I am a number of years removed from being a teenager, but from what I remember about the experience, and what I can cobble together from what modern day youths tell me, there are two primary social concerns that drive kids in the modern age. The first is the desire to have fun virtually all the time, which, by the way, is exhausting to even think about for me nowadays. The second is an overwhelming desire to fit in. Nobody wants to feel socially isolated by others. There are certainly those who are socially isolated by choice, but that’s another issue entirely. Click on title for full column.

I wouldn’t say that I come from a particularly musical background, but I do love music. In addition to the handful of instruments I play poorly, I also find myself whistling and/or singing virtually all the time in the office. You can ask the wonderful parish staff, as those poor folks are subjected to it almost constantly. In fact, one of the benefits of living on my own in the rectory is that I can loudly serenade my cat with made up songs without anyone else judging me condescendingly. Click on title for full column.

For event registration, please register at EventBrite.com and search on Mardi Gras Bunco in Wyoming, Ohio. Click on title for full event information.

The ebb and flow of parish life is truly a beautiful thing, even when passing through these dreary winter months when I spend my free time thinking about the glorious possibility of one day being old enough to retire and spend January and February ministering as a priest in Miami or someplace where 50 degrees is considered freezing. Because of the weather, flu season, and probably other factors of which I am unaware, there is a fairly steep increase in anointings and sick calls during the winter. But even though Fr. Lambert, the deacons, and myself see an uptick in hospital and home visits, it seems to me that there are still some misunderstandings about when, and to whom, the sacrament of the anointing of the sick should be administered. Click title for full column.

Parish Offices All Parish offices will only be closed if there is a Level II or III snow emergency declared by the city or county. Regularly scheduled weekday Masses  St. Matthias and St. James weekday Masses will not be cancelled. OLR weekday Masses will be cancelled only if there is a Level III snow emergency. Weekend Masses All weekend Masses will be held as scheduled. Masses will only be cancelled for a severe storm. We will make every attempt to post such cancellations on our website and local TV and radio stations. Please travel with caution and always put your safety first in the event of severe weather conditions. Church law does not require Catholics to fulfill the obligation to attend Mass if doing so endangers their health and wellbeing, or the health and wellbeing of others.

My best friend and I have known each other for almost twenty-five years at this point, and I like to think that in that time I have come to know him rather well. One of the little joys that I get in life is hearing a song on the radio for the first time and thinking, “Man, I bet Sean hates this song with all his heart.” I’ve heard him complain about so many dumb songs these last few decades that sometimes I know what he hates before he even hears the song for the first time. However, I am never one to rest completely on speculation. I always call or text him and ask if he has heard the song, and if so, does he loathe it with all his being? It’s a strange tradition, but it is mine. Click title for full column.

This Tuesday, January 22 Deacon Steve Ryan will be giving an overview of the seven Sacraments.  We will then take the following three weeks to explore these sacraments in greater detail. January 29 we will look at the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist. February 5 we will look at the Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick. February 12 we will look at the Sacraments of Service: Matrimony & Holy Orders. Please join us as we investigate our faith Tuesday evenings beginning at 7:00 pm at St. James of the Valley. Come to any or all of them and learn more about what it means to be Catholic and to live out our faith. Everyone is welcome!