The theme of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, “Living the Joy of the Gospel,” inspires us, as people of faith, to share joyfully the Good News of Christ to those who most need to feel His love as we continue His work on earth as faithful disciples. The Appeal makes possible the many good works facilitated by the Office of Social Concerns and the Office of Marriage and Family Live, contributes to the education of our future priests and deacons, and supports the education of our young people in their faith. These are just a few examples of the many ministries and programs supported by your gift to the Appeal. Together we can bring hope that can change lives. We hope that each of you will be able to make a gift. Please understand that no gift is too small! All gifts are needed and appreciated. Let us strive for 100% of participation.

Youth Group Prep for 2021-2022 School Year: The meeting will be on Sunday, June 13th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Lower Level of the PCC. This is for anyone who will be in grades 7-12 this coming school year who wish to contribute ideas for service projects and different activities for the Consortium Youth Group. If you have ideas, but are unable to make it to the meeting or have any questions, please call/text Franchesca Russell

NEW MASS TIME ON WEDNESDAY, 6:30 P.M. Every Wednesday following Holy Hour, Mass will be offered at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rose parish. The last 8:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning Mass will be on June 23

The Saint Aloysius Academy and Saint Rose School Alumni will hold their Annual Reunion on June 12, 2021 beginning with Mass at 4:00 p.m. at St. Rose Church followed by Social Hour at 5:00 p.m. at the St. Rose Parish Community Center and Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

CORONAVIRUS RELIEF GRANT: The Perry County Consortium of Catholic Parishes received a grant from the Catholic Foundation to give directly to needy families and individuals who have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus shut down. Some funds are still available. Please call the Rectory Office at 740- 342-1348. May God bless and protect those who have been generous in making this possible, and those who have been negatively affected by the shutdown due to the Coronavirus.

New Votive Candles at St. Rose In honor of the month of May being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we will have new votive candles in St. Rose Church. They are due to be in place near the front of Church, directly under the statues of Mary and Joseph. The glass holders for the candles are blue and gold, respectively (which so happens to be the colors of our school). These candle stands were given at no cost to the parish. The votive candles near St. Aloysius statue will remain. The suggested donation for lighting a votive candle is $3.00. Votive candles are a sacramental, used as an outward material sign of our prayer and love for God. “The consuming of the candle symbolizes the oblation (offering) of something of value to God: our time, our praise, our resources and so forth. The lingering quality of the candle symbolizes the fact that our prayers, praise and concerns continue in our heart even when we must leave the church. The flickering light also seems to say ‘Remember me, Lord, remember my prayer and those for whom I pray.’ (Msgr. Charles Pope, ‘Why Are Votive Candles Used?’)

While they were eating he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’” At that meal with His disciples, Jesus gave us the source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist. He is truly present in the Eucharist, as He promised. This Real Presence of Jesus brings us as close to Him as we can be while on this earth. We must explain and share this gift of our faith in order to have a Real Future and so that everyone can share in this joy every time we receive the Eucharist. For more about how we are growing together in the life and faith and discipleship in the Diocese of Columbus, visit www.RealPresenceRealFuture.org

The dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation granted by Bishop Brennan, which was to last at least through Sunday, September 13, 2020, has been extended indefinitely. This is in keeping with the indefinite dispensation throughout the rest of the Ohio Catholic Conference. Those who are in the high risk categories are encouraged to remain home. Those who are not feeling well or who are exhibiting Coronavirus type symptoms are expected to remain home. It remains in effect to observe safe social distancing by marking off pews, to wear masks in church, and to make use of sanitization procedures.

REGARDING FIRST HOLY COMMUNION FOR CHILDREN: This is for the parents of all our second graders doing Religious Education from home this year and who will be making their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion later this May. So far you have been receiving “Gospel Weeklies” which connects each weekend’s Mass readings with the lessons to be learned that week. These “Gospel Weeklies” will continue to be passed out for you to go through with your kids each week as part of this year’s “at-home” Sunday school. On January 10th, parents are asked to attend a meeting with Fr. Yakkel at 11:45 a.m. in St. Rose Church. At this meeting, we will discuss the program to be used specifically for sacramental preparation and a schedule will be handed out. The sacramental preparation will involve watching a series of videos with your kids each week leading up to First Reconciliation (Date TBA) and leading up to First Holy Communion (May 9, 2021). In addition to watching the videos at home with students each week, parents and students will be required to attend a few in-person meetings with Fr. Yakkel, all of which will be held Sundays at 11:45 a.m. in St. Rose Church. More information on all of this will be covered at the meeting on January 10th.

Low Gluten Host: If you have Celiac Disease or a gluten allergy and would prefer to receive low-gluten host, please let us know by signing the form in the back of all churches or calling the Rectory Office 740-342-1348

AmazonSmile has donated over $200 million to charities worldwide! You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to St. Rose Church & School by shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/31-4395029 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app.

Come and join us for the Holy Rosary which is offered every Sunday at the Church of the Atonement at 7:30pm. Each Rosary invites the person to meditate on the mysteries surrounding the birth, life, and death of Jesus.

Catholic Men's Meeting is held every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, from 7:30am - 9:00am at the lower level of the PCC. We are looking for Catholic men of the consortium to join us as we go over the readings of scripture for the week along with fellowship.

PERRY COUNTY WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING is pleased to begin accepting materials at the Drop-off containers located at the top of the drive above PerCo., 2235 State Route 13, New Lexington. Materials must be deposited in the containers. This site is under video surveillance; anyone leaving materials on the ground or depositing garbage into the bins will be cited for littering. Please, if the bins are full, call 740-342-7881. DO NOT LEAVE MATERIALS ON THE GROUND OR AT THE CENTER. Two more locations have been added: Shawnee, Main St and Thornport at TC Market! Thank you!

Please don't forget your parish offering during these challenging times. Mass offering can be made via online on this website, just click on your parish under Mass offering, or you can mail it to Perry County Consortium 309 N. Main St. New Lexington, OH 43764.

We are updating our prayer chains at our parishes. Judy Kunkler is the contact for St. Patrick (740) 342-3967 and Mae and Katie Sabatino are the contacts for St. Rose, St. Bernard, and Church of the Atonement (740) 342-2675. In order to have a parishioner who is in need of prayers or if you yourself would like to be a part of the prayer chain, call one of them. If you have a person in need of prayers to be added to the list, call one of them, and also indicate if the person would like his or her name read at Mass during the Universal Prayer (Petitions). We will rotate 2-3 names each week.

By signing up on Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards. How to do this: (1) Visit smile.amazon.com (2) sign in with your Amazon.com credentials (3) Choose Saint Rose School to receive donations (4) Add a bookmark for smile.amazon.com to make it easier to return and start shopping at AmazonSmile. Kroger Community Rewards makes fund-raising easy by donating to Saint Rose School based on the shopping you do everyday. A digital account is needed to participate in Kroger Community Rewards. Please note, a plus card is required to be linked to your account so that your transactions apply toward St. Rose School. (1) Sign into your digital account at Kroger.com (2) Under the account click Community Rewards (3) Enter St. Rose School or our organization number FB144. Any transactions moving forward using your Kroger plus card will be applied to the program.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL: The St. Vincent de Paul Center is in need of paper goods and toiletries to replenish our stock at the Center. We are in need of such items as paper towels, bathroom tissue, cleaning products, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, and laundry detergent. Items can be left in the bins provided in the back of each church in the Consortium. Thank you in advance for your support and contributions!

Fr. Daniel Swartz Command Chaplain 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines 1st Marine Division Box 555442 Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5442