Attn: Bulletin Editor and Parish Vocations Committee Vocation Bulletin Blurbs

March 2019/Cycle C   

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- March 3, 2019 “Therefore… be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” Is God reaching out to you to devote your work to the Lord as a priest, deacon, sister or brother? If this is your call, contact: Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org. Ash Wednesday—March 6, 2019 “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.” How is God inviting you to live the faith such that others come to know the way of Christ? Could it be as a deacon, in a religious community or as a priest? To find out more call Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org. First Sunday of Lent – March 10, 2019 In the same way that the devil tempted Jesus to turn away from His Father, so he tempts us to turn away from the path God calls us to follow. Like Christ, push the devil aside so that the way of God wins out. As temptations fall away, consider how God may be calling you to serve in a religious community, as a priest or as a deacon. For help with your discernment contact Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org. Second Sunday of Lent – March 17, 2019 “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” Is our Lord asking you to follow him in tending His flock as a priest, deacon, sister or brother? If this call is in your heart, contact Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org. Third Sunday of Lent – March 24, 2019 Most likely, we will never experience God speaking to us in a burning bush. But he does speak to us in the quiet of our prayer where he places in our hearts his call for us. Do you feel God calling you to serve as a priest, brother, sister or as a deacon? If so, call Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org. Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 31, 2019 “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.” Our Baptism calls us to new life in Christ. Whoever lets go of self to follow in His way, becomes His creation. Are you or someone you know called to live as His creation in a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life? To explore this further contact Fr. Christopher Luoni at (330) 744-8451 or by email: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org.

Vocation General Intercessions March 2019/Cycle C

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- March 3, 2019 That the Lord will bless us with vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life to serve as teachers to his flock, we pray to the Lord. Ash Wednesday—March 6, 2019 That men and women will answer the call of their vocations, denying themselves, taking up their crosses, and following Christ, we pray to the Lord. First Sunday of Lent – March 10, 2019 For all men and women being chosen by Christ to follow Him as priests, deacons, sisters and brothers, that they will persevere in the face of temptations against faithfulness to their call, we pray to the Lord. Second Sunday of Lent – March 17, 2019 That our priests, who bring us to the mountain of Christ at every Mass and feed us with His transforming love in the Holy Eucharist, will be strengthened in their life and vocation, we pray to the Lord. Third Sunday of Lent – March 24, 2019 That like Moses, young people will enter more deeply into conversation with the Lord in prayer as they seek to discover their vocations in Christ, we pray to the Lord. Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 31, 2019 For the faithful response of all persons now being called to seek out those who are lost and bring them back to life in Christ by serving Him and His Church as priests, deacons, sisters and brothers, we pray to the Lord.

Stewardship Bulletin Inserts for March 2019

English and Spanish

March 3, 2019 - Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Times “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.” (LUKE 6:43) Are you using your God-given gifts in the way God intended? Do you compare yourself to others and complain about what you don’t have instead of being thankful for what you do have? God gives each of us unique gifts and a unique plan. Listen to how God is calling you to use your gifts, to bear good fruit, for the glory of His name.

March 10, 2019 - Ist Sunday of Lent “I have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, O Lord, have given to me.” (DEUTERONOMY 26:10) This line from the Old Testament offers two challenges. First, do you give to God from your “first fruits”, the best that you have to offer, or do you give from what is leftover? Second, do you recognize that everything you have has been given to you by God? Ask God for a grateful and generous heart, every day, in all circumstances.

March 17, 2019 - 2nd Sunday of Lent “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” (GENESIS 15:7) Just as the Lord gave Abraham, Moses and the Israelites a land to possess, He has also given each of us a home. Whether your home is grand or humble, it is a gift from God. Abraham prepared a great sacrifice to the Lord in gratitude for the home God gave him. How do you show your gratitude to God for the home He has given you? Do you make a sacrifice of any kind? Do you return any of your finances to God, investing equally in your eternal home just as you invest in your earthly home?

March 24, 2019 - 3rd Sunday of Lent “He said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none.’” (LUKE 13:7) We can all be like the barren fig tree at times. Do you cling to what you have or do you generously share with others? How will you respond when God asks you what you have done with all the gifts He has given you? Remember, not only are we called to be generous, we are called to develop and nurture our gifts and return with increase.

March 31, 2019 - 4th Sunday of Lent “No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.” (JOSHUA 5:12) Over the forty years that the Israelites journeyed through the desert, God provided them with manna to eat. As soon as they were able to enjoy the fruits of the Promised Land the manna ceased. Likewise, God’s blessings to us may change over the years but it is important to trust that God will always provide us with all that we need.

Stewardship Bulletin Inserts for March 2019

English and Spanish (Continued) 3 de marzo de 2019 - Octavo domingo del Tiempo ordinario "«Porque no hay árbol bueno que dé fruto malo y, a la inversa, no hay árbol malo que dé fruto bueno." (Lucas 6:43) ¿Estás usando tus dones dados por Dios de la manera que Dios lo hizo? ¿Te comparas con los demás y te quejas de lo que no tienes en lugar de estar agradecido por lo que tienes? Dios nos da a cada uno de nosotros regalos únicos y un plan único. Escucha cómo Dios te está llamando a usar tus dones, a dar buenos frutos, para la gloria de su nombre. 10 de marzo de 2019 - Primer domingo de Cuaresma " Y ahora yo traigo las primicias de los productos del suelo que tú, Yahveh, me has dado.» ". (Deuteronomio 26:10) Esta línea del Antiguo Testamento ofrece dos desafíos. Primero, ¿le das a Dios de tus "primicias", lo mejor que tienes para ofrecer, o das de lo que queda? Segundo, ¿reconoces que todo lo que tienes te ha sido dado por Dios? Pídale a Dios un corazón agradecido y generoso, todos los días, en cualquier circunstancia. 17 de marzo de 2019 - Segundo domingo de Cuaresma "Y le dijo: «Yo soy Yahveh que te saqué de Ur de los caldeos, para darte esta tierra en propiedad.»" (Génesis 15: 7) Así como el Señor le dio a Abraham, a Moisés y a los israelitas una tierra que poseer, Él también nos ha dado a cada uno de nosotros un hogar. Ya sea que tu hogar sea grande o humilde, es un regalo de Dios. Abraham preparó un gran sacrificio al Señor en gratitud por el hogar que Dios le dio. ¿Cómo demuestras tu gratitud a Dios por el hogar que Él te ha dado? ¿Haces un sacrificio de algún tipo? ¿Reintegras algo de tus ganancias a Dios, invirtiendo igualmente en tu hogar eterno, así como inviertes en tu hogar terrenal? 24 de marzo de 2019 - Terer domingo de Cuaresma "Dijo entonces al viñador: "Ya hace tres años que vengo a buscar fruto en esta higuera, y no lo encuentro; córtala; ¿para qué va a cansar la tierra?"" (Lucas 13: 7) Todos podemos ser como la higuera estéril a veces. ¿Te aferras a lo que tienes o compartes generosamente con los demás? ¿Cómo responderás cuando Dios te pregunte qué has hecho con todos los dones que Él te ha dado? Recuerda, no solo estamos llamados a ser generosos, estamos llamados a desarrollar y nutrir nuestros dones y regresarlos con aumento. 31 de marzo de 2019 - Cuarto domingo de Cuaresma "Los israelitas no tuvieron en adelante maná, y se alimentaron ya aquel año de los productos de la tierra de Canaán." (Josué 5:12) Durante los cuarenta años que los israelitas viajaron a través del desierto, Dios les proporcionó maná para comer. Tan pronto como pudieron disfrutar de los frutos de la tierra prometida, el maná cesó. Del mismo modo, las bendiciones de Dios para nosotros pueden cambiar a lo largo de los años, pero es importante confiar en que Dios siempre nos proporcionará todo lo que necesitamos.

 Propagation of the Faith and Missions Office 

2019 Summer High School Missions Immersion Experience   

High School Youth Groups and CCD Students are invited to a Project Grow spiritual retreat and missions service opportunity this summer. Having reached out to assist in Louisiana and Kentucky in prior years, 2019 is a time to focus on relating with our neighbors in the inner cities of our diocese, specifically in Youngstown neighborhoods. This mission is funded by Catholic Extension Society, donations from parishes and individuals and by participant fees.  Dates from which parish and school groups may choose are:

Evening of June 16 to afternoon of June 19

Evening of June 19 to afternoon of June 23

Evening of June 23 to afternoon of June 26

Evening of June 26 to afternoon of June 29

Evening of July 8 to afternoon of July 11

 All teens must be registered as a group by their parish/school youth minister/catechist/chaperones. Arrival and check-in at the Villa is from 3:00pm to 4:00 pm on opening day, with dismissal at 1:30 pm on closing day. In between, youth will serve in under-resourced neighborhoods with local inner city residents who are open to meeting Jesus through the presence of our retreatants. Prayer, friendship, recreation and discussions will be shared among our teams. Based from the Villa Maria Conference and Spirituality Center in Villa Maria, PA, Mr. Matt Abramowski is assembling the youth ministry core team who will lead each of the five possible registration opportunities. Parish/school chaperones will be expected assist the core team of ministers throughout the specific days of their youth’s missions activities. Each parish/school group in asked to commit to one of the five possible “half-week” encounters wherein students will be housed in the dormitories with 2 students per room. All meals and snacks are furnished, as are yard/garden tools, home repair tools and building supplies, tee shirts, ball caps, recreational facilities and worship aids. The participation fee per person is set at $175.00. Some scholarships are available for cases of hardship. Consult diocesan ministerial guidelines and child protection policies as part of your planning process. For more information and registration forms contact Father Edward Brienz at 330-744-8451 x277 or ebrienz@youngstowndiocese.org .

 Office of Pro-Life, Marriage & Family Life 

Bulletin Announcements   

Please include these announcements in your bulletin throughout the month of March, as appropriate. 

  Hope and Healing is Available There is no sin, including abortion, that is greater than God’s forgiveness. There is Hope and Healing available. For CONFIDENTIAL help contact Project Rachel of N.E. Ohio at 888-259-4806 or support@projrachneo.zohosupport.com.. Committee Being Formed to Plan the Tenth Annual Faith & Family Festival Our most recent Faith & Family Festival this past September was our largest ever, with over 700 people in attendance. The Faith & Family Festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the variety of ministries and services offered to families, by parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus. The Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family Life, in collaboration with Walsh University, welcomes your participation to plan our Tenth Annual Faith & Family Festival to take place on Sunday, September 22, 2019 on the West Quad of the Walsh University Campus, beginning with Mass with Bishop Murry. To learn more about how you or your group can take part in the Faith & Family Festival contact Dave Schmidt at 330-744-8451 ext.272 or dschmidt@youngstowndiocese.org .

Lent 2019 Resources for Discussion and Reflection Prepared by the Lutheran‐Catholic Covenant Commission of the Northeastern Ohio Lutheran Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America & Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown _____________________________________________________ 

  

First Sunday of Lent, March 10 Deuteronomy 26: 4‐10 

Romans 10:8‐13 Luke 4:1‐13 

 This first week of Lent calls upon us to reflect on what has been traditionally called “the temptation of Jesus.”  We are told in the story that Jesus was driven into the wilderness after his baptism by the Holy Spirit when he is told by the voice You are my own dear Son.  I am well pleased with you.  Here Jesus must wrestle with a challenge from the Devil: If you are God’s Son…  Will Jesus receive his identity from God or will he take the matter of his own identity in his own hands?  Jesus is tempted to create his own identity based upon security and survival; power and control; and affection, esteem and approval needs.  As we enter the open space of Lent created by our spiritual disciplines, reflect on questions that come from the work of Thomas Keating.  How do we try and create our own happiness programs by seeking an identity upon security and survival; power and control; or affection, esteem and approval.  Which of these three happiness programs exert the most control in our lives this year?   How do we let go of a life based upon our own happiness programs and embrace our baptismal identity from God? ____________________________________________________________________________________    

Second Sunday of Lent, March 17 Genesis 15:1‐12 

Philippians 3:17‐4:1 Luke 9:28‐36 

 This week’s Gospel story takes us up a hill to pray with Jesus and his inner circle, Peter, James, and John.  In the Gospel of Luke, the practice of prayer seems to be a personal discipline of Jesus.  While Jesus is praying, his face is changed and his clothes become dazzling white.  In what we call the Transfiguration, Jesus appears in the company of the Law in the person of Moses and of the Prophets in the person of Elijah.  We hear the same voice from Jesus’ Baptism say: This is my Son, whom I have chosen.  Listen to him.  Jesus’ identity is given to him from above.  What of our smaller selves do we begin to let go of this Lent?  What do we allow to be transformed through our prayer life?  How can we wrestle with the principalities and powers of our smaller selves so they fall away and we can claim our larger baptismal identity, our real identity, as God’s daughter and sons? ____________________________________________________________________________________       

LENT 2019 Resources for Discussion and Reflection Prepared by the Lutheran‐Catholic Covenant Commission of the Northeastern Ohio Lutheran Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America & Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown  (Continued)  ____________________________________________________________________________________   

  

Third Sunday of Lent, March 24 Exodus 3:1‐8, 13‐15 

 1 Corinthians 10:1‐6, 10‐12  Luke 13:1‐9 

 In this third week of our Lenten journey, we listen to Jesus tell us the parable of “The Fig Tree.”  Parables are stories that describe both our outer and inner worlds at the same time.  The owner of the fig tree wants to cut the unproductive tree down so he can make space for something productive.  Instead, the gardener asks for one more season to work on the unproductive tree with standard gardening practices.  This is a real parable of grace.  Lent this year is one more chance to work with our spiritual disciplines on both the unproductive and productive parts of our lives.  What are the aspects of our inner lives that seem dead?  What are the non‐growing aspects of our lives?  Where is there growth?  How can we allow the grace of one more Lenten season to help us grow into our full identity in God?   ____________________________________________________________________________________   

 Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 31 

Joshua 5:9‐12 2 Corinthians 5:17‐21 

Luke 15:1‐32  

We are starting to get tired in our Lenten journey by now.  Maybe we have already given up on Lenten disciplines for this year.  Maybe it a good time to hear some words of invitation from another parable of Jesus.  We call this the parable of “The Prodigal Son”.  We put all the emphasis on the repentant younger son coming to his senses.   Helmut Thielicke calls it the parable of “The Waiting Father” because both sons were lost to the Father’s love.  One son rebelled against it and one son thought he had to earn it.  The waiting Father goes out to his sons and invites them back into their place of true sonship of his love  How have we responded to the love of our always waiting divine parent?  When have we been rebellious?  Have we been trying to earn God’s love by our moral behavior and by our right belief?  Can we dress up in the clothes of our true identity?  Can we accept the invitation to the feast of celebration?  Or will we stay eating with the pigs or grumbling outside the feast?   ____________________________________________________________________________________    

   

LENT 2019 Resources for Discussion and Reflection Prepared by the Lutheran‐Catholic Covenant Commission of the Northeastern Ohio Lutheran Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America & Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown  (Continued) ___________________________________________________________________________________   

 

Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 7 Isaiah 43:16‐21 

Philippians 3:4b‐14 John 12:1‐8 

 Our final reflection of this year’s Lenten journey finds us at the table of Lazarus, where Mary, his sister, acts as host.  This is the story of the anointing of Jesus feet with perfume made of pure nard, an act of conscious loving.  Judas could only see this act of love in terms of its value in money.  Her devotion to Jesus becomes the basis of her service.  Have our Lenten disciplines helped transform us into faithful disciples who act with conscious loving?  Or are we still living under the sway of our smaller selves like Judas whose self‐interest is based on security and survival; power or control; or affection, esteem and approval?  Do we create road blocks or are we generous and loving?   Did our Lenten journey this year make us ready to let go?  Do we follow Jesus’ path of letting go described in the Palm Sunday text from Philippians 2?  

Let the same mind be in you that was‐in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, 

did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 

but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, 

being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 

he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— 

even death on a cross. ____________________________________________________________________________________  

For more prayers, resources, and information on the history of the Lutheran Catholic Covenant, visit: 

www.lccovenant.weebly.com   

Visit the website of the Northeastern Ohio Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 

 www.neos‐elca.org  

Visit the website for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown: 

 www.doy.org 

Suggested Parish Bulletin and Pulpit Announcements for your parish. To receive an electronic file of these announcements please visit www.cmfdoy.org Prayer of the Faithful Please include in the Universal Prayers March 3, 10, & 17, 2019. For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, our homes and our communities in the New Evangelization and especially for the success of the upcoming Diocesan Men’s Conference, we pray to the Lord….

Bulletin Announcements Bulletin Announcement March 2 - 3 “Rise Up, O Men of God” Men…do you need a spiritual awakening or simply a “boost in the arm”? Don’t pass up the opportunity to spend a special day with other like-minded Catholic men to recharge and invigorate your faith life at the 7th

Annual Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Men’s Conference. Be a leader! Invite your son, brother, nephew and friends to this is one-day event in on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 9:00 a.m. start with closing with mass at 4:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Go to www.CMFDOY.org for more information, to download a registration form or register on line. Bulletin Announcement March 9 - 10 “Rise Up, O Men of God” It’s not too late to register and join the men of the Diocese of Youngstown at our Annual Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 23, 2019. 9:00 a.m. start with closing with mass at 4:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Go to www.CMFDOY.org for more information, to download a registration form or register on line. Walk-in tickets will be available the day of the conference. Pulpit Announcement March 2 -3, and 9- 10, 2019 “Rise Up, O Men of God” is the theme for this year’s Diocesan Men’s Conference. Each of us is called to carry Christ to one another. On March 23, men from all six counties of our diocese will come together for a day of prayer, reflection, and fellowship. Please refer to the bulletin for registration information. Pulpit Announcement March 16- 17, 2019 Registration for the Diocesan Men’s Conference next Saturday is closing soon. Fathers, bring your sons and spend a special day listening to dynamic speakers, music fellowship and a closing mass with Bishop Murry. The theme for this year’s conference is “Rise Up, O Men of God”. It’s not too late to attend; you won’t be disappointed! Please see today’s bulletin for more information.