Ash Wednesday services, Lenten events to be listed

February 7, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Lent, a season of spiritual renewal, begins Ash Wednesday, which is Feb. 18. Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion and preparation in the Bible. Lent also lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays.

A listing of Ash Wednesday services and other Lenten programs will be published next Saturday. Deadline to submit information is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Send information by email to religion@vindy.com., mail to the religion desk at The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown, OH 44501-0780, or by fax to 330-747-6712.

Changes ahead at Campbell parish

CAMPBELL

Christ, the Good Shepherd Parish has met to discuss pastoral and financial considerations regarding its buildings. No clear recommendation has been given by the pastoral and finance councils, but financially, the parish can not maintain three churches and three campuses. Eventually, two will close.

The parish will end the rotation of services at churches. Starting this weekend, St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave., will be used for major feasts and weekend Masses. For the time being, St. John the Baptist Church, 159 Reed Ave., and St. Lucy/St. Rosa Churches, 394 Tenney Ave., will be used for daily Masses and funerals. Starting this week, St. John’s will be used for daily Mass.

The Rev. Shawn Conoboy said St. Joseph was chosen as the worship site for three reasons: the Faith Formation Center (the former school) provides the best facilities for ministry and activities for youth; the interior of the church can easily be adapted to incorporate elements from other churches as they continue to celebrate their ethnic heritages, and with an increasing number of parishioners with the need for easy-access restroom facilities, the one in the back of the church meets this need.

Refresher course

YOUNGSTOWN

The C.S. Lewis Institute – Northeast Ohio will host a free seminary refresher course from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 with Peter Walker, professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Episcopal School for the Ministry.

The event is open to individuals interested in learning more about the historical account of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Local and regional pastors, clergy, priests and others involved in ministry leadership are encouraged to attend. The course will provide attendees with information to reinvent their teaching and ministry before the upcoming Lent/Easter season.

Members of the institute executive team are Bruce Beard, regional director, Dan Osborn, city director; and Joshua Reichard, resident scholar. The team will open with discussion, corporate worship and prayer. The sessions led by Walker will each be 35 minutes with question and answer.

Registration is required and can be completed at peterwalker.eventbrite.com or by calling 330-717-6979.

Reichard will host Scholar’s Roundtable events from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 and May 14 in the institute’s lecture hall.

Feast Day Mass

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Branch of the Slovak Catholic Federation will celebrate the Feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius with a Mass and reception next Saturday at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 252 E. Wood St.

The Mass will be at 11 a.m. with the Rev. George Franko as principal celebrant.

A free luncheon reception, provided by the local group, will follow in the social hall.