Bereavement

-- St. John's Bereavement Ministry --

What does our Bereavement Ministry do for St. John's and our community? The answer to that is "many things".

Our Bereavement Ministry takes care of the following:

-- Meeting with the families who have lost a loved one and helping them plan the mass
--  Making all of the necessary arrangements for funerals
-- Contacting and coordinating with the funeral homes
-- Altar Attending/Serving for the funerals
-- Sacristan/Setting up the church or day chapel on the day of the funeral
-- Take care of and coordinate all luncheons that are requested by the families of our parish
-- Having our gathering space available for visitations if requested by the families and/or the funeral home

But, our Ministry doesn't end there --- we continue with support for those who are having a difficult time with the loss of their loved one.

We have:
-- The "Companions On The Journey" Grief support group, which meets twice a month in our Hospitality Room. They are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. This group is here to reach out to those who have lost a spouse, a parent, a child, a relative, a friend, or anyone who has impacted their life in some way. If you would like some more information about this group, please contact Kathy McConnell at (513) 777-8329 or Tim Harmon at (513) 942-8078.

-- "The Stephen Ministry", which is a ministry that equips our lay parishioners, through 50 hours of training, to provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and surrounding community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. A Stephen Minister is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting - A caring Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, or if you have any questions about The Stephen Ministry, please contact Scott Steinke at 777-6433 ext. 115 or Marty McClain at 235-7478.

-- "Support Groups in the Community", for all different types of care for our parishioners who are struggling and need some group support. Below you will find a file that can be of great service to you. Click on the attachment at the bottom of this page!

We have many volunteers in our parish that help make our Bereavement Ministry the best it can be!

If you are interested in knowing more about our ministry, or would like to know how you can become a volunteer and serve in some way, please contact Scott Steinke at (513) 777-6433 ext. 115.

May God's Blessings continue to shine on you each and every day!

Career Path Ministry

Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of Workers, your parish, St. John, has launched a ministry intended to counsel our fellow parishioners who are either unemployed or underemployed.  The ministry’s meetings include, but are not limited to:

· Offer spiritual and emotional support.

· Enable Discussions on Career Coaching, Career Search Resources & Strategies, Resume Writing, Interviewing Proficiency/Role - playing, Networking and Targeting Techniques.         

This will be accomplished by beginning the meetings with “break out sessions” allowing participants to address their specific area of concern with a volunteer HR person.  Afterwards, we will together address a topic of interest chosen by the participants.

· As a long term goal: Share and post job openings with Career Path Ministry; create a one-stop shop that connects potential employers and job seekers in the most efficient manner possible.

· Utilize the trained Stephen Ministers to listen to concerns regarding hardships encountered due to current under/unemployment situation.            

Career Path Ministry - Update
For the past eight months, Career Path Ministry has successfully served the underemployed and unemployed of our community.  However, recent attendance indicates that weekly meetings are no longer needed.  We will continue to provide support to the members of our community in the following areas: creating self esteem; developing an employment plan; the importance of preparating; expanding your job search/building your network; developing resumes, resume tactics and styles; filling out applications; sharpening your interviewing skills; practicing interviews; writing cover letters and thank yous; and using the internet to search for employment.  We have two HR professionals to assist you!  If you desire support in these areas, contact Marianne Fernandes (marianne_fernandes@trihealth.com), or Terry Wurst (513-305-8636). In the future, we will periodically offer a five week series covering the topics listed above on an “as needed” basis.

Christ Renews His Parish

Welcome to the St. John CRHP Website

Check out our new and improved Christ Renews His Parish website.

Whether you'd like to sign-up for an upcoming weekend, check out past team photos or if you would like to view the FAQs page. It's all here!

Enter the Christ Renews His Parish Website!

Healing Touch

Healing Touch Ministry at St. John’s

Healing Touch is a compassionate energy therapy in which practitioners use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to support or facilitate your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and self-healing.   Healing touch uses gentle, light or near-body touch to clear, balance, energize and support the human energy system in an effort to promote healing for the whole person: body, mind and spirit.  Healing Touch is a complementary, integrative therapy that can be used in conjuction with traditional therapies.
The goal of Healing Touch is to restore balance and harmony in the human energy system by creating an optimal environment for the body’s innate tendency for healing to occur.

Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry practitioners believe that all healing comes from God.  We pray that we are instruments of God’s healing for the person’s highest good.  There are many ways we use our hands to be a healing presence for another. We ask in prayer for God to do the work through us.

Research suggests that Healing Touch greatly benefits those by reducing pain, reducing anxiety, relieving stress and depression, providing support through chemotherapy, reducing the effects of trauma and chronic pain, enhances the recovery from surgery, supports the dying process, and strengthens the immune system.  
Healing Touch is used at Hospice of Cincinnati and in most of the hospitals in Cincinnati as well as some area churches.

At St. John’s we are offering Healing Touch Ministry to the parishioners and to our returning veterans and their families on the third Wed. of each month in St. John’s Hall from 7-9pm. Please contact Pat Springer to schedule a time at 779-8286 or pspringer@cinci.rr.com.

Liturgical Ministers

Welcome to the St. John Liturgical Ministers Web Page.

• Altar Attendants
• Call to Worship Ministers
• Extraordinary Ministers
• Hospitalty Ministers
• Lectors
• Sacristans

• Retrieve the full 3 month current schedule
• Retrieve your personal dates in which you are scheduled
• Request a sub using the "MY SCHEDULE" tab on your Web Terminal page for a date you cannot attend
• Retrieve a Liturgical Ministers Roster
• Change your personal profile and preferences

*NOTE:
By logging on to your personal "Web Terminal" page, you can view and complete any of the above actions!! This new Web Terminal page provided through our Ministry Scheduler Pro program is very user friendly and provides you with all you need in your ministry! 

To Log On to your personal Web Terminal page click on the following link:
www.ministryschedulerpro.com?user=stjohnwc

REQUESTING A SUB:
To request a sub for any liturgical position that you cannot attend, please use your new personal Web Terminal page, and please be sure to send it out at least 1 week in advance. If it is a last minute request, please use the "Roster" and make a few phone calls to find a substitute. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Scott Steinke and Joyce Koenig at email address msp@stjohnwc.org

UPCOMING TRAINING SESSIONS FOR LITURGICAL MINISTERS:

Talk with the Director of Liturgy, Scott Steinke, to find out when the next training sessions will be held. 

Thank you all very much for your time and talents in our St. John Church Liturgical Ministry!!

Liturgy of the Word with Children

Liturgy of the Word with Children:

Liturgy of the Word with Children is an excellent way for young children to receive Scripture on a level they can relate to.

The goal of this ministry is to provide a meaningful and FUN! experience for Children Grades 1, 2, and 3. Our LWC here at St. John takes place during the  9:30AM and 11:30AM Sunday Masses. Lots of resources are available to help the children relate to the Sunday readings in a way that is interesting, understandable and empowering in order to reflect upon its message and connect it to their daily lives.

It is not a religion class, Liturgy of the Word with Children is intended to help the children pray and reflect on God’s Word.

We are always looking for individuals and/or couples to be a great part of this ministry and lead a session during one of those mass times. You don’t need to do it every weekend, or even every other weekend. Most leaders lead a session once a month, or even once every other month!

If you have kids who are in grades 1, 2, or 3, JOIN IN!!

If you are interested in becoming a leader, feel free to sit in on a session and see how it’s done! Then, pick up the phone and call Scott Steinke at the parish offices (777-6433) for more information on how you can be a leader in this ministry!!

-All Children in Grades 1, 2, and 3 are welcome to participate.

-Each section needs a facilitator and or co facilitator or aid. Material and training is provided.

-Facilitators are scheduled one Sunday a month at a liturgy of their choice.

Again, for more information call Scott Steinke at 777- 6433 or be sure to ask one of the Leaders on Sundays!

Marriage Ministry

Marriage Ministry

Marriage Prep and Scheduling

Marriage preparation is an important process and should be started as soon as possible upon engagement.  Weddings are not normally scheduled during Lent. Weddings held at St. John Church are for registered parishioners only. A bride, groom or their parents need to be a registered parishioner for at least 6 months prior to scheduling a date. St. Francis Xavier, St. Louis and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral are a few places in the Archdiocese that don’t require one to be a registered member of their parish. If you elect to be married elsewhere, we are happy to provide the marriage preparation needed.  Also, if you have a prior marriage and are in need of annulment, please feel free to call us. Contact Jerry Barney in the Parish Office at jbarney@stjohnwc.org or 777-6433 for further information. 

Bishop's National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage

 The Bishop's National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage is a wonderful document that provides us with a vision for Marriage Ministry.  The link for the initiative leads parish members to many resources:  http://foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/national-pastoral-initiative-for-marriage/.  Feel free to return to this site often to use the ever-changing and growing resources!

Troubled Marriage?

There are many troubled marriages and unfortunately the number seems to be growing. Most everybody in this situation wants to improve their relationship, but it seems like such a huge job and they don’t know where to start. There are a number of programs out there, but that doesn’t make it any easier, and perhaps it makes it more difficult; there are several types of marriage encounters and there is the possibility of engaging the services of a professional marriage counselor. These may partially be covered later by your health insurance. It all looks so complicated that you just don’t know where to start.

I am very strongly committed to Retrouvaille because I’ve seen a great number of couples who had been very unhappy (or miserable) in their relationship and had decided to participate in the full program of Retrouvaille and had found that it enabled them to make the big change, so that they are really happily married now.

You are probably asking, “What makes Retrouvaille so effective?” I think the following are among the reasons:

1. Married couples whose relationship had very much fallen apart, (but have come together through Retrouvaille) make the presentations.
2. The couples don’t “preach at you” but they reveal very openly where they were at and what steps they had to take.
3. They are available to answer questions that you may have.
4. There is a priest on each weekend who is available for consultation or help, if you request it.
5. Since a marriage problem can’t be fully cured over a weekend, you are strongly urged to sign up for a follow up program that will take place with your same group every other Saturday afternoon for about 3 ½ hours. This follow up program will cover the next three months.
6. Hopefully by that time you will be comfortable as a couple. Or if you feel you need further help, additional special programs are provided.
7. No couple is kept away because of lack of money.

I’m sure you’re asking, “What is the catch?” Believe me there is no catch.

• No one is going to force you to do anything
• No one is ever kept out because of lack of money
• Your participation is kept secret—we will never reveal your name unless you permit it.
• It is not a fly-by-night-program. It started in Canada and came to the U.S.A. in 1984. Fr. Ray Favret brought it to Cincinnati in 1987 and have worked with it ever since.

Ministry to Returning Catholics

COME HOME!

This ministry is for people who have been away from the Church, alienated or hurt by the Church, or have simply drifted away. We want you to know that you are welcomed back at any time.

The Evangelization Committee will be glad to answer any questions that you may have by telephone, or in writing, if you prefer to do it that way. Please contact Jerry Barney at 777-6433, ext. 121.

Please do not hesitate to phone us for fear we will keep "bugging" you afterward. Will answer your questions, and if you want to follow up with us, that will be up to you. The process is flexible and hopes to meet the needs of the individuals that contact us.

Periodically during the year, the Evangelization Committee will schedule presentations with the purpose of answering questions about St. John Church, and the Church's attitudes toward divorce, second marriages, and other areas. The presentations are announced in the parish bulletin.

The Evangelization Committee strives to implement the document of the U.S. Bishops entitled "Go and Make Disciples".

A great web site with more information for Returning Catholics ... www.OnceCatholic.org.

Music

St. John Music Ministry

St. John's has a vibrant music ministry with 5 choirs, an active cantor ministry, a handbell choir and parish instrumental ensemble. Our repertoire spans the entire musical history of the Catholic Church, from Gregorian Chant to contemporary Catholic music.  For more information joining any parish ensemble, contact Michael Dailey at (513) 777-6433 or through e-mail at mdailey@stjohnwc.org.

Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?

St. John's Stephen Ministry is a ministry that equips lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives.

Stephen Ministers Care For People Facing Tough Times:

• Loss of a loved one
• Hospitalization
• Divorce or separation
• Loneliness or discouragement
• Spiritual cries
• Unemployment or job crisis
• A terminal illness
• Incarceration
• Aging
• Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
• A chronic illness
• Relocation
• Recovery after an accident or disaster
• And many more

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry:

The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private.

How You Can Help:

If you or someone you know (whether it be a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a relative) is hurting in some way and could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, tell them about this ministry. Or if you are someone who is a good listener, compassionate and prayerful, consider becoming a Stephen Minister for our congregation.

"Love one another as I have loved you"

-John 13:34

please call 777-6433 and ask for Scott Steinke, ext. 115.