Conference launches Prayer Warriors

The Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will host its inaugural "Call of the King Conference," Sunday, Sept. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood. The event will feature Father Anthony Brausch of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary speaking on personal holiness as an avenue for renewal in the church. In addition, seminarians will share their testimony as to how the prayers of the laity have helped and encouraged them in their response to God’s call to be a priest. Eucharistic Adoration will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.

St. Michael Prayer Warriors is an apostolate of the laity who agree to pray at least an hour each month for priests, seminarians and an increase in vocations. Their conference is free and open to all. To register or learn more, visit www.cincinnativocations.org/stmichaelprayerwarriors.php. Registration is not required.

ARCHDIOCESE

Catholic high schools set information fairs

Catholic high schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will take part in four information fairs this fall, starting Sept. 21, to help sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and their parents make the important decision about the next step in their educational journey.

Since no Catholic high school will visit individual grade schools, this is the best way to get the information needed to meet the requirements, deadlines and policies for admission. Each school will have a table with informational materials and representative students and staff to answer questions.

Not every school will be present at every fair. The schedule for the information fairs, and schools present at each fair, are as follows:

Sept. 21, 1-4 p.m., at Xavier University: Badin, Elder, Fenwick, LaSalle, McAuley, McNicholas, Moeller, Mother of Mercy, Mt. Notre Dame, Purcell Marian, Roger Bacon, Seton, St. Ursula, St. Xavier, Summit Country Day, Ursuline Academy.

Oct. 2, 6-8 p.m., at St. Maximilian Kolbe, West Chester: Alter, Badin, Fenwick, LaSalle, McAuley, McNicholas, Moeller, Mother of Mercy, Mt. Notre Dame, Purcell Marian, Roger Bacon, St. Ursula Academy, St. Xavier High, Summit Country Day, Ursuline Academy.

Oct. 9, 1-4 p.m., at the College of Mount St. Joseph: Badin, Elder, Fenwick, LaSalle, McAuley, Nicholas, Moeller, Mother of Mercy, Mt. Notre Dame, Purcell Marian, Roger Bacon, Seton, St. Ursula Academy, St. Xavier, Summit Country Day, Ursuline Academy.

Oct. 12, 1-4 p.m., at the University of Dayton: Alter, Badin, Carroll, Chaminade-Julienne, Fenwick, McNicholas, Moeller, Mt. Notre Dame, Ursuline Academy.

Students and parents may arrive at any time during the designated hours.

CATHEDRAL DEANERY

Fourth annual Blue Mass Sept. 28

The fourth annual Blue Mass will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral. All are invited to honor the men and women who serve as police, fire, and safety personnel throughout Greater Cincinnati. Individuals of all faiths are encouraged to participate. The opening procession includes the participation of bagpipes and honor guard members from the police, fire and sheriff’s departments.

Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. St. Peter in Chains Cathedral is located in downtown Cincinnati at the corner of Eighth and Plum streets. For more information call the cathedral at 513-421-5354 or go to the website: www.stpeterinchainscathedral.org.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY

Kennedy to kick off Xavier series

Robert Kennedy, Jr., will kick off the 2008-2009 Ethics/Religion and Society series Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. at the Cintas Center Arena. The location was moved to a larger arena to accommodate a high demand for tickets.

Kennedy will speak on "Our Environmental Destiny." Kennedy was named one of Time magazine’s "Heroes for the Planet." He will be the recipient of the Cincinnati Zoo’s annual Barrows Conservation Award while in Cincinnati.

While there is no charge for admission, tickets are required. For information on ticket availability, call 513-745-3411 ext. 7.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY

Catholic revival says ‘Come as you are’

The 2008 PMAAC revival, featuring the Father George Franklin, a Catholic priest from Dominica in the Caribbean, will be held Sunday, Sept. 21, through Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m., at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Madisonville.

Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk will attend the revival’s opening.

Father Franklin was born on St. Croix, but went to Iowa to pursue his dream of becoming a priest. He graduated from Divine Word College there and attended St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was ordained the first diocesan priest for Dominica in 1986. In 2000 he earned a Doctor of Ministry in preaching and has been on the road ever since, preaching missions in the United States and the Caribbean.

The revival is sponsored by Pastoral Ministers to African-American Catholics (PMAAC), which is made of up representatives from Holy Name, Mother of Christ, St. Agnes, St. Andrews, St. Anthony, St. Joseph, St. Leo, St. Mark and St. Martin de Porres parishes, the Claver Jesuit Community and the Office of African-American Catholic Ministries.

For more information go to http://www.pmaac.com or call Saint Anthony Catholic Church at 513-271-0920.

DAYTON DEANERY

Dayton agency aids displaced family

St. Mary Development Corporation (SMDC) has come to the aid of a Dayton area family displaced by an Aug. 21 fire at their Jefferson Township home.

Homeowner Saundra Ballard and her four children lost everything in the fire, which Montgomery County officials have ruled as arson. The family had some insurance coverage, but SMDC, a non-profit organization that provides high-quality, affordable housing to low-income seniors and working families in the Dayton area, is working to raise an additional $5,000 to help the Ballards get back on their feet.

The family’s home was part of a lease-to-purchase program run by the Miller-Valentine Group in partnership with SMDC. The program allows working families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a home to purchase one. Once in a home, SMDC’s Home Ownership Center of Greater Dayton helps the family by teaching financial management and home maintenance skills, as well as providing other supportive services that help the family become self-sufficient.

The Miller-Valentine Group has found another lease-to-purchase home for the family and they moved in on Sept. 5. But the family still needs to replace clothing, furniture and other items. Tim Bete, SMDC’s communication director, said the organization is grateful for calls received offering donations of material items and money, but additional help is still needed.

Information about making a donation to assist the Ballard family can be found at http://www.stmarydevelopment.org/ Ballard/Ballard.html.