CT - Local Briefs

Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley (CSS) will offer the 2008 Forum for Families speaker series later this month. Nationally recognized parenting experts Ray Guarendi and Paula Statman will present parenting seminars at various locations in Shelby, Auglaize, Mercer, Miami and Darke counties in Ohio, and in Adams County in Indiana.

Guarendi is the father of 10, a clinical psychologist, author, public speaker and radio host. He has been a regular guest on national radio and television shows and has written several books, including Discipline that Lasts a Lifetime, You’re a Better Parent than you Think, now in its 25th printing, Back to the Family, and his newest book, Good Discipline, Great Teens. Guarendi’s presentation is "Standing Strong as Parent." He will speak at St. Henry High School, St. Henry, on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 7-8:30 p.m.; and at Lighthouse Christian Center, Greenville, on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Statman is an educator, parent-child communications expert and award-winning author of Raising Careful, Confident Kids in a Crazy World and Life on a Balance Beam.

Her presentation is titled "Helping Your Child Navigate the World and Deal with the People in it." She will speak at Lehman Catholic High School, Sidney, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4-5:30 p.m.; James F. Dicke Auditorium, New Bremen High School, New Bremen, Thursday, Oct. 23, 4-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7-8:30 p.m.; and Piqua High School, Piqua, Thursday, Oct. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, call 800-521-6419, ext. 105.

Xavier University is one of 24 Ohio schools that has chosen to offer TEACH grants for 2008-09. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program provides federal grants of up to $4,000 per year (up to four years for undergraduate study and two years for graduate study) to students who pledge to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school serving students from low-income families. TEACH grants are also being offered at seven schools in Indiana and nine in Kentucky. In return for the forgivable grant, recipients must agree to serve as full-time teachers in a high-need field including bilingual education and English language acquisition, foreign language, mathematics, reading specialist, science and special education.

Grantees much teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of the completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH grant. If they do not complete this service obligation, TEACH grants will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which must be repaid with accrued interest to the U.S. Department of Education.

"This program provides an extra incentive for those who wish to teach, especially those who may not have considered these subject areas previously," said Mark Meyers, dean of Xavier’s College of Social Sciences, Health and Education. "Providing access to the best and brightest teachers requires an investment and this program is one such investment."

For more information, visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp, or to apply at Xavier, call 513-745-3630

In commemoration of the anniversary of the Blessed Virgin appearing at Fatima, the students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School will participate in a prayer service/rosary rally on Monday October 13. The entire student body will process to the football field behind a group of people carrying a large statue of Mary.

More than 90 years ago, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children near the town of Fatima, Portugal. Mary appeared to the children six times between May 13 and Oct. 13, 1917. In all of her appearances at Fatima, the Blessed Mother emphasized the necessity of praying the rosary daily.

Handmade rosaries were donated for every student, using IHM’s colors of blue and white. During the prayer service, the rosaries will be blessed by Father Rey Taylor, and the students will say the rosary as a group. Each homeroom will create a poster for world peace, and the PTO will present each student with a Fatima holy card.

The Sisters of the Precious Blood are offering a program for single women 18-45 who are committed to deepening their relationship with God.

"Women’s Inner Journey" debuts Friday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., with a simple supper and Scripture sharing at Madonna of the Precious Blood Convent on the site of The Glen at St. Joseph, 611 St. Joseph Ave., Dayton. Participants are encouraged to bring a Bible. Registration is requested by the Wednesday before the program (Oct. 14 for the Oct. 17 evening) to arrange for meals/seating. The second will be held Nov. 21.

For more information, or to register for the Oct. 17 program, contact Sister Carolyn Hoying at (937) 231-1244, or e-mail: Vocations@PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org.

The Caregiver Assistance Network is sponsoring its 13th Annual Caring Matters Regional Health Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel at I-71 and Pfeiffer Road in Blue Ash. The program is designed to provide information and health care tips for nurses, social workers, counselors, activity professionals, clergy, and family/volunteer caregivers.

Exhibitors include nursing homes, hospice centers, hospitals, and various other social service agencies with a focus on health care for older adults.

This promises to be a top-notch event for professionals and family caregivers alike," said Rod Huber, director of Family Services. "We also have CEU credits available for social workers and counselors and have applied for CEU status for other professionals in the health care fields."

The theme for this year’s conference is "The Challenges of Caregiving: Finding Your Way Through the Maze." The program will provide a full day of practical help to caregivers and professionals on maintaining balance in caregiving.

The program is presented by the Caregiver Assistance Network, Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio and the Council of Aging of Southwestern Ohio. The cost is $90 for professionals and just $25 for caregivers. Continental breakfast and lunch included. Please contact Margaret Iannaci at 513-241-7745, ext. 2539, to register.

CT/TONY TRIBBLE

Come as You Are: St. Anthony Parish was host to a Sept. 21 revival for the PMAAC (Pastoral Ministers to African-American Catholics) parishes of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati — St. Agnes. St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. Bernard, St. Joseph, St. Leo, Holy Name, St. Mark, St. Martin de Porres, Mother of Christ, an the Claver Jesuit Community and African-American Catholic Ministry. Father George Franklin of Dominica led the event, "Come, Just as You Are," at the Madisonville parish, and a combined choir of all the parishes provided the music for the evening.