Mass and confession times in the Diocese of Owensboro

Did you know you can access Mass times on the diocese’s website? Visit https://owensborodiocese.org/find-a-parish/ for a list of parishes, Mass times and more. As parish confession times are subject to change, visitors are encouraged to contact the parishes directly for their most up-to-date confession schedule.

Catholic Sisters Week is March 8-14

Catholic Sisters Week, celebrated on March 8-14, shines a light on the spirituality, mission, and community building of women religious around the world. The “Celebrating Traditions, Changing the World” has become a perpetual theme. If you see a Catholic Sister, tell her “Happy Catholic Sisters Week!” You can find out more here: www.catholicsistersweek.org. In recognition of this week, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (Maple Mount, Ky.), and a few Ursuline Associates are making some fleece blankets with knotted edges on March 10-11 to donate to a women’s shelter. “This is the same week that we have quilters coming to make quilts for us,” Sister Amelia Stenger explained. “We thought it would be good for the Sisters and Associates to make some fleece blankets for the women to give them warmth and comfort.” Catholic Sisters Week is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It is organized by the Communicators for Women Religious (CWR) and is an official component of Women’s History Month. Also in March, follow the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph on Facebook for a special series during Lent beginning March 5. Ursuline Sisters contributed to the Lenten posts. You can follow the posts here: www.facebook.com/ursulinesmsj.

Wednesday Lenten small community discussions: Walking with Mary to Jerusalem

Mary: Our life, our sweetness, and our hope. As we embrace this Jubilee year of hope, come walk with others entering into the hope and heart of Mary as she accompanies Jesus to Jerusalem. Each day, in a few short pages, Fr. Toups provides aids to help guide your prayer: A word ~ focus on a single word daily to help you enter more deeply into the theme of the week’s readings; A reflection ~ read a short reflection and meditate on Scripture; A prompt ~ journal daily, writing down your thoughts and the stirrings in your heart as Our Lord and his Blessed Mother speak to you this Lent. And on Lenten Wednesdays beginning March 12 join in one of two small community discussions at Immaculate Parish, 2516 Christie Place, Owensboro, KY. Discussions from 12 noon-1 pm or 6-7 p.m. in the Parish Family Center classroom A. Email Steve Garvin, [email protected] to reserve your $6 copy of the journal today.

Pilgrims of Hope: Lenten 5 p.m. Sunday Vespers & Friday noon Stations at Immaculate

What hopes do you have for Lent this year? In what ways will you embrace encountering God’s Word, mercy, and love this season? The Lenten season is of hope found in the transformation of our lives through the many ways of encounter. Lent is so much more than fasting, penance, and almsgiving. It is an invitation to step away from the routine way of experiencing daily activities and bring a new and holy attention to them and all spiritual practices. May you discover the extraordinary in the ordinary this Lenten season. Come worship in community at Immaculate Parish, 2516 Christie Place, Owensboro, KY, during Lent on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. for Vespers & Fridays at 12 noon for Stations of the Cross.

Immaculate Conception announces parish mission experience

Immaculate Conception Parish in Hawesville will celebrate a four-day parish mission experience from March 16-19 in the parish church at 6 p.m. The preacher for the mission will be Fr. John Mark Ettensohn, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Fr. John Mark has given parish missions or retreats in over 25 states and Canada. The Missionary Oblates are a religious community of priests and brothers founded in 1816 by St. Eugene DeMazenod, who later became Bishop of Marseilles, France. The principal focus of their ministry is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor, in every sense of that word. Today some 3,000 members carry on their mission in 68 countries and on every continent. The theme of the Parish Mission will be: “No Ifs, Ands, or Buts, God is with us… Now What?” What does God’s presence with us really mean for us? What is its purpose? How are we to respond? How might the Mystery of this presence unfold in the routine of our daily lives? Why does it seem like God is so distant, especially when there is a critical need? In all of this is it okay just to be me when what is at stake is eternity? All interested persons are invited to attend this parish mission. For more information, call the parish office at (270) 927-8419.

Sts. William and Lawrence Lenten mission

St. William and St. Lawrence Parishes in Daviess County, Ky., gladly welcome everyone to our Parish Lenten Mission on April 6-8, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Church. Fr. Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy will be leading the Parish Mission. The theme will be the Holy Eucharist. On April 6, at 7:15 p.m. we will also have opportunities for confession. Questions: director of religious education Amber Berry at (270) 281-4802.

Nominate a pastoral minister or volunteer for the 2025 catechetical leader award

The Offices of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry are asking for nominations for the Bishop John J. McRaith Catechetical Leader Award.  The recipient of this award will be announced sometime this spring. Anyone from the Diocese of Owensboro may nominate an individual for this award. Nominees should be (or have been) professional ministers or volunteers, working for a minimum of 5 years in the Diocese of Owensboro in the field of catechetics.  Some ministerial roles to be considered are Director of Faith Formation, Coordinator of Faith Formation, Pastoral Associate, Youth Minister, etc. The recipient of the award is a role model as an outstanding human being; committed to Diocesan, Parish and Community service; shows a deep sense of spirituality; is knowledgeable, and committed to continuing their intellectual, spiritual and collaborative growth. The deadline for nominations is April 14, 2025. The Core Committee for Religious Education, consisting of the Diocesan Directors of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry will discern and select the recipient. All nomination forms should be submitted online (online is preferred) or mailed to the Youth Ministry Office, 600 Locust St., Owensboro, KY  42301-2130 or emailed to [email protected] by April 15, 2025. Online nomination link (preferred method): https://owensborodiocese.org/catechetical-leader-award/.

Visit the Ursuline Sisters’ Rosary Walk and Shrine Walk

Since the day it was blessed and dedicated in 2006, the Rosary Walk on the grounds of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph has offered people a chance to express their spirituality among the beauty and splendor of the “holy ground” at Maple Mount (8001 Cummings Road, 12 miles west of Owensboro, Ky., on Hwy. 56). The Rosary Walk is located on the front of the grounds (northwest corner) and includes the Christ the King statue. Visitors can use their cell phones to reach this webpage and listen to an audiotape of the rosary (recorded by Sr. Elaine Burke, OSU) to accompany their walk: https://ursulinesmsj.org/rosary-shrine-walk/ Or visitors can stroll to see the inspiring shrines on the grounds of the Motherhouse. They can visit this webpage to find a list of the shrines and to hear a recording about them (recorded by Sister Nancy Murphy, OSU): https://ursulinesmsj.org/shrine-meditation-walk/ People can also listen to these recordings on their computers. No appointment is necessary to see the Rosary Walk or the shrines. There are new sidewalks on the west side of campus available for anyone to use.

Bricks still available from former Mount Saint Joseph Academy/Retreat Center

Those who would like a keepsake of Mount Saint Joseph history may wish to obtain one of the “miracle bricks” that Father Paul Joseph Volk created to build Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1874, which was later converted into the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center in 1983. Five hundred bricks were saved for posterity before the building was deconstructed in 2023. For a suggested donation of $25, a brick will be reserved in your name. The bricks must be picked up in person and cannot be shipped. The bricks will come with a certificate of authenticity. You can order a brick by writing a check to the Ursuline Sisters and mailing it to: Academy Brick, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Or order bricks online at this link: https://ursulinesmsj.org/mount-brick/

Support groups for victims/survivors of clergy abuse

The Diocese of Owensboro would like to share some support group opportunities made available through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. These groups are open to all victims/survivors in the United States. Learn more at https://owensborodiocese.org/support-group/ and https://owensborodiocese.org/safe/. You are also invited to visit https://www.awakecommunity.org/, a community of abuse survivors, concerned Catholics, and allies responding to the wounds of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

To have your events listed in the WKC Bulletin Board, email information of no more than 200 words to [email protected] by the 15th of the month prior to the publishing month.