WINTER 2014
NEWSLETTER
THE COMMUNITY-IN-FORMATION OF THE ORATORY OF SAINT PHILIP NERI IN CINCINNATI 123 EAST 13TH STREET • CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 • INFO@SPNCINCINNATI.COM • WWW.SPNCINCINNATI.COM
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Please find the latest newsletter and updates from the Communityin-Formation. Much has happened over these past months and continues to happen. The future is very bright. I hope that this gives you an idea of what the Community has been up to. Our hope is that you continue to get to know St. Philip and us, along with our hopes and dreams for the Church in Cincinnati. St. Philip helped save the city of Rome from falling away from the Church during very turbulent times. We are confidant that St. Philip can do the same thing for us in Cincinnati in these unsettled times. If St. Philip teaches us anything, it is the joy that should fill all Christians. St. Philip certainly had his fears and worries; he faced his own difficulties and persecution. However, what he is most remembered for is the joy that he was filled with as he carried out his priestly duties. He never once lost a sense of hope and never once allowed an inconvenience to get in the way of ministering to God’s faithful people. He never once let the hardships he faced destroy that interior peace that can come only from God. Because of this, many souls were won for God, including youth and young adults. Many of whom would have otherwise been left to face the temptations of society alone. We can learn from St. Philip today in the 21st century. With our own challenges and difficulties facing the Church, what is required above all are more joyful faithful saints. Saints who are fully confident and hopeful in God’s providence. Saints who do not allow the difficulties and temptations that are thrown our way to deter us from the mission entrusted to them by Christ and the Church. This is the mission of the Community-in-Formation in Cincinnati. Joined to the dream of Bl. John Henry Newman of a well-formed and educated laity, we are confident that many hearts and minds of the people of Cincinnati will be won for God through this mission. May this upcoming Christmas Season bring many blessings to you and your families! Be assured of our prayers, and please pray for us! In Christ,
Fr. Jon-Paul Bevak Moderator
Br. Adrian’s Diaconate Ordination
Young Adult Oratory
Blessing of Easter Baskets 2014
Saint Philip Vespers 2014
WINTER 2014
NEWSLETTER
BR. ADRIAN REFLECTS ON ORDINATION When I was ordained a transitional deacon on April 26th of this year, I promised to live a celibate life, to recite faithfully the Divine Office, and to be respectful and obedient to my ordinary (local bishop or major religious superior). My life in the seminary has surrounded a rule of life influenced by these three promises. Now that I have formally promised to do them in front of and on behalf of the Church, they are a part of who I am as a deacon and who I will be as a priest. These three promises will shape my heart and soul so that I might serve the Lord and His holy Church. As a deacon, I participate more intimately in the holy sacrifice of the Mass as I announce the Gospel, preach sermons, and assist the priest at the altar. While I do these holy things, I consider all of those who have assisted and supported my vocation throughout the years, beginning as a young child. The mercy and kindness of the Lord touches us all in unique and privileged ways and I cannot adequately express my gratitude to all who have led me closer to our Lord and this sublime vocation to which He has called me. As ordination to the priesthood approaches, I cannot help but think of the great privileges that await in offering Mass, hearing confessions, baptizing those who have chosen to follow Christ, and much more. I invite all of you to join our community on May 16, 2015 for the Ordination Mass. Every priest is a sign of Christ’s love for the world and the priest represents Christ’s presence among His people to love them and bring them to His Sacred Heart. Please pray for me. Pray that I might be a faithful and compassionate priest whose focus is only on Christ and making Him loved in this world. Know that you are all in our prayers as well. “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” – Rite of Ordination for Deacons
SAINT PHILIP NERI CATECHESIS W here was S t. Philip from? W hen was he born?
Saint Philip’s Feast Day 2014
St. Philip was born on July 21, 1515 in the city of Florence, Italy. He was the youngest of four children. He was known popularly as Pippo buono, or good little Philip, as a child. Philip was born shortly before the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation. He was greatly influenced by the Dominican Order while he was growing up in Florence, an influence that assisted him in the founding of the Congregation of the Oratory. Philip left his family and Florence when he was 18 years old, and he never again returned to Florence.
WINTER 2014
NEWSLETTER
PIOUS HOUSE UPDATE It has been long and tedious, certainly a learning process, but work on the Pious House continues. At the moment, our well thought out plan is currently under review by the City of Cincinnati Building Department. Once the permits are issued, the Community will be able to kick construction into high gear. We estimate this to happen at some point in the frigid months of December or January. All of the planning and bidding has taken place, with actual construction costs remaining on budget at $650,000. With about $440,000 in the bank, we have a good amount to get started, but are still in need of roughly $200,000 to complete the project. Can you help give your future priests a home? Can you help in assisting the Church ensure it remains a vital source of faith and culture in Over-the-Rhine and greater Cincinnati? Our hopes are ambitious, but we would like the Archbishop to bless the house on the Feast Day of St. Philip Neri on May 26 at the earliest, and if that is not possible, then on the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Philip on July 21. We have six to eight months to complete our fundraising, complete the renovation, and get the Archbishop on the calendar to dedicate this new residence for the sons of St. Philip Neri. Without you, this has not and will not be possible. If you have not already, please consider a donation for this project. See the insert for more information about the project and donation levels. Together, we can make the mission of St. Philip Neri come alive in Cincinnati.
The Façade Room Floor Plans
First Floor Plans
MUSICAL ORATORY The season of Advent is traditionally a time of preparation for Christmas, the coming of the Christ Child. Meditations on the themes of judgment and our ultimate destiny were developed for each of the four Sundays of Advent. At Old Saint Mary’s Church, the Community-in-Formation has a unique way of preparing for the wondrous feast of Christmas combining music with vocal prayer and Sacred Scripture. The pattern of Musical Oratory of Advent reflects the season’s growing anticipation, both of the first coming of Christ and of that day when the prayer, ‘Thy Kingdom come’, is finally answered. Please join the Community-in-Formation as we eagerly look forward to the Birth of the Savior at this special event that juxtaposes lessons from Sacred Scripture and choral meditations. Meditations will be offered in three languages, Latin, German, and English. Composers included will be Guerrero, Handl, Praetorius, Gesius, Bach, Sermisy, and many more. The evening will also include favorite hymns such as O come, O come Emmanuel. We hope you will join us for an evening of music and prayer – our second-annual Musical Oratory of Advent!
WINTER 2014
NEWSLETTER
COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS General News: Br. Adrian was ordained to the Diaconate on April 26 by Bishop Binzer at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Chains. Archbishop Schnurr will ordain Br. Adrian a priest on May 16, 2015. General News: The Community held its first Marian Musical Oratory on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Annual Banquet News: Next year’s Annual Gala will be in October of 2015. The speaker will be announced soon. Keep an eye out for more details. Keep a note on your calendars! Vocations News: Br. Brent began his Philosophical Studies this fall. This two-year program, in partnership with the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England, will allow Br. Brent to remain in house for the remainder of his novitiate. Please keep him in your prayers, and for more vocations to the Community! Secular Oratory News: Several speakers have spoken to the Young Adult Oratory. Fr. David Endres spoke on October 1 on the history of the Catholic Church in Cincinnati. Msgr. Frank Lane spoke on November 5 on the history of Protestantism. Both were well attended with over 25 young adults. Mrs. Emily Macke will speak on December 3 about Gender Identities.
Secular Oratory Update The Community’s Evening Oratory Prayers at 5:30 pm, Monday-Thursday Young Adult Oratory (21-35): 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 7 pm (Sept-May) Youth Oratory Catechesis: 2nd & 4th Sundays at 10:45 am (Sept-May)
Upcoming Events December 8 – Immaculate Conception Masses, 12:10pm & 7:00pm December 13 – Solemn Rorate Mass (EF), 6:45am December 16 – Musical Oratory for Advent, 7:00pm Christmas – Midnight (OF Latin), 8:00am (EF), 9:15am (OF Latin), 11:00am (German), 12:30pm (English) New Year’s – December 31, 10:00pm and January 1, 11:00am
Wisdom from Saint Philip Neri The Lord grants in a moment what we may have been unable to obtain in dozens of years.
Events are at Old St. Mary’s Church unless otherwise noted…
THE COMMUNITY-IN-FORMATION NEEDS YOUR HELP! PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A TAX-DEDUCTABLE GIFT MAIL CHECKS TO: THE COMMUNITY-IN-FORMATION 123 E. 13TH STREET CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: THE SOCIETY OF SAINT PHILIP NERI OR PAY BY CREDIT CARD ON THE COMMUNITY’S WEBPAGE
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