CT/E.L. HUBBARD

Catching up: Retired and senior clergy from throughout the archdiocese gathered recently for their annual luncheon with Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. More than 20 local priests shared a meal, discussed ministrie and their retirement activities at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.

Local Briefs

ARCHDIOCESE

Local men invested in Order of Malta

St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City was the site of a Nov. 14 installation Mass for 100 new members of the Order of Malta, American Association. Among the new members were two men from te Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Michael McGraw of St. Gertrude Parish in Cincinnati, and Major Jason Jackson of St. Peter Parish in Huber Heights.

Both were invested as Knights of Magistral Grace.

Cardinal Edward Egan of New York presided at the Mass.

The Oder of Malta is one of the oldest lay Catholic orders in the Catholic Church, founded in 1099. The charism of the order is personal sanctification of members, defense of the faith and service to the sick and poor.

DAYTON DEANERY

Annual Nativity scene ehibit at UD

Wise men and shepherds are a familiar sight around Nativity scenes, but government spies? Spies disguised as chimney sweeps are just a few of the figures in a huge 130-piece village from Czechoslovakia dating from the 1850s, featured in the Unversity of Dayton Marian Library's 2008 exhibit of Nativity scenes, also called crèches.

The hand-carved village is largest of about 30 scenes from around the world on display in the annual exhibit, which opened Nov. 28 in the Marian Library gallery on te seventh floor of Roesch _Library at the University of Dayton.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. For the first time it will be open during the holidays on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-6 p.m., on Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21. The crèches will b on display through November of 2009 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The centerpiece of this year's exhibit is the Czech village and is the newest acquisition in the library's collection of more than 1,500 crèches.

The scene, which includes abou 80 villagers such as a butcher, a baker and street musicians and 50 structures such as churches and homes, was created in the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia at a time when depictions of the Nativity were illegal.

In addition to the Czech scene, othe scenes on display include a large-scale porcelain set with an elephant more than a foot tall, a century-old crèche with wax figures and a Nativity scene set in the Brazilian jungle by artist Sidney Matias. For more information about the Marian Library exibit, call 937-229-4214.

DAYTON DEANERY

UD receives $10 million gift

The University of Dayton announced Nov. 25 that it has received a $10 million gift from an anonymous donor - the largest gift dedicated to scholarships in the university's 158-year hitory.

"This generous gift comes at a time when a college education is more important than ever. With current financial uncertainties, many students and their families are wondering how they will be able to afford to pursue their dreams," said Daniel J. Crran, president. "This gift will provide valuable support for many students."

Deborah Read, vice president of university advancement, said: "Fifty percent of the $10 million is earmarked to support students pursuing degrees in the School of Education andAllied Professions; 25 percent will go to the School of Business Administration and another 25 percent will go to the School of Engineering to support scholarships for students in those disciplines."

Each year up to 20 percent of the gift may also be use to assist students whose education may be threatened by a financial emergency, she said.

The fund will be named the Class of 1965 Scholarship. Read said the donor, who lives out of state, hopes the gift will encourage graduates of that class and other yars to make contributions dedicated to scholarships.

Read said the first scholarships will be awarded for the 2009-10 school year and will support partial as well as full scholarships.

"In the coming years, thousands of students will benefit from this dnor's generosity and commitment to a University of Dayton education," Read said.

Said Curran, "We are very grateful to the donor, because this gift will provide valuable assistance to many students. It's a transformative gift that will change lives."

ARCHDIOCESE

Knights of St. John elect local man president

Timothy L. Hoerst, a parishioner at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Reading, has been elected international president of the Knights of St. John International. The election was held this fall at a conention in Philadelphia, with representatives in attendance from the United States, Great Britain, Ghana, Nigeria, Panama, Trinidad, Liberia, Togo and Sierra Leone.

Hoerst is a graduate of Moeller High School and the University of Dayton. He is a member ofSt. Paul Commandery #59, Knights of St. John International. He will serve a two-year term as president.

ST. MARGARET MARY DEANERY

St. Joseph Orphanage in need of donations

The Christmas Fund Drive for St. Joseph Orphanage kicked off Dec. 1, running trough Dec. 31.

St. Joseph Orphanage is depending on the community of Greater Cincinnati for donations of cash, new clothes, new toys, and fast food restaurant gift cards this holiday season.

Gloria Wahler, marketing director of St. Joseph Orphanage sad, "We realize the tough economic conditions we are facing, but we are hoping that people do not forget our children this Christmas."

St. Joseph Orphanage was founded in 1829 and staffed by the Sisters of Charity. They initially established an orphanage fr girls in downtown Cincinnati. Then-Bishop Purcell created the St. Peter's Benevolent Society to provide financial support for the orphans at what was then known as St. Peter's Asylum. In 1852 Archbishop Purcell established St. Joseph Orphanage as a respnse to children orphaned by cholera and social ills. In 1854 it opened its doors in Northside to 100 orphaned boys and began to house girls a year later. In 1902 the orphanage cared for 500 children.

A new facility in Green Township was dedicated in 192. Today St. Joseph's is a children's mental health, educational, and residential agency for emotionally and developmentally disabled children. They serve 1,600 children annually.

To learn more about the agency's needs, go to http://www.stjosephorphanage.rg or call 513-741-3100.