The annual presentation of improvised musical meditations on the 14 Stations of the Cross by Dr. Richard Fitzgerald, Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral organist and music director, has been postponed for two weeks. The new date is Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. at the cathedral, 212 E. Broad St.
An award-winning improviser, Fitzgerald will play his own extemporaneous meditations with each station to reflect what is happening to Jesus at the various steps along the Via Dolorosa, the path that He walked on the way to His crucifixion.
Fitzgerald’s inspiration for his musical stations comes in part from Marcel Dupré, a 20th century composer and organist whose improvised meditations on the stations in 1931 were based on poems by Frenchman Paul Claudel. Dupré later wrote down his improvised work, and his version of the stations is still performed.
For more information and a list of other musical performances and events at the cathedral, visit www.cathedralmusic.org.
Aquinas alumni announce meeting schedule
The Columbus Aquinas High School Alumni Association has announced its 2025 meeting schedule.
Meetings, all on Mondays, will be on April 7, May 5, June 2, Aug.4 and Oct. 6 at the TAT Ristorante de Famiglia, 1210 S. James Road, Columbus, and on Sept.8 at Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School, 2010 E. Broad St.
Doors will open at 11 a.m., with a short meeting at noon, followed by lunch.
For more information, contact Louis Nobile at (614) 313-5889 or lngolf57@att.net.
Anointing to be administered at Granville St. Edward
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be administered at Granville St. Edward the Confessor Church, 785 Newark-Granville Road, after Masses at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26 and 8:15 and 10:45 p.m. Sunday, April 27.
Anointing of the Sick is one of the two Sacraments of Healing and is a powerful and effective sign of Jesus’ presence that brings strength and healing to the sick, the elderly and the dying. It may be received by any Catholic who is facing a serious illness of advanced years and is not, as was once commonly thought, solely for those in danger of death.
The celebration of this sacrament can help the sick get well again. When that does not happen, the sacrament helps the sick face their illness with faith and trust. It also helps dying people continue their faith journey to God in heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the sacrament conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude. These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ.