The Catholic Foundation’s online scholarship application period will open on Monday, Jan. 30. A complete listing of available scholarships, qualifications and applications is available online. The submission deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 27 and recipients will be notified in May.
There are 28 scholarships available to students in the Diocese of Columbus. Last year, the foundation awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to 41 students. To date, it has granted more than $1.5 million, empowering more than 250 young people to continue their academic and vocational studies.
For detailed information, visit www.catholic-foundation.org/scholarships. If you have questions about a particular scholarship or the application process, contact Dan Kurth at (614) 443-8893 or dkurth@catholic-foundation.org.
Mercedarians break ground for novitiate house
The Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament broke ground for a new novitiate house on Thursday, Jan. 26 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The projected completion date is December 2023, with an estimated construction cost of $5.2 million. To date, $2.7 million has been raised for the two-story, 14,574 square-foot building, which will have 18 bedrooms to accommodate 36 novices. A novice is a young woman who is admitted into a religious community on a probationary period, generally two years.
Within the Mercedarian Institute, novices spend their days in prayer, study and learning to live in community. During this time, they get to know God and themselves more deeply while learning to live according to the rule of the community. After her period of formation, the novice emits her first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Currently, there are five Mercedarian convents in the United States, located in Baton Rouge; Cleveland; Gainesville, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and Lemon Grove, California.
Three Mercedarian friars currently serve at Columbus Holy Family Church, assisting in the life of the parish and its many apostolates and establishing a house for men studying at the Pontifical College Josephinum to become priests of the order.
To make donations online visit www.mercedariansisters.org/novitiate-house-building-fund/ or mail checks payable to The Sister Dulce Foundation, Inc., 17560 George O’Neal Road., Baton Rouge LA 70817. For more information, contact Kim Johnson at (225) 752.8480.
Luncheon club presents annual award
Bishop Earl Fernandes will present the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club’s 2023 Catholic Man of the Year award to Dr. Eric Yang of Columbus St. Peter Church at the club’s meeting on Friday, Feb. 3, following the 11:45 a.m. Mass at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave.
Free parking is available in the Columbus State Community College Grant Avenue parking lot (25-S), across the street from the church. No reservations are necessary. A $12 donation for the lunch and meeting is suggested.
The club’s next meeting will be on Friday, Feb. 3, when the speaker will be Douglas H. Stein, vice president for advancement of the pontifical College Josephinum. The February luncheon will be sponsored by AM 820 St. Gabriel Radio. Contact Jim Gernetzke at jimgernetzke@noslumine.com if you are interested in sponsoring a future luncheon.
St. Joseph Cathedral changes Mass schedule
Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral has changed its weekend Mass schedule, eliminating the 5:15 p.m. Mass on Saturday, the preceding confession time of 4 to 4:45 p.m., and the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass.
“There are several reasons for this course of action,” said a statement in the cathedral’s bulletin for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15. “The Saturday 5:15 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. are our lowest attended Masses. Also, our average Sunday Mass population has been averaging approximately 450 people for many months now. The cathedral can seat 390 people and comfortably seat 250 people. Thus, three Masses would be sufficient for the number of people who attend Mass at the cathedral.”
The statement also said the reduction will free priests to cover other Masses in the diocese, especially at Columbus Holy Cross Church, which now shares priests with the cathedral. Holy Cross has Sunday Masses at 9 and 11 a.m. and is at the corner of Rich and Fifth streets. The cathedral is at 212 E. Broad St.
St. John Chrysostom offers iconography workshop
Father Marek Visnovsky will present an iconography workshop at Columbus St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church, 5858 Cleveland Ave., on Friday, Feb. 24 from 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26 from 1 to 6 p.m.
There will be time for prayer, talk, discussion, personal instructions, reflections and a hands-on demonstration. Participants will paint the Icon of Christ “Mandylion,” also known as “Made With No Human Hands.” The cost of $350 includes icon boards and painting material). Beginners and advanced artists alike are welcome. The deadline for registration is Sunday, Feb. 12. 2023. For the registration form and any further information, email Father Visnovsky at marekvisnovsky@yahoo.com
Father Visnovsky is a married Byzantine Catholic priest, serving the Eparchy of Parma. He and his wife, Miriam, have three children. For 22 years, he has been teaching iconography classes in the United States and Europe. He has painted more than 700 icons that are venerated in churches and homes around the world.