serra Club of Columbus Priestly Tuition Assistance Fund #320FEO” in the “For” line.
The club also needs new members to help with the program. To become a member, contact club president Carl Faehnle at carl@faehnle.com.
Author plans Autumn retreat in Hocking Hills
Columbus author Cecile Smith will present the third of four seasonal retreats at the St. Martin de Porres Retreat House on six wooded, hillside acres in southeastern Ohio’s scenic Hocking Hills beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6 and ending at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.
This retreat, which is for women ages 18 and up, will combine a gardening project on the retreat house grounds with the method of prayer presented in Smith’s book, Connecting with God in the Garden, while enjoying creation where God’s beauty abounds.
Activities include silent reading and reflection, conversation and journaling; and a seasonal nature outing at Hocking Hills State Park featuring cavernous rock formations, waterfalls, hemlock-shaded gorges and vivid fall foliage.
The cost for the full retreat is $115 per person for double occupancy rooms, or $165 for a private room. The cost for attending Saturday only is $75. Meals are included as well as a signed personal copy of Smith’s Inspirational Journal for all Seasons with helpful materials to take home.
The retreat is limited to 12 overnight participants. To register, go to CecileSmith.com/contact or Seeds_of_Grace@yahoo.com.
St. Michael Church adding Sunday evening Mass
Worthington St. Michael Church, 5750 N. High St., will add a 5 p.m. Mass to its Sunday schedule on Oct. 1. The Mass for that day will celebrate the parish’s patronal feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (moved for parish celebration from Friday, Sept. 29).
With the addition, the parish weekend Mass schedule will be 4 p.m. Saturdays (Vigil Mass) and 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 5 p.m. Sundays.
St. Michael also offers weekday Masses at 8:15 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
St. Agatha sets Mass for people dealing with breast cancer
Columbus St. Agatha Church, 1860 Northam Road, will sponsor a special Mass at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 for those who have been affected by breast cancer.
October is breast cancer awareness month. St. Agatha is the patron saint of breast cancer.
Franciscan University to host criminal justice career day
Franciscan University of Steubenville will host its annual criminal justice career day on Friday, Sept. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the J.C. Williams Center. College and high school students and the general public are invited to attend.
Representatives from more than 30 government agencies and other employers will be on hand to talk to potential employees about their work.
The agencies include the Drug Enforcement Agency; Border Patrol; Secret Service; Marine Corps; Internal Revenue Service criminal investigation unit; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Michigan, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania state police; Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati city police; U.S. Capitol Police; Duquesne, Cleveland and Ave Maria law schools; prosecutor’s offices; forensics units; and many more.
Dr. Charles Nemeth, director of the university’s criminal justice program, will answer questions about the program and educational requirements, applications and hiring processes.
For more information, contact Nemeth at (740) 283-6203.