Vatican II talk at Josephinum Jan. 25

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Father John W. O’Malley

Father O’Malley, university professor of theology at Georgetown University, is regarded as the dean of American historians of Christianity. His newest book, What Happened at Vatican II, is being heralded as the most important and detailed synthesis of the Second Vatican Council ever written.

"What Happened at Vatican II: The Author Reports Back" is part of the Josephinum’s annual Building Spiritual Bridges to the Community lecture series, supported by a grant from Our Sunday Visitor Institute. For more information about this lecture and other presentations in the series, please visit www.pcj.edu or call 1-614-985-2497. All lectures are free of charge and open to the public.

ST. LAWRENCE DEANERY

Elder principal receives national honor

Tom Otten, principal of Elder High School in Cincinnati, has been chosen one of seven national recipients of the Catholic Secondary Education Award, recognizing his years of distinguished educational and community leadership. The award is presented each year by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).

A 1964 Elder graduate, Otten began teaching math at Elder in 1968. He has served Elder as coach, business manager, assistant principal, and — since 1997 —principal. "He has approached each position with enthusiasm, dedication, and a deep appreciation for the job he has been entrusted," the nomination for the award noted. "His love for Elder is contagious."

As principal, Otten has brought Elder into the forefront of technology; launched an Elder Honors Program to instill academic excellence, leadership, team unity and community outreach to prepare students for life beyond Elder; organized the Price Hill Pacer, a 5K race benefiting Santa Maria Community Services and Price Hill Will; and awarded 81 diplomas to World War II veterans who left Elder early to fight for their country. He also has led two capital campaigns that have strengthened Elder’s standard of academics, improved the physical plant, enlarged the campus and expanded the financial aid program.

Otten will receive the NCEA Catholic Secondary Education Award on April 15 in Anaheim, Calif., during the NCEA’s annual convention.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY

Martin Luther King to be celebrated Jan. 19

St. Mark Church will sponsor the ninth Annual Martin Luther, Jr. "Keep the Dream Alive" awards ceremony Monday, Jan. 19, at 3 p.m. at the church. This event, which is free and open to the public, celebrates the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his constant fight for justice and equality for all and his vision for the future. The year’s program theme is "The Fierce Urgency of Now." The following persons will be honored for their efforts and achievements: Jesuit Father Joe Folzenlogen, Carol Lewis, Marcella Trice, Rev. K.Z. Smith, Herschel Chall, William Barrett, M.D., Kent Robinson, M.D. and Brittanie Washington.

ST. MARTIN DEANERY

Parish will host foods seminar

The second annual Local Foods Seminar will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, 1-3:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church Hall, 220 South High St., Mt. Orab, and will focus on everything needed to know about starting a co-op, whether you are a producer or a consumer of local foods.

The featured speaker will be Tom Snyder, director of the Ohio Co-operative Development Center. The seminar is free and is co-sponsored by the Catholic Rural Life Conference and the OK River Valley Chapter of OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association).

For additional information call Julie Klein at 937-392-1543 or Pat Hornschemeier at 937-378-4769 (day) or 937-378-4560 (evening).

ST. ANDREW DEANERY

Sunday Vespers Jan. 25 at Atheanaeum

The Athenaeum Chorale, under the direction of music director Anthony DiCello, will present Sunday Vespers at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle. The vespers will be in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great at the Athenaeum of Ohio-Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, 6616 Beechmont Ave.

The perforance by the chorale, which is in its 29th season, is free and open to the public. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk will preside.

ARCHDIOCESE

Masses celebrate Catholic Schools Week

Hundreds of Catholic school students will celebrate Catholic Schools Week at two special Masses on January 28.

A Mass in Dayton and the northern area of the archdiocese will be held at St. Henry Church in Dayton beginning at 10 a.m. Father Jim Manning, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Franklin and president of Archbishop Alter High School, will celebrate the Mass.

In Cincinnati a Mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains at 10 a.m. Father George Jacquemin, pastor of St. Clare Parish and dean of the St. Margaret Mary Deanery, will serve as celebrant.

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and Coadjutor Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr were originally to celebrate the Masses in Cincinnati and Dayton but will be attending the installation of Bishop Allen Vigneron, who succeeds Cardinal Adam Maida, as the new archbishop of Detroit.

CATHEDRAL DEANERY

Prayer service supports immigration reform

An interfaith prayer service for immigration reform was held Jan. 8 at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. An interfaith immigration platform signed last month by a number of major Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was read. Prayers led by area religious leaders followed.

The Catholic Church in the United States observed Jan. 4-10 as National Migration Week, celebrating the theme "Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice." The Catholic bishops of the United States established National Migration Week more than 25 years ago to spotlight the wide diversity of the Church and its ministries.

In addition to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Office, co-sponsors of the inter-faith prayer service were the American Jewish Committee, the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center, the Greater Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Collaborative, the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Immigrant Advocacy Movement and the International Center of Greater Cincinnati.

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Tony Stieritz, director of the archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Office, led attendees in prayer at Fountain Square.