Our annual Corks for a Cause silent auction and wine tasting for SPiCE was held on March 2 and raised over $130,000 for our SPiCE program! Thank you to our many donors, supporters, and our event speakers Jason & Joanna Jutte (pictured).

On Sunday, February 25 we welcomed Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of Columbus to preside over the installation Mass of Father James Black as our pastor at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish.

The Installation Mass symbolized the public installation of Father Black as our pastor by a liturgical rite. Bishop Fernandes invited Father Black to be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher to our parish community. He was entrusted with the spiritual guidance and care of our parishioners, and was presented to the staff and members of our parish and community.

Following the Mass, there was a reception held in Hendricks Hall.

Ordained to the priesthood in June of 1988, Father Black brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a deep dedication to serving our parish. We are blessed to have him as our pastor and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our parish. May God bless him abundantly in his new role, and may our parish thrive under his loving care.

Below are the many activities St. Brigid of Kildare Parish will be hosting to honor the Lenten season. Click the link on the bottom for dates, details, and more information on each of these activities.

For a printable one page overview, click here.

Looking for ways to get involved and help where you are most needed? Below is a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities within our parish where all are welcome!

(PGC compliance needed where noted. Contact John Denzel jdenzel@stbrigidofkildare.org for PGC information)

• Spring Food Collection - April 27 (4:30 - 6:15 pm) and April 28 (8:30 am - 12:15 pm - two shifts)
• Benefitting the Dublin Food Pantry; Volunteers needed to assist in accepting donations from parishioners and packaging in boxes. Also may need volunteer(s) to deliver to pantry on Monday morning.
• Contact Karen at kaernes@icloud.com or 614-271-4086
• First Communion Class Group Leader - April 14, 21, 28, 10-11 AM
• Duties: Lead students through discussion using materials provided (no training required), must be PGC compliant
• To Help: contact Religious Education office at 614-761-1176
• Father/Daughter Dance - April 6
• Duties: Help needed with set up, during and after event, must be PGC compliant
• To Help: contact John Grecco JGRECO7779@gmail.com or 330-509-3979
• American Red Cross Blood Drive - April 20, 8 AM-2 PM
• Duties: Staffing the registration table and assisting donors in registering, distributing donor materials and monitoring the donor canteen area. Volunteer shifts are typically from 1 1/2 to 2 hours in length.
• To Help: email Patty Haskins at jd7jasper@sbcglobal.net

If you have parish volunteer needs you’d like added to this list, contact Allie Wing at mrs.wing@stbrigid-school.org.

Thank you to our many donors, bidders, attendees and sponsors of our SPiCE Corks for a Cause Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on March 2! We had an amazing time raising funds for our SPiCE (Special People in Catholic Education) program at our parish and school.

We are grateful for the generosity of our parish and school families who come together to support this crucial program.

A special thank you to our speakers Jason & Joanna Jutte, who shared how much the program has meant to their family.

Thank You 2024 Sponsors!

Released for church viewing only

We hope you will join us as we watch and discuss this amazing Biblical story!

The Chosen is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus and those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Palestine, the series shares an authentic look at Jesus' revolutionary life and teachings, through the eyes of his apostles. 

If you have not yet watched The Chosen and would like to participate in our upcoming study, you will want to catch up by watching seasons 1-3 at home. It is available online through Angel Studios at www.angel.com/watch. You can also watch all three seasons on Prime Video or Netflix. 

We will be using the following study guide for this series: God’s Goodness for the Chosen: An Interactive Bible Study, Season 4 (Volume 4) (The Chosen Bible Study Series). If you choose to purchase the study guide, it is available on Amazon for $12. However, it is not necessary to purchase the study guide to participate in the series. 

St. Brigid Bible Study Sessions:

April 9/10/11 — Episode One May 7/8/9 — Episode Five

April 16/17/18 — Episode Two May 14/15/16 — Episode Six

April 23/24/25 — Episode Three May 21/22/23 — Episode Seven

Apr 30/May 1/2 — Episode Four May 28/29/30 — Episode Eight

There are three ways to participate:

1. Women’s Bible Study: Join a community of women in prayer and study; Tuesdays, 1:00-2:30 PM, Immke Room
2. Wednesday Evening Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups; Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM, Berry Room
3. Thursday Morning Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups; Thursdays, 10—11:30 AM, Berry Room

For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Meetings: Wednesday April 3^rd - May 15^th , 9:45-11 AM, Church Basement                                                                                                                  

Childcare: Please signup HERE if you are planning to bring a child to Mom to Mom. Children are always welcome to join us at the Mom to Mom meetings. We will bring some toys to the meeting to help entertain any little ones that join us. If we have enough children/interest, we will attempt to provide childcare. 

This spring join Mom to Mom as they read and reflect on Lisa Hendeys, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.  Guided by the example of the saints, Hendey eloquently links personal stories, scripture and prayer and soul-strengthening exercises into a spiritually rich and deeply practical resource for Catholic women. 

Allow A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms to help you grow in your faith and enrich your heart, mind, body, and soul by spending each week with a different saint. You can purchase this book at Ava Maria Press or on Amazon. We hope you will join us! 

4/3/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Kateri Tekakwitha: Seeing the True Beauty of God in Our Natural Surroundings

4/10/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Martha of Bethany: Serving with Grace, Generosity, and Hospitality

4/17/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Gianna Beretta Molla: Respecting the Dignity of All Human Life

4/24/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms : St. John Vianney: Appreciating our Clergy and our Faith Family 

5/1/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. Joseph: Answering God’s Will in Our Daily Work

5/8/24: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: St. John The Apostle: Treasuring the gifts of our friendships

5/15/24: Gear Up for Summer!

Questions, please reach out to Gracie Dziewiatkowski at marygracedzski@gmail.com or Sara Norton at nortonsarae@gmail.com

Congratulations to Monsignor Hendricks who received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at a Mass and ceremony on Tuesday, March 19 at St. Joseph Cathedral. The award was presented by Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of Columbus, and is a medal known as the "Cross of Honour," the highest medal that can be awarded by the Papacy. It is conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy.

Congratulations to Monsignor Hendricks!

You are invited to spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist to feel his light and love on Friday, April 5th for First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00AM Mass and concluding at 4:00PM with Benediction.

“The eucharist bathes the tormented soul in light and love. Then the soul appreciates these words: Come all who are sick, I will restore your health” - St. Bernadette (Feast Day: April 16)

Jesus invites each one of us to spend time in silence with him in Eucharistic Adoration to restore us. All are welcome, including families with children. If you wish to sign up for an hour, please email Shelly Cocumelli at rocks1dad@aol.com.

Congratulations to Charlie Mazza who won the State Free Throw Championship for 12-year-old Boys on Saturday, March 16. Charlie made 28 out of 30 free throws. Outstanding!    

All married and engaged couples are invited to St. Brigid's 29th Make It a Date!

Father Black will be the featured speaker.

There will be light appetizers and a chance to catch up with old and new friends.

At the conclusion of the event,couples leave on their own date at a venue of their choice to talk about the evening and how it relates to their own relationships.

Please RSVP to Jessica Freiburger at 4freixys@gmail.com or 614-282-5095 by April 18.

The St. Brigid of Kildare Knights of Columbus is pleased to announce the St. Brigid of Kildare Knights of Columbus Scholarship. The Scholarship is to honor our deceased Brother Knights of Columbus.

This scholarship is for post-secondary education. The Scholarship is for a maximum of $3,000 to be paid out in yearly increments of $750 as requirements are maintained. 

Applicant must meet the following guidelines:

1)   Applicant must be a high school senior who is a registered parishioner of St. Brigid of Kildare and is Catholic.

2)   Current GPA must be a minimum of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). A current high school transcript must be submitted.

3)   Applications must be prepared and submitted by the applying student.

4)   Applications must be received by the Scholarship Committee prior to the official deadline of April 15, 2024.

Interested applicants can contact Terry Miller at 614-327-1381 or terry@milcohealth.com to request an application and receive the scholarship guidelines. 

Applications are available now and are due by the April 15, 2024 filing deadline. Applications will be reviewed, and the recipient will be notified during the month of May 2024.

We are still in need of several volunteers to assist with the second shift (crafts, gym supervision, games) and to help with cleanup afterwards. If we are not able to fill these slots it will limit the entertainment options we can provide. Moms, please consider volunteering during the dance as a fun way to experience it firsthand.  Volunteers during the dance must be PGC compliant. Older children (7th-12th grade) are welcome to volunteer with a parent as well but must sign a junior volunteer code of conduct. Please see the Signup Genius link below for more details.

If you have any questions, please email family@stbrigidkofc.org.

Religious Education is in the busiest season of our school year! We are in the midst of preparing our second grade students to receive First Holy Communion on May 11th. We just finished a series of intensive classes to prepare our eighth grade students for Confirmation. They have chosen their Sponsors and Confirmation names, and are now each prayerfully writing a letter to Fr. Black about why they want to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We continue to meet weekly on Monday evenings with our students and families for learning and service opportunities.

Religious Education is very excited to host Stems for Seniors as this month’s Family Service Event! Started by St. Brigid of Kildare parishioners Todd & Nancy Davis, Stems for Seniors uses donated flowers from weddings and other events to create beautiful individual bouquets that are delivered to local seniors. Donations of empty food cans (14-15 oz size), pint size mason jars, ribbon, fabric, vases and other floral supplies, along with volunteers, help to create these bouquets. Religious Education families will be serving this wonderful organization on March 25th!

Unfortunately there have continued to be fraudulent emails and recently text messages sent from someone claiming to be Father Black asking for gift cards. 

Please know that Father Black (or any clergy or staff members) will never contact you personally asking for gift cards or favors. If you receive a request like this do not engage and contact the parish if you are ever unsure if a communication is real. 

Parish Penance Service will be held Sunday, March 24 following 4:30 PM Rosary and 5:00 PM Vespers in the Church. Visiting diocesan priests will serve as confessors. 

Also, Individual confessions will be heard Monday, March 25, from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm in the Church

Parishioner Jim Whitmer is making walnut crosses to support Habitat for Humanity. The crosses, which are 12 inches tall, 6 inches wide, made from a ¾ inch thick walnut wood, and finished with 3 coats of Danish oil, are available for a minimum donation of $50 to Habitat for Humanity. The crosses were prayed over during Stations of the Cross. Please contact Jim Whitmer at snoopytp10@aol.com for more information.

OCIA/RCIA is the process by which adults are initiated into the Catholic Church. RCIA is the old term and stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The name has been changed to OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The change from “rite” to “order” is because of a retranslation of the Latin name into English. The Church has taken the ‘O,’ which is ‘ordo,’ in Latin and translated it to ‘order,’ rather than ‘rite.’ By emphasizing the entire process as an “order,” the Church underlines the continuous process of spiritual formation, as opposed to fixed checkpoints on the path to Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Those checkpoints are called Rites. During Lent, you will see our OCIA participants at Mass participating in the Rites.

Who are the participants we see at Masses on Sundays?

There are three categories of people involved in the process:

1. Catechumens are unbaptized and will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. They are dismissed from Mass before the Liturgy of the Eucharist to reflect more on the Sunday scriptures.
2. Candidates are already baptized in another Christian faith tradition and will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. They are also dismissed from Mass before we receive Communion.
3. Confirmands are those who were baptized Catholic, but never received their sacrament of Confirmation, and possibly never received Eucharist either. They are never dismissed from Mass, because they are already Catholic.

Our RCIA/OCIA program recently celebrated adult Confirmations at St. Brigid on February 17, 2024. These people all participated in RCIA for the preparation of the sacrament.  

Congratulations to the following adults who received the sacrament of Confirmation:

Left to right front row: Jocelyn Owens, Jose Covarrubias, John Scott, Hannah Taylor, Patricia Kelso.

Left to right back row: Vanessa Demeulenaere, Barbara Thomas, Kim VanHuffel (Pastoral Associate)

CREW (which stands for Catholics Ready, Eager and Willing) is a parish group providing low-commitment volunteer opportunities. Throughout the year, there are many times that we could use your hands to help make a difference here at St. Brigid of Kildare.

This is not a committee with members and monthly meetings. This is not a year-round commitment. CREW is just a list of parishioners who are ready, eager and willing to help around our campus and during special events.

Sign-up today to receive all the CREW requests via email but only commit to those that appeal to you and fit in your schedule! You’ll meet new people, feel connected to our parish family and be the first to know that we aren’t too shy to ask for help!

Youth Sunday will meet on March 24. Following 11 AM Mass, students will meet for lunch and games followed by an opportunity to brainstorm and ask questions to our vocations panel in Enke Hall.

Friends are welcome and RSVP is required.

Pick up is at 1:30 PM from Enke Hall.

RSVP at the link below.

St. Brigid wants to acknowledge, pray for, and celebrate your high school senior! The St. Brigid high school senior celebration will take place on May 5 at 11 AM mass followed by a reception in Hendricks Hall.

Please RSVP by April 16 by clicking here.

The 24nd Annual St. Brigid’s Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 1:00pm on Brigid’s Green (located at 7210 Avery Road, directly across the street from the church on Avery Road). Please note: the event will start promptly at 1:00pm, plan to arrive a little early to park and make your way to the field.

All children ages 8 years and younger are invited. The children will be grouped in 3 age groups; ages 3 & under, ages 4-6, and ages 7-8. Each age group will have its own egg hunt area, and one grand prize will be provided for each age group. Advanced registration or signup is not required. In the event of inclement weather, please check our website www.stbrigidkofc.org for a message as to whether the event will be held.

Save the date for St. Brigid of Kildare's Vacation Bible School, June 17-21!

Registration will open at 10 AM on Tuesday, April 2 at www.stbrigidofkildare.org (click "Sign Ups" in the top bar).

Calling all 8th-12^th grade students! 

Join us for a day of service by volunteering for the St. Brigid Faith Blitz Build Team and support Habitat for Humanity in the process!

When? 

Saturday, June 29 (all day) at One Church in Gahanna

What?

The Playhouse Project is a unique opportunity that allows Habitat for Humanity MidOhio to partner with sponsors (like us!) to build a playhouse for a local family, providing children with a safe place to play and imagine what home means to them!

We design the playhouse (paint colors, accessories, etc.) based on the interests of the child/ family assigned to us. We build the playhouse from a kit provided by Habitat for Humanity. There is no building experience necessary to participate.

This year, we will be participating in the Habitat for Humanity Faith Blitz, where Christians from all over Columbus will gather in one location on one day to build and design up to 10 playhouses!

Photos from last year's build: Playhouse Project Faith Blitz Photo Album

Who?

All current 8th-12^th grade students (must be 14 years or older by June 29). 

Sign up here!

The St. Brigid Women's Retreat is coming up April 12-14!

Registration ends March 29th, 2024. There are a limited number of spots available!

Register at this link.

If you are 18 years or older and interested in volunteering with youth activities at SBK, attending PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN is required before you can volunteer. Register under the Columbus Diocese at www.virtus.org

Upcoming Virtus Protecting God's Children (PGC) session:

April 17, 2024 Zoom (Columbus) 6:00pm

All volunteers with our children and youth must complete PGC, a St. Brigid volunteer application, submit the signed code of conduct, copy of photo ID, registration with Fastrax and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

Full details and forms can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/safe-environment/ 

Attend a free virtual couples retreat to encounter practical ways to turn your house into a holy home.

April 29 & 30, 2024; 8 - 10 EST

Learn more or register here.

Office of Catholic Schools Job Fair

The Office of Catholic Schools will hold an Education Job Fair, April 13, 2024, 9am - 12pm at the St. Thomas More Newman Center.

Good Friday Way of the Cross with Bishop Earl K. Fernandes

Please join us in walking the Way of the Cross though downtown Columbus on Good Friday, March 29th, led by Bishop Fernandes. The procession will begin at 2pm, directly following the Good Friday service in the Cathedral, and will conclude at 4pm. The route begins on the Cathedral steps and has 5 stops throughout downtown, where people carry their crosses every day. Each stop will have moments of readings, music and poetry. The Way of the Cross is organized by the lay ecclesial movement, Communion and Liberation. For more information, please contact Alessandro at ando.scotti@gmail.com.

Totus Tuus at Our Lady of Peace, 20 E. Dominion Blvd., Columbus, Ohio. 

Totus Tuus is a summer Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic Faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and Eucharistic worship. The week-long Parish Summer Catechetical Program not only teaches the Catholic Faith, but also ignites the hearts of the young people who participate.

Grades 1-6:

Monday, June 17-Friday, June 21 (9am-2:30pm)

Grades 7-12:

Sunday, June 16-Thursday, June 20 (7-9pm)

Registration fee is $45 per camper, with a $100 family cap.

Registration is now LIVE at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church - Totus Tuus - Columbus, OH (olp-parish.org).

For more information, email arosselli@olp-parish.org.

Lenten Tenebrae Service at the St. Thomas More Newman Center (Attachment)

Join us for a special Tenebrae service each morning of the Triduum as we reflect on the death of Jesus. The service consists of the chanting of prayers of the Divine Office that highlight the sacred mysteries of Holy Week. It will take place in the St. Thomas More Newman Center chapel and will be held the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Holy Week at 6:30am.

Stewardship Associate Job Opening

Church of the Resurrection (Resurrection) in New Albany, OH is looking for a fulltime Stewardship Associate (SA). This is a new position at Resurrection and its role is to ensure the successful continuation of campaign fundraising and implementation and elevation of a strategic stewardship and donor appreciation throughout the parish. Working closely with the Business Manager, the SA will develop and implement personalized stewardship plans for top donors and comprehensive stewardship strategies for donors at all giving levels to foster a culture of philanthropy. Resurrection is a large Catholic Church with approximately 3,000 families located in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.  Please send a resume, cover letter and three references to jobs@cotrna.org. Please see the parish website (Career Opportunities) for more details.