Gaudeamus is a Latin word meaning “Let us rejoice!”.  In human culture, it is music that has always been a primary vehicle through which men express their joy.  As Christians, our joy is centered especially in God, who is made known to us in Jesus Christ.  Our greatest joy is in our ability to worship Him in freedom and in truth at Holy Mass.  Thus, our music at Mass is an important part of our worship and our rejoicing in God.

The Diocese of Columbus is sponsoring a one-day workshop for youth on sacred music in the Church.  This music worskshop will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10:00am to 7:30pm at St. Cecilia Church in Columbus.  The cost for the event is $40 (the parish will sponsor any student parishioners who wish to attend).

The day will begin with sung Lauds (Morning Prayer) and end with Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer).  Students will receive individual and small group instruction.  There will also be large group discussions on the importance of music to our worship, and the types of music appropriate for liturgy.  While the day is especially suited for students who are musically inclined, all students will benefit from this workshop day.  Lunch and dinner will be served.

Questions?  Call the office of Liturgy at (614) 221-4640 or email Paul Davis at pgdavis@colsdioc.org.

If you would like to attend Registration Forms can be found here.

The picture above is from the April 19, 2009 edition of the Catholic Times, and shows the St. Thomas/St. Nicholas Youth Group at the Walking Stations of the Cross in Columbus.  here, the students portray the First Station – Jesus Falls for the First Time.  The theme for the Station focused on the ill and the disabled and was done outside of Grant Hospital in Columbus.

On Good Friday morning (April 10) the Youth Group will be traveling to Columbus to assist the Walking Stations of the Cross, “Journey Towards Peace”. The Walking Stations are sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Office for Social Concerns. We will be practicing the Stations at the Youth Group meeting this Sunday at St. Nicholas.  On Good Friday, meet at the St. Nicholas Teen Center at 6:15am. Permission slips for the trip are REQUIRED and are available in the parish office. Students will return to the Teen Center at approximately 12:00 noon where a simple lunch will be provided.  We will show a movie, so that students can wait there for the Good Friday service to begin at 3:00pm.

The Stations along the walk route include:

1. St. Joseph Cathedral – Jesus is arrested and condemned to death – Opening Prayers
2. Salesian Center – Jesus is made to carry his cross – focus: Youth in the City
3. Grant Hospital – Jesus falls for the first time – focus: Illness and Disabilities
4. Former abortion clinic – Jesus meets His Mother – focus: Abortion
5. Nazareth Towers – Simon carries the cross – focus: The Elderly
6. Holy Cross Church – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – focus: Discrimination and Multiculturalism
7. St. Lawrence Haven – Jesus falls for the second time – focus: Hunger
8. Park across from Greyhound bus station – Women of Jerusalem weep – focus:Runaways; Refugees
9. Franklin County Human Services – Jesus falls for the third time – focus: Domestic Violence
10. Franklin County Courthouse – Jesus is stripped of his garments – focus: Justice
11. City Center Mall- Jesus is nailed to the cross – focus: Consumerism
12. State Capitol Building – West – Jesus is raised on the cross and dies – focus: Death Penalty
13. State Capitol Building – East – Jesus is taken from the cross – focus: Peace
14. St. Joseph Cathedral – Jesus is laid in the tomb – focus: the Church

CYSC, Inc. has announced the dates for the 2009-2010 season of Jesus Jams.  Mark your calendars now and be looking for a complete roster of inspiring keynote speakers soon!  Jesus Jams will continue to be hosted at St. Catharine of Siena Church, Columbus, on the third Sunday of each month (except December – 2^nd Sunday) beginning with 5:00 pm Mass followed by the Jesus Jams program in St. Catharine School Gym 6:00-8:30 pm.

October 18, 2009
November 15, 2009
December 13, 2009
January 17, 2010
February 21, 2010
March 21, 2010
April 18, 2010

Extraordinary Form -- the Dominican Rite

Confused about or interested in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Latin Tridentine Mass)?  Then come to Holy Family Church in Columbus (584 W. Broad St,  Columbus, OH 43215) on Friday, April 17 at Holy Family.  Fr. Lutz will host an evening for teens about the ‘whys’ and ‘whats’ and anything else concerning the Extraordinary Form.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the history of the Extraordinary Form, why we do it, the format, etc…, and then Fr. Lutz will celebrate Mass.  After Mass, Fr. Lutz will take Questions. Fr. Lutz will end the evening with an optional your of the Holy Family Jubilee Museum. (For more information about the Jubilee Museum, check out: http://www.holyfamilycolumbus.org/sec_jm.html)

On Friday, March 20, Fr. Joseph Alobaidi, OP, a Scripture Scholar from our Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, spoke at the parish on the topic “Women and Marriage in St. Paul”. His talk was one in a series of talks at St. Thomas in celebration of the Year of St. Paul. Additional lectures will be given in April, May, and June by Fr. Jordan, Fr. Luke, and Fr. Pius.  Below is a video of the talk Fr. Alobaidi gave.

“ROSARY STAR” LAUREN BAUER FINDS GOD IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

by Jim Penrice

“What do you believe the Eucharist is?”

For the All-American softball star, the question seemed to come out of left field. So did the mysterious stranger at McDonald’s, the golf game that led to her DVD debut, and the walks on the beach that literally brought her back to Mass.

God may work in mysterious ways, but Lauren Bauer can vouch that he definitely works. She embraces the mission of Catholic Athletes for Christ as a way to share the truly Good News with others.

To read more of Lauren Bauer’s story and how she deepened her faith in Jesus Christ and his Church, click here.

The Diocesan Offices of Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Social Concerns together annually sponsor the Diocesan Walking Stations of the Cross, “Walk for Peace” on Good Friday. This year the walk will take place on April 10, 2009. This walk through downtown Columbus begins promptly at 8:00am at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., with opening prayer led by Bishop Frederick Campbell. The walk concludes at the Cathedral approximately 11:00 am.

Following a 4-mile route, young people and adults from the 23-county Diocese of Columbus will stop along 14 locations throughout downtown Columbus to recognize a station of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion as well as reflect on a current social concern. Parish and school youth groups from around the diocese prepare short reflections linking each station with the suffering Christ found in the many trials of our brothers and sisters in our own community.

The stops and focuses will include: Faith Mission (Homelessness), Topiary Garden in Old Deaf School Park (Environmental Stewardship), Grant Hospital (Illness/Disabilities), Nazareth Towers (Elderly), Holy Cross Church (Discrimination; Multiculturalism), St. Lawrence Haven (Hunger), Greyhound Bus Terminal (Runaways; Refugees), Franklin County Human Services (Poverty; Welfare), Franklin County Courthouse (Justice), City Center Shopping Mall (Consumerism), State Capital Building (west end: Death Penalty, east end: Peace), St. Joseph Cathedral (the Church).

Youth from St. Thomas and St. Nicholas usually sponsors one of the stations.  If you would like to participate this year, please contact Fr. Pius or Patty.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church
2009 Parish Mission

March 9 -12, 2009
Beginning at 7:00pm

By the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Monday, March 9 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Benediction
Theme: The Eucharist – Life of the Church

Tuesday, March 10 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Confession
Theme: The Infinite Mercy of God

Wednesday, March 11 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Eucharistic Healing Service
Theme: Christ’s Healing Power in the Eucharist

Thursday, March 12 @ 7pm:

Closing Mass with Marian Procession
Theme: Gratitude to God for our Mother Mary

From the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry:

Stuck in the doldrums of winter?  No problem, you can get unstuck by going to the upcoming XLTs.

Hit the road with XLT to Marion St. Mary’s this Sunday, February 8 from 5:00-6:30p (251 N. Main St., Marion, OH 43302) with speaker Fr. Black!

Join teens throughout the Columbus diocese for XLT  an intense evening of praise and worship, preaching and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Meet and make new friends. Worship and praise with Station 14, speaker Fr. Black, and then experience Jesus in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

The next Columbus XLT will be next Wednesday, February 11 at St. Brendan’s in Hilliard (4475 Dublin Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026) with speaker Dan DeMatte. This XLT is from 6:30-8:30.

Questions?  Need more info?  Check out www.xltcolumbus.com.