Upcoming Events

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  The diocese developed a new bulletin insert to promote mental health and wellbeing.  The message calls on Catholics to bring hope and comfort to those struggling with mental illness, and includes statistics, resources, and a prayer.  For a copy of the bulletin insert and additional resources, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/mental-health.
 
Diocesan Senior Citizens Celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 3730 Broadway, Grove City.  Bishop Campbell will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m.  Mass is followed by a luncheon.  This annual event is a great opportunity for seniors to meet with other seniors from around the diocese.  Registration for the celebration is $15.  To register, send a check payable to the Office for Social Concerns, Catholic Diocese of Columbus, 197 E. Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215.  For questions, call 614-241-2540 or email at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org.  Registrations are requested by June 14.  FLYER-SENIOR CITIZENS CELEBRATION
 
Trauma Informed Care Training – Drug Addiction & Behavioral Health.  As the diocese continues to address the drug addiction crisis, a 2-day Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Training will be offered at Bishop Watterson High School, Dominican Hall, on June 11-12, 2018.  TIC is an approach which acknowledges the role of trauma in addressing behavioral health problems.  The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services will assist in the training.  Cost is $25 per person.  To register as a team or individual from your parish and/or school, visit https://columbuscatholic.org/tic-training.
 
Bishop Campbell’s Pastoral Letter on Drug Addiction.  For a copy of Bishop Campbell’s pastoral letter on drug addiction and a listing of resources for families, schools, and parishes, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/drug-awareness  or contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org or 614-241-2540.

Mass & Holy Hour to Pray for immigrant families and reform of destructive immigration, asylum, and family separation policies.  Thursday, June 21, 2018, 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad Street, Columbus.  All are welcome.  Come stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters as they strive for a better life.  Sponsored by the Office for Social Concerns, Catholic Diocese of Columbus.
 
The U.S. Catholic Bishops condemn recent policies to strip away asylum for immigrants who lack adequate protection and for the continued use of family separation at the U.S./Mexico border as an implementation of the Administration’s zero tolerance policy.  Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together.  The bishops also call on fair solutions for Dreamers and unaccompanied migrant youth.  As Congress debates immigration reform, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.  We pray for a just and compassionate solution to fix the broken immigration system. 
 
For Church teaching on immigration and ways you can respond, visit the websites for the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign at www.justiceforimmigrants.org and Pope Francis’ Share the Journey Campaign at www.sharejourney.org.  

 
Religious Freedom Week is June 22-29.  The U.S. Catholic Bishops remind us of our call to follow Christ as missionary disciples by serving others and living our faith in all we do.  During Religious Freedom Week, we are asked to pray, reflect, and take action on religious liberty, both here in this country and abroad.  For resources, visit  www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week.  
 
Mass and Holy Hour for Religious Freedom – June 27.  As part of the national Religious Freedom Week, a Mass and Holy Hour for Religious Freedom will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at 5:15 p.m., Saint Joseph Cathedral, 212 East Broad Street, Columbus.  Mass will conclude with a Holy Hour beginning with the Rosary, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and concluding with Benediction.  All are invited to participate in this special evening of prayer.  Priests are welcome to concelebrate and deacons are welcome to vest.  For more information, please contact the diocesan Office of Social Concerns at (614) 241-2540 or socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org.  Elevator access to the Cathedral is available via the west entrance (in the courtyard) from East Broad Street.  For more information about issues related to religious freedom, visit www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty.

Share the Journey Migration Campaign.  Pope Francis launched Share the Journey, a global campaign to support migrants and refugees around the world.  The U.S. bishops are asking Catholics around the country to join the campaign, www.sharejourney.org.
 
Opiate Addiction Epidemic Resources.   For a list of resources and suggestions for families, schools, and parishes to respond to the opiate addiction epidemic in Ohio, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/drug-awareness  or contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org or 614-241-2540.
 
Responding to the Sin of Racism.  “Racism is a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family…” from Brothers and Sisters to Us, U.S. Catholic Bishops.  For resources to respond to the sin of racism, visit  www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism.  This is a good time to consider sponsoring a Bridging the Racial Divide Training for dialogue facilitators in your parish.  Please call Mark Huddy at the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at 614-241-2540.